In general, environmental problems, their causes and weight values, solutions and their evaluation
- Making a centralized, concise portal, like this one, where problems and solutions can be sought.
- Developing and investigating cause and effect simulation models. A centralized database of causes, consequences and solutions and evaluation of solutions.
- Developing, enabling and broadly approving global and national legislation and treaties.
- More research, education, information. Publicly available sources of information.
Climate change
Causes: Increase in greenhouse gases. With the melting of permafrost and ice, greenhouse gases are released more naturally. Emissions of harmful substances to air. Decrease in vegetation that would act as a carbon binder. Natural variation between the ice age and the warm season and other natural variations?
Solutions: An in-depth review of all existing solutions and possible future and emerging solutions. Implementing proven solutions.
Increase in waste
Causes: The aim is to increase consumption so that markets and profits increase.
Solutions: Recycling Economy. Consumer education. More durable and long-lasting products, on the other hand, biodegradable products.
Biodiversity loss
Causes: Not all organisms have the opportunity to survive. Consumption of natural products.
Solutions: Cultivating and breeding of rare species and promoting their survival. More nature reserves. More education.
Depletion of natural resources
Causes: People always want a higher standard of living, even those who already have the necessary commodities. The recycling economy does not work perfectly. Weapons production and wars are wasting resources and destroying nature and infrastructure.
Solutions: Stop unnecessary consumption. Increasing the production and use of renewable resources. Intangible asset consumption more and less tangible asset consumption. All people should act for the common good and not act too selfishly.
Noise
Causes: Transport. Machinery.
Solutions: Quieter noisy vehicles and machines. Traffic reduction, jobs and services close to homes, more telework.
Ozone depletion
Causes: Harmful chemicals in the air.
Solutions: Harmful chemicals are replaced by harmless chemicals. Green chemistry.
Acidification of water and soil
Causes: Deposits from air and discharges from sewers.
Solutions: Green chemistry. Water purification methods.
Eutrophication of water bodies
Causes: Harmful releases to waterways.
Solutions: Development and introduction of improved water purification technologies. Green chemistry so that there would not be so much harmful emissions.
Environmental poisons and chemicalisation of the environment
Causes: Harmful chemicals. Harmful compounds may also be formed as products decompose in nature.
Solutions: Green chemistry. Consumer education. More eco-friendly and natural products for applications.
A more detailed list of environmental challenges
- Climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming.
- Air pollution, urban air, long distance transport.
- Thinning of the ozone layer, ground-level ozone and other photochemical oxidants.
- Water pollution, eutrophication, waste water management, oil pollution, plastic waste.
- Scarcity and pollution of clean, fresh water.
- Dams and their impact on the environment.
- Soil contamination, land use, urban sprawl, load.
- Deforestation, loss of rainforest, desertification, degradation of forests.
- The loss of biodiversity, species that take too much space from others.
- Increased carbon footprint, overpopulation, over-consumption, depletion of natural resources.
- Household and industrial waste, non-recyclable waste, garbage and landfills.
- Lack of sustainable development, poverty.
- Agricultural pollution, industrial agriculture, food safety, soil erosion and degradation.
- Overfishing, over-hunting, coastal threats.
- Toxins, medical waste to nature, soil, water, aquatic life, fish deaths. Bioaccumulation, Biomagnification.
- Chemical risks include: hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, ricin, organophosphate pesticides, formaldehyde, asbestos, benzene, beryllium, chlorofluorocarbons, cyanide, DDT, endocrine disruptors, explosives, pesticides, hydrocarbons, perchlorate, persistent organic pollutants, PBB compunds, PBDE compounds, toxic heavy metals, arsenic, mercury, lead, PCB, dioxin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, radioactive contamination, volatile organic compounds.
- Emissions from mining, environmental impact of the coal industry.
- Acid rain, acidification of both water bodies and soil.
- Gene modification, biological contamination, nano-contamination.
- Disappearance of endangered species, destruction and fragmentation of ecosystems.
- Health hazards, light and sound pollution
- Natural disasters, major disasters.
- Nuclear Accidents, Weapons and Pollution, Wars.