# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
United for Wildlife was set up to put an end to the illegal wildlife trade which is killing our planet's endangered species. Click here for more about us!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Paul Knoepfler: The ethical dilemma of designer babies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Creating genetically modified people is no longer a science fiction fantasy; it's a likely future scenario. Biologist Paul Knoepfler estimates that within fifteen years, scientists could use the gene editing technology CRISPR to make certain "upgrades" to human embryos -- from altering physical appearances to eliminating the risk of auto-immune diseases.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Improve Recycling | Keep America Beautiful

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Three key factors guide Keep America Beautiful's work to improve recycling in America: convenience, communication and cause (getting people to understand the many benefits of recycling and why they should care).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Not one strip of cloth is wasted at Goonj, a volunteer-run urban recycling center in New Delhi, founded by Anshu Gupta. In this film, Gupta shows how Goonj recycles garments to provide clothes, schoolbags, sanitary napkins and other amenities for India's poor. He offers a heartfelt appeal for all of...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Urban Farming :: Welcome To Urban Farming!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Urban Farming is the adopted charity of Atlantic Records that is ending hunger globally by planting food in food deserts. Win to End Hunger in the Urban Farming Global Games! Urban Farming intends to eradicate hunger while increasing diversity, motivating youth and seniors and optimizing the production of unused land for food and alternative energy.Our mission is to end hunger in our generation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
(Image credit: Viktor Fiker | Dreamstime)

Pollution is the process of making land, water, air or other parts of the environment dirty and not safe or suitable to use. This can be done through the introduction of a contaminant into a natural environment, but the contaminant doesn't need to be tangible. Things as simple as light, sound and temperature can be considered pollutants when introduced artificially into an environment.

Toxic pollution affects more than 200 million people worldwide, according to Pure Earth, a non-profit environmental organization. In some of the world's worst polluted places, babies are born with birth defects, children have lost 30 to 40 IQ points, and life expectancy may be as low as 45 years because of cancers and other diseases. Read on to find out more about specific types of pollution.

Land pollution

Land can become polluted by household garbage and by industrial waste. In 2014, Americans produced about 258 million tons of solid waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A little over half of the waste - 136 million tons- was gathered in landfills. Only about 34% was recycled or composted.

Organic material was the largest component of the garbage generated, the EPA said. Paper and paperboard accounted for more than 26%; food was 15% and yard trimmings were 13%. Plastics comprised about 13% of the solid waste, while rubber, leather and textiles made up 9.5% and metals 9%. Wood contributed to 6.2% of the garbage; glass was 4.4% and other miscellaneous materials made up about 3%.

Commercial or industrial waste is a significant portion of solid waste. According to the University of Utah, industries use 4 million pounds of materials in order to provide the average American family with needed products for one year. Much of it is classified as non-hazardous, such as construction material (wood, concrete, bricks, glass, etc.) and medical waste (bandages, surgical gloves, surgical instruments, discarded needles, etc.). Hazardous waste is any liquid, solid or sludge waste that contain properties that are dangerous of potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Industries generate hazardous waste from mining, petroleum refining, pesticide manufacturing and other chemical production. Households generate hazardous waste as well, including paints and solvents, motor oil, fluorescent lights, aerosol cans and ammunition.

Water pollution

Water pollution happens when chemicals or dangerous foreign substances are introduced to water, including chemicals, sewage, pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural runoff, or metals like lead or mercury. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 44% of assessed stream miles, 64% of lakes and 30% of bay and estuarine areas are not clean enough for fishing and swimming. The EPA also states that the United State's most common contaminants are bacteria, mercury, phosphorus and nitrogen. These come from the most common sources of contaminates, that include agricultural runoff, air deposition, water diversions and channelization of streams.

Water pollution isn't just a problem for the United States. According to United Nations, 783 million people do not have access to clean water and around 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation. Adequate sanitation helps to keep sewage and other contaminants from entering the water supply.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 80% of pollution in marine environment comes from the land through sources like runoff. Water pollution can also severely affect marine life. For example, sewage causes pathogens to grow, while organic and inorganic compounds in water can change the composition of the precious resource. According to the EPA, low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water are also considered a pollutant. Dissolved is caused by the decomposition of organic materials, such as sewage introduced into the water.

Warming water can also be harmful. The artificial warming of water is called thermal pollution. It can happen when a factory or power plant that is using water to cool its operations ends up discharging hot water. This makes the water hold less oxygen, which can kill fish and wildlife. The sudden change of temperature in the body of water can also kill fish. According to the University of Georgia, it is estimated that around half of the water withdrawn from water systems in the United States each year is used for cooling electric power plants.

"In nearly all cases, 90% of this water is returned to its source, where it can raise the water temperature in an area immediately surrounding the water discharge pipe. Depending on water flow, the water temperature quickly returns to ambient temperatures that do not harm fish." Donn Dears, former president of TSAugust, a not for profit corporation organization focused on energy issues, told Live Science.

Nutrient pollution, also called eutrophication, is another type of water pollution. It is when nutrients, such as nitrogen, are added into bodies of water. The nutrient works like fertilizer and makes algae grow at excessive rates, according to NOAA. The algae blocks light from other plants. The plants die and their decomposition leads to less oxygen in the water. Less oxygen in the water kills aquatic animals.

Air pollution

The air we breathe has a very exact chemical composition; 99% of it is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases. Air pollution occurs when things that aren't normally there are added to the air. A common type of air pollution happens when people release particles into the air from burning fuels. This pollution looks like soot, containing millions of tiny particles, floating in the air.

Another common type of air pollution is dangerous gases, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and chemical vapors. These can take part in further chemical reactions once they are in the atmosphere, creating acid rain and smog. Other sources of air pollution can come from within buildings, such as secondhand smoke.

Finally, air pollution can take the form of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are warming the planet through the greenhouse effect. According to the EPA, the greenhouse effect is when gases absorb the infrared radiation that is released from the Earth, preventing the heat from escaping. This is a natural process that keeps our atmosphere warm. If too many gases are introduced into the atmosphere, though, more heat is trapped and this can make the planet artificially warm, according to Columbia University.

Air pollution kills more than 2 million people each year, according to a study published in the journal of Environmental Research Letters. The effects of air pollution on human health can vary widely depending on the pollutant, according to Hugh Sealy, professor and director of the environmental and occupational health track at the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada. If the pollutant is highly toxic, the effects on health can be widespread and severe. For example, the release of methyl isocyanate gas at Union Carbide plant in Bhopal in 1984 killed over 2,000 people, and over 200,000 suffered respiratory problems. An irritant (e.g. particulates less than 10 micrometers) may cause respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease and increases in asthma. "The very young, the old and those with vulnerable immune systems are most at risk from air pollution. The air pollutant may be carcinogenic (e.g. some volatile organic compounds) or biologically active (e.g. some viruses) or radioactive (e.g. radon). Other air pollutants like carbon dioxide have an indirect impact on human health through climate change," Sealy told Live Science.

Noise pollution

Even though humans can't see or smell noise pollution, it still affects the environment. Noise pollution happens when the sound coming from planes, industry or other sources reaches harmful levels. Research has shown that there are direct links between noise and health, including stress-related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss. For example, a study bythe WHO Noise Environmental Burden on Disease working group found that noise pollution may contribute to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year by increasing the rates of coronary heart disease. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA can regulate machine and plane noise.

Underwater noise pollution coming from ships has been shown to upset whales' navigation systems and kill other species that depend on the natural underwater world. Noise also makes wild species communicate louder, which can shorten their lifespan.

Light pollution

Most people can't imagine living without the modern convenience of electric lights. For the natural world, though, lights have changed the way that days and nights work. Some consequences of light pollution are:

Some birds sing at unnatural hours in the presence of artificial light.

Scientists have determined that long artificial days can affect migration schedules, as they allow for longer feeding times.

Streetlights can confuse newly hatched sea turtles that rely on starlight reflecting off the waves to guide them from the beach to the ocean. They often head in the wrong direction.

Light pollution, called sky glow, also makes it difficult for astronomers, both professional and amateur, to properly see the stars.

Plant's flowering and developmental patterns can be entirely disrupted by artificial light.

According to a study by the American Geophysical Union, light pollution could also be making smog worse by destroying nitrate radicals that helps the dispersion of smog.

Turning on so many lights may not be necessary. Research published by International Journal of Science and Research estimates that over-illumination wastes about 2 million barrels of oil per day and lighting is responsible for one-fourth of all energy consumption worldwide.

Other pollution facts:

Americans generate 30 billion foam cups, 220 million tires, and 1.8 billion disposable diapers every year, according to the Green Schools Alliance.

According to the WHO, ambient air pollution contributes to 6.7% of all deaths worldwide.

The Mississippi River drains the lands of nearly 40% of the continental United Sates. It also carries an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of nitrogen pollution into the Gulf of Mexico each year, resulting in a dead zone each summer about the size of New Jersey.

Pollution in China can change weather patterns in the United States. It takes just five days for the jet stream to carry heavy air pollution from China to the United States, where it stops clouds from producing rain and snow.

About 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution, according to WHO. That is one in eight deaths worldwide.

Additional resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Alina Bradford - Live Science Contributor

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
(Image credit: Viktor Fiker | Dreamstime) Pollution is the process of making land, water, air or other parts of the environment dirty and not safe or suitable to use. This can be done through the introduction of a contaminant into a natural environment, but the contaminant doesn't need to be tangible.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home of Rachel Parent, GMO Educator and Activist - Raising awareness about the risks of genetically modified organisms in our food and the need for GMO Labeling

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Plastic waste is choking our planet - polluting the air, water, and soil both people and wildlife need to survive. And as this crisis spreads to every corner of the globe, WWF is leading the charge to help reimagine how we source, design, dispose of, and reuse the plastic materials communities most depend upon. Because while plastic can help make our hospitals safer, our food last longer, and our packages more efficient to ship, it has no place in nature.

Every day plastic is flowing into our natural environment at an unprecedented rate - a dump truck every minute into our oceans alone. It's time to turn off the tap. Together. WWF is uniting our global networks of industry leaders, consumers, and policymakers to transform our systems, so the plastics we discard become plastics we use again.

As everyday people continue doing their part to reduce, reuse, and recycle, WWF is engaging policymakers to ensure the plastics leaving recycling bins stay in effective waste management systems, and out of the hands of illegal plastic traffickers.

Through our ReSource:Plastic activation hub, we're helping some of the world's leading companies translate ambitious plastic commitments into measurable change - both across their business operations, and well beyond their supply chains. We're working on the ground with local partners from Indonesia to Peru to keep plastic out of our planet's most extraordinary ecosystems. And in oceans the world over we're supporting communities and fishing crews, big and small, to improve gear use and recovery, so issues like abandoned nets no longer pose one of the biggest threats to marine life.

WWF is fighting for a world with no plastic in nature by 2030. It's a world where our oceans teem with marine life, not discarded nets, bottles and bags. Where no human breathes the toxic fumes of burning plastic. And where every indispensable plastic product is used to make another.

It's a world where people and nature thrive together. Join us.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Plastic waste is choking our planet - polluting the air, water, and soil both people and wildlife need to survive. And as this crisis spreads to every corner of the globe, WWF is leading the charge to help reimagine how we source, design, dispose of, and reuse the plastic materials communities most depend upon.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In an emotionally charged talk, MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter details her fight for environmental justice in the South Bronx -- and shows how minority neighborhoods suffer most from flawed urban policy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
NCWiseOwl is available to North Carolina Public School Units for school and remote use through funding at NC Department of Public Instruction, Division of Digital Teaching and Learning. Please request the remote-use password from your local media/tech contact. Students should work in partnership with teachers and parent/guardians while curating digital content through NCWiseOwl. Students, parents and educators should adhere to locally adopted Acceptable Use Policies and other applicable guidelines/standards. Visit the toolkit linked above for best practices and tutorials.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NCWiseOwl is available to North Carolina Public School Units for school and remote use through funding at NC Department of Public Instruction, Division of Digital Teaching and Learning. Please request the remote-use password from your local media/tech contact. Students should work in partnership with teachers and parent/guardians while curating digital content through NCWiseOwl.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Destiny Discover Web Application Copyright (C) 2014-2017 Follett School Solutions. All Rights Reserved. --- Now hiring Web and AngularJS developers! http://follett.com/careers.cfm

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Solar energy is a major renewable energy source with the potential to meet many of the challenges facing the world. There are many reasons to promote its share in the energy market. This power source is increasing in popularity because it is versatile with many benefits to people and the environment.

Importance to Environmental Protection

Sunlight received by earth in one hour is enough to meet the annual energy needs of all people worldwide according to National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In 2015 solar energy was the fastest growing energy sector with a 33% rise according to Bloomberg. The environmental advantages are the main drivers in promoting solar energy.

Solar Is Clean and Safe

Solar is a safe alternative which can replace current fossil fuels like coal and gas for generation of electricity that produce air, water, and land pollution. World Wide Fund For Nature, also known as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), notes that electricity generation from fossil fuels causes pollution of air leading to acid rain, damaged forest areas, and affected agricultural production leading to loss of billions of dollars worldwide. Fracking in the U.S. uses thousands of liters of water mixed with chemicals for extraction contaminating the water used, along with nearby water bodies, and also causes earthquakes. Nuclear power pollutes water and land and has caused environmental catastrophes. Use of solar energy will eliminate these unsafe, unclean consequences from using conventional fossil fuels.

Prevents Destruction of Habitats

Pristine forests are destroyed for mining raw materials like fossil or nuclear fuels. Trees constantly remove and use carbon dioxide from the air to make their food, and this carbon is then stored in them. When forests are cut for mining raw materials for conventional energy, this major carbon sink disappears and also increases climate change. "Nine out of ten animals on land" live in forests, according to WWF, and a loss of habitats diminishes their populations. Switching to solar power is important to keep these habitats intact for the animals who live there as well as continue to keep the air clean.

Combats Climate Change

The "electric power sector accounted for 32% of U.S. total greenhouse gas emissions in 2012," according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The emissions lead to a rise in global temperatures, and changes in weather patterns leading to a cascade of effects. Heat waves, and increase in disease-spreading insects cause health problems especially for children and the elderly.

Climate change has lead to increase in flooding and hurricanes due to disturbed weather patterns. Higher carbon dioxide concentration is making oceans acidic and killing marine life, like corals. Climate change causes extinct of species from Sub-Arctic Boreal forests to tropical Amazon forests. Higher temperatures result melting of polar ice caps, reducing habitats for wildlife and also increase sea level. This results in submersion and loss of land along the coast, displacing people. Irregular rainfall or increasing droughts affects agriculture and livelihoods of the weaker sections of society globally.

Solar power can restrict climate change as it produces no carbon emissions. The carbon footprint of solar panels can be offset in as quickly as four years time according to Greenpeace (myth 5).

Global warming has to be curbed to a 1.5 degrees Celsius rise, in accordance to the Paris Agreement of 2015. The U.S. committed to cut down emissions by 26-28% of 2005 levels by 2025. Solar energy is vital to meet these commitments.

Social and Economic Benefits

In early 2016 there was a 43% rise in solar installations, and by the second quarter U.S. had an installed capacity of 31.6 gigawatts (GW) enough to power 6.2 million homes reports the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Small and Decentralized Electricity Source

Solar energy's greatest attraction is that it can be produced on a small scale directly by the end consumers in contrast to large centralized conventional energy sources controlled by large corporations.

Solar energy is suitable for heating and electricity generation using photo-voltaic cells installed on roof-tops of individual buildings. This is useful as decentralized sources of electricity for households and commercial businesses, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Solar water heating and passive solar designing of buildings to cool or heat space are other solar technologies available for individual buildings according to National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Medium-sized systems for community level power generation are also becoming popular. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Energy.gov) analysis stated that 13 states in U.S. installed 100 megawatts (MW) in 2015 alone, and residential units reached 2 gigawatts. Community solar installations of 100 MW were installed between 2010-2015. These installations are important to keep communities running at a lower cost for everyone.

In addition, EIA states that on a large scale "Solar thermal/electric power plants generate electricity by concentrating solar energy to heat a fluid and produce steam that is then used to power a generator".

The decentralized nature of solar power makes it a practical and viable energy source in remote areas located far from the electricity grid. This is crucial for agri-business in farms for running irrigation, greenhouses, and crop and hay dryers, making agriculture risk-free according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Cheap and Reliable Energy Source

Technological developments and policy and subsides by the government have reduced the high costs of solar systems. The price of solar PV panels have decreased by 60% and the cost of the solar electricity system by 50% according to the Energy.gov report. So solar energy is now competitive with conventional energy sources.

The running costs are less and the initial investment is regained leading to subsequent savings in energy costs according to Greenpeace. This happens because the input for solar energy is free and clean sunlight while fossil fuels are mined and transported over long distance according to another Greenpeace report (myth 1). The Greenpeace report estimates that in the U.S., the costs to deal with environmental problems from use of "dirty power sources" double or even triple the cost of electricity from conventional sources like coal. Solar energy is important to help offset and potentially eliminate, these additional costs.

Generation of Jobs

The U.S. was the fifth largest producer of solar panels in the world in 2016 and has created thousands of jobs in the country, according to Guardian. A 2016 Energy.gov report states that employment in the solar sector increased by 123% in five years since 2010. By 2015 there were 209,000 people employed in solar jobs. Most were small businesses engaged in installations, followed by solar designers, sales person and service professionals. The industry grew 12% faster than the average American job market, keeping the economy moving.

In 2015 coal and solar power provided 33% and less than 1% of energy, respectively. Yet, the solar industry employed three times more people than the coal industry in the same year, according to a Solar Foundation report. The number of people working in solar is higher than the number working for oil and gas plants. In fact 1.2% of all jobs in the U.S. were from the solar industry.

In 2015, 1 million people were employed in solar PV sector. Greenpeace Energy [R]Evolution considers that by 2030 this could increase to 9.7 million (p. 10). In addition 2.5 million jobs in solar thermal and 5.33 million in solar heat could also be generated (p. 11).

Funding for Research and Innovations

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been the main funding agency since 1977. Funding of more than 150 million dollars were proposed in 2006 for solar energy alone. In 2009, around 30 billion dollars were given to all renewable sources and smart grid development. Research into solar power received $310 million in 2013, and grew to $65 million in 2016. The aim has been to develop technology to improve the efficiency of solar panels, develop new solar power collectors and storage capacity and slash costs of electricity generation to make it more affordable for all. There has been rapid progress, such as:

Research is trying to find novel photo-voltaic devices by decreasing use of expensive silicon, and experimenting with different forms and shapes of panels, bio-based materials, and panel-less solar production etc, according to MIT.

Improving capacity of batteries to store solar energy at times of surplus for later use to increase efficiency and ensure continuous supply is another option being exploited. Lithium-ion batteries in combination with software, and new "polymer-hybrid supercapacitors" being developed would be drive down costs.

A Sunny Future

Production of energy from solar has been doubling every twenty months since 2010 according to Bloomberg. By 2050, Greenpeace Energy [R]Evolution visualizes energy being produced 100% by renewables, wherein solar power's contribution will be 32% (p. 11). The importance of solar energy is sure to play a big role in saving the environment, helping people socially and economically, and creating jobs and research.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Is Solar Energy Important? | LoveToKnow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Solar energy is a major renewable energy source with the potential to meet many of the challenges facing the world. There are many reasons to promote its share in the energy market. This power source is increasing in popularity because it is versatile with many benefits to people and the environment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that products that emit radiation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rob Harmon: How to keep rivers and streams flowing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With streams and rivers drying up because of over-usage, Rob Harmon talks about a clever market mechanism to bring back the water. Farmers and beer companies find their fates intertwined in the century-old tale of Prickly Pear Creek.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"I just respect so deeply someone who says 'I am going to make this happen.' And then has the passion and perseverance to make it happen."

- Allison Alberts, Ph.D., San Diego Zoo Global Chief Conservation and Research Officer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"I just respect so deeply someone who says 'I am going to make this happen.' And then has the passion and perseverance to make it happen." - Allison Alberts, Ph.D., San Diego Zoo Global Chief Conservation and Research Officer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our environment is constantly changing. There is no denying that fact. However, as our environment changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround it. With a massive influx of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather patterns and much more, people need to be aware of what types of environmental problems our planet is facing.

Global warming has become an undisputed fact about our current livelihoods; our planet is warming up and we are definitely part of the problem. However, this isn't the only environmental problem that we should be concerned about. All across the world, people are facing a wealth of new and challenging environmental problems every day. Some of them are small and only affect a few ecosystems, but others are drastically changing the landscape of what we already know.

The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.

~ John Paul II

"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." - Your Dictionary

Our planet is poised on the brink of a severe environmental crisis. Current environmental problems make us vulnerable to disasters and tragedies, now and in the future.

We are in a state of planetary emergency, with environmental problems piling up high around us. Unless we address the various issues prudently and seriously, we are surely doomed for disaster. Current environmental problems also require urgent attention.

20 Major Current Environmental Problems

1. Pollution

There are 7 key types of pollution - air, water, soil, noise, radioactive, light and thermal and these are primary causes that affect our environment in many ways. All these types of pollution are interlinked and influence each other. Therefore we need to tackle all of them together.

Pollution of air, water and soil requires millions of years to recoup. Industry and motor vehicle exhaust are the number one pollutants. Heavy metals, nitrates and plastic are toxins responsible for pollution.

While water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff, air pollution is caused by various gases and toxins released by industries and factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil pollution is majorly caused by industrial waste that deprives soil from essential nutrients.

2. Soil Degradation

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, from no-till agriculture to crop rotation to water-retention through terrace-building.

3. Global Warming

Climate changes like global warming are the result of human practices like the emission of greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth' surface causing natural disasters that include flooding, melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, hurricanes, wildfires, drought, excessive snow or desertification.

4. Overpopulation

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.

5. 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.

6. Generating Unsustainable Waste

The huge production of waste due to our hyperconsumption is a major threat to the environment. As per the study, the average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day, and the US alone accounting for 220 million tons a year.

This hyperconsumption 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.

7. Waste Disposal

The overconsumption of resources and the creation of plastics are creating a global crisis of waste disposal. 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.

8. 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, amounting to the country of Panama 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.

9. Polar Ice Caps

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.

10. 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 like pollination 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.

11. Climate Change

Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in the last couple of decades. It occurs due to the rise in global warming, which happens due to the increase in temperature of the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and the release of harmful gases by industries.

Climate change has various harmful effects but not limited to the melting of polar ice, change in seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall weather scenario.

12. Ocean Acidification

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%. The main impact is on shellfish and plankton in the same way as human osteoporosis.

13. 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.

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.

The problem can also occur during nitrification and denitrification. Nitrous oxide (N2O) can be formed when the chemical process is not completed. N2O is a potent greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.

14. 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.

15. 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 sulfur 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.

16. Water Pollution

Clean drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Water is becoming an economic and political issue as the human population fights for this resource.

One of the options suggested is using the process of desalinization. Industrial development is filling our rivers, seas and oceans with toxic pollutants, which are a major threat to human health.

17. Overfishing

Overfishing affects natural ecosystems severely and leads to an imbalance of ocean life. Around 63% of global fish stocks are estimated to be overfished. Overfishing caused fishing fleets to migrate to new waters that would further deplete the fish stocks.

Moreover, it has negative effects on coastal communities that rely on fishing to support their living.

18. Urban Sprawl

Urban sprawl refers to the migration of population from high-density urban areas to low-density rural areas, which results in the spreading of the city over more and more rural land.

Urban sprawl results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental issues and health issues. The ever-growing demand for land displaces the natural environment consisting of flora and fauna, instead of being replaced.

19. Public Health Issues

The current environmental problems pose a lot of risk to the health of humans and animals. Dirty water is the biggest health risk in the world and poses a threat to the quality of life and public health.

Runoff to rivers carries with it toxins, chemicals and disease-carrying organisms. Pollutants cause respiratory diseases like Asthma and cardiac-vascular problems. High temperatures encourage the spread of infectious diseases like Dengue.

20. 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.

About Rinkesh

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
20 Current Environmental Problems That Our World is Facing - Conserve Energy Future

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our environment is constantly changing. There is no denying that fact. However, as our environment changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround it. With a massive influx of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather patterns and much more, people need to be aware of what types of environmental problems our planet is facing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
After learning about the best green blogs, eco tools and applications and environment focused social media sites and forums, get involved and sign up with one of the following green organizations. This list is certainly not comprehensive but does offer a well-rounded snapshot of some of the prominent, active, dynamic and notable environmental organizations currently working for many green causes, including wildlife preservation, land conservation and climate change prevention.

The Sierra Club, founded in 1892, is one of the oldest conservation organizations in existence. (You can read more about it in the overview of the modern environmental movement.) With over 1.3 million members, this organization is one of the most effective and powerful at effecting changes in government and corporate America. Fighting for the preservation of land and forest, clean air and water, and a host of other issues, the Sierra Club is well-known and respected.

The Audubon Society's declared mission is "to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity" and since the late 1800s the organization has worked hard to achieve its mission. Interestingly, the original John Audubon, who created the foremost guide to North American birds, was not the founder, but did inspire the organization's founders, namely George Bird Grinnell. Today bird conservation and Audubon are practically synonymous.

The iconic panda logo has made the WWF instantly recognizable to many people around the world. With 5 million members internationally and over 1.2 million in the States, this 45-year-old wildlife defense organization is going h2. h2ly promoting an emphasis on science, the WWF works to preserve nature and its creatures. From the organization's website: "We are committed to reversing the degradation of our planet's natural environment and to building a future in which human needs are met in harmony with nature. We recognize the critical relevance of human numbers, poverty and consumption patterns to meeting these goals."

EarthFirst!

Famously unapologetic, EarthFirst! came to national prominence in the 1990s. EarthFirst! is a little different. There's no slick website. There's no bureacracy. There are no members. They welcome any and all. The entire premise of this biocentric "movement" as it calls itself is to foster direct action. Founded in 1979 out of disgust at corporate environmentalism and "namby pamby" green action, EarthFirst!ers have famously gotten involved in green issues directly, sometimes breaking the law. Calling itself a priority, not an organization, the website explains: "Earth First! has survived attacks by moderates, would-be leaders and the agents of the system, remaining the most diverse, passionate, committed, and uncompromising group of environmental activists. Our direct actions in defense of the last wild places only seem radical compared to an entire paradigm of denial and control, where the individual is convinced they are powerless, and the organizations set up to protect the wilderness continue to bargain it away."

Greenpeace began in 1971 when a group of activists put themselves directly in harm's way in order to protest nuclear testing off the coast of Alaska. Believing that concerted action from ordinary people is the best way - according to their signature quote from Margaret Mead, the only way - the organization has helped to stop whaling, nuclear testing, as well as leading efforts to protect Antarctica. Over 2.5 million members worldwide.

The National Wildlife Federation is dedicated to preserving animals in the United States and works with local agencies in the 48 contiguous states. It is one of the largest environmental organizations, with over 4 million members participating in grass-roots efforts on a variety of wildlife issues. The organization was actually founded by a cartoonist named Jay Darling (aka "Ding" Darling) in 1936 at the behest of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

According to the official website: "The Natural Resources Defense Council works to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth." The NRDC combines hundreds of active lawyers with over 1.2 million members to create direct and legislative change. The focus is on preventing climate change and saving endangered species, among other goals.

If you've shopped for anything organic or sustainable you've likely seen the 1% logo. With nearly 1,000 firms and companies now participating, 1% is helping corporate interests green their bottom lines by giving back to environmental causes. It's a meaningful start.

"Economic Action for a Just Planet" is the slogan of this green organization that seeks to empower consumers and harness the power of consumers to make the planet sustainable for future generations. They emphasize economic initiatives and actions over other more traditional environmental actions. This business-friendly environmental organization is also considered the gold standard for green businesses to be approved by. Co-Op America focuses equally on social justice and environmental responsibility. (Note: the organization is changing its name to Green America in 2009.)

Interested in sustainable development? The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is the place to go online. This global association of 200 leading companies states: "Our mission is to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development, and to support the business license to operate, innovate and grow in a world increasingly shaped by sustainable development issues." The capitalist's online environmental organization.

Certification from the FSC is essential for a green retailer to have genuine "eco cred". Environmental labels and certifications are not globally standardized, but FSC is one you can trust. This non-governmental nonprofit was established to protect forests. Located in 46 countries, the FSC helps companies, governments and communities with proper forest management and accredidation. Though there are many certifications in the green world, the FSC is the only one that:

prohibits conversion of natural forests or other habitat around the world

prohibits the use of highly hazardous pesticides around the world

prohibits the cultivation of genetically modified trees (GMOs)

respects the right of indigenous peoples around the world

controls each certified operation at least once a year - and if they are found not to comply, the certificate is withdrawn

The relatively new Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is lauded by various media organizations as being incredibly savvy. Based in San Francisco and Tokyo, the 43 employees and thousands of members create memorable and often stigmatizing (when necessary) marketing campaigns to get corporations to clean up their acts. When companies like Home Depot and Citigroup make positive changes that better the environment, RAN is quick to give praise - but never scared to dish out harsh critique.

Since its inception in 1951 the Nature Conservancy has dedicated itself to saving lands and waters. With over 117 million acres sustained, 5,000 miles of rivers kept clean, and hundreds of marine conservation projects, the Nature Conservancy is one of the most successful and effective green organizations in existence. The science-based approach (they have 700 scientists on staff) is used in all conservation efforts around the world.

This regional (California-based) research-and-advocacy organization has become an iconic representative of ocean conservation and marine sustainability. It has inspired numerous other ocean protection organizations. It all started in 1985 when founder Dorothy Green and her cofounders got sick of the fact that Santa Monica Bay was a cesspool of untreated sewage. Animals were dying, people suffered infections if they swam, and vast swaths of the Bay were essentially dead. Today, the Bay is much cleaner and safer.

Like its just-barely southern cousin Heal the Bay, Surfrider protects California coastline and marine life. From the site: "The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide." Though originally focused on Southern California, Surfrider helps mobilize people to get active in supporting ocean conservation everywhere.

The Environmental Defense Fund was started in 1967 and works with corporations and government to create environmental programs, initiatives and policy. Areas the EDF seeks to address: using "h2 science" to affect markets, laws and corporate partnerships. EDF has received numerous top awards from media and charity evaluators. You can see a list of their numerous achievements here.

Champions of healthy people, animals, plants, land, water and air, and devoted to stopping global warming, Friends of Earth supports a number of causes and is focused primarily on the United States, especially political and economic decisions as they affect public health and land conservation. In the 39 years in operation FOE has stopped over 150 dams from being built (among other achievements).

The largest and most respected environmental news research service, this environmental organization publishes online as well as providing science-based environmental information and news to over 100 countries. Founded in 1974, the mission statement notes that "Worldwatch research is the gold-standard for sustainability analysis for decision makers in government, civil society, business, and academia."

The American Bird Conservancy, like the Audubon Society, exists primarily to support bird conservation but broadly supports environmentalism and sustainability. Using education, advocacy and direct action, the ABC is the only U.S.-based organization that supports not just United States bird conservation but species preservation throughout all of the Americas.

The neutral IPCC's recent conclusion that human activity is fueling global warming was both expected and stunning. Any last vestiges of naysaying and doubt were effectively negated in the panel's deliberation which involved hundreds of leading scientists and analysis of thousands of papers. The IPCC is an independent non-governmental international group of leading respected scientists and, according to the official website: "The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation."

The Environmental Protection Agency has come under close scrutiny numerous times; the agency is often overriden or completely ignored by the current White House administration. For example, recent reports confirming global warming as a human-caused phenomenon were met with the announcement that the White House would simply not open the EPA's emails containing that information. The EPA has, of late, not supported environmentalists' concerns about such issues as plastic safety (e.g. with phthalates), water purity, animal cloning and genetic modification, and other issues, leading many to believe the EPA is controlled by special interests.

Famously activist, the ELF (or Elves) organization is an anonymous, independent and mysterious environmentalist group promoting civil disobedience and economic sabotage. Numerous cases of arson, SUV bombing, and other "extreme" actions have earned the ELF environmentalists a militant reputation. They maintain no office or press contacts and many environmentalists have been keen to distance themselves from the Elf. Some key quotes from one of the de facto leaders:

"There are over six billion people on this planet of which almost a third are either staving, or living in poverty. Building homes for the wealthy should not even be a priority. Forests, farms and wetlands are being replaced with a sea of houses, green chemical lawns, blacktop, and roadkill. Farmland is being bought out by land developers because of their inability to compete with cheap corporate, genetically-engineered, pesticide saturated food. The time has come to decide what is more important: the planet and the health of its population or the profits of those who destroy it."

Devoted to saving wildlife, the Wildlife Conservation Society is unique in that it runs a large system of urban parks. The official statement reads: the Wildlife Conservation Society "saves wildlife and wild lands through careful science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks". The mission of the organization is to connect humans with wildlife in the hopes that interaction will inspire preservation of endangered species.

A must for anyone working in green, the Association of Environmental Professionals is the leading industry organization for environmental professionals. The non-profit aims to connect those working in green collar jobs, environmental technology and media and other sectors in order to foster improved skills, share resources and build relationships.

Celebrating its 120th year, the iconic and beloved National Geographic Society is one of the largest, most well-funded and most prominent environmental organizations. Focusing on science-based research and general interest as well as conservation efforts, Nat Geo is decidedly environmentalist without that being the overt thrust of the organization, choosing instead to celebrate amazing wonders of the earth and its creatures. Its mission: "Since 1888, we've traveled the Earth, sharing its amazing stories with each new generation. National Geographic's Mission Programs support critical expeditions and scientific fieldwork, encourage geography education for students, promote natural and cultural conservation, and inspire audiences..."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Environmental Agencies and Organizations - WebEcoist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
After learning about the best green blogs, eco tools and applications and environment focused social media sites and forums, get involved and sign up with one of the following green organizations. This list is certainly not comprehensive but does offer a well-rounded snapshot of some of the prominent, active, dynamic and notable environmental organizations currently working for many green causes, including wildlife preservation, land conservation and climate change prevention.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An apple a day...

is what people say. And honestly, the concept is spot on. Getting your daily dose of fruits and veggies is a surefire way to slam your body with some amazing nutrients and keep you out of the doctor's office.

We include all sources of real food in our diet, from fruits and vegetables to organic meat, raw dairy, wild-caught seafood, whole grains prepared properly, and traditional fats in all their saturated glory!

Because we choose to avoid processed food and genetically modified foods, I'm often asked the question...
"Are hybrid fruits and vegetables good or bad?"
In a world where almost every food is deemed bad, of this I can assure you...

Hybrid fruits and vegetables are totes fine, my friend. Before you protest, let me explain what a hybridized fruit or vegetable is. Hybridization happens when two closely related plants are cross-pollinated. This happens every single minute of the day and has been happening for THOUSANDS of years. It's the way nature works, girlfriend.

Ever heard of bees? I'm not sure if you're familiar with these little guys, but they have one job and one job alone. To overdose on pollen. As bees move from plant to plant they cross-pollinate. The same thing happens with wind. Random hybridization happens again and again and can bring about new species of plants over time.

The fact that in today's world it happens with a little more strategy and intent shouldn't scare you. Man-made hybrid fruits and vegetables can be as simple as a farmer using a pollinator to create a new species of blackberry without pesky thorns, or producing an orange with less seeds.

I hate to break this to you, but you're a hybrid...

It's true. You are the result of many cross-pollinations, and obviously, you're pretty amazing. 'Nuff said. Next time you eat a tangelo, pomelo, or pluot and wonder if these hybrid fruits and vegetables are normal, just remember that most "normal" fruits and vegetables to us today are also hybrids.

And remember that many if not most "normal" fruits and vegetables we eat today are modern creations - the familiar yellow banana, boysenberries (a hybrid of raspberries and blackberries), grapefruit, Meyer lemons, and numerous apple varieties. We've been cross-pollinating plants for centuries.

-Mark's Daily Apple ( source)

Aren't heirloom seeds best?

I love eating heirloom fruits and vegetables. I doubt they are legitimately 'heirloom' because, well, bees, but nevertheless, I love enjoying some older varieties of fruits and vegetables along with some new varieties that pop up. We grow heirloom carrots but eat pomelos for 3 months straight from January to March when our pomelo tree explodes with fruit.

I think it all comes down to preference. Some enjoy heirloom fruits because of the lower sugar content and earthy flavors, and some enjoy a newer variety.

What's the difference between 'hybrid' and 'GMO'?

Like we've talked about before, hybrid fruits and vegetables come from a process that happens naturally over time, and while it can be sped up by a determined farmer, it's generally considered a natural practice.

GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are created by combining the DNA molecules from multiple species to create a sort of a 'franken-food'. Some of the DNA is changed to be embedded with pesticides and herbicides. It's one thing to spray a pesticide on a food, and completely another to put that pesticide directly into the DNA of the food.

Whatever your opinion on GMO food, you can know that hybridized fruits and vegetables don't come close to the level of alteration that happens in GMOs.

I've heard that we should eat fruits or vegetables with seeds because they carry more 'energy' and have 'fertility benefits' and that seedless fruit causes cancer and turns people into zombies!

Honestly, if you want to believe that fruits and vegetables with seeds are better for you, I say, "Go for it!" For me and mine, we'll continue to eat all forms of fruits or vegetables whether they're hybrid or heirloom- and focus on eating as much as our little tummies can handle.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hybrid Fruits & Vegetables: Are they good or bad?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
is what people say. And honestly, the concept is spot on. Getting your daily dose of fruits and veggies is a surefire way to slam your body with some amazing nutrients and keep you out of the doctor's office.