S&T Phase 1
Protecting the Environment (FRI)
Protecting the Environment
During Phase 1 Teaching Package 4 (Friday), you will develop your overall English
proficiency with specific emphasis on listening skills. Our theme will be to explore key
environmental issues. By focusing on the environment—a critical global concern—you
will gain valuable knowledge about and enhance your understanding of the world around
you.
Unit 1: An Overview of Environmental Issues
Read the article below that introduces current environmental issues. When you read the
article, please use the SQ3R technique you have learned. Also, please mark words that are
new or unfamiliar to you.
The 12 Biggest Environmental Problems of 2025
Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: pollution, burning fossil fuels,
deforestation and more. Effects like these have resulted in environmental challenges such as
undrinkable water, poor air quality, soil erosion, extinction of many species and climate change,
among others. As these issues get worse, the world faces threats to ecosystems, human health
and global stability. In this article, 12 of the most critical environmental problems in 2025 are
described.
1. Global Warming from Fossil Fuels
After months of record-breaking temperatures, 2024 was confirmed as the hottest year ever
recorded, with average global temperatures 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels. This surpasses the
1.5°C threshold targeted by the 2015 Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change. High concentrations of greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, nitrous
oxide) continue to rise, trapping heat and driving extreme weather events—such as destructive
storms, bushfires, floods and droughts. Despite calls to reduce emissions, fossil fuels still dominate
energy production and consumption. To reverse course, we must switch quickly to clean and
renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
2. Reducing Fossil Fuel Dependence
Fossil fuels are still used everywhere, and their use is hard to stop. Some countries, including
Singapore, charge companies a “carbon tax” to make polluting more expensive and to encourage
the development of low-carbon technologies. For example, Sweden’s $127/ton carbon tax has
worked well—they cut emissions by 25% while their economy expanded by 75% since 1995.
Nevertheless, in many places, the tax is too low, and agreements like the Paris Agreement are
voluntary, without consequences for not following the agreed recommendations. Stronger rules
and cleaner technologies are needed to cut dependence on fossil fuels.
3. Air Pollution
Air pollution causes millions of deaths each year. Nine out of ten people breathe polluted air,
mostly from industrial emissions, vehicles, and fires. In many urban areas, air pollution, in the
form of dense smog, reduces life expectancy by up to five years. Many countries lack proper
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S&T Phase 1
Protecting the Environment (FRI)
clean-air laws and effective air quality monitoring. In the EU alone, over half a million people died
from air pollution-related health issues in 2021.
4. Plastic Pollution
Plastic production ballooned from 2 million tons in 1950 to 419 million tons by 2015. Today, 14
million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, threatening marine life and ecosystems. Plastic
takes up to 400 years to decompose, and 91% is never recycled. Although in 2022 the UN started
discussions on a legally binding treaty on plastic, in 2024 negotiations in South Korea ended
without an agreement.
5. Ocean Acidification
The oceans absorb about 30% of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) that is released into the atmosphere.
Increased levels of atmospheric carbon result in higher amounts of carbon dioxide that is
absorbed into the sea, making the water more acidic. Ocean acidification harms marine
ecosystems, especially coral reefs. Coral bleaching is expected to worsen, potentially wiping out
reefs by 2050. Acidification also disrupts marine food chains and shell-forming organisms. Plastic
waste worsens the problem by introducing bacteria and microorganisms that threaten marine
habitats.
6. Deforestation
Forests play a crucial role in removing carbon from the air and releasing oxygen. They also prevent
soil erosion and provide homes for much of the world’s wildlife, ensuring biodiversity. Yet, due to
expanding logging, agriculture and livestock activities, forests the size of 300 football fields are
destroyed every hour. If current rates persist, only 10% of forests will remain by 2030. The
Amazon rainforest in Brazil alone loses 1.5 million hectares annually. Legal and illegal
deforestation remains rampant in Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC).
7. Biodiversity Loss
Human activity has reduced the number of wild animals by 68% since 1970. This biodiversity loss
is due to a variety of factors including habitat destruction, land-use change and the illegal wildlife
trade. Researchers claim a sixth mass extinction is occurring, with 500 species expected to go
extinct within the next 20 years. Without urgent habitat protection, biodiversity loss will continue
to escalate.
8. Melting Ice Caps and Sea Level Rise
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Similarly, the glaciers in Greenland
and Antarctica are losing trillions of tons of ice, resulting in sea levels now rising an average of 3.2
mm per year. If the Greenland ice sheet fully melts, sea levels would rise by 6 meters. Coastal
cities like Bangkok, Manila, and Dubai face existential flooding risks, affecting up to 480 million
people by 2100.
9. Agriculture and Food Systems
Agriculture contributes nearly a third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions—of which 30%
comes from livestock and fisheries alone. Cattle ranching occupies 60% of agricultural land,
though it supplies only 24% of meat. Farming also consumes 75% of the world’s freshwater. Over
3 billion people rely on fish for protein, yet 30% of fisheries are overexploited. Industrial and
small-scale overfishing devastates marine biodiversity, encourages ocean littering and disrupts
aquatic ecosystems. Eating more plant-based foods and using sustainable farming and fishing
methods are critical to maintaining a sustainable food supply.
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S&T Phase 1
Protecting the Environment (FRI)
10. Soil Degradation
Healthy soil is important for growing food and storing carbon. However, around 40% of the
world’s soil is degraded due to poor agricultural practices and chemical use. In addition, eroding
topsoil (68 billion tons annually) contaminates drinking water and makes it harder to grow food.
Over-tilling and chemical pesticide use further destroy soil health. With the population projected
to reach 9 billion by mid-century, food demand could surge by 70%; however, if current soil use
trends continue, food production may be cut by 40% by 2045. Soil degradation threatens both
ecosystems and agriculture, making soil preservation a top priority.
11. Food Waste
A third of all food produced—1.3 billion tons—is wasted yearly, contributing about one-quarter of
annual greenhouse gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest
emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the U.S. In developed nations, waste results largely
from cosmetic standards at the retail level; in developing nations, post-harvest losses cause the
most waste. Reducing food waste could dramatically ease both emissions and food insecurity.
12. Fast Fashion and Clothing Waste
The fashion industry causes more pollution than airplanes and ships combined. It also wastes
huge amounts of freshwater. Many clothes are made from plastics like polyester, which break
down into harmful microplastics. Every year, 92 million tons of clothes are thrown away, often
sent to less developed countries. “Fast fashion”—cheap clothes made quickly—is making this
worse. Consumers should purchase fewer, better-quality clothes, and clothing companies should
develop systems for recycling discarded clothes.
Conclusion
The environmental issues facing the world in 2025 are deeply interconnected, with climate change
adding to every other challenge. We need cleaner energy, better farming, less waste, and smarter
laws. Everyone—governments, businesses, and individuals—must work together to protect our
planet and combat global warming before it is too late.
Adapted from
Robinson, D. and Igini, M. (9 Jan 2025). 15 Biggest Environmental Problems of 2025. Earth.org.
https://earth.org/the-biggest-environmental-problems-of-our-lifetime/
Reading Comprehension
Answer the following questions with specific reference to ideas given in the reading text.
1. What is the main cause of global warming mentioned in the article, and how has it
affected global temperatures?
2. How does ocean acidification occur, and what are two of its major impacts on marine
ecosystems?
3. Why is plastic pollution a long-term problem, and what recent attempt to address it has
failed?
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S&T Phase 1
Protecting the Environment (FRI)
4. What are two ways that agriculture contributes to environmental degradation?
5. According to the article, how does the fast fashion industry negatively impact the
environment and global waste systems?
Discussion
Let’s discuss the following questions. If you have questions that you want to discuss
regarding the text, please share them with your tutor and classmates.
1. Which of the 12 environmental problems do you think is the most urgent to address,
and why?
2. Are there any environmental problems not described in the text that you think are also
important?
3. What role should international agreements, like the Paris Agreement or a potential
global plastic treaty, play in solving environmental problems?
4. Do you think carbon taxes are an effective way to reduce fossil fuel dependence? What
else could be done?
5. How do the actions of developed countries differ from those of developing countries in
terms of environmental impact and responsibility? Do you think they should be the
same?
6. What changes can individuals make in their daily lives to reduce their contribution to
environmental degradation?
Vocabulary
Choose twenty words from the reading that are new to you or that you think are important
for understanding the topic of ‘protecting the environment.’ List them here with a definition.
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