1.
Environment:
The Past, Present, and Future

2.
History of Environmentalism
When early hunter-gatherers realized how fire and hunting tools influenced their
surroundings, they likely became aware of our precarious relationship with our
habitat. Anthropologists have discovered evidence of human-caused animal
and plant extinctions dating back to 50,000 BCE, when there were only
approximately 200,000 Homo sapiens roaming the Earth. We can only
speculate on how these early humans reacted, but it appears that migration to
new habitats was a common response.
Environmental consciousness first occurs in the human record at least 5,000
years ago. In their hymns, Vedic sages celebrated the natural forests, Taoists
advocated that human life follow the rhythms of nature, and the Buddha taught
compassion for all sentient beings.
The Indus civilization at Mohenjo Darro (an ancient city in modern-day
Pakistan) recognized the consequences of pollution on human health five
thousand years ago and practiced waste management and sanitation. Plato
bemoaned in Greece when deforestation caused soil erosion, " All the richer
and softer parts have fallen away, and the mere skeleton of the land remains.”
Communities in China, India, and Peru recognized the dangers of soil erosion
and worked to prevent it through the use of terraces, crop rotation, and nutrient
recycling.
Hippocrates and Galen, Greek physicians, began to notice environmental
health issues such as acid poisoning in copper miners. The earliest extant
European treatise on human ecology is Hippocrates' book, De aere, aquis et
locis (Air, Waters, and Places).
Agriculture advancement increased human populations but also caused soil
erosion and insect infestations, resulting in devastating famines between 200
and 1200 CE. Due of pollution, King Edward I of England limited coal burning in
London in 1306. Naturalist and gardener John Evelyn claimed in the 17th
century that London resembled "the districts of Hell." These events sparked
Europe's first "renewable" energy boom, with governments beginning to
subsidize water and wind power.

3.
History of Environmental Rights
The Bishnoi Hindus of Khejarli were maybe the first true environmental activists,
killed by the Maharaja of Jodhpur in 1720 for attempting to defend the forest he
cut to build himself a palace. The 18th century saw the emergence of modern
environmental rights. Following a yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia, Benjamin
Franklin petitioned for waste management and the removal of tanneries for clean
air as a public "right" (ironically, on land stolen from Indigenous nations). Later,
American artist George Catlin recommended that Indigenous land be maintained
as a "natural right.”
At the same time, in the United Kingdom, Jeremy Benthu published An
Introduction to Moral Principles and Legislation, which advocated for the rights of
animals. Thomas Malthus produced his renowned essay warning that human
overpopulation will destroy the environment. Global warming was first recognized
200 years ago, when Jean Baptiste Fourier calculated that the Earth's
atmosphere stored heat like a greenhouse.
A few decades later, George Perkins Marsh wrote Man and Nature, which
criticizes humanity's indiscriminate "warfare" on nature, warning of climate
change, and emphasizing that "the world cannot afford to wait" - a cry that we still
hear today.

4.
History of the Modern Sustainability Movement
To understand the modern sustainability movement, we must first understand what
“sustainability” even means. By definition (according to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency), sustainability is “Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends,
either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create
and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive
harmony to support present and future generations.”
The sustainability movement can be traced back to the 19th century, a time when the
Industrial Revolution brought us great advancements in technology like modern cities,
railroads, and factories that relied on oil and coal for energy. Unfortunately, all of these
advancements came with the price of overpopulation, pollution, and disease.
A notable figure in the early beginnings of the sustainability movement is Theodore
Roosevelt. Becoming president of the United States in 1901, Roosevelt was well-known for
his devotion to nature and conservation. During the course of his presidency, Roosevelt
managed to create the United States Forest Service and founded 150 national forests, 81
national monuments, 51 federal bird reserves, 5 national parks, and 4 national game
reserves.
After World War II, the very first conservation conference was held by the United Nations in
1949. Hundreds of environmental from around the globe came together to discuss how to
conserve natural resources like land, water, wildlife, and energy. In 1955, the U.S.
Congress enacted the Air Pollution Act, which focused on researching the effects of air
pollution.
By 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was established, requiring all
executive federal agencies to perform environmental assessments and release
environmental impact statements. This same year, we celebrated our very first “Earth Day”
on April 22nd. Along with NEPA, the United States started the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and passed the Clean Air Act. In 1972, the Clean Water Act created by the
EPA was also passed. 1972 also marked the second conference held by the U.N. that was
created to discuss global issues concerning the environment, conservation, and
sustainability. This conference spurred the creation of the U.N. Environment Program
(UNEP).
By the 1990s, green brands started to gain popularity and traction. Businesses started using
“eco-friendly” as a selling point. By mid 2000s, the U.N. General Assembly published their
Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by the year 2030. Many of the goals, like
“Goal #6: Clean Water and Sanitation” and “Goal #7: Affordable and Clean Energy,” are
focused on environmental sustainability issues.

5.
History of Green Brands
In the early 1980s, many of the hippies of the 1960s who had fallen out in the
1970s were coming of age as entrepreneurs and business owners. Some of
today's most well-known green firms may trace their roots back to this time period,
including Whole Foods, Burt's Bees, Seventh Generation, Tom's of Maine, and
The Body Shop. All of these notable green firms were start-ups or blossoming
enterprises in the early 1980s, originating from the 1970s back-to-nature
movement. Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees originated in rural regions, providing
natural products to clients who shared their values. Whole Foods is the result of
the combination of two natural food stores. Despite producing different products,
both Burt's Bees and Whole Foods had visionary leaders who founded their
companies because it was the right thing to do, rather than simply because there
was consumer or market demand. Although all of these businesses began as
niche brands, it didn't take long for them to establish a market for their
environmentally friendly products.
By the latter half of the 1980s, individuals who were more earth-conscious started
to become a large enough group that their influence was being noticed in markets
and manufacturing. In 1988, The Green Consumer Guide was published and sold
over 1 million copies. It was the first book of its kind to focus on eco-friendly
consumer choices. The end of the 1980s saw an explosion of new green products
from companies both large and small, as they were all trying to capitalize on the
new green niche in the market. In just one year, from 1989 to 1990, the number of
new green products on the market more than doubled. At the same time, many
popular brands were starting to come under fire for not being sustainable. For
example, people boycotted McDonald’s nonrecyclable packaging, causing them
to move to more sustainable paper-based packaging.

6.
History of Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Green cleaning may appear to be a new trend, but it is actually not at all. While it has
definitely grown in popularity in recent years, its origins can be traced back to the
1960s. Prior to the 1960s, humans were very uninformed on the impact of cleaning
chemicals, as well as other pollutants, may have on the environment- including the
impact on the animals and humans who cohabitate this planet.
Many people link the modern environmental movement to biologist Rachel Carson's
1962 book, Silent Spring, which focused on the dangers of pesticides. The Santa
Barbara oil spill occurred in 1969, which engendered the passing of the National
Environmental Policy Act. By the 1970s, green products were really starting to gain
traction. Tom’s (now called Tom’s of Maine) introduced a phosphate-free laundry
detergent, making them one of the first cleaning product brands to focus on
environmental responsibility.
In 1988, the Green Consumer Guide was published, which as stated previously, sold
more than 1 million copies. In this same year, the company Seventh Generation was
founded, which is still one of the biggest names in green cleaning brands of the
modern day. In the following 2 years, the interest in green products continued to
flourish with more than 10% of products introduced in those 2 years being considered
green. In the 1990s, climate change became a popular topic. By the early 2000s,
sustainability had become more than a counterculture niche and had become
mainstream. Green brands that already existed became more popular during this time,
new green brands gained traction, and leading mainstream brands started introducing
eco-friendly product lines.
While most people use chemical cleaners to rid their houses of bacteria and germs,
natural alternatives can accomplish the job just as well. Cleaning may take a little
longer and require a little more elbow grease, but eco-friendly cleaning tools help you
fight bacteria without introducing harmful chemicals into your home or company. Indoor
air quality is very important to your health, so reducing the amount of chemicals you
inhale should be an integral part of your daily life.
Green cleaning may require a bit more effort on your part, but the advantages far
exceed the drawbacks. With so many goods and recipes accessible, the obstacles of
obtaining green cleaning products reduce. Finally, you should feel good about your
home and your health - green cleaning could be the solution.

7.
History of Eco-Fashion
Eco fashion may be popular now, but there was only one type of fashion a few
decades ago (hint: it wasn’t eco-friendly). Unethical and unsustainable
methods of garment production have been harming the environment and the
companies that practice this also treat laborers unfairly. Some prominent fast
fashion companies were exposed in many nations, causing people to become
aware of the garment industry's negative effects. Some of the same firms
began to create clothes in a more sustainable manner, and there were groups
that propagated the concept of sustainable fashion all over the world.
Sustainability is described as development that meets current societal needs
without jeopardizing future generations' ability to meet their own. Eco-fashion,
also known as sustainable fashion, is fashion that has a lower environmental
impact throughout the entirety of the design, production, and consumption of
items. It entails prolonging the life of clothing, recycling, and reusing recycled
materials.
Ethical fashion is concerned with the environment, as well as the social impact
of the fashion industry. Ethical fashion is concerned with the use of child labor,
living wages, health and safety, working conditions, and the industry's use of
forced labor. It is also not only labor rules that are taken into account- ethical
fashion goes above and beyond to raise public awareness about the fair
treatment of employees, animals, and the other benefits of cruelty-free
fashion. Human lives and the environment are valued more than economic
profits in ethical designs, and organizations strive for dignified and honorable
working conditions.
On the other hand, fast fashion refers to clothing that is manufactured quickly
and cheaply to fit with the constantly changing trends. Fast fashion is
something we should avoid because it has been linked to massive amounts of
waste, highly polluted manufacturing processes, and awful working conditions.
Some of the worst offenders are H&M, TopShop, Zara, Zaful, Shein, Fashion
Nova, Missguided, and BooHoo. Due to demand from environmentally
conscious clients, firms such as H&M have become slightly more inclined to
ethical fashion and sustainability.

8.
History of Eco-Fashion Continued
The precursor for all modern eco-fashion movements is the Pre-Raphaelite
movement. The Pre-Raphaelites foresaw the negative impact of new fashion
and the methods for making it that industrialization brought. These people had
a large impact on later fashion, as they rejected the restrictive corsets and
crinoline supports women of that time wore. They chose to dye their garments
with natural vegetable dyes instead of chemical dyes, even though the
chemicals created a brighter hue.
The 1960s saw young people revolting against the establishment through
their clothing, lifestyle, and music choices. These adolescent 'hippies' were
also anti-fashion. They welcomed natural materials and advocated for a return
to a simpler way of life, in contrast to the dominant highly consumerist society
of the day. They were the pioneers of environmentally friendly fashion. In the
late 1980s, there was a movement against fur, which marked the beginning of
the ethical fashion movement. This movement was extremely effective, since
it resulted in the abolition of actual fur from fashion.
However, the rise of offshore manufacturing and worldwide communication
saw the emergence of fast fashion- apparel that was inexpensive, instantly
accessible, and disposable. People stopped looking for quality and the
tendency of buying new garments every season took hold. Increased demand
resulted in increased output. During this period of fast fashion, the eco-fashion
movement began to seep into clothing. The Ecollection was launched by
Esprit, and Katharine Hamnett and Patagonia began to educate the public
about the horrible environmental impact of the fast fashion business. But,
tragically, the plight of this industry's workers, who live in the far east and work
day and night under appalling working conditions, was revealed only after
Bangladesh's Rana Plaza fell in 2013.
This was the most tragic catastrophe in fashion history, with over 1000 people
killed. The history of eco-fashion witnessed increasing attention as individuals
throughout the world realized how their decisions affected the lives of those
who made their items. Today, a rising number of people on the earth make
their clothing choices with ethical wear in mind, rather than simply buying
clothes. Every decision is significant and can make a difference!

9.
Evolution of Sustainable Development
There has been agreement throughout the evolution of "sustainable development" that
it does not focus simply on environmental challenges. Economic development, social
development, and environmental protection are the three interrelated and mutually
reinforcing pillars. Indigenous peoples have maintained that cultural diversity is also a
fourth pillar of sustainable development. The concept of sustainability dates back to
the early twentieth century, during the industrial revolution, when two conflicting
factions within the environmental movement emerged: environmentalists and
preservationists. Conservationists were concerned with the right use of nature,
whereas preservationists were concerned with the protection of nature from use. To
put it another way, conservation tried to restrict human use, whereas preservation
sought to eradicate all human impact.
Several reactions occurred as the first signs of an environmental disaster emerged.
Following an international summit in Fontainebleau, France, the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was created in October 1948. Its proponents aimed to
ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and environmentally sustainable.
The Club of Rome, a think tank comprised of a small international group of people
from academia, civil society, diplomacy, and industry, drew significant public attention
in 1972 with its report The Limits to Growth, which predicted that economic growth
could not be sustained indefinitely due to the limited availability of natural resources
(particularly oil).
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972
made sustainable development a central focus. The term was coined to imply that
economic growth and industrialization could be achieved without causing
environmental damage. Throughout the following decades, mainstream sustainable
development thinking was gradually developed through the World Conservation
Strategy (1980), the Brundtland Report (1987), and the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development in Rio (1992), as well as in national government
planning and wider engagement from business leaders and non-governmental
organizations of all kinds.
The definition of sustainable development has evolved over the decades. The
Brundtland Report defined sustainable as “development that satisfies the demands of
the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.” This description was ambiguous, but it successfully addressed two essential
issues: the challenge of environmental deterioration that frequently accompanies
economic expansion, and the need for such progress to alleviate poverty.

10.
Rise of the Eco-Friendly Consumer
In recent times, changes in climate have significantly impacted countries across
the globe. Customers and businesses alike are looking for ways to implement
and promote sustainable business practices in response to the changing climate.
It is crucial to consider how to meet climate targets in a real and significant way
that is in line with customer requirements and beliefs.
Customers may have run out of toilet paper during the peak of the COVID-19
pandemic, or they may have unsuccessfully sought online for an inflatable
backyard pool. For those confined at home, however, there was one resource
that was never-ending: time. Given greater time to reflect on routine activities
and decisions, many people began paying attention to how their shopping
choices affected the environment. Consumers have started to place a higher
priority on sustainability before the pandemic. However, half of all worldwide
consumers surveyed in PwC's June 2021 Global Consumer Insights Pulse
Survey claim to have become even more environmentally conscious.
Only 35% of respondents to PwC’s 2019 Global Consumer Insights Survey said
they looked for ecologically friendly packaging, 37% said they looked for
sustainable items, and 41% said they avoided using plastic wherever possible.
According to PwC's survey findings, responses to questions with comparable
wording were ten to twenty points higher in percentage. A study conducted by
market research company YouGov and creative research platform Visual GPS
shows a change during the pandemic. The results of that survey show that 69%
of respondents claimed they were doing everything possible to limit their carbon
footprint (up from 63% just a year earlier), and 81% of those asked expected
businesses to be environmentally responsible in their advertising and marketing.
Millennials displayed the most shift in green consumerism. According to a PwC
survey of 58% of "core" millennials (those between the ages of 27 and 32), they
have become more environmentally conscious. The majority of core and "young"
millennials (those between the ages of 23 and 26) also concur that they
intentionally think about sustainability when they shop. Generation Z is less
committed to eco-consumerism than millennials, which may be related to the
idea that shopping sustainably is more expensive or challenging.

11.
Evolution of Renewable Energy
Countries all over the world desired alternate power production
technologies to serve their rapidly expanding electrical sector because
fossil fuels like coal and gas are a restricted resource only found in a few
geographic locations. Over the past 20 years, the price of coal has
fluctuated wildly, from $50 to more than $130 USD per metric ton.
Countries had to diversify their energy generation mix by localizing
resources that were independent of any supply chain restrictions in order
to ensure a stable electrical sector, which is a basic gauge of growth.
Scientists from all over the world concur that human activity is currently
causing global warming, which must be reduced. People all throughout the
world looked up to their governments and sought effective climate change
answers. Governments from nearly 200 nations paid heed and reached an
agreement in the historic Paris Climate Agreement to reduce carbon
emissions in order to lessen the effects of global warming. The majority of
countries saw renewable energy sources as the best way to combat
climate change. Germany came up with a bold plan to generate 50% of its
electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The National Solar Mission
was established by India with the objective of deploying 100 Gigawatts of
solar energy by 2022.
Globally, similar objectives have been set, and various government
subsidies as well as feed-in tariffs and renewable portfolio standards have
been used to encourage the use of renewable energy for power
generation. Today, for at least two-thirds of the world's population, onshore
wind and solar power are the most affordable sources of electricity. By
2030, it will be less expensive to construct renewable energy power plants
than to operate coal power plants all over the world. Over 26% of the
world's electricity generation as of the end of 2018 came from renewable
energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower.

12.
The Benefits of Recycling
Did you know that recycling helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses
like carbon dioxide and others that cause climate change? The 20 million
tons of home recyclables that are currently tossed in the trash could be
totally recycled, which would result in a 96 million metric ton reduction in the
nation's greenhouse gas emissions. With just recycling, we could accomplish
the same result as removing more than 20 million cars from American
highways! To take it a step further, we can and should recycle our junk cars,
as it conserves natural resources, reduces pollution, avoids excessive use of
energy, and much more.
Recycling is good for the economy as well as the environment. If all of the
37.4 million tons of recyclables produced by American households were
collected curbside and returned to productive use, 370,000 additional full-
time equivalent employment would be created. These "green occupations"
may involve curbside recycling collection, processing of recycled materials,
delivery of goods to businesses, transportation of materials, equipment
maintenance, and other tasks. When you recycle junk cars, you are helping
to create jobs at salvaging companies, which it turns helps to stimulate the
economy.
Recycling helps us to reuse our waste materials in new goods, promoting a
"circular economy" that reduces waste and permits ongoing resource
utilization. Why is that crucial? Because there are only a finite number of
natural resources on the planet. Without recycling, we are forced to rely on
obtaining raw materials through extraction and logging to meet our
manufacturing demands. This may lead to the destruction of habitats for
wildlife, costly and dangerous mining operations to collect metal ores, and
the depletion of minerals that cannot be replenished. However, recycling
allows us to more effectively protect and prolong these natural resources.

13.
Evolution of Eco-Friendly Transportation
With transportation accounting for nearly 64% of worldwide oil consumption,
27% of total energy use, and 23% of global carbon dioxide emissions, it is
clear that transportation is at the heart of many economic and social
development concerns. Rethinking and redesigning transit in the post-COVID
age by enacting structural changes would significantly reinforce some of the
favorable effects achieved by pandemic-control measures on emission levels
and air quality.
Systems of transportation that are environmentally, socially, and economically
sustainable benefit the communities they serve. People readily take
advantage of the opportunities presented by greater mobility, with low-income
households benefiting considerably from low-carbon transportation options.
Transport infrastructures exist to facilitate social and economic linkages. The
benefits of greater mobility must be evaluated against the costs that
transportation systems place on the environment, society, and the economy.
Long-term objectives include moving transportation away from fossil fuel-
based energy and toward other options including the use of renewable energy
and other renewable resources. Short-term action frequently supports
incremental progress in fuel efficiency and vehicle emissions controls.
Measurement and optimization of sustainability are applied across the whole
life cycle of transportation systems.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it would be
possible to save 2.4 million premature deaths per year due to outdoor air
pollution. Black carbon emissions, a part of particulate matter that is known to
induce respiratory and cancerous diseases and to significantly contribute to
global climate change, are particularly harmful to human health. Low-carbon,
eco-friendly transportation is becoming an increasingly sustainable
investment at the local level due to the connections between greenhouse gas
emissions and particulate matter. This is true both in terms of reducing
emissions and thereby preventing climate change, as well as enhancing
public health through improved air quality.

14.
How Humans Impact the Environment
Numerous human activities such as overpopulation, pollution, the burning of
fossil fuels, and deforestation have an adverse effect on the physical
environment. Climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable
water have all been brought on by changes like these. These unfavorable
effects may influence human behavior and lead to large-scale migrations or
conflicts over access to clean water.
There is no denying that human activity has a negative impact on the
environment. Earth is impacted by how we live our lives, what we produce and
consume, and how we move around. The effects of people on our environment
are extensive, affecting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and range from
ozone depletion to acid rain, human-induced soil degradation through
deforestation, pollution, and loss of species. We must be conscious of these
effects and seek to minimize them if we want to save the earth. Even if it's not
always simple, doing so is essential if we want to preserve the planet for future
generations.

15.
Overpopulation
More than 7.8 billion people currently live on Earth. According to the UN,
population is projected to reach 10.8 billion by 2100, assuming stable fertility
reductions across many nations. Fascinatingly, 7.3 billion people could live
on the planet in 2100 if additional advancements in women's reproductive
autonomy and fertility decline more than the UN estimates is likely. Currently,
the world's population is still growing by a significant amount each year
(about 80 million people), and we are running out of essential nonrenewable
resources. These unsustainable trends are a result of a variety of reasons,
such as declining death rates, underuse of contraception, and a lack of
education for girls.
Population growth will unavoidably put strain on the environment, causing
more deforestation, less biodiversity, and increases in pollution and
emissions, all of which will worsen climate change. In the end, many experts
think that the added stress on the planet will cause ecological disruption and
collapse that is so severe it threatens the viability of life on Earth as we know
it if we don't take action to help minimize further population growth going into
the rest of this century. The health of the world is significantly impacted by
every increase in global population. According to estimates from a study by
Wynes and Nicholas (2017), in industrialized countries, a family with one
fewer child might reduce emissions by 58.6 tonnes CO2-equivalent year.

16.
Pollution
When dangerous gasses and particulates are present in our air, this is referred
to as air pollution. Nine out of ten people worldwide breathe dirty air, but many
people are not aware of the possible negative effects of poor air quality on
their health and the environment. When dangerous gasses and chemicals are
discharged into the atmosphere, air pollution results. These pollutants include
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter (extremely minute
particles that enter our respiratory system). The majority of these pollutants
are released by human activity, including burning fossil fuels, driving, and
emissions from industry and agriculture.
Our health is significantly impacted by air pollution, which also shortens lives
and lowers quality of life. In actuality, it poses the greatest single
environmental health concern in the globe. It makes breathing problems worse
and raises the possibility of asthma episodes, which results in more hospital
admissions. Serious medical disorders like cancer, heart attacks, and strokes
can be brought on by prolonged exposure.
In actuality, air pollution contributes to one in three global fatalities from heart
attacks, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. We are all impacted,
but those in our society who are most at danger—particularly children and the
elderly—are at greater risk. Children who are exposed to air pollution may
experience respiratory problems and lung development delays. A growing
corpus of studies has also revealed linkages between air pollution and other
diseases like diabetes, children's developmental issues, and dementia.

17.
Global Warming
The total annual global temperature rise during the Industrial Revolution has
been little over 1 degree Celsius, or over 2 degrees Fahrenheit. It increased
on average by 0.07 degrees Celsius (0.13 degrees Fahrenheit) every 10
years between 1880—the year that accurate recordkeeping started—and
1980. The rate of growth, however, has more than doubled since 1981: Over
the past 40 years, the yearly global temperature has increased by 0.18
degrees Celsius, or 0.32 degrees Fahrenheit, every decade.
The outcome? a world with unprecedented heat. Since 2005, nine of the ten
warmest years on record since 1880 have happened, and the last five
warmest years have all happened since 2015. Deniers of climate change
have claimed that the rate of increase in global temperatures has "paused"
or "slowed," however several studies, including a 2018 research published in
the journal Environmental Research Letters, have refuted this assertion.
People all across the world are already suffering from the effects of global
warming.
Now, climate scientists have concluded that if we want to prevent a future in
which daily life throughout the world is marked by its worst, most devastating
effects: the extreme droughts, wildfires, floods, tropical storms, and other
disasters that we refer to collectively as climate change, we must limit global
warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2040. All people experience these
consequences in one way or another, but the poor, the economically
disadvantaged, and people of color experience them the most keenly
because these groups are frequently those most affected by poverty,
eviction, hunger, and social unrest.

18.
Climate Change
Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns are referred to as
climate change. These changes could be caused by natural processes, such
oscillations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities—
primarily the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas—have been the
primary cause of climate change. Fossil fuel combustion produces
greenhouse gas emissions that serve as a blanket around the planet,
trapping heat from the sun and increasing temperatures.
Carbon dioxide and methane are two examples of greenhouse gas
emissions that are contributing to climate change. These are produced, for
instance, while burning coal or gasoline to heat a building. Carbon dioxide
can also be released during forest and land clearing. Methane emissions are
primarily produced by waste landfills. Among the major emitters are energy,
industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and land use.
Unfortunately, emissions levels continue to rise. The finding is that the Earth
has warmed by around 1.1°C since the late 1800s. The most recent ten
years (2011–2020) were the warmest ever. Many believe that rising
temperatures are the main effect of climate change. But the story doesn't
start with the temperature increase. Changes in one place might have an
impact on changes in all other areas since the Earth is a system in which
everything is interconnected. Intense droughts, water scarcity, destructive
fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms, and a
decline in biodiversity are currently some of the effects of climate change.

19.
Genetic Modification
Fewer carbon dioxide emissions. Better soil. Increased food production
with reduced acreage. minimal food waste All of this can be achieved
without compromising the nutritional quality, the health and safety of
people, or the environment—in some cases, it can even be improved.
GMOs are the topic at hand, yes.
Do you picture enormous strawberries or seedless watermelons when
you consider the advantages of GMOs? In general, yes. The surprising
thing is that neither of those things has anything to do with GMOs. Each
GMO crop exists to answer various concerns farmers have in feeding and
supplying an expanding world with fuel, including addressing
environmental issues. Environmental sustainability is vital to all kinds of
agricultural production, whether traditional, organic, or genetically
modified. GMO crops and the features they express have had an
exceptional positive impact on the environment during the past 25+
years.
GMO seeds are one of the tools farmers use to grow crops that will feed
the world while leaving enough land for people to live on. Farmers can
achieve better harvests while using less land because GMO crops
directly combat critical challenges such as pests, weather, disease, and
food waste. Growing the same amount of crops without the use of GM
seeds would have required 23.4 million more hectares/57.8 million more
acres of land in 2020 alone. That is larger than the entire state of Idaho!
GMO crops have helped to reduce pesticides' overall environmental
impact by 17.3%. Herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops enable farmers to lessen
the number of treatments and treat fields with pesticides, frequently
glyphosate, rather than tilling. Glyphosate is a preferred pesticide among
farmers since it is safe for the environment and effectively eliminates a
variety of weed species. This means that rather than using several
herbicides repeatedly throughout the season, farmers can use a smaller
number of herbicides less frequently, similar to using one broad-spectrum
sunscreen rather than UVA and UVB protection.

20.
Ocean Acidification
Climate change isn't the only effect of carbon pollution caused by fossil fuels.
As if driving global temperature rise wasn't bad enough, increased carbon in
our atmosphere is also to blame for the rapid acidification of our planet's
oceans. Our oceans are an incredible carbon sink, absorbing approximately
25% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans each year. However, this is
drastically altering sea surface chemistry: when carbon dioxide is absorbed by
the ocean, it dissolves to form carbonic acid. As a result, the ocean becomes
more acidic, upsetting the delicate pH balance on which millions upon millions
of organisms rely.
Our seas have become about 30% more acidic since the Industrial Revolution,
a rate not seen in 300 million years. This has far-reaching implications for
marine ecosystems as well as the billions of people who rely on the ocean for
food and survival. It's no coincidence that the oceans became more acidic
after the Industrial Revolution. As humans continue to burn more fossil fuels,
the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere rises, driving climate
change and raising both air and sea temperatures.
But climate change isn't the only effect of carbon pollution; ocean acidification
is as well. As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases,
oceans absorb more and more of it, becoming - you guessed it - more acidic.
This is happening at an unprecedented rate, and it will continue indefinitely
unless we stop using dirty fossil fuels. Ocean acidification endangers more
than just marine ecosystems. It also puts strain on human food systems and
has an impact on the livelihoods of people who rely on the ocean for a living in
a variety of ways, from fishing to tourism.

21.
Water Pollution
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances, most often chemicals or
microorganisms, contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other
body of water, lowering water quality and making it toxic to humans or the
environment. Water is particularly susceptible to pollution. Water, also known
as a "universal solvent," can dissolve more substances than any other liquid
on the planet. It's what gives us Kool-Aid and brilliant blue waterfalls. It is also
the reason why water is so easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms,
towns, and factories easily dissolve and mix with it, polluting the water.
Simply put, water pollution kills. According to a study published in The Lancet,
it was responsible for 1.8 million deaths in 2015. Water contamination can also
make you sick. Every year, approximately 1 billion people become ill as a
result of contaminated water. In addition, low-income communities are
disproportionately vulnerable because their homes are frequently located
closest to the most polluting industries.
Waterborne pathogens, such as disease-causing bacteria and viruses derived
from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness caused by
contaminated drinking water. Cholera, giardia, and typhoid are among the
diseases spread by contaminated water. Even in wealthy countries, accidental
or illegal sewage treatment facility releases, as well as farm and urban runoff,
contribute harmful pathogens to waterways. Every year, Legionnaires' disease
(a severe form of pneumonia contracted from water sources such as cooling
towers and piped water) sickens thousands of people across the United
States, with cases ranging from California's Disneyland to Manhattan's Upper
East Side.

22.
Overfishing
Overfishing occurs when too many fish are caught at once, causing the
breeding population to become too depleted to recover. Overfishing is
frequently associated with wasteful commercial fishing methods that bring in
massive amounts of unwanted fish or other animals, which are then
discarded. As a result of widespread and prolonged overfishing, nearly one-
third of the world's assessed fisheries are now in serious trouble — and that
figure is likely to be underestimated because many fisheries remain
unstudied. Overfishing threatens ocean ecosystems and the billions of
people who rely on seafood for protein. Without sustainable management,
our fisheries will collapse, resulting in a food crisis.
As fishermen caught fewer and fewer fish over time, mankind began to
realize that the seas, formerly thought to be infinitely large and bountiful, are
in reality extremely susceptible. A analysis of catch statistics published in the
journal Science in 2006 tragically predicted that if such unsustainable fishing
rates continue, all of the world's fisheries will be depleted by 2048. Many
scientists believe that with vigorous fisheries management and stronger
enforcement of catch rules, such as the implementation of catch limits, most
fish stocks may be restored. Increased usage of aquaculture, or fish farming,
would also be beneficial. And there is reason to be optimistic in many areas.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which
establishes international standards for fisheries management, noted in its
2020 report that there has been a slight increase in the percentage of stocks
that are producing the most food possible in the most sustainable way
possible, which is the goal of fisheries management.

23.
Deforestation
Deforestation is the planned, natural, or accidental clearing, destruction, or
removal of trees. It can exist in any region highly inhabited by trees and other
plant life, although it is most common in the Amazon jungle right now.
Climate change, desertification, soil erosion, less crops, flooding, higher
greenhouse gases in the environment, and a slew of other issues for
Indigenous people can all result from the loss of trees and other plants.
Deforestation happens for a variety of reasons. Agriculture is the most
common cause of deforestation, accounting for 80% of all deforestation,
along with logging for materials and development. It has been going on for
thousands of years, maybe since people began transitioning from hunter-
gatherer to agrarian societies, which required larger, unobstructed tracts of
land to support cattle, crops, and dwellings. However, it became an epidemic
following the advent of the modern age.
One of the most severe and disturbing consequences of deforestation is the
extinction of animal and plant species as a result of habitat loss. Forests are
home to 70% of all land animals and plant species. Deforestation endangers
not only known species, but also unknown ones. In in addition to diminishing
habitat, a lack of trees permits more greenhouse gases to be emitted into the
atmosphere. Healthy forests collect CO2 from the atmosphere and serve as
excellent carbon sinks. Deforested areas lose this ability, causing more
carbon to be released.

24.
Acid Rain
Acid rain is characterized as precipitation that is excessively acidic due to the
presence of dissolved contaminants, making it capable of causing significant
environmental impact. Acid rain has a pH of around 4.0 due to the presence
of dissolved sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, both of which are acidic
pollutants, whereas typical rain has a pH of around 5.5.
In general, the environment can adapt to a certain quantity of acid rain. Soil is
frequently slightly basic (due to naturally occurring limestone, which has a pH
of greater than 7). Because bases neutralize acids, these soils tend to offset
part of the acidity of acid rain. However, acid rain can impact the ecology in
locations where limestone does not naturally reside in the soil, such as the
Rocky Mountains and sections of the northwest and southeastern United
States.
Frogs, for example, have a difficult difficulty adapting to and reproducing in an
acidic environment. Acid rain and acid fog harm many plants, including
evergreen trees. I've witnessed some of the acid rain damage to evergreen
trees in Germany's Black Forest. Because so many of the green pine needles
had been killed, leaving just the black trunks and branches, most of the Black
Forest was indeed black! You may also note how acid rain has eroded the
stone in some city buildings and stone artwork.
Acid rain and the pollutant particles of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide from
which it is created have been related to asthma, heart illness, and eye
irritation. Nitrogen oxides are also known to be involved in a mechanism that
produces tropospheric ozone, which is known to cause respiratory difficulties
in people.

25.
Ozone Depletion
Human activities have significantly reduced the ozone layer's size during the
last few decades. This issue has been greatly exacerbated by the manufacture
of chemicals like halons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs). These substances, which are used in spray cans, air conditioners,
refrigerators, and many other devices, destroy ozone molecules when they are
released into the atmosphere. To safeguard the ozone layer, the Montréal
Protocol, an international agreement agreed in 1987, aims to gradually phase
down the production of CFCs, HCFCs, and halons. There has been some
progress, and the extent of the ozone hole is gradually starting to stabilize.
This global loss in stratospheric ozone is closely tied to increased levels of
chlorine and bromine in the stratosphere caused by the production and release
of CFCs and other halocarbons. Industry produces halocarbons for a number of
applications, including refrigerants (in refrigerators, air conditioners, and big
chillers), aerosol propellants, blowing agents for producing plastic foams,
firefighting agents, and solvents for dry cleaning and degreasing. Theoretical
studies have been well verified by atmospheric observations, which
demonstrate that chlorine and bromine emitted from halocarbons in the
stratosphere react with and destroy ozone.
Because ozone is a greenhouse gas, the ozone layer's breakdown and
predicted regeneration has an impact on the Earth's temperature. Scientific
analyses demonstrate that the drop in stratospheric ozone observed since the
1970s has generated a cooling effect—or, more precisely, that it has offset a
tiny portion of the warming caused by growing carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gas concentrations during this time period. This cooling effect is
likely to fade as the ozone layer steadily recovers over the next few decades.

26.
The Future of the Environment
The latest UN study on the state of the climate warns that humanity's future
may be plagued with horrific natural calamities. However, that future is not
fixed in stone. The world by the end of the twenty-first century could look very
different depending on global economic trends, technological advances,
geopolitical developments, and, most importantly, how aggressively we work to
reduce carbon emissions. Or not.
The estimates of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC)
Sixth Assessment Report, whose first chapter on the physical science of
climate change was issued last week, are based on a spectrum of possible
futures. The new research includes five climate narratives that differ in terms of
expected warming and society's ability to adapt to future changes. Each tale
marries a distinct socioeconomic development scenario with a different carbon
emissions trajectory, resulting in a range of endings to the story of 21st-century
climate change in the style of a Choose Your Own Adventure game.
In some of those endings, mankind rises to the climatic problem while also
working to decrease poverty and improve the quality of life for everybody. The
world is hotter and the weather is more dangerous, yet the worst effects of
climate change have been avoided, and cultures are adapting. In others,
nationalism, rising poverty, skyrocketing emissions, and unimaginably hot
weather are fracturing global collaboration.
The differing emission levels of the various scenarios cause different levels of
warming in climate models, resulting in a spectrum of physical repercussions
on the globe, according to the IPCC report issued last week. The implications
of the various socioeconomic storylines will be more prominent in the second
and third chapters of the new IPCC report, which will be released in 2022,
because these chapters will focus on climate adaptation and mitigation,
according to Jessica Tierney, a climate scientist at the University of Arizona
and an IPCC co-author.