Environmental Issues in Latin America

SS6G2: Describe the approaches of Latin American countries in dealing with

environmental issues such as air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico and Santiago, Chile; Amazon Rainforest destruction in Brazil, and oil related pollution in Venezuela, Mexico, and

Ecuador.

Air pollution

• Due to huge populations, growing industries, and large areas of traffic; many urban areas in Latin America and other parts of the world battle with air pollution.

• The problem with air pollution especially affects Mexico City. It is surrounded by mountains which prevents wind currents from carrying pollution away from the city.

Deforestation

• The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, but it is rapidly shrinking due to deforestation. This is the process of clearing the forest to make way for human development (homes, fuel, industry, farms). As forests disappear, animals lose habitat, soil erodes, less oxygen is produced, and carbon dioxide builds up in our atmosphere.

Oil Drilling

• Mexico, Venezuela, and Ecuador rely on oil as an important part of their economy.

• What risks could these countries face in drilling and transporting oil?

• What recent event has shown the dangers of drilling?

• What current event shows the necessity for drilling for oil?

In your groups:

• Get with your group and discuss these topics : Air pollution in Mexico City and deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest, and oil pollution in Venezuela.

• -What is causing the problem?• -What are they currently doing to correct the

problem?• -What more could they/you do to help solve

this problem?