Environmental issues are disruptions in the usual function of ecosystems.[1] Further, these issues can be caused by humans (human impact on the environment)[2] or they can be natural. These issues are considered serious when the ecosystem cannot recover in the present situation, and catastrophic if the ecosystem is projected to certainly collapse.
Environment destruction caused by humans is a global, ongoing problem.[4] Water pollution also cause problems to marine life.[5] Some scholars believe that the projected peak global population of roughly 9-10 billion people could live sustainably within the earth's ecosystems if humans worked to live sustainably within planetary boundaries.[6][7][8] The bulk of environmental impacts are caused by excessive consumption of industrial goods by the world's wealthiest populations.[9][10][11] The UN Environmental Program, in its "Making Peace With Nature" Report in 2021, found addressing key planetary crises, like pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, was achievable if parties work to address the Sustainable Development Goals.[12]
^Lim, Chi Hong; Lim, Bong Soon; Kim, A. Reum; Kim, Dong Uk; Seol, Jae Won; Pi, Jeong Hoon; Lee, Hansol; Lee, Chang Seok (2022). "Climate change adaptation through ecological restoration". Natural Resources Conservation and Advances for Sustainability. pp. 151–172. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-822976-7.00013-2. ISBN978-0-12-822976-7.
^Nässén, Jonas; Andersson, David; Larsson, Jörgen; Holmberg, John (June 2015). "Explaining the Variation in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Between Households: Socioeconomic, Motivational, and Physical Factors". Journal of Industrial Ecology. 19 (3): 480–489. Bibcode:2015JInEc..19..480N. doi:10.1111/jiec.12168.
^Lynch, Michael J.; Long, Michael A.; Stretesky, Paul B.; Barrett, Kimberly L. (August 2019). "Measuring the Ecological Impact of the Wealthy: Excessive Consumption, Ecological Disorganization, Green Crime, and Justice". Social Currents. 6 (4): 377–395. doi:10.1177/2329496519847491.