Human Impact on Earth: Pollution, Scarcity, Deforestation, and Biodiversity Loss
Human Impact on the Planet
Four main factors of human impact: population, technology, energy, and consumption. Main threats include air and water pollution, excessive water use, deforestation, endangered species, erosion, and desertification.
Sustainable development: a balance between economic growth and conservation, including protecting spaces, prevention of damage, and recovery of degraded spaces.
Reduction of consumption levels is crucial.
International environmental policies are essential, though not universally adopted.
Ecological footprint measures human impact.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is caused by the emission of toxic gases from human activities, which cannot be naturally recycled.
- Smog: Formed by a chemical reaction between sunlight and nitrogen oxides, harming eyes, lungs, and plants.
- Acid rain: Occurs when CO2 and N2O5 mix with rain, damaging plants and aquatic ecosystems.
- Ozone depletion: Dissolves the ozone layer, reducing protection from ultraviolet radiation.
The increase of greenhouse gases is causing global warming.
As a consequence, polar ice caps are melting faster.
Climate change is occurring, leading to extreme and unpredictable weather.
Destruction of ecosystems is also a major concern.
Water Scarcity
Physical water scarcity exists when the natural water supply is insufficient to meet the population’s needs.
Economic water scarcity refers to situations where water is available but lacks the infrastructure for safe human use.
Solutions include using low-water irrigation systems, recycling water, using water-saving appliances, and implementing policies to encourage water conservation.
Deforestation
Forests are vital habitats for thousands of species, absorb carbon dioxide, protect soil from erosion and desertification, lower temperatures, and help water evaporate into the atmosphere.
Trees are cut down for wood, farmland, pastures, and infrastructure.
Soil degradation occurs when soil loses nutrients and fertility due to contamination, overuse, and erosion.
Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity is the variety of species and ecosystems on Earth, essential for ecosystem balance. The loss of species affects entire ecosystems.
Changes in land use, overexploitation of animal species, habitat destruction, introduction of foreign species, contamination, and climate change all contribute to biodiversity loss.
Conservation Measures
- Make inventories of endangered species and adopt conservation measures.
- Expand the number of protected areas.
- Restore damaged habitats and pass laws to limit the impact of economic activities and overexploitation of resources.