List of environmental issues

Environmental problems are manmade changes in the natural environment or the ecosystem of the earth that are negatively valued by the people. Under environmental problems mean those problems that arise from the interaction of man with his natural environment. Environmental changes. Due to the negative evaluation and interpretation of environmental damage as a result of human action only to environmental problems In addition, there are also natural environmental changes, such as volcanic eruptions and their consequences.

Causes

From man-made environmental problems caused can result from the use of natural resources, the colonization of new areas, as well as a by- product of the use of technology. They are thus to be understood as secondary consequences of the modernization process. Due to a lack of understanding of the interactions of human activities with the environment or a prioritization of progress or prosperity against a permanently intact ecosystem man consciously or unconsciously causes a change in the ecological balance. In addition to the technological progress, which both qualitatively and quantitatively increasingly has a stronger influence on the natural balance of the earth, and the significant population growth over the last few centuries is seen as a cause of increasing environmental problems.

History

Influence people through their existence inevitably their environment. Before the Industrial Revolution, these environmental influences and their consequences were limited locally or in their cumulative effect is negligible for the natural systems and cycles. Only by higher quality engagement depth in natural processes (eg, introduction of new species ) and the increasing conversion processes (eg, raw material extraction ) and the overuse of resources (non- renewable resource ) and sinks (oceans as a recording medium ) are reinforced by industrialization environmental problems been rather more locally be delimited. In the 19th century ( the time of industrialization and development of rational agriculture ) resource utilization increased in many parts of the earth, the chemical industry experienced a big way and by the intensification of agriculture, there is a conversion of entire landscapes. At the same time led industrialization and progress in science and society is even possible at an increased awareness of environmental problems. In the era of globalization, particularly the global environmental problems (global warming, biodiversity loss ) are moved into the center of attention and require a coordinated processing. Most environmental changes, the 50% mark (50 % of existing damage today ) is achieved only in the second half of the 20th century. This points to a huge and threatening acceleration of environmental changes. The related problem of exponential growth is discussed by authors such as Dennis L. Meadows.

Complexity and uncertainty

Environmental problems are generally considered complex because they are determined by a variety of processes and interactions. Change processes are long term and in small increments from and it can be overlap, so that the consequences occur shifted spatially and temporally by anthropogenic changes, have a negative effect only in combination or only in other systems or organisms show ( land use and landscape fragmentation lead eventually to disappearance of animal and plant species, soil erosion ). It is thus difficult to assess long-term effects on human health and the environment. Uncertainty is a core phenomenon of environmental problems. The relevant knowledge is often disorganized and incomplete. To explain often rich purely scientific considerations not. In addition to social science research and the knowledge of practical actors is necessary to understand causal relationships and to find solutions. The problem of dealing with uncertainty is particularly climate change and dealing with the consequences of global warming.

Research on environmental problems

The syndrome concept assumes that it is possible on the environmental issues and the underlying interactions between civilization and the environment can also be found in different regions often typical patterns. These functional patterns ( syndromes ) are undesirable characteristic development trends and interactions and can be described as syndromes of global change. The Scientific Advisory Council on Global Change ( WBGU ) assumes that let the complex global environment and development problems traced back to a manageable number of Umweltdegradationsmustern.

Examples of current environmental problems

  • Global warming, greenhouse effect, environmental disasters
  • Water pollution, soil pollution, air pollution, smog, acid rain, ozone hole
  • Resource curse, water shortages, soil erosion, environment-related world hunger
  • Noise, waste
  • Biodiversity loss, species extinction, deforestation
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