Environment

2. Question:1 Do you believe human activities contribute to climate change? If so,
what should we do about it? If not, what do you think causes climate change?
Ans Human activities contribute to climate change by causing changes in
Earth’s atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse gases, aerosols (small
particles), and cloudiness. The largest known contribution comes from the
burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases and aerosols affect climate by altering incoming solar
radiation and outgoing infrared (thermal) radiation that are part of Earth’s
energy balance. Changing the atmospheric abundance or properties of these
gases and particles can lead to a warming or cooling of the climate system.
Since the start of the industrial era (about 1750), the overall effect of human
activities on climate has been a warming influence. The human impact on
climate during this era greatly exceeds that due to known changes in natural
processes, such as solar changes and volcanic eruptions.
Greenhouse Gases
Human activities result in emissions of four principal greenhouse gases: carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and the halocarbons (a
group of gases containing fluorine, chlorine and bromine). These gases
accumulate in the atmosphere, causing concentrations to increase with time.
Significant increases in all of these gases have occurred in the industrial era
(see Figure 1). All of these increases are attributable to human activities.
 Carbon dioxide has increased from fossil fuel use in transportation,
building heating and cooling and the manufacture of cement and other
goods. Deforestation releases CO2 and reduces its uptake by plants.
Carbon dioxide is also released in natural processes such as the decay of
plant matter. • Methane has increased as a result of human activities
related to agriculture, natural gas distribution and landfills. Methane is
also released from natural processes that occur, for example, in wetlands.
Methane concentrations are not currently increasing in the atmosphere
because growth rates decreased over the last two decades. • Nitrous
oxide is also emitted by human activities such as fertilizer use and fossil
fuel burning. Natural processes in soils and the oceans also release N2O.
 Halocarbon gas concentrations have increased primarily due to human
activities. Natural processes are also a small source. Principal halocarbons
include the chlorofluorocarbons (e.g., CFC-11 and CFC-12), which were
used extensively as refrigeration agents and in other industrial processes

3. before their presence in the atmosphere was found to cause stratospheric
ozone depletion. The abundance of chlorofluorocarbon gases is decreasing
as a result of international regulations designed to protect the ozone layer.
 Ozone is a greenhouse gas that is continually produced and destroyed in
the atmosphere by chemical reactions. In the troposphere, human
activities have increased ozone through the release of gases such as
carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide, which chemically
react to produce ozone. As mentioned above, halocarbons released by
human activities destroy ozone in the stratosphere and have caused the
ozone hole over Antarctica.
 Water vapour is the most abundant and important greenhouse gas in the
atmosphere. However, human activities have only a small direct influence
on the amount of atmospheric water vapour. Indirectly, humans have the
potential to affect water vapour substantially by changing climate. For
example, a warmer atmosphere contains more water vapour. Human
activities also influence water vapour through CH4 emissions, because CH4
undergoes chemical destruction in the stratosphere, producing a small
amount of water vapour.
 Aerosols are small particles present in the atmosphere with widely varying
size, concentration and chemical composition. Some aerosols are emitted
directly into the atmosphere while others are formed from emitted
compounds. Aerosols contain both naturally occurring compounds and
those emitted as a result of human activities. Fossil fuel and biomass
burning have increased aerosols containing sulphur compounds, organic
compounds and black carbon (soot).Human activities such as surface
mining and industrial processes have increased dust in the atmosphere.
Natural aerosols include mineral dust released from the surface, sea salt
aerosols, biogenic emissions from the land and oceans and sulphate and
dust aerosols produced by volcanic eruptions.
Questions:2 Which type of energy is the most environmentally friendly? Do you
use this type of energy? Why or why not?
Ans An environmentally friendly energy source is an energy source that has very
minimal impact on the environment. Though environmentally friendly energy
sources consist of majorly renewable energy sources, environmentally friendly
energy sources are different from renewable energy.

4. The key to environmentally friendly energy sources is that they don’t harm the
environment by releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. They emit
very little or no pollutants to the environment which could cause air pollution,
water pollution or land pollution.
Environmentally friendly energy sources are very important in this century, this
is because they have been an accumulation of greenhouse emissions by fossil-
fuelled energy which are not environmentally sustainable leading to an increase
in gases like carbon dioxide, methane, etc
And these energy sources are responsible for global warming, climate change
and ozone layer depletion but environmentally friendly energy sources have
helped and is still helping to mitigate the harm caused by fossil fuel energy
balancing the ecosystem.
Though environmentally friendly energy sources are not very popular in use with
most of the world’s energy sources still fossil fuel-powered, environmentally
friendly energy sources are growing in popularity yearly with integration in the
commercial, residential and transport sectors.
Environmentally friendly energy sources are also energy sources that are
friendly to humans who is a very crucial part of the environment.
The following are factors that make an energy source friendly.
 Zero Carbon Footprint
For an energy source to be eco-friendly means that the energy source has very
little to zero net carbon emission which are the greenhouse gases per day.
 Green Living
Eco-friendly energy sources are energy sources that try to reduce the use of
natural resources. Fossil fuel energy sources make use of the burning of some
natural resources like coal, crude oil, wood, natural gas, etc.
 Pollution Reduction
The more eco-friendly energy sources are used to replace fossil fuel energy,
the more the net pollution caused by energy production would be reduced.
Environmentally Friendly Energy Sources
1. Solar energy

5. 2. Wind energy
3. Hydroelectric energy
4. Geothermal energy
5. Biomass energy
Yes, we use the solar energy at home and in our field.
Questions:3 What is more important to you? Social issues or environmental
Problems?
Ans Both social issues and environmental problems are important and
interconnected. Social issues such as poverty, inequality, and access to
education and healthcare can have a significant impact on the environment, as
those who are most affected by these issues may have to resort to
unsustainable practices for survival.
On the other hand, environmental problems such as climate change, pollution,
and deforestation can exacerbate social issues by exacerbating poverty,
reducing access to resources, and negatively affecting human health.
Therefore, addressing both social issues and environmental problems is crucial
for creating a sustainable and equitable future for all. It's important to
prioritize both and find ways to address them in a holistic manner.
Questions:4 Have you ever donated your time or money to an
environmental organization? Which organization did you help?
What is their focus?
Ans NO, mam I did not donated my time or money to an environmental
organisation . but I have planted many trees in our school and village.
Some of them are very big today time .
I also planted a tree in our college also.
Questions:5 How important is nature to you? Do you get close to nature?
Nature is extremely important to human beings, both for our physical and
psychological well-being. Our very survival depends on the natural
environment, as it provides us with clean air, water, and food. Without these
essential resources, our health would be compromised, and we would be
unable to thrive as a species.

6. In addition to these basic needs, nature also provides numerous other benefits
that contribute to our overall quality of life. Spending time in nature has been
shown to reduce stress and improve mental health, as well as increase physical
activity levels and promote overall fitness. Nature also has a calming effect,
which can help to improve our mood and reduce anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, nature plays a crucial role in regulating our climate and
maintaining biodiversity. This is important not only for our own survival but
also for the health and well-being of all other living creatures on Earth. Overall,
the importance of nature to human beings cannot be overstated, and it is vital
that we work to protect and preserve the natural world for future generations.