Major Environmental Issues and Ways To Combat Them
The earth has suffered in our hands for way too long – just too long. We have beaten and struck the environment that sustains us with our beautiful inventions and activities. But among all the impacts we have caused the environment, some issues stand out much more than others.
In fact, these issues are the underlying reasons for tons of other environmental problems. So by solving these major issues, you can stop the effects of some other challenges. In case you still haven’t gotten the message, this article is about the major environmental issues we are facing and the ways by which we can combat them.
Loss of Biodiversity
There are different species of plants and animals for a reason. They help maintain the balance of the ecosystem. Without them, we won’t have many of the biological resources needed for our survival. Unfortunately, we are seeing the results of losing some biological resources to extinction.
Some plants and animals that help keep the environment in balance have gone extinct or have been threatened; hence we are faced with instability in weather conditions and animal or plant behaviour. Some human activities that cause loss of biodiversity include pollution, the killing of these plants and animals, and habitat destruction.
Climate change is also a reason why we are losing some biospheric properties of the environment needed for our existence.
How to Combat This
Some of the things we can do to work against how much human activities wreak havoc on the biodiversity of this planet are;
- Create awareness about the preservation of the earth’s biodiversity
- Reduce the number of invasive species
- Practice sustainable living
- Try to stop habitat destruction (for example, stop cutting down trees and start planting them)
Water Pollution and Ocean Acidification
Technically, water pollution is not a new concept, but ocean acidification is relatively new. We know that water pollution is caused by things like disposal of radioactive and chemical wastes, oil spills, wrong sweater disposal, plastic pollution, and so on.
Plus, these things make water-scarce and unhealthy for man, plants, and animals. But now, we are faced with extreme ocean acidity (that is, acidic seawater).
Why do we have this? All the sewages and oil spills, and plastic dumped in the water releases CO2, and when the ocean absorbs it, the chemical composition changes, increasing the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. What comes with an increase in hydrogen ions plus oxygen? Acidity.
Let’s leave chemistry and see how this affects the environment. Changes in the chemistry of the ocean can affect the natural behaviour of organisms in that some plants might not grow well, some animals (like oysters, corals, clams, etc.) will not be able to build their shells properly, and in worst cases, some animals might die from not being able to breathe properly.
How to Combat This
- Create more awareness for marine protection
- Plant trees near water bodies to prevent erosion
- Work against water pollution
- Look for other measures to contain spills.
Global Warming and Climate Change
There is hardly anyone that can say hasn’t heard of global warming. Whether you believe in it or not, at least you’ve heard of it – and as a matter of fact, it is very real. Yes, some places have been hot, like those places very close to the equator.
But even the poles (where there should hardly be any heat at all) are getting warm too. Ice caps are melting, and polar bears are trapped, the sea levels are rising drastically, weather fluctuations are extreme, and so many other environmental unbalance.
Global warming is a result of the rising level of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that mess up the composition of the atmosphere and the ozone layer. What’s worse? Trees are decreasing as a result of deforestation, so there is nothing that can suck in the excess carbon in the air. So now we are stuck with extreme weather events and the other negative examples cited earlier.
The things that increase the effect of global warming include air pollution from cars, industries, and other CO2 emission channels, land pollution from excessive overfilling landfills, water pollution through oil spills, industrialization, excessive deforestation, and other channels that emit CO2 or increase the concentration of greenhouse gases.
How to Combat This
Though there is no one way to go about this, and the results will also be gradual, here are ways to combat global warming.
- Replant trees to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere
- Compact wastes to create space for better uses
- Work towards reducing or preventing waste or emission
- Encourage the use and production of only sustainable technology
Conclusion
Though there are over 100 things, humans have done to wreak havoc on the environment. However, they can all be tied to three things: loss of biodiversity, ocean acidification, and global warming.
While trying to combat the three, you will be indirectly stopping or working against the other smaller environmental problems like pollution, deforestation, unsustainable living, wrong waste management, oil spills, and so on. Therefore, join the fight for a greener environment. Adopt a few of the solutions recommended and tell others about it too.