1. Environmental Issues in Latin America
SS6G2 The student will discuss environmental issues in Latin America
a. Explain the major environmental concerns of Latin America regarding the issues of air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico, the destruction of the rain forest in Brazil, and oil-related pollution in Venezuela

2. Mexico City, Mexico

3. Mexico City, Mexico capital of Mexico
population over 19 million people
Mexico’s largest city
built by the Spanish after they destroyed the original city of Tenochtitlán in Lake Texcoco
located in the Valley of Mexico, surrounded by Sierra Madre mountains

4. Air Pollution Over Mexico City

5. Air Pollution Over Mexico City

6. Causes population & location contribute to air pollution problem
emissions from factories and automobiles.
Wind not strong enough to blow pollution over the mountains, bowl effect
high elevation--less oxygen so fuels don’t fully burn

7. Surrounded by Sierra Madre mountains

8. Results of air pollution
Pollutants harm eyes, lungs, and the heart.
creates acid rain

9. Solutions
program limiting how often you can drive your car, promotes public transportation
testing buses that run on cleaner-burning fuels
strict inspections of emissions systems on cars
changing the kind of fuel cars and factories use
workshops to teach people about the environment

10. Amazon Rainforest

11. Amazon Rainforest important environment of Brazil, and the world
largest rainforest in the world
most of the rainforest is in Brazil
experiences a hot, humid, & rainy tropical climate
home to a huge variety of plants, trees, insects, birds, & animals
produces 1/3 of the earth’s oxygen

12. Amazon Rainforest Location

13. Destruction of the Amazon Rainforest
Before…
After…
“slash and burn” farming

14. Causes
road building
farmers cutting down trees to plant crops (known as “slash and burn” farming
cattle ranching
Logging (deforestation)
mining
new settlements

15. logging
cattle ranching

16. Results of Deforestation
Plants & animals are losing their homes; many are endangered, and some are becoming extinct.
Loss of trees increases carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to global warming.

17. animals losing their homes

18. Solutions Government is now setting aside large protected areas.
Government is creating programs to plant new trees when older trees are cut down.

19. Venezuela

20. Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela
Oil provides about 50% of government revenue.
Oil production has boosted economy, turning the once poor country of Ecuador into one of Latin America’s richest countries

21. Oil-related pollution in Venezuela

22. Causes
Oil is the country’s main source of income, so people continue to produce, sell, and burn oil, creating more oil pollution.
Occasional oil spills

23. Oil-related pollution in Venezuela

24. Results creates toxic wastes air pollution
occasional oil spillage, seeps into water sources
streams and rivers polluted, hurts fishing industry and shut down tourist resorts
health problems (cancer, skin problems, breathing problems, and digestive tract problems)

26. Solutions…
People are becoming aware that the cost in the long term may be too great.
Groups are calling for renewable energy sources and the clean-up and prevention of pollution.