EU Environmental Policies | Acid Rain | Ozone Depletion
The Greenhouse Effect | Water Pollution

Environmental Problems

Human manipulation of our environment has created many global environmental problems. Examining this issue through social geography allows for a study of the causes and consequences of, and the solutions to, the key environmental problems facing Europe at present. These include acid rain, ozone depletion, the 'greenhouse effect', and water pollution. It is also necessary to study the European Union's environmental policies.

EU Environmental Policies

A basic knowledge of how the EU has worked to improve the quality of the environment is required. Since 1973, five 'Environmental Action Programmes' (EAPs) have been introduced.

The early programmes concentrated on reacting to environmental problems once they had occurred. The fourth and fifth EAPs (up to the end of 2000) focused, however, on preventative measures. They recognised that in order to be successful, environmental policy must be integrated with other policies, such as that on agriculture, on industry, and on tourism. The difficulty in implementing such programmes is that while legislation on the upkeep of the environment can be introduced, it is almost impossible to enforce. Europe contains many diverse economies, and the level of commitment to environmental action varies from country to country.
 

Acid Rain (air pollution)

The principle cause of this very serious environmental problem is the burning of fossil fuels by industry, as this leads to the formation of sulphuric and nitric acids in the atmosphere. The precipitation which eventually falls has a dangerously high acid content. The main sources of this pollutant are industrialised countries such as Britain and Germany.

The consequences of acid rain, which normally falls in regions far away from the source (e.g., Scandinavia), include the killing of forests, soil leaching, river and lake pollution, and the decaying of stone buildings and monuments.

The main solution is to reduce the use of fossil fuels by, for example, using low sulphur fuels, installing chimney scrubbers, and introducing strict controls on emission levels. Very specific information on all these points made is necessary.
 

Ozone Depletion (air pollution)

Ozone, a gas located in the stratosphere, absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun and thereby protects life on earth.

The primary cause of ozone depletion is the use of a chemical called chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in such items as foam packaging, aerosol cans, fridges, etc. CFCs break down or destroy ozone and so reduce the ozone layer, which protects the earth.

The main undesirable consequence of increased levels of ultraviolet light on earth is skin cancer.

The implementation of a solution to such a global problem is difficult. In the mid 1980s, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ordained that the use of CFCs should be phased out completely by the year 2000. While significant improvements have been made, the depletion of the ozone layer continues.
 

The Greenhouse Effect (air pollution)

As with other environmental problems, the causes and consequences of, and solutions to, the greenhouse effect need to be learned.

The causes of this problem include the burning of fossil fuels, the use of CFCs and deforestation. The creation of a blanket of greenhouse gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and CFCs allows the sun's rays through but prevents excess heat leaving the earth. This causes global warming.

The consequences of this include famine, an increase in the number and destructiveness of tropical storms, the melting of glaciers and ice caps, and the rising of the sea level.

Individuals can contribute to the solution of this problem by recycling waste, using cleaner fuels and improving the insulation of their homes. On a larger scale, the use of renewable forms of energy would lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

As with the other forms of air pollution specific examples need to be given rather than just making general statements.
 

Water Pollution - a case study of the Mediterranean Sea

The causes of Mediterranean Sea pollution are the pumping of untreated sewage into the sea, oil spillages, increased industrialisation, etc.

The Mediterranean is more afflicted by these issues than another sea would be because it is enclosed and tideless and therefore the water is slow to change over naturally.

The effects of pollution include polluted beaches and a reduction in fish stocks. In the late 1970s, eighteen countries signed the 'Blue Plan', an initiative designed to reduce Mediterranean Sea pollution. In theory the plan was excellent - in practice, however, co-operation and agreement in relation to the financing and administration of the plan was problematic and still remains difficult.
 

Links

Some very useful material on acid rain, the ozone layer and water pollution. Scroll down to the section on 'Environment and pollution'.
http://www.zephryus.demon.co.uk/geography /resources/index.html

The causes, problems and possible solutions relating to the greenhouse effect and global warming are easily explained for students.
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~engenvir/environment /air/greenhouse.effect.html

This overview of water pollution in the developing and developed world has a particularly good summary of pollution in the river Rhine.
http://www.zephryus.demon.co.uk/education /geog/environ/water.html

An 'Ozone Hole tour', with information on the discovery of the hole and on recent ozone loss over Antartica.
http://www.atm.ch.cam.ac.uk/tour/part2.html

Details on the 'Fifth Environmental Action Programme' introduced by the E.U. are available from this site.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/actionpr.htm