Environmental Concerns

Air Pollution  Pollutants in the atmosphere Contribute to global warming and ozone layer depletion Contribute to global warming and ozone layer depletion

Water Pollution  Contamination by foreign matter that deteriorates the quality of the water Can limit access to clean drinking water, spread disease, kill plant and animal life which affects food chain Can limit access to clean drinking water, spread disease, kill plant and animal life which affects food chain

Soil / Land Pollution  Solid and liquid wastes, toxins in soil Chemicals can seep into soil, then into food and water supplies Chemicals can seep into soil, then into food and water supplies

Global Warming  Excessive warming of the earth’s surface by the greenhouse effect that results in a change in climate Process occurs naturally due to certain gases in the atmosphere Process occurs naturally due to certain gases in the atmosphere Life on earth would not be possible without it Life on earth would not be possible without it Global warming – increases in gases and temperatures to dangerous levels Global warming – increases in gases and temperatures to dangerous levels

Human Impact on Greenhouse Gases

Global Warming - Reasons  Carbon dioxide gases released into environment Due to massive amounts of non-renewable fossil fuels being burned by humans, including: Due to massive amounts of non-renewable fossil fuels being burned by humans, including: CoalCoal OilOil Natural gasNatural gas Non-renewable resources - cannot be created over again and our supply of them is limited; once they run out, the resource is gone forever.

Global Warming Some naturally occurring contributors to global warming : volcanic eruptions & meteor impacts Some naturally occurring contributors to global warming : volcanic eruptions & meteor impacts

Global Warming Impacts

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Rising incidence of violent storms North American Hurricane Season 2005 North American Hurricane Season 2005

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Rising incidence of heat waves (Europe 2003)

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Above average temperatures melting glaciers and sea levels are rising as a result

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Rising Sea Levels

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Diseases are extending their ranges because of warmer temperatures Many diseases, especially those in water, reproduce more rapidly in warmer weather Many diseases, especially those in water, reproduce more rapidly in warmer weather

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Earlier arrival of spring in some parts of the world – impacting global agricultural patterns

Effects / Results of Global Warming  As permafrost melts, Arctic communities lose valuable shoreline

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Polar bears to starving because they cannot use the ice to hunt seals  Now on endangered species list

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Canada’s Arctic regions – sea ice shrinking Causes sinking shorelines and death of some Arctic animals Causes sinking shorelines and death of some Arctic animals

Global Warming in Canada

Effects / Results of Global Warming  In BC – increasing water temperatures have contributed to salmon spawning numbers being 1/3 of what they were in 1990s

Effects / Results of Global Warming  While warmer temperatures could lengthen Canada’s short growing season – also higher risk of drought and forest fires

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Warmer weather causes increasing numbers of forest fires and more droughts in Canada’s prairie areas

Effects / Results of Global Warming  Canada’s oceans Increasing surface water temperatures, fewer nutrients are brought to the surface by the movement of colder water from deep in the ocean Increasing surface water temperatures, fewer nutrients are brought to the surface by the movement of colder water from deep in the ocean Nutrients support and maintain zooplankton – beginning of the food chain of sea life Nutrients support and maintain zooplankton – beginning of the food chain of sea life

Kyoto Protocol  Agreement among 180 industrialized nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions  Canada promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6% of the 1990 level by 2012  Countries not meeting their reduction targets could buy credits from other countries  USA withdrew in 2001

Arguments against Kyoto  Concerned that meeting goals will involve high costs to businesses and government and possible loss of jobs  Provincial governments must regulate polluting industries despite the fact that the federal government signed the agreement without consulting the provinces  Some argue not enough evidence that global warming to blame for climate change

Kyoto & Canada  Canada's greenhouse gas emissions were up by 24%  far from the government's commitment to meet a target 6% below the 1990 levels

Kyoto & Canada  Election of a Conservative government in 2006 brought about a reversal in Canada's climate change policy  2007 – Government announced plans to introduce legislation that would regulate industrial pollutants as part of the Conservatives' proposed Clean Air Act, to take effect in January  said Canada will not attempt to meet Kyoto's greenhouse gas targets

Possible Solutions – Renewable Energy Resources  Sustainable sources of energy could lessen dependence on fossil fuels, such as: Wind Turbines Wind Turbines

Wind Power

Solutions - Solar Power Panels

Solutions – Tidal Power

Solutions – Ground Source Energy

Solutions – Biofuels  Ethanol – some made from Corn

Ethanol – Concerns o o Ethanol – while reduces levels of carbon monoxide and other toxic air pollutants, corn- based ethanol production is energy intensive, and in some instances uses nearly as much energy to produce (including the energy needed for farming and making fertilizers) than it supplies, although new technologies are improving the efficiency of production.

Biofuels – instead of gasoline

Geothermal Energy  Heat from the ground harvested

Alternatives to Limit Fossil Fuel Use  Hydrogen or methanol fuelled power cells for automobiles

Alternatives to Limit Fossil Fuel Use  Reduce, re-use, recycle

Alternatives to Limit Fossil Fuel Use  Carpool, use public transportation, ride bicycle or walk

Ozone Depletion  Ozone layer – region of the atmosphere containing relatively high concentrations of ozone – approx 19-48km above the Earth’s surface

Ozone Depletion  Ozone is formed by the action of solar ultraviolet light on oxygen  It’s the only gas able to block out the ultraviolet rays from the sun

Ozone - Damage  Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Have done 80% of the damage to the Ozone Layer (creating “holes”) Have done 80% of the damage to the Ozone Layer (creating “holes”) Widely used in coolants for refrigerators and air conditioners, solvents, and aerosol cans Widely used in coolants for refrigerators and air conditioners, solvents, and aerosol cans

Results of Ozone Depletion

 Higher incidences of skin cancer

Results of Ozone Depletion  Reduction of microscopic marine life like phytoplankton which will impact the food chain

Results of Ozone Depletion  Mutations of genetic structure of plants and animals

Results of Ozone Depletion  Reduces rate of photosynthesis in plants (lowers energy output of producers)

Possible Responses to Ozone Depletion  Montreal Protocol – 1987 Agreement between all industrial nations to cut use of CFCs in an effort to eliminate these chemicals by 2000 Agreement between all industrial nations to cut use of CFCs in an effort to eliminate these chemicals by

Possible Responses to Ozone Depletion  Avoid using plastic foam packaging and goods that use CFCs (some aerosol cans)

Possible Responses to Ozone Depletion  Dispose of old refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners safely

Fresh Water Supplies  70% of Earth’s Surface – covered by water  However- most not readily accessible for human use

Fresh Water  Water stored in: Soil Soil Aquifers Aquifers (Ground water) Lakes Lakes Rivers Rivers streams streams

Fresh Water  Only 3% fresh water – 78% of which is stored in ice caps and glaciers  Canada has 18% of all surface fresh water on Earth  Large portion of this in Great Lakes

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Contamination Oil tanker accidents Oil tanker accidents Natural causes Natural causes Dumping of waste Dumping of waste

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Contamination Agricultural Agricultural Chemicals used in herbicides / pesticidesChemicals used in herbicides / pesticides Can seep into nearby streams and ground waterCan seep into nearby streams and ground water

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Contamination Industrial Industrial By-products of production in oil refineries, pulp mills, nuclear reactors, and chemical factoriesBy-products of production in oil refineries, pulp mills, nuclear reactors, and chemical factories

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Contamination Municipal Municipal Raw sewage, detergents, and solventsRaw sewage, detergents, and solvents

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Misuse 67% of accessible surface water is used by agriculture 67% of accessible surface water is used by agriculture When farmers till land – lose moisture – so land is irrigated – watered by artificial means When farmers till land – lose moisture – so land is irrigated – watered by artificial means

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Misuse 19% fresh water used for industry 19% fresh water used for industry 9% for municipal / residential services 9% for municipal / residential services

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Groundwater Depletion Over pumping of aquifers (underground layer of water- permeable rock) which replenish slowly reduces the water table (top of saturated layer of porous rock – ground water) Over pumping of aquifers (underground layer of water- permeable rock) which replenish slowly reduces the water table (top of saturated layer of porous rock – ground water)

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Groundwater Depletion Digging deeper wells which could potentially tap harmful minerals like arsenic and fluoride Digging deeper wells which could potentially tap harmful minerals like arsenic and fluoride

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada

 Water Exports The transfer water over long distances The transfer water over long distances Example: California would like to buy BC water; however, this could influence water table levels in BC Example: California would like to buy BC water; however, this could influence water table levels in BC

Threats to Water Quality and Supply in Canada  Increasing Populations Main threat to world’s freshwater supply’s shortages threaten world agricultural production as the amount to irrigated land has more than doubled in the 2 nd half of the 20 th C Main threat to world’s freshwater supply’s shortages threaten world agricultural production as the amount to irrigated land has more than doubled in the 2 nd half of the 20 th C

Possible Solutions to Water Supply Threats  Treatment technologies (Water Treatment Plants)

Possible Solutions to Water Supply Threats  Desalination of sea water (remove salt)

Possible Solutions to Water Supply Threats  Reclaimed or recycled water technologies  Rainwater harvesting

Possible Solutions to Water Supply Threats  Conservation  Low energy sprinkler systems and washing machines  Low flush toilets and other small-scale supply systems  Water Management technology

Possible Solutions to Water Supply Threats  Farmers change watering schedules to coincide with seasonal rains  Shallow wells or use new technology / techniques in well drilling so farmers are able to tap groundwater in aquifers  Drip irrigation which directs water to plant roots

Possible Solutions to Water Supply Threats  Micro-dams rather than large-scale projects that cause major harm to the environment  Government regulations  Taxes or user rates could be introduced to encourage conservation  Set watering patterns within municipalities

Acid Rain  Precipitation (rain, snow, hail, or fog) with a pH level of less then 5.6  Caused by heavy industrial activity with acids like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and burning fossil fuels

Acid Rain  Can poison plant life and wildlife of an area  Cause genetic mutations  Decrease growth rates of trees  Corrode steel  Affect lung capacity in humans  Especially predominant in Great Lakes area

Acid Rain - Response  Canada- United States Air Quality Agreement signed by Canada and the US in Ottawa  addresses transboundary air pollution leading to acid rain

Deforestation

Deforestation  The permanent loss of old growth forests  Has a drastic effect on the forests of the world  Important to the recycling of carbon dioxide, and the release of oxygen into the atmosphere  Leads to more global warming  Survival of some species threatened

Deforestation  Brazilian Rainforest Develop rainforest through farming, cattle ranching, mining, and lumbering Develop rainforest through farming, cattle ranching, mining, and lumbering Often no reforestation occurs and removal of forests lead to dry wastelands Often no reforestation occurs and removal of forests lead to dry wastelands

 Nearby bodies of water because soil no longer covered by forest, it becomes stripped away by rain or snow  Washed-out soil raises riverbeds, which leads to flooding, clogs reservoirs, and shortens life of dams  Also contributes to formation of new islands, which depletes coastal fisheries  Many insect, animal, and plant species have become extinct or endangered due to deforestation Deforestation Affects

Canada’s Forests  Canada has: ¼ of the world’s temperate deciduous coastal forest ¼ of the world’s temperate deciduous coastal forest 1/3 of world’s boreal coniferous forest 1/3 of world’s boreal coniferous forest Virtually all of the world’s old growth pine Virtually all of the world’s old growth pine

Decline of Canada’s Forests due to  Forest fires  Industrial development  Logging  Pine Beetle Epidemic Largely due to global warmingLargely due to global warming Winters not cold enough to kill themWinters not cold enough to kill them

Desertification

Desertification  Expansion of deserts due to mismanagement of the land in agriculture Using too much irrigation and artificial fertilizers to grow food out of season can make soils too salty to continue to grow crops Using too much irrigation and artificial fertilizers to grow food out of season can make soils too salty to continue to grow crops Farmland can become a wasteland or desert on which very little can grow or survive Farmland can become a wasteland or desert on which very little can grow or survive

Desertification  process whereby the productivity of drought- prone land decreases because of a variety of factors including:  overgrazing (poor rangeland management),  poor irrigation (waterlogging and salinization),  deforestation,  Over-cultivation,  drought,  soil erosion,  chemical action  and other practices.

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