Worst Environmental Problems

The environment is impacted by everything people do such as driving, producing waste and pollution and consuming food and electricity. Overpopulation leads to the need for more resources such as food and living space. Expansion requires the need for more mining, farmland, roads and towns, which are taken from natural habitats. This can lead to the extinction of some species. The impact of growth also leads to the production of more waste and pollution, causing such things as climate change, ozone depletion and the upsetting of the marine ecosystem.

Ozone Depletion

• The job of the ozone layer is to filter out the sun's rays. As the ozone becomes depleted, it causes such things as skin cancer, cataracts and weak immune systems in people. The increase in radiation can also change crop yields and upset the marine food chain. The constant bombardment of hydrofluorocarbon substances such as refrigerants, insulating foams, solvents and pesticides can lead to the thinning of the ozone or even holes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working hard to have all of the hydrofluorocarbons phased out by 2030.

Overpopulation

• Population growth increases the consumption of resources such as food and fuel and pollutes the air and water by doing such things as burning fuel, heating homes and producing waste. In addition, expansion leads to the deforestation of natural habitats and ecosystems of plants and animals. Urbanization requires more infrastructure such as logging, mining, farming and roads, which continually takes away from these habitats, making some species extinct.

Overfishing

• Commercial fishing depletes massive amounts of fish at one time, making it impossible for the species to sustain itself. Fish such as swordfish and tuna may be extinct one day due to the lack of regulation. Overfishing, combined with pollution, may make eating seafood a thing of the past. This global problem could be turned around if more regulations were put into place such as setting catch limits, controlling bycatch, protecting habitats, and monitoring and enforcing fishermen on the ocean.

Climate Change

• The earth absorbs energy from the sun and radiates it back to earth. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases produced by cars, pollution and factories take some of this energy and radiate it back to earth, causing warmer temperatures. Climate change affects people, plants and animals. Extreme changes in temperature cause changes in weather patterns, leading to devastating flooding and loss of life. Gases are breathed in by people and animals and absorbed by plants, which may lead to illness.