Environmental problems can be defined as the human activity that has a negative impact on the physical and biological climate. 

There are many environmental problems some are influenced by nature and other influenced by the society. The actions of the society has contributed to these problems, global warming being the current leading one as it highly experienced by the whole world, this leads to Ozone depletion the layer around the earth that protects inhabitants from the harmful ultraviolet light of the sun being thinned or forming holes allowing sun rays to cut through. The society burn coal and fossil fuels and emission of cars and also the propellant in aerosol cans, styrofoam ochlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems leads to global warming.

Adverse Effects on Marine Life, caused by over fishing by society and pollution of oceans by society continue to dump mercury and microplastic that contribute to death of marine species. The decline in fresh water caused by humans activity in overuse, pollution, wastage, population growth and flooding are all the role of society. 

Water pollution, air pollution, land loss, solid waste pollution, and deforestation are all problems in Southern Africa. In South Africa the are many mines which contribute to the above problems, the Sasolburg coal mining it is polluting the air and affect the breathing of those around and the coal and gold mine around Gauteng and Mpumalanga contribute to soil pollution as the remains are dumped on land, causing the land to loss nutrients for wild life to grow.