The 26th of May.. The Environment.. Task 1. Read and translate the text (устно).. Environmental protection in Great Britain.

The 26th of May.

The Environment.

(Окружающая среда)

Task 1. Read and translate the text (устно).

Environmental protection in Great Britain.

We are living in the time of rapid scientific and technological progress, which is accompanied by an increasing consumption of the world’s natural resources. Such vital sources of life as air, water, minerals as well as fauna and flora are being wasted and destroyed.

The protection of nature has become of international importance. Great Britain stresses the need for improvement of environmental protection too. Integrated pollution control restricts emissions to air, land and water from the most harmful process. Responsibility for pollution control rests with local and central government. Great Britain has adopted a phased programme of reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions from existing large combustion plants of up to 60 per cent by 2003. Over 95 per cent of petrol stations in Britain stock unleaded petrol. Strict controls have reduced carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions.

The Government worked out the rules for the use of the Earth’s atmosphere. Total emissions of smoke in the atmosphere have fallen by over 85 per cent since 1960. Sulphur dioxide emissions have fallen by about 40 per cent since 1970.

The Government is committed to the elimination of chlorofluorocarbons which damage the ozone layer. They also contribute to the green-house effect, which leads to global warming and a rise in sea levels.

There are nearly 500,000 protected buildings and 7,000 conservation areas of architectural or historical interest in Great Britain.

The Government attaches great importance to the protection of national parks (they cover 9 per cent of the total land area of England and Wales). Great care is taken of three regional parks and forty national scenic areas, which cover 13 per cent of Scotland. The territorial waters of most nations are already being spoiled, but the National Rivers Authority of Great Britain protects its inland waters in England and Wales. In Scotland the river purification authorities are responsible for water pollution control.

Under such strict regime the mineral and other resources of the oceans and seas would become reserves not only for use by this generation but the following generations as well.

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