Global

Environmental

Issues

Biodiversity

The number and variety of

organisms found within a specified

geographic region.

Earth may lose 1/5 of species in

next 20 years

Who’s threatened? Plants,

invertebrates, fish, amphibians,

reptiles

Water Resources

Pollution: pesticides and other chemicals

get into water sources

Scarcity, used at an unsustainable level

More than 15% if the world’s population

does not have safe drinking water due to

untreated sewage, pollutants, or

shortages

Approximately, 3900 children die

everyday from contaminated water.

Water Continued

Approximately, 3900 children die everyday from contaminated water

Ocean water in danger from oil spills

Red Tide: toxic algae eaten by fish, then can be consumed by us

Lack of water causes drought leads to no food

Management of water in most areas is the problem.

Waste

It is caused by individuals as well as

corporations

Landfill sites are filling faster than

they are created

Nuclear/radioactive waste products

Plastic bags, “national flower” of

South Africa

Energy Use

US uses the most

Wood, coal, oil, gas, uranium

Non-renewable---Will we run out?

CO2 production is great and

damages the environment

Climate Change

The Greenhouse Effect: Fossil fuel

consumption rises, burning fuel produces

CO2, level of CO2 in the atmosphere is

increases, the rays of the sun pass to the

Earth, CO2 and other greenhouse gasses

(methane, nitrous oxide) trap the earth’s

heat, world climate warms (Global

Warming!)

Sea level rises, ice caps melt, weather

worsens

Ozone Depletion

Chemicals containing chlorine and

bromine are released into the

atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons are

the worst.

These chemicals break down the

molecules in the Ozone layer.

The hole in the Ozone lets in damaging

Ultraviolet rays from the sun

Food Resources

Structural Scarcity-there is

enough food, but it is not

distributed equally

Food eaten indirectly (grain for

animals instead of people, but

then animals eaten)

Air Pollution

Acid Rain: Nitrogen and sulfur

emitted through the burning of fossil

fuels is placed in the atmosphere.

They return to Earth through rain,

snow or fog. This causes damage of

animal life in lakes and streams as

well as damage to trees.

Pesticides put in air settle in water.

Smog over cities

Deforestation

To divest or clear of forests or

trees

Clearing allows erosion of soil,

which can lead to desertification

Brazil and Indonesia have lost

most rainforests

Desertification

The rapid depletion of plant life and

the loss of topsoil at desert

boundaries and in semiarid regions,

usually caused by a combination of

drought and the overexploitation of

grasses and other vegetation by

people.

Land can no longer be used for

agriculture.

What

are the

solutions?

*Homework: come up with

personal and structural

solutions for these problems.

Structural Solutions?

Personal Solutions?