How Do Humans Affect the Environment?

Looking at both the positive and negative ways that humans affect the environment is important to understanding both how far people have come in making a healthier planet, and recognizing the changes that still need to occur in order to fully benefit the environment. Humans affect on the environment is crucial, especially in a time of major global warning concerns and of movements encouraging people to go green.

People engage in activities at home that harm the environment, whether by releasing harmful chemicals into the air or by creating unsafe conditions for animal life. Ways in which people harm the environment include:

• Driving, which releases dangerous fumes into the air, short distances to school, stores, work, etc. instead of walking or taking a bike ride.
• Purchasing plastic water bottles instead of buying a water filter.
• Not eating local products, which causing food to be flown in from across the country, thereby wasting gas and releasing fumes into the atmosphere.
• Choosing plastic bags at the grocery store, which release toxins into the air when they are produced.

Pollution

Pollution severely affects the health and well being of both animals and humans. Toxic gases and poisonous chemicals released into the land and sea kill sea creatures, cause birds to change their flight courses, and contaminate human drinking water. Furthermore, as the levels of pollution in the air rise, so does the frequency at which people suffer from respiratory diseases like asthma.

Deforestation

Due to industrialization, the world's forests are beginning to disappear. Not only are they homes to a great deal of plant and animal life, but the roots of the plants prevent soil erosion by holding the soil together, which is an important part of the water cycle. Between 1990 and 2000, the yearly loss of forests was 16 million hectares. Both deforestation and pollution contribute to the endangerment and eventual extinction of different species of plants and animals.

Global Warming

The release of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the environment, particularly from vehicles and industries, contributes to global warming by causing the average temperature around the world to rise. The current CO2 levels are at 392.39 parts per million; the safe level is considered to be 350 parts per million.

Positive Effects

Critics of the green movement say that such slight changes do not ultimately change the environment; however, if a large number of people participate in them, major changes can be seen.

Some of the ways in which people help to protect the environment include:

• Recycling on a daily basis.
• Conserving energy by turning the lights off when leaving a room and using the heat and air conditioner in moderation.
• Taking shorter showers and turning off the water while brushing their teeth in order to conserve water.
• Not littering.

Following these simple guidelines helps to keep the environment cleaner and safer for animals and people.