Editing Environmental science (section)

==== 21st century ====
[[File:Adoption of the Paris Agreement (23677269226).jpg|thumb|The Paris Agreement (formerly the Kyoto Protocol) is adopted in 2016. Nearly every country in the United Nations has signed the treaty, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.]]
Many niche disciplines of environmental science have emerged over the years, although [[climatology]] is one of the most known topics. Since the 2000s, environmental scientists have focused on modeling the [[effects of climate change]] and encouraging global cooperation to minimize potential damages. In 2002, the [[Society for the Environment]] as well as the [[Institute of Air Quality Management]] were founded to share knowledge and develop solutions around the world.<ref name=":4" /> Later, in 2008, the United Kingdom became the first country to pass legislation (the [[Climate Change Act 2008|Climate Change Act]]) that aims to reduce carbon dioxide output to a specified threshold.<ref name=":4" /> In 2016 the [[Kyoto Protocol]] became the [[Paris Agreement]], which sets concrete goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restricts Earth's rise in temperature to a 2 degrees Celsius maximum.<ref name=":4" /> The agreement is one of the most expansive international efforts to limit the effects of global warming to date.

Most environmental disasters in this time period involve crude oil pollution or the effects of rising temperatures. In 2010, [[BP]] was responsible for the largest American oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, known as the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|Deepwater Horizon spill]], which killed a number of the company's workers and released large amounts of crude oil into the water.<ref name=":3" /> Furthermore, throughout this century, much of the world has been ravaged by widespread wildfires and [[water scarcity]], prompting regulations on the sustainable use of natural resources as determined by environmental scientists.<ref name=":3" />
[[File:Boston False-Color Composite.png|left|thumb|A false color composite of the greater Boston area, created using remote sensing technology, reveals otherwise not visible characteristics about the land cover and the health of the surrounding ecosystems.]]
The 21st century is marked by significant technological advancements. New technology in environmental science has transformed how researchers gather information about various topics in the field. Research in engines, [[Fuel economy in automobiles|fuel efficiency]], and decreasing emissions from vehicles since the times of the [[Industrial Revolution]] has reduced the amount of carbon and other pollutants into the atmosphere.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last1=Austin |first1=David |last2=Marauley |first2=Molly K. |date=December 1, 2001 |title=Cutting Through Environmental Issues: Technology as a double-edged sword |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/cutting-through-environmental-issues-technology-as-a-double-edged-sword/ |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=Brookings}}</ref> Furthermore, investment in researching and developing [[Sustainable energy|clean energy]] (i.e. wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal power) has significantly increased in recent years, indicating the beginnings of the [[Fossil fuel divestment|divestment from fossil fuel use]].<ref name=":5" /> [[Geographic information system]]s (GIS) are used to observe sources of air or water pollution through satellites and digital imagery analysis.<ref name=":5" /> This technology allows for advanced farming techniques like [[precision agriculture]] as well as monitoring water usage in order to set market prices.<ref name=":5" /> In the field of water quality, developed strains of natural and manmade bacteria contribute to [[bioremediation]], the treatment of [[wastewater]]s for future use.<ref name=":5" /> This method is more eco-friendly and cheaper than manual cleanup or treatment of wastewaters.<ref name=":5" /> Most notably, the expansion of computer technology has allowed for large data collection, advanced analysis, historical archives, public awareness of environmental issues, and international scientific communication.<ref name=":63">{{Cite web |last=Lambertini |first=Marco |date=August 23, 2018 |title=Technology can help us save the planet. But more than anything, we must learn to value nature |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/08/here-s-how-technology-can-help-us-save-the-planet/ |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=World Economic Forum}}</ref> The ability to crowdsource on the Internet, for example, represents the process of collectivizing knowledge from researchers around the world to create increased opportunity for scientific progress.<ref name=":63" /> With [[crowdsourcing]], data is released to the public for personal analyses which can later be shared as new information is found.<ref name=":63" /> Another technological development, [[blockchain]] technology, monitors and regulates global fisheries.<ref name=":63" /> By tracking the path of fish through global markets, environmental scientists can observe whether certain species are being overharvested to the point of extinction.<ref name=":63" /> Additionally, [[remote sensing]] allows for the detection of features of the environment without physical intervention.<ref name=":63" /> The resulting digital imagery is used to create increasingly accurate models of environmental processes, [[climate change]], and much more. Advancements to remote sensing technology are particularly useful in locating the [[Nonpoint source pollution|nonpoint sources of pollution]] and analyzing [[ecosystem health]] through image analysis across the [[electromagnetic spectrum]]. Lastly, [[Thermography|thermal imaging]] technology is used in [[wildlife management]] to catch and discourage poachers and other illegal wildlife traffickers from killing endangered animals, proving useful for conservation efforts.<ref name=":63" /> [[Artificial intelligence]] has also been used to predict the movement of animal populations and protect the habitats of wildlife.<ref name=":63" />