List of environmental issues


Environmental issues are harmful aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment. This alphabetical list is loosely divided into causes, effects and mitigation, noting that effects are interconnected and can cause new effects.

Issues

Greenhouse gas emissions — Coal-fired power station • Carbon dioxide • Methane • Fluorinated gasesHuman population — Biocapacity • climate change • Carrying capacity • Exploitation • Industrialisation • I = PAT • Land degradation • Land reclamation • Optimum population • Overshoot (population) • Population density • Population dynamics • Population growth • Projections of population growth • Total fertility rate • Urbanization • Waste • Water conflict • Water scarcity • OverdraftingHydrology — Environmental impacts of reservoirs • Tile drainage • Hydrology (agriculture) • Flooding • Landslide Intensive farming — Agricultural subsidy • Barn fires • Environmental effects of meat production • Intensive animal farming • Intensive crop farming • Irrigation • Monoculture • Nutrient pollution • Overgrazing • Pesticide drift • Plasticulture • Slash-and-burn • Tile drainage • ZoonosisLand use — Built environment • Desertification • Habitat fragmentation • Habitat destruction • Land degradation • Land pollution • Lawn-environmental concerns • Trail ethics • Urban heat island • Urban sprawlNanotechnology — Impact of nanotechnologyNatural disasters avalanches, droughts, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, landslides, tropical cyclones, volcanic activityNuclear issues — Nuclear fallout • Nuclear meltdown • Nuclear power • Nuclear weapons • Nuclear and radiation accidents • Nuclear safety • High-level radioactive waste management Ocean trash — Garbage patch • Ghost net • Washed Ashore

Effects

Climate change — Global warming • Global dimming • Fossil fuels • Sea level rise • Greenhouse gas • Ocean acidification • Shutdown of thermohaline circulation • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Urban heat islands • FloodingEnvironmental degradation — Loss of biodiversity • Habitat destruction • Invasive speciesEnvironmental health — Air quality • Asthma • Birth defect • Developmental disability • Endocrine disruptors • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Environmental impact of nanotechnology • Electromagnetic field • Electromagnetic radiation and health • Indoor air quality • Lead poisoning • Leukemia • Nanotoxicology • Nature deficit disorder • One Health • Sick building syndrome • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturingEnvironmental issues with energy — Environmental impact of the coal industry • Environmental impact of the energy industry • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturingEnvironmental impact of transportEnvironmental issues with war — Agent Orange • Depleted uranium • Military Superfund site • Scorched earth • War and environmental law • Unexploded ordnanceOverpopulation — Burial • Overpopulation in companion animals • Tragedy of the commons • Gender Imbalance in Developing Countries • Sub-replacement fertility levels in developed countriesMutation breeding — Genetic pollutionSynthetic biology — Synthetic DNA • Artificially Expanded Genetic Information System • Hachimoji DNAGenetically modified food — Genetically modified crops • Genetically modified livestock • Genetically modified food controversiesPollution — Nonpoint source pollution • Point source pollutionResource depletion — Exploitation of natural resources • Overdrafting • OverexploitationToxicants — Agent Orange • Asbestos • Beryllium • Bioaccumulation • Biomagnification • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) • Cyanide • DDT • Endocrine disruptors • Explosives • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Herbicides • Hydrocarbons • Perchlorate • Pesticides • Persistent organic pollutant • PBBs • PBDEs • Toxic heavy metals • PCB • Dioxin • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons • Radioactive contamination • Volatile organic compoundsWaste — Electronic waste • Great Pacific Garbage Patch • Illegal dumping • Incineration • Litter • Waste disposal incidents • Marine debris • Medical waste • Landfill • Leachate • Toxic waste • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Exporting of hazardous waste

Mitigation

Mitigation of aviation's environmental impact – Aviation taxation and subsidies • Electric aircraft • High-speed railConservation