A significant problem across the world, is the possibility of many animals going extinct through long term declining rates. Animals face many threats that cause lots of death, primarily deforestation and forest degradation.

Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested lands and areas for other uses such as agricultural purposes. This is seen through many forms such as authorized deforestation or logging, illegal and legal. Authorized deforestation is the action of being authorized with permission from the government to clear these areas. Logging is the chopping of trees for the sale of timber. Although some countries have made it illegal, small and large scales of illegal logging still continues within these countries and around the world. Deforestation is widespread across the globe which causes immense effects on the animals. These forested areas are some animal’s habitat and without their habitat, many animals suffer and cease.

Not only does deforestation impact the animals, it has an impact on the general environment. Forest degradation is when forest ecosystems lose their capacity to provide important goods and services to people and nature. This happens naturally but also as an effect of deforestation as “the deforestation process and subsequent changes in land use alter the soil’s physical and chemical characteristics, further hampering the recovery of the original tree vegetation.” This has a major effect on the environment by destroying the valuable service that the forested areas provide. This further impacts animals by removing their main food source and eventually causing them to die. Although forest degradation happens naturally, deforestation speeds up the process and further impacting both the environment and the animals who live there.

The extinction of many animals that live in forested areas would have immense effects onto society. If many animals go extinct, even the small animals that seem invaluable, the entire food chain will be messed up. This would then cause an imbalance in ecosystems and could further cause extinction through animal’s losing a source of food.

To battle this problem, many non-government organizations and governments can set in stone systems or services to help animals suffering from deforestation and degradation. The government can set in laws and regulations that can immensely help animals, while non-government organizations can create services and programs to contribute. Despite the differences in their ability to help, without their help, mass amounts of animals may suffer and go extinct.

Overall, a major problem across the world is deforestation and degradation and the effects it has on local animals. Many animals are heavily threatened and face the possibility of extinction. Its important for the world to recognize this issue to respond effectively to help all animals around the world.

The ozone layer is a thin part of the Earth’s atmosphere which absorbs a majority of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light, and thus prevents the harmful sun rays from reaching Earth’s surface. This helps prevent damage to crops, plants, and micro-organisms, and significantly reduces the risk of skin cancer and eye cataracts. However, the ozone layer has been depleting for a long time and this can have harmful effects upon Earth. 

The main reason for ozone layer depletion is due to the destruction of ozone molecules from Chlorine and Bromine containing chemicals, which are derived from human produced compounds. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) which are widely used by humans, are a key source of these harmful chemicals that are negatively affecting the ozone layer and are also responsible for producing a powerful greenhouse gas effect, adding to the global warming issues. These man-made chemicals derived for industrial purposes have been impacting the Earth negatively for over a 100 years. Since 1979, ozone layers have depleted  4-6% per decade in mid-latitudes and between 10-12% per decade in higher southern latitudes. It has also been recorded that since 1981, the average temperature has been increasing 0.32 degrees Fahrenheit per decade. 

As the ozone layer continues to deplete, affecting the earth’s climate, it is important that necessary steps are taken before the human race faces irreversible damage. There are many simple ways that we can do to help slow down the problem of ozone layer depletion. We can minimize the usage of cars, maintain air conditioners in our homes, and use eco-friendly cleaning products. Minimizing the usage of cars and vehicles will lead to less pollution which will help less CFCs and HCFCs be released. Similarly for air conditioners, if they are maintained and kept in shape, this will prevent the spread of CFCs and HCFCs that come from when an air conditioner is broken. Lastly, eco-friendly cleaning products are a great and simple way to help towards ozone depletion. Many cleaning products contain harmful chemicals which are then released in the atmosphere, natural and ecologically friendly cleaning products are an easy way to fix this. Working towards preventing depletion of the ozone layer will consequently help climate change. If society picks up simple ways to help the environment, many of Earth’s problems can be effectively handled. Overall, man made chemicals through industrialization have severely impacted the world and are continuing to do so, but the local population can work to contribute in a simple yet efficient manner.

Polar Bears on the southern edge of the Arctic are continuously dying in high numbers. Government surveys have recently revealed that rate of polar bear death has been significantly increasing over the past couple years. Since the 1980s, the number of living polar bears has dropped by 50%, and now polar bears are on the brink of extinction. One of the root causes for the polar bear deaths is attributed to global warming, which is the ongoing increase in global average temperature. Global warming continues to exacerbate polar bear’s lives, especially their living conditions. Polar bears live and rely on arctic sea ice as their main way of living. With global warming, the average temperature of Earth rises up causing arctic sea ice to melt which separates the polar bears from their preferred hunting grounds and thus limits their food supply. Overall, it is important that the negative impact of global warming on animal lives is considered seriously and the necessary steps are taken to alleviate it.

This past Thursday, November 24, 2022, the coastal city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia was swept by floods by record rainfall. These floods were quite severe and two people unfortunately died, and all residents were recommended to stay indoors. The torrential downpour additionally caused flight delays at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, school closures, and blocked the path to city of Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. These heavy rainstorms and flooding is common and happens often in Jeddah as it is located near the Red Sea. However, over the past several years, flooding and heavy rainfall has been increasing and getting worse. Climate change is a major cause for this changing weather pattern with more severe rainfall and flooding. Warmer oceans and bodies of water such as the Red Sea increase the amount of water that evaporates in the air. When clouds carry this great amount of moisture, it leads to more intense rainfall which is followed by flooding. One of the root causes for a warmer environment is the greenhouse gas effect, which is when gasses, such as carbon dioxide, are trapped in the atmosphere and as a result, heat can’t escape to the outer space . With more fossil fuel being burned by factories, the abundance of released gases further exacerbate the greenhouse gas effect. The world needs to move towards a greener environment by using renewable resources such as solar and wind power. With such measures to reduce greenhouse emissions, society can make progress towards mitigating adverse impact from climate change, such as heavy rainfall and flooding.