Plastics and greenhouse gases
Plastics
- Non-biodegradable plastics do not rot away.
- They build up in the sea and on land, harming wildlife — animals may eat them or get trapped.
Practice
Non-biodegradable plastics are a problem because they:
Non-biodegradable plastics persist, building up in ecosystems where animals may eat them or get trapped.
Greenhouse gases
- Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases.
- Too much of them strengthens the greenhouse effect (the enhanced greenhouse effect), which traps more heat and causes climate change.
Practice
Which are greenhouse gases? (Choose all that apply.)
Carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases; oxygen and nitrogen are not.
Practice
Too much greenhouse gas strengthens the greenhouse effect and causes climate change.
Extra greenhouse gases trap more heat (the enhanced greenhouse effect), driving climate change.
You've got it
Key idea
- non-biodegradable plastics don't rot — they build up and harm wildlife
- carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases
- too much → enhanced greenhouse effect → climate change