We all know that our environment is facing challenges, but we may not be aware of the extent of these problems. Below are 10 of the biggest problems our world is facing. Some of these are, themselves, drivers of other problems; for instance, overpopulation is a problem within itself, but may lead to other serious issues such as water and food shortage. Others are effects caused by human actions, such as pollution, waste disposal and over-fishing. In fact, a number of the below problems could be attributed to lack of appropriate education about how to live an environmentally-friendly life without having to make drastic changes to our lifestyle.

1. Overpopulation: The population of the planet has tripled in the last 60 years, and this has a negative effect on the environment. More people means more natural resources are required, so the more the population increases, the closer the planet gets to unsustainable levels and shortages of water, food and fuel. The need for more food has resulted in intensive farming practices, and a higher use of harmful substances to achieve this, such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
   
   
2. Over-fishing: At the current rate of fishing, it has been estimated that there will be no fish left in the sea by the year 2050. Over-fishing has already led to the extinction of many species of fish, and this is only going to increase, as the demand for seafood increases alongside a growing world population.
   
   
3. Pollution: When we talk about pollution, we often think of the air, but pollution is a problem for water and soil as well, and it is a problem that requires millions of years to recover from. Water is polluted mainly by oil spills and acid rain, as well as plastics that we dispose of. Soil is polluted by heavy metals, nitrates and plastic. Air pollutants include fossil fuel combustion and chemicals released by factories.
   
   
4. Deforestation: In the past 30 years, half the rainforests in the world have been destroyed, and trees are dying at a higher rate than ever before, for a variety of reasons, including poor forest management and climate change-driven drought, as well as forest fires. This has a detrimental effect on our environment, as trees produce oxygen and therefore help to maintain air quality, temperature and rainfall. The increased demand for food and shelter means that more and more trees are being cut down, which worsens the problem.
   
   
5. Ocean acidification: Over the past 250 years, the surface acidity of the ocean has increased by around 30% and is estimated to increase by 150% by 2100. This is a result of excessive production of carbon dioxide, which is absorbed into the ocean. This has a harmful effect on marine life, such as shellfish and plankton, by dissolving their skeletons.
   
   
6. Ozone layer depletion: Depletion of the ozone layer, which forms a protective barrier from harmful UV rays from the sun, is a result of pollution, particularly by chlorine and bromide found in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which cause holes to form in the ozone layer. The Environmental Protection Agency says that a single chlorine atom can break down more than 100,000 ozone molecules. So, it makes sense that CFCs have been banned from many products and industries.
   
   
7. Loss of biodiversity: Human activities are leading to the extinction of other species and their habitats. This has a domino effect on the food-chain, ultimately affecting entire ecosystems. The loss of biodiversity that our planet is facing today is often referred to as ‘The Sixth Extinction,’ and it will probably impact our world for millions of years.
   
   
8. Climate change: Climate change happens because of global warming, but human activities also contribute to the problem, and the damage cannot be reversed. Some of the outcomes include changes in the seasons, melting of polar ice caps, flooding and the onset of new diseases. The development of greener energy production to replace fossil fuels is the best way to try to reduce climate change.
   
   
9. Clean water: Clean drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce. In fact, a third of the world population has inadequate access to clean water, and this is expected to rise by up to two thirds by 2050 – a massive amount. The growing population and the increase in pollution are only making the problem worse, particularly toxins entering our waters through industrial development. One of the proposed solutions is desalinization.
   
   
10. Waste disposal: Massive amounts of rubbish are created and dumped around the world, and a large amount of this is made of plastic, which is difficult to decompose. Waste ends up in landfills and our oceans, posing a threat to human life, as well as other species, and to the environment. Recycling efforts help to reduce the problem, but this needs to be stepped up to a much larger scale if we want to make a difference.

References

https://thinkprogress.org/global-tree-cover-loss-reaches-a-record-high-in-2016-cb318998bc79/ 

https://www.thinkglobalgreen.org/deforestation.html

Green: the color of nature, of life, and of the earth. The color we associate with environmentally-friendly actions that help to preserve our earth. Many of us want to adopt this mindset and way of living, but might feel that it is a challenge to take on new habits and actions. We are here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be difficult to make your home, your workplace and your overall lifestyle more climate-friendly. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you think – and act! – green.

1. Minimize Waste
   This is the simplest tip of all – don’t use what you don’t need. For example, don’t leave electronic devices plugged in when you are not using them, don’t heat up an empty house, opt for showers over baths which use up a lot of water, don’t leave the tap running when you are washing dishes or brushing your teeth, and don’t leave the lights on when you are not in the room. If you are using a washing machine or dishwasher, wait for a full load before you clean your clothes or dishes, instead of running the machines half-full. Small changes can go a long way!
   
   
2. Make your work lunch green
   Pack your work lunches in reusable containers, and carry it in a canvas tote or other reusable bag instead of using paper or plastic bags. Pack a set of normal cutlery instead of using disposable plastic ones, and avoid using plastic straws for your drinks, as these can be very harmful to aquatic life if they end up in the oceans.
   
   
3. Eat smart
   Opt for organic food where possible, and purchase foods with minimal packaging. If you are a meat-eater, avoid eating meat for at least one day a week. Buy organic meat, eggs and dairy whenever you can.
   
   
4. Drink smart
   Make sure that you recycle drink packaging instead of tossing it in the bin, particularly plastics. Avoid buying drinks in plastic bottles where possible – especially water, which we drink so much of. Buy a reusable water bottle for a simple way to minimise your carbon footprint.
   
   
5. Green your personal care
   With so many options for beauty and healthcare products out there, it can be difficult to spot which ones are the best for the environment. Opt for organic, natural skincare, makeup, hair care and fragrances that use natural ingredients instead of harmful toxins. Search online to educate yourself on which harmful toxins you should avoid, and start reading labels on products you buy. These chemicals are not only harmful for the environment, but for your skin and body too – another reason to avoid them! You can even go one step further and make your own personal care products, so that you know exactly what goes into them. There are so many resources online to help you make your own products, be it shampoo, face masks or toothpaste, using ingredients such as coconut oil, almond oil, and even some surprise ingredients such as baking soda.
   
   
6. Go paperless
   Why use paper if you can get the same job done electronically? Instead of printing out tickets to the cinema or for your next flight, download electronic copies on your phone or tablet. Similarly, a larger document – which will obviously use up more paper – can also be downloaded and read on a PC or tablet instead of being printed out. If you do need to use paper, just make sure that you recycle it when you don’t need it any more, and print on both sides of the paper. You can also donate your magazines or pass them along to friends to get more use out of them. Finally, you can arrange for your services, such as utility bills and banking services to send you updates electronically rather than printed via the post.
   
   
7. Borrow more, buy less
   If you can avoid buying something by borrowing it, always go for that option. Borrow books from libraries, and borrow and share electrical appliances such as vacuum cleaners, printers and power tools. Find people around you, be it neighbours or work colleagues, who you can share equipment and products with, to save money, storage space, and as an added bonus, you might get to know people better by setting this up!
   
   
8. Clean green
   Make your own environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies for the home. The ingredients are simple, cheap, and you probably already have them in your house: baking soda, lemon and vinegar. Cleaning products made from these ingredients are not only non-toxic, but they are effective in cleaning different surfaces. In addition to saving money and time, you are also saving on packaging which is harmful to the environment while making your home safer, as you won’t be breathing in any harsh chemicals.
   
   
9. Don’t throw away your electronics
   If any of your electronic devices need to be disposed of, make sure you recycle them instead of throwing them in the trash. These devices cause massive problems to the environment due to the mercury and other toxic substances that they contain. If you don’t have an adequate recycling option, ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling collection.
   
   
10. Buy smart
    If you buy products in bulk, you save money, but you also save packaging. Opt for toxin-free products made with natural ingredients where possible. Finally, buy long-lasting products to save on packaging and reduce waste.

Sustainable living is a way of living that decreases your demand on the Earth’s natural resources as well as your own personal resources, for instance by reducing your carbon footprint or by using products and services that use sustainable, environmentally-friendly methods. Here are some easy ways to practise sustainable living:

1. Change the lights in your house from traditional bulbs to CFL, use skylights and natural light where possible, and using more energy efficient light sources to decrease the amount of waste in landfills.
2. Become a member of a community garden to grow your own produce, promote sustainable living in your area and help in offsetting carbon emissions.
3. Start using reusable bags instead of plastic ones when you go shopping, and use a reusable water bottle instead of disposable plastic bottles.
4. Unplug your electronic devices when you are not using them, as they will continue to draw electricity even when they are not turned on, if they remain plugged into the socket. This will help you to save money as well as energy.
5. Buy products with less packaging, and more importantly, with recyclable packaging, to avoid waste going into landfills and polluting the environment.
6. Walk, bike, use public transport or car pool to go to work. This will ensure more efficient use of cars where they are necessary, and if you opt for walking or biking, not only will this reduce your carbon footprint, it will also benefit your health.
7. Unsubscribe from mailing lists that send you paper correspondence in the post. Sign up to online mailing for services such as banking and utility bills to reduce your paper usage.
8. Use natural cleaning products to decrease the amount of plastic packaging you use, as well as the chemicals you use, that enter the water system. There are lots of options out there, including simple ingredients such as vinegar and lemon.
9. Spend more time doing activities that do not involve electronics or other energy and natural resources, such as running, playing games and reading.
10. Recycle or reuse products as necessary, and educate yourself on the best way to recycle different materials. Keep a recycle bin in your house and make sure you take it to the appropriate recycling station when full.
11. Don’t over-clean everything – reduce your water usage by washing dishes in a sink of water instead of letting the tap run, take short showers and cut down on the amount of laundry that you do, or at least don’t wash clothes if the machine is only half-full and wait for it to fill before using it.
12. Choose renewable energy over fossil fuels where possible, for instance by installing solar panels to heat water, or speaking to your utility to find out about other options.
13. Try to get a more natural sleep cycle, as this will help you to reduce the amount of power you use while you are awake at night, and get you more attuned to natural light during the day.
14. Keep a zero-energy balance budget: what you use, you also give back. This will make you more aware of the energy you are using, and make you more responsible when it comes to changing your habits to become more environmentally friendly.
15. Use daylight as much as you can. If it’s still light outside, draw open the curtains to let natural light in, instead of keeping them shut and using artificial indoor lighting.