The destruction of the natural environment is happening at an astonishing rate.
The population of lions, sharks and rhinoceros are down by around 80 per cent in the last 50 years. Many animals and plants are on the brink of extinction.
Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the past 40 years. The WWF reports that animal species have been decimated as humans kill them for food in unsustainable numbers, while polluting or destroying their habitats, with the most severe decline among populations of freshwater species.
The increasing human population further encroaches on the natural habitats of many animal species. This leads to more demand for water, food, and energy, and more production and waste. Our consumption of natural resources has risen dramatically. While population has risen fourfold in the last century, water use has gone up sevenfold.
Moreover, it does not help that the human species is generally self centred, particularly amongst adults. People and businesses have predominantly neglected the environment in the pursuit of profits and personal interests.
The activities of the human population are placing an enormous strain on the natural environment. We see this in many ways. The reliance on dangerous energy sources polluting the environment and leading to the potential for adverse consequences. The use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers poisoning animal and human health. The poaching, hunting and over-consumption of animals leading to near extinction of many animal species. The amount of waste produced ending up in landfill sites and oceans. The clearing of natural habitats for agriculture, forestry, mining and urban development reducing habitable land.
There are no easy solutions. Overall, it comes down to restricting the growth in the human population (through reducing child mortaility, improving education and contraception) and being more resource efficient.
The population of lions, sharks and rhinoceros are down by around 80 per cent in the last 50 years. Many animals and plants are on the brink of extinction.
Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the past 40 years. The WWF reports that animal species have been decimated as humans kill them for food in unsustainable numbers, while polluting or destroying their habitats, with the most severe decline among populations of freshwater species.
The increasing human population further encroaches on the natural habitats of many animal species. This leads to more demand for water, food, and energy, and more production and waste. Our consumption of natural resources has risen dramatically. While population has risen fourfold in the last century, water use has gone up sevenfold.
Moreover, it does not help that the human species is generally self centred, particularly amongst adults. People and businesses have predominantly neglected the environment in the pursuit of profits and personal interests.
The activities of the human population are placing an enormous strain on the natural environment. We see this in many ways. The reliance on dangerous energy sources polluting the environment and leading to the potential for adverse consequences. The use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers poisoning animal and human health. The poaching, hunting and over-consumption of animals leading to near extinction of many animal species. The amount of waste produced ending up in landfill sites and oceans. The clearing of natural habitats for agriculture, forestry, mining and urban development reducing habitable land.
There are no easy solutions. Overall, it comes down to restricting the growth in the human population (through reducing child mortaility, improving education and contraception) and being more resource efficient.
