Environmental Topics to develop in November, 2012

This is an Environmental Topics’ list to develop during this month of November.

Make a short reach, read the most appealing topic.

Next week, you have to make a short presentation-description upon the topic you will develop, later you will expose and finally we will discuss in class-forum during the coming weeks.

The mean idea is to rehearse a debate instead of the final practical test.

As attachment there are the evaluation rubrics to discuss and apply for the final test.

The Oral Presentation and the Debate Rubric.

List of issues

• Climate change — Global warming • Global dimming • Fossil fuels • Sea level rise •Greenhouse gas • Ocean acidification • Shutdown of thermohaline circulation •Environmental impact of the coal industry • Urban Heat Islands

• Conservation — Species extinction • Pollinator decline • Coral bleaching • Holocene extinction • Invasive species • Poaching • Endangered species

• Energy — Energy conservation • Renewable energy • Efficient energy use • Renewable energy commercialization • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

• Environmental degradation — Eutrophication • Habitat destruction • Invasive species

• Environmental health — Air quality • Asthma • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Electromagnetic fields •Electromagnetic radiation and health • Indoor air quality • Lead poisoning • Sick Building Syndrome • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

• Genetic engineering — Genetic pollution • Genetically modified food controversies

• Intensive farming — Overgrazing • Irrigation • Monoculture • Environmental effects of meat production • Slash and burn • Pesticide drift • Plasticulture

• Land degradation — Land pollution • Desertification

Soil — Soil conservation • Soil erosion • Soil contamination • Soil salination

• Land use — Urban sprawl • Habitat fragmentation • Habitat destruction

• Nanotechnology — Nanotoxicology • Nanopollution

• Nuclear issues — Nuclear fallout • Nuclear meltdown • Nuclear power • Nuclear weapons • Nuclear and radiation accidents •Nuclear safety • High-level radioactive waste management

• Overpopulation — Burial • Water crisis • Overpopulation in companion animals • Tragedy of the commons • Gender Imbalance in Developing Countries • Sub-replacement fertility levels in developed countries

• Ozone depletion — CFC • Biological effects of UV exposure

• Pollution — Environmental impact of the coal industry • Nonpoint source pollution • Point source pollution • Light pollution • Noise pollution • Visual pollution

Water pollution — Environmental impact of the coal industry • Acid rain • Eutrophication • Marine pollution • Ocean dumping •Oil spills • Thermal pollution • Urban runoff • Water crisis • Marine debris • Microplastics • Ocean acidification • Ship pollution •Wastewater • Fish kill • Algal bloom • Mercury in fish • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

Air pollution — Environmental impact of the coal industry • Smog • Tropospheric ozone • Indoor air quality • Volatile organic compound • Atmospheric particulate matter• Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

• Reservoirs — Environmental impacts of reservoirs

• Resource depletion — Exploitation of natural resources • Overdrafting

Consumerism — Consumer capitalism • Planned obsolescence • Over-consumption

Fishing — Blast fishing • Bottom trawling • Cyanide fishing • Ghost nets • Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing •Overfishing • Shark finning • Whaling

Logging — Clearcutting • Deforestation • Illegal logging

Mining — Acid mine drainage • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing • Mountaintop removal mining • Slurry impoundments

• Toxins — Chlorofluorocarbons • DDT • Endocrine disruptors • Dioxin • Toxic heavy metals • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Herbicides • Pesticides • Toxic waste • PCB • Bioaccumulation • Biomagnification• Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing

• Waste — Electronic waste • Litter • Waste disposal incidents • Marine debris • Medical waste • Landfill • Leachate • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Incineration • Great Pacific Garbage Patch • Exporting of hazardous waste• Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing