EnvironmentalIssuesinLatinAmerica.pptVIP

Environmental Issues in Latin America SS6G2a. Explain the major environmental concerns of Latin America regarding the issues of air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico, rainforest destruction in Brazil, and oil-related pollution in Venezuela Mexico Cityair pollution Problem: 1 of the world’s worst areas of air pollution Causes: crowded city – older cars, factories City is built in bowl-shaped crater of extinct volcano thin air because of high elevation – air pollution gets trapped. Sun + dirty air = smog Solutions: Drivers leave cars at home 1 day/week Car inspections and repairs Factories closed on days of bad pollution Improve fuels Increase cars that burn less exhaust 1. How does geography play a role in Mexico City’s air pollution problem? 2. What are the main sources of air pollution in Mexico City? 3. How is the government trying to reduce air pollution? 4. Which solution is hardest for businesses? BrazilRainforest Destruction More than ? of Brazil is covered by rainforest Home to 40,000 types of plants and 1000s of animals Valuable: Medicines are made from plants Products – brazil nuts, cocoa, rubber 20% of oxygen is produced by Brazilian rainforests Indigenous people live in rainforest Problem: threatened by human activity Animals, plants, and people threatened with extinction Selling timber – deforestation (then grow crops like soybeans/cattle on bare land) 200,000 acres lost Solution: laws control number of trees that can be cut BUT… not much money spent on enforcing laws 5. What problems are associated with deforestation? 6. Why does deforestation increase when the value of crops and cattle goes up? 7. What is the main crop grown in deforested areas? 8. What does the world get 20% of from the rainforest? Use graph on p. 18 of CRCT Test Prep and answer q. 17-20 Venezuela oil-related pollution Venezuela is 1 of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the world $$$ from oil sales accounts for ? the government f