Project Resources

1. Green House Effect Driven by Fossil Fuel Combustion

Following consecutive months of temperature records, including unprecedented summer heat and daily temperature peaks, 2024 was officially confirmed as Earth's hottest year in recorded history. Global average temperatures reached 1.60°C above pre-industrial benchmarks, marking the first calendar year to exceed 1.5°C above baseline levels—a critical threshold scientists have long warned against crossing.

This temperature milestone caps a decade of extraordinary global warming (2015-2024), with each year ranking among the ten warmest ever documented. The concentration of greenhouse gases has reached historic peaks, with atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide all setting new records in 2023, ensuring continued planetary warming for decades ahead.

The fundamental mechanism driving this crisis involves greenhouse gas emissions creating an atmospheric blanket that traps solar radiation, elevating Earth's surface temperatures. Coal, natural gas, and petroleum combustion for energy production represents the single largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Rising emissions have triggered catastrophic weather events worldwide, including unprecedented bushfire seasons in Australia and the United States, massive locust swarms devastating crops across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and Antarctic heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 20°C for the first time.

Climate scientists consistently warn that Earth has surpassed critical tipping points with potentially irreversible consequences, including accelerated Arctic permafrost melting, unprecedented Greenland ice sheet loss, rapidly advancing biodiversity collapse, and increased Amazon rainforest destruction.

The climate emergency is intensifying tropical storms, hurricanes, heatwaves, and flooding beyond historical precedent. Even if all greenhouse gas emissions ceased immediately, global temperatures would continue rising for years, emphasizing the critical need for rapid emissions reduction, renewable energy investment, and fossil fuel phase-out.

2. Economic Dependence on Carbon-Intensive Energy Systems

Climate economists, including Nicholas Stern, identify the climate crisis as resulting from multiple market failures. Decades of advocacy by economists and environmentalists have promoted carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxation, to stimulate low-carbon technology innovation.

Effective emissions reduction requires governments to substantially increase funding for green innovation while implementing comprehensive policies addressing various market failures. Currently, 27 countries worldwide implement national carbon taxes, including European Union nations, Canada, Singapore, Japan, Ukraine, and Argentina.

However, the 2019 OECD Tax Energy Use report indicates current tax structures inadequately reflect energy sources' pollution profiles. Carbon taxes remain insufficiently stringent on coal production, despite proving effective for electricity sector transformation. Sweden exemplifies successful implementation with a $127 per tonne carbon tax, achieving 25% emissions reduction since 1995 while expanding economic output by 75% over the same period.

United Nations members face no binding obligations to follow organizational recommendations. The Paris Agreement, while establishing frameworks for substantial emissions reductions to limit temperature increases to below 2°C (preferably 1.5°C) by 2100, operates on voluntary participation with typically no tangible non-compliance consequences.

3. Global Food Waste Crisis

Approximately one-third of food produced for human consumption—roughly 1.3 billion tons annually—is wasted or lost, sufficient to feed 3 billion people. Food waste contributes approximately 25% of annual greenhouse gas emissions; if considered a country, food waste would rank as the third-largest emissions source globally, behind China and the United States.

Waste patterns differ between developing and developed nations: in developing countries, 40% occurs during post-harvest and processing stages, while developed countries lose 40% at retail and consumer levels.

Retail-level waste often stems from aesthetic standards; in the United States, over 50% of discarded produce is rejected for being "too ugly" for consumer purchase, totaling approximately 60 million tons of fruits and vegetables annually.

4. Accelerating Species and Ecosystem Collapse

The past five decades have witnessed rapid expansion of human consumption, population growth, global trade, and urbanization, resulting in humanity consuming Earth's resources faster than natural replenishment rates allow.

A 2020 WWF analysis found mammal, fish, bird, reptile, and amphibian populations declined an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016. This biodiversity loss primarily results from land-use changes, particularly habitat conversion from forests, grasslands, and mangroves into agricultural systems. Species like pangolins, sharks, and seahorses face severe threats from illegal wildlife trafficking, with pangolins critically endangered as a result.

Recent analysis confirms the sixth mass extinction is accelerating. Over 500 terrestrial animal species approach extinction and will likely disappear within 20 years—equivalent to losses across the entire previous century. Scientists estimate that without human-driven habitat destruction, this extinction rate would require thousands of years to occur naturally.

In Antarctica, climate-induced sea ice melting severely impacts emperor penguin populations, with research indicating potential complete population elimination by 2100 if current ice loss rates persist.

5. Plastic Contamination of Natural Systems

Global plastic production increased from 2 million tons annually in 1950 to 419 million tons by 2015, dramatically increasing environmental plastic waste. Currently, approximately 14 million tons of plastic enter oceans yearly, damaging wildlife habitats and marine life. Without intervention, plastic pollution could reach 29 million metric tons annually by 2040, with cumulative ocean plastic potentially reaching 600 million tons when including microplastics.

Roughly 91% of all manufactured plastic has never been recycled, representing one of our era's most significant environmental challenges. Given plastic's 400-year decomposition timeline, countless generations will confront its environmental consequences.

The United Nations initiated a legally binding international treaty process in 2022 to address plastic pollution, culminating in November 2024 negotiations in Busan, South Korea. The fifth negotiation round aimed to finalize comprehensive frameworks addressing waste management, production, and design, but talks concluded without agreement, requiring postponement to 2025.

6. Rapid Forest Ecosystem Destruction

Forests equivalent to 300 football fields are cleared every hour. By 2030, Earth may retain only 10% of its forests; without intervention, complete deforestation could occur within a century.

Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia experience the highest deforestation rates. The Amazon rainforest—spanning 6.9 million square kilometers and covering 40% of South America—represents the world's largest rainforest and most biologically diverse ecosystem, supporting approximately three million plant and animal species.

Despite forest protection efforts, legal deforestation continues extensively, with one-third of global tropical deforestation occurring in Brazil's Amazon, totaling 1.5 million hectares annually.

Agriculture drives deforestation as land is cleared for livestock and cash crops like sugar cane and palm oil. Beyond carbon sequestration, forests prevent soil erosion through root systems that bind soil and prevent washing and landslides.

7. Atmospheric Pollution and Public Health Impacts

Outdoor air pollution represents a major contemporary environmental challenge. The World Health Organization estimates 4.2 to 7 million annual deaths from air pollution worldwide, with nine out of ten people breathing air containing high pollutant levels. In Africa, outdoor air pollution deaths increased from 164,000 in 1990 to 258,000 in 2017.

Air pollution sources include industrial activities, motor vehicles, biomass burning emissions, and dust storms. A 2023 study found South Asian air pollution—among the world's most polluted regions—reduces life expectancy by approximately five years. The study attributes high pollution levels to inadequate infrastructure and funding. Most Asian and African countries, contributing 92.7% of global air pollution-related life years lost, lack essential air quality standards for developing adequate policies. Only 6.8% and 3.7% of governments in these continents, respectively, provide citizens with complete air quality data access.

European Environment Agency reports show over half a million European Union residents died from toxic pollutant exposure-related health issues in 2021.

8. Polar Ice Loss and Rising Sea Levels

Climate change warms the Arctic more than twice as rapidly as other planetary regions. Current sea levels rise more than twice as quickly as throughout most of the 20th century due to increasing global temperatures.

Seas currently rise an average of 3.2 mm annually globally and will continue increasing to approximately 0.7 meters by century's end. In the Arctic, the Greenland Ice Sheet poses the greatest sea level risk, as melting land ice primarily drives rising sea levels.

Summer 2020 temperatures triggered 60 billion tons of Greenland ice loss, sufficient to raise global sea levels by 2.2mm in just two months. Satellite data shows the Greenland ice sheet lost record ice amounts in 2019: averaging one million tons per minute throughout the year. Complete Greenland ice sheet melting would raise sea levels by six meters.

Antarctica contributes approximately 1 millimeter annually to sea level rise, representing one-third of annual global increases. Since 1997, the continent has lost approximately 7.5 trillion tons of ice. Canada's last fully intact Arctic ice shelf recently collapsed, losing 80 square kilometers—40% of its area—over two days in late July.

Sea level rise will devastatingly impact coastal populations: research indicates sea level rise this century could flood coastal areas currently housing 340 million to 480 million people, forcing migration to safer areas and contributing to overpopulation and resource strain in destination regions. Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, and Dubai are among cities most vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding.

9. Ocean Chemistry Changes and Marine Ecosystem Disruption

Global temperature increases affect not only surface conditions but also drive ocean acidification. Oceans absorb approximately 30% of atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. As human activities like fossil fuel combustion release higher carbon concentrations, and climate change effects like increased wildfires occur, corresponding amounts of carbon dioxide are reabsorbed into oceans.

Minimal acidity scale changes significantly impact ocean acidity. Ocean acidification devastates marine ecosystems and species, disrupts food webs, and provokes irreversible habitat quality changes. When pH levels become too low, marine organisms like oysters may experience shell and skeleton dissolution.

Coral bleaching and subsequent coral reef loss represent major environmental consequences of ocean acidification. This phenomenon occurs when rising ocean temperatures disrupt symbiotic relationships between reefs and internal algae, driving away algae and causing coral reefs to lose natural vibrant colors.

Scientists estimate coral reefs risk complete elimination by 2050. Higher ocean acidity would obstruct coral reef systems' ability to rebuild exoskeletons and recover from bleaching events.

Studies have also linked ocean acidification to plastic pollution effects. Accumulating bacteria and microorganisms from ocean-dumped plastic garbage damage marine ecosystems and contribute to coral bleaching.

10. Industrial Agriculture and Land Use Impacts

Research shows the global food system contributes up to one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, with 30% originating from livestock and fisheries. Crop production releases greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide through fertilizer application.

Sixty percent of global agricultural area supports cattle ranching, despite representing only 24% of global meat consumption.

Agriculture occupies vast land areas and consumes extensive freshwater resources. Arable lands and grazing pastures cover one-third of Earth's land surfaces and together consume three-quarters of the world's limited freshwater resources.

Scientists and environmentalists consistently advocate rethinking current food systems; transitioning to more sustainable farming methods and plant-based diets would dramatically reduce conventional agriculture's carbon footprint.

11. Soil Health Deterioration and Carbon Loss

Organic matter represents a crucial soil component, enabling atmospheric carbon absorption. Plants naturally absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, with carbon portions stored in soil as soil organic carbon (SOC). Healthy soil contains minimum 3-6% organic matter; however, global content typically falls far below these levels.

According to the United Nations, approximately 40% of planetary soil is degraded. Soil degradation involves organic matter loss, structural condition changes, and soil fertility decline, often resulting from human activities like traditional farming practices using toxic chemicals and pollutants. Continuing current practices through 2050 could degrade additional areas nearly equivalent to South America's size.

Without changing reckless practices and preserving soil health, food security for billions will become irreversibly compromised, with an estimated 40% less food production expected in 20 years despite projected population growth to 9.3 billion people.

12. Food Security Threats and Water Scarcity

Rising temperatures and unsustainable farming practices create increasing water and food insecurity.

Globally, over 68 billion tonnes of topsoil erode annually at rates 100 times faster than natural replenishment. Biocide and fertilizer-laden soil enters waterways, contaminating drinking water and downstream protected areas.

Exposed, lifeless soil becomes more vulnerable to wind and water erosion due to lacking root and mycelium systems. Over-tilling significantly contributes to soil erosion: while increasing short-term productivity by mixing surface nutrients, tilling physically destroys soil structure and long-term leads to soil compaction, fertility loss, and surface crust formation worsening topsoil erosion.

With global population expected to reach 9 billion people mid-century, the Food and Agriculture Organization projects global food demand may increase 70% by 2050. Currently, over 820 million people lack adequate nutrition.

Regarding water security, only 3% of global water is freshwater, with two-thirds frozen in glaciers or otherwise unavailable. Consequently, 1.1 billion people worldwide lack water access, and 2.7 billion experience water scarcity for at least one month annually. By 2025, two-thirds of global population may face water shortages.

13. Textile Industry Environmental Impact

The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, producing more greenhouse gases than aviation and shipping sectors combined, plus nearly 20% of global wastewater (approximately 93 billion cubic meters) from textile dyeing.

Textile Waste: 92 million tonnes of clothing waste are generated yearly, with less than 1% recycled. Most ends up in landfills, leaching harmful chemicals into the soil and water.

Microplastic Pollution: Washing synthetic clothes releases 500,000 tonnes of microplastics annually into oceans, harming marine life and ecosystems.

Carbon Emissions: The fashion industry contributes 8-10% of global emissions - more than aviation and shipping combined.

Water Usage: It consumes 215 trillion liters of water yearly and causes 20% of global wastewater pollution.

Massive clothing textile quantities are dumped in developing countries, exemplified by Chile's Atacama Desert, where millions of tons arrive annually from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 2023, 46 million tons of discarded clothes were dumped there.

This rapidly growing issue is exacerbated by expanding fast fashion business models, where companies rely on cheap, rapid production of low-quality clothing to meet trends. While the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action commits signatory companies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, most global businesses have yet to address their climate change roles.

14. Marine Resource Overexploitation

Over three billion people worldwide rely on fish as primary protein sources. Approximately 12% of the world depends on fisheries, with 90% being small-scale fishermen using boats with small nets or rods rather than industrial ships. Of 18.9 million global fishermen, 90% fall under small-scale operations.

Current consumption patterns show people consume approximately twice as much food as 50 years ago, with four times as many people on Earth compared to the 1960s. This drives 30% of commercially fished waters being classified as "overfished," meaning stock depletion occurs faster than replacement rates.

Overfishing creates detrimental environmental effects, including increased water algae, fishing community destruction, ocean littering, and extremely high biodiversity loss rates.

As part of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, the UN and FAO work toward maintaining fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels, requiring much stricter ocean regulations than currently exist.

In July 2022, the World Trade Organization banned fishing subsidies to reduce global overfishing in a historic agreement. Subsidies for fuel, fishing gear, and new vessel construction only incentivize overfishing and represent significant problems.

15. Critical Mineral Extraction Environmental Costs

Cobalt exemplifies the mineral dilemma central to renewable energy transition. As a key battery material component powering electric vehicles, cobalt faces sustained demand surges as decarbonization efforts advance. The Democratic Republic of Congo represents the world's largest cobalt supplier, with up to one-fifth of production from artisanal miners.

Cobalt mining associates with dangerous worker exploitation and serious environmental and social issues. Southern DRC regions contain not only cobalt and copper but also substantial uranium deposits. Mining regions show high radioactivity levels. Additionally, mineral mining often produces pollution leaching into neighboring rivers and water sources. Pulverized rock dust causes breathing problems for local communities.

Pathways to Environmental Solutions

Contributing to planetary sustainability requires multiple approaches:

• Community Awareness and Participation: Raise grassroots awareness for policies prioritizing climate action and environmental protection
• Personal Carbon Reduction: Choose renewable energy, conserve home energy, use public transportation, and embrace recycling and composting
• Organizational Support: Join environmental organizations dedicated to education, conservation, accountability, and advocacy
• Sustainable Lifestyle Choices: Reduce single-use plastics, choose eco-friendly products, prioritize plant-based diets, and select sustainable fashion and transportation
• Innovation : Carbon capture technologies, sustainable agriculture and soil practices, use of AI in monitoring and mitigation of pollution, waste to energy recycling, renewable and replenishing energy, and many more that you can come up with:

These environmental challenges require immediate, coordinated global action to prevent irreversible planetary damage and ensure sustainable futures for current and future generations.