Global warming is only one small part of the Earth’s troubles. Every day humanity is faced with new complex factors. Some of them affect only a few ecosystems, others have a significant impact on the ecosphere. We have compiled a list of threats to which the planet is exposed today.
Pollution. It takes millions of years to clean the air, water and soil from today’s pollution. Emissions from industry and vehicle exhaust are the number one polluting sources. Heavy metals, nitrates and plastic waste also play an important role. Oil, acid rain, city sewage gets into the water, gases and toxins from factories and factories into the air. Industrial waste gets into the soil, washing out the necessary nutrients from it.
Global warming. Climate change is the result of human activity. Global warming leads to an increase in the average temperature of the air and land, causing the polar ice to melt, the sea level to rise, and as a result, unnatural precipitation occurs, floods occur, heavy snowfalls occur, or desert sets in.
Overpopulation. The human population reaches a critical level when there is a shortage of resources such as water, fuel and food. The population explosion in the backward and developing countries is depleting the already limited reserves. The increase in agriculture harms the environment through the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. Overpopulation has become one of the most difficult environmental problems.
Depletion of natural resources. The supply of fossil fuels is not eternal. People everywhere are trying to switch to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biogas. Fortunately, the cost of energy from such sources has fallen sharply in recent years.
Recycling. Developed countries are notorious for the excessive amount of garbage, the dumping of waste in the oceans. Disposal of nuclear waste poses a great danger to human health. Plastic, packaging, cheap e-waste – this is the current environmental problem that needs to be addressed urgently.
Changing of the climate. Global warming indirectly causes even greater climate disturbances. This is not only the melting of ice, but also the change of seasons, the emergence of new infections, severe floods, in a word, failures in weather scenarios.
Loss of biodiversity. Human activity leads to the disappearance of species of flora and fauna, the destruction of their habitats. Ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years are losing their stability. The balance of natural processes, such as pollination, for example, is critical to survival. Another example: the destruction of coral reefs, which are the cradle of rich marine life.
Deforestation. Forests are the lungs of the planet. In addition to producing oxygen, they regulate temperature and rainfall. Currently, forests cover 30% of the land surface, but this figure is decreasing every year by an area the size of the territory of Panama. The growing demand of the population for food, shelter and clothing is leading to the cutting of green cover for industrial and commercial purposes.
ocean acidification. This is a direct consequence of the excessive production of carbon dioxide. 25% of carbon dioxide is produced by humans. Ocean acidity has increased over the past 250 years, but by 2100 it could rise to 150%. This is a big problem for molluscs and plankton.
Destruction of the ozone layer. The ozone layer is an invisible layer around the planet that protects us from the harmful rays of the sun. The depletion of the ozone layer is due to chlorine and bromide. These gases, rising into the atmosphere, cause breaks in the ozone layer, and the largest hole is over Antarctica. This is one of the most important environmental issues.
Acid rain. Acid rain falls due to the presence of pollutants in the atmosphere. This can happen due to fuel burning, volcanic eruptions, or rotting vegetation when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides enter the atmosphere. Such precipitation is extremely harmful to human health, wildlife and aquatic populations.
Water pollution. Clean drinking water is becoming a rarity. Economic and political passions are raging around water, humanity is fighting for this resource. As a way out, desalination of sea water is proposed. Rivers are polluted with toxic waste that poses a threat to humans.
urban sprawl. The migration of people from rural areas to urban areas leads to the spread of cities to agricultural land. As a result, land degradation, increased traffic, environmental problems and poor health.
Health problems. Violation of the environment leads to a deterioration in the health of people and animals. Dirty water does the most damage. Pollution causes respiratory problems, asthma and cardiovascular problems. An increase in temperature promotes the spread of infections, such as dengue fever.
Genetic Engineering. This is the genetic modification of food products using biotechnology. The result is an increase in toxins and disease. The engineered gene could be poisonous to wild animals. By making plants resistant to pests, for example, antibiotic resistance can result.
If people continue to move into the future in such a harmful way, then there may not be a future. We cannot physically stop the depletion of the ozone layer, but with our awareness and conscience, we can reduce the risk for future generations.