Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges

Essential Questions (Questions essentielles)

Guiding unit questions about how environmental, political, and societal challenges impact communities, the role of individuals, and how issues affect culture.

Climate change (le changement climatique)

Long-term global shifts in temperatures and weather patterns; linked to increased disruptions like heatwaves, droughts, extreme rainfall, and sea-level rise.

Greenhouse effect (l’effet de serre)

A natural process where atmospheric gases trap some heat; the problem is the human-driven increase in these gases, which intensifies warming.

Greenhouse gases (gaz à effet de serre)

Gases (e.g., CO2) that retain heat in the atmosphere; increased by fossil-fuel burning, some agriculture, and deforestation.

Fossil fuels (énergies fossiles)

Coal, oil, and gas; major sources of greenhouse-gas emissions when burned for energy.

Weather vs. climate (la météo vs le climat)

Weather is short-term conditions; climate is long-term trends—using one cold day to “disprove” climate change is weak reasoning.

Sea-level rise (la montée des eaux / du niveau des mers)

An effect of climate change that threatens coastal areas and increases flooding risk.

Biodiversity loss (la perte de biodiversité)

Decline in the variety of species and ecosystems, reducing essential services like pollination and soil health.

Extreme events (les événements extrêmes)

More intense/frequent disasters such as floods, storms, wildfires, and heatwaves linked to climate disruption.

Food insecurity (l’insécurité alimentaire)

Reduced access to sufficient food due to lower yields, higher prices, and climate-related disruptions.

Pollution (la pollution)

The introduction of harmful substances/activities into the environment; can be visible (waste) or invisible (air pollutants).

Air pollution (la pollution de l’air)

Pollution from vehicles, heating, and industry; contributes to respiratory diseases and other health impacts.

Water pollution (la pollution de l’eau)

Contamination from pesticides, industrial discharge, and plastics; creates health risks and ecosystem damage.

Soil pollution (la pollution des sols)

Chemical waste, heavy metals, and landfills that harm agriculture and can contaminate groundwater.

Environmental justice (la justice environnementale)

How environmental costs and benefits are distributed; poorer communities often bear more pollution and health burdens.

Emissions (émettre / des émissions)

The release of pollutants or greenhouse gases (e.g., “emissions of greenhouse gases”).

Discharge (rejeter / des rejets)

The act of releasing waste/toxic substances into the environment (e.g., industrial discharge).

Contamination (contaminer / la contamination)

The process of making air/water/soil harmful through pollutants, often causing health and ecosystem risks.

Natural resources (les ressources naturelles)

Materials provided by nature—water, forests, minerals, and energy sources—used by societies and economies.

Biodiversity (la biodiversité)

Variety of species and ecosystems; supports services such as pollination, soil quality, and ecosystem stability.

Deforestation (la déforestation)

Clearing forests due to intensive agriculture, livestock, logging, or urbanization; increases CO2 and destroys habitats.

Overexploitation (la surexploitation)

Using resources faster than nature can renew them, leading to depletion and ecosystem damage.

Overfishing (la surpêche)

Catching fish faster than populations can recover, weakening marine ecosystems and reducing fish stocks.

Energy transition (la transition énergétique)

Shift from fossil-fuel dependence to cleaner, lower-consumption systems (renewables, efficiency, behavior change).

Renewable energy (les énergies renouvelables)

Energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro that can be replenished naturally and generally emit less CO2.

Energy efficiency (l’efficacité énergétique)

Using less energy for the same output (e.g., building renovation/insulation) to reduce emissions and costs.

Energy mix (le mix énergétique)

The combination of energy sources a country uses; involves societal choices (renewables, nuclear, fossil fuels).

Paris Agreement (l’Accord de Paris)

International climate agreement focused on coordinated emission-reduction goals and cooperation.

Grenelle Environment Forum (le Grenelle de l’environnement)

A French environmental policy initiative often cited as a reference point in environmental debates.

Energy Transition Law (Loi de transition énergétique pour la croissance verte)

French law supporting a shift toward greener growth through energy and environmental measures.

Linear economy (l’économie linéaire)

“Produce → consume → throw away” model that drives high waste and resource depletion.

Circular economy (l’économie circulaire)

Model focused on reducing, reusing, repairing, and recycling to keep resources in use as long as possible.

Source reduction (la réduction à la source)

Preventing waste before it is created (e.g., avoiding packaging), emphasized as more effective than recycling alone.

Plastic waste (les déchets plastiques)

Persistent waste that pollutes ecosystems, especially waterways and oceans; a major target of reduction policies.

Individual action vs collective action (geste individuel vs action collective)

Personal habits matter, but effective change often requires institutions and coordinated policies at local/national/international levels.

Regulation (la réglementation)

Rules, bans, and standards (e.g., emission norms, plastic limits); direct impact but can be contested as too restrictive.

Economic incentives (les incitations économiques)

Subsidies, bonuses, and taxes designed to encourage greener behavior; may be seen as unfair if alternatives are costly/unavailable.

Public investment (l’investissement public)

Government spending on infrastructure and research (trains, building renovation); impactful but requires political budget choices.

Sanctions/fines (des sanctions / des amendes)

Penalties used to enforce environmental or legal rules and discourage harmful behavior.

Social acceptability (socialement acceptable)

Public perception that a policy is fair and doable; crucial for successful environmental or social transitions.

NGO (une ONG)

Non-governmental organization that raises awareness, monitors issues, and proposes solutions; may face criticism over methods or funding.

Civic engagement (s’engager / militer / bénévolat)

Taking action as a citizen—activism, volunteering, petitions, and protests—to influence society and government decisions.

Petition (une pétition)

A formal request signed by citizens to demand change or bring attention to an issue.

Protest/demonstration (une manifestation)

Public gathering to express demands or opposition (note: French “manifestation” usually means a protest).

Subjunctive after necessity/will (le subjonctif)

Used after expressions like “Il faut que…” or “Je veux que…” (e.g., “Il faut que le gouvernement agisse”).

Governance (la gouvernance)

How a country is run—institutions, rules, transparency, and participation—shaping trust and decision-making.

Democracy (la démocratie)

A system relying on citizen participation and trust; weakened by low turnout and declining legitimacy.

Abstention (l’abstention)

Not voting; often linked to distrust, discouragement, or feeling powerless, which can weaken legitimacy.

Civil liberties (les libertés publiques)

Freedoms like expression, press, and assembly; often debated during crises that raise security concerns.

Civil rights (les droits civiques)

Legal protections ensuring equality before the law and protection against discrimination.

Misinformation (la désinformation)

False or misleading information that can polarize society, undermine trust, and weaken institutions; countered by fact-checking.