We are living in a period of serious environmental catastrophe because of the numerous issues that our ecosystem is facing, many of which seem to be getting worse with time.
Raising awareness of these problems and what can be done to lessen their detrimental effects is consequently becoming more and more crucial. This is the major reason why we have to take a look at some of the environmental awareness topics that need to be discussed.
Table of Contents
Environmental Awareness Topics We Should Give More Attention
Among the main concerns are:
- Climate Change
- Natural Resource Use
- Waste Production
- Water Pollution
- Deforestation
- Overfishing
- Ocean Acidification
- Air Pollution
- Water Scarcity
- Sustainable Food Production & Demand
- Decreasing Biodiversity
1. Climate Change
Climate change is the most prominent environmental issue confronting the globe today, with many scientists and other professionals ranking it as the most serious and significant environmental crisis of our time.
Public personalities like Greta Thunberg and Al Gore have been warning for years about the increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which some believe could cause a centuries-long rise in global temperatures.
Regretfully, figuring out how to proceed with climate change is difficult. In 2019, Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres declared, “We need more ambitious and tangible plans from more countries and more businesses.” All financial institutions—public and private—must definitively select the green economy.
Regretfully, not every country has adopted this line of thinking. For instance, China has continuously been held responsible for one-tenth of all climate change brought on by human activity, according to Carbon Brief.
2. Natural Resource Use
The challenge of natural resource utilization is one of the major environmental issues that the world is currently experiencing.
Almost every economic activity involves the use of natural resources, and many environmental activists criticize both the widening gap between the rich and the less fortunate as well as the quick exploitation of different inputs.
One community’s use of water, for example, can endanger the existence of another or even irreversibly change nature itself. It will take forward-thinking planning and consideration of the environmental impact to manage this challenge.
As stated by the U.N. Environment Programme, “The report scopes the potential of innovation, rethinking economic growth and the role of cities in building more resource efficient economies. We are facing a historic choice about how we use resources.”
3. Waste Production
Managing and producing waste is an important topic that many articles on environmental issues emphasize. Images of massive floating patches of oceanic debris and trash-choked streams have brought attention to the perils of improperly disposed plastic.
Similarly, considering the intrinsic worth of computers, peripherals, cell phones, and other electronics that are thrown away rather than recycled, electronic waste poses a risk to the environment as well as a missed opportunity. Actually, according to the EPA, only around 25% of all e-waste is recycled.
Moreover, there is the problem of food waste. In industrialized nations, consumers not only discard copious amounts of food because it looks bad, but significant losses also happen early in the growing cycle.
According to the Journal of Agricultural Science, “the total global potential loss due to pests varied among crops, ranging from about 50% in wheat production to more than 80% in cotton production.”
The anticipated losses for soybean, wheat, and cotton are 26–29%, and for maize, rice, and potatoes, they are 31, 37, and 40%. To prevent further pressure on the globe, environmentally friendly pest-remediation techniques are more crucial than ever.
4. Water Pollution
The abundance of water on Earth’s surface has earned it the nickname “the Blue Planet,” but significantly less of it is drinkable than one might assume from a glance.
Just 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater, and two-thirds of it is hidden beneath frozen glaciers or otherwise unusable for human use, according to the World Wildlife Federation. Because of this, 1.1 billion people globally do not have access to clean water, and 2.7 billion experience water scarcity for at least one month of the year.
Potable water supplies are at risk due to water pollution, which exacerbates the situation. According to the “United Nations World Water Development Report 2017,” more than 80% of wastewater is probably discharged into the environment untreated worldwide.
The quality of surface and groundwater is continuing to deteriorate as a result of increased releases of wastewater that has not been properly treated. Water pollution must be appropriately handled to lessen the effects of growing water shortages since it has a significant impact on water availability.
5. Deforestation
According to NASA data, woods make up almost one-third of the planet’s territory and are vital to the ecosystem as a whole. For instance, forests:
- Reduce airborne carbon dioxide levels;
- Stop erosion;
- Guard against floods.
- Promote biodiversity;
- Supply timber and other related products (such as berries, mushrooms, maple syrup, and useable bark).
Regrettably, deforestation is dominant all over the world, which includes slash-and-burn clearing methods that are far too common in underdeveloped countries, and the lack of post-clearing soil maintenance feeds a vicious cycle that needs more tree clearing.
6. Overfishing
Even though fishing doesn’t intrinsically affect the rest of the earth and supports human populations all over the world, bad fishing methods can have a permanent negative impact.
How? A deficit arises when fish are taken more than the populations can sustain. Fisheries may become commercially unviable, endangered, or even extinct if such imbalances persist unchecked.
Sometimes accidental and inadvertent catches lead to this instead of a species being specifically targeted. At-risk fisheries can be protected by the establishment of technologically sophisticated fishing techniques, fishing rights, and public education, in addition to the removal of detrimental subsidies.
7. Ocean Acidification
The ocean takes up nearly one-third of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, a fact that few laypeople are aware of. Fewer yet are unaware that rising carbon emissions can affect water quality as well, changing the ocean’s pH.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there has been “approximately a 30 percent increase in [ocean] acidity” during the last 200 years, which has an immediate effect on organisms referred to as “shell building.” Studies have connected this rising acidity to coral bleaching, reef mortality, mollusk death, and disturbance of the ecosystem.
8. Air Pollution
“Fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deeply into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and respiratory infections” is how the World Health Organisation (WHO) describes air pollution.
The use of solid fuels in homes, transportation, industry, and coal-fired power plants are the main sources of air pollution. The effects of air pollution vary depending on the location of the globe, similar to many other environmental threats.
Although many Western firms have gained an understanding of environmental sustainability in business, this is not always the case in other domains. According to the WHO, air pollution causes “roughly 2.2 million people to die each year in the Western Pacific Region alone.”
9. Water Scarcity
Global ecosystems and community well-being are at risk due to water scarcity. Fresh water supplies are running out quickly, endangering millions of people. As water sources dry up, aquatic ecosystems—which are essential to biodiversity—are also being harmed.
To solve the water shortage, cooperation is crucial. Water conservation can be aided by sustainable water management techniques, including effective irrigation and moderation in usage. Reusing graywater and collecting rainwater are sensible actions.
It is essential to educate communities about water conservation so that people can make wise decisions. To address water scarcity globally, international cooperation is essential.
Collaboration and the exchange of best practices can result in water management plans that work. Together, we can make sure that everyone has fair access to water resources and build a sustainable future.
10. Sustainable Food Production & Demand
The production and consumption of food pose a significant obstacle to achieving environmental sustainability. The increasing demand for food due to the growing global population is placing stress on agricultural systems and the environment.
It’s essential to use sustainable farming methods. Traditional techniques damage biodiversity, water quality, and soil. Regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and organic farming encourage healthier soil, less chemical use, and water conservation.
These methods support robust ecosystems and more wholesome food chains. Taking food waste seriously is essential.
Thirty percent of food produced worldwide is wasted, wasting resources and raising emissions. Waste and its effects on the environment can be reduced with the help of creative projects, improved supply chain management, and consumer education.
Working together is crucial. People can choose sustainable solutions, cut waste, and support regional and organic farmers. Companies ought to implement sustainable practices. Legislators need to implement rules and rewards for environmentally friendly farming practices.
Change is fueled by awareness and education. Encouraging people to learn about ethical consumption and sustainable agriculture gives them the capacity to make wise decisions.
11. Decreasing Biodiversity
Human activities, including overexploitation, pollution, invasive species, climate change, and habitat degradation, are to blame for the decline in biodiversity. Ecosystems suffer when species go extinct because they lose vital processes like pollination and nutrient cycling.
Ecosystems and humankind are both impacted by declining biodiversity. Ecosystems lose their capacity to deliver necessary services and become more susceptible to disturbances.
Communities that rely on biodiversity for agriculture, fishing, and tourism face challenges such as food shortages, unstable economies, and the loss of cultural heritage. Diseases can spread and ecosystems can collapse as a result of keystone species extinctions and ecological disturbances.
To address the dwindling biodiversity, conservation activities are crucial. It is essential to preserve and restore habitats, especially by creating protected areas. Mitigating the effects of climate change and implementing sustainable land-use practices are also essential.
Governments, groups, and communities—including indigenous peoples—must work together. To spread excellent practices and increase awareness, education, and international cooperation are essential.
Conclusion
It can be intimidating to read about the problems the environment is facing and to think that there is no way to solve the problems with Spaceship Earth. But we can help ensure that our world has a more resilient and sustainable future by increasing awareness of these problems and working together to find solutions.
Recommendations
- Why is Biodiversity Important to Humans?
. - 9 Disadvantages of Fuel Cell that we need to also think of
. - Is Hunting Good or Bad for the Environment? An Unbiased Overview
. - 12 Largest Fires in the World and their Environmental Significance
. - Energy-Efficient Building: What it Means & How it Helps
A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy.