Environmental Abuse
Over the last few decades, our human footprint on the environment has become increasingly devastating. Climate change, an increase in greenhouse gases, a depletion of natural resources, mounting waste dumps and chemically polluted air and water are just some of the tell-tale signs of the disrespect shown by many industries and individuals towards the environment.
We abuse the environment in many ways: factories pumping toxic gasses into the air and waste into waterways; unsustainable industry practices that deplete natural resources without replacing anything in return; individuals wasting natural resources through ignorance or indifference; a waste-generating, energy-dependent lifestyle that is adding to growing landfill sites and carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The list is endless.
To fight environmental deterioration and abuse, we should all consider what we take from or deposit into the environment. We should ask ourselves what are the effects. How can I adapt my actions to support, rather than disturb the balances in nature? How can I conserve rather than deplete Earth's natural resources?
Common Environmental Issues
- Human overpopulation — Biocapacity climate change
- Hydrology — Environmental impacts of reservoirs
- Intensive farming — Agricultural subsidy
- Land use — Built environment
- Natural disasters
- Nuclear issues — Nuclear fallout
- Ocean trash
- Water Pollution
Carrying capacity
Exploitation
Industrialisation
I = PAT
Land degradation
Land reclamation
Optimum population
Overshoot (population)
Population density
Population dynamics
Population growth
Projections of population growth
Total fertility rate
Urbanization
Waste
Water conflict
Water scarcity
Overdrafting
Tile drainage
Hydrology (agriculture)
Flooding
Landslide
Environmental effects of meat production
Intensive animal farming
Intensive crop farming
Irrigation
Monoculture
Nutrient pollution
Overgrazing
Pesticide drift
Plasticulture
Slash and burn
Tile drainage
Desertification
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat destruction
Land degradation
Land pollution
Lawn-environmental concerns
Trail ethics
Urban heat island
Urban sprawl
Nuclear meltdown
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Nuclear and radiation accidents
Nuclear safety
High-level radioactive waste management