Environmental problems in 2013 - What will have to change?

The year 2012 cannot be described as the good year for global ecology because environmental problems still continue to grow, not only in number but also in size, pushing this world one step closer to an environmental disaster of gigantic proportions.

Will year 2013 make any difference in this sense? Highly unlikely. The grim economic outlook will receive all the attention from world leaders once again while environmental problems will continue to wait for better times. Environment still continues to be in the shadows of economy.

This situation is an excellent symbol of our entire civilization in which everything is judged primarily by money and material goods while everything else seems to be of very little importance. Environmental condition of our entire planet is constantly deteriorating and yet this doesn't seem to worry world too much- it is like we purposely ignore environmental issues not giving them the importance they most certainly deserve.

Global politics and environmental protection don't go along.

Climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, deforestation - all these issues are far more serious than most of the world thinks they are. In business as usual scenario these issues will negatively impact the well-being of our future generations, meaning that our children and grandchildren will have to pay for our mistakes. In order to improve the environmental condition of our planet we first need to change our perception by setting the right priorities.

Second, the world needs to unite because environmental issues have become global so only a joint effort can have positive outcome. But what about global politics? Will politicians be able to sacrifice individual interests in order to make this world a better place to live in?

Judging by the past experiences the answer is no. As long as politics and petty individual interests continue to rule the world we won't see any change for better. This means nothing more than few false political promises every now and then and environmental issues being lost in the abyss of greed and hypocrisy.