Some Major Environmental Issues in England – What’s Happening?

Here are some major environmental issues happening in England right now, and as a nature lover, I find them deeply concerning.

Toxic Waste Fires in East London: A site in Havering, East London, has been burning underground for years due to illegal waste dumping. People nearby are breathing in toxic fumes, but there’s still no proper clean-up plan. source

Sewage in Windermere: In 2024, raw sewage was dumped into Windermere for over 6,000 hours (about 17 hours a day). This causes toxic algae and harms wildlife, yet little is being done to stop it. source

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Government Failing to Protect Waterways: The environmental watchdog found that agencies responsible for stopping pollution aren’t doing their job. Legal action may be taken to hold them accountable. source

These environmental issues are causing serious harm: toxic waste fires release harmful chemicals into the air and soil, polluting water and affecting health; raw sewage in Windermere is killing wildlife and making the lake unsafe; and government inaction allows pollution to continue unchecked, damaging ecosystems. If we don’t take action, these problems will worsen, hurting nature and our own health.

It’s easy to assume that someone else will fix these problems, but these ongoing issues show that change only happens when people speak up and demand action. If we don’t hold those in power accountable, who will?

Have a good one,
Mariah 🍃