we were given the perfect home
So why does mankind seem hellbent on destroying it?
major global issues
air pollution
Global air pollution remains one of the most severe environmental and public‑health threats worldwide. Nearly 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines, increasing risks of heart and lung disease.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is especially dangerous: 36% of the world’s population is exposed to levels above 35 µg/m³, and air pollution contributes to 7.9 million premature deaths each year. Indoor pollution also persists, with 2.6 billion people relying on solid fuels for cooking.
river pollution
Global river pollution has intensified worldwide, threatening ecosystems and human health. Half of all countries now report degraded freshwater systems, including rivers with shrinking flows and rising contamination levels .
Untreated wastewater remains a major driver: only 1 in 10 litres is safely reused, while roughly 50% continues to pollute rivers and lakes . Contaminated water kills more people annually than all forms of violence combined, underscoring the scale of the crisis .
ocean pollution
Global ocean pollution has escalated into a planetary emergency. An estimated 75–199 million tonnes of plastic already contaminate marine environments, with 8 million tonnes entering the oceans every year. Researchers estimate 5 trillion plastic pieces now circulate in marine waters, and projections warn that plastic could outweigh fish by 2050.
Ocean pollution kills over 100,000 marine mammals annually, while over 3 billion people who rely on the ocean for livelihoods face declining fish stocks and worsening ecosystem collapse.
laand pollution
Global land pollution is accelerating rapidly, driven by industrial expansion, waste mismanagement, and soil degradation. Three‑quarters of the Earth’s land is already degraded, and projections warn this could reach 90% by 2050.
Such degradation may displace 50–700 million people within the same timeframe. Soil loss is severe: in the United States, topsoil is eroding 17 times faster than it forms, and 500 years are needed to regenerate just 2.5 cm of topsoil.
food wastage
Global food wastage is a major global crisis, with 1.05 billion tonnes of food wasted in 2022—about 19% of all food available to consumers . This occurs while 783 million people go hungry worldwide . Food loss and waste also generate 8–10% of global greenhouse‑gas emissions and cost the world roughly USD 1 trillion each year .
Reducing waste across households, retail, and supply chains is essential for climate action and food security.