Key environmental problems and their

causes

Dr. Rajashree Naik

[email protected]
1. Climate change
Climate Change: Causes
• Burning Fossil Fuels:
• The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for energy
production, transportation, and industrial processes releases large quantities
of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
These gases trap heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect, leading to
global warming.
Climate Change: Causes
• Deforestation:
• Deforestation involves the clearance of forests for various purposes,
including agriculture, urban development, and logging. Trees absorb
CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. When trees are cut
down or burned, the stored carbon is released, contributing to higher
atmospheric CO2 levels.
Climate Change: Causes
• Agriculture:
• Agricultural activities, particularly livestock production and rice cultivation,
produce methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), which are potent greenhouse
gases. Methane is released during enteric fermentation in the digestive systems of
ruminant animals, while N2O is produced through the use of synthetic fertilizers.
Climate Change: Causes
• Industrial Processes:
• Certain industrial processes release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. For
example, cement production generates CO2 emissions through the chemical
transformation of limestone into clinker, a key ingredient in cement.
Climate Change: Causes
• Land Use Changes:
• Changes in land use, such as urbanization and conversion of natural landscapes into
agricultural or industrial areas, can result in increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Urbanization leads to the release of stored carbon and alters local climate patterns.
2. Deforestation
Deforestation: Causes
• Agriculture: Agricultural expansion is one of the leading causes of
deforestation. As the global population grows, there is increasing demand for
arable land to cultivate crops and raise livestock. Forests are often cleared to
make way for large-scale agriculture, such as palm oil plantations, soybean
fields, and cattle ranching.
Deforestation: Causes
• Logging and Timber Production: Logging for the production of timber and wood products is another
major driver of deforestation. Timber is a valuable resource for construction, furniture, and paper
production. Unsustainable logging practices, including illegal logging, can lead to the destruction of
forests and biodiversity loss.
Deforestation: Causes
• Infrastructure Development: Infrastructure projects, such as road construction,
mining, and the building of dams and highways, can result in deforestation.
These projects often require the removal of trees and the disruption of natural
habitats, leading to deforestation and ecosystem fragmentation.
Deforestation: Causes
• Urbanization: Rapid urbanization and population growth lead to the
expansion of cities and the development of housing and infrastructure.
This often involves clearing forests to create space for residential and
commercial areas, contributing to deforestation.
Deforestation: Causes
• Fire and Slash-and-Burn Agriculture: In some regions, forests are cleared
through the use of fire, a practice known as slash-and-burn agriculture. Farmers
may set fire to forests to clear land for subsistence farming. However, these
fires can easily get out of control, leading to widespread deforestation and
contributing to air pollution.
3. Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity Loss: Causes
• Habitat Destruction and Fragmentation:
• The conversion of natural habitats into agricultural land, urban areas, and
infrastructure development leads to the destruction and fragmentation of
ecosystems. This disrupts the balance of species and reduces the available
habitat for wildlife.
Biodiversity Loss: Causes
• Overexploitation:
• Overharvesting of natural resources, such as overfishing, illegal hunting, and the
unsustainable collection of plants and animals, can deplete populations to the point of
extinction. This occurs when the rate of extraction exceeds the species' ability to
reproduce and recover.
Biodiversity Loss: Causes
• Pollution:
• Pollution from various sources, including industrial emissions, agricultural runoff, and improper
waste disposal, can contaminate ecosystems and harm biodiversity. For example, chemical
pollutants in water bodies can affect aquatic life, while air pollution can damage plants and wildlife.
Biodiversity Loss: Causes
• Invasive Species:
• The introduction of non-native species to new ecosystems, either intentionally or accidentally,
can disrupt local ecosystems. Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources,
introduce diseases, and alter habitats, leading to the decline or extinction of native species.
Biodiversity Loss: Causes
• Climate Change:
• Climate change affects biodiversity in multiple ways. Rising temperatures, altered
precipitation patterns, and increased extreme weather events can disrupt ecosystems
and shift the distribution and behavior of species. Additionally, ocean acidification,
a consequence of increased carbon dioxide levels, can harm marine life.
4. Pollution
Pollution: Causes
• Industrial Emissions:
• Factories, power plants, and manufacturing facilities release various pollutants into the
air, water, and soil. These emissions include greenhouse gases, particulate matter, sulfur
dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy
metals like mercury and lead. Industrial pollution can contribute to smog, acid rain, and
the contamination of water bodies.
Pollution: Causes
• Transportation:
• Vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, such as cars, trucks,
ships, and airplanes, emit pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen
oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, and particulate matter into the atmosphere.
Pollution: Causes
• Agricultural Practices:
• Agriculture contributes to pollution through the use of synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides, which can leach into groundwater and surface water, causing water
pollution. Livestock farming also generates methane emissions and can lead to
water contamination through manure runoff.
Pollution: Causes
• Improper Waste Disposal:
Pollution: Causes
• Oil Spills:
• Accidental oil spills from offshore drilling, shipping accidents, or pipeline ruptures can result
in the release of large quantities of oil into marine ecosystems.
Any
questions