Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What environmental issues are you aware of that contribute to climate change?
- What strategies or methods is your country employing to reduce environmental problems?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- cause /kawz/
- tons /tuhnz/
- proposal /pruh-poh-zuhl /
- impact /im-PAKT/
- highlight /HAHY-lahyt/
[verb] – to make something happen, especially something bad
Smoking can cause health problems like lung disease.
[noun] – a unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms
The cargo ship transported 5 metric tons of wheat to the port.
[noun] – a suggestion, sometimes a written one
The proposal was well-received by the committee.
[verb] – to have an influence on something
The new policy will impact the company’s profits.
[verb] – to attract attention to or emphasize something important
The presentation will highlight the key points of the research findings.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
During the recent COP28 talks in Dubai, an environmental group stressed the crucial need to limit factory farming to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. World Animal Protection’s study revealed that factory farming alone causes about 11% of global emissions, with nearly 70% of the 80 billion animals raised annually for food living in these systems. This results in approximately 6.2 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions each year. The United Arab Emirates, hosting COP28, urged nations to align their food production practices with broader goals of reducing emissions and led efforts in developing new ways to farm.
At COP28, David Garrahy emphasized that leaders pledged to include food systems in their plans to reduce emissions. He mentioned that food systems contribute significantly to global greenhouse gases, with animal agriculture responsible for one-fifth. There was a proposal to pause new factory farms for ten years and shift subsidies to more eco-friendly livestock and plant-based food production. The organization urged more funding from big farming companies for climate-related issues. COP28 events like “Food4Climate” and “Food Day” showed how food production impacts global warming and the environment. Garrahy highlighted the role of food systems, which use 15% of fossil fuels, in aligning with the Paris Agreement goals to lessen reliance on fossil fuels.
At COP28, David Garrahy emphasized that leaders pledged to include food systems in their plans to reduce emissions. He mentioned that food systems contribute significantly to global greenhouse gases, with animal agriculture responsible for one-fifth. There was a proposal to pause new factory farms for ten years and shift subsidies to more eco-friendly livestock and plant-based food production. The organization urged more funding from big farming companies for climate-related issues. COP28 events like “Food4Climate” and “Food Day” showed how food production impacts global warming and the environment. Garrahy highlighted the role of food systems, which use 15% of fossil fuels, in aligning with the Paris Agreement goals to lessen reliance on fossil fuels.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What key message did an environmental group convey at the recent COP28 talks, and why did they stress the importance of limiting factory farming?
- According to World Animal Protection’s study mentioned in the article, how much of the global emissions are caused by factory farming, and what proportion of animals raised for food live in these systems?
- What role did the United Arab Emirates play in the COP28 talks regarding food production and emissions reduction?
- What was emphasized by David Garrahy at COP28 concerning the integration of food systems into emission reduction plans, and what proportion of greenhouse gases does animal agriculture contribute?
- What were some proposals made at COP28 to address emissions from factory farming, and what events took place during the conference to showcase the impact of food production on global warming?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever taken part in activities supporting sustainable food production or opposing practices that contribute to high greenhouse gas emissions in the food industry? If yes, what inspired your participation, and what effect do you think these actions have on climate change? If not, would you think about joining such activities in the future? Why or why not?
- Have you personally experienced or learned about how factory farming affects the environment or climate change? If yes, how did this information influence your views on food choices and their impact on the environment? If not, what do you think about the proposed steps, like stopping new factory farms and promoting more eco-friendly food production, to tackle climate change concerns linked to animal farming?
- Do you think that global efforts to limit or temporarily halt new factory farms could notably help lessen climate change?
- How might a ten-year pause on new factory farms change agriculture and impact worldwide efforts to reduce emissions? What difficulties or advantages could come from such a significant action?
- Beyond animal farming, which other industries or practices do you believe contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and require more focus in global efforts to cut emissions? Why do you think these areas are important for targeted action?