In three to five sentences, describe two impacts of obtaining nonrenewable resources and how these have been affected by increasing population.
Obtaining nonrenewable resources like fossil fuels and minerals leads to environmental damage, such as air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and soil degradation. Increased population has led to a higher demand for these resources, resulting in larger-scale extraction activities that exacerbate these impacts. Additionally, the finite nature of nonrenewable resources means that population growth, combined with resource depletion, can lead to resource scarcity and conflict.
In order to expand agriculture and stimulate a sagging economy, the Brazilian government eased environmental laws which allowed large tracts of rainforest to be cut down or burned. In three to five sentences, construct a potential chain of consequences for what can happen as a result of this kind of deforestation. The chain does not have to be linear (i.e., five steps in a row), but can have several branches, one for each different potential consequence. Your chain should include at least four steps, including the original event.
The Brazilian government's easing of environmental laws leads to deforestation of large tracts of rainforest. This can result in several environmental consequences, such as an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, deforestation can disrupt the water cycle and lead to decreased availability of fresh water for local communities. This can potentially trigger social and economic consequences, such as increased conflict over resources, displacement of indigenous peoples, and disruption of local economies that depend on the forest for resources. Overall, deforestation can have cascading effects that impact both ecosystems and human societies.
In three to five sentences, describe how a person can reduce consumption of natural resources when drinking water. Assume that there is no change in the amount of water consumed and that the change is only in the way water is produced.
A person can reduce consumption of natural resources when drinking water by choosing to drink tap water instead of bottled water, as bottled water production uses significant amounts of energy and generates plastic waste. Additionally, a person can install a water filtration system to purify tap water instead of relying on single-use filtration methods like water bottles with built-in filters. This can help reduce consumption of natural resources like plastic and energy used in water transportation and storage. Finally, minimizing water waste by turning off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving can also help conserve natural resources by reducing the amount of water treatment and transportation needed to maintain water supplies.
