2. 01 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Modification of the natural environment
Hunter-gatherers
did not modify
the environment,
given that their
way of life
depended on its
conservation.
Traditional
agricultural
practices
implied a radical
transformation,
but they
guaranteed the
availability of the
resources.
The impact of the
Industrial
Revolution has
caused the
greatest
alteration of the
environment.
3. • productivism
• environmentalism
• decreased growth
• sustainable development
Responses to environmental threats
01 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The current world population is 7.8 billion inhabitants.
4. Environmental Policies
01 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• Kyoto Protocol (1997)
• United Nations Climate Change Conferences in
Copenhagen (2012)
• Paris Agreement (2015)
• Katowice Climate Change Conference (2018)
5. Impact of agriculture and livestock farming
1. Agriculture
• groundwater irrigation → depletes aquifers and causes soil
salinisation
• excessive use of chemical fertilisers→ pollutes the soil as well as
the surface water and ground water
• greenhouse farming→ increases waste
• use of biological techniques→ affects biodiversity
2. Livestock farming
• intensive farming→ inadequate living conditions for animals
• excrement → soil and groundwater pollution
02 IMPACT OF THE PRIMARY SECTOR
7. 02 IMPACT OF THE PRIMARY SECTOR
Impact of fishing
high
volume of
fishing
activity
commercial
fishing
methods
overfishing
8. Impact of mining
03 IMPACT OF THE SECONDARY SECTOR
• depleting deposits due to the extraction of minerals and rocks
• soil erosion as well as vegetation and fauna damage
• pollution of the air, surface water and groundwater
• social impact, especially in underdeveloped countries: armed conflicts
and crimes committed against the local population
10. Impact of energy production
1. Non-renewable energies
• burning coal, natural gas and oil at power stations → carbon dioxide
emissions → global warming
• nuclear accidents→ disasters caused by radioactivity
• dangerous waste→ remains toxic for thousands of years
• fracking → high use of water, pollution of aquifers, earthquakes,
release of polluting gases
2. Renewable energy
• hydropower → reduces biodiversity
• wind turbines → kill birds and affect the beauty of the landscape
• burning biomass → emission of carbon dioxide
03 IMPACT OF THE SECONDARY SECTOR
11. Impact of tourism
04 IMPACT OF THE TERTIARY SECTOR
urban landscape ski resort
landscape produced by
beach tourism
landscape produced by winter
tourism
12. 04 IMPACT OF THE TERTIARY SECTOR
aerial view of a
roundabout
(Valencia/Valéncia)
Impact of transport
Santa Justa train
station (Sevilla)
Bilbao harbour
Adolfo Suárez
Madrid-Barajas
airport
14. 05 ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN SPAIN
Uncontrolled urbanisation
The Spanish coast is very
densely populated and the
built-up land within two
kilometres of the coast
continues to expand.
Buildings affect sea currents
and lead to the disappearance
of natural beaches and the
decrease of biodiversity.
uncontrolled urbanization on the Spanish Mediterranean coast
16. 05 ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN SPAIN
Disappearance of native fauna and flora
In Spain there are over 80,000 different animal and plant species.
Some of these are endemic, which makes them more vulnerable to
extinction as a result of the forestry sector, electricity pylons, pollution,
the use of poisons and urbanisation.
Lack of awareness
Most environmental problems are caused by human activity. These
problems could be tackled through policies aimed at improving the
environment, better environmental education and raising public
awareness.
17. 06 PROTECTED AREAS IN SPAIN
Areas protected by international agreements
• Wetlands of International Importance
• Marine Protected Areas
• Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance
• natural spaces of the World Heritage List, the biosphere reserves and
global geoparks
Natura 2000 Network
• Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
• Sites of Community Importance (SCI)
• Special Protection Areas (SPA) for birds
18. 06 PROTECTED AREAS IN SPAIN
Protected natural spaces
• national parks
• natural monuments
• nature reserves
• nature parks
• protected landscapes
• marine protected areas
protected landscape: Tinto River
(Huelva)
natural reserve: Dunes of Maspalomas
(Las Palmas)
19. 07 ORGANISING A DEBATE
1. Divide the class into teams. Each team must adopt a certain position in
the debate.
2. Do some research in order to get some in-depth knowledge of the issue
(consult sources by both supporters and detractors).
3. Assign roles: main speakers, specialists, information specialists.
4. Before commencing the debate, the teacher will set out the rules which
both teams must follow
5. Remember to show a respectful attitude towards all speakers.
