Environmental Issues GH2/Napp

Do Now: “On December 1, 1997, delegates from more than 150 nations arrived in Kyoto, Japan, to attend the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They met to devise the first international treaty on ways to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a gas that is released when such fuels as coal, gasoline, and wood are burned. In the atmosphere, it serves as a sort of one-way windowpane, like the glass in a greenhouse. The sun’s radiation passes down through the windowpane to warm the earth. Some of the heat from the earth’s surface is radiated to the atmospheric windowpane, however, and is trapped on the earth, creating a greenhouse effect. After the Kyoto convention, the delegates discussed the results of a two-year negotiation process that followed the Earth Summit in Brazil. The final treaty, known as the Kyoto Protocol, laid out a specific strategy for combating global warming. This strategy required 38 industrialized nations to reduce their combined greenhouse-gas emissions to more than 5 percent below 1990 levels. Developing nations, which release fewer carbon dioxide gases into the atmosphere, could set their own limits on such emissions. Those industrialized nations that were unable to meet the limits set for them could apply for emission-reduction credits from industrialized nations that achieved reductions greater than that called for by the treaty. Since forests absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide, industrialized nations could receive emission credits by planting new forests and protecting existing ones. U.S. lawmakers who attended the conference stated that the U.S. Senate would never ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Opponents of the treaty argued that to cut the use of carbon fuels to the extent it required would cause energy prices to soar and would damage the U.S. economy.” ~ Global History: The Growth of Civilizations Questions: 1- Why did delegates from more than 150 nations meet in Kyoto? ______2- Why do nations want to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere? ______3- What is the greenhouse effect? ______4- How did the Kyoto Protocol attempt to reduce carbon emissions? ______5- Why did the U.S. not sign the Kyoto Protocol? ______Notes: I. Global Warming A. The earth has experienced climate change B. But, starting with the Industrial Revolution, human activity has increased this change 1- Burning of fossil fuels – coal and oil 2- Deforestation –cutting down trees 3- Leads to “greenhouse gases” 4- “Greenhouse gases” trap heat 5- Raise earth’s temperature above past levels II. Deforestation A. More than 80% of the Earth’s natural forests have been destroyed B. Due to logging, fires, and clearing land for agriculture C. Trees are natural consumers of carbon dioxide 1- One of the greenhouse gases III. Desertification A. Deserts are expanding B. Due to deforestation, overgrazing, over cultivation C. People displaced D. Hunger and Famine IV. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle A. These actions make a difference Questions: 1- What turning point in world history has greatly accelerated climate change?

2- Why has this event greatly accelerated climate change?

3- Provide examples of fossil fuels.

4- What is deforestation?

5- Provide one cause and one effect of deforestation.

6- What is desertification?

7- Provide one cause and one effect of desertification. 8- What can humans do to protect the environment?

Excerpt adapted from bbc.co.uk “Tens of millions of people could be driven from their homes by encroaching deserts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, a report says. The study by the United Nations University suggests climate change is making desertification ‘the greatest environmental challenge of our times’.

If action is not taken, the report warns that some 50 million people could be displaced within the next 10 years.

The study was produced by more than 200 experts from 25 countries…

‘Desertification has emerged as an environmental crisis of global proportions, currently Excerpt adapted from unccd.int affecting an estimated 100 to “Desertification is the degradation of dry lands. It 200 million people, and involves the loss of biological or economic threatening the lives and productivity…It is due mainly to climate variability livelihoods of a much larger and unsustainable human activities. The most number,’ the study said… commonly cited forms of unsustainable land use are over cultivation, overgrazing, deforestation, and People displaced by poor irrigation practices. Seventy percent of the desertification put new strains world’s dry lands (excluding hyper-arid deserts), or on natural resources and on some 3,600 million hectares, are degraded. While other societies nearby and drought is often associated with land degradation, it threaten international is a natural phenomenon that occurs when rainfall is instability, the study adds.” significantly below normal recorded levels for a long time.” Question:

What are the causes and effects of desertification? ______

1. . . . Traditionally, [African] farmers 4. • China implemented a one-child cleared land, grew crops for a few policy. harvests, then let the fields lie fallow for • African nations established 10 or 15 years to rejuvenate as they educational and health care agendas. moved on to clear more land, the study • Latin American nations worked with reports. But as they try to feed a rapidly the United States to reduce drug growing population, the farmers instead trafficking. grow crop after crop, sapping the soil’s Which conclusion can best be drawn fertility. “Nothing grows, so the topsoil is using all of these statements? blown away by the wind and washed (1) The governments of different away by the rains,” said Amit H. Roy, countries reacted in various ways to the president of the International Fertilizer same problem. Development Center, a nonprofit (2) Population explosions took place in agricultural aid organization, which some countries during the 20th century. produced the study. “It goes into the (3) Some countries looked toward other river system, silting them, and out to the nations to help solve their problems. oceans.”. . . (4) Countries have had to address a — Celia Dugger, “Overfarming African variety of economic and social problems. Land is Worsening Hunger Crisis” Which problem in sub-Saharan Africa is 5. Which problem in the savanna regions being described in this passage? of Africa is caused by population (1) global warming pressures and overuse of the land? (2) acid rain (1) rain forest destruction (3) urbanization (2) desertification (4) desertification (3) air pollution (4) flooding 2. The term Green Revolution refers to (1) an overthrow of the government by 6. Which statement about the Green radical parties Revolution is most accurate? (2) increased agricultural production (1) It reduced the amount of chemical based on technological advancements pollutants in the environment. (3) a drastic change in the environment (2) It increased food output in many based on global warming developing countries. (4) decreased food production caused by (3) It decreased dependence on fossil terrorism fuels. (4) It attempted to end colonial rule. 3. The destruction of the rain forests in Latin America is primarily due to the 7. Deforestation, acid rain, and the (1) diseases carried by insects greenhouse effect are major world problems (2) wildfires occurring during dry seasons that indicate a need for (3) devastation caused by high winds during (1) cooperation between nations to reduce the tropical storm season pollution and environmental destruction (4) demand for timber, farmland, and (2) an increase in the worldwide production grazing land of oil (3) a reduction in crop production in some areas of the world