National Geographic Video: State of the Earth - Climate

1. National Geographic Video: State of the Earth - Climate

2. The Environment

3. Environment • What is it? • The natural environment encompasses all living & and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth

4. Presidential Policies & the Environment • T. 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 productive • Yellowstone National Park (1872) • Grand Canyon (1919)

6. 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

7. LBJ continued • Clean 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

8. Nixon’s Policies • R. Nixon • Silent 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)

9. 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.

10. EPA continued… • EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts • The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment.

11. Carter’s Policies • J. Carter • Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act • Protected more than 100 million acres of land & doubled the size of the nation’s park & wildlife refuge system

12. Carter continued… • 3-Mile Island • Love Canal, NY • Environmental disaster • Long-buried chemicals began seeping up through the ground • Exposure was linked to high rates of birth defects

13. 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

14. IPCC • The 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.

15. Environmental Issues • Climate change • Global warming • Global dimming • Fossil fuels • Sea level rise • Greenhouse gas • Ocean acidification • Conservation • Species extinction • Pollinator decline • Coral bleaching • Poaching • Endangered species • Energy • Energy conservation • Renewable energy • Efficient energy use • Environmental Degradation • Habitat destruction • To Do: • Of the 4 environmental issues listed, which one do you think we should be most concerned with & why?

16. 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?

17. 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

18. GROUP PROJECT • In assigned groups, you will research one of the following topics. • Acid Rain • Air Pollution • Global Warming • Animal/Species Extinction • Deforestation • Ozone Depletion • Ocean Issues (pick 1 issue or all 3) • sea water rising, oil spills, wastewater, & pollution

19. TO DO • Research • 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! • Title • At least 5 Visuals (pictures, charts, graphs, etc.) • Background (5 W’s & How) • Current Info & Research • Changes in Policies, Future Implications, Recommendations • Presentation • Each group will present their topic to the class