Environmental Issues in

Latin America

SS6G2 The student will discuss environmental issues in Latin America

a. Explain the major environmental concerns of Latin America regarding
the issues of air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico, the destruction of the
rain forest in Brazil, and oil-related pollution in Venezuela
Mexico City, Mexico
 Mexico City, Mexico
 capital of Mexico
 population over 19 million people
 Mexico’s largest city
 built by the Spanish after they destroyed
the original city of Tenochtitlán in Lake
Texcoco
 located in the Valley of Mexico,
surrounded by Sierra Madre mountains
Air Pollution Over Mexico City
Air Pollution Over Mexico City
 Causes

 population & location contribute to air

pollution problem
 emissions from factories and
automobiles.
 Wind not strong enough to blow
pollution over the mountains, bowl
effect
 high elevation--less oxygen so fuels
don’t fully burn
Surrounded by Sierra Madre
mountains
 Results of air pollution
 Pollutants harm eyes, lungs, and the
heart.
 creates acid rain
 Solutions
 program limiting how often you can
drive your car, promotes public
transportation
 testing buses that run on cleaner-
burning fuels
 strict inspections of emissions systems
on cars
 changing the kind of fuel cars and
factories use
 workshops to teach people about the
environment
Amazon Rainforest
 Amazon Rainforest
 important environment of Brazil, and the
world
 largest rainforest in the world
 most of the rainforest is in Brazil
 experiences a hot, humid, & rainy tropical
climate
 home to a huge variety of plants, trees,
insects, birds, & animals
 produces 1/3 of the earth’s oxygen
Amazon Rainforest Location
Destruction of the Amazon
Before…Rainforest

After…

“slash and burn” farming

 Causes
 road building
 farmers cutting down trees to plant
crops (known as “slash and burn”
farming
 cattle ranching
 Logging (deforestation)
 mining
 new settlements
logging

cattle ranching
 Results of Deforestation

 Plants & animals are losing their homes;

many are endangered, and some are
becoming extinct.
 Loss of trees increases carbon dioxide, a
gas that contributes to global warming.
animals losing their homes
 Solutions

 Government is now setting aside large

protected areas.
 Government is creating programs to plant
new trees when older trees are cut down.
Venezuela
Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela

 Oil provides about 50% of government

revenue.

 Oil production has boosted economy,

turning the once poor country of
Ecuador into one of Latin America’s
richest countries
Oil-related pollution in Venezuela
 Causes

 Oil is the country’s main source of income,

so people continue to produce, sell, and
burn oil, creating more oil pollution.
 Occasional oil spills
Oil-related pollution in Venezuela
 Results

 creates toxic wastes

 air pollution
 occasional oil spillage, seeps into water
sources
 streams and rivers polluted, hurts fishing
industry and shut down tourist resorts
 health problems (cancer, skin problems,
breathing problems, and digestive tract
problems)
 Solutions…

 People are becoming aware that the cost

in the long term may be too great.
 Groups are calling for renewable energy
sources and the clean-up and prevention
of pollution.