Results of the 26th Annual “Questionnaire on Environmental Problems and the Survival of Humankind” Report (Free text) September 2017 Your Opinions on Environmental Problems – Free text Feel free to write comments on any topic of environmental problems. If there are any items that relate to your opinion in the list of “Environmental issues to be taken into account” below, please tick the box of identical item. You may select multiple items. If you select “10. Others.” Please write the details in the Opinions column. Environmental issues to be taken into account 1. Climate 2. Biosphere 3. Land-System 4. Biochemical 5. Water Change Integrity Change flows Resources 9. Society, Economy 6. Population 7. Food 8. Lifestyles 10. Others and Environment Opinions : Note) The written statements of the answers posted below are opinions of the indi- vidual respondents; and they don’t necessary represent the views of our Foundation. We have included the name, country, and our identification number along with the comments, unless the respondent requested anonymity. Opinions 6. Globally, this is the biggest problem of all. Only in Europe and Japan is population possibly stabilizing. Elsewhere, the sheer number of humans is affecting biodiversity in an unsustainable way. [-] UK, 004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There still appear to be very little attention given to the continued growth of the global human population, compared to more readily soluble issues such as climate change. [6.Population] UK, 006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are so many rapid and adverse environmental changes taking place around me that nostalgia only leads to such a dismay that I do not want to live any longer. [-] RAJESH BHAT, INDIA, 007 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Others – pollution of land and seas. Too many people stress land and water resources, pollute earth with their waste and hasten natural climate change by creating imbalances. [1.Climate Change, 5.Water Resources, 6.Population, 10.Others] DIANE WIESNER, AUSTRALIA, 008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By far, the greatest global issue is over population. All other issues arise from this one. [-] Kent Blacklidge, USA, 010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am greatly concerned about water resources (5) and biogeochemical flows (4). [4.Biochemical flows] GENE E. LIKENS, USA, 011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trump election poses major obstacles of global concern. 1 [1.Climate Change, 5.Water Resources] Bud Ward, USA, 012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not enough coverage of biodiversity/frailty of planetary life-system. Nearly absent coverage/information on poisonous impacts from unregulated chemicals, new nano-structures, new materials, bio-engineered materials. [1.Climate Change, 2.Biosphere Integrity, 4.Biochemical flows, 5.Water Resources, 9.Society, Economy and Environment, 10.Others] USA, 014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If we lose biodiversity on the planet, it is doomsday for us. [2.Biosphere Integrity] PHILLIP H. COLMAN, AUSTRALIA, 017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We must swear off fossil fuels and resolve to live in a sustainable manner for the sake of future generations. [1.Climate Change, 2.Biosphere Integrity, 5.Water Resources, 6.Population, 7.Food, 8.Lifestyles] USA, 018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I still see education as the key element of the creation of sustainability. [9.Society, Economy and Environment] Timothy Barker, UK, 019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Runaway climate scenarios; collapse of ocean systems; global war. [1.Climate Change] USA, 020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I currently see a convergence of, and synergy between, global environmental issues that puts us at “tipping points” for many of them at once. Biodiversity, loss, climate change, deforestation, excess consumption, and levels of pollution/contamination (including by chemicals and radiation, ionizing and non-ionizing) are accelerating; the current U.S. government’s weakening of environmental regulations has made the situation worse. Despite some small-scale successes scattered around the globe, I expect to see more challenges than we can handle in the near future, including more human displacement, injury, illness, and death as a direct result of environmental problems. [1.Climate Change, 2.Biosphere Integrity, 3.Land-System Change, 4.Biochemical flows, 5.Water Resources, 6.Population, 7.Food, 8.Lifestyles, 9.Society, Economy and Environment, 10.Others] Katie Alvord, USA, 022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It will require maximum human effort to combat/reverse/adapt to the effects of climate change. For this reason, the disempowered must be given power, the voiceless must be fed, educated and heard. Human capital is key to environmental security and stability. [1.Climate Change, 9.Society, Economy and Environment] Nadia White, USA, 027 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All of these are about saving the world’s civilized societies from the results of their own actions. I have no answers. Sustainability is curious and curiouser. I wonder whether it can become expansive enough to include the non-human world. [-] USA, 030 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Climate change and ocean acidification should be separate issues or else grouped under “greenhouse gas emissions.” [1.Climate Change] USA, 031 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Globally I view population growth as one of the biggest environmental threats. But in the U.S., where I live, people are 2 insulated from this and many threats – and so contribute to big problems because they do not feel they should, or must, change their lifestyle. [6.Population, 8.Lifestyles, 9.Society, Economy and Environment] Claudia Geib, USA, 032 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many issues affect each other. Algae is a huge issue here in western Lake Erie. It affects land use, water use and is exacerbated by climate change. [1.Climate Change, 2.Biosphere Integrity, 3.Land-System Change, 4.Biochemical flows, 5.Water Resources] USA, 034 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Groundwater depletion in the U.S. is a major concern due to agriculture. Regarding climate change, transport is the biggest challenge and I’m skeptical about the pace of EVE adoption being adequate to address the concern. Ocean acidification is also a critical issue because food web collapse in that environment would be disastrous. [1.Climate Change, 4.Biochemical flows, 5.Water Resources] Jared Anderson, USA, 037 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Necessary action should be taken to develop the environment and to preserve the existing from its ruin without any discrimination. [1.Climate Change, 2.Biosphere Integrity, 5.Water Resources, 9.Society, Economy and Environment] INDIA, 038 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Population increase is at the heart of all environmental problems. I did not tick 7. Food because enough food is generated, and agriculture is probably the biggest enemy to biodiversity, soils, groundwater, perhaps even climat.e [1.Climate Change, 2.Biosphere Integrity, 3.Land-System Change, 4.Biochemical flows, 6.Population, 9.Society, Economy and Environment] Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, GERMANY, 041 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My #1 and #2 are the key components leading to the other issues. Without resolution, humanity is doomed. [-] USA, 042 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Climate change has been politicized in U.S.A since 2009; long term (solar) fluctuations have largely been ignored; scientists are not listened to by the science-ignorant politicians. [-] Allen Hatheway, USA, 043 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The relationship among society, economy, and environment feels fundamentally out of whack – an imbalance that grows worse as population growth heads to more stress on food, water, climate, land use, biodiversity and biochemical flows. [9.Society, Economy and Environment] Douglas Fischer, USA, 045 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We all suffer from “cognitive dissonance,” the science/ facts/ truth conflict with our lifestyle. Change lifestyle or deny the facts? It is easier to deny the facts. [1.Climate Change, 8.Lifestyles] IAN BURTON, CANADA, 046 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. I believe President Trump’s