Environmental Threats
Environmental Threats
Global Problems
Sea Level Rising
At present, sea levels around the world are rising. Current sea level rise potentially impacts human populations and the natural environment. Global average sea level rose at an average rate of around 1.7 ± 0.3 mm per year over 1950 to 2009 and at a satellite-measured average rate of about 3.3 ± 0.4 mm per year from 1993 to 2009,[01] an increase on earlier estimates.[02]
Climate change
Destructive sudden heavy rains, intense tropical storms, repeated flooding and droughts are likely to increase, as will the vulnerability of local communities in the absence of strong concerted action.
Climate change is not just a distant future threat. It is the main driver behind rising humanitarian needs and we are seeing its impact. The number of people affected and the damages inflicted by extreme weather has been unprecedented. [03]
Deforestation
It has been estimated that about half of the Earth 's mature tropical forests—between 7.5 million and 8 million km2 (2.9 million to 3 million sq mi) of the original 15 million to 16 million km2 (5.8 million to 6.2 million sq mi) that until 1947 covered the planet[04]—have now been destroyed.[05] Some scientists have predicted that unless significant measures (such as seeking out and protecting old growth forests that have not been disturbed)[06]
Water Pollution
Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers and wells). It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.[07] An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness every day.[08] Some 90% of China 's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution,[09] and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe
Global Problems
Sea Level Rising
At present, sea levels around the world are rising. Current sea level rise potentially impacts human populations and the natural environment. Global average sea level rose at an average rate of around 1.7 ± 0.3 mm per year over 1950 to 2009 and at a satellite-measured average rate of about 3.3 ± 0.4 mm per year from 1993 to 2009,[01] an increase on earlier estimates.[02]
Climate change
Destructive sudden heavy rains, intense tropical storms, repeated flooding and droughts are likely to increase, as will the vulnerability of local communities in the absence of strong concerted action.
Climate change is not just a distant future threat. It is the main driver behind rising humanitarian needs and we are seeing its impact. The number of people affected and the damages inflicted by extreme weather has been unprecedented. [03]
Deforestation
It has been estimated that about half of the Earth 's mature tropical forests—between 7.5 million and 8 million km2 (2.9 million to 3 million sq mi) of the original 15 million to 16 million km2 (5.8 million to 6.2 million sq mi) that until 1947 covered the planet[04]—have now been destroyed.[05] Some scientists have predicted that unless significant measures (such as seeking out and protecting old growth forests that have not been disturbed)[06]
Water Pollution
Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers and wells). It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.[07] An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness every day.[08] Some 90% of China 's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution,[09] and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe
References: 05. Ron Nielsen, The Little Green Handbook: Seven Trends Shaping the Future of Our Planet, Picador, New York (2006) ISBN 978-0-312-42581-4 06. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/rainforests/rainforests-facts.xml 07. West, Larry (March 26, 2006). "World Water Day: A Billion People Worldwide Lack Safe Drinking Water". About. 08. "A special report on India: Creaking, groaning: Infrastructure is India’s biggest handicap". The Economist. December 11, 2008. 09. "China says water pollution so severe that cities could lack safe supplies". Chinadaily.com.cn. June 7, 2005. 10. "As China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Extremes". The New York Times. August 26, 2007. 15. World Health Organization, Fiona (January 2008). "An interview with Mahmuder Rahman Bangladesh 's arsenic agony" (PDF). Bulletin of the World Health Organization (BLT) 86 (1): 11–12. DOI:10.2471/BLT.08.040108. 16. Smith, Allan H., Allan H.; Lingas, Elena O; Rahman, Mahfuzar (2000). "Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency" (PDF). Bulletin of the World Health Organization 78 (9): 1093–1103. 17. Kar, Kamal; Bongartz, Petra (April 2006) (PDF). Update on Some Recent Developments in Community-Led Total Sanitation. Brighton: University of Sussex, Institute of Development Studies. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 18. "Copenhagen Fashion Summit". Copenhagen Fashion Summit. 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2012-05-19