Environmental Damage: Damage inflicted by human actions
Mongolia: Deforestation, Erosion, Pollution, and Water Scarcity
Historically, Mongolians lived as nomadic herders, relying on the land and their livestock to survive. However, today this has become quite difficult. According to CNN and the CIA Factbook, herders now account for only 25% of the population. The landscape has been exhausted. In a report published by the United Nations about its millennium development goals, only 8.2 % on the land is currently forested and 98% of pastureland has some level of degradation.
In Mongolia, there has always been a lack of regulation on logging and replanting. This has led to extreme levels of deforestation in the country. Herding , which often leads to overgrazing, has also led to soil erosion. Other factors of erosion include the lack of paved roads, which force vehicles to travel over already vulnerable fields and farming.
Another major problem facing the country is the large amount of pollution. Nomadic herders often live in small felt-covered tents, known as gers or yurts. While livable, they require large amounts of coal, wood or waste to heat, especially during the bitterly cold winter months. This not only creates pollution, but depletes natural resources as well. The outdated thermoplants, which are government owned and operated, inefficiently provide heat and have thrust Mongolia into the spotlight as one of the highest per capita carbon dioxide emission rates in Asia. The low incentives to conserve energy have only exacerbated the problem.
The final problem plaguing Mongolia is a lack of safe drinking water for the population. The arid climate already lacks an adequate supply of water, which has been further reduced by pollution from industrial waste and mining. The deterioration of deep water wells also contributes to this issue.
Each of these four problems facing Mongolia due to human activity is grave on its own. When combined, they are far worse. Water is essential, but to remove the means of agriculture due to soil degradation makes the land almost uninhabitable. Pollution can also affect the population's health and safety.
For these reasons, I give Mongolia a 3 for environmental damage.
In Mongolia, there has always been a lack of regulation on logging and replanting. This has led to extreme levels of deforestation in the country. Herding , which often leads to overgrazing, has also led to soil erosion. Other factors of erosion include the lack of paved roads, which force vehicles to travel over already vulnerable fields and farming.
Another major problem facing the country is the large amount of pollution. Nomadic herders often live in small felt-covered tents, known as gers or yurts. While livable, they require large amounts of coal, wood or waste to heat, especially during the bitterly cold winter months. This not only creates pollution, but depletes natural resources as well. The outdated thermoplants, which are government owned and operated, inefficiently provide heat and have thrust Mongolia into the spotlight as one of the highest per capita carbon dioxide emission rates in Asia. The low incentives to conserve energy have only exacerbated the problem.
The final problem plaguing Mongolia is a lack of safe drinking water for the population. The arid climate already lacks an adequate supply of water, which has been further reduced by pollution from industrial waste and mining. The deterioration of deep water wells also contributes to this issue.
Each of these four problems facing Mongolia due to human activity is grave on its own. When combined, they are far worse. Water is essential, but to remove the means of agriculture due to soil degradation makes the land almost uninhabitable. Pollution can also affect the population's health and safety.
For these reasons, I give Mongolia a 3 for environmental damage.
Israel: Pollution and Water Scarcity
Israel suffers from high levels of air pollution, especially in metropolitan areas due to vehicle emissions, energy production and industrial growth. According to Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection, 55% of nitrogen oxide emitted comes from vehicles. Electricity production is responsible for 59% of carbon dioxide emission and industry emits 25% of the sulfur dioxide in the air. The amount of pollution is constantly increasing as the population and standard of living continue to rise.
In the arid climate, the availability of water is also an serious issue. The main sources are underground aquifers and the Sea of Galilee, both of which are dwindling due to overdrawing. The pollution from fertilizers and other industrial waste has also reduced the amount of clean water in the country. Inadequate policing and failure to create a sustainability plan in the past has left Israel in a position where water for agricultural purposes must be sacrificed to meet the other needs of the population. Productivity has suffered as a result. According to the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, Israel has 1,800 million cubic meters of renewable water available; 95% is used for domestic consumption and irrigation.
As previously stated, pollution can cause serious health risks for a population as well as change the climate of a region. Water is essential to life and its mismanagement can destroy a society.
For these reasons, I give Israel a 4 for environmental damage.
In the arid climate, the availability of water is also an serious issue. The main sources are underground aquifers and the Sea of Galilee, both of which are dwindling due to overdrawing. The pollution from fertilizers and other industrial waste has also reduced the amount of clean water in the country. Inadequate policing and failure to create a sustainability plan in the past has left Israel in a position where water for agricultural purposes must be sacrificed to meet the other needs of the population. Productivity has suffered as a result. According to the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, Israel has 1,800 million cubic meters of renewable water available; 95% is used for domestic consumption and irrigation.
As previously stated, pollution can cause serious health risks for a population as well as change the climate of a region. Water is essential to life and its mismanagement can destroy a society.
For these reasons, I give Israel a 4 for environmental damage.
