Combine that with the rapidly-increasing population, and it means our oil will run out even faster. Other nations are naturally anxious to raise their standard of living to approach the United States. Project this scenario 50 years into the future. Briefly discuss three environmental effects of burning fossil fuels. Study Figure 21.8, page 543.
Air pollution is obvious in many large cities.
Read Box 21.2, page 545 and review Box 14.3, page 366. Briefly explain the greenhouse effect. We are already losing agricultural land at an unprecedented rate to urban development. A possible consequence of global warming is the loss of even more productive farmland. Yet the world population continues to grow.