UNIT 10

Sustainability
and the environment
1 H
 uman activity and its
environmental impact
2 H
 uman activity and
atmospheric deterioration
3 H
 uman activity and the
deterioration of inland
ecosystems
4 T
 he deterioration of marine
ecosystems

ON THE FRONT PAGE

Oceans of plastic?

5 G
 lobalisation, the environment
and sustainable development
6 Protecting natural spaces
7 N
 atural disasters and
humanitarian crises
8 E
 nvironmental problems
in Spain
9 P
 rotecting natural spaces
in Spain

PRACTICAL
Participating in a debate

REVISION ACTIVITIES

KEY CONCEPTS

WORK ON YOUR KEY COMPETENCES

Achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals

Q U I Z

A forest in spring
 Comunicación oral y escrita
Think and discuss

1 What environmental
problems in Hazaribagh
Enough is enough!
does the article mention? At the end of 2016, the Buriganga River screamed ‘Enough is enough!’
Overexploited at the hands of leather factories in neighbouring Hazaribagh,
2 W
 hat’s being dumped into
and poisoned by their toxic waste and the population’s habit of using it as a
the river? Find out more
dumping ground,
information about the
this artery into
types of waste.
the capital city of
3 H
 ow did the government Bangladesh can no
respond? Has it done longer support life.
enough? Why/Why not? A decrease in oxygen
levels, coupled with
4 How have the
the large presence
environmental problems
of the carcinogen
mentioned in the text
chromium, often
affected the local
results in dead fish
population’s health and
floating up to the
well-being? Rubbish on the Banks of the Buriganga River
surface.
5 T
 he article mentions that
In Hazaribagh itself, air pollution was so bad that environmental groups named
children often work in the
it one of the most polluted places on the planet. This pollution has led to
factories where animal
significant increases in respiratory and skin conditions among the population.
skins are soaked in harmful
A serious health and environmental crisis followed, eventually forcing the
chemicals and processed
government to take action. In April 2017, it relocated around 150 factories
with dangerous machinery.
to the outskirts of Dhaka. Many of these factories used child labour, It also
How does this make you
promised two new sewage treatment plants to help lower toxic waste levels in
feel? Do you think that
the river.
their human rights are
being violated? However, the government still hasn’t solved the problem of factories dumping
their toxic waste in the river. You can see their pipes along the banks spewing
out dense white foam, as well as liquid in shades ranging from crimson to blue.
The smell is intense. Nevertheless, locals wait expectantly for these discharges
to begin. They do this because the outpouring of waste kills the fish instantly.
This means that it’s an easy way to catch them. These fish end up in local
markets. It’s interesting to note that most of these factories also rely on child
labour. Many of the challenges the world faces today are related.
Zigor Aldama
elpais.com (17 January 2020) (Translated and adapted)

Human activity is the direct and indirect cause of serious environmental

problems. Industrial processes lead to the emission of hazardous
substances into the air and into our water supply. These problems not only
damage the environment, but also our own health and well-being.
Nowadays, we’re more aware of the need for sustainable development.
This has resulted in governments and international organisations
introducing more environmental policies. It has also led to the
development of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Referencia fotos de inicio unidad.

 1 Human activity and its environmental impact
Human activity affects the land. It has serious consequences for the CLIL activities
environment and puts the planet’s survival at risk. Economic activities, such
as production, distribution and consumption, affect the environment. It’s 1 Look at the map and
therefore necessary to rethink our economic activities in the context of answer the questions in your
sustainable development. notebook.
One of the key objectives of sustainable development is to maintain a. 
In which continents is the
economic growth with minimal impact on the environment. Therefore, environmental footprint the
sustainable economic activity should cause minimal pollution and use highest?
resources carefully rather than wasting them. This will help preserve the b. 
Why do you think it’s high in
Earth’s resources for future generations. these places?
Society should evaluate the impact of human activity on the environment. c. 
What’s Spain’s environmental
Many studies offer information about how economic activity contributes to footprint like?
climate change, air and water quality, noise pollution, soil contamination and 2 How do you think the
the loss of biodiversity. environmental footprint is related
to biocapacity?
The environmental footprint 3 Answer the questions
The environmental footprint tells us how many hectares of productive land with a classmate.
(urban land, agricultural land, pasture and forest, as well as fishing zones) a. 
What different types of waste
are needed to provide enough resources for the population of a region and exist?
to absorb its waste. The per capita environmental footprint measures the b. 
What are their effects on the
impact of human activity on the environment by dividing the environmental environment?
footprint of a region by its total population.
The resources we currently consume require 1.6 planets to produce them.
In 2017 the consumption and waste generated by Spain’s population was
equivalent to that of a country with three times the surface area of Spain.

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT BY COUNTRY IN GLOBAL HECTARES

http://inicia.oupe.es/19arcgis242

Less than 1.75 gha

Between 1.75 and 3.5 gha
Between 3.5 and 5.25 gha
Between 5.25 and 7 gha
More than 7 gha
No data 0 3 000 km

SOURCE: WWF

238 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

Biocapacity
Although each population has specific needs, not all
places produce the same quantity of resources or are
able to absorb the same amount of waste.
#ForABetterWorld
The development of a green consciousness shows that
The environmental footprint of a country or region
many people are concerned about the environment.
varies due to its biocapacity, which is the capacity of
This green consciousness has grown significantly since
an area of land to generate resources and absorb waste
the mid-20th century.
without sustaining damage.
If it’s our intention to preserve our planet for future
To maintain our standard of living without harming the
generations, we must be willing to act. We can
environment, we must fulfil these conditions.
achieve this by being conscious of the environmental
 R egeneration: the rate of consumption of resources consequences of our actions. In addition, we can put
can’t be more than the regeneration rate. pressure on governments to promote sustainability.
 Renovation: the rate of consumption of resources In recent years, there have been many large
can’t be higher than the rate of creation of international demonstrations organised by the Swedish
resources to replace those that have been used. group FridaysForFuture. This group is led by the
 Assimilation: the rate at which waste or pollutants teenager Greta Thunberg. It’s supported by young
are produced can’t be higher than the capacity of people all around the world.
the environment to absorb them.
By studying biocapacity, we can determine whether
or not the population is self-sufficient or has an
environmental deficit.
In addition, we can use the indicators above to identify
where human activity is unsustainable. This may be
due to the population size or the level of economic
activity. Efficient consumption can help prevent this
situation. Efficient consumption includes responsible
consumption and the use of alternative energy sources
that reduce overexploitation and pollution.

Waste
Human activity leads to the overexploitation of land
 Find out more about youth-led environmental groups.
and its pollution due to waste. We can classify waste
How do you feel about them? What do you think about
into different types. their goals? Do you agree with their actions? Would you
 U rban waste: this is produced by homes, offices ever join one?
and on the street. It can be solid, such as organic
material and packaging; liquid, such as detergents;
or gaseous, such as vehicle emissions.
 Agricultural waste: this is produced by the intensive Learn +
farming of poultry and pigs, as well as by certain We can reduce the amount of waste we generate
chemicals present in fertilisers. by following the rule of the 3Rs.
 Industrial waste: this includes many forms of 1. Reduce consumption.
waste. Industrial waste is usually treated before it’s 2. Reuse materials and objects so that they last
disposed of, although this isn’t always the case. longer before we throw them away.
 Nuclear waste: this is waste material that contains or 3. Recycle waste into new products.
has been contaminated by radioactive material.  Name some of the things that you can do to
 Other waste: in the future this may include electric reduce, reuse and recycle.
car batteries.

10. Sustainability and the environment 239

2 Human activity and atmospheric deterioration
Gas emissions produced by human activities, such as agriculture, industry and
the burning of fossil fuels, pollute and damage the atmosphere. This damage
to the atmosphere affects the climate.

POLLUTION ACID RAIN

Gas emissions from industry, heating and vehicles damage When the gas emissions
and pollute the atmosphere. This is very evident in cities, produced by human activity
where the high population density and human activity mix with the water in the
produces pollution in the lower layers of the atmosphere. atmosphere, they form
This pollution leads to poor air quality and causes health sulphuric acid and nitric acid.
problems for the urban population. This mixture returns to the
Earth’s surface as acid rain. It
damages vegetation, fauna,
the soil and buildings.
The only way to reduce acid
rain is to increase our use of
renewable energy sources.

THE HOLE IN THE OZONE LAYER URBAN HEAT ISLANDS

The ozone layer is a part of the stratosphere with a high Urban heat islands can form in large cities. Heat accumulates
concentration of the gas ozone. The ozone layer protects in the buildings during the day and is released into the
Earth from ultraviolet radiation, which is harmful to health. atmosphere during the night. This causes higher temperatures
The emission and accumulation of gases in the atmosphere, in cities than in the surrounding areas.
especially CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), has reduced the
amount of ozone in the atmosphere. Because ozone is
sensitive to cold temperatures, the damage is greater in the
polar regions. This is known as the hole in the ozone layer.

THE INCREASE OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

When we burn fossil fuels, the gases that are
Less heat
emitted accumulate in the upper layers of Sun escapes
Earth’s atmosphere. into space.
As a result, these layers behave in a way that’s
similar to the walls of a greenhouse: they trap Increased greenhouse gases
the Sun’s heat.
When Earth returns some of the Sun’s heat
CO2 emissions
to the atmosphere, these greenhouse gases More heat
is trapped.
reflect some of that heat back to Earth. As a Solar radiation
consequence, average temperatures across the
whole planet have increased. Less CO2
The greenhouse effect is one of the main is absorbed.
causes of climate change.

240 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

Climate change
The temperature of the Earth has never been stable.
The Earth has always experienced natural variations in Working with sources
its temperature.
Europe says goodbye to CFCs
However, since the mid-20th century, there has been
an increase in the global temperature of about 1 ºC. As of yesterday, these chemical substances can’t
This phenomenon, known as global warming, has been be created or imported in the EU. This is one of the
caused by human activity. most dramatic achievements so far of increasing
environmental awareness.
Global warming is the most serious environmental
CFCs are gases which have been used in aerosols,
problem we’re facing. Globally it affects our ability
dyes, insulation, fridges and air-conditioning. They
to produce food, the economy and the safety of
will go down in history as the main cause of the
the population. It’s the result of an increase in the
deterioration, or hole, in the ozone layer.
greenhouse effect caused by higher levels of carbon
dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. It hasn’t been caused El País, 2 January 1995 (Translated)
by natural events such as volcanic eruptions.
Scientists accuse China of damaging the ozone layer
The main consequences of climate change are: by using illegal gases
 t he melting of the polar ice caps, which is causing sea A new study published in the scientific journal Nature
levels to rise. shows that China emitted illegal greenhouse gases
between 2014 and 2017. This may have compromised
 xtreme weather conditions in certain regions, such
 e
the advances made in recent years.
as less frequent but heavier rainfall, which causes
flooding and prolonged droughts. It also causes These emissions could be responsible for
extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. between 40% and 60% of the global increase in
trichlorofluoromethane, or CFC-11, a gas that destroys
 a loss of biodiversity. Species are unable to adapt to the ozone layer.
the changes because they’re happening too quickly.
El Confidencial, 23 May 2019 (Translated)
a. Do you think that the emission of CFCs can be
considered a crime?
b. Do you think that the international community
should impose sanctions on China?
c. What can China do to encourage its businesses
to use environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Make a list in a small group.

The Antarctic ice shelf

CLIL activities
4 In your notebook, summarise the negative effects of 6  Discuss these questions with a classmate.
human activity on the environment. a. 
Do you agree that countries that pollute the
5 Listen and answer the questions. atmosphere should be penalised? Why/Why not?
a. What gas causes damage to the ozone layer? b. What penalties do you suggest?
b. 
How much of the damage is China responsible I agree/disagree with this because...
for? I would suggest that these countries should...
c. What are the consequences? On the other hand...

10. Sustainability and the environment 241

3 Human activity and the deterioration of inland ecosystems
Inland ecosystems suffer from the pollution and overexploitation that result
from human activity.
biodegradable: can be broken
1

Natural phenomena and human activity both cause damage to the soil, down by biological organisms
which becomes degraded. This leads to damage to forests and causes (bacteria, algae, fungi) into natural
deforestation, which is a very serious problem. chemical elements.

Soil degradation
The soil is the superficial part of the Earth’s crust. It’s made up of organic
and mineral matter. Plants need soil to grow.
These are some of the negative processes that cause soil degradation.
 S
 oil contamination: this can be caused by different factors. For example,
it can be the result of acid rain, the use of pesticides in agriculture or the
large-scale production of non-biodegradable1 waste (such as tin cans and
plastic). Excessive organic waste also causes problems because the soil
can’t absorb it all.
 S
 oil erosion: this is the loss of the top layers of the soil. It’s a natural
process caused by the action of water and wind. It’s a problem in areas
where there are steep slopes, and areas where there are torrential rains
and little vegetation. It’s also an issue in areas where there isn’t much
rainfall. Irresponsible farming practices can accelerate erosion and result
in desertification.
 D
 esertification: this is the process of soil deterioration in dry areas.
It causes a decrease in soil fertility. Sometimes natural processes can cause
desertification, but it’s usually worsened by intensive land use. Mining and
overexploitation in the agricultural and forestry sectors are examples of
intensive land use. Desertification is also caused by forest fires.

AREAS AFFECTED BY DEFORESTATION AND SOIL DEGRADATION

http://inicia.oupe.es/19arcgis242

Deforestation
Soil degradation 0 3 000 km

242 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

Deforestation
Forests play a fundamental role in the healthy
development of our planet. In addition, they’re home
to much of the biodiversity on Earth. Forest vegetation #ForABetterWorld
absorbs a significant amount of carbon dioxide and The problem
releases oxygen. It also affects rainfall, filters fresh
Primary forests, or untouched forest landscapes, are
water and prevents soil erosion.
being destroyed or degraded because of human activity.
Deforestation is the process of reducing or destroying
This is especially due to the expansion of land used for
forests. It’s normally caused by human activity:
farming in order to produce raw materials such as soy,
 t he indiscriminate felling, or cutting down, of trees palm oil, meat, rubber and sugar cane. It’s also caused by
to provide wood for fuel or industry in developed demand for wood as a raw material, mega hydroelectric
countries or for fuel in less-developed countries. projects, mining and petroleum exploitation.
 t he clearing of forests, which is very common in The solution
less-developed countries. Forests are cleared to
We need to take measures urgently to save the world’s
create farmland or to use the land for unsustainable
virgin forests. There are various possibilities as to how we
agriculture, such as the production of palm oil.
can do this, but the most promising are:
 mining and the construction of infrastructure.
 prioritising the protection of these areas and the rights
 f orest fires caused by the pressure to construct of the indigenous peoples that live in them over the
residential housing and tourist accommodation. economic interests of business and governments.
Other causes of forest reduction are naturally occuring  promoting business responsibility for protecting
fires, acid rain and climate change. The oscillation of the environment and human rights, and fighting
temperatures makes it impossible for some species to corruption. This will discourage businesses from
survive and causes a loss of biodiversity. investing in projects that have a negative impact on
Deforestation leads to the deterioration of the soil these ecosystems.
and increases the greenhouse effect. The reduction of  putting pressure on governments to stop importing
forests reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that’s forestry products produced by the illegal cutting down
absorbed globally and also reduces the production of trees. We can also put pressure on governments to
of oxygen. This accelerates climate change. It also enforce policies of zero deforestation.
causes land abandonment and the forced removal of
 promoting sustainable consumption, avoiding
indigenous people from their natural habitats.
unnecessary consumption, not wasting resources and
Protecting forests and reforesting the zones that have discouraging consumers from buying products that
been deforested are two actions that will contribute damage the environment or were made in conditions
to a reduction in the impact of climatic change. In that violate human rights.
developed countries, rural depopulation has permitted https://es.greenpeace.org (Translated and adapted)
some forests to regenerate naturally, so forests are
actually increasing in some places.

CLIL activities
7 In your notebook, write a description of the human 9  Do research to answer the questions.
activities that cause the deterioration of the soil. a. 
What environmental and health problems are
... in the sectors of ... has led to... caused by palm oil production?
8 
 Listen and describe how rural depopulation can b. What products contain palm oil?
help to solve the problem of deforestation. c. 
How can you consume less palm oil?

10. Sustainability and the environment 243

 Human impact on inland water
Fresh water makes up only 3% of the total amount of water on Earth.
The lack of fresh water and the contamination of inland water are two major scarce: available only in small
1

environmental problems. quantities.

Water is a resource that’s becoming scarcer1. This is the result of natural

causes (such as drought, high temperatures and lack of rainfall), but also
because of the unrelenting growth of the global population. The increasing
population puts pressure on our water resources in various ways. We need #ForABetterWorld
water for domestic use and for agricultural use. We also use it to generate
energy. In addition, we use water for industry, tourism and leisure.
This leads to the overexploitation of aquifers, or subterranean fresh water
present in permeable rock. This means that we use more water than can be
replaced naturally. When the level of fresh water in an aquifer falls in coastal The Canal Isabel II is a public
regions, it’s replaced by salt water from the sea. This contaminates the company that’s in charge of the
freshwater supply. The aquifer can then no longer be used. water supply in Madrid. On its web
Another problem is water pollution, which is caused by the dumping of page you’ll find a section called
Looking after water. In this section,
waste generated by human activity, such as pesticides, industrial chemical
there’s information about things
products and dyes. Sometimes this waste is dumped directly into the water you can do to reduce your water
and sometimes it filters through the soil and pollutes aquifers, rivers and consumption and avoid wasting
eventually the sea. water. Some examples are:
Water pollution and the lack of access to fresh water aren’t just an  reducing consumption at home.
environmental problem. They also make it difficult to eradicate extreme  the rule of the 3Ps: only toilet
poverty and certain illnesses. paper can be put in the toilet.
 ways to recycle excess water.
When the demand for water is greater than the available supply, we call this
 the ‘disposable wipes monster’,
situation hydric stress. To address this, we need to develop infrastructure
which also threatens fish.
that doesn’t damage the environment and avoids unnecessary water loss.
 don’t use the toilet as a rubbish
Water treatment plants can help reduce freshwater pollution.
bin.

.
Learn +
Even though water is a renewable resource, it’s WATER DESALINATION CAPACITY BY REGION
unevenly distributed. Technological advances Cubic metres per day (in %)
mean that we can desalinate sea water (remove Middle East and
the salt to turn it into drinking water). There are North Africa
more than 19 000 desalination plants in the world. East Asia and Pacific
They’re found in over 100 countries. The main
environmental problem caused by desalination is North America
that it produces hypersaline water, called brine.
Western Europe
This brine is poured back into the sea, where it
causes pollution and reduces biodiversity. 55% of Latin America and
the Caribbean
all brine is produced in Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. South Asia

a. Explain what the graph shows and how it Eastern Europe and
Central Asia
relates to the text.
Sub-Saharan Africa
b. F
 ind out where there are water problems in
0 10 20 30 40 50
Spain. Do these places use desalination?
SOURCE: BBC

244 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

Loss of biodiversity
The collection of living things that inhabit an Learn +
ecosystem is referred to as biodiversity. The pollination of flowers is vital for our food
The deterioration of the environment can cause the supply. In addition, pollination helps to maintain the
extinction of a species. This affects, in turn, the rest Earth’s biodiversity. According to data from the
of the organisms that make up the ecosystem. This UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
process reduces biodiversity. pollination is necessary for more than 75% of the
crops in the world.
These are the main causes of the loss of biodiversity in
the world today. Bees are the best pollinators on the planet, and
they’re disappearing as a result of climate change,
 C
 limate change is happening so rapidly that many
new invasive species and the hazardous substances
species don’t have time to adapt to changes in
present in some pesticides. The reduction of
temperature and climatic conditions. This has also
habitats caused by intensive agriculture and
led to the destruction of ecosystems.
growing cities is also affecting them. Each year
 P
 ollution of the air, water, and soil: the increase 20—30% of European bees disappear. In the United
in the use of chemical substances has had severe States this is as high as 50%. If the number of bees
consequences for many species. continues to fall, agriculture might be in danger.
 he overexploitation of forests, land and water:
 T
intensive agricultural and fishery systems,
construction and mining have led to the extinction
of species and changes in landscapes.
 he introduction of foreign species harms
 T
autochthonous species.
The loss of biodiversity results in a reduction in natural
processes. Examples of these natural processes are
water filtration and collection, pollination, protection
from flooding, soil fertility and climate regulation. We
must combat and reduce the effects of these problems
on a global scale through environmental restoration.

CLIL activities
ENDANGERED SPECIES IN EUROPE
10 Answer the questions in
your notebook.
1
15 a. 
What causes freshwater
48
73 scarcity and water pollution?
96
119
b. 
What causes reduced
138 biodiversity?
151
168 c. Look at the map. Which
192
216 countries have high numbers
of endangered species?
11 Listen and describe the
threat to biodiversity caused by
invasive species.
12 In a small group, discuss
the consequences of reduced
0 500 km biodiversity.

10. Sustainability and the environment 245

4 The deterioration of marine ecosystems
Oceans and seas have numerous benefits. They affect
the weather, regulate the climate and produce oxygen. 1
bycatch: fish or other marine animals caught by accident.
In addition, the oceans and seas provide habitats for
millions of living things.
Marine ecosystems are deteriorating and, as a result,
habitats and species are disappearing. The oceans and
seas are threatened by:
 p
 ollution created by human activity, including
domestic waste, pesticides and fertilisers. Another
source of pollution is nuclear waste, which is dumped
into marine trenches.
 w
 aste that’s generated by ships. Ships also leak oil and
cause accidental oil spills, both of which pollute the
oceans and seas.
 p
 lastic waste that accumulates in oceans, which
is one of the biggest problems. It impedes the
production of oxygen and plankton. Oxygen is
necessary for marine organisms and plankton is
Oil spills damage the environment and can lead to the death of
a major food source. Animals sometimes mistake flora and fauna.
plastic for food and die after ingesting it. They can
also get tangled up in it.
 o
 verfishing of certain fishing zones, which causes the
extinction of some species. This is because the fish are
caught more quickly than they can reproduce. On the
other hand, some fishing techniques, such as bottom
trawling, cause a significant amount of bycatch1. In
addition, they destroy the sea floor.
 t he overdevelopment of coastal regions, which
destroys sand dunes and salt marshes, and leads to
the salinisation of coastal aquifers.
Although marine ecosystems are extremely important,
two thirds of the seas and oceans in the world aren’t
protected. In 1982 the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea was created. This provides a legal
framework for the conservation and sustainable use of The rise in sea temperatures causes the bleaching of coral reefs,
oceans by all the participating nations. which will lead to the death of these unique ecosystems.

CLIL activities
13 In your notebook, make a mind map to show the 15  Do research to find out about an
threats to marine ecosystems. organisation that works to clean up the coast.
Answer these questions and write a short report.
14  Listen and answer the questions.
a. What’s the source of most of the plastic waste in a. What’s the name of the organisation?
the oceans? b. What does the organisation do? What are its
b. How can we consume less plastic? main aims?

246 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

 On the front page
Oceans of plastic?

I t’s increasingly worrying how much plastic

there is in our oceans. Around the world,
270 million metric tonnes of plastic are
Islands of waste
produced each year. Most of this plastic The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a gyre (spiral or vortex where plastic and
ends up in landfills and eventually in the other waste collects) in the North Pacific Ocean, where 80 000 tonnes of plastic
oceans and seas. waste have accumulated. It covers an area of 1.6 million km². It’s equivalent
The key to solving this problem is to prevent to the combined area of France, Spain and Germany. It’s mostly made up of
plastic reaching the oceans and seas. If this discarded fishing equipment
doesn’t happen, by 2050 there will be more (fishing lines and nets) and
plastic than fish in the oceans and seas. large pieces of plastic waste.
There have been various
initiatives aimed at cleaning
up the plastic in the oceans
and seas. One of these was
invented by a Dutch 20-year-
old called Boyan Slat, who
was the founder of The Ocean
Cleanup. His objective is to
remove 50% of the plastic in
the oceans in five years. Rubbish andplastic floating in the Pacific Ocean are
threatening marine life.

Where has all the plastic Suggestions made by

waste accumulated? secondary-school students
Most plastic waste accumulates in areas of the oceans where
to solve the problem
the wind creates circular currents in the water. These are
known a gyres. They trap any floating waste in the ocean.
Information campaigns to:
There are five gyres where most of the plastic waste that • inform people of the risks.
ends up in the oceans accumulates. • reduce the use of plastic and sub
stitute it with other
materials, such as glass, paper or cott
on.
OCEAN GYRES • encourage recycling.
• discourage people from buying prod
ucts which are
wrapped in plastic, eating chewing
gum and using plastic
drinking straws.

North North Other ideas:

Pacific Atlantic • clean up the oceans.
• develop a type of plastic that diss
olves in water.
• increase fines for people who thro
w plastic into rivers,
seas or oceans and for those who buy
or sell plastic bags.
Indian • we should all try to reduce plastic
South pollution any way we
South
Atlantic 0 6 000 km can because we’re destroying the env
ironment. Our
Pacific generation and future generations
will live in a polluted
environment unless we do somethi
BBC (Translated and adapted) ng now.

10. Sustainability and the environment 247

5 Globalisation, the environment and sustainable development
During the 1970s, people began to worry about the
effects of mass consumerism and wasted resources on growthism: belief that economic growth is the main purpose of
1

the environment. human civilisation.

There are various factors that make environmental
sustainability difficult to achieve. Some of these factors
are related to the consequences of globalisation.
There’s a widespread belief in growthism1. As a result,
businesses usually prioritise being competitive at the
expense of the environment.
Other factors that affect sustainable development are
socioeconomic, such as standards of living.
As a consequence, we need to manage and plan our
use of the Earth’s resources and, at the same time,
reduce our impact on the environment.
There are three key actions we can take in order to
achieve sustainable development.
 P
 revention: anticipating environmental problems
before they happen.
 P
 rotection: implementing conservation and the
protection of natural landscapes.
 R
 ehabilitation: undoing some of the damage caused One of the main goals of sustainable development is ensuring that
future generations can satisfy their needs.
by human activities. For example, we could turn old
landfill sites into parks.
We should take action on both a local and a global
level. In addition, it should involve all the relevant
agents: individuals, businesses and governments.
Education should include environmental awareness,
starting with school children, so that people are aware
of the need to preserve and protect nature and the
environment for future generations.
In addition to environmental issues, sustainable
development also includes issues related to world
peace and security, the law and human rights, as well as
development in itself.
Negative impacts on the environment have already
helped to raise awareness of this problem among the
public. This has resulted in various initiatives, including
the work of environmental NGOs such as Ecologists in
Action and Greenpeace.
In the 1970s, the UN created the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP). It began to hold the
UN Climate Action Summit, also known as Earth
Summits. At these international meetings, sustainable
development goals are discussed and agreed. Environmental education is essential for sustainable development.

248 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

Earth Summits The objectives of sustainable development
In 1972 the first UN environmental summit was held in The Sustainable Development Goals were created
Stockholm, Sweden. At the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth by the UN in 2015. They include environmental
Summit in Brazil, the Rio Declaration on Environment and national protection, as well as combatting
and Development was adopted. Most of the world’s socioeconomic inequality in order to make the world a
leaders at that time supported taking action to resolve fairer place. The goals therefore cover all the problems
the environmental problems the planet was facing. that affect the future of humankind. They ask questions
One of the results of this declaration was the Earth such as: will there be enough food for the
Charter. The notion of the green economy1 also 11.2 billion people who will live on Earth in 2100?
emerged at this time, with the objective of reducing
All environmental issues are interrelated with other
the impact of human activity on the environment.
problems. This means that any given issue is connected
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol was signed in order to try to various Sustainable Development Goals.
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the
objectives were difficult for countries to achieve Environmental
and some countries decided not to sign it. Of those dimension
Global
that did sign, many haven’t been able to reach the dimension
protocol’s objectives. Despite this, many countries
Environmental
later signed the 2015 Paris Agreement. The objective
of this agreement was to limit global warming to 1.5 °C
or less by 2030. Bearable Viable
Territorial/Local
At the 2000 Millennium Summit, many world leaders dimension
agreed to help to fight poverty and to create a more Sustainable
peaceful, prosperous and fair world over the course Social Economic
of the next 15 years. Although progress was made, Equitable
Social Economic
the objectives weren’t achieved and, in 2015, the UN
dimension dimension
adopted its Sustainable Development Goals. These
form part of the 2030 Agenda. 2030 is the date by
which these goals will hopefully have been achieved.
How the three dimensions of sustainable development are related

green economy: low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially-

1

inclusive economic model.

CLIL activities
16 In your notebook, suggest ways we can:
a. prevent environmental problems.
b. protect the environment.
c. rehabilitate a damaged environment.
17  Listen and describe the objectives of the Paris
Agreement. Explain what consequence this has
had in the UK.
18  Discuss these questions with a classmate.
a. How many of the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals can you name?
A Greenpeace campaign to protest against climate change b. Which do you think are the most important?

10. Sustainability and the environment 249

6 Protecting natural spaces
Around the world there are natural spaces which are almost untouched
by human activity. They’re invaluable, and their flora and fauna must be
protected. Various international bodies are involved in achieving
long-term conservation. Organisations such as the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and UNESCO have created different
conservation schemes in order to protect these natural spaces.

THE NETWORK OF NATIONAL PARKS

These are the main protected areas within a
NATIONAL PARKS AROUND THE WORLD
country. The objective of creating a national
park is to protect the area, on the one hand, and Skaftafell
Jostedalsbreen
Iceland
to allow the public to access and enjoy it, on Banff Norway
Canada
the other hand. National parks help to improve
Yosemite
scientific understanding of the natural and cultural United States Yellowstone Jiuzhaigou Valley
United States Chitwan China
impact of such places. They also promote greater Nepal
National Redwood Forest
public awareness of the need for conservation. United States
Göreme
Turkey Khao Yai
The first national park ever to be created was Thailand
Yellowstone (US, 1872). After that, Yosemite Arenal Volcano
Costa Rica
The Serengeti
Tanzania
National Park and Sequoia National Park were also Kakadu
Krüger Australia
established (US, 1890). South Africa
The European Foundation for National Parks Torres del Paine
Chile
(EUROPARC) was founded in 1973. The foundation Fiordland
New Zealand
helps to connect the different organisations National Parks 0 4 000 km

responsible for managing and protecting natural

http://inicia.oupe.es/19arcgis242
spaces in over 40 different countries.

UNESCO PROTECTED AREAS

UNESCO is an organisation that forms a part of the UN.
UNESCO works to protect natural places and places of cultural
interest. It uses these terms to categorise protected areas.
 Biosphere reserves: these are inland, coastal and marine
ecosystems (or a combination of these) which are categorised
within the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
 World heritage sites: these are places that have exceptional
cultural or natural value (or both).
 Geoparks: these are areas with important geological features
which aim to promote sustainable tourism.
Las Bardenas Reales (Navarra) has been a biosphere
reserve since 2000.

The Charco Verde or Laguna de los Clicos in the

The Alhambra was declared a world heritage site in 1984. Lanzarote geopark and the Chinijo archipelago

250 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

 NATURA 2000 PROTECTED AREAS OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION
This is a network created by the EU to protect habitats FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (UICN)
with species which are rare, endangered, endemic or Over 25 years ago, the International Union for the
of particular interest because they’re representative Conservation of Nature established different types of
examples of one or some of the nine biogeographical protected areas in order to categorise and protect them.
regions in Europe. They include Special Conservation  Nature reserves: these protect ecosystems, species
Areas. and/or unusual examples of geodiversity. They’re the
These are areas that were previously known as: most highly-protected category on a global, national
 Proposed Sites of Community Importance (PSCIs). and regional scale.
These include biogeographical and marine areas
proposed by the EU’s member states.
 Special Protected Areas (SPAs) under the Birds
Directive. The objective of these is to protect and
manage wild birds and catalogue their habitats, in
particular those of endangered migratory birds.

OTHER PROTECTED AREAS

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,
(RAMSAR Convention): this includes more than 2 000
wetlands around the world which are important from  W ild natural areas: these protect the integrity of an
an environmental perspective. The convention aims to area untouched by human activity or infrastructure
protect their biodiversity. in the long term. This means present and future
generations will be able to enjoy these spaces.
 Natural monuments: these help to preserve specific
places which have an important natural or cultural
value because they’re rare, or have particular aesthetic
qualities or cultural importance.
 Managed habitats and/or species: these are areas
of land, oceans or seas which are currently being
maintained to protect specific habitats or species.
 Inland and marine protected landscapes: these offer
protection to aesthetic or enviromental aspects of
places where humans interact with the environment in a
more traditional manner.
The Tablas de Daimiel National Park (Guadalajara) is one of the
Spanish wetlands included in the RAMSAR Convention.

Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance

(SPAMI): the objective is to protect the Mediterranean
marine environment and coastal regions, and to promote CLIL activities
sustainable land and water use in these areas.
19 In your notebook, describe how international
schemes help to protect natural spaces.
20  Listen and describe the activities that tourists
can do in the Sierra Nevada National Park.
21  Choose one of the national parks on the map.
Do research and write a fact file about it.
22  15% of inland ecosystems and 10% of
marine ecosystems are currently protected. Do
you think this is enough, too much or too little?
Discuss your opinion in a small group.
The Cabreira Archipelago (Balearic Islands) is one of Spain’s I think it's ... because...
SPAMI areas.
You have a good point there. It’s also true that...

10. Sustainability and the environment 251

7 Natural disasters and humanitarian crises
Natural disasters are catastrophes that are caused by  T
 ornadoes are areas of low pressure which are smaller
unexpected natural phenomena. No country can avoid but stronger than hurricanes. Tornadoes are funnel-
natural disasters; they can occur anywhere. Developed shaped and destroy everything in their path.
countries, however, are better prepared to deal with
 H
 urricanes are winds that form when air pressure is
their consequences. In order to minimise the impact of
low. They move very quickly and destroy everything
natural disasters, we need to understand them.
in their path. When hurricanes occur near the sea,
they can cause huge waves. In addition, hurricanes
Types of natural disasters cause torrential rainfall, which can result in floods.
 Volcanic eruptions occur when matter from deep  F
 loods are caused by snow and ice in mountainous
down in the Earth’s crust and mantle is ejected areas melting quickly, and also by torrential rainfall.
through the crust. Volcanic eruptions expel magma, Floods can affect farms and urban areas. When there
gases, ash and pieces of rock. These materials can are large volumes of water from ice melt, this can
cover a wide area and they destroy whatever they cause mudslides, which can destroy houses.
find in their path. They also emit large quantities of
gases into the atmosphere. These gases disperse  D
 roughts can be caused by a lack of rain or by the
over a wide area. overuse of water in rivers and lakes. Droughts can
affect crops and cause famine. They can also cause
 E
 arthquakes are sudden, strong movements of the migration: people move to areas with more food.
Earth’s crust. They’re caused by a release of energy
from below the crust. Earthquakes can destroy  Forest fires start quickly and in an uncontrolled
buildings and infrastructure. In addition, they can manner. They can be caused by lightning, high
cause mudslides and avalanches. When earthquakes temperatures or a lack of rain. However, many
occur on the sea floor, they’re known as seaquakes. are caused by humans. People aren’t always
Seaquakes can cause huge waves called tsunamis. careful enough when discarding waste or when
When tsunamis reach the coastline, they cause extinguishing camp fires. Fires are also lit to clear
significant destruction. land for construction or farming.

Natural disasters have become more frequent because of climate change. Nowadays, 70% of natural disasters are related to climate. This is
twice as many as 20 years ago.

252 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

Crises and humanitarian aid
Natural disasters have terrible consequences for those who experience
them. These consequences include death, and the destruction of homes,
infrastructure, crops and the means of production. At their worst, lack of
access to basic services following a natural disaster can lead to migration,
famine and epidemics.
These situations are referred to as humanitarian crises. A humanitarian crisis
is an event or a series of events that threatens the health, safety or welfare
of a group of people. In these cases, humanitarian aid can help to save lives.
It offers help and resources to affected communities. Humanitarian aid is the
most effective when it’s both immediate and sustained.
Most humanitarian aid involves providing healthcare, food, reconstruction
and education, as well as protecting children. Individuals can help provide The Spanish Red Cross is a humanitarian
these services through donations or by volunteering. Non-Governmental organisation made up of volunteers. It
helps people affected by natural disasters
Organisations (NGOs) and international institutions also provide support. around the world.
One example of an international organisation is the UN, which is composed of
different bodies, each of which specialises in different emergency responses.
Examples are the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination
(UNDAC) and the United Nations Office for Coordination of Human Affairs
(OCHA). As well as these organisations, United Nations Peacekeeping (better
known as the Blue Berets) helps maintain peace where there’s conflict. In
addition, the Blue Berets guard delivery vehicles and storage warehouses to
ensure that basic supplies and humanitarian aid reach the people affected.

The prevention of natural disasters

Prediction and preparation can help a community deal with natural disasters
and their consequences more effectively. By trying to prevent natural
disasters, we can help protect vulnerable members of the population and avoid
more serious humanitarian disasters.
The UN helps countries at risk of natural disasters. It also supports
Learn +
countries that have fewer resources for dealing with the consequences of Not all disasters are caused by
natural disasters through organisations, such as the Food and Agriculture natural phenomena. Some are
Organization (FAO), which tries to predict and prevent famines, and the World the result of human actions.
Meteorological Organization (WMO), which monitors droughts and floods. Nuclear disasters are a clear
example. These result in the
However, if we can control our impact on the environment and limit climate destruction of land, health
change, the frequency and magnitude of natural disasters will be reduced. problems and migration.

CLIL activities
23 In your notebook, explain the causes and the consequences of natural
disasters.
24  Listen and write what the Spanish Red Cross does. Where do they
work?
25  Choose a natural disaster. Write a short description of the causes
and consequences. To what extent is it linked to climate change? The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in
The causes/consequences of ... include... Ukraine in 1986 is considered to
be one of the worst environmental
If a/an ... takes place, this can lead to... disasters in history.
This is/isn’t linked to climate change because...

10. Sustainability and the environment 253

8 Environmental problems in Spain
The magnitude and frequency of an environmental problem determine its
consequences. These, in turn, determine its economic and human impact.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH NATURAL CAUSES

Forest fires Torrential rains
Spain has more forest fires than most other European On the Mediterranean coast and in the Balearic Islands, torrential
countries. In recent years, their number has increased rains can cause floods. These happen when rivers and streams burst
due to climate change and a lack of preventive their banks as a result of heavy rainfall. Torrential rains can also
measures, such as controlling vegetation growth. More cause mudslides and soil erosion. Some heavy rains have caused
houses have also been built in mountainous areas. deaths, such as when the Tous Dam burst in 1982. The Aras de
Extinguishing fires as they occur doesn’t solve the Biescas Ravine flood in Huesca in 1996 and the Badajoz floods in
problem. We need to prevent them from happening. 1997 also resulted in numerous deaths.

Droughts Seismic activity

Droughts are common in Spain. They’re the result Seismic activity causes earthquakes and seaquakes. One of the
of long periods without rain. Droughts can destroy worst earthquakes in Spain took place in Lorca, Murcia in 2011.
crops, grazing land and reduce the water supply for Earthquakes in Spain are usually less serious, however, than the
agricultural, domestic and industrial use. earthquakes that occur in other parts of the world.

Volcanic eruptions Other phenomena

Volcanic eruptions Blizzards and hailstorms, extreme temperatures, high winds,
aren’t common in Spain, tornados and tropical weather, which is common in the Canary
except on the Canary Islands, can also cause mudslides, avalanches and erosion.
Islands. The last volcanic
eruption took place in
La Palma in 2021. There
are also active volcanoes
in Girona (Olot) and
Ciudad Real (Campo de
Calatrava).

Cumbre Vieja erupting in

La Palma (2021)

254 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

Environmental problems caused by human activity
Spain’s environmental problems also have human causes.
 Air pollution: greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 15% since
1990. Traffic, heating, industrial emissions and power stations are the main
causes of this increase.
 Fresh water: the scarcity of fresh water and water pollution have both
become serious problems. We need to manage our water resources more
responsibly and not waste water. For example, we can reuse water from
crop irrigation to water gardens and sports fields.
 The sea: the Galician coast has suffered the consequences of oil spills
because of the high number of oil tankers that sail past. These oil spills
have destroyed fauna and led to economic losses for the region. Rubbish
and waste thrown into the sea in general, and plastic in particular, affect
all of Spain’s coasts.
 Soil: around 30% of the land in Spain is affected by erosion due to wind,
torrential rain, the cutting down of trees and overexploitation, which all
lead to a loss of vegetation. The soil has also been contaminated by waste,
fertilisers and pesticides.

Waste
Waste is a major problem. Two of the key issues are the following.
 The objective of recycling 50% of all waste by 2020 wasn’t achieved
because there weren’t enough initiatives to deal with urban waste
sustainably. The objective for 2030 is to recycle 60% of all waste.
 In addition, nuclear waste is still a big problem with no solution. At the
moment, nuclear waste is deposited in underground chambers built inside
power stations. Other radioactive waste is deposited in disused mines, such
as El Cabril in Córdoba.
Despite these problems, waste treatment has improved in recent years. In
order to improve the situation further, we need to reduce emissions, limit
the production of domestic waste and eliminate single-use plastics.

CLIL activities
26 In your notebook, use a Venn diagram to classify the
problems described in this section as caused by natural
factors, human factors or a combination of both.
27 Look at the map. Which regions of Spain have the
greatest number of forest fires? What do you think is
the main cause of these fires?
28  Spain’s population is concentrated in coastal
regions. Which environmental problems are more
widespread or serious on the coast in comparison to 0 300 km
inland regions? Number of forest fires
I think one of the main problems on the coast is... 1 5 10 25 50 100 500 1 000
...doesn’t affect inland areas as much because...

10. Sustainability and the environment 255

9 Protecting natural spaces in Spain
There are five types of protected natural spaces in Spain according to the CLIL activities
network for Espacios Naturales Protegidos (ENP).
29 Use the map to list the
 National parks are large areas of very significant natural or cultural
types of protected spaces in
importance. They contain important examples of flora, fauna and/or
your province and autonomous
geological formations. To qualify as a national park, the area in question
community.
must be extensive and have no urban development. Spain currently has 16
national parks. 30 Listen and write what
type of protected area is being
 Nature reserves are established to protect ecosystems, communities
discussed. Why’s it protected?
or biological elements which are particularly rare, endangered or of
significant value. 31 Answer the questions
with a classmate.
 Protected marine areas are protected marine spaces under the direct
control of the national government. All or part of the natural resources in a. Do you think there are
these spaces is protected. enough protected spaces in
Spain? Why/Why not?
 National monuments are areas that contain specially protected elements,
b. Should tourism be promoted
such as rare or very large trees, geological formations, archaeological
in natural spaces?
sites or mineral deposits.
 Protected landscapes are areas of aesthetic or cultural significance which
need special protection.
Some of the protected areas in Spain belong to the EU’s Natura 2000
scheme or are UNESCO biosphere reserves, world heritage sites or fall
under the scope of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance
(SPAMI). Protected natural spaces account for more than 25% of Spain’s
total surface area.

PROTECTED NATURAL SPACES IN SPAIN Cantabrian Sea

F R A N C E

Ordesa y
Picos Monte Perdido
de Europa ANDORRA
Marítimo-Terrestre
de las Islas Aigüestortes i Estany
Atlánticas de Galicia de Sant Maurici

AT L A N T I C
OCEAN

Sierra de
Spanish protection schemes (nature Guadarrama
reserves, protected marine areas, Monfragüe
protected landscapes, natural parks
and other protected areas) PORTUGAL Cabañeros
National parks
Tablas Archipiélago
International protection schemes de Daimiel de Cabrera
http://inicia.oupe.es/19arcgis242

(biosphere reserves, world heritage

sites, Natura 2000, RAMSAR
Convention and geoparks)
Mediterranean Sea

Sierra Nevada
Timanfaya
Caldera de Doñana
Taburiente
Sierra de
las Nieves
Garajonay Teide
0 300 km

SOURCE: Ministry for the Ecological Transition

256 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

 LEARNING SITUATION

Practical
Participating in a debate
A debate is a form of communication in which two or more people
give their opinion on a topic or on various topics. Each person puts
forward their point of view and defends it. A series of key questions
are decided and researched prior to the debate.

Steps to follow to hold a debate

1  Decide on a topic or problem that you want to discuss. Then choose
a moderator. The moderator prepares the questions to get the
debate started. The moderator also controls the turns during the
debate to make sure that everyone has an equal chance to speak.
2  The participants then do research to find out more about
the topic. The more information they have, the better their Other debate topi
cs
arguments will be to defend or challenge an opinion.  Will we be able
to
3  People can participate in debates individually or in teams. In the achieve the Sustai
nable
first case, each participant puts forward their opinion freely, in Development Goa
ls
the second case, the team decides what their opinions will be and by 2030? What do
everyone defends the same opinion. governments and
citizens
need to do to achi
4  During the debate, the moderator asks prepared questions. They eve this?
can also ask spontaneous questions too, of course. Each individual  Educational eq
uality
or team has turns to speak and is invited to speak in order by the between genders
in less-
moderator. Everyone listens respectfully to whoever is speaking. developed countr
ies: could
we be doing more?
5  To conclude the debate, the moderator should summarise the
ideas of the individuals or teams and come to a conclusion in  Are the policie
s currently in
which a final consensus is reached. place to reduce th
e use of
plastic in Spain su
6  There can also be observers who take notes or record the session. fficient?

Example of a group discussion

DEBATE: Nuclear energy: a good idea or a bad idea?

Debate questions Research

How does nuclear energy affect climate change? Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power
How does a nuclear power station affect the landscape and The effect of nuclear power on climate change
population nearby? How much energy does Spain import from abroad?
Would you be happy if the government announced it was Jobs in the nuclear power industry
opening a nuclear power station 30 km from your home?
How many nuclear power stations are there in Spain? What
Does Spain need more nuclear power stations? Should we about in Europe?
close the ones that are currently in operation?
How’s nuclear waste stored in Spain? What options are
What should we do with nuclear waste? there? What are the problems associated with nuclear
What’s the future of nuclear energy? waste?

 H
 old one of the suggested debates in your class, following the steps described above. Choose a moderator
and an observer (one for the whole debate, or one for each group). If your school and families agree, you
could record your debate and then watch the recording to analyse it.

10. Sustainability and the environment 257

 Revision activities
1  Define these terms in your notebook. 6  Visit the Global Footprint Network web page
 Earth Summit  national park and find out more about the environmental
footprint and biocapacity.
 hole in the ozone layer  acid rain
a. List five countries with a negative ecological
 desertification  overexploitation
deficit and five with a positive ecological deficit.
 biocapacity  environmental footprint
b. Compare the US to China for: biocapacity, per
2 Answer the questions. capita environmental footprint, population size
a. What different types of waste are there? and GDP per capita. Each country has a negative
b. What’s desertification? What causes it? ecological deficit. In which country is this the
result of a larger population? In which country is
c. What’s the United Nations Convention on the
it the result of higher consumption?
Law of the Sea?
d. What are the main environmental problems with 7 Look at the map showing nuclear power stations in
natural causes that Spain faces? Spain and answer the questions below.
e. What do we call the UN directives that refer to
sustainable development? Give some examples.
3  Read the text and explain what it’s referring to. Ascó II

fies the needs of the

Trillo Vandellós II
Development that satis
Almaraz I
ut compromising the Almaraz II
current generation, witho
ions to satisfy their own
ability of future generat Cofrentes

needs. ) El Cabril 0 200 km

Brundtland Report (1987
 Nuclear power station
Waste storage

4  Write a list of things you can do, as well as

things your school can do, to stop climate change. a. Where are the nuclear power stations located?
5  Look at the map and summarise the b. Where’s radioactive waste stored?
information in contains about natural disasters. c. What environmental risks can these produce?

Seismic zones
Tsunami zones
Flood zones
Active volcanoes
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Drought 0 4 000 km

258 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

8  Read the text and answer the questions below 12 Choose a Sustainable Development Goal and answer
in your notebook. the questions.
a. Why’s it important to achieve this goal?
Urban pollution b. How is it related to the economy, society and
cording to a government
The city of Beijing, which ac environment?
ble for human life’ today
report is almost ‘uninhabita c. What measures must we take to achieve it?
high levels of air pollution,
as a result of its extremely
polluting factories in order 13  Read and summarise the text. Suggest how the
has decided to close 300
addition to these closures, problem can be resolved.
to improve air quality. In
will be approved in sectors
no new industrial projects the Great Pacific
d cement industry, which The worrying growth of
such as the steel industry an es the size of France
. Garbage Patch: three tim
cause high levels of pollution rbage Patch is growing
La Vanguardia (Translated
and adapted) The gigantic Pacific Ga
rding to new research
at an alarming rate, acco
gazine. As this research
published in Nature ma
waste now measures
a. What type of pollution does the text refer to? shows, this area of
three times the size of
1.6 million km – almost
2
b. How does this type of pollution affect people ost 80 000 tonnes of
France – and contains alm
living nearby? re than was previously
plastic. This is 16 times mo
c. Bearing in mind that the population of Beijing is a within the garbage
thought. In fact, one are
very high, what other types of pollution do you greatest concentration
patch now contains the
think there could be there?
of plastic ever recorded.
plastic is increasing.
9  Look at the bar chart and answer the questions. ‘The concentration of
is getting worse,’ said
a. Which area was the first to reduce waste? I believe the situation
in author of The Ocean
b. How has Spain changed since 2000 in terms of Laurent Lebreton, the ma
dy in Delft, Netherlands.
waste generation? Cleanup Foundation stu apted)
BBC (Translated and ad
c. How does Spain compare in recent years to the
EU average in terms of waste generation?
GENERATION OF MUNICIPAL WASTE PER PERSON 14  Look at the bar chart and answer the
In kg/person questions below.
Average in the European Union
700
Spain EVOLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
650 In global hectares (gha) per capita
Urban land
7
Carbon
600
6 Fishing zones

550 Forestry products

5
Grazing land
500 4 Agricultural land

450 3

2
400
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Year 1

0
10 Why do you think national parks and other types of 1961 1985 2012 1961 1985 2012 1961 1985 2012
protection of natural spaces are important? What High income Medium income Low income

are the benefits of protecting natural areas?

a. Which countries have the largest environmental
11 Make a mind map in your notebook about footprints?
environmental degradation. Include information
b. What affects the footprint of each country?
about the:
What types of human activity increase it?
 types of pollution.
c. How has the environmental footprint of
 causes and consequences for the environment. developed countries changed? What about in
 causes and consequences for people. less-developed countries? Why?

10. Sustainability and the environment 259

 Key concepts
Sustainability and the environment
HUMAN ACTIVITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental footprint Biocapacity Waste

 an environmental indicator of  an environmental indicator of  generated by human activity

the surface area needed to a region’s capacity to generate  can be domestic, agricultural,
produce the resources which resources and absorb waste industrial, nuclear…
the population consumes and to without sustaining damage
absorb the waste it produces

HUMAN ACTIVITY DAMAGES THE ENVIRONMENT

Damage to the atmosphere Damage to inland ecosystems Damage to marine ecosystems

 pollution  soil pollution, erosion and desertification  pollution caused by waste

 acid rain  deforestation  oil spills
 hole in the ozone layer  lack of water and overuse of aquifers  accumulation of plastic
 urban heat islands  pollution of lakes and rivers  overfishing
 global warming caused by  loss of biodiversity  urban development in
greenhouse gases coastal areas

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Sustainable development Protecting natural spaces

 prevent, protect and rehabilitate natural areas  national parks

 United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)  UNESCO biosphere reserves, world heritage sites, geoparks
 Earth Summits  Natura 2000
 Sustainable Development Goals  International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND RISKS

Natural disasters in Spain

 volcanic eruptions  Forest fires, torrential rains, hailstorms, high winds and droughts are relatively
 earthquakes frequent.
 hurricanes  Earthquakes (in Murcia) and volcanic eruptions (in the Canary Islands) happen
 tornadoes sometimes.
 floods  There’s a lack of water due to global warming; rivers and seas are polluted by
 drought waste and there’s soil degradation in many areas.
 forest fires  There’s a lack of systems to manage urban resources and there’s no definitive
solution for the problem of nuclear waste.
Humanitarian crises occur when
natural disasters cause problems  A quarter of Spain’s surface area is protected land.
that require extensive aid.
Concept map

260 BLOCK: THE CHALLENGES OF A GLOBALISED WORLD

 LEARNING SITUATION

Work on your key competences

Will we be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030?
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Fortunately, we know that nowadays many people are worried about the future of the planet and are trying to be more
sustainable, both environmentally and socioeconomically. These concerns have grown in recent years and have led to
the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, it still isn’t clear how we can achieve these goals. What’s
clear, however, is that we’ll need to do more than just work together...
You’re going to work on these goals to see if you can help solve some of these issues. You’ll think about what needs to
be done and what you personally can do to help achieve these goals.

Preparation Group size:

 Classify the Sustainable Development Goals into four groups of four for the presentation
categories. To help you do this, use the information on the and poster.
right.
large group for the debate.
 ecological and environmental
Material:
 economic and systems of production
computer with Internet access,
 social welfare
reference books.
 governmental and political action to improve the situation
 Form groups of four and choose a Sustainable Development
Goal which you’re all interested in.
ment Goals
ca tio n of th e Su stainable Develop
 Do research to find out more about the goal you chose: Classifi climate
ca l an d en vi ro nmental: refer to
what issue does it aim to resolve and what objectives are  Ecolo gi ment.
tion of the environ
stated for 2030? change or protec n: refer to
no m ic an d sy stems of productio
 E co tivity to
im pa ct of economic ac
Method re du ci
er
ng
ve
th
th
e
e en vir onment for future
generations.
pr es
g wellbeing and
1. Once you’ve found information about the goal, create a refer to improvin
 Social welfare:
ound the world.
presentation using PowerPoint, Prezi or another slideshow living standards ar omoting the
program to communicate what you found out. en ta l an d po litical: refer to pr
 Gover nm se public
an d go ve rn m ent policies to increa
2. Create a poster about the goal you researched. Include SDGs
information about what category it falls under and a list of awareness.
specific actions we can take to help achieve this goal.

Presentation
Give your presentation to the class and pay close attention to
the other groups’ presentations.
Hold an informal debate. Discuss and evaluate the actions each
group has suggested and suggest other actions that will help
achieve the goal.
Add the new suggestions to your poster, or at least the most
interesting ones.
Display the posters around the classroom or in the school
corridor.
Donate what you don’t use
836 million people live in extreme poverty.

10. Sustainability and the environment 261