Environmental issues
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The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (March 2020) |
Environmental issues are disruptions in the usual function of ecosystems.[1] Further, these issues can be caused by humans (human impact on the environment)[2] or they can be natural. These issues are considered serious when the ecosystem cannot recover in the present situation, and catastrophic if the ecosystem is projected to certainly collapse.
Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment on the individual, organizational or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the environment and humans. Environmentalism is a social and environmental movement that addresses environmental issues through advocacy, legislation education, and activism.[3]
Environment destruction caused by humans is a global, ongoing problem.[4] Water pollution also cause problems to marine life.[5] Some scholars believe that the projected peak global population of roughly 9–10 billion people could live sustainably within the earth's ecosystems if humans worked to live sustainably within planetary boundaries.[6][7][8] The bulk of environmental impacts are caused by excessive consumption of industrial goods by the world's wealthiest populations.[9][10][11] The UN Environmental Program, in its "Making Peace With Nature" Report in 2021, found addressing key planetary crises, like pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, was achievable if parties work to address the Sustainable Development Goals.[12]
Types
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Major current environmental issues may include climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, and resource depletion. The conservation movement lobbies for protection of endangered species and protection of any ecologically valuable natural areas, genetically modified foods and global warming. The UN system has adopted international frameworks for environmental issues in three key issues, which has been encoded as the "triple planetary crises": climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.[13]
Human impact
Pollution
Degradation
Conflict
Costs
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".Environmental issues impose a heavy and wide-ranging economic burden affecting public health, infrastructure, productivity, ecosystems, and long-term economic growth.
- Health and public-health costs: In the United States alone, the annual health costs from air pollution and climate change, including increased illness, hospitalizations, lost wages, and premature deaths — have been estimated to exceed US$820 billion per year.[14]
- Global economic losses from climate change and extreme weather: Worldwide, climate change–related damage to infrastructure, property, agriculture, and human health is projected to cost between US$1.7 and US$3.1 trillion per year by 2050.[15] World Economic Forum Across the period 2000–2019, extreme weather events alone caused roughly US$2.8 trillion in cumulative losses.[15]
- Costs of environmental externalities and nature-decline: Sectors that drive biodiversity loss, such as agriculture, fossil-fuels, forestry, infrastructure, fisheries, and mining, generate substantial environmental externalities. Recent estimates put the global cost of these negative externalities at US$10.5 to US$ 22.6 trillion annually.[16]
- Lost economic potential and productivity: Declines in ecosystem services, biodiversity, and natural capital can undermine long-term economic stability. For example, widespread deforestation, land degradation, and ecosystem collapse erode resources for agriculture, fisheries, water supply, and climate regulation, thereby threatening livelihoods and economic resilience.[17]
Action
Justice
Template:ExcerptThe 2023 IPCC report highlighted the disproportionate effects of climate change on vulnerable populations. The report's findings make it clear that every increment of global warming exacerbates challenges such as extreme heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and other weather extremes, which in turn amplify risks for human health and ecosystems. With nearly half of the world's population residing in regions highly susceptible to climate change, the urgency for global actions that are both rapid and sustained is underscored. The importance of integrating diverse knowledge systems, including scientific, Indigenous, and local knowledge, into climate action is highlighted as a means to foster inclusive solutions that address the complexities of climate impacts across different communities.[18]
In addition, the report points out the critical gap in adaptation finance, noting that developing countries require significantly more resources to effectively adapt to climate challenges than what is currently available. This financial disparity raises questions about the global commitment to equitable climate action and underscores the need for a substantial increase in support and resources. The IPCC's analysis suggests that with adequate financial investment and international cooperation, it is possible to embark on a pathway towards resilience and sustainability that benefits all sections of society.[18]
Law
Assessment
Movement
Organizations
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Environmental issues are addressed at a regional, national or international level by government organizations.
The largest international agency, set up in 1972, is the United Nations Environment Programme. The International Union for Conservation of Nature brings together 83 states, 108 government agencies, 766 Non-governmental organizations and 81 international organizations and about 10,000 experts, scientists from countries around the world.[19] International non-governmental organizations include Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and World Wide Fund for Nature. Governments enact environmental policy and enforce environmental law and this is done to differing degrees around the world.
Film and television
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There are an increasing number of films being produced on environmental issues, especially on climate change and global warming. Al Gore's 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth gained commercial success and a high media profile.
See also
- Citizen science
- Ecotax
- Environmental impact statement
- Environmentalism
- Green politics
- Index of environmental articles
- Nature-based solutions
- Triple planetary crisis
Issues
- List of environmental issues (includes mitigation and conservation)
Specific issues
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- Air pollution
- Environmental impact of agriculture
- Environmental impact of aviation
- Environmental impact of reservoirs
- Environmental impact of the energy industry
- Environmental impact of fishing
- Environmental impact of irrigation
- Environmental impact of mining
- Environmental impact of paint
- Environmental impact of paper
- Environmental impact of pesticides
- Environmental implications of nanotechnology
- Environmental impact of shipping
- Environmental impact of war
- Marine pollution
- Pollution
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lim, Chi Hong; Lim, Bong Soon; Kim, A. Reum; Kim, Dong Uk; Seol, Jae Won; Pi, Jeong Hoon; Lee, Hansol; Lee, Chang Seok (2022). "Climate change adaptation through ecological restoration". Natural Resources Conservation and Advances for Sustainability. pp. 151–172. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-822976-7.00013-2. ISBN 978-0-12-822976-7.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Human Impacts on the Environment". education.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Eccleston, Charles H.; March, Frederic (2010). "Environmental management systems". Global Environmental Policy. pp. 219–254. doi:10.1201/b17375-14. ISBN 978-0-429-11186-0.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McNeill, Z. Zane (2022-09-07). "Humans Destroying Ecosystems: How to Measure Our Impact on the Environment". Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Marine Pollution". education.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Alberro, Heather (28 January 2020). "Why we should be wary of blaming 'overpopulation' for the climate crisis". The Conversation. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."David Attenborough's claim that humans have overrun the planet is his most popular comment". www.newstatesman.com. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Dominic Lawson: The population timebomb is a myth The doom-sayers are becoming more fashionable just as experts are coming to the view it has all been one giant false alarm". The Independent. UK. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Nässén, Jonas; Andersson, David; Larsson, Jörgen; Holmberg, John (June 2015). "Explaining the Variation in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Between Households: Socioeconomic, Motivational, and Physical Factors". Journal of Industrial Ecology. 19 (3): 480–489. Bibcode:2015JInEc..19..480N. doi:10.1111/jiec.12168.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Moser, Stephanie; Kleinhückelkotten, Silke (July 2018). "Good Intents, but Low Impacts: Diverging Importance of Motivational and Socioeconomic Determinants Explaining Pro-Environmental Behavior, Energy Use, and Carbon Footprint". Environment and Behavior. 50 (6): 626–656. Bibcode:2018EnvBe..50..626M. doi:10.1177/0013916517710685.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lynch, Michael J.; Long, Michael A.; Stretesky, Paul B.; Barrett, Kimberly L. (August 2019). "Measuring the Ecological Impact of the Wealthy: Excessive Consumption, Ecological Disorganization, Green Crime, and Justice". Social Currents. 6 (4): 377–395. doi:10.1177/2329496519847491.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Making Peace With Nature". UNEP - UN Environment Programme. 11 February 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."SDGs will address 'three planetary crises' harming life on Earth". UN News. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Report: Health Costs from Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Pollution Tops $820 Billion a Year". www.nrdc.org. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Climate change is costing the world $16 million per hour: study". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 2025-10-03. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Reyes-García, Victoria; Villasante, Sebastian; Benessaiah, Karina; Pandit, Ram; Agrawal, Arun; Claudet, Joachim; Garibaldi, Lucas A.; Kabisa, Mulako; Pereira, Laura; Zinngrebe, Yves (2025-07-01). "The costs of subsidies and externalities of economic activities driving nature decline". Ambio. 54 (7): 1128–1141. Bibcode:2025Ambio..54.1128R. doi:10.1007/s13280-025-02147-3. ISSN 1654-7209. PMC 12133627. PMID 40019715.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ceglar, Andrej; Parker, Miles; Pasqua, Carlo; Boldrini, Simone; Gabet, Marie; van der Zwaag, Sjoerd (2024-09-24). "Economic and financial impacts of nature degradation and biodiversity loss".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Urgent climate action can secure a liveable future for all — IPCC". Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."About". IUCN. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
Works cited
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chapin, F. Stuart; Matson, Pamela A.; Vitousek, Peter (September 2, 2011). Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology. Springer Science+Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4419-9504-9. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hawksworth, David L.; Bull, Alan T. (2008). Biodiversity and Conservation in Europe. Springer. p. 3390. ISBN 978-1402068645.
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Martinez-Alier, Joan (2002). The Environmentalism of the Poor. doi:10.4337/9781843765486. ISBN 978-1-84376-548-6.
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sahney, S.; Benton, M.J.; Ferry, P.A. (2010). "Links between global taxonomic diversity, ecological diversity and the expansion of vertebrates on land". Biology Letters. 6 (4): 544–547. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.1024. PMC 2936204. PMID 20106856.
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Steffen, Will; Sanderson, Regina Angelina; Tyson, Peter D.; Jäger, Jill; Matson, Pamela A.; Moore III, Berrien; Oldfield, Frank; Richardson, Katherine; Schellnhuber, Hans-Joachim (January 27, 2006). Global Change and the Earth System: A Planet Under Pressure. Springer Science+Business Media. ISBN 978-3-540-26607-5. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Schlosberg, David (2007). Defining Environmental Justice. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199286294.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-928629-4.
Further reading
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ferguson, Robert (1999). Environmental Public Awareness Handbook: Case Studies and Lessons Learned in Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar: DSConsulting. ISBN 99929-50-13-7.
External links
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