Module-02

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

2.1 Global Warming-

Que – What is global warming? Explain its cause and effects on Environment. (10 Marks)
Global warming is the increase of average world temperatures as a result of what is known as
the greenhouse effect. Certain gases in the atmosphere act like glass in a greenhouse, allowing
sunlight through to heat the earth's surface but trapping the heat as it radiates back into space.
As the greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere the Earth gets hotter. This process is leading
to a rapid change in climate, also known as climate change.
Global warming is a gradual increase in the earth’s temperature generally due to the
greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.
Over the last few decades cars, industries and power plants released tones of greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere and this cause temperature of earth increased by 0.3 – 0.8 degrees
from 1901 to 2022.
If nothing is done to stop the global warming now, then it could prove to be a big disaster
for humankind.

Greenhouse Gases-
Greenhouse gases called Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), water vapors, Nitrous
Oxide (NO2) and other gases have heat trapping capacity and are needed to create greenhouse
effect that keeps the earth warm which is required to support plants, animals and humans.
Some of these greenhouse gases occurs naturally while other are released in tons of
capacity every year all over the world by us.
These gases are released when we drive cars, burn wood or coal (fossil fuel) or large
power plants.

Greenhouse Effect-
Que – What is greenhouse effect? Explain the main causes for it. (05 Marks)
The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the
Sun's heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a comfortable place to live.
Causes of Greenhouse Effect-
The major causes of the greenhouse effect are:
Burning of Fossil Fuels - Fossil fuels (Coal, wood) are widely used in transportation and to
produce electricity. Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. With the increase in
population, the utilization of fossil fuels has increased. This has led to an increase in the release
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Deforestation - Plants and trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Due to the cutting
of trees, there is a considerable increase in the greenhouse gases which increases the earth’s
temperature.
Farming - Nitrous oxide used in fertilizers is one of the contributors to the greenhouse effect in
the atmosphere.
Industrial Waste and Landfills - The industries and factories produce harmful gases which
are released in the atmosphere. Landfills also release carbon dioxide and methane that adds to
the greenhouse gases.

Causes of Global warming-

There are two types of causes of global warming-
➢ Natural causes of global warming-
1. Forest Fires
2. Water Vapours
3. Permafrost
4. Volcanoes
5. Sunspot
➢ Manmade causes of Global warming-
 1. Deforestation
2, Fossil fuels
3. Landfills
4. Overpopulation
5. Mining
6. Fertilizer use
7. Meat Consumption
Natural causes of global warming-
Volcanoes - Volcanoes are one of the largest natural contributors to global warming. The ash
and smoke emitted during volcanic eruptions goes out into the atmosphere and affects the
climate.
Water Vapor- Water vapor is a kind of greenhouse gas. Due to the increase in the earth’s
temperature, more water gets evaporated from the water bodies and stays in the atmosphere
adding to global warming.
Melting Permafrost- Permafrost is frozen soil that has environmental gases trapped in it for
several years and is present below Earth’s surface. It is present in glaciers. As the permafrost
melts, it releases the gases back into the atmosphere, increasing Earth’s temperature.
Forest Blazes- Forest blazes or forest fires emit a large amount of carbon-containing smoke.
These gases are released into the atmosphere and increase the earth’s temperature resulting in
global warming.
Sunspot- Sunspot can also increase the global warming. Sunspots and solar flares are powerful
and can change radiating energy to earth’s atmosphere.

Manmade causes of Global warming-

Deforestation - Deforestation means cutting down trees and plants to make the way for any
development activity. Plants are the main source of oxygen. They take in carbon dioxide and
release oxygen thereby maintaining environmental balance. Forests are being depleted for
many domestic and commercial purposes. This has led to an environmental imbalance, thereby
giving rise to global warming.
Use of Vehicles - The use of vehicles, even for a very short distance results in various gaseous
emissions. Vehicles burn fossil fuels which emit a large amount of carbon dioxide and other
toxins into the atmosphere resulting in a temperature increase.
Chlorofluorocarbon - With the excessive use of air conditioners and refrigerators, humans
have been adding CFCs into the environment which affects the atmospheric ozone layer. The
ozone layer protects the earth surface from the harmful ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. The
CFCs have led to ozone layer depletion making way for the ultraviolet rays, thereby increasing
the temperature of the earth.
Industrial Development - With the advent of industrialization, the temperature of the earth has
been increasing rapidly. The harmful emissions from the factories add to the increasing
temperature of the earth.
In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change reported that the increase in
the global temperature between 1880 and 2012 has been 0.9 degrees Celsius. The increase is
1.1 degrees Celsius when compared to the pre-industrial mean temperature.
Agriculture - Various farming activities produce carbon dioxide and methane gas. These add
to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increase the temperature of the earth. Using the
fertilizer in agriculture produce nitrous oxide as it absorb by soil. Nitrous oxide is 300 times
danger than carbon dioxide.
Overpopulation - An increase in population means more people breathing. This leads to an
increase in the level of carbon dioxide, the primary gas causing global warming, in the
atmosphere.
Fossil Fuel – Pollution Whether it is vehicular, electrical or industrial is the main contributor
to the global warming. Everyday billions of vehicles release various gases to the atmosphere.
This cause earth to warm uo and increase its average temperature. Over a 75% of electricity
worldwide is produced by burning of fossil fuels.
Landfills – When we through the garbage out of our house it goes to landfill. Landfills are those
big chunks of garbage and that stinks and can be seen so many places around the world. Then
garbage is used by big recycling companies to make useful product out from it. Most of the time
that garbage is burnt which releases toxic gases including Methane into the atmosphere. Which
makes global warming.
Mining – Oil and coal are the two main causes in producing greenhouse gases. Methane and
carbon dioxide creates a thick layers in atmosphere to trap sun’s rays. With the continuous use
of mining these gases increase which cause global warming.

Effects of Global warming-

Following are the major effects of global warming:
Rise in Temperature - Global warming has led to an incredible increase in earth’s
temperature. Since 1880, the earth’s temperature has increased by ~1 degrees. This has resulted
in an increase in the melting of glaciers, which have led to an increase in the sea level. This
could have devastating effects on coastal regions.
Threats to the Ecosystem - Global warming has affected the coral reefs that can lead to the
loss of plant and animal lives. Increase in global temperatures has made the fragility of coral
reefs even worse.
Climate Change - Global warming has led to a change in climatic conditions. There are
droughts at some places and floods at some. This climatic imbalance is the result of global
warming.
Spread of Diseases - Global warming leads to a change in the patterns of heat and humidity.
This has led to the movement of mosquitoes that carry and spread diseases.
High Mortality Rates - Due to an increase in floods, tsunamis and other natural calamities,
the average death toll usually increases. Also, such events can bring about the spread of
diseases that can hamper human life.
Loss of Natural Habitat - A global shift in the climate leads to the loss of habitats of several
plants and animals. In this case, the animals need to migrate from their natural habitat and
many of them even become extinct. This is yet another major impact of global warming on
biodiversity.

2.2 Global Warming and Climate change-

Que – Explain the term Global warming and climate change. (05 Marks)
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These
shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate
change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produces
heat-trapping gases.
OR
Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an
extended period of time.

Causes of Global warming-

The main causes of climate change include:
✓ Emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
✓ Deforestation for human settlements
✓ Overutilization and exploitation of natural resources
✓ Pollution caused by human activities.
✓ Changes in solar output which is associated with sunspot activities.
✓ The aerosols that reach the atmosphere after volcanic eruptions

Effects of Climate Change-

Changes in Rainfall Patterns - We all have seen that floods, droughts, excess rainfall
and irregularity of rains became quite frequent in last couple of decades. These are none other
than aftereffects of climate change. While some places receive plenty of rainfall which leads to
floods, other places have to face droughts.
Increase in Sea Level - Low level areas are more vulnerable as rise in sea level can displace
tens of millions of people. Sea level rise as earths up and glaciers are melted during global
warming and dump more water into the oceans. In US alone, roughly 100 million people live
within 3 feet of mean sea level. People living in small island countries like Maldives are already
looking for alternate destinations.
Loss of Wildlife Species- Rise in temperature and change in vegetation patterns have forced
some bird species to become extinct while others have migrated to some other place. If experts
are to be believed, one-fourth of Earth’s species could be extinct by 2050. In year 2008, polar
bear was added to the list of animals that could become extinct due to rise in sea level.
High Temperatures - Due to increase in atmospheric gases by industries and vehicles, the
global earth temperature could rise to 3 to 10 degree Fahrenheit by the end of century. The
increase in temperature has given rise to increase in deaths that occur due to hot and dry
climatic conditions. During last century, earth’s average temperature rose by 1 degree
Fahrenheit which in itself is a cause of concern. Research indicates that controlling can reduce
temperatures by 0.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.
Shrinking of Arctic Ice - Greenhouse gases keep the energy in the atmosphere intact causing
the temperature to rise. This is what we commonly refer to as the greenhouse effect. The
greenhouse effect is essential for the existence of our ecology. However, an increase in the
greenhouse gases can only lead to harmful effects to the ecology and the environment.
Stronger Storms and Hurricanes - As earth becomes more warm, the chances of occurring of
hurricanes could rise in the future. Not only they will occur frequently but will be more intense,
long lasting, stronger winds that have the capability to destroy coastal ecosystems and
communities.
Prolonged Heat Waves - The constant release of greenhouse gases from all the anthropogenic
activities is the foremost factor affecting climate change. Greenhouse gases are emitted from
the combustion of fuels, industries, agricultural activities, etc. These gases heat up the
atmosphere and increase the air temperature and make it difficult for the people to survive.
Spread of Disease and Economic Losses - It is expected that diseases like malaria and dengue
fever will rise and will be more difficult to control as mosquitoes find those conditions favorable
to spread. Heat waves in the last decade alone may have caused more than 150,000 deaths, as
per the data available with World Health Organization (WHO). The rising heat waves has given
rise to heat related illness which turned into death for those who were not provided with
appropriate medical attention.
Shifting Habitat - Deforestation, wildfires, heat waves have forced plants and animals to shift
towards poles and to higher altitudes. This is not a great news for environmentalist as most of
them have started dying as they are not able to adapt to the changing climatic conditions which
has actually pushed them towards extinction.
Wildfires - Prolonged heat waves caused by climate change have created appropriate hot and
dry conditions for wildfires. As a result, deforestation occurs and push wild animals to some
more high altitude regions. Animals who could not adapt to new location die and their species
become extinct.
2.3 Acid Rain-

Que – Explain acid rain in details. (05 Marks)

When Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are released in atmosphere by industries,
airplanes and plants in the form of gases. These substances are rise up into atmosphere where
they mix, react with water, oxygen and other chemicals in the form of more acidic pollutants
and fall on earth’s surface in the form of rain which is known as acid rain.
Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with
acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere
in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is acidic.
OR
The rainfall having acidic in nature which causes environmental harms.
Normal rainwater is slightly acidic with a pH range of 5.3-6.0 because carbon dioxide
and water present in the air react together to form carbonic acid, which is a weak acid. When
the pH level of rainwater falls below this range, it becomes acid rain.
When these gases react with water molecules and oxygen among other chemicals found
in the atmosphere, mild acidic chemical compounds such as sulfuric and nitric acid are formed
resulting to acid rain. Acid rain generally leads to weathering of buildings, corrosion of metals,
and peeling of paints on surfaces.
Forms of Acid Rain-
There are two forms in which acid deposition occurs – wet and dry. Both are discussed below:
Wet Deposition-
When the wind blows the acidic chemicals in the air to the areas where the weather is
wet, the acids fall to the ground in the form of rain, sleet, fog, snow or mist. It removes acid
from the atmosphere and deposits them on the earth’s surface.
When this acid flows through the ground, it affects a large number of plants, animals and
aquatic life. The water from drain flows into rivers and canals which is them mixed up with
seawater, thereby affecting marine habitats.
Dry Deposition-
If the wind blows the acidic chemicals in the air to the areas where the weather is dry, the
acidic pollutants slip into dust or smoke and fall to the ground as dry particles.
These stick to the ground and other surfaces such as cars, houses, trees and buildings.
Almost 50% of the acidic pollutants in the atmosphere fall back through dry deposition. These
acidic pollutants can be washed away from the earth surface by rainstorms.
Normal rain is slightly acidic, having a pH of 5.6. It forms when carbon dioxide reacts with
water to form weak carbonic acid, which has no harmful effects.
However, emission of SO2 and NO3 acid rain generally has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.
Here, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide undergo oxidation before reacting with water. The
following equations show the formation of acid rain:
Formation of Sulfuric Acid
SO2 (g) + H2O (l) → H2SO3 (aq)
H2SO3 (aq) + O2 (g) → 2H2SO4 (aq)
Formation of Nitric Acid
N2 (g) +O2 (g) → 2NO(g)
2NO (g) + O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g)
2NO2 (g) + H2O (l) → HNO3 (aq) + HNO2 (aq)
Since nitrous acid is unstable, it eventually oxidizes to nitric acid. Thus, the overall
reaction is:
2N2 (g) + 5O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 4HNO3 (aq)

Causes of Acid Rain-

Both natural and man-made sources are known to play a role in the formation of acid rain. But
it is mainly caused by the combustion of fossil fuels which results in emissions of sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
Natural Sources-
The major natural causal agent for acid rain is volcanic emissions. Volcanoes emit acid-
producing gases to create higher than normal amounts of acid rain or any other form of
precipitation such as fog and snow to an extent of affecting vegetation cover and health of
residents within the surrounding.
Man-made Sources -
Human activities leading to chemical gas emissions such as sulfur and nitrogen are the
primary contributors to acid rain. The activities include air pollution sources emitting sulfur and
nitrogen gases like factories, power generation facilities, and automobiles.

The causes of acid rain are Sulphur and Nitrogen particles which get mixed with the wet
components of rain. Sulphur and Nitrogen particles which get mixed with water are found in
two ways either man-made i.e as the emissions that are given out from industries or by natural
causes like lightning strike in the atmosphere releasing nitrogen oxides and volcanic eruptions
releasing Sulphur oxide.
The regular clean rain we experience, even though it is not clean i.e water and carbon
dioxide react together to form weak carbonic acid which essentially by itself is not extremely
harmful. The reaction occurring is :
H2O (l) + CO2 (g) ⇌ H2CO3 (aq)
The pH value of regular rainwater is around 5.7, giving it an acidic nature. The oxides of
nitrogen and sulphur are blown away by the wind along with the dust particles. They settle on
the earth’s surface after coming down in the form of precipitation. Acid rain is essentially a by-
product of human activities which emit oxides of nitrogen and sulphur in the
atmosphere. Example – the burning of fossil fuels, unethical waste emission disposal
techniques.
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide undergo oxidation, and then they react with water
resulting in the formation of sulphuric acid and nitric acid, respectively. The following reaction
will clarify the acid formation reaction:
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 2H2SO4 (aq)
4NO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 4HNO3 (aq)

Effects of Acid Rain-

✓ Acid rain is very harmful to agriculture, plants, and animals. It washes away all nutrients
which are required for the growth and survival of plants. Acid rain affects agriculture by
the way it alters the composition of the soil.
✓ It causes respiratory issues in animals and humans.
 ✓ When acid rain falls down and flows into the rivers and ponds it affects the aquatic
ecosystem. It alters the chemical composition of the water, to a form which is actually
harmful to the aquatic ecosystem to survive and causes water pollution.
✓ Acid rain also causes the corrosion of water pipes, which further results in leaching of
heavy metals such as iron, lead and copper into drinking water.
✓ It damages the buildings and monuments made up of stones and metals.

Solution of Acid Rain-

✓ Filter and detoxify the water used by the factories before returning it to the rivers.
✓ Reduce the emission of pollutant gases by industry.
✓ Encourage the production and use of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.
✓ Reduce the energy consumption of factories and companies.
✓ Promote innovation and new technologies aimed at optimizing energy consumption and
developing renewable energy.
✓ Plant trees to absorb polluted air.
✓ Make the population aware of the importance of reducing household energy
consumption.
✓ Encourage the use of the electric vehicles and other non-polluting vehicles, such as
bicycles.

Real time examples of Acid Rain-

1. Taj Mahal, one of the 7 wonders of the world, is largely affected by acid rain. The city
of Agra has many industries which emit the oxides of Sulphur and nitrogen in the
atmosphere. People continue to use low-quality coal and firewood as a domestic fuel,
adding to this problem. Acid rain has the following reaction with the marble (calcium
carbonate):
CaCO3(s) + H2SO4(l) → CaSO4(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

The formation of calcium sulphate results in the corrosion of this beautiful monument.
2. Statue of Liberty which is made of copper has also been damaged by the cumulative
action of acid rain and oxidation for over 30 years and is, therefore, becoming green.

2.4 Ozone Layer Depletion-

Que – Explain Ozone layer depletion and solution to reduce it. (05 Marks)
Earth’s atmosphere layer-
Earth’s atmospheric layers protect it from rays coming from sun. Earth’s atmosphere is
layered base which depends on temperature, each layer of the atmosphere has its specific traits.
A change in temperature with distance is called temperature gradient. Based on layer’s
temperature gradient and the heat source of the layer, atmosphere of the earth is divided into
four layers which are Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere and Thermosphere. A further
region at about 500 Km above the earth’s surface is called exosphere.

Troposphere - The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers
high (5 to 9 miles). This part of the atmosphere is the most dense. We humans live in the
troposphere, and nearly all weather occurs in this lowest layer. Most clouds appear here,
mainly because 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere is found in the troposphere. Air
pressure drops, and temperatures get colder, as you climb higher in the troposphere.
Stratosphere - The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere which is free from clouds and
extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high. Ozone molecules in this layer absorb high-energy
ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, converting the UV energy into heat. Commercial passenger
jets fly in the lower stratosphere, partly because this less-turbulent layer provides a smoother
ride.
Mesosphere - The mesosphere starts just above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers
(53 miles) high. Meteors burn up in this layer. The temperature in the mesosphere grows colder
with the altitude. This is because there are few gas molecules in the mesosphere to absorb the
Sun’s radiation. The only heat source is the stratosphere below. The mesosphere is extremely
cold, especially at the top, dropping to a temperature as low as -90°C. The air in the mesosphere
is far too thin to breathe.
Thermosphere - The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere has very low air and
extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high. High-energy X-rays and UV radiation from the Sun
are absorbed in the thermosphere, raising its temperature to hundreds or at times thousands of
degrees. The density of molecules in the thermosphere is very low. One ion gas molecule can
go about a distance of 1 km without colliding with another molecule generate electricity.
Because so little energy is transferred, the air feels freezing. Satellites are found orbiting in the
upper part of the thermosphere.
Exosphere - This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It extends from the top of the
thermosphere up to 10,000 km (6,200 ml). The exosphere is the final frontier of the Earth’s
gaseous envelope. There is no clear-cut distinction between the Earth’s atmosphere layers and
outer space. The air in the exosphere is constantly but gradually leaking out of the Earth’s
atmosphere into outer space.

Ozone layer Depletion-

The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the earth’s atmosphere i.e in the
stratosphere, It has the potential to absorb around 97-99% of the harmful ultraviolet radiations
coming from the sun that can damage life on earth. If the ozone layer was absent, millions of
people would develop skin diseases (skin cancer), may have weakened immune systems,
cataracts and harm to some crops & marine life.
“The ozone layer is a region in the earth’s stratosphere that contains high concentrations of
ozone and protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun”.
“Ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the earth’s ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere caused due to the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or
chlorine from industries or other human activities.”
Ozone layer depletion means the thinning of the ozone layer present in the
upper atmosphere. That is harmful to nature and the atmosphere. Ozone layer depletion is one
of the major problems for the atmosphere and also for all the living beings including the flora
and fauna of this earth.
 Ozone layer depletion happens when the chlorine and bromine atoms in the atmosphere
come in contact with ozone and destroy the ozone molecules. One chlorine can destroy 100,000
molecules of ozone. It is destroyed more quickly than it is created. Some compounds release
chlorine and bromine on exposure to high ultraviolet light, which then contributes to ozone layer
depletion. Such compounds are known as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
The ozone-depleting substances that contain chlorine include chlorofluorocarbon,
carbon tetrachloride, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and methyl chloroform.

Causes of Ozone layer Depletion-

The main causes responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are listed below:
Chlorofluorocarbons - Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of ozone layer
depletion. These are released by solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc.
The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the stratosphere are broken down by ultraviolet
radiations and release chlorine atoms. These atoms react with ozone and destroy it.
Unregulated Rocket Launches - Researches say that the unregulated launching of rockets
results in much more depletion of the ozone layer than the CFCs do. If not controlled, this might
result in a huge loss of the ozone layer by the year 2050.
Nitrogenous Compounds - The nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, N2O are highly
responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
Natural Causes - The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain natural processes
such as Sun-spots and stratospheric winds. But it does not cause more than 1-2% of the ozone
layer depletion. The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

Effects of Ozone layer Depletion-

The major effects of ozone layer depletion on man and environment.
Effects on Human Health - Humans will be directly exposed to the harmful ultraviolet
radiation of the sun due to the depletion of the ozone layer. This might result in serious health
issues among humans, such as skin diseases, cancer, sunburns, cataract, quick ageing and weak
immune system.
Effects on Animals - Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to skin and eye cancer in
animals.
Effects on the Environment - Strong ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal growth, flowering
and photosynthesis in plants. The forests also have to bear the harmful effects of the ultraviolet
rays.
Effects on Marine Life - Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to harmful ultraviolet
rays. These are higher in the aquatic food chain. If the planktons are destroyed, the organisms
present in the food chain are also affected.

Solution of Ozone layer Depletion-

Following are some points that would help in preventing this problem at a global level:
Avoid Using ODS - Reduce the use of ozone depleting substances. Ex. avoid the use of CFCs
in refrigerators and air conditioners, replacing the halon based fire extinguishers, etc.
Minimize the Use of Vehicles - The vehicles emit a large amount of greenhouse gases that lead
to global warming as well as ozone depletion. Therefore, the use of vehicles should be
minimized as much as possible.
Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Products - Most of the cleaning products have chlorine and
bromine releasing chemicals that find a way into the atmosphere and affect the ozone layer.
These should be substituted with natural products to protect the environment.
Pesticides Should Not Be Used - Pesticides are effective agents for controlling pests and weeds
on your farm, but they contribute significantly to ozone layer depletion. Natural solutions are
the most effective way to get rid of pests and weeds. Simply weed your farm by hand and use
alternative eco-friendly pesticides to control pests.
Renewable Sources of Energy - The usage and expansion of renewable energy sources is a
critical step in combating ozone depletion. Apart from nuclear energy, fossil fuels such as coal
constitute a significant source of electricity. The combustion of coal, on the other hand, results
in the release of CFCs, which depletes the ozone layer.
Reuse And Recycle - We should also try to repurpose as many of our items as feasible. If we
are no longer using them, we must ensure that they can be properly recycled. We can reduce the
demand for natural resources in this way. As a result, we can likewise avoid the negative effects
of resource exploitation on the ecosystem.
Use of Nitrous Oxide should be Prohibited - The government should take actions and prohibit
the use of harmful nitrous oxide that is adversely affecting the ozone layer. People should be
made aware of the harmful effects of nitrous oxide and the products emitting the gas so that its
use is minimized at the individual level as well.

End of Module-02