A review that answers critical questions on why we need to study world ecological problems and the importance of the important.

1. Problems in World Ecology
By,
T. Samuel
1211643
Environmental Studies

2. Table of Contents
1. What is the environment?
2. The world’s most challenging problem faced today is the growing scarcity of
resources.
3. The problem of rising pollution and the destruction of our environment.
4. Why we should study the environment and what it can teach us.
5. The economy and the environment, a business or industry needs to be
environmentally conscious for the consumer and promote sustainability.
6. How we can study and conserve the environment.
7. It implication in school level studies, so its importance can be understood early
on.
8. Conclusion.

3. Need for learning environmental science
"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."
- Mohandas K. Gandhi.
The earth is home to an estimate 7 billion humans and countless other species. The earth
provides us the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat all this we acquire
from our surroundings. The environment is thus defined as the surroundings or conditions in
which a person, animal, or plant lives, it is critically important for a living being’s survival.
But in today’s world little regard is being given for the environment as of 2008 the amount of
carbon dioxide in the air has increased by 1.46 metric tonnes, in the world 29 million trees
are being cut ever day and according to United Nations food and agricultural organisation
(FAO) 35 714 hectares (89 000 acres) of forest land is lost per day, species of birds, insects,
fish and animals are growing endangered and extinct due to exploitation and habitat loss.
Rising pollution can be felt around us, water is being depleted at exponential rates, ground
water is becoming scarce and lakes are drying up. The threat of global warming hangs like
the blade of a Guillotine on the earth’s tender neck. The melting glaciers, the degradation of
land quality are also causes of concern. It is obvious the earth is heading for a bleak future,
‘the culprit’ behind this is known but pointing fingers will never fix it, rather ‘the culprit’
must show atonement for their crime. Understanding the severity of the crime that is the
destruction of the environment then only can we move to actually do something. Thus
studying environmental science is very much essential.
Studying the environment and understanding the effects and causes of its degradation,
knowing the importance it has in our lives and finding the best routes to undo
damages that have been done over the years is one way to look at the need for
environmental science aside from these benign points, there are ways that
development and the environment can integrate namely in the form of sustainable
development. Sustainable development can be defined as growth while preserving the
environment for future needs. By knowing the causes of environmental degradation
can we take measures to stop it, in reference with species loss humans should keep
in mind that every organism no matter how small plays an important part in the
environment for example the phytoplankton’s present in Antarctica these simple
organisms are the lifeline of almost every species that are interdependent on each
other, through photosynthesis they convert sunlight into food and when eaten by
larger Zooplankton which in turn are eaten by smaller fish and so on, mammals such
as the mighty whales survival are almost linked with these microscopic organisms. If
through our greed do we endanger even one species the consequences are dire and
sometimes irreversible such as the extinction of the Dodo a flightless bird that
was endemic to the Mascarene island of Madagascar due to human intervention, habitat loss

4. and competition with domestic species it was extinct by the 19th
century. Only when
something is lost do we truly understands its value, the fossil fuels and natural gas
are depleting faster, today it is estimated current reserves may only last for another
50 years, understanding how energy is present in the environment itself we can solve
our energy requirements. The environment can even provide cleaner sources of energy for
our needs such as solar, wind, tidal and thermal. Environmental science can teach us and
show us what our future is and what we must do. Thus it is so important that the environment
be studied and understood.
According to Claudine Schneider “A Healthy Ecology is the Basis for a Healthy
Economy”. Profit, progress and power can be the motto of any business man, the industrial
world is held accountable for a major part of the loss of environment and thus plays a bigger
role in atoning for their crimes, for future leaders as well as the current they need to look at
the environments side of view and create profit with that in mind, they need to instigate the
idea in people that ‘what is good for the environment is good for business’. If a business uses
environmental friendly means it not only seems ethical but it also gathers favour from
consumers and the public and is deemed trustable as well. The growth of an economy cannot
mean the people are happy alone to be a truly healthy economy the environment must also be
taken to consideration, following sustainable development is the only way a country can
seems to be wholesome in all spheres. Promoting the use of eco-friendly products and the
defamation of unethical industries are few ways a single consumer can bring change in the
battle of business versus environment. A business only caters to what a consumer wants, if a
consumer demands for services or products that are also in the best interest of the
environment business can bring it forth. Through understanding the environment researchers
and developers can work to create better and more environmentally friendly innovations.
Such as the solar powered air condition and water heating, bio degradable plastics, recycling
grey water and many more. Environmental science can tell us what are the various ways
renewable energy can be used and how industries and business contribute to the degradation
of the environment and how we can rectify, it explains how as a population do we adversely
affect the totality of our surroundings in terms of our resource needs.
Environmental science can not only teach us what are the sources of environmental
degradation and why it is caused but also what to do about it. As humans started
understanding the problems some have come forward and practically applied change, just as
many trees are lost every day thousands more are planted in its place, the National Tree Day
and Tree Planting Day bring to light the problems of deforestation, Carbon emission are
predicted to stabilise by 2020, solar energy is being properly utilised in developing countries.
Recycling and waste management is a growing trend and if even one person recycles it can

5. bring a great difference and anti littering campaigns in America have promoted cleaner
ideologies among the people. Recycling water and promoting industries to check emissions
released into the air as well. Proper disposal of solid wastes through landfills rather than
improper disposal into open land or water bodies. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels so
that mining does not affect the land and air quality. Conservation of species and restrictions
on overfishing and creation of Sanctuaries can help protect other living species that are
threatened by human greed. Using environmental friendly products and promoting business
to be environmentally conscious. And most importantly self awareness of the individual on
his/her surroundings. Environmental science has to be taught from the school level itself,
young minds can be moulded into thinking positively towards the environment for the future
are the hopes of the environment, programmes such as ‘Students on Ice’ founded by Geoff
Green, take’s future leaders on a trip to Antarctica to view the glaciers, due to the threat of
global warming these glaciers are melting. The experience provided for the students is both
life changing and nerve racking, this programme was an innovative and interactive idea and
the result always lead to students yearn for change. Taking this example it is not only enough
for students to theoretically understand the environment but they also need to experience and
see nature’s pain and look upon natures beauty because, nature can never be replaced by a
photograph on a textbook taking students outside and physically allowing them to be with
nature can help those who are genuinely caring to take action in protecting the environment.
Environmental education is compulsory in all fields whether it be a student of Management,
Engineering, Science or the Arts they need to understand and get a clear cut view that every
action they make should also be with regard to the environment by promoting the young to
disuse plastic is a small step that can bring a big change. Understanding the importance of
recycling and promoting recycling through schools and even by advertising. Teaching the
less educated why the environment is important and how they can contribute to a better
future. Leaning towards sustainable energy sources is a must since we cannot rely on the
natural fuels forever.
In conclusion the environment is eternal as long as we don’t inhibit it, we must be cautious
not to be repeat the past and learn from history such as the Ecological collapse in the Easter
Islands due to overexploitation of the resource which eventually lead to the population
decline, Biological invasions by humans introducing foreign species leading to a changes in
the entire environment and food chains such as the Dingo’s in Australia and Asian Carp
menace in Illinois, North America. We must give as much as we take and therefore
understanding the environment and how we can prevent overexploitation, destruction and
learning to grow with the environment for our future is why we need to study the
environment.

6. References
www.wikipedia.org
edugreen.teri.res.in
wiki.answers.com
NCERT 12th Std Concepts of Business
www.carbonfootprint.com
NCERT 12th Std Flamingo
www.expressindia.com
www.epa.gov
www.naturalnews.com