Tag: Environment

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The plastic bottle. By the time you read this, you would have probably gone through hundreds of these ubiquitous yet nondescript items. Where did they come from? Where are they headed?

Watch this informative video and find out the fate of three such bottles.

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the narrator, how is plastic made?
2. Explain what happens to each of the three plastic bottles in the story. Which scenario does the video state is the best outcome?
3. In your city, what usually happens to discarded plastic bottles? How do you feel about this after watching the video?
4. Enumerate all the plastic items you can see from where you’re sitting or standing at the moment. How many are there in total? What is your reaction to this tally?
5. What concrete steps can we take to ensure less plastic harms the global ecosystem?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Greta Thunberg, 16, a Swedish climate advocate and recipient of Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, recently gave an impassioned speech addressed to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.

Watch her full speech here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJAmG75eRm8

Discussion Questions:

1. What emotions did Thunberg’s speech arouse in you?
2. What actions can young people do to protect the environment?
3. What are the possible consequences of ignoring climate change?
4. If you were to address your country’s leaders, what would you tell them about climate change?
5. If you were President, what would you do about the environmental problems in your country?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Humanity has created 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste and only 9% of that has been recycled. Cosmetic company LUSH recognized how much of that waste comes from packaging within the cosmetic industry and vowed to make a change. The company now features a wide variety of products that come without packaging—also known by their terms as “naked. Some of these products include shampoo bars and shower gels.

Watch the video and be able to discuss the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of packageless beauty products?
2. With the arrival of zero waste products, what will happen to label information and brand communication of the products?
3. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using “naked” products?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region. It already affects every continent and around 2.8 billion people around the world at least one month out of every year. More than 1.2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water.

Watch the video to know more why the taps run dry.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is there/Has there ever been water crisis in your region / country?
2. Why are there severe water shortages around the world?
3. What are the causes of water scarcity?
4. What are some solutions to  global water crisis?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Right now, our soils, freshwater, oceans, forests, and biodiversity are being rapidly degraded. The decrease in the global diversity of plants and animals puts food security at risk. The report identified that changes to how land and water are used and managed, pollution, climate change, overharvesting, population growth, and urbanization caused the declining biodiversity which could have disastrous effects on our planet.

Read more about this  the article below:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/22/health/food-biodiversity-report-intl/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What can be done to increase food production?

2. How can we preserve plants and animals’ natural habitats?

3. What environmental effects will this cause?

4. How can changing our diets save plants and animals from extinction? Should we rethink how we grow, share, and consume food?

5. What are your thoughts on the fact that we hold the extraordinary burden of responsibility to avert much of the damage we have done to the environment?

6. What is your reaction that just in the past 50 years, we have seen the destruction of 60% of mammal, bird, fish and reptile populations?

7. Would you know if this is an issue in your country as well? Do you think that this issue is attracting increasing attention in your country?