4 сем / Текст №2 - MOSCOW’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

MOSCOW’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS The development of Moscow is associated with high density housing, intensive development of the suburbs, and rapid expansion of transport networks. All this contributes to the huge impact on the city’s natural systems, causing significant changes in their structure and hazards detrimental to the population. The extremely high population density leads to increased resource consumption, high emissions of pollutants, and adverse effects of electromagnetic and radiation fields. The most urgent issues are the scarcity and pollution of air and water. The highest levels of air pollution are found near highways and industrial areas since motor transport accounts for around 96% of total man-made emissions. In recent decades, Moscow has been experiencing surface water quality deterioration and groundwater depletion due to contamination by industrial untreated wastes. To improve the ecological situation in Moscow, it is vital to increase citizens’ environmental awareness and urge drastic changes in government policies. This task is technically feasible and could be achieved by using renewable energy sources, non-waste technologies, waste-recycling plants, sewage treatment facilities, and electric transport.