©REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Are you familiar with any cities in the Global South? If so, which ones, and what do you know about them? If not, would you like to learn more about the cities in this region? Why or why not?
- What initiatives or practices in waste management have you come across in our country, and what insights can you share about them?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- worldwide /WURLD-WAHYD/
- acute /uh-KYOOT/
- shift /shift/
- emphasis /EM-fuh-sis/
- network /NET-wurk/
[adverb] – existing or happening in all parts of the world
The company’s products are distributed worldwide, reaching customers on every continent.
[adjective] – severe or intense
The economic downturn had an acute impact on small businesses, many of which had to close their doors permanently.
[noun] – a change or move from one state, position, or direction to another
The company’s new CEO implemented a shift in corporate culture towards greater transparency and employee empowerment.
[noun] – the particular importance or attention that is given to something
The curriculum places special emphasis on hands-on learning experiences.
[noun] – a group or system of interconnected people or things
The environmental NGO has built a global network of activists and organizations working together to combat climate change.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Annually, cities worldwide produce around two billion metric tons of municipal waste, nearly half of which does not undergo proper treatment. This challenge is acute in the Global South, where inadequate infrastructure often fails to manage waste effectively. Organic waste, which may make up to 70% of the total waste, frequently remains untreated, leading to substantial methane emissions as it decomposes. A recent report from the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) projects that waste volume will increase by two-thirds by 2050. The financial implications are alarming, with costs related to pollution, health, and climate impacts forecasted to rise from $252 billion to an astronomical $600 billion annually. UNEP’s report emphasizes the urgent need for a shift towards zero-waste strategies and the improvement of waste management systems to address these severe environmental, health, and economic impacts.
Despite the Global North’s emphasis on waste reduction and recycling, the Global South faces significant challenges in managing organic waste. Cities like Dar es Salaam and Rio de Janeiro, part of the C40 Cities network focused on climate change, are pioneering effective waste management strategies. These include composting market waste and converting organic refuse from schools and supermarkets into compost and biogas, which help reduce methane emissions and provide societal benefits like cleaner air and job creation in green sectors.
Despite the Global North’s emphasis on waste reduction and recycling, the Global South faces significant challenges in managing organic waste. Cities like Dar es Salaam and Rio de Janeiro, part of the C40 Cities network focused on climate change, are pioneering effective waste management strategies. These include composting market waste and converting organic refuse from schools and supermarkets into compost and biogas, which help reduce methane emissions and provide societal benefits like cleaner air and job creation in green sectors.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What percentage of total waste does organic waste make up in many cities, according to the article?
- What does the U.N. Environment Programme forecast about the volume of waste by 2050?
- What are the projected financial costs due to pollution, health, and climate impacts by 2050 as mentioned in the UNEP report?
- What urgent action does the UNEP report emphasize to tackle environmental, health, and economic impacts?
- Which cities are mentioned as being part of the C40 Cities network and are implementing effective waste management strategies?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever experienced challenges with waste management in your city or community? If yes, how did you or your community address them? If not, what waste management practices do you think are effective in preventing environmental issues?
- Have you heard about initiatives like the C40 Cities network focusing on climate change and waste management? If yes, what do you know about them, and do you think they are effective? If not, what are your thoughts on cities collaborating to tackle environmental challenges like waste management and climate change?
- Do you think that zero-waste strategies can realistically be implemented worldwide to significantly reduce environmental, health, and economic impacts of waste?
- Considering the substantial increase in waste forecasted by 2050, how effective do you think current waste management systems are, and what innovative solutions could be proposed to cope with this challenge?
- How do you think countries from different parts of the world work together to make sure everyone has good ways to handle their garbage and keep the environment clean and healthy?