# Environmental problems

Environmental problems can affect humanity in many ways. At this time, humans only inhabit Earth and Earth's low Earth orbit. There are a variety of problems that can occur in the environment of Earth. Pollution, erosion, litter, and more can all cause problems for humans, plants, and various animals. Environmental problems can be linked with public health concerns.

## Environmental problems

* Air pollution
* Water pollution
* Soil contamination
* Oil spills
* Pollution
* Coral bleaching
* Pollinator decline
* Overgrazing
* Noise pollution
* Light pollution
* Marine debris
* Acid rain
* Smog
* Resource depletion
* Overfishing
* Deforestation
* Illegal logging
* Great Pacific garbage patch
* Illegal dumping
* Radioactive contamination
* Ocean acidification
* Plastic pollution
* Marine pollution
* Environmental degradation

## Potential solutions

There is no one solution to solve all environmental problems. A variety of different solutions together will likely be required to mitigate a significant number of environmental problems.
* Green building
* Energy storage technologies can potentially help to enable a greater reliance on green energy technologies like wind and solar.
* Renewable energy systems/Renewable energy

## Discussion questions and essay ideas

* What are some advantages to not polluting Earth?
* What are the most efficient ways to clean up the natural environment on Earth?
* What are the best ways to reduce the amount of uncontrolled pollution that is released?
* How can businesses be motivated to reduce pollution emissions?
* What are the worst environmental problems on Earth, and how can they be mitigated?
* What is the role that sustainability can play in reducing and mitigating environmental problems?
* How can environmental problems worsen social problems?
* How do social problems and environmental problems interact and affect one another?
* What are some potential solutions to environmental problems?
* In what ways can renewable energy help to mitigate and/or alleviate various environmental problems?

## Readings and media
### Wikipedia

* Environmental issues
* Radioactive waste
* Hazardous waste
* Hazardous waste in the United States
* Environmental policy of the United States
* List of environmental agencies in the United States
* List of United States federal environmental statutes
* Environmental law
* Environmental cleanup law
* Chemical accident
* List of oil spills
* Bioremediation
* Bioremediation of radioactive waste
* Index of environmental articles
* Uranium mining debate
* Offshore oil spill prevention and response
* Environmental impact of the petroleum industry
* Waste management law
* Water quality law
* Air quality law
* Indoor air quality
* Environmental health
* Environmental epidemiology
* Environmental engineering
* Emergency management
* Timeline of major U.S. environmental and occupational health regulation
* Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
* Hazardous waste in the United States
* Household hazardous waste
* Environmental hazard
* List of waste types
* Recycling
* Index of waste management articles
* Monoculture
* Environmental impact of meat production
* Intensive farming
* Land degradation
* Desertification
* Soil erosion
* Soil salinity
* Water scarcity
* Point source pollution
* Eutrophication
* Environmental effects of shipping
* Wastewater
* Algal bloom
* Environmental impact of reservoirs
* Exploitation of natural resources
* Ecological economics
* Environmental economics
* Environmental ethics
* Agroecology
* Deep ecology
* Ecological values of mangroves
* Value of Earth
* Acid mine drainage
* Electronic waste
* Index of sustainability articles
* Outline of green politics
* Lists of environmental topics
* List of Superfund sites
* High-level radioactive waste management
* List of radioactive waste treatment technologies
* Environmental impact of nuclear power
* Nuclear and radiation accidents and incidents
* Environmental remediation
* Waste management
* Toxic waste
* Lists of nuclear disasters and radioactive incidents
* Industrial waste
* Environmental policy in China
* Environmental policy of India
* Index of waste management articles
* Plastisphere
* List of solid waste treatment technologies
* List of wastewater treatment technologies
* Waste treatment technologies
* Water purification
* Remediation of contaminated sites with cement
* Environmental radioactivity
* Airborne particulate radioactivity monitoring
* Environmental monitoring
* Environmental soil science
* Water quality
* Freshwater environmental quality parameters
* Aquatic biomonitoring
* Industrial wastewater treatment
* Environmental effects of paper
* Best management practice for water pollution
* List of wastewater treatment technologies
* Sewage treatment
* Agricultural wastewater treatment
* Environmental impact of pesticides
* Greenhouse gas
* Environmental protection
* Environmental impact of the energy industry
* Environmental effects of shipping
* Environmental impact of war
* Environmental effects of mining
* Environmental impact of agriculture
* Human impact on the environment
* Environmental impact statement
* List of environmental issues
* List of environmental disasters

### Commons

* Environmental problems
* Environmental problems by country
* Environmental impact by effect
* Pollution
* Global environmental issues
* Human impact on the environment
* Environmental issues with water