Environmental Issues of Current Concern

The Environmental Issues of Current Concern

There does not seem to be a lot of disagreement about what should be included as the environmental issues of current concern. The disagreement tends to start when the discussion turns to what has to be done to address the issues.

Global Warming

Global warming is caused by excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These gases trap the heat that would usually escape into outer space. Greenhouse gases are caused by:

• Fueling vehicles by the burning of gasoline
• Heating by burning wood, oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels
• Burning of solid waste or fossil fuels for agriculture and industry
• Reducing levels of carbon dioxide due to deforestation

Scientists think that global warming may lead to more extreme weather such as dry spells, intense rain, hurricanes and increased heat which could result in glacier melting and an increase in sea levels.

It can be reduced by:

• Lowering the heat and air conditioning – Turn down the heat. Reduce lost heat and cool air by insulating walls and weather stripping doors and windows.
• Minimizing waste that would usually be burned in landfills – Purchase products with minimal packaging. Recycle plastic, paper, glass and aluminum cans.
• Using less energy for lighting – Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Driving less – Use mass transit, carpooling, walking and biking.

Renewable Energy

Most of the world uses fossil fuels such as coal, gasoline and wood as their major energy sources. The cost is increasing to obtain these fuels and make them readily available for use. They are not renewable and will eventually run out.

Alternative forms of energy are available, such as biofuels (such as ethanol), solar and wind power. These are renewable energy sources and are providing clean energy which does not contribute to global warming.

Recycling

Recycling minimizes non-biodegradable waste and allows the remanufacturing of the raw materials into other products. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that Americans have doubled their recycling. They now recycle about 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles and 45 percent of all aluminum cans.

E-cycling efforts, recycling for electronics (such as computers and cell phones), have not been as successful. Limited drop off points, combined with an ever-increasing number of new computers and cell phones being replaced, has kept electronic recycling from having the same success percentages as other recyclables. Local governments, nonprofit organizations and private companies are increasing the number of drop-off points for e-cycling.

Pollution

Noise, air and water pollution are all risks to health. Governmental restrictions are lowering the pollution levels.

• Smog – Vehicles and industrial waste remain the largest contributors to ground-level ozone. Children and seniors are at risk for respiratory problems.
• Noise – Excessive airport and industrial noise increase the risk for hearing loss, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure for people who live or work nearby.
• Water – Lake and river water face the threat of pollution if the dumping of waste materials and litter continues. Tap water is usually safe due to the amount of testing and filtering by local water facilities.

Green Living

Making lifestyle decisions that help sustain the environment are called "green living." These decisions are often met with increased costs and governmental resistance and regulation:

• Using public transportation – Governments are planning for increased public transportation but are not always able to fund the creation or maintenance of transportation systems. Some municipalities cannot support an increase in riders of public transportation.
• Green building – City planners encourage green building but are sometimes slow to incorporate green building in their building codes.
• Alternative fuel cars – Supplies of alternative fuel cars are more readily available throughout the United States. The supply of vehicles is increasing as more manufacturers enter the market with new designs. The cost premiums should decrease as vehicles become more readily available.
• Home and office décor – Interior design suppliers are now stocking cost-effective alternatives for many floor and wall treatments. Wood floors from bamboo and other farmed wood products are now widely available as are tiles and counter materials made from recycled materials. These eco-friendly materials often require different installation materials which may not be included in current building practices.
• Home and office energy-efficiency – The use of energy-efficient compact fluorescents, solar hot water heaters, low energy appliances and water-saving showers and toilet tanks all contribute to reduced energy costs. Some municipalities still have not updated their building codes and inspector procedures to accommodate these green building features.

Resource Depletion

The demand for food, wood and geological resources have created an increase in the gathering of these resources. The industries involved are regulated in the United States. However, unregulated, and often illegal, activities have resulted in severe resource depletion:

• Fishing – Overfishing of certain species, bottom trawling and net fishing have depleted large supplies of fish and mammals.
• Logging – Illegal logging and deforestation have left large expanses of woodlands exposed to potential flooding and fire dangers.
• Mining – Mining in the United States is highly regulated to ensure safety and the return of the area to a pre-mining ecological state. There continues to be areas where mining has created erosion, sinkholes and contamination of groundwater.