10.1 Global environmental challenges

Global environmental challenges are reshaping our planet. From deforestation and biodiversity loss to pollution and overfishing, human activities are causing widespread ecological damage. These issues are interconnected and have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, economies, and human health.

Addressing these challenges requires global cooperation and sustainable practices. International agreements like the Montreal Protocol show progress is possible. However, urgent action is needed to combat climate change, reduce pollution, and protect biodiversity to ensure a livable planet for future generations.

Environmental Degradation

Deforestation and Desertification

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• Deforestation involves the large-scale removal of trees and forests, often for agricultural expansion (palm oil plantations), logging, or urban development
• Deforestation contributes to habitat loss, soil erosion, and climate change by reducing carbon sequestration and altering local water cycles
• Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, often due to drought, deforestation, or unsustainable agricultural practices (overgrazing)
• Desertification can lead to soil degradation, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased vulnerability to climate change, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions (Sahel)

Biodiversity Loss and Ocean Acidification

• Biodiversity loss refers to the decline in the variety of life on Earth, including the extinction of species and the reduction of genetic diversity within species
• Biodiversity loss is caused by habitat destruction, overexploitation (poaching), pollution, climate change, and invasive species
• Biodiversity loss can disrupt ecosystem services, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and natural pest control, and reduce the resilience of ecosystems to environmental changes
• Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, causing a decrease in the water's pH level
• Ocean acidification can harm marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons (coral reefs), and disrupt marine food webs and ecosystem functioning

Pollution

Air and Water Pollution

• Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, often from industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and burning of fossil fuels
• Air pollution can cause respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and premature death, and contribute to acid rain and climate change
• Water scarcity refers to the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region
• Water scarcity can be caused by overexploitation of water resources, pollution, climate change, and population growth, and can lead to reduced agricultural productivity, poor sanitation, and conflict over water resources

Plastic Pollution

• Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment, particularly in the oceans, where it can harm marine life through ingestion and entanglement
• Plastic pollution is caused by the widespread use and disposal of single-use plastics (straws, bags), inadequate waste management, and the slow decomposition of plastic materials
• Plastic pollution can also enter the food chain, as microplastics are consumed by marine organisms and potentially transferred to humans through seafood consumption
• Efforts to reduce plastic pollution include banning single-use plastics, improving waste management and recycling infrastructure, and promoting the use of biodegradable alternatives

Atmospheric Changes

Ozone Depletion and Overfishing

• Ozone depletion is the gradual thinning of the Earth's ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, caused by the release of ozone-depleting substances (chlorofluorocarbons) from human activities
• Ozone depletion can increase the amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface, leading to increased skin cancer rates, eye cataracts, and damage to crops and marine life
• The Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987, has successfully phased out the production and consumption of many ozone-depleting substances, allowing the ozone layer to slowly recover
• Overfishing is the removal of a species of fish from a body of water at a rate that the species cannot replenish, leading to a decline in the population and potentially to extinction
• Overfishing is caused by the increasing demand for seafood, the use of destructive fishing practices (bottom trawling), and inadequate fisheries management and regulation
• Overfishing can disrupt marine food webs, reduce biodiversity, and have significant economic and social impacts on communities that depend on fishing for their livelihoods (coastal communities)