TOP 8 environmental problems of the earth of our time
Performed By: Ekaterina Sokolova, Victoria Yurtayeva
1. Climate change
Environmentalists have proposed the following solutions to this problem:
- reducing carbon dioxide emissions
- transition to carbon-free fuels
- development of a more economical fuel strategy
2. Overpopulation of the planet
In the second half of the 20th century, the world's population grew from 3 to 6 billion. And according to existing forecasts, by 2040 this figure will reach the milestone of 9 billion people. This will lead to shortages of food, water and energy. The number of diseases will also increase.
3. Ozone depletion
This environmental problem leads to an increase in the influx of ultraviolet radiation to The earth's surface. To date, the ozone layer over temperate countries has already decreased by 10 %, which is irreparable harm to human health, can cause skin cancer, vision problems. Depletion of the ozone layer can also damage agriculture, because many crops are damaged by excessive ultraviolet radiation.
4. The reduction of biological diversity
Because of intensive human activity, many animals and plants have disappeared from the face of the earth. And this trend continues. The main reasons for the reduction of biological diversity are habitat loss, overexploitation of biological resources, environmental pollution, the impact of species brought from other territories.
5. Pandemics
Recently, almost every year there are new dangerous diseases caused by previously unknown viruses and bacteria. Which caused outbreaks around the world.
6. The crisis of freshwater resources
About a third of people on earth suffer from a lack of fresh water. At the moment, almost nothing is being done to preserve existing water sources. According to the UN, most cities around the world do not produce proper wastewater treatment. Because of this, nearby rivers and lakes are prone to pollution.
7. Wide use of chemical and toxic substances, heavy metals
Over the past two centuries, mankind has been actively using chemical, toxic substances, heavy metals in industry, which causes huge damage to the environment. An ecosystem contaminated with toxic chemicals is very difficult to clean, and in real life, this is rarely done. Meanwhile, reducing the production of harmful compounds and minimizing their emissions is an important part of preserving the environment.
8. Deforestation
Deforestation around the world is going at frightening speeds. The first place in this environmental problem is occupied by Russia: for the period from 2000 to 2013, 36.5 million hectares of forest were cut down. This problem causes irreparable damage to the vital habitat of many plants and animals and leads to the loss of biological diversity and the deterioration of important ecosystems, as well as to the strengthening of the greenhouse effect due to the decrease in photosynthesis.
