World Geography Environmental Issues Related To Industrial Activity. Environmental Issues Related To Industrial Activity.

Global Industrialization Patterns Employment Structure - A set of statistics that specify the percentage of a country’s labour force engaged in each of the four economic sectors (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary).

For example, if half of a country’s labour force consists of fishers, loggers, miners, and farmers, then the country’s employment structure would include a figure of 50 per cent employment in the primary sector. Economists who study levels of development in countries have concluded that a country’s economic development depends on its ability to change from an agriculturally based economy to an economy focussed on manufacturing.

Page 231 in your text book has a map that shows the level of wealth of all countries based on that country’s total value of production divided per person living in that country. This is called the GNP per capita.

What conclusions can be drawn from this map? Much of Africa and Asia are among the poorest countries in the world with people living on an average of less than 10% of the world’s average wealth (which is listed as $5,359 per person). Russia and much of South America average half of the world’s average wealth Canada, The USA, Western Europe and Australia are among the richest countries in the world with their average wealth per person coming in at % of the world’s average wealth. It is important to note that this data is from There have been a lot of changes in the regards to the wealth of Asian countries, particularly China, in the last 21 years.

The roles of stakeholders in the face of an environmental threat. Stakeholders are people who have a interest in a particular issue. Stakeholders often include: The government: Responsible for creating rules and regulation to protect the people and environment, while promoting economic development and progress The government: Responsible for creating rules and regulation to protect the people and environment, while promoting economic development and progress Corporations: Responsible for generating a profit for shareholders. N.G.O’s: (Non-governmental Organizations) Responsible for ensuring that the environment/social conditions are not harmed by development N.G.O’s: (Non-governmental Organizations) Responsible for ensuring that the environment/social conditions are not harmed by development Population: Often caught between the NGO and Corporation, they are often divided between development and protection Population: Often caught between the NGO and Corporation, they are often divided between development and protection

Relate the location of areas at risk to the location of major industrialized areas. CO2 emissions are a marker of industrial development Major industrial development can be found in four areas North America Western Europe East Asia/Japan Australia

However, A place does not need to be heavily industrialized to feel the negative effects of industry However, A place does not need to be heavily industrialized to feel the negative effects of industry Prevailing winds, ocean currents, and rivers all move industrial pollutants away from industrial areas Prevailing winds, ocean currents, and rivers all move industrial pollutants away from industrial areas

This map shows the effect that the Chernobyl Disaster had on the neighbouring countries of Belarus and Russia.

What kinds of actions should be taken to avert an environmental threat posed by an industry? Industries and Governments need to work together to solve environmental problems created by industry Industries and Governments need to work together to solve environmental problems created by industry Governments from around the world come together in summits (meetings) to make international agreements on environmental issues Governments from around the world come together in summits (meetings) to make international agreements on environmental issues Governments then take these new regulations back to their countries and try to enforce them Governments then take these new regulations back to their countries and try to enforce them However, as is the case in Canada, the cost of implementing the changes may be too high for them to be practical and countries may back out of the agreements ARTICLE

Social/moral issues associated with industry In Canada and most well developed nations there are strict regulations about safety, waste emissions, age of workers, and corporate responsibility. In some developing nations the regulations might not be in place or they might be relaxed in the hope of stimulating business instead of inhibiting it. There are many social/moral issues associated with manufacturing operations. Examples include child labour, safety of workers and a Company’s responsibility to be environmentally friendly. Business drives the economy and provides us with our high standard of living here in the western world. The question we have to keep asking ourselves is "are industries acting within the moral parameters of our society?".

Increasingly, the issue arises that Canadians are not aware that in an effort to make goods cheaper to purchase, Canadian companies are outsourcing their labour off shore. This means that they go to foreign countries where people are willing to work for low wages and the working conditions and even building standards are not what we would expect. It is up to us to be aware of these issues. Canadian Link to Bangladesh Factory Collapse Increasingly, the issue arises that Canadians are not aware that in an effort to make goods cheaper to purchase, Canadian companies are outsourcing their labour off shore. This means that they go to foreign countries where people are willing to work for low wages and the working conditions and even building standards are not what we would expect. It is up to us to be aware of these issues. Canadian Link to Bangladesh Factory Collapse