Introduction
Our planet is the place we live in, and in case of its destruction, we will imminently be extinct. Despite this harsh fact, human beings continue to deteriorate the Earth, and only by the contributions of each and every person, it is possible to preserve our environment. I have explored several scientific publications, and all of them agree on the fact that humans are destroying the planet. In this paper, I will discuss why the environment is important and will explore how human beings are damaging it. In the end, I will provide information about how environmental issues may harm humans. It is essential to sustain our nature for the current and coming generations.
Importance of Nature
The same way we value any other gift we receive from the people around us, we should appreciate nature and all elements within it. We often take the environment for granted, but without it, human existence would not have been possible. It is essential to understand that all that comprises nature is significant, and omitting any elements may result in imbalance and catastrophes. Human beings have already done irreparable damage to ecology and the biosphere, but before discussing what this negative impact is, it is imperative to know nature’s role in our lives.
The environment has directly influenced every aspect of human civilization. Our planet has continuously played the role of the giver, providing us with food, shelter, and other items significant for survival. Nature’s most vital component is freshwater, which is critical for the human body (Goudie, 2019). For instance, our body uses water to regulate temperature and other processes that happen within our cells (Goudie, 2019). Tissues and organs that have to be moist to function also need water to operate (Goudie, 2019). Dehydration leads to problems with joints because water acts as a lubricant to our bones. Waste that accumulates in our body, like dead cells, is removed with the aid of water (Goudie, 2019). Digestion would have been impossible had our bodies not received a sufficient amount of this vital liquid.
It is evident that the environment also provides food. What most people do not know, however, is how food grows. While human beings place seeds under the soil, most critical processes are done by nature. For instance, pollination, which is essential for many of the plants that grow on our planet, is done by birds and insects (Goudie, 2019). While some critics believe that artificial pollination is an option, pollinating each and every plant on Earth would place a massive burden on the world economy, thus increasing food prices and contributing to global poverty.
Since the creation of Earth, plants had been increasing in number, providing resources both for animals and humans. The environment employed animals to distribute plants around the world. This process is called seed dispersal, and it takes place without any human interventions. Without moving seeds from one place to another, it would have been impossible for trees and other flora to occupy the planet. Plants provide oxygen, and their abundance on Earth is one of the reasons why humans can breathe and exist (Goudie, 2019). Therefore, people should be informed about the notion of seed dispersal to make favorable decisions regarding fauna.
Environmental balance is important, but fortunately, nature knows how to regulate itself without requiring any external intervention. For instance, there would have been a significant annual loss in agricultural crops if there had been no pest control. Birds and some animals use them for nutritional objectives, thus regulating the number of insects (Goudie, 2019). They do not decrease the number to a negligible value, however, which is also critical. The disappearance of some insects may have catastrophic consequences on other parts of the ecosystem. Species that feast on insects would disappear, starting the chain of irreversible reactions with dangerous outcomes for human beings.
The development of science had a significant impact on people’s motivations and opinions about the environment. Some individuals believe that humankind will be able to overcome any obstacles that may emerge in the future using scientific knowledge. While partially true, what these people neglect is the fact that humans did not invent science – they only discover physical and biological laws through observing natural processes, animals, and other elements of the environment. For instance, medicine would not have reached its current state without the data provided by nature (Goudie, 2019). Most medications make use of animals’ venom, and scientists yield inspiration from the behavior of certain species.
Therefore, people should not neglect the critical role nature has in our lives. The environment is the provider of all necessary resources, and thus, any issues in its functioning will have a direct impact on humans’ existence. Despite this vital but straightforward fact, people have been irresponsible when interacting with nature. We have become consumers that do not return anything and have been depleting the planet’s resources since ancient times. There is still hope that people learn to coexist with nature, but first, it is imperative to know how exactly the human species impact the environment.
Human Impact on the Environment
Deforestation
Among the evident unfavorable impacts of human activity on the environment is deforestation. The number of trees in the world had been growing for thousands of years until economic incentives and the increase of the global population started motivating people to utilize forests. According to statistics, humans have destroyed 46% of forests since they started cutting down trees (Goudie, 2019). Amazonian rainforests, which are the primary providers of oxygen, have lost 17% of their territory in the last 50 years (Govorushko, 2016). The speed of deforestation is on the rise, which means that current measures of preserving forests are not sufficient.
Air Pollution
Deforestation leads to fewer amounts of oxygen in the air, but the issue is worsened by the fact that human activity pollutes the air with toxic and harmful contaminants. Almost 10 million people die annually because of health outcomes related to air pollution. More than 90% of the global population lives in areas where the concentration of harmful elements in the air exceeds international limits (Govorushko, 2016). Primary contributors to this issue are cars that work on fossil fuels, factories that release high amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, and airplanes (Govorushko, 2016). Combined with deforestation, air pollution is one of the most devastating influences of humans on the environment.
Water Pollution
Although water is an essential substance for human survival, people have been continuously polluting the water. The reason why water becomes contaminated is that waste is released back into the environment. Instead of reusing and processing trash, humans dump it into water (Goudie, 2019). The magnitude of the issue is critical – more than eight million tons of plastic goes to oceans annually. At least 80% of wastewater, for instance, returns to the environment (Goudie, 2019). This issue shows the human incapacity for technological inventions for the preservation of nature. Another possible reason is the lack of motivation and care.
Land Pollution
The issue of waste also includes lands that otherwise could be used for living, agriculture, or forestry. Humans generate more than three million tons of waste per day, and only a minor portion of this garbage is recycled. The rest is either burned, facilitating the problem of air pollution, is thrown onto lands, degrading their soil and ecosystem (Goudie, 2019). Most of the waste generated by humans does not decompose even after hundreds of years (Goudie, 2019). Unless people consider recycling, the planet will eventually be filled with trash. This course of development poses a risk not only to flora and fauna but also to human civilization.
Ozone Depletion
The Earth’s atmosphere protects humans from ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun. The layer that provides this functionality for the atmosphere is called the ozone layer, and its levels have been depleting since humans started manufacturing industrial chemicals (Goudie, 2019). When these compounds are released into the air, they deteriorate the ozone layer, which means that more ultraviolet light can enter the atmosphere. Higher ultraviolet radiation may lead to unfavorable health outcomes, such as skin cancer and eye strain (Goudie, 2019). It also limits plant growth, further worsening the issue of deforestation and resulting in oxygen decrease.
Overpopulation
It is evident that Earth’s territory is finite, and its resources are scarce. However, the population of the planet has been increasing steadily since the appearance of human beings on Earth. Advancements in technology and medicine contributed to the rapid growth of the population in the last several centuries. There were only 600 million people in 1700, but today, this number is moving toward eight billion (World population growth, 2020). It is an increase in more than seven billion people in only three centuries. Until 1700, the average growth rate was only 0.04% per year (World population growth, 2020). It is evident that the rate is significantly higher today.
Implications for Wildlife
Habitat Loss
Forests comprise the major portion of the habitat for wild animals. Deforestation and conversion of those lands into agricultural sites imminently result in habitat loss (Goudie, 2019). Deprived of their territories for living and sources of food, some of the animals are facing extinction. Another cause of habitat loss is the misuse of water in forests and other places that are home to wildlife (Goudie, 2019). The intoxication of rivers and natural reservoirs due to waste spreads leaves animals with no options in terms of water. As the area which is suitable for the living of wild animals continuously shrinks, so does the biodiversity of the planet.
Loss of Biodiversity
It is logical that with the deterioration of the habitat, loss of biodiversity is inevitable. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining balance within a variety of ecosystems. If one type of plant disappears, it may result in the extinction of some kinds of animals. In turn, the extinction of one type of animal will negatively affect other members of the fauna. Since 1900, habitat loss has resulted in a 20% decrease in the number of species inhabiting the planet (Govorushko, 2016). If this tendency continues, the environment will suffer irreparable damage. Humans cannot reproduce species based on their DNA, which means that once they are lost, they may be lost forever.
Implications for Human Beings
Climate Change
The weather phenomena that have been taking place in various countries, where unusual extremes such as scorching summers and freezing cold winters emerge, are often used as evidence of climate change. Environmentalists talk about global climate change, including an increase in average annual temperature, causing glaciers to melt and rising sea levels (Goudie, 2019). These phenomena may occur slowly and be challenging to track over the years, but there are also more noticeable problems such as precipitation changes and dangerous anomalies such as hurricanes or floods.
Recently, humanity has recorded the first temperature change over time that has exceeded one degree. According to scientists, in 2015, the average temperature of the planet was 1.02 °C higher than that it was recorded in the 19th century (Goudie, 2019). Scientists agree that human activity – the burning of oil, gas, and coal – leads to the greenhouse effect, which causes an increase in average temperature (Goudie, 2019). Experts note that the most substantial increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the past 30 years was observed between 2000 and 2010 (Goudie, 2019). According to the World Meteorological Organization, in 2014, their concentration in the atmosphere reached a record high (Goudie, 2019). Some people contemplate the implications of climate change for human beings, wondering how it will affect them. Adverse health outcomes are some of the possible results of climate change.
Implications of Global Warming
Global warming has negative implications for farming, which can exacerbate the current food issues in poor and developing countries such as those of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. According to scientists, by 2080, the number of people facing the threat of hunger may increase by 600 million people (UN Environment Program, 2020). The increasing prevalence of droughts will likely also harm the communities that already lack access to drinking water. In regions with arid climates, the situation will be further exacerbated by a decrease in rainfall (Goudie, 2019). Starvation, water shortages, and insect migration can lead to an increase in epidemics and the spread of tropical diseases such as malaria and fever in the northern regions (Goudie, 2019). As a result of the newly created scarcity in the vital resources of food and water, political and physical conflicts will be more likely to emerge.
As a result of climate change, people worldwide may have to adjust to substantial and unpredictable changes in local weather, which will likely tend to be severe and extreme. Catastrophic anomalies such as floods and hurricanes will become more prevalent, harming people and property. The connection between climate change and natural disasters was proved by American scientists who discovered traces of warming when studying tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean (Goudie, 2019). The link was also indicated when investigating unusually high summer temperatures in Europe, China, South Korea, and Argentina, as well as forest fires in the US state of California (Goudie, 2019). Climate change has also catalyzed droughts in Africa and the Middle East, snowstorms in Nepal, and torrential rains causing floods in Canada and New Zealand (Goudie, 2019). Unless humans start caring for the environment, the latter party will provide adverse responses.
Conclusion
The environment is crucial for the existence of human beings, but the human impact on nature has been generally negative. Air pollution and deforestation are some of the results of human activity. If humans do not undertake any pivotal actions, the planet will become unsuitable for living. Therefore, we must know how our endeavors influence the environment so that we can adjust our attitude toward nature.
References
Goudie, A. S. (2019). Human impact on the natural environment. John Wiley & Sons.
Govorushko, S. (2016). Human impact on the environment: An illustrated world atlas. Springer.
UN Environment Program. (2020). Annual report: 2019 in review. United Nations. Web.
World population growth. (2020). Our World in Data. Web.