which of the following is a major environmental issue affecting the global society? course hero

by Prof. Lucas Wiegand MD 7 min read

What are some environmental issues we should be concerned about?

Water Issues One of the most important areas of environmental concern is the earth's water supply. We need to be concerned about water pollution as well as the increasing scarcity of drinkable water in certain areas of the world. People who are concerned about this issue should start helping out by reducing their water waste as much as possible.

What are the major problems of environmental sociology?

Air pollution, global climate change, water pollution and inadequate sanitation, and hazardous waste are major environmental problems that threaten the planet. King, L., & McCarthy, D. (Eds.). (2009). Environmental sociology: From analysis to action (2nd ed.).

Why did the EPA break down its environmental concerns into four areas?

To help make sense of a problem of this magnitude and complexity, the EPA has broken down its environmental concerns into four major areas so that people who are interested in making changes can understand how to best focus their efforts.

What is environmental sociology and why is it important?

Environmental sociology assumes “that humans are part of the environment and that the environment and society can only be fully understood in relation to each other” (McCarthy & King, 2009, p. 1).

What is environmental sociology?

More specifically, environmental sociology is the study of the interaction between human behavior and the natural and physical environment. Environmental sociology assumes “that humans are part of the environment and that the environment and society can only be fully understood in relation to each other” (McCarthy & King, 2009, p. 1).

What are the environmental problems that threaten the planet?

Environmental problems have a significant impact on people, and solutions to these problems require changes in economic and environmental policies. Air pollution, global climate change, water pollution and inadequate sanitation, and hazardous waste are major environmental problems that threaten the planet.

What is the study of the environment called?

In fact, so many sociologists study the environment that their collective study makes up a subfield in sociology called environmental sociology, which refers simply to the sociological study of the environment. More specifically, environmental sociology is the study of the interaction between human behavior and the natural and physical environment. ...

How much does air pollution affect life expectancy?

In European countries, air pollution is estimated to reduce average life expectancy by 8.6 months.

Why is drinking water unsafe?

Drinking water is often unsafe because of poor sanitation procedures for human waste and because of industrial discharge into lakes, rivers, and streams. Inadequate sanitation and unsafe drinking water cause parasitic infections and diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, cholera, intestinal worms, typhoid, and hepatitis A.

What are the causes of air pollution?

These deaths typically result from the health conditions that air pollution causes, including heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory disease such as asthma. Most air pollution stems from the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal.

How many deaths are caused by inadequate sanitation?

The World Health Organization estimates that unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation annually cause the following number of deaths worldwide: (a) 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhea; (b) 500,000 deaths from malaria; and (c) 860,000 child deaths from malnutrition.

What are the environmental issues?

1. Water Issues. One of the most important areas of environmental concern is the earth's water supply. We need to be concerned about water pollution as well as the increasing scarcity of drinkable water in certain areas of the world.

Why is pollution a major environmental concern?

Climate change is a major environmental concern because of the fact that even small changes can cause significant problems for large portions of the world.

What are the environmental concerns of the EPA?

The EPA's 4 Major Environmental Concerns. In certain areas of the world, groundwater contamination has significantly limited locals' access to drinkable water. 1. Water Issues. One of the most important areas of environmental concern is the earth's water supply. We need to be concerned about water pollution as well as the increasing scarcity ...

Is air pollution a health issue?

Air pollution isn’t an issue that most people consider to be of primary environmental concern since it doesn’t seem to pose an immediate or pressing threat to a lot of us. However, air pollution causes serious health problems and threatens the natural environment.

Is deforestation a problem?

Deforestation is a really serious problem that is causing a lot of environmental issues. This can be viewed through the EPA's waste category—it usually happens as a result of organizations or individuals using too many trees from a single area to build bigger homes, make paper products, or otherwise create wasteful material. Reducing waste by building homes using recycled materials and storing more information digitally could help address this issue.