QUESTIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The plastic bottle you drink from today will last longer on this earth than you, your grandchildren and even theirs. Did you
ever realize that? Coca-cola produces 30,000,000 a day. What is the environment? Do you worry about the environment?

What are some types of pollution?  What are some ways that you can reduce pollution in this country?  What can you do to
help prevent pollution?  Which problems of the environment do you find most serious?  Does education play any role in
people's attitude toward the environment?  Do you think that we will have to eliminate the use of cars and airplanes in
order to save the environment?

What are the main causes of air pollution?  Do you think cars should be banned from city centers?   What can be done to
reduce the use of fossil fuels in vehicles?  What do you think of people who smoke cigarettes indoors-is that pollution? 
What are the benefits/ disadvantages of a smoking ban?  What is the ozone layer and how does it protect us?  What causes
the destruction of the ozone layer and how can we prevent it?  What are fossil fuels and why does burning them warm up
the earth?  What is acid rain and what causes it?  What effect does it have on forests and oceans?  What is the
"greenhouse effect" and how is it created?

In what ways are our water sources (rivers, lakes, oceans, underground aquifers) contaminated?  Do you usually drink
bottled water? Why or why not?  Why are we running out of fresh water for human use?  In what ways can we save more
water?

Are there litter laws where you live? If so, is there a punishment for littering?  Do you think people should recycle more?
Why or why not?  How often is garbage collected in your neighborhood?  Where is it taken to?  What are some things that
can be recycled?  Do you have any ideas on how to minimize the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam/ polystyrene
boxes?  What steps have been/could be taken to reduce plastic waste? How does your city deal with "pet (dog)pollution"? 
Is this the responsibility of the pet owner?

Name some alternative or clean energy sources.  If you could choose one alternative energy source to develop, which one
would you choose? Why?  Who should pay for the extra costs associated with renewable energy?  Should we make the
development of renewable energy sources an economic priority?  What are some ways energy is wasted?
Do you think nuclear power is safe?  What are the advantages/disadvantages of solar energy? Should there be a carbon
tax? What could the revenue be used for (think renewable energy sources}?

Do you think that overpopulation is an important environmental issue? Why or why not?  Why do people in poor countries
tend to have a higher birth rate than those in developed countries?  Give some suggestions for controlling population
growth.
What is planned obsolescence, and why does industry use it? What impact is this having on the earth’s resources? Do you
think the governments care more about their economies or the environment?
Why are Governments so obsessed with growth? What is the effect of growth on the planet?

Which is more important, increasing people's standard of living or protecting the environment?  Are companies more or less
environmentally responsible now than they were in the past? Why do you think that is?  How can we protect the
environment and at the same time improve people's standard of living?  How is the growing prosperity of China affecting
the environment?  Could the whole world live as we do in the developed world and is it sustainable? What is the real goal
for controlling consumerism?

What is global warming?  Describe the factors which contribute to global warming.  Why should we be concerned about
global warming?  What effect does it have on the environment?   What does global warming do to the weather patterns of
the earth? What impact does the clothing industry have on the environment? By 2050 it is projected that the plastic in the
oceans will weigh more than all the fish! What could be done to prevent this? What can we do ourselves?

What's happening to forests in the world, and why?  What happens to the land and the animal habitats when we remove
forests?  How do trees help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, and thus reduce the greenhouse effect? 
What can we do to protect forests? How can changing our diet help reduce the effects of global warming (palm oil / beef).
Why is palm oil production so bad for the environment? How can we add more nature to our cities? 

What are endangered species?  What negative practices, environmental or otherwise, cause species to become
endangered? Who is most responsible for creating environmental problems? What do you think of environmental groups
like Greenpeace; are they a nuisance or a necessity? Name as many ways that you can think of that you personally can do
to help protect the environment?