Top 5 Environmental Issues That the World Should Focus on in 2021

Our environment is crucial for the very sustenance of life on Earth. When we damage our environment with human-made waste, it leads to severe environmental issues for our planet. However, many of us aren’t giving heed to the problems caused by the environment, which will be a massive problem for generations to come.

Due to the high levels of pollution, there’s an alarming increase in environmental issues laying the way for the depletion of natural resources. Let’s take a close look at the environmental issues and understand why it’s high time to address them.

Why Environmental Issues Should be Addressed

In a recent report by the United Nations’ World Meteorological Order (WMO), it’s found that the world is already 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than it was during its pre-industrial years. Every single increase in the degree of heat of our Earth is a direct indicator of the level of global warming.

Based on our current emission levels, the report mentions that the planet will warm by an estimated 4 to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, which will be a devastating situation for the next generation to come.

If global warming increases by 2-degree Celsius, then:

1. There’s a 170% risk of more frequent and heavier rainfall, snowfall, and flooding,
2. 2.7 billion people around the world will be affected by heat waves every 5 years,
3. Sea levels will rise by 1.8 feet by 2100, and
4. 18% of insects, 16% of plants, and 8% of vertebrates will be at risk.

With so much due to the temperature rise, it’s high time to take concrete measures to address the situation.

5 Major Environmental Issues

If global warming is left unchecked, then here are the environmental issues that we’ll be facing.

1. Air Pollution

We’re already noticing several lung diseases due to the polluted air that we breathe. From the vehicles we drive to the manufacturing of sugar we consume every day, every one of us contributes to air pollution. As technology develops and innovative ideas come through, there is an even more threat to air pollution in both developed and developing countries.

Solution: We can reduce air pollution starting from our homes by minimizing the usage of vehicles and carpooling whenever possible.

2. Deforestation

While we aren’t directly witnessing the consequences of deforestation, it is one of the underlying reasons for many problems we face today, like lack of water, imbalance in biodiversity, extinction of species, and even air pollution. Due to urbanization, we’re cutting down more trees and occupying forest areas to cope with the population rise. As a result, we’re indirectly damaging the environment and pushing it towards a point beyond which there’s no coming back.

Solution: We can rebalance deforestation by planting more trees in our surroundings and staying away from wooden products.

3. Water Pollution

The water we drink is so polluted, especially in developing countries, that it has become one of the top causes of many life-threatening diseases. As we dump any chemicals into the water sources like seas, rivers, lakes, and oceans, we’re contaminating the prime source of consumption of all animals, birds, and humans. Furthermore, the dumping of plastics in the ocean has become the main reason for the death of many aquatic lives.

Solution: We can start from our home by saying ‘no’ to chemical pesticides for our home gardening and switch to natural substances. We should also be cautious about dumping plastic substances in our toilets and sewage to threaten aquatic life.

4. Ozone Layer Depletion

The depletion of the ozone layer is the main cause of the rise in skin cancer worldwide. This depletion is also the direct contributor to the increase in temperature of the Earth. So what causes ozone depletion? Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons are commonly found in aerosol spray cans and refrigerants. These UV rays are also responsible for causing immune-related disorders and affect agricultural productivity.

Solution: We can limit the use of items in our household that generate CFCs and halons.

5. Loss of Biodiversity

Due to all of the above reasons, we’re noticing a sharp rise in the extinction of several species of plants, animals, birds, insects, and other organisms. With each of these species playing a role in balancing the sustenance on Earth, this loss of biodiversity creates a huge imbalance that further takes on a chain reaction. This disruption in the food chain and plant life threatens our ecosystem and can affect the main source of food and medicines.

Solution: While normal human beings cannot do anything directly to impact biodiversity, we can change our lives to make sure that we’re minimizing all of the previous four environmental concerns to impact the ecosystem.

Conclusion

The fate of our planet and our future generations is in the hands of the present generation. If we’re acting fast and taking a step to preserve our environment, we will face serious consequences that affect our lives in many ways.

About Plastic Collectors: Plastic Collectors are a group of like-minded individuals to do something to restore the imbalance in our environment. We start with the biggest threatening issue to the environment – plastic waste. You can, too, make a difference by joining us now!