Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the environmental crisis.
Is the environmental crisis as serious as many experts claim, or is it an exaggeration? Is it even real?
It is definitely not an exaggeration. It is real, and it is extremely serious, probably much more serious than most people realize. A better term than "crisis" might be "impending catastrophe."
What exactly is the environmental crisis?
It is an accelerating deterioration in just about every aspect of our natural environment. It will also increasingly affect our human-made environment and our standard of living.
One type of deterioration is with regard to the climate. The climate worldwide has been growing both warmer and increasingly unstable. This warming is resulting in rising sea levels because of the melting of glaciers and the polar ice sheets. But sea levels are also rising in part because water expands as its temperature increases.
Rising sea levels will be making coastal areas, where much of the world's population is concentrated, increasingly uninhabitable. They will also have other harmful effects, including damaging estuaries, which are a major source of food for much of the world, and causing saltwater intrusion into increasingly scarce fresh water supplies.
The growing instability of the climate is occurring in the form of more frequent and more violent storms, more flooding, and more droughts.
What else is being affected?
Supplies of fresh water, on which humans and many other species depend, are decreasing at a rapid rate due to changing rainfall patterns and the depletion of underground water supplies for agriculture and other purposes. At the same time, much of the remaining fresh water is becoming increasingly polluted with saltwater and/or with man-made chemicals.
Likewise, topsoil, which is essential for growing crops, is being increasingly eroded and contaminated throughout much or most of the world. And even the air that we breathe is becoming more and more polluted in many parts of the world.
All of this is being accompanied by a mass extinction of animals and plants. There have been about five previous mass extinctions in the history of the earth, the most recent about 66 million years ago. We are now in the early stages of the sixth. Scientists believe that about a million species are already in danger of extinction, including many that are living in tropical rainforests and other largely inaccessible areas and thus have yet to be discovered and catalogued.
What is the cause of this crisis?
There are many causes. The most important of these is our massive use of fossil fuels (mainly coal, oil and natural gas), both as energy sources (to generate electric power, to power automobiles, etc.) and to make a vast array of petrochemical products (most notably plastics and synthetic textiles). Other causes include overpopulation, large-scale deforestation, the introduction of alien species, large-scale hunting and poaching, draining of wetlands and unsustainable farming practices.
Is the environmental crisis the same as climate change?
Climate change is a major part of the environmental crisis. But it is only part of it and the full extent of the crisis is much greater. The environmental crisis also includes habitat destruction, massive species extinction and the consequent loss of biodiversity, the pollution and depletion of groundwater, ocean acidification, and the pollution and depletion of topsoil.
Would it really be that bad if the weather were just a few degrees warmer? Wouldn't it be just like having longer summers and milder winters?
It could be very bad even with even just a very few degrees of increase. This is largely due to rising sea levels and greater coastal flooding, large-scale extinctions of sensitive species, and spreading of tropical diseases.
Moreover, it is not just a question of average temperatures just rising by a degree or two and then suddenly stopping. Rather, it is likely that the same factors that are causing the current warming will cause the warming trend to continue and eventually become unstoppable, unless serious steps are taken very soon to stop them and reverse them.
If the environmental situation is actually so serious, why do some people, even including some very well-known political leaders and others, still insist that it is not really a serious problem or that it is just a hoax?
There are several reasons. One is that many people still are not really well aware of the problem. Others know about it but prefer not to think about it or to pretend that it does not exist. Some business owners are concerned that it would harm their businesses if we started to make the changes to our economies and lifestyles that are necessary to effectively combat the crisis. Some politicians believe that they can maximize their political power by claiming that it is an exaggeration, or even a hoax, in order to appeal to those still many people who either are not yet aware of the seriousness of the environmental situation or want reassurance that it is not real.
Can anything be done to slow or stop the deterioration of our environment?
Yes. It is still possible. It will not be easy, and it is becoming increasingly difficult the longer we wait. The most important things we could do would be to drastically reduce our use of fossil fuels and products derived from them, including gasoline and plastics.
Is anything actually being done yet to stop this crisis?
Numerous national and local governments around the world as well as many businesses, other organizations and individuals have begun taking steps to try to stop the deterioration of the environment. However, most of these steps are still insufficient. Much, much more needs to be done.
But wouldn't a large reduction in the use of fossil fuels cause a big drop in our standard of living?
No, not necessarily. Actually, it is the opposite. Not doing anything will inevitably result in a large decline in our standard of living. By getting serious and taking action as soon as possible we can minimize the negative effects on our lives that would eventually occur if the environment continues to deteriorate.
Is nuclear energy the answer?
There are many serious problems with nuclear energy. One is that it is very risky, as has been evidenced by the disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima as well as near-disasters elsewhere. Another is that very large amounts of energy and raw materials are required to produce the huge quantities of concrete and other materials that are necessary for nuclear power plants.
A third problem is that no satisfactory solution has yet been found for safely storing the rapidly expanding quantities of highly radioactive waste that is generated by nuclear power plants. A fourth is that nuclear power plants are extremely costly, not only to construct but also to maintain and then dismantle after their relatively short lifespans of just a few decades have ended. In addition, nuclear power plants are tempting targets for terrorism and even the most secure ones can be vulnerable.
Are there any examples of successes in the battle to protect and restore the environment?
Yes, there are some. Probably the greatest success to date has been the Montreal Protocol, which was an agreement for international cooperation to phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbons in order to stop the destruction of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Its success has eliminated one of the most severe environmental threats that life on Earth has ever faced.
Another type of success has been the saving of some endangered species from extinction. However, this represents only a very tiny fraction of the total number of species that remain endangered. Also not to be overlooked is the success that is being achieved in some countries in reducing their population growth rates as a first step towards coping with overpopulation.
Also of great importance is the growth in awareness in recent years by ordinary people of the existence of the environmental crisis and the fact that that urgent action is required. Without such awareness and a consequent participation, the situation would be hopeless.
How can I do something to stop the environmental crisis?
There are many ways. The first thing is to become more informed about it, including by studying this website. A second is to adjust your lifestyle to the extent possible to become more environmentally friendly. A third is to discuss environmental issues with your family and friends. A fourth is to contact political leaders about your concern and to support those leaders who show a willingness to take action regarding the environment. For more detailed suggestions please visit the page How to Help.