Our planet is facing unparalleled environmental challenges, with the scope and complexity of these issues intensifying each day. Many of these crises are interlinked, exacerbating one another and creating tangled webs of imbalance and destruction. It’s increasingly urgent that we begin to reverse the damage we have created and to set the planet on a path of healing.
Below, we’ve outlined the ten of the top environmental issues. To gain a deeper understanding of each topic, click on the “Explore This Issue” buttons for in-depth articles on the subjects.
1
Climate Change
Climate Change is a global phenomenon primarily caused by the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Climate change leads to rising temperatures, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems.
Fast Fact: Climate change could displace over 140 million people by 2050, leading to significant environmental refugee crises. (World Bank, 2018)
2
Biodiversity Loss
The Earth is experiencing an unprecedented rate of species extinction due to habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change. The loss of biodiversity has far-reaching consequences for ecosystem stability, food security, and human well-being.
Fast Fact: Species extinction rates are estimated to be 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than natural background rates. (WWF, 2020)
3
Deforestation
Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, logging, and urbanization results in the destruction of vital forest ecosystems. Forests act as carbon sinks, regulate the water cycle, provide habitats for countless species, and support the livelihoods of local communities. Deforestation contributes to climate change, loss of biodiversity, and soil degradation.
Fast Fact: Deforestation in tropical areas can lead to a loss of about 100 species a day due to habitat destruction. (Rainforest Action Network, 2021)
4
Food and Water Insecurity
Increasing population, industrialization, and unsustainable agricultural practices strain both freshwater and food resources. Many regions face water scarcity, exacerbated by pollution from industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and inadequate sanitation.
Fast Fact: By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages, and ecosystems around the world will suffer even more. (WWF, 2021)
5
Air Pollution
The release of pollutants from industrial activities, transportation, and the burning of fossil fuels results in air pollution. Particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and volatile organic compounds negatively impact human health, ecosystems, and contribute to climate change.
Fast Fact: Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk, causing about 7 million premature deaths annually. (WHO, 2021)
6
Plastic Pollution
The excessive production and improper disposal of plastic waste have led to the pollution of oceans, rivers, and land. Plastics take hundreds of years to degrade, harming marine life, entering the food chain, and posing a threat to ecosystems and human health.
Fast Fact: Consumers worldwide use approximately 1 trillion plastic bags per year, which is about 2 million every minute. (Earth Policy Institute, 2014)
7
Land Degradation
Unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and urbanization lead to land degradation, including soil erosion, desertification, and loss of arable land. Land degradation reduces food production, exacerbates climate change, and threatens livelihoods.
Fast Fact: About 75% of the Earth’s land area is already degraded, and this figure could rise to 90% by 2050. (IPBES, 2018)
8
Resource Depletion
The increasing demand for finite resources such as minerals, metals, and fossil fuels depletes natural resources. Extraction and consumption contribute to environmental degradation, habitat destruction, and social conflicts.
Fast Facts: Global oil reserves are expected to be depleted in 50 years at the current rate of extraction. (BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 2020)
9
Ocean Acidification
The absorption of excess carbon dioxide by oceans leads to acidification, causing adverse effects on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, shellfish, and other organisms that rely on calcium carbonate shells or structures.
Fast Fact: The U.S. shellfish industry, worth $1 billion annually, faces serious threats from ocean acidification. (National Fisherman, 2019)
10
Waste Management
Inadequate waste management systems result in the accumulation of solid waste, including hazardous materials, which pollute the environment, contaminate water sources, and pose risks to human health.
Fast Fact: E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, with approximately 50 million tonnes generated annually. (Global E-waste Monitor, 2020)
The planet desperately needs our help – first to stop damaging it, and second, to start healing it. Even our seemingly innocuous daily activities – like using and disposing of plastic – when taken together in the billions, are a huge part of the problem. So what should we do? How do we start making a difference in our own lives, and in the world at large?
In addition to clicking on the Explore This Issue buttons above, we invite you to check out the Go Green Topics on our homepage to explore how you can start greening your personal life. If changing the world at large is more your cup of tea, then head to the Get Involved page with steps for working on issues on a larger scale. And we invite everyone to join the Republic of Green Online Community to connect with others who are on a similar mission. We are definitely in this together!