Environmental Issues for the Year 2020

Naima Lopez Abdalah 

Earth Day Essay 

April 23, 2010 

Environmental Issues for the Year 2020 

For many people, 2020 may seem like a long way to go from where we stand; however, 

the care that we give to our environment today will affect its wellbeing in the future. This is not 

another sermon about “Going Green” or anything of that sort; it is a reality that affects humanity 

in a direct way. As years go by, it is possible to observe how the environment deteriorates day 

after day because former generations have not given proper care to natural resources. The 

problem lays in the fact that our actions do not only affect America but also the rest of the world. 

Therefore, by not taking care of the natural resources available to us, we are acting in a selfish 

way. I believe that by the year 2020, the major environmental problems that humanity will face 

are a lack of water and climate change. 

Living organisms need water. However, water has not been given the proper care 

throughout the years. Some people may think that there is no need to worry about water since 

our world is mostly made of water. However, with every single irresponsible action we do, we 

are endangering the balance in our natural system. For instance, many creeks and rivers have 

already disappeared as a result of the deforestation that has taken place all over the world. People 

in general cannot be blamed for this, but multinational companies that have the purchase power 

to buy land from different governments around the world, have also cut down many acres of 

trees. National geographic states that “more than 80 percent of the Earth’s natural forests already 

“Environmental Issues for the Year 2020” ‐‐ An essay submitted for Earth Day 2010 

Copyright 2010 Naima Lopez Abdalah

have been destroyed” (1). National Geographic also explains that the rainforests help produce 

rainfall; hence, by cutting down trees many countries like Nigeria and Ghana have experienced 

decades of droughts and, consequently decades of hunger (National Geographic 1). Here, it is 

possible to observe how the action of cutting down trees generates a chain of bad events. This is 

the year 2010 and 80% of the forests are already gone. By the year 2020, most of the forests will 

be gone and with them many rivers, lakes, lagoons, ponds, etc. Another example can be found in 

Central America. The Central American countries are rich in natural resources; however, as a 

result of a poor political administration, many multinational and national companies have 

deforested large areas of land. Nicaragua is a Central American country that is rich in water 

resources; however, most of them have been contaminated. Nicaragua possesses a lake that could 

supply Central America with water in the future; nevertheless, national companies that pour out 

their byproducts to the rivers that are connected to the lake have contaminated those rivers and 

the lake. Besides that, people do not have a strong sense of responsibility towards nature and do 

not deposit their garbage in trash cans, contaminating the lake that provides the vital source. 

Environmental issues are strongly linked to the economy of the world. Why Because 

since water is one of the most important natural resources, big corporations have looked into 

privatizing the potable water system. Privatization of water has already started to take place in 

many states. European corporations have already bought many American water supply 

companies. In 2000, the largest water company in the world, Suez, bought the American water 

company United Water Resources. Also, in 2003, a German corporation bought American Water 

Works (U.S SERC 1). If inflation rates go up year after year and if the privatization monster 

appropriates more American ground, by 2020, many low income families will not be able to 



purchase water at all. The contamination of the water plus the privatization will be a great 

problem by 2020. Unfortunately, water is not the only environmental problem that we will face 

in the year 2020. 

Global warming has been affecting our world. As the result of global warming, the world 

is experiencing drastic climate changes. Through the news we have witnessed the meltdown of 

the poles, eruptions of volcanoes, hurricanes and various other natural disasters. I believe that by 

2020, global warming will be the cause of a great part of environmental problems. Climate 

changes have been drastic especially in 2010. A great example of climate change is the late 

winter snow that Arkansas and other states experienced this year. At the same time, the rest of 

the world is also being affected by the drastic climate change. In some countries, the temperature 

has risen to degrees never seen before. In an article from the United Nations Environment 

Programme (UNEP), it is stated that the velocity and impact to which the climate change is 

taking place is incredibly fast. Climate change is even affecting the levels of acidification in the 

ocean. This means that now we have water that corrodes the shells in the ocean (UNEP 1). What 

kind of water are we going to have by 2020 Are we going to have water that kills the human 

cells Questions like these ones are terrifying. The United States Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) states that the acidification of ocean water is a result of the carbon dioxide 

released from human activities (1). Also the UNEP states that the degree of the meltdown of the 

glaciers is 60% faster than it was in 1998 (1). The levels of the ocean are going to increase if the 

pace of meltdown stays the same. With this happening, many islands that have a low level 

compared to the ocean are going to lose part of their land. UNEP also declared that the ocean 

levels could rise up to two meters by the year 2100, and they also asserted that because of 



climate change, many ecosystems and species have gone into extinction (1).The human hand has 

also contributed to the rise of the ocean level. Factors such as “pumping of ground water for 

human use, impoundment in reservoirs, wetland drainage, [and] deforestation” have contributed 

to this phenomenon (EPA 1). The consequences of this extreme climate change will be felt by 

everybody by 2020. For instance, many people might die because of the high temperatures; 

agriculture may suffer; drinking water resources might be scarce; and many animals might die, 

etc. In other words, our world is going through severe changes that may cause our Earth to 

disappear at some point. All of the damage, such as the emission of carbon dioxide that the Earth 

has faced throughout the years, is finally showing its consequences. The lack of water and 

climate change are strongly related, and both factors, along with many others, will destroy the 

balance of the Earth. 

It might seem too late to start saving our planet, but I think we still have a little hope. The 

contamination of water will surely be a problem by the year 2020, but it is possible to take some 

measures to decrease the velocity to which this phenomenon is happening. First of all, it is 

necessary to show people the environmental and economic consequences that abuse of hydro 

resources will bring to our planet and, hence, to us. This can be done through campaigns that 

make people aware of this situation. Also, this can be done through concerts that capture the 

attention of young people. Additionally, when it comes to multinational companies endangering 

the wellbeing of the nature, it is necessary to take stronger measures such as organizing protests 

and getting involved with organizations that work for the protection of the environment. It may 

sound as a cliché, but we can also help by depositing the trash where it is supposed to go. Also, 

we can help our environment by recycling. 



When it comes to the problem of climate change, many organizations have said that 

trying to control this phenomenon may incur great expenses. One of the solutions that 

environmental econonomists have seen is to reduce the use of coal. Paul Krugman from The New 

York Magazine declares that according to environmental economists, trying to cut down on the 

green house gases, such as carbon dioxide from cars, might have a moderate cost (Krugman 1). 

Many economists also state that pollution “should be treated as a crime” (Krugman 1). This 

might seem like an extreme measure; however, extremes situations like this one require extreme 

solutions. In a personal basis, there are many simple courses of action that can be taken. The 

EPA advises individuals to change energy appliances to Energy Star products, use green power, 

recycle, use water in a wise way, and help the environment through spreading the word about 

protecting natural resources (1). 

When I picture myself in the year 2020, I try to think in a positive way. In ten years from 

now, I will be 28 years old. By that time, I will probably have a master’s degree in Management, 

and I might own my own house. Sadly, I will be affected by all the environmental issues. 

Especially, the privatization of water especially worries me because at some point, the price of 

water service will be too expensive. I also think about all the poor people and third world 

countries whose economy will be hit by privatization. It does not seem like a fair situation. And 

that is why it is necessary to start thinking about the rest of the world. Personally, I would also be 

affected by the climate change because I cannot live in a hot climate because my skin gets 

allergies due to high temperatures. Also, in my family, there have been high blood pressure 

problems, and I am afraid that I might have the same problems in the future, especially if the 

temperature of the Earth increases. 



It is important to develop a socially responsible attitude towards our planet. Our planet is 

already suffering the damage produced by previous deliberate actions; hence, we as human 

beings suffer the consequences, too. It is up to each individual to make the decision of saving the 

planet. It is a big commitment, but it is worth it. As people who live in Arkansas, we should 

especially preserve the natural state. We should treat our planet as it should be treated. God 

created this world so beautiful, and he placed men and women in it so that they can take good 

care of it. It is our responsibility to love our planet and as Marya Mannes, American author, said, 

“The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in 

exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future” (qtd. in Quote Garden 1). 



Works Cited 

National Geographic. “Forest Holocaust.” National Geographic. 2010. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. 

. 

State Environmental Resource Center. “Water Privatization: Policy Issues Package.” SERC. 25 

Sept. 2004. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. 

. 

Krugman, Paul. “Building a Green Economy.” The New York Times. 5 Apr. 2010. Web. 17 Apr. 

2010. . 

Quote Garden. “Quotations about the Environment”. The Quote Garden. 2010. Web. 20 Apr. 

2010. . 

U.S Environmental Protection Agency. “Recent Ocean Acidification” EPA. 29 Jan. 2010. Web. 

17 Apr. 2010. . 

---. “Sea Level Changes”. EPA. 05 Nov. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. 

.

Environmental Issues for the Year 2020

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