Contemporary environmental issues

Hello sir I am making chart on the Contemporary environmental issues so please provide me what are the major Environmental Problems.

[Kiran Chandar]

Our environment is constantly changing. As our environment changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround it.

Major Current Environmental Problems

1. Pollution:

Pollution of air, water and soil require millions of years to recoup.

Industry and motor vehicle exhaust are the number one pollutants.

2. Global Warming:

Climate changes like global warming are the result of human practices like emission of Greenhouse gases.

Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’ surface causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation.

3. Overpopulation:

The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces shortage of resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less developed and developing countries is straining the already scarce resources.

4. Natural Resource Depletion:

Natural resource depletion is another crucial current environmental problems

Fossil fuel consumption results in emission of Greenhouse gases, which is responsible for global warming and climate change.

5. Waste Disposal:

The over consumption of resources and creation of plastics are creating a global crisis of waste disposal.

Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount of waste or garbage and dumping their waste in the oceans and, less developed countries.

6. Climate Change:

It occurs due to rise in global warming which occurs due to increase in temperature of atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels and release of harmful gases by industries.

Climate change has various harmful effects but not limited to melting of polar ice, change in seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall weather scenario.

7. Loss of Biodiversity:

Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and and loss of bio-diversity.

Eco systems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in danger when any species population is decimating.

8. Deforestation:

At present forests cover 30% of the land but every year tree cover is lost amounting to the country of Panama due to growing population demand for more food, shelter and cloth.

9. Ocean Acidification:

It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of CO2 produced by humans

The ocean acidity has increased by the last 250 years but by 2100, it may shoot up by 150%. The main impact is on shellfish and plankton in the same way as human osteoporosis.

10. Ozone Layer Depletion:

The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet that protects us from the sun’s harmful rays.

Depletion of the crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed to pollution caused by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-floro carbons (CFC’s).

11. Acid Rain:

Acid rain occurs due to the presence of certain pollutants in the atmosphere.

Acid rain can be caused due to combustion of fossil fuels or erupting volcanoes or rotting vegetation which release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.

12. Water Pollution:

Clean drinking water is becoming a rare commodity.

Water is becoming an economic and political issue as the human population fights for this resource.

13. Urban Sprawl:

Urban sprawl results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental issues and health issues.

The ever growing demand of land displaces natural environment consisting of flora and fauna instead of being replaced.

14: Public Health Issues:

The current environmental problems pose a lot of risk to health of humans, and animals.

Dirty water is the biggest health risk of the world and poses threat to the quality of life and public health. Run-off to rivers carries along toxins, chemicals and disease carrying organisms.

15. Genetic Engineering:

Genetic modification of food using biotechnology is called genetic engineering.

Genetic modification of food results in increased toxins and diseases as genes from an allergic plant can transfer to target plant.