Context

In this project, we will address a topic of fundamental importance in the current scenario: Non-Renewable Energies. Widely used worldwide, this type of energy includes coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy. They are called non-renewable because they exist in finite quantities, meaning they can be depleted if used in an uncontrolled manner.

Over time, the exploitation of these energy sources has caused a series of negative socio-environmental impacts. This raises the question: What would be a more sustainable way to exploit these resources? How to balance the need to use these energy sources with environmental commitment?

For decades, these energy sources have supported the economic and industrial development of several nations. They are essential for the operation of numerous sectors, from the production of electricity to vehicle fueling and chemical product manufacturing. However, the increasing demand for energy and the unrestrained exploitation of these resources have led to the depletion of these sources and a series of environmental problems, such as air pollution and climate change.

Our mission in this project is, therefore, to investigate more deeply about non-renewable energies, understand what impacts the exploitation of these resources brings to our planet, and how we can minimize them.

To delve even further into the subject, we will use the following sources as a basis:

• Free scientific articles available on the SciELO digital library.
• Articles and materials from the Mundo Educação website that addresses various geographical concepts.
• Research and related materials on the Institute of Energy and Environment website, which provides various materials on energy and sustainability.
• Documentaries and educational videos available on Youtube

Now, let's dive into the world of Non-Renewable Energies!

Practical Activity

Activity Title: The Impact of Non-Renewable Energies

Project Objective

This project aims to investigate non-renewable energies, their socio-environmental and economic impacts, and how these impacts can be minimized.

Detailed Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students will be assigned to study one of the main non-renewable energy sources (coal, oil, natural gas, or nuclear). Each group should:

• Investigate the assigned energy, exploring its origin, exploitation, production, and use.
• Analyze the socio-environmental and economic impacts caused by the exploitation and use of the non-renewable energy under study.
• Study current policies and legislation regulating the exploitation and use of the non-renewable energy in question.
• Propose measures to minimize the negative impacts and improve the sustainability of the production and use of this energy.

Required Materials

• Internet access for research and information consultation.
• Notebooks or notepads for taking notes.
• Presentation software (e.g. PowerPoint, Google Slides) for creating and presenting the results.

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Each group must choose one of the following non-renewable energy sources: Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, or Nuclear.
3. Conduct a detailed research on the chosen energy source, focusing on understanding how it is produced and its most common uses.
4. Analyze and discuss the socio-environmental and economic impacts derived from the exploitation and use of the chosen energy.
5. Investigate current policies and legislation related to the exploitation and use of the chosen energy.
6. Propose solutions to minimize the negative impacts of the exploitation and use of the chosen energy, as well as measures to improve sustainability.
7. Compile the collected information and discussions into a report and a presentation.

Project Delivery

Each group must deliver:

• Written report containing the following topics:

1. Introduction: Describe the chosen energy source, why it is important, its relevance in the current world, and the objective of this project.
2. Development: Explain the theory behind the chosen energy source, describe the activity in detail, indicate the research methodology used, present and discuss the results obtained.
3. Conclusion: Review the main points addressed in the project, describe the learnings obtained, and the conclusions drawn from the research and activities carried out.
4. Bibliography: List all sources used for the project.

• Slide presentation composed of:

1. Introduction to the chosen energy source.
2. Discussion on the socio-environmental and economic impacts.
3. Analysis of policies and legislation.
4. Proposed solutions to the identified problems.
5. Conclusion.

Each group will have a maximum of 20 minutes to present their results. After the presentation, there will be a question and answer period where students can discuss their hypotheses and conclusions with the rest of the class.