GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES
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Global Environmental Sustainability Challenges
Introduction
Across the globe, human beings have been focusing on enhancing sustainability and the reduction of poverty. Such has led to countries embracing activities such as the construction of industries, increased mineral exploration, and many others to boost their economies and citizens’ living standards. The aspect has brought about another challenge, the need to enhance a sustainable environment on a global scale. The need arises from the various economic activities that have led to increased destruction of the natural environment. This essay analyzes the challenges of enhancing global environmental sustainability.
Human Population Growth
The growth in the human population leads to an increase in demand for natural resources. For instance, the increased population often requires more land for settlement and other economic activities to ensure their survival. The aspect has often led to the clearing of forests for more land, increased mining activities, and improved factory systems, among other activities. Such activities, however, are not sustainable and often lead to environmental destruction.
- Newborns
The increasing number of newborn children has led to an increase in the demand for clothes and spacious settlement areas. Therefore, countries have embarked on manufacturing more fabric and clearing more forests to increase the settlement areas. The actions have led to more difficulties in the preservation of the environment.
- Children and School Age
In various learning institutions across the developing countries, children are rarely taught on the need to enhance environmental preservation and sustainability. The aspect arises from the fact that such lessons have not been incorporated into the children’s education syllabuses. The children have thus been using resources extravagantly, hence hindering effective environmental sustainability.
- Young Adults
Young adults worldwide often take part in activities that will enhance their survival, as they strive to earn a living. In the developing countries, the people have always resorted to activities such as the burning of charcoal and other productive activities. The activities have reduced the capacity of the world to enhance environmental sustainability.
- Reproductive Adults and Older Persons
Reproductive adults have often undertaken economic activities that have been geared towards enhancing their living. Such activities have often led to the dirtying and destruction of the natural ecosystem, hence affected the efforts applied to ensure environmental sustainability. On the other hand, the older societal members have had a little contribution to the destruction of the environment.
- Migration and Urban Residents
Migratory activities have significantly led to the destruction of the natural ecosystem. For instance, migration has led to the clearing of bushes and other natural ecosystems to accommodate settlements. Furthermore, urban settlements have aggravated the destruction of the environment through the poor disposal of wastes and industrial activities. The activities have reduced the efforts to enhance environmental protection.
Water
- Flooding and Fracking
Floods across various geographical locations have led to the destruction of the natural ecosystem in several ways. For instance, floods have led to the transportation of waste materials to the huge large bodies. Fracking is the process through which liquids are pressured through rocks. The activity has led to the weathering of rocks and the weakening of the environmental solids. Both flooding and fracking have increased environmental destruction.
- Drought, Demand, and Hydropower
Drought has reduced human beings’ ability to conserve the environment through irrigation and the planting of green plants. The droughts have further led to the increased demand for water, hence reducing the sustainability efforts. On the other hand, hydropower stations have been producing energy that has further contributed to the destruction of the environment
- Clean Water and Conservation
The availability of clean water has increased the efforts applied to ensure the sustainability of the environment. Clean water has been used to clean the environment and irrigation activities, among other activities. This has been coupled with the conservation measures that have been put in place to ensure that people live in a sustainable environment.
Global Warming
- Ecosystems and Species
Several species found in various ecosystems have always led to increased environmental degradation. The various species survive through the exploration of the environment to attain their food. Such aspects have reduced the environmental sustainability measures by the world community.
- Farming
Farming activities have forced people to invade into the natural forests and other land tracts to increase their productivity. Farming has thus played a significant role in the increase in the destruction of the environment.
- Coastal Erosion and Coral Bleaching
Coastal erosion refers to the loss of parts of the coastline into the seas. The aspect brings about the corruption of the aquatic environment due to the transportation of dirt and other substances. On the other hand, coral bleaching occurs when the coral polyps get rid of the algae that live inside their tissues. The bleaching is usually caused by a change in the aquatic temperature, light, and nutrients. If it occurs, it often leads to the ecosystem’s disruption, hence affecting the environmental sustainability efforts.
Conclusion
The global efforts employed by the world community to enhance the environment’s sustainability have always encountered a significant amount of challenges. The challenges range from the growth in the human population, flooding, fracking, and other activities related to water, and the global warming elements.