Lecture: Environmental Challenges
🌍 Environmental Challenges
🟩 1. What Are Environmental Challenges?
Environmental challenges refer to critical issues caused by human activity and natural processes that threaten ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being.
- 🌡️ Climate change
- 💨 Pollution (air, water, soil)
- 🌳 Deforestation
- 🐾 Biodiversity loss
- 🌊 Ocean acidification
- 💧 Resource depletion
🌡️ 2. Climate Change
Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns, largely due to the burning of fossil fuels.
Causes:
- CO₂ emissions from energy, transport, industry
- Methane from agriculture
- Deforestation
Impacts:
- Extreme weather (storms, floods, droughts)
- Sea level rise
- Food and water insecurity
- Health risks
💨 3. Pollution
Pollution harms both the planet and human health. Common types include:
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution | Gases, particles in the air | Smog, emissions |
| Water Pollution | Contaminated rivers, oceans | Oil spills, waste |
| Soil Pollution | Degraded land quality | Chemical runoff |
| Noise/Light | Disruption of ecosystems | Cities, factories |
🌳 4. Deforestation
Forests absorb CO₂, produce oxygen, and support biodiversity. Yet each year, about 10 million hectares are lost.
Main causes:
- Agricultural expansion (e.g., palm oil, soy)
- Logging
- Urban development
🐾 5. Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity means the variety of all living species. It supports food, medicine, and climate stability.
Threats:
- Habitat destruction
- Pollution
- Overfishing
- Climate change
Species are going extinct 1,000 times faster than natural rates.
🌊 6. Ocean and Water Challenges
- Ocean acidification from CO₂
- Rising sea levels from melting ice
- Overfishing and coral bleaching
- 2 billion+ people lack safe drinking water
⚠️ 7. Resource Depletion
We are consuming natural resources faster than Earth can regenerate them.
- Fossil fuels
- Forests
- Freshwater
- Minerals
Earth Overshoot Day marks when we exceed Earth’s yearly capacity — and it’s coming earlier every year.
✅ Key Takeaways
- Environmental challenges are interconnected and urgent.
- Major issues include climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
- Solutions require cooperation, innovation, and responsible behavior.
💡 Up next: explore economic and governance aspects of sustainability.