1. The Environment

2. Environment What is the environment?
The natural environment encompasses all living & and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth
1. In your opinion, what is the importance of nature?

3. Questions to consider 2. What is the message of this video clip?
3. What do you believe is the most pressing environmental issue today?

4. Animal Issues 4. What is the purpose of these commercials?
Are they effective? Discuss
Do you think people are more or less willing to spend money to help animals vs. other important issues?

5. Air Issues 5. Why is air pollution such an important issue?
Discuss – What impact did air pollution have on the 2008 Olympic Games (held in China)?
6. Which countries do you think comprise the top 10 air polluting countries? List as many as you can

6. Oil Spills 7.What is the impact of oil spills on animals?
BP Oil Spill (1 year later)
Deep Water Horizon Trailer:

7. Climate Change 8. What is climate change?
Consider DiCaprio’s documentary “Before the Flood”
Sea Level Rising – the global sea level has risen by 8 in. since 1870 (EPA). As a result, there are 11 islands that may disappear (including Solomon Islands & Bangladesh)
(optional if time permits … )
9. What is the alternate perspective on climate change?

8. Global Warming 10. What is global warming?
Discuss - How are politics related to global warming & different points of view?

9. Presidential Policies on the Environment
11. Of the following four Presidents – Theodore Roosevelt, LBJ, Nixon, or Carter – which one do you think had the biggest impact on the environment? Justify/defend your answer.

10. Theodore Roosevelt John Muir & Conservation efforts of National Parks
Newlands Reclamation Act 1902
Allowed the federal gov’t to create irrigation projects to make dry lands productive
Yellowstone National Park (1872)
Grand Canyon (1919)

12. LBJ’s “Great Society” Lyndon B. Johnson
Wilderness Preservation Act (1964)
Protected 9.1 million acres of nat’l forest from development
Water Quality Act (1965)
Required states to clean up rivers & lakes
Clean Air Act Amendments (1965)
Established exhaust emission standards for cars
Air Quality Act (1967)
Set guidelines on air pollution & increased federal gov’ts power to enforce clean air standards

13. Nixon’s Policies Silent Spring (1962) Clean Air Act (1970)
Rachel Carson published; warned of the harmful effects of chemicals on the natural world
Led to Earth Day demonstrations
Clean Air Act (1970)
Regulated levels of air pollution
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established (1970)

14. Carter’s Policies 3-Mile Island Love Canal, NY J. Carter
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
Protected more than 100 million acres of land & doubled the size of the nation’s park & wildlife refuge system
3-Mile Island
Love Canal, NY
Environmental disaster
Long-buried chemicals began seeping up through the ground
Exposure was linked to high rates of birth defects

15. Environmental Issues Climate change Conservation Energy
Global warming
Global dimming
Fossil fuels
Sea level rise
Greenhouse gas
Ocean acidification
Conservation
Species extinction
Pollinator decline
Coral bleaching
Poaching
Endangered species
Energy
Energy conservation
Renewable energy
Efficient energy use
Environmental Degradation
Habitat destruction
12. Of the 4 environmental issues listed, which one do you think we should be most concerned with & why?

16. Issues continued… Genetic engineering Intensive farming Overpopulation
Genetic pollution
Genetically modified food controversies
Intensive farming
Overgrazing
Irrigation
Environmental effects of meat production
Overpopulation
Burial
Land degradation
Desertification
Soil, Soil conservation, Soil Erosion, Soil Contamination, Soil salinization
Land use
Urban sprawl
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat destruction
Nuclear Issues
Nuclear power
Radioactive waste
13. Of these 6 issues, which one do you think is most concerning & why?

17. Issues continued… Ozone Depletion Pollution Water pollution Acid Rain
Marine pollution
Ocean dumping
Oil spills
Ocean acidification
Wastewater
Air pollution
Smog
Indoor air quality
Resource Depletion
Exploitation of natural resources (over-consumerism)
Fishing; Bottom trawling; Illegal & unregulated fishing; Shark finning; Whaling
Logging / Clearcutting / Deforestation
Mining
Toxins
Chlorofluorocarbons
DDT
Dioxin
Heavy metals
Herbicides
Pesticides
Toxic waste

18. GROUP PROJECT
In assigned groups, you will research one of the following topics.
Acid Rain
Air Pollution
Global Warming
Animal/Species Extinction
Deforestation
Ozone Depletion
Ocean Issues
sea water rising, oil spills, wastewater, & pollution

19. TO DO Research Poster – bring your own! Presentation
Each group member needs to research for your topic
If you don’t have a cell phone w/ Internet access, print your research
No Wikipedia
Consider
World Wildlife Federation (WWF)
National Geographic
IPCC
EPA
Poster – bring your own!
Title
At least 5 Visuals (pictures, charts, graphs, etc.)
Background (5 W’s & How)
Current Info & Research
Changes in Policies, Future Implications, Recommendations
Presentation
Each group will present their topic to the class