What are the consequences of environmental problems? Deterioration of the condition of the planet’s “lungs”

An environmental problem is a certain change in the state of the natural environment as a result of anthropogenic impact, leading to a failure of the structure and functioning of the natural system (landscape) and leading to negative economic, social or other consequences. This concept is anthropocentric, since negative transformations in nature are assessed in relation to the conditions of human existence.

Classification

Lands associated with disturbances of landscape components are conventionally divided into six categories:

Atmospheric (thermal, radiological, mechanical or chemical pollution of the atmosphere);

Water (contamination of oceans and seas, depletion of both ground and surface waters);

Geological and geomorphological (activation of negative geological and geomorphological processes, deformation of the relief and geological structure);

Soil (soil contamination, secondary salinization, erosion, deflation, waterlogging, etc.);

Biotic (degradation of vegetation and forests, species, digression of pastures, etc.);

Landscape (complex) - deterioration of biodiversity, desertification, disruption of the established regime of environmental zones, etc.

Based on the main environmental changes in nature, the following problems and situations are distinguished:

- Landscape-genetic. They arise as a result of the loss of the gene pool and unique natural objects, and violation of the integrity of the landscape system.

- Anthropoecological. Considered in relation to changes in people's living conditions and health.

- Natural resources. Associated with the loss or depletion of natural resources, they worsen the process of conducting economic activity in the affected area.

Additional division

Environmental problems of nature, in addition to the options presented above, can be classified as follows:

The main reason for their occurrence is environmental, transport, industrial, and hydraulic.

According to spiciness - mild, moderately hot, hot, extremely hot.

By complexity - simple, complex, most complex.

By solvability - solvable, difficult to solve, almost unsolvable.

According to the coverage of affected areas - local, regional, planetary.

In terms of time - short-term, long-term, practically non-disappearing.

According to the scope of the region - problems of the north of Russia, the Ural Mountains, tundra, etc.

Consequence of active urbanization

A city is usually called a socio-demographic and economic system that has a territorial complex of means of production, a permanent population, an artificially created habitat and an established form of social organization.

The current stage of human development is characterized by a rapid growth rate in the number and size of human settlements. Large cities with a population of over one hundred thousand people are growing especially rapidly. They occupy about one percent of the planet's total land area, but their impact on the global economy and natural conditions is truly great. It is in their activities that the main causes of environmental problems lie. More than 45% of the world's population lives in these limited areas, producing about 80% of all emissions that pollute the hydrosphere and atmospheric air.

Environmental issues, especially large ones, are much more difficult to solve. The larger the settlement, the more significantly the natural conditions are transformed. If we compare with rural areas, then in most megacities the environmental living conditions of people are noticeably worse.

According to ecologist Reimer, an environmental problem is any phenomenon associated with the impact of people on nature and with the reversible impact of nature on people and their vital processes.

Natural landscape problems of the city

These negative changes are mostly associated with the degradation of the landscape of megacities. Under large populated areas, all components change - ground and surface waters, relief and geological structure, flora and fauna, soil cover, climatic features. The environmental problems of cities also lie in the fact that all living components of the system begin to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, which leads to a reduction in species diversity and a decrease in the area of ​​land plantings.

Resource and economic problems

They are associated with the enormous scale of use of natural resources, their processing and the formation of toxic waste. The causes of environmental problems are human intervention in the natural landscape during urban development and thoughtless waste disposal.

Anthropological problems

An environmental problem is not only negative changes in natural systems. It may also consist of a deterioration in the health of the urban population. The decline in the quality of the urban environment entails the emergence of a variety of diseases. The nature and biological properties of people, which have been formed over more than one millennium, cannot change as quickly as the world around them. Inconsistencies between these processes often lead to conflict between the environment and human nature.

Considering the causes of environmental problems, we note that the most important of them is the impossibility of rapid adaptation of organisms to environmental conditions, but adaptation is one of the main qualities of all living things. Attempts to influence the speed of this process do not lead to anything good.

Climate

An environmental problem is the result of the interaction between nature and society, which can lead to a global catastrophe. Currently, the following extremely negative changes are observed on our planet:

A huge amount of waste - 81% - enters the atmosphere.

More than ten million square kilometers of land have been eroded and deserted.

The composition of the atmosphere changes.

The density of the ozone layer is disrupted (for example, a hole has appeared over Antarctica).

Over the past ten years, 180 million hectares of forest have disappeared from the face of the earth.

As a result, the height of its waters increases by two millimeters every year.

There is a constant increase in the consumption of natural resources.

As scientists have calculated, the biosphere has the ability to fully compensate for anthropogenic disturbances of natural processes if the consumption of primary biological products does not exceed one percent of the total volume, but currently this figure is approaching ten percent. The compensatory capabilities of the biosphere are hopelessly undermined, and as a result, the ecology of the planet is constantly deteriorating.

The environmentally acceptable threshold for energy consumption is called 1 TW/year. However, it is significantly exceeded, therefore, the favorable properties of the environment are destroyed. In fact, we can talk about the beginning of the third world war, which humanity is waging against nature. Everyone understands that there simply cannot be winners in this confrontation.

Disappointing prospects

Global development is associated with rapid population growth. To meet ever-increasing needs, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of natural resources in countries with a high level of development by three times and contribute to improving the well-being of individual states. The upper limit is twelve billion people. If there are more people on the planet, then from three to five billion will simply be doomed to death from thirst and hunger every year.

Examples of environmental problems on a planetary scale

The development of the “greenhouse effect” has recently become an increasingly threatening process for the Earth. As a result, the heat balance of the planet changes and average annual temperatures increase. The culprits of the problem are “greenhouse” gases, in particular. The consequence of global warming is the gradual melting of snow and glaciers, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the water level of the World Ocean.

Acid precipitation

Sulfur dioxide is recognized as the main culprit of this negative phenomenon. The area of ​​negative impact of acid precipitation is quite wide. Many ecosystems have already been seriously damaged by them, but the most damage is done to plants. As a result, humanity may face mass destruction of phytocenoses.

Insufficient fresh water

There is a shortage of fresh water in some regions due to the active development of agriculture and municipal services, as well as industry. Rather, it is not the quantity, but the quality of the natural resource that plays a significant role here.

Deterioration of the condition of the planet’s “lungs”

Thoughtless destruction, cutting down and irrational use of forest resources have led to the emergence of another serious environmental problem. Forests are known to absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and produce oxygen. For example, one ton of vegetation releases 1.1 to 1.3 tons of oxygen into the atmosphere.

The ozone layer is under attack

The destruction of the ozone layer of our planet is primarily associated with the use of freons. These gases are used in the assembly of refrigeration units and various cans. Scientists have found that in the upper layers of the atmosphere the thickness of the ozone layer decreases. A striking example of the problem is over Antarctica, the area of ​​which is constantly increasing and has already gone beyond the borders of the continent.

Solving global environmental problems

Does humanity have the opportunity to avoid a global catastrophe? Yes. But this requires taking concrete steps.

At the legislative level, establish clear standards for environmental management.

Actively apply centralized measures to protect the environment. These could be, for example, uniform international rules and regulations for the protection of climate, forests, the World Ocean, the atmosphere, etc.

Centrally plan comprehensive restoration work to solve environmental problems of the region, city, town and other specific objects.

To cultivate environmental consciousness and stimulate the moral development of the individual.

Conclusion

Technological progress is gaining increasing speed, there is a constant improvement of production processes, modernization of devices, and the introduction of innovative technologies in a variety of areas. However, only a tiny part of the innovations concerns environmental protection.

It is very important to understand that only complex interaction between representatives of all social groups and the state will help improve the environmental situation on the planet. It's time to look back to realize what the future holds.

Ecological situation in the modern world. The main factors of environmental degradation at the global level. Global environmental problems

Environmental problems of our time, in terms of their scale, can be conditionally divided into local, regional and global and require different means of solution and scientific developments of different nature for their solution.

An example of a local environmental problem is a plant that discharges its industrial waste, which is harmful to human health, into the river without treatment. This is a violation of the law. Nature conservation authorities or even the public should fine such a plant through the courts and, under the threat of closure, force it to build treatment facilities. No special science is required.

An example of regional environmental problems is the Kuzbass - an almost closed basin in the mountains, filled with gases from coke ovens and the fumes of a metallurgical giant, which no one thought about capturing during construction, or the drying up of the Aral Sea with a sharp deterioration in the ecological situation along its entire periphery, or the high radioactivity of soils in areas adjacent to Chernobyl.

To solve such problems, scientific research is already needed. In the first case, the development of rational methods for absorbing smoke and gas aerosols, in the second, precise hydrological studies to develop recommendations for increasing runoff into the Aral Sea, in the third, elucidation of the impact on public health of long-term exposure to low doses of radiation and the development of soil decontamination methods.

As before, in the infinite Universe, the small planet Earth rotates non-stop in orbit around the Sun, as if proving the inviolability of its existence with each new revolution. The face of the planet is constantly reflected by satellites sending cosmic information to Earth. But this face is irreversibly changing. The anthropogenic impact on nature has reached such proportions that global problems have arisen. Now let's move on to specific environmental problems.

Climate warming

The sharp climate warming that began in the second half of the century is a reliable fact. We feel it in winters that are milder than before. The average temperature of the surface layer of air compared to 1956-1957, when the First International Geophysical Year was held, increased by 0.7°C. There is no warming at the equator, but the closer to the poles, the more noticeable it is. Beyond the Arctic Circle it reaches 2С 2. At the North Pole, the subglacial water warmed by 1°C 2 and the ice cover began to melt from below.

What is the reason for this phenomenon? Some scientists believe that this is the result of burning a huge mass of organic fuel and the release of large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas, that is, it makes it difficult for heat to transfer from the Earth's surface.

So what is the greenhouse effect? Billions of tons of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere every hour as a result of the burning of coal and oil, natural gas and firewood, millions of tons of methane rise into the atmosphere from gas development, from the rice fields of Asia, water vapor and chlorofluorocarbons are released there. All of these are “greenhouse gases.” Just as in a greenhouse, a glass roof and walls allow solar radiation to pass through, but do not allow heat to escape, so carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” are almost transparent to the sun’s rays, but they retain long-wave thermal radiation from the Earth and do not allow it to escape into space.

Outstanding Russian scientist V.I. Vernadsky said that the impact of humanity is already comparable to geological processes.

The “energy boom” of the past century increased the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere by 25% and methane by 100% 2 . During this time, real warming occurred on Earth. Most scientists consider this to be a consequence of the “greenhouse effect.”

Other scientists, citing climate change in historical times, consider the anthropogenic factor of climate warming to be insignificant and associate this phenomenon with increased solar activity.

The forecast for the future (2030 - 2050) assumes a possible temperature increase of 1.5 - 4.5°C 2. Such conclusions were reached by the International Conference of Climatologists in Austria in 1988.

A warming climate raises a number of related questions. What are the prospects for its further development? How will warming affect the increase in evaporation from the surface of the World Ocean and how will this affect the amount of precipitation? How will this precipitation be distributed over the area? And a number of more specific questions concerning the territory of Russia: in connection with the warming and general humidification of the climate, can we expect a mitigation of droughts in both the Lower Volga region and the North Caucasus should we expect an increase in the flow of the Volga and a further rise in the level of the Caspian Sea; will permafrost begin to retreat in Yakutia and the Magadan region; Will navigation along the northern coast of Siberia become easier?

All these questions can be answered accurately. However, for this, various scientific studies must be carried out.

Ozone holes

The environmental problem of the ozone layer is no less scientifically complex. As is known, life on Earth appeared only after the protective ozone layer of the planet was formed, covering it from harsh ultraviolet radiation. For many centuries there were no signs of trouble. However, in recent decades, intensive destruction of this layer has been noticed.

The problem of the ozone layer arose in 1982, when a probe launched from a British station in Antarctica discovered a sharp decrease in ozone levels at an altitude of 25 - 30 kilometers. Since then, an ozone “hole” of varying shapes and sizes has been continuously recorded over Antarctica. According to the latest data for 1992, it is equal to 23 million square kilometers, that is, an area equal to all of North America. Later, the same “hole” was discovered over the Canadian Arctic archipelago, over Spitsbergen, and then in different places in Eurasia, in particular over Voronezh.

The depletion of the ozone layer is a much more dangerous reality for all life on Earth than the fall of some super-large meteorite, because ozone prevents dangerous radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface. If ozone decreases, humanity faces, at a minimum, an outbreak of skin cancer and eye diseases. In general, increasing the dose of ultraviolet rays can weaken the human immune system, and at the same time reduce the yield of fields, reducing the already narrow food supply base of the Earth.

“It is quite possible that by 2100 the protective ozone blanket will disappear, ultraviolet rays will dry out the Earth, animals and plants will die. People will seek salvation under giant domes of artificial glass and feed on the food of astronauts,” the picture drawn by a correspondent of one of the Western magazines may seem too much gloomy. But according to experts, the changed situation will affect the flora and fauna. Yields of some crops could be reduced by up to 30%. 1 The changed conditions will also affect microorganisms - the same plankton, which is the main food of marine life.

The depletion of the ozone layer has worried not only scientists, but also the governments of many countries. The search for reasons began. At first, suspicion fell on chloro- and fluorocarbons used in refrigeration units, the so-called freons. They are indeed easily oxidized by ozone, thereby destroying it. Large sums were allocated to find their replacements. However, refrigeration units are used mainly in countries with warm and hot climates, and for some reason ozone holes are most pronounced in the polar regions. This caused confusion. Then it was found that a lot of ozone is destroyed by the rocket engines of modern aircraft flying at high altitudes, as well as during the launches of spacecraft and satellites.

To finally resolve the issue of the causes of ozone layer depletion, detailed scientific research is needed. Another cycle of research is needed to develop the most rational methods for artificially restoring the previous ozone content in the stratosphere. Work in this direction has already begun.

Death and deforestation

One of the reasons for the death of forests in many regions of the world is acid rain, the main culprits of which are power plants. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and their transport over long distances lead to such rain falling far from the sources of emissions. In Austria, eastern Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, more than 60% of the sulfur falling on their territory comes from external sources, and in Norway even 75%. Other examples of long-distance transport of acids include acid rain on remote Atlantic islands such as Bermuda and acid snow in the Arctic.

Over the past 20 years (1970 - 1990), the world has lost almost 200 million hectares of forestland, which is equal to the area of ​​the United States east of the Mississippi . A particularly great environmental threat is posed by the depletion of tropical forests, the “lungs of the planet” and the main source of the planet’s biological diversity. About 200 thousand square kilometers are cut down or burned there every year, which means 100 thousand (!) species of plants and animals disappear . This process is especially fast in the regions richest in tropical forests - the Amazon and Indonesia.

British ecologist N. Meyers concluded that ten small areas in the tropics contain at least 27% of the total species composition of this class of plant formations, later this list was expanded to 15 tropical forest “hot spots” that should be preserved at all costs. no matter what . .

In developed countries, acid rain caused damage to a significant part of the forest: in Czechoslovakia - 71%, in Greece and Great Britain - 64%, in Germany - 52% . .

The current situation with forests varies greatly across continents. While in Europe and Asia forested areas increased slightly between 1974 and 1989, in Australia they decreased by 2.6% in one year. Even greater forest degradation is taking place in certain countries: in Côte d'Et and Ivoire, forest areas decreased by 5.4% over the year, in Thailand - by 4.3%, in Paraguay by 3.4%.

Desertification

Under the influence of living organisms, water and air, the most important ecosystem, thin and fragile, is gradually formed on the surface layers of the lithosphere - soil, which is called the “skin of the Earth”. This is the guardian of fertility and life. A handful of good soil contains millions of microorganisms that maintain fertility. It takes a century for a layer of soil 1 centimeter thick to form. It can be lost in one field season. According to geologists, before people began to engage in agricultural activities, graze livestock and plow land, rivers annually carried about 9 billion tons of soil into the World Ocean. Nowadays this amount is estimated at approximately 25 billion tons 1 .

Soil erosion, a purely local phenomenon, has now become universal. In the United States, for example, about 44% of cultivated land is susceptible to erosion. In Russia, unique rich chernozems with a humus content (organic matter that determines soil fertility) of 14–16%, which were called the citadel of Russian agriculture, disappeared. In Russia, the area of ​​the most fertile lands with a humus content of 10–13% has decreased by almost 5 times 1 .

A particularly difficult situation arises when not only the soil layer is demolished, but also the parent rock on which it develops. Then the threshold of irreversible destruction comes, and an anthropogenic (that is, man-made) desert arises.

One of the most formidable, global and fleeting processes of our time is the expansion of desertification, the decline and, in the most extreme cases, the complete destruction of the biological potential of the Earth, which leads to conditions similar to those of a natural desert.

Natural deserts and semi-deserts occupy more than 1/3 of the earth's surface. These lands are home to about 15% of the world's population. Deserts are natural formations that play a certain role in the overall ecological balance of the planet’s landscapes.

As a result of human activity, by the last quarter of the twentieth century, over 9 million square kilometers of deserts had appeared, and in total they had already covered 43% of the total land area 1.

In the 1990s, desertification began to threaten 3.6 million hectares of drylands. This represents 70% of potentially productive drylands, or ¼ of the total land surface area, and does not include the area of ​​natural deserts. About 1/6 of the world's population suffers from this process 1 .

According to UN experts, current losses of productive land will lead to the fact that by the end of the century the world may lose almost 1/3 of its arable land 1 . Such a loss, at a time of unprecedented population growth and increasing food demand, could be truly disastrous.

Causes of land degradation in different regions of the world.

Pure water

People have been polluting water since time immemorial. Probably one of the first major polluters of water bodies was the legendary Greek hero Hercules, who, with the help of a river diverted into a new channel, cleaned the Augean stables. Over many millennia, everyone has become accustomed to water pollution, but there is still something blasphemous and unnatural in the fact that a person dumps all the sewage and dirt into the sources from which he gets drinking water. Paradoxical as it may seem, harmful emissions into the atmosphere ultimately end up in water, and the territories of city landfills for solid waste and garbage after each rain and after snowmelt contribute to the pollution of surface and groundwater.

So, clean water is also becoming scarce, and water scarcity can affect itself faster than the consequences of the “greenhouse effect”: 1.2 billion people live without clean drinking water, 2.3 billion without treatment facilities to use contaminated water. Water consumption for irrigation is growing, now it is 3,300 cubic kilometers per year, 6 times more than the flow of one of the most abundant rivers in the world - the Mississippi. Widespread use of groundwater leads to a decrease in its level. In Beijing, for example, in recent years it has fallen by 4 meters...

Water can also become the subject of internecine conflicts, since 200 of the world's largest rivers flow through the territory of two or more countries. For example, the water of the Niger is used by 10 countries, the Nile by 9, and the Amazon by 7 countries.

Our civilization is already called the “civilization of waste” or the Age of disposable things. The wastefulness of industrialized countries is manifested in the huge and growing amount of raw material waste; mountains of garbage are a characteristic feature of all industrial countries in the world. The United States, with 600 kilograms of garbage per capita per year, is the largest producer of household waste in the world; Western Europe and Japan produce half as much, but the growth rate of household waste is growing everywhere. In our country this increase is 2–5% per year 1 .

Many new products contain toxic substances - lead, mercury and cadmium - in batteries, toxic chemicals in household detergents, solvents and dyes. Therefore, garbage dumps near the largest cities pose a serious environmental threat - the threat of groundwater pollution, a threat to public health. Disposing of industrial waste to these landfills will create even greater dangers.

Waste recycling plants are not a radical solution to the waste problem - sulfur and nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide are released into the atmosphere, and the ash contains toxic substances; the ash ultimately ends up in these same landfills.

Such an ordinary substance as water does not often attract our attention, although we encounter it every day, rather even hourly: during the morning toilet, at breakfast, when we drink tea or coffee, when leaving the house in the rain or snow, while preparing lunch and washing dishes, during laundry... In general, very, very often. Think for a minute about water..., imagine that it suddenly disappeared..., well, for example, there was a water supply network failure. Or perhaps this has already happened to you? In such a situation, it becomes very clear that “there is no water, neither here nor there.”

Environmental problems and developed countries

Awareness of the environmental problem has led to the greening of economic development in industrialized countries.

Firstly, this was reflected in the fact that the costs of the state and monopolies for environmental protection have increased sharply.

Secondly, the production of cleaning equipment has been established - an “eco-industry” and “eco-business” have emerged - an international market for environmentally friendly equipment and environmentally friendly products.

Thirdly, a system of laws and organizations for environmental protection (relevant ministries and departments) was formed. Environmental development programs for individual countries and regions were developed.

Fourth, international coordination in the field of environmental protection has increased.

Environmental issues and developing countries

The center of gravity of the global problems of our time is increasingly moving to the world of developing countries.

Here, environmental pressure is also increasing, since along with “pre-industrial” pollution, new pollution is increasingly emerging, associated with the invasion of transnational corporations (TNCs), with the “export” of polluting industries to the “third world”.

“Pre-industrial” degradation is primarily desertification (the result of anthropogenic and natural factors: excessive grazing and cutting down of rare trees and shrubs, disturbance of soil cover, and so on in fragile, easily destroyed ecosystems of arid regions) and massive deforestation.

Modern "industrial" pollution in developing countries is caused by the transfer of many polluting industries to the "third world", primarily the construction of metallurgical and chemical plants. The concentration of population in the largest agglomerations is growing.

“New” pollution in developing countries is also determined by the chemicalization of agriculture.

So, all new models of environmental development, all new technologies are so far the lot of the developed world, which accounts for about 20% of the Earth's population.

Degradation of natural environment and the resulting environmental disturbances are not the product of technological development alone and the expression of temporary and random disturbances. On the contrary, the degradation of the natural environment is an indicator of the deepest industrial civilization and a super-intensive mode of production. Since the industrial system of capitalism greatly increases the possibilities of production and power over the natural, it also contains the seeds of a systematic dispersion of human and natural forces. Economic expansion of production potential, where the only rational thing is that it brings profit (power, money and opportunities), is achieved at the cost of dispersing natural sources and ambient... Production based on three pillars: profit, opportunity, prestige - on artificial stimulation of needs, artificial wear and tear and accelerated replacement of production products becomes one of the main causes of disruption of nature. Therefore, the protection of the natural environment from degradation, or rather the protection of the natural environment, and improvement in modern society cannot occur in inhumane relations based on the blind pursuit of profit.

In an economy that aims to maximize profits, there is a combination of factors: natural sources (air, water, minerals, which were until now free and for which there was no substitute); means of production, representing real estate capital (which wears out and needs to be replaced with more powerful and efficient ones), and labor force (which also needs to be reproduced). The struggle to achieve a goal has a decisive impact not only on the way in which these factors are combined, but also on the relative importance that is attached to each of these factors. If, in the combination of these factors, the enterprise is only interested in producing the maximum commodity value at the minimum cost expressed in money (monetary), then it strives to ensure the greatest functioning of rare and expensive machines, and as for the physical and mental health of workers, they can be changed frequently , and it's inexpensive. The company also strives to reduce its costs and does this mainly through environmental balance, because the destruction of ecological balance does not weigh on them. The logic of an enterprise is to produce something that can be sold at a high price, even if valuable (useful) things can be produced at lower costs (costs).

The disruption of ecological balance in the modern world has reached such proportions that there has been an imbalance between natural systems necessary for life and the industrial, technological and demographic needs of humanity. Signs of environmental problems are food problems, population explosion, depletion of natural resources (sources of raw materials and energy) and air and water pollution. Therefore, modern man is perhaps faced with the most difficult test in the entire period of his development: how to overcome the crisis of humanity?

To solve modern environmental problems, it is necessary to change industrial civilization and create a new basis for society, where the leading motive for production will be the satisfaction of essential human needs, the even and humane distribution of natural and labor-created wealth. (The incorrect distribution, for example, of food in modern distribution is evidenced by the following fact: in the USA, as much protein is spent on feeding domestic animals as it is spent on feeding the population in India.). The creation of a new civilization can hardly occur without a qualitative change in the bearer of social power.

To maintain ecological balance, “reconciliation of society with nature,” it is not enough to eliminate private property and introduce public ownership of the means of production. It is necessary that technological development be considered as part of cultural development in a broad sense, the purpose of which is to create conditions for the realization of man as the highest value, and not to replace this with the creation of material values. With this attitude towards technical development, it becomes clear that technology will develop processes for the rational use of raw materials and energy for any production, and undesirable and threatening consequences will not arise in the environment. To achieve this goal, it would be logical to focus science on the development of alternative production processes that would satisfy the requirement of rational use of raw materials and energy and the closure of the process within the boundaries of the workshop, providing equal or lower costs compared to dirty technologies. This attitude towards technological development also requires a new concept of social needs. It must differ from the concept of a consumer society, have a humanistic orientation, cover needs, the satisfaction of which enriches a person’s creative abilities and helps him express himself, which is the most valuable thing for society. A radical renewal of the system of needs will give more scope for the development of true human values; instead of a quantitative increase in goods, a condition will arise for the establishment of a long-term dynamic correspondence between man and nature, between man and his living environment.

To establish a long-term dynamic relationship between society and nature, man and his environment, for the correct development of nature in the process of activity, there are objective prerequisites for the development of productive forces, especially those arising in the conditions of scientific and technological revolution. But in order for productive forces to be used for the development of nature in an appropriate manner, it is necessary to develop socio-economic relations in which the goal of production will not be greater and cheaper than in production that does not take into account the negative consequences for the environment. And such socio-economic relations cannot exist without a person who finds and rationally distributes resources, protects the natural environment as much as possible from pollution and further degradation, takes maximum care of the progress and health of people; without a person who simultaneously improves himself... The basis for such social action, along with everything else, is created by the awareness by an increasing number of people of the irrationality of a system in which the pursuit of wealth along the extreme line of excess is paid for by discarding more essential things, for example, a humane pace of life, creative work , non-impersonal social relations. Humanity increasingly understands that often wasted resources are paid too dearly by those resources that are becoming increasingly scarce - clean water, clean air, etc.

Today, protecting the human environment from degradation is consistent with the requirement to improve the quality of life and the quality of the environment. This interconnection of demands (and social actions) - protecting the human environment and improving its quality - is a prerequisite for improving the quality of life, which is reflected in theoretical understandings of the relationship between man and nature and in the clashes of ideas that accompany this understanding.

The environmental problems of the world's cities, mainly the largest of them, are associated with excessive concentration of population, transport and industrial enterprises in relatively small areas, and the formation of anthropogenic landscapes that are very far from the state of ecological balance. The growth rate of the world's population is 1.5-2.0 times lower than the growth of the urban population, which today includes 40% of the world's people. For the period 1939–1979. The population of large cities increased by 4 times, in medium-sized cities by 3 times and in small cities by 2 times. The socio-economic situation has led to the uncontrollability of the urbanization process in many countries. The percentage of urban population in individual countries is: Argentina - 83, Uruguay - 82, Australia - 75, USA - 80, Japan - 76, Germany - 90, Sweden - 83. In addition to large millionaire cities, urban agglomerations or merged cities are growing rapidly. These are Washington-Boston and Los Angeles-San Francisco in the USA; the city of Ruhr in Germany; Moscow, Donbass and Kuzbass in the CIS. The circulation of matter and energy in cities significantly exceeds that in rural areas. The average density of the Earth's natural energy flow is 180 W/m2, the share of anthropogenic energy in it is 0.1 W/m2. In cities it increases to 30-40 and even 150 W/m2 (Manhattan). Over large cities, the atmosphere contains 10 times more aerosols and 25 times more gases. At the same time, 60-70% of gas pollution comes from road transport. More active condensation of moisture leads to an increase in precipitation by 5-10%. Self-cleaning of the atmosphere is prevented by a 10-20% decrease in solar radiation and wind speed. With low air mobility, thermal anomalies over the city cover layers of the atmosphere of 250-400 m, and temperature contrasts can reach 5-6 (C. They are associated with temperature inversions, leading to increased pollution, fog and smog. Cities consume 10 or more times more water per person than in rural areas, and the pollution of water bodies reaches catastrophic proportions. The volume of wastewater reaches 1 m2 per person per day. Therefore, almost all large cities experience a shortage of water resources and many of them receive water from remote sources. Aquifers under cities are severely depleted in as a result of continuous pumping by boreholes and wells, and in addition they are contaminated to a considerable depth. The soil cover of urban areas also undergoes a radical transformation. In large areas, under highways and neighborhoods, it is physically destroyed, and in recreational areas - parks, squares, courtyards - it is severely destroyed, polluted by household waste, harmful substances from the atmosphere, enriched with heavy metals, bare soil contributes to water and wind erosion. The vegetation cover of cities is usually almost entirely represented by “cultural plantings” - parks, squares, lawns, flower beds, alleys. The structure of anthropogenic phytocenoses does not correspond to zonal and regional types of natural vegetation. Therefore, the development of green spaces in cities takes place in artificial conditions and is constantly supported by humans. Perennial plants in cities develop under conditions of severe oppression.

at the global level include:

Increased consumption of natural resources while reducing their reserves;

an increase in the planet's population while reducing areas suitable for human habitation;

Degradation of the main components of the biosphere, including the reduction of biological diversity, the associated decrease in nature’s ability to self-regulate and, as a consequence, the impossibility of the existence of human civilization;

possible climate change and depletion of the Earth's ozone layer;

increasing environmental damage from natural and man-made disasters;

the level of coordination of the actions of the world community in the field of solving environmental problems and regulating globalization processes is insufficient for the transition to the sustainable development of human civilization; ongoing military conflicts and terrorist activities.

Among the main factors of environmental degradation

Russian Federation include:

The predominance of resource-extracting and resource-intensive sectors in the structure of the economy, which leads to the rapid depletion of natural resources and degradation of the natural environment;

Low efficiency of mechanisms for nature management and environmental protection, including the lack of rent payments for the use of natural resources;

A sharp weakening of the management, and above all control, functions of the state in the field of environmental management and environmental protection;

high share of the shadow economy in the use of natural resources;

low technological and organizational level of the economy, high degree of wear and tear of fixed assets;

Consequences of the economic crisis and the low standard of living of the population;

low level of environmental awareness and ecological culture of the country's population.

To solve modern environmental problems, it is necessary to change industrial civilization and create a new basis for society, where the leading motive for production is the uniform and humane distribution of natural and labor-created wealth.

Environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources and disruption of ecological connections in ecosystems have become global problems. And if humanity continues to follow the current path of development, then its death, according to the world’s leading ecologists, is inevitable in two to three generations.

The right to a favorable environment is enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. A number of bodies monitor compliance with this standard:

• Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia;
• Rosprirodnadzor and its territorial departments;
• environmental prosecutor's office;
• executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the field of ecology;
• a number of other departments.

But it would be more logical to consolidate everyone’s responsibility to conserve natural resources, minimize consumer waste, and take care of nature. A person has many rights. What does nature have? Nothing. Only the duty to satisfy the ever-growing needs of man. And this consumer attitude leads to environmental problems. Let's figure out what it is and how to improve the current state of affairs.

Concept and types of environmental problems

Environmental problems are interpreted in different ways. But the essence of the concept boils down to one thing: this is the result of thoughtless, soulless anthropogenic impact on the environment, which leads to changes in the properties of landscapes, depletion or loss of natural resources (minerals, flora and fauna). And it boomerangs on human life and health.

Environmental problems affect the entire natural system. Based on this, there are several types of this problem:

• Atmospheric. In the atmospheric air, most often in urban areas, there is an increased concentration of pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxide, and carbon monoxide. Sources – road transport and stationary objects (industrial enterprises). Although, according to the State Report “On the state and protection of the environment of the Russian Federation in 2014,” the total volume of emissions decreased from 35 million tons/year in 2007 to 31 million tons/year in 2014, the air is not getting cleaner. The dirtiest Russian cities according to this indicator are Birobidzhan, Blagoveshchensk, Bratsk, Dzerzhinsk, Yekaterinburg, and the cleanest are Salekhard, Volgograd, Orenburg, Krasnodar, Bryansk, Belgorod, Kyzyl, Murmansk, Yaroslavl, Kazan.
• Aquatic. There is depletion and pollution of not only surface but also groundwater. Let's take, for example, the “great Russian” river Volga. The waters in it are characterized as “dirty”. The norm for the content of copper, iron, phenol, sulfates, and organic substances is exceeded. This is due to the operation of industrial facilities that discharge untreated or insufficiently treated wastewater into the river, and the urbanization of the population - a large share of household wastewater through biological treatment plants. The decrease in fish resources was influenced not only by river pollution, but also by the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power stations. Even 30 years ago, even near the city of Cheboksary it was possible to catch a Caspian beluga, but now you won’t catch anything larger than a catfish. It is possible that the annual campaigns of hydroelectric power engineers to launch fry of valuable fish species, such as sterlet, will someday bring tangible results.
• Biological. Resources such as forests and pastures are degrading. We mentioned fish resources. As for forests, we have the right to call our country the largest forest power: a quarter of the area of ​​​​all forests in the world grows in our country, half of the country’s territory is occupied by woody vegetation. We need to learn to treat this wealth more carefully in order to preserve it from fires, and promptly identify and punish “black” lumberjacks.

Fires are most often the work of human hands. It is possible that in this way someone is trying to hide traces of the illegal use of forest resources. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the most “burning” areas of Rosleskhoz include the Transbaikal, Khabarovsk, Primorsky, Krasnoyarsk territories, the republics of Tyva, Khakassia, Buryatia, Yakutia, the Irkutsk, Amur regions, and the Jewish Autonomous Region. At the same time, huge amounts of money are spent on eliminating fires: for example, in 2015, over 1.5 billion rubles were spent. There are also good examples. Thus, the republics of Tatarstan and Chuvashia did not allow a single forest fire in 2015. There is someone to follow by example!

• Land. We are talking about the depletion of subsoil, the development of minerals. To save at least part of these resources, it is enough to recycle waste as much as possible and reuse it. In this way, we will help reduce the area of ​​landfills, and enterprises can save on quarry development by using recyclable materials in production.
• Soil - geomorphological. Active farming leads to gully formation, soil erosion, and salinization. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, as of January 1, 2014, almost 9 million hectares of farmland were subject to degradation, of which over 2 million hectares of land were degraded. If erosion occurs as a result of land use, then the soil can be helped by: terracing, creating forest belts for protection from the wind, changing the type, density and age of vegetation.
• Landscape. Deterioration of the condition of individual natural-territorial complexes.

Modern world environmental problems

Local and global environmental problems are closely interrelated. What happens in a particular region ultimately affects the overall situation throughout the world. Therefore, environmental issues must be approached comprehensively. First, let's highlight the main global environmental problems:

• . As a result, protection from ultraviolet radiation decreases, which leads to various diseases of the population, including skin cancer.
• Global warming. Over the past 100 years, the temperature of the surface layer of the atmosphere has increased by 0.3-0.8°C. The snow area in the north decreased by 8%. There was a rise in the level of the world's oceans to 20 cm. Over 10 years, the rate of increase in the average annual temperature in Russia was 0.42°C. This is twice the rate of increase in Earth's global temperature.
• . Every day we inhale about 20 thousand liters of air, saturated not only with oxygen, but also containing harmful suspended particles and gases. So, if we consider that there are 600 million cars in the world, each of which daily emits up to 4 kg of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, soot and zinc into the atmosphere, then through simple mathematical calculations we come to the conclusion that the vehicle fleet emits 2.4 billion kg of harmful substances. We must not forget about emissions from stationary sources. Therefore, it is not surprising that every year over 12.5 million people (and this is the population of the entire Moscow!) die from diseases associated with poor ecology.

• . This problem leads to pollution of water bodies and soils with nitric and sulfuric acid, cobalt and aluminum compounds. As a result, productivity falls and forests die. Toxic metals end up in drinking water and poison us.
• . Humanity needs to store 85 billion tons of waste a year somewhere. As a result, the soil under authorized and unauthorized landfills becomes contaminated with solid and liquid industrial waste, pesticides, and household waste.
• . The main pollutants are oil and petroleum products, heavy metals and complex organic compounds. In Russia, the ecosystems of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs are maintained at a stable level. The taxonomic composition and structure of communities do not undergo significant changes.

Ways to improve the environment

No matter how deeply modern environmental problems penetrate, their solution depends on each of us. So what can we do to help nature?

• Use of an alternative fuel or alternative means of transport. To reduce harmful emissions into the air, it is enough to switch your car to gas or switch to an electric car. A very environmentally friendly way to travel by bicycle.
• Separate collection. It is enough to install two garbage containers at home to effectively implement separate collection. The first is for waste that cannot be recycled, and the second is for subsequent transfer to recycling. The cost of plastic bottles, waste paper, glass is becoming more and more expensive, so separate collection is not only environmentally friendly, but also economical. By the way, so far in Russia the volume of waste generation is twice as high as the volume of waste use. As a result, the volume of waste in landfills triples over five years.
• Moderation. In everything and everywhere. An effective solution to environmental problems requires abandoning the consumer society model. A person does not need 10 boots, 5 coats, 3 cars, etc. to live. It’s easy to switch from plastic bags to eco-bags: they are stronger, have a much longer service life, and cost about 20 rubles. Many hypermarkets offer eco-bags under their own brand: Magnit, Auchan, Lenta, Karusel, etc. Everyone can independently evaluate what they can easily refuse.
• Environmental education of the population. Take part in environmental events: plant a tree in your yard, go to restore forests damaged by fires. Take part in a cleanup event. And nature will thank you with the rustling of leaves, a light breeze... Foster in children a love for all living things and teach them proper behavior while walking in the forest or on the street.
• Join the ranks of environmental organizations. Don't know how to help nature and preserve a favorable environment? Join the ranks of environmental organizations! These could be the global environmental movements Greenpeace, Wildlife Fund, Green Cross; Russian: All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation, Russian Geographical Society, ECA, Separate COLLECTION, Green Patrol, RosEco, Non-Governmental Environmental Foundation named after V.I. Vernadsky, Movement of Nature Conservation Teams, etc. A creative approach to preserving a favorable environment and a new circle of communication await you!

Nature is one, there will never be another. Already today, by starting to jointly solve environmental problems, by combining the efforts of citizens, the state, public organizations and commercial enterprises, we can improve the world around us. Issues of environmental protection concern many, because how we treat them today determines the conditions in which our children will live tomorrow.

Relevant for Russia. It should be recognized that the country is one of the most polluted in the world. This affects the quality of life and has a detrimental effect on people's health. The emergence of environmental problems in Russia, as in other countries, is associated with the intense human influence on nature, which has acquired a dangerous and aggressive character.

What common environmental problems exist in Russia?

Air pollution

Water and soil pollution

Household waste

On average, each resident of Russia produces 400 kg of solid household waste per year. The only way out is recycling waste (paper, glass). There are very few enterprises that deal with waste disposal or recycling in the country;

Nuclear pollution

At many nuclear power plants, the equipment is outdated and the situation is approaching catastrophe, because an accident can happen at any moment. In addition, radioactive waste is not properly disposed of. Radioactive radiation from hazardous substances causes mutation and cell death in the body of humans, animals, and plants. Contaminated elements enter the body along with water, food and air, are deposited, and the effects of radiation may appear after a while;

Destruction of protected areas and poaching

This lawless activity leads to the death of both individual species of flora and fauna and the destruction of ecosystems as a whole.

Arctic problems

As for specific environmental problems in Russia, in addition to global ones, there are several regional ones. First of all, this is Arctic problems. This ecosystem was damaged during its development. There are large quantities of hard-to-reach oil and gas reserves here. If they start to be mined, there will be a threat of oil spills. leads to the melting of Arctic glaciers, they may completely disappear. As a result of these processes, many species of northern animals are dying out, and the ecosystem is changing significantly; there is a threat of flooding of the continent.

Baikal

Baikal is the source of 80% of Russia's drinking water, and this water area was damaged by the activities of a paper and pulp mill, which dumped industrial and household waste and garbage nearby. The Irkutsk hydroelectric power station also has a detrimental effect on the lake. Not only are the banks destroyed, the water is polluted, but its level also drops, fish spawning grounds are destroyed, which leads to the disappearance of populations.

The Volga basin is subject to the greatest anthropogenic load. The quality of the Volga water and its inflow does not meet recreational and hygienic standards. Only 8% of wastewater discharged into rivers is treated. In addition, the country has a significant problem of declining river levels in all water bodies, and small rivers are constantly drying up.

The Gulf of Finland

The Gulf of Finland is considered the most dangerous water area in Russia, since the water contains a huge amount of oil products that spilled as a result of tanker accidents. There is also active poaching activity here, and as a result, animal populations are declining. There is also uncontrolled salmon fishing.

The construction of megacities and highways is destroying forests and other natural resources throughout the country. In modern cities, there are problems not only with air and hydrosphere pollution, but also with noise pollution. It is in cities that the problem of household waste is most acute. In populated areas of the country there are not enough green areas with plantings, and there is also poor air circulation. Among the most polluted cities in the world, the Russian city of Norilsk ranks second. A bad environmental situation has developed in such cities of the Russian Federation as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Cherepovets, Asbest, Lipetsk and Novokuznetsk.

Demonstrative video of environmental problems in Russia

The problem of public health

Considering the various environmental problems of Russia, one cannot ignore the problem of deteriorating health of the country's population. The main manifestations of this problem are as follows:

• — degradation of the gene pool and mutations;
• — increase in the number of hereditary diseases and pathologies;
• - many diseases become chronic;
• — deterioration of sanitary and hygienic living conditions for certain segments of the population;
• - increase in the number of drug addicts and alcohol dependent people;
• — increase in infant mortality rate;
• - increase in male and female infertility;
• - regular epidemics;
• — an increase in the number of patients with cancer, allergies, and cardiovascular diseases.

The list goes on. All of these health problems are a major consequence of environmental degradation. If environmental problems in Russia are not solved, the number of sick people will increase, and the population will regularly decline.

Ways to solve environmental problems

The solution to environmental problems directly depends on the activities of government officials. It is necessary to control all areas of the economy so that all enterprises reduce their negative impact on the environment. We also need the development and implementation of environmental technologies. They can also be borrowed from foreign developers. Today drastic measures are required to solve environmental problems. However, we must remember that a lot depends on ourselves: on lifestyle, saving natural resources and utilities, maintaining hygiene and on our own choice. For example, everyone can throw out garbage, recycle waste paper, save water, put out a fire in nature, use reusable dishes, buy paper bags instead of plastic ones, and read e-books. These small actions will help you make your contribution to improving the environment of Russia.