3.7 Environmental Risks of Economic Development Flashcards
Enivronmental risks of economic development
- Desertification (caused by intensive farming + increasing population)
- Water pollution
- Air pollution
- Noise pollution
- Visual pollution
- Industrial pollution
- Climate change
Effects of industrial pollution
- Can damage wellbien of humans / other species eg. poisoning animals.
- May interfere with natural processes eg. changing local climatic conditions/ destroying wildlife habitats
- Can impact people’s livelihoods, eg. pollution of sea affect those in fishing + tourism industry.
Causes of climate change
Burning fossil fuels - Release carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere.
Deforestation - trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
Dumping waste in landfill - When the waste decomposes it produces methane.
Agriculture - Agricultural practices lead to the release of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.
Impacts of climate change
- Rising sea levels
- Extreme weather -> Droughts/Floods
- Increased demand for water in hot summers
- Impacts industries eg. si resorts close due to lack of snow.
- Species becomes extinct
- Species in tropica areas increase
Reducing/Preventing (mitigating) climate change
Renewable energy
Carbon capture
Planting trees
International aggreements, eg. the Paris Agreement
Carbon capture
The removal of carbon dioxide from waste gases from power stations and then storing it in old oil and gas fields or coal mines underground.
This reduces the amount of emissions into the atmosphere.
Adaptation strategies for climate change
(limiting negative effects)
Agriculture - Farmers adapt by diversifying into new crops as temperatures rise
Water supply - Water transfer schemes
Reducing risk from sea level rise - Sea defenses to prevent erosion
What to write on a 7-mark question about impacts of global warming.
- Desertification in Sahel region (80% of Sahel is affected)
- Hurricanes/ tropical storms at US Gulf coast
- Coral bleaching in Australia (great barrier reef)
- Glacial icecaps in Arctic are melting –> polar bears becomign extinct bc rely on icecaps to hunt for seals + camoflage.
- Wildfires, rising temps, rising sea levels.
What is the greenhouse effect / how does it work?
Water pollution
- Raw sewage
- industrial waste spills
- Radiation spills/ nuclear accidents
- Fertiliser runoff
- Biological contamination eg. bacteria growth
Air pollution
- Exhaust fumes from vehicles
- Fossil fuels
- Radiation spills/nuclear accidents
- Harmful gases released from plastic production
Light pollution
- Streetlamps shining in all directions
- Extra lights around home
- Cities with lights on all night long –> can affect animal behaviour + uses more energy.
Noise pollution (+ impacts)
- Traffic noise
- Air traffic
- Construction sites
- Catering/Night life
- Animals (eg. pets)
Impacts
- Can cause high blood pressure, headaches
- Can cause stress, fatigue, anxiety
- May affect sleep bc not restful if noisy
How to reduce noise pollution
- Use lessy noisy transport (bicycles)
- Insulate homes with noie absorbing materials
- Residentials areas spearated from sources of noise
- Fines for exceeding noise limits
- Protect parks and countryside areas
How to reduce light pollution
- Streetlamps with hood
- No unnessecary houselights at night
- Limiting buildings that can be lit up during the night
