By now I am sure all of us must know that our environment is in danger.
Each day, we hear or read a lot about global warnings, like the IPCC climate warning "Now or Never" or references from veteran marine and freshwater ecologist Chelsea Marina Rochman stating marine plastic's impact on animals.
Global warming and climate change are topics known by all people of all ages.
But, do you know which are the most severe reasons because of which the environmental issues are occurring today?
Let’s find out.
TOP 5 MOST IMPACTFUL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT:
1. CLIMATE CHANGE
This is caused due to excessive burning of fossil fuels and is one of the worst environmental issues so far.
Do you know?
- Temperature data from NOAA indicate that 2021 was the sixth warmest year on record.
- Averaging the surface temperatures across land and ocean in 2021, they were:
- 51 °F (0.84°Celsius) warmer compared to the 20th century average of 57.0 °F (13.9 °C)
- 87 °F (1.04 °C) warmer compared to the pre-industrial period (1880-1900)
2. OVERPOPULATION
All other major environmental issues flow from the very fact that we are overpopulating the planet. The world’s population has tripled in the last 60 years putting stress on each and every aspect of the environment. More land is developed every day to accommodate the urban spread, in turn leading to deforestation.
Do You Know?
- Overpopulation has resulted in several profound changes in Earth's oceans and ice, as a result, several changes in the atmosphere, oceans, and polar regions along with increasing extreme weather events are happening.
- With every additional person, we are increasing carbon emissions.
3. LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
Humans have destroyed and continue to destroy the habitats of species on a daily basis. When we lead to one species going extinct, it has a domino effect on the food chain which upsets the ecosystems interdependent upon one another.
Do You Know What’s The Impact of Loss of Biodiversity?
- On Earth, 4 billion species have evolved, but now 99% of them are extinct
- 2021 was the year when CO2 emissions peaked (over 2 billion tonnes) as a result, the capability of forests and oceans to absorb CO2 is declining.
- Simple sugar levels can increase in leaves as CO2 levels rise, and nitrogen levels can decrease, causing higher damage to insects.
4. WATER SUPPLY
Currently, one-third of humans have scarce access to clean, fresh water. The number is expected to increase by up to two-thirds by 2050. That is, two-thirds of the world’s population will not have access to clean and hygienic water!
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION is caused both due to acid rain and carbon dioxide emissions. Acidic ocean water leads to aquatic animals' death, disrupting the food chain.
Do You Know?
- Increase in ocean acidification is resulting in reducing the size of fish.
- Plankton population has plummeted by 90% since the baseline and as a result, it is blocking the sunlight for sun-dependent corals, which is changing the ocean’s chemistry.
5. LANDFILLS
An exponential increase in the human population leads to more and more wastage being produced.
Nondecomposable and recyclable waste are either burned and some are thrown into large piles on vast areas of land leading to landfills being formed.
Do You Know?
- As per a science magazine, each year over 8 million metric tons of plastic go directly into the ocean.
- "Corals that come into contact with plastic have an increased risk of disease by 4 to 89 percent," scientists report in Science in their study.
WHAT’S THE WAY OUT?
To overcome the effect on our planet Earth, we can work together as a community and incorporate the below 5 practices into our lives:
- Reduce & Reuse
- Forget the world of paper - go digital
- Conserve everything - water, electricity, and everything in between
- Lessen landfill waste
- Become environmentally-conscious
Seeking inspiration from the above best practices, we nurtured the idea of venturing Bags by the Ocean with one mission - save planet Earth, one bag at a time.