6. Environment (sustainability and stewardship) Flashcards
atmosphere
the layer of air around the Earth
biodiversity
the number and variety of all living things within an ecosystem
climate
the average weather over many years
conserve
not to waste resources
drought
a prolonged period of below average precipitation
ecosystem
an area displaying a distinctive interaction between plants, animals and the physical environment
environment
the air, land, water, plants and wildlife
extinct
no longer in existence (of animals; no longer active (of volcanoes)
geo-thermal energy
heat and electricity produced from hot, underground water
global warming
the slow increase in world temperatures due to the enhanced greenhouse effect
habitat
an area in which plants and animals have adapted in order to survive there
hydro-electric power
electricity produced by water being released through dam turbines
landfill
the disposal of waste in natural or man-made holes in the ground
national park
an area of countryside of outstanding beauty which is protected from development
non-renewable energy
a resource that cannot be replenished once it has been used, such as fossil fuels
recylcing
the reuse of waste material
renewable energy
a sustainable source of power which can be used indefinitely (e.g. wind, solar, tidal)
stewardship
looking after the environment in a sustainable way for the future.
sustainable
using resources in a manner which allows them to be available in future generations
greenhouse effect
the natural warming of the atmosphere by retention of heat from the sun’s radiation
enhanced greenhouse effect
the impact on climate from additional CO2 and other greenhouse gases that humans release into the atmosphere, also referred to as global warming
Which 6 issues do Camden experience today?
Traffic & Transport
Food & water waste
Energy Use
Litter and waste
Air pollution
Light pollution
How many national parks are in the UK?
15
What aims do national parks have?
- Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.
- Promote the opportunities for understanding and enjoying national parks by the public.
- To meet the socio-economic needs of local communities
Where is the Snowdonia Park located?
North Wales
What benefits does Snowdonia National Park bring?
Jobs for locals
Income for the local economy
Preserves local services
Tourists enjoy scenery, so more reason to conserve
List 6 Problems with National Parks and how they can be solved.
Description of location of our school
The Hall is located in the London borough of Camden. The area around the school is suburban, but other parts of Camden could be classified as urban.
Causes of environmental issues (local)
-The busy FinchleyRoad (A Road) nearby
-A highly populated area with a number of schools close by, which greatly increases traffic, congestion and litter
-The average Camden resident emits 15tonnes of CO2annually (the UK average is 13tonnes).
When did the Camden Council declare a climate and ecological emergency?
2019
How to solve these local environment issues
-Changing streetlights to energy-efficientLED lights
-Fitting184 solar panels to the Swiss Cottage library
-Council’s energyis supplied by renewable sources
-Increased cycle routes
-Camden Forest 2025-aimed to plant 2025 trees by 2025
-VisioningCamden 2023-asked locals to imagine the borough in 2030 if the impacts of climate change had been dealt with.
Overall,these efforts saw a reduction inthe 2019/20carbon emissions by 51% compared to 10 years earlier.
Causes of Global Warming
Global warming is the long term rise in world temperatures since pre-industrialtimes.
Increased greenhouse gas emissions contribute to warming the planet. As more of these gases are put into our atmosphere than occur naturally, a thicklayer of gases has built up, causing the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Impacts of Global Warming
-Increase in land & ocean temperatures
-Melting ice at poles & mountains glaciers-Rising sea levels
-More extreme weather
If we fail to change ourbehaviour soon,global temperaturescould rise by 3C by the end of this century. The table below outlines the impacts of a 1.5C versus a 2C temperature rise.
Global Warming Solutions
The main solution is to reduce carbon emissions. In 2015 at the UN climate summit nearly all countries agreed to limit global warming to 1.5oC and a maximum of 2oC.
Some ways to achieve this include-reducing and stopping the burning of fossil fuels, reforestation and reducing temperatures in our homes. The economic, social and environmental cost of changing in the future will be much greater than if we do it now!
UK’s energy mix
The UK’s energy mix is made up of renewable and non-renewable sources.
Nuclear is non-renewable but unlike coal, gas and oil it does not releasecarbon emissions. However, nuclear waste is dangerous and has to be stored safely
Air Land and Water Pollution
Water pollutionis any form of contamination that people put into water-sewage.
Land pollution is contamination of the land including soil and the groundbeneath.
Air pollution consists of harmful chemicals or particles in the air.
There are many things we can do to reduce pollution:
Water-reduce water use, use environmentally safe cleaning products and buy organic food.
Land-reduce what you buy, reuse items and recycle.
Air-use public transport, use electricor hybrid cars and car share.
