Download A PLANET IN DANGER? Tool 3, Activity 6 Deforestation http://www

A PLANET IN DANGER?
Tool  3, Activity 6
Deforestation
Deforestation is the permanent removal of forests where the land is converted to other uses such as agriculture or
land development and globally accounts for 20 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (almost eight
billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year). Forests most vulnerable to destruction are in tropical regions of the world,
where the rate of deforestation was estimated at 13 million hectares a year during the period from 1990 to 2005.
Deforestation in Canada accounts for only 0.4 per cent of global forest removal, and Canada has 91 per cent of its
original forest cover, more than any other country. A portion of deforestation is offset by increases in forest area
through afforestation (the planting of trees on land that has been bare of trees for a long period of time). In 2005 it
was estimated that 9400 hectares of new forest was created in Canada in areas that had not been forested for
over 50 years.
Forests are cut down for many reasons, but most of them are related to money or to people’s need to provide for
their families. The biggest driver of deforestation is agriculture. Logging operations, which provide the world’s
wood and paper products, also cut countless trees each year. Forests are also cut as a result of growing urban
sprawl. Not all deforestation is intentional. Some is caused by a combination of human and natural factors like
wildfires and subsequent overgrazing, which may prevent the growth of young trees.
Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for
millions of species. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the
deforestation that destroys their homes.
Deforestation also drives climate change. Forest soils are moist, but without protection from sun-blocking tree
cover they quickly dry out. This disruption leads to more extreme temperatures swings that can be harmful to
plants and animals. Trees also play a critical role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming.
Fewer forests mean larger amounts of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere—and increased speed and
severity of global warming.
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview.html
http://www.bcclimatechange.ca/bc-global-leaderin-forest-management/deforestation-reforestation.aspx
A PLANET IN DANGER?
Tool  3, Activity 6
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are any combustible organic material such as oil, coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of
plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. All fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide when they are burned,
which contributes to the greenhouse effect.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Earth is Getting Warmer
As we burn more and more fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil to power our cars, heat our homes and keep our
industries humming, we are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The problem is, too
many green house gases- or GHGs -- can be harmful. These gases are thickening the blanket that insulates the Earth,
causing average temperatures to rise.
Over the past 100 years, the average temperature on Earth has increased by more than half a degree Celsius. In fact
the 1980s and 1990s were the warmest decades on record, and the 20th century the warmest in the past 1000 years.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international organization bringing together the
world's top climate scientists, average global temperatures are expected to rise by 1.4 to 5.8° Celsius over the next
century.
In Canada, average temperatures in some regions, particularly the north, could rise by as much as 5 to 7° Celsius. To
put that in perspective, today's average global temperatures are only about 5° warmer than they were during the last ice
age. It took thousands of years for the earth to warm five degrees and end the ice age - human influence could produce
a 5° warming in less than a century.
Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions
Current concentrations of key GHGs are now at levels unprecedented in at least 400,000 years. CO2, the most
important GHG - largely derived from the burning of fossil fuels - is 31 per cent above pre-industrial levels.
Smog and Air Pollution
Many fossil fuels, such as coal, wood and gas, that produce GHGs when burned, also produce other air pollutants.
Ground-level ozone - an important ingredient of smog - is created when sunlight interacts with pollutants released by the
burning of fossil fuels. As temperatures go up, so does the amount of smog. By reducing our reliance on these fossil
fuels, we can also reduce smog.
With global warming, the number of 'bad air' days will go up, adding additional health risks - in spite of our many efforts
to control smog.
Smog is not just an urban problem. High levels have been found in the Fraser Valley in BC, in southwestern Ontario,
along the shores of Lake Huron and in a long belt extending from New Brunswick to western Nova Scotia.
Air Quality and Health
Few things are as important as the air we breathe. Smog kills more Canadians than car accidents, breast cancer,
prostate cancer and melanoma. Today, nearly 8% of deaths occurring in Canadian cities that are not caused by trauma
can be linked to air pollution derived from fossil fuel combustion. In fact, more than 5,000 premature deaths per year are
caused by ambient air pollution in Canada.
Who will suffer the most from our increasingly bad air? The very old, the very young, people already in poor health, and
those who live in poor quality housing.
What Can We Do About It?
Reducing fossil fuel emissions is good for our health and our economy. According to the Suzuki Foundation, economists
have estimated that health benefits derived from improved air quality in Canada would amount to $8 billion over 20
years. Energy efficiency measures that reduce emissions also cut costs and create jobs.
Each and every one of us contributes to GHG emissions every time we turn on a light, drive our car to the corner store,
start up our computer, or do anything else that uses energy. The actions of individual Canadians account for about 28%
of our total national GHG emissions - that's almost 6 tonnes per person per year.
We are all part of the problem, and we can all do our bit to be part of the solution. It's really a matter of personal choice the choices we make at home, at work and on the road.
If you want to buy a new car, think about the fuel efficiency or models that use alternate sources of energy. You can also
choose to save energy by turning off your lights, televisions and appliances when they are not needed. You can seal the
leaks around the doors and windows of your house to prevent heat loss and reduce your winter heating bills. When
buying new appliances, check the EnerGuide label to help you select the most energy-efficient model that meets your
needs. Use your appliances at off-peak hours to save electricity. It's not difficult, and every bit makes a difference.
The actions we take to fight climate change also lead to cleaner air and more efficient use of energy, fuel, resources and
water. Ultimately, we will have healthier, more livable and more sustainable communities.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/media_archive/press/2002/020403-3_f_e.htm
A PLANET IN DANGER?
Tool  3, Activity 6
Global Warming
Climate is commonly defined as the average weather for a specific location, region or the entire globe over an
extended period of time (usually three decades). Climate change refers to a long-term shift in climate measured as
a change in some or all of the features associated with weather, such as temperature, wind, precipitation. This can
involve both changes in average conditions (e.g. mean daily temperature) and in the variability of the weather. For
the term climate change to properly apply, the shift in conditions should continue over an extended period of time.
Climate change can result from either natural or anthropogenic (human-influenced) causes. It should be noted that
in a political context, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change uses the term climate change
to refer specifically to human-induced climate change.
The term "global warming" refers to a sustained increase in global average surface temperature and so, is just one
aspect of climate change. Global warming is often misunderstood to imply that the world will warm uniformly. In
fact, as with any "average", there will be places that warm more or less than the average. Some areas may even
cool. Also, an increase in average global temperature will be associated with changes in other aspects of the
climate system as well, such as precipitation and winds, affecting weather patterns around the world.
Therefore, the more correct term to use would be "climate change", even when discussing the observed increase
in global average temperature. Nevertheless, the term "global warming" is commonly used since it rapidly conveys
one of the main ways in which the climate has changed.
www.ec.gc.ca
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Climate change is one of the most important environmental issues of our time, requiring urgent action on the part
of all governments and citizens.
Climate change is a long-term shift in climate measured by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds, and other
indicators. Climate change can involve both changes in average conditions and changes in variability, including,
for example, changes in extreme conditions.
The potential impacts of climate change are far-reaching, affecting our economy, infrastructure, and health, the
landscapes around us, and the wildlife that inhabit them.
Climate change can be caused by both natural processes and human activities, in particular those that alter the
chemical composition of the atmosphere. The build-up of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere is the
primary cause for concern about climate change now and into the immediate future. Particularly important is the
increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) which is released through the combustion of fossil fuels. In Canada,
80% of total national greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the production or consumption of fossil fuels
for energy purposes. Globally, Canada accounts for about 2% of total annual greenhouse gas emissions.
For additional information on how climate change affects us, and we affect it, and what we can do about it, visit the
following Environment Canada Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=en&n=050049d2-1
A PLANET IN DANGER?
Tool  3, Activity 6
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in the atmosphere that trap energy from the sun. Naturally occurring GHGs
include water vapour, ozone, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Without them, the
Earth's average temperature would be about 33°C lower than it is, making the climate too cold to support life.
While these naturally occurring gases are what make life possible, a serious concern today is the enhanced effect
on the climate system of increased levels of some of these gases in the atmosphere, due mainly to human
activities.
Recent data indicate that the global mean surface air temperature has increased by between 0.2 and 0.6°C since
the late 19th century, while Canada's mean has increased by about 1°C. Some models predict that the Earth's
average temperature might increase by about 0.3°C per decade over the next 100 years if this increasing trend in
GHG concentrations is not altered.
A warming of this magnitude could significantly alter the Earth's climate. Storm patterns and severity might
increase, a rise in sea level would displace millions of coastal residents, and regional droughts and flooding could
occur. Canada's agriculture, forestry, and energy sectors could all be significantly affected.
www.ec.gc.ca
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
On a worldwide basis, the anthropogenic emissions of CO2 are known to be small. In comparison with the gross
fluxes of carbon from natural systems they represent only a fraction (~2%) of total global emissions, but they are
perceived to account for most of the observed accumulated CO2 in the atmosphere. On the basis of available
emissions information, the primary anthropogenic sources of CO2 are fossil-fuel combustion (including both
stationary and mobile sources), deforestation (resulting in permanent land use change), and industrial processes
such as cement production. A global CO2 emission rate of approximately 23.9 Gt has recently been estimated by
the Carbon Dioxide Information and Analysis Centre (CDIAC). Deforestation, land use and subsequent soil
oxidation have been estimated to account for about 23% of human-made CO2 emissions. The primary natural
sources include: respiration by plants and animals, decaying organic matter and fermentation, volcanos,
forest/grass fires and oceans. On a net basis, natural carbon balancing processes such as photosynthesis and the
oceanic reservoir remove most CO2. Over the 45 years leading to 1996, global emissions of carbon dioxide grew
from about 6.4 Gt to 23.9 Gt, almost a fourfold increase.
Methane (CH4)
Excess global methane emissions resulting from human activities, are considered to have caused an increase of
about 145% in atmospheric concentrations since the mid-1700s. The current annual rate of accumulation is
estimated to range between 40 and 60 Mt CH4/yr (~14 - 21 ppbv), or approximately 10% of total worldwide
methane emissions. The anthropogenic CH4 emissions, amounting to ~360 Mt per year, are primarily the result of
activities such as livestock and rice cultivation, biomass burning, natural gas delivery systems, landfills and coal
mining. Although several uncertainties exist in the actual contributions and relative importance of these sources,
emission reductions of about 8% are thought to be required to stabilize methane concentrations at current levels.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
At present, it has been estimated that approximately one third of global atmospheric nitrous oxide is of human
origin, resulting primarily from the application of nitrogenous fertilizers and the combustion of fossil fuels and wood.
The atmospheric concentration of nitrous oxide has grown by about 15% since the mid-1700s. Total annual
emissions from all sources are estimated to be within the range of 10 to 17.5 Mt N2O, expressed as N. Soil and
water denitrification under anaerobic conditions is the primary natural source of N2O. N2O produced in this manner
is readily taken up by plants. While it is generally recognized that nitrous oxide emission inventory data are more
limited than carbon dioxide data and highly uncertain, efforts continue to improve the estimates.
HFCs, PFCs and SF6
Currently some long-lived gases - particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs, a CFC substitute), perfluorocarbons
(PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) - contribute little to radiative forcing, but their projected growth could
contribute several per cent to radiative forcing during the 21st century (IPCC, 1996).
http://www.ec.gc.ca/ges-ghg/default.asp?lang=En&n=B710AE51-1
For additional information on the monitoring and reporting of GHGs, visit the following Environment Canada web
site http://www.ec.gc.ca/ges-ghg/default.asp?lang=En&n=040E378D-1
A PLANET IN DANGER?
Tool  3, Activity 6
Industrial Production
What is Industrial Production?
Industrial production is defined as an economic indicator that measures changes in output for the industrial sector
of the economy. The industrial sector includes manufacturing, mining, and utilities. These sectors are sensitive to
consumer demand which is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of
a desire to purchase commodity goods. Hazardous waste is a result of industrial production.
What is Hazardous Waste?
Hazardous waste includes a wide range of residues from industrial production including used solvents, acids and
bases, leftovers from oil refining and the manufacture of chemicals and metal processing. Several common
consumer products, including old car batteries and oil-based paints are also hazardous once they are discarded.
The nature and concentration of certain chemicals in many wastes makes them potentially hazardous to the
environment and human health. They have characteristics such as flammability, toxicity and corrosivity. They may
represent an immediate danger, such as ability to burn skin on contact, or longer-term environmental or human
health risks due to accumulation and persistence of toxic substances in the environment.
Every year, approximately six million tonnes of hazardous waste are produced in Canada. Imports of hazardous
waste total about 417 000 tonnes, of which approximately 55% is destined for recycling. Exports of hazardous
wastes total about 320 000 tonnes, of which approximately 65% destined for recycling. Until ways can be found to
avoid creating hazardous waste, it must be managed in a way that minimizes risks to the environment and human
health.
www.ec.gc.ca