Ecological Problems

As the 20th century draws to a close, global concentrations of atmospheric pollution seriously
threatens the ozone layer. It means the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases and
increased ozone depletion. This threatens to lead to dramatic climatic changes or global warming.
To reduce these threats, the scientists of the various countries of the world say that global
emissions must be sharply curtailed.
A number of gases contribute significally to the stock of greenhouse gases. CO2 has the greatest
impact. The burning of fuels by automobiles and industries are main sources of greenhouse gases.
Less damaging sources include deforestation, animal husbandry, wet rice cultivation,
decomposition of waste, and coal mining.
Together all developing countries with roughly three-quarters of the world’s population produce
less than one-third of industrial CO2.
Because incomes and consumption are higher in the wealthiest countries, per capita emissions
in the United States is more than twice bigger than that in Europe, 19 times higher than that in
Africa and 25 times higher than that in India.
Though Third World countries account for a relatively small proportion of industrial CO2, they
produce practically all of the CO2 in the secondary category, generally resulting from the burring of
vegetation to clear new land.
A study jointly sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations
Environment Program shows that global warming is growing. Is says that if current emission trends
continue, the mean global temperatures may rise 3° C by the end of the 21st century.
The potentially catastrophic consequences of climate changes have caused widespread cries for
joint preventive policy to combat environmental pollution, concentration of greenhouse gases and
ozone depletion.
Statesmen and scientists stress that responsibility for reducing emissions must be divided across
the members of the international community. The share of responsibility may be remarkably
different depending on industrial development, income, social structure and political orientation of a
country.
There is great controversy over the extent to which each government must control the emissions
produced by its local population, industry and agriculture.

Vocabulary
ecology – экология
ecological – экологический
pollution – загрязнение
to pollute – загрязнять
to threaten – угрожать
threat – угроза
layer – слой
ozone layer – озоновый слой
to deplete – исчерпывать, истощать
depletion – исчерпывание, истощение
ozone depletion – озоновое истощение
emissions – выделение (тепла, света)
greenhouse – теплица, парник
greenhouse gases – парниковый эффект
impact – влияние
to have impact on smth – оказывать влияние на что-либо
to burn – сжигать
fuel – горючее
deforestation – вырубка леса
animal husbandry – животноводство
decomposition – разложение, распад, гниение
wastes – отходы
consumption – потребление
to consume – потреблять
trend – тенденция
current trend – современная тенденция
widespread cries – многочисленные призывы
preventive policy – превентивные (предупредительные) меры
environmental pollution – загрязнение окружающей среды
remarkably – замечательный, удивительный
controversy – спор, дискуссия, полемика
extent – степень, мера
to what – до какой степени, насколько
per capita – на душу населения
vegetation – растительность
consequences – последствие
combat – бороться
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The modern way of life when people have little physical activity, use cars instead of walking,
watch television for many hours and work on computers is turning them into legless
creatures.