Human and natural activity can affect the earth and its environment in many different ways here

are some of them: Plastic is not decomposable and making plastics and other decomposable wastes causes landfill which can cause pollution of the local environment such as contamination of groundwater. Radioactive waste produced by nuclear power stations can be dangerous in cases of radioactive contamination of a human body through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or injection. Sea-based burial has caused damage such as it could leak and cause widespread damage. Dumping of radioactive waste from ships has also caused contamination of islands in the Pacific. Deforestation, the destroying of forests, results from the removal of trees without replacing them. Deforestation could result in the depletion of the renewable resource wood and various organisms' habitats. The photograph to the right is a NASA satellite observation of deforestation near Rio Branco in Brazil. About half of the mature tropical forests, between 750 to 800 million hectares of the original 1.5 to 1.6 billion hectares that once covered the planet have fallen. Throughout most of history, humans have considered forest clearing as necessary for most activities. Overfishing is another activity that could cause the depletion of a natural resource. Most of the problems associated with overfishing have been caused in the last 50 years by the rapid advances in fishing technology. Overfishing can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans. Deliberately underfishing to increase long term fish stocks has been proposed as a way fisherman can maximize their yields in the long run.

Large amounts of greenhouse gases being produced, such as carbon dioxide, are causing our planet to get warmer. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely. When sunlight strikes the Earth's surface, some of it is reflected back towards space as infrared radiation but greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere causing global warming. Global warming is melting the ice caps causing the ocean level of our planet to increase, this causes flooding in many different areas of our planet.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_human_activities_affect_the_natural_environment#ixzz1m 4RNffKJ

Not entirely sure what you're asking for here, but if it was anything like my highers when i was at school then it should be along these lines. Describe: Humans affect the environment locally (i.e. in one area such as a quarry) whereas nature affects the environment over large areas (i.e. sea erosion of the coast). It can be argued that humans

affect the environment globally but our effect is still down to many localised activities. Explain: Humans affect the environment by doing activities such as quarrying, mining, and even through our leisure activities (for example hill walkers will eventually erode a path into a mountain/hill through repeated erosion due to many feet). Also pollution is another one which can cause acid rain, or an increase/decrease in rain. Nature is more encompassing as it erodes large areas (e.g. wind erosion of hills, and the aforementioned sea erosion along the coast). A favourite example of natural activites is the Himalayas. They are constantly getting pushed up into the air due to subduction of a continental plate (basically one continental plate is being pushed under another continental plate by the magma currents in the earths lithosphere). If it wasn't for wind erosion (along with gravity) at the top of the Himalayas then they would be higher than they are now but they have reached an equilibrium. However this could change if the currents undr our feet in the lithosphere were to alter there course. Evaluate: Humans tend to take materials from places and do not replace them. This causes an imbalance (just have to look at the decline of our jungles, and forests to see this). But nature is always balanced. What gets eroded off one coast will be deposited on another coast. There is allot more that can be said but i don't want to bore you with it, plus there's not enough space. Hope this helps. Source(s): Higher geography, and degree in Geology with Maths.
3 years ago

Global warming is the term used for a rise in temperature of the earth due to greenhouse effect where the heat from unwanted gasses is trapped inside the earth. This in turn has adverse effect on weather patterns and climatic conditions. Some of the gasses that lead to the greenhouse effect are methane, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxide. Studies have suggested that human activities are hugely responsible for releasing such gasses. Here are some ways in which human activities are adversely affecting the environment

Commuting The biggest contributor in environmental pollution is the way we commute to our offices or

anywhere else. There is a rise in number of private cars on the roads everyday. The fuels used in cars release carbon dioxide that contaminate the environment. Even for a short distance, we tend to give in to the comforts of driving a vehicle that choosing the healthier option of walking. Most of us do not shut our engines in signals and this wastes a lot of energy unnecessarily. Cooking Our cooking style too consumes a lot of energy. We waste a lot of energy when we cook the food with out covering them. With developments of microwaves, we have become more dependent on micro-wave cooking that consumes a hell lot of electricity. Sometimes, a lot of food goes waste as we do not measure the right quantity to be cooked. Use of electrical appliances More often than not, our televisions are switched on even when we are not watching it. Instead of shutting and unplugging the electrical appliances, we tend to keep it on the standby mode and leave it that way even overnight. This consumes a lot of energy that could otherwise have been saved. Use of plastics While we are aware the plastics are non-degradable products, we tend to ignore this important fact and use it practically all the time. Being a non-biodegradable product, it doesnt integrate with the earth and consequently makes the earth barren and non-cultivable. They also tend to block the drainage system and pipes and affect the recycling process.

Smoking Smoking is as injurious to the environment as it is to our health. In spite of cigarette packets having an advisory about the harms of smoking, the smokers hardly quit. Cigarette smoke release gasses that contribute to the greenhouse effect and directly result in global warming. Because the cigarette industry brings in a lot of revenue, thanks to incorrigible smokers, there hasnt been a ban on the same except for a ban in their use in public places. That too, is not properly implemented or checked. Insensitive consumerism With a better purchasing power than ever before, we tend to shop without giving much thought about how green a product is, what are its effects on environment, whether it was produced in a way that was least harmful to the environment and related issues. To meet our consumerist demands, there are lands that are being deforested to set up factories, farmers are being deprived of their only source of livelihood as their agricultural lands are being taken up for setting up Special Economic Zones or MNCs like Coca Cola are using the local water for production, creating a scarcity of the same for the local people. Expanding areas for human beings Many natural areas and the habitats of various flora and fauna are being taken up to create space for the ever-increasing population. As a result, eco-systems are being disturbed, resulting in adverse effect on the environment. No policy interventions Governments are not taking serious action to reduce carbon emissions. Both the developed and the developing nations are not ready to take the initiative. Consequently, there has been

no breakthrough on environmental concerns among nations. Both the Kyoto Protocol and the Copenhagen summit have failed to get on a solution for governments. Everyones running in a race for being most developed, without focusing on sustainability. There is an urgent need for people to be aware and sensitive to the environment and do our bit to check global warming. You might also like:
China oil spill EPA delays rollout of CO2 rule on power plants Gujarat Tidal Power Plant to be the Biggest in Asia Some tips for Sustainable Development
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How do Humans Affect the Environment

Climate change, extinction of species and pollution of life supporting air and water has become a growing concern for nations all over the world. Knowing how do humans affect the environment will help us understand and address the problems better.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 to study the risk of climate change due to human activity. In the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, industrialized nations agreed to cut down their emissions of greenhouse gases considerably by 2012. Even the G8 committee that began as a response to the 1937 oil crisis and was primarily concerned with the economic issues of the member nations, now unfailingly have something related to the environment in their summits. Years of thoughtless exploitation of nature by man has resulted in the effects staring right in our face now. The truth, that in the bid to improve our lives, we have put our own survival to stake, has finally hit us hard. Now as more and more studies and researches are being carried out to understand how do humans affect the environment, an increasing number of people are awakening to the fact that the well-being of the environment and survival are intricately woven into each other. Effects of Human Activities on Environment Climate Change Just about a year back, I came across an article in which environmentalists expressed their concerns that if the Gangotri glacier (that feeds river Ganges) kept melting at its current rate, the river Ganges would soon dry up. River Ganges is the holy river of India, which has served as a lifeline for centuries for millions of people on its banks. Rivers have played an important role in the survival of mankind, and many of them are fed by glaciers. Global warming refers to the increase in the temperatures of

the earth due to release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from industries and vehicles. This phenomenon is causing the glaciers to melt at an alarming rate. Not just the Gangotri, but even the polar ice caps are melting at a faster rate than they can form. The result is increase in the sea level, and it poses a danger of drowning the low lying areas. Some of the areas that may go under the sea if the sea levels kept increasing include Bangladesh, parts of Africa and even major cities like London and New York! Depletion of Ozone Layer The stratosphere has a layer of ozone that protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Exposure to these layers cause skin cancer and cataracts. However, the ozone layer filters out the dangerous UV rays from sunlight as it enters the earth's atmosphere. The cholofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are man-made chemicals are released in the atmosphere through CFC containing aerosols, refrigeration equipment, foam and as by products of certain industrial processes. As these chemicals are released, they rise into the atmosphere and break down the ozone molecules that form the ozone layer. There is an ozone hole in the Antarctic stratosphere that is causing great concern to environmentalists all over the world. Not only is the depleting ozone layer harmful to human beings, but the UV rays can destroy a certain type of bacteria known are Cyanobacteria that are important for a number economically important crops. Researchers are even predicting that excess level of UV rays could lead to the death of the phytoplanktons, that are an important component of the food web of the oceans. Pollution Industrialization has been the hallmark of human progress. However, with industries have come a host of toxic gases that are being released into the atmosphere even as I write this article and you read it. The industries release gallons of liquid waste into the seas and rivers. Some of the effluents percolate down to the reach the ground water and pollute it to the extent that it can't be used by human beings for drinking or cooking. Besides adding to air pollution, the innumerable vehicles running on the roads add to noise pollution that has led to an increase in stress, anxiety and problems related to hearing. Pollution of water has led to the decrease in a number of large number aquatic life forms. Migratory birds are known to change their course due to pollution or change in weather. Respiratory diseases in human beings is another price that we are paying for polluting the environment. Deforestation Expanding population, industrialization and need of land for development of expanding cities has led

man to cut down forests selfishly. Not only are the forests home to a large number of animals, trees are also an important component of the water cycle. The roots of plants hold the soil together and prevent soil erosion. The global forest cover has shrunk to half its area in the last 11,000 years. During the period between 1990 and 2000 itself, the yearly loss of natural forests 16 million hectares. Deforestation at such alarming rate has been a cause of constant worry for environmentalists the world over. Extinction of Species Man has been killing animals right since the time he acquired the skill of hunting. Although in those times hunting was the means for survival, human beings continued to kill animals even after he had learned to cultivate crops. The relentless hunting by human beings, sometimes for the hide of a cheetah or the tusks of the elephants, or simply to cook the tasty shark fin soup, has wiped out the existence a large number of animals in just a century. Besides hunting, human activities like environmental pollution and deforestation has led to the extinction of a large number of animals and plants due to loss of habitat. Recent studies have shown that in North America, 37 animal species have become extinct in the last 50 years due to human activities. Loss of habitat led to the extinction of the Bali subspecies of tiger in 1937. According to the 2008 annual IUCN report, there were 16,928 animal and plant species that are threatened of extinction and the list keeps increasing every year. Despite the indiscriminate exploitation of nature by some people, there are a handful of those that are relentlessly working to reverse the detrimental effects of human activities on the environment. The World Wildlife Fund, European Environment Agency and the National Geographic are some organizations that run programs for the preservation of nature and educate and inspire people to conserve all life forms be it flora or fauna. Now that we know how do humans affect the environment, let us not sit back leaving all the responsibility of conserving our planet on a handful of people. Each one of us can make a valuable contribution towards preserving our environment. Let us do our own bit, for, in the well-being of the environment lies the key to our survival.

Human impact on the environment or anthropogenic impact on the environment includes impacts [1][2] on biophysical environments, biodiversity and other resources. The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting from human activity. The term was first used in the technical sense by Russian geologist A. P. Pavlov, and was first used in English by British ecologist Arthur Tansley in reference to

human influences on climax plant communities. The atmospheric scientist Paul Crutzen introduced the [4] term "anthropocene" in the mid-1970s. The term is sometimes used in the context of pollution emissions that are produced as a result of human activities but applies broadly to all major human impacts on the [5] environment.

[3]

Contents
[hide]

1 Causes

1.1 Agriculture

1.1.1 Fishing 1.1.2 Irrigation 1.1.3 Meat production 1.1.4 Palm oil

1.2 Energy industry

1.2.1 Biodiesel 1.2.2 Coal mining and burning 1.2.3 Electricity generation 1.2.4 Nuclear power 1.2.5 Oil shale industry 1.2.6 Petroleum 1.2.7 Reservoirs 1.2.8 Wind power

1.3 Manufactured products

1.3.1 Cleaning agents 1.3.2 Nanotechnology 1.3.3 Paint

 o o

1.3.4 Paper 1.3.5 Pesticides 1.3.6 Pharmaceuticals and personal care products

1.4 Mining 1.5 Transport

1.5.1 Aviation 1.5.2 Roads 1.5.3 Shipping

1.6 War

2 Effects

o o o

2.1 Biodiversity 2.2 Coral reefs 2.3 Nitrogen cycle

3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading

[edit]Causes [edit]Agriculture Main article: Environmental impact of agriculture The environmental impact of agriculture varies based on the wide variety of agricultural practices employed around the world.

[edit]Fishing Main article: Environmental impact of fishing

Fishing down the foodweb.

The environmental impact of fishing can be divided into issues that involve the availability of fish to be caught, such as overfishing, sustainable fisheries, and fisheries management; and issues that involve the impact of fishing on other elements of the environment, such as by-catch. These conservation issues are part of marine conservation, and are addressed in fisheries scienceprograms. There is a growing gap between how many fish are available to be caught and humanitys desire to catch them, a problem that gets worse as the world population grows. Similar to other environmental issues, there can be conflict between the fishermen who depend on fishing for their livelihoods and fishery scientists who realise that if future fish populations are to [citation needed] besustainable then some fisheries must reduce or even close.

The journal Science published a four-year study in November 2006, which predicted that, at prevailing trends, the world would run out of wild-caught seafood in 2048. The scientists stated that the decline was a result of overfishing, pollution and other environmental factors that were reducing the population of fisheries at the same time as their ecosystems were being degraded. Yet again the analysis has met criticism as being fundamentally flawed, and many fishery management officials, industry representatives and scientists challenge the findings, although the debate continues. Many countries, such as Tonga, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and international management bodies have taken steps to [6][7] appropriately manage marine resources. [edit]Irrigation Main article: Environmental impact of irrigation The environmental impact of irrigation includes the changes in quantity and quality of soil and water as a result of irrigation and the ensuing effects on natural and social conditions at the tail-end and downstream of the irrigation scheme. The impacts stem from the changed hydrological conditions owing to the installation and operation of the scheme.

An irrigation scheme often draws water from the river and distributes it over the irrigated area. As a hydrological result it is found that: the downstream river discharge is reduced the evaporation in the scheme is increased the groundwater recharge in the scheme is increased the level of the water table rises the drainage flow is increased

These may be called direct effects. The effects thereof on soil and water quality are indirect and complex, Water logging andsoil salination are part of these, whereas the subsequent impacts on natural, ecologicaland socioenonomic conditions is very intricate. Irrigation can also be done extracting groundwater by (tube)wells. As a hydrological result it is found that the level of the water descends. The effects may be water mining, land/soil subsidence, and, along the coast, saltwater intrusion. Irrigation projects can have large benefits, but the negative side effects are often overlooked [edit]Meat production Main article: Environmental impact of meat production The environmental impact of meat production includes pollution and the use of resources such as fossil fuels, water, and land. According to a 2006 report by the Livestock, Environment And Development Initiative, the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation worldwide, and modern practices of raising animals for food contributes on a "massive scale" to air and water pollution, land degradation, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. The initiative concluded that "the livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most [10] serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." In 2006 FAO estimated that meat industry contributes 18% of all emissions of greenhouse gasses. This figure was challenged in 2009 by [11] two World-Watch researchers who estimated a 51% minimum, however this paper has not been peer [12] reviewed.
[8][9]

Animals fed on grain need more water than grain crops. In tracking food animal production from the feed through to the dinner table, the inefficiencies of meat,milk and egg production range from a 4:1 [13] energy input to protein output ratio up to 54:1. The result is that producing animal-based food is typically much less efficient than the harvesting of grains, vegetables, legumes, seeds and fruits for direct [13] human consumption. Relatedly, the production and consumption of meat and other animal products is associated with the clearing of rainforests, resource depletion, air and water pollution, land and economic inefficiency, species extinction, and other environmental harms. The author of the influential 2006 Stern Review on climate change has stated "people will need to turn vegetarian if the world is to conquer climate change". This is due to emissions of methane (which is 23 times more potent of a greenhouse gas versus carbon dioxide) from cows and pigs [14] via flatulence and eructation. [edit]Palm oil Main article: Environmental impact of palm oil

[13]

A village palm oil press "malaxeur" inBandundu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Palm oil, produced from the oil palm, is a basic source of income for many farmers in Southeast Asia, Central and West Africa, and Central America. It is locally used as a cooking oil, exported for use in many commercial food and personal care products and is converted into biofuel. It produces up to 10 times more oil per unit area as soyabeans, rapeseed orsunflowers. Oil palms produce 38% of vegetable [15] oil output on 5% of the worlds vegetable-oil farmland. Palm oil is under increasing scrutiny in relation to its effects on the environment. [edit]Energy

industry

Main article: Environmental impact of the energy industry The environmental impact of energy harvesting and consumption is diverse. In recent years there has been a trend towards the increased commercialization of various renewable energy sources. In the real world of consumption of fossil fuel resources which lead to global warming and climate change however, little change is being made in many parts of the world. Chinese petroleum demand, for instance, is projected to grow nearly 20% in the next six years, and that country already imports over half of the 8 [16] million barrels a day it uses. If the peak oil theory proves true, more explorations of viable alternative energy sources, could be more friendly to the environment. Rapidly advancing technologies can achieve a transition of energy generation, water and waste management, and food production towards better environmental and energy usage practices using [17][18] methods of systems ecology and industrial ecology. [edit]Biodiesel Main article: Environmental impact of biodiesel The environmental impact of biodiesel is diverse. [edit]Coal mining and burning Main article: Environmental impact of coal mining and burning The environmental impact of coal mining and burning is diverse. Legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990 required the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a plan to
[19]

alleviate toxic pollution from coal-fired power plants. After delay and litigation, the EPA now has a courtimposed deadline of March 16, 2011, to issue its report. [edit]Electricity generation Main article: Environmental impact of electricity generation The environmental impact of electricity generation is significant because modern society uses large amounts of electrical power. This power is normally generatedat power plants that convert some other kind of energy into electrical power. Each such system has advantages and disadvantages, but many of them pose environmental concerns. [edit]Nuclear power Main article: Environmental impact of nuclear power The environmental impact of nuclear power results from the nuclear fuel cycle, operation, and the lingering effects of the Chernobyl disaster. [edit]Oil shale industry Main article: Environmental impact of the oil shale industry

Kivili Oil Shale Processing & Chemicals Plant in ida-Virumaa, Estonia

The environmental impact of the oil shale industry includes the consideration of issues such as land use, waste management, and water and air pollution caused by the extraction and processing of oil shale. Surface mining of oil shale deposits causes the usual environmental impacts of open-pit mining. In addition, the combustion and thermal processing generate waste material, which must be disposed of, and harmful atmospheric emissions, includingcarbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Experimental insitu conversion processes and carbon capture and storage technologies may reduce some of these [20] concerns in future, but may raise others, such as the pollution of groundwater. [edit]Petroleum Main article: Environmental impact of petroleum The environmental impact of petroleum is often negative because it is toxic to almost all forms of life. The possibility of climate change exists. Petroleum, commonly referred to as oil, is closely linked to virtually all aspects of present society, especially for transportation and heating for both homes and for commercial activities. [edit]Reservoirs Main article: Environmental impact of reservoirs

The Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Massachusetts.

The environmental impact of reservoirs is coming under ever increasing scrutiny as the world demand for water and energy increases and the number and size of reservoirs increases. Dams and the reservoirs can be used to supply drinking water, generate hydroelectric power, increasing the water supply for irrigation, provide recreational opportunities and to improve certain aspects of the environment. However, adverse environmental and sociological impacts have also been identified during and after many reservoir constructions. Although the impact varies greatly between different dams and reservoirs, common criticisms include preventing sea-run fish from reaching their historical mating grounds, less access to water downstream, and a smaller catch for fishing communities in the area. Advances in technology have provided solutions to many negative impacts of dams but these advances are often not viewed as worth investing in if not required by law or under the threat of fines. Whether reservoir projects are ultimately beneficial or detrimentalto both the environment and surrounding human populations has been debated since the 1960s and probably long before that. In 1960 the construction of Llyn Celyn and the flooding of Capel Celynprovoked political uproar which continues to this day. More recently, the construction of Three Gorges Dam and other similar projects throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America have generated considerable environmental and political debate. [edit]Wind power Main article: Environmental impact of wind power

Livestock ignore wind turbines,[21] and continue to graze as they did before wind turbines were installed.

Compared to the environmental impact of traditional energy sources, the environmental impact of wind power is relatively minor. Wind power consumes no fuel, and emits no air pollution, unlike fossil fuel power sources. The energy consumed to manufacture and transport the materials used to build a wind power plant is equal to the new energy produced by the plant within a few months. While a wind farm may cover a large area of land, many land uses such as agriculture are compatible, with only small areas of [22] turbine foundations and infrastructure made unavailable for use. There are reports of bird and bat mortality at wind turbines, as there are around other artificial structures. [23] [24] The scale of the ecological impact may or may not be significant, depending on specific [25] circumstances. Prevention and mitigation of wildlife fatalities, and protection of peat bogs, affect the siting and operation of wind turbines. There are conflicting reports about the effects of noise on people who live very close to a wind turbine. [edit]Manufactured

products

[edit]Cleaning agents Main article: Environmental impact of cleaning agents The environmental impact of cleaning agents is diverse. In recent years, measures have been taken to reduce these effects. [edit]Nanotechnology Main article: Environmental impact of nanotechnology Nanotechnology's environmental impact can be split into two aspects: the potential for nanotechnological innovations to help improve the environment, and the possibly novel type of pollution that nanotechnological materials might cause if released into the environment. As nanotechnology is an emerging field, there is great debate regarding to what extent industrial and commercial use of nanomaterials will affect organisms and ecosystems.

[edit]Paint Main article: Environmental impact of paint The environmental impact of paint is diverse. Traditional painting materials and processes can have harmful effects on the environment, including those from the use of lead and other additives. Measures can be taken to reduce environmental impact, including accurately estimating paint quantities so that wastage is minimized, use of paints, coatings, painting accessories and techniques that are environmentally preferred. The United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines andGreen Star ratings are some of the standards that can be applied. [edit]Paper Main article: Environmental impact of paper

A pulp and paper mill in New Brunswick, Canada. Although pulp and paper manufacturing requires large amounts of energy, a portion of it comes from burning wood waste.

The environmental impact of paper is significant, which has led to changes in industry and behaviour at both business and personal levels. With the use of modern technology such as the printing press and the highly mechanised harvesting of wood, paper has become a cheap commodity. This has led to a high level of consumption and waste. With the rise in environmental awareness due to the lobbying

by environmental organizations and with increased government regulation there is now a trend towards sustainability in the pulp and paper industry. [edit]Pesticides Main article: Environmental impact of pesticides The environmental impact of pesticides is often greater than what is intended by those who use them. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target [26] species, including nontarget species, air, water, bottom sediments, and food. Pesticide contaminates land and water when it escapes from production sites and storage tanks, when it runs off from fields, [27] when it is discarded, when it is sprayed aerially, and when it is sprayed into water to kill algae. The amount of pesticide that migrates from the intended application area is influenced by the particular chemical's properties: its propensity for binding to soil, its vapor pressure, its water solubility, and its [28] resistance to being broken down over time. Factors in the soil, such as its texture, its ability to retain water, and the amount of organic matter contained in it, also affect the amount of pesticide that will leave [28] [29] the area. Some pesticides contribute to global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer. [edit]Pharmaceuticals and personal care products Main article: Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products The environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is largely speculative. PPCPs are substances used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons and the products used by agribusiness to boost growth or health of livestock. PPCPs have been detected in water bodies throughout the world. The effects of these chemicals on humans and the environment are not yet known, [30] but to date there is no scientific evidence that they have an impact on human health. [edit]Mining Main article: Environmental impact of mining

Acid mine drainage in the Rio Tinto River.

The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals from mining processes. In some cases, additional forest logging is done in the vicinity of mines to increase the available room for the [31] storage of the created debris and soil. Besides creating environmental damage, the contamination [32] resulting from leakage of chemicals also affect the health of the local population. Mining companies in some countries are required to follow environmental and rehabilitation codes, ensuring the area mined is returned to close to its original state. Some mining methods may have significant environmental and public health effects. [edit]Transport Main article: Environmental impact of transport

Interstate 10 and Interstate 45 near downtownHouston, Texas in the United States.

The environmental impact of transport is significant because it is a major user of energy, and burns most of the world'spetroleum. This creates air pollution, including nitrous oxides and particulates, and is a [33] significant contributor to global warming through emission of carbon dioxide, for which transport is the [34] fastest-growing emission sector. By subsector, road transport is the largest contributor to global [35] warming. Environmental regulations in developed countries have reduced the individual vehicles emission; however, this has been offset by an increase in the number of vehicles, and more use of each [33] vehicle. Some pathways to reduced the carbon emissions of road vehicles considerably have been [36] studied. Energy use and emissions vary largely between modes, causing environmentalists to call for a transition from air and road to rail and human-powered transport, and increase transport electrification and energy efficiency. Other environmental impacts of transport systems include traffic congestion and automobileoriented urban sprawl, which can consume natural habitat and agricultural lands. By reducing transportation emissions globally, it is predicted that there will be significant positive effects on Earth's air [37] quality, acid rain, smog and climate change.

The health impact of transport emissions is also of concern. A recent survey of the studies on the effect of traffic emissions on pregnancy outcomes has linked exposure to emissions to adverse effects on [38] gestational duration and possibly also intrauterine growth. [edit]Aviation Main article: Environmental impact of aviation The environmental impact of aviation occurs because aircraft engines emit noise, particulates, and gases [39][40] [41] which contribute to climate change and global dimming. Despite emission reductions from automobiles and more fuel-efficient and less polluting turbofan and turboprop engines, the rapid growth of air travel in recent years contributes to an increase in total pollution attributable to aviation. In the EU, greenhouse gas emissions from aviation increased by 87% between 1990 and [42] 2006. Among other factors leading to this phenomenon are the increasing number of hypermobile [43] travellers and social factors that are making air travel commonplace, such as frequent flyer [43] programs. There is an ongoing debate about possible taxation of air travel and the inclusion of aviation in an emissions trading scheme, with a view to ensuring that the totalexternal costs of aviation are taken into [44] account. [edit]Roads Main article: Environmental impact of roads The environmental impact of roads includes the local effects of highways (public roads) such as on noise, water pollution, habitat destruction/disturbance and localair quality; and the wider effects including climate change from vehicle emissions. The design, construction and management of roads, parking and other related facilities as well as the design and regulation of vehicles can change the impacts to varying degrees. [edit]Shipping Main article: Environmental impact of shipping

The environmental impact of shipping includes greenhouse gas emissions and oil pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping is currently estimated at 4 to 5% of the global total, and estimated by [45] the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to rise by up to 72% by 2020 if no action is taken. There is also a potential for introducing invasive species into new areas through shipping, usually by attaching themselves to the ship's hull. The First Intersessional Meeting of the IMO Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships took place in Oslo, Norway on 2327 June 2008. It was tasked with developing the technical basis for the reduction mechanisms that may form part of a future IMO regime to control greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, and a draft of the actual reduction mechanisms themselves, for further [47] consideration by IMOs Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). [edit]War Main article: Environmental impact of war
[46]

An Agent Orange spray run, part ofOperation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War by UC-123B Provider aircraft.

As well as the cost to human life and society, there is a significant environmental impact of war. Scorched earthmethods during, or after war have been in use for much of recorded history but with modern technology war can cause a far greater devastation on the environment. Unexploded ordnance can render land unusable for further use or make access across it dangerous or fatal.

[edit]Effects [edit]Biodiversity Human impact on biodiversity is significant, humans have caused the extinction of many species including the dodo and perhaps even many of the large megafaunal species during the last ice age. Though most experts agree that human beings have accelerated the rate of species extinction, the exact degree of this impact is unknown, perhaps 100 to 1000 times the normal background rate of [48] extinction. Some authors have postulated that without human interference the biodiversity of this planet [1] would continue to grow at an exponential rate. [edit]Coral

reefs
[49]

Main article: Human impact on coral reefs Human impact on coral reefs is significant. Coral reefs are dying around the world. In particular, coral mining, pollution (organic and non-organic), overfishing,blast fishing and the digging of canals and access into islands and bays are serious threats to these ecosystems. Coral reefs also face high dangers from [50] pollution, diseases, destructive fishing practices and warming oceans. In order to find answers for these problems, researchers study the various factors that impact reefs. The list of factors is long, including the ocean's role as a carbon dioxide sink, atmospheric changes, ultraviolet light, ocean acidification, biological virus, impacts ofdust storms carrying agents to far flung reefs, pollutants, algal blooms and others. Reefs are threatened well beyond coastal areas. General estimates show approximately 10% world's coral reefs are already dead. It is estimated that about 60% of the world's reefs are at risk due to destructive, human-related activities. The threat to the health of reefs is particularly strong in Southeast Asia, where 80% of reefs are endangered. [edit]Nitrogen
[51][52][53]

cycle

Main article: Human impact on the nitrogen cycle Human impact on the nitrogen cycle is diverse. Agricultural and industrial nitrogen (N) inputs to the [54] environment currently exceed inputs from natural N fixation. As a consequence of anthropogenic inputs, the global nitrogen cycle (Fig. 1) has been significantly altered over the past century. Global

atmospheric nitrous oxide(N2O) mole fractions have increased from a pre-industrial value of ~270 [55] nmol/mol to ~319 nmol/mol in 2005. Human activities account for over one-third of N2O emissions, [ most of which are due to the agricultural sector.

One of the necessary cornerstones of ecopsychology and environmental psychology is a contribution to understanding and solving environmental problems. If these fields are to have any lasting benefit, they must help us solve the very real problems of environmental degradation and devastation. These solutions must come on broad, cultural, bioregional, even global levels, as well as on individual and local levels. My purpose in this section is to outline some of the ways environmental psychology and ecopsychology can respond to environmental problems and how they can understand and support sustainable and effective action. This is a bold, even grandiose claim, but I think it is both necessary and possible.

WHY RELATE TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS? The psychological consequences of environmental problems THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION Self-Regulation Model

Bystander Calculus Psychological factors in environmental decision-making Ecocentrism, Deep Ecology, and Ecopsychology What is Missing: Ecopsychology, Environmental Policy, and The Critical Task Sustaining Environental Activists (i.e., all of us) WHAT NOW? Where we might go from here A comtemplative approach Resources and References

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS The very real and well-documented environmental problems we face, both locally and globally, also have psychological consequences. This is one of the foundations of ecopsychology and recognizing the depth and closeness of human-nature relationships. This section outlines some of these consequences, drawing on environmental psychology research. We can idendity three categories of environmental problems: natural disasters, technological catastrophes, and long-term environmental degradation. It is important to point out how these categories are increasingly overlapping. Many natural disasters, if not caused outright by human intervention, are worsened by human factors. Global warming seems to be causing an increase in hurricanes and their severity. Deforestation promotes floods and landslides because the natural buffers of the forests no longer absorb the rainfall they used to. Even the spread of human habitation

increases the likelihood of the loss of property and life in natural disasters. So, the boundary between natural disasters and technological catastrophes is more blurred than before. A. Natural disasters (e.g., floods, hurricanes, storms caused by natural processes) 1. Usually unpredictable (though there may be some short-term warnings), uncontrollable, destructive, acute, BUT they are expectable. While we cannot predict the next tsunami, forest fire, or tornado, we can expect they will occur. Furthermore, they tend to have a recognizable low point. With natural disasters, we generally know when the worst is over. 2. Factors in psychological effects of natural disaasters include the event's duration, intensity, low point. Equally important are a variety of personal and social coping skills, including personality style, adaptive skills, resilience, and social support. 3. Psychological effects: Short-term stress is common. Generally, chronic stress is rare. Often, increases in cooperation and social bonding are seen. 4. Natural disasters are part of the natural order. While they can be disastrous and while I do not wish to minimize this, I also wonder whether natural distasters are easier to integrate because they are part of the natural order. Is it possible that they even reinforce a kind of existential security? B. Technological catastrophes, sudden, major toxic exposure (e.g., chemical and radioactive leaks, industrial accidents, e.g., Chernobyl, Three-Mile Island, Bhopal) 1. Duration is variable. There may be long-term effects, there is often no clear low point, and victims have little control. There may be a lack of visible destruction and

no closure since the long-terms effects are unknown and unknowable. Most people have low familiarity with these, and there is low predictablity. Basically, such catastrophes are NEVER supposed to happen, so when they do, people are not psychologically prepared for them. 2. Toxic exposure leads to both neuropsychological effects and stress effects. The belief in exposure leads to stress. In some cases, their low salience may lead to a denial. 3. Psychological effects: Compared to natural disasters, these effects are more severe, complex, longer-lasting, and likely to be chronic. They often increase interpersonal conflict. 4. Since they are not part of the natural order, I hypothesize that they increase existential insecurity. C. Chronic, pervasive, long-term environmental degradation (e.g., air, water, noise, and light pollution; global warming). While there is some available theory, there is little research on these effects. Some parallels can be drawn from research on the psychological effects of the threat of nuclear war. It is easy to hypothesize the following effects. 1. Psychic numbing, denial. CF, (Lifton's research on Hiroshima & Nagasaki). This is by far the most common and visible effect. 2. Anxiety 3. Helplessness, depression

4. Alienation, the sense of not-belonging 5. Child development. E.g., the need for a positive future to enable an Ego-Ideal will have negative effects of child development. 6. Kahn has written about "generational amnesia," the process of adjusting our expectations of environmental quality based on childhood experience. Each generation takes what it knew as "natural," "clean," or "pure" to be the aceptable standard, even though it is less natural, clean, and pure than conditions in previous generations. This amnesia allows a slow degradation of environmental quality. 7. There may also be a positive effect of recognizing and dealing with environmental destruction. It may be a call to awareness and service, existential authenticity, responsibility & empowerment (See Roger Walsh, STAYING ALIVE, and Joanna Macy's Despair and Empowerment work in COMING BACK TO LIFE).
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PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION SELF-REGULATION MODEL Deep Ecologists and Ecopsychologists suggest seeing humans and the natural world as parts of a larger self. Humans are nature. Human actions on behalf of the physical environment are nature's way of caring for itself. The Gaia Hypothesis that the Earth is a single living and self-regulating organism suggests this perspective, too.

It makes sense, for example, to think of consciousness as a process of nature becoming aware of itself, although this may at first seem an odd way of talking. The underlying idea is that conscious organisms such as human beings are part of nature. We are in a sense mere extensions of our environment. (Leff, 1978, Experience, Environment, and Human Potentials. NY: Oxford University Press. P. 7.) See also Deborah Winter, Ecological Psychology, and many of the writings of the Deep Ecologists, e.g., Seed, Macy, et al, Thinking like a Mountain. If this is a useful way of looking at human-nature relationships, and I feel deeply that is is, then we should be able to apply some psychological understanding of selfregulation to the question of Self-regulation, where "Self" includes the natural and physical environment. For some years, I worked with stress management, health psychology, and selfregulation issues using biofeedback. The following model developed out of that work and is based on some teaching from Peter Ossorio, a professor of mine at the University of Colorado. The model starts with the premise that, in general, systems will regulate themselves for optimal health. That system might be your digestive system, you, or the Earth. But then, we are forced to ask about breakdowns in selfregulation. How do we understand dysregulation? The heuristi
Solutions to Environmental problems SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS 3'R's are the solutions viz., REDUCE, RECYCLE & REUSE REDUCE Consumption of natural resources to the extent possible Emission of carbon into atmosphere Developmental projects affecting environment Human activities acclerating global warming and climate changes Deforestation for developmental activities

Consumption of non biodegradable materials in every day life Human activities causing pollution of water bodies, air, forests, soil Consumption of energy to reduce pollution and exploitation of nature RECYCLE All wasted/spent natural resources to reduce their consumption All used materials with the available technologies All used materials manufactured with trees/plants to reduce deforestation REUSE All spent natural resources to reduce more fresh consumption All materials manufactured with trees/plants for their conservation All recycled materials to reduce the demand ALSO: Education. It is not this simple to solve our current-day environmental problems. There has to be a paradigm shift in our way of thought and the way we perceive our environment. Still, these ideas are being very much debated.

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