---
title: "Short note: Major global environmental issues"
subject: "Technology, Environment and Society"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:global-env-issues-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/global-env-issues-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Major global environmental issues

Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 4: Environment

- Asked in: 2076 Asoj, 4 marks
- Video: [Top 10 Major Global Environmental Issues In The World - List Of Global Environmental Problems [2021]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTrWtFR_FrQ) — District10TV
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/global-env-issues-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-4

## Question

Write a short note on major global environmental issues.

## Short answer

Global environmental issues include climate change from greenhouse gases, ozone depletion by CFCs, air and water pollution, acid rain, deforestation, biodiversity loss, desertification, and plastic waste. They threaten health, ecosystems, and economies, requiring international treaties like the Paris Agreement and Montreal Protocol.

## Answer

Global environmental issues are problems of the environment that affect the whole planet and need international cooperation to solve.

1. **Climate change / global warming** – rising greenhouse gases from fossil fuels and deforestation; causes glacier melt, sea-level rise and extreme weather.
2. **Ozone layer depletion** – caused by CFCs; increases harmful UV rays; controlled by the Montreal Protocol (1987).
3. **Air pollution** – from vehicles, industry and biomass; causes about 7 million early deaths a year (WHO).
4. **Acid rain** – SO₂ and NOₓ form acids; damage forests, lakes and monuments.
5. **Water pollution and scarcity** – sewage, chemicals and over-use; spread of water-borne diseases.
6. **Deforestation** – loss of tropical forests reduces carbon sinks and habitats.
7. **Biodiversity loss** – extinction of species due to habitat loss and poaching.
8. **Desertification and land degradation.**
9. **Plastic, hazardous and e-waste pollution.**

**Global efforts:** UNFCCC (1992), Kyoto Protocol (1997), Paris Agreement (2015), Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), Basel Convention on hazardous waste, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015–2030).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What makes an environmental issue global?
   A. Affects the whole planet and needs international cooperation
   B. Affects one village
   C. Affects one factory
   D. Has no solution
   Answer: A. Global issues cross borders and need international cooperation. (Key point: Meaning)

2. About how many early deaths a year does WHO attribute to air pollution?
   A. 70,000
   B. 700,000
   C. 7 million
   D. 70 million
   Answer: C. About 7 million early deaths a year. (Key point: Air pollution deaths)

3. Which is a global effort named in the answer?
   A. Paris Agreement (2015) and Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
   B. Treaty of Versailles
   C. Marshall Plan
   D. Bretton Woods
   Answer: A. Paris, UNFCCC, Kyoto, CBD, Basel and SDGs are global efforts. (Key point: Global efforts)

## Related in Technology, Environment and Society

- [Global environmental issues: causes and consequences](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aglobal-env-issues-causes) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4
- [Nepal's environmental issues and global effort](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Anepal-env-issues-global-effort) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4
- [Global and national environmental issues](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aglobal-and-nepal-env-issues) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Current environmental issues: Nepal vs global](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Anepal-vs-global-env-issues) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4
- [Nepal's immediate environmental issues and technology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Anepal-env-issues-technology) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Industrial revolution and environmental issues](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aindustrial-revolution-environment) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3