Sustainable Use of Resources

• Using natural resources in a way that doesn’t deplete them

1. Plant a tree for every one cut down

2. Use biofuels

3. Alternative energies

Acid Rain• Causes: burning

of fossil fuels and factories with smoke stacks release sulfur into the air making precipitation acidic.

Acid Rain Effects

• Destroys plant tissues

• Destroys aquatic ecosystems

• Destroys many statues

Acid Rain on pH scale

Affects of Acid Rain

Acid Rain Solutions

• Create laws that limit emissions from smoke stacks.

• Create laws that mandate (force) factory owners to use scrubbers on smoke stacks

• Use cleaner fuel sources

Most smoke stacks now have scrubbers!

Global Climate Change

• Increase in the average temperature of the biosphere

The Evidence

• In the past 120 years the average global temperature has risen .5 degrees Celsius

• The 1990’s was the hottest decade on record

The Projections

• Computer models suggest that the average global temperatures will increase by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius by 2050.

The Cause of Climate Change

• Increased amounts of CO2 that enters the atmosphere, from burning of fossil fuels

• Increased amounts of greenhouse gases like methane.

The Effects of Climate Change• Polar ice caps will melt causing massive

flooding

The Effects of Climate Change• More severe weather systems or storms

The Effects of Climate Change

• Increased distribution of insects that carry deadly diseases - MALARIA

The Effects of Climate Change• The environmental change favors certain

species like rodents, weeds, and insects

The Effects of Climate Change

• Increased droughts

Solutions for Climate Change

• Create laws that limit carbon dioxide emissions – The Kyoto Treaty

• Use hybrid/electric cars

• Limit your energy consumption

• Educate people about the issues

Solutions for Climate Change

• Use of alternative energies

–Wind farms

–Solar farms

–Geothermal energy

–Nuclear energy

Wind Farms

Solar Farms

Geothermal Energy

Nuclear Energy

Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy

PROS:

• Little greenhouse gas emissions

• Readily available technology

• Huge amount of energy is generated from one single plant

Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy

CONS:

• Risk of radioactive disaster

• Radioactive waste

• Heats up surrounding water often harming the ecosystem

Ozone Depletion

• Ozone layer protects the earth from harmful UV rays

Without Ozone

Cause of Ozone Depletion

• Emission of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) into the atmosphere

Effect of Ozone Depletion

• Increase UV rays increases the skin cancer rates

Effect of Ozone Depletion

• Other species of plants and animals may also be affected by UV radiation. The species’ genes will mutate sometimes causing cancer, death, or infertility.

Solution to Ozone Depletion

• The use of CFC’s was banned by international law – Montreal Protocol of 1989