Why are we taking so long to tackle climate change?

Level: upper-intermediate B2

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The United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Poland.
But why is it taking so long to agree on what to do?

Watch this short BBC video about it and then answer the following questions:

1) How long has Matt McGrath been going to climate conferences?
2) What animal does he compare the UN with?

3) How many countries are involved?

4) How long do scientists say we have to cut our emissions of carbon?

5) What are the three key things that Matt McGrath thinks need to happen?

And a bonus question:
How much money has the World Bank announced it will give for climate action over the next five years? (You will have to do some extra research for this one!)

Answers below!

1) More than ten years
2) (A giant) tortoise

3) 200

4) Twelve

5) Finance, transparency, and greater ambition.

Bonus question: 200 bn USD ($200 billion)

Romania's disappearing forest

Level: upper-intermediate B2

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Cerna Valley National Park in Romania is home to one of Europe's last great beech forests.

But over half is unprotected and is currently facing extreme deforestation.

Watch this short BBC video about it and and then answer the following questions:

1) What is the threat to the forest?
2) Who is Alex Telega?

3) How much of the forest is protected by UNESCO?

4) Who is Sorin Nicolicoui?

5) Has illegal logging stopped?

And a bonus question:
How many national parks are there is Romania? (You will have to do some extra research for this one!)

Answers below!

1) Extreme logging
2) A volunteer for Agent Green

3) Less than half

4) Director of Forestry, Mehedinti County

5) No

Bonus question:

How many national parks are there is Romania? 

14

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_Romania

Erasmus+ volunteer wanted at the European Wilderness Society

Erasmus+ volunteer, European Wilderness Society 

The European Wilderness Society is looking for an Erasmus+ volunteer in early 2019.
A great opportunity to get involved with this excellent organisation, and a great way to practice your English!

The deadline for applications is September the 14th, so click here now for further details.

One in five UK mammals at risk of extinction

Level: upper-intermediate B2

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A  number of mammal species have been put on the Red List in the United Kingdom.

Read this short BBC article about it and and then answer the following questions:

1) How many species have been put on the red list?
2) By how much has the hedgehog population declined over the past 20 years?

3) How many biological records were examined for the survey?

4) What are the three categories that are included in 'threatened'?

5) Which three species are 'critically endangered'?

And a bonus question:
Which marsupial is now found in Britain? (You will have to do some extra research for this one! Try the Mammal Society website)

Answers below!

1) 12
2) Almost 70%

3) 1.5m

4) critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable

5) wildcat, greater mouse-eared bat, black rat

Bonus question:
red-necked wallaby

Risk of water shortages for England warns Environment Agency

Level: advanced C1

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England is facing water supply shortages by 2050 unless rapid action is taken to curb water use and wastage, the Environment Agency has warned.

Read this BBC article about it and and then answer the following questions about numbers:

1) How much freshwater was taken from the environment in 2016?
2) How much water is wasted through leakage everyday?

3) How many people could that supply?

4) How many river water bodies did not achieve 'good ecological status or potential'?

5) What is the population of England expected to be in 2026?

And a bonus question:
When did the the Water Framework Directive come into force? (You will have to do some extra research for this one!)

Answers below!

1) 9,500 billion litres
2) 3 billion litres

3) 20 million

4) At least 6% and possibly up to 15%

5) 58.5 million

Bonus question: 22 December 2000

Bialowieza Forest: Poland broke EU law by logging

Level: advanced C1

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Poland broke EU law by allowing large-scale logging in one of Europe's oldest forest - Bialowieza - the European Court of Justice has ruled.

Read this Guardian article about it and and then answer the following questions about numbers:

1) How many trees were cut down?
2) What is the minimum fine that Poland could pay?

3) And what could it rise to?

4) How much of the world's European bison (wisent) population lives in Bialowieza?

5) How many activists were arrested during anti-logging protests?

And a bonus question:
How big is Bialowieza Forest? (You will have to do some extra research for this one!)

Answers below!







Answers!

1) At least 10,000 but possibly 100,000
2) €4.3m

3) €100,000 a day

4) 25%

5) 300?

Bonus question:
3,085.8 km² (1,191.4 square miles)

Strips of wildflowers across farm fields could cut pesticide spraying

Level: advanced C1

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Strips of wildflowers have been planted across England as part of a trial to boost the natural predators of pests that attack cereal crops.
Read this short article about it and then answer the following questions:

1) How many farms are involved?
2) How long is the trial period?

3) Where are wildflower strips usually planted?

4) How wide are the strips in the trial?

5) Where are similar trials also taking place?

And a bonus question:
what is the difference between strip and stripe?!

Answers below!

1) 15
2) five years

3) around fileds

4) 6m

5) in Switzerland

And the bonus question:

what is the difference between strip and stripe?!

There are many meanings for strip:

The one we are using here is:
'a long, narrow area of land.'

Stripe has fewer meanings
'A long, narrow band or strip differing in colour or texture from the surface either side of it.'

So, because the strips of wildflowers in this article are of different colour to th ecrops on eihter sied, you can also call them stripes!