Addressing environmental problems in Africa
Environmental problems constitute one of the key challenges on the African continent in the 21
st century. Focus is gradually shifting from politics, wars, and poverty to environmental issues. This is mainly the result of the development of new technologies, which has generated an increase in solid mineral mining, oil exploration, an increase in the number of plants and factories, and the overall upsurge in the application of manufacturing tools. The quality and richness of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments have been polluted and subsequently declined. It is therefore safe to say that new developments in industry and manufacturing are the root causes of environmental degradation over the past three decades. This has been exacerbated by rapid population growth, urbanization, energy consumption, overgrazing, overcultivation of lands, and industrial advancements engendered by globalization.
