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Our Changing Planet

The document discusses evidence of global warming and climate change seen over the past century. The Upsala glacier in Argentina, which used to be one of the largest in South America, is now melting at a rate of 200 meters per year. Global temperatures have increased by 0.75 degrees Celsius in the last 100 years, causing sea levels to rise and threatening many plant and animal species. The main cause of climate change is greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere produced from human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Urgent action is needed to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy to prevent further environmental damage.

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Constantin Oprea
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263 views1 page

Our Changing Planet

The document discusses evidence of global warming and climate change seen over the past century. The Upsala glacier in Argentina, which used to be one of the largest in South America, is now melting at a rate of 200 meters per year. Global temperatures have increased by 0.75 degrees Celsius in the last 100 years, causing sea levels to rise and threatening many plant and animal species. The main cause of climate change is greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere produced from human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Urgent action is needed to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy to prevent further environmental damage.

Uploaded by

Constantin Oprea
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ENVIRONMENT UNIT 5

Our
changing planet 1928
The Upsala glacier in
Argentina used to be one
of the biggest glaciers in
South America. In 1928,
it was covered in ice and
snow but now the glacier
is melting at an annual rate
of 200 metres, so the area
is covered in water. This is
evidence of global warming.
2004

n the last 100 years, the global temperature of land on earth is now used agriculturally
has gone up by around 0.75 degrees for growing food. As a result of the higher
Celsius. This may not sound much but such temperatures and higher levels of carbon
a small increase is causing sea levels to rise dioxide in the atmosphere, plants are producing
and threatening the habitat of many species of more pollen which could lead to more cases of
plants and animals. An increase of two degrees asthma.
Celsius in global temperatures could result in So what is causing climate change? The main
extinction for 30% of the world’s land species. cause of climate change is the huge amount
The Northwest Passage is a sea route which of greenhouse gases such as methane and
runs along the northern coast of Canada carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, but the
between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. reason for this is the world’s population – you
In the past, it was often difficult to use, as and me. As the population increases, more land
the waters were frozen; however, increasing is needed to provide food, and more energy is
temperatures and the subsequent deglaciation needed. Burning fossil fuels for heating, lighting,
have made it easier to travel down this route. transport, electricity or manufacturing produces
The major issue is that this will lead to loss of CO2. Furthermore, humans breathe out CO2
habitat for the polar bears and other species that and trees ‘breathe in’ CO2 and produce oxygen
live in this area. – so by cutting down trees, we are increasing
Sea levels in the UK have increased by around the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and
10 cm in the last 100 years and experts predict reducing the amount of oxygen. As a result
that global sea levels could rise by up to 59 cm of these activities, CO2 levels are now at their
by the end of the century. Consequently, areas highest for 800,000 years.
which were land a few hundred years ago are The biggest challenge we all face is to prevent
now submerged and many low-lying islands further environmental disasters. We must do
may be under water in the future. something before it is too late. We need to
As a result of the changing climate, the world’s reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
ecosystems are also changing faster than ever We need to stop burning fossil fuels and start
before. Over one-third of the world’s mangrove using renewable energy. We can get enough
forests and around 20% of the world’s coral energy from renewable fuels like solar energy,
reefs have been destroyed in the last few hydroelectric energy or wind power to be able to
decades. Forests are being cut down to provide stop using fossil fuels completely.
land for food because the population is growing Sign the petition to get governments to take
at such a rapid rate. Approximately a quarter action before it is too late!

READING AND WRITING SKILLS 3 READING 1 91

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