Country | Environment current issues |
Aruba | |
Antigua and Barbuda | water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly |
United Arab Emirates | lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills |
Afghanistan | limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution |
Algeria | soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Azerbaijan | local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton |
Albania | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents |
Armenia | soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone |
Andorra | deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal |
Angola | overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water |
American Samoa | limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines |
Argentina | environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution |
Australia | soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | |
Austria | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
Anguilla | supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system |
Akrotiri | shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base |
Antarctica | in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming |
Bahrain | desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs |
Barbados | pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers |
Botswana | overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources |
Bermuda | asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development |
Belgium | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges |
Bahamas, The | coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
Bangladesh | many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation |
Belize | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation |
Bolivia | the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation |
Burma | deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease |
Benin | inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
Belarus | soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine |
Solomon Islands | deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
Navassa Island | |
Brazil | deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills |
Bassas da India | |
Bhutan | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
Bulgaria | air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes |
Bouvet Island | |
Brunei | seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Burundi | soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Canada | air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities |
Cambodia | illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing |
Chad | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
Sri Lanka | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo |
Congo, Republic of the | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage |
China | air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species |
Chile | widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage |
Cayman Islands | no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Cameroon | waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
Comoros | soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Colombia | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
Northern Mariana Islands | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
Coral Sea Islands | no permanent fresh water resources |
Costa Rica | deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution |
Central African Republic | tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
Cuba | air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation |
Cape Verde | soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
Cook Islands | |
Cyprus | water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
Denmark | air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides |
Djibouti | inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species |
Dominica | |
Jarvis Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Dominican Republic | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation |
Dhekelia | netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn |
Ecuador | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands |
European Union | |
Egypt | agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources |
Ireland | water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff |
Equatorial Guinea | tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Estonia | air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations |
Eritrea | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare |
El Salvador | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes |
Ethiopia | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management |
Europa Island | |
Czech Republic | air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution |
French Guiana | |
Finland | air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Fiji | deforestation; soil erosion |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster |
Micronesia, Federated States of | overfishing, climate change, pollution |
Faroe Islands | |
French Polynesia | |
Baker Island | no natural fresh water resources |
France | some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff |
French Southern and Antarctic Lands | |
Gambia, The | deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
Gabon | deforestation; poaching |
Georgia | air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals |
Ghana | recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Gibraltar | limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant |
Grenada | |
Guernsey | |
Greenland | protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting |
Germany | emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive |
Glorioso Islands | |
Guadeloupe | |
Guam | extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species |
Greece | air pollution; water pollution |
Guatemala | deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
Guinea | deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage |
Guyana | water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation |
Gaza Strip | desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources |
Haiti | extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Hong Kong | air and water pollution from rapid urbanization |
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
Honduras | urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals |
Howland Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Croatia | air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife |
Hungary | the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements will require large investments |
Iceland | water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Indonesia | deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires |
Man, Isle of | waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution |
India | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources |
British Indian Ocean Territory | |
Clipperton Island | |
Iran | air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization |
Israel | limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides |
Italy | air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities |
Iraq | government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
Japan | air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere |
Jersey | |
Jamaica | heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions |
Jan Mayen | |
Jordan | limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Johnston Atoll | no natural fresh water resources |
Juan de Nova Island | |
Kenya | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
Kyrgyzstan | water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices |
Korea, North | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
Kingman Reef | none |
Kiribati | heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk |
Korea, South | air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
Christmas Island | |
Kuwait | limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification |
Kazakhstan | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices |
Laos | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water |
Lebanon | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills |
Latvia | Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010 |
Lithuania | contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases |
Liberia | tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
Slovakia | air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
Palmyra Atoll | |
Liechtenstein | |
Lesotho | population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa |
Luxembourg | air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
Libya | desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities |
Madagascar | soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
Martinique | |
Macau | |
Moldova | heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods |
Mayotte | |
Mongolia | limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment |
Montserrat | land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation |
Malawi | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations |
Macedonia | air pollution from metallurgical plants |
Mali | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching |
Monaco | |
Morocco | land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters |
Mauritius | water pollution, degradation of coral reefs |
Midway Islands | |
Mauritania | overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation |
Malta | very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
Oman | rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
Maldives | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
Mexico | scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion |
Malaysia | air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires |
Mozambique | a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem |
New Caledonia | erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires |
Niue | increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture |
Norfolk Island | |
Niger | overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction |
Vanuatu | a majority of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation |
Nigeria | soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization |
Netherlands | water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain |
Norway | water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions |
Nepal | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
Nauru | limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources |
Suriname | deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities |
Netherlands Antilles | |
Nicaragua | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution |
New Zealand | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside |
Southern Ocean | increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish |
Paraguay | deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
Pitcairn Islands | deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement) |
Peru | deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes |
Paracel Islands | |
Spratly Islands | |
Pakistan | water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification |
Poland | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government |
Panama | water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources |
Portugal | soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas |
Papua New Guinea | rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought |
Palau | inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing |
Guinea-Bissau | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing |
Qatar | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Reunion | |
Marshall Islands | inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels |
Romania | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
Philippines | uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds |
Puerto Rico | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
Russia | air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides |
Rwanda | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching |
Saudi Arabia | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
Seychelles | water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater |
South Africa | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification |
Senegal | wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
Saint Helena | |
Slovenia | Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain |
Sierra Leone | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing |
San Marino | |
Singapore | industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Somalia | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Spain | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification |
Saint Lucia | deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region |
Sudan | inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought |
Svalbard | |
Sweden | acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
Syria | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water |
Switzerland | air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity |
Trinidad and Tobago | water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
Tromelin Island | |
Thailand | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting |
Tajikistan | inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides |
Turks and Caicos Islands | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater |
Tokelau | very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
Tonga | deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations |
Togo | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas |
Sao Tome and Principe | deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion |
Tunisia | toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
East Timor | widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion |
Turkey | water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic |
Tuvalu | since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary |
Taiwan | air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal |
Turkmenistan | contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification |
Tanzania | soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory |
Uganda | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread |
United Kingdom | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3% |
Ukraine | inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant |
United States | air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification |
Burkina Faso | recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation |
Uruguay | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
Uzbekistan | shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive |
Venezuela | sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations |
British Virgin Islands | limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments) |
Vietnam | logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City |
Virgin Islands | lack of natural freshwater resources |
Holy See (Vatican City) | |
Namibia | very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas |
West Bank | adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment |
Wallis and Futuna | deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources |
Western Sahara | sparse water and lack of arable land |
Wake Island | |
Samoa | soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing |
Swaziland | limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion |
Indian Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea |
Arctic Ocean | endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack |
World | large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion |
Serbia and Montenegro | pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube |
Yemen | very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Zambia | air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks |
Atlantic Ocean | endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea |
Zimbabwe | deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution |
Pacific Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea |
Cote d'Ivoire | deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents |
Aruba | |
Antigua and Barbuda | water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly |
United Arab Emirates | lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills |
Afghanistan | limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution |
Algeria | soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Azerbaijan | local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton |
Albania | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents |
Armenia | soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone |
Andorra | deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal |
Angola | overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water |
American Samoa | limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines |
Argentina | environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution |
Australia | soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | |
Austria | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
Anguilla | supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system |
Akrotiri | shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base |
Antarctica | in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming |
Bahrain | desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs |
Barbados | pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers |
Botswana | overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources |
Bermuda | asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development |
Belgium | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges |
Bahamas, The | coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
Bangladesh | many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation |
Belize | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation |
Bolivia | the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation |
Burma | deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease |
Benin | inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
Belarus | soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine |
Solomon Islands | deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
Navassa Island | |
Brazil | deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills |
Bassas da India | |
Bhutan | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
Bulgaria | air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes |
Bouvet Island | |
Brunei | seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Burundi | soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Canada | air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities |
Cambodia | illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing |
Chad | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
Sri Lanka | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo |
Congo, Republic of the | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage |
China | air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species |
Chile | widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage |
Cayman Islands | no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Cameroon | water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
Comoros | soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Colombia | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
Northern Mariana Islands | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
Coral Sea Islands | no permanent fresh water resources |
Costa Rica | deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution |
Central African Republic | tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
Cuba | air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation |
Cape Verde | soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
Cook Islands | |
Cyprus | water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
Denmark | air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides |
Djibouti | inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species |
Dominica | |
Jarvis Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Dominican Republic | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation |
Dhekelia | netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn |
Ecuador | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands |
European Union | |
Egypt | agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources |
Ireland | water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff |
Equatorial Guinea | tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Estonia | air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations |
Eritrea | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare |
El Salvador | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes |
Ethiopia | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management |
Europa Island | |
Czech Republic | air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution |
French Guiana | |
Finland | air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Fiji | deforestation; soil erosion |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster |
Micronesia, Federated States of | overfishing, climate change, pollution |
Faroe Islands | |
French Polynesia | |
Baker Island | no natural fresh water resources |
France | some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff |
French Southern and Antarctic Lands | |
Gambia, The | deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
Gabon | deforestation; poaching |
Georgia | air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals |
Ghana | recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Gibraltar | limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant |
Grenada | |
Guernsey | |
Greenland | protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting |
Germany | emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive |
Glorioso Islands | |
Guadeloupe | |
Guam | extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species |
Greece | air pollution; water pollution |
Guatemala | deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
Guinea | deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage |
Guyana | water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation |
Gaza Strip | desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources |
Haiti | extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Hong Kong | air and water pollution from rapid urbanization |
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
Honduras | urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals |
Howland Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Croatia | air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife |
Hungary | the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments |
Iceland | water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Indonesia | deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires |
Man, Isle of | waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution |
India | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources |
British Indian Ocean Territory | |
Clipperton Island | |
Iran | air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization |
Israel | limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides |
Italy | air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities |
Cote d'Ivoire | deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents |
Iraq | government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
Japan | air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere |
Jersey | |
Jamaica | heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions |
Jan Mayen | |
Jordan | limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Johnston Atoll | no natural fresh water resources |
Juan de Nova Island | |
Kenya | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
Kyrgyzstan | water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices |
Korea, North | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
Kingman Reef | none |
Kiribati | heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk |
Korea, South | air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
Christmas Island | |
Kuwait | limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification |
Kazakhstan | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices |
Laos | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water |
Lebanon | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills |
Latvia | Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010 |
Lithuania | contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases |
Liberia | tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
Slovakia | air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
Palmyra Atoll | |
Liechtenstein | |
Lesotho | population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa |
Luxembourg | air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
Libya | desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities |
Madagascar | soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
Martinique | |
Macau | |
Moldova | heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods |
Mayotte | |
Mongolia | limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment |
Montserrat | land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation |
Malawi | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations |
Macedonia | air pollution from metallurgical plants |
Mali | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching |
Monaco | |
Morocco | land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters |
Mauritius | water pollution, degradation of coral reefs |
Midway Islands | |
Mauritania | overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation |
Malta | very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
Oman | rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
Maldives | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
Mexico | scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion |
Malaysia | air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires |
Mozambique | a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem |
New Caledonia | erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires |
Niue | increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture |
Norfolk Island | |
Niger | overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction |
Vanuatu | a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation |
Nigeria | soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization |
Netherlands | water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain |
Norway | water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions |
Nepal | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
Nauru | limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources |
Suriname | deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities |
Netherlands Antilles | |
Nicaragua | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution |
New Zealand | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside |
Southern Ocean | increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish |
Paraguay | deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
Pitcairn Islands | deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement) |
Peru | deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes |
Paracel Islands | |
Spratly Islands | |
Pakistan | water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification |
Poland | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government |
Panama | water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources |
Portugal | soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas |
Papua New Guinea | rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought |
Palau | inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing |
Guinea-Bissau | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing |
Qatar | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Reunion | |
Marshall Islands | inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels |
Romania | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
Philippines | uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds |
Puerto Rico | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
Russia | air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides |
Rwanda | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching |
Saudi Arabia | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
Seychelles | water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater |
South Africa | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification |
Senegal | wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
Saint Helena | |
Slovenia | Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain |
Sierra Leone | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing |
San Marino | |
Singapore | industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Somalia | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Spain | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification |
Saint Lucia | deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region |
Sudan | inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought |
Svalbard | |
Sweden | acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
Syria | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water |
Switzerland | air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity |
Trinidad and Tobago | water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
Tromelin Island | |
Thailand | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting |
Tajikistan | inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides |
Turks and Caicos Islands | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater |
Tokelau | very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
Tonga | deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations |
Togo | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas |
Sao Tome and Principe | deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion |
Tunisia | toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
East Timor | widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion |
Turkey | water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic |
Tuvalu | since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary |
Taiwan | air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal |
Turkmenistan | contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification |
Tanzania | soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory |
Uganda | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread |
United Kingdom | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3% |
Ukraine | inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant |
United States | air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification |
Burkina Faso | recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation |
Uruguay | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
Uzbekistan | shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive |
Venezuela | sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations |
British Virgin Islands | limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments) |
Vietnam | logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City |
Virgin Islands | lack of natural freshwater resources |
Holy See (Vatican City) | |
Namibia | very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas |
West Bank | adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment |
Wallis and Futuna | deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources |
Western Sahara | sparse water and lack of arable land |
Wake Island | |
Samoa | soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing |
Swaziland | limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion |
Indian Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea |
Arctic Ocean | endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack |
World | large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion |
Serbia and Montenegro | pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube |
Yemen | very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Zambia | air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks |
Atlantic Ocean | endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea |
Zimbabwe | deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution |
Pacific Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea |
Aruba | |
Antigua and Barbuda | water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly |
Afghanistan | limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution |
Algeria | soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Azerbaijan | local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton |
Albania | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents |
Armenia | soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone |
Andorra | deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal |
Angola | overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water |
American Samoa | limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines |
Argentina | environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution |
Australia | soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | |
Austria | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
Anguilla | supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system |
Antarctica | in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming |
Bahrain | desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs |
Barbados | pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers |
Botswana | overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources |
Bermuda | asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development |
Belgium | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges |
Bahamas, The | coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
Bangladesh | many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation |
Belize | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife |
Bolivia | the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation |
Burma | deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease |
Benin | inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
Belarus | soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine |
Solomon Islands | deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
Navassa Island | |
Brazil | deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills |
Bassas da India | |
Bhutan | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
Bulgaria | air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes |
Bouvet Island | |
Brunei | seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Burundi | soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Canada | air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities |
Cambodia | illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998 |
Chad | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
Sri Lanka | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo |
Congo, Republic of the | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage |
China | air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species |
Chile | widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage |
Cayman Islands | no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Cameroon | water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
Comoros | soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Colombia | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
Northern Mariana Islands | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
Coral Sea Islands | no permanent fresh water resources |
Costa Rica | deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution |
Central African Republic | tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
Cuba | air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation |
Cape Verde | soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
Cook Islands | |
Cyprus | water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
Denmark | air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides |
Djibouti | inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species |
Dominica | |
Jarvis Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Dominican Republic | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage |
Ecuador | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands |
Egypt | agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources |
Ireland | water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff |
Equatorial Guinea | tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Estonia | air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations |
Eritrea | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare |
El Salvador | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes |
Ethiopia | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management |
Europa Island | |
Czech Republic | air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution |
French Guiana | |
Finland | air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Fiji | deforestation; soil erosion |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster |
Micronesia, Federated States of | overfishing, climate change, pollution |
Faroe Islands | |
French Polynesia | |
Baker Island | no natural fresh water resources |
France | some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff |
French Southern and Antarctic Lands | |
Gambia, The | deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
Gabon | deforestation; poaching |
Georgia | air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals |
Ghana | recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Gibraltar | limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant |
Grenada | |
Guernsey | |
Greenland | protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting |
Germany | emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive |
Glorioso Islands | |
Guadeloupe | |
Guam | extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species |
Greece | air pollution; water pollution |
Guatemala | deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
Guinea | deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage |
Guyana | water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation |
Gaza Strip | desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources |
Haiti | extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Hong Kong | air and water pollution from rapid urbanization |
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
Honduras | urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals |
Howland Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Croatia | air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife |
Hungary | the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments |
Iceland | water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Indonesia | deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires |
Man, Isle of | waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution |
India | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources |
British Indian Ocean Territory | |
Clipperton Island | |
Iran | air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization |
Israel | limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides |
Italy | air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities |
Cote d'Ivoire | deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents |
Iraq | government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
Japan | air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere |
Jersey | |
Jamaica | heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions |
Jan Mayen | |
Jordan | limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Johnston Atoll | no natural fresh water resources |
Juan de Nova Island | |
Kenya | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
Kyrgyzstan | water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices |
Korea, North | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
Kingman Reef | none |
Kiribati | heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk |
Korea, South | air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
Christmas Island | |
Kuwait | limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification |
Kazakhstan | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices |
Laos | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water |
Lebanon | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills |
Latvia | Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010 |
Lithuania | contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases |
Liberia | tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
Slovakia | air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
Palmyra Atoll | |
Liechtenstein | |
Lesotho | population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa |
Luxembourg | air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
Libya | desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities |
Madagascar | soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
Martinique | |
Macau | |
Moldova | heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods |
Mayotte | |
Mongolia | limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment |
Montserrat | land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation |
Malawi | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations |
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of | air pollution from metallurgical plants |
Mali | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching |
Monaco | |
Morocco | land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters |
Mauritius | water pollution, degradation of coral reefs |
Midway Islands | |
Mauritania | overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river |
Malta | very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
Oman | rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
Maldives | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
Mexico | scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion |
Malaysia | air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires |
Mozambique | a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem |
New Caledonia | erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires |
Niue | increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture |
Norfolk Island | |
Niger | overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction |
Vanuatu | a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation |
Nigeria | soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization |
Netherlands | water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain |
Norway | water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions |
Nepal | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
Nauru | limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources |
Suriname | deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities |
Netherlands Antilles | |
Nicaragua | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution |
New Zealand | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside |
Southern Ocean | increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish |
Paraguay | deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
Pitcairn Islands | deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement) |
Peru | deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes |
Paracel Islands | |
Spratly Islands | |
Pakistan | water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification |
Poland | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government |
Panama | water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources |
Portugal | soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas |
Papua New Guinea | rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought |
Palau | inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing |
Guinea-Bissau | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing |
Qatar | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Reunion | |
Marshall Islands | inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels |
Romania | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
Philippines | uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds |
Puerto Rico | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
Russia | air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides |
Rwanda | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching |
Saudi Arabia | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
Seychelles | water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater |
South Africa | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification |
Senegal | wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
Saint Helena | |
Slovenia | Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain |
Sierra Leone | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing |
San Marino | |
Singapore | industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Somalia | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Spain | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification |
Saint Lucia | deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region |
Sudan | inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought |
Svalbard | |
Sweden | acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
Syria | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water |
Switzerland | air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity |
Trinidad and Tobago | water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
Tromelin Island | |
Thailand | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting |
Tajikistan | inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides |
Turks and Caicos Islands | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater |
Tokelau | very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
Tonga | deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations |
Togo | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas |
Sao Tome and Principe | deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion |
Tunisia | toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
East Timor | widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion |
Turkey | water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic |
Tuvalu | since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary |
Taiwan | air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal |
Turkmenistan | contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification |
Tanzania | soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory |
Uganda | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread |
United Kingdom | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3% |
Ukraine | inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant |
United States | air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification |
Burkina Faso | recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation |
Uruguay | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
Uzbekistan | shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive |
Venezuela | sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations |
British Virgin Islands | limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments) |
Vietnam | logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City |
Virgin Islands | lack of natural freshwater resources |
Holy See (Vatican City) | |
Namibia | very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas |
West Bank | adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment |
Wallis and Futuna | deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources |
Western Sahara | sparse water and lack of arable land |
Wake Island | |
Samoa | soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing |
Swaziland | limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion |
Indian Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea |
Arctic Ocean | endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack |
World | large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion |
Serbia and Montenegro | pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube |
Yemen | very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Zambia | air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks |
Atlantic Ocean | endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea |
Zimbabwe | deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution |
Pacific Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea |
Aruba | |
Antigua and Barbuda | water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly |
Afghanistan | limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution |
Algeria | soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Azerbaijan | local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton |
Albania | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents |
Armenia | soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically-active zone |
Andorra | deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal |
Angola | overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water |
American Samoa | limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines |
Argentina | environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution |
Australia | soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | |
Austria | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
Anguilla | supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system |
Antarctica | in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming |
Bahrain | desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs |
Barbados | pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers |
Botswana | overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources |
Bermuda | asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development |
Belgium | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges |
Bahamas, The | coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
Bangladesh | many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation |
Belize | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife |
Bolivia | the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation |
Burma | deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease |
Benin | inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
Belarus | soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine |
Solomon Islands | deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
Navassa Island | |
Brazil | deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills |
Bassas da India | |
Bhutan | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
Bulgaria | air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes |
Bouvet Island | |
Brunei | seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Burundi | soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Canada | air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities |
Cambodia | illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998 |
Chad | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
Sri Lanka | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo |
Congo, Republic of the | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage |
China | air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal, produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species |
Chile | widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage |
Cayman Islands | no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Cameroon | water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
Comoros | soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Colombia | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
Northern Mariana Islands | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
Coral Sea Islands | no permanent fresh water resources |
Costa Rica | deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution |
Central African Republic | tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
Cuba | air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation |
Cape Verde | soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
Cook Islands | |
Cyprus | water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
Denmark | air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides |
Djibouti | inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; endangered species |
Dominica | |
Jarvis Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Dominican Republic | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage |
Ecuador | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands |
Egypt | agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources |
Ireland | water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff |
Equatorial Guinea | tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Estonia | air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 4.6 times smaller than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies fell 20 times in 2000 compared to 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations |
Eritrea | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare |
El Salvador | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes |
Ethiopia | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management |
Europa Island | |
Czech Republic | air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
French Guiana | |
Finland | air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Fiji | deforestation; soil erosion |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster |
Micronesia, Federated States of | overfishing, climate change, pollution |
Faroe Islands | |
French Polynesia | |
Baker Island | no natural fresh water resources |
France | some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff |
French Southern and Antarctic Lands | |
Gambia, The | deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
Gabon | deforestation; poaching |
Georgia | air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals |
Ghana | recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Gibraltar | limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant |
Grenada | |
Guernsey | |
Greenland | protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting |
Germany | emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive |
Glorioso Islands | |
Guadeloupe | |
Guam | extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species |
Greece | air pollution; water pollution |
Guatemala | deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
Guinea | deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage |
Guyana | water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation |
Gaza Strip | desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources |
Haiti | extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Hong Kong | air and water pollution from rapid urbanization |
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
Honduras | urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) as well as several rivers and streams with heavy metals |
Howland Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Croatia | air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife |
Hungary | the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments |
Iceland | water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Indonesia | deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires |
Man, Isle of | waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution |
India | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources |
British Indian Ocean Territory | |
Clipperton Island | |
Iran | air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization |
Israel | limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides |
Italy | air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities |
Cote d'Ivoire | deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents |
Iraq | government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
Japan | air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere |
Jersey | |
Jamaica | heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions |
Jan Mayen | |
Jordan | limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Johnston Atoll | no natural fresh water resources |
Juan de Nova Island | |
Kenya | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
Kyrgyzstan | water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices |
Korea, North | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
Kingman Reef | none |
Kiribati | heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk |
Korea, South | air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
Christmas Island | |
Kuwait | limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification |
Kazakhstan | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices |
Laos | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water |
Lebanon | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills |
Latvia | Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010 |
Lithuania | contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases |
Liberia | tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
Slovakia | air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
Palmyra Atoll | |
Liechtenstein | |
Lesotho | population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa |
Luxembourg | air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
Libya | desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities |
Madagascar | soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
Martinique | |
Macau | |
Moldova | heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods |
Mayotte | |
Mongolia | limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; policies of the former Communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws have severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities have also had a deleterious effect on the environment |
Montserrat | land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation |
Malawi | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations |
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of | air pollution from metallurgical plants |
Mali | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching |
Monaco | |
Morocco | land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters |
Mauritius | water pollution, degradation of coral reefs |
Midway Islands | |
Mauritania | overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river |
Malta | very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
Oman | rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
Maldives | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
Mexico | scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion |
Malaysia | air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires |
Mozambique | a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem |
New Caledonia | erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires |
Niue | increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture |
Norfolk Island | |
Niger | overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction |
Vanuatu | a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation |
Nigeria | soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization |
Netherlands | water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain |
Norway | water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions |
Nepal | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
Nauru | limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources |
Suriname | deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities |
Netherlands Antilles | |
Nicaragua | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution |
New Zealand | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside |
Southern Ocean | increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish |
Paraguay | deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
Pitcairn Islands | deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement) |
Peru | deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes |
Paracel Islands | |
Spratly Islands | |
Pakistan | water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification |
Poland | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes |
Panama | water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources |
Portugal | soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas |
Papua New Guinea | rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought |
Palau | inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing |
Guinea-Bissau | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing |
Qatar | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Reunion | |
Marshall Islands | inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels |
Romania | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
Philippines | uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds |
Puerto Rico | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
Russia | air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides |
Rwanda | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching |
Saudi Arabia | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
Seychelles | water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater |
South Africa | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification |
Senegal | wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
Saint Helena | |
Slovenia | Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain |
Sierra Leone | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing |
San Marino | |
Singapore | industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Somalia | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Spain | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification |
Saint Lucia | deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region |
Sudan | inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought |
Svalbard | |
Sweden | acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
Syria | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water |
Switzerland | air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity |
Trinidad and Tobago | water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
Tromelin Island | |
Thailand | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting |
Tajikistan | inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides |
Turks and Caicos Islands | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater |
Tokelau | very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
Tonga | deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations |
Togo | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas |
Sao Tome and Principe | deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion |
Tunisia | toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
East Timor | widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion |
Turkey | water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic |
Tuvalu | since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary |
Taiwan | air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal |
Turkmenistan | contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification |
Tanzania | soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory |
Uganda | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread |
United Kingdom | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the Government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3% |
Ukraine | inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant |
United States | air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification |
Burkina Faso | recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation |
Uruguay | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
Uzbekistan | shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive |
Venezuela | sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations |
British Virgin Islands | limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments) |
Vietnam | logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City |
Virgin Islands | lack of natural freshwater resources |
Holy See (Vatican City) | |
Namibia | very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas |
West Bank | adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment |
Wallis and Futuna | deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources |
Western Sahara | sparse water and lack of arable land |
Wake Island | |
Samoa | soil erosion |
Swaziland | limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion |
Indian Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea |
Arctic Ocean | endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack |
World | large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion |
Serbia and Montenegro | pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube |
Yemen | very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Zambia | air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks |
Atlantic Ocean | endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea |
Zimbabwe | deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution |
Pacific Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea |
Argentina | environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note:
Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets |
Australia | soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | |
Austria | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
Anguilla | supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system |
Antarctica | in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants |
Bahrain | desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs |
Barbados | pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers |
Botswana | overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources |
Bermuda | asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space |
Belgium | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges |
Bahamas, The | coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
Bangladesh | many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally-occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation |
Belize | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid waste disposal |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife |
Bolivia | the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation |
Burma | deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease |
Benin | inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
Belarus | soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine |
Solomon Islands | deforestation; soil erosion; much of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
Navassa Island | |
Brazil | deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities
note:
President CARDOSO in September 1999 signed into force an environmental crime bill which for the first time defines pollution and deforestation as crimes punishable by stiff fines and jail sentences |
Bassas da India | |
Bhutan | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
Bulgaria | air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes |
Bouvet Island | |
Brunei | seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Burundi | soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Canada | air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities |
Cambodia | illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998 |
Chad | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
Sri Lanka | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo |
Congo, Republic of the | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country (most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December 1996) |
China | air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal, produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species |
Chile | air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage |
Cayman Islands | no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Cameroon | water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
Comoros | soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Colombia | deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
Northern Mariana Islands | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
Coral Sea Islands | no permanent fresh water resources |
Costa Rica | deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); coastal marine pollution; wetlands degradation; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution |
Central African Republic | tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
Cuba | pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation |
Cape Verde | overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing |
Cook Islands | |
Cyprus | water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
Denmark | air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides |
Djibouti | inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification |
Dominica | |
Jarvis Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Dominican Republic | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage |
Ecuador | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes |
Egypt | agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining natural resources |
Ireland | water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff |
Equatorial Guinea | tap water is not potable; desertification |
Estonia | air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many locations |
Eritrea | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare |
El Salvador | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes; Hurricane Mitch damage |
Ethiopia | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Europa Island | |
Czech Republic | air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
French Guiana | |
Finland | air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Fiji | deforestation; soil erosion |
Micronesia, Federated States of | overfishing |
Faroe Islands | |
French Polynesia | |
Baker Island | no natural fresh water resources |
France | some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff |
French Southern and Antarctic Lands | |
Gambia, The | deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
Gabon | deforestation; poaching |
Georgia | air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals |
Ghana | recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Gibraltar | limited natural freshwater resources; large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater |
Grenada | |
Guernsey | |
Greenland | protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting |
Germany | emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government currently attempting to define mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive |
Glorioso Islands | |
Guadeloupe | |
Guam | extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic species |
Greece | air pollution; water pollution |
Guatemala | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage |
Guinea | deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region |
Guyana | water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation |
Gaza Strip | desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation |
Haiti | extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Hong Kong | air and water pollution from rapid urbanization |
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | |
Honduras | urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) as well as several rivers and streams with heavy metals; severe Hurricane Mitch damage |
Howland Island | no natural fresh water resources |
Croatia | air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife |
Hungary | the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments |
Iceland | water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Indonesia | deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires |
Man, Isle of | waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution |
India | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources |
British Indian Ocean Territory | |
Clipperton Island | |
Iran | air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Israel | limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides |
Italy | air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities |
Cote d'Ivoire | deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents |
Iraq | government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
Japan | air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere |
Jersey | |
Jamaica | heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions |
Jan Mayen | |
Jordan | limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Johnston Atoll | no natural fresh water resources |
Juan de Nova Island | |
Kenya | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
Kyrgyzstan | water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices |
Korea, North | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
Kingman Reef | none |
Kiribati | heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk |
Korea, South | air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
Christmas Island | |
Kuwait | limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification |
Kazakhstan | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices |
Laos | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water |
Lebanon | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills |
Latvia | air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases |
Lithuania | contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases |
Liberia | tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
Slovakia | air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
Palmyra Atoll | |
Liechtenstein | |
Lesotho | population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa |
Luxembourg | air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
Libya | desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities |
Madagascar | soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
Martinique | |
Macau | |
Moldova | heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods |
Mayotte | |
Mongolia | limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws have severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities have also had a deleterious effect on the environment |
Montserrat | land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation |
Malawi | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations |
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of | air pollution from metallurgical plants |
Mali | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching |
Monaco | |
Morocco | land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters |
Mauritius | water pollution, degradation of coral reefs |
Midway Islands | |
Mauritania | overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal which is the only perennial river |
Malta | very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
Oman | rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
Maldives | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
Mexico | natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; serious air pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border |
Malaysia | air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires |
Mozambique | a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters |
New Caledonia | erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires |
Niue | increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture |
Norfolk Island | |
Niger | overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction |
Vanuatu | a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation |
Nigeria | soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification |
Netherlands | water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain |
Norway | water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions |
Nepal | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
Nauru | limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources |
Suriname | deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities |
Netherlands Antilles | |
Nicaragua | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage |
New Zealand | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside |
Southern Ocean | increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish
note:
the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries |
Paraguay | deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land were lost from 1958-85); water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents |
Pitcairn Islands | deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement) |
Peru | deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes |
Paracel Islands | |
Spratly Islands | |
Pakistan | water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification |
Poland | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes |
Panama | water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal |
Portugal | soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas |
Papua New Guinea | rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought |
Palau | inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing |
Guinea-Bissau | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing |
Qatar | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Reunion | |
Marshall Islands | inadequate supplies of potable water |
Romania | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
Philippines | uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds |
Puerto Rico | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
Russia | air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and sea coasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; ground water contamination from toxic waste |
Rwanda | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching |
Saudi Arabia | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
Seychelles | water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater |
South Africa | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification |
Senegal | wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
Saint Helena | |
Slovenia | Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain |
Sierra Leone | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing |
San Marino | |
Singapore | industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Somalia | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Spain | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification |
Saint Lucia | deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region |
Sudan | inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification |
Svalbard | |
Sweden | acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
Syria | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Switzerland | air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity |
Trinidad and Tobago | water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
Tromelin Island | |
Thailand | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting |
Tajikistan | inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea suffers from severe overutilization of available water for irrigation and associated pollution |
Turks and Caicos Islands | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater |
Tokelau | very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
Tonga | deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations |
Togo | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas |
Sao Tome and Principe | deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion |
Tunisia | toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Turkey | water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic |
Tuvalu | since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table |
Taiwan | air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal |
Turkmenistan | contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification |
Tanzania | soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture |
Uganda | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread |
United Kingdom | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has meet Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and hopes to reduce even more); small particulate emissions, largely from vehicular traffic, remain a problem; solid waste continues to rise and recycling is very limited |
Ukraine | inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant |
United States | air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification |
Burkina Faso | recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation |
Uruguay | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
Uzbekistan | drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive |
Venezuela | sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations |
British Virgin Islands | limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment) |
Vietnam | logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City |
Virgin Islands | lack of natural freshwater resources |
Holy See (Vatican City) | |
Namibia | very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification |
West Bank | adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment |
Wallis and Futuna | deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources |
Western Sahara | sparse water and lack of arable land |
Wake Island | |
Samoa | soil erosion |
Swaziland | limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion |
Indian Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea |
Arctic Ocean | endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack |
World | large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion |
Yemen | very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Zambia | air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks |
Atlantic Ocean | endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea |
Zimbabwe | deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching |
Pacific Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea |
World | large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution
(air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation
(overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil
degradation, soil depletion, erosion; global warming becoming a greater
concern |
Afghanistan | limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable
water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the
remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials);
desertification; air and water pollution |
Akrotiri | shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base |
Albania | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents |
Algeria | soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water |
American Samoa | limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines |
Andorra | deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal |
Angola | overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Anguilla | supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system |
Antarctica | in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the Antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an Antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled Antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming |
Antigua and Barbuda | water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly |
Arctic Ocean | endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack |
Argentina | environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution |
Armenia | soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone |
Aruba | NA |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | NA |
Atlantic Ocean | endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea |
Australia | soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
Austria | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
Azerbaijan | local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton |
Bahamas, The | coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
Bahrain | desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
Bangladesh | many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation |
Barbados | pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers |
Iles Eparses | |
Belarus | soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine |
Belgium | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges |
Belize | deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal |
Benin | inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
Bermuda | sustainable development |
Bhutan | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation |
Bolivia | the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation |
Botswana | overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources |
Bouvet Island | NA |
Brazil | deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills |
British Indian Ocean Territory | NA |
British Virgin Islands | limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments) |
Brunei | seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Bulgaria | air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes |
Burkina Faso | recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation |
Burma | deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease |
Burundi | soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
Cambodia | illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing |
Cameroon | waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
Canada | air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities |
Cape Verde | soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
Cayman Islands | no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments |
Central African Republic | tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation |
Chad | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
Chile | widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage |
China | air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species |
Christmas Island | loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining |
Clipperton Island | NA |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Colombia | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions |
Comoros | soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation |
Cyprus | water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
Congo, Republic of the | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Cook Islands | NA |
Coral Sea Islands | no permanent fresh water resources |
Costa Rica | deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution |
Cote d'Ivoire | deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents |
Croatia | air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife |
Egypt | agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources |
East Timor | widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion |
Ecuador | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands |
Dominican Republic | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation |
Dominica | NA |
Djibouti | inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species |
Dhekelia | netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn |
Denmark | air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides |
Czech Republic | air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution |
Cuba | air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation |
El Salvador | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes |
Equatorial Guinea | tap water is not potable; deforestation |
Eritrea | deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare |
Estonia | air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations |
Ethiopia | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster |
Faroe Islands | NA |
Fiji | deforestation; soil erosion |
Finland | air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
France | some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff |
French Polynesia | NA |
French Southern and Antarctic Lands | NA |
Gabon | deforestation; poaching |
Gambia, The | deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
Gaza Strip | desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources |
Georgia | air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals |
Germany | emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive |
Ghana | recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Gibraltar | limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant |
Iles Eparses | |
Greece | air pollution; water pollution |
Greenland | protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting |
Grenada | NA |
Guam | extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species |
Guatemala | deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
Guernsey | NA |
Guinea | deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification;
soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest
region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage |
Guinea-Bissau | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing |
Guyana | water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation |
Haiti | extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being
cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate
supplies of potable water |
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | NA |
Holy See (Vatican City) | NA |
Honduras | urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the
clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation
and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land
use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities
polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water),
as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals |
Iceland | water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment |
Hungary | the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy
efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements
will require large investments |
Hong Kong | air and water pollution from rapid urbanization |
Iles Eparses | |
India | deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air
pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap
water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing
population is overstraining natural resources |
Indian Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and
whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea |
Indonesia | deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air
pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires |
Iran | air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions,
refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf;
wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate
supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and
industrial waste; urbanization |
Iraq | government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited
marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder
streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who
inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced;
furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious
threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of
potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system
contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water
pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
Ireland | water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff |
Isle of Man | waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution |
Israel | limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious
constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle
emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste,
chemical fertilizers, and pesticides |
Italy | air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal
and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents;
acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and
disposal facilities |
Jamaica | heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial
waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in
Kingston results from vehicle emissions |
Jan Mayen | NA |
Japan | air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;
acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and
threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish
and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources
in Asia and elsewhere |
Jersey | NA |
Jordan | limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Kazakhstan | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense
industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health
risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some
cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have
been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a
harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these
substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust
storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of
agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and
wasteful irrigation practices |
Kenya | water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water
quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water
hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; poaching |
Kiribati | heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration
mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit
dumping; ground water at risk |
Korea, North | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
Korea, South | air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the
discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing |
Kuwait | limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most
sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air
and water pollution; desertification |
Kyrgyzstan | water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated
streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent;
increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices |
Laos | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water |
Latvia | Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries
after the country regained independence; the main environmental
priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system,
household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air
pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter
on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental
directives by 2010 |
Lebanon | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut
from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution
of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills |
Lesotho | population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in
overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification;
Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South
Africa |
Liberia | tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity;
pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
Libya | desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great
Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the
world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the
Sahara to coastal cities |
Liechtenstein | NA |
Lithuania | contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases |
Luxembourg | air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland |
Macau | NA |
Macedonia | air pollution from metallurgical plants |
Madagascar | soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other
organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to
the island |
Malawi | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural
runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds
endangers fish populations |
Malaysia | air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution
from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires |
Maldives | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
Mali | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching |
Malta | very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination |
Marshall Islands | inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels |
Mauritania | overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are
contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water
resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river;
locust infestation |
Mauritius | water pollution, degradation of coral reefs |
Mayotte | NA |
Mexico | scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban
migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north,
inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw
sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas;
deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating
agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national
capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in
Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion |
Micronesia, Federated States of | overfishing, climate change, pollution |
Moldova | heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such
as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion
from poor farming methods |
Monaco | NA |
Mongolia | limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of
former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial
growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of
soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental
laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation,
overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural
production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification
and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment |
Montenegro | pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor |
Montserrat | land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation |
Morocco | land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming
of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water
supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil
pollution of coastal waters |
Mozambique | a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted
in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas
with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of
surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem |
Namibia | very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife
poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas |
Nauru | limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect
rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant;
intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK,
Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a
wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources |
Navassa Island | NA |
Nepal | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives);
contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff,
and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
Netherlands | water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and
nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles
and refining activities; acid rain |
Netherlands Antilles | NA |
New Caledonia | erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires |
New Zealand | deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species |
Nicaragua | deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution |
Niger | overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife
populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion)
threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction |
Nigeria | soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution;
desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered
serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization |
Niue | increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of
soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture |
Norfolk Island | NA |
Northern Mariana Islands | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease;
clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with
development |
Norway | water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting
lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions |
Pacific Ocean | endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter,
seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South
China Sea |
Pakistan | water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural
runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the
population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification |
Palau | inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the
marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing |
Panama | water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources;
deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil
erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban
areas; mining threatens natural resources |
Papua New Guinea | rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial
demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe
drought |
Paracel Islands | NA |
Paraguay | deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal
pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
Peru | deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the
slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal
waters from municipal and mining wastes |
Philippines | uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion;
air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation;
increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish
breeding grounds |
Pitcairn Islands | deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement) |
Poland | situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and
increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air
pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide
emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has
caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal
sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes;
pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial
establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial
cost to business and the government |
Portugal | soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas |
Puerto Rico | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
Qatar | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Romania | soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south
from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands |
Wallis and Futuna | deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain)
largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel
source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous
terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no
permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh
water resources |
Virgin Islands | lack of natural freshwater resources |
Wake Island | NA |
Venezuela | sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago
de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial
pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the
rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations |
Vietnam | logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to
deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing
threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits
potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population
migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
City |
Vanuatu | a majority of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation |
Uruguay | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
Uzbekistan | shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of
chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown
from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to
desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy
use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health
disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried
nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
United States | air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US
is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of
fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and
fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the
western part of the country require careful management; desertification |
United Arab Emirates | lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills |
United Kingdom | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol
target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the
legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut in
emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of
industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of
1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household waste,
increasing to 33% by 2015 |
Uganda | draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread
poaching |
Ukraine | inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution;
deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986
accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant |
Turks and Caicos Islands | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater |
Tuvalu | since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable,
most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage
facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant
and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of
sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth
for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of
Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is concerned about global increases in
greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which
threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government
appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising
sea levels should make evacuation necessary |
Turkmenistan | contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals,
pesticides; salination, water logging of soil due to poor irrigation
methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow
of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability
to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification |
Tunisia | toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health
risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water
resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Turkey | water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air
pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil
spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic |
Tonga | deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for
agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish
and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens
native sea turtle populations |
Trinidad and Tobago | water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw
sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
Togo | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of
wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the
fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas |
Tokelau | limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand |
Tanzania | soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral
reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal
agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade,
especially for ivory |
Thailand | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and
factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations
threatened by illegal hunting |
Syria | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate
potable water |
Tajikistan | inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides |
Switzerland | air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain;
water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of
biodiversity |
Swaziland | limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted
because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil
erosion |
Sweden | acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea |
Suriname | deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities |
Svalbard | NA |
Spratly Islands | NA |
Sri Lanka | deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by
poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities
and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by
industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in
Colombo |
Sudan | inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened
by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought |
Spain | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from
the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity
nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | NA |
Southern Ocean | increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic
ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity
(phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish;
illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years,
especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more
Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to
affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental
mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish |
South Africa | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water
conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing
supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban
discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion;
desertification |
Solomon Islands | deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
Somalia | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems;
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Slovakia | air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
Slovenia | Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of
coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage
near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and
chemical plants) and resulting acid rain |
Sierra Leone | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of
timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture
have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted
natural resources; overfishing |
Singapore | industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited
land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze
resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
Senegal | wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;
deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil
erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral
used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental
damage |
Seychelles | water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater |
San Marino | NA |
Sao Tome and Principe | deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion |
Saudi Arabia | desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of
perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development
of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from
oil spills |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon
may bring future development that would impact the environment |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure
yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough
to make swimming prohibitive |
Samoa | soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | NA |
Saint Lucia | deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region |
Rwanda | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel;
overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching |
Saint Helena | NA |
Russia | air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric
plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and
agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts;
deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper
application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes
intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic
waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete
pesticides |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
Oman | rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
Iles Eparses | |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges | Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources |
Iles Eparses | |
European Union | NA |
Taiwan | air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage;
contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species;
low-level radioactive waste disposal |
Zimbabwe | deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution;
the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the
species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor
mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution |
Zambia | air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and
refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously
threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water
treatment presents human health risks |
Yemen | very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of
potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
Western Sahara | sparse water and lack of arable land |
West Bank | adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment |