opener
NEWS
ABOUT
ENVIRONMENT
MISSION
ARCHITECTURE
SUBMIT A STORY
DESIGN
ADVERTISE WITH US
INNOVATION
CONTACT
PRESS
LEGAL
PRIVACY POLICY
COOKIE POLICY
LOG IN
SIGN UP
The 6 most pressing environmental issues—and what you can do to help solve them
ENVIRONMENT
04/22/2016 under Air quality, Conservation
by Josh Marks
3 Comments
VIEW SLIDESHOW
More than four decades after the first Earth Day, there are still many environmental concerns for communities around the world to address; perhaps none so pressing as man-made climate change. But progress is being made, and it could be argued that awareness about environmental issues is at an all-time high. This Earth Day we're shining a light on the most pressing environmental concerns that affect us all, and showing what you can do to help restore ecological balance to this amazing place we call home.
Earth Day, environment, climate change
Image via Shutterstock
CLIMATE CHANGE
While 97 percent of climate scientists agree that climate change is occurring and greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause, political will has not been strong enough so far to initiate a massive policy shift away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable forms of energy. Perhaps more extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires, heat waves and flooding will convince the public to put more pressure on policymakers to act urgently to curb carbon emissions and address this issue before it’s too late.
Related: 14 Awe-Inspiring Aerial Photographs Capture the Beauty of the Earth
What You Can Do: Your home and transportation could be major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. A certified home energy audit can help make your home more energy efficient. If you commute via biking, walking or public transportation you are doing your part to fight global warming, but if you must own a motor vehicle, consider trading in your gas guzzler for a fuel efficient hybrid or better yet—go electric. When you fly, make sure to reduce your carbon footprint from air miles traveled with carbon offsets from a respected company such as Carbonfund.org.