sulfur dioxide that is released by the coal-generated electric plants in America’s Midwest, comes back to the Earth as acid rain in both Canada and the Northeast increasing CO 2 emissions are causing increased Greenhouse Effect use of CFC’s destroys ozone, which protects us from UVA, UVB and UVC Many of the ecological challenges we face today are no longer local, or even nationwide. Indeed, they have become “Global” in nature.

A study reports that 40% of Amazonia will be deforested by Does this only affect the Amazon area? A carbon sink O 2 production Wildlife habitat Hydrologic cycle Reducing condensation nuclei Global Weather Patterns

Almost all anthropogenic environmental problems trace their beginnings back to two root causes. Human Population Human Consumption We are hungry, and we have an insatiable appetite!

It is the goal of environmental problem solving to achieve a sustainable world. To be sustainable, the environment would have to support human populations indefinitely with a high standard of living and health. Habitats would be preserved and garbage would be turned into either harmless substances, or energy resources. Nonrenewable resources would be used efficiently and sparingly, while renewable resources would be used no faster than they could be replaced. Inexhaustible resources would be preferred. There would always be enough for future generations.

Scientific research is an essential first step in solving environmental problems. This is important before any action should be taken. There are, however, many other factors that must also be considered. How will the solutions you have come up with affect people’s lives? How will it affect the lives of other organisms? How much will it cost? Is it ethically right? In answering these questions, we must look at our own values, or what we consider to be important. What values should be considered when making decisions that affect the environment?

Values play a role in environmental decisions and problem-solving Aesthetics Economics Environmental Educational Ethical/Moral Health Recreational Scientific Social/Cultural

A good example of this kind of decision making was the choice that President George W. Bush made to abandon the Kyoto protocol. The Kyoto Protocol was negotiated by more than 160 nations in December 1997, with the aim of reducing net emissions of certain greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide…CO 2 ). Each of the participating developed countries decided how to meet its respective reduction goal during a five-year period ( ). Former President Clinton agreed with the basic tenets of the Protocol, and set our country’s goals. President Bush’s decision to abandon this project reflected what was important to him, and what he believed was important to the rest of the people in the US. With the advice of others, he came to the conclusion that the US’s participation in this protocol was not necessary. He had other priorities. What values do you suppose were in Bill Clinton’s mind, and the minds of those who supported him when he participated in the Kyoto Protocol? What about Bush? With time, use the rest of the period to research the decision Barak Obama has made with regards to the Kyoto Protocol, and then write a brief reflection in your quadrille, about what values he may have used to make that decision.