Environmental Issues

Air Pollution

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases that are detrimental to human health and the planet. We compiled a list of the main causes of air pollution in general:

The Burning of Fossil Fuels

Releases sulfur dioxide from: factories, vehicles, etc...

Waste in Landfills

Where methane is released which is a major greenhouse gas

Agricultural Activities

Where pesticides are used and other chemicals such as ammonia are released

Major Contributors to Air Pollution

China generates the most pollution and is the major contributor to the increase of CO2 levels with 28% of the world’s CO2 emissions (or 10.06 GT). Up next we have the United States with 15% (or 5.41GT) and India with 7% (or 2.65GT)

China

An enormous economic boom
Population growth
Output from manufacturing

USA

Transportation
Electricity
Industry
Commercial and residential sectors
Agriculture

India

Fuel and biomass burning
Fuel adulteration
Traffic congestion
Greenhouse gas emissions

Consequences

Both short-term and long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart diseases and lung cancer in humans but also has a major impact on the process of plant evolution by preventing photosynthesis and, in many cases, with serious consequences on the purification of the air we breathe. It also contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

Solutions

Developing sustainable transport in cities

Implementing solid waste management

Providing access to clean household fuels and cook-stoves

Developing market for renewable energies and energy efficiency

Implementing industrial emissions reductions

Water Pollution

Water pollution is when a lake, river, ocean, stream, aquifer, or any body of water is contaminated by harmful substances, degrading the quality of the water. Some of the causes are:

Industrial Waste

Which produces a huge amount of waste,contains harmful chemicals and can change the color of the water

Accidental Oil Leakage

Causing a lot of problems for local marine wildlife

Fossil fuels

That when they burn, produce particles that mixed with water vapor, can create acid rains

Consequences

Human Health

Contaminated waters caused 1.8 million deaths in 2015 majorly due to waterborne pathogens, which come from illegal releases from sewage facilities

Environment

Water pollution can reduce the levels of oxygen in the water, suffocating the local wildlife and can reduce an organism's life span

Climate Change

Climate change is a global phenomenon described by the shifting of the usual climate of the planet that is mostly caused by human activities, such as temperature, rain and wind changes, mainly caused by the "greenhouse effect".
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Gases that contribute include: Water vapor, CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Chlorofluorocarbons.

Consequences

Climate Change

Climate change can put 20-30% of all species in risk by destroying their natural habitats and ecosystems

Impact in the Polar Regions

The melting of several ice sheets, increasing the global sea level rise.

Impact in the Oceans

The increase of the concentration of carbon dioxide, making the water more acidic and the increase of the temperature, killing 70-100% of coral reefs.

Impact in the Forests

Wildfires, which can destroy communities and release a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing high levels of extinction