Why do people damage the environment

Agriculture, Domesticated Animals and Genetic Modification The demand to feed a growing human population has facilitated notable advances in agriculture, which was the first major human innovation to enable our survival as a species.

Deforestation…and Reforestation Growing populations have to be housed, which means they seek more space to build homes and cities. Pollution Human activities affect the environment by contributing to air pollution, or the emission of harmful substances into the air.

Global Warming and Climate Change Among the most critically impactful ways that humans have affected the environment is our extraction and consumption of fossil fuels and their attendant CO2 emissions. Human Impact on the Environment is a Double-edged Sword The expansion of human population and the requirements of our growing human family place strenuous demands on our environment.

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Advance My Career. Change Jobs. Gain New Skills. In what area would you like to specialize? GISc Master's. Environmental Certificate. General Certificate. Contact Info Text input field. Text input field. Get Brochure. In this way a localised conflict may harm the environment nationally by impacting governance and projects countrywide. The existence of a conflict can also create serious technological risks from industrial infrastructure , and then hamper the international cooperation required to address them.

These diverse impacts on the environment mean that conflicts are often viewed as sustainable development in reverse , and may set countries back years. Not just because of new damage, but in the development that would have taken place were it not for the existence of a conflict. But is it all negative? There are times where the existence of conflict can confer protection to areas, for example by slowing unsustainable development that would otherwise have taken place in areas that are insecure, or by excluding human activities due to the presence of explosive remnants of war.

But overall, and particularly because of the disruption conflicts cause to societies and to governance, the harms far outweigh the benefits. Occupations may be relatively short-lived, or can last decades. While states have an obligation to protect the occupied population, their environmental obligations are less well defined. As with conflicts, occupations can hold back sustainable development, for example by limiting access to materials or technologies, or by acting as a barrier to investment.

Pre-existing environmental programmes and projects may be curtailed, or replaced by a new incoming administration. A lack of investment and development can lead to the slow collapse of critical environmental infrastructure , infrastructure that may be damaged or degraded by periods of violence. Measures taken by the occupied population to oppose the occupier can also lead to environmental harm. The increased military presence can impact landscapes by vehicle movements or training areas, or by the building of walls and fences that can disrupt wildlife movements, or separate people from the resources they are dependent on.

Poor waste management at military bases, whether operated by states or private contractors, can harm public health and the environment. Meanwhile, militarised responses to security issues can create more serious environmental harm than civil responses would.

Inequitable resource management is common to occupations, with resource grabs and over-extraction common, whether of water or minerals. Environmental oversight can be limited or preferential, facilitating environmental degradation. The occupied population may be unable to enjoy the same environmental human rights as those of the occupier, and be forced to live with limited resources, poorer environmental services and higher levels of pollution.

Politically focused development is common as the occupying power seeks to make its mark on a territory. In this way major infrastructure works may be undertaken with little environmental oversight. It is rare these days for conflicts to conclude cleanly with a peace agreement and a ceasefire. Low level conflict and insecurity can continue for long periods. In this respect many of the forms of harm that occur during conflicts are also applicable to this phase, particularly in its early stages.

Transitions to peace are typified by weak state control , this means that environmental governance, and the capacity to provide it is often absent. Attention to environmental issues in the face of many competing social and economic priorities is usually limited.

These conditions are key to many post-conflict environmental problems. In some instances, peace and power sharing agreements have impeded governance by creating fragmented political systems. In the immediate aftermath of conflicts, states and international actors may be faced with immediate legacies , such as vast quantities of rubble and debris.

If managed poorly, for example through informal dumping, disposal can create new environmental risks. There have been instances where the looting of industrial sites has exposed communities to pollutants, and many of the environmentally harmful coping strategies that people used to survive during conflicts may continue well beyond their end.

In conflicts with high levels of displacement, land rights and ownership issues are common, particularly when returnees move home. Influxes of people can increase environmental pressures in areas from which they have been absent, particularly through agricultural conversion or expansion. This can lead to increased rates of deforestation. The presence of military forces can extend well into the post-conflict phase. The operation and ultimate closure or handover of bases are associated with pollution issues , particularly where the host nation may be unable to enforce environmental standards.

The use of practices like burn pits has exposed military personnel and communities to hazardous pollution, leaving veterans with ongoing health problems.

The post-conflict clearance of landmines and explosive remnants of war can lead to soil degradation and localised pollution, and negative changes in land use when areas are released back to communities. The damage that conflicts do to environmental governance can have implications for environmental protection for years. This can set back progress on issues as diverse as pollution control, resource and protected area management, climate change adaptation and biodiversity protection.

Finally, the environmental costs of recovery may be significant. Massive urban rebuilding projects can require huge volumes of resources. While armed conflicts and military activities can cause or facilitate many different forms of environmental harm, addressing the environment during and after conflicts can also create opportunities for building and sustaining peace, and for helping to transform societies through sustainable recovery.

Shared natural resources can provide the basis for dialogue between warring parties, as can common environmental threats that extend across human boundaries and borders. Send electronic greetings over email, instead of paper cards. In your Garden Collect rainwater to water your garden. Water the garden early in the morning or late in the evening. This reduces water loss due to evaporation. Water only until the soil becomes moist, not soggy.

Explore water efficient irrigation systems. Sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation can be adapted to garden situations. Make your garden lively - plant trees and shrubs that will attract birds. You can also put up bird nest boxes with food. Put waste to work in your garden- sweep the fallen leaves and flowers into flowerbeds or under shrubs.

This will increase soil fertility and also reduce the need for frequent watering. If you have little space in your garden, you could make a compost pit to turn organic waste from the kitchen and garden to soil enriching manure. Plant local species of trees, flowers and vegetables. Don't use chemicals in the garden - as they will eventually end up in the water systems and can upset the delicate balance of lifecycles.

Organic and environmentally friendly fertilizers and pesticides are available - organic gardening reduces pollution and is better for wildlife. While Shopping Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season to help reduce enormous transport costs resulting from importing produce and, where possible, choose locally produced food. When buying fish look out for a variety of non-endangered species and buy local fish if possible.

Bring your own bags to the grocery and refuse the plastic bags that create so much waste. Look for products that have less packaging.

At Work Use printers that can print on both sides of the paper; try to look into this option when replacing old printers. Use the back of a draft or unwanted printout instead of notebooks.