Man’s Positive Impact

Conservation of Natural Resources

• Definition: Efforts to protect and preserve Earth's natural resources.

• Examples of Natural Resources:

  • Fossil fuels (e.g., petrol, coal)

  • Minerals (e.g., diamonds, metals)

  • Water

• 3Rs:

  • Reduce: Use fewer resources.

  • Example: Utilize less water in households.

  • Reuse: Use the same resource multiple times.

  • Example: Reusing plastic bottles.

  • Recycle: Convert waste materials into useful products.

  • Example: Transforming rubber tires into shoe soles.

Reforestation

• Definition: The process of replanting trees in deforested areas.

• Benefits:

  • Maintains the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

  • Absorption of carbon dioxide helps mitigate greenhouse gases.

  • Provides essential resources (water, food, air, shelter) for organisms.

  • Fosters the creation of habitats that support biodiversity.

Man’s Negative Impact

Depleting Natural Resources

• Overuse: Excessive utilization of resources like forests, minerals, and marine life leads to depletion.

• Examples:

  • Fossil fuels used in vehicles and factories.

  • Mining of metals and minerals promoted by high demand.

Pollution

• Definition: Introduction of harmful substances into the environment.

• Types of Pollution:

  • Land Pollution:

  • Causes: Improper waste disposal, non-biodegradable waste (e.g., plastics).

  • Examples: Landfills, chemical disposal.

  • Water Pollution:

  • Causes: Discharge of untreated sewage, industrial waste.

  • Examples: Oil spills, runoff from agricultural activities.

  • Air Pollution:

  • Causes: Emissions from factories and vehicles, burning fossil fuels.

  • Examples: Smoke, chemicals released into air.

• Impact of Pollution: Leads to unhealthy environments, respiratory issues, and ecosystem damage.

Deforestation

• Definition: The excessive removal of trees from forests.

• Causes:

  • Clearing land for agriculture and urbanization.

  • Harvesting wood for building and paper.

• Effects:

  • Decreased CO2 absorption leads to higher atmospheric CO2 levels.

  • Contributes to global warming through increased temperature.

Soil Erosion

• Definition: The process by which the top layer of soil is removed, often due to water, wind, or human activity.

• Impacts:

  • Loss of fertile soil, crucial for plant growth.

  • Exposure of bare ground, leading to decreased vegetation.

  • Sedimentation in rivers and lakes, affecting water quality.

Global Warming

• Definition: The rise in Earth's average temperature attributed to greenhouse gas emissions.

• Causes:

  • High levels of CO2 from burning fossil fuels.

  • Deforestation, reducing the number of trees that absorb CO2.

• Effects:

  • Melting icebergs causing sea level rise.

  • Increased frequency of natural disasters, including droughts and storms.

Cause > Effect > Impact > Solution

• Depletion of Natural Resources:

  • Causes: Excessive extraction of resources without sufficient time for replenishment.

  • Effects: Loss of biodiversity, disrupted ecosystems.

  • Solutions: Educate communities on responsible consumption and resource management.

• Deforestation and Habitat Destruction:

  • Causes: Clearing forests for various developments.

  • Effects: Loss of biodiversity, increased CO2 levels.

  • Solutions: Promote reforestation and sustainable land management.

• Pollution:

  • Causes: Discharge of pollutants from various sectors.

  • Effects: Soil degradation, water pollution affecting health.

  • Solutions: Implement the 3Rs.

• Climate Change:

  • Causes: Emission of greenhouse gases through fossil fuel combustion.

  • Effects: Changed weather patterns, rising sea levels, extreme weather events.

  • Solutions: Reduce energy consumption and promote efficient energy use.

Recap

• Positive Impacts: Conservation of natural resources, Reforestation.

• Negative Impacts: Depletion of resources, Deforestation, Pollution.

• Global Warming: An increase in Earth's average temperature leading to significant environmental changes.

• Types of Pollution and Examples:

  • Water: Oil spills

  • Air: Burning fossil fuels

  • Land: Landfill waste

• Solutions: Implementing the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle wherever possible to mitigate environmental impacts.

PSLE Questions

1. MCQs: Identify causes and effects of global warming and pollution.

2. Open-ended Questions: Analyze scenarios depicting pollution's impact and suggest responsible measures factories can adopt to address these issues.