Global Issues

1) W h a t a r e t h e m o s t w o r r y i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m s ?

 the direct consequences of environmental pollution include global warming,

greenhouse effect, the depletion of the ozone layer, shrinking polar ice, the risen sea
levels, acid rain and climate change
 extreme weather conditions may also cause serious damage

2) W h y i s i t d i f f i c u l t t o c o p e w i t h t h e m ?

 pollution has already exceeded a certain limit

 this harmful process is impossible to reverse
 certain countries are still not aware of the destruction they are bringing about
 In South America, for example, poverty leads people to cut down trees for firewood and
farmland

3) W h a t i s t h e g r e e n h o u s e e f f e c t a n d w h a t i s i t c a u s e d b y ?

 the greenhouse effect is to be blamed for global warming and climate change
 carbon dioxide in the air has increased a lot since the industrial revolution
 this increased amount of CO2 forms a blanket around the earth and as a result, the
incoming heat from the sun cannot escape into space thus the temperature of the air is
constantly on the rise

4) W h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t e p s h a v e b e e n t a k e n t o f i g h t g l o b a l w a r m i n g ?

 global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced

 international negotiations are now taking place
 It would be important to reach a global agreement.

5) W h y i s t h e d e p l e t i o n o f t h e o z o n e l a y e r e x t r e m e l y d a n g e r o u s ?

 it is the upper layer of the atmosphere, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation
from the rays of the sun
 As a consequence of industrial and domestic pollution, holes have appeared in it,
especially over the Antarctic
 through the holes very damaging UV radiation can reach the surface of the earth
 it can cause skin cancer and cataracts and can harm crops

6) W h a t i s h a p p e n i n g t o t h e f o r e s t s o f t h e p l a n e t ?

 European and North American forests are threatened by forest death which is caused
by
-air pollution
-acid rain
-various diseases and
-climatic stress
  Also, both temperate forests and tropical rainforests are being cut down at an
alarmingly fast rate worldwide.
 Deforestation is when forests are lost because people want to make farms and cities or
simply firewood.
 Without the forests, the habitats of the animals are lost and many animals die.

7) Why are the rainforests important?

Forests have the following main functions:

 they regulate the water cycle
 produce and protect soil
 provide habitat for animals and plants
 provide most of our oxygen and
 are the sources of half the medicine used worldwide

8) What is meant by biodiversity?

 the variety of life on Earth

 the diversity of the different ecosystems on the planet

9) Which animals are on the edge of extinction?

 The list is shockingly long with a lot of lesser-known animals included.

 The most well-known among them are perhaps the Siberian tiger, the giant panda,
the great blue whale, the dolphin, the polar bear, the African and Indian elephants, the
European bison, the mountain gorilla, the giant sea turtle to mention only a few.

10) Apart from climate change why do certain animals die in great numbers?

 Animals suffer due to climate change caused by pollution as well as overhunting.

 They are hunted for their fur, skin and meat, certain body parts which are used for
souvenirs and as medicine.

11) Could you mention some species of animals that have already died out?

 the Tasmanian wolf

 Caspian tigers were hunted for their furs and to protect livestock
 Portuguese sailors discovered the island of Mauritius and the 50 lb flightless dodos
which supplemented their food stores
 the woolly mammoth
 the different species of dinosaurs

12-13) How do you think animals in danger could be helped? What do you think
of zoos?

 give the whole species a last chance

 Conservation is one of the things that zoos do to help the animal species survive.
 breed rare or endangered species in artificial environments
 animals like cheetahs, leopards and lions shouldn’t be stuck all crammed up in zoos
 I think they should be in a protected park such as a national park or a wild animal park
14)What are the organizations that are interested in environmental protection
and animal rights?

 Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to protect

and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been protecting the future of nature

15) Do you approve of animals performing in circuses?

 The fact is, animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on
balls, or jump through rings of fire.
 to force them to perform these tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, and other
painful tools
 We applaud trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but let’s
leave animals in peace.
 Several countries have banned or restricted the use of animals in entertainment.

16) There has been an increase in natural disasters in the past decades. How
does this fact relate to the ongoing climate change?

 there is a possible relation between recent natural disasters and climate change
 heat waves in Europe have become much more likely
 worsen drought conditions
 hurricane intensity has increased
 greenhouse gas concentrations will cause more extreme weather events

17) What natural catastrophes are related to earth/air/water/heat and fire?

 Catastrophes related to earth are earthquakes, landslides and mudslides, and volcanic
eruptions;
 air-related catastrophes are those which involve disastrous windstorms, such as
tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons.
 Disasters by water include seastorms and icestorms, tsunamis, heavy rains and
subsequent flooding.
 Extreme heat can induce wildfires in dry areas of the planet.

18) How can people protect themselves and prepare for them?

 In order to protect themselves, people should observe certain rules.

 you are advised to stay calm as panic leads to hasty decisions
 and may cause even more injury and harm or even death

19) What other (not natural) catastrophes have happened?

 Catastrophes which are caused by careless or deliberate human activities are nuclear
catastrophes, vehicle crashes, space vehicle explosions, oil spills, terrorism and
biological attacks.
 They take the same heavy toll on human life and property as natural disasters.
20) What is happening to the natural resources underground?

 Once living plants and animals are now conserved in the form of fossil fuels: coal, oil
and gas.
 These non-renewable resources are formed over very long geological periods.
 Unless we convert to renewable energy (solar, water, wind and geothermal energy),
we are in for a devastating energy crisis soon.

21) What is understood by sustainable development?

 city planning should be more energy efficient and less polluting for the environment

22) Are you pessimistic or optimistic about the future of our planet?

 I am quite optimistic about it.

 With the help of advanced technology, we will be capable of building homes under
the sea or underground if surface conditions are unfit for supporting life.
 Food problems can also be overcome by biotechnology or synthetic pills.
 Advanced medicine will help people to defeat diseases and live a longer, healthier life.
 I’m convinced that scientific progress has a lot to offer us in the coming centuries.