Global Energy and Ecological Issues, and Photosynthesis

Abstract

Life on planet Earth emerged and is sustained due to photosynthesis. Photosynthesising systems formed on the planet an oxygen-containing atmosphere with an ozone shield, a biosphere with fertile soil, an adequate climate and a rational level of temperatures of the near-earth atmosphere to provide a living environment for the human race. Photosynthesising systems are extremely sensitive to environmental contamination with toxic, cancerous-mutagenic and other hazardous substances, which even in small concentrations reduce effectiveness of photosynthesis. Presently, hundreds of millions of tons of extremely hazardous and cancerous-mutagenic pollutants are emitted to the planet's environment. The level of deforestation is 10 to 12 mln. hectares annually, and over 6 mln. hectares of fertile land annually become deserts. Practically, one-third of the ocean's surface is covered with technogenic films, thus reducing the level of delivery of carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere to the ocean.

A global ecosystem has emerged on planet Earth. It is developing not according to natural or social laws, but rather to its intrinsic socio-ecological laws. The ecosystem is losing its capacity for natural self-regulation. This results in the following: destruction of the biosphere's regenerative mechanisms; destruction and degradation of photosynthesising systems; reduced consumption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; the greenhouse effect-induced growing temperatures of the near-earth atmosphere layer, the increasing World ocean level, and redistribution of water precipitation and flooding of many planet's regions.