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; 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
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; 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
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and
deforestation national security issues
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
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
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
Oman
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited
natural fresh water resources
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; most 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
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
Saint Barthelemy
with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is
in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by
desalinization of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported
via water tanker
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA
Saint Lucia
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the
northern region
Saint Martin
fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of
sea water
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
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
Senegal
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Serbia
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities;
water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which
flows into the Danube
Seychelles
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
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
Sint Maarten
NA
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
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
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
South Georgia and 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
note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong
comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries
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
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
Suriname
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of
inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Svalbard
NA
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
Switzerland
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air
burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of
agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Syria
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes;
inadequate potable water
Taiwan
air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in
endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Tajikistan
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of
soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
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
Timor-Leste
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources
Kingman Reef: none
Midway Islands and Palmyra Atoll: NA
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
Vanuatu
most of the population does not have access to a reliable
supply of potable water; deforestation
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
Virgin Islands
lack of natural freshwater resources
Wake Island
NA
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
West Bank
adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Western Sahara
sparse water and lack of arable land
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