The Earth’s Changing Environment As preparation for the final exam, consider the 10 following issues and be sure that you could answer the accompanying questions.

10 Central Issues

May 2004                                      

1. Population

• What are the current US and global population values and how rapidly are these values increasing?

• Why is population growth considered to be an environmental problem?

2. Fossil Fuels

• Why is consumption of fossil fuels an environmental problem?

• How can we reduce our dependence of fossil fuels?

3. Global Warming

• How do human activities lead to global warming?• What measures would be most effective in slowing global change?

4. Air Pollution• What human activities cause air pollution.

• What technologies and policies have been effective in reducing air pollution?

5. Ecosystem Destruction • What human

activities threaten species diversity?

• Why is preservation of biodiversity important?

6. Transportation • What environmental

problems are associated with transportation?

• How could mass transit contribute to a solution to these problems?

• How could HEVs and fuel cell technology contribute to a solution?

7. Solar Energy• What are the forms

of solar energy?• How does each of

these forms of solar energy work and in what form do they produce their energy?

• What are the disadvantages to solar energy?

• What forms of solar energy are most practical and economical?

8. Hydroelectric Power• How does a

hydropower plant work?

• What are the disadvantages of water power?

• How important is this form of renewable energy in the US?

9. Nuclear Energy• How does a nuclear

power plant work?• What are the

advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power?

• What is the current use of nuclear power in the US and elsewhere?

10. Wind Energy • How does wind

energy produce power?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy?

• Where in the US and worldwide is wind power used?

My View? The US should • develop a sustainable

energy policy • become a global

leader in the use of renewable energy

• become a global leader in the conservation and restoration of ecosystems.