Environmental issues are hot topics in today’s media with newspapers and news reports regularly covering various aspects of climate change and related topics. Environmental issues are also high on the agenda of the UK and other governments thanks to increasing pressure from environmental groups and the public.
So what environmental issues are we facing? Well, climate change is perhaps of the greatest concern, with this having an effect in many different ways the world over. Hotter summers and milder, wetter winters are certainly the prognosis for the UK with rising sea levels causing further problems. Greenhouse gas emissions are considered to be the main contributor to climate change, hence the emphasis on reducing carbon emissions by environmental lobbyists.
But there are also other environmental issues facing our planet, a few of which we have mentioned below.
Deforestation is not only a factor in the climate change debate, but also causes localised problems with a reduction in suitable habitat for wildlife, decrease in the availability of wood for fuel and flooding.
Waste disposal is a big issue, with landfill sites in countries such as the UK filling up. Not only is there a lack of space for more landfill sites, but the gases emitted from them can be toxic on a localised and global basis. Hence why recycling is so important.
Wildlife around the world is suffering due to issues such as over fishing and hunting, with many creatures at threat from extinction.
If you want to find out more about environmental issues in the UK and around the world visit some of the websites below.
The Environment Agency Friends of the Earth Greenpeace National Geographic
