Transcript Major Environmental Issues

Change is in the Air:
How are changes in the atmosphere
altering our environment?
Key Points:
The terrible 3 changes in our atmosphere
1.Ozone Layer Depletion
2.Acid Precipitation
3.Global Climate Change

Possible environmental solutions
• REAL Framework
Issue #1:
Ozone Layer Depletion
 What is it?
 The OZONE LAYER is in our upper atmosphere
 It absorbs harmful ULTRAVIOLET (UV) RAYS
from the sun.
 What do UV rays do?
 Cause skin cancers and eye problems
 Damages or kills animal and plant species
Hole in the Ozone!
Cause of Ozone Layer
Depletion
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCs)
 A chemical that destroys the ozone layer
 CFC’s are found in older refrigerators, air
conditioners and aerosol cans
SURPRISE! Things are
getting better….
 The MONTREAL PROTOCOL (signed in Canada in
1987)
 Encouraged countries to put a ban on all products that
produce CFC’s
 Since the ban, countries have been cooperating
 By 2009, 97% of all CFCs have been phased out
Hopefully if improvements continue the ozone layer will heal!
Issue #2
Acid Precipitation
Effects of Acid Rain
 Forests, plants and soils
become highly acidic
and die
 Water and lakes
become toxic
 Buildings and stone are
worn down
Who is Affected?
Why do you think most Acid Rain is concentrated
in the north central part of Canada?
Issue # 3:
Global Climate Change
What exactly is it?
 Watch the short film clip. What does the film say:
 Are the causes of GCC?
 Are the effects of GCC?
 Are solutions for GCC?
Global Climate Change:
Definition:
 Global climate change is a change in the
long-term weather patterns that characterize
the regions of the world.
Here’s the dirty truth:
• The
world temperature has risen 0.74C in the
past 100 years
• The ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctic are
melting with increasing speed
•Canadians have some of the worst
CARBON FOOTPRINTS in the world
Do you know the cause of
Global Climate Change?
 Do you think you will be able to a give a better
answer than these guys?
The Greenhouse Effect
Human Causes:
Industrial and Technological Development



FACTORY EMISSIONS and other FOSSIL FUEL
burning mechanisms
DEFORESTATION of “the lungs of the earth”
Melting PERMAFROST releases lots of CO2
Problem:
These activities release a massive amount of chemicals
into the atmosphere called GREENHOUSE GASES
Major Greenhouse Gases
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Who is causing Global
Warming?
Climate Change Brainstorm:
 Task:
 INDENDENTLY, Use your brainstorm, the maps
provided and your text pgs. 440-443
to identify the major possible
Effects of Global Climate Change
Think: Chain Reaction
Possible Effects of Climate Change
1. Warmer Oceans Temperatures : Destruction of sea life
1. Increase in natural disasters: Increase in poverty
1. Rising Sea Levels : Estimated 25 million
environmental refugees
4. Shift in Seasons: Longer growing season
5. Drought & Flooding : Food shortage and increased
pressure on fresh water supply
6. Increase in pests & infectious diseases
Water:
We need it to live….
Water: Where is it?
 Water covers 70% of the earth’s surface
 All of the water on earth circulates through the water
cycle, and takes on different forms
 Only 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh water
 Most fresh water is locked in glaciers, ice sheets or
underground and is difficult to access
Where do we get fresh water?
 The water we use is either:
 Groundwater found in Aquifers and
underground streams (majority that exists)
 Can be difficult to access
 Surface water from lakes, rivers, melting
glaciers (majority that we use)
Ogallala Aquifer
 One of the largest aquifers in the world
 Provides 30% of the groundwater used for agricultural
irrigation in the U.S.
 Is depleting quickly because of heavy use for
agriculture and watering golf courses
Major Threats to Fresh Water
OVERUSE
POLLUTION
Major Threats to Fresh Water
Overuse
Pollution
Urban environments
Increasing Population
Waste from factories and mills
Rising living standards
Household wastewater
 Contains detergent, human

waste, prescription drugs
Sewage causes growth of algae
and weeds
Agricultural chemicals
 Pesticides and Herbicides
Oil Refineries
Logging, mining, construction

More people eating foods like meat
Falling groundwater tables
 Groundwater does not
replenish quickly
Diversion of water for agricultural
irrigation:
 #1 use of fresh water
 Increased demand for food
Overpumping of ground water with
more advanced technology
Industrial use: oil sands, factories
What can we do to better
manage our water sources?
 R: Realistic
 Repair leaks in homes and


public spaces
Install water meters to monitor
water use
Operate dishwashers and
laundry-machines only when
fully-loaded
 E: Educate
 Implement public education
programs
 Include water issues in school
curriculum
 A: Alternatives
 Minimize effects of tanker

accidents by changing tanker
design
Install water-conserving devices
 Faucets, toilets, showers
 L: Legislate



Implement water restrictions
Create economic incentives for
water-conserving devices
Create regulations that restrict the
threat of:
 Herbicides, Pesticides
 Industrial Pollution
 Sewage
So what do we do?
Think: SUSTAINABILITY
 SUSTAINABILITY:
 An approach to RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT where decisions are
made to ensure resources last for
generations to come with minimum
long-term effects on the environment
Here is a framework that will help you identify
solutions to environmental problems.
“REAL” SOLUTIONS
Realistic Solutions
Educate the public
Alternatives can be helpful
Legislate – laws and regulations
 Think of an example for each for solutions to
global water issues
Let’s apply REAL to the problems
facing our environment:
How could you:
 Change your lifestyle to have a more environmental
‘carbon footprint’ (Individual Solution)
 Support or lobby for changes that our government
could implement in our country (National Solution)
 Brainstorm ways that the global world could work
together to enact positive change (Global Solution)