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O. V. Denisova

(educator of the highest qualification category)

MBDOU kindergarten"Mitten"

city ​​of Bor

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A CURRENT PROBLEM OF MODERN SOCIETY

2017

CONTENT

Introduction 3

1 Stages of development of nature and society 4

2 Problems of social ecology 6

3 Solving the problem of environmental protection in modern society 12

Conclusion 13

List of used literature 14

INTRODUCTION

A few decades ago, the real relationship between nature and society was most often very one-sided. Mankind only took from nature, actively exploited its reserves, carelessly believing that natural wealth is limitless and eternal. At best, this relationship was poetic: a person enjoyed the beauty of nature, called for respect and love for her. In general, mankind did not go further than emotional appeals. The understanding of what nature means for the existence and development of society has not been formed. Today, the problem of the relationship between society and nature has grown from a purely theoretical one into an acute topical one, on the solution of which the future of mankind depends.

Before considering the complex problem of the relationship between society and nature, trends in their relationship, it is necessary to define the basic concepts. Among the mass of different approaches and definitions of nature, one of the most well-established is the understanding of nature (in the broad sense of the word) as the entire world around us in all the infinite variety of its manifestations. Nature is an objective reality that exists outside and independently of human consciousness. In the narrow sense of the word, namely in relation to the concept of "society", "nature" is understood as the entire material world, with the exception of society, as a set of natural conditions for its existence. Society as a form of joint life activity of people is a separate part of nature and at the same time is inextricably linked with it.

The problem of environmental protection at the end of the 20th century became one of the most acute in all states and reached its maximum peak in the most developed countries, where direct and indirect impact on nature has become quite widespread. The consequences of human interference in all spheres of nature cannot be ignored. “Nature is not a temple, but a workshop, and man is a worker in it ...” - these words of the hero of I. Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons” are familiar to us from school. Yes, nature is a workshop where all the benefits necessary for human existence are created. It requires a careful attitude to its wealth, which, as you know, is far from unlimited.

Environmental protection is one of the most urgent problems of our time. The very phenomenon of environmental pollution is not new for Russia. Scientific and technological progress and increased anthropogenic pressure on the environment inevitably led to an aggravation of the ecological situation. In Russia, despite the so-called ecological boom, the environment continues to deteriorate every year, as can be seen from the annually published state reports on the state of the environment in the Russian Federation.

4

1. STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF NATURE AND SOCIETY

The concept of "nature" is ambiguous. "Nature" in a broad sense is identified with the concept of the universe, the world in general. In a narrower sense nature - This is the realm of life on earth. Understanding nature in this way, in 1875 it received the name of the biosphere. This term was introduced by the Austrian geologist E. Suess. Biosphere - is the totality of living organisms and their habitat (water, lower atmosphere, upper part earth's crust). A special place in the biosphere is occupied by man, who, being a part of living nature, stood out from it and eventually isolated himself into some kind of active and opposing principle, constantly adapting nature to his needs.

The relationship of man to nature throughout the history of mankind has changed.

STAGE 1. Primitive communal.Primitive man was engaged in hunting, fishing, gathering, satisfying his needs by appropriating finished products. He is completely dependent on nature, does not single out or oppose himself to it. Its activity is dissolved in nature and does not threaten it in any way. His life is an endless struggle for survival. Omnipotent nature causes fear and uncertainty in a person, a feeling of absolute dependence. Natural phenomena are deified.

STAGE 2. Antiquity. The starting point of the new stage is the emergence and development of agriculture and animal husbandry. There is a transition from an appropriating to a producing economy. Man begins to actively intervene in nature. Forests are being cut down, irrigation systems are being built. Human activity is beginning to have a devastating effect on nature. Soil salinization in the Tigris and Euphrates valley was the result of irrigation works. However, the destruction is local in nature and often leads to the disappearance of civilizations themselves - dependence on natural conditions people's lives is very big.

STAGE 3. Middle Ages (IV-XIV centuries) and the Renaissance (XV-XVI centuries). people's dependence on natural forces does not decrease, man's assimilation of nature does not change radically, but the ideological foundations of man's relationship to nature change. This is the period of dominance in Europe of Christianity, in which the spirit and the body, the creative God and the created nature, the spiritualized man and the non-spiritual nature, are opposed. Meaning human life– in union with God, nature fades into the background. The attitude towards nature is rather neglectful. However, within the framework of the same Christian tradition, a completely different view of nature and attitude towards it is gradually developing. Man can know (unite) with God not only through

prayers and appeal "above", but also through the knowledge and transformation of nature. God is reflected in nature. Knowing the laws of nature, man comes to know God and approaches him. But that's not all: the task of man in approaching God is also co-creation with him. It is designed not only to cognize, but also to actively change, transform existing world. It was Christianity that laid the foundation for the rapid rise of science in subsequent centuries, the modern technocratic era. In the East, the attitude towards nature has not changed since ancient times - the idea of ​​man as part of nature and the ban on interference in the natural processes of the universe (violation of law and harmony) remain.

STAGE 4. new time (XVII-XIX centuries). The main task facing man is the development and adaptation of nature for the ever-increasing needs of human society. The means of its development and conquest is the knowledge of the laws of nature - science. "Knowledge is power!" (F. Bacon) - the motto of the entire era of the New Age. Man is no longer a part of nature, he is its peak due to his supernatural origin and possession of reason (the god-like principle in man). Man and nature are opposed. Nature loses its independent meaning and is considered only as a means of human existence. The attitude towards it is aggressively consumerist. In the 20th century, active transformational activity on Earth acquires a destructive character and eventually confronts humanity with the problem of not only self-destruction, but also the destruction of nature (as an area of ​​life) in general. The 20th century is the century of ecological crisis.

1. PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL ECOLOGY

An environmental problem is a change in the natural environment, as a result (anthropogenic impacts or natural disasters), leading to a violation of the structure and functioning of nature.

Global problems are generated by the contradictions of social development, the sharply increased scale of the impact of human activities on the world and are also associated with the uneven socio-economic and scientific and technological development of countries and regions. The solution of global problems requires the development of international cooperation.

Modern scientists believe that humanity is already living in a collapsing world in the face of an ever-increasing severe environmental crisis, which is turning into a crisis of the entire civilization. An ecological crisis can be defined as an imbalance in ecological systems and in the relationship of human society with nature. It is characterized, in particular, by the fact that a person, society and the state are not able to reverse the trend of environmental degradation.

The most important global environmental issues facing modern man, the following:

Environmental pollution,

Greenhouse effect,

Depletion of the "ozone layer"

photochemical smog,

acid rain,

soil degradation,

deforestation,

desertification,

waste problems,

Reduction of the gene pool of the biosphere.

Environmental pollution is the most urgent problem modernity, since anthropogenic activity affects all terrestrial spheres: the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. At the same time, man, being the main culprit of the current ecological situation, becomes its main victim: according to some data, about 40% of people die from pollution of water resources, atmospheric air and soil cover in the world.

The environmental problems of Russia are not much different from the problems of other countries and states. They arise everywhere and, as a rule, in connection with the intensive and growing influence of man on nature. This influence is becoming more and more aggressive. And with the development of scientific and technological progress, the introduction of new technologies, the consequences of this influence are less predictable and more catastrophic.

The Russian Federation or Russia is located in Northern Asia and Eastern Europe. Its area is 17125407 km 2 and a population of 146,267,288 people. This is the largest state in the world in terms of territory and is among the ten in terms of population. The city of Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation. Russia borders on 18 countries and the waters of the seas of three oceans and inland sea- Caspian. It is one of the most water-rich countries in the world with the largest reserves fresh water. The territory of the country and its continental shelf are rich in various types of minerals. The main ones are: oil, gas, coal and timber. The main types of soils and climate create conditions for classifying the country's agricultural production as risky farming, although it has almost 50% of all the world's black soil. The flora and fauna of Russia is extremely diverse. There are about 25 thousand species of plants here alone.In Russia, the main environmental problems have remained unchanged. It's pollution, exhaustion natural resources and reduction of species and quantitative composition of flora and fauna. Their sources are enterprises of industry and agriculture, as well as human activities in the provision of their housing and household needs.

But problems - they can never be foreseen or prevented, and when they cannot be eliminated. Or they don't want to. What is the reason for their growth in Russia?

Russian environmental problems can be divided into two categories. Those that were inherited and which are already more than a dozen, or even a hundred years old. And others that have arisen in the modern historical stage states.For Russia, modern environmental problems are associated primarily with the use of atomic energy both for peaceful and military purposes. This includes not only mining

relevant minerals and the process of production of raw materials for energy and weapons, but also problems arising during the operation of technological equipment, accidents occurring at the enterprises of the country's nuclear complex, as well as the disposal, processing and disposal of radioactive waste.

Ecological problems modern Russia is the excessive depletion of natural resources. Whereas previously it was mainly related to forest reserves. Now it has also affected fossil resources, primarily oil and gas.

Forest.

So far, forests occupy 45% of the territory of the Russian Federation, or almost 800 million hectares. The variety of tree species is huge - from dwarf birch to cedars and broad-leaved oaks.

Deforestation is one of the oldest crafts in the territory of the present state. Recently, it has increased significantly, especially illegal. In just 15 years of this century, more than 40 million hectares were cut down, which reduced the area occupied by forests by 20 million hectares.

Illegal logging is carried out throughout the country, but its greatest mass, and, therefore, harm, is noted in the territories from where it is most convenient and profitable to export timber abroad. These are: the Arkhangelsk region and Karelia - for export to the countries of Scandinavia and the Trans-Baikal, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories, as well as the Amur Region - for China.

Probably the last time a request to export timber abroad was refused by Catherine II, who approved the earlier resolution of Peter I.

In addition to cutting down “commercial” timber, deforestation occurs due to the destruction of forests as a result of fires, when cutting down for the needs of the mining industry, construction settlements and roads, as well as expanding areas for agricultural land.

Loss of wood in any form of felling reaches 40%, that is, almost every second tree is cut down in vain. The forest fund is being replenished even more slowly, which has both objective reasons - the tree must grow and this takes quite a lot of time, and subjective ones - starting from legislative regulation of the processes of deforestation and restoration of forests and ending with executive discipline on the ground.

Water.

When there is a lot of something or in excess, then the value of such wealth is significantly underestimated, and, therefore, the attention to its preservation. This can be fully attributed to the water reserves of Russia. The exploitation of water resources is carried out without looking back to tomorrow. Water for industrial and domestic needs is taken without control and restrictions. Effluent is discharged, in 90% of cases, without proper treatment, and, sometimes, without it at all. This attitude towards water has led to the fact that 50% of all water bodies in the country are considered polluted, and surface water - 75%.

The main sources of pollution are industrial enterprises, the treatment facilities of which are up to 70% outdated and do not cope with their functions. The same can be said about public utilities for water supply and sewerage. A significant number of settlements located along the banks of the rivers do not have treatment facilities at all, and household waste flows directly into the rivers. The development of industrial production, especially the chemical industry, filled these effluents with new chemical elements and substances. Nature has no means and ways to neutralize them, which has a particularly negative effect on the flora and fauna of rivers.Energy contributes to water pollution. This is not only the discharge of wastewater and warm water used to cool process equipment. These are the hydraulic structures themselves, their cascades and artificial reservoirs built to generate energy. Hydraulic structures and numerous canals built over the past century and regulating the flow of water in the interests and needs of man often contradict the laws of nature and, therefore, lead to numerous negative consequences for her. Examples include cascades of power plants on the Volga, dams on the Caspian and many small rivers that have disappeared after such “regulating” human activity.

In an effort to maximize the satisfaction of food needs and to obtain the greatest profit, agricultural producers use various methods to influence the yield of crops grown. This drainage and irrigation, the use of pesticides and various pesticides. All this ultimately changes not only the water balance of the region where such methods are applied, but also the composition and structure of the water itself. Excessive passion for mineral fertilizers, their improper storage or storage of prohibited poisonous and poisonous

substances, leading to their entry into surface and underground waters. Recently, the quality indicators of the latter have deteriorated sharply. This is especially negative where they are the main sources of water for the population. And there are many such cities in Russia, and these are not always small towns and settlements.

Air and radiation.

Indicators of atmospheric air pollution in present period are of a twofold nature. On the one hand, the industrial recession, which led to the reduction and halt of a large number of industries. On the other hand, it does not allow operating enterprises to allocate sufficient funds for the modernization and re-equipment of equipment for cleaning emissions of gases and dust. Although the second is more of a good excuse than a sincere desire.

In Central Russia, environmental problems with air pollution are such that the largest number of technically obsolete industries is concentrated in this region and these are the most populated regions of Russia. Industrial emissions are joined by motor transport gases, the amount of which is steadily growing. Even in regions where the bulk of production has stopped, the amount of transport per capita is becoming more and more. And this transport is not the most modern. It is not equipped with exhaust gas treatment systems that meet modern international standards. IN big cities, transport is no longer traveling and transporting as much as it costs and smokes in traffic jams.

A positive trend in the reduction of toxic emissions into the atmosphere has been outlined in connection with the transition of thermal power plants from the consumption of solid fuels to natural gas. When gas is burned by such stations, the amount of air pollutants is significantly less.

New environmental problems in Russia have arisen since the middle of the last century with the achievements of science in the field of nuclear physics. Nuclear or nuclear energy and weapons carry new threats to the environment, have become previously unknown sources of its pollution, the consequences of which have not been finally established to this day.

Sources of radioactive contamination may not be located on the territory of the state, but located hundreds or thousands of kilometers away, this is their essential feature. Thus, some regions of Central Russia suffered in connection with the accident on Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Disaster in Chelyabinsk region on

plant "Mayak" led to the creation of a whole zone, covering several regions of neighboring regions. The number of settlements on which the radioactive “trace” turned out to have reached the figure of 2014 with a population of almost 1 million inhabitants.

Level of radioactive contamination nuclear power plants low What cannot be said about the disposal and disposal of waste from this production, as well as about radioactive emissions associated with accidents or the operation of military equipment and weapons. The northern regions of Russia are especially affected by this, where, in addition to bases navy, which includes nuclear-powered ships, burial grounds for the disposal of spent radioactive material have been created. Waste disposal and disposal processes are difficult to control due to military secrecy regimes.

I would like to specially note ecological situation, which develops in connection with the disposal and storage of industrial and municipal solid waste. The landfills allocated for these purposes have long been overloaded, and the allocation of new territories for storage, not to mention the introduction of new processing technologies, is not carried out. Or does the principle “Russia is big - there is a lot of land” again apply and there will be enough landfills for our lifetime?

1. SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN MODERN SOCIETY

Mankind has come to understand that the further development of technological progress is impossible without assessing the impact of new technologies on the ecological situation. The new connections created by man must be closed in order to ensure the invariability of those basic parameters of the planet Earth that affect its ecological stability.

Solving the environmental problems of today is a difficult task. Indeed, in order to solve environmental protection, it is not enough to write and speak, it is necessary to act not only at the national level, but also at the global level. Only when all of humanity understands that there is an ecological catastrophe on planet Earth, then the actions of all people will be aimed at preserving their planet. It is up to us to decide how we want to see our Earth in many years.

To protect nature, the following solutions can be proposed:

• increase attention to the issues of nature protection and ensuring the rational use of natural resources;
• establish systematic control over the use by enterprises and organizations of lands, waters, forests, subsoil and other natural resources;
• increase attention to the issues of preventing pollution and salinization of soils, surface and groundwater;
• pay great attention to the preservation of the water-protective and protective functions of forests, the conservation and reproduction of flora and fauna, and the prevention of air pollution;
• create public organizations, carrying out activities in the field of environmental protection, or join them;
• take part in meetings, rallies, demonstrations, collection of signatures for petitions on environmental issues;
• assist the authorities in solving issues of nature protection;
• to apply to authorities and other organizations with applications related to environmental protection;
• participate in environmental protection activities;
• and most importantly, to fulfill the most important duty of a citizen: to preserve nature and the environment, to treat natural resources with care.

CONCLUSION

Civilization has a detrimental effect on nature and the state of the environment. But everyone can reduce this negative impact. Even if one person thinks about it and changes his habits a little, he will already help the ecological state of his city, and therefore the whole planet.

• Protection of Nature - the most important task, which stands not only in front of Russian state but also to each of its citizens.
• Land and other resources are used and protected as the basis of life and activity of the peoples of Russia.
• The state is engaged in the protection of nature, which issues laws that establish rules for the use and conservation of nature, and names those who, by their actions, cause damage to it.
• Voluntary public organizations and citizens who care about their country and their future participate in nature protection. Protecting nature, they protect the Motherland.
• Every citizen is obliged to preserve nature and the environment, to treat natural resources with care.
• The protection of nature and the environment requires the combined efforts of all countries. Russia participates in international cooperation on nature protection.

What will save the environment?

• Adoption of laws tightening control over the state of the environment.
• Increase in funds allocated for environmental protection.
• Refusal of the industry from the use of "dirty" technologies.
• Tougher penalties for violating environmental laws.
• Ecological education and education of the population.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Weiner D. R. Ecology in Soviet Russia. M., 1992.
2. Nesbitt J., Eburdin P. What awaits us in the 90s. Megatrends: year 2000. M., 1992.
3. Hesle V. Philosophy and ecology. M., 1993.
4. http://www.saveplanet.su/

Environmental protection. Key points

Nature or the environment, as well as its components, are not only natural resources with which it is rich, the most important thing is the environment for the constant stay of a person, his place of residence. The science of ecology is engaged in the protection of the environment, its components, as well as the study of the impact of living organisms on the environment.

Definition 1

Environmental protection or conservation activities is a set of engineering, engineering, legal, organizational, economic, administrative and other measures aimed at the compliance of environmental indicators with established standards, elimination or minimization negative impact on the environment in the process of anthropogenic activity.

Environmental protection and environmental safety are an urgent and priority area of ​​economic activity of organizations of all forms of ownership, as well as state and other forms of government.

Regulatory framework for environmental protection

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Environmental legislation serves as the basis for the implementation of environmental activities in Russia.

Definition 2

Legislation in the field of environmental protection- this is a system of state measures enshrined in regulatory legal acts (laws, regulations, etc.) and aimed at preserving, restoring and improving the conditions necessary to create a prosperous and safe living environment for humans and other living organisms, the development of material production , as well as minimizing or eliminating the consequences of past environmental damage.

The main objectives of environmental legislation are:

• protection of environmental components (air, water, soil, subsoil, forests, flora and fauna) from negative anthropogenic impact;
• conservation of biodiversity;
• rational use of natural resources;
• introduction of the best available technologies;
• environmental education and improvement of environmental culture among the population;
• elimination of past environmental damage;
• implementation of supervisory activities.

basis environmental legislation Russia are:

1. Legislative acts. These include the main regulatory and environmental acts (Constitution, International Treaties, Federal laws, laws of subjects of the Russian Federation, etc.)
2. Regulations. These include acts adopted by the President, the Government, executive authorities (Rosprirodnadzor).
3. System state standards (GOSTs of the Nature Protection system), sanitary rules and regulations (SanPiNs), building codes and regulations (SNiPs), sanitary standards (SN).

The main legal document in the country, including in terms of environmental legislation, is the Constitution of the Russian Federation. On the basis of the Constitution, all types of laws, by-laws, state standards, etc. are developed. No normative legal act may contradict the Constitution. The Constitution of the Russian Federation provides:

1. rights and obligations of citizens environmental management and environmental protection;
2. fundamentals of ownership of natural resources;
3. delimitation of environmental functions of the Russian Federation and subjects of the Russian Federation;
4. powers of public authorities in the field of environmental relations.

These norms are represented by articles of the Constitution that are directly related to environmental protection, environmental safety and nature management. The main articles of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, reflecting environmental standards - No. 7, No. 9, No. 36, No. 41, No. 42, No. 72.

Remark 1

In addition to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, environmental foundations are laid down in codes. So, in Russia there are Water, Forest, Air and Land Codes. However, the last two codes are indirectly related to environmental issues and reflect the issues of air traffic and cadastral relations to a greater extent.

The main laws regulating the activities of individuals, legal entities, as well as environmental structures in terms of environmental protection are:

• Federal Law No. 7 "On Environmental Protection" dated 10.01.2002
• Federal Law No. 89 "On production and consumption waste" dated 06/24/1998.
• FZ-No. 96 "On the protection of atmospheric air" dated 04.05.1999.
• Federal Law No. 416 "On water supply and sanitation" dated 07.12.2011
• Federal Law No. 52 "On the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population" dated 30.03.1999.
• Law of the Russian Federation No. 2395-1 "On Subsoil" dated February 21, 1992.
• Federal Law No. 174 "On Environmental Expertise" dated November 23, 1995.

In addition to federal laws, there are many orders, resolutions, decrees, GOSTs, methods, regulations and other legal acts that regulate various types of activities that pose a clear or potential danger to the environment: the transport of dangerous goods, the emission of greenhouse gases, the production and use of substances, destructive ozone layer, assignment of waste to a specific hazard class, payment for negative environmental impact and many others.

Environment protection. Environmental Engineering

Engineering environmental protection is a set of engineering measures aimed at reducing or eliminating the negative impact on the environment through the implementation of engineering and design solutions, as well as the use of the best available technologies.

This set of measures is usually carried out by organizations (individuals and legal entities) various forms properties that have sources of negative environmental impact on their balance sheet. In turn, these sources are divided into:

• sources of emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air;
• sources of pollutant discharges into the centralized wastewater disposal system and into water bodies;
• sources of production and consumption waste generation.

In order to reduce emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air, enterprises are taking measures to introduce gas-cleaning and dust-collecting installations (cyclones, scrubbers, filters, etc.). These units provide purification of exhaust gases from sources from 80 to 98%, as a result, much smaller volumes of pollutants enter the atmosphere, which ensures high quality atmospheric air (Fig.1.). Also, for these purposes, measures are taken to plant tree and shrub vegetation, which retains some of the pollutants.

In order to preserve the quality of water bodies, a treatment system is being introduced at enterprises discharging wastewater Wastewater, which may consist of:

• mechanical cleaning systems (grids, sand traps, primary clarifiers, pre-aerators, etc.)
• biological treatment systems (biological filters, aeration tanks, secondary settling tanks, nitrogen and phosphorus removal facilities, etc.)

To reduce the negative impact on the environment in terms of carrying out activities with production and consumption waste, the following measures are taken:

• sorting of production and consumption waste by fractional and component composition in accordance with the hazard class;
• introduction of systems for pressing waste (Fig. 2.);
• implementation of systems for the neutralization and reuse (utilization) of waste in their own production.

Activities of public organizations

The main function of public environmental organizations in the preservation of the environment is the work on environmental education and inculcation of environmental culture among the population.

This feature is fundamental. After all, it’s not clean where they clean it, but where they don’t litter.

Pollution is the introduction of pollutants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form chemical substances or energy such as noise, heat or light. Pollution components can be either foreign substances/energy or natural pollutants.

The main types and causes of environmental pollution:

Air pollution

Coniferous forest after acid rain

Smoke from chimneys, factories, Vehicle or from burning wood and coal make the air toxic. The effects of air pollution are also obvious. The release of sulfur dioxide and dangerous gases into the atmosphere causes global warming and acid rain, which in turn increase temperatures, causing excessive rainfall or droughts around the world, and making life difficult. We also breathe every polluted particle in the air and as a result, the risk of asthma and lung cancer increases.

Water pollution

It caused the loss of many species of flora and fauna of the Earth. This was due to the fact that industrial wastes discharged into rivers and other water bodies cause an imbalance in aquatic environment leading to serious pollution and death of aquatic animals and plants.

In addition, spraying insecticides, pesticides (such as DDT) on plants pollute the groundwater system. Oil spills in the oceans have caused significant damage to water bodies.

Eutrophication in the Potomac River, USA

Eutrophication is another important cause of water pollution. Occurs due to untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff from the soil into lakes, ponds, or rivers, causing chemicals to enter the water and prevent penetration sun rays, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen, and making the reservoir uninhabitable.

Pollution of water resources harms not only individual aquatic organisms, but the whole, and seriously affects people who depend on it. In some countries of the world, due to water pollution, outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea are observed.

Soil pollution

soil erosion

This type of pollution occurs when harmful substances enter the soil. chemical elements usually caused by human activity. Insecticides and pesticides absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil, after which it becomes unsuitable for plant growth. Industrial waste, and also adversely affect the soil. Because plants cannot grow as they should, they are unable to hold the soil, resulting in erosion.

Noise pollution

Occurs when unpleasant (loud) sounds from the environment affect a person's hearing and lead to psychological problems, including tension, high blood pressure, hearing loss, etc. It can be caused by industrial equipment, aircraft, cars, etc.

Nuclear pollution

This is a very dangerous type of pollution, it occurs due to failures in the operation of nuclear power plants, improper storage nuclear waste, accidents, etc. Radioactive contamination can cause cancer, infertility, loss of vision, birth defects; it can make the soil infertile, and also adversely affects the air and water.

light pollution

Light pollution of planet earth

Occurs due to noticeable over-illumination of the area. It is common, as a rule, in large cities, especially from billboards, in gyms or entertainment venues at night. In residential areas, light pollution greatly affects people's lives. It also interferes with astronomical observations by making the stars almost invisible.

Thermal/thermal pollution

Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes the temperature of the surrounding water. The main cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a refrigerant by power plants and industrial plants. When water used as a refrigerant is returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature, the change in temperature reduces the supply of oxygen and affects the composition. Fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by sudden changes in water temperature (or rapid increases or decreases).

Thermal pollution is caused by excess heat in the environment creating unwanted changes over long periods of time. This is due to the huge number of industrial enterprises, deforestation and air pollution. Thermal pollution increases the Earth's temperature, causing dramatic climate change and extinction of wildlife species.

Visual pollution

Visual pollution, Philippines

Visual pollution is an aesthetic problem and refers to the effects of pollution that impair the ability to enjoy the outside world. It includes: billboards, open dumps, antennas, electrical wires, buildings, cars, etc.

Overcrowding of the territory with a large number of objects causes visual pollution. Such pollution contributes to distraction, eye fatigue, loss of identity, and so on.

plastic pollution

Plastic pollution, India

Includes the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that have adverse effects on wildlife, animal or human habitats. Plastic products are inexpensive and durable, which has made them very popular among people. However, this material decomposes very slowly. Plastic pollution can adversely affect soil, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Living organisms, especially marine animals, become entangled in plastic waste or are affected by chemicals in plastic that cause interruptions in biological function. People are also affected by plastic pollution, causing a hormonal imbalance.

Objects of pollution

The main objects of environmental pollution are such as air (atmosphere), water resources (streams, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans), soil, etc.

Pollutants (sources or subjects of pollution) of the environment

Pollutants are chemical, biological, physical or mechanical elements (or processes) that harm the environment.

They can be harmful both in the short and long term. Pollutants originate from natural resources or are produced by humans.

Many pollutants have a toxic effect on living organisms. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an example of a substance that harms humans. This compound is absorbed by the body instead of oxygen, causes shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, and in severe cases can lead to serious poisoning, and even death.

Some pollutants become hazardous when they react with other naturally occurring compounds. Nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released from impurities in fossil fuels during combustion. They react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Acid rain adversely affects aquatic ecosystems and leads to the death of aquatic animals, plants, and other living organisms. Terrestrial ecosystems also suffer from acid rain.

Classification of pollution sources

According to the type of occurrence, environmental pollution is divided into:

Anthropogenic (artificial) pollution

Deforestation

Anthropogenic pollution is the impact on the environment caused by the activities of mankind. The main sources of artificial pollution are:

• industrialization;
• the invention of automobiles;
• the growth of the world's population;
• deforestation: destruction of natural habitats;
• nuclear explosions;
• overexploitation of natural resources;
• construction of buildings, roads, dams;
• the creation of explosive substances that are used during military operations;
• use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• mining.

Natural (natural) pollution

Eruption

Natural pollution is caused and occurs naturally, without human intervention. It can affect the environment for a certain period of time, but it can be regenerated. Sources of natural pollution include:

• volcanic eruptions, with the release of gases, ash and magma;
• forest fires emit smoke and gas impurities;
• sandstorms raise dust and sand;
• decomposition organic matter during which gases are released.

Consequences of pollution:

environmental degradation

Left photo: Beijing after the rain. Right photo: smog in Beijing

The environment is the first victim of atmospheric pollution. An increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog, which can prevent sunlight from reaching the earth's surface. As a result, it becomes much more difficult. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide can cause acid rain. Water pollution in terms of an oil spill can lead to the death of several species of wild animals and plants.

Human health

Lung cancer

Decreased air quality leads to some respiratory problems, including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain, sore throat, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease can be caused by air pollution. Water pollution can create skin problems, including irritation and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress and sleep disturbance.

Global warming

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is one of the cities facing the prospect of being flooded by the ocean in the 21st century.

The emission of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, leads to global warming. Every day new industries are created, new cars appear on the roads, and the number of trees is reduced to make room for new homes. All these factors, directly or indirectly, lead to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Rising CO2 causes the polar ice caps to melt, which increases sea levels and endangers people living near coastal areas.

Ozone layer depletion

The ozone layer is a thin shield high in the sky that prevents ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. As a result of human activity, chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Badlands

Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil can become infertile. Different kinds chemicals generated from industrial waste end up in water, which also affects soil quality.

Protection (protection) of the environment from pollution:

International protection

Many of these are particularly vulnerable as they are subject to human influence in many countries. As a result, some states unite and develop agreements aimed at preventing damage or managing human impact on natural resources. They include agreements that affect the protection of the climate, oceans, rivers and air from pollution. These international environmental treaties are sometimes binding instruments that have legal consequences in case of non-compliance, and in other situations are used as codes of conduct. The most famous include:

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), approved in June 1972, provides for the protection of nature for the present generation of people and their descendants.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed in May 1992. The main goal of this agreement is "stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
• The Kyoto Protocol provides for the reduction or stabilization of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. It was signed in Japan at the end of 1997.

State protection

The discussion of environmental issues often focuses on the level of government, legislation and law enforcement. However, in the broadest sense, the protection of the environment can be seen as the responsibility of the whole people, and not just the government. Decisions that affect the environment will ideally include a wide range of stakeholders, including industrial sites, indigenous groups, representatives of environmental groups and communities. Decision-making processes in the field of environmental protection are constantly evolving and becoming more active in different countries.

Many constitutions recognize the fundamental right to protect the environment. Besides, in various countries there are organizations and institutions dealing with environmental issues.

While protecting the environment is not just a duty public institutions, most people consider these organizations paramount in creating and maintaining basic standards that protect the environment and the people who interact with it.

How to protect the environment yourself?

Population and technological advances based on fossil fuels have seriously affected our natural environment. Therefore, now we need to do our part to eliminate the consequences of degradation so that humanity continues to live in an ecologically safe environment.

There are 3 main principles that are still relevant and important more than ever:

• use less;
• reuse;
• convert.

• Create a compost heap in your garden. This helps to recycle food waste and other biodegradable materials.
• When shopping, use your eco-bags and try to avoid plastic bags as much as possible.
• Plant as many trees as you can.
• Think about how you can reduce the number of trips you make with your car.
• Reduce car emissions by walking or cycling. These are not just great alternatives to driving, but also health benefits.
• Use public transport whenever you can for your daily commute.
• Bottles, paper, waste oil, old batteries and used tires must be properly disposed of; All this causes serious pollution.
• Do not pour chemicals and used oil onto the ground or down drains leading to waterways.
• If possible, recycle selected biodegradable waste, and work to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste used.
• Reduce the amount of meat you consume or consider a vegetarian diet.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (a. environment protection; n. Umweltschutz; f. protection de l "environnement; and. proteccion de ambiente) - a set of measures to optimize or preserve the natural environment. The purpose of environmental protection is to counteract negative changes in it, which have taken place in the past, are happening now, or are to come.

General information. The cause of adverse events in the environment can be natural factors (in particular those causing natural disasters). However, the relevance of environmental protection, which has become global problem, is associated mainly with the deterioration of the environment as a result of an actively growing anthropogenic impact. This is due to a population explosion, accelerating urbanization and the development of mining and communications, environmental pollution with various wastes (see also), excessive pressure on arable, pasture and forest lands (especially in developing countries). According to the UN Environment Program (UNEP), by the year 2000 the world's population will reach 6.0-6.1 billion people, 51% of which are city dwellers. At the same time, the number of cities with a population of 1-32 million people will reach 439, urbanized territories will occupy over 100 million hectares. Urbanization usually leads to air pollution, surface and groundwater pollution, deterioration of flora and fauna, soils and soils. As a result of construction and improvement in urban areas, tens of billions of tons of soil masses are moved, and artificial soil stabilization is carried out on a large scale. The volume of underground structures that are not related to the extraction of minerals is growing (see).

The growing scale of energy production is one of the main factors of anthropogenic pressure on the environment. Human activity disrupts the energy balance in nature. In 1984, the production of primary energy amounted to 10.3 billion tons of standard fuel due to the combustion of coal (30.3%), oil (39.3%), natural gas (19.7%), and the operation of hydroelectric power stations (6.8%) , nuclear power plants (3.9%). In addition, 1.7 billion tons of reference fuel was generated from the use of firewood, charcoal and organic waste (mainly in developing countries). By 2000, energy generation is expected to increase by 60% compared to 1980 levels.

In the districts the globe with a high concentration of population and industry, the scale of energy production has become commensurate with the radiation balance, which has a significant impact on the change in microclimate parameters. Large energy costs in the territories occupied by cities, mining enterprises and communications lead to significant changes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geological environment.

One of the most acute environmental problems caused by the increased technogenic impact on the natural environment is related to the state of atmospheric air. It includes a number of aspects. First, the protection of the ozone layer, which is necessary in connection with the growth of atmospheric pollution with freons, nitrogen oxides, etc. By the middle of the 21st century. this could result in a 15% reduction in stratospheric ozone. Observations over the past 30 years (by 1986) have revealed a trend towards a decrease in the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere over Antarctica in spring. The same information was obtained for the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere. A probable reason for the partial destruction of the ozone layer is an increase in the concentration of organochlorine compounds of anthropogenic origin in the Earth's atmosphere. Secondly, the increase in CO 2 concentration, which is mainly due to increased burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, depletion of the humus layer and soil degradation (Fig. 1).

Since the end of the 18th century, about 540 billion tons of anthropogenic CO2 have accumulated in the Earth's atmosphere; over 200 years, the CO2 content in the air has increased from 280 to 350 ppm. By the middle of the 21st century a doubling of the gas concentration that occurred before the start of the HTP is expected. As a result of the combined action of CO 2 and other "greenhouse" gases (CH 4, N 2 O, freons), by the 30s of the 21st century (and according to some forecasts, earlier), an increase in the average temperature of the surface air layer by 3 ± 1 may occur, 5°C, with the maximum warming occurring in the circumpolar zones, and the minimum at the equator. An increase in the rate of glacier melting and sea level rise of more than 0.5 cm/year is expected. An increase in CO 2 concentration leads to an increase in the productivity of terrestrial plants, as well as to a weakening of transpiration, the latter can lead to a significant change in the nature of water exchange on land. Thirdly, acid precipitation (rain, hail, snow, fog, dew with a pH of less than 5.6, as well as dry aerosol deposition of sulfur compounds and) have become essential components of the atmosphere. They fall in Europe, North America, as well as in areas of the largest agglomerations and Latin America. The main cause of acid precipitation is the release of sulfur and nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere during the combustion of fossil fuels in stationary installations and vehicle engines. Acid rain damages buildings, monuments and metal structures; cause degradation and death of forests, reduce the yield of many agricultural crops, worsen the fertility of acidic soils and the state of aquatic ecosystems. Atmospheric acidification adversely affects human health. General atmospheric pollution has reached significant proportions: annual dust emissions into the atmosphere in the 80s. estimated at 83 million tons, NO 2 - 27 million tons, SO 2 - over 220 million tons (Fig. 2, Fig. 3).

The problem of depletion of water resources is caused by an increase in water consumption by industry, agriculture and utilities, on the one hand, and water pollution, on the other. Every year, mankind uses an average of over 3800 km3 of water, of which agriculture 2450, industry 1100, for household needs 250 km 3. The consumption of sea water is growing rapidly (so far its share in the total water intake is 2%). Pollution of many water bodies on land (especially in the countries of Western Europe and North America) and the waters of the World Ocean has reached a dangerous level. Every year (million tons) enters the ocean: 0.2-0.5 pesticides; 0.1 - organochlorine pesticides; 5-11 - oil and other hydrocarbons; 10 - chemical fertilizers; 6 - phosphorus compounds; 0.004 - mercury; 0.2 - lead; 0.0005 - cadmium; 0.38 - copper; 0.44 - manganese; 0.37 - zinc; 1000 - solid waste; 6.5-50 - solid waste; 6.4 - plastics. Despite the measures taken, oil pollution, the most dangerous for the ocean, is not decreasing (according to some forecasts, it will increase as long as the production and use of oil and oil products continue to grow). In the North Atlantic, the oil film occupies 2-3% of the area. The North and Caribbean Seas, the Persian Gulf, as well as areas adjacent to Africa and America, where oil is transported by tanker fleet, are most polluted with oil. Bacterial pollution of the coastal waters of some densely populated regions, in particular the Mediterranean Sea, has acquired dangerous proportions. As a result of water pollution by industrial effluents and wastes, an acute shortage of fresh water has arisen in a number of regions of the world. Water resources are also depleted indirectly - during deforestation, draining swamps, lowering the level of lakes as a result of water management activities, etc. Due to the need to search for new water resources, predict their condition and develop a rational water use strategy, mainly for densely populated, highly areas, the water problem has acquired an international character.

One of the main environmental problems is related to the deterioration of land resources. The anthropogenic load on agricultural and forestry lands in terms of energy is disproportionately less than on lands under cities, communications and mining, but it is precisely this that is the cause of the main losses of flora, fauna and land cover. Economic activity man on productive lands leads to a change in relief, a decrease in reserves and pollution of surface and groundwater. In the world, more than 120 million tons of mineral fertilizers and over 5 million tons of pesticides are annually applied to soils. Of the 1.47 billion hectares of arable land, 220 million hectares are irrigated, of which more than 1 is saline. Behind historical time as a result of accelerated erosion and other negative processes, humanity has lost almost 2 billion hectares of productive agricultural land. In territories with arid, semi-arid and semi-humid climates, as well as on the productive lands of regions with a hyperarid climate, the problem of land resources is associated with desertification (see Desert). Desertification affects an area of ​​4.5 billion hectares, where about 850 million people live, it is rapidly developing (up to 5-7 million hectares per year) in the tropical regions of Africa, South Asia and South America, as well as in the subtropics of Mexico . Great damage to the condition of agricultural land is caused by accelerated erosion caused by tropical downpours, characteristic of countries with a tropical, constantly and variable humid climate.

An increase in the area of ​​land converted to agricultural use for the construction of roads, settlements and industrial (primarily mining) enterprises causes rapid deforestation, which occurs mainly in the tropical zone, in areas of tropical rainforests, whose ecosystems combine from 0.5 to 3 million species of organisms, being the largest repository of the Earth's genetic fund. Industrial logging also plays a significant role in deforestation. The lack of fossil fuel reserves in many developing countries, as well as high prices for it, have led to the fact that about 80% of the wood harvested here is used for fuel. The rate of deforestation is 6-20 million hectares per year. Deforestation is fastest in South America, East and South-East Asia and West Africa. During 1960-80, the area of ​​tropical rainforests decreased by 2 times, and of all forests of the tropical belt by almost 1/3.

An important problem for mankind is the protection of the geological environment, i.e. the upper part of the lithosphere, which is considered as a multicomponent dynamic system that is under the influence of human engineering and economic activities and, in turn, determines this activity to a certain extent. The main component of the geological environment is rocks, which, along with solid mineral and organic components, contain gases, groundwater, and also "inhabiting" their organisms. In addition, the geological environment includes various objects created within the lithosphere by man and considered as anthropogenic geological formations. All these components - components of a single natural and technical system - are in close interaction and determine its dynamics.

In the formation of the structure and properties of the geological environment, the processes of interaction of the geospheres play an essential role. Anthropogenic impact causes the development of natural-anthropogenic and the emergence of new (anthropogenic) geological processes that lead to regular changes in the composition, state and properties of the geological environment.

According to UNESCO estimates, by 2000 the extraction of the most important minerals will reach 30 billion tons, by this time another 24 million hectares of land will be disturbed, and the amount of solid waste per unit mass of finished products will double. The size of the transport and communication network will double. Water consumption will increase to about 6,000 km3 per year. The area of ​​forest land will decrease (by 10-12%), and the area of ​​arable land will increase by 10-20% (compared to 1980).

Historical outline. The need for harmony between society and nature was pointed out in their works by K. Marx, F. Engels and V. I. Lenin. Marx, for example, wrote: "Human projects that do not take into account the great laws of nature bring only disasters" (K. Marx, F. Engels, Soch., vol. 31, p. 210). This phrase was especially noted in the notes of V. I. Lenin, who emphasized that “generally speaking, it is also impossible to replace the forces of nature with human labor, just as it is impossible to replace arshins with pounds. Both in industry and in agriculture, a person can only use the action of the forces of nature if he has known their action, and facilitate this use for himself by means of machines, tools, etc." (Lenin V.I., PSS, vol. 5, p. 103).

In Russia, extensive measures for the protection of nature were already provided for by decrees of Peter I. The Moscow Society of Naturalists (founded in 1805), the Russian geographical society(founded in 1845) and others published articles in which questions of the environmental plan were raised. The American scientist J. P. Marsh wrote about the relevance of maintaining equilibrium in the natural environment in 1864 in his book Man and Nature. The ideas of protecting the natural environment at the international level were promoted by the Swiss scientist P. B. Sarazin, on whose initiative the first international conference on nature protection was convened in Bern (Switzerland) in 1913.

In the 30s. In the 20th century, a Soviet scientist, having considered on a global scale the anthropogenic impact on the natural environment, came to the conclusion that "human economic and industrial activity in its scale and significance has become comparable to the processes of nature itself ... Man geochemically remakes the world" (Fersman A. E. ., Selected Works, vol. 3, p. 716). He made an invaluable contribution to understanding the global features of the evolution of the natural environment. Opening origin of three external geospheres, he apparently formulated the main law of geological development: in a single mechanism of the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere living matter The Earth "performs functions of the greatest importance, without which it could not exist." Thus, V. I. Vernadsky actually established that the biotic "supercomponent" in the natural environment has control functions, because in a thin "film of life" on the planet, huge amounts of workable energy are concentrated and simultaneously dissipated from it. The conclusions of the scientist lead closely to the definition of a strategy for nature conservation: the management of the natural environment, its renewable resources should be built in accordance with how living matter and the habitat transformed by it are organized, i.e. it is necessary to take into account the spatial organization of the biosphere. Knowledge of the aforementioned law makes it possible to call the degree of reduction of the planetary biota by man the most important criterion for the state of the natural environment. Pointing to the beginning of the transformation of the biosphere into the noosphere, Vernadsky emphasized the spontaneous nature of many changes in the natural environment provoked by man.

The main attention to solving the problems of environmental protection is given after the 2nd World War 1939-45. The teachings of Vernadsky about living matter - the biosphere-noosphere and Fersman about technogenesis have been widely developed in the works of many Soviet and individual foreign scientists (A. P. Vinogradov, E. M. Sergeev, V. A. Kovda, Yu. A. Israel, A. (I. Perelman, M. A. Glazovskaya, F. Ya. Shipunov, P. Duvegno, etc.). During these years, there was an increase the international cooperation aimed at solving environmental problems. In 1948 biologists created the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and in 1961 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Since 1969, extensive interdisciplinary research has been carried out by a specially created Scientific Committee on Environmental Problems (SCOPE). Much work is being done under the auspices of the UN, on whose initiative the permanent UN Environment Program (UNEP) was created in 1972. Within the framework of the UN, environmental problems are also solved by: the World Meteorological Organization (BMO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Commission on Environment and Development (MKOCP), etc. UNESCO implements or participates in a number of programmes, the main ones being: Man and the Biosphere (MAB), the International Hydrological Program (IHP) and the International Program on Geological Correlation (IGCP). great attention the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Economic Community (EEC), the Organization of American States (OAS), the League of Arab Countries for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO) pay environmental problems.

The protection of flora and fauna on land is regulated by many international conventions and agreements. Since 1981, within the framework of the MAB, the Northern Scientific Network has been created, uniting Scientific research scientists from the Nordic countries (including the CCCP) in three priority areas: environmental conditions and land use in the zone of subarctic birch forests; biosphere reserves in subpolar and polar regions; land use practices and herbivorous animals in the tundra and northern taiga. In order to protect natural communities, genetic diversity and certain types developed a Plan for Biosphere Reserves, approved in 1984 by the International Coordinating Council of the MAB program. Works on biosphere reserves are being carried out in 62 countries under the auspices of UNESCO, UNEP and IUCN. At the initiative of UNESCO, UNEP, FAO and IUCN, the network of protected areas of the most valuable areas of tropical rain forests is expanding. Keeping about 10% of the area of ​​primary forest intact can provide protection for at least 50% of the species of organisms. In developing countries, in order to reduce the volume of industrial logging in virgin forests, the use of forest plantations is increasing, the total area of ​​which reaches several million hectares. The area of ​​plantations of export crops is growing, this should reduce the use of forest resources for selling wood on the world market.

Protection of the geological environment. The main types of protection of the geological environment: protection of mineral and energy resources of the subsoil; groundwater protection; protection of rock masses as a source of natural underground space resources and the creation of artificial underground reservoirs and premises; protection and improvement of natural and anthropogenic soils as grounds for the placement of ground structures and components of natural and technical systems; forecasting and combating natural disasters. The goals of protecting the geological environment as a source of non-renewable minerals: ensuring scientifically based, rational use of natural mineral and energy resources, the greatest technically possible and economically feasible completeness of their extraction from, integrated use of deposits and mined mineral raw materials at all stages of processing; rational use of mineral raw materials in the economy and disposal of production waste, excluding unjustified losses of mineral raw materials and fuel. An increase in the effectiveness of the protection of the geological environment is facilitated by an increase in the use of alternative methods for obtaining mineral raw materials (for example, mining from sea ​​water), replacement of natural materials with synthetic ones, etc.

Measures for the protection of groundwater are aimed at preventing the penetration of harmful (and generally polluting) substances into groundwater horizons and their further spread. Groundwater protection includes: implementation of technical and technological measures aimed at the multiple use of water in the technological cycle, waste disposal, development effective methods purification and neutralization of waste, prevention of the penetration of sewage from the surface of the Earth into groundwater, reduction of industrial emissions into the atmosphere and water bodies, reclamation of polluted soils; compliance with the requirements for the procedure for exploration of groundwater deposits, design, construction and operation of water intake facilities; implementation of proper water protection measures; management of the water-salt regime of groundwater.

Preventive measures include: systematic monitoring of the level of groundwater pollution; assessment of the scale and forecasts of changes in pollution; careful justification of the location of the projected large industrial or agricultural facility so that its negative impact on the environment and groundwater is minimal; equipment and strict observance of sanitary protection zones of the water intake site; assessment of the impact of the designed facility on groundwater and the environment; study of groundwater protection for reasonable placement of industrial and other facilities, water intake facilities and planning of water protection measures; identification and accounting of actual and potential sources of groundwater pollution; liquidation of abandoned and inactive wells, transfer of self-flowing wells to crane operation. The most important type of these measures is the creation of a specialized network of observation wells at large industrial facilities and centralized water intakes to monitor the state of groundwater.

Environmental protection is one of those global problems, the solution of which requires a comprehensive and universal solution, the introduction of a set of effective measures to restore natural resources, prevent pollution of the world's oceans and atmosphere, etc. For more than one century, people thoughtlessly spent natural resources, and today the time has come when we realize that the planet's reserves are not endless and require not only rational use, but also restoration.

The main factors that ecologists pay attention to are the provoking thinning of the ozone layer of the atmosphere and leading to the "greenhouse effect", the discharge of harmful substances into the world's oceans, which causes the death of its inhabitants, and an increase in the volume of production waste that does not decompose. The BP oilfield incident that led to the present one showed how much more extensive protection is needed in the oil and gas complex. After all, it is in this sector of industry that any accident leads to horrific consequences, from which nature cannot recover for years.

Today, environmental protection is one of the most important issues that governments and most countries of the world decide. Scientists are looking for more gentle technologies for the production and processing of raw materials, developing complexes for its subsequent disposal or reuse, exploring the possibilities of reducing the amount and concentration of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, trying to use safe energy sources and more environmentally friendly fuels.

It is the unfavorable ecological situation that affects not only natural

resources, but also on human health: the average life expectancy of people is decreasing, the number of babies born with developmental pathologies or congenital diseases is increasing, the number of infertile couples and cancer patients is growing. It was such disappointing statistics that became the reason for the development of a set of measures aimed at changing the current situation.

Protection in Russia in last years has become one of the priorities domestic policy states. It involves the development and implementation of new, safe production technologies, measures to restore natural resources (new forest plantations and limitation of clearings, restoration of the population of water bodies, rational use of subsoil resources, reuse of various raw materials, etc.). Along with these measures, the number of protected areas, national parks and reserves is increasing.

The State Committee for Nature Protection is called upon to regulate and control the use of resources. His direct responsibility is the development of regulations, requirements and rules. Only in our country the norms of environmental law are included in the main law of the state - the Constitution. In addition, in order to properly use resources in various industries, the Subsoil Law, as well as the Water, Forest and Land Codes have been developed. Despite a fairly large number of environmental departments, environmental protection in our country is still not sufficiently developed. And this is not so much a flaw in the state power as the own attitude of each person to the world in which he lives.