Current Environmental Issues

The green cover is rapidly shrinking on Planet Earth and the pollution levels are rising. Well, today, humans have to combat many such manmade effects that have harmed the Mother Nature in many ways over the years. Alarming climatic changes, deforestation, destruction of habitat and extinction of species, rising pollution levels are only some of the current environmental issues we are faced with today. Let’s have an insight to some of the major environmental issues we need to deal with currently.

Current Environmental Issues:

Global Warming:
Global warming is one of the major issues we are being faced with. The term signifies an increase in the atmospheric temperature near the earth’s surface, which is caused by various reasons. Scientists are of the opinion that a rise in the carbon dioxide levels will further aggravate the situation. The greenhouse effect causes the earth’s heat to be trapped in the atmosphere, which results in the increase in temperature. Global warming has thus caused a change in the climate of the earth, causing temperatures to rise. This in turn has an effect on various species dependant on the basic laws of nature. A change in the same makes survival a difficult issue. A warmer earth also causes changes in the rainfall patterns and thus affects humans, plants and animals as well.

Ozone Depletion:
CFCs are considered to be the main cause of ozone depletion. The term, ozone depletion, implies a decline of the quantity of the ozone in the Earth’s stratosphere. The loss of ozone in the lower stratosphere was first recorded in Antarctica in the 1970s. As we all know, the earth’s atmosphere is composed of many layers and ozone forms a layer in the stratosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs for short, are used in aerosol sprays as well as air conditioners. These when released into the atmosphere add to the ozone depletion. The ozone hole in the Antarctic is caused primarily due to these CFCs. Due to ozone depletion; humans are faced with various other problems such as the harmful effects of the UV rays, which in turn affect plants and various other species of animals.

Pollution:
Pollution is something that we face on an everyday basis; probably this is something we may even be immune in our fast paced lives. Air pollution and noise pollution are increasing at an alarming rate today. Air pollution occurs with the addition of harmful chemicals into the earth’s atmosphere. The main pollutants that cause the same are carbon monoxide, CFCs, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Water pollution is caused when wastes are released into the water that contaminates the same. Soil can even be contaminated due to various industrial activities. Noise pollution is also a current environmental issue that causes harm in various ways.

Loss of Natural Resources:
With the increase in population, one can see the loss of natural resources. This is caused due to various human activities. There are many reasons that cause loss of natural resources. This in turn affects the ecosystems. Activities such as overfishing have even caused many species to be on the brink of extinction. Forests are being cleared to meet the rising demands for the need of paper, wood or even for land. Mining and the burning of fossil fuels have led to further depletion of resources.

These are some of the current environmental issues we are facing today. With an effort from each individual, we can only hope to save our planet from being destroyed.