Read Aloud — Environment

Deforestation contributes to climate change in two ways: it releases the carbon stored in trees when they are burned or decompose, and it removes the natural mechanism that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Tropical forests alone account for roughly a quarter of terrestrial carbon absorption each year.

Plastic pollution has reached every corner of the globe, from the deepest ocean trenches to remote mountain peaks. Microplastics, tiny fragments smaller than five millimetres, have been found in drinking water, seafood, and even human blood, raising concerns about long-term effects on health that remain poorly understood.

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar now generate electricity more cheaply than coal in most regions of the world. Despite this economic advantage, the transition away from fossil fuels faces significant challenges, including the need for large-scale energy storage and upgrades to existing power grids.