Conversation Questions: Environment & Pollution

• Are there litter laws where you live? If so, what is the penalty for littering?
• Do you think cars should be banned from city centers?
• Do you think people should recycle newspapers? Why or why not?
• Do you think there are lessons to learn from nature?
• How has the world changed since you were a child? (technology, values, environment, health)
• How often is garbage collected in your neighborhood?
• If humans are really intelligent and not simply manipulated by their genes like any other animal, why can't they do anything about overpopulation?
• What are some things that can be recycled?
• What are some things that your community is doing to help the?
• What are some things which you recycle?
• What are some types of pollution?
• What are some ways that you can reduce pollution in this country?
• What can you do to help prevent pollution?
• What can you do to make this world a better place?
• What do you think of people who smoke cigarettes indoors?
• Which is more important, increasing people's standard of living, or protecting the environment?
  • Think of a situation in your area involving this issue.
  • Which side would you choose?
• Who do you think is more responsible for pollution, individual people or the government? Explain.
• What is the most important issue facing the environment today?
• Do you know about any anti-pollution programs in your community?
  • What about programs in your native country?
• Do you usually drink bottled water? Why or Why not?
• If you could choose one alternative energy source to develop which one would you choose? Why?
• Are companies more or less environmentally responsible now than they were in the past? Why do you think that is?
• Do you think recycling is an important community service?
  • Do you recycle?
• Who should pay for the costs associated with renewable energy?
• Should we make the development of renewable energy sources an economic priority?
• What are some ways energy is wasted?
• What types of energy are popular in your native country?
• What is the main problem with renewable energy sources?
• What can large cities do to improve their air quality?
• How can we protect the environment and at the same time improve people's standard of living?
• Do you think overpopulation is an important environmental issue? Why or why not?
• Should an environmental levy be imposed on SUVs not used in the farming community?
  • How would this help the environment?
• Should gas for motorists be more expensive?
  • What would be the advantages and disadvantages of this?
• Do think global warming is real?
  • Do you think this is an effect of pollution?
• Are worried about global warming?
• If you live on an island or on the coast does this increase the danger from global warming? Why?
• What's happening to forests in the world?
• What happens when we remove forests?
• What can we do to protect forests?
• Why should we recycle?
• Does your local government make it easy or hard for citizens to recycle?
• Are there people in your country who make their living from picking-up other people's garbage?
• How is pollution effecting the environment of the United States today?
  • How about your own country?
• Does your country have a smoking ban law in place?
• What are the benefits/ disadvantages of a smoking ban?
• How do individual decisions about number of children affect overall population numbers?
• What is global warming?
• Do you think nuclear power safe? Who should be allowed it and why? Who should police it?
• In what ways can we save more water? Please tell your experiences.
• What should we do to increase the awareness about environmental pollution?
• Do you have any ideas on how to minimize the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam boxes?
• Does your local government make it easy or hard for citizens to recycle?