Acid Rain - Acid rain is a major environmental issue in Western Europe, specifically Germany. The acid rain is caused by air pollution such as the pollution released from cars, buses, and factories, that burn fuel. The acid rain has destroyed almost all of the Black Forest along with eroding away nutrients and damaging important nutrients needed for plants to grow. Additionally, the acid rain will also affect the economies or businesses that involve trees and plants because the acid rain is decreasing the population of these plants.
Air Pollution - One of the causes of acid rain, air pollution is another major environmental issue, specifically the United Kingdom. The air pollution is caused by factories that burn fossil fuels and the sources of transportation, cars and buses, that release harmful smoke or exhaust. Air pollution has resulted in deaths or the weakening of the human body systems such as the heart and lungs, acid rain, and also the harming of plants and wildlife. This also results in more accidents or crimes and slower transportation since the air pollution also makes it more difficult to see.
Forest Degradation/Deforestation - The population of forests are decreasing in Western Europe. The causes of forest degradation include acid rain, forest fires, and the industry (businesses that require limber). With the decreasing forest population, plants and animals have lost their homes which also leads to the decline of biodiversity. Along with the loss of biodiversity, the overall climate has become drier because the water from plants in trees during the stage of transpiration in the water cycle decreases which leads to less rainfall. Possible homes for plants and animals are also ruined because of the nutrient rich soil being eroded away as a result of the missing of plant’s roots and also flooding. Global warming which results in a warmer climate is getting worse due to having less plants and trees taking in the carbon dioxide that is harmful for the environment. Human health is also impacted because the oxygen required for us to live is produced by trees and plants. Therefore, less trees, less oxygen.
Waste - The countries in Western Europe suffer from waste due to their poor control over the waste including production and disposal. With the poorly managed waste, the countries in Western Europe had have to give up a large amount of space of their country to make space for waste disposal methods such as incineration and landfills. However, the incineration also pollutes the environment as it releases smoke or exhaust from the burning of the wastes. The waste issue has also lead some countries in Europe have also launched campaigns such as the Love Food, Hate Waste campaign to raise waste awareness and reduce waste.
Climate Change - Climate change is another environmental issue that countries in Western Europe suffer from. The countries and Western Europe have a more industrialized and factory or manufacturing based economy. The factories that manufacture the goods release waste such as carbon dioxide or the greenhouse gases. Additionally, some manufactured products of companies include cars which also release harmful exhaust to the environment. These gases trap heat which causes the climate to change. Climate change has resulted in the change of sea level, the damage of land, disruptions to ecosystems and habitats, and conflict over how to solve reduce climate change.