Environmental Science
Environmental issues and solutions
• A variety of environmental problems now affect our entire world. As globalization
continues and the earth's natural processes transform local problems into
international issues, few societies are being left untouched by major environmental
problems.
Some of the largest problems now affecting the world are:
• Acid Rain
• Air Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Plastic pollution
• Global Warming
• Deforestation
• Ozone Depletion
• Smog
• Overpopulation
• Rain Forest Destruction
• Melting Ice Caps and Sea Level Rise
• Ocean Acidification
• Soil Degradation
• Global warming
• Natural Resource Depletion
ACID RAIN
• The term acid rain refers to scientists
call acid deposition.
• It is caused by acidic pollutants and has
highly destructive results.
• Acid rain, one of the most important
environmental problems of all, cannot
be seen. The invisible gases that cause
acid rain usually come from
automobiles or coal burning power
plants.
ACID RAIN CAUSES
• The primary causes of acid rain are sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These
chemicals are released by certain industrial processes, and as a result, the more
industrialized nations of Europe as well as the US suffer severely from acid rain.
• Most sulphur dioxide comes from power plants that use coal as their fuel.
These plants emit 100 million tons of sulphur dioxide, 70% of that in the world.
Automobiles produce about half of the world's nitrogen oxide.
• As the number of automobiles in use increases, so does the amount of acid
rain.
• Power plants that burn fossil fuels also contribute significantly to nitrogen
oxide emission.
• Though human causes are primarily responsible for acid rain, natural causes exist
as well.
• Fires, volcanic eruptions, bacterial decomposition, and lightening also greatly
increase the amount of nitrogen oxide on the planet.
• Once the tiny pollutant molecules have entered the atmosphere, they can travel for
thousands of miles. Eventually the particles will combine with other compounds to
produce new, often harmful, chemicals.
• Acid rain comes down to earth in the form of rain, snow, hail, fog, frost, or dew.
• Once it reaches the ground, the acidity in the substance can harm and even destroy
both natural ecosystems and man made products, such as car finishes.
ACID RAIN EFFECTS
• Acid rain is having harmful effects both on people and on the natural ecosystems of
the world.
• Scientists today are convinced that acid rain is severe in many areas, and that it is
having an adverse effect on the environments of those locations.
• Acid Rain Affect Aquatic Ecosystem Many ecosystems are affected by acid rain.
Bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, see many of their inhabitants die off due to
rising acidity levels.
Acid Rain Effect on Trees and Plants
• Aside from aquatic bodies, acid deposition can significantly impact forests. As acid
rain falls on trees, it can make them lose their leaves, damage their bark, and stunt
their growth.
• By damaging these parts of the tree, it makes them vulnerable to disease, extreme
weather, and insects.
• Acid falling on a forest’s soil is also harmful because it disrupts soil nutrients, kills
microorganisms in the soil, and can sometimes cause a calcium deficiency.
• Trees at high altitudes are also susceptible to problems induced by acidic cloud cover
as the moisture in the clouds blankets them.
Acid rain effect on Buildings
• Finally, acid deposition also has an impact on architecture and art because of its
ability to corrode certain materials.
• As acid lands on buildings (especially those constructed with limestone) it reacts
with minerals in the stones sometimes causing it to disintegrate and wash away.
• Acid deposition can also corrode modern buildings, cars, railroad tracks, airplanes,
steel bridges, and pipes above and below ground .
Acid Rain – Solutions
• Modern science has proven that acid rain is a dangerous and highly destructive
problem.
• As a result, various ways to limit acid rain have been invented, and some are now
being used.
• There are many ways that power plant companies like Northern States can reduce
acid rain creation.
• They can use coal with a low sulphur content, they can remove the sulphur from
smoke their plants release, and they can limit processes known to generate high
levels of acid rain.
• Policy makers and environmental experts are now looking into the best methods to
limit acid rain.
• Environmentalists advocate the installation of sulphur cleaning scrubbers in
factories, washing sulphur out of coal, and finding new methods of burning coal.
Power plant operators are looking for less expensive solutions to the problem.
Individuals can help by conserving energy or driving their cars less.
• Governments can pass laws restricting pollution levels, or can use a variety of
methods such as tradable emission permits to reduce acid rain. Whatever way it is
done, acid rain will certainly have to be limited in the future .
AIR POLLUTION
• Every day, the average person
inhales about 20,000 liters of air.
Every time we breathe, we risk
inhaling dangerous chemicals that
have found their way into the air.
• Air pollution includes all
contaminants found in the
atmosphere. These dangerous
substance can be either in the form
of gases or particles.
• Air pollution can be found both outdoors and indoors. Pollutants can be trapped
inside buildings, causing indoor pollution that lasts for a long time.
• The sources of air pollution are both natural and human based. As one might expect,
humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution as time has
progressed, and they now account for the majority of pollutants released into the air.
Fundamental Causes of Air Pollution
• Industrialization set in motion the widespread use of fossil fuels which are now the
main drivers of pollution as we know it.
POPULATION GROWTH
• It causes the demand for food and
other goods to go up, which is met
by expanded production and use of
natural resources.
• This then leads to higher levels of
atmospheric pollution.
Globalization
• It has in a way become a facilitator of air pollution.
• Big industry takes advantage of environmental controls in developing nations and
moves the manufacturing facilities to such “pollution havens” from where air
pollution travels around the world without any obstacles.
AIR POLLUTION – EFFECTS
• Of course, atmospheric pollution would not be such a big problem if it weren’t for its
harmful effects on humans, animals, trees and the wider environment.
• We can distinguish between short-term acute effects and long-term chronic effects of
air pollution.
• Air pollutants enter the body primarily through the respiratory system which thus
becomes their main victim.
• Each air pollutant exerts their own specific adverse impacts, ranging from mild to
really damaging.
AIR POLLUTION – SOLUTIONS
• Air pollution has many disastrous effects that need to be curbed. In order to
accomplish this, governments, scientists and environmentalists are using or testing a
variety of methods aimed at reducing pollution.
• There are two main types of pollution control.
• Input control involves preventing a problem before it occurs, or at least limiting the
effects the process will produce.
• Five major input control methods exist.
• People may try to restrict population growth use less energy, improve energy
efficiency, reduce waste, and move to non-polluting renewable forms of energy
production. Also, automobile-produced pollution can be decreased with highly
beneficial results.
• Output control, the opposite method, seeks to fix the problems caused by air
pollution.
• This usually means cleaning up an area that has been damaged by pollution. Input
controls are usually more effective than output controls.
• Output controls are also more expensive, making them less desirable to tax payers
and polluting industries.
• Current air pollution control efforts are not all highly effective. In wealthier countries,
industries are often able to shift to methods that decrease air pollution.
• In the United States, for example, air pollution control laws have been successful in
stopping air pollution levels from rising.
• However, in developing countries and even in countries where pollution is strictly
regulated, much more needs to be done.
GLOBAL WARMING
• Global warming, also known as the
greenhouse effect, immediately received
international attention.
• Scientists, environmentalists, and
governments around the world took an
interest in the subject.
• Global warming is called the green house
effect because the gases that are gathering
above the earth make the planet
comparable to a greenhouse. By trapping
heat near the surface of the earth, the
greenhouse effect is warming the planet
and threatening the environment.
GLOBAL WARMING - CAUSES
• Global warming has a variety of causes. One of the largest factors contributing to
global warming is the general problem of overpopulation and its many effects.
• Many different gases can increase the planets temperature. The number of different
products and human activities that contribute to global warming are so numerous
that finding solutions to the problem is very difficult.
• Using a refrigerator releases dangerous gases, turning on the lights requires energy
from a power plant, and driving to work causes gas emissions from the car.
• Though having an atmosphere is important, the greenhouses effect may be making it
excessively thick. The levels of gases covering the Earth have soared with
industrialization and developed countries now produce about 75% of greenhouse
gases.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON EARTH?
• The effects could be enormous. Relative to the hectic pace of your daily life, global
warming is a slow moving problem. Unstoppable climatic shift could have devastating
impacts in years to come.
• Changing the temperature will likely have some effect on the planet’s weather, but
just what that effect will be nearly impossible to predict.
• Some portion of the polar icecaps would melt, raising global sea levels.
GLOBAL WARMING - SOLUTIONS
• Certain laws and treaties are aimed at reducing the emission of pollutants that result
in global warming. In 1988, the international conference on the changing atmosphere
drew scientists and decision makers from 48 countries.
• Raising fossil fuels, taxing emissions, and encouraging people to take environment
friendly action through such activities as planting trees will all help.
• Because many problems leading to global warming are caused or contributed to by
overpopulation, people are beginning to work to reduce family sizes. Family planning
services actually help in the fight against global warming.
• Education is a key method of reducing the greenhouse effect. By teaching people
about such things as deforestation, environmental activists hope to prevent the
problems that ultimately lead to global warming.
• Widespread media attention to the global warming is also increasing awareness.
RAIN FOREST DESTRUCTION
• The atmosphere and oceans are not the only parts of the environment being
damaged. Rain forests are being quickly destroyed.
• Amazon’s rain forest, and many more are being cut down.
• According to some estimates, 50 million acres of rain forest are cut down every year.
• The world’s growing population has been a primary cause of rain forest destruction.
More people need land to live on and wood products to consume.
Solutions:
• For all purposes for which tropical timber is used, other woods or materials could be
substituted.
• We can stop using tropical timber and urge others to do the same. As long as there is
a market for tropical timbers, trees will continue to be cut down. Labeling schemes,
aimed at helping consumers to chose environmental friendly timbers, are currently
being discussed in many countries.
Importance of mass awareness
in Environmental studies
• Environmental awareness is important because our earth provides resources that
are essential to our well-being and quality of life.
• These resources include clean air, water, and soil, as well as a wide range of plants and
animals that contribute to the richness and diversity of our planet.
• Another reason why environmental awareness is so crucial is that it can help people
live healthier lives. People can protect themselves and their families from health risks
by learning about the dangers of air pollution, water contamination, and toxic
chemicals.
• Human activities such as pollution, deforestation, and over consumption can have
negative impacts on the environment.
• These activities can lead to environmental degradation, resulting in serious
consequences for humans and the environment, such as climate change, habitat loss,
and resource depletion. It is for this reason that environmental awareness is so
important.
• Most people are unaware of the various ways in which they can help the environment.
• It is important to be environmentally aware so we can do our part in preserving our
planet. There are many things we can do to be more environmentally conscious, such
as recycling, using less water, and using energy-efficient appliances.
• Human activities such as pollution, deforestation, and over consumption can have
negative impacts on the environment.
• These activities can lead to environmental degradation, resulting in serious
consequences for humans and the environment, such as climate change, habitat loss,
and resource depletion. It is for this reason that environmental awareness is so
important.
• Most people are unaware of the various ways in which they can help the environment.
• It is important to be environmentally aware so we can do our part in preserving our
planet. There are many things we can do to be more environmentally conscious, such
as recycling, using less water, and using energy-efficient appliances.
[Link] (Environmental) Education System
• 1970s – Environmental situation in the Philippines assessed as “alarming”
• 1977: Department of Education Culture & Sports (DECS) started integrating
environmental education subjects in the school curriculum at all levels; and the various
government agencies started public information activities to stimulate awareness and
encourage involvement in environmental protection.
• 1980s: Intense environmental awareness campaign set up
• 1986: Environmental Education Network of the Philippines (EENP)* established
*In 1986, the Institute of Environmental Science and Management (IESAM) of the University of the
Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) submitted to the Ford Foundation a proposal to support financially the
organization of the Environmental Education Network of the Philippines. Seeing the potentials of such
network, the Ford Foundation readily approved the proposal thereby paving the way for the network’s
organizational meeting on March 4, 1988. This network was called the Environmental Education
Network of the Philippines (EENP), a loose organization of 8 academic and research institutions.
• 1988: Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development drafted, where environmental
education was one of the 10-pronged strategies
• 1989: National Strategy on Environmental Education was formulated
• 1990s: Focus on capacity building efforts
• 1992: National Environmental Education Action Plan created
• 1996: Philippine Association of Tertiary Level Educational Institutions in Environmental
Protection and Management (PATLEPAM) set up
• 1998: Environmental Education Curriculum Frameworks for all levels formulated
• 1999-2000: National and Regional Educators’ Trainings on the use of the EE Curriculum
Framework for Basic Education, Technical and Vocational Education, and Higher
Education were conducted.
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