Contemporary environmental issues

Environmental advocacy groups - typically non-governmental organisations like Environment Tobago are formed to mitigate, correct or adapt to stresses people make on Earth. Which in turn stresses the relationship between people who care and those who prefer ambivalence.

The struggle to identify environmentally impacting issues and the work to adapt to outcomes - positive or negative, has led to a particular language; the terminology of the environmental trade as it is. Familiarity with ths lexicon can provide newbies to the field with a major assist no matter where in the field of advocating for things environmental his or her future path leads.

As an aid to writing on mitigation, correcting damage or adaptation, where found Environment Tobago works with a fluid list of contemporary environmental issues. The diagram beneath illustrates those, with details on each issue following.

Biodiversity loss

The big picture is captured by the United Nations on their website “As ecosystems and habitats degrade and disappear worldwide, biodiversity (the interconnectedness of all forms of life on our planet) is in jeopardy. In light of a new global agreement to protect our lands, ocean, and waters, explore what biodiversity really means and what it will take to preserve life on Earth.”

In Tobago optimism would be a key requirement in the ongoing struggle to maintain functional biodiversity levels. The challenges are similar to other places. In that human encroachment for land, for food production, for industry aren’t lessening, they’re escalating. What is needed is strong political messaging and a population that recognises what biodiversity poverty means.

Deforestation

“Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land. Throughout history and into modern times, forests have been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing, and to obtain wood for fuel, manufacturing, and construction. Deforestation has greatly altered landscapes around the world.” - UN

And its implications for clean air, oxygenation, water - in short, quality of life, are immense considerations. Which is ironic that forests, a service of nature - which people have benefited from for ages, will become a threatened assets. Tobago been lucky sort of, in that the Main Ridge Forest Reserve was legally instituted into law at a time when government decree meant simply, the King and his lords, wishes.

Environmental racism

Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards and pollution on marginalised communities, often communities of color and low-income communities. These communities frequently lack the financial resources to combat the negative environmental, health, and economic effects they face from environmental hazards. While many examples of North American environmental racism are documented - most notable is the Houston, Texas landfills history as documented by Mohai and Bryant (2019).

Trinidad and Tobago clearly cannot be blamed for marginalising people of colour through methods like zoning, as almost everyone in the country identifies as ‘coloured’ - and it is they who run the country. What does occur however is still a form of environmental oppression - but by demography.In other words it is the poor whose rights are being compromised. This however is a socially rooted topic and cannot be covered unless the historical background from the colonial era is considered.

Food waste

With the great demand for housing, other built development such as hotels and supportive built infrastructure Tobago has very little land left for agriculture. Food is brought in from Trinidad and also flown in from countries (as far away as New Zealand). Consequently if we want to truly reduce emissions along the food value chain we’d start the reduction process by ‘simply’ managing what we eat. When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. And if food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide.

Global warming

Global warming refers to the observed increase in the Earth’s average temperature, primarily caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and cause the planet to warm. The consequences of global warming include rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, and changes in plant and animal life.

The scientific consensus is that global warming is a serious threat and requires urgent action to mitigate its effects.

Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. It occurs when the sun’s radiation reaches the atmosphere, and some of it is absorbed by the Earth’s surface while the rest is reflected back into the atmosphere as heat. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap some of this heat, preventing it from escaping into space, which keeps the Earth warm enough to support life.

However, human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This enhanced greenhouse effect is causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise, leading to climate change and its associated impacts.

Some of the major greenhouse gases include:

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Released from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.

Methane (CH₄)
Emitted from agriculture, livestock, landfills, and natural gas production.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Released from agriculture, fossil fuel combustion, and industrial processes.

The consequences of the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming include:

Rising sea levels
Due to thermal expansion of water and melting glaciers and ice sheets.

More extreme weather events
Such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and intense storms. Changes in plant and animal life: Including shifts in species distribution, loss of biodiversity, and extinction.

Ocean acidification
As the ocean absorbs more CO₂, it becomes more acidic, harming marine life.

Reduced crop yields and food insecurity
Due to changes in temperature and precipitation (rainfall) patterns it is important to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate these impacts and importantly, ensure a future where people do not suffer for food.

Ocean acidification

Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth’s oceans, caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. The main cause of ocean acidification is the burning of fossil fuels, which releases CO₂ into the atmosphere.

As the ocean absorbs more CO₂ it becomes more acidic, which can have harmful effects on marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells and skeletons, like corals and shellfish.

Ocean acidification is a global issue, but it is particularly relevant to the Caribbean region, which has many vulnerable marine ecosystems. The Caribbean Ocean Acidification Community of Practice (CoP) is working to address this issue by exploring the impacts of ocean acidification on the region and informing policy-makers and climate funding agencies.

Overfishing

Overfishing is the act of catching too many fish, leading to a depletion of fish populations and potentially causing negative impacts on the marine ecosystem. Overfishing can occur because fishing companies are financially incentivised to fish as much as they legally can.

Climate change can also impact fish populations and contribute to overfishing. Overfishing is a major threat to many elasmobranch populations. New technology platforms and data from various sources are being used to address issues like overfishing and promote sustainable fishing practices.

Some of the negative impacts of overfishing include:

• Habitat destruction
• Decline in ocean life
• Unsustainable levels of fish mortality.

It is important to address overfishing through sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation efforts, such as marine protected areas, to ensure the health and productivity of the oceans for future generations.

Water pollution

Water pollution is a major environmental issue that affects the health of humans and marine life. Plastic pollution is a significant source of water pollution, with microplastics and nanoplastics being found in bottled and tap water.

Trinidad and Tobago has taken action to address water pollution and improper management through the Water Pollution Rules. The Water Pollution Rules were established in 2019 to regulate activities that may pollute water in Trinidad and Tobago. These rules are part of the Environmental Management Authority’s efforts to manage waste and protect the environment.

Note: The list above is in random order - there is no sequence to it to inform relevance or gravitas. Please feel free to contact us with your comments or enquiries

---

References