A clean environment is necessary for a healthy society, unfortunately due to various factors its condition is depleting every day. Steps must be taken by a Nation and society for the prevention of Environmental pollution and to increase the quality of natural resources like water, air etc that all living or non living forms are subjected to.
Following essay considers all the factors adding to the environmental pollution and steps that should be taken to prevent it. It serves the Individuals like students, teachers etc looking for a descriptive essay on the need for a clean environment, factors affecting the environment and what should be done to prevent environmental pollution.
Table of Contents
What is environment?
Environment is the surrounding to which living or non living forms are exposed to keeping the human influence to a minimum. The air we breathe, the water we consume the eco system we live in. All constitute the environment. Clean environment is very much necessary for a healthy and prosperous society. The vegetation, aquatic life, all living species including humans are deeply affected by the condition of the environment they live in.
Hence it is evident beyond doubt that a clean environment is very much necessary for a healthy eco system.
Why a clean environment is necessary?
Any living species including plants, animals,humans and aquatic life cannot survive amid waste.
They all need a healthy and clean environment to live.
An unclean environment gives way to diseases and an unbalanced eco system and much more.
Unclean environment results in the depletion of natural resources making survival of all living forms
very difficult . A society that consumes polluted water or breathes in polluted air, cannot be healthy and prosperous. Polluted environment has an adverse effect on the eco system and also the vegetation.
Causes of environmental damage.
A lot is being said and heard these days about the need for a clean environment and the steps that must be taken for the reduction of pollution and to give way to a clean and healthy eco system.
Some of the prime factors leading to a damaged environment are narrated below-
1) Expulsion of harmful gases
Gases such as CO2(Carbon di-oxide), CO( Carbon mono oxide),NH3(Ammonia) do a considerable amount of damage to the environment.
Human activities like burning of fossil fuel, cement production etc results in the emission of co2 gas. On the other hand the major source of NH3 emission is the agriculture sector ,where ammonia based fertilizers are used.NH3 plays a significant role in the production of Atmospheric Particulate Matter(ATP) ,depleting the quality index of breathable air.
2) Deforestation.
Man’s insatiable desires to expand his wealth and boundaries have lead to unreasonable deforestation. One of the major effects of deforestation is the increase in the level of the environmental CO2. Cutting down forest add more to the global warming than the factors like cars and trucks combined. Deforestation results in global climate changes and a depletion in bio diversity.
3) Industry
Increase in industrial activity particularly mining industry adds to the environmental pollution. Mining industry results in the emission if RPM(Respirable Particulate matter)
Into the atmosphere .RPM are the particulate matter present in the environment that can travel to our lungs as we breathe, effecting our respiratory system, also results in aggravation of diseases like asthama etc and decreasing the efficiency of lungs.
4) Transportation.
Transportation results in burning of petroleum fuel worldwide resulting in the emission of harmful gases such as Carbon dioxide (CO2),Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide(N2O).
Researches have shown that on road vehicles contribute to one third of the air pollution that produces smog and results in the emission of green house gases.
5) Urbanization.
Urbanization is inevitable as man explores new horizons to reside in cities leaving the primitive lifestyle the villages have to offer. The environment in which urban people live depends hugely on their habits and lifestyle. Urbanization leads to deforestation and reduction in natural resources most prominently water.
An unchecked urbanization will have a disastrous effect on the environment resulting in the demise of many living species.
6) Secondary pollutants
Ozone layer is responsible for the protection of earth species from strong ultra violet radiations from Sun, which could result in deadly disorders like skin cancer, cataract and a reduction in the immune system.
Various human activities such as use of unchecked use of Air Conditioners, pesticides etc results in the emission of ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances)also known as secondary pollutants, which results in the holes into the ozone layer exposing living beings to harmful UV rays from the sun.
7) Population explosion.
The expanse in population results in the urbanization and consequently deforestation.
It also results in the depletion of the natural resources such as water and farm produces,
having an adverse effect on the environment .Due to the vast population same resources should cater to the more number of people resulting to a strain on natural resources.
8) Unplanned development
Our insatiable desire to increase our wealth and make our life more comfortable in our day to day activity has lead to unnecessary and unplanned development of cities around us.
Unplanned development leads to poor sanitary habits, air pollution because necessary steps for its prevention are not taken. Resulting in poor health of the society.
9) Littering
People most often litter waste in their surroundings which with the passage of time accumulates and transforms into garbage, resulting in environmental pollution.
Littering is often the main cause for that foul smell you encounter while passing through a particular location. Accumulation of garbage results in deadly diseases such as malaria and cholera to name few. The harmful materials present in a garbage can found its way into water and soil polluting them and causing life threatening diseases.
Steps to a clean environment.
1) Make Environment friendly policies.
Environment friendly policies are in a lay man’s term the guidelines for industrial or infrastructural development that claim reduced or minimal effect on the environment.
A government while making political decisions for the growth of industries and urbanization should consider its impact on the environment and take necessary steps to minimize it.
2) Plant a tree.
A society and an individual should take active part in adding to a clean and healthy environment by pledging to plant a tree in the surroundings every weekends or on off days.
3) Reduce your electricity usage
Using too much of electricity increases its demand which results in increased production of electricity consequently resulting in more burning of fuel ,usage of water and emission of tons of CO2 gas in the environment ,leading to global warming.
Usage of renewable energy sources like wind and water etc instead of conventional sources results in the reduction of environmental pollution.
4) Go paperless
Reduce the use of paper in your work place.
A decreased demand for paper will reduction in cutting of trees. Spread awareness among your colleagues and fellow students or society about the importance of trees
and their contribution towards a clean air and how we can help in their preservation by reducing the usage of paper in our offices , schools ,hospitals and other establishments.
6) Buy recycled products
By purchasing products with recycled content you prevent those materials from ending up in a landfill and do your part to maintain consumer demand for recyclables and ensure the continuation of a balanced eco system.
7) Go green on transport
Transportation alone accounts for a quarter of all the green house gases emission.
So, next time if you plan a trip to your favorite place with family and friends avoid using more number of vehicles than actually needed or use public transport if it is safe to do so.
People around the world are developing an affinity towards vehicles those have zero emission such as vehicles running on electricity or solar energy
8) Use of organic pesticides
Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have and adverse effect on the soil organisms similar to human overuse of anti biotic. While beneficial for agricultural crops
they can have a negative effect on the health of species directly or indirectly exposed to such environment. Use of Organic pesticides which are made up of minerals or other plant materials that keep pests at bay and break down quickly in the soil help prevent pollution due to hazardous chemicals. Some examples are Cayenne pepper spray, neem, sabadilla, pyrethrin, soap spray, etc.
9)Building environment friendly cities.
Government should frame laws that plan and provide cities that are environment friendly and consider clean environment as the basic need of its people.
Government should encourage sustainable use of urban resources and encourage the use of green energy.
Buildings and houses should be designed in a way so as to use natural resources to the fullest. Permitting sun light to the maximum into a building will result in the reduction of electricity usage. Steps should be taken for the accumulation and conservation of rain water to meet every day water requirements.
10) Steps to keep population under control
Government should for and implement policies to keep population under control,
Ensuring availability of natural resources like water and clean air for all. Laws formed against Child marriage should be strictly implemented.Medical facilities must be provided to each and every citizen whether he is residing in a city or a remote area.
People must be made aware of the hazards of the population explosion and its effects on the environment and depletion of natural resources .
11) Don’t litter
Littering is the major problem faced largely by the developing nations and those with high tourist influx. People tend to litter waste in their surroundings resulting in accumulation of garbage and consequently pollution of the environment.
Necessary laws should be formed to check such littering and stern action must be taken against those found involved in it.
Such garbage not only results in pollution but also generates foul smell making residence in the nearby areas impossible. It leads to bad condition of society and arrival of diseases.
Necessary steps must be taken for the disposal of garbage to help preserve the environment.
12) Grow your food locally
Planting your food locally results in the reduced demand for transportation of food items. It also reduces the demand for pesticides, which pollute the air directly.
Organic food results in the reduction of the use of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals and improvement of the eco system.
13) Segregate your waste.
Waste segregation means dividing your waste into dry and wet waste.
Segregated waste can be used for recycling and it also ensures that no waste goes into the environment and all the waste is recycled for the useful purposes.
Conclusion
A clean environment is the basic need of today’s society which is plagued with industrialization, growing cities, and increase in number of transportation vehicles.
Steps must be taken for protection of a clean and healthy environment to lead way to a healthy society.
It is the responsibility of an individual and the society as a whole to preserve environment and to prevent its pollution. Small steps that we take in our day to day activities can result in a clean environment for our future generations.
We as an individual can take pledge to keep our society clean, free from any littering waste and to inform the concerned authorities when we encounter such littering or garbage. Make sure that the waste generated in your society is properly segregated and recycled. Ensure optimum use of electricity in your house and society. Minimal use of personal transport can also considerably adds to a clean environment by reducing emission of green house gases. Plant a tree on every weekend and make people aware about the benefits of planting a tree.
Government have also started taking active part in the reduction of pollution through a number of programs introduced in recent years such as swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission, National pollution reduction program etc. These programs and the laws governing them should be strictly implemented and people must be made aware of guidelines of such programs and their need for a clean and healthy society.