Case studies

What are the main causes of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest?

Cattle ranching (80%), soy farming, and logging (both illegal and legal).

What percentage of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest is attributed to cattle ranching?

80%.

What are the major impacts of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest?

Biodiversity loss, climate change, and soil erosion.

What percentage of Earth’s species live in the Amazon Rainforest?

10%.

What is one of the solutions to combat Amazon Rainforest deforestation?

Protected areas (50% of the Amazon is now protected).

What significant environmental disaster occurred in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan due to river diversion?

Aral Sea Disaster.

What caused the Aral Sea to shrink by 90%?

The Soviet Union's diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for cotton irrigation in the 1960s.

What were the impacts of the Aral Sea Disaster?

Fishing collapse, toxic dust storms, and significant job losses.

What solution was implemented to help the North Aral Sea regain water?

The Kok-Aral Dam built in 2005.

What was the key cause of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster?

A reactor explosion due to a safety test failure in 1986.

What were the estimated cancer deaths resulting from the Chernobyl disaster?

Over 4,000 cancer deaths.

What is the region around Chernobyl known as?

A 4,300 km² exclusion zone.

What solution was established in 2016 to contain radiation at Chernobyl?

A concrete sarcophagus.

What is Germany’s Energiewende primarily about?

The energy transition towards renewable sources.

What is a significant result of Germany’s Energiewende as of 2023?

42% of electricity is generated from renewable sources.

What legislative measure did Germany implement to support renewable energy generation?

Feed-in tariffs that pay citizens for solar power.

What major nuclear event influenced Germany's Energiewende?

The nuclear phase-out post-Fukushima in 2011.