ENviroNmENTaL issuEs aNd ThE Ways To soLvE

ThEm

Global warming

Global warming is the term used to describe the rising of the average temperature on Earth. The Earth has gone through changes in temperature before. The Earth has even gone through several ice ages, when the temperature dropped significantly and a lot of the world was covered in ice glaciers. Each time the planet eventually warmed up and melted the ice.

Here are few of the things that scientists think may happen as the temperature rises. Some of them are already happening:

Glaciers melting - Many glaciers are already melting and shrinking throughout the world. If the temperature increases they will continue to melt.

Ocean levels will rise - As the glaciers melt, the ocean levels will rise. This could cause flooding in cities located near the coast.

Migration of animals - Animals will migrate to cooler spots as their old habitats get too warm. This could upset the food chain and put some species in danger of extinction.

Extreme weather - Some scientists think that warming will fuel more powerful hurricanes as well as more droughts and flooding in different areas of the world.

Change in ecosystems - cold weather biomes such as the tundra will shrink, while desserts will continue to expand.

How to prevent global warming?

• Use less water

• Drink tap water instead of bottled water

• Turn off lights and unplug devices.

• Use less paper

• Drive less

• Recycle more

• Plant a tree

• Avoid products with a lot of packaging

Air pollution

Air pollution is a type of environmental pollution that, affects the air and is usually caused by smoke or other harmful gases, mainly oxides of: Carbon, Sulphur and Nitrogen. Even 2,000 years ago, the Romans were complaining about the polluted air in their cities. At that time, the air was thick with the smell of sewers. Air pollution has been classified as a danger to human health and Earth's many ecosystems for a long time.

Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air—pollutants which are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths around the globe. Nine out of ten human beings currently breathe air that exceeds the WHO’s guideline limits for pollutants, with those living in low- and middleincome countries suffering the most.

How to prevent air pollution?

• Drive your car less

• Keep your car in good repair

• Turn off your engine

• Don't burn your garbage

• Limit backyards fire in the city

• Plant and care for trees

• Switch to electric or handpowered lawn equipment

• Use less energy

Water pollution

Water is the most essential component for us to survive. We need water to perform various activities in a day like drinking, bathing, washing, cooking, etc. Unfortunately, most of the water present on Earth’s surface has been polluted. This is a very serious environmental problem across the world. The major sources of water pollution are caused by humans. We pollute water bodies through various activities like agricultural activities, chemicals from industries, etc. When industrial waste like chemicals, metals, toxins, etc. mix with water, it changes the pH level of the water. This industrial waste increases the acidity of the water which is not good for the water ecosystem.

When we dispose of sewage, garbage, and other waste material into the water bodies, it releases various pollutants in the water. The harmful chemicals, toxins, etc. from these pollutants get dissolve with water. These chemicals turn the water into poisonous which is very toxic for the plants and animals underwater. The farmers use different pesticides and fertilizers for agricultural purposes. The pesticides and fertilizers enter into water bodies through rainwater. When chemicals from these pesticides and fertilizers dissolve with water, it destroys the aquatic ecosystem. Also the oil spill is one of the big reasons to cause water pollution.

How to stop water pollution?

Never throw garbage around or leave it behind at a lake or a beach. Always take it with you.

When done with a meal, separate the trash from your plate and any oily substances in the garbage. Do not mix them in the kitchen sink.

Do not use chemical pesticides such as weed killers or other fertilizers in your household gardens. Talk to your parents to find better environment-friendly alternatives for them.

Do not wash your family car in an open street. The soap and any petroleum chemicals from the car can mix with the drain and reach the water bodies.

Save pure water. Use it sparingly and avoid wasting it unnecessarily. Keep all faucets and taps tightened and ensure there is no leakage of pure water anywhere.

Deforestation is the clearing, or cutting down, of forests. The word is normally used to describe the actions of humans in removing forests from the planet, rather than destruction caused by such natural events as hurricanes. People have been cutting down trees for thousands of years. In recent times, however, the number of forests being lost through deforestation has grown enormously. This is seen as a great problem that affects the environment in many important ways.

Experts estimate that about 500,000 square miles (1.3 million square kilometers) of land is deforested every 10 years. Half of that is primary forest, which means it has never been cut down before. The largest amount of deforestation is happening in tropical areas, where rainforests are being cut down. Most deforestation is permanent. Some areas do recover from this damage, but it can take many years.

How to stop deforestation?

Plant a tree

Don’t waste paper

Don’t burn fire wood excessively

Help restore degraded forests

Don’t buy products containing palm oil

Loss of biodiversity

The variety of animal and plant life in any environment is known as biodiversity. Biodiversity is of interest to anyone concerned with the welfare of our planet. The great variety of plants and animals is often taken for granted. However, the activities of humans, such as cutting down rain forests and using gasoline for fuel, pose a major threat to the environment. Consider the changes that take place when a new housing development is built. For example, if a forest is transformed into a neighborhood of streets, lawns, and houses, the old environment and the habitat it provided for living creature changes forever. The environment is disrupted or even destroyed. Most of the plants will be ruined. The animals will be forced either to find a new habitat or die. Sometimes an entire species might become extinct. Because Earth is the only place in the universe known to sustain life, the loss of even one species on the planet means the total loss of that organism.

How

Take shorter showers

Plant local flowers, fruits and vegetables

Plastic pollution

Around the world, people throw away roughly four million tons of trash every day - that's enough to fill 350,000 garbage trucks or 10 Empire State Buildings. About 12.8 percent of that waste is plastic, which causes big problems for wildlife: some animals mistake plastic for food, while others can become entangled in the trash. Scientists think that 8.8 million tons of plastic winds up in the ocean every year - that’s as if you stacked up five plastic grocery bags full of trash on top of each other on every foot of coastline in the world.

How does it get into the sea? Plastic left on the ground as litter often blows into creeks and rivers, eventually ending up in the ocean. And because plastic trash is different from other types of waste - it doesn’t decompose back into nature like an apple core or a piece of paper - it stays in the ocean forever. That means discarded fishing nets and six-pack rings can entangle animals; harmful straws and grocery bags can be mistaken as food.

How to stop plastic pollution?

• Say no to plastic straws

• Use a reusable water bottle

• Avoid plastic carrier bags

• Snack on fruit, instead of crisps or sweets

• Make green goody bags for your next birthday party

• Eat your ice cream from a cone

• Buy in bulk