Global Climate & Health Day 3 Lesson

Objectives Review environmental issues facing the global community. Differentiate between developed and developing nations and explain why the distinction matters when discussing the environment. Compare environmental concerns across regions & discuss how differing viewpoints impact international consensus on global problems. Identify key international agreements on the environment.

Warm Up Identify the causes and effects of three of the environmental concerns we discussed yesterday (only one from your group!) How do population and consumption impact the environment? Climate change, ozone depletion, water pollution, acid rain, deforestation/desertificatio n, decline biodiversity Growing population using more resources & energy; encroach on new areas, stressing finite resources

Global Environmental Issues

“Luck of the Draw” Reading Review Summarize how people in industrialized countries view environmental problems. In former Soviet bloc countries view environmental problems. In less-developed countries? In newly-industrializing countries? Summarize the positions of the global North and South regarding environmental problems.

“Luck of the Draw” Reading Review How are environmental issues connected to international security? What are some obstacles to international cooperation? Why does the US refuse to ratify international agreements, like the Kyoto Protocol? What are some successes in international cooperation on the environment?

International Agreements 1992 Earth Summit, Rio de Janiero UNFCCC – starter agreement to stabilize greenhouse gases COP – governing body of UNFCCC 1997 Kyoto Protocol Mandatory reductions in emissions levels by World Summit, Johannesburg Sustainable Dvpt Copenhagen Failure ?v=q- LpM3A5w2c&feature=related ?v=q- LpM3A5w2c&feature=related Inability of US to set domestic legislation led other nations to pull away from internatl agreement Cancun Framework ?v=4UiBMqOASa8 ?v=4UiBMqOASa8 UN Press Release