Global Environmental Degradation – Problems and Solutions
Global Environmental Degradation – Problems and Solutions Miss. Parit Sunanda Ram[1]
sunanda.parit@rediffmail.com
Mobile: 9960058012
Abstract
Environmental degradation is one of the ‘10 Threats’ identified by the High Level Threat Panel1 of the United Nations. Degradation of the environment refers to deterioration of the environmental condition by the depletion of natural resources such as water, air and soil, as well as the destruction of habitats and loss of biodiversity. Such degradation, such as pollution, leads to global warming – the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA data, ‘the Earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4ºF in the last 100 years.’2 The earth is experiencing rapid and severe climate change and environmental problems that people of the world can no longer overlook the crisis and not do anything. This research papers aim at first giving an overview of the problems the world is facing now, then explore solutions attempted by international efforts, or are possible in effect, that are targeted at environmental issues. Pollution designates the ‘undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities.’3 There are numerous kinds of pollution taking place everywhere in the world as of today. For example, exhaust gases of vehicles, combustion of coal and acid rain, which make up the term ‘air pollution’, are very much detrimental to the natural environment. They are also the main contributors to global warming.
Keywords: Environmental degradation, global warming etc.
Global Environmental Degradation – Problems and Solutions Miss. Parit Sunanda Ram[2]
sunanda.parit@rediffmail.com
Mobile: 9960058012
Abstract
Environmental degradation is one of the ‘10 Threats’ identified by the High Level Threat Panel1 of the United Nations. Degradation of the environment refers to deterioration of the environmental condition by the depletion of natural resources such as water, air and soil, as well as the destruction of habitats and loss of biodiversity. Such degradation, such as pollution, leads to global warming – the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA data, ‘the Earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4ºF in the last 100 years.’2 The earth is experiencing rapid and severe climate change and environmental problems that people of the world can no longer overlook the crisis and not do anything. This research papers aim at first giving an overview of the problems the world is facing now, then explore solutions attempted by international efforts, or are possible in effect, that are targeted at environmental issues. Pollution designates the ‘undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities.’3 There are numerous kinds of pollution taking place everywhere in the world as of today. For example, exhaust gases of vehicles, combustion of coal and acid rain, which make up the term ‘air pollution’, are very much detrimental to the natural environment. They are also the main contributors to global warming.
Keywords: Environmental degradation, global warming etc.
Global Environmental Degradation – Problems and Solutions Miss. Parit Sunanda Ram[2]
References: 1. Climate Change – Basic Information (2009) Retrieved 28 May, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html 2. Climate Change Gets Wet. by Laurie Rich From the May 2010 issue; published online September 1, 2010 3. Cole, R., and others. 1996. Linkages Between Environmental Outputs and Human Services. IWR Report 96-R-4. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Alexandria, VA. Available at: http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/iwr/pdf/96r04.pdf 4. Environmental Degradation (n.d.) Retrieved 28 May, 2010 from http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Science/environmental_degradation.html 5. Environmental Issues: Taking Sides - Clashing Views on Environmental Issues, Thomas Eston 6. Pollution (n.d.) Retrieved 28 May, 2010 from -http://www.bcb.uwc.ac.za/Sci_Ed/grade10/ecology/conservation/poll.htm 7. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, India (Varies Reports) ----------------------- [1] Author is Research Student, Dept. of Economics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur. (Maharashtra) India. [2] Author is Research Student, Dept. of Economics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur. (Maharashtra) India.