Environmental issues that exist include pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and industrial uses, acid rain in areas where coal is used as a source of energy, soil erosion in overpopulated areas and desertification in areas where grasslands are being lost due to over-grazing of livestock.

Unfortunately, erosion is one of the most difficult environmental problems to measure in absolute terms and monitor at different scales

Over the years, the United Nations system has grappled with those uniquely global problems which cannot be adequately addressed by any one country alone, and which require cooperative efforts. These are ...