There are several industries that have accelerated climate change. What’s even worse is the fact that they know the dangers of it. Environmental pollution is at an all-time high today. More animals have been placed under the category of endangered species. Industrial wastes that are inadequately treated continue to pollute the water sources and air.
All of this has not stopped industries from producing more. No global standard has been adopted for classifying industries that are the most polluting. So, we’ve created this list based on research. Here are some of the most polluting industries harming the environment in recent times:
1. Transport
More than 20% of carbon emissions are caused by the transport industry. Freight and passenger travel are the two major components. Many people own cars today. This has led to the release of massive amounts of Carbon Dioxide into the air every year.
There are certain steps that we can take to reduce the pollution caused by transport. They include limiting international travel and choosing public transport whenever possible.
2. Energy
It won’t come as a surprise to many that the energy industry is also among the most polluting industries. Most of the greenhouse gases are emitted from industries belonging to the energy sector. This is the result of the use of coal, which is a major contributor to climate change. Recently, 197 countries of the world agreed to reduce the use of coal.
Over 140 countries among them have committed to reaching zero emissions. A significant increase in population has increased the demand for oil. In the year 2006, we were consuming 85 million barrels of oil a day. Just three years later, this had increased to 100 million barrels per day.
3. Retail
There’s a considerable gap between demand and supply of food owing to a growing population. Despite this, several tonnes of food is wasted every day. Retailers across the world use plenty of plastic for packaging. This increases plastic pollution, which results in the deaths of thousands of marine animals.
Whales, dolphins, and turtles are among the ones that consume plastics and die within a short period. There are certain steps that we can take to reduce the risk to marine life. They include stopping plastic packaging and using reusable bags for shopping.
4. Fashion
The fashion industry also contributes greatly to carbon emissions and wastes. A large number of cloth wastes are dumped in various ecosystems around the world. Currently, the fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. The problem is of low-quality materials used in the manufacture of clothes. This happens in countries that rely mostly on coal and gas for production.
5. Agriculture
The world relies mainly on agriculture for food. Owing to the ever-increasing global population, there is a rise in the demand for meat and dairy products. Methane and nitrous oxide emissions come from cows. Some of the sources of these emissions are feed production and the transportation of dairy products and meat.
Clearing the land for agriculture involves cutting and burning trees. This releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. With a lesser number of trees and plants, the quantity of this gas getting absorbed is also less.