Environmental Problems

Our environment is constantly changing. There is no denying that fact.

However, as our environment changes, so does the need to become
increasingly aware of the problems that surround it. With a massive influx
of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather
patterns and much more, people need to be aware of what types of
environmental problems our planet is facing.

Global warming has become an undisputed fact about our current livelihoods;

our planet is warming up and we are definitely part of the problem. However,
this isn’t the only environmental problem that we should be concerned about.
All across the world, people are facing a wealth of new and challenging
environmental problems every day. Some of them are small and only affect a
few ecosystems, but others are drastically changing the landscape of what we
already know.

Source: Canva

The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful
stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy
it for use by future generations.

~ John Paul II
“Environmental issues are defined as problems with the planet’s systems (air,
water, soil, etc.) that have developed as a result of human interference or
mistreatment of the planet.” – Your Dictionary

Our planet is poised on the brink of a severe environmental crisis. Current

environmental problems make us vulnerable to disasters and tragedies, now
and in the future.

We are in a state of planetary emergency, with environmental problems

piling up high around us. Unless we address the various issues prudently and
 seriously, we are surely doomed for disaster. Current environmental problems
also require urgent attention.

Contents [hide]
 20 Major Current Environmental Problems
o 1. Pollution
o 2. Soil Degradation
o 3. Global Warming
o 4. Overpopulation
o 5. Natural Resource Depletion
o 6. Generating Unsustainable Waste
o 7. Waste Disposal
o 8. Deforestation
o 9. Polar Ice Caps
o 10. Loss of Biodiversity
o 11. Climate Change
o 12. Ocean Acidification
o 13. The Nitrogen Cycle
o 14. Ozone Layer Depletion
o 15. Acid Rain
o 16. Water Pollution
o 17. Overfishing
o 18. Urban Sprawl
o 19. Public Health Issues
o 20. Genetic Engineering

20 Major Current Environmental Problems

1. Pollution

There are 7 key types of pollution – air, water, soil, noise, radioactive, light
and thermal and these are primary causes that affect our environment in many
ways. All these types of pollution are interlinked and influence each other.
Therefore we need to tackle all of them together.

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

and motor vehicle exhaust are the number one pollutants. Heavy metals,
nitrates and plastic are toxins responsible for pollution. 
While water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff, air
pollution is caused by various gases and toxins released by industries and
factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil pollution is majorly caused by
industrial waste that deprives soil from essential nutrients.

2. Soil Degradation

Globally, food security depends on the factor whether or not soils are in good
condition to produce crops. According to UN estimates, about 12 million
hectares of farmland a year get seriously degraded.

Soils get damaged due to many reasons. Such reasons include

erosion, overgrazing, overexposure to pollutants, monoculture planting, soil
compaction, land-use conversion and many more.

Nowadays, a wide range of techniques of soil conservation and restoration

exist, from no-till agriculture to crop rotation to water-retention through
terrace-building.

3. Global Warming

Climate changes like global warming are the result of human practices like
the emission of greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising
temperatures of the oceans and the earth’ surface causing natural disasters
that include flooding, melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also
unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, hurricanes, wildfires,
drought, excessive snow or desertification.

4. Overpopulation

The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces a

shortage of resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less
developed and developing countries is straining the already scarce resources.

Intensive agriculture practiced to produce food damages the environment

through the use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and
insecticides. Overpopulation is also one of the crucial current environmental
problems.

5. Natural Resource Depletion

Another crucial current environmental problem is the depletion of Natural

resources. We, humans, use so many natural resources that it would
need almost 1.5 Earths to cover all our needs.

This will further increase in the future due to massive industrialization in

Asian countries like India and China. Increased use of natural resources leads
to a number of other environmental issues, such as industrialization,
population growth and air pollution.

Over time, natural resource depletion will lead to an energy crisis. The
chemicals emitted from many natural resources contribute to climate change.
Fossil fuel consumption results in the emission of greenhouse gases, which is
primarily responsible for global warming and climate change. 

Globally, people are making efforts to shift to renewable sources of energy

like solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy. As such, the cost of installing
the infrastructure and maintaining these sources has plummeted in recent
years.

6. Generating Unsustainable Waste

The huge production of waste due to our hyperconsumption is a major threat

to the environment. As per the study, the average person produces 4.3 pounds
of waste per day, and the US alone accounting for 220 million tons a year. 

This hyperconsumption results in non-biodegradable trash in the form of

plastic packaging, toxic e-waste, and harmful chemicals that leach into our
waterways.

When this waste ends up in landfills, it generates enormous amounts of

methane, which ranks as one of the worst greenhouse gases because of its
high potential for global warming. It creates severe explosion hazards.
Since modern technology allows us to access digital environments, many
things that you need can be fulfilled in the cloud. Consider your purchases
carefully.  

7. Waste Disposal

The overconsumption of resources and the 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.

Nuclear waste disposal has tremendous health hazards associated with it.

Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes threaten the well
being of humans. Waste disposal is, therefore, one of the urgent current
environmental problems.

Source: Canva
8. Deforestation

Our forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen, as
well as helps in regulating temperature and rainfall. At present, forests cover
30% of the land, but every year tree cover is lost, amounting to the country of
Panama due to the growing population demand for more food, shelter and
cloth. Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and make that land
available for residential, industrial or commercial purposes.

9. Polar Ice Caps

The issue of the melting of polar ice caps is a contentious one. Although
NASA studies have shown that the amount of ice in Antarctica is increasing,
however, this increase is only one-third of what is being lost in the Arctic.

There is enough evidence that shows sea levels are rising, and the melting of
Arctic ice caps is a major contributor. Over time, the melting of polar ice
caps could lead to extensive flooding, contamination of drinking water and
major changes in ecosystems.
10. Loss of Biodiversity

Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and loss of
biodiversity. Ecosystems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in
danger when any species population is decimating.

Balance of natural processes like pollination is crucial to the survival of the

ecosystem, and human activity threatens the same. Another example is
the destruction of coral reefs in the various oceans, which support the rich
marine life.

11. Climate Change

Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in the
last couple of decades. It occurs due to the rise in global warming, which
happens due to the increase in temperature of the atmosphere by burning
fossil fuels and the release of harmful gases by industries.

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

12. Ocean Acidification

It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of total

atmospheric CO2 is 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.

13. The Nitrogen Cycle

We often ignore the effects of the use of nitrogen by humans. Nitrogen is a

crucial component of all life. Problems occur when the nitrogen cycle is not
balanced.

A process through which it is converted or ‘fixed’ to a more usable form is

called fixation. The fixation happens biologically and through lightning, or it
can be done Industrially. People have learned to convert nitrogen gas to
ammonia (NH3-) and fertilizers that are nitrogen-rich to supplement the
amount of nitrogen fixed naturally.

It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for about 50% of the

nitrogen fixation on earth through the cultivation of nitrogen-fixing crops and
the production of human-made fertilizers. When nitrogen is used more than
plant demand, it can leach from soils into waterways and contributes to
eutrophication.

Excess levels of nitrogen in water can hamper marine ecosystems, through

overstimulation of plant and algae growth. This blocks the light from getting
into deeper waters, thus damaging the rest of the marine population.

The problem can also occur during nitrification and denitrification. Nitrous
oxide (N2O) can be formed when the chemical process is not completed.
N2O is a potent greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.

14. Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet that
protects us from the sun’s harmful rays. The depletion of the crucial Ozone
layer of the atmosphere is attributed to pollution caused by Chlorine and
Bromide found in Chloro-fluoro carbons (CFCs). Once these toxic gases
reach the upper atmosphere, they create a hole in the ozone layer, the biggest
of which is above the Antarctic.

CFCs are banned in many industries and consumer products. The ozone layer
is valuable because it prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth.
This is one of the most important current environmental problems.

15. 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 releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxide into the atmosphere.

Acid rain is a known environmental problem that can have a serious effect on
human health, wildlife and aquatic species.

Source: Canva
16. 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.

One of the options suggested is using the process of desalinization. Industrial

development is filling our rivers, seas and oceans with toxic pollutants, which
are a major threat to human health.

17. Overfishing

Overfishing affects natural ecosystems severely and leads to an imbalance of

ocean life. Around 63% of global fish stocks are estimated to be overfished.
Overfishing caused fishing fleets to migrate to new waters that would further
deplete the fish stocks.

Moreover, it has negative effects on coastal communities that rely on fishing

to support their living.

18. Urban Sprawl

Urban sprawl refers to the migration of population from high-density urban

areas to low-density rural areas, which results in the spreading of the city
over more and more rural land.

Urban sprawl results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental

issues and health issues. The ever-growing demand for land displaces the
natural environment consisting of flora and fauna, instead of being replaced.

19. Public Health Issues

The current environmental problems pose a lot of risk to the health of humans
and animals. Dirty water is the biggest health risk in the world and poses a
threat to the quality of life and public health.

Runoff to rivers carries with it toxins, chemicals and disease-carrying

organisms. Pollutants cause respiratory diseases like Asthma and cardiac-
vascular problems. High temperatures encourage the spread of infectious
diseases like Dengue.

20. 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 the target plant.
Genetically modified crops can cause serious environmental problems as an
engineered gene may prove toxic to wildlife. 

Another drawback is that increased use of toxins to make insect resistant

plants can cause resultant organisms to become resistant to antibiotics.

The need for change in our daily lives and the movements of our government
is growing. Since so many different factors come into play, such as voting,
governmental issues, the desire to stick to a routine, many people don’t
consider that what they do will affect future generations.

If humans continue moving forward in such a harmful way towards the

future, then there will be no future to consider. Although it’s a fact that we
cannot physically stop our ozone layer from thinning (and scientists are still
having trouble figuring out what is causing it exactly), there are still so many
things we can do to try and put a dent in what we already know. 

By raising awareness in your local community and within your families about
these issues, you can help contribute to a more environmentally conscious
and friendly place for you and your future generations to live.
Climate change impacts

Impacts from climate change are happening now. These impacts extend well
beyond an increase in temperature, affecting ecosystems and communities in
the United States and around the world. Things that we depend upon and
value — water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and
human health — are experiencing the effects of a changing climate.

Life-threatening storm surge was forecast for areas of the Florida panhandle.
This mobile home park north of the coastal highway in Mexico Beach,
Florida, was washed away from the storm surge and wave impacts of
Hurricane Michael, Nov. 2, 2018 (NOAA)

Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced

emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather
patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since
the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's
climate system and caused change on a global scale.[2]
The largest driver of warming is the emission of gases that create a
greenhouse effect, of which more than 90% are carbon dioxide (CO
2) and methane.[3] Fossil fuel burning (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy
consumption is the main source of these emissions, with additional
contributions from agriculture, deforestation, and manufacturing.[4] The
human cause of climate change is not disputed by any scientific body of
national or international standing.[5] Temperature rise is accelerated or
tempered by climate feedbacks, such as loss of sunlight-reflecting snow and
ice cover, increased water vapour (a greenhouse gas itself), and changes
to land and ocean carbon sinks.
Temperature rise on land is about twice the global average increase, leading
to desert expansion and more common heat waves and wildfires.
[6]
 Temperature rise is also amplified in the Arctic, where it has contributed to
melting permafrost, glacial retreat and sea ice loss.[7] Warmer temperatures
are increasing rates of evaporation, causing more intense storms and weather
extremes.[8] Impacts on ecosystems include the relocation or extinction of
many species as their environment changes, most immediately in coral reefs,
mountains, and the Arctic.[9] Climate change threatens people with food
insecurity, water scarcity, flooding, infectious diseases, extreme
heat, economic losses, and displacement. These impacts have led the World
Health Organization to call climate change the greatest threat to global health
in the 21st century.[10] Even if efforts to minimise future warming are
successful, some effects will continue for centuries, including rising sea
levels, rising ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification.[11]

Many of these impacts are already felt at the current level of warming, which
is about 1.2 °C (2.2 °F). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) has issued a series of reports that project significant increases
in these impacts as warming continues to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) and beyond.
[15]
 Additional warming also increases the risk of triggering critical thresholds
called tipping points.[16] Responding to climate change
involves mitigation and adaptation.[17] Mitigation – limiting climate change –
consists of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing them from the
atmosphere;[17] methods include the development and deployment of low-
carbon energy sources such as wind and solar, a phase-out of coal, enhanced
energy efficiency, reforestation, and forest preservation. Adaptation consists
of adjusting to actual or expected climate,[17] such as through
improved coastline protection, better disaster management, assisted
colonisation, and the development of more resistant crops. Adaptation alone
cannot avert the risk of "severe, widespread and irreversible" impacts.[18]
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations collectively agreed to keep
warming "well under 2.0 °C (3.6 °F)" through mitigation efforts. However,
with pledges made under the Agreement, global warming would still reach
about 2.8 °C (5.0 °F) by the end of the century.[19] Limiting warming to
1.5 °C (2.7 °F) would require halving emissions by 2030 and achieving near-
zero emissions by 2050.[20]
Water
Changes to water resources can have a big impact on people's lives. In some
regions, particularly in the western United States, drought is an important
factor affecting communities. Less snow accumulation in the mountains is
important in the West and Alaska, where the snowpack stores water for later
use. In the Midwest and northeastern states, the frequency of heavy
downpours has increased. In many regions, floods and water quality
problems are likely to be worse because of climate change.

A year locked in ice

Unprecedented international expedition to explore the central Arctic.
Food

Our food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. Although

agricultural practices may be adaptable, changes like increased temperatures,
water stress, diseases, and weather extremes create challenges for the farmers
and ranchers who put food on our tables.

Health
Human health is vulnerable to climate change. The changing environment is
expected to cause more heat stress, an increase in waterborne diseases, poor
air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects and rodents. Extreme weather
events can compound many of these health threats.

Indo-Pacific Ocean warming is changing global rainfall patterns

Rainfall declines may affect U.S. West Coast and parts of the East Coast
The environment

Ecosystems are also affected by climate change. Habitats are being modified,
the timing of events such as flowering and egg laying are shifting, and
species are altering their home ranges.
Changes are also occurring to the ocean. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the
carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil
fuels. As a result, the ocean is becoming more acidic, affecting marine
life. Rising sea levels due to thermal expansion and melting land ice sheets
and glaciers put coastal areas at greater risk of erosion and storm surge.

Explain the sustainable development schemes being

implemented in India.
India, home to one-sixth of all humanity, holds the key to the success of the
2030 Agenda. India in its second VNR has made a paradigm shift to a “whole-
of-society” approach with Government of India engaging sub-national and
local governments, civil society organizations, local communities, people in
vulnerable situations and the private sector.
India’s commitment to the SDGs is reflected in its convergence with the
national development agenda as reflected in the motto of Sabka Saath Sabka
Vikaas (Collective Efforts for Inclusive Growth). Based on the evidence from
the SDG India Index, which measures progress at the subnational level, the
country has developed a robust SDG localization model centered on adoption,
implementation and monitoring at the State and district levels.
The following narrative further encapsulates India’s progress across the
SDGs.

Sashakt Bharat - Sabal Bharat (Empowered and Resilient India): India has
successfully lifted more than 271 million people out of multidimensional
poverty through economic growth and empowerment. Enhanced access to
nutrition, child health, education, sanitation, drinking water, electricity and
housing, has led to reduced inequalities especially among people in
vulnerable situations.

Swachh Bharat - Swasth Bharat (Clean and Healthy India): Through a

nationwide initiative triggered by the Clean India Campaign and the National
Nutrition Mission, India achieved 100% rural sanitation and sharp reduction in
stunting and child and maternal mortality rates. Universal health coverage has
been institutionalized through Ayushmaan Bharat, the world’s largest health
protection scheme which provides an annual cover of USD 7,000 to 100
million families, covering nearly 500 million individuals.
India is at the forefront in the call for joint global action to address the COVID-
19 pandemic. The country has extended medical assistance to several
countries and has operationalized the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund
with an initial contribution of USD 10 million. Domestically, India’s response to
the COVID-19 pandemic includes an initial USD 22.5 billion economic
stimulus package, comprehensive health coverage for front-line workers and
direct cash transfers for the most vulnerable.

Samagra Bharat - Saksham Bharat (Inclusive and Entrepreneurial India):

Social inclusion is pursued through universalizing access to nutrition, health,
education, social protection, and developing capabilities for entrepreneurship
and employment. Financial inclusion through Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile
(JAM) trinity – near universal access to bank accounts aided by the Jan Dhan
Yojana (National Financial Inclusion Scheme); Aadhaar card (National unique
identity number) for over 90% of the population; and expansive access to
mobile phones, has propelled new avenues of credit, insurance, and Direct
Benefit Transfers (DBT) to the poor, including to over 200 million women,
thereby accelerating their economic empowerment.
Satat Bharat – Sanatan Bharat (Sustainable India): India’s climate action
strategies call for clean and efficient energy systems, disaster resilient
infrastructure, and planned eco-restoration. Acting on its nationally-
determined contributions, India has electrified 100% of its villages, reduced 38
million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually through energy efficient appliances,
provided clean cooking fuel to 80 million poor households, and set a target to
install 450GW of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of
degraded land by 2030. Globally, India stands third in renewable power, fourth
in wind power, and fifth in solar power. India launched the Coalition for
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance to
leverage global partnerships for climate action and disaster resilience.

Sampanna Bharat- Samriddh Bharat (Prosperous and Vibrant India): India is

one of the fastest growing emerging market economies with a young
population and burgeoning innovation and business ecosystem. With a GDP
of USD 2.72 trillion in 2018-19, India strives to become a USD 5 trillion
economy by 2025, and pursue an inclusive and sustainable growth trajectory
by stimulating manufacturing, building infrastructure, spurring investments,
fostering technological innovation, and boosting entrepreneurship.
In the spirit of South-South Cooperation, for realizing the 2030 Agenda, India
supports developing countries through the USD 150 million India-UN
Development Partnership Fund. In this spirit of regional and global
partnerships, and the country’s commitment to ‘leave no one behind’, India
steps into the Decade of Action, drawing confidence from its experience in
addressing challenges. Government of India will continue to work
collaboratively with all domestic and global stakeholders to accelerate efforts
for a sustainable planet for future generations.