Today, Africa remains the poorest and least-developed continent in the world. Hunger, poverty, terrorism, local ethnic and religious conflicts, corruption and bribery, disease outbreaks – this was Africa's story until the early 2000s.
In the NASA study, Bauer's group focused on three major sources of outdoor air pollution in Africa: industrialization, which includes sources such as cars and factories; fires, primarily agricultural burning; and natural sources, which are dominated by mineral dust.
s challenges include the adverse impact of climate change, increasing water scarcity, biodiversity and ecosystem loss, desertification, low resilience to natural disasters, potential non achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), energy crisis, food crisis, limited benefits from globalization, health
Although drought may be the best known barrier to successful crops in Africa, the poor soils are a huge part of the equation. Farmland in Africa has been robbed of chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are vital for plant growth.
Africa's climate is dominated by desert conditions along vast stretches of its northern and southern fringes. The central portion of the continent is wetter, with tropical rainforests, grasslands, and semi-arid climates.
Observable effects of climate change on water resources in Africa include: flooding, drought, change in distribution of rainfall, drying-up of rivers, melting of glaciers and the receding of bodies of water. Entire economies suffer when the water levels of Africa's huge rivers drop.
Population increase is the main contributor to water pollution because exploding populations put extreme stress on delicate ecosystems. Industrial waste from mining and unregulated industries has made Africa's water problems even worse. Erosion from deforestation has also contributed to water pollution issues.
Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water.
Fertility Status of SSA SoilsMost of Africa's ability to produce food is determined by access to inherently fertile soils because more intensive forms of managing fertility, particularly regular nutrient replacement with mineral fertilizers, are too seldom practiced (Buresh et al., 1997).
The top five global risks in terms of likelihood for 2020 are all environmental – they include extreme weather events, failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation, environmental damage and disasters such as oil spills and radioactive contamination, major biodiversity loss and natural disasters such as
Below, we sum up some of the main global environmental problems which the UN says we must resolve this decade:
- CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.
- POLLUTION PROBLEMS AND THEIR EFFECT ON HEALTH.
- PROTECTING THE OCEANS.
- THE ENERGY TRANSITION AND RENEWABLES.
Climate change is the greatest existing threat to American wildlife, wild places, and communities around the country. Communities are already feeling the effects of a changing climate.
More frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on people's livelihoods and communities. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe.
Climate change: anthropogenic climate change due to pollution of the atmosphere by greenhouse gases (and other contaminants) is now regarded as one of the major global environmental issues.
Global Warming and Climate ChangePollution of air, land and water through excessive deforestation, industrialization and overfilling landfills which emits CO2 and adds to greenhouse gas emissions are all topmost causes of these environmental issues.
30 Ways to Protect the Environment
- Painting your house? Use a latex paint.
- Get a tune-up. Properly maintained vehicles get better gas mileage and emit fewer pollutants.
- Don't top off your gas tank.
- Conserve energy.
- Don't burn your yard waste.
- Plant a tree.
- Park the car.
Overall, the Earth suffers from land degradation; biodiversity loss; air, land and water pollution; and the effects of climate change—and must prevent and manage further risks and disasters. Without changes, the situation looks bleak for all of its inhabitants.
8 Simple Ways to Help the Environment
- Use Reusable Bags. Plastic grocery-type bags that get thrown out end up in landfills or in other parts of the environment.
- Print as Little as Necessary.
- Recycle.
- Use a Reusable Beverage Containers.
- Don't Throw Your Notes Away.
- Save Electricity!
- Save Water.
- Avoid Taking Cars or Carpool When Possible.
South Africa faces key challenges such as poverty, low levels of education and employment, as well as an urgent need for economic growth. We still have more than seven million people in this country that go to bed without food.
In South Africa the scarce fresh water is decreasing in quality because of an increase in pollution and the destruction of river catchments, caused by urbanisation, deforestation, damming of rivers, destruction of wetlands, industry, mining, agriculture, energy use, and accidental water pollution.
They include:
- Exposure to hazardous substances in the air, water, soil, and food.
- Natural and technological disasters.
- Climate change.
- Occupational hazards.
- The built environment.
Major current environmental issues may include climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, and resource depletion. The conservation movement lobbies for protection of endangered species and protection of any ecologically valuable natural areas, genetically modified foods and global warming.
The city of Cape Town had its origin in 1652, when the Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station for its ships on the shores of Table Bay. The location was magnificent, on well-watered, fertile soil, beneath the precipitous walls of Table Mountain.
A subtropical location, moderated by ocean on three sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, account for the warm temperate conditions. South Africa is a relatively dry country, with an average annual rainfall of about 464 mm.
An estimated 20 to 25 percent of annual deforestation is thought to be due to commercial logging. The remaining 15 to 20 percent is attributed to other activities such as cattle ranching, cash crop plantations, and the construction of dams, roads, and mines.
In South Africa, outdoor and indoor air pollution continues to be perceived as a serious problem, with emissions for sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, benzene and VOCs, and the corresponding concentrations a cause of concern.
Table 2: Challenges facing the community (n=200)
| KEY COMMUNITY CHALLENGES (Multiple responses) | In % |
|---|
| Environmental pollution | 73 |
| Health problems and high medical bills | 17 |
| Crime/drug abuse/violence | 73 |
| Poverty and unemployment | 73 |
