Challenges for the Future Today, human activities threaten many of Earth’s natural processes.

Pollution Pollution- The growth of industry (factories) and world population in the past 200 years has created a decline in air and water quality. Exhaust from cars and factories and waste from urban areas cloud the air and clog the water supplies. Oil spills cover spots of the ocean and shoreline. Since almost all living organisms depend upon clean air and water, pollution poses a severe threat to survival of life on Earth.

Pollution Pollution occurs when exhaust, and waste from cars, factories, and urban areas gets into the air and water. This causes problems for all living organisms.

Climate Change The burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has significantly increased amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and water together act like a blanket, holding heat in the atmosphere. This is known as the “greenhouse effect” where less heat is able to escape causing polar ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise.

Climate Change Carbon dioxide in the air has caused the earth’s temperatures to rise (global warming). This has caused the polar ice caps to start melting, droughts, and the deserts to expand in some areas.

The Ozone Layer The Earth’s ozone layer is in the upper part of the atmosphere. The ozone absorbs much of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Without an ozone layer, ultraviolet radiations would cause mutations in most living cells. Some of the technology that we use has created a “hole” in the ozone layer which has led to an increased amount of skin cancer.

Ozone Layer Pollution in the atmosphere has created holes in the top part of the atmosphere- Ozone. These holes allow for the sun’s radiation to harm people, plants, and animals.

Pesticides Poisonous chemicals are used to control insects that threaten crops, but pesticides then become part of the water and soil, endangering other organisms, such as birds. Some pesticides may also be absorbed by the crops we grow for food. On the other hand, banning pesticides would make it difficult to grow enough food for everyone.

Pesticides Technology has allowed for us to create pesticides that kill bugs so we can grow more crops. However, these poisons get into the air and water causing damage to other animals, the air and water.

Acid Rain When coal and oil are burned, they dump pollutants into the atmosphere. Many pollutants like sulfur dioxide turn into acids. These acids get washed out of the air when it rains. When these pollutants return they are highly toxic, killing fish, destroying forests, eroding soil and further endangering the environment. The US established the Acid Rain Program in 1990 to reduce pollutants causing acid rain.

Acid Rain When coal and oil are burned it puts pollution in the atmosphere. Sometimes these pollutants turn into acids which are washed out of the air when it rains. The acid rain is toxic and causes plants and animals to die.

Effects that Affect Us! With your table group at a level 1 discuss the ways that we learned yesterday that we are affected by modification and pollution. One person from each table share out. The question becomes… what do we do? With your table group get out a device and look up the phrase “sustainable development” and discuss what you think it means.

Sustainable Development In order to solve these problems and challenges, many countries now seek sustainable development. This means using resources in a way that can meet future as well as present human needs. If we continue to rely on non-renewable resources and to pollute the Earth’s atmosphere, land, and water at current rates, there will not be sufficient resources available for use by future generations. Ultimately, sustainable development is the realization that, since humans depend on their physical environment they must also act to protect that physical environment.

Sustainable Development Discussion Create a t-chart that shows examples of renewable and non-renewable resources. What are the benefits of using non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, and natural gas? What are the negatives of using non-renewable resources? What are the positives of using renewable resources such as solar, wind or hydroelectric energy? What are the negatives of using renewable resources such as solar, wind or hydroelectric energy?

So what’s the fix? With your table group brainstorm and create 1 way that we can move our society from using non-renewable resources that create pollution to sustainable development. Write 3-4 sentences explaining what it is and how it will impact.