Environmental Issues

Everything you wanted to know; and some you probably didn't!

Causes of Human Overpopulation

• Parents having more than 2 children.

• Improvements in medicine.– People who couldn’t previously have children

now can.– More children live long enough to reproduce.

Global Warming/Green House

• An increase in atmospheric gases, traps heat in and causes a gradual increase in the average yearly temperature on earth.

Green House Gases

• Carbon Dioxide – (Most abundant greenhouse gas) Released primarily by burning fossil fuels. (Coal, Oil, Gasoline, etc.)

• Methane Gas – (Most effective greenhouse gas) Released primarily by landfills and flatulent cows.

• Nitrous Oxide – Released from the exhaust of cars

Acid Rain

• Rain Water with a pH lower than 5.5.

• Caused primarily by burning gasoline and coal.

• Coal releases sulfur oxides creating sulfuric acid

• Gasoline releases nitrous oxides creating nitric acid.

Human Causes of Endangered Species

• Hunting for fashion and luxuries

• Over hunting for food.

• Intentional extermination

• Unintentional poisoning

• Habitat destruction / deforestation

• Pollution

• Exotic species introduction.

Effects of Human Overpopulation

• Global Warming- The more people we have…

• … the more fossil fuels burned

• … the more landfills and cattle needed

• … the more cars

Effects of Human Overpopulation

• Acid Rain- The more people we have…

• ...the more cars we drive

• …the more consumer goods we manufacture

• …the more electricity we need

Effects of Human Overpopulation

• Endangered species - The more people we have…

• ...the more land we need

• …the more pollutants we produce

• …the more desire for fashion and luxuries