Pollution and Global warming -
The facts -
Global warming is the fact that the earth is warmer now than it has been for thousands of years ! This could result in the melting of polar ice caps , rise in sea levels and some mediterranean countries turning into deserts. All these effects could be very bad for life on earth. For your exam you may also need to know some causes of global warming -
1. The green house effect - This is where burning fossil fuels produces green house gases ( hence why its called the green house effect ). These build up in the earths atmosphere and acts like a barrier trapping heat up with us. This has got worse recently and therefore scientists have concluded that its the humans fault.
2. Natural climate change - Some scientists however aren't quite convinced that climate change is all our fault. They claim that its possible climate change could just be a natural process as when you look back in time some of the hottest periods was before humans even existed. So we could just be going through a natural hot spell. Scientists who believe there are natural causes for climate change believe nature produces far more carbon dioxide than we do.
3. Solar Activity - A final theory some scientists think has lead to global warming is solar activity. This is all to do with what the suns up to. These scientists believe that the heating effects of our sun is normally kept out by clouds. However when the solar activity is high it creates large solar winds which then leads to fewer clouds. Fewer clouds means less best is blocked and therefore heating us up.
So these are the theories for whats causing it. Cause number one is currently the most popular with scientists. This means that us humans need to change otherwise the consequences could be disastrous. So many scientists have also come up with ways we can start fighting global warming these include -
1. Alternative methods of making our electricity - Currently we burn many fossil fuels to make electricity. You will know from earlier these emit green house gases such as carbon dioxide. This keeps in the heat like wrapping the earth in a giant blanket . So an obvious conclusion to this would be to stop with the fossil fuel burning and use other methods such as wind turbine and solar panels.
2. Alternative car fuel - Petrol which we put in our regular cars burns to produce more green house gases. We could however use ethanol , cooking fast and electric batteries as they all have less carbon emissions. They aren't all good they are much more expensive and also less efficient than our normal petrol.
3. Increase use of public transport - This could again reduce carbon emissions trains have the lowest and planes have the highest.
Now try this exam question ( or if you don't have time just simply plan it out)
B part - Do you think humans are to blame for global warming ?
Global warming is the fact that the earth is warmer now than it has been for thousands of years ! This could result in the melting of polar ice caps , rise in sea levels and some mediterranean countries turning into deserts. All these effects could be very bad for life on earth. For your exam you may also need to know some causes of global warming -
1. The green house effect - This is where burning fossil fuels produces green house gases ( hence why its called the green house effect ). These build up in the earths atmosphere and acts like a barrier trapping heat up with us. This has got worse recently and therefore scientists have concluded that its the humans fault.
2. Natural climate change - Some scientists however aren't quite convinced that climate change is all our fault. They claim that its possible climate change could just be a natural process as when you look back in time some of the hottest periods was before humans even existed. So we could just be going through a natural hot spell. Scientists who believe there are natural causes for climate change believe nature produces far more carbon dioxide than we do.
3. Solar Activity - A final theory some scientists think has lead to global warming is solar activity. This is all to do with what the suns up to. These scientists believe that the heating effects of our sun is normally kept out by clouds. However when the solar activity is high it creates large solar winds which then leads to fewer clouds. Fewer clouds means less best is blocked and therefore heating us up.
So these are the theories for whats causing it. Cause number one is currently the most popular with scientists. This means that us humans need to change otherwise the consequences could be disastrous. So many scientists have also come up with ways we can start fighting global warming these include -
1. Alternative methods of making our electricity - Currently we burn many fossil fuels to make electricity. You will know from earlier these emit green house gases such as carbon dioxide. This keeps in the heat like wrapping the earth in a giant blanket . So an obvious conclusion to this would be to stop with the fossil fuel burning and use other methods such as wind turbine and solar panels.
2. Alternative car fuel - Petrol which we put in our regular cars burns to produce more green house gases. We could however use ethanol , cooking fast and electric batteries as they all have less carbon emissions. They aren't all good they are much more expensive and also less efficient than our normal petrol.
3. Increase use of public transport - This could again reduce carbon emissions trains have the lowest and planes have the highest.
Now try this exam question ( or if you don't have time just simply plan it out)
B part - Do you think humans are to blame for global warming ?
Pollution
Here is a slide show this will show the four main types of pollution and the problems it can cause.
Now try this exam question on pollution ( or plan the points you would make in it )
C part - Explain how different types of pollution effect the world negatively ?
C part - Explain how different types of pollution effect the world negatively ?
Christian views on the environment -
Christians believe in stewardship this means to look after the world for the future generations. Here is a C part question -
C part - Explain why christians try to look after the environment ?
Now use this information page to help you answer and plan the c part answer -
There are many reasons and teaching that influence Christians to try their best to look after the environment for future generations here are some of the reasons -
1. In genesis the creation story talks about christians being given the earth by God. Here is a teaching from the creation story "Rule over the fish of the sea , the birds of the air and over every living creature on land" They are also told they have responsibility to look after God's earth and there for be good stewards of the earth.
2. The parable of the talents - Here Jesus teaches the humans God expects humans to pass on more than they have been given to future generations so therefore humans should try to improve the earth. The teaching "love thy neighbour" supports this as its being loving got future generations.
3. Sermon on the mount - Here Jesus taught that people have responsibility to ensure there is fair distribution of the earths resources so christians will try to make sure natural resources are shared out as fairly as possible.
4. Judgement day - Christians believe that on judgement day God will judge them on party how well they have looked after the environment and how well they have acted as stewards. As Christians would want to go to heaven they will try to be good stewards so they can.
This has lead to many Christian charities such as tearfund who try to reduce pollution and improve the quality of life for the less fortunate.
C part - Explain why christians try to look after the environment ?
Now use this information page to help you answer and plan the c part answer -
There are many reasons and teaching that influence Christians to try their best to look after the environment for future generations here are some of the reasons -
1. In genesis the creation story talks about christians being given the earth by God. Here is a teaching from the creation story "Rule over the fish of the sea , the birds of the air and over every living creature on land" They are also told they have responsibility to look after God's earth and there for be good stewards of the earth.
2. The parable of the talents - Here Jesus teaches the humans God expects humans to pass on more than they have been given to future generations so therefore humans should try to improve the earth. The teaching "love thy neighbour" supports this as its being loving got future generations.
3. Sermon on the mount - Here Jesus taught that people have responsibility to ensure there is fair distribution of the earths resources so christians will try to make sure natural resources are shared out as fairly as possible.
4. Judgement day - Christians believe that on judgement day God will judge them on party how well they have looked after the environment and how well they have acted as stewards. As Christians would want to go to heaven they will try to be good stewards so they can.
This has lead to many Christian charities such as tearfund who try to reduce pollution and improve the quality of life for the less fortunate.
Jewish views on the environment -
Jewish people also believe in stewardship as they share the old testament with Christians. Their mitzvot however also has some rules / teachings that Jews are expected to follow when looking after the environment -
1. Around every town there should be an open area of land which should not be used .
2. Never destroy things of the earth which are useful
3. When celebrating the festival of trees new trees should be planted in areas that need them
4. Once every 50 years Jews shouldn't plant or haves crops to give the land a chance to recover
Use this information to answer / plan this exam question -
C part - In what ways does the Jewish community look after the environment ?
Jewish teachings also affect some Jewish attitudes towards how they treat the environment -
1. The Jewish belief in Stewardship means Jews should try to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources
2. The Tenakh and Torah each that stewardship means fair share of resources leading Jews to help less economically developed countries
3. Jews also feel they have a duty to share in and support the work of groups who seek to improve the environment
4. God created the environment as something therefore Jews feel they have the duty to try and preserve it so it continues the way God wanted it
1. Around every town there should be an open area of land which should not be used .
2. Never destroy things of the earth which are useful
3. When celebrating the festival of trees new trees should be planted in areas that need them
4. Once every 50 years Jews shouldn't plant or haves crops to give the land a chance to recover
Use this information to answer / plan this exam question -
C part - In what ways does the Jewish community look after the environment ?
Jewish teachings also affect some Jewish attitudes towards how they treat the environment -
1. The Jewish belief in Stewardship means Jews should try to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources
2. The Tenakh and Torah each that stewardship means fair share of resources leading Jews to help less economically developed countries
3. Jews also feel they have a duty to share in and support the work of groups who seek to improve the environment
4. God created the environment as something therefore Jews feel they have the duty to try and preserve it so it continues the way God wanted it