Environmental Issues and Conservation in Antarctica

Environmental Issues

• Environmental issues can be categorized into three types: population growth, resource use, and pollution.
• These three types of issues are interconnected, making them difficult to study and resolve.

Antarctica

• Antarctica is a habitat for many animals and has ores of oil, coal, and iron beneath its thick ice.
• There are unique wildlife habitats in Antarctica.
• Some people want to access its rich deposits of minerals and oil, while others are concerned about the harm that mining could cause to its delicate ecosystems.
• In 1998, 26 nations agreed to ban mining and oil exploration in Antarctica for at least 50 years.

Natural Resources

• A natural resource is anything that occurs naturally in the environment and is used by people.
• Examples of natural resources include trees, water, oil, coal, and other things.
• People use a wide variety of resources in different areas of the world, but access to these resources can be limited in some regions.

Pollution

• Pollution is the contamination of the earth's land, water, or air.
• It can be caused by wastes, chemicals, noise, heat, light, and other sources.
• Pollution can destroy wildlife and cause human health problems.
• It is often related to population growth and resource use.

Sources of Pollution

• Point sources of pollution are specific sources that can be identified, such as a pipe gushing polluted water into a river.
• Non-point sources of pollution are widely spread and cannot be tied to a specific origin, such as the polluted air in urban areas.

Environmental Decisions

• Environmental decisions can be made at many levels, including personal, local, national, and global levels.
• These decisions can have a significant impact on the environment, especially when combined with the decisions of millions of people.
• Lawmakers work with various groups to make environmental decisions, balancing different needs and interests.

Learn about the environmental issues affecting Antarctica, including population growth, resource use, and pollution, and how they impact this unique ecosystem.