Environmental Impact

Whenever something is built it has an effect on the environment, which is the world around us. In the past, people did not worry too much about the consequences or effects of their action. If they cut down a forest there was always another one. There was always plenty more fish in the sea. 

Today, most people have realised that we must be make sure that the damage or costs of building or using something is less than the benefits of that building or use. To work out if the costs or problems are greater than the benefits, an environmental impact study is carried out.

Using the table below, you are asked to make an environmental impact study. From the two piles or lists you have already made, 

1.      Decide which of these are costs and which are benefits.

2.      Write each cost and benefit into the correct space.

3.      When you have finished, decide which source of energy has the most benefits and the least costs or problems.

4.      You should repeat this exercise for oil, nuclear, biomass, water and geothermal sources of energy