Fragile Environments

Changing lifestyles and economic activity to suit a different climate, such as farming different crops.

The growing of trees for the benefit of agriculture, as windbreaks or as protection against soil erosion.

Renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, that offer an alternative to the use of fossil fuels.

Chemicals once used in foams, refrigerators, aerosols and air-conditioning units. It is responsible for the destruction of world's ozone layer and for part of the greenhouse effect.

Long term changes in the global atmospheric conditions.

The deliberate clearing of forested land, often causing serious environmental problems such as soil erosion.

The spread of desert conditions into what were semi-arid areas.

A long, continuous period of below dry weather (below average rainfall).

A measure of the mark the humans make on the natural world. It considers how much land and sea are required to provide the humans with the water, energy and food they need to support lifestyles.

A chronic shortage of food resulting in many people dying from starvation.

Carbon fuels such as coal, oil and nature gas that cannot be 'remade' because it will take tens of millions of years for them to form again.

A term used to describe those natural environments that are sensitive to, and easily abused by human activities.

A process whereby global temperature rise over time.

The warming of the Earth's atmosphere because greenhouse gases are preventing heat from escaping into space.

A condition resulting when a person is unable to eat what is needed to maintain good health.