SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS: THREE MAIN WAYS.

But humanity not only litters its "nest". It has developed ways to protect the environment and has already begun to implement them.

The first way is to create various kinds of treatment facilities, the use of low-sulphur fuel, the destruction and processing of waste, the construction of chimneys 200-300 m or more high, land reclamation, etc. However, even the most modern facilities do not provide complete purification. And ultra-high chimneys, reducing the concentration of harmful substances in a given place, contribute to the spread of dust pollution and acid rain over much larger areas: a 250 m high chimney increases the dispersion radius to 75 km.

The second way is to develop and apply a fundamentally new environmental ("clean") production technology, in the transition to low-waste and waste-free production processes. Thus, the transition from direct-flow (river-enterprise-river) water supply to circulation, and even more so to "dry" technology, can first ensure a partial, and then a complete cessation of wastewater discharge into rivers and reservoirs.

This path is the main one, because it not only reduces, but prevents environmental pollution. But it requires huge expenditures, unsustainable for many countries.

The third way is in a deeply thought out, most rational distribution of the so-called "dirty" industries that have a negative impact on the state of the environment. Among the "dirty" industries, first of all, are the chemical and petrochemical, metallurgical, pulp and paper industries, thermal power engineering, and the production of building materials. When locating such enterprises, geographical expertise is especially necessary.

Another way is to reuse raw materials. In developed countries, the reserves of secondary raw materials are equal to the explored geological ones. The centers for the procurement of recyclable materials are the old industrial regions of Foreign Europe, the USA, Japan, and the European part of Russia.

Tasks and tests on the topic "Solving environmental problems: three main ways."

• India - Eurasia 7th grade

  Lessons: 4 Assignments: 9 Tests: 1

• The Age of Discovery - Development of geographical knowledge about the Earth Grade 5

  Lessons: 8 Assignments: 10 Tests: 2

Leading ideas: the geographical environment is a necessary condition for the life of society, the development and distribution of the population and the economy, while the influence of the resource factor on the level of economic development of the country has recently been decreasing, but the importance of the rational use of natural resources and the environmental factor is increasing.

Basic concepts: geographic (environment) environment, ore and non-metallic minerals, ore belts, pools of minerals; structure of the world land fund, southern and northern forest belts, forest cover; hydropower potential; shelf, alternative energy sources; resource availability, natural resource potential (NRP), territorial combination of natural resources (RTSR), areas of new development, secondary resources; environmental pollution, environmental policy.

Skills and abilities: be able to characterize the natural resources of the country (region) according to the plan; use various methods of economic evaluation of natural resources; characterize the natural prerequisites for the development of industry and agriculture of the country (region) according to the plan; give a brief description of the location of the main types of natural resources, single out the countries "leaders" and "outsiders" in terms of availability of one or another type of natural resources; give examples of countries that do not have rich natural resources, but have reached a high level of economic development and vice versa; give examples of rational and irrational use of resources.

The right to a favorable environment is enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. This regulation is enforced by a number of authorities:

• Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia;
• Rosprirodnadzor and its territorial departments;
• environmental prosecutor's office;
• executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the field of ecology;
• a number of other departments.

But it would be more logical to consolidate the obligation of everyone to conserve natural resources, minimize consumption waste, and respect nature. A person has many rights. What does nature have? Nothing. Only the obligation to satisfy ever-growing human needs. And this consumer attitude leads to environmental problems. Let's take a look at what it is and how to improve the status quo.

The concept and types of environmental problems

Ecological problems are interpreted in different ways. But the essence of the concept comes down to one thing: it is the result of a thoughtless, soulless anthropogenic impact on the environment, which leads to a change in the properties of landscapes, depletion or loss of natural resources (minerals, flora and fauna). And a boomerang is reflected in the life and health of a person.

Environmental problems affect the entire natural system. Based on this, several types of this problem are distinguished:

• Atmospheric. In the atmospheric air, most often in urban areas, there is an increased concentration of pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxide, carbon monoxide. Sources - road transport and stationary objects (industrial enterprises). Although, according to the State Report “On the State and Protection of the Environment of the Russian Federation in 2014”, total emissions decreased from 35 million tons / year in 2007 to 31 million tons / year in 2014, the air is not getting cleaner. The dirtiest Russian cities according to this indicator are Birobidzhan, Blagoveshchensk, Bratsk, Dzerzhinsk, Yekaterinburg, and the cleanest are Salekhard, Volgograd, Orenburg, Krasnodar, Bryansk, Belgorod, Kyzyl, Murmansk, Yaroslavl, Kazan.
• Water. There is depletion and pollution of not only surface, but also groundwater. Take, for example, the "great Russian" river Volga. The waters in it are characterized as "dirty". The norm of the content of copper, iron, phenol, sulfates, organic substances is exceeded. This is due to the operation of industrial facilities that throw untreated or insufficiently treated effluents into the river, the urbanization of the population - a large proportion of domestic effluents through biological treatment facilities. The decrease in fish resources was influenced not only by the pollution of rivers, but also by the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power stations. Even 30 years ago, even near the city of Cheboksary, it was possible to catch the Caspian beluga, but now nothing larger than a catfish will come across. It is possible that the annual actions of hydropower engineers to launch fry of valuable fish species, such as sterlet, will someday bring tangible results.
• Biological. Resources such as forests and pastures are degrading. They mentioned fish resources. As for the forest, we have the right to call our country the largest forest power: a quarter of the area of ​​​​all forests in the world grows in our country, half of the country's territory is occupied by tree vegetation. We need to learn how to treat this wealth more carefully in order to save it from fires, to identify and punish “black” lumberjacks in a timely manner.

Fires are most often the work of human hands. It is possible that in this way someone is trying to hide traces of the illegal use of forest resources. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Rosleskhoz includes the Zabaikalsky, Khabarovsk, Primorsky, Krasnoyarsk Territories, the Republics of Tyva, Khakassia, Buryatia, Yakutia, the Irkutsk, Amur Regions, and the Jewish Autonomous Region as the most “burning” areas. At the same time, huge funds are spent on extinguishing fires: for example, over 1.5 billion rubles were spent in 2015. There are also good examples. Thus, the republics of Tatarstan and Chuvashia did not allow a single forest fire in 2015. There is someone to take an example from!

• Land . We are talking about the depletion of the subsoil, the development of minerals. To save at least part of these resources, it is enough to recycle waste as much as possible and send it for reuse. Thus, we will contribute to the reduction of landfill area, and enterprises can save on quarrying by using recycled materials in production.
• Soil - geomorphological. Active agriculture leads to gully formation, soil erosion, and salinization. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, as of January 1, 2014, almost 9 million hectares of agricultural land were subject to degradation, of which over 2 million hectares were degraded. If erosion occurs as a result of land use, then the soil can be helped: by terracing, creating forest belts to protect against wind, changing the type, density and age of vegetation.
• Landscape. Deterioration of the state of individual natural-territorial complexes.

Modern world environmental problems

Local and global environmental problems are closely interrelated. What happens in a particular region is ultimately reflected in the general situation around the world. Therefore, the solution of environmental issues must be approached comprehensively. First, let's highlight the main global environmental problems:

• . As a result, protection from ultraviolet radiation is reduced, which leads to various diseases in the population, including skin cancer.
• Global warming. Over the past 100 years, there has been an increase in the temperature of the surface layer of the atmosphere by 0.3-0.8°C. The area of ​​snow in the north has decreased by 8%. There was a rise in the level of the world ocean up to 20 cm. For 10 years, the growth rate of the average annual temperature in Russia amounted to 0.42°C. This is twice as much as the rate of increase in the global temperature of the Earth.
• . Every day we inhale about 20 thousand liters of air saturated not only with oxygen, but also containing harmful suspended particles and gases. So, if we take into account that there are 600 million cars in the world, each of which emits up to 4 kg of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, soot and zinc into the atmosphere every day, then by simple mathematical calculations we come to the conclusion that the fleet emits 2.4 billion kg of harmful substances. We should not forget about emissions from stationary sources. Therefore, it is not surprising that every year over 12.5 million people (and this is the population of the whole of Moscow!) die from diseases associated with poor ecology.

• . This problem leads to pollution of water bodies and soils with nitric and sulfuric acids, cobalt and aluminum compounds. As a result, crop yields are falling and forests are dying. Toxic metals get into drinking water and poison us.
• . 85 billion tons of waste per year, humanity needs to be stored somewhere. As a result, the soil under authorized and unauthorized landfills is contaminated with solid and liquid industrial waste, pesticides, and household waste.
• . The main pollutants are oil and oil products, heavy metals and complex organic compounds. In Russia, the ecosystems of rivers, lakes, reservoirs are preserved at a stable level. The taxonomic composition and structure of communities do not undergo significant changes.

Ways to improve the environment

No matter how deep modern environmental problems penetrate, their solution depends on each of us. So what can we do to help nature?

• Use of an alternative fuel or alternative vehicle. To reduce harmful emissions into the atmospheric air, it is enough to switch the car to gas or transfer to an electric car. A very environmentally friendly way to travel by bike.
• Separate collection. It is enough to install two waste containers at home in order to effectively introduce separate collection. The first is for non-recyclable waste, and the second is for subsequent transfer to recycling. The cost of plastic bottles, waste paper, glass is becoming more expensive, so separate collection is not only environmentally friendly, but also economical. By the way, while in Russia the volume of waste generation is twice as high as the volume of waste use. As a result, the amount of waste in landfills triples in five years.
• Moderation. In everything and everywhere. An effective solution to environmental problems involves the rejection of the consumer society model. A person does not need 10 boots, 5 coats, 3 cars, etc. to live. It is easy to switch from plastic bags to eco-bags: they are stronger, the service life is much longer, and the cost is about 20 rubles. Many hypermarkets offer eco-bags under their own brand: Magnit, Auchan, Lenta, Karusel, etc. Everyone can independently evaluate what he can easily refuse.
• Ecological education of the population. Participate in environmental campaigns: plant a tree in the yard, go to the restoration of forests affected by fires. Take part in the Saturday. And nature will thank you with the rustle of leaves, a light breeze ... Raise in your children a love for all living things and teach competent behavior on a walk in the forest, on the street.
• Join the ranks of environmental organizations. Do not know how to help nature and preserve a favorable environment? Join the ranks of environmental organizations! These can be the global environmental movements Greenpeace, the Wildlife Fund, the Green Cross; Russian: All-Russian Society for Conservation of Nature, Russian Geographical Society, ECA, Separate COLLECTION, Green Patrol, RosEco, Non-Governmental Environmental Fund named after V.I. you!

Nature is one, there will never be another. Already today, by starting to solve environmental problems together, by combining the efforts of citizens, the state, public organizations and commercial enterprises, it is possible to improve the world around us. Many people are concerned about environmental issues, because how we treat them today depends on the conditions in which our children will live tomorrow.

Modern technogenic civilization, in addition to increasing the degree of domestic comfort, has led to a rapid deterioration of the environmental situation in the world. Over time, the ecology spoiled by civilization can lead to catastrophic consequences. Let us briefly consider the main global environmental problems.

Destruction of plant and animal species

The destruction and impoverishment of the gene pool is the biggest environmental problem in the world. American scientists have calculated that over the past 200 years, earthlings have lost 900,000 species of plants and animals.

On the territory of the former USSR, the gene pool has decreased by 10-12%. Today, the number of species on the planet is 10-20 million. The reduction in the number of species is due to the destruction of the natural habitat of plants and animals, the overuse of agricultural land, due to the existing one.

In the future, an even faster reduction in species diversity is predicted. Deforestation

The world's forests are dying out en masse. Firstly, due to cutting down for the use of wood in production; secondly, due to the destruction of the normal habitat of plants. The main threat to trees and other forest plants is acid rain, which is caused by the release of sulfur dioxide from power plants. These releases have the ability to travel long distances from the immediate release site. Over the past 20 years alone, earthlings have lost about 200 million hectares of valuable forest tracts. Of particular danger is the depletion of tropical forests, rightly considered the lungs of the planet.

Reduction of minerals

Today, the number of minerals is rapidly declining. Oil, slates, coal, peat were left to us as a legacy from the dead biospheres, which absorbed the energy of the sun. However, it should be remembered that about half of the oil produced by mankind has been pumped out of the bowels of the earth over the past 10–15 years. The extraction and sale of minerals has become a gold mine, and entrepreneurs do not care about the global environmental situation. Only the development of alternative projects can save earthlings from the loss of energy sources: the collection of energy from the sun, winds, sea tides, hot earth's bowels, and so on.

Problems of the world ocean

As you know, the world ocean occupies 2/3 of the planet's surface and supplies up to 1/6 of animal proteins that are eaten by the inhabitants of the Earth. About 70% of all oxygen is produced during phytoplankton photosynthesis.

Chemical pollution of the ocean is extremely dangerous, because it leads to the depletion of water and food resources, the violation of the oxygen balance in the atmosphere. During the 20th century, emissions into the world ocean of indecomposable synthetic substances, products of the chemical and military industries have greatly increased.

Air pollution

In the 60s, it was believed that atmospheric pollution was typical only for large cities and industrial centers. However, later it turned out that harmful emissions can spread over great distances. Air pollution is a global phenomenon. And the release of harmful chemicals in one country can lead to a total deterioration of the environment in another.

Acid rains appearing in the atmosphere cause damage to the forest, comparable to deforestation.

Destruction of the ozone layer

It is known that life on the planet is possible only because the ozone layer protects it from the deadly effects of ultraviolet radiation. If the amount of ozone continues to decrease, then humanity is threatened with at least an increase in the occurrence of skin cancer and eye damage. Ozone holes most often appear in the polar regions. The first such hole was discovered by a British station probe in Antarctica in 1982. At first, this fact of the occurrence of ozone holes in the cold polar regions caused bewilderment, but then it turned out that a significant part of the ozone layer is destroyed by rocket engines of aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites.

Surface pollution and disfigurement of natural landscapes

A handful of soil, this skin of the earth, contains many microorganisms that ensure fertility.

A layer of soil 1 cm thick is formed for a century, but it can be destroyed in 1 field season.

And this, in turn, leads to the complete disfigurement of natural landscapes.