Causes of Pollution and Environmental Degradation

Causes of pollution and environmental degradation are of two types:

1. Natural causes
2. Man‐made causes

2.3.1 Natural Causes

Drought, flood, tsunami, cyclone, hurricane, twister, torrents, earthquake, molten lava of volcano, and epidemic are the main natural causes/factors which cause environmental pollution. Since these are natural‐caused events and man has no control over them, they are known as natural causes.

2.3.2 Man‐Made Causes

There are four main man‐made causes:

1. Population growth
2. Poverty
3. Urbanization
4. Industrialization

2.3.3 Population Growth

“The Earth is finite and world population is finite.” Every new born consumes plenty of natural and nonnatural products, which are also ultimately provided after utilizing natural resources. Thus, every birth increases the consumption of natural resources. But the fact is a finite world can support only a finite population. In other words, natural resources shrink as people multiply. The current world population is 7.73 billion as of August 2019 according to the most recent United Nations estimates elaborated by Worldometers. The world’s population has grown almost sixfold in this century (Figure 2.1). India alone has about 17% population of the world land area. This rise in urban population is at a very high rate. It indicates an increasing demand for fuel, food, pollution free clean water and air, space to live in, and healthy conditions. Increasing population in urban areas has created the problem of land, air, and water pollution, and unsanitary conditions that all cumulatively adversely affecting the quality of life. Some big cities are rated as choked cities due to polluting industries around them. Continuous rise in urban population has enhanced the density of population in various areas which has also created various social, physical, and psychological problems for people. These high‐density populated areas have also resulted in deforestation and disappearance of vegetation cover, which is only 11% of the total area against 33% which is essential. Increasing population also results in poverty which is also a cause of pollution.

2.3.4 Poverty

Poverty contributes equally to both – population growth and environmental pollution. Poverty has been defined as the inability of an individual or household to attain a minimum standard of living (World Commission on Health and Environment 1992). The poor people usually have low life expectancy, high infant mortality, and higher incidence of disablement. Unhygienic, unsanitary, and poor health conditions are due to poverty. The impoverishment of the poor is accompanied by simultaneous and systematic erosion of the basic means of their subsistence, the environment, with its life‐supporting natural resources – land, forest, water, and air. Poverty reduces people’s capacity to use resources in a sustainable way, which also intensifies pressure on the environment in underdeveloped and developing countries. It is now been aptly observed that the poor and poverty are linked to the environment (Our Common Future 1987).

2.3.5 Urbanization

Rapid and unplanned urbanization has also contributed to environmental pollution and degradation of human environment. This is a direct result of rapid population growth and unending migration of the poor from small towns and villages to urban centers of developing countries. The burning of coal and wood in concentrated areas made the cities the primary sources of pollution. Environmental factors have been given too little consideration in the thinking on urbanization in many cities of underdeveloped and developing countries. Yet they are extremely important factors to be considered with increasing urbanization. The levels of water and smog pollution are already high in many cities in underdeveloped and developing nations.