Through human intervention, we have altered our ecosystem forever. However, though some of these changes may be negative, humans also have the power to correct our mistakes and change our environment for the better.
Discover how you can contribute to a thriving future for our planet. How Do Humans Affect the Environment? April 06, Agriculture, Domesticated Animals and Genetic Modification The demand to feed a growing human population has facilitated notable advances in agriculture, which was the first major human innovation to enable our survival as a species.
Deforestation…and Reforestation Growing populations have to be housed, which means they seek more space to build homes and cities. Pollution Human activities affect the environment by contributing to air pollution, or the emission of harmful substances into the air. Global Warming and Climate Change Among the most critically impactful ways that humans have affected the environment is our extraction and consumption of fossil fuels and their attendant CO2 emissions.
Human Impact on the Environment is a Double-edged Sword The expansion of human population and the requirements of our growing human family place strenuous demands on our environment. Retrieved on April 27, , from washingtonpost.
Request Info. Apply Now. Why are you interested in earning a graduate degree in GISc? This article is more than 1 year old. Mass soyabean harvesting in Campo Verde, Brazil. Intensive agriculture has contributed to the collapse of many animal populations. Show Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms and all its interactions. Up to 48 species saved from extinction by conservation efforts, study finds.
Read more. Reuse this content. Environment Climate crisis Wildlife Energy Pollution. Global warming is arguably the greatest cause of impact on the environment. As the temperature increases, arctic land ice and glaciers melt which causes the ocean levels to rise at a rate of 3. Climate change is closely connected to the historical development of industry and technology.
As global temperatures increase, Earth's weather patterns will drastically change. While some areas will experience longer growing seasons, others will become barren wastelands as water will deplete in vast areas, turning once floral regions into deserts. The increase will impact weather patterns, promising more intense hurricanes in both size and frequency, as well as intensifying and prolonging droughts and heatwaves.
But air pollution does not just affect the environment. The evidence is mounting that poor air quality and rising temperatures are ruining delicate ecosystems, even leading to increased asthma and cancer rates in humans. Genetically modified organisms GMOs have been a major contributor to the survival and prosperity of humans. GMO's are selected bred crops or crops that have had DNA directly implanted into it in order to give an advantage to the crop, whether that be to sustain colder temperatures, require less water, or yield more product.
But GMO's are not always intentional. For years humans have used glyphosate , a herbicide designed to eliminate weeds - the biggest threat to any plant. However, just as humans have a learning immune system, certain weeds have developed a resistance to 22 of 25 known herbicides, with species of weeds completely immune according to the latest scientific report. One of the only solutions is to till the land, turning over the soil to kill the weeds and give an early advantage to the planted crops.
The disadvantage of tilling, however, is that it causes the soil to dry faster and kills off good bacteria, making its fertile lifespan significantly shorter. To replenish the depleted soil, fertilizer is used, which introduces a whole new set of problems to the environment and can be disastrous for local agriculture in the long run. The acidity depletes the calcium concentrations, making it difficult for crustaceans to build their shell, leaving them vulnerable without their armor.
Between the global temperature rise of one degree and the ocean acidification, scientists say a quarter of all coral reefs are considered damaged beyond repair, with two-thirds under serious threat. The death of coral reefs is a serious concern. However, acidification is not the only watery threat as there are other human activities causing severe changes. Things like plastic pollution and overfishing are wreaking havoc on our oceans.
There are 5. Not only is garbage introduced into the oceans, but also the excessive amounts of fertilizer that finds its way into the ocean through rains, floods, winds, or dumped in excess right into the largest producer of the oxygen we have. Fertilizer contains nitrogen, an element essential for the growth of plants- but that does not limit it to what it was intended for.
Phytoplankton and algae thrive off of nitrogen, causing excessive growth in what is known as " red tides" or "brown tides " in areas with high concentrations of nitrogen. And citizens can press their governments to criminalise the ecocidal acts that have become business as usual. The other international crimes are based on acts which are already criminal under national laws. Not only would it be a stretch to expect states to accept a completely new across-the-board offence at international level, but it would crudely cut across both national legislation and the work of all those improving regulation and best practice.
Thus the crime will dynamically grow more powerful, while respecting differences between national bodies of law. Effects, including cultural effects, on local and indigenous communities, and the wider implications of ecological harm, must be considered too. This is an incredibly powerful and — we believe — a profoundly transformative message.
Read more: Ordinary people, extraordinary change: addressing the climate emergency through 'quiet activism'. Festival of Social Science — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in.
WWF Australia.
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