Literally environment means ‘atmosphere’ that surround us. A healthy environment is important as it is responsible for keeping human beings in sound physical shape and sustaining their livelihood. This is why environmental pollution is one of the biggest problems the world faces today. It is an issue that troubles us economically, physically and everyday of our lives. The contamination of the environment is also being linked to some of the diseases that are around currently. Despite the initiatives of public awareness via large campaigns, media attention, researches and international agreements; environmental problems is still a pressing problem that hasn’t been resolved even after all high beam efforts.
There is no denying the fact that if human beings are major victims of environmental problem than only they (exponential rise in population) are the catalyst to boost up the environmental problems in the world. As per United Nation’s Report, the human population is living far beyond its means and inflicting damage to the environment that could pass points of no return (New York Times, 2008). Though we typically know the remnants of environmental problems but we still are unable to seek out the issue of environmental problems. Harris (2004) reflects broad reasons to explain why we are still so helpless to resolve the environmental problems affecting all and sundry around the globe as required lifestyle changes that no one is willing to adopt comfortably.
Major Environmental Problems That World Faces Today
Where population and pollution is considered as major culprit of environment; climate change, loss of biodiversity, unsustainable energy and agriculture, water level, habitat loss etc are some eminent problems accrued as biggest environmental problems of the world.
Global warming, also known as the 'greenhouse effect', is the term used to describe the gradual rise in the world's average temperature. The effect is also known as 'climate change' (BBC h2g2, 2008). The consequence of global warming is explicit climate change that countries are witnessing in present times. An example of it is Europe which has witnessed the rise of 0.8°C over the last century and a temperature rise between 1.5 to 4.5°C is further expected by 2100. Scholars argues that though this may seems as a minor rise but we must not forget that only a difference of 5°C separated us from last ice age. Thus, global warming could result into melting of ice caps and could lead to unexpected weather change, floods, storm and rain which is believed to have direct impact on factors like health, agriculture, water resources, coastal regions, forests, and wildlife (Maslin, 2007)
Energy Problems or Exhaustion of non-renewable resources is another big problem that stands forth all of us. In our pursuit of comfort living and fulfilling our needs, we tend to ignore the sustenance of existing natural resources (fossil fuels and minerals) and thus are endangering their existence for our future generation. The human population is now so large that the amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds what is available at current consumption patterns. The major result of this effect can be visualised as hampered social and economic aspects due to tendency to industrial growth which depends upon energy resources.
Pollution is yet another threat that revolves around the world. Air pollution and water pollution is a direct effect of environmental degradation that effects human beings in a very critical way. No fresh air to breather and pure water to drink can make the situation horrible in near future. The technology which was created to give comfort to human life is a trigger to pollute the sustenance of basic needs needed for survival (air, water and food) in the long term. Acid rain, smog, dissolution of the ozone layer, and the general depletion of "clean air" is the major area of concern that follows with environmental pollution at large.
Reference
- ABC News/Washington Post/Stanford Poll: The Environment Embargoed for Release (2007). Concern Soars about Global Warming as World’s Top Environmental Threat. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://woods.stanford.edu/docs/surveys/GW_2007_ABC_News_Release.pdf
- BBC h2g2 2008. Global Warming. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A197499
- Harris, F. (2004). Global Environmental issues. Chichester, UK. John Wiley and Sons
- Maslin, M. (2007). Global Warming: Causes, Effects, and the Future. Voyageur Press
- The New York Times (2008). U.N. Warns of Rapid Decay of Environment. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/26environ.html
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