Global Environmental Issue #1: Air Pollution

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air, which contains, in addition to vital oxygen, a whole list of harmful suspended particles and gases. Air pollutants are conditionally divided into 2 types: natural and anthropogenic. The latter prevail.

The chemical industry is not doing well. Factories emit such harmful substances as dust, oil ash, various chemical compounds, nitrogen oxides and much more. Air measurements showed the catastrophic state of the atmospheric layer, polluted air becomes the cause of many chronic diseases.

Atmospheric pollution is an environmental problem that is familiar to residents of absolutely all corners of the earth. It is especially acutely felt by representatives of cities where ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, energy, chemical, petrochemical, construction and pulp and paper industries operate. In some cities, the atmosphere is also heavily poisoned by vehicles and boilers. These are all examples of anthropogenic air pollution.

As for the natural sources of chemical elements that pollute the atmosphere, they include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion (dispersal of soil and rock particles), the spread of pollen, evaporation of organic compounds and natural radiation.

Consequences of atmospheric pollution

Atmospheric air pollution adversely affects human health, contributing to the development of heart and lung diseases (in particular, bronchitis). In addition, atmospheric pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide destroy natural ecosystems, destroying plants and causing the death of living creatures (particularly river fish).

The global environmental problem of atmospheric pollution, according to scientists and government officials, can be solved in the following ways:

limiting population growth;

reduction in energy use;

improving energy efficiency;

waste reduction;

transition to environmentally friendly renewable energy sources;

air purification in highly polluted areas.

Global Environmental Issue #2: Ozone Depletion

The ozone layer is a thin strip of the stratosphere that protects all life on Earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Causes of the environmental problem

Back in the 1970s. environmentalists have discovered that the ozone layer is destroyed by exposure to chlorofluorocarbons. These chemicals are found in coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as solvents, aerosols/sprays, and fire extinguishers. To a lesser extent, other anthropogenic influences also contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer: the launch of space rockets, the flights of jet aircraft in high layers of the atmosphere, nuclear weapons testing, and the reduction of the planet's forest lands. There is also a theory that global warming contributes to the thinning of the ozone layer.

Consequences of ozone depletion

As a result of the destruction of the ozone layer, ultraviolet radiation passes unhindered through the atmosphere and reaches the earth's surface. Exposure to direct UV rays adversely affects people's health by weakening the immune system and causing diseases such as skin cancer and cataracts.

World Environmental Issue #3: Global Warming

Like the glass walls of a greenhouse, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor allow the sun to heat our planet and at the same time prevent infrared radiation reflected from the earth's surface from escaping into space. All these gases are responsible for maintaining the temperature acceptable for life on earth. However, an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and water vapor in the atmosphere is another global environmental problem called global warming (or the greenhouse effect).

Causes of global warming

During the 20th century, the average temperature on earth increased by 0.5 - 1?C. The main cause of global warming is considered to be an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to an increase in the volume of fossil fuels burned by people (coal, oil and their derivatives). However, according to the statement Alexey Kokorin, head of climate programs WWF(WWF) Russia, "the largest amount of greenhouse gases is generated by the operation of power plants and methane emissions during the extraction and delivery of energy resources, while road transport or the burning of associated petroleum gas in flaring cause relatively little harm to the environment".

Other prerequisites for global warming are overpopulation of the planet, deforestation, ozone depletion and littering. However, not all ecologists place the responsibility for the increase in average annual temperatures entirely on anthropogenic activities. Some believe that the natural increase in the abundance of oceanic plankton also contributes to global warming, leading to an increase in the concentration of the same carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Consequences of the greenhouse effect

If the temperature during the 21st century increases by another 1 ? C - 3.5 ? C, as scientists predict, the consequences will be very sad:

the level of the world ocean will rise (due to the melting of polar ice), the number of droughts will increase and the process of land desertification will intensify,

many species of plants and animals adapted to existence in a narrow range of temperatures and humidity will disappear,

hurricanes will increase.

Solving an environmental problem

To slow down the process of global warming, according to environmentalists, the following measures will help:

rising prices for fossil fuels,

replacement of fossil fuels with environmentally friendly ones (solar energy, wind energy and sea currents),

development of energy-saving and waste-free technologies,

taxation of emissions into the environment,

minimization of methane losses during its production, transportation through pipelines, distribution in cities and villages and use at heat supply stations and power plants,

introduction of carbon dioxide absorption and binding technologies,

tree planting,

reduction in family size

environmental education,

application of phytomelioration in agriculture.

Global Environmental Issue #4: Acid Rain

Acid rain, containing fuel combustion products, also poses a threat to the environment, human health, and even to the integrity of architectural monuments.

The effects of acid rain

Solutions of sulfuric and nitric acids, aluminum and cobalt compounds contained in polluted precipitation and fog pollute the soil and water bodies, adversely affect vegetation, causing dry tops of deciduous trees and oppressing conifers. Due to acid rain, crop yields are falling, people are drinking water enriched with toxic metals (mercury, cadmium, lead), marble architectural monuments are turning into gypsum and eroding.

Solving an environmental problem

In order to save nature and architecture from acid rain, it is necessary to minimize the emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.

Global Environmental Issue #5: Soil Pollution

Every year people pollute the environment with 85 billion tons of waste. Among them are solid and liquid waste from industrial enterprises and transport, agricultural waste (including pesticides), household waste and atmospheric fallout of harmful substances.

The main role in soil pollution is played by such components of industrial waste as heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, thallium, bismuth, tin, vanadium, antimony), pesticides and petroleum products. From the soil, they penetrate into plants and water, even spring water. In a chain, toxic metals enter the human body and are not always quickly and completely removed from it. Some of them tend to accumulate over many years, provoking the development of serious diseases.

Global Environmental Issue #6: Water Pollution

Pollution of the oceans, underground and surface waters of land is a global environmental problem, the responsibility for which lies entirely with man.

Causes of the environmental problem

The main pollutants of the hydrosphere today are oil and oil products. These substances penetrate into the waters of the oceans as a result of the collapse of tankers and regular discharges of wastewater from industrial enterprises.

In addition to anthropogenic oil products, industrial and domestic facilities pollute the hydrosphere with heavy metals and complex organic compounds. Agriculture and the food industry are recognized as the leaders in poisoning the waters of the oceans with minerals and biogenic elements.

The hydrosphere does not bypass such a global environmental problem as radioactive contamination. The prerequisite for its formation was the disposal of radioactive waste in the waters of the oceans. From the 1949s to the 1970s, many powers with a developed nuclear industry and atomic fleet purposefully stockpiled harmful radioactive substances into the seas and oceans. In the places of burial of radioactive containers, the level of cesium often goes off scale even today. But "underwater polygons" are not the only radioactive source of pollution of the hydrosphere. The waters of the seas and oceans are enriched with radiation as a result of underwater and surface nuclear explosions.

Consequences of radioactive contamination of water

Oil pollution of the hydrosphere leads to the destruction of the natural habitat of hundreds of representatives of oceanic flora and fauna, the death of plankton, seabirds and mammals. For human health, the poisoning of the waters of the oceans also poses a serious danger: fish and other seafood “infected” with radiation can easily get on the table.

Modernity can be considered environmental pollution, because anthropogenic activity affects absolutely all earthly spheres. These include the hydrosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere. Unfortunately, it is the person who is the main culprit of this situation, and every day he himself becomes its main victim. Terrifying statistics show that about 60% of people in the world die precisely from pollution of atmospheric air, water resources, and soil cover.

The fact is that this problem does not have state borders, but concerns all of humanity as a whole, so the solutions must take place at the global level. For an effective fight, the so-called "green" organizations have been created, which for many years have been successfully promoting their activities, these include the World Wildlife Fund, Green Peace, and other public organizations whose main activity is aimed at preserving nature. .

Ways to solve environmental problems should start with the implementation of which will allow the rational use of natural resources. So, for example, in the municipal sector, the introduction of technology for waste disposal, which is the main source of pollution in all natural areas, is being successfully implemented. Every day the number of waste is growing rapidly, so the problem of waste disposal is becoming more and more urgent for mankind.

Moreover, waste recycling can become economically beneficial, in addition to the fact that their disposal will have an environmental effect. According to experts, more than 60% of waste can be a potential raw material, which can be successfully sold and recycled.

Every year, the number of industrial enterprises on our planet is increasing, which cannot but affect the environmental situation. This growth of enterprises leads to an increase in emissions of pollutants and other harmful substances into the environment.

At the same time, the use of such facilities cannot lead to complete purification, however, it significantly reduces the number of harmful substances that enter the atmosphere.

A huge number of Western enterprises use non-waste and low-waste production processes in their industrial activities, as well as use recycling water supply, which makes it possible to reduce the discharge of wastewater into water bodies. They see this as a kind of solution to environmental problems, and they are right, because such intervention will significantly reduce the negative impact on the nature of human activity.

It must be said that the rational location of petrochemical, chemical, nuclear and metallurgical industries also has a positive effect on the environment.

Solving environmental problems is one of the main tasks of all mankind as a whole, it is important to increase the level of responsibility of people, their upbringing culture so that we are more careful about what Mother Nature has given us.

Rational use of any resources will significantly reduce the negative human impact on the environment.

No less important is the reduction in the number of shooting animals, because they are an important link in the chain of development of nature. Chasing for profit and material wealth, we forget that we are destroying our future, taking away our children's right to a healthy future.

Greening the planet is considered one of the ways to improve our condition, improve the condition of the air and enable many plants to develop in our difficult world.

We have listed far from all methods for solving environmental problems, however, we have touched on the most important and relevant areas that require positive human intervention.

Now humanity is facing a choice: either to "cooperate" with nature, taking into account natural cycles, or to cause harm. The future of humanity on our planet, as well as the planet itself, depends on what we choose today.

Ecological crisis

To date, human impact on the environment has led to an ecological crisis throughout the planet. This page looks at the critical issues we are facing and identifies a number of remedial actions.

soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when the fertile surface layer is destroyed by rain and wind. Ways to solve the problem:

Planting forests (shrubs and trees): trees and shrubs get in the way of the winds, and their roots bind the soil.

Organic farming: organic fertilizers retain water better, preventing the soil from drying out and weathering.

Rainforest destruction. Decision:

Property rights reforms in the countries where they are growing to save them from destruction.

Control of livestock and timber harvesting in the rainforest by reducing the need for rich countries in meat and timber.

Efficient methods of using forest resources, taking into account natural cycles, etc., for example, the production of natural rubber.

Small fields: the smaller the field, the less erosion the land on it is exposed to.

Acid rain and other pollution. Decision:

Installation of filters at power stations and transport.

Application of other, non-chemical fertilizers.

Termination of environmental pollution by industrial emissions and waste.

Desert offensive. This happens where poor, arid lands, due to their active use, turn into a desert. Solutions:

Reducing the dependence of underdeveloped countries on the production of export crops: their cultivation on the best lands forces the peasants to move to the worst, which soon turn into.

Application of efficient irrigation methods.

Active afforestation.

Destruction of natural habitat. Decision:

Creation of new, larger nature reserves and natural parks in cities and rural areas.

Stricter international control and measures to protect the natural habitat; prohibition of hunting and trading in wild animals.

Destruction of the ozone layer. The protective ozone layer in the atmosphere is threatened by destruction. The only way out:

Complete and speedy ban on the production of chlorofluorocarbons.

the greenhouse effect. Decision:

Use of renewable energy sources.

A ban on the destruction of tropical rainforests, which act as filters that absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use it in the process of photosynthesis.

Reduced energy consumption and waste generation.

Inefficient use of natural resources. Solutions:

Recycling and disposal of waste.

Long-term use of things and clothes, their repair and repair instead of just throwing them away.

Creation of programs for the transition to a more rational and economical way of life.

Practical Measures

All the measures proposed above should preferably be implemented at the global level. This requires greater international cooperation, especially between rich and poor countries. The whole trouble, however, is that politicians usually care about the benefits for their countries, not thinking about the future of the whole world. Many believe that even these measures are clearly insufficient and that humanity must radically change its way of life. Environmentalists join forces to protect the environment. Today, there are many charitable organizations in the world that successfully help the poorest people on the planet. They specifically help communities to solve the problems they face without violating local traditions and ways of life. They use environmentally friendly mechanisms, such as wind turbines in Africa. The sunflower is one of the symbols of the "green" movement. It symbolizes the revival of nature (in countries that pay worthy attention to problems). Environmental problems are important for the whole world, but we can contribute to their solution. Even small changes in the lifestyle of each of us will mean that the situation and the whole has begun to improve. This book tells you where to start. If you would like to know more about this, please contact an environmental organization.

One of the most important problems facing the world community is the protection of the natural environment and the preservation of the sustainable development of human civilization. The catastrophically rapid increase in the population of the Earth, the steady growth of its material and spiritual needs, the expansion of areas for the use of natural resources, the introduction of new and latest technologies, the increase in production in energy, industry, agriculture, construction, and transport are taking place with a profound transformation of natural landscapes. Such transformations lead to the emergence of new artificial landscapes previously unknown to the biosphere. Modern scientific and technological progress and the expansion of interstate economic ties have led to a sharp increase in the burden on the environment and intensified the contradictions in the interaction between the environment and human society.

The global scale of the use of natural resources and the development of labor processes, which determines the accumulation of material goods in society, is of a wide-ranging and multivariate nature. This scale can be reduced in an ecological sense to four main areas:

formation of regional and global natural-technogenic ecosystems;

the occurrence of local, regional and global environmental disasters;

a sharp reduction and depletion of natural raw materials; the emergence of an ecological immunodeficiency of the planet as a result of the global anthropogenic pressure on the natural environment, inhibition and suppression of the natural mechanisms of self-regulation of the biosphere.

Since the emergence of human civilization, there has been continuous interaction between man and the natural environment. With the growth of the population of the Earth, the environmental pressure on nature is increasing. This is due to the multiply increasing technical equipment, the use of the huge energy capabilities of man-made industries and entire systems, the widest range of technological factors that, in their totality, affect the earth's shells from all sides - the hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Typical features of the modern development of civilization, directly or indirectly affecting the geospheres and increasing the speed of natural processes, lead to a very significant modification of the natural environment.

The anthropogenic factor of changes in natural objects and geospheres must be taken into account in their general characterization. Therefore, in the geoecological characterization of individual geospheres, great importance is attached to anthropogenic impacts. The textbook reveals very complex interactions between the Earth's geospheres at different hierarchical levels - from planetary to local, on which anthropogenic pressure is steadily increasing. It is important to take into account not only these intergeospheric connections, but also the impact of modern human civilization on their individual components. Generalized results can be obtained only in the interdisciplinary direction, which combined geoecology and ecological geology.

Considering the importance of environmental issues and the high degree of impact of human activity on a wide range of natural processes, environmental issues are dealt with by specialists of almost all professions - from geologists, geographers, biologists, physicists, chemists to engineers, technologists, lawyers, sociologists, politicians, etc. depending on individual geospheres, objects of research and industries, separate disciplines of ecology are distinguished, which are taught in technical and humanitarian higher educational institutions. In addition to ecology itself, which has a clearly expressed biological orientation, and such are molecular, species and system ecology, ecological soil science, geoecology, ecological geology, ecological geophysics, industrial or engineering ecology, radiation ecology, space ecology, ecology of special objects, social ecology, environmental law, etc.

Genetic Engineering

One of the most important problems facing humanity is the control of genetic engineering. Scientists working in this field of science use (or parts of them) to change existing life forms or create new ones. They often experiment with genes - living cells that contain the genetic code that determines the basic features of an organism. By changing the information stored in the genes of an organism, scientists can purposefully change the features and properties of future generations of this species. Genetic experiments show that genetic engineering is both a promising area of ​​science and a serious threat. For example, genetic scientists have created special microorganisms that kill pest caterpillars, but some experts believe that this can seriously upset the natural balance. Therefore, all experiments in the field of genetics must be strictly controlled.

Antarctica - touchstone

Antarctica is a continent almost unaffected by human activity. However, many highly developed countries in our time are actively interested in Antarctica, since its bowels contain huge reserves of other minerals. Less developed countries would also like to receive their share of these resources. The exploration of Antarctica is the touchstone of our ability to cooperate with each other for the benefit of future generations. Antarctica is larger in area than the United States and Mexico combined. Antarctica is a world reserve and is open to all scientific research; it is not threatened by an ecological catastrophe. Any pollution will cause irreparable damage to its fragile ecosystem. Low temperatures slow down the absorption of oil into the soil.

Holism - a new look at nature

Learning to respect nature is very important. And not only because it satisfies our basic needs (for food and air), but also because it has every right to exist and develop according to its own laws. When we understand that each of us is also an integral part of the natural world, and we will not separate ourselves from it, then we will fully realize the importance of protecting every single life form that nature consists of. Holism (from the English word "hool" - the whole) considers nature as a whole, a continuous intertwining network of life, and not a mechanical connection of its disparate parts. And if we break individual threads in this network, this will sooner or later lead to the death of the entire network. In other words, by destroying plants and animals, we are destroying ourselves.

Ways to solve environmental problems and directions for the rationalization of nature management

The need for an urgent practical solution to the problem of environmental protection has led to the development in most countries of state measures of a legislative, organizational and administrative nature aimed at preserving and restoring the quality of the natural environment. Moreover, it is this aspect that is increasingly becoming the main direction of state activity in countries with developed market economies, accompanied by the active use of economic levers and incentives, which together ensure the achievement of the goal. At the same time, in a number of regions of the world and countries, including Russia, the effectiveness of environmental protection activities is not adequate to the significance of the problem and the severity of the crisis situation. Significant reasons for this are insufficient knowledge of the state of the environment and its changes, the relationship of a complex of natural processes with various anthropogenic factors, and insufficient funding.

The way out of the ecological crisis will contribute to the solution of environmental problems, in turn, the solution of environmental problems is a necessary prerequisite for progressive economic development.

The solution of environmental problems is simultaneously carried out at two levels: national and international.

National level. Despite many legislative acts, the state of the environment in Russia and the rational use of natural resources are alarming.

The level of environmental pollution depends primarily on the perfection of technological processes, their environmental orientation, on the availability and technical and economic characteristics of equipment, and the degree of its wear. Meanwhile, the revaluation of fixed assets showed that the average depreciation of equipment in industry is almost 59%. The lack of funds for renewal, for the development of non-waste technologies, makes Russia's environmental problems among the most acute. The destruction of economic ties between enterprises has led to the fact that those insignificant volumes of environmental protection equipment that took place are lost. Along with the reduction in production volumes in Russia, the production of environmental protection equipment, technology, measuring instruments and equipment is also reduced. The reduction of agrotechnical and environmental protection measures in agriculture, which had a certain environmental effect, also has a negative impact.

The mechanism of impact on users of natural resources by economic levers does not give the expected result.

The prevention of negative anthropogenic impact and the elimination of the negative consequences of this impact require the creation of an environmental industry, special equipment for environmental protection.

It is necessary to develop the production of environmentally efficient equipment and technologies, as well as the creation of control and measuring equipment for equipping environmental laboratories under local environmental authorities. The lack of measuring equipment makes it difficult to characterize the consequences of anthropogenic impact on the environment and the reverse impact of pollution on human life and activity.

The environmental situation was one of the important factors that over the past decade the number of children with chronic diseases in the country has increased 3 times, and the average life expectancy for the entire population is 8-10 years lower than these data for 44 developed countries of the world.

Reducing the production of an intermediate product, the material intensity of production, the transition to resource-saving and environmentally friendly technologies, the development of low-waste industries are proven ways to solve problems.

In organizational terms, it is necessary to replace the current practice of economic sanctions for environmental pollution with a systematically implemented system of economic regulation of environmental management.

Considering that most environmental problems are global, international in nature, a large role is assigned to the international level of problem solving.

International level. The main principle is to ensure equal environmental security of all countries and territories, the refusal of developed countries from environmental aggression of an economic nature and environmental colonialism: the cessation of the placement of environmentally hazardous waste on the territory of other countries and the immediate suppression of predatory destruction and the irrational waste of natural resources.

It is necessary to further develop international cooperation on a bilateral and multilateral basis in the development of environmentally safe equipment, technology, in environmental monitoring and in the prevention of emerging dangerous environmental situations in any of the countries of the world community. Combining the efforts of mankind is necessary for a radical solution of global environmental problems and the preservation of life on the planet.

The main directions for solving environmental problems are:

1. Development and implementation of waste-free technologies that allow solving a complex of environmental, economic and social problems.

Waste-free technologies allow achieving a number of environmental

effects:

Prevent environmental pollution by production waste;

To prevent or reduce the destruction of natural resources through the most efficient use of resources taken from nature;

Ensure economic effect and increase the efficiency of social production, i.e. achieving maximum results while minimizing costs.

The social effect consists in providing the ecological environment necessary for life, improving the health of the population, and increasing life expectancy.

2. Replacement of traditional energy sources with non-traditional ones: the energy of the sun, tides and other inexhaustible natural resources.

3. Replacement of natural resources used in production as objects of labor with artificial substitutes, which will save natural resources.

4. Rationalization of nature management based on loss reduction

natural resources, their degradation, reducing the material intensity of production, reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, reducing industrial and household waste, etc.

By the beginning of the last decade of the 20th century, about 22 billion tons of carbon dioxide were emitted into the atmosphere per year. Of these, 45% came from burning coal, 40% from oil, and 15% from gas. When producing the same amount of energy, oil produces 15% and gas 43% less carbon dioxide than coal.

Therefore, only the replacement of some types of fuel with others can significantly reduce the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Moreover, the reserves of fossil fuels, especially oil, are limited and should be preserved for future generations.

Of these 22 billion tons, the largest share was accounted for by the United States - 23%, the USSR - 19%, Western Europe - 13%, China - 8.7%, Eastern European countries - 7%, all the rest - about 28%.

Energy consumption efficiency varies per unit of gross national product (GNP). France is the best. In relation to it - in Japan it will be 1.13, Great Britain - 2.0, USA - 2.24, Poland - 3.13, China - 4.75, in our country - 3.76, i.e. per unit of GNP, we spend almost 4 times more energy than France.

The experience of different countries shows that the world has large reserves for saving energy.

Socio-economic, cultural and political factors also contribute to the solution of environmental problems:

Ecological education and upbringing;

Environmental legislation at the national and international levels and its enforcement;

State investment in the development of the environmental industry, as well as environmental investments from other sources of financing;

The system of economic levers;

Administrative control by the state over the rationality of nature management and environmental impact;

Establishment of science-based standards for maximum permissible concentrations of various pollutants in the environment.

On the one hand, the prospects for economic development cannot be considered without taking into account the impact that it has on the state of the natural environment. On the other hand, the state of the environment must increasingly be taken into account when making economic decisions. A further uncontrolled increase in the anthropogenic load on natural systems can lead to a global disruption of their balance, which will entail the destruction of the natural basis of human life.

Balanced development of mankind- a way to solve modern environmental problems. Balanced development is characterized by the UN International Commission on Environmental Protection and Development as a way of social, economic and political progress that will meet the needs of present and future generations. In other words, humanity must learn to "live within its means", use natural resources without undermining them, invest, figuratively speaking, in "insurance" - to finance programs aimed at preventing the catastrophic consequences of their own activities. Such major programs include curbing population growth; the development of new industrial technologies to avoid pollution, the search for new, "clean" energy sources; increase in food production without increasing the area under crops.

Birth control. Four main factors determine the size of the population and its rate of change: the difference between birth and death rates, migration, fertility, and the number of inhabitants in each age group. Till fertility rate higher death rate, the population will increase at a rate that depends on the positive difference between these values. The average annual change in the population of a particular region, city or country as a whole is determined by the ratio (newborns + immigrants) - (deceased + emigrants). The population of the Earth or an individual country can equalize or stabilize only after the total fertility rate- the average number of children born to a woman during her reproductive period - will be equal to or below the average level of simple reproduction, equal to 2.1 children per woman. Upon reaching level of simple reproduction it takes some time for population growth to stabilize. The length of this period depends primarily on the number of women who are of reproductive age (15-44 years) and on the number of girls under 15 years of age entering their reproductive period soon.

The length of time that the growth of the world's population or of an individual country will stabilize after the average fertility rate reaches or falls below the replacement level also depends on age structure of the population- percentage ratio of women and men in each age category. The more women in the reproductive (15-44 years) and pre-reproductive (up to 15 years) age, the longer the period that will be required for the inhabitants to achieve zero population growth (NPG). Major changes in the age structure of the population, due to high or low fertility, have demographic, social and economic consequences that last for a generation or even more.

The current rate of population growth cannot be sustained for long. Experts say that by the end of the 20th century, the total number of people exceeds the allowable number by several times. Naturally, it is determined not by the biological needs of a person for food, etc., but by the quality of life worthy of the end of the 20th century, and by the specific pressure on the environment that arises when striving to ensure this quality of existence. There is an opinion that by the second half of the XXI century. the population of the Earth will stabilize at the level of 10 billion people. This forecast is based on the assumption that the birth rate in developing countries will decline. Almost all over the world, the need for birth control is recognized. Most developing countries have governmental birth control programs. The problem is that the birth rate is declining in parallel with the growth of the level of prosperity, and with today's rapid population growth, prosperity can only be raised with very high rates of economic development. The load on the environment in this situation may exceed the permissible level. Lowering the birth rate is the only acceptable way to break out of this vicious circle.

Rational management of natural resources. The limited resources of the Earth is at the end of the XX century. one of the most urgent problems of human civilization. In this regard, one of the most important conditions of our time can be considered the solution of problems for the rational management of natural resources. Their implementation requires not only extensive and in-depth knowledge of the laws and mechanisms of the functioning of ecological systems, but also the purposeful formation of the moral foundation of society, people's awareness of their unity with nature the need to restructure the system of social production and consumption.

For conscious and qualified management of the economy and nature management, it is necessary:

Define management goals;

Develop a program to achieve them;

Create mechanisms for the implementation of the tasks.

Strategy for the development of industry, energy and pollution control. The main strategic direction of industrial development is the transition to new substances, technologies that can reduce pollutant emissions. The general rule is that it is easier to prevent pollution than to eliminate its consequences. In industry, wastewater treatment systems, circulating water supply, gas-catching installations are used for this, special filters are installed on car exhaust pipes. The transition to new, cleaner energy sources also contributes to the reduction of environmental pollution. Thus, burning natural gas instead of coal at a state district power station or thermal power plant can dramatically reduce sulfur dioxide emissions.

In many cases, air and water pollution affects the interests of several or many countries. International cooperation is needed to mitigate its effects. An example of such cooperation is an agreement to reduce the production of chlorofluorocarbons, which involves most of the world's countries, including Russia and the CIS countries

Rational use of mineral resources. Due to the imperfection of the technology of extraction and processing of mineral resources, the destruction of biocenoses, environmental pollution, violation of climate and biogeochemical cycles are often observed. Rational approaches to the extraction and processing of natural mineral resources include:

*the most complete and comprehensive extraction of all useful components from the deposit;

Reclamation (restoration) of land after the use of deposits;

Economical and waste-free use of raw materials in production;

Deep cleaning and technological use of production waste;

Reuse of materials after the products are out of use;

The use of technologies that allow the concentration and extraction of dispersed mineral substances;

Use of natural and artificial substitutes for scarce mineral compounds;

Development and widespread introduction of closed production cycles;

Application of energy-saving technologies, etc.

Some of the modern industries and technologies meet many of these requirements, but at the same time, they often have not yet become the norm in the production sphere and environmental management on a global scale. The creation of new technologies should be combined with a competent environmental assessment of all, especially large-scale projects in industry, construction, transport, agriculture and other human activities. Carried out by special independent bodies, such an examination will make it possible to avoid many miscalculations and unpredictable consequences of the implementation of these projects for the biosphere.

Agriculture Development Strategy. At the end of the 20th century, world agricultural output is growing faster than population. However, this growth is accompanied, as you know, by significant costs: deforestation to expand cultivated areas, salinization and soil erosion, environmental pollution with fertilizers, pesticides, etc.

In the further development of agriculture, a strategic direction is to increase productivity, which makes it possible to provide a growing population with food without increasing the area under crops. Increasing crop yields can be achieved by expanding irrigation. Great importance, especially when there is a shortage of water resources, should be given to drip irrigation, in which water is rationally used by directly supplying it to the root system of plants. Another way is breeding and cultivation of new varieties of agricultural crops. The cultivation of new varieties, for example, cereals, more productive and resistant to diseases, gave in the last decades of the 20th century. the main increase in agricultural production. This breeder success has been called the "Green Revolution".

Productivity increases with the alternation of cultivated crops (crop rotations) in relation to zonal conditions, and often with the transition from monoculture to mixed crops, for example, the joint cultivation of cereals with legumes, especially for fodder purposes.

It is known that natural multi-species associations of plants are much less likely to suffer from outbreaks of insect pests, pathogens than populations of monocultures in agrocenoses. This is due to the high concentration of crops, which makes them a convenient target for pests, diseases and weeds through an integrated crop protection system, where special attention is paid to agrotechnical, breeding, seed production techniques, crop rotations, biological methods in the fight against pests.

The chemical method is used in extreme cases, in years when pests exceed the threshold of harmfulness, there is a threat of crop losses and other methods do not make it possible to prevent these losses. To obtain maximum yield and long-term maintenance of soil fertility, the technology of fertilization is also complex and requires a certain ecological culture. The optimal ratio between mineral and organic fertilizers, their norms, terms, methods and place of application, the use of irrigation and soil loosening, taking into account weather conditions - this is an incomplete list of factors that affect the effectiveness of fertilizer application. Increased rates, incorrect timing or methods of applying, for example, nitrogen fertilizers, lead to their accumulation in the soil, and in plants, respectively, nitrates, which are harmful in excess to humans. Surface and excessive application of fertilizers leads to their partial flushing into rivers, lakes, water poisoning, death of animals and plants. Numerous examples of irrational handling of fertilizers testify to the need for careful and serious performance of all work in this branch of agriculture.

Probably in the 21st century. agriculture of the modern type will be preserved. In its development, current trends allow us to hope that the growing population of the Earth will be provided with food.

Preservation of natural communities. The basis of the well-being of mankind in the future is the preservation of natural diversity. Stability in the functioning of the biosphere ensures the diversity of natural communities.

Animals in communities are characterized by a certain productivity produced per unit time by new biomass. When used, a person withdraws part of the biomass in the form of a crop, which is one or another share of bioproducts. A decrease in production may occur due to the presence of intraspecific or interspecific competition, the impact of adverse environmental conditions, and other factors. The difference between it and the yield can be significantly reduced and even become negative. In the latter case, the withdrawal will exceed the natural increase in the biomass of a particular animal species, populations.

Reasonable use biological resources composed:

In maintaining the productivity of the population at the highest possible level;

Harvesting, the value of which is as close as possible to the production produced by the population.

This regulation implies a deep knowledge of the ecology of the exploited species, population, the development and observance of norms and rules for use.

In material production, a person currently uses an insignificant percentage of species. Undoubtedly, in the future, the useful properties of a larger number of species can be used, provided that they are preserved by then. The preservation of natural communities is important not only for material well-being, but also for the full existence of a person.

At present, it is clear that in order to preserve species diversity, it is necessary to preserve undisturbed areas, which should be significant in area, since otherwise many species are threatened with extinction on small protected "islands". Certain successes have been achieved along this path: a network has been created biosphere reserves in Russia and other countries where the main communities are represented. Any economic activity is prohibited on the territory of the reserves, and special security zones have been created around. Reserves, when compared with other communities, serve as standards that allow one to identify “deviations from the norm”.

In general, when solving environmental problems, the following activities should be envisaged:

Local (local) and global environmental monitoring, i.e. measurement and control of the state of the most important characteristics of the environment, the concentration of harmful substances in the atmosphere, water, soil;

Restoration and protection of forests from fires, pests and diseases;

Further expansion and increase of protected areas, reference ecosystems, unique natural complexes;

Protection and breeding of rare species of plants and animals;

International cooperation in environmental protection;

Broad enlightenment and environmental education of the population.

The solution of environmental problems depends not only on scientists, but also on politicians, manufacturers, on the reasonable behavior of the whole society. The role of ecology is to help realize the dangers of ignorance or neglect of these problems; by studying natural communities, find ways to preserve them for the present and future of our planet.