AP Spanish Language and Culture — Desafíos globales (Unidad 6)

Environmental issues

Situations where human activity (or human-intensified natural processes) disrupts ecosystem balance and affects health, the economy, and quality of life.

Systems thinking (environment)

Understanding the environment as an interconnected system where changing one part (e.g., land use) impacts water, air, biodiversity, and daily human life.

Environmental justice

The idea that environmental harms and benefits are not distributed equally; lower-resource communities often suffer greater impacts despite contributing less pollution.

Transnational environmental problems

Environmental challenges (like climate change or ocean pollution) that cross borders and cannot be solved by one country alone.

Cause–Effect–Response framework

A way to analyze environmental topics by identifying the main cause, the effects on nature and society, the actors involved, and proposed responses/obstacles.

Climate change

Long-term shifts in climate patterns (temperature, rainfall) driven largely by greenhouse-gas emissions, leading to concrete impacts such as heat waves and droughts.

Extreme weather events

More intense or frequent events (heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods) often discussed as consequences of climate change.

Food insecurity

Reduced reliable access to sufficient, affordable food—often linked to droughts and declining agricultural production.

Deforestation

The loss of forests due to logging, agricultural expansion, ranching, mining, or urbanization, often causing habitat loss and erosion.

Biodiversity

The variety of species and ecosystems; biodiversity loss reduces ecosystem services that support human life.

Ecosystem services

Benefits humans receive from ecosystems (e.g., pollination, water regulation, fertile soils) that can be weakened by biodiversity loss.

Habitat fragmentation

When continuous natural areas are broken into smaller pieces, lowering species populations and disrupting ecological processes.

Pollution

The presence of harmful substances in the environment, often linked in AP texts to public health outcomes.

Air pollution

Harmful particles or gases in the air that can contribute to respiratory illnesses (e.g., asthma) and economic costs (medical expenses, lower productivity).

Water pollution

Contamination of water sources that can reduce access to safe drinking water and increase health risks.

Waste (residues)

Discarded materials; poor management can increase pollution and strain landfills and communities.

Landfill

A site where waste is disposed of; frequently mentioned in discussions of waste management and environmental impact.

Recycling

Processing used materials to make new products; helpful but not a complete solution if consumption and product design are not addressed.

Reusing

Using an item again without reprocessing it; distinct from recycling and often reduces waste more directly.

Sustainability

Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs; often tied to energy and consumption choices.

Renewable energy

Energy from sources like solar and wind that can reduce emissions but may face limits such as upfront costs and infrastructure needs.

Governance

How collective decisions are made and implemented, involving government and also actors like businesses and civil society.

Democracy

A system where citizens participate (directly or indirectly) in choosing leaders and holding power accountable, with attention to how ideals differ from real practice.

Rule of law

The principle that everyone—including leaders—is subject to the law and that fair procedures apply; weak rule of law can increase abuse and inequality.

Civic responsibility

Actions taken to improve society (e.g., voting, staying informed, community participation, demanding accountability, collaborating with NGOs).