The Antarctic ozone hole was caused by excessive use of Freon in the past, and Freon was discharged into the air. A large number of ultraviolet rays will shine on the earth, the incidence of skin cancer will increase, and the temperature of the earth will also rise. Red tides occur in many waters because domestic industrial wastewater enters the waters, which is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to eutrophication, which will lead to the death of fish and shrimp and damage people's health through biological enrichment. The destruction of virgin forests in the United States is man-made, and many trees have been cut down, resulting in the displacement of many animals and even the extinction of some species.
Lop Nur, the Lost Fairy Lake ",that is to say, Lop Nur was originally a very beautiful lake, but now it has disappeared and turned into a desert. This is a tragedy of man-made destruction of the ecological environment. This reportage warns the world with a strong voice that it is necessary to establish the environmental awareness of the whole people and do a good job in ecological protection.
Cut down trees
Dig river sand
Killing animals,
The causes of environmental pollution are mainly caused by human factors. Usually, a large number of "three wastes" discharged by people in production and life, some unexpected accidents in industrial and living facilities, and untreated waste in hospitals will all cause environmental pollution, which will cause harm in serious cases. In wartime, the use of a large number of weapons to kill residents and destroy residential areas may even cause environmental pollution and destruction.
For example, urban air pollution causes air pollution, and the incidence of people is rising. Water pollution worsens the quality of water environment, and the quality of drinking water sources generally declines, threatening people's health and causing premature birth or malformation of the fetus. Serious pollution incidents not only bring health problems, but also cause social problems. With the intensification of pollution and the improvement of people's awareness of environmental protection, disputes and conflicts between people caused by pollution have increased year by year.
It can be said that it is a great progress for human beings to pay attention to protecting the environment while pursuing their own development.
In ancient times, the relationship between man and nature was unequal, and human beings were weak. They are limited by nature everywhere, but they can't change nature. As a result, human beings regard nature as an enemy, and it is a rare quality to be enemies with heaven and earth. The spirit of fools has been praised for thousands of years.
With the advent of the industrial age and the continuous improvement of human science and technology, the relationship between man and nature has been reversed, and man has become a strong man, while "gentle nature" has become an easily injured object. High purity chemicals, such as pesticides, paints and detergents, pose a great threat to the natural environment. Large-scale energy consumption has changed the composition of the atmosphere, thus changing the climate of the earth; With the improvement of sanitary conditions and the rapid increase of population, human activities have greatly destroyed the forest and wetland resources of the earth. As a result, "gentle nature" has become "ferocious nature", and what human beings have imposed on it will eventually be returned to human beings. In areas where water and soil are polluted by high-purity chemicals, the incidence of deformed children and terminal diseases is much higher than that of normal people. Once the oil resources are exhausted, the quality of human life and the normal operation of society will inevitably encounter problems; Abnormal climate will inevitably bring floods or droughts, and famine will also be accompanied by various natural disasters. "Cruel nature" will make human beings weak again, and the relationship between human beings and nature will return to the starting point.
In order to change this situation, human beings must protect "gentle nature" and prevent it from deteriorating. Protecting the environment is to protect human beings themselves, which is valuable knowledge after industrialization and extreme expansion of self-confidence.
Countries all over the world are also aware of this problem. 10 years ago, 178 leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss environmental protection plans. The leaders plan to protect the global environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote human welfare and development. +0997.100000000606160 Countries signed the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions in Kyoto, Japan. However, the United States, the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, refused to implement it on the grounds that emission reduction hindered economic development. Last year, at the Earth Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, world leaders and scientists continued to discuss plans to improve the environment.
10 years have passed, although human beings have made some progress in protecting the environment, the differences are still serious. What is the state of the earth now? What attitude should we take to meet the future?
7 gratifying progress
Awareness of environmental protection is increasing.
After long-term publicity, environmental awareness has been accepted by many people and governments, and people have begun to care about the impact of human activities on nature, hoping that this impact will not worsen the natural environment. Governments have begun to deal with environmental problems through cooperation. The Rio de Janeiro Summit on 1992, the Kyoto Climate Conference on 1997, and the Johannesburg Summit last year all reflected the strengthening of world environmental awareness. Although the United States refuses to implement the Kyoto Protocol for its own benefit,
The clean car came out.
Hybrid electric vehicles have come out and have been driving on the roads of Japan, Western Europe and the United States, which can greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The inventor of the "Super Car" company in Colorado, USA, is developing a zero-emission car. One of the cars is designed to use hydrogen as fuel. The inventor claims that it is unnecessary to bring drinking water when driving this car on vacation, because it emits 65,438+000% pure water. And the prospect of electric vehicles.
Ban 12 "environmental killer"
The United Nations General Assembly 5438+0 held in Stockholm, Sweden in 2006 decided to restrict the use of 12 chemicals containing carbon and chlorine on a global scale. This is to protect air, water and soil resources from pollution. The meeting called for limiting or completely eliminating stubborn organic pollutants, such as chlorine, DDT pesticides and PCBs pesticides. 200 1987 The agreement on banning the use of chlorofluorocarbons has been in force.
Develop eco-tourism
The International Ecotourism Association, headquartered in the United States, describes ecotourism as "responsible tourism that protects the environment and supports the welfare of local people". Eco-tourism and its profits have become an important channel to support the financial revenue sources of developing countries all over the world, and it is growing rapidly at an annual rate of 30%. The natural environment has become an important driving force to attract tourists, and so has the cultural tradition. However, environmentalists still worry that the role of eco-tourism market economy is far greater than the significance of protecting the environment.
Corporate environmental protection movement
Large companies are increasingly aware that environmental protection can help them attract more customers. Xerox's "Waste-Free Plan" recycled 80% of the harmless solid waste produced by its factory in 2002. It also took out more than 60,000 tons of buried electronic waste for recycling. This move by Xerox can save millions of dollars every year. Xerox's sustainable development method is welcomed by environmental groups. Many large companies are also aware of the great role of environmental recycling.
More environmentally friendly buildings
The most important standard of environmental protection building is to reduce energy consumption. Some houses in Europe have begun to install tiles that absorb sunlight energy on their roofs, and Trench Company in California, USA has also begun to install high-performance insulating glass on the roofs of their offices. The environmental protection design of the chesapeake bay Foundation headquarters office building in Annapolis, Maryland, USA is even better. Through a special water storage device, the toilets in the office building are flushed with collected rainwater. Solar panels are used to power the office. Compared with ordinary buildings of the same area, this office building consumes only one-third of electricity and one-tenth of pure water.
Reduce the harm of acid rain
The United States and Europe have proved that the reduction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions has greatly improved the earth's surface environment. In 1980s, developed countries began to control the emission of sulfur dioxide to reduce the great harm of acid rain to the environment. They began to ban factories from using carbon as fuel, and instead used cleaner energy sources such as natural gas and purified carbon to generate electricity. The car has also been modified, using higher grade gasoline, and the emission of nitrogen dioxide after combustion is greatly reduced. The harm of acid rain in the United States and western Europe has been greatly reduced.
Seven worrying signs
Earth warming
Scientists have warned that increasing greenhouse gas emissions will make the climate change sharply and the sea level rise. According to the statistical report of the National Weather Service, the average temperature in the three months from 2006 1 October11to 20021October/was the highest since 1895. Similarly, the average temperature in three months in the world is the highest.
Unrestricted demand for oil.
There are many rivers on the earth, but there is one that we don't realize, and that is the river formed by oil. Every day, a river of oil surrounds us, and the flow rate of this river is 1 100 cubic meter per second. Since 1990s, the world oil consumption has increased by 14% and is still increasing. 240% is discharged into the atmosphere every year. 40% comes from the burning of oil. In human history, the greenhouse gas content in the atmosphere is the highest in 420 thousand years. Two-thirds of the world's oil reserves are concentrated in the Middle East, which has become the most important factor of political and economic instability in this region. Sometimes, people will think that God loves the Middle East too much and has given it such rich liquid gold, but although oil is good, it has also brought endless conflicts and disputes to this region, and this oil has also dried up.
Disappearing wetlands
Many people actually don't know the importance of wetlands. Wetlands provide habitats for fish, many birds and amphibians, and become an important part of the ecosystem. In addition, wetlands have a strong ability to digest pollutants. However, worldwide, the area of wetlands is shrinking rapidly. Wetlands are doomed from the Amazon basin to Iraq. The root of the disappearance of wetlands is human agricultural activities, water conservancy activities and other development activities. Reclaiming more arable land and building more dams will gradually make wetlands disappear. Scientists estimate that the wetland area has shrunk by 50% in the past century. 1 year ago, 132 countries signed the Wetland Protection Treaty in Iran. But in fact, the treaty is binding.
Super dams are increasing.
People think that building super dams shows their ability to transform nature. Indeed, the dam has transformed nature and provided electricity, but it has also brought many adverse effects on the environment. The dam changed the natural flow direction of the river and the direction of natural flood discharge. Dams form unnatural reservoirs on the ground, which affects the natural distribution of fish. 1950, there were about 5000 dams in the world, but by 2000. The number of super dams has soared to 45,000, and the scale has been expanding, playing an increasingly important role in transforming nature. On average, two dams with a height exceeding15m are built every day, and most of the newly built dams are located in developing countries. Some giant dams are over180m in height and over1500m in width. The cost of building such a dam is staggering.
Fewer and fewer coral reefs
Of all marine life, a quarter of the habitats are coral reefs. However, in the past 50 years, the number of coral reefs has decreased by 27%. Only in 1998, the number of coral reefs in the world suddenly decreased by 16%. The most direct cause of coral reef death is the warming of the sea. Of course, the increased radiation of the sun in the ocean and the savage fishing methods of fishermen are also coral reefs.
Overfishing
Human science and technology have made the speed and quantity of fishing exceed the natural replenishment capacity of the ocean. As a result, the number of many fish has decreased sharply, and even endangered. Now the total number of fish in the ocean is decreasing at the rate of 1% per year. Scientists propose to designate specific marine areas as protected areas, stop fishing and give nature time and opportunity to rebuild. However, human beings seem unwilling to give nature such an opportunity. Restricting fishing will directly affect fishermen's income and quality of life.
Disposal of nuclear waste
In 2003, more than 440 commercial nuclear reactors around the world will produce more than 1 1000 tons of nuclear waste. How to deal with these nuclear wastes poses a difficult problem to mankind. First of all, these nuclear wastes may be in danger of leakage. Secondly, these nuclear wastes are likely to be obtained by terrorists and used for terrible purposes. There are more than 65,438+000 nuclear reactors in the United States, which produce about 25% of the world's nuclear waste. There is also a nuclear waste dump, * * * with 13 1. * * More than 1 100 million people live near the nuclear waste dump 100 km. No matter where nuclear waste is transported, it will inevitably cause pollution to the local area. The more nuclear energy is used, the more similar pollution will occur. When human beings enjoy the super power of nuclear energy, they must not.
Seven shocked voices
"At present, people's awareness of protecting the earth's resources is unprecedented, but the large-scale destruction of wildlife habitats has not slowed down. I am encouraged by the scientific and technological achievements of mankind, but the destruction of species diversity by these scientific and technological achievements makes me desperate. "
E.O. Wilson, a social biologist at Harvard University.
"In terms of environmental protection, marine protection is relatively backward. Because human beings have always thought that the ocean is so huge and rich, it is hard to imagine how human activities will affect such a behemoth. Unfortunately, we have caused irreparable damage to the ocean. "
Jane? Lubchenko, marine ecologist, University of Oregon, USA
"We must admit that in the past 10 years, human understanding of atmospheric chemical composition has improved a lot. Now almost everyone knows the word "greenhouse gas", and they also know that the exhaust gas emitted by factories and cars causes global warming. But people still know nothing about other hazards of' greenhouse gases', just like 10 years ago. "
Shirley? Roland, atmospheric chemist, University of California, Avon.
"When human beings grow crops, they also destroy the surface layer of the soil. A large amount of topsoil is blown up and then washed into the sea with the river. In the ocean, pesticides and insecticides are constantly accumulating, which is increasingly harmful to marine ecology. The key to solving this problem is that human beings need a variety of deep-rooted plants to change the types of crops they grow, which is conducive to soil and water conservation. "
Wes? Jackson, a crop geneticist, said: "Greenhouse gases have increased the atmospheric temperature and ocean water temperature. Once the water temperature of the ocean rises, it will be a global disaster, because the movement of ocean currents will make the water temperature of the oceans around the world as high. "
Richard? Barber, Duke University marine cartographer.
"Synthetic chemicals not only bring convenience to human life, but also interfere with hormones. Synthetic chemicals are everywhere on the earth, affecting the reproduction and development of human beings and all wild animals. But no country can ban synthetic chemicals from appearing in shopping malls, and we will continue to bear the side effects they bring. "
—— Ke Erpeng, Director of Wildlife and Pollutants Department of WWF
"The Earth Summit can be said to be a turning point in human attitudes towards nature. I hope people can realize that protecting species diversity and natural environment such as wetlands and forests will affect the future operation mechanism of the earth. "
Hal? Munny, an environmental biologist at Stanford University, said
Seven well-meaning warnings
"If human beings continue their current behavior without making any changes, by the end of 2 1 century, the species on the earth will be reduced by half. If these data can't change human behavior, what else can be used to alert human beings? "
E.O. Wilson, a social biologist at Harvard University.
"When asked,' What do you get from nature?' At that time, most people's answers were food, fiber, drugs and genes. But most people don't know about other services provided by the ecosystem. It purifies air and water, regulates climate, makes barren soil fertile, and controls pests and pathogens. Only when we lose these services will we realize their value. "
Jane? Lubchenko, marine ecologist, University of Oregon, USA
"The El Ni? o phenomenon is alarming, but no one can say when the next El Ni? o will come again. No one knows whether its consequences are gradual or sudden. If it is sudden, naturally we are not prepared to give human beings any chance. "
Shirley? Roland, atmospheric chemist, University of California, Avon.
"The relationship between agriculture and wildlife has always been concerned, but the relationship between agriculture and the ocean has not received enough attention. It has been warned before that if agriculture is not controlled, the wild world will perish. What I want to warn now is that if agriculture is not controlled, the ocean will die. "
Wes? Crop geneticist Jackson, "100 years ago, when a hurricane hit human beings, people at that time would only ask the government,' What the hell is going on?' Now, the government has been able to predict hurricanes, understand their intensity and direction, and minimize people's losses. /kloc-what we need after 0/00 years is that the government should also understand other extreme natural disasters. "
Richard? Barber, Duke University marine cartographer.
"Now there is enough evidence that chemicals can enter the uterus, affecting the development of the human brain and the formation and function of the immune system. Humans need smart descendants and wise decision makers. "
—— Ke Erpeng, Director of Wildlife and Pollutants Department of WWF
"History has proved that the opinions of a few people can attract public attention and then change the direction of social development. Now that scientists are United as never before, we will present more and more clear evidence to make the public and policy makers change their minds. "
Hal? Munny, an environmental biologist at Stanford University, said
7 ecological paradise
kruger national park
Kruger National Park in South Africa is composed of endless grasslands and bushes, and it is the place with the largest concentration of mammals in the world. The history of Kruger National Park can be traced back to 1898, when it was a hunting area. For the convenience of hunting, there were 147 species of wild mammals, including cheetahs and white rhinoceroses. There are more than 500 kinds of birds. Later, it was quite innovative at that time.
Tubataha Coral Reef National Park
This is an ecological reserve located on the remote coast of the Pacific Ocean, aiming at protecting marine fish. Tubataha Reef National Park was established in 1988, with the purpose of limiting local uncontrolled fishing activities. Tubataha Reef National Park covers an area of 330 square kilometers, where more than 450 kinds of marine fish live comfortably. In Tubataha Reef National Park, any fishing activity is illegal. Unfortunately, it is worldwide.
Prespa park
Prespa Park is a transnational nature reserve, which was established in 2000. In 2000, Albania, Greece and Macedonia signed an agreement to establish a nature reserve among the three countries. Prespa Park mainly protects the wetland resources in this area. There are more than 160 species of birds living here, and hundreds of other birds pass by or will stay here for a short time. Now Prespa Park has become the last paradise for many rare birds.
Bahuay Ason National Park
Bajason National Park in Peru is the largest forest reserve in the world. Bahuaiasone National Park covers an area of 65,438+00,000 square kilometers, where there are dense forests. In the nature reserve, all acts of sabotage are strictly prohibited. In addition, Bahuaiasone National Park also protects the water resources of the three rivers flowing through the park. Fishing in these rivers has also been banned since 2000. In this green world, there are more than 200 species of mammals, more than 900 species of birds and 1 200 species of butterflies.
Nahani National Park
The Nahani National Park in the northwest of Canada covers an area of 4,760 square kilometers and protects the most rugged and natural land in Canada. Nahani National Park has no roads and no traces of human activities. There are many natural wonders here, including the Grand Canyon. A magnificent waterfall with a drop of 92 meters (the drop of this waterfall is twice that of the world-famous Niagara Falls). However, the Canadian government prohibits the natural beauty here from being developed into tourism resources, and only about 900 explorers enter Nahani National Park every year. Nahani National Park, founded in 1976 and 1978, was selected as a world natural heritage by the United Nations. Among many national parks and nature reserves, Nahani National Park.
Royal Chitwan National Park
The Royal Chitwan National Park, located on the border between Nepal and India, is a very distinctive nature reserve in South Asia. Here, crocodiles swim freely in the river, and rare mammals including Bengal tigers also live here. Since the establishment of 1973, the Royal Chitwan National Park, which belongs to the Royal Nepal, has become a local tourism project. The number of tourists has increased from 1000 in 1973 to more than 1000 now. But this is not a good thing for nature reserves, but fortunately, the species and number of mammals here are increasing year by year.
Gualugo triangle
Goualougo Triangle is a protected area, which successfully combines commerce and nature conservation. This famous forest reserve in Africa is also a stage for big logging companies to perform. Logging companies have proved to the world that they don't always play the role of saboteurs. In fact, when logging companies benefit from the Goualougo Triangle, the regeneration of forest resources is also guaranteed. Goualougo Triangle is the largest nature reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the density of gorillas and chimpanzees is the highest in the world.