Humans have developed unhealthy behaviors due to the over consumption of resources and as a result, the environment is degrading. If the rate at which the environment is being destroyed continues, two Earths are needed by 2030 to support these lifestyles (The World Counts).
Nature is everywhere and it is the responsibility of human beings to protect the Earth and the resources it continuously provides. Humans must realize that they are causing the environmental problems and become aware of the current issues relating to the environment. It is endangered due to many threats from pollution to toxic contamination. Attempts must be made to prevent the problems from growing bigger and to ensure the lives of future generations. The environment can be improved by converting to renewable energy sources, altering policies of water bottle companies and constructing stronger landfill barriers. Although the biggest global matter is pollution, it can be reduced with the switch to renewable energy. Fossil fuel combustion and car exhaust from vehicles are the main pollutants. Fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, are used as energy sources in order to produce electricity and to run industries. Nevertheless, they release carbon dioxide that contributes to the rising amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Non-renewable sources also pollute water due to industrial waste, acid rain and oil spills. According to statistics Canada, the country’s primary energy sources are oil, natural gas and petroleum (Statistics Canada). Over the years, energy consumption has increased enormously as the human population rises and there will be even more greenhouse gas emissions. The solution is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Wind, hydro and solar powers are better alternatives since they do not release greenhouse gases, thus improving the air and water quality of the environment. In addition, energy can be stored at the power plants for future use. Resources for fossil fuels are depleting because they are non-renewable and as a result, their costs will rise. Recently, the price for renewable energy sources has dropped significantly and is in fact, the same or cheaper than the price of fossil fuels. It costs $50 for wind and $100 for both solar and fossil fuels to generate the same amount of energy (The Independent).
Moreover, the installation of wind, hydro and solar powers is better in the long run since more money and work are required to operate and maintain fossil fuel power plants. Therefore, using renewable energy sources can reduce pollution. Secondly, water bottle companies are taking too much water from lakes and rivers across Canada, however, it can be limited if there is a change in policies. Companies, specifically Nestle, are essentially draining water from natural resources as a result of the large quantities that they take. In addition, they are continuing to pump water when there are droughts, which harms the environment even more. Nestle’s permit allows them to extract a total of 4.7 million litres of water everyday for a low cost of $3.71 per a million litres (Watercanada.net). Nearby communities are being affected by the actions of Nestle since their access to clean, drinkable water is reduced. The best solution in this situation is to modify the policies pertaining to water bottle companies. The amount of water that they are permitted to take each day needs to be reduced and the fees they have to pay in order to remove the water must be raised. As a result, the increased cost will cause water bottle companies to decrease the amount of water they drain and there will not be water shortages. The final issue is the contamination of the environment due to toxic substances, which can be resolved by constructing more secure landfills. When there are leaks in landfills, the toxins in the waste, such as mercury, are absorbed by the surrounding soil. They also enter water through ocean dumping or when rain carries the toxins into nearby bodies of water.
Consequently, the sea life is negatively affected since some materials, like plastic and styrofoam for example, are not biodegradable and animals may die from choking on plastic or from toxic poisoning (Clean Water Action). Thus, poor waste management leads to the suffering of living organisms and the environment. Currently, landfills are made with a clay liner at the bottom and a soil covering each day, but the clay can crack as it loses its moisture. This can be changed so that membranes, made of polyethylene and other organic materials, are put in place to separate waste from coming in contact with the environment (Handex Consulting and Remediation). Also, doubling the layers of membranes is a good idea in case of any accidents. Exposure to sunlight or chemicals will not provoke the liners to wear down over time, so they are safe to hold toxins. Furthermore, it is necessary to constantly monitor the groundwater so that contamination can be detected right away. Altogether, redesigning landfills will prevent toxins from contaminating its surroundings. In conclusion, the environment is deteriorating due to the impact of humans. Major environmental issues that require attention include the rapid increase of pollution, companies extracting large amounts of water from natural resources and toxic contamination. They need to be addressed before more problems continue to pile up and further destroy the environment. People need to reverse the damage and reduce their ecological footprints otherwise the future will not exist for humans. Solutions to the problems are to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, adjust the policies for water bottle companies and build landfills with better materials. Therefore, change is imperative in order to protect nature and people need to do their part to make it happen. It is crucial to raise awareness and create a sustainable life for future generations.