Introduction to Environmental Issues
Environmental issues causes state complications with the Earth’s systems (air and water, soil, and so on.) that have risen due to human activity or mistreatment of the planet.
Our environment is constantly changing, and that is an undisputed fact. But, as the environmental conditions change, we must be more aware of these issues that our environment faces. With the massive growth in natural disasters, cooling and Warming times, and various types of weather arrangements, there is a need to be conscious and spread awareness about these environmental issues.
Main environmental issues causes
There are a variety of environmental issues that exist in the world today. Here is the list of the leading environmental issues causes, as well as a brief description of each:
Climate change
Long-term fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions are called climate change. These changes could be natural, such as fluctuations in the solar cycle. Human activities are warming the planet by increasing the quantity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Causes: Climate change is a major environmental issue caused by several factors, including emissions from factories and automobiles, deforestation, pollution, and livestock farming.
Global Warming
Global Warming is one of the rising environmental issues. It is the process of the increasing average air temperature close to the surface of the Earth in the last 1 to 2 centuries.
Causes: Greenhouse gases are the root cause of global Warming. These can emit when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, burning of natural gas and unconfined during industrial developments and agriculture. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential greenhouse gas forme by human activity and is responsible for approximately 80% of the total greenhouse effect. Other significant contributors include methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), (and CFCs).
Soil Degradation
Soil degradation refers to the loss of the capacity to produce land by reducing soil fertility as well as soil biodiversity and soil degradation. According to a recently submitted report to United Nations, almost one-third of the land farmers can use for farming has gone extinct in the last four decades. Experts also noted that the world’s Topsoil could vanish in the next 60 years if current loss rates continue.
Causes: The causes of soil degradation include industrial, agricultural, and commercial pollutants, the loss of arable land because of growing urbanization, overgrazing, inefficient farming practices, and long-term climate changes.
Pollution
Another one of the top environmental issues causes is pollution. Pollution refers to the breakdown in the form of harmful ecological materials. These harmful constituents are referred to as pollutants. These can be produced through human actions, such as garbage and runoff created by factories.
Pollutants affect the excellence of the air, water, and soil. Pollution can come in various forms, such as air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution.
Causes: A large portion of the pollution is caused by human actions. However, there are natural causes, for example, forest fires. Humans are the primary cause of pollution on our planet. For instance, industrial waste in water bodies causes damage and disturbs the life of the water. Noise pollution from cars, planes, cities and even aeroplanes creates noise pollution.
Deforestation
One of the leading environmental issues causes is deforestation. Deforestation is when we cut forests for agriculture, development, or logging purposes. Deforestation can have several negative impacts on the environment, including reducing habitats for wildlife, contributing to climate change, and increasing soil erosion.
Causes: The leading causes of deforestation and massive forest deprivation include agriculture, unsustainable forest supervision mining, infrastructure development schemes, and increasing intensity and occurrence of fire. Specific infrastructure projects, such as road construction, could be a significant indirect effect in opening up forests to agriculture and settlement. Poor forest management practices and inadequate fuelwood collection could reduce forest quality and cause what is known as the “death by a thousand cuts” type of deforestation.
Loss of Biodiversity
The loss of biodiversity is the disappearance of plant, human, or animal classes worldwide. It also refers to the decline in species living in a specific environment. The environmental degrading that causes loss could be changeable or permanent. However, it has been observed that global extinction is not reversible.
Causes: Human actions have a substantial impact on the decrease of biodiversity. Unintentionally, humans misuse natural resources such as water and land. Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, indirect and direct human actions influence biodiversity. Human factors that directly affect biodiversity are:
- Changes in land usage.
- The introduction of new species.
- The elimination of air and water pollution.
- The impact of climate change.
Technological, economic, demographic, religious, and cultural impacts are examples of indirect human forces.
Acid Rain
Acid rain can also be called acid deposition. It is also one of the serious environmental issues. This extensive term refers to any precipitation comprising acidic substances like sulfuric or nitric acid that falls on Earth out of the skies in both moist and dry form. It could be acidic rain, snow, hail, fog, or dust.
Causes: Acid rain is produced when the Sulphur dioxide (SO 2) and nitrogen oxides (NO X) are unconfined into the atmosphere and transported through wind and air currents. Nitric and sulphuric acids are created as SO 2 and NOX mix with water, oxygen, and other molecules, mixing with elements like water before falling into the Earth.
