Interpretation of results

The results of the survey are shown in Table 3.

Reaction	Cases (points)	Number of classmates
More positive than negative More negative than positive Positive	2 3,4,5,7,10,12,13 8,15	1 7 2

Table 3. Results of the survey.

The results show that not all respondents fully understand the importance of environmental protection and energy conservation. It is evident that more emphasis should be placed on environmental issues both at home and at school.

Conclusion

To sum up, it should be noted that the problem of environmental protection is very serious. It is widely accepted that the environmental degradation has become a pressing issue and the most serious challenge in the world.

What will happen when climate changes, natural resources are depleted and the global population rises from 7 billion today to 9.3 billion in 2050, as demographers expect?

Consequences will be terrible. The rise in concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will significantly disrupt water supplies, agriculture, forestry and ecosystems for decades. Heatwaves that now set records will become commonplace. Sea levels will keep rising, Droughts, floods and other natural disasters will occur. Water shortages will affect hundreds of millions of people. Malnutrition will engulf large parts of the world. Tension will worsen. Social unrest – even violence – could follow.

Can the planet support it? Can the population survive?

It is a matter for states to find adequate solutions. The US and Russia should take the lead. Their governments should put environmental issues at the top of their policy agenda and make environmental protection their number one priority.

It is evident that both countries have done a lot, but much remains to be done. Both countries are planning to redouble their efforts. Although they use different approaches to solve the environmental problem, their aims are common – to save the environment.

The challengies are too grave and urgent to leave to political leaders. Each of us, including teenagers can do something, every day, to protect the environment. None of us can close the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica, but each of us can help make the problem of environmental degradation less challenging.

This leaves the final comment I’d like to make. To solve the environmental problem global collaboration is needed. Only concerted actions of all countries can lead to a successful solution to the problem. Actions will be local but aims will be global.

Literature

4. American Life and Institutions, 1994.

5. Fifty Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth, 1989.

6. Russia Environmental Management System: Directions for Modernisation, 2009.

7. The Environment Today, 1994.

8. Financial Times.

9. The Economist.

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