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Issues

The document outlines various environmental sustainability issues, including climate change, natural resource use, waste production, water pollution, ocean acidification, air pollution, water scarcity, sustainable food production, and decreasing biodiversity. Each issue is interconnected and poses significant challenges to ecosystems and human well-being. Collective action and innovative practices are essential to address these pressing environmental concerns.

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7 views

Issues

The document outlines various environmental sustainability issues, including climate change, natural resource use, waste production, water pollution, ocean acidification, air pollution, water scarcity, sustainable food production, and decreasing biodiversity. Each issue is interconnected and poses significant challenges to ecosystems and human well-being. Collective action and innovative practices are essential to address these pressing environmental concerns.

Uploaded by

asif46uop
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Environmental Sustainability

Issues
Environmental issues are disruptions in the usual function of
ecosystems. These issues can be caused by humans (human impact on
the environment) or they can be natural.
OR
Environmental issues are the set of challenges and problems facing
Earth and its natural systems. From climate change and pollution to
overpopulation and energy use, these issues are complex and
interconnected.
1: Climate Change
 Largely considered the most urgent and impactful contemporary
environmental crises by scientists and other experts, climate change is the
most high-profile challenge facing the world today.
 Georgetown University states, “Scientists predict that if the increase in
greenhouse gas emissions continues unabated, temperatures will rise by as
much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century.” Georgetown also
noted that “the five warmest years on record have occurred in the last
decade.
 In 2019, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres stated, “We need more
concrete plans, more ambition from more countries and more businesses.
We need all financial institutions, public and private, to choose, once and
for all, the green economy.” Unfortunately, not all nations have gotten on
board with this way of thinking.
2: Natural Resource Use
One of the top environmental problems facing the world is the challenge
of natural resource use. Virtually all economic activity ties into natural
resource use, and many environmental activists decry not only the rapid
exploitation of various inputs, but also the growing gulf between the
wealthy and the less advantaged. For instance, the use of water by one
community can threaten the existence of another and even permanently
alter nature itself.
Managing this challenge will require forward-thinking planning
and taking into account the environmental impact. As the
U.N. Environment Programme states, “We are facing a historic choice
about how we use resources and the report scopes the potential of
innovation, rethinking economic growth and the role of cities in building
more resource efficient economies.”
3: Waste Production
 Waste management and production is a key point that numerous
environmental issues articles highlight. Dramatic pictures of refuse-choked
waterways and giant floating patches of oceanic waste have highlighted the
dangers of improperly disposed plastic.
 e-Waste or electronic waste represents both an environmental
danger and a missed opportunity given the inherent value of computers,
peripherals, cellular phones, and other electronics that get tossed rather
than recycled. In fact, the EPA states that only about one-quarter of all e-
waste gets recycled.
 Food Waste Not only do consumers in developed countries throw away
large amounts of food due to its appearance, but substantial losses also
occur early on in the growth cycle. The Journal of Agricultural Science
notes that “among crops, the total global potential loss due to pests varied
from about 50% in wheat to more than 80% in cotton production. The
responses are estimated as losses of 26–29% for soybean, wheat and
4: Water Pollution

 Earth has been called the Blue Planet due to the expantion of water on its
surface, but far less of that liquid is potable than the casual observer might
think. According to the World Wildlife Federation, “Only 3% of the world’s
water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers
or otherwise unavailable for our use. As a result, some 1.1 billion people
worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce
for at least one month of the year.”
 Water pollution puts potable water supplies at risk. “The United Nations
World Water Development Report 2017” found that “globally, it is likely
that over 80% of wastewater is released to the environment without
adequate treatment.
7: Ocean Acidification

 The ocean absorbs almost a third of the carbon dioxide released


into the world. Even fewer know that increased carbon emissions
can also impact water quality, altering the pH of the ocean itself.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has noted
that the past 200 years has seen “approximately a 30 percent
increase in [ocean] acidity,” which directly impacts so-called “shell
building” creatures. Studies have linked reef bleaching, reef death,
mollusk death, and ecosystem disturbance to this increasing
acidification.
8: Air Pollution

 According to WHO “fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deep into
the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke,
heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and
respiratory infections. Industry, transportation, coal power plants and
household solid fuel usage are major contributors to air pollution.”
 Air pollution doesn’t impact every corner of the world the same.
 WHO reports that, “in the Western Pacific Region alone, around 2.2
million people die each year” from air pollution.
9: Water Scarcity

 Water scarcity threatens the well-being of communities and


ecosystems worldwide.
 The availability of fresh water is rapidly declining, putting
millions of people at risk. Aquatic ecosystems, vital for
biodiversity, are also suffering as water sources dry up.
 Collective action is essential in addressing water scarcity.
Sustainable water management practices, such as efficient
irrigation and responsible consumption, can help conserve water.
Rainwater harvesting and recycling graywater are practical
measures. Educating communities about water conservation is
crucial, empowering individuals to make informed choices.
10: Sustainable Food Production & Demand
 Food production and demand present significant
challenges to achieving environmental sustainability.
 Food production and demand present significant
challenges to achieving environmental sustainability.
 Globally, one-third of all food produced is wasted,
squandering resources and increasing emissions.
 Sustainable farming practices are vital. Conventional
methods harm soil, water, and biodiversity. Organic
farming, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture
promote soil health, water conservation, and reduced
chemical use. These practices contribute to resilient
ecosystems and healthier food systems. Addressing food
waste is crucial.
11: Decreasing Biodiversity
 Human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution, climate
change, invasive species, and overexploitation, contribute to the
decline of biodiversity. As species disappear, ecosystems suffer,
losing crucial functions like pollination and nutrient cycling.
 The consequences of decreasing biodiversity affect both
ecosystems and humanity. Ecosystems become vulnerable to
disruptions and lose their ability to provide essential services.
Communities relying on biodiversity for agriculture, fisheries,
and tourism face food insecurity, economic instability, and
cultural loss. The loss of keystone species and ecological
disruptions can also lead to the spread of diseases and the
collapse of ecosystems.
 Protected areas, Sustainable land-use practices and mitigation
of climate change impacts, Collaboration between governments,
organizations, and communities, including indigenous peoples, is
vital.

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