Lesson 7: What is Our Impact on Natural Resources?
Regardless of how countries approach sustainable development, environmental problems continue to grow as consumption and population increase. Nations vary greatly in how well they treat the environment. In 2014, a study by Yale and Columbia universities in the United States rated Switzerland, Luxemburg, and Australia as the best, while the United States was ranked 27 of 180 countries. Many less wealthy countries ranked higher than some of the wealthier ones, which is different from conventional development classifications – showing that economic development and environmental protection are not directly correlated, despite conventional assumptions otherwise.
Task: Read Chapter 7.
Watch the video "Poverty and Palm Oil are Driving Deforestation in Indonesia."
https://youtu.be/HrSQXW60lUc
Answer the questions below:
Provide at least 2 international examples from the news in support of your statements.
What are the effects of mineral extraction and deforestation on land?
Why is Indonesia in support of the deforestation of its rainforests?
What is the "tragedy of the commons" and what causes it?
How can the "tragedy of the commons" be managed or mitigated?
What is causing species extinction?
What are the four steps that can be taken to decrease individual impact on natural resources?
Source: Hite, Kristen, A. and John L. Seitz. Global Issues. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (6th Edition). Wiley Global Research (STMS), 2021.