The year 2020 has only just begun and the world has already experienced numerous natural disasters. Everyone on this planet is affected in one way or another by the following problems. How can we help to make things better in the future? Read more about the most important environmental issues 2020.
Overpopulation
There is no doubt that the current steady increase in human population is also a problem for our environment. Many other environmental problems are due to the increase in the world’s population.
In the last 60 years alone, the total number of people on earth has tripled and is still increasing. This places an enormous burden on the environment and is mainly due to the fact that more land needs to be developed to accommodate the booming population.
Climate Change
This is probably the most controversial of all the items in this list. An overwhelming number of climate specialists believe that human activities have caused significant damage to the environment and have affected the planet’s climate. Have we already passed the “point of no return”? What we can do about it is to help mitigate the continuing damage. For example, scientists are developing more environmentally friendly methods of energy production to replace fossil fuels and coal.
Dwindling Biodiversity
The dwindling biodiversity of the animal population is directly related to the growing human population. Many forests and other natural habitats of animals have been cleared for urban development. As a result, countless animal species have lost their homes and are dying at an alarming rate. When an animal species disappears, the other animals dependent on it also disappear. This leads to a domino effect that will have disastrous consequences.
Life cycle or material cycles
The effects of humans on the life cycle have a major impact on the health of the environment. The simplest examples are the discharge of unfiltered wastewater into lakes and the use of phosphate-based fertilizers in agriculture. Without countermeasures, both can disturb the ecological balance and drive lakes to an ecological tipping point. This poses a considerable threat to the already sensitive life cycle.
Water Pollution
More and more scientists believe that in the not too distant future water will become a precious commodity like gold and oil. This means that the dystopian future at Mad Max could indeed become reality. People would go to war and fight for the limited amount of drinking water.
Today, one third of the human population does not have easy access to fresh drinking water, and by 2050 this proportion is expected to rise to two thirds. This is attributed, among other things, to the increase in the human population and the increase in industrial pollution.
The Acidification of the Oceans
Due to the excessive production of carbon dioxide by humans, the acidity of the water of the world’s oceans has increased enormously. This is due to the fact that the oceans absorb almost a quarter of the world’s total carbon dioxide. This reacts with the other substances in the water, making the ocean acidic and lowering the pH of the water. By 2100, the acidity of the oceans is expected to increase by 150% of its current level. This will turn the world’s oceans into a poisonous soup that is almost no longer viable, and more and more aquatic life will die.
Pollution
As things stand today, it will take an eternity for the earth to fully recover from today’s pollution. Most of these pollutants are by-products of modern human life, industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust. Pollution is spread everywhere, on land, at sea and in the air.
Thinning Ozone Layer
The progressive depletion of the ozone layer is generally attributed to the release of the chemicals chlorine and bromide into the air. As soon as these chemicals reach the ozone layer of the atmosphere, they destroy the ozone molecules. There are currently many large holes in the ozone layer, the largest of which lies directly above Antarctica. Why do we need the ozone layer? It is the Earth’s first and last line of defence against the sun’s dangerous UV rays. Without the ozone layer, the Earth’s surface will be scorched beyond recognition.
Over Fishing
According to experts, by 2050, there is a high chance that the seas will have no more fish left. The continuing depletion of fish species is caused by humans overfishing in the seas.
Deforestation
Ever since the 1900s, almost half of all the rainforests in the world have been completely destroyed. To make things worse, the burning of the Amazon rainforest just inadvertently added millions of ancient trees to the list. Trees worldwide are dying at an unprecedented rate.
Conclusion
Those are just ten of the most talked-about environmental issues right now. We all need to learn more about these issues so we can all work together towards solving them. What is your opinion on these topics?
