In a world where life depends on biodiversity, human activities have an effect on ecosystems. Thus, it is essential to measure, plan and minimize these effects.
Water, for instance, flows through ecosystems in a complex biogeochemical cycle. When humans alter the amounts or types of substances present in these cycles, they disrupt how these systems function and can severely hinder many biological processes.
Human Population
When considering the effects of environmental degradation, one important factor to take into account is human population. The size, composition and rate at which a society’s or region’s population changes can have profound effects on many aspects of society such as economic prosperity, healthcare access, educational attainment, family structure and crime patterns.
For decades, the world’s population has been increasing. However, that growth rate is now slowing and may even begin to decline in the future due to demographics and declining fertility rates.
Life expectancies have doubled since premodern times, with an average person now living to 70 years. This remarkable improvement can be attributed to advances in science and technology as well as vaccinations.
Despite these advances in healthcare, infant mortality remains high. It’s estimated that 40% of newborn babies die before their first birthday.
Another factor affecting population growth is the rapid shift of people from rural areas to cities. This trend has become more noticeable globally in recent decades.
Additionally, the growing global population is driving up demand for water and food. This could pose challenges to the environment as more people require access to clean drinking water as well as land to grow food.
Furthermore, human activities are leading to an increase in carbon emissions that is contributing to global climate change. This is primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels for energy purposes.
One issue with population is that it can increase the prevalence of diseases in an area, particularly if there is more access to contaminated food and water. This puts undue strain on natural resources in that region and may eventually result in a decline in living standards for local citizens.
Effective management of the environment and minimizing its effects requires maintaining population levels within reasonable ranges for each region, as well as focusing on energy conservation and pollution reduction. There are various methods available but they must be implemented at individual, local and regional levels.
Misuse of Natural Resources
The misuse of natural resources has caused immense environmental harm, damaging air, water, soil, minerals, coal, oil, animals and plants alike.
Unfortunately, our use of natural resources often leads to irreversible environmental changes. Extraction of raw materials, manufacturing products and disposing of waste require significant energy inputs and involve large scale interventions in ecosystems which degrade land and destroy biodiversity.
Furthermore, the mismanagement of these resources leads to the release of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and negatively affect different habitats. As a consequence, millions of plant and animal species have been removed from their native environments.
Many people are unaware that their food consumption and other activities contribute to resource depletion. As global population continues to rise, pressure is being placed on natural resources such as land, water and air.
Misuse of these resources has a direct effect on the environment, as they are necessary for supporting life. They contain oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus – essential elements in healthy ecosystems.
Humans also rely on the nutrients found in these resources to survive and flourish. When these resources are exploited in an unsustainable manner, their quality of nutrient content decreases, making them increasingly scarce.
These factors are especially detrimental to those living in developing countries, who typically lack resources and rely more on food production and consumption. As a result, these people become especially vulnerable to economic, social and nutritional issues which can only be solved through sustainable production and consumption practices.
Common examples of misusing these resources include overharvesting, negligent management and mining.
Misuse of natural resources often stems from individual and society’s inherent self-interest. This makes it easy for those to take advantage of available resources in order to make a profit, yet the environmental damage associated with overexploitation is often ignored or put away in the background when calculating profits and other financial aspects of society.
Depletion of Ozone Layer
The ozone layer is a protective shield that shields us and other living things from ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sun. When its protective shield is breached, UV rays can penetrate down to Earth’s surface, increasing risks for skin diseases, cancer, sunburns and other environmental problems.
Depletion of the ozone layer is caused by a variety of factors, such as pollution, human activity and climate change. The primary culprit behind ozone depletion is chemical releases into the atmosphere – these include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), methyl chloride/bromide and halons.
Ozone-depleting compounds are primarily released by chemical manufacturers and industrial plants. Other sources of ozone depleting substances include motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors and solvents.
Ozone-depleting compounds typically have a long life in the stratosphere, lasting centuries. Some even have life spans of 25 to 400 years.
Although the global ozone layer was thought to be stable until 1970, satellite observations and atmospheric records have revealed that levels have been decreasing ever since. This has caused ozone “holes” in Antarctica and more recently in the Arctic region.
British Antarctic Survey research indicates that ozone depletion is caused by both natural and man-made factors, including CFC emissions from aircraft, the production of polycarbonate plastics, and fuel use such as petrol. Furthermore, emissions of HCl from Mount Erebus volcano in Antarctica may contribute to this ozone depletion process.
Ozone depletion has a devastating effect on the environment, especially over the Antarctic. It causes an ozone hole that covers 28.4 million square kilometers – larger than Australia itself!
The ozone hole is expected to recover within the coming decades, though an exact timeline cannot be guaranteed due to factors like increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
Pollution
Pollution is the process of making land, air or other parts of the environment dirty and unlivable. This can be caused by many things such as waste, pollutants, water and other natural and man-made elements.
Humans are responsible for much of the pollution in the world, particularly through our use of chemicals and other substances. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this from occurring.
Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills and incinerators, and some governments pass laws to limit what chemicals factories and agribusinesses may use. Furthermore, governments have the power to fine people who illegally dump pollutants into land, water and air.
Other sources of pollution include burning fossil fuels (coal, gasoline and natural gas) for electricity production, cars and heating homes. This releases gases such as carbon dioxide into the air which traps heat in the atmosphere and causes climate change.
Acid rain, caused by the mixture of atmospheric nitrogen and water, can be devastating for plants by changing soil composition; degrade water quality in rivers, lakes and streams; and destroy crops. Acid rain occurs when these gases combine with moisture and oxygen in the atmosphere.
Surface runoff is another form of pollution, occurring when rainwater washes pollutants off farm fields and into bodies of water. This includes fertilizers, litter, and other potential pollutants.
Waterborne pathogens like bacteria and viruses can spread through waterways when they become polluted with waste from farms and urban areas. This has the potential to lead to diseases like cholera, typhoid, and giardia which can affect both people and animals alike.
In most countries, access to clean water is a fundamental human right. Unfortunately, this right may not be available for those living in poverty or areas with limited resources.
People cannot access safe water, leading to serious illnesses and even death. Furthermore, the water itself may be hazardous for swimmers and marine life alike.