Environment,
Environmental Pollution
and Related Issues
By: Ms. Mohita Yadav
Environmental Studies and Environmental Law
QUESTION:
• WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM ENVIRONMENT AND
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION?
Environment:
• The environment is a very complex phenomenon. To understand the concept (environment), it is necessary to
know about the ecology, eco-system and biosphere as explained hereunder:
• Ecology: The term ‘ecology’ is a Greek word, connected to the environment. It is a branch of biology
dealing with relations of living organisms to their surroundings, their habits, modes of life etc.
According to the United States Council on the Environmental Quality (it advises and assist the President on the
national and international environmental policy matters), “Ecology is the science of the intricate web of
relationships between living organisms and their living and non-living surroundings”. Thus, it (ecology) may be
described as “the science involved in the study of organisms in relation to their environment”.
• Ecosystem: An assemblage of species of plants and animals inhabiting a common area and having effects on
one another is known as ‘biotic community’. A combination of such biotic community with the physical
environment is called ‘ecosystem’. The United States Council on the Environmental Quality observed that “the
interdependence of living and non-living parts i.e. man, animals, plants, forests, lakes, etc. make
eco-system”.
• Biosphere: ‘Biosphere’ is that part of the earth and atmosphere, which is inhabited by living beings. It is the
surface area of the earth, which is made up of the atmosphere, the oceans, upper surfaces of the land areas of
the continents and islands and the fresh water associated with them and living things, which inhabit this area.
In this area, the energy of the sun is available to activate living processes.
General Meaning of the word
Pollution:
• The word pollution originates from the Latin word “polluere,” which means “to defile.” By 1828,
Noah Webster’s (An American Dictionary) first dictionary listed the definitions of pollution in
various ways like: 1. The act of polluting. 2. Defilement; uncleanness; impurity; the state of
being polluted. 3. In the Jewish economy, legal or ceremonial uncleanness, which disqualified a
person from sacred services or for common intercourse with the people, or rendered any thing
unfit for sacred use. 4. In a religious sense, guilt, the effect of sin etc.
• Several environmental historians were exploring the history of environmental pollution in the
nineteenth and twentieth century, and how “pollution” became the term that is so familiar to us
now. Professor Adam Rome (An environmental historian) wrote a comprehensive account of this
development in a 1996 article. According to Rome, Americans rarely used the words pollute and
pollution to refer to “human degradation of the environment” until after the Civil War. Instead,
pollute and pollution referred to the “violation, perversion, or corruption of moral standards.”
What people now know as air pollution was labeled as “smoke,” “noxious vapors,” or simply a
“nuisance.” Air was not polluted, but “contaminated,” “tainted,” “vitiated,” or “corrupted”.
Cont….
• People used “trade wastes,” “industrial wastes,” and other terms to describe
what we now characterize as water pollution. These terms reflected the early
nineteenth century understanding.
• The rapid urbanization and industrialization that occurred during the nineteenth
century provoked increased concern about many of the problems now called
pollution. Indeed, by the 1850s, a few sanitary reformers had begun to use the
verb ‘pollute’ ” to refer to emissions into the air and dischargers into the water.
(Sanitary reform was a social movement to improve public health around 1840)
• The concept of air pollution developed later than water pollution. Justice
Holmes’s made reference to “the pollution in the air” in the famous Georgia v.
Tennessee Copper Co. smelter case illustrates one of the first references to air
pollution. (Georgia v. Tennessee Copper Co., 206 U.S. 230, 238 (1907)).
Environment under EPA 1986
• According to section 2(a) of the EPA 1986, environment includes water, air and land
and the inter-relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and
human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property,
Meaning of Environmental Pollution:
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: According to Section 2(c) of the Act,
‘Environmental Pollution’ means “the presence in the environment of any
environmental pollutant”. This definition is not comprehensive and should be read with
‘Environmental Pollutant’ and ‘hazardous substance’ as defined under Sec. 2(b) and
2(e) of the Act respectively as follows:
• Environmental Pollutant: According to Sec 2(b) of the Act, ‘Environmental Pollutant’
means “any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such concentration as may be
or tend to be injurious to environment”.
• Hazardous Substance:- According to Sec 2(e) of the Act, ‘hazardous substance’
means “any substance or preparation, which, by reason of its chemical or physico-
chemical properties or handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living
creatures, plants, micro-organisms, property or the environment”.
Cont….
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: According to Sec 2(b) of the
Act, the term ‘Air Pollution’ means “the presence in the atmosphere of any air pollutant”.
According to Section 2(a) of the Act, ‘Air Pollutant’ means “any solid, liquid or gaseous
substance including noise present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or
tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or
environment”.
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1974: According to Sec. 2(e) of
the Act, ‘pollution’ means “such contamination of water or such alteration of the physical,
chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge of any sewage or trade effluent
or of any other liquid, gaseous or solid substance into water whether directly or indirectly as
may or is likely to create a nuisance or render such water harmful or injurious to public health
or safety or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural or other legitimate uses or to the
life and health of animals or plants or of aquatic organisms”. It may be noted that the water,
which is unfit for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural or other legitimate uses, it
shall be deemed to be polluted.
Sources of the pollution:
• There are various sources/factors causing Environmental Pollution. The main sources
are explained below:
• Natural Causes:- Pollution caused by the natural hazards viz., cyclones, floods,
earthquakes etc. is called “Natural Pollution or by Natural Causes”.
• Artificial Causes:- Pollution caused by artificial causes viz., the intervention of
human agency is called “Artificial Pollution or by Artificial Causes”. They are two,
namely: Population Growth; and Industrialisation etc.
• Homework: Examples of these sources.
NOTE: PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN CONTENT ALSO.
Air pollution:
• Air-pollution is mainly caused by smokes and gases released from the factories and motor
vehicles. It gets polluted by dust, smoke, toxic gases, chemical vapours etc., and causes
sickness and death. 50% of air pollution is caused by automobiles.
• Air-pollution cannot be prevented without a concerted effort through International Co-
operation. The Indian Parliament passed the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981 with a view to preventing the air-pollution.
• The definition adopted by the World Health Organisation is as follows: “Substances put into
the air by the activity of mankind in a concentration sufficient to cause harmful effects on his
health, vegetation, property or to interfere with the enjoyment of his property”.
• Definition according to Sec. 2(b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 is
mentioned in the previous slides.
• This definition under Sec. 2(b) is quite comprehensive since it covers/includes ‘noise’ as a
potential air pollutant.
Sources of Air Pollution:
• The main sources causing air pollution are; i) The combustion of fuels to produce energy for
heating and power; ii) Transportation (vehicular traffic); iii) Industrial and Commercial
processes; iv) Incineration (burning of wastes, i.e., rubber, plastic products etc. without
combustion equipment); v) Agricultural activities etc.
• Effects:- Air-pollution has an adverse effect on the environmental and climatic conditions:
human health and safety; plants and animals and other socio-economic conditions.
• M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India and Other, (1991) 2 SCC 353: (Vehicular pollution case)
• The petitioner, M.C. Mehta is a leading legal practitioner (Advocate) in the Supreme Court.
He became very popular by filing public interest litigation writ petitions in the Supreme Court
under Art. 32 Of the Indian Constitution. In this case, he filed a writ petition in the Supreme
Court against the heavy vehicular traffic pollution in New Delhi. The Supreme Court directed
the Central Government to appoint a committee to study/examine various issues relating to
traffic pollution and to take necessary steps to prevent the same.
Measures taken to prevent Air
Pollution:
• As the air-pollution is a global problem, India also is not free from the serious threat of
air pollution. In view of industrialisation and urbanisation, about four million tonnes of
sulphur dioxide, seven million tonnes of particulates, one million tonnes of carbon
monoxide etc. are released into the air every year. Thus, there is an urgent need to
take stringent steps against the threatening dimensions of air-pollution.
• Complete eradication of air-pollution is very difficult and technically impossible. It can
be controlled to some extent by taking technological, legislative and
administrative measures. Containment (prevention of the escape of toxic
substances into the air by engineering devices), Reduction of concentration of toxic
substances etc. are the technological measures. exclusive legislation on air-pollution is
the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. 1981. The Act also provided for the
administrative mechanism by creating Central and State Pollution Control Boards.
Water Pollution:
• Water pollution has been defined as “the change in the composition of water in such a
way, that it becomes unwholesome for human consumption”. Water-pollution today has
been considered as one of the major problems of the world and the states (nations)
directed to pass appropriate legislation to prevent the water-pollution. Therefore, the
Indian Parliament passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1974.
• According to Section 2(e) of the pollution means “such contamination of water or such
alteration of the physical, chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge
of any sewage or trade effluent or of any other liquid, gaseous or solid substance into
water (whether directly or indirectly) as may, or is likely to, create a nuisance or render
such water harmful or injurious to public health or safety, or to the domestic,
commercial, industrial. agricultural or other legitimate uses, or to the life and health of
animals or plants or of aquatic organisms”.
Cont…
• Sources of Water Pollution:- The main cause of water pollution is the discharge of solid or liquid
waste products containing pollutants. They are: (i) domestic and commercial wastes; (ii) Industrial
wastes ; (iii) agricultural wastes; (iv) air-pollution; (v) chemical substances; (vi) thermal wastes; (vii)
radioactive substances; (vii) suspended matters etc.
• Effects:- Water pollution causes deleterious effects on the environment, which includes public health
and safety. plants and animal life, land. property etc. The extent of water pollution in India is very
obvious since all the major rivers are highly polluted. It is estimated that more than 60 per cent of the
diseases in India is due to the pollution of water.
• Preventive Measures:- Various measures have been taken for the prevention of water pollution in
India. The Indian Parliament passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. 1974 as a
supplement to the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 relating to Water Pollution Control Boards have
been set up to promote cleanliness of the water and to prevent pollution. The municipal bodies are
entrusted with the control of solid wastes through treatment plants, throughout the country. The Union
Ministry of Forests, Environment and Wild Life has developed action plans for the prevention of
pollution of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Despite the above efforts, the massive problem of water
pollution still remains unabated.
Noise Pollution:
• Noise is a form of sound. It is an unwanted or undesired and unpleasant sound, which
produces a bad effect on health (loss of hearing capacity, fatigue, digestive system,
blood pressure etc.).
• Harell defined noise as “an unwanted sound which increases fatigue and under some
industrial conditions, it causes deafness”. According to J. Tiffin, “Noise is a sound which
is disagreeable for the individual and which disturbs the normal way of an individual”.
Industries, Loudspeakers, Automobiles, Aircraft, Trains, Construction works, Radio, T. V
Microphones etc. are the main sources of Noise.
Cont….
• In India, there is no law exclusively dealing with the problem of noise. However, we
have the Noise Pollution Control Order 2000 and the following provisions are provided:
• Articles 48-A and 51-A(g) of the Indian Constitution.
• Sections 268 and 290 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
• Chapter Ill of Factories Act, 1948.
• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Rules Framed thereunder;
• The Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 (provides for certain provisions).
Land or Soil Pollution:
• The soil is the heart of life. Any sickness of the soil will inevitably affect the health of
man. Destruction of soil, erosion of soil, creation of dust bowls etc. render the land
polluted. The major source of land pollution is the massive amount of solid wastes
deposited by use here and there.
• Household refuses, industrial waste etc. are land pollutants. The most dangerous is
plastic components (plastic bags, plastic papers etc.). Chemicals also create land
pollution. The major source of land pollution is urbanisation. Agricultural operations,
mining operations, felling of trees result in land pollution.
NOTE: We will be discussing these pollutions in detail in other Units.
Cont….
• Food Pollution:- Food gets polluted from its source. Food pollution begins, when
chemicals are used from plant growth. These chemicals, directly and indirectly, affect
the quality of food. Food also gets polluted during processing, storage, transportation
and retailing. When polluted or adulterated food is consumed, it affects the health of
the consumer.
• Radio Active Pollution:- Radioactive pollution is “the pollution caused by the blast of
atoms”. Some elements such as radium, uranium etc. emit invisible effects known as
radiation. The emission of these invisible radiations is known as ‘radioactivity’ and such
substances are called ‘radioactive substances’.
• When the amount of radiation received is exceeded (i.e. when it crosses the
permissible limits), then it causes pollution known as radioactive pollution.
Note: You can add other types of pollution as well.
Current Environmental Issues
“Environmental issues are defined as problems with the planet’s systems (air, water, soil, etc.) that
have developed as a result of human interference or mistreatment of the planet.” Current
environmental problems like climate change etc make us vulnerable to disasters and tragedies, now
and in the future. Example: Covid 19.
"We are the first generation to fully understand the climate change and the last generation to be able to do
something about it." (United Nations World Meteorological Organization)
1. Climate Change - Climate Crisis (Global Warming)
• Climate change, or global warming, is the greatest environmental threat and how we respond to this crisis will greatly
impact both current and future generations.
• The global carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere has exceeded 400 parts per million. This level
is considered a tipping point. "Carbon dioxide levels today are higher than at any point in at least the past 800,000 years.
For example, the West Antarctic ice shelf appears to have passed its tipping point and is now in an irreversible melting
process. Once escalating global warming is finally ended, it may take tens of thousands of years to restore that ice shelf—if
it ever could even happen.
• Carbon dioxide absorbs and radiates heat.
• Carbon dioxide concentrations are rising mostly because of the fossil fuels that people are burning for energy. Fossil fuels
like coal and oil contain carbon that plants pulled out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis over the span of many
millions of years; we are returning that carbon to the atmosphere in just a few hundred years.
• A new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report warns that unless global greenhouse gas emissions fall by 7.6% each
year between 2020 and 2030, the world will miss the opportunity to get on the track towards the 1.5°C temperature goal
of the Paris Agreement. (talk about carbon trading)
Cont….
• "There is an alarming evidence that important tipping points, leading to irreversible changes in
major ecosystems and the planetary climate system, may already have been reached or passed.
Ecosystems as diverse as the Amazon rainforest and the Arctic tundra, may be approaching
thresholds of dramatic change through warming and drying.
• Another reason carbon dioxide is a problem, is that it dissolves into the ocean like the fizz in a can
of soda. It reacts with water molecules, producing carbonic acid and lowering the ocean's
pH. (Ocean acidification)
• The issue of the melting of polar ice caps is a contentious one. Although NASA studies have
shown that the amount of ice in Antarctica is increasing, however, this increase is only one-third of
what is being lost in the Arctic.
• There is enough evidence that shows sea levels are rising, and the melting of Arctic ice caps is a
major contributor. Over time, the melting of polar ice caps could lead to extensive flooding,
contamination of drinking water and major changes in ecosystems.
3. Ocean Acidification: An Emerging Global
Problem
• It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of total atmospheric CO2 is produced by
humans. The ocean acidity has increased by the last 250 years, but by 2100, it may shoot up by
150%.
• When carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by seawater, chemical reactions occur that reduce
seawater pH (A pH unit is a measure of acidity ranging from 0-14. The lower the value, the
higher the acidity of the environment. A shift in pH to a lower value reflects an increase in
acidity.)and saturation states of biologically important calcium carbonate minerals. These
chemical reactions are termed "ocean acidification" or "OA" for short. Calcium carbonate
minerals are the building blocks for the skeletons and shells of many marine organism. So the
continued ocean acidification is causing many parts of the ocean to become undersaturated with
these minerals, which is likely to affect the ability of some organisms to produce and maintain
their shells.
• For example, increasing ocean acidification has been shown to significantly reduce the ability of
reef-building corals to produce their skeletons. In a recent paper, coral biologists reported
that ocean acidification could compromise the successful fertilization. These research results
suggest that ocean acidification could severely impact the ability of coral reefs to recover from
disturbance.
5. Oil Spills
• Oil damages marine ecosystems, coastal environments and wildlife.
• Although previous oil spills around the world have not been in as environmentally
sensitive areas, they have still significantly affected marine animals and plants.
• In 2010, the Deep Water Horizon incident off the Gulf of Mexico saw nearly
400,000 tonnes of oil spill, resulting in the death of thousands of species ranging
from plankton to dolphins.
• There were also other longer-term impacts on marine life including impaired
reproduction, reduced growth and disease.
• In 1978, a large crude oil carrier ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France,
which leaked nearly 70 million gallons of oil into the sea.
• Around 200 miles of the French coast were polluted by the oil slick, and it killed
millions of sea organisms. The spill also killed an estimated 20,000 birds, and
contaminated oyster beds in the region.
• Experts say that despite best efforts, generally less than 10% of oil
spilled in incidents like these are successfully cleaned up.
Oil spill in Mauritius (25 July, 2020)
• The amount of oil spilled from the Japanese-owned ship nearby the lagoons and coastal
areas of south-east Mauritius was relatively low compared to the big oil spills the world
has seen in the past, but the damage it caused was huge and long-lasting.
• Unlike most previous offshore spills, this had taken place near two environmentally
protected marine ecosystems (a biological community of interacting organisms and
their physical environment), eg:"the marine ecosystem of the northern Gulf had
suffered irreparable damage" and the Blue Bay Marine Park reserve, which is a
wetland (where water covers the soil, the land with marshes) of international
importance.
• So, it was the location rather than the size of the spill which caused greatest concern
about its potentially serious environmental impact.
• If in such situations, the oil will wash into coastal marshes, mangrove forests, or
other wetlands, fibrous plants and grasses absorb oil, it and make the area
unsuitable as wildlife habitat. can damage plants
• Chennai Oil Spill, 2017
[Link]
2. Generating unsustainable waste and Waste
Disposal
• The huge production of waste due to our hyper consumption is also a major threat to the
environment. As per the study, the US alone accounts for 220 million tons waste a year.
• This hyper consumption results in non-biodegradable trash in the form of plastic packaging, toxic e-
waste, and harmful chemicals that leach into our waterways.
• When this waste ends up in landfills, it generates enormous amounts of methane, which ranks as one
of the worst greenhouse gases because of its high potential for global warming. It creates severe
explosion hazards.
• Since modern technology allows us to access digital environments, many things that you need can be
fulfilled in the cloud. Consider your purchases carefully. Example: less use of pen and paper.
• Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount of waste or garbage and
dumping their waste in the oceans and less developed countries.
• Nuclear waste disposal has tremendous health hazards associated with it. Plastic, fast food,
packaging and cheap electronic wastes threaten the well being of humans. Waste disposal is,
therefore, one of the urgent current environmental problems.
4. Deforestation
• Our forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen, as well as helps in
regulating temperature and rainfall. At present, forests cover 30% of the land, but every year tree
cover is lost due to the growing population demand for more food, shelter and
cloth. Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and make that land available for
residential, industrial or commercial purposes.
6. Genetic Engineering
• Genetic modification of food using biotechnology is called genetic engineering. Genetic
modification of food results in increased toxins and diseases as genes from an allergic plant
can transfer to the target plant. Genetically modified crops can cause
serious environmental problems as an engineered gene may prove toxic to wildlife.
• Another drawback is that increased use of toxins to make insect resistant plants can cause
resultant organisms to become resistant to antibiotics.
• The need for change in our daily lives and the movements of our government is growing. Since
so many different factors come into play, such as voting, governmental issues, the desire to stick
to a routine, many people don’t consider that what they do will affect future generations.
• If humans continue moving forward in such a harmful way towards the future, then there will be
no future to consider. Although it’s a fact that we cannot physically stop our ozone layer from
thinning (and scientists are still having trouble figuring out what is causing it exactly), there are
still so many things we can do to try and put a dent in what we already know.
• By raising awareness in your local community and within your families about these issues, you
can help contribute to a more environmentally conscious and friendly place for you and your
future generations to live.
7. The Nitrogen Cycle
• We often ignore the effects of the use of nitrogen by humans. Nitrogen is a crucial component of all
life. Problems occur when the nitrogen cycle is not balanced.
• A process through which it is converted or ‘fixed” to a more usable form is called fixation. The fixation
happens biologically and through lightning, or it can be done Industrially. People have learned to
convert nitrogen gas to ammonia (NH3-) and fertilizers that are nitrogen-rich to supplement the
amount of nitrogen fixed naturally.
• It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for about 50% of the nitrogen fixation on
earth through the cultivation of nitrogen-fixing crops and the production of human-made fertilizers.
When nitrogen is used more than plant demand, it can leach from soils into waterways and
contributes to eutrophication (excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to run-off from the land, which causes a
dense growth of plant life).
• Excess levels of nitrogen in water can hamper marine ecosystems, through overstimulation of
plant and algae growth. This blocks the light from getting into deeper waters, thus damaging
the rest of the marine population.
• Nitrous oxide (N2O) can be formed when the chemical process is not completed. N2O is a potent
greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.
8. Loss of Biodiversity
• Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and
habitats and loss of biodiversity. Ecosystems, which took millions
of years to perfect, are in danger when any species population is
decimating.
• Balance of natural processes is crucial to the survival of the
ecosystem, and human activity threatens the same. Another
example is the destruction of coral reefs in the various oceans,
which support the rich marine life.
9. Acid Rain
• Acid rain occurs due to the presence of certain pollutants in the atmosphere.
Acid rain can be caused due to combustion of fossil fuels or erupting volcanoes
or rotting vegetation which releases sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the
atmosphere.
• Acid rain is a known environmental problem that can have a serious effect on
human health, wildlife and aquatic species.
• The famous Taj Mahal Case: The 17th century monument, The Taj Mahal, is
losing its luster and has developed yellow spots at various paces on its
translucently white surface. The collective effect of the dust particles, corrosive
gases and carbon particles visibly demonstrates the decay of the outer as well
as inner surface of the monument. The Taj Mahal has suffered much more
damage during the past 20 years that in the previous 300 years of its existence
due to alarming air pollution in the Agra region by polluting factories. That air
pollution leads to acid rain. M.C. Mehta v UOI, 1986 (Taj Trapezium Case)
10. Natural Resource Depletion
• Another crucial current environmental problem is the depletion of Natural resources.
We, humans, use so many natural resources that it would need almost 1.5 Earths to
cover all our needs.
• This will further increase in the future due to massive industrialization in
Asian countries like India and China. Increased use of natural resources leads to a
number of other environmental issues, such as industrialization, population growth
and air pollution.
• Over time, natural resource depletion will lead to an energy crisis. The
chemicals emitted from many natural resources contribute to climate change.
Fossil fuel consumption results in the emission of greenhouse gases, which is
primarily responsible for global warming and climate change.
• Globally, people are making efforts to shift to renewable sources of energy
like solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy. As such, the cost of installing the
infrastructure and maintaining these sources has plummeted in recent years.
11. Ozone Layer Depletion
• The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the
planet that protects us from the sun’s harmful rays. The depletion
of the crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed to
pollution caused by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-fluoro
carbons (CFCs). Once these toxic gases reach the upper
atmosphere, they create a hole in the ozone layer, the biggest of
which is above the Antarctic.
• CFCs are banned in many industries and consumer products. The
ozone layer is valuable because it prevents harmful UV radiation
from reaching the earth. This is one of the most important
current environmental problems.
12. Soil Degradation and
13. Overpopulation
• Globally, food security depends on the factor whether or not soils are in good condition to
produce crops. According to UN estimates, about 12 million hectares of farmland a year
get seriously degraded.
• Soils get damaged due to many reasons. Such reasons include erosion, overgrazing,
overexposure to pollutants, monoculture planting, soil compaction, land-use
conversion and many more. Nowadays, a wide range of techniques of soil conservation
and restoration exist.
• The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces a shortage of
resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less developed and developing
countries is straining the already scarce resources.
• Intensive agriculture practiced to produce food damages the environment through the use
of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides. Overpopulation is also one of the crucial
current environmental problems.
NOTE: You can add more environmental related issues like electronic wastes etc.
THANK YOU
