The world is faced with basically five big problems. These five problems need to be resolved urgently in order for Earth to continue to be a habitable planet for humans and other living things.
1. Air pollution and climate change
The Sorun: Overfilling of the atmosphere and ocean waters with carbon: Atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbs and re-reflects radiation as long as infrared waves, heating the air, soil, and ocean surface water. Thus, our planet is saved from being a solid chunk of ice.
However, there is not enough carbon in the air. Fossil fuel use, deforestation and industrial activities increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration from 280 ppm (particles per million) to 400 ppm in 200 years. This is an unprecedented increase in both size and speed, and as a result of this increase, climate change özgü begun to occur.
Carbon density is just one of the kinds of air pollution created by the burning of coal, oil, gasoline and wood. The World Health Organization recently stated that one out of every nine deaths in 2012 is due to diseases caused by carcinogens or other toxic substances in polluted air.
Solution: Using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, reforestation, reducing emissions in agriculture, changing industrial production processes. In this context, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that there is plenty of clean energy in nature. All that needs to be done is to ‘cultivate’ these resources rationally and invest in renewable energy. Many experts say that a 100% renewable energy future is possible with the technology we have now.
The bad news is that renewable energy infrastructures, such as solar panels, wind turbines, energy storage and distribution systems, have already become widespread and although fairly cheap and efficient, they have not been implemented quickly enough to prevent climate change. Political and financial problems must be overcome to solve this sorun.
2. Deforestation
Sorun: Wild forests, rich in species of living things, are being destroyed. This is particularly happening in the tropical zone, a geography that enables cattle pasture, soybean and palm oil cultivation.
Today, approximately 30 percent of the earth is covered with forests. Whereas, 11 thousand years ago, at the time when mankind started agriculture, there were twice as many forests on earth. 7.3 million hectares of forest are destroyed every year, especially in the tropical zone. While tropical forests cover approximately 15 percent of the planet, today this rate is around 6-7 percent. This remaining ratio is decreasing due to logging and burning activities. In addition, natural forests contain carbon, prevent its spread to the atmosphere and oceans, and contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity.
Solution: Preserve what remains of natural forests and restore areas that have already been destroyed by planting local tree species. This of course requires a good and fair management culture. In practice, however, most tropical countries are still developing countries, with increasing populations, unstable legal orders, and prevalence of favoritism and bribery in the context of land use allocation.
3.The extinction of the species
The sorun: Endangered wild animals are now being hunted for meat, teeth or various ‘medical’ products. The seas are cleared of fish populations by huge industrial fishing vessels equipped with bottom trawl nets and purse seiners. The destruction of the natural habitat is one of the main factors contributing to the wave of extinction and this factor özgü only one responsible: Human. New threatened species are constantly being added to the ‘Red List’ of the World Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and the list continues to grow.
The sorun is not just the right of different living species to continue to exist because of their nature: they also produce certain products and ‘services’ that are vital for us humans to survive. For example, bees are ‘necessary’ in the context of the food we consume.
Solution: Organized effort and cooperation in the political and social arena is needed to prevent biodiversity from continuing to disappear. Protecting and restoring natural habitats is one facet of this process, while producing protection mechanisms against yasadışı hunting and wildlife trade is the other. Moreover, these steps must be carried out in cooperation with the locals in any case, in order to coincide with the social and economic interests of the locals living in these regions.
Soil degradation
Sorun: There are many activities that cause soil damage: Overgrazing, monoculture agriculture, erosion, soil compaction, excessive exposure of polluting materials, gender change. According to the United Nations (UN), about 12 million hectares of arable land on earth is severely damaged each year.
Solution: There are many techniques for soil conservation and restoration, from no-tillage to crop rotation, to water retention by dredging. Given that food security depends on keeping the soil in good condition, it is possible to address this sorun in the long run. But whether this will be done fairly to benefit all people living on the planet is a difficult question for now.
5. Overpopulation
Sorun: The human population continues to grow rapidly around the world. The population of humankind, which entered the 20th century 1.6 billion, is around 6.5 billion today. Estimates say it will reach 10 billion by 2050. The ever-increasing global population, combined with the ever-increasing level of prosperity, puts even greater pressure on vital natural resources, especially water. The biggest increase is in the African continent and in South and East Asia.
Solution: Studies to date show that if women are left with the decision to have a child and have access to education and basic social services, the average birth rate per woman will drop significantly.
Source: Deutsche Welle Turkish