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, and 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 nation: 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 and deforestation lead 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:

• Destruction of the ozone layer. 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.
• Air pollution. 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.

• Acid rain. 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.
• Soil pollution. 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.
• Water pollution. 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.

According to world studies, the country is included in the list of the most polluted countries in the world. The difficult ecological situation entails a poor quality of life and adversely affects the general condition of citizens. The reason for the emergence of problems of environmental pollution is the dynamic desire of a person to influence the environment. In response to the selfish actions of the most rational being, nature aggressively repays what they deserve. The ecological situation in Russia needs to be resolved as soon as possible, otherwise there will be a serious imbalance between the person and the environment.

The geographic environment needs to be divided into two component categories. The first includes the habitat of living beings, the second - nature as a colossal storehouse of resources. The task of mankind is to learn how to extract minerals without violating the integrity of the objective environment.

Pollution of the environment, irrational use of materials, thoughtless extermination of flora and fauna - these mistakes are top-priority for the Russian Federation and have existed for a long time. Large industrial enterprises, agricultural corporations and the individual desire of a person to maximize the provision of needs become the main argument in the case of an extremely alarming environmental situation (see). Insufficient desire to resolve a difficult situation involves the state in a greater crisis. The main environmental problems in Russia are as follows:

The government has practically left the activities of corporations involved in uncontrolled. To date, the situation has deteriorated sharply in the north-west of the country and in the regions of Siberia, where hundreds of hectares of trees are being destroyed. Forests are being modified in order to create agricultural plots in their place. This provokes the displacement of many species of flora and fauna from the areas that are their real home. With any form of cutting down the green zone, 40% of wood is an irretrievable loss. Reforestation is difficult: a planted tree needs 10 to 15 years to fully grow. In addition, legislative permission is often required for restoration (see).

Energy objects are among the bases that intensively depress the biosphere. Currently, the methods of extraction of electrical or thermal resources are focused on the prospect of operation, while in the former periods the course was directed towards minimizing financial costs. Each energy facility accumulates a huge risk of causing significant damage to our planet. Even the regulation of the limits of negative impacts is not able to fully eliminate the danger.

Extracting useful resources, a person clogs groundwater, soil and atmosphere. Animals and plants are forced to live in unsuitable conditions. Oil being transported on ships spills, resulting in the death of many creatures. A colossal amount of harm is caused by the process of mining coal and gas. Radiation pollution pose a threat and change the environment. These environmental problems in Russia will cause irreparable damage to the country if no significant measures are taken.

Interesting! On the territory of the Gulf of Finland is the largest oil "dump" of the country. Pollution covers nearby soils and groundwater. There are alarming statements: a large percentage of drinking water on the territory of the state is no longer suitable for consumption.

Polluted reservoirs do not allow the use of the life-giving element to feed creatures. Industrial enterprises dump waste into the aquatic environment. In Russia, there are a small number of treatment facilities, and much of the equipment is out of order, and this exacerbates the problem. As water is polluted, it becomes scarce, which leads to the death of ecosystems.

Industrial facilities are the main sources of air pollution. According to the testimony of special services, a quarter of the waste of all production is thrown into the environment. Most residents of large metallurgical cities daily breathe air overflowing with heavy metals. A fly in the ointment in this case is added by vehicle exhaust gases.

There are more than four hundred nuclear reactors in the world, 46 of them are located on the territory of the Russian Federation. Nuclear explosions that irradiate water, soil, and organisms produce radioactive contamination. The danger also comes from the operation of stations, and leakage is possible during transportation. Dangerous rays also come from certain rocks (uranium, thorium, radium) that lie deep under the ground.

Only 4% of all garbage in Russia is recycled, the rest is transformed into huge landfills that provoke the emergence of epidemics and infectious diseases in animals living nearby. People do not strive to keep their own home, city, country clean, so there is a huge risk of infection (see).

Poaching in Russia is the most important problem, the essence of which is the unauthorized extraction of natural resources. Criminals, despite the attempts of the state to suppress any falsehood, cleverly disguise themselves with false licenses and avoid punishment. Fines for poaching are fundamentally inconsistent with the harm done. Many breeds and varieties of nature are difficult to restore.

How are environmental problems solved in Russia?

In our state, supervision over the extraction of minerals has been significantly weakened, despite the fact that the preservation and improvement of the environment is in the first place. The developed laws and local documentation do not have sufficient power to work effectively, completely leveling or reducing the main environmental problems in Russia.

Interesting! The Ministry of Ecology of the Russian Federation, reporting directly to the government, has existed since 2008. It has a large amount of activity towards improving the quality of local systems. However, there is no body in the country that would control the implementation of laws, so the ministry remains in a suspended and passive state.

The government, however, is carrying out organized measures aimed at resolving the situation in the most unfavorable industrial regions of the Russian Federation. It uses innovative technologies, strengthens the monitoring of large-scale facilities, and introduces energy-saving procedures into production.

A comprehensive approach to the problem is needed, including promising actions in all areas of human life and society. The cardinal resolution of the environmental situation in the Russian Federation includes the following categories:

The legal system creates a large body of environmental laws. International experience plays an important role here.

Eliminating the consequences of the irrational use of the planet's resources requires considerable financial support.

The use of new technologies in industry will reduce environmental pollution. The main goal of development is the creation of environmentally friendly energy. Special plants allow you to dispose of waste with the highest percentage of utility. Consequently, the extra territory is not occupied, and the energy from combustion is used for the needs of industry.

Landscaping of settlements will bring benefits. It is necessary to plant trees near places of high pollution, as well as carry out measures to protect the soil from erosion. (cm. )

The plans consider reducing the amount of household waste, wastewater treatment. Modern technologies make it possible to achieve a transition from oil and coal to sources based on solar and hydropower. Biofuels significantly reduce the concentration of harmful elements in the atmosphere.

An important task is to teach the population of the Russian Federation to take care of the environment.

The decision to switch vehicles to gas, electricity and hydrogen will reduce emissions of toxic exhaust. A technique for obtaining nuclear energy from water is under development.

Expert Opinion - Environmental Issues and Corporations

Nowadays, the topic of environmental protection is heard more and more often, many countries are concerned about water, soil and air pollution, deforestation and global warming. In Russia, new norms in the field of construction and regulation of emissions, social movements and programs are emerging. This is certainly a positive trend. However, all this solves only part of the problems. It is necessary to develop and stimulate voluntary efforts to reduce the burden on the environment, including among large companies.

Environmental responsibility of mining and manufacturing corporations

Mining and manufacturing corporations have a particularly high potential for causing environmental damage, therefore, as a rule, significant resources are directed to the implementation of an environmental program.

For example, the SIBUR corporation holds numerous subbotniks throughout Russia, and the Gazprom group invested more than 22 billion rubles last year. on environmental protection, the AVTOVAZ group reported on its success in reducing harmful production emissions and reducing the volume of solid waste. Environmental responsibility is an international practice.

For the last 5 years, 3M International Corporation has been conducting an annual environmental audit to assess the effectiveness of its sustainable development policy. One of its first points is the economical use of wood and mineral resources, including by increasing the use of recycled materials. 3M, a member of the international association The Forest Trust, also motivates many other companies to protect the bowels of the Earth by raising environmental requirements for their suppliers.

On the other hand, manufacturing corporations can help preserve the environment by inventing and introducing sustainable products. An example is special coating for solar panels, invented by 3M, to improve the efficiency and lifespan of these renewable energy sources.

Application of an integrated approach while preserving the environment

Tangible results are achievable with the implementation of an integrated approach, which implies the leveling of all manageable factors that negatively affect the environment.

For example, it is not enough to organize tree planting in the fight against global warming. Companies must also reduce the consumption of greenhouse gases that live in the atmosphere for years, including halon used in refrigeration, fire fighting and chemical production.

Example. An adult tree on average absorbs 120 kg of CO2 per year, and the release of 1 cylinder with fire extinguishing freon will be several tons of CO2 equivalent. That is, the choice of an ecological fire extinguishing system, for example, with Novek® 1230 FOFS, which has a minimum global warming potential, will be equal in effect to planting a small park of trees.

The complexity of an effective nature conservation program lies in taking into account and prioritizing all factors affecting the environment. The task of the professional community is to form a center of competence, a set of ready-made environmental solutions that will be convenient for companies to implement and use.

International environmental organizations in Russia

A whole complex of specialized structures for environmental protection operates in the country. These organizations coordinate security specifics regardless of the political situation. Russia participates in the work of a large number of international structures for the protection of the environment. These organizations are strictly divided into areas of interest. Below is a list of systems operating in the Russian Federation.

• The UN has developed a special UNEP program that protects nature from inappropriate use.
• WWF - International is the largest organization protecting biological resources. They provide financial support for the protection, development and training of such structures.
• GEF - created to help developing countries in solving environmental problems.
• Active since the beginning of the 70s, UNESCO supports peace and environmental security in the country, and also deals with regulations on the development of culture and science.
• The FAO organization functions in the direction of improving the quality of agricultural crafts and the extraction of natural resources.
• Arc is an environmental movement that promotes the idea of ​​selling food and goods that do not litter or pollute the environment.
• WCP is a program that develops methods for long-term climate change and its improvement.
• WHO is an organization whose goal is to achieve the best living conditions for humanity on the planet by monitoring the use of resources.
• WSOP - the program accumulates the experience of all states and builds ways to resolve problems.
• WWW is a service that collects information on meteorological conditions in all countries.

The work of international environmental organizations in Russia helps to increase the national interest in cleansing the native land and to increase the overall level of cleanliness of the environment.

Interesting! Distrust of the authorities, accusations of espionage, the ban on obtaining proper information hinder the activities of these structures. Domestic systems do not want to spend money on environmental protection activities and do not accept the essence of environmental management, for which international institutions are convened.

Specialists of the social structure conducted a survey on this topic. Based on the results, lists of favorable and unfavorable cities were compiled. The course of the study was formed on the opinions of residents who distributed 100 items. Respondents rate the situation as a whole at 6.5 points.

• The most environmentally friendly city in Russia is Sochi. Second place goes to Armavir. These settlements have excellent climatic features with clean air, sea and a lot of vegetation. In these cities, the desire of the inhabitants themselves to build gazebos, flower beds or front gardens is noted.
• Sevastopol took the third place. The metropolis is distinguished by a variety of flora, a small amount of transport and a fresh atmosphere.
• The top ten environmental favorites include: Kaliningrad, Grozny, Stavropol, Saransk, Nalchik, Korolev and Cheboksary. The capital is located on the 12th place, and St. Petersburg - in the middle of the third ten.

Here are the settlements, which were originally planned as industrial. Despite the efforts of the authorities, the situation in these cities remains virtually unchanged.

• The respondents placed Bratsk on the last, 100th place in the list. Respondents note the huge amount of garbage on the streets and the minimum number of green spaces. People living here constantly smell emissions.
• Novokuznetsk is on the 99th place. The "coal capital" of Russia is experiencing a glut of heavy metals in the atmosphere. It is difficult for residents to breathe in calm weather, there is always a thick smog.
• Chelyabinsk closes the top three outsiders of the environmental rating. Respondents note poor water quality and dirty oxygen. Magnitogorsk, Makhachkala, Krasnoyarsk and Omsk are next to each other on the list.

Expert opinion – Experience of other countries in addressing environmental problems

Alexander Levin, Executive Director of the Fund for Support of Foreign Economic Activity of the Moscow Region

In my opinion, when solving environmental problems in our country, it is necessary to adopt the experience, first of all, of the countries of the European Union, in particular, such as Denmark, Germany, Austria. These states are focusing on improving the efficiency of enterprises, cleaning emissions into the atmosphere and recycling wastewater.

In addition, in Europe a lot of attention is paid to the recycling of raw materials, as well as the creation of renewable energy sources. In Russia, the problem is the elementary lack of industrial treatment facilities and storm water treatment facilities. There is also a technological backwardness of the existing reconstruction processes. I think that now we need to increase funding for activities related to the reconstruction of such facilities in the structure of housing and communal services and the road sector, as well as to subsidize the creation of a new treatment infrastructure where it does not exist. This is the only way we can save water resources on the territory of our country.

Solving environmental problems in Russia is a top priority not only for government agencies, but also for the population, which must reconsider their own views on the preservation and protection of the surrounding world.

The scientific and technological revolution and the use of minerals of the earth has led to the fact that the ecological situation on our planet is deteriorating literally before our eyes. The level of pollution of the subsoil, hydrosphere and air layer of the earth is approaching a critical level. Humanity is on the verge of a global man-made disaster. Fortunately, more and more state and public organizations understand the depth and danger of the problem.

Work to improve the current situation is gaining momentum. Already now, modern technologies offer many ways to solve environmental problems, from the creation of ecological fuels, ecological transport to the search for new environmentally friendly energy sources and the reasonable use of the Earth's resources.

Ways to solve the problem

An integrated approach to environmental issues is needed. It should include long-term and planned activities aimed at all spheres of society.

To radically improve the environmental situation, both on earth as a whole and in a single country, it is necessary to implement measures of the following nature:

1. Legal. These include the creation of environmental laws. International agreements are also important.
2. Economic. Elimination of the consequences of technogenic impact on nature requires serious financial investments.
3. Technological. In this area, there is a place where inventors and innovators disagree. The use of new technologies in the mining, metallurgical and transport industries will minimize environmental pollution. The main task is to create environmentally friendly energy sources.
4. Organizational. They consist in the uniform distribution of transport along the streams to prevent its long accumulation in one area.
5. Architectural. It is advisable to plant trees and shrubs in large and small settlements, to divide their territory into zones with the help of plantations. Of no small importance is the planting of plantings around enterprises and along roads.

Special importance should be attached to the protection of flora and fauna. Their representatives simply do not have time to adapt to changes in the environment.

Current conservation measures

Awareness of the dramatic situation in ecology forced mankind to take urgent and effective measures to correct it.

The most popular activities are:

1. Reducing household and industrial waste. This is especially true for plastic utensils. It is gradually being replaced by paper. Research is underway to eliminate bacteria that feed on plastic.
2. Sewage treatment. Billions of cubic meters of water are consumed annually to provide various branches of human activity. Modern treatment facilities allow to clean it to a natural state.
3. Transition to clean energy sources. This means phasing out nuclear energy, engines and furnaces running on coal and oil products. The use of natural gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric power ensures a clean atmosphere. The use of biofuels can significantly reduce the concentration of harmful substances in exhaust gases.
4. Protection and restoration of lands and forests. New forests are being planted in the clearing areas. Measures are being taken to drain the land and protect it from erosion.

Constant agitation in favor of ecology changes people's views on this problem, inclining them to respect the environment.

Prospects for solving environmental problems in the future

In the future, the main efforts will be aimed at eliminating the consequences of man-made human activities and reducing harmful emissions.

For this, there are such prospects:

1. Construction of special plants for the complete disposal of all types of waste. This will allow not to occupy new territories for landfills. The energy obtained from combustion can be used for the needs of cities.
2. Construction of thermal power plants operating on the "solar wind" (Helium 3). This substance is on the moon. Despite the high cost of its production, the energy obtained from the "solar wind" is thousands of times greater than the heat transfer from nuclear fuel.
3. Transfer of all transport to power plants running on gas, electricity, batteries and hydrogen. This decision will contribute to the reduction of emissions into the atmosphere.
4. Cold nuclear fusion. This option for generating energy from water is already under development.

Despite the serious damage caused to nature, humanity has every chance to return it to its original form.

The ecological situation in the world is on the verge of catastrophe. And although numerous "green" organizations, funds for the conservation of nature and its resources, government agencies of all countries are trying to overcome the consequences of human economic activity, it is not possible to fundamentally correct the situation. Thoughtless use of the Earth's wealth, irresponsibility, material interests of the largest corporations, globalization lead to the fact that the ecological situation is not improving.

Environmental problems in the world

In fairness, I would like to note that countries with a developed economy, high standards of living can also boast a high level of nature protection, a culture of ecology. In many countries of Europe, America, Japan, they try to minimize the consequences of human handiwork. At the same time, the level of education of citizens is increasing, which they are trying to involve at the household level in processes that contribute to the preservation and cleanliness of the environment. But at the same time, serious gaps in such activities in developing countries, and even more so in lagging regions of the planet, kill all attempts to somehow protect nature in the bud. Thoughtless pollution of water bodies with industrial waste, waste products, absolutely irresponsible attitude towards the land fund is evident.

The poor state of the environment is a problem that can affect everyone. Such distant troubles as the thinning of the ozone layer, or the melting of glaciers, cannot make it clear to a person that he is making a mistake. But outbreaks of epidemics, adverse climatic conditions, dirty water and fresh water that does not give a good harvest, smog - these are all direct results of our hands.

Ecology of Russia

Unfortunately, Russia belongs to the list of countries with the worst environmental situation. This state of affairs is due to various factors and manifests itself in all areas. Traditionally, the greatest damage to indicators comes from the impact of industry. The economic crises that plague both the global and domestic economies, one after the other, contribute to a decline in production. It is logical to assume that this should reduce emissions of harmful substances into the surrounding world, but alas, the lack of working capital works here, forcing enterprises to save even more. This happens, first of all, due to the elimination of programs for modernization, installation of treatment facilities.

But not only in large metropolitan areas and industrial regions, the situation is of great concern. Uneven felling of coniferous forests, neglect of leafy plantations, negligence of local authorities and citizens provoke the destruction of 20% of the world's woodland.

The discharge of sewage into rivers and lakes, the artificial drainage of swampy areas, the plowing of coastal areas and sometimes vandal mining are a reality that exists, and the environmental situation in Russia is deteriorating daily in connection with this.

How to assess the real situation in the natural environment?

The complexity of the approach in the analysis of the state of the environment is the key to an adequate result. The study of only individual areas and the focal struggle against pollution of land, water and air will never bring a positive result on a global scale. Assessment of the environmental situation is a top priority for the government. Based on this assessment, a long-term strategy should be developed with the implementation of programs at all levels.

Only truthful and adequate monitoring, which will be carried out by truly independent experts in the field of ecology, can give a clear picture. Alas, the reality is that even world-famous organizations are often affiliated branches of large corporations and work under their dictation, taking a position that is beneficial to the monopolist.

In Russia, the situation is aggravated due to the high level of corruption on the part of public services that perform both supervisory and executive functions. To achieve legitimate decisions on the protection of nature becomes an impossible task. There are neither means nor mechanisms for this, and most importantly, the will of officials. Until the top leadership is personally interested in the fact that the ecological situation in Russia gets out of the impasse, real transformations are unlikely to occur.

Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation

In each country, there are both state and public organizations that deal with environmental issues at their own expense. Which of them do their job better is a complex and controversial issue. Definitely a good practice when the environmental apparatus in the country is empowered with extended functions.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology in Russia has existed since 2008. It reports directly to the government. The scope of this organization is not very wide. The Ministry performs two functions - legislative and controlling. Direct activity is carried out by creating a regulatory framework, according to which there is control, management of the activities of enterprises, state facilities that fall under a special status (zakazniks, nature reserves), mining facilities, in the field of development and extraction of resources. Unfortunately, there is no body that would control the implementation of the instructions and take active actions in case of violation of the law. Thus, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology takes a passive position regarding the preservation of the country's ecosystem.

The earth is our everything!

It is no coincidence that the agro-industrial complex occupies one of the most important places in the country's economy. The area of ​​agricultural land occupies more than 600 million hectares. This figure is colossal, no other country in the world has such a resource, wealth. Powers that really care about their soil, intended for growing crops used in food and light industry, prefer not to exploit the land mercilessly.

The unwise use of fertilizers, which is a consequence of the pursuit of high yields, outdated heavy equipment that violates the integrity of the soil, the deterioration of the chemical composition of the soil, not only in the fields and gardens, but also on non-agricultural lands - these are all the fruits of human intervention, they directly show how much we the world around is indifferent. Undoubtedly, in order to feed such a huge number of people, farmers are forced to plow every piece of land, but at the same time, the approach and attitude towards it must be radically revised.

Modern ways of doing business based on farms in developed countries are arranged in such a way that land owners take care of their “breadwinner”, and as a return they receive higher yields, respectively, and income.

Water situation

The beginning of the 2000s was marked by the realization that freshwater sources throughout the world are in a catastrophic state. Such an ecological problem and ecological situation as pollution is fraught with the extinction of man as a species. The seriousness of the issue forced a more responsible approach to water quality control. However, weak attempts to bring water resources back to normal have so far been unsuccessful.

The fact is that the southern and central regions have the highest population. They contain the largest industrial capacities of the country, the highest indicator of the development of agriculture. The number of reservoirs suitable for supporting the national industry, on the contrary, is not as high as necessary. The intense pressure on the existing rivers has led to the fact that some of them have practically disappeared, some are so polluted that their use is categorically impossible.

There is an improvement in the ecological situation, but this applies to water bodies that are taken under strict control. The figures that characterize the overall situation are catastrophic:

• Only 12% of water bodies, according to environmentalists, fall under the category of conditionally clean.
• The amount of harmful impurities, such as pesticides, heavy metals, exceeds the allowable norms in some water bodies hundreds of times.
• More than half of the country's population uses water that is not suitable for drinking for domestic purposes. Moreover, almost 10% of the population does not use life-giving moisture for cooking, but poison. This provokes outbreaks of epidemics of hepatitis, intestinal infections and other waterborne diseases.

What are we breathing?

The average indicators show that the current environmental situation in the airspace has improved somewhat in recent years. However, the statistics are good only on paper; in reality, the drop in harmful emissions occurred at an insignificant level, and in some regions it even increased. Every year, 18 thousand enterprises across the country emit more than 24 million tons of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

The most critical ecological situation is developing in such cities as Kemerovo, Grozny, Arkhangelsk, Novosibirsk. The list of cities with an unfavorable atmospheric background has 41 positions throughout the country.

In addition to the constant emission of gases and smoke, due to the increased number of vehicles on the roads, the intensive activity of enterprises, there is another factor that undermines the ecological situation - these are accidental emissions. Severe deterioration, obsolescence of treatment facilities are the reason why more than 40% of the population have respiratory diseases, almost 5% - oncological diseases.

Urboecology

It is urban residents who most often suffer from bad air, dirty water, and the lack of food labeled “environmentally friendly”. In large cities, for example in Moscow, officials are trying to set limits for enterprises, create modern treatment plants, modernize sewer systems and water supply. Such actions of the authorities managed to raise the capital this year from 68th place to 33rd in terms of pollution in the overall ranking of cities in the country. However, these measures are not enough. Every summer, residents of large cities suffer from smog, smoke, and high levels of gases in the atmosphere.

Urban sprawl and a high concentration of population in a small area threatens to deplete natural resources in urban areas. The unrealized energy conservation policy and the failure to comply with international standards regarding the provision of safe industrial activities also undermine the balance in nature. Thus, the ecological situation of the city cannot please.

A striking example of the consequences of poor ecology can be found by looking at the statistics of childhood diseases over several decades. A high level of congenital pathologies, acquired diseases, a weak immune system - these are the realities that one has to face every day.

And the adult population of cities has reasons for concern. The life expectancy of citizens and inhabitants of territories falling under the category of environmentally unfavorable is on average 10-15 years lower.

Collection, disposal and recycling of garbage

The problem of environmental pollution with waste is not new and lies on the surface in a literal sense. The trend towards waste disposal has outlived itself and is leading to the systematic transformation of the country into one large repository. Realizing that at such a pace that the population and industry produce waste, this prospect is getting closer, the Ministry of Ecology decided to create a new direction in its work. Namely, the organization of centers for the collection, sorting and processing of various waste for recyclables.

All the same West took care of this issue several decades ago. The amount of non-recyclable waste they do not exceed 20%, while in Russia this figure is four times higher. But according to the optimistic plans of the country's leadership, the situation will change and by 2020 it will reach full-fledged waste processing with their subsequent implementation in industry and energy. Such a statement of the task is very pleasing, because if ambitious plans are implemented, one can hope for favorable environmental situations and conditions in the country.

Catastrophes of recent years

In the meantime, we have to reap the rewards, and the realities are such that the current ecological situation is undermined and flares up in different places every year, showing all the gaps in the system

According to activists, recently the inhabitants of Russia had to face problems in different regions of the country. So, in the Sverdlovsk region, in the Zhelezyanka River, the level of iron and manganese in the water exceeds the norm by 22 and 25 thousand times, respectively! Such figures defy any common sense, and the situation is getting worse. Despite the fact that local authorities are inactive.

Increasing cases of fuel release during its production and transportation also clearly demonstrate examples of environmental situations. Oil, fuel oil, spilling over the water, leads to the death of birds, animals, pollution of both the reservoirs themselves and groundwater. The same thing happened when in November this year there was an accident with the tanker "Nadezhda" off the coast of Sakhalin.

Environmentalists around the world are sounding the alarm to save Lake Baikal. The pride of Russia may soon partially turn into a swamp. The ingress of detergents into its waters, sewage from collectors, provokes abundant flowering of water. Toxic substances do not just pollute the water, but cause the extinction of the unique flora and various living organisms living in the lake.

Ways to solve problems in ecology

The ecological situation in Russia requires prompt intervention. Passive surveillance, which the state is now engaged in, is fraught with serious problems. The main paths that need to be developed relate to absolutely all levels of a person.

It is very important to instill in every citizen the foundations of ecological culture. After all, even the best bills and programs of officials will not be able to overcome the problem if society is not concerned about this. Although often it is it that is engaged in the elimination of disasters, the cleansing of coastal zones, parks, recreation areas, which cannot but rejoice.

The introduction of energy efficient technologies at all levels, from private households to large industrial enterprises, is a priority task that must be addressed in the coming years.

The issues of the use of natural resources, their extraction, restoration cannot remain unresolved. In order to leave the opportunity for existence to the next generations, it is necessary not to rely entirely on the independent revival of its natural wealth. Man differs from other inhabitants of the planet in that he is reasonable, which means that this mind must be shown not only for consumption, but also for the creation of something worthwhile!

The current stage of development of human society is characterized by high rates of scientific and technological revolution. However, together with the benefits created, progress has brought biological imbalances to our planet, which has caused a decrease in the quality of the habitat for all living things. The unfavorable ecological situation negatively affects the health of the person himself. Indeed, according to experts, pollution of the environment around us in terms of its negative impact is in second place after the way of life of people.

Signs of unfavorable ecology

Pollution refers to the penetration into the environment of new agents of a chemical, physical, biological nature. The emergence of an unfavorable environmental situation occurs, as a rule, as a result of the economic activity carried out by human society. The following signs indicate the onset of this problem:

• a sharp change in climatic conditions;
• destruction of the planet's ozone layer, etc.

The occurrence of all these situations not only worsens the living conditions of a person, but also threatens his health. What should be our rules of conduct in an unfavorable environmental situation? They are briefly described in this article.

Air pollution

Our health largely depends on the air we breathe. The state of this natural resource also affects the life of the animal and plant world. Unfortunately, active has led to the fact that the atmosphere of our planet is polluted with such harmful gases as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon vapors, as well as metal acids and a variety of organic and inorganic dust.

Cities with unfavorable environmental conditions suffer from smog standing over industrial zones. Its cloud contains a high content of pollutants. When it enters the human body, it causes various pathologies of the respiratory organs, reducing their resistance to other harmful impurities (asbestos, asphalt, ground dust, etc.).

Home air can also have a negative impact on our health. And this is confirmed by scientific research data. Specialists in laboratory conditions compared the air of city streets and residential premises. The result was unexpected. It turns out that the air in our rooms is 4-6 times dirtier than outdoor air and 8-10 times more toxic than it. All this is caused by the influence of linoleum, washing powders, varnish, paints, various polymers, furniture made with synthetic adhesives, etc.

Reducing the negative impact of polluted air

The rules of safe behavior in the unfavorable ecological situation prevailing in our settlements today recommend, first of all, to breathe through the nose. The fact is that the mucous membrane of this respiratory organ is covered with a large number of cilia, which, like a brush, absorb most of the harmful dust, not letting it into the lungs. In addition, in everyday life, you should avoid those places where the air is especially polluted. So, you should not do jogging on city streets and walk near highways with heavy traffic. This is especially true in cases where the wind is blowing from the side of the track. What should be the safe behavior in an unfavorable environmental situation, if it is simply impossible to change the route? In this case, shallow and shallow breaths should be taken.

The rules of safe behavior in an unfavorable environmental situation in conditions of polluted air should be known not only to residents of cities. They are also needed by the rural population. On the days when the agrochemical processing of the fields is carried out, they do not need to go outside again. Doors and windows of houses during such a period must be closed.

Safety in an unfavorable environmental situation should be observed in everyday life. So, for repairs, it is best to buy paint that does not contain lead. And as a cleaning agent, it is best to use soda ash, borax or traditional laundry soap.

You should also avoid buying furniture if it is made of pressed boards (chipboard). After all, this material contains formaldehydes that are harmful to health. What are the safety rules for adverse environmental conditions if such boards are already installed as wall panels, flooring, etc.? Such surfaces should be covered with a sealant (natural sealant). This will significantly reduce the harmful effects of formaldehyde.

What other security measures can be applied? In case of unfavorable environmental conditions in the room, it should be ventilated more often. Just keep in mind that if there is an industrial zone near your house, then when opening the window, you should take into account the direction of the blowing wind. If air flows come from the territories of objects polluting the atmosphere, then it is better to refrain from airing for the time being. It is also recommended to have a large number of indoor plants in the house.

Water pollution

Human health depends not only on the purity of atmospheric air. The quality of the water he uses also affects him to no lesser extent. According to statistics, its pollution causes 80% of pathologies associated with poor ecology.

Why did this problem occur? The fact is that today a large amount of waste from industrial and household enterprises, as well as the agro-industrial complex, is dumped into water bodies. It is this sphere of human activity that largely poisons rivers, seas and oceans. They drain waste containing alkalis and petroleum products, acids and ammonia, metal salts and phenols, synthetic resins, sulfur compounds, etc.

The chemical composition of water also poses a serious danger to our health. Under the conditions of technogenic pollution, a large amount of impurities unusual for a natural liquid enters rivers and lakes, causing various pathologies in humans. Diseases also occur due to the presence of nitrates in water. These substances provoke the formation of methemoglobin in the blood, which prevents the normal oxidative process from occurring in the body. Infants who are prepared with milk mixtures in water with a high concentration of nitrates are especially affected by this.

Reducing the negative impact of polluted water

What are the rules for safe behavior in an unfavorable environmental situation, when the fluid that is so necessary for our body is contaminated? In this case, experts recommend using boiled water. Then the body will be protected from the ingress of pathogenic microbes that cause dysentery, cholera, etc., as well as from an excess amount of calcium salts. It should be borne in mind that the water entering our house from the plumbing system is primarily chlorinated. Sometimes hyperdoses of this disinfectant are taken for disinfection. As a result of chlorination of water, dangerous poisons appear in it - dioxins, which can also harm our health. What should be the provision of security in an unfavorable environmental situation in this case?

To eliminate the negative impact, tap water must be poured into glassware and kept in it for three hours. Only then will it be safe to cook food or tea, because most of the chlorine will come out of the liquid as a gas.

Another way to remove dioxins and other harmful substances is to use a filter. In this device, water passes through activated carbon and is completely purified.

Product quality

Food also has a huge impact on human health. In the conditions prevailing in the modern world, when water and atmospheric air are polluted with harmful substances, as well as widespread chemicalization of soils, the quality of the products we use is also reduced.

Thus, huge doses of pesticides and mineral fertilizers, scattered on the fields to combat pathogens and weeds, lead to an increased content and fruits. Once in the body, these react with hemoglobin. As a result of this connection, megahemoglobin is formed. Natural hemoglobin loses its qualities and loses its ability to carry oxygen in the body. All this has a negative effect on a person. He has oxygen starvation, accompanied by blue skin, enlarged spleen and liver, as well as anuria. In the most severe cases, even death is possible.

Reducing the negative impact of contaminated products

What are the rules for safe behavior in an unfavorable environmental situation, when our food can become a source of disease? First of all, they consist in thoroughly washing vegetables and fruits before eating them. This measure is simple but quite effective. After all, most of the pesticides accumulate on the surface of these gifts of nature.

Measures that make it possible to ensure safety in an unfavorable environmental situation include the removal of peels from vegetables and fruits. This is especially important if you do not know in what conditions these fruits were grown. It is also not recommended to eat potatoes baked in their skins. In this case, a large amount of nitrates will collect under it. For cooking vegetables, it is best to use boiling. In this case, the concentration of nitrates will decrease:

• in potatoes - by 80%;
• in cabbage and carrots - by 70%;
• in beets - by 50%.

It should be borne in mind that blanching, stewing and steaming vegetables reduce the concentration of nitrates only to a small extent.

If you strive to comply with the rules of behavior in an unfavorable environmental situation and want to get rid of nitrates as much as possible vegetables and fruits intended for food, then it is best to cut them into small pieces before cooking. This will allow harmful substances to dissolve faster in the water. It is also advisable to soak the root crops. To do this, they are poured two or three times with warm water and kept in it for 5 to 10 minutes.

Noise exposure

Austrian experts found that the population of small towns, distinguished by their silence, lives 10-12 years longer than people in a metropolis. This is affected by the absence of such a negative factor as noise. Its indicator has a limiting value established by sanitary standards enshrined in legislation. So, during the day in a residential area, the noise should not exceed 60 dB. At night, this figure drops to 40 dB. The highest noise value that cannot cause negative consequences for a person is 100 dB. But on busy city streets, this figure is much higher. It often reaches a value of 120-125 dB. Moreover, this problem also causes concern among environmentalists. After all, the noise level in large Russian cities has increased almost fifteen times over the past ten years alone. It consists of the roar of aircraft and the rumble of construction equipment, the sound of wheels on the railway, etc.

Noise has a negative impact on human health. At the same time, it harms not only hearing, but also increases blood pressure, causes pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, inhibits mental activity, and is also the cause of irritability and premature fatigue.

Reducing the negative impact of noise

What are the rules of behavior in an unfavorable environmental situation, when annoying loud sounds surround a person? In production, workers are given special headphones to eliminate noise. They absorb sound and allow you to maintain high human performance for a long period.

What should be the behavior in this case in an unfavorable environmental situation in everyday life? If the source of loud sounds is located in a neighboring apartment, then it is advisable to finish the walls and ceiling in your rooms with some kind of noise-absorbing material. It could also be regular foam.

If your house is located on a busy street, then you should not open the windows in the room during rush hours. Also, you should not spend a lot of time in front of the TV screen and turn on the radio equipment at full power.

Conclusion

Our planet is on the threshold And in order to prevent a catastrophe, humanity is looking for all ways to save the Earth for future generations. We all believe in the victory of reason. However, one should not remain only an outside observer. Each of us must take care of the environment and our health, following the rules of conduct in an unfavorable environmental situation.