Deforestation
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The clearance of trees and vegetation on a large scale to make land available for alternative uses such as farming, construction, or ranching.
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By removing the world’s supply of trees (which absorb carbon dioxide) deforestation exacerbates global warming. Deforestation can also cause desertification, soil erosion, flooding, and habitat loss for many species. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, between 2015 and 2020, the rate of deforestation was estimated at 10 million hectares per year, down from 16 million hectares per year in the 1990s.
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Incorporate the principles of sustainable forest management into operations and undertake reforestation projects.
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Pollution
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The contamination of air, land, water, and (less commonly discussed) space. Caused by plastic packaging, industrial and domestic waste products, and the burning of fossil fuels.
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Pollution causes severe damage to the Earth’s ecosystems and poses a serious threat to human health. Plastic pollution, which has increased tenfold since 1980, is particularly harmful to aquatic ecosystems, and air pollution decreases human health and places a strain on public health services.
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Switch to clean energy alternatives (e.g., wind, solar, or geothermal) and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills by incorporating the principles of the circular economy.
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Agriculture
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The process of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock to produce food supplies, fibers, and fuels. In developing economies, agriculture is a primary source of employment.
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Over the last 50 years, the world’s population has almost doubled to 7.9 billion. Intensive farming techniques—which use fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified seeds on an industrial scale—have allowed us to feed this growing population but come with unwelcome side effects, like soil degradation and biodiversity loss.
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Invest in precision agriculture technologies that use safe pesticides and fertilizers.
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Construction
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The process of building on natural habitats.
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Construction causes biodiversity loss by damaging natural habitats and corridors and polluting water flows.
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Build on brownfield sites and incorporate living structures in architecture and planning.
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Trade in endangered species
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The illegal trade in animal and plant species, forcing their populations into critical decline.
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Many endangered species of wild fauna and flora are protected by international treaties. Nonetheless, illegal poaching and trading threaten many animal and plant species with extinction.
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Implement recovery programs for endangered animals. In 1975, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) introduced internationally agreed rules that regulate the import, export, and transshipment of protected flora and fauna.
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Overfishing
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Depletion of the stock of fish in the sea by excessive fishing.
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Overfishing damages marine biodiversity and disrupts food chains for both marine life and human life.
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Implement responsible fishing and invest in breeding programs.
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