AND SOLUTIONS! Environmental Issues

The environment is all connected! (p.87) Environmental issues fall into three general categories: 1. Human population growth 2. Resource use 3. Pollution

Population Growth (p.88) The human population has been growing faster and faster since the year When a population grows, then the demand for resources such as water, food, and living space also grows. There are limited resources on Earth. (p.99)

Resource Use Anything that occurs naturally in the environment and is used by people is a natural resource. Examples include trees, water, oil, coal, plants, and animals. There are two main kinds of natural resources. (p.88)

Renewable resources Renewable resources are always available or are naturally replaced in a short period of time. Examples are wind, sunlight, water, and trees. (p. 93)

Nonrenewable resources Nonrenewable resources are resources that are used much faster than they can be replaced. They can be used up. Examples are “fossil fuels” such as coal and oil (petroleum). Other examples are minerals, metal, and uranium. (p.94)

Pollution (p.89) The contamination of Earth’s land, water, and air is called pollution. Pollution can be caused by wastes, burning, chemicals, noise, heat, and light. Pollution is usually related to human population growth and resource use.

Global Warming (p.52) Global warming is the increase in the Earth’s overall average temperature. It is caused by an increase in certain gasses found in the atmosphere which trap heat. Those gasses include carbon dioxide and methane. The burning of fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide gas, deforestation, and cow farts increase methane gas.

Ecological Footprint The amount of land, water and other resources that individuals need to meet their needs and absorb their waste is called an ecological footprint. (p.96)

Conservation Resource conservation is the wise use of resources to help make them last longer. (p.97) Examples would be: riding a bike, recycling, bringing your own grocery bag, turning off lights, unplugging electronics, lowering the thermostat, car pooling, taking a shorter shower ….. (can you add another?)

The Ozone Layer (p.147) A layer of gas (ozone) in the atmosphere about km high. Ozone protects people and other organisms from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation such as sunburn, eye problems, and skin cancer.

Ozone layer cont’d In the 1970’s, scientists discovered that there was an area of ozone that was disappearing. It was determined that a group of gases called CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons) were the cause of the hole in the ozone layer. CFC’s were in refrigerators, spray cans, air conditioners and other household products. Most CFC’s were banned in Hopefully, the ozone layer will recover.