Exam Topics. Environment

 

The Earth is the only planet in the solar system where there is life. If you look down at the Earth from a plane you will see how wonderful our planet is. You will see blue seas and oceans, rivers and lakes, high snow-capped mountains, green forests and fields. For centuries the man had lived in harmony with nature until industrialization brought human society into conflict with the natural environment. Today, the contradictions between man and nature have acquired a dramatic character. With the development of civilization man’s interference in nature has increased. It goes without saying that human activities have a big impact on the environment and can seriously damage the planet. The most dramatic environmental issues today are climate change, water, air and soil pollution, littering, acid rains, deforestation, animal extinction and resource depletion. Most of the environmental issues are interdependent. Recently people have become more and more aware of the damage we have caused. The humankind has hit on the idea that we should save our planet in order to save ourselves.

Air pollution is perhaps the most burning environmental problem. Many megapolises lie under a thick blanket of smog and live like in a "gas chamber". Every year the world’s industry pollutes the atmosphere with millions of tons of dust and other harmful substances. People who live in big cities are badly affected by harmful emissions from plants and city transport and by the increasing noise level which is as bad for human health as well as lack of fresh air and clean water. Car exhaust fumes also destroy the ozone layer which protects the Earth from the dangerous light of the sun. Aerosols create large “holes” in the ozone layer round the Earth. Air pollution is one of "the biggest killers" in the world. It causes at least one million deaths a year, mostly from heart diseases, strokes, cancer and a breathing problem. Most deaths take place in megapolises where air pollution is reaching its catastrophic levels.

A sore subject is that our forests are dying from acid rains. Deforestation, especially destruction of tropical forests, affects the balance of nature in many ways. It kills animals, changes the climate and ecosystem in the world. People’s activity is crowding animals out of their natural habitat. I’d like to say a few words about animals in danger of extinction. The blue whale is the largest animal which has ever lived. Once there were over 200000 of these creatures living in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Since the seventeenth century they have been hunted for their oil and meat. In fact, so many of them were killed that by 1963 their population had been reduced to just 1000. Today it is even less than that. The African elephant is the world’s largest land animal. Today there are fewer than one million of these animals left. Even though they are now protected, they are still being hunted because of their tusks, which are used to make ornaments and jewellery. There is only one way to save wild animals and wild habitats – conservation. That means protecting endangered animals by law, opening more national parks, building fewer new roads, planting more new forests, cutting pollution. If this doesn’t happen, many wild animals will soon have just one habitat- the Zoo.

There are a lot of places on our planet that need immediate help. Our country is not an exception. The nuclear accident at Chernobyl, which took place on April 26, 1986., has seriously aggravated the ecological situation in Belarus. That catastrophe can be considered as the largest disaster of the 20th century. As the result of that accident 18% of territories of our republic were contaminated by radioactive elements. The agriculture of our country suffered great losses. More than 20% of the population has also suffered. A death rate among children has increased considerably. Everyone understands that this catastrophe is a threat to health of our nation, and though years have already passed, the results will be shown on the future generations.

I believe that environmental disasters can be avoided if people broaden ecological education and every person understands that the beauty of nature is extremely fragile and people must obey the unwritten laws of nature. Recently governments have taken serious measures to tackle these problems. Factories close down for several days per week, and city dwellers are encouraged to think of alternative ways of travelling around the city. They are advised to use public transport or bikes, car-pool and walk more. 

The world's best scientists are trying to invent new advanced equipment to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. They see the solution to this problem in clean and renewable energy.  Environmental activists give preference to wind and solar energy. Solar panels and windmills are now quick to install and safe in comparison with nuclear energy. With them we don't have to worry about the accidents like Chernobyl or Fukushima. So when you see more and more valleys covered with solar panels and sea coasts occupied with windmills, you should know that this is a sign of hope for the human race, hope for fresh, clean and safe air. 

Renewable energy will help not only to clean the air but also to maintain global average temperature. Global warming is a very serious problem. If the temperature rises, it will cause a lot of ice near the North and South Poles to melt. As a result, large areas along the coast will go under water and we may lose such great cities as Venice and New York.  This problem can also be solved by individual action - reducing energy use. We could do this by turning off lights, turning down heaters and air conditioners, building more energy efficient buildings, shutting doors. We can also sort out our rubbish for recycling to save natural resources. If we all make an effort we can change the situation. It’s not so difficult for everyone to take the empty bottles to a recycling bin or reuse an old plastic bag or use your own bag when you buy something at the supermarket. We should also choose products which contain recycled materials, for example recycled paper. These are all simple actions which everyone must do if we are concerned about our planet, yet not many do so. New technology may help, but lifestyle change can have a much more immediate effect.

The problem of “holes” in the ozone layer round the Earth could be solved by individual action: stop using ozone-depleting chemicals. However, global action was taken to control the problem. The international convention to stop the production of many ozone-depleting chemicals is one of the best examples.

The activity of many public organizations is directed to protect environment. One of the best known organizations is “Greenpeace”, whose purpose is to protect and conserve the environment. This organization was founded in 1971 by the activists from the USA and Canada and it has representations in 25 countries of the world. “Greenpeace” acts against nuclear tests, radiating threat, pollution of the environment by waste industrial products, to protect the animal world, etc. This organization influences public opinion through mass media and protest actions.

For example, the “Greenpeace” sent its boats to protect whales, and today commercial whaling is banned. In the North Sea Greenpeace swimmers turned back dump ships carrying chemical waste, and new laws to protect the North Sea have been considered.

If we don’t realize that we are all responsible for what’s happening around us we will never feel secure about the future of the world we live in. In conclusion I’d like to say that we should think about our beautiful planet and joint our efforts to keep it clean and safe for future generations.

Let’s talk about environment.

1. . Do you share the opinion that our planet is in danger?

2. Is your city/town/village polluted? Why or why not?

3. What questions will you ask your friend who is a member of “The Greens”?

4. Give a piece of advice on what people can do to protect the environment.

5. If you have a chance to start a campaign to help the environment, what will you campaign for?

Answer the questions in comments (at least 3-4 sentences to every question), if you are not signed up on Google, write your name and surname. Answers will be graded.