What are the 15 most important environmental problems facing society today?

You could submit only one if you like, but ultimately, I'd like to have about fifteen problems that are worthy of attention.|||All of the most important environmental problems are human created. Natural tragedies cannot be helped. They are part of the natural process. Our interference is not a natural process, therefore it is the most devastating of effects to our world.


These are my 15 most important environmental concerns mostly based on my location in the country: (not in any order)





1. Shellfish/Fish populations: pollution reduces the number of foodfish that can be harvested and puts many (shell) fishermen out of business.


2. Overfishing: Overpopulation and increased low income forces people to over fish in our waters to feed hungry families.


3. Runoff: Farms and lawns/home gardens are fertilized sometimes more than needed. When it rains runoff from storm drains pour into our local waters and cause algal blooms. This is also caused by over consumption of vitamins which are flushed into waste water treatment plants and leach into groundwater and flow into waterways.


4. Land acquisition: over development decreases natural lands which can increase waste water runoff and decrease mammal and plant habitats. This causes nuisance hunting, decreasing the populations of indigenous species of animals.


5. Encroachment of Pine Barrens/Forests: Again, over development minimizes habitats for natural predators which causes reduction of indigenous species and natural resources.


6. Landfills: Huge mountains of layered garbage creates nasty odors, dangerous methane gas, and leachate which flows toward natural water sources such as bays and groundwater.


7. Liquid Natural Gas: Huge storage vessels can create huge environmental problems, especially for areas that depend on local waters to support its population. There is always the danger of explosions too near to human populations. Constant traffic to and from the vessels reduces water habitats. The building of a vessel alone can be detrimental to water habitats; disturbing established nurseries and breeding grounds of thousands of species that rely on waterways.


8. Non-renewable fuels: Fossil fuels are not renewable, because...there are no more dinosaurs! When pumped out of the ground, many are left dry which can lead to giant spaces susceptible to collapse. Combustible engines produce air and water pollution. Spills damage waterways and soil.


9. Diesel engines: In use by buses, trucks, land-movers, and automobiles (especially older ones) still spew out tons of harmful fumes that foul the air, and spills that seep into soil.


10. Garbage disposal: Can anyone remember The Garbage Barge? NIMBY is alive and well. If incinerators are not inducted then there is too much solid waste to have to deal with.


11. Mining: Millions of mines around the world are being stripped for precious metals. We are literally tearing apart the Earth so that we can sparkle in all our bling and build our towering buildings.


12.Over usage: In this country, we are creatures of a disposable world. We don't realize the impact of producing and using trillions of pounds, tons, watts, or ergs of consumerals and energy. We need sustainable energy now and viable recycling programs.


13. Privatization of Public Parks: Public parks exist for the benefit of the public for it's beauty and natural aspects. They should remain that way for future generations to enjoy.


14. Garbage, Noise, and Light Pollution: There is a great need to educate the public about the impact pollution has on the Earth and our way of life. We need to reduce, reuse, recycle, and preserve for future generations.


15. World Population Growth: Birth-control, adoption, and education can control the ever escalating, exponential growth. There will be a major world food, water, and energy crisis by 2030.|||Unsustainable human population growth.


unsustainable human consumprtion, particularly of non-renewable resources.


economic growth based on unsustainable use of commons, eg de-forestation, landfill, pollution.


One finite planet.


Peoples' fantasy that their "god" will save them


Peoples' belief that it is all the governments/immigrants/the other persons fault


People not taking responsibility for understanding the issues and their actions





Too many people, too much greed, one planet|||1.Population Growth


2.Global Warming


3.Pollution


4.Mass Extinction of Species


5.Tropical Deforestation


6.Topsoil Loss


7.Water Shortages


8.Over Consumption of Materials


9.Poverty|||Meat consumption.





Due to the mass production of meat we are: losing rainforest, poisoning our water supply, pumping more greenhouse gas into our atmosphere than autos!