Environmental Issues of Europe

SS6G9: The student will discuss environmental issues of Europe. a. Explain the major concerns of

Europeans regarding the issues such as acid rain in Germany, air pollution

in the United Kingdom, and the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl,

Ukraine.

Word SplashStudents will work in groups of 3-4 and to create a Word Splash of environmental problems and terms

Activity

Students will create a Vocabulary Sheet for the Lesson using Frayer

Diagrams for each term.

1. Air Quality2. Pollutants3. Acid Rain4. Global Warming5. Ozone Layer6. Biodiversity7. CAPS8. Kyoto Protocol

Vocabulary

Students will create a Tree Map as we go through the lesson.

Environmental Issues of Europe

AirQuality Pollutants Solutions

Tree Map

European nations have to deal with problems that

have been causes by man.

Factories, heavy traffic, and large populations

produce pollution.

Environmental Issues

Poor air quality in major cities such as London are caused by overcrowding, factories, and heavy traffic. The air pollution affects the environment and the health of the people.

AIR QUALITY

Discuss with your neighbor(s) the

factors that causes bad air

quality in Europe.

Summarizer

ACID RAINPollutants get trapped inthe atmosphere. Many ofthese pollutants fall toearth again when it rains.These rains are filled withpollutants called acidrain. The rain can be veryunhealthy and canDamage the environment.It is a major concern inGermany.

ACID RAIN

With your partner discuss the causes and effect of Acid

Rain on the environment.

Summarizerr

Nuclear energy can be more efficient, cleaner, and cheaper than other forms of energy. But, it can also be dangerous. If it is not managed properly deadly radiation may be released.

In 1986, a deadly nuclear accident happened in Chernobyl, Ukraine. Many people died from cancer and other sickness caused by the radiation. Wind spread radiation into other countries of Europe. Many people got sick and the animal and dairy products were contaminated.

NUCLEAR DISASTER

PICTURES

ReviewSince many of the world’s largest and most industrialized cities are in Europe, what is of major environmental concern for European countries?

A.Deforestation B. Pollution of the Great Lakes

C. Air quality and water pollution

D. Overfishing

Assessment #1

When rain that has been polluted falls to the earth, it is called:A. Nuclear disaster

B. Acid Rain

C. Pollution

D. Air Quality

Assessment #2

Overcrowding, heavy traffic, and factories have caused poor __________ in Europe.A. Nuclear disaster

B. Acid Rain

C. Pollution D. Air Quality

Assessment #3

In Europe, farmers use almost half of the land for agriculture. When so much land is used for agriculture, groundwater, surface water, and sea water are all affected. Pesticides residue and nutrients used on crops run off into water sources.

Environmental Concerns

BiodiversityChemicals cause

biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is

the living organisms in an environmental system.

The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) made efforts to make some reforms.

BIODIVERSITY

Common Agricultural Policy

The CAP is a political compromise betweenFrance and Germany: German industrywould have access to the French market; inexchange, Germany would help pay forFrance's farmers.Germany is still the largest contributor intotheEU budget. However, as of 2005, France isalso a net contributor while the moreAgriculture focused Spain, Greece, and Portugal are thebiggest beneficiaries.

CAP

Ozone Layer

Air pollution comes from things like ozone (a byproduct of automobile exhaust and industrial pollution).

Too much ozone negatively affects people’s health.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, EU nations have agreed to a program to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Kyoto Protocol is an internationaltreaty proposing binding targets for thereduction of greenhouse gasemissions, which are generally believedto aggravate global warming. It wasnegotiated in Kyoto, Japan, opened forsignature on March 16, 1998, and closed on March 15, 1999. The treaty isexpected to come into force when it isratified by Russia.

Kyoto Protocol

Europeans are concerned about global warming, or climate change.

By 2100, temperatures are expected to climb 5.8◦C.

European temperatures will probably be higher which will affect the availability of water, flood hazards, agricultural productivity, and natural areas.

Water is needed for drinking and irrigation.

Pesticides and nitrates from fertilizers cause water pollution.

Global Warming

1 – Students will create a graphic organizer summarizing

the information2 – Students will create a poster

to summarize the information3 – Students will create a

rap/poem/song to summarize the information

Activity

FLYER OR POSTERFlyer/Poster will include:

1.Air Quality2.Pollutants3.Global Warming4.Ozone Layer5.Biodiversity6.CAPS7.Kyoto Protocol

Extending Activity