Download EVS WORKSHEET CLASS: VIII TOPIC : ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

EVS WORKSHEET
CLASS: VIII
TOPIC : ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Environmental issues are the negative aspects of human activities on natural environment. They are defined as
problems with the planet's systems (air, water, soil, etc.) that have developed as a result of human interference
or mistreatment of the planet. There are many environmental issues in India. Air pollution, water pollution,
garbage, and pollution of the natural environment are all challenges for India.
Climate Change
change
Poverty
Pollution
Causes of Environmental Issues
Water crisis
Climate Change :
This has been considered as the most pressing environmental issue.
Climate change is real and it is influenced by human activities through
the production of green house gases such as methane and carbon
dioxide.
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere
generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels
of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants is called Global
warming. Global warming has the effect of melting polar ice caps;
displacing people from tropical and coastal islands and can ultimately
threaten the survival of human race.
Humans contribute to a warming Earth through the release of
greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through
deforestation, agriculture, industrial pollution and the use of the
automobile. The use of domesticated animals also has an effect on the
environment; cows, goats and pigs all release methane gas, a
greenhouse gas, accounting for about a quarter of all methane
emissions.
Pollution:
Fuel combustion is a primary cause of air pollution, mainly due to
either automobiles or coal-burning power plants, which produce high
levels of carbon monoxide. Domestic, commercial and industrial solid
waste contribute to land pollution, requiring landfills for storage or
burning, which turns it into air pollution.
Land Degradation
Population
growth
Land Degradation:
Land degradation is a serious and growing problem in developing
countries, which makes it difficult to grow crops and forests due to
depleted soil. Land clearance, agricultural depletion of soil through
poor land management, livestock overgrazing and urban sprawl are
some common causes of land degradation.
Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical
environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes
acting upon the land.
Causes:
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Land clearance, such as clear cutting and deforestation.
Agricultural depletion of soil nutrients through poor farming
practices.
Livestock including overgrazing and over drafting.
Inappropriate irrigation and over drafting.
Soil contamination
Increase in field size due to economies of scale, reducing shelter
for wildlife.
Monoculture, destabilizing the local ecosystem.
Dumping of non-biodegradable trash, such as plastic.
Poverty:
A state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial
resources and essentials to enjoy a minimum standard of life and wellbeing that's considered acceptable in society. Poverty in India is
widespread, and a variety of methods have been proposed to measure it.
There is no proof that poverty, especially in cities, has an impact on the
environment. On the other hand, backward (or not so developed)
technologies and an industry’s energy efficiency (how much energy it
needs to produce an amount of goods) will greatly affect the
environment.
On the whole, the middle- and upper-classes lifestyles are also greatly
responsible for the depletion of natural resources and the production of
(toxic) waste.
Population:
Population growth is known as one of the driving forces behind
environmental problems, because the growing population demands
more and more (non-renewable) resources for its own application.
Environmentalists and economists increasingly agree that efforts to
protect the environment and to achieve better living standards can be
closely linked and are mutually reinforcing. Slowing the increase in
population, especially in the face of rising per capita demand for
natural resources, can take pressure off the environment and buy time
to improve living standards on a sustainable basis.
Water Conservation
Recycling
Reduce Oil Dependence
PREVENTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Preventative measures must be taken to protect the environment's
resources. Maintaining the environment is important to the health
and safety of all who live here.
Creating the Clean Energy Future
Defending Endangered
Wildlife and Wild Places.
Protecting Our Health by
Preventing Pollution.
1. Water Conservation:
Conserving water saves money and protects water reserves for future use. Water is necessary to the
environment and makes the land habitable for all living creatures. Each person can take measures to conserve
water daily by turning off the sink when water is not being used or storing rain water for daily needs such as
watering a garden.
Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a
region. Water scarcity involves water stress, water shortage or deficits, and water crisis. Water scarcity has
many negative impacts on the environment, including lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other fresh water resources.
Subsidence, or the gradual sinking of landforms, is another result of water scarcity.
Causes of water crisis
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Inadequate access to safe drinking water .
Inadequate access to water for sanitation and waste disposal
Groundwater over drafting (excessive use) leading to diminished agricultural yields.
Overuse and pollution of water resources harming biodiversity.
2. Recycling:
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Recycling can decrease the number of pollutants entering the atmosphere and has been linked to lessening
global climate change. Decreasing the amount of raw materials an industry has to use to create new products
slows the cutting down of trees and reduces gas emissions.
3. Reduce Oil Dependence:
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The world's dependence on oil causes serious harm to the environment. Electric cars replace vehicles with
highly polluting internal combustion engines. Ethanol fuel, made from corn, reduces gasoline consumption.
4. Defending Endangered Wildlife and Wild Places
The destruction of our last remaining wild lands means the loss of vast troves of biological diversity, critical
regulators of global climate, and irreplaceable sanctuaries.
5. Protecting Our Health by Preventing Pollution
We must reduce or eliminate the dangerous chemicals in the products we buy, the food we eat and the air we
breathe.
6. Creating the Clean Energy Future
America's dependence on fossil fuels threatens our national security and is a major contributor to global
warming and toxic air pollution. By investing in renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind and biomass,
we can help solve the energy and climate crises.
Q1. Fill in the blanks.
1.
____________________ are the negative aspects of human activities on natural environment.
2.
Humans contribute to a warming Earth through the release of ____________________.
3.
____________________is known as one of the driving forces behind environmental problems .
4.
The world's dependence on ____________ causes serious harm to the environment.
5.
America's dependence on ____________________threatens our national security and is a major
contributor to global warming and toxic air pollution.
Q2. Name the following.
1.
It saves money and protects water reserves for future use.
_____________________
2.
It involves water stress, water shortage or deficits, and water crisis.
_____________________
3.
It is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment
is affected.
_____________________
A state or condition in which a person or community lacks the
financial resources.
_____________________
4.
Q3. Answer the following questions.
1. What is an environmental issue?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. List the causes of an environmental issue.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Write a short note on Land Degradation.
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4. What are the Causes of water crisis?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. What is Global warming?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
6. How to prevent environmental problems.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
7.
ACTIVITY
Make a collage of an environmental issue.