184 Environment Essay Topics + Examples & Writing Prompts

Environment issues essay aims at spreading awareness of pollution problems, climate change, global warming, and many other issues. It is a common type of essay for writing parts of a lot of exams. Environment protection essay is also assigned to high school and college students.

In this article, you will find out:

• Current TOP-7 environment issues
• 184 environment essay topics
• How to outline your essay
• Different essay writing tips
• 4 essay examples

🌎 Environment Issues Essay – What Is It About?

Ecology has always played a significant role in all people’s lives. We all depend on it, but unfortunately, more and more environmental problems occur each year. They affect nature and our way of life. To stop the spread of these issues, we need to get to know them first.

Top 7 Environmental Issues of 2024

Here’s the list of some relevant environmental issues that take place in the modern world. Before writing your paper, you might want to learn as much information on the topic as you can. Let’s take a closer look at each of the issues, their causes and effects.

Deforestation

Each year there are fewer trees and forests. Why is it happening?

According to World Population Balance, the U.S. population grows by over a million people each year. An increasing number of people leads to the growing demand for land for living, agriculture, highways, etc. We have no other option but to cut the amount of open land, which leads to deforestation.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic may seem a suitable material: it is flexible, cheap, and strong. However, plastic is also hazardous and toxic to the environment. According to National Geographic, 91% of all the plastic ever produced hasn’t been recycled. It takes around 400 years for it to decompose, so it continues to pollute nature.

Food Waste

Each year, around one-third of food produced worldwide gets wasted. This amount is enough to feed about 3 billion people.

Food waste also leads to the waste of resources, global warming, and climate change.

Why do people waste food? It might be happening unintentionally. For example, when you leave last bites on your plate or throw away the leftovers that you couldn’t manage.

Air Pollution

According to Worldwide Health Organization, around 7 million people die due to air pollution annually. It causes lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

What causes air pollution?

There are numerous reasons: outdoor pollution such as vehicles, industries, and agriculture. Household air pollution like exposure to smoke from cooking or heating might also be one of the reasons.

Global Warming

The rise of temperature causes a lot of different adverse effects on the world. It causes:

• climate change
• glaciers melting
• crop-destroying
• wildfires
• insect swarming
• deforestation
• ice shelves collapsing
• tropical storms, and many other issues

Recent events such as wildfires in Australia and California result from global warming too.

Biodiversity Loss

As humankind continues its development, it overuses resources from nature. Since agriculture needs more systems each year, people turn forests, fields, and other natural habitats into them. It leads to biodiversity loss. Some species’ population has decreased dramatically by 68% from 1970 to 2016.

Melting Ice Caps

Melting ice caps is also a serious issue because it’s the main reason for the sea-level rise. It mainly concerns the Arctic since this is where climate change has the most significant negative impact. The sea level rise might affect coastal regions by flooding them. Moreover, it might force around 340 million to 480 million people to migrate and cause overpopulation.

💡 184 Environmental Essay Topics

If you’re struggling with choosing your environmental issues essay topics, here’s the list of 184 essay topics ideas. It is better to choose something you’re genuinely interested in.

1. How does melting ice caps affect the rising sea level?
2. Renewable sources of energy: Controversies.
3. The correlation between population growth and deforestation.
4. The environment pollution in the US.
5. How does plastic affect nature?
6. American Indian environmental movement in Arizona.
7. The danger of food waste and the ways to prevent it.
8. Environment: Sustainable development in Abu Dhabi.
9. Dangerous effects of air pollution.
10. Environment: Greenhouse gases and hydrological cycles.
11. Harmful effects of global warming.
12. The science of global warming and its effects.
13. Biodiversity loss: Causes and effects.
14. Water pollution and associated health risks.
15. The correlation between climate change and melting ice caps.
16. Environmental ethics: The case for animal rights.
17. How can we improve agriculture?
18. Environmental issues and plastic industries.
19. Human impact on nature.
20. Environmental security: Global warming and pollution.
21. Environmentalist movements and their impact on politics.
22. Environmental damage because of oil spills.
23. Ecotourism and its benefits.
24. Water pollution in China.
25. The pros and cons of nuclear energy.
26. Farming, animal consumption, and environment.
27. The correlation between globalization and ecological issues.
28. The global climate change as a manmade disaster.
29. How to save the world from air pollution?
30. The evolution of insect wings in response to environmental changes.
31. How does our lifestyle affect the environment?
32. Water resource problem and its causes.
33. The importance of waste management and recycling.
34. Global warming in Australia: Environmental health.
35. Production and consumption impact on the environment.
36. Environmental racism and justice.
37. How dangerous is microplastic?
38. Global warming policies and options.
39. How can zero-waste help our planet?
40. Scope of improvement of the environmental impact of air travel.
41. The advantages of green engineering.
42. Renewable energy sources controversies.
43. What is earth day, and why is it important?
44. Environmental impacts of Heathrow Airport: Demand for a strategic sustainable transport.
45. Social impact on climate change.
46. Waste handling and control as fundamental phenomena.
47. Healthy lifestyle habits and their impact on the environment.
48. The role of waste management in the environment.
49. The most vulnerable regions to the rising sea level.
50. Global warming: Human vs. natural causes.
51. The change of the average air temperature in my area.
52. Implementing environmental sustainability in Dubai.
53. Acid rain: Causes and effects.
54. Sustainability and waste management.
55. Social and environmental sciences connection.
56. Environmental governance and institutional arrangements in Niger Delta oil spills.
57. Conservation projects in my region.
58. Solar panels and their advantages.
59. Pandas’ extinction and how we can prevent it.
60. Sustainability in the built environment.
61. What is an ecosystem, and how does it work?
62. Maritime risk assessment and environmental management.
63. Melting glaciers and their impact on the environment.
64. Alternative fuels and the US nation development.
65. The correlation between climate change and natural disasters.
66. The noise pollution: Negative effects.
67. Why is ocean acidification dangerous?
68. Changing ecosystems: Effects of global warming.
69. Climate crisis and climate refugees.
70. Global warming: A real danger or a hoax?
71. How climate change impacts agriculture.
72. Ocean wave energy technologies.
73. The greenhouse effect and how it works.
74. The real effects of greenhouse gases.
75. The ways to prevent global warming.
76. The water-energy-food nexus and problem mitigation.
77. Deforestation and its impact on climate.
78. Gulf oil spill: facts, causes, response, effects.
79. How does tree planting affect climate change?
80. Alternative energy sources vs. fossil fuels.
81. The reason behind plants and animal extinction.
82. Environmental sustainability in the Dubai police force.
83. Population growth: Causes and effects.
84. Fossil fuels as a significant part of the future energy mix.
85. The reason behind birds’ migration.
86. Cost of plastic recycling in US.
87. What is green construction, and why is it beneficial?
88. Sustainable building and environmental design.
89. How can responsible consumption help nature?
90. Green technology and how it can help the environment.
91. Global warming: causes and consequences.
92. How can we improve agriculture without harming the environment?
93. Environmental conservation and resource management.
94. Invasive species and how they can harm the environment.
95. GMO: Advantages and disadvantages.
96. Air pollution and mortality rates.
97. The process of the nutrient cycle.
98. What are sustainable environmental practices?
99. Solutions to the environmental crisis in Vietnam.
100. How can we save more energy?
101. Solar energy effects on the environment.
102. What are alternatives to plastic?
103. Construction and demolition waste management in the UAE.
104. Commercial fishing impact on the ocean.
105. Mitigating climate change through trade schemes.
106. What is a marine ecosystem, and how do we affect it?
107. Nine challenges of alternative energy.
108. Energy efficiency and its importance.
109. Climate change causes: Position and strategies.
110. How do fossil fuels damage the environment?
111. Sustainable building materials and technologies in the construction industry.
112. The controversy behind environmental laws.
113. Environmental risks: opposing views.
114. Air quality in your country.
115. Why is urban sprawl a problem?
116. Energy sources: types and development.
117. Different types of environmentalism.
118. Global warming, climate change, and society’s impact on the environment.
119. Wildlife reserves and how they work.
120. Wind power in the United States.
121. Ecotourism regulations in your country.
122. Columbia river, its salmon culture and human impact.
123. Ecological footprint and its impact on nature.
124. Is solar energy important for the future of humanity?
125. Simple everyday habits that can help the environment.
126. Integrated sustainable water resource management plan.
127. Different ways of recycling water.
128. Global warming and carbon dioxide.
129. What is sustainable food?
130. Dubai municipal solid waste management.
131. The most popular renewable energy sources.
132. Environmental issues in developing and developed countries.
133. Various factors of sustainability.
134. Atomic power as a renewable energy source.
135. Climate change and global warming difference.
136. Los Angeles regional collaborative for climate action.
137. Human impact on climate.
138. The reasons behind climate change.
139. Virtual water and the water-energy nexus.
140. Why is carbon dioxide harmful?
141. Environmental benefits and problems of concrete.
142. The reasons for the carbon dioxide increase.
143. Water scarcity: An issue of living in the US.
144. Fracking and why it is bad.
145. The cost effectiveness of recycling plastic.
146. Ozone depletion: Causes and effects.
147. History of the environmental law in the US.
148. Three basic methods of ecological research.
149. Renewable energy sources in the aviation industry.
150. Different types of recycling.
151. Sources of energy: classification and aspects.
152. Volunteer organizations and their contribution to environmental health.
153. Quality and environmental management.
154. Does eco-friendly marketing help the environment?
155. The major contributors to water pollution.
156. Carpooling and its contribution to the environment.
157. Chemicals as the worst pollutants on the Earth.
158. Human impact on global warming.
159. The health effects of air pollution in America.
160. The water purification technology.
161. Solar energy in the modern world.
162. Environmental organizations and what they do.
163. Green space as an urban environment of Sydney.
164. Environmental activities to do at home.
165. How to protect the Egypt Nile River from pollution?
166. Famous environmental activists and the difference they made.
167. Wind energy: is it viable or not?
168. What is emancipatory environmentalism?
169. Water resource plan: The problem of overdrawing the surface water.
170. Green political parties and their influence.
171. Global warming causes and mitigations.
172. Environmental justice: Goals and causes.
173. Pollution of the marine environment.
174. Can any country become green?
175. Flint poisoning: Environmental racism and racial capitalism.
176. Environmental law and its history.
177. Investment into alternative energy.
178. How does emission trading work?
179. Wind energy and non-renewable energy.
180. Ecological niches and their types.
181. Waste diversion programs in Ontario in 1996-2010.
182. Pollution and its impact on our health.
183. Dubai coast: Environmental sampling and analysis.
184. The most significant causes of desertification.

Didn’t find the topic that perfectly suits your taste? You are welcome to use our essay topic generator!

📑 Environmental Issues Essay: Outline

The environmental issues essay consists of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The optimal length is five paragraphs (around 200-300 words).

The introduction part shouldn’t be very long. One paragraph is usually enough.

The thesis statement is your main idea that you need to support in your body part. Let’s say you want to write about the dangerous effects of air pollution. “Air pollution not only harms the environment but also is the cause of numerous diseases.” This might be your thesis.

Need to formulate a thesis statement? Use our thesis-making tool!

The length of the body depends on the size of the whole paper. A five-paragraph essay should contain a three-paragraph body. A five-page research paper, in its turn, would have a four-page body.

🛡️ Environment Protection Essay: Writing Prompts & Example

Environment protection starts with each of us. So, a good essay topic might be about how each of us can contribute to it.

You can list some options of how we can protect the environment. You can try to persuade the reader to contribute. It might be simple everyday steps or a more significant contribution like volunteering. Make sure to mention their benefits as well.

Environment Protection Essay Example: 250 Words

Introduction	The environment has been suffering from our actions for a long time. A lot of people tend to believe that only big corporations are in charge of hurting our planet. However, every person somehow takes part in polluting the environment. So, what can we do to protect nature from ourselves?
Body Paragraph 1	First of all, we can recycle our waste. Every person produces a particular amount of waste every day. We don’t even notice how much plastic, paper, and other things we use daily. So, the easiest we can do is recycling. This simple habit can make a big difference.
Body Paragraph 2	We can also use less water. By conserving water, we can keep it clean and pure. People waste too much water doing everyday activities. We can save it when we brush our teeth, wash the dishes or take a shower. Moreover, it can not only help the planet but also save money.
Body Paragraph 3	A more significant contribution is volunteering. This option is not for everyone. However, if everyone could spend at least one hour a month doing cleanups volunteering, the world would be much cleaner. It is an excellent opportunity to help the environment and motivate others to do the same.
Conclusion	To sum up, we need to keep in mind that we are the ones responsible for the place we all live in. There are numerous ways we can help nature. However, even these simple steps can make a huge difference.

☘️ Eco-friendly Environment Essay: Writing Prompts & Example

What to write in an eco-friendly environment essay?

Another option is to explain how you maintain an eco-friendly environment. Maybe you recycle your waste at home or avoid using fuel vehicles? You can also create a list of effective and ineffective ways to create an eco-friendly environment. It is better to read some articles on this issue before starting your writing.

Eco-friendly Environment Essay Example: 250 Words

Introduction	We can maintain an eco-friendly environment through laws, services, goods, and policies to minimize human harm to nature. People have been polluting the environment for a long time. That’s why for the past few years, a nature-friendly lifestyle has been actively promoted. So, how are we building an eco-friendly environment?
Body Paragraph 1	A lot of companies are now using eco-friendly marketing. They release eco-friendly and recycled products and organic food. Many cafes try to cut out plastic: they don’t use plastic straws and give discounts to customers with their own cups.
Body Paragraph 2	More and more people join the green movements. Green movements or environmental movements aim at spreading awareness of environmental issues. Some people maintain eco-friendly habits like recycling or carpooling. Others make a more significant impact: they join different nonprofit organizations or protests. Either way can contribute to an eco-friendly environment.
Body Paragraph 3	Eco-friendly technology is also a part of a nature-friendly lifestyle. Usage of this kind of technology can also help to reduce the damage to the planet. It includes alternative energy, water purification, LED and CFL lighting, green vehicles, etc. This technology becomes more affordable. So, almost every person has at least one eco-friendly tech product at home.
Conclusion	So, although there are numerous environmental issues, we can reduce the damage. We can do it by maintaining an eco-friendly environment. Everyone can find something they can do to contribute to nature protection.

♻️ Human Impact on the Environment Essay: Writing Prompt & Example

As we all know, people are the ones who affect nature the most. So, in this essay, you can elaborate on how people harm the planet.

Some of the issues you could focus on are:

1. Air pollution
2. Water pollution
3. Plastic pollution
4. Deforestation
5. Climate change
6. Overpopulation
7. Global warming

Make sure also to include your advice on how we can solve these problems.

Human Impact on the Environment Essay Example: 250 Words

Introduction	Humans have been affecting nature in both negative and positive ways. We constantly pollute the oceans, destroy forests, produce a lot of waste, and so on. I will cover three of the most crucial environmental issues caused by humans and how to prevent them.
Body Paragraph 1	One of the significant environmental issues in the modern world is pollution. It leads to many other issues like the greenhouse effect, global warming, and different diseases. There are different kinds of pollution such as air, water, plastic, light pollutions, etc. Here’s the list of some things we can do to prevent it: recyclereduce car rides use less plasticreuse items.
Body Paragraph 2	Deforestation is also a result of negative human impacts. Deforestation leads to climate change, increasing carbon dioxide, soil erosion, and so on. To prevent deforestation, we can: plant treesbuy recycled goodstry using fewer paper products.
Body Paragraph 3	(https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-overpopulation.php#Incredible_Solutions_To_Overpopulation) Overpopulation is an equally serious issue. It is caused by mortality rate reduction, medicine improvement, and other things. Overpopulation leads to deforestation, global warming, overuse of resources, water pollution, etc. Some of the ways of overpopulation prevention are: provide better educationIntroduce a new tax policy.
Conclusion	To sum up, human impact on Earth is indeed huge. However, there are numerous ways to prevent the negative effects on nature. An eco-friendly environment starts with each of us, so we are capable of making a difference.

🗑️ Effect of Plastic on Environment Essay: Writing Prompt & Example

Plastic undoubtedly plays a significant role in our life.

In your essay, you can list the reasons why plastic is damaging. You can also suggest ways of how we can reduce the usage of plastic.

Some of the topics you can mention in your essay:

• Microplastic
• Plastic effect on animals
• The reasons why plastic is toxic
• Plastic decomposition and why is it harmful
• What can we replace plastic with?

Effect of Plastic on Environment Essay Example: 250 Words

Introduction	Plastic is one of the most convenient materials. It is flexible and strong. However, it’s also highly harmful to the environment. Plastic pollution is one of the most significant environmental issues of the modern world. So, how exactly does it harm nature, and what can we do to prevent the damage?
Body Paragraph 1	The main problem is that plastic takes more than 400 years to decompose. It also releases some toxic substances under high temperatures. Moreover, plastic travels all around the world and can be found almost everywhere on Earth. It also has entered the food chain, so it affects nearly every living creature.
Body Paragraph 2	Another reason why plastic is dangerous is microplastic. Microplastic is pieces of plastic that are no more than 5 millimeters long. It is dangerous because it can get into our bodies with food or water. Microplastic might also lead to different diseases such as colon cancer and others.
Body Paragraph 3	Plastic is not only harmful to nature and people but is also deadly to animals. They eat it and get stuck in it. A lot of sea animals are found dead with plastic in their stomachs or around their bodies. If people can somehow control the usage of plastic in their lives, animals can’t. It makes them more vulnerable.
Conclusion	To sum up, although plastic has a lot of various advantages, it is also very damaging. To stop plastic pollution spread, we need to either use it consciously or cut out plastic usage as much as we can.

Now you are ready to share your thought on environmental issues in your essay. What is your opinion on environmental issues? What topic would you like to write about? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

❓ Environment Issues FAQ