The more we develop, the closer we are to the destruction of the earth. This is because our development is based on exploiting finite resources, emitting greenhouse gases, generating waste and pollution, and altering the delicate balance of nature. As a result, we are facing multiple environmental crises, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, desertification, water scarcity, soil degradation and ocean acidification.
These crises pose serious threats to our survival and prosperity. They affect our food security, water supply, health, economy, security and culture. They also undermine the rights and opportunities of present and future generations. Moreover, they disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable groups who have contributed the least to the problem and have the least capacity to cope.
Causes of environmental degradation
There are many factors that contribute to environmental degradation, but some of the main ones are:
• Population growth: The world population has increased from 1 billion in 1800 to 7.9 billion in 2021. This means more demand for resources, energy, land and water, as well as more waste and emissions.
• Economic growth: The global GDP has grown from $1.1 trillion in 1900 to $87.7 trillion in 2019. This means more production, consumption and trade, as well as more extraction, transportation and disposal of materials.
• Technological innovation: The advancement of science and technology has enabled us to create new products, services and solutions that improve our lives. However, it has also enabled us to exploit nature more efficiently and extensively, as well as to create new forms of pollution and hazards.
• Social change: The changes in our values, norms, behaviors and lifestyles have influenced our relationship with nature. For example, urbanization, globalization, individualism and consumerism have increased our ecological footprint and reduced our awareness and responsibility for the environment.
Effects of environmental degradation
The effects of environmental degradation are manifold and interrelated. Some of the major ones are:
• Climate change: The increase in global average temperature due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing changes in weather patterns, sea level rise, melting of ice caps and glaciers, extreme events and disasters. These changes have impacts on agriculture, fisheries, forestry, health, infrastructure, tourism and migration.
• Biodiversity loss: The reduction in the variety and abundance of life forms due to habitat destruction, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change is affecting the functioning of ecosystems and the provision of ecosystem services. These services include pollination, pest control, nutrient cycling, water purification, soil formation and carbon sequestration.
• Deforestation: The clearing of forests for agriculture, logging, mining or urban development is reducing the forest cover and affecting its role as a carbon sink, a habitat for wildlife, a source of timber, a regulator of water cycle and a protector of soil.
• Desertification: The degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas due to human activities or climate variability is causing soil erosion, loss of vegetation, reduced soil fertility and water availability.
• Water scarcity: The imbalance between water demand and supply due to population growth, economic development, agricultural expansion, industrialization and climate change is leading to water stress, conflicts and health problems.
• Soil degradation: The deterioration of soil quality due to erosion, compaction, salinization, acidification and contamination is affecting its ability to support plant growth, store water and filter pollutants.
• Ocean acidification: The decrease in pH of seawater due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is affecting the calcification process of marine organisms such as corals, shellfish and plankton. This has implications for marine food webs, fisheries and coral reefs.
Solutions for environmental protection
There is no single or simple solution for environmental protection. It requires a holistic, integrated and collaborative approach that involves multiple actors, sectors and levels. Some of the possible solutions are:
• Population control: The stabilization or reduction of population growth through voluntary family planning, education and empowerment of women and girls.
• Economic transformation: The shift from a linear, growth-oriented and fossil-fuel-based economy to a circular, sustainable and renewable-energy-based economy that minimizes waste, maximizes efficiency and respects planetary boundaries.
• Technological innovation: The development and diffusion of green, clean and low-carbon technologies that reduce environmental impacts, enhance resilience and create new opportunities for development.
• Social change: The change in our values, norms, behaviors and lifestyles that foster a culture of environmental awareness, responsibility and action.
• Policy and governance: The formulation and implementation of effective, equitable and participatory policies and regulations that address the root causes and drivers of environmental degradation, promote the conservation and restoration of natural resources and ensure the fair distribution of costs and benefits of environmental protection.
• International cooperation: The strengthening of global, regional and bilateral cooperation and coordination on environmental issues that transcend national boundaries, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and ocean acidification.
Human development has brought many benefits, but also many costs. The more we develop, the closer we are to the destruction of the earth. This is not inevitable, however. We can choose a different path, one that respects and protects the environment, while ensuring human well-being and dignity. We have the knowledge, the technology and the resources to do so. What we need is the will, the vision and the action to make it happen. The time to act is now, before it is too late.
