Answer
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Work Step by Step
(a) The growth of the human population is a global environmental problem because it leads to a range of environmental challenges. As the population grows, more resources are consumed and natural habitats are destroyed or fragmented to make way for housing, agriculture, and other human activities. This can result in loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and deforestation, all of which have significant environmental impacts. Additionally, the increase in human activity leads to more greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming and climate change. These environmental challenges are global in scope and affect ecosystems and people around the world.
(b) Furbish's lousewort is a small flowering plant that is found only in a specific region of Maine and New Brunswick. While it is an important plant species in this region and plays a role in local ecosystems, its loss would not have significant impacts on global ecosystems or biodiversity. Therefore, it is a local environmental problem, rather than a global one.
(c) The blue whale is listed as an endangered species under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. This is because the blue whale population has been severely impacted by overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss in the oceans. The loss of the blue whale population has broader implications for marine ecosystems and biodiversity, as the blue whale is a keystone species in the ocean food web. Additionally, the issues that have led to the decline of the blue whale population, such as overfishing and pollution, are also global environmental problems that affect other marine mammal species and ecosystems.
(d) A car with air-conditioning is not necessarily a global environmental problem, but it can contribute to global environmental problems if it is powered by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource that emit greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, when they are burned. These greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming and climate change, which are global environmental problems. However, if the car is powered by renewable energy sources, such as electricity from solar panels or wind turbines, it would not contribute to global environmental problems.
(e) Seriously polluted harbors and coastlines in major ocean ports are global environmental problems because they impact marine biodiversity, human health, and the global economy. Polluted harbors and coastlines can harm marine ecosystems, making it difficult for marine species to survive and reproduce. Additionally, the pollution can spread through ocean currents, affecting larger ecosystems and causing harm to marine life in other regions. The pollution can also have significant impacts on human health, through contaminated seafood and exposure to toxins. Finally, the pollution can disrupt trade and tourism, which are important parts of the global economy.
