Chapter 3.1 Environmental Issues

What are environmental issues Please list some of them…. One of them is: What is the best use of Antarctica?

One of them is: What is the best use of Antarctica? Many people think of Antarctica as an icy useless land; BUT it has 2km of ice and many unique animals living there. Moreover, it has a lot of minerals under ice. There are some who want to mine it for minerals. Others want to build resorts, hotels, parks etc. Some want to leave it alone undeveloped. Nobody knows how to best use Antarctica.

Types of environmental issues Pollution 3 Population growth 2 Resource use 1

1. Resource Use Natural resource Non-renewable Renewable resource Natural resource is anything in the environment is used by people. Natural resource Renewable resource Non-renewable resource

Resource- is not easily replaced ex: oil, coal and gas. Natural resource Renewable resource- can be replaced easily ex. sun, wind, fresh water, trees Non-renewable Resource- is not easily replaced ex: oil, coal and gas.

2. Population growth The human population growth has changed in the last 3,000 years. What helped humans to live longer? -new medicines and better diagnostic technology -agriculture -waste disposal

Human population growth

Human population growth The more people are born, the more resources are used up (water shortage, prices going up, competition for a job)

3. Pollution Pollution is the contamination of Earth’s land, water or air. Pollution can be made by a variety of things: chemicals, factories, wastes, noise, heat destroying wildlife and causing human health problems.

Pollution Pollution can be related to resource use. Burning gas causes more CO2 being released into the air. Pollution can be also related to population growth. More chemicals are used to feed plants to produce more vegetables or fruits. As chemicals run off the land, they can pollute water.

MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS Decisions about the environment can be made at: Personal level (yourself) Local level (city’s decisions about trash) National level (decisions about environment) Global level (decisions about Earth’s atmosphere) Every decision you make has impact on the environment.

MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS 1. Balancing different needs 2. Types of costs and benefits 3. Weighing costs and benefits

1. Balancing different needs Environmental decision requires a balance between the government and people. Decisions are based on the costs and benefits of the proposal. Environmental Science- is the study of interactions between the environment and people. Environmental scientists help make decisions with environmental decisions.

2. Types of costs and benefits Costs and benefits are often economic. Not everything is valued in terms of money. Long-term and short-term benefits should be considered.

3. Weighing costs and benefits A decision must be made after analyzing costs and benefits. Sometimes it is worth it, and sometimes it’s not worth it depending on costs and benefits.

Antarctica??? Advantages: new supply of oil, electricity, and transportation. If more oil is drilled, the oil price might be reduced and become cheap. It would provide more job opportunities for people. Disavantages: ????

Section 3.1 Assessment 1. a. Identifying: What are the three major types of environmental issues? 1b. Why is population growth an environmental issue? 1c. How might a growing population affect the supply of trees, a renewable resource? Explain your answer.

2a. Why is weighing costs and benefit useful for decision makers? 2b.Name one economic cost and one non- economic costs of drilling oil in Antarctica. List one benefit of drilling in Antarctica. 2c. Suppose you were a world leader faces with the question of drilling in Antarctica. What decision would you make? Give your reasons for your decision.,