2. Find in the text the equivalents to the following word combinations:

средняя температура планеты; за десятилетие; в следующие два десятилетия; выбросы парникового газа; дополнительные меры по сокращению (парниковых газов); средний уровень моря на планете; в высоких северных широтах; окисление океанов; снежный покров; сильные осадки

3. Select the statement that best expresses the main idea of the text.

1. If warming persists over many centuries, it could lead to a complete melting of the Greenland Ice sheet.

2. Continuing greenhouse gas emissions at or above current rates would cause a further increase in global temperatures that will lead to noticeable sea level rise, acidification of oceans, more intense tropical cyclones and slower ocean currents.

3. From 1980 to the end of the 21st century, temperatures are projected to increase by 1.8°C to 4.0°C.

4. Is it true or false? Correct the wrong statements.

1. From 1980 to the end of the 21^st century, temperatures are projected to increase by 1.8°C to 4.0°C.

2. The global average temperature is expected to decrease by about 0.2°C per decade over the next two decades.

3. Global average sea level is expected to rise by 18 to 59 cm by the end of the 22^nd century.

4. Warming is expected to be greatest over the Southern Ocean and parts of the North

Atlantic Ocean.

5. Other projected changes include acidification of the oceans, reduced snow cover and sea ice, more frequent heat waves and heavy precipitation, more intense tropical cyclones, and slower oceanic currents.

6. Warming and sea level rise caused by natural events will continue for centuries, even if greenhouse gas concentrations were to be stabilized.

5. Retell the text.

6. Find on the Internet some more information about global warming and its effects. Retell it.

Reading for Translating

Climate Change – Threat to Our Planet

Climate change is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet.

The European Union is working actively for a global agreement to control climate change and is taking domestic action to achieve substantial reductions in its own contribution. It is also developing a European strategy for adapting to climate change.

The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that the Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 0.76° C since 1850. Most of the warming over the past 50 years is very likely to have been caused by emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other 'greenhouse gases' from human activities.

Without action to reduce these emissions, the global average temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C this century, and by up to 6.4°C in the worst - case scenario, the IPCC projects. Even the lower end of this range would take the temperature increase since pre-industrial times above 2°C - the threshold beyond which many scientists believe irreversible and possibly catastrophic changes would become more likely.

The European Union has long been at the forefront of international efforts to combat climate change and was instrumental in the development of the two United Nations climate treaties, the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997.

The EU has also been taking steps to limit its greenhouse gas emissions since the early 1990s.

In 2000 the European Commission launched the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) which has led to the adoption of a wide range of new policies and measures.

The Kyoto Protocol requires the 15 countries that were EU members at the time ('EU-15') to reduce their collective emissions in the 2008-2012 period to 8% below 1990 levels. Emissions monitoring and projections show that the EU-15 is well on track to meet this target.

In 2007 EU leaders endorsed an integrated approach to climate and energy policy and committed to transforming Europe into a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy. They made a unilateral commitment that Europe would cut its emissions by at least 20% of 1990 levels by 2020. This commitment is being implemented through a package of binding legislation.

The EU has also offered to increase its emissions reduction to 30% by 2020, on condition that other major emitting countries in the developed and developing worlds commit to do their fair share under a future global climate agreement. This agreement should take effect at the start of 2013 when the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period will have expired.

The Copenhagen Accord reached in December 2009 represents a step towards such an agreement.

Speaking

Read, learn and act out the dialogues:

1.

Jane: That was a heavy storm we had last night, wasn’t it, Kate?

Kate: It was. You know that big poplar tree in front of our house, don’t you? One of the biggest branches came down with such a crash that we thought it would break our window-panes.

Jane: Really! We have been having this wretched weather for days and days already. I’m sick and tired of it.

Kate: So am I. I wish this weather would clear up. It’s about time we had some nice spring weather.

Jane: It’s April, you know. March winds, April showers bring forth May flowers.

Kate: I know, but we’ve had enough of them. Still, I suppose we shouldn’t complain. We had a good winter. Never had so many fine cold days before.

Jane: Yes, I enjoyed them too.

2.

Mr. Jones: Good morning, Mrs. Williams. How are you this morning?

Mrs. Williams: I’m quite all right, thank you, Mr. Jones. And how are you?

Mr. Jones: Fine too, thank you. Nice day, isn’t it?

Mrs. Williams: Absolutely lovely. Much warmer than yesterday, I believe, though a bit misty. Have you read the weather forecast for today, by the way?

Mr. Jones: Yes, I have. It says that the early morning mist is to clear before noon and the rest of the day will be bright and sunny with the temperature between 15 C and 17 C.

Mrs. Williams: Good, and what is the outlook for tomorrow?

Mr. Jones: It says there will be little change, so I believe we may have a few fine days after all.

Mr. Williams: Splendid! A fine weekend is just what we all need, don’t we?

Mr. Jones: Oh, yes, quite true. Good-bye, Mrs. Williams.

Mrs. Williams: Good-bye, Mr. Jones.

Unit 2

Population and the Environment

“Our generation has inherited an incredibly beautiful world

from our parents and they from their parents.

It is in our hands whether our children and their

children inherit the same world.

We must not be the generation responsible for

irreversibly damaging the environment.”

~ Richard Branson

Warm up

The first billion took from the dawn of humanity until 1830.

The second billion took only 100 years -- from 1830 to 1930.

Three billion more arrived in the next 60 years.

The next billion will take only 13 years (yes, just 13 years!) - unless there is a tremendous effort to slow world birthrates!

It is evident the environment is being severely damaged by the impact of rapidly growing populations and over-exploitation of the earth's natural resources.

- Is there a direct connection between population growth, human activities, the greenhouse effect and global warming? Why?