Global Environmental Issues

ENV 201 – Global Environmental Issues

Institution: Stella Maris Polytechnic University, Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, St. Joseph Campus, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia.
Department: Environmental Science
Course Title: Global Environmental Issues
Course Code: ENV 201

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

Identify and list with critical thinking major global environmental issues.
Define and correlate global warming with the greenhouse effect.
Enumerate the major effects of global warming on living and non-living components of the environment.
Briefly explain the causes of biodiversity loss.
Comment on major causes of desertification.
Explain the causes and effects of ozone-layer depletion.
Describe and understand overpopulation and pollution.

Human Impact: Human activities in past decades have raised serious issues related to environment and conservation.
- Examples:
- Air pollution
- Poor waste management
- Growing water scarcity
- Falling groundwater tables
- Water pollution
- Waste disposal issues
- Desertification
- Endangered species
- Deforestation
- Biodiversity loss
- Land/soil degradation
- Global climate change
Current Environmental Problems: These problems make humans vulnerable to disasters and tragedies now and in the future, emphasizing the need for solutions to overcome environmental issues.

Environment: Refers to all ecological units naturally present on Earth in the form of land, water, air, soil, forests, sunlight, minerals, and living organisms.
Divided into two main categories:
- Biotic Elements: Living components such as humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms.
- Non-Biotic Elements: Non-living components including air, sunlight, water, land, soil, and minerals.
Further divided into:
- Biosphere
- Lithosphere
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere (largest component of Earth's environment).

The environment is currently in a poor state, marked by increasing pollution levels (air, land, water, soil), deforestation, and other technological advancements that negatively impact the ecosystem.
The management of natural resources is critical for the sustainability of health for future generations.

Environmental Problems: Changes in the quality or quantity of environmental factors that adversely affect life on Earth.
- Defined as problems with the planet's systems (air, water, soil, etc.) caused by human interference or mistreatment.

Identified Global Issues:
- Acid rain
- Air pollution
- Global warming
- Hazardous wastes
- Ozone depletion
- Smog
- Water pollution
- Overpopulation
- Rainforest destruction

Major Local Issues:
1. Pollution
2. Waste Disposal
3. Desertification
4. Water Scarcity
5. Endangered Species

Definition: Undesirable addition of constituents to land, air, or water that adversely affects living conditions.
Categories of Pollution:
- Air Pollution
- Water Pollution
- Soil Pollution
- Noise Pollution

Definition: Contamination of air by physical, chemical, and biological changes.
Major Air Pollutants:
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): From fuel combustion in engines. Effects: Reduces oxygen levels, aggravates heart diseases, causes chest pain.
- Lead (Pb): From metal refineries and incinerators. Effects: Impacts nervous system, causes IQ loss, cardiovascular, and renal effects.
- Nitrogen Oxides (NO): From fuel combustion, wood burning. Effects: Lung diseases, increased respiratory infection susceptibility.
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): From combustion and natural occurrences (volcanoes). Effects: Asthma, difficulty breathing.

Physical Methods: Control of particulates through cyclone separators and electrostatic precipitators.
Gas Control Techniques: Absorption, adsorption, incineration, and carbon sequestration to reduce greenhouse gases.

Definition: Contamination of water bodies by pollutants, often due to human activities.
Sources of Water Pollution:
- Natural Sources: Decay of plants and animals, volcanic eruptions.
- Anthropogenic Sources: Industry, urban runoff, and agriculture.
Effects of Water Pollution:
- Death of aquatic animals, disruption of food chains, diseases in humans.
Control Measures for Water Pollution:
- Treatment of sewage waste before discharge.
- Chemical methods such as ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and coagulation.

Definition: The collection, processing, recycling, or deposition of waste material.
Types of Waste: Solid, liquid, hazardous, and inert.
- Sources of Waste:
- Medical, agricultural, industrial, construction, and electronic sources.
Waste Disposal Problems:
- Overproduction of waste and lax regulations on hazardous materials. Landfills pollute groundwater and habitats.

Eco-responsibility: Emphasizing the mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle.”
Effective Waste Management: Improving facilities for higher environmental standards.
Control and Monitoring: Reclaiming and recycling construction materials.
Waste Diversion Plans: Improving thermal waste treatments and exploring advanced technologies.

Definition: Land degradation in arid areas leading to loss of biological productivity.
Causes: Overgrazing, deforestation, poor farming practices, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, groundwater overdraft, climate change.
Effects: Uninhabitable land for farming, biodiversity loss, increased flooding.
Solutions: Policy changes, education on sustainable practices, technology advancements, restricted mining, reforestation efforts.

Definition: Insufficient available water resources to meet demands. Types include physical and economic scarcity.
Causes: Overuse, pollution, global warming, illegal dumping, natural disasters, droughts.
Effects: Lack of access to drinking water, hunger, sanitation issues, habitat destruction.
Solutions for Water Scarcity:
- Water-saving practices, recycling of water, improved farming practices, and better sewage systems.