Both man and animals affect the environment while at the same time depending on it for survival. Environmental care is a noble call that requires all and sundry to be involved. An environment that is not taken care of or preserved is bound to endanger its inhabitants.
To begin with, healthy living depends on a clean and well-kept environment. Toxins and contaminants pollute the environment and consequently interfere with the health of man and other animals. Our health is negatively impacted in a polluted environment. For instance, cancer-related ailments and respiratory diseases are either caused or aggravated by air pollution. Ill-health conditions activated by polluted water include cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid (Farmer, 2012).
As much as treatment and care for patients affected by such diseases exist, we may never be sure of the long-term or terminal effects caused by water and air pollution in our immediate environments. Water is a crucial necessity while we cannot do without supply of fresh air. Hence, pollution should be avoided as much as possible. Needless to say, human health may cease to exist with time if environmental pollution persists.
Second, scientists have laid down numerous research documentations regarding the rising atmospheric and global temperatures, best referred to as global warming. As a result, climatic patterns are also changing in an adverse manner. As human beings continue to burn fossil fuels in large quantities (incineration), the quantity of carbon dioxide is also rising within the atmosphere. This goes alongside the emission of other greenhouse gases that are largely responsible for “blanket cover” of the atmosphere thereby causing temperatures below to be warmer than usual (Munyaradzi, 2013). The latter scenario has exacerbated dangerous weather patterns or extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes, floods, heat stroke, desertification and so on. Of late, devastating storms have been witnessed in various parts of the world leading to mass destruction of property and loss of lives. Worse still, the rising global temperature is also rapidly melting ice caps and triggering a gradual rise in sea level. Atmospheric scientists project that as the sea level continue to rise, costal islands and settlements may eventually be “swallowed” by the growing ocean waters.
Third, the future generation will indeed enjoy and appreciate the environment conservation efforts of the present generation. In other words, the future is guaranteed if the environment can be safeguarded and preserved at the current time. Environmental preservation is a certain way of making sure that human, animal and plant life exist in the coming generations. Some plant and animal species are extinct due to the harmful environmental activities perpetuated by man (Battersby, 2013).
Biodiversity is important. Degradation and habitat loss can grossly interfere with the various species of living things found on earth’s surface. Climate change and other harmful human activities have negatively affected global biodiversity. At this point, it is vital to mention that biodiversity creates survival chain through interdependence between plants and animals. For instance, human beings require food generated by plants. The carbon dioxide we breathe out is used by plants for purpose of photosynthesis or self-production of food. Concurrently, we breathe in oxygen produced by plants. For such an interdependence to be effective, we need a complete biodiversity system. Even the water we drink is made available through biodiversity. Tiny and large animals in the jungle seek food and shelter under the available vegetation. If we lose biodiversity, other environmental challenges may set in.
What can individual countries do to save the environment?
It is possible for individual countries to institute measures for protecting the earth. A strategy may also be developed for a collaborative effort to save the environment among different nations. First, it is important to make laws that target environmental protection. Individual nations have a role of making sure that proper environmental legislations are in place. Environmental challenges caused by pollution, overfishing in high seas, and global warming can be swiftly curtailed by enacting necessary rules and regulations.
Governments should create awareness to their citizens on the dangers of environmental pollution. Unless the general populace is educated and made aware on the harmful effects of environmental degradation, they can hardly take proactive measures to protect it. Environmental conservation awareness campaigns should be rife and if possible, be included in education curriculums. Governments should take the front stage in spreading news about harmful effects of destroying the environment (Munyaradzi, 2013). For example, clear messages should be delivered to the citizens regarding the depletion of ozone layer and health impacts associated with it. Unless people are shown the magnitude of the problem, they can hardly be part of environment conservation.
Capacity building and training of personnel who can lead the campaign against environmental degradation should be a core consideration by governments across the world. There is need for expert teams on the ground to spearhead the process of saving the environment. Professionals who can advise and assist the government on matters related to environmental impact assessment are needed. Besides, long term planning on how the government can manage and sustain the environment require expert minds. On the same note, governments should put in place governance systems for enforcing all the enacted laws and regulations. Respective government organs should establish areas that require urgent attention by carrying out regular assessment of the environment.
What can individual people do?
At the individual level, environmental conservation calls for personal responsibility. Individual homes should have waste disposal systems that do not disrupt the immediate ecosystems. For instance, reckless littering of plastic and polythene bags should be discouraged at all costs. Developing care for the environment as an individual requires a positive attitude and love for the same environment. If we heed to measures that have been put in place by our governments, saving the environment will be possible. In addition, individuals should avoid human activities that accelerate pollution. Case examples include indiscriminate cutting down of tress and other vital vegetation, avoid using products that contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), exercise proper incineration of wastes (using chimneys), and plant trees and other types of friendly vegetations in our immediate surroundings (Clayton, 2012).
Reporting instances of environmental degradation is perhaps one area that the general members of the public need to improve. Individuals should play oversight role and make sure that cases of pollution, poor waste disposal and any other harmful acts to the environment should be reported to the authorities.
Individuals should be active enough in joining and supporting environmental awareness campaigns in order to sensitize the public. In fact, protection of the environment should not be seen as a sole government initiative, but a collective responsibility.
Proper and economical use of the available resources is also a right step that individuals can take towards saving the environment. For instance, light bulbs should be switched off when not in use. Apart from just saving the process of energy production, it also reduce environmental burden on resources required to generate heat and light energy. Proper use may also minimize accidents such as fire outbreaks and gas explosions that eventually harm both biodiversity and ecosystem.
What can the international community do?
International agreements and treaties on environmental protection and conservation are key. The international community has an opportunity to openly negotiate a comprehensive climate control regime based on deliberations of past summits. For instance, the Kyoto protocol began on a good note but some members of the international community failed to support certain proposals of the summit. Consequently, the protocol’s agreement was extended to 2020. If the international community can unanimously agree on core proposals regarding environmental protection, it can be a right step towards the right direction. Government efforts to save the environment may be rendered futile owing to lack of firm support from the international community.
Emission reduction based on quota system should also be a priority area for the international community. Even though each nation is competing for industrialization space in the global arena, an international team spirit to cut down on emission levels should be a major consideration (Battersby, 2013). The international community should unanimously agree to forge towards a common front in dealing with acts pollution and destruction of the global environment.
Moreover, the community ought to fast track funding for forestation in order to suppress carbon dioxide emitted from industrial plants. The latter is a major greenhouse gas. Forest sinks can indeed in sequestering excess carbon dioxide and consequently minimise the rate at which global temperatures continue to rise.
References
Battersby, S. (2013). Clay’s Handbook of Environmental Health. New York, NY: Span Press.
Clayton, D.S. (2012). The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Farmer, A. (2012). Handbook of Environmental Protection and Enforcement: Principles and Practice. London, UK: Earthscan.
Munyaradzi, M. (2013). Environmental Conservation through Ubuntu and Other Emerging Perspectives. Mancon: Langaa RPCIG