• Question: what is the biggest enviromental problems in our world to your mind?

    Asked by kireevaaida to Ruth, Lyn, Katy, Paul, PB on 24 Jun 2013. This question was also asked by evemackley.
    • Photo: Ruth Mitchell

      Ruth Mitchell answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      I think that it would be the lack of clean water.

      This is coming from general knowledge and not from what I know as a scientist – I study the human body.

    • Photo: Peter Balfe

      Peter Balfe answered on 27 Jun 2013:

      I’m going to go heterodox on this one (like that? – GREAT word!).
      It’s NOT global warming! Why? Because the biggest problem is that the cause of global warming is running out. In 100 years time there will be essentially no oil for fuel (it’ll be far too expensive to waste for that), so we’ll be in a world where cheap energy is gone, and with it a lot of our modern luxuries, such as cheap food. Good news! Obesity will go down!

    • Photo: Paul Waines

      Paul Waines answered on 27 Jun 2013:

      hi kireevaaida- good question, cos there are a few!

      To my mind, it is the issue of declining fossil fuel supplies. We seem to be a race of consumers, and I think that if we do not make some big changes to the way we live, then we are going to have a very hard time in the not-too-distant future when our oil runs out.

      Its a real concern and a huge challenge for us and the new generation i.e. you lot, but I’m sure we can rise to it (this is why we need scientists)!

    • Photo: Ee Lyn Lim

      Ee Lyn Lim answered on 28 Jun 2013:

      WE are. Humans are the biggest environmental problem in our world, because every problem that we see is caused by human action. Pollution, deforestation, consumption of fossil fuels, global warming, extinction of endangered species – EVERYTHING is our fault. Take humans out of the picture and the world would be just fine!

      I can’t pick out any one environmental problem and say, ‘This is the one we should solve first,’ because we won’t be solving anything unless we change our attitude. Scientists and environmental activists can do their best to find ways around the energy crisis, and the food shortage, and the climate change, but as long as the human race as a whole doesn’t care what we do to the Earth, there will never be an end to these problems. On the other hand, if we DO change our attitude and start actively working to protect nature, then all these problems will go away together. That’s why we are the problem – if there’s anything we need to solve, it’s us!

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