Environmental Degradation Proposal

Human activities in the recent past decades have been detrimental to the ecosystem. While advances in economy and technology are crucial, they have are inadvertently affected the planet’s capacity to sustain humans’ well-being. Despite the unprecedented economic expansion, environmental degradation undermines economic development by causing health concerns and premature deaths annually. Human being relies on the efficient use of Earth’s fine space and resources, protection, and restoration supporting processes.

The current proposal investigates the association between environmental degradation and human health. The proposal presents a shift from the current linear economy model (fossil fuel-based) to a circular economy (renewable, non-toxic economy) as the optimal solution to reduce ED-related health concerns and a rationale for the $10 million funding. $1.6 million will be used for civic education and campaign for recyclable energy sources, $5 million for purchasing home renewable energy sources, and the rest in creating a global resource center with the latest data on toxic substance control pesticides regulations and resources recycling and recovery.

The well-being of the ecosystem depends on the urgency to rectify the current trend of environmental decline. The current decade is vital, as a society must minimize C0₂ emissions by 45% by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050 necessary to contain temperature below 1.5⁰C as per the Paris Agreement (Kaletnik & Lutkovska, 2020). The proposal encourages caution in daily consumption by either the individuals or collective decision. The outcome of the proposed solution depends on the realistic nature of the mechanism encouraging individuals’ individual and collective decisions. The societal needs, trade, supply of essential resources, and other ecosystem services without danger of depletion are crucial and determine the proposal’s viability.  

ED is likely to cause 250,000 deaths from 2030-to 2050. The current trend indicates 24% of global deaths are ED-related, and 70-90% of individuals live in regions considered risky of ED-related diseases such as chronic conditions, extreme heat conditions, respiratory diseases, allergies, and cardiovascular conditions (UN, 2021). These factors indicate the need for urgency in dealing with the ED. The proposal indicates the major causes of ED, including overpopulation, land degradation, global warming, and deforestation. ED concern and human well-being need to be tackled globally through cooperation between nations, multiagency, and other related organizations. Here, diplomacy is encouraged to allow measures to be more synergetic and effective. The risk of human beings and economic health and social growth achievements will continue to escalate until environmental degradation is halted. While global ED requires massive investment in renewable and non-toxic energy sources, the cost of inaction to minimize ED outweighs the cost of action. The predicted future health concerns and mortality outweighs any current investment in expensive non-toxic energy use. Everyone has a mandate to ensure that knowledge, ingenuity, finances, and technology from attempts to change to transforming humans’ relation with nature. The funding will assist in educating relevant stakeholders globally on ways to improve natural resources and habitats, purchase renewable and non-toxic home energy tools, and developing a global resource center with the latest environment related data. 

Introduction

Environmental degradation has become a major concern for humankind in the past few decades. The disturbing nature of environmental degradation is that it is caused more by anthropogenic factors rather than natural phenomena. The expansion of mindless consumerism and economic growth has illustrated pernicious effects on nature. Environmental degradation involves various concepts such as pollution, biodiversity and anima extension, deforestation and desertification, global warming, and other concerns. Environmental degradation is the environmental deterioration through various resources depletion. These resources include elements that form our surroundings, such as air, water, soil, plants, animals, and other non-living elements on Earth. According to United Nations High-level Pane on threats and challenges (2021), environmental degradation (ED) is one of the ten major threats at high risk. Humans’ well-being relies on the sustainability of the Earth’s natural system. Nonetheless, human advances in economy and technology have reduced the planet’s capacity to sustain current and future species’ well-being. The prosperity of a thriving co-existence between humans and other species depends on effectively using the planet’s finite space and resources. The proposal delves into the environmental degradation causes, human health consequences, and significance of environmental diplomacy, solutions, and consequences of inaction.

Describe the Human cost of the issue and who is impacted by environmental degradation

The impacts of environmental degradation on humans are extremely varied and complex in both severity and clinical significance. The major effect of ED is on human health. ED increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and many their conditions (Majeed & Ozturk, 2020). Environmental degradation is one significant concern facing humanity’s health globally. ED is estimated to cause 250,000 deaths annually from 2030 to 2050 from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. 24% of global deaths (13.7 million people) are linked to the environment, with 4.2million being from fine particulate matters. By 2030, the direct damage cost to heath by ED will be $2-$4 billion annually. 

Worse, while no individuals are safe, individuals whose health is affected first and worst by the degradation least contribute to its causes. Individuals from low-income nations and disadvantaged nations are the most affected. The major environmental influence on low-income nations results from poverty factors such as limited food access, housing, healthcare, and drinking water (Hough, 2020). Uptake of contaminated foods and water increases the effects of cancer and allergies. Although direct links between ED exposure and disease are unclear, a direct relationship has been found in some cases. A recent report indicates an increase in suicides and poor sleep due to ED. Even low exposure levels of urban pollution lead to respiratory diseases, allergies, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions.

The ED threatens to undo the previous five decades’ progress of economic growth, global health, poverty reduction that will widen inequality within and between populations. 10% of the global population spends over 10% of their household budget on healthcare. Low-income nations are the most affected by ED. Most low-income individuals are uninsured, health shock stresses push an estimated 100 million people to poverty annually, with ED contributing to the worsening situation (Majeed & Ozturk, 2020). The possible effects of environmental deterioration are widely recognized as a future threat to human health even though their accurate impact is not understood. ED can lead to new infections, changing patterns of known conditions, and deaths due to worsening weather conditions.

Causes of ED

The central cause of ED is human activities. The degree of the environmental impact depends on the cause, habitat, and species inhabiting it. Human-oriented activities that cause ED include global warming, land degradation, urbanization, industrialization, overpopulation, and deforestation.

Global warming

Over the past half-century, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, air pollution, and industrialization have substantially increased CO2 and other emissions causing climate change. In the lowest emission scenario, the global surface temperature is likely to rise from 0.3 to 1.70C and from 2.6 to 4.80c in the highest emission scenario (Hough, 2020). Global warming causes ED through rising sea premature, deforestation, imbalance climate conditions, and changing precipitation. Further consequences include increased heat-related diseases, agricultural production, civil conflicts, and decreased economic resources (Munawer, 2018). Due to increasing drought frequency, floods, and hurricanes, adverse agriculture issues rise.

Land Degradation

Human activities that lead to surface soil disturbance can modify soil topographical features and vegetation structure. Land degradation causes ED through soil fertility loss, species habitat and biodiversity destruction, soil erosion, and excessive nutrient run-off. Other indirect effects include malnutrition, disease, forced migration, and culture damage. More than 75% of the population depends on biomass for daily energy consumption in developing nations (Balaram, 2019).

Overpopulation                                                  

Overpopulation is one of the factors causing environmental degradation. In recent centuries, the population has doubled every 50 years. An increase in population is likely to create pressure leading to ED factors such as deforestation, decreased biodiversity, and increased pollution and emission (Munawer, 2018). Population increase, increase the need for land for homes and commercial activities. Some regions are more affected than others. More than 7,000 people live per Kilometer squired in Singapore, while only three individuals in Australia inhabit the same area. In the current state, each child increases the risk of ecosystem destruction (UN, 2021). Ultimately, unless action is taken to reduce further growth in the century, the additional stress on the planet can lead to ecological disruption and collapse, threatening the Earth’s viability.

Deforestation

Forests are an essential property of any nation since they offer numerous raw materials for industries in the form of timber of buildings and habitats for various types of animals and microorganisms. Deforestation involves cutting trees to make homes and industries. Fertile and nutrient-rich soil with high organic matter content provides soil protection by biding the soil via a network of their roots and preventing soil from the direct impact of falling raindrops. Forest allows rainwater infiltration, maximizing groundwater resources and reducing surface run-off, hence reducing floods’ intensity (Balaram, 2019). Deforestation also contributes to global warming since reducing reduces the of C02 consumers.

Diplomacy Significance

Recognizing the unique opportunity that Global Challenge 2050 has through the $20 billion funds is crucial. A viable plan is necessary to minimize the effects of environmental degradation has on humans, with low-income nations being the most affected. Notably, the global dimension of ED risks needs far-reaching solutions. The critical challenges demand measures that transgress our national borders. Society must be fundamentally changed through radical revision of the social and economic systems. The task of minimizing the ED effects must transcend the mere approach that the challenge raises from nations that encourage the pursuit of affluence and mass consumption. The solution must comprehend the global challenges of poverty and population increase (Torney & Cross, 2018). For maximal optimization of the solution depends on the diplomacy between nations, multiagency, and regional collaboration.

Adopting sustainable diplomatic objectives allows the nation to focus on the major concern rather than individual goals. Since ED consequences are borderless, collaboration to address the issue allows nations to generate a considerate solution to the low-income nations who cannot offer resources to deal with the issue globally (Torney & Cross, 2018). Under environmental diplomacy, other on-western nations have the locus of authority alongside other non-state actors to ensure command of authority based on governance and implementation function they exercise (UN, 2021). The diplomacy process requires a governance system that matches the ambition and complexity of the goals. The objectives set by the development diplomacy consider the current generation without compromising on the capacity of the future generations. Hence, environmental diplomacy considers an indefinite future that meets societal needs, maintains an effective exchange of goods, and can supply essential resources without other ecosystem services without danger of depletion.

Solution

The human cost of health and deaths due to environmental degradation is substantial and needs a proper solution. The optimal solution to the degrading environment is to shift from the current linear economy model (fossil fuel-based) to circular economy use of renewable, non-toxic economy). The circular economy maximizes the lifetime of products, uses waste as resources, and rethinks business models designed for the future, which requires innovation (Khan et al., 2020). Using renewable sources allows energy generation that produces no greenhouse emissions from fossil fuels reduces air pollution, global warming, deforestation, and land degradation. Adequate policies and technology will ensure minimal ecosystem degradation. Related health complications such as respiratory diseases, water-borne, malnutrition, cancer, extreme weather conditions, and chemical exposure will reduce significantly. The diplomatic agenda will have a singular health approach that promotes action across various sectors and disciplines. Research indicates that renewable energy sources are the best approach to minimizing the environmental impact (Khan et al., 2020). Developing countries, which are affected most by ED, may use both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The economic growth of low-income nations may fail to support renewable energy projects. However, all nations must aim to grow economically and support renewable energy projects in the future.

Environmental Protection Preliminary Budget Summary
Expenditures	2022	2023	Total in $
Civic Education and campaign for recyclable energy sources	800,000	800,000	1,600,000
Toxic substance control	500,000	500,000	1,000,000
Financing purchase of rooftops solar panels, solar ovens, wind turbines, and small wind electric system	2,500,000	2,500,000	5,000,000
Environment health hazard assessment	700,000	600,000	1,300,000
Pesticide’s regulations	300,000	500,000	800,000
Resources recycling and recovery	200,000	100,000	300,000
Total			10,000,000

The Global Challenge 2050 proposes total spending of $10 million from the grant to reduce the negative effects of environmental degradation that worsen the populace’s health condition and, in worst scenarios, even death. First, environmental sustainability can be greatly improved through enhanced civic education. Additional efforts are necessary to urge the necessary environmental stakeholders to increase renewable energy funding. Both these activities account for $1.6 million. Second, as a Non-profit organization, the company will purchase house renewable energy tools for $5million, such as rooftops, solar panels, solar ovens, wind turbines, and small wind electric systems, and allow citizens to purchase at a fair price. The organization will invest $2.4 million in creating a global resource center with the latest data on toxic substance control, Pesticides regulations, and resources recycling and recovery.

The Price of Inaction

Today, nations’ failure to shift to a clean energy economy has proven expensive, threatening the public health, infrastructure, national, and international security, and food and water supply. Nations face climate policy challenges, pollution, natural resource management, and related hazards. The cost of failure to respond can be considerable in some cases. The cost of ED will drastically intensify over the next decades unless radical measures are taken. The cost will differ depending on the region. For instance, the Global Change Research Program study indicates that the US water provision cost will increase from the current $200 billion to $950 billion 2100 $8 billion increased annual costs of hurricane damages resulting from temperature increase by2070 (Goldenman et al., 2019). Based on the current research, an estimated 83 million will die y 2100 due to ED and associated factors. With 85% of individuals globally living in areas affected by ED, 70-90% of chronic disease risk from such regions originates from environmental factors. Hence, it is crucial to determine areas where environmental policies need strengthening, with the careful comparison being marginal coy on inaction versus action.