World's cities facing health risk

Many of the world’s cities are being forced to confront the environmental crisis. It is essential for everyone to be aware of the problems that now surround us in our everyday lives, as well as the need to react to the changes involved. From pollution to global warming, here is a rundown of the main current environmental problems that the world is facing.

1. Overpopulation

The world population continues to grow at an alarming rate (more than 7 billion people currently, compared to only 3 billion in 1967), set to reach unsustainable levels as precious resources such as fuel, food and water are depleted. While some irresponsible people may lead you to believe that the rapidly increasing populations of the developing world are to blame, it is actually the resource-greedy industrialised Western nations that are most responsible. The intensive farming practices used to increase food growth are also damaging the environment as countries fight to boost their productivity. Chemical fertilisers and pesticides used in these processes are particularly damaging.

2. Pollution

The pollution of air, soil and water is another major issue. As the world continues to adopt a more resource-dependent lifestyle, the amount of pollution from heavy industry and vehicles increases. Our soil is fast becoming deprived of the nutrients that allow it to sustain itself, whilst our water is polluted daily by oil spills, urban runoff and acid rain.

3. Waste Disposal

Imagine a major city such as London. Waste disposal is a major issue in a such a built-up city due to the overconsumption of resources and the excessive amount of rubbish generated by day-to-day living. Developed countries are responsible for dumping of staggering amounts of waste, including plastic and electronic waste that harm the environment. Companies such as Greenline Environmental provide effective waste removal in cities such as London in order to help ensure that the city's negative impact on the environment is reduced. Nevertheless, some experts believe that it may be already be too late.

4. Deforestation

We are losing parts of our natural landscape each day. The world's forests are natural providers of fresh oxygen and help regulate temperature and rainfall across the globe. At the time of writing, our forests cover 30% of land, however this number is decreasing rapidly due to an increased demand for food, shelter and clothing. Deforestation removes the green cover from the land, repurposing it for residential or commercial purposes.

5. Public Health

Pollution also poses a health risk to both humans and animals. Dirty water is one of the worst threats, with river run-offs carrying harmful toxins and chemicals alongside disease-carrying organisms. These pollutants spread fast, and we are seeing an increase in health problems such as cardiovascular disease.

Change is needed to ensure that we stop harming the environment. Many people do not think hard enough about their own actions, but it is the next generation that will suffer if we don’t examine our consciences.