We all know that the environment plays a crucial role in sustaining life as we know it here on Earth.  Living things depend on the planet’s resources to survive, both the living elements: trees, plants, animals, etc., and the non-living ones: air, water, soil, etc.  Several environmental issues have come to our attention as being critical, affecting policies and economics worldwide.  Administrations will come and go, but what remains is the people, you and I, and the power of the people to take positive steps to protect the environment. 

The demand for natural resources will continue to grow as the U.S. population increases.  Each year our country grows by nearly two million people.  Statistics say that each person requires an additional acre of land, water, and highways.  This mean greater urbanization, resulting in loss of open lands such as fields, farms and forests.  It’s difficult to understand the impact the loss of these natural areas has.  It’s not just a forest that disappears, but the habitats, ecosystems and the huge loss of biodiversity that goes along with it.

1.) Natural Resource Depletion

Energy and water demands are set to grow by 50% over the next 10 years, stressing resources and potentially straining international relations.  Non-renewable materials like oil, metals and minerals will continue to diminish over time.  Most scientists agree that we have already reached what is known as Peak Oil, the point in time when the global production of oil reaches its maximum rate.  After Peak Oil, production will gradually decline.  Oil is a finite resource.  Think for a moment how many products are made from oil.  If we are to conserve these non-renewable resources, it will take all our efforts to reduce consumption, reuse what we can, and recycle everything feasible.  Luckily, there are renewable resources available for energy production like solar, wind and water.  These industries have a proven track record and will continue to grow at a steady rate, if they are supported.

 2.)  Deforestation

In addition to the ecosystem destruction mentioned earlier, deforestation also increases desertification, soil erosion, flooding, and the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (as trees and plants are no longer removing carbon and producing oxygen.)  Abroad, deforestation has a severe impact on indigenous peoples as their way of life is irrevocably changed as forests are cleared for the beef industry and to produce palm oil. Domestically most of the deforestation occurs for lumber, manufacturing, and urbanization.  Developing alternatives to deforestation are vital if we want to preserve the vanishing resources offered by a healthy forest ecosystem.  Replanting is necessary, and the faster a forest is replanted, the quicker the ecosystem can repair itself.  Again, it is important for us to examine our choices and see what we can live without and what behaviors we can change to reduce our impact on the environment.

 3.) Air Pollution

While air quality has improved greatly in the last 50 years due to the Clean Air Act and other clean air legislation, it remains an issue in many major cities with larger populations.  The two main pollutants that impact our health are fine particle pollution and ground level ozone.  For the most part they are the result of energy production, energy use, and vehicles.  Simple behaviors such as conserving energy, reducing driving speed and “aggressive driving,” has a significant impact on air pollution, with the added benefit of saving us a few dollars.

 4.) Water Pollution

We’ve done a great job regulating drinking water quality, but our lakes, oceans, and rivers are still suffering a good deal of water pollution.  Globally, people dump two million tons of sewage into waterways daily.  Chemicals such as pesticides applied to the land often runoff into waterways, impacting not only our drinking water but the aquatic and marine ecosystems as well.  Micro plastics, dissolved metals and medications are very difficult to remove from water, making proper disposal of these things vital to our health and the health of the environment.

5.) Rapid Climate Change

Of all the environmental issues we face in the U.S., climate change is the most far reaching in its effects; it is also the most politicized.  Without debating whether it’s natural or manmade, it can’t be denied that we are experiencing unprecedented climate phenomenon.  From rapidly melting glaciers and rising sea levels, to increased mega forest fire activity, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of hurricanes and tornadoes, the Earth’s rising temperatures are negatively impacting weather patterns, climate and ultimately our way of life.  

We know what we must do to make things right, starting with taking a good hard look at our consumption habits and how what we do every day impacts the environment.  It’s not easy; people are creatures of habit and we like our comforts.  Big changes are never easy, so we start with the smaller steps and make those positive changes in our lives that will result in a sustainable and healthy environment for ourselves, for our community and the future generations of Earth.