Grade 12: Environmental Issues 🌍🚨

Interactive Lesson • $\text{Climate}$ $\text{Change}$ • $\text{Pollution}$ • $\text{Biodiversity}$ $\text{Loss}$ • $\text{Sustainability}$

$\text{Climate}$ $\text{Change}$ $\text{and}$ $\text{Greenhouse}$ $\text{Gases}$ 🌡️

  The $\text{global}$ $\text{warming}$ trend is primarily caused by the $\text{increase}$ in $\text{Greenhouse}$ $\text{Gases}$ ($\text{GHGs}$) from $\text{human}$ $\text{activities}$.

 
   

$\text{The}$ $\text{Problem}$

   

$\text{GHGs}$ ($\text{CO}_2$, $\text{CH}_4$, etc.) $\text{trap}$ $\text{heat}$ in the $\text{atmosphere}$, $\text{leading}$ to $\text{global}$ $\text{temperature}$ $\text{rise}$.

 
 
   

$\text{Major}$ $\text{Cause}$

   

$\text{Burning}$ of $\text{fossil}$ $\text{fuels}$ ($\text{coal}$, $\text{oil}$, $\text{gas}$) for $\text{energy}$ and $\text{transportation}$.

 
 
   

$\text{Impacts}$

   

$\text{Sea}$ $\text{level}$ $\text{rise}$, $\text{extreme}$ $\text{weather}$, $\text{ocean}$ $\text{acidification}$.

 
 
Score: 0
 
Streak: 0

$\text{Pollution}$ $\text{and}$ $\text{Degradation}$ 🗑️

  $\text{Pollution}$ comes in many $\text{forms}$ ($\text{air}$, $\text{water}$, $\text{land}$) and $\text{directly}$ harms $\text{ecosystems}$ and $\text{human}$ $\text{health}$.

 
   

$\text{Water}$ $\text{Pollution}$

   

$\text{Nutrient}$ $\text{runoff}$ (causing $\text{eutrophication}$) and $\text{plastic}$ $\text{waste}$ in $\text{oceans}$.

 
 
   

$\text{Air}$ $\text{Pollution}$

   

$\text{Sulphur}$ $\text{Dioxide}$ ($\text{SO}_2$) and $\text{Nitrogen}$ $\text{Oxides}$ ($\text{NO}_x$) $\text{leading}$ to $\text{acid}$ $\text{rain}$.

 
 
   

$\text{Biodiversity}$ $\text{Loss}$

   

$\text{Habitat}$ $\text{destruction}$ ($\text{deforestation}$) and $\text{overexploitation}$ $\text{leading}$ to $\text{species}$ $\text{extinction}$.

 

$\text{Solutions}$: $\text{Sustainability}$ $\text{and}$ $\text{Mitigation}$ 🌱

  **$\text{Sustainability}$** means meeting the $\text{needs}$ of the $\text{present}$ $\text{without}$ $\text{compromising}$ the $\text{ability}$ of $\text{future}$ $\text{generations}$ to $\text{meet}$ their $\text{own}$ $\text{needs}$.

 
   

$\text{Mitigation}$

   

Reducing the $\text{causes}$ of $\text{climate}$ $\text{change}$ ($\text{e.g.,}$ $\text{switching}$ to $\text{solar}$ $\text{power}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Adaptation}$

   

Adjusting to the $\text{changes}$ that have $\text{already}$ $\text{occurred}$ ($\text{e.g.,}$ $\text{building}$ $\text{sea}$ $\text{walls}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Circular}$ $\text{Economy}$

   

A $\text{system}$ $\text{aimed}$ at $\text{eliminating}$ $\text{waste}$ by $\text{continually}$ $\text{reusing}$ $\text{resources}$ ($\text{vs.}$ $\text{Linear}$: $\text{take}$-$\text{make}$-$\text{dispose}$).

 

⚡ $\text{Environmental}$ $\text{Issue}$ $\text{Check}$!

Identify the $\text{environmental}$ $\text{issue}$ or $\text{concept}$ associated with the following statement.

 
$\text{Overgrowth}$ of $\text{algae}$ and $\text{subsequent}$ $\text{oxygen}$ $\text{depletion}$ in a $\text{lake}$ due to $\text{farm}$ $\text{runoff}$.
 
     
 
 

Reset Your Score

If you want to play again, you can reset your score here.