Human Impact On The Environment

The global environment is constantly changing and these changes are making a drastic impact in our lives. As the environment changes, there is an increase in becoming aware of the problems that are surrounding it. Environmental factors include soil, water, climate, and vegetation. Some factors of the environment are visible and some cannot be seen. Human activity is seen to have a direct impact on the environment and it has become one of the main topics for the world. Take a look at 3 ways human’s have made an extreme change to the planet earth.

1. Pollution

Pollution can cause a variety of environmental effects. There are many forms of pollution; light pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, plastic pollution, and littering to name a few. Pollution is everywhere and not everyone is doing their part to help with recycling or cleaning up excess trash on the streets. Any little thing helps, but now and days everyone is consumed with themselves and their lives that the earth is sitting on the back burner slowly being destroyed - actually faster than before. A main concern would definitely be air pollution, heavy industries and vehicles are main sources of air pollution. According to Live Science, toxic pollution affects more than 200 million people world wide. Air pollution specifically can cause damage to crops, animals, forests, and water. Human health comes into effect because of pollution. 

2. Global Warming

Our carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly or indirectly support human activities. Burning of fossils fuels like coal, and gas is releases the pollution into the atmosphere. Deforestation is another concern for the climate, plants are important to our climate as they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen back into it. Agriculture has a huge carbon footprint as the food systems contribute to nearly 25 percent of the nations carbon dioxide emissions. The use of pesticides and fertilizers, fossil fuels for the equipment, and electricity bump up the impact fro 25 to 30 percent.

3. Marine Life Depletion

Many people look at the ocean and see just water, that is far from the truth. It’s not just water, it’s alive.  Oceanographer, Robert Ballard, the largest mountain ranges and the deepest canyons on the planet are beneath the sea. The ocean covers 72 percent of the planet, every breath we take or drop of water we drink is connected to the ocean. Farm runoffs overload ecosystems, much of these run offs flow to the see varying agricultural fertilizers and pesticides causing water pollution. Another factor is overfishing, which is dangerously depleting ocean life. Methods of this type of fishing can cause negative impacts to marine environment. 

These are a few issues that have a major impact on the environment. Each issue is created by human activity and questions how human performance affect the environment. Humans simply doing what they’ve always been doing is causing the extinction of a thousand plants and animals species, we need these organisms as they benefit the ecosystem. There are many simple changes that can immediately reduce your carbon footprint. Our actions and choices do make a difference in the world.

For more information on what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, check out these links:

• 7 Instant Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
• 25+ Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
• Carbon Fund - Reduce