Nowadays, there is a debate about the impact of humankind on climatic changes. Indeed, people may have been acting violently towards the planet by polluting it with great amounts of plastic waste and emission of gases, which led to the greenhouse effect and as a consequence, global warming in the long run. However, some people claim that not only the overgrowing industrialization as evidence of constant development of human civilization is to blame, but also the Earth processes beyond one’s control. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to prove that human activities cannot be advocated this way. It is the responsibility of intelligent life on the planet to become wise keepers of the Earth and protect the environment.
The Footprint One Can Leave on the Earth
Unfortunately, most people are in the habit of taking the environment for granted. Therefore, they wake up, clean their teeth without turning off the running water, and commute to downtown by car or by bus, not thinking about fumes produced by the machine during the trip. They are even likely to use fan heaters in winter instead of wearing a jumper. Such irresponsibility is hardly conducive to the safety of Mother Nature, because habitual violations of ecological rules may bring about a catastrophe in the future. If one tends to consume water lavishly, there is a strong possibility of unexpected water shortage in the long run (Colin, 2016). The same concerns air and soil pollution as there is an obvious limit to natural resources. Nevertheless, these days one can investigate the character of their consumption with the help of such tools as Ecological Footprint Calculator (What is your ecological footprint, n.d.). Using this quiz, one is sure to know what ways they may influence the environment every day by simply not taking into account petty, yet harmful actions.
Since it was a challenge for me to cope with the negative results of the quiz, it would be better to admit that carbon footprint turned out to be of most surprise. I have never expected such an immense number of CO2 emissions in tones per year, namely 21.3. It is illustrative of the amount of air pollution in the world in general. Another issue to be concerned about is the number of Earths humanity would need if everyone lived like me – 7,6 green planets with oceans, jungles, and suitable atmosphere to provide food and shelter for the whole legion of the Earth ignorant. Indeed, not a single question was answered in a way I could be proud of. The one which could be considered to be at least tolerant is the question about generating trash because I reported the lower amount of it compared to the neighbors.
Nevertheless, there was one great question worth dwelling upon. Thinking about the greenhouse effect, the problem of animal-based is likely to be omitted. Therefore, the process of producing meat and dairy products should be given more attention from those people, who have no inclination to go in for veganism in the near future (McMichael, Butler & Dixon, 2015). To go deeper into the point, one can remember how way travel by train across summer pastures belonging to farms where herds of cows are raised. The smell of wildflowers suddenly changes to the nasty smell of animal waste products. Each and every farm may leave such an ecological footprint that would require dozens of planets to provide for their needs, according to the calculator.
To Bear the Burden of Being Intelligent
Admittedly, there might be a desire to shift the responsibility onto anyone else who cannot be punished. In this case, it is possible to remember, that the Earth has never been the same and has overcome thousands of catastrophes throughout its existence time. However, according to the recent studies, “In 1988 the leading climate scientist James Hansen, of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with three other senior researchers, testified to a U.S. Congressional committee that it was 99 percent certain that the warming trend in Earth’s temperature that was then observed was not a natural variation but was caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases” (Butler, 2018). The results of this study serve as proper evidence of how human civilization affects the planet. Moreover, no pseudoscientific hypotheses about bio-contamination without human involvement should ever take place after it.
It is a well-known fact that the Earth does have its cycles as far as tectonic processes are concerned. Even the Moon influences the ocean tides. However, no planet is likely to intoxicate its oceans with tones of plastic, invent cars and factories to fill the air with emissions, produce toys varnished with glue to poison babies, and so on. It seems to be not intelligent enough for such deliberate self-destruction. In contrast, human beings are highly likely capable of such crime, but the question is whether they will prove to be smart enough to correct the mistakes of the disgraceful past.
Mission Is Possible
Indeed, something should be done in order to eliminate various repercussions of human activities before it is too late. Probably, the key to joint success is to unite against the overconsumption of natural resources (Engelbrecht, 2017). Considering the Ecological Footprint Calculator results, several tips may be offered for those who are ready to become defenders or at least prudent users of our planet. First of all, it would be better to give up animal-based food once and for all because one day, a lack of popularity may force this robust industry to shut down. Another idea runs as follows: to travel on public transportation less than usually with the help of electric cars or even cheap bicycles, which would be beneficial to one’s health. The same concerns modern conveniences like running water or central hitting, which are better to be moderately used. Last but not least, different tools to estimate one’s own impact may be applied from time to time to implement the habit of saving resources among people. According to Newman and Meyer (2020), such devices are very popular nowadays. And they have proved to be efficient enough to use them as a weapon against current consumer trends. The ecological calculator may serve as an excellent example of it as it has shown the mistakes one tends to make because of being carefree about environmental issues. However, not to forget is that people living in developing countries may face difficulties while taking up new lifestyle because they seem to have not enough money even to by bicycle. The same can be attributed to the holders of sweatshops there, who have neither money nor the opportunity to let their workers use only that amount of water.
Conclusion
To conclude, humanity bears the burden of being the only intelligent form of life on the surface of the Earth. This is the reason why each and everybody has to take care of it, doing their best in order to prevent ecological catastrophes of the future (Karl et al., 2015). Unfortunately, not all people have enough time and money to buy ecologically friendly food and vehicles. Still, it is worthy of trying to make even small steps towards common welfare because this work is to be done with joint efforts. Hopefully, I will manage to become a part of the responsible society soon.
References
Colin, D. B. (2018). Climate change, health and existential risks to civilization: A comprehensive review (1989–2013). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10), 2266. Web.
Engelbrecht, H. (2017). 250 years of industrial consumption and transformation of nature: Impacts on global ecosystems and life. Bentham Science Publishers.
Karl, T. R., Arguez, A., Huang, B., Lawrimore, J. H., McMahoh J.R., Menne, M. J., Peterson T. C., Vose, R. S., & Zhang H. M. (2015). Possible artefacts of data biases in the recent global surface warming hiatus. Science, 348(6242), 1469-1472. Web.
McMichael, A.J., Butler, C.D., & Dixon, J. (2015). Climate change, food systems and population health risks in their eco-social context. Public Health, 129(10), 1361-1368. Web.
Newman, P., & Meyer, K. (2020). Planetary accounting: Quantifying how to live within planetary limits at different scales of human activity. Springer Singapore.
What is your ecological footprint. (n.d.). Web.