Global warming
Global warming describes the process by which greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere in abnormally high amounts, trapping the Earth’s radiation and causing its temperature to rise significantly. This is linked to environmental problems such as changes in rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and expansion of deserts.
Pollution
Pollution of air, water and land, resulting from burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes, agriculture, and other human activities, is endangering human health, biodiversity and the built environment.
Ozone depletion
Ozone shields the Earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and its depletion is caused by emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances into the atmosphere. Increases in UV radiation are thought to be linked to a rise in skin cancers, damage to the human immune system, and altered crop yields.
Water
A third of the world population is still without access to safe water and, as the global population grows, the need for water will grow, as will waste and pollution which will increasingly threaten the quality of groundwater and rivers.
Resources
Some non-renewable resources, including natural gas and petroleum resources, will eventually be depleted. The economically viable extraction of some abundant mineral ores may also be limited. Renewable resources, such as timber, are also at risk of overexploitation.
Deforestation
Deforestation through commercial logging, conversion of forest land to agricultural use, and other
activities causes the destruction of natural habitats and extinction of plant and animal species and exacerbates the effects of global warming and pollution.
Soil degradation
Urbanisation, construction, mining, war, agriculture and deforestation can cause soil degradation.
Soil erosion, increased salination, altered soil structure,drainage capacity and fertilisation can diminish crop yields, increase the risk of flooding and destroy natural habitats.
Waste
Increasing amounts of waste add pressure for more landfill sites, which pollute air, soil and groundwater and for more incineration, which pollutes the air and produces generally toxic residue.
Extinction of flora and fauna
The current mass extinction rates of plant and animal species are the culmination of the environmental damage to our planet. Population Global population growth is associated with increases in the human-induced environmental impacts mentioned above.
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