Lesson 3 Towards a Greener Tomorrow
Rising Seas, Sinking Cities
Global warming has been progressing much faster than scientists originally predicted, and warming temperatures are causing sea levels to rise at a faster rate than ever recorded around ____ world.
Rising sea levels have already had a big impact in ____ places, especially in low-lying countries in the South Pacific.
For example, scientists predict that the Pacific island nation of Kiribati will have disappeared under rising ____ levels by the end of this century.
This is a problem not just for ____ South Pacific countries.
Coastal and low-lying areas worldwide are at risk of disappearing ____ the world map before the 21st century ends.
What’s Causing Sea Levels to Rise?
Global warming ____ causing global sea levels to rise in two ways.
____ first factor is the melting of land ice — glaciers and ice sheets.
The enormous bodies of ____ cover huge land areas like Greenland and Antarctica, and they hold large amounts of fresh water.
As they melt, the water flows into the ____
This causes ____ levels to rise.
The ____ factor is the expansion of water.
When water gets warmer, it naturally expands, and this includes ____ water in the oceans.
Since the oceans absorb more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases in the ____ they continuously warm up and accordingly seawater expands.
This increased volume of ____ occupies more space in the oceans, which causes a rise in sea level.
____ process occurs slowly and steadily, and expanding water is estimated to account for about 30% of the sea level rise observed in the past century.
How High Will Sea Levels Rise?
Over the period 1901–2018, sea levels rose by ____
Sea levels could potentially rise between about 0.38m and 0.77m higher by 2100, depending on the different levels of ____ gas emissions.
____ the current trend continues, billions of people are expected to be affected by global sea level rise by 2100.
Why ____ Sea Levels Matter?
When sea levels ____ there will likely be more frequent and serious flooding along the coasts.
This can cause ____ damage in coastal and low-lying regions.
____ villages or even whole cities could end up under water.
This means that millions ____ people could lose their homes, jobs, and connections to their communities.
Industries such as ____ and fishing may also suffer due to the loss of coastal areas.
Rising sea levels
Sea level rise is a ____ we have to face.
What can ____ do to reduce the damage and prepare for what comes?
Various approaches have been proposed ____ and put into action to address rising sea levels.
These include building sea walls and better drainage ____ to prevent flooding.
Another solution is to raise buildings ____ flood level or use structures that can float on water.
Preserving and protecting wetlands and mangroves can also reduce the risk ____ flooding since they absorb water during heavy rains or storms.
As individuals, we can also play a part in dealing with sea level rise by reducing our carbon ____
Such efforts ____ include walking, biking, and using public transportation.
Using energy-efficient electronic devices can also be ____ of such efforts.
Supporting organizations that work to ____ the ocean environments is another way we can make a difference.
Furthermore, many people ____ still unaware of the risks of sea level rise.
One of the most ____ and efficient steps we can take is to raise awareness about the risks.
By raising ____ we can help others join the fight against global warming.
It's time to raise our ____ not our sea levels.
What Can We Do?
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