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Critical Global Environmental Issues

Critical Global Environmental Issues. Dr. Jessica Braswell, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science. Global Environmental Issues. Industrialized agriculture Water depletion Water pollution Air pollution Climate change Biodiversity loss Invasive species Human population growth.

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Critical Global Environmental Issues

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  1. Critical Global Environmental Issues Dr. Jessica Braswell, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science

  2. Global Environmental Issues • Industrialized agriculture • Water depletion • Water pollution • Air pollution • Climate change • Biodiversity loss • Invasive species • Human population growth

  3. Agriculture • Industrialized agriculture: “high-input” farming • Water • Fertilizer • Pesticides • Agricultural practices influenced by • Climate • Economics • Local, national, international politics

  4. Environmental Impacts of Agriculture Loss of soil fertility Air and water pollution due to fertilizers and pesticides Water depletion

  5. Environmental Impacts of Agriculture Reliance on fossil fuels

  6. Water Depletion • Water Use • Irrigation • Agriculture • Landscaping • Drinking • Washing, bathing, flushing toilets

  7. Water Depletion

  8. Water Depletion

  9. Impacts of Water Depletion Peakwater.org Luke Robinson (flickr) Surface water, and the livelihoods it supports, diminished Reduced water supplies for drinking and irrigation

  10. Water Pollution • Nutrients from fertilizers and animal wastes • Pathogens • Sediment • Debris • Toxic chemicals Svsu.edu

  11. Water Pollution • Pollution does not respect international borders • Tragedy of the commons Bordersewagecoatlition.org

  12. Impacts of Water Pollution Aquatic habitats no longer support life Water becomes unsafe for drinking and irrigation, health problems arise

  13. Air Pollution • Particulates, toxins, smog • Mainly results from the combustions of fossil fuels, mining, agriculture

  14. Impacts of Air Pollution Health problems Maltaweather.info Global climate change Acid rain

  15. Climate Change • Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases • Mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture Carlyle Calvin

  16. Impacts of Climate Change The Telegraph, UK

  17. Biodiversity Loss • Loss of species, purposeful or accidental • Protection and enforcement highly variable among nations

  18. Impacts of Biodiversity Loss Ecosystems compromised Loss of potential medicines and food resources Loss of ecotourism

  19. Invasive Species • Purposeful or accidental introduction • Outcompete or eat native species • Introductions increase along with global movement of people and goods

  20. Impacts of Invasive Species Vpr.net Native species decline Biological and structural habitat changes

  21. Human Population Growth Population growth rates Less than –2% –2–0% 0–1.44% 1.44–2.5% 2.5–3.5% More than 3.5%

  22. Impacts of Human Population Growth

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