Planets are a real scourge of the 21st century. Many people also think about the issue of preserving and restoring the environment. Otherwise, future generations will only get a lifeless surface.

No man is an island!

It is likely that at least once in our lives each of us asked ourselves the question: “What environmental problems of the planet currently exist and what can I do to solve them?” It would seem, indeed, that just one person can do this? Nevertheless, each of us is capable of much. First, start taking care of the environment yourself. For example, throw away garbage in strictly designated containers, and it would also be a good idea to pay attention to separating waste into specific materials (glass in one bin, and plastic in another). In addition, you can regulate and gradually reduce the consumption of both electricity and other resources (water, gas) necessary for your comfortable living. If you are a driver and are faced with choosing a suitable vehicle, then you should pay attention to cars that have a reduced content of harmful compounds in exhaust gases. It will also be correct - both for you and for the entire planet as a whole - to have a small engine size installed in the selected car model. And, as a result, reduced fuel consumption. With such simple and accessible measures to everyone, we can solve the environmental problems of the planet.

Let's help the whole world

Despite everything described earlier, you will not be alone in this fight. As a rule, the policies of many modern states are aimed at the well-known environmental problems of the planet and, of course, ways to solve them. In addition, there is an active propaganda program, the goal of which is to limit and exterminate rare representatives of flora and fauna. Nevertheless, such a policy of world powers is quite purposeful and makes it possible to create conditions for the normal functioning of the population, which do not disturb natural ecosystems.

Environmental problems of the planet: list

Modern scientists identify about several dozen basic issues that require special attention. Such planets arise as a result of significant changes in the natural environment. And those, in turn, are the result of devastating natural disasters, as well as the ever-increasing Environmental problems of the planet are quite simple to list. One of the first places is occupied by air pollution. Each of us knows from an early age that, thanks to the content of a certain percentage of oxygen in the air space of the planet, we are able to exist normally. However, every day we not only consume oxygen, but also exhale carbon dioxide. But there are also factories and factories, cars and planes travel around the world and trains knock on the rails. All of the above objects, in the process of their operation, emit substances of a certain composition, which only aggravates the situation and increases the environmental problems of planet Earth. Unfortunately, even though modern production facilities are equipped with the latest developments in purification systems, the condition of the airspace is gradually deteriorating.

Deforestation

We know from our school biology course that representatives of the plant world help maintain the balance of substances in the atmosphere. Thanks to natural processes such as photosynthesis, the green spaces of the Earth not only cleanse the air of harmful impurities, but also gradually enrich it with oxygen. Thus, it is easy to conclude that the destruction of flora, in particular forests, only aggravates the global environmental problems of the planet. Unfortunately, human economic activity leads to the fact that deforestation is carried out on a particularly large scale, but the replenishment of green spaces is often not carried out.

Declining fertile land

Similar environmental problems of the planet arise as a result of the previously mentioned deforestation. In addition, improper use of various agricultural techniques and incorrect farming also lead to depletion of the fertile layer. And pesticides and other chemical fertilizers poison not only the soil, but also all living organisms that are interconnected with it for many years. But, as you know, layers of fertile soil are restored much more slowly than forests. It will take more than one century to fully replace the lost land cover.

Declining fresh water supplies

If you are asked: “What environmental problems of the planet are known?”, you have the right to immediately remember life-giving moisture. Indeed, in some regions there is already an acute shortage of this resource. And over time, this state of affairs will only worsen. Consequently, the above topic can be considered one of the most important in the list of “Ecological problems of the planet”. Examples of improper water use can be found everywhere. Starting from the pollution of lakes and rivers by all kinds of industrial enterprises and ending with the irrational consumption of resources at the household level. In this regard, many natural reservoirs are already closed areas for swimming. However, this is not the end of the planet's environmental problems. The list can also be continued with the next paragraph.

Extermination of flora and fauna

Scientists have calculated that in the modern world, every hour one representative of the planet’s animal or plant world dies. It is important to remember that not only poachers are involved in such actions, but also ordinary people who consider themselves respectable citizens of their country. Every day, humanity is conquering more and more new territories both for the construction of its own housing and for agricultural and industrial needs. And animals have to move to new lands or die, remaining to live in an ecosystem destroyed by anthropogenic factors. Among other things, it must be remembered that all of the above factors also have a detrimental effect on the state of flora and fauna, both current and future. For example, pollution of water bodies, destruction of forests, etc. entails the disappearance of the diversity of flora and fauna that our ancestors are accustomed to seeing. Even over the last hundred years, species diversity has declined significantly under the direct or indirect influence of anthropogenic factors.

Earth's protective shell

If the question arises: “What environmental problems of the planet are currently known?”, then it is easy to remember the holes in the ozone layer. Modern human economic activity involves the release of special substances that cause a thinning of the Earth's protective shell. Consequently, the formation of new so-called “holes”, as well as an increase in the area of ​​existing ones. Many people know this problem, but not everyone understands how all this can turn out. And this leads to dangerous solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, which negatively affects all living organisms.

Desertification

The global environmental problems presented earlier become the cause of the development of a severe catastrophe. We are talking about desertification of lands. As a result of improper farming, as well as pollution of water resources and deforestation, gradual weathering of the fertile layer, drying out of soils and other negative consequences occur, under the influence of which land covers become unsuitable not only for further use for economic purposes, but also for living of people.

Declining mineral reserves

A similar topic is also present in the list “Environmental problems of the planet”. It is quite simple to list the resources currently in use. These are oil, coal of all kinds, peat, gas and other organic components of the Earth's solid shell. According to scientists, mineral reserves will come to an end in the next hundred years. In this regard, humanity has begun to actively implement technologies that operate on renewable resources, such as wind, solar, and others. However, the use of alternative sources is still quite small compared to more familiar and traditional ones. In connection with this state of affairs, modern governments are conducting various incentive programs that contribute to a deeper introduction of alternative energy sources both in industry and in the everyday life of ordinary citizens.

Overpopulation

Over the last century, there has been a significant increase in the number of people around the globe. In particular, over a period of just 40 years, the planet's population has doubled - from three to six billion people. Scientists predict that by 2040 this number will reach nine billion, which, in turn, will lead to particularly acute food shortages, shortages of water and energy resources. The number of people living in poverty will increase significantly. There will be an increase in deadly diseases.

Municipal solid waste

In the modern world, people produce several kilograms of garbage every day - these are cans from canned food and drinks, and polyethylene, and glass, and other waste. Unfortunately, at present, their recycling is carried out only in countries with a highly developed standard of living. In all other cases, such household waste is disposed of in landfills, the territory of which often occupies huge areas. In countries with a low standard of living, heaps of garbage can lie right on the streets. This not only contributes to soil and water pollution, but also increases the growth of pathogenic bacteria, which in turn leads to widespread acute and sometimes fatal diseases. It should be noted that even the Earth’s atmosphere is filled with tons of debris left over from the launches of research probes, satellites and spacecraft into the vastness of the Universe. And since it is quite difficult to get rid of all these traces of human activity naturally, it is necessary to develop effective methods for processing solid waste. Many modern states are introducing national programs that promote the distribution of easily recyclable materials.

The level of human impact on the environment depends primarily on the technical level of society. It was extremely small at the initial stages of human development. However, with the development of society and the growth of its productive forces, the situation begins to change dramatically. The 20th century is the century of scientific and technological progress. Associated with a qualitatively new relationship between science, engineering and technology, it enormously increases the possible and real scale of society’s impact on nature, and poses a whole series of new, extremely pressing problems for humanity, primarily environmental ones.
What is ecology? This term, first used in 1866 by the German biologist E. Haeckel (1834-1919), refers to the science of the relationship of living organisms with the environment. The scientist believed that the new science would deal only with the relationships of animals and plants with their habitat. This term firmly entered our lives in the 70s of the 20th century. However, today we actually talk about environmental problems as social ecology - a science that studies the problems of interaction between society and the environment.

Today, the environmental situation in the world can be described as close to critical. Among the global environmental problems the following can be noted:

1. - the atmosphere in many places is polluted to the maximum permissible levels, and clean air is becoming scarce;

2. - the ozone layer, which protects against cosmic radiation harmful to all living things, is partially damaged;

3. forest cover has been largely destroyed;

4. - surface pollution and disfigurement of natural landscapes: it is impossible to find a single square meter of surface on Earth where there are no artificially created elements.
Thousands of species of plants and animals have been destroyed and continue to be destroyed;

5. - the world ocean is not only depleted as a result of the destruction of living organisms, but also ceases to be a regulator of natural processes

6. - the available reserves of minerals are rapidly declining;

7. - extinction of animal and plant species

1Atmospheric pollution

Back in the early sixties, it was believed that air pollution is a local problem of large cities and industrial centers, but later it became clear that atmospheric pollutants can spread through the air over long distances, having an adverse effect on areas located at a considerable distance from the place of release of these substances । Thus, air pollution is a global phenomenon and requires international cooperation to control it.

Table 1 Ten most dangerous biosphere pollutants

Among the mostCommon air pollutants include gases such as freons
। Greenhouse gases also include methane, which enters the atmosphere during the extraction of oil, gas, coal, as well as during the decay of organic residues and the growth of cattle numbers। Methane growth is 1.5% per year। This also includes a compound such as nitrous oxide, which enters the atmosphere as a result of the widespread use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture, as well as as a result of the combustion of carbon-containing fuels in thermal power plants. However, we should not forget that despite the huge contribution of the listed gases to the “greenhouse effect”, the main greenhouse gas on Earth is still water vapor। With this phenomenon, the heat received by the Earth does not spread into the atmosphere, but, thanks to greenhouse gases, remains at the Earth's surface, and only 20% of the total thermal radiation of the Earth's surface goes irrevocably into space. Roughly speaking, greenhouse gases form a kind of glass cover over the surface of the planet.

In the future, this may lead to increased melting of ice and an unpredictable rise in the level of the world's oceans, flooding of parts of the continental coasts, and the disappearance of a number of species of plants and animals that are unable to adapt to new natural living conditions. The phenomenon of the “greenhouse effect” is one of the main root causes of such an urgent problem as global warming।

2 Ozone holes

The environmental problem of the ozone layer is no less scientifically complex. As is known, life on Earth appeared only after the protective ozone layer of the planet was formed, covering it from harsh ultraviolet radiation. For many centuries there were no signs of trouble. However, in recent decades, intensive destruction of this layer has been noticed.

4 Desertification

Under the influence of living organisms, water and air on the surface layers of the lithosphere

The most important ecosystem, thin and fragile, is gradually formed - the soil, which is called the “skin of the Earth”. This is the guardian of fertility and life. A handful of good soil contains millions of microorganisms that maintain fertility.
It takes a century for a soil layer 1 centimeter thick to form. It can be lost in one field season. According to geologists, before people began to engage in agricultural activities, graze livestock and plow land, rivers annually carried about 9 billion tons of soil into the World Ocean. Nowadays this amount is estimated at approximately 25 billion tons 2 .

Soil erosion, a purely local phenomenon, has now become universal. In the United States, for example, about 44% of cultivated land is susceptible to erosion. In Russia, unique rich chernozems with a humus content (organic matter that determines soil fertility) of 14–16%, which were called the citadel of Russian agriculture, disappeared. In Russia, the area of ​​the most fertile lands with a humus content of 10–13% has decreased by almost 5 times 2 .

A particularly difficult situation arises when not only the soil layer is demolished, but also the parent rock on which it develops. Then the threshold of irreversible destruction comes, and an anthropogenic (that is, man-made) desert arises.

One of the most formidable, global and fleeting processes of our time is the expansion of desertification, the decline and, in the most extreme cases, the complete destruction of the biological potential of the Earth, which leads to conditions similar to those of a natural desert.

Natural deserts and semi-deserts occupy more than 1/3 of the earth's surface. These lands are home to about 15% of the world's population. Deserts are natural formations that play a certain role in the overall ecological balance of the planet’s landscapes.

As a result of human activity, by the last quarter of the twentieth century, over 9 million square kilometers of deserts had appeared, and in total they had already covered 43% of the total land area 2.

In the 1990s, desertification began to threaten 3.6 million hectares of drylands.

This represents 70% of potentially productive drylands, or ¼ of the total land surface area, and does not include the area of ​​natural deserts. About 1/6 of the world's population suffers from this process 2.

According to UN experts, current losses of productive land will lead to the fact that by the end of the century the world may lose almost 1/3 of its arable land 2 . Such a loss, at a time of unprecedented population growth and increasing food demand, could be truly disastrous.

5 Hydrosphere pollution

One of the most valuable resources of the Earth is the hydrosphere - oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, glaciers of the Arctic and Antarctic. There are 1385 million kilometers of water reserves on Earth and very little, only 25% of fresh water suitable for human life. And despite

These are people who are very crazy about this wealth and destroy it without a trace, indiscriminately, polluting the water with various wastes. Humanity uses mainly fresh water for its needs. Their volume is slightly more than 2% of the hydrosphere, and the distribution of water resources around the globe is extremely uneven. Europe and Asia, where 70% of the world's population lives, contain only 39% of river waters. The total consumption of river waters is increasing from year to year in all regions of the world. It is known, for example, that since the beginning of the 21st century, fresh water consumption has increased 6 times, and in the next few decades it will increase by at least another 1.5 times.

The lack of water is aggravated by the deterioration of its quality. Water used in industry, agriculture and everyday life returns to water bodies in the form of poorly treated or completely untreated wastewater. Thus, pollution of the hydrosphere occurs primarily as a result of the discharge of industrial,

agricultural and domestic wastewater.
According to scientists' calculations, soon diluting this same wastewater may require 25 thousand cubic kilometers of fresh water, or almost all the actually available resources of such runoff. It is not difficult to guess that this, and not the increase in direct water withdrawal, is the main reason for the worsening fresh water problem. It is worth noting that wastewater containing residues of mineral raw materials and human waste products enrich water bodies with nutrients, which in turn leads to the development of algae, and as a consequence to waterlogging of the reservoir. Currently, many rivers are heavily polluted - the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Ohio, Volga, Dnieper, Dniester and others. Urban runoff and large landfills often cause water pollution with heavy metals and hydrocarbons. As heavy metals accumulate in marine food chains, their concentrations can reach lethal levels, as occurred after a large industrial release of mercury into Japanese coastal waters near the city of Minimata. The increased concentration of this metal in the tissues of fish led to the death of many people and animals who ate the contaminated product. Increased doses of heavy metals, pesticides and petroleum products can significantly weaken the protective properties of organisms. The concentration of carcinogens in the North Sea is currently reaching enormous levels. Huge reserves of these substances are concentrated in the tissues of dolphins,

being the final link in the food chain. Countries located on the North Sea coast have recently been implementing a set of measures aimed at reducing, and in the future completely stopping, the dumping and burning of toxic waste into the sea. In addition, humans transform the waters of the hydrosphere through the construction of hydraulic structures, in particular reservoirs. Large reservoirs and canals have a serious negative impact on the environment: they change the groundwater regime in the coastal strip, affect soils and plant communities, and, after all, their water areas occupy large areas of fertile land.

Nowadays, pollution of the world's oceans is growing at an alarming rate. Moreover, not only wastewater pollution plays a significant role here, but also the release of large quantities of petroleum products into the waters of the seas and oceans. In general, the most polluted inland seas are: Mediterranean, Northern, Baltic, Japanese, Java, and Biscay,

Persian and Mexican Gulfs. Pollution of seas and oceans occurs through two channels. Firstly, sea and river vessels pollute water with waste generated as a result of operational activities and products of internal combustion in engines. Secondly, pollution occurs as a result of accidents when toxic substances, most often oil and petroleum products, enter the sea. Diesel engines of ships emit harmful substances into the atmosphere, which subsequently settle on the surface of the water. On tankers, before each regular loading, containers are washed to remove the remains of previously transported cargo, while the washing water, and with it the remaining cargo, is most often dumped overboard. In addition, after delivering the cargo, the tankers are sent to the new loading point empty; in this case, for proper navigation, the tankers are filled with ballast water, which becomes contaminated with oil residues during the voyage. Before loading, this water is also poured overboard. As for legislative measures to control oil pollution during the operation of oil terminals and the discharge of ballast water from oil tankers, they were adopted much earlier, after the danger of large spills became obvious

Such methods (or possible ways to solve the problem) include the emergence and activities of various types "green" movements and organizations. Besides the notorious « Green PeaWithe'A",distinguished not only by the scope of its activities, but also, at times, by the noticeable extremism of its actions, as well as similar organizations that directly carry out environmental protection

e shares, there is another type of environmental organizations - structures that stimulate and sponsor environmental activities - such as the Wildlife Fund, for example. All environmental organizations exist in one of the forms: public, private state or mixed type organizations.

In addition to various types of associations that defend civilization’s rights to the nature it is gradually destroying, there are a number of state or public environmental initiatives in the sphere of solving environmental problems. For example, environmental legislation in Russia and other countries of the world, various international agreements or the “Red Books” system.

The International "Red Book" - a list of rare and endangered species of animals and plants - currently includes 5 volumes of materials. In addition, there are national and even regional “Red Books”.

Among the most important ways to solve environmental problems, most researchers also highlight the introduction of environmentally friendly, low- and non-waste technologies, the construction of treatment facilities, the rational location of production and the use of natural resources.

Although, undoubtedly - and this is proven by the entire course of human history - the most important direction for solving the environmental problems facing civilization is the increase in human ecological culture, serious environmental education and upbringing, everything that eradicates the main environmental conflict - the conflict between the savage consumer and the rational an inhabitant of a fragile world that exists in the human mind.

Global environmental problem No. 1: Air pollution

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air, which contains, in addition to vital oxygen, a whole list of harmful suspended particles and gases. Atmospheric pollutants are conventionally divided into 2 types: natural and anthropogenic. The latter prevail.

Things are not going well for the chemical industry. Factories emit harmful substances such as dust, fuel oil ash, various chemical compounds, nitrogen oxides and much more. Air measurements have shown the catastrophic situation of the atmospheric layer; polluted air becomes the cause of many chronic diseases.

Atmospheric pollution is an environmental problem that is familiar firsthand to residents of absolutely all corners of the earth. It is felt especially acutely by representatives of cities where enterprises of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, energy, chemical, petrochemical, construction and pulp and paper industries operate. In some cities, the atmosphere is also heavily poisoned by vehicles and boiler houses. These are all examples of anthropogenic air pollution.

As for the natural sources of chemical elements that pollute the atmosphere, these include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion (scattering of soil and rock particles), the spread of pollen, evaporation of organic compounds and natural radiation.

Consequences of air pollution

Atmospheric air pollution negatively affects human health, contributing to the development of heart and lung diseases (in particular, bronchitis). In addition, air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide destroy natural ecosystems, destroying plants and causing the death of living creatures (particularly river fish).

The global environmental problem of air pollution, according to scientists and government officials, can be solved in the following ways:

limiting population growth;

reducing energy use;

increasing energy efficiency;

waste reduction;

transition to environmentally friendly renewable energy sources;

air purification in particularly polluted areas.

Global Environmental Problem #2: Ozone Depletion

The ozone layer is a thin strip of the stratosphere that protects all life on Earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun.

Causes of environmental problem

Back in the 1970s. Environmentalists have discovered that the ozone layer is being destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons. These chemicals are found in refrigerator and air conditioner coolants, as well as solvents, aerosols/sprays, and fire extinguishers. To a lesser extent, other anthropogenic impacts also contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer: the launch of space rockets, the flights of jet aircraft in high layers of the atmosphere, nuclear weapons testing, and the reduction of forest lands on the planet. There is also a theory that global warming is contributing to the thinning of the ozone layer.

Consequences of ozone layer depletion

As a result of the destruction of the ozone layer, ultraviolet radiation passes unhindered through the atmosphere and reaches the earth's surface. Exposure to direct UV rays has detrimental effects on people's health, weakening the immune system and causing diseases such as skin cancer and cataracts.

World environmental problem No. 3: Global warming

Like the glass walls of a greenhouse, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor allow the sun to heat our planet while preventing infrared radiation reflected from the earth's surface from escaping into space. All these gases are responsible for maintaining temperatures acceptable for life on earth. However, the increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and water vapor in the atmosphere is another global environmental problem called global warming (or the greenhouse effect).

Causes of global warming

During the 20th century, the average temperature on earth increased by 0.5 - 1? C. The main cause of global warming is considered to be an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to an increase in the volume of fossil fuels burned by people (coal, oil and their derivatives). However, according to the statement Alexey Kokorin, head of climate programs World Wildlife Fund(WWF) Russia, “the largest amount of greenhouse gases is generated as a result of the operation of power plants and methane emissions during the extraction and delivery of energy resources, while road transport or flaring of associated petroleum gas causes relatively little harm to the environment”.

Other causes of global warming include overpopulation, deforestation, ozone depletion and littering. However, not all ecologists blame the rise in average annual temperatures entirely on anthropogenic activities. Some believe that global warming is also facilitated by a natural increase in the abundance of oceanic plankton, leading to an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Consequences of the greenhouse effect

If the temperature during the 21st century increases by another 1? C - 3.5? C, as scientists predict, the consequences will be very sad:

the level of the world's oceans will rise (due to the melting of polar ice), the number of droughts will increase and the process of desertification will intensify,

many species of plants and animals adapted to exist in a narrow range of temperatures and humidity will disappear,

Hurricanes will become more frequent.

Solving an environmental problem

According to environmentalists, the following measures will help slow down the process of global warming:

rising prices for fossil fuels,

replacing fossil fuels with environmentally friendly ones (solar energy, wind energy and sea currents),

development of energy-saving and waste-free technologies,

taxation of environmental emissions,

minimizing methane losses during its production, transportation through pipelines, distribution in cities and villages and use at heat supply stations and power plants,

implementation of carbon dioxide absorption and sequestration technologies,

tree planting,

reduction in family size,

environmental education,

application of phytomelioration in agriculture.

Global environmental problem No. 4: Acid rain

Acid rain, containing products of fuel combustion, also poses a danger to the environment, human health and even to the integrity of architectural monuments.

Consequences of acid rain

Solutions of sulfuric and nitric acids, aluminum and cobalt compounds contained in polluted sediments and fog pollute the soil and water bodies, have a detrimental effect on vegetation, causing dry tops of deciduous trees and inhibiting conifers. Because of acid rain, agricultural yields fall, people drink water enriched with toxic metals (mercury, cadmium, lead), marble architectural monuments turn into plaster and are eroded.

Solving an environmental problem

In order to save nature and architecture from acid rain, it is necessary to minimize emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.

Global Environmental Problem #5: Soil Pollution

Every year people pollute the environment with 85 billion tons of waste. Among them are solid and liquid waste from industrial enterprises and transport, agricultural waste (including pesticides), household waste and atmospheric fallout of harmful substances.

The main role in soil pollution is played by such components of technogenic waste as heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, thallium, bismuth, tin, vanadium, antimony), pesticides and petroleum products. From the soil they penetrate into plants and water, even spring water. Toxic metals enter the human body along a chain and are not always quickly and completely removed from it. Some of them tend to accumulate over many years, provoking the development of serious diseases.

Global Environmental Problem #6: Water Pollution

Pollution of the world's oceans, groundwater and surface waters is a global environmental problem, the responsibility for which lies entirely with humans.

Causes of environmental problem

The main pollutants of the hydrosphere today are oil and petroleum products. These substances penetrate into the waters of the world's oceans as a result of tanker wrecks and regular wastewater discharges from industrial enterprises.

In addition to anthropogenic petroleum products, industrial and domestic facilities pollute the hydrosphere with heavy metals and complex organic compounds. Agriculture and the food industry are recognized as the leaders in poisoning the waters of the world's oceans with minerals and nutrients.

The hydrosphere is not spared by such a global environmental problem as radioactive pollution. The prerequisite for its formation was the burial of radioactive waste in the waters of the world's oceans. Many powers with a developed nuclear industry and nuclear fleet deliberately stored harmful radioactive substances in the seas and oceans from the 49th to the 70th years of the 20th century. In places where radioactive containers are buried, cesium levels often go off scale even today. But “underwater test sites” are not the only radioactive source of hydrosphere pollution. The waters of the seas and oceans are enriched with radiation as a result of underwater and surface nuclear explosions.

Consequences of radioactive water contamination

Oil pollution of the hydrosphere leads to the destruction of the natural habitat of hundreds of representatives of oceanic flora and fauna, the death of plankton, seabirds and mammals. For human health, poisoning the waters of the world's oceans also poses a serious danger: fish and other seafood “contaminated” with radiation can easily end up on the table.

Problems of modern ecology

The environmental problems that have confronted humanity in recent decades are increasingly global in nature. If just a few decades ago, countries and regions within them were struggling with local, although sometimes large-scale, environmental disasters (soil erosion in Kazakhstan or the state of Texas, pollution of the waters of Lake Baikal, evaporation of the Aral Sea, the Chernobyl disaster, etc.), then today There are almost no sensible people left who are not aware that environmental problems have become global in nature and that their solution requires international efforts.

The global environmental crisis of change is developing in the following directions:

• the emergence of global and regional natural-technogenic ecosystems;
• the emergence of various-scale environmental disasters;
• depletion of natural resources;
• suppression of the natural mechanisms of self-regulation of the biosphere.

Figure 1. Elimination of the consequences of the oil spill on Sakhalin. Author24 - online exchange of student works

To date, a range of most serious problems related to environmental protection have emerged that require priority solutions:

• destruction of natural habitats;
• ozone layer destruction;
• Greenhouse effect;
• soil erosion;
• the onset of deserts;
• acid rain;
• destruction of tropical forests;
• inefficient use of natural resources.

Let's look at ways to overcome them.

Ways to solve major environmental problems

Destruction of natural habitat can be prevented through the creation of nature reserves and natural parks. Strict international control of habitat changes (banning hunting of wild animals, regulating deforestation, etc.) should also help maintain a comfortable environment for biological species living on Earth.

Ozone layer depletion can only be prevented by completely and promptly banning the production of the chlorofluorocarbons involved in this process.

Greenhouse effect; its impact can be reduced by:

• use of renewable energy sources;
• a ban on cutting down tropical forests, which through photosynthesis act as a filter that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;
• reducing energy consumption.

Figure 2. Growth in electricity generation from alternative sources. Author24 - online exchange of student works

Soil erosion occurs when the fertile surface layer of the earth is destroyed by rain and winds. Ways to solve this problem include planting shrubs and trees in problem areas, the roots of which bind the soil. Environmentally sound farming will also help: the use of organic fertilizers promotes better water retention and prevents weathering. One way to solve this problem is the “small fields” method: the smaller the size of the farmland, the less erosion the land on it is subject to.

Destruction of tropical forests, as already mentioned, leads to unfavorable changes in the composition and dynamics of the atmosphere. The solution may lie in reforming land ownership in tropical wetland ecosystems. It is also necessary to control livestock breeding, logging, and reduce the consumption of meat and wood by rich countries. It is necessary to use forest resources more efficiently, to look for alternatives to them, for example, to produce synthetic rubber instead of extracting natural rubber.

Acid rain and other contaminants can be overcome:

• installation of filters at power plants and transport;
• use of renewable energy sources;
• use of modern fertilizers;
• reduction of industrial emissions and waste.

Desert Advance occurs where drylands continue to be heavily exploited. To prevent this phenomenon you need:

• reduction in production of export crops in underdeveloped countries;
• application of modern irrigation methods;
• forest planting.

Inefficient use of natural resources can be overcome by:

• processing of secondary raw materials;
• increasing the useful life of things, repairing them instead of recycling;
• transition to a more rational and economical lifestyle.

Note 1

Much in overcoming the environmental crisis also depends on ordinary inhabitants of the Earth. Small changes in everyone's lifestyle (elimination of excess consumption) can lead to positive environmental dynamics.

Humanity's collective efforts to overcome the environmental crisis

International efforts are needed to preserve the environment. Closer cooperation between rich and poor countries and a rejection of national egoism are needed.

In recent decades, “green” political organizations have joined the cause of protecting the planet from environmental problems, with their primary goal being the protection of human rights to a clean environment.

Figure 3. Greenpeace activists prevent oil pollution in the ocean. Author24 - online exchange of student works

Public and charitable organizations play a major role in improving the environmental situation. They introduce environmentally friendly mechanisms, alternative energy sources, and promote reasonable methods of agriculture and industrial production. For example, in Russia since 1995 the non-governmental environmental fund named after. IN AND. Vernadsky. It was formed on the initiative of OJSC Gazprom and implements projects in the field of environmental protection, environmental education, creates an environmental culture, and advocates coordinating the efforts of the state, business and society in solving environmental problems.

More than four decades have passed since the first Earth Day, but there are still a huge number of environmental problems in the world that require solutions. Did you know that each of us can make our own contribution? We'll tell you which one.

Changing of the climate

97% of climate scientists believe that climate change is ongoing - and greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of this process.

Until now, political will has not been strong enough to initiate a massive transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources.

Perhaps more extreme weather events - drought, wildfires, floods - will be more convincing to policymakers. However, each of us can help reduce carbon emissions.

For example, make your home more energy efficient, choose a bicycle more often instead of a car, generally walk more and use public transport.

Pollution

Air pollution and climate change are closely related because they have the same causes. Greenhouse gases cause global temperatures to rise and also degrade air quality, which is clearly visible in large cities.

And this is a direct threat to people. The most striking examples are smog in Beijing and Shanghai. Recently, by the way, American scientists discovered a relationship between air pollution in China and the intensification of storms over the Pacific Ocean.

Soil pollution is another serious problem. For example, in China, almost 20% of arable land is contaminated with toxic heavy metals. Poor soil ecology threatens food security and poses a risk to human health.

The main factor in soil pollution is the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. And here, too, it’s worth starting with yourself - if possible, grow vegetables and herbs in your summer cottage or buy farm or organic products.

Deforestation

Trees absorb CO2. They allow us to breathe, and therefore to live. But forests are disappearing at a catastrophic rate. It is estimated that 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation of the Earth.

Cutting down trees threatens both animals and people. The loss of tropical forests is of particular concern to ecologists because about 80% of the world's tree species grow in these areas.

About 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down over the past 50 years to make way for cattle ranching. This is a double whammy for the climate, since livestock produces methane, one of the main causes of climate change.

What can you do in such a situation? Support the Rainforest Alliance or other similar projects. They are pushing to stop using paper. You can refuse paper towels, for example. Instead, use washable fabric towels.

Plus, always check the labels to make sure you're only using FSC-certified wood products. You can also boycott products created by palm oil companies that contribute to deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Water shortage

With the world's population increasing every day and climate change causing more droughts, water shortages are becoming an increasingly important problem. Only 3% of the world's water supplies are fresh, and 1.1 billion people today lack access to safe drinking water.

The increasing incidence of drought in Russia, the USA and other developed countries suggests that water shortage is not only a problem in third world countries. So use water rationally: turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, take a shower no longer than 4 minutes, install oxygen mixers at home, etc.

Biodiversity loss

Humans today are actively invading the habitats of wild animals, which is causing a rapid loss of biodiversity on the planet. This threatens food security, public health and global stability as a whole.

Climate change is also one of the main reasons for the loss of biodiversity - some species of animals and plants are generally unable to adapt to changing temperatures.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), biodiversity has declined by 27% over the past 35 years. Every time you shop in a store, pay attention to eco-labels - manufacturing products with such marks does not harm the environment. In addition, do not forget about the garbage - recycle recyclable materials.

Soil erosion

Industrial agricultural methods lead to soil erosion and land degradation. The result is less productive arable land, water pollution, increased flooding and desertification of soils.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, half of the Earth's topsoil has been lost in the last 150 years. Each of us can support the sustainable development of agriculture - to do this, buy organic products, avoid products with GMOs and chemical additives.