Environmental Issues: Ozone Layer and Plastic Waste

Introduction

• The presentation is titled "Environment and Sustainable Development"
• Presented by Dr. Islam Chergui
• Contact email: [email protected]

Table of Contents

• Definitions
• History of Environmental Concerns
• Dimensions of Sustainable Development
• Principles of Sustainable Development
• The history and the evolution of the concept
• Environmental Degradation and Its Impact
• Addressing Environmental Degradation
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Definitions

• Environment: The living framework, whether naturally occurring or man-made. This includes natural elements (air, water, soil, ecosystems) and human-made elements (urban areas, infrastructure, social systems)
• Ecosystem: The group of living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms), and their physical environment (soil, water, air, climate), along with the interactions between them
• Development: A process of growth, progress, or evolution. It has key aspects including biological, economic, and social development.
  • Biological Development: Physical and physiological changes in organisms over time.
  • Economic Development: Improvements in living standards, economic growth, and enhancement of economic structures and systems in a society.
  • Social Development: Improving the well-being of individuals and communities through education, healthcare, social justice, and equality.
  • Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

History of Environmental Concerns

• Industrial Revolution (1780s): Saw rapid advancements in technology and manufacturing, leading to significant improvements in living standards. However, this period also saw rapid urbanization, overpopulation, and a lack of consideration for the long-term sustainability of natural resources. Forests were cleared, minerals extracted without regard to environmental impact, and pollution released into air and water without regulation.
• Population Growth Issues: Urban areas faced challenges including housing issues, overcrowding and the spread of infectious diseases.
• Early 1800s: Examples like cholera highlighted the health risks associated with inadequate sanitation and a lack of clean water. Poor youth and orphans were often housed in poor conditions due to industrial growth.
• Air Pollution: The growing number of transportation methods, industries, and factories, along with the increased coal use and a lack of regulations, led to air pollution. Specific examples include the Great Smog of London in 1952.
• Resource Extraction Impacts: Extraction of minerals like rock, sand, and gravel from quarries altered and disrupted the surrounding natural environment.
• Mining Waste: The Itai-Itai disease in Japan, caused by cadmium poisoning linked to the zinc mining process, highlighted the toxic effects of improper mining waste disposal.
• Deforestation and Dam Construction: Deforestation (clearing forests for farming and other purposes) and dam construction played a role in destroying the balance of natural environments. The loss of animal and plant species often resulted from these actions. Examples of deforestation include the loss of approximately 67,000 square kilometers in Russia during the 17th and 20th centuries, and of 460,000 square kilometers in North America by 1850, with a similar figure for the Amazon rainforest since 1978.
• Water Pollution: The chemical industry caused water pollution in rivers and streams, making them unsuitable for fishing and consumption. Oil spills caused ecological disasters.
• The Minamata Bay Disaster: The Chisso company's pollution of Minamata Bay with methyl mercury resulted in neurological disorders, birth defects, and deaths (in Japan in the 1950's and 1960's)
• The Santa Barbara Channel Oil Spill: A major oil spill occurred in the Santa Barbara Channel, California (1969), causing widespread damage to marine life and killing thousands of birds, dolphins, and other marine animals.
• Overfishing: The collapse of the Atlantic cod fishery in Canada (1990s) demonstrated the effects of overfishing.
• Introduction of Invasive Species: The introduction of European rabbits to Australia in 1859 resulted in an uncontrolled population growth, devastating consequences for native flora and fauna.

Resources

• Types of Resources: Permanent (solar energy, wind energy, water energy) and non-permanent (fossil fuels, natural gas, minerals)
• Potentially Renewable resources (air, water, soil, plants and animals).

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Various descriptions and targets relating to sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Principles of Sustainable Development

• Precautionary Principle: Encourages careful consideration of social and environmental effects of actions and products, to avoid irreversible damage.
• Polluter-Pays Principle: Holds polluters responsible for pollution and/or environmental damage caused by their activities, through taxes, permits, and quotas.
• Principle of Solidarity: Addresses the interconnectedness of people and global concerns (e.g., ensuring decent living conditions for anyone in need).

Dimensions of Sustainable Development

• Various aspects of Social, Economic, Environmental components of sustainable development and their implications.

Addressing Environmental Degradation

• Different strategies and approaches

Environmental Degradation and Its Impact

• Natural factors (e.g., avalanches, earthquakes, wildfires) can cause environmental degradation.
• Eutrophication (natural aging) can lead to increased biological productivity, like algae growth.
• Effects of degradation on human health (e.g., respiratory issues).
• Degradation results in biodiversity loss (e.g., due to deforestation, global warming).
• Economic Impacts can result from the costs for restoration of green cover damage, and waste disposal costs

Other

• Various other topics and details about the environment are covered in the presentation materials.

Test your knowledge on critical environmental issues, including the ozone layer depletion over Antarctica and the impact of plastic waste on marine life. This quiz covers key findings, responsible sectors, and effective strategies for reducing plastic pollution.