national geographic video: state of the earth - climate
TRANSCRIPT
EnvironmentWhat is it?
The natural environment encompasses all living & and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth
Presidential Policies & the EnvironmentT. Roosevelt
John Muir & Conservation efforts of National Parks
Newlands Reclamation Act 1902 Allowed the federal gov’t to create irrigation
projects to make dry lands productiveYellowstone National Park (1872)Grand Canyon (1919)
LBJ’s “Great Society”L. B. Johnson
Wilderness Preservation Act (1964)Protected 9.1 million acres of nat’l forest from
development
Water Quality Act (1965)Required states to clean up rivers & lakes
LBJ continuedClean Air Act Amendments (1965)
Established exhaust emission standards for cars
Air Quality Act (1967)Set guidelines on air pollution & increased
federal gov’ts power to enforce clean air standards
Nixon’s PoliciesR. NixonSilent Spring (1962)
Rachel Carson published; warned of the harmful effects of chemicals on the natural world
Led to Earth Day demonstrations
Clean Air Act (1970) Regulated levels of air
pollution EPA established
(1970)
Environmental Protection Agency The White House and Congress established
the EPA in response to the growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land.
Task of the EPA:
Repair the damage already done to the natural environment
Establish new criteria to guide Americans in making a cleaner environment a reality.
EPA continued…EPA leads the nation's environmental
science, research, education and assessment effortsThe mission of the EPA is to protect human
health and the environment.
Carter’s PoliciesJ. CarterAlaska National Interest Lands
Conservation ActProtected more than 100 million acres of land
& doubled the size of the nation’s park & wildlife refuge system
Carter continued…3-Mile Island
Love Canal, NYEnvironmental
disasterLong-buried
chemicals began seeping up through the ground
Exposure was linked to high rates of birth defects
To Do:In your opinion, which president did the most
for the environment? Justify/defend your answer.Consider: Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon B.
Johnson, Richard Nixon, or Jimmy Carter
IPCCThe U.N. formed a group of scientists called the
International Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC.
The IPCC meets every few years to review the latest scientific findings & write a report summarizing all that is known about global warming.
Each report represents a consensus, or agreement, among hundreds of leading scientists.
To Do: Why is it important that an international group of scientists meet to discuss environmental issues? Explain.
Environmental IssuesClimate change
Global warmingGlobal dimmingFossil fuelsSea level riseGreenhouse gasOcean acidification
ConservationSpecies extinctionPollinator declineCoral bleachingPoachingEndangered species
EnergyEnergy conservationRenewable energyEfficient energy use
Environmental DegradationHabitat destruction
To Do:Of the 4 environmental
issues listed, which one do you think we should be most concerned with & why?
Issues continued…Genetic engineering
Genetic pollution Genetically modified food
controversies
Intensive farming Overgrazing Irrigation Environmental effects of
meat production
Overpopulation Burial
Land degradation Desertification
Soil, Soil conservation, Soil Erosion, Soil Contamination, Soil salinization
Land use Urban sprawl Habitat fragmentation Habitat destruction
Nuclear Issues Nuclear power Radioactive waste
To Do:Of these 6 issues, which
one do you think is most concerning & why?
Issues continued…Ozone Depletion
Pollution
Water pollution Acid Rain Marine pollution Ocean dumping Oil spills Ocean acidification Wastewater
Air pollution Smog Indoor air quality
Resource Depletion Exploitation of natural resources
(over-consumerism) Fishing; Bottom trawling; Illegal &
unregulated fishing; Shark finning; Whaling
Logging / Clearcutting / Deforestation
Mining
Toxins Chlorofluorocarbons DDT Dioxin Heavy metals Herbicides Pesticides Toxic waste
GROUP PROJECTIn assigned groups, you will research one
of the following topics.Acid RainAir PollutionGlobal WarmingAnimal/Species ExtinctionDeforestationOzone DepletionOcean Issues (pick 1 issue or all 3)
sea water rising, oil spills, wastewater, & pollution
TO DOResearch
Each group member needs to research for your topic If you don’t have a cell phone w/
Internet access, print your research
No Wikipedia Consider
World Wildlife Federation (WWF)
National Geographic IPCC EPA
Poster – bring your own!TitleAt least 5 Visuals (pictures,
charts, graphs, etc.)Background (5 W’s & How)Current Info & ResearchChanges in Policies, Future
Implications, Recommendations
PresentationEach group will present
their topic to the class