If the globe is to continue to be a safe haven for people and other animals, these five megatrends pose serious challenges to the entire planet. 

1. Climate change and air pollution.

Ocean and atmosphere are being overloaded with carbon, which is a problem. Warmer air, soils, and ocean surface waters are caused by atmospheric CO2's ability to absorb and reemit infrared light. In the absence of this, the globe would be completely frozen.Unfortunately, the air contains far too much carbon right now. 

Fossil fuel combustion, agricultural clearing for farming, and industrial processes have increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations from 280 parts per million (ppm) 200 years ago to roughly 400 ppm now. With regard to both size and pace, such a rise is unprecedented. Climate change is the end effect.Burning wood, coal, oil, and gas releases pollutants into the air, including carbon overloading.

2. Forest destruction.

Problem: Species-rich wild forests are being cut down, especially in the tropics, frequently to make way for agricultural monocultures like cattle ranching, soy or palm oil plantations, or other monocultures.Approximately half as much as before agriculture began approximately 11,000 years ago, or about 30% of the planet's surface area, is now covered by forests. 

The majority of the forest destruction occurs in the tropics and affects about 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres) of land annually. About 15% of the planet's surface area used to be covered by tropical forests, but that number has now dropped to 6–7%.Natural forests function as carbon sinks, preventing carbon from entering the atmosphere and oceans. They also serve as reserves for biodiversity.

3. Species extinction

Animals are being hunted to extinction on land for bushmeat, ivory, and 'medicinal' items. Entire fish populations are wiped off at sea by massive commercial fishing vessels outfitted with bottom trawling or purse seine nets. A wave of extinction that is exceptional in that it is brought on by only one species—humans—also heavily relies on habitat loss and damage. 

The number of species on the IUCN's Red List of endangered and threatened species keeps expanding.Species not only deserve to exist inherently, but they also offer goods and 'services' that are crucial to human survival. Consider bees and the crucial role they play in pollinating plants to produce food.

4. Soil deterioration

Overgrazing, monoculture planting, erosion, soil compaction, excessive exposure to pollutants, and land-use conversion are just a few of the issues that are causing soils to deteriorate. According to UN estimates, cropland suffers substantial degradation on a yearly basis of about 12 million hectares.

The following are some possible solutions: No-till farming, crop rotation, and terrace construction are only a few of the many soil conservation and restoration strategies that are available. Since maintaining healthy soils is essential for ensuring food security, we're likely to overcome this difficulty in the long run. Uncertainty surrounds the issue of whether this will be accomplished in a way that is fair to everyone on the planet.

5. Overpopulation

Problem: The world's human population is expanding quickly. 1.6 billion people made up humanity when the 20th century began; today, that number is closer to 7.5 billion. By 2050, the population is predicted to be about 10 billion. Growing wealth and expanding world populations are putting increasing demand on water and other critical natural resources. 

Southern and eastern Asia as well as the African continent are where the majority of the increase is taking place. Solutions: Research has demonstrated that the average number of births per woman sharply declines when women are given the power to choose their own reproduction and have access to education and basic social amenities.