Discuss the various reasons for environmental crisis

Question – Discuss the various reasons for environmental crisis.

Answer – Reasons for environment crisis

1. High population growth

The high rate/rapid rate of population growth (known as population explosion) is one of the major causes of environmental degradation/ crisis. Increasing population has caused substantial conversion of forest land into land for industrial and residential use and it has also put a huge burden on natural resources which are limited or exhaustible.

Besides it, increasing population is also generating more wastes into the environment than the absorbing capacity

2. Poverty

Widespread poverty is also another cause behind environmental degradation/ crisis. About 30% of total

The Indian population is below the poverty line. They exclusively depend on forests for living and for fulfilling energy requirements or fuel. These people resort to an indiscriminate tree falling.

On the one hand, this results in deforestation and leads to loss of natural assets and on the other hand, causes pollution.

3. Rapid industrialization

It has also contributed to environmental degradation or crisis. Though it is necessary for economic development, unplanned and uncontrolled growth of industries led to air, water, and noise pollution and indiscriminate felling of trees to set up industries cause deforestation.

4. Urbanization

It is the outcome of migration of rural population to urban areas in search of jobs and also an important/major cause of environment crisis/ degradation.

• It put more pressure/ burden on land and environmental resources to meet the increasing demand of settlement and other civic amenities in cities.
• The overcrowding in cities also leads to an increase in slums areas and undesirable land-use changes.
• It causes the generation of huge wastes and a decline in water and air quality.

Thus, urbanization results in environmental degradation/crisis.

5. The massive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used to increase agricultural productivity and production but agricultural development based on these chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not eco-friendly and adversely affects the environment by causing soil pollution (loss of fertility) and water pollution.

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