Compared to the 1970s, humanity has made a big step towards solving various environmental problems. For example, in the United States, federal and state laws have resulted in significant reductions in air and water pollution. More and more endangered species are listed in the Red Book. This helped to ward off the threat from declining biodiversity.
The Paris Agreement was adopted, according to which states are obliged to control the level of greenhouse emissions and switch to natural renewable energy sources. Much has already been done, but the environment is still in danger. Below we present you with a list of the most disturbing environmental problems of our time.
Changing of the climate
Currently, depending on the place of residence, each person experiences a global increase in average ambient temperatures. Unfortunately, not all species in wildlife can adapt to new conditions. The ecosystem on Earth is a single structure. This means that all living things depend on each other. Already, the biodiversity of mountain peaks, prairies, the Arctic and oceans (coral reefs) is threatened. In the foreseeable future, the lowland countries of Africa and the Middle East may be significantly affected. The stronger these changes are, the more negative impact will be exerted on the ecosystem as a whole.
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Land use
Vast natural spaces are the natural habitat of wild animals, untouched forests produce precious oxygen, wetlands filter fresh water. Natural spaces can also be classified as limited resources. Unfortunately, humanity has never learned to use the land rationally. People plant fields with agricultural crops, continue to extract deposits of natural gas, oil and other resources, roads and railways and other industry divisions are laid through forests. Human intervention alters the natural landscape and forces animals to go deep into the forests.
Energy production and transportation
Many countries have received significant development in the energy sectors of the economy in recent years. The boom in shale natural gas production was fueled by the development of horizontal drilling technology. A large load goes to tar sands, which is associated with one of the methods of unconventional oil production. However, all of these gigantic volumes of natural fuel sources must be transported to refineries in a timely manner. The transportation of fossil resources poses certain environmental risks: pollution of ground and ocean waters, spills and greenhouse gas emissions.
Chemical pollution
More than ever, more synthetic chemicals are leaking into the atmosphere, soil and water. The largest contribution to the formation of production by-products is made by agricultural industries, industry and household chemicals. We know very little about the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastics and fertilizers. They are dangerous to both humans and animals.
Invasive species
When plants or animals begin to colonize new habitats, they are considered invasive. Their spread is correlated with an increase in the number of freight traffic and global trade activities. The more cargo moves across the oceans, the more often people themselves travel abroad, the more unwanted "fellow travelers" are transported. Among them are countless weeds, insect pests that destroy freshwater ecosystems and forests. But if there are imported scouts that penetrate our spaces, then there are endangered species that have inhabited their ancestral territories for thousands of years.
Environmental justice
The final problem is not fully ecological. Rather, it is an economic aspect that is based on social stratification. Everyone, regardless of where they live, race, culture or social status, can and should enjoy clean air and a healthy environment. However, we have a long history of unequal burden sharing related to environmental issues. For example, residents of the outskirts of cities more often than others are forced to exist in close proximity to landfills, breathe polluted air and walk on polluted soil.