Reference no: EM13754868

1. Throughout this course, we have looked at a number of turning points or thresholds in the historical development of humanity. These include

(a) our emergence as a separate species of hominid 400,000-250,000 years ago;

(b)our departure from Africa and subsequent migration across the world c. 50,000-10,000 years ago;

(c) the shift from a nomadic, hunter-gatherer form of subsistence to a more sedentary, agricultural base 10,000 years ago;

(d) the rise of larger, more complex agrarian civilizations 5000 years ago;

(e) the global impact of the so-called Columbian Exchange 500 years ago; and

(f) the process of industrialization that began c. 250 years ago.

Over the past four weeks, I have argued that the 20th century marked a similar threshold or turning point in the evolution of humanity, possibly the most important yet. With specific and detailed reference to at least FIVE of the following terms or concepts, explain why the 20th century should be regarded as either(a) an age like no other, in which the dominant environmental concerns and challenges were unprecedented or (b) a continuation and extension of problems that have been evident over the past 250 years.

1. Population 6. Pollution

2. Urbanization 7. Fossil fuel

3. Disease 8. Climate change

4. Inequality of wealth 9. Energy consumption

5. Longevity (lifespan) 10. Slums

2. What do you understand by the phrase ‘tipping point'? Give THREE examples of possible environmental tipping points that are likely to occur in the 21st century. Finally, briefly giving reasons, in what THREE ways is the global environment of 2100 likely to be different to that of 2000?

3. To what extent and in what ways was it inevitable that the 20th century would result in record levels of pollution?

4. What, in your opinion, is the single greatest threat of human-made pollution facing us in the 21st century?

5. If global population growth and economic growth are set to continue at least until 2050, what -- in your opinion -- is one way that overall pollution levels might still be reduced, even taking into account Sach's six conditions?