Earth's Greatest Threats
WARM UP
Do you think we live in a world where there is enough awareness about the care and protection of the environment?
Environmental problems
The Earth1 is facing various threats mainly deriving from human impact on the planet. Terms such as "climate change", "global warming", "greenhouse effect", "acid rain", "deforestation", and "carbon footprint" have become part of our vocabulary.
Most environmental problems derive from the effects of human overpopulation1, starting from the depletion of the Earth's natural resources (fossil fuels, minerals, trees, arable land, fresh water, and wildlife) to the increasing amount of waste we generate.
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1 Mother Earth is a common expression for the planet Earth in a number of countries and regions, and this demonstrates the interdependence between human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit.
DO
1 According to UN predictions, the number of human beings on Earth could reach ……… by 2050.
a. 7.5 billion
b. 9.7 billion
c. over 11 billion
Climate change
Climate change is affecting the whole planet and it concerns all of us in ways we can see and feel.
- Global warming is causing the melting of glaciers and even of the polar ice caps, which in turn causes the rising of sea levels and the consequent flooding of many areas.
- Climate change is also a major contributor to the loss of biodiversity, as some species are unable to adapt to changing temperatures and become extinct.
Pollution
Environmental pollution is causing serious and permanent damage to the natural world and human society. Pollution can take many forms: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil we use to grow our food, the lit-up skies, and even the noise we hear can contribute to health problems and a lower quality of life, with major disruptions and effects on wildlife and ecosystems.
Pollutants in the atmosphere are also causing the depletion of the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun.
Deforestation
Deforestation continues at an alarming rate. The destruction of forests has many negative effects, such as climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, and increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Go green!
Protecting the environment, controlling environmental issues, and producing renewable energy are problems that should concern everyone. Each of us should care about the future of our planet and try to contribute towards making our planet a “greener” and better place to live.
