Environmental problems generally refer tonatureOr human activities act on the environment around peopleenvironmental qualityDown orEcological imbalance, and the phenomenon that this change in turn has a negative impact on human production and life.Humans are transformingnatural environmentAnd creatingsocial environmentThe natural environment is still changing with its inherent natural laws.On the one hand, the social environment is restricted by the natural environment, but also moves with its inherent laws.Human beings and the environment constantly interact with each other, resulting in environmental problems.
The environment is the place for human survival and activities, as well as the supply base of natural resources for human production and consumption.On《Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China》"The term" environment "as used in this Law refers to the totality of various natural and artificially transformed natural factors that affect human survival and development, including atmosphere, water, ocean, land, mineral resources, forests, grasslands, wildlife, natural relics, cultural relics, natural reservesScenic Attraction, cities and villages, etc. "Among them, "the totality of various natural and artificial factors affecting human survival and development" is a scientific and general definition of environment.It has two meanings: first, the environment mentioned in the environmental law refers to the human centered living environment, which is related to the destruction and survival of human beings.At the same time, the environment does not refer to all the natural and social objective things around human beings as a whole.For example, the Milky Way is not included in the concept of environment.Therefore, the environment referred to in environmental protection is the environment on which human beings rely for survival, and is an external force that acts on human beings and affects their future survival and development.Second, with the development of human society, the concept of environment is also developing.If the moon is not regarded as the living environment of human beings at this stageSpace navigationWith the development of space science, the moon will probably become a part of human living environment.
Environmental problems can be divided into two categories: one is caused by the destruction and pollution of natural factors.Such as: volcanic activity, earthquake, stormtsunamiNatural disasters, endemic diseases caused by uneven natural distribution of elements in the environment, and radiation diseases caused by radioactive substances in nature.The other is environmental pollution and destruction of natural resources and ecological environment caused by human factors.Various pollutants (or pollution factors) generated in human production and living activities enter the environment and exceed the allowable limit of environmental capacity, causing pollution and damage to the environment;In the development and utilization of natural resources, human beings have exceeded the carrying capacity of the environment itself, makingEcological environment qualityDeterioration, sometimes the depletion of natural resources, can be attributed to man-made environmental problems.
Environmental affinity
What we usually refer to as environmental problems is the result of human factors.At present, mankind is facing increasingly serious environmental problems. Here, "although there are no guns or smoke, people are killing", but no country or region can escape the continuous environmental pollution and destruction of natural resources, which directly threatens the ecological environment, human health and the survival of future generations.So people call for "only one earth", "once civilized people destroy their living environment, they will be forced to move or die", and strongly demand to protect the environment for human survival.The emergence of environmental problems is fundamentally the concomitant product of economic and social development.Specifically, it can be summarized as follows:
(1) The huge pressure on the environment caused by population growth;
(2) Environmental pollution accompanied by human production and living activities;
(3) The adverse changes of ecological damage caused by human development and construction activities;
(4) The destruction of cultural relics, scenic spots and nature reserves, the extinction of rare species, and the destruction and pollution of natural and social environments such as the sea caused by human social activities, such as military activities and tourism activities.
Environmental problems - classification Environmental problems threaten human health Environmental problems are diverse.[1]
Generation and development
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Environmental problems threaten human health
1. Environmental problems in the early stage of human society: the lack of means of living or even famine caused by indiscriminate mining and hunting of biological resources in local areas where human beings live, or the burning of large forests and grasslands due to careless use of fire, forcing people to migrate for survival.
2. The environmental problems in the slave society and feudal society dominated by agriculture: in cities with concentrated population, various handicraft workshops and residents abandoned domestic garbage, causing environmental pollution.
3. Environmental problems from the industrial revolution to the 1950s:
(1) Large scale environmental pollution has occurred, and serious environmental pollution in some areas has led to the emergence of "public nuisance" diseases and major public nuisance events.
⑵、natural environmentAs a result, resources are scarce or even exhausted, and regional ecological imbalance begins to appear.
4. Current environmental problems in the world: environmental pollution is characterized by expansion, difficulty in prevention, and serious harm. The natural environment and natural resources cannot withstand the tremendous pressure of high-speed industrialization, population explosion, and urbanization, and the world's natural disasters have increased significantly.[1]
At present, the environmental problems are as follows:
1) Water pollution caused by various domestic sewage, industrial and agricultural wastewater;
2) Air pollution caused by industrial smoke, waste gas and tail gas from vehicles;
3) All kinds of noise pollution;
4) Pollution caused by various residues, heavy metals and wastes;
5) Water and soil loss and ecological environment deterioration caused by overgrazing and deforestation;
6) Stratum collapse and soil structure damage caused by overexploitation of various underground resources;
7) The depletion of energy resources caused by the massive use of non renewable energy.[2]
Main problems
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There are various environmental problems, which can be summarized into two categories: natural evolution andnatural disasterCaused byOriginal environment problems, also calledFirst environmental problem。Such as earthquake, flood, drought, typhoon, collapse, landslide, debris flow, etc.One is caused by human activitiessecondary environmental problem , also calledSecond environmental problem。Secondary environmental problems are generally divided intoenvironmental pollutionandecological damageTwo categories.For example, the destruction of forest vegetation caused by deforestation, grassland degradation caused by overgrazing, desertification and land desertification caused by large-scale grassland reclamation, and atmospheric and water environment deterioration caused by industrial production.[1]
World environmental issues
So far, the environmental problems that have threatened human survival and been recognized by human beings mainly include:global warming、Ozone layer destruction、acid rain, freshwater resource crisisenergy shortage, sharp decline in forest resources, land desertification, accelerated extinction of species, garbage disasters, toxic chemical pollution and many other aspects.
（1）global warming: Global warming refers to the increase of global temperature.In the past 100 years, the global average temperature has experienced two fluctuations of cold warm cold warm, which can be seen as an upward trend.Since the 1980s, the global temperature has risen significantly.From 1981 to 1990, the global average temperature increased by 0.48 ℃ compared with 100 years ago.The main reason for global warming is that humans have used it extensively for nearly a centuryfossil fuel(such as coal, oil, etc.), which emits a large amount of CO2, etcgreenhouse gases。Because these greenhouse gases have an impact onsolar radiationThe short wave ofLong wave radiationIt is highly absorbent, that is, the greenhouse effectglobal warming。As a result of global warming, global precipitation will be redistributed, glaciers and permafrost will melt,sea level riseIt not only endangers the balance of the natural ecosystem, but also threatens the food supply and living environment of human beings.
(2) Ozone layer destruction:stratosphereThere is an ozone layer in which the ozone content accounts for 1/100000 of the total amount of gases at this height.Although the ozone content is very small, it has a strong function of absorbing ultraviolet light, so it can blockSolar ultraviolet radiationDamage to life on the earth, protect all life on the earth.However, some pollutants emitted by human production and life, such as chlorofluorocarbons of refrigerants for refrigerators, air conditioners and other equipment, and fluorobromocarbons for other purposes, can be stimulated by ultraviolet radiation to form highly activeatomAnd ozone (O3) in the ozone layerOxygen molecule(O2), which occurs in a chain way, rapidly depletes ozone and destroys the ozone layer.Antarcticozone holeIs one of the most significant signs of ozone layer destruction.By 1994, the ozone layer over Antarctica had destroyed 24 million square kilometers.The ozone layer over Antarctica was formed in 2 billion years, but 60% of it was destroyed in a century.The ozone layer over the northern hemisphere is also thinner than ever before. The ozone layer over Europe and North America has decreased by 10-15% on average,SiberiaThe sky was even reduced by 35%.Therefore, scientists warn that the destruction of the ozone layer over the earth is far more serious than most people think.
(3)acid rain: Acid rain is caused bysulfur dioxide(SO2) andnitrogen oxide (NOx) and other acidic pollutantsAcid precipitation。In the areas affected by acid rain, there are a series of serious environmental problems, such as acidification of soil and lakes, destruction of vegetation and ecosystem, corrosion of building materials, metal structures and cultural relics, etc.Acid rain first appeared in Northern Europe and Central Europe in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, acid rain in Northern Europe was the migration place of industrial acid waste gas in central Europe. Since the 1970s, many industrialized countries have taken various measures to prevent and control urban and industrialair pollutionOne of the important measures is to increase the height of the chimney. Although this measure has effectively changed theatmospheric environment However, the problem of long-distance transport of atmospheric pollutants is more serious. Pollutants cross the border into neighboring countries, or even float far away, forming a broader cross-border acid rain.In addition, the increasing use of fossil fuels around the world has also further expanded the areas affected by acid rain.Europe, North America and East Asia are seriously affected by acid rain.In the 1980s, acid rain mainly occurred in the southwest of China. By the mid-1990s, it had developed to the south of the Yangtze River, the east of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin.
(4) Fresh water resource crisis: Although two-thirds of the earth's surface is covered by water, 97% of it is sea water that is not drinkable, and less than 3% is fresh water, of which 2% is stored inPolar glacierinOf the only 1% fresh water, 25% is industrial water, 70% is agricultural water, and only a small part can be used for drinking and other domestic purposes.However, in such a water scarce world, water is abused, wasted and polluted.In addition, the uneven regional distribution has led to widespread water shortage in the world,Global freshwater crisisMore and more serious.More than 100 countries and regions in the world are short of water, 28 of which are listed as countries and regions with serious water shortage.It is predicted that in another 20 to 30 years, there will be 46 to 52 countries and regions with serious water shortage, and the population with water shortage will reach 2.8 to 3.3 billion.The vast northern and coastal areas of China are seriously short of water resources. According to statistics, the total area of water shortage areas in northern China is 580000 square kilometers.Among more than 500 cities in China, more than 300 are short of water, with an annual water shortage of 5.8 billion cubic meters. These cities are mainly concentrated in North China, coastal and provincial capital cities, and industrial cities.Water is indispensable to any kind of life in the world. People aptly compare water to the source of life. "However, with the rapid growth of population on the earth and the rapid development of production, water has become more precious than ever before.The depletion of some rivers and lakes, the depletion of groundwater and the disappearance of wetlands not only pose a serious threat to human survival, but also many organisms are being caused by human production and lifeRiver diversion, wetland drying and ecological environment deterioration.Many big rivers, such as the Colorado River in the United States and the Yellow River in China, are no longer strong. The magnificent scene of "rushing to the sea and never returning" has become a memory of history.
(5) Resourcesenergy shortage: At present, the shortage of resources and energy in the world has emerged in most countries and even in the world.The emergence of this phenomenon is mainly due to the unplanned and irrational large-scale exploitation of human beings.At the beginning of the 1990s, the world's total energy consumption was about 10 billion tons of standard coal. It is predicted that the energy consumption will double by 2000.Judging from the development of oil, coal, water conservancy and nuclear energy, it is very difficult to meet this demand.Therefore, before major breakthroughs have been made in the development and utilization of new energy sources (such as solar energy, fast reactor power plants, nuclear fusion power plants, etc.)Energy supplyWill become increasingly nervous.In addition, the reserves of other non renewable mineral resources are also decreasing, and these resources will eventually be exhausted.
（6）Forest declineForest is an important part of the ecosystem on which human beings depend for existence.There used to be 7.6 billion hectares of forests on the earth, which fell to 5.5 billion hectares in this century and 2.8 billion hectares in 1976.becauseWorld populationThe increasing demand for farmland, pasture and timber has led to excessive deforestation and reclamation of forests, which has caused unprecedented destruction of forests.According to statistics, about 12 million hectares of forests disappear every year in the world, most of which are vital to the global ecological balanceTropical rain forest。 The destruction of tropical rainforests mainly occurs in developing countries in tropical regions, especially in the Amazon in Brazil.Amazon forest It is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. However, by the early 1990s, the forest coverage in this area had decreased by 11%, equivalent to 700000 square kilometers. On average, every five seconds, almost one football field size forest disappeared.In addition, tropical rainforests in Asia Pacific and Africa are also being destroyed.
（7）Land desertificationTo put it simply, land desertification means land degradation.1992United Nations Conference on Environment and DevelopmentThe concept of desertification is defined as follows: "Desertification is due to climate change and human irrationalityeconomic activityThe land in arid, semi-arid and semi humid areas with drought disasters has degraded.June 17, 1996 SecondWorld Day to Combat Desertification The secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification issued a communiqu é stating that desertification is still intensifying in the world.More than 1.2 billion people worldwide are directly threatened by desertification, 135 million of whom are in danger of losing their land in the short term.Desertification is no longer a simple phenomenonEcological environment problemsAnd it has evolved into economic and social problems, which have brought poverty and social instability to mankind.By 1996, the land area of global desertification had reached 36 million square kilometers, accounting for 1/4 of the total land area of the earth, equivalent to the total land area of Russia, Canada, China and the United States.There are more than 100 countries affected by desertification in the world. Although people of all countries are fighting against desertification, desertification is expanding at the rate of 50000 to 70000 square kilometers every year, equivalent toIrelandArea of.By the end of the twentieth century, the world will lose about 1/3 of its arable land.Desertification is one of the most serious disasters among many environmental problems of mankind today.For people threatened by desertification, desertification means that they will lose the most basic basis for survival - the disappearance of productive land.
(8) Accelerated extinction of species: species refers to biological species.There are 5 to 10 million kinds of living things on the earth today.generally speakingExtinction of speciesThe speed should be balanced with the speed of species formation.However, human activities have destroyed this balance and accelerated the extinction of species. According to《Outline of World Natural Resources Protection》It is estimated that thousands of animals and plants are extinct every year. By 2000, 10~20% of the animals and plants on the earth, namely, 500~1 million animals and plants, will disappear.Moreover, the rate of extinction is getting faster and faster.World Wildlife FundWarning: one species of birds will be extinct every year in this century, and at least one species will be extinct every day in the tropical rainforest.The extinction of species will threaten the food supply of the whole earth, and the loss and impact on the development of human society will be unpredictable and irreversible.
(9) Garbage disaster: The world produces nearly 10 billion tons of garbage every year, and the ability to deal with garbage is far behind the growth rate of garbage.The amount of garbage discharged in China has been considerable. In many cities, there are many garbage mountains, which not only occupy a lot of land, but also pollute the environment.Hazardous waste, especially toxicHarmful WasteThe problem of handling (including transportation and storage) has become a very thorny environmental problem facing all countries in the world today because of its more serious and far-reaching hazards.
（10）Toxic chemicalsPollution: there are about 70000-80000 chemicals on the market.About 35000 species are harmful to human health and ecological environment.Among them, there are about 500 kinds of carcinogens, teratogens and mutagens.With the development of industrial and agricultural production, 1000~2000 new chemicals are put on the market every year.Due to the extensive use of chemicals, the global atmosphere, water, soil and even organisms have been polluted and poisoned to varying degrees, and even Antarctic penguins have not been spared.Since the 1950s, the number of pollution incidents involving toxic and harmful chemicals has increased. If effective prevention and control measures are not taken, it will cause serious harm to human beings, animals and plants.[1]
Cause
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Land pollution: The cleaning of garbage has become an important issue in major cities. Many of the tens of millions of tons of garbage every day cannot be incinerated or corrupted, such as plastic, rubber, glass and other human enemies.
marine pollution: mainly from oil tankers and oil wellscrude oilPesticides and fertilizers for farmland, sewage from factories, acid solutions from mines;They have polluted most of the marine lakes, and as a result, not only marine organisms are injured, but also birds and humans may be poisoned by eating these organisms and enter the biological chain.
air pollution: This is the most direct and serious, mainly from factories, automobiles, power plants, etccarbon monoxideandhydrogen sulfideEvery day, people are infected with respiratory or visual diseases due to exposure to these dirty air.If we still ignore the experts' warnings, we will surely fall to the point where there is no pure land to live in in the future.
water pollution: refers to the chemical, physical, biological orRadioactive contaminationChanges in the characteristics of water, which affect the effective use of water, endanger human health or damageecological environment, causing deterioration of water quality.
air pollutionIt refers to that the concentration of pollutants in the air reaches or exceeds the harmful level, causing damage to the ecosystem and the normal survival and development of human beings, and harming people and organisms.
noise pollution: refers to the phenomenon that the environmental noise generated exceeds the environmental noise emission standards set by the state and interferes with the normal work, study and life of others.
Radioactive contamination: refers to materials, human bodies, placesEnvironmental mediaRadioactive substances or rays exceeding national standards appear on the surface or inside.[1]
Governance principles
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For environmental issues, more publicity is needed. At the same time, some promotional activities carried out by non-governmental environmental organizations, such as Lv Buwei, Wang Wei, Xun Zi and other environmental crossing events, impress people with the way of environmental behavior art.Moreover, in order to effectively deal with environmental problems, the following principles should be followed:
(1) Correctly handle the relationship between environmental protection and development. Environmental protection and economic development are an organic whole.We can neither leave development, unilaterally emphasize the protection and improvement of the environment, nor blindly pursue development regardless of the ability of the ecological environment.Especially for the majority of developing countries, they can only seek ways and means to solve environmental problems that are suitable for their national conditions on the premise of moderate economic growth.[1]
(2) Clarify the main responsibilities for international environmental issues.ExistingGlobal environmental issuesIt is mainly the result of developed countries' pursuit of industrialization in the past century or two.They are rightGlobal environmental issuesIt has the main responsibility that cannot be lost, and should also bear more obligations.[1]
(3) To safeguard the resource sovereignty of all countries, the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs should be followed.Article 21 of the Stockholm Declaration, adopted at the first environmental conference in 1972, also clearly stipulates that the protection, development and utilization of natural resources by all countries are their internal affairs.[1]
(4) The broad participation of developing countries is very necessary.In international environmental affairs, there is a tendency to ignore the specific difficulties of developing countries, and their voices are not fully reflected. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to ensure that developing countries can fully participate in activities and cooperation in the international environmental field.[1]
(5) The special circumstances and needs of developing countries should be fully taken into account.Developing countries also face some more urgent local environmental problems, including natural ecological deterioration problems such as land degradation, desertification, forest decline, water and soil erosion caused by capital shortage, backward technology and population growth, as well as environmental pollution, acid deposition, water shortage and other problems caused by industrial development.[1]
