Facts About Environmental Issues

Below are facts about environmental issues the world is facing today.

•The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that there are more than 1,200 Superfunds in the United States that will need to be cleaned up over the next 30 years.

•An estimated 75% of the fisheries in the world are being over-harvested, threatening their long-term sustainability.

•In 2007, 11 of the previous 12 years were among the hottest recorded since 1850.

•More than 70% of forests in the Amazon have been deforested to make way for livestock grazing.

•The business of agriculture contributes heavily to environmental problems, from animal waste to chemicals, antibiotics to hormones, pesticides to fertilizers.

•The EPA has an annual budget of close to $9 billion and employs more than 17,000 full-time employees.

•Fracking has been around since 1947, but has entered the news lately as oil and gas companies start to drill in suburban areas.

•Pesticides were introduced into farming in the United States in the mid-1800s.

•The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of protecting the environment in the United States. It has 27 laboratories located throughout the country.

•In 1992, the EPA began the Energy Star program, which is designed to educate people about energy efficiency.

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