ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

1. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

2. Unit Environment: Intro: http://www.unep.org/gc/gc23/UNEPLAST.html David Suzuki-Test Tube Clip: http://testtube.nfb.ca/#/testtube Story of stuff: http://www.storyofstuff.com/ http://breathingearth.net/

3. Why care about the environment? • “a great change in our stewardship (care of) the earth and the life on it is required, if the vast human misery is to be our avoided” • More storms, droughts, destruction of natural resources (economicgreater taxes) • Up north a war could be fought! • Some countries including US, Russia, Denmark, and Norway see the potential for economic wealth from oil and natural gas deposits in the Arctic seabed and shipping lanes through an ice-free Northwest Passage

4. Population and Resources • 80 million babies born every year • Mostly in developing world, so less impact • 20% of population consume 85% world’s resources • 20% is in Industrialized western countries • If small fraction of developing world lived like developed world, Earth would quickly be overwhelmed with pollution and waste • Earth’s carrying capacity is being lost! http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/home/calculator_complete Your footprint! http://www-popexpo.ined.fr/eMain.html

5. Feeding a growing population • 1500 litres of water produce 1 kg of wheat, while 500 litres for 1 kg of potatoes • More MEAT more DAIRY-1000 litres of water to make 1 litre of milk, and nearly 16000 for 1 kg of beef. • Added to this are the costs of deforestation to create grazing land, energy use to ship food, and depletion of resources.

6. First Nations Approach • Environmental stewardship (sustainable management) • Sustainability: Keeping our environment and resources for future generations • In the Squamish Lil’wat teach “that we should keep in mind seven genera rations ahead of us in everything we do, to ensure that we care for future generations as well as present.” Sustainability

8. SPECIES EXTINCTION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC6_bPw7yZo

9. FRESH WATER SHORTAGE • Show cd animation • http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/watersupply/preview.weml • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9rse9eUaDY&feature=related

12. Ogallala Aquifer - USA • One of the largest aquifers in the world, but is depleting quickly from agriculture (greatest user of freshwater!) – China and Punjab facing huge issues • Aquifer is also heavily used for golf courses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQRvN6MUajE

15. OZONE LAYER DEPLETION http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/ozonelayer Ozzy Ozone

16. CLIMATE CHANGE-GLOBAL WARMING

17. SHOW ANIMATION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpu7IZcdzXE and Animation-see cd http://www.unep.org/tnt-unep/toolkit/animations/ClimateChange.swf http://www.unep.org/climatechange/InformationMaterials/Multimedia/tabid/264/Default.aspx?TopicID=30&RegionID=0&CountryISO=0&CityID=0&PageSize=20&PageNo=4 http://www.gateways2learning.ca/ClimateChange/sites.asp?type=6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J1ydwbO320&feature=related EPA kids animation: http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/animations.html Global Warming in pictures: http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?type=ss&launch=16913964,3032493&pg=1 http://www.brainpop.com/science/ourfragileenvironment/globalwarming/

18. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl9owddp0wQ&feature=related Renewable/Non-Renewable Resources • Renewable – Water, wood, wind power, solar power, geothermal energy • Non-renewable – Fossil fuels, coal, oil, gas, nuclear power-Burning causes some of the issues we saw earlier: CO2Global Warming NOX/SOXAcid Rain CFCs-Ozone Layer Depletion http://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/energysources/

19. Solutions! • Many sustainable sources of energy • Wind turbines, solar power, tidal power, ground source energy, geothermal power • Greenpeace believes wind power could provide 10% world’s electricity needs in next 20 years • New hydrogen or methanol fuel cells could be adapted for cars, buses, homes and industries

20. ACID RAIN Video http://goanimate.com/videos/02VLWVlKPrKY http://www.absorblearning.com/media/item.action?quick=vd http://www.emu.dk/gsk/fag/fys/ckf/fase1/1fokv/syrer_og_baser/syreregn_animation.swf

21. LANDFILLS

22. TOXIC WASTE

23. DESERTIFICATION

25. DEFORESTATION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txa-XcrVpvQ&NR=1&feature=endscreen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejmuhOJyPzw

27. Sadly all of the world’s forests are under attack…

28. Sustainability is the Answer • Forestry is going to take place – the question is whether or not we will manage our forests so that they will last for generations to come • Ecotourism-profit for keeping our environment in tact • PAS (1993)-Protected Areas Strategy preserve 12% of our lands for parks, recreation, and wildreness • Great Bear Rainforest-Spirit Bear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2His2yVlBg

31. First nations lead the way • Tlinglit First Nation switched from diesel to run-of-the river power • Haida Gwaii-Wind Turbines • T’Sou-ke Nation-largest system of solar power in BC

32. Doing our part • Canadians lead the way: • Waste recycling programs • Sewage-into fertilizer • Energy efficient homes and cars • Reduce pesticide and herbicide use • Cutting back paper and water consumption BUT • However, our forests, groundwater, and other resources are being depleted at a concerning rate • Canada has also opted out of Kyoto. Individuals make the difference: • We consume 15 times more energy than those in developing world Do: • Recycle • Compost • Buy local • Use energy efficient appliances • Low-flush toilets • Shorter showers • Drink tap instead of bottled water • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUjTHB1lvM • Reusable shopping bags

34. “PRESENT COURSE IS UNSUSTAINABLE AND POSTPONING ACTION IS NO LONGER AN OPTION” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euY7vdM5mpE

35. Provincial Exam – HelpSolutions??? “GET R.E.A.L” • The following acronym can be used to organize information when answering government exam questions that focus on solutions and or management strategies to environmental problems. R. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle E. Educate people about the dangers or consequences of the problems A. Alternatives. Provide people with alternatives to help solve problems L. Legislate laws to enforce rules that would help to solve the problem at hand EXAMPLE: Using your understanding of geography solutions that would help slow down global warming that is currently threading northern ecosystems. R. Reduce the number of cars on the road. This would limit the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Reuse and Recycle solid waste and other garbage from private house holds and industries. This would also limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. E. Educate citizens about the dangers of global warming like increased violent storms and rising sea levels that would impact their lives. Having an understanding of the dangers of global warming might change people’s behaviour to slow down this process. A. Provide alternatives like public transportation for people to use to limit the amount of cars on the road and the amount CO2 emitted. Development of alternative energy sources like wind and solar power would decrease CO2. L. Legislate laws that require industries to find alternative energy sources. Legislate and enforce laws to decrease the number of cars on the road by providing tax incentives to people. (Carbon Tax)