Environmental Issues Jeremy Aldrich Global Citizenship 2006 Jeremy Aldrich Global Citizenship 2006

Climate Change  The temperature of the Earth is changing.  The Earth is getting hotter.  Some people call this “Global Warming”.  Hotter temperatures mean smaller icecaps, higher ocean levels, and more storms.  The temperature of the Earth is changing.  The Earth is getting hotter.  Some people call this “Global Warming”.  Hotter temperatures mean smaller icecaps, higher ocean levels, and more storms.

Causes of Climate Change Climate change is caused by a combination of factors:  Natural changes  Deforestation  Using fossil fuels (oil)  Aerosols Climate change is caused by a combination of factors:  Natural changes  Deforestation  Using fossil fuels (oil)  Aerosols

Biodiversity  Many types of animals and plants are extinct, or endangered (they are in danger of becoming extinct).  Scientists says that up to 20% of all species could become extinct in the next 30 years.  Many types of animals and plants are extinct, or endangered (they are in danger of becoming extinct).  Scientists says that up to 20% of all species could become extinct in the next 30 years.  The Earth has a complicated system of different types of life interacting.  When one type of life grows or shrinks in number, or disappears, it has an effect on other types of life.  The Earth has a complicated system of different types of life interacting.  When one type of life grows or shrinks in number, or disappears, it has an effect on other types of life.

Causes of Extinction Species can become extinct naturally. But humans cause extinctions by:  Destroying habitats  Overhunting/overharvesting  Creating pollution  Introducing new predators  Creating new competition for food Species can become extinct naturally. But humans cause extinctions by:  Destroying habitats  Overhunting/overharvesting  Creating pollution  Introducing new predators  Creating new competition for food

Conservation  Conservation means taking care of what we have, and not using up too much of it.  We need to conserve our air, water, and soil so that we have for many years to come.  We need that stuff to live!  Conservation means taking care of what we have, and not using up too much of it.  We need to conserve our air, water, and soil so that we have for many years to come.  We need that stuff to live!

Pollution  Sometimes humans make the air, water, and soil dirty, or we aren’t careful about how we use those natural resources.

The Point  The better our environment is, the healthier the people on Earth will be.  Imagine what the future might be like if current problems continue until you’re an adult.  Now imagine what the future might be like if we get rid of some of the current environmental problems.  The better our environment is, the healthier the people on Earth will be.  Imagine what the future might be like if current problems continue until you’re an adult.  Now imagine what the future might be like if we get rid of some of the current environmental problems.

What You Can Do  Learn about environmental problems.  Understand how your actions and choices help or hurt the environment.  Help others understand.  Learn about environmental problems.  Understand how your actions and choices help or hurt the environment.  Help others understand.  Reduce the amount of damage you do.  Reuse things when you can.  Recycle so we don’t have to use as many resources.  Support groups that are helping the Earth.  Reduce the amount of damage you do.  Reuse things when you can.  Recycle so we don’t have to use as many resources.  Support groups that are helping the Earth.