environmental destruction essay conclusion

Essay on Environmental Degradation

Introduction to Environmental Degradation

Environmental degradation, the gradual deterioration of the Earth’s natural resources and ecosystems, poses a grave threat to the planet’s well-being and the survival of all life forms. From deforestation to pollution and climate change, human activities have triggered a cascade of environmental challenges with far-reaching consequences. For instance, the Amazon Rainforest, often dubbed the “lungs of the Earth,” is rapidly disappearing due to deforestation, jeopardizing biodiversity and indigenous cultures. This essay examines the causes, consequences, and solutions to environmental degradation, emphasizing the need for collective action to preserve our planet for future generations.

Importance of Addressing Environmental Degradation

It is crucial to address environmental degradation since it directly affects the welfare of current and future generations. Here are some key reasons why addressing environmental degradation is crucial:

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• Ecological Balance: Due to the interconnectivity of ecosystems, disturbances can have a cascading effect on ecological balance and biodiversity. Addressing degradation helps maintain these delicate balances.
• Human Health: Environmental deterioration, such as air and water pollution , directly impacts human health, leading to respiratory disorders, waterborne infections, and other health problems.
• Climate Stability: Environmental degradation contributes to climate change, which has wide-ranging effects on weather patterns, sea levels, and the frequency of natural disasters.
• Economic Impact: Degradation can harm industries like agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, affecting livelihoods and economic stability.
• Resource Availability: Overexploitation of resources leads to scarcity, impacting food and water security, among other things.
• Cultural Preservation: Many cultures are deeply connected to their environment. Preserving natural habitats helps protect indigenous cultures and their way of life.
• Future Generations: By tackling deterioration, we ensure that future generations inherit a planet that can support life and meet their needs.

Causes of Environmental Degradation

Environmental deterioration is a result of numerous human activities as well as natural processes. Here are some of the primary causes:

• Deforestation: The destruction of forests for agriculture, logging, and urbanization results in the loss of habitats, reduction in biodiversity, and contributes to climate change.
• Pollution: Pollution, including air pollution from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust, water pollution from untreated sewage and industrial waste, and soil pollution from agricultural chemicals, negatively impacts the environment and human health.
• Overpopulation : The growing global population pressures natural resources, leading to overexploitation, habitat destruction, and environmental degradation.
• Overexploitation of Resources: The unsustainable use of natural resources, such as overfishing, overhunting, and overharvesting of forests, depletes ecosystems and leads to environmental degradation.
• Urbanization: The rapid urbanization of cities is associated with deforestation, habitat loss, air and water pollution, and heightened resource consumption, all of which contribute to environmental degradation.
• Industrialization: Industrial activities, such as manufacturing, mining, and construction, produce pollution and waste that degrade the environment and harm ecosystems.
• Agricultural Practices: Soil deterioration, water pollution, and biodiversity loss are all potential outcomes of intensive agriculture, which also includes the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers as well as monoculture farming.

Consequences of Environmental Degradation

Environmental degradation has many consequences, affecting ecosystems, human health, economies, and societies. Some of the key consequences include:

• Loss of Biodiversity: Environmental degradation, such as deforestation, pollution , and habitat destruction, leads to biodiversity loss. This can have long-term effects on ecosystems, reducing their resilience and ability to adapt to change.
• Climate Change: Through the atmospheric release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, environmental degradation plays a role in climate change . This leads to rising global temperatures, changes in weather patterns, and other climate-related impacts.
• Water Scarcity: Water scarcity can result from pollution and overexploitation of water resources, impacting ecosystems, agriculture, and human populations. This may impact food security and lead to disputes over water resources.
• Air Pollution: Transportation, industry, and the combustion of fossil fuels are the three main causes of air pollution , which can lead to respiratory disorders, heart problems, and other health concerns in both people and animals.
• Soil Degradation: Pollution, deforestation, and inefficient farming methods can all contribute to soil degradation , which lowers the soil’s fertility and capacity to sustain plant life. This can lead to reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and desertification.
• Disruption of Ecosystem Services: Healthy ecosystems and human well-being depend on ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, pollination, and water purification, all of which can suffer negative impacts from environmental deterioration.
• Impact on Human Health: Environmental degradation can directly impact human health through exposure to pollutants, contaminated water and food, and environmental changes promoting disease spread.
• Economic Losses: Degradation of the environment can cause economic losses by harming infrastructure, taking away ecosystem services, and affecting sectors like tourism, agriculture, and fisheries.

Consequences for Human Society

Environmental degradation has significant consequences for human society, affecting various aspects of life, including health, the economy, food security, and social well-being. Here are some key consequences for human society:

• Health Impacts: Environmental deterioration, such as pollution of the air and water, can cause a number of health concerns, such as malignancies, heart problems, and respiratory disorders. Poor sanitation and contaminated water sources can also cause diseases like cholera and typhoid.
• Food Security: Degraded ecosystems and soil can reduce agricultural productivity, leading to food shortages and malnutrition. Climate change, a result of environmental degradation, can also impact crop yields and food availability.
• Water Scarcity: Environmental degradation can lead to water scarcity, affecting access to clean water for drinking, sanitation, and agriculture. Health and hygiene may be affected, resulting in disputes over water resources.
• Displacement and Migration: Environmental degradation, such as deforestation and desertification, can force communities to migrate for food, water, and shelter. This can lead to social disruptions and conflicts.
• Economic Impacts: Environmental degradation can have significant economic impacts, including loss of livelihoods in sectors dependent on natural resources, increased healthcare costs due to environmental pollution, and damage to infrastructure from natural disasters.
• Social Inequality: Environmental degradation often disproportionately affects marginalized communities and exacerbates existing social inequalities. These populations might be more susceptible to the effects of environmental degradation and have less access to resources.
• Conflict and Security: Environmental degradation can contribute to conflicts over natural resources, such as water and land, leading to social unrest and instability. In some cases, it can also contribute to forced migration and refugee crises.
• Cultural Loss: Environmental degradation can lead to the loss of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge associated with ecosystems and natural resources. This can profoundly impact the identity and well-being of indigenous and local communities.

Case Studies: Illustrating the Real-World Effects

Here are a few case studies that illustrate the real-world effects of environmental degradation:

• Amazon Rainforest Deforestation: With millions of different kinds of plants, animals, and insects, the Amazon rainforest is one of the planet’s most biodiverse areas. Deforestation, primarily for agriculture , logging, and mining, has significantly lost habitat and biodiversity. Indigenous communities relying on forests for survival and cultural heritage have been significantly affected. Deforestation also contributes to climate change, as the Amazon acts as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The loss of this vital ecosystem has global implications for climate stability and biodiversity conservation.
• Plastic Pollution in Oceans: Plastic pollution in the oceans is a growing environmental problem that affects marine life and ecosystems. Every year, the ocean receives millions of tons of plastic waste, which threatens marine life as it can entangle and harm them. This pollution also impacts human health, as microplastics can enter the food chain through seafood consumption. One of the most noticeable signs of environmental degradation is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an immense accumulation of plastic waste in the North Pacific Ocean. Addressing plastic pollution requires concerted efforts to reduce plastic use, improve waste management , and promote recycling and circular economy practices.
• Air Pollution in Urban Centers: Air pollution in urban centers is a significant health concern, particularly in developing countries where industrial activities and vehicle emissions are significant contributors. Cardiovascular issues, respiratory ailments, and early mortality are all linked to poor air quality. Cities like Delhi, India, and Beijing, China, have experienced severe air pollution episodes, prompting government actions to reduce emissions and improve air quality. Implementing cleaner technologies, promoting public transportation, and enforcing stricter emissions standards are essential for mitigating the impacts of air pollution on human health and the environment.

Mitigation and Solutions

Mitigating environmental degradation requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of environmental problems and promotes sustainable practices. The following are some important solutions and mitigation strategies:

• Conservation and Sustainable Use: Protecting natural habitats and promoting sustainable use of resources can help prevent environmental degradation. This includes sustainable agriculture practices, responsible forestry, and marine conservation efforts.
• Policy Interventions: Involving local populations in conservation activities can increase the success of environmental initiatives. This includes implementing and enforcing environmental laws, setting emissions standards, and promoting renewable energy sources.
• Technological Innovations: Advancements in technology can help mitigate environmental degradation. This includes developing clean energy technologies, improving waste management practices, and enhancing agricultural techniques to reduce environmental impact.
• Education and Awareness: Educating the public about environmental issues and promoting awareness can help foster a culture of environmental stewardship. This includes teaching sustainable practices in schools, raising awareness about recycling and conservation, and encouraging responsible consumption.
• International Cooperation: Addressing global environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss requires international cooperation. This includes participating in global agreements and treaties like the Paris Agreement and collaborating on research and conservation efforts.
• Corporate Responsibility: Businesses can contribute to mitigating environmental degradation by adopting sustainable practices and reducing their environmental footprint. This includes implementing green technologies, reducing waste, and promoting corporate social responsibility.
• Community Involvement: Involving local populations in conservation activities can increase the success of environmental initiatives. This includes involving communities in decision-making processes, providing education and training, and empowering local stakeholders to take action.
• Individual Actions: Individuals can contribute to mitigating environmental degradation by taking simple actions like reducing waste, conserving water and energy, and endorsing sustainable products and practices.

The Role of Global Cooperation

Global cooperation is crucial in addressing environmental degradation, as many environmental issues transcend national borders and require collective action. Here are some key aspects of the role of global cooperation:

• Climate Change: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the effects of climate change are global challenges that call for concerted action. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, is an example of global cooperation to limit global warming and its effects.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting biodiversity requires international cooperation to preserve ecosystems and endangered species. Programs like the Convention on Biological Diversity aim to encourage biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
• Transboundary Pollution: Pollution knows no borders, and addressing issues like air and water pollution requires cooperation among countries to regulate emissions and protect shared water bodies.
• Resource Management: Managing natural resources sustainably, such as fisheries and forests, requires international agreements and cooperation to prevent overexploitation and ensure equitable access.
• Disaster Response and Preparedness: Natural disasters, exacerbated by environmental degradation, often require international assistance and cooperation for effective response and recovery efforts.
• Technology Transfer: Developing countries often need more access to clean technologies and resources needed for sustainable development. Global cooperation can facilitate technology transfer and capacity building to address environmental challenges.
• Financial Support: Developing countries may require financial assistance to implement environmental initiatives and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Global cooperation can provide funding and support through mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund.
• Scientific Research and Data Sharing: Collaboration in scientific research and data sharing can enhance understanding of environmental issues and inform decision-making at the global level.

Environmental degradation threatens the planet’s ecosystems, biodiversity, and well-being. Addressing this complex issue requires collective action at all levels, from individual choices to global cooperation. By implementing sustainable practices, conserving natural resources, and adopting green technologies, we can mitigate the impacts of environmental degradation and create a more sustainable future. Governments, businesses, and individuals must cooperate to protect the environment, preserve biodiversity, and ensure a healthy planet for future generations. The time to act is now, and our collective efforts can make a difference in safeguarding the planet for the future.

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Human Impacts on the Environment

Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water. These negative impacts can affect human behavior and can prompt mass migrations or battles over clean water.

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Environment

Destruction of nature is as big a threat to humanity as climate change.

By Michael Le Page

Farming and housing occupies large amounts of land globally

Steve Proehl/Getty

We are destroying nature at an unprecedented rate, threatening the survival of a million species – and our own future, too. But it’s not too late to save them and us, says a major new report.

“The evidence is incontestable. Our destruction of biodiversity and ecosystem services has reached levels that threaten our well-being at least as much as human-induced climate change.”

With these words chair Robert Watson launched a meeting in Paris to agree the final text of a major UN report on the state of nature around the world – the biggest and most thorough assessment to date, put together by 150 scientists from 50 countries.

The report, released today, is mostly grim reading. We humans have already significantly altered three-quarters of all land and two-thirds of the oceans. More than a third of land and three-quarters of freshwater resources are devoted to crops or livestock.

Around 700 vertebrates have gone extinct in the past few centuries. Forty per cent of amphibians and a third of coral species, sharks and marine mammals look set to follow.

Less room for wildlife

Preventing this is vital to save ourselves, the report says. “Ecosystems, species, wild populations, local varieties and breeds of domesticated plants and animals are shrinking, deteriorating or vanishing,” says one of the the report’s authors, Josef Settele. “This loss is a direct result of human activity and constitutes a direct threat to human well-being in all regions of the world.”

The main reason is simple. Our expanding farms and cities are leaving less room for wildlife. The other major causes are the direct exploitation of wildlife such as hunting, climate change, pollution and the spread of invasive species. Climate change is set to become ever more destructive.

Read more: Is life on Earth really at risk? The truth about the extinction crisis

But we can still turn things around, the report says. “Nature can be conserved, restored and used sustainably while simultaneously meeting other global societal goals through urgent and concerted efforts fostering transformative change,” it states.

It also says that where land is owned or managed by indigenous peoples and local communities, there has been less destruction and sometimes none at all.

The aim of the report, by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), is to provide an authoritative scientific basis for international action . The hope is that it will lead to the same pressure for action as the latest scientific report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), on limiting warming to 1.5°C.

“Good knowledge is absolutely essential for good governance,” says Watson, who chaired the IPCC from 1997 to 2002 . “I’m optimistic that this will make a difference.”

Bioenergy threat

But the challenge is immense. All countries except the US have ratified the 1992 UN Convention of Biodiversity and are supposed to be conserving biodiversity and promoting its sustainable use.

Despite this, more than 80 per cent of the agreed international targets for 2020 will not be met, says the report. In fact, as of 2016, half the signatory countries hadn’t yet drawn up plans on how to meet the targets .

The problem isn’t just our focus on economic growth regardless of the impact on the natural world. Current plans for reducing carbon dioxide emissions to net-zero to limit climate change rely heavily on bioenergy, which requires a lot of land. This will accelerate species loss as well as threatening food and water security, says the report.

Read more: Rewilding: Can we really restore ravaged nature to a pristine state?

In fact, the bioenergy push is already causing harm. For instance, rainforests are being cut down in Indonesia and Malaysia to grow palm oil to make biodiesel for cars in Europe .

Transforming our civilisation to make it more sustainable will require more connected thinking, the report says. “There’s a very fragmented approach,” says Watson. “We’ve got to think about all these things in a much more holistic way.”

For instance, there are ways of tackling climate change that will help biodiversity too, such as persuading people to eat less meat and planting more trees. But the devil is in the detail – artificial plantations would benefit wildlife far less than restoring natural forests.

Some of the solutions set out in the report may not be welcome to all. In particular, it effectively calls for wealthy people to consume less, suggesting that changing the habits of the affluent may be central to sustainable development worldwide.

Read more: Half the planet should be set aside for wildlife – to save ourselves

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119 Environmental Issues Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

The environment is facing numerous challenges today, and it is important for us to address these issues in order to create a sustainable future for our planet. In this article, we will explore 119 environmental issues essay topic ideas and provide examples to help you get started on your own essay.

• Climate change: Discuss the causes and effects of climate change and potential solutions to mitigate its impact.

Example: The role of deforestation in contributing to climate change and the importance of reforestation efforts.

• Air pollution: Analyze the sources of air pollution and its effects on human health and the environment.

Example: The impact of vehicle emissions on air quality in urban areas and ways to reduce pollution from transportation.

• Water pollution: Examine the sources of water pollution and the potential consequences for aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Example: The effects of agricultural runoff on water quality and strategies to prevent pollution from entering waterways.

• Deforestation: Discuss the causes and consequences of deforestation and the importance of preserving forests for biodiversity and climate regulation.

Example: The impact of deforestation on indigenous communities and the loss of traditional knowledge and cultural practices.

• Plastic pollution: Explore the sources and effects of plastic pollution in the ocean and ways to reduce plastic waste.

Example: The role of microplastics in marine ecosystems and the need for regulations to prevent further pollution.

• Biodiversity loss: Analyze the factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity and the importance of protecting endangered species.

Example: The impact of habitat destruction on wildlife populations and the need for conservation efforts to preserve biodiversity.

• Overfishing: Discuss the consequences of overfishing on marine ecosystems and sustainable fishing practices.

Example: The decline of fish stocks due to overfishing and the importance of implementing fishing quotas and marine protected areas.

• E-waste: Examine the growing problem of electronic waste and the environmental and health risks associated with improper disposal.

Example: The challenges of recycling electronic devices and the need for better e-waste management practices.

• Urban sprawl: Analyze the impact of urban sprawl on natural habitats and the importance of smart growth and sustainable urban planning.

Example: The loss of green spaces and farmland to urban development and the benefits of compact, walkable communities.

• Renewable energy: Discuss the potential of renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Example: The growth of solar and wind power as clean energy alternatives and the challenges of integrating renewables into the grid.

• Ocean acidification: Explore the causes and consequences of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and the need for carbon emission reductions.

Example: The effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs and shellfish populations and the importance of marine conservation efforts.

• Soil erosion: Analyze the causes of soil erosion and the impact on agricultural productivity and ecosystem health.

Example: The loss of topsoil due to deforestation and unsustainable farming practices and strategies to prevent erosion through soil conservation.

• Wildlife trafficking: Discuss the illegal trade of wildlife and the threats to endangered species and biodiversity.

Example: The demand for exotic pets and animal products driving the illegal wildlife trade and the need for stronger enforcement of wildlife protection laws.

• Pesticide use: Examine the environmental and health risks associated with pesticide use in agriculture and the need for sustainable pest management practices.

Example: The impact of pesticide runoff on water quality and non-target species and the benefits of organic farming methods.

• Food waste: Analyze the causes and consequences of food waste and potential solutions to reduce waste and improve food security.

Example: The environmental footprint of food production and distribution and the benefits of composting and food rescue programs.

• Greenhouse gas emissions: Discuss the sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the need for global action to reduce carbon pollution.

Example: The role of the transportation sector in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for electrification and public transit to reduce emissions.

• Climate refugees: Explore the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and the need for adaptation and resilience measures.

Example: The displacement of communities due to sea-level rise and extreme weather events and the challenges of climate migration.

• Land degradation: Analyze the causes of land degradation and the consequences for food security, water quality, and ecosystem health.

Example: The loss of arable land to desertification and soil erosion and the importance of sustainable land management practices.

• Ocean pollution: Discuss the sources of ocean pollution, including plastic waste, oil spills, and chemical contaminants, and the need for marine conservation.

Example: The impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems and the challenges of cleaning up and restoring affected areas.

• Environmental justice: Explore the intersection of environmental issues with social justice and equity, including the disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities.

Example: The siting of polluting industries in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color and the need for environmental policies that prioritize equity and inclusion.

• Green infrastructure: Discuss

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Environmental Issues Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on environmental issues.

The environment plays a significant role to support life on earth. But there are some issues that are causing damages to life and the ecosystem of the earth. It is related to the not only environment but with everyone that lives on the planet. Besides, its main source is pollution , global warming, greenhouse gas , and many others. The everyday activities of human are constantly degrading the quality of the environment which ultimately results in the loss of survival condition from the earth.

Source of Environment Issue

There are hundreds of issue that causing damage to the environment. But in this, we are going to discuss the main causes of environmental issues because they are very dangerous to life and the ecosystem.

Pollution – It is one of the main causes of an environmental issue because it poisons the air , water , soil , and noise. As we know that in the past few decades the numbers of industries have rapidly increased. Moreover, these industries discharge their untreated waste into the water bodies, on soil, and in air. Most of these wastes contain harmful and poisonous materials that spread very easily because of the movement of water bodies and wind.

Greenhouse Gases – These are the gases which are responsible for the increase in the temperature of the earth surface. This gases directly relates to air pollution because of the pollution produced by the vehicle and factories which contains a toxic chemical that harms the life and environment of earth.

Climate Changes – Due to environmental issue the climate is changing rapidly and things like smog, acid rains are getting common. Also, the number of natural calamities is also increasing and almost every year there is flood, famine, drought , landslides, earthquakes, and many more calamities are increasing.

Above all, human being and their greed for more is the ultimate cause of all the environmental issue.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

How to Minimize Environment Issue?

Now we know the major issues which are causing damage to the environment. So, now we can discuss the ways by which we can save our environment. For doing so we have to take some measures that will help us in fighting environmental issues .

Moreover, these issues will not only save the environment but also save the life and ecosystem of the planet. Some of the ways of minimizing environmental threat are discussed below:

Reforestation – It will not only help in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem but also help in restoring the natural cycles that work with it. Also, it will help in recharge of groundwater, maintaining the monsoon cycle , decreasing the number of carbons from the air, and many more.

The 3 R’s principle – For contributing to the environment one should have to use the 3 R’s principle that is Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Moreover, it helps the environment in a lot of ways.

To conclude, we can say that humans are a major source of environmental issues. Likewise, our activities are the major reason that the level of harmful gases and pollutants have increased in the environment. But now the humans have taken this problem seriously and now working to eradicate it. Above all, if all humans contribute equally to the environment then this issue can be fight backed. The natural balance can once again be restored.

FAQs about Environmental Issue

Q.1 Name the major environmental issues. A.1 The major environmental issues are pollution, environmental degradation, resource depletion, and climate change. Besides, there are several other environmental issues that also need attention.

Q.2 What is the cause of environmental change? A.2 Human activities are the main cause of environmental change. Moreover, due to our activities, the amount of greenhouse gases has rapidly increased over the past few decades.

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Causes, Effects and Solutions to Environmental Degradation

Environmental degradation is the disintegration of the earth or deterioration of the environment through the consumption of assets, for example, air, water and soil; the destruction of environments and the eradication of wildlife. It is characterized as any change or aggravation to nature’s turf seen to be pernicious or undesirable. 

Ecological effect or degradation is created by the consolidation of an effectively substantial and expanding human populace, constantly expanding monetary development or per capita fortune and the application of asset exhausting and polluting technology. 

Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all. Card shuffler 2 Deck, Battery Operated Automatic Card shuffler, Card Shuffler for Home Card Game,UNO, Travel,Skip-Bo, Phase 10,Texas Hold'em Amazon $ 9.99 -17% $ 11.99 ~ Ban Ki-moon

According to Wikipedia ,

“ Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. “

It occurs when the earth’s natural resources are depleted , and the environment is compromised in the form of extinction of species, pollution in the air, water and soil, and rapid growth in population.

Environmental degradation is one of the largest threats that are being looked at in the world today. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction characterizes environmental degradation as the lessening of the limit of the earth to meet social and environmental destinations and needs. 

Environmental degradation can happen in a number of ways. At the point when environments are wrecked or common assets are exhausted, the  environment is considered to be corrupted and harmed. There are a number of different techniques that are being used to prevent this, including environmental resource protection and general protection efforts.

Environmental issues  can be seen by long term ecological effects, some of which can demolish whole environments. An environment is a unique unit and incorporates all the living and non-living components that live inside it. 

Plants and creatures are evident parts of the environment, but it also includes the things on which they depend on, for example, streams, lakes, and soils.

Environmental surroundings get to be divided when technological advancement splits up areas of land. Some examples of this can include streets which may slice through woods or even trails which wind through prairies. 

While it may not sound all terrible on the surface, there are bad results. The biggest of these results are felt by some particular animal and plant groups, the vast majority of which are specific for their bio-region or need a large area in order to make sure that their genetic lines are kept intact.

Types of Environmental Degradation

Land and soil degradation:  Degradation of soil quality from poor farming practices , excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, leakage from landfills etc.

Water degradation:  Pollution of water from trash dumped in oceans , illegal dumping , disposal of large amounts of industrial waste into nearby rivers or lakes etc.

Atmospheric degradation:  This includes air degradation , particle pollution and the depletion of the ozone layer .

Several other kinds of pollution:  Apart from land, water and atmospheric degradation, many other kinds of pollution such as noise pollution, light pollution that are part of environmental degradation.

Causes of Environmental Degradation

Some environmental life species require substantial areas to help provide food, living space, and other different assets. These creatures are called area specific.

At the point when the  biome  is divided, the vast patches of living space don’t exist anymore. It becomes more troublesome for the wildlife to get the assets they need in order to survive. The environment goes on, even though the animals and plant life are not there to help sustain it properly.

1. Land Disturbance

A more basic cause of environmental degradation is land damage. Numerous weedy plant species , for example, garlic & mustard, are both foreign and obtrusive.

A rupture in the  environmental surroundings provides for them a chance to start growing and spreading. These plants can assume control over nature, eliminating the local greenery.

The result is a territory with a solitary predominant plant which doesn’t give satisfactory food assets to all the environmental life. Thus the whole environment can be destroyed because of these invasive species.

2. Pollution

Pollution, in whatever form, whether it is air, water, land or noise is harmful to the environment.  Air pollution pollutes the air that we breathe, which causes health issues.

Water pollution degrades the quality of water that we use for drinking purposes.  Land pollution results in the degradation of the earth’s surface as a result of human activities. 

Noise pollution  can cause irreparable damage to our ears when exposed to continuous large sounds like honking of vehicles on a busy road or machines producing large noise in a factory or a mill.

3. Overpopulation

Rapid population growth puts strain on natural resources , which results in the degradation of our environment. Mortality rate has gone down due to better medical facilities, which has resulted in an increased lifespan.

More population simply means more demand for food, clothes and shelter. You need more space to grow food and provide homes to millions of people. This results in deforestation, which is another factor in environmental degradation.

4. Landfills

Landfills pollute the environment and destroy the beauty of the city. Landfills come within the city due to the large amount of waste that gets generated by households, industries, factories and hospitals. 

Landfills pose a great risk to the health of the environment and the people who live there. Landfills produce a foul smell when burned and cause substantial environmental degradation.

5. Deforestation

Deforestation is the cutting down of trees to make way for more homes and industries. Rapid growth in population and  urban sprawl  are two of the major causes of deforestation.

Apart from that, the use of forest land for agriculture, animal grazing, harvest for fuelwood and logging are some of the other causes of deforestation. Deforestation contributes to global warming as decreased forest size puts carbon back into the environment.

6. Natural Causes

Things like avalanches, quakes, tidal waves, storms, and wildfires can totally crush nearby animal and plant groups to the point where they can no longer survive in those areas.

This can either come to fruition through physical demolition as the result of a specific disaster or by the long term degradation of assets by the presentation of an obtrusive foreign species to the environment. The latter frequently happens after tidal waves, when reptiles and bugs are washed ashore.

Of course, humans aren’t totally to blame for this whole thing. Earth itself causes ecological issues, as well. While environmental degradation is most normally connected with the things that people do, the truth of the matter is that the environment is always changing. With or without the effect of human exercises, a few biological systems degrade to the point where they can’t help the life that is supposed to live there.

Effects of Environmental Degradation

1. impact on human health.

Human health might be at the receiving end as a result of environmental degradation. Areas exposed to  toxic air pollutants can cause respiratory problems like pneumonia and asthma. Millions of people are known to have died due to the indirect effects of air pollution.

2. Loss of Biodiversity

Biodiversity  is important for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem in the form of combating pollution, restoring nutrients, protecting water sources and stabilizing climate. Deforestation, global warming, overpopulation and pollution are a few of the major causes of loss of biodiversity.

3. Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is responsible for protecting the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. The presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere, is causing the ozone layer to deplete. As it will deplete, it will emit harmful radiation back to the earth.

4. Loss For the Tourism Industry

The deterioration of the environment can be a huge setback for the tourism industry that relies on tourists for their daily livelihood. Environmental damage in the form of loss of green cover, loss of biodiversity, huge landfills, increased air and water pollution can be a big turn off for most of the tourists.

5. Economic Impact

The huge cost that a country may have to borne due to environmental degradation can have a significant economic impact in terms of restoration of green cover, cleaning up of landfills and protection of  endangered species . The economic impact can also be in terms of the loss of the tourism industry.

Solutions to Environmental Degradation

1. stop deforestation.

In order to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental degradation, stopping deforestation is crucial for our environmental system. We cannot afford to cut or burn trees down as trees store greenhouse gases, produce oxygen and are the natural habitat for many animals and plants, which may become endangered if these forests are destroyed.

An extensive afforestation campaign should be launched in the interest of environmental protection. We can further make a positive impact through reforestation or afforestation.

2. Government Regulations

Governments require intervening and setting a framework whenever there are problems that lead to significant eco-degradation. Governments set high taxes for activities that harm our planet and support environmentally-friendly behavior with financial subsidies.

These will also force industries and private people to avoid activities that lead to environmental degradation.

3. Fines and Punishment For Illegal dumping

There should also be high fines for illegal dumping to reduce the adverse ecological consequences. People and industries will continue to dump their trash illegally as they know that even if they get caught, penalties are quite low.

Therefore, raising fines for illegal dumping would increase the incentive to dispose of trash at official waste disposal sites.

4. Reduce Consumption Levels

It has become essential to reduce our consumption levels. Our developed society always strives for the latest electronics, smartphones, and the trendiest clothes and so on.

However, this behavior leads to huge resource depletion and excessive production of waste. We have to lower our consumption levels significantly to avoid the adverse ecological consequences.

5. Reuse and Reduce Waste Generation

You can reduce waste production by using your items and food more efficiently. If you want to get rid of old but still working things, be creative to give it a new look or use it in another way.

By doing so, your material things will be used more effectively. If they cannot be put to use anymore, separate them and give them for recycling.

6. Avoid Plastic

Plastic waste is a big environmental problem that leads to significant plastic pollution and the degradation of our planet. In order to cut down plastic waste, avoid buying items with plastic wrapper or packaging, refrain from using disposable plastic bags , cups, plates, containers, cutlery, etc. Instead, bring your own reusable stuff, which can be reused several times.

7. Education

It is highly essential that children should know about the adverse environmental consequences of our daily life behavior and the ways we can improve our ecological footprint .

This education should start early in school. Children are usually more eager to learn new things and change their behavior compared to adults.

These children are more likely to act in an environmentally-friendly manner when they grow up, and they might also convince their parents to behave in a more ecologically friendly way.

8. Convince Others

You can further enhance your positive impact by convincing other people regarding the importance of behaving in an environmentally way . Tell them what environmental degradation really means for future generations and how changing small things in our daily life can prevent these adverse effects.

As you can see, there are a lot of things that can have an effect on the environment. If we are not careful, we can contribute to the environmental degradation that is occurring all around the world.

We can, however, take action to stop it and take care of the world that we live in by providing  environmental education  to the people who will help them pick familiarity with their surroundings that will enable to take care of  environmental concerns thus making it more useful and protected for our children and other future generations.

About Rinkesh

A true environmentalist by heart ❤️. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitable planet, do remember that there really is no 'Planet B' in this whole universe.

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An introduction to environmental degradation: Causes, consequence and mitigation

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The Problem of Environmental Degradation in Modern World Report

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Introduction

Waste disposal strategies, solving environmental problems.

Environmental degradation is on the increase, and it is likely to affect the human race in the future. In light of this challenge, many environmental scientists have made several recommendations on how we can prevent destruction of our environment. In this case, several mechanisms can be used to keep the environment clean and safe from destruction.

Poor waste disposal is regarded as one of the key causes of environmental degradation. Waste disposal is not only limited to the disposal of industrial waste materials, but it also involves the items we use and discard daily. There are three basic strategies that can be used to reduce waste disposal and they include the following.

Reduce it, is the first strategy for reducing waste disposal, and it is the most important of the three strategies. This is because if people can decrease the rate at which they use various products, the amount of things to be recycled or reused will also go down considerably. Moreover, reduction of consumption will also make people to cut back on their expenditure on various products, and this can help in mitigating environmental pollution.

In addition, we should try to decrease the toxicity of waste products that are dumped in landfills. “Source reduction involves reducing waste at the source by designing, producing, and using items that are less toxic for the waste system” (Scott, 2007). This method of reduction can assist in conservation of resources, and decrease pollution. For example, goods can be produced and used in away that they do not affect the environment.

Reuse of materials is the second method of minimizing waste products. Apart from reducing consumption, we can also find alternative uses for the things that we have used. Besides this, we can also turn used items to other things, rather than recycling or discarding them. Reuse has the following benefits. First, it makes waste management easier since it reduces waste production.

“Secondly, the environment benefits because reusing items leads to less production, which reduces emission of pollutants, and resource harvesting” (Woods, 2010). People should try to be more creative in order to reduce waste materials. For example, a person can use old garments for cleaning or even mending other garments instead of discarding them. One shopping bag can also be used on many shopping occasions.

Recycling is the third strategy, and involves making of new products from the used ones. Unlike reusing, recycling requires many procedures. For example, the items to be recycled are collected and then taken for reprocessing. Recycling also demands energy, money, and other materials.

This makes it to be the least preferable method of waste reduction. Nonetheless, recycling decreases the use of landfills, and it also minimizes pollution. “R’s” will not eliminate environmental degradation, utilizing them will lead to a healthier environment” (Scott, 2007).

Solving environmental problems has not been simple because of these factors. First, many individuals are ignorant about how to manage the environment. Secondly, poverty also makes environmental management complicated. This is because some people destroy resources such as vegetation, and trees in order to get income. The third impediment in this process is the high cost of implementing environmentally-friendly strategies.

Environmental degradation can be minimized through the three strategies, reduce, reuse, and recycle. “The solutions to all our environmental problems do not lie in the capitalistic mindset, the Judeo-Christian value system, or the male-dominated, white cultures of modern man” (McConnell & Abel, 2007).

The solution is embedded in the values that the indigenous individuals have, and their interaction with the earth. “But more importantly, the solution lies in aligning ourselves with the values of the millions of other species with whom we share this planet” (McConnell & Abel, 2007).

McConnell, R., & Abel, D. (2007). Environmental Issues: An Introduction to Sustainability. New York: Prentice Hall.

Scott, N. (2007). Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An Easy Household Guide. New York: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Woods, K. (2010). Human Rights and Environmental Sustainability. London: Edward Elgar Pub.

• Importance of Recycling in Conservation of the Environment
• The Dilemma Surrounding Recycling
• The Concept of Thrift as a Solution to Waste
• Safety of Recycled Water for Drinking
• Zero Waste Principles Applied by Humans
• Green Buildings Impact on the Environment
• Does Transforming trash into recyclable items help our country?
• The Business Link to Sustainable Development
• Recycling's Management and Potential
• Environmental Impact of Bottled Water
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IvyPanda. (2018, October 10). The Problem of Environmental Degradation in Modern World. https://ivypanda.com/essays/environmental-degradation/

"The Problem of Environmental Degradation in Modern World." IvyPanda , 10 Oct. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/environmental-degradation/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Problem of Environmental Degradation in Modern World'. 10 October.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Problem of Environmental Degradation in Modern World." October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/environmental-degradation/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Problem of Environmental Degradation in Modern World." October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/environmental-degradation/.

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Facts about the nature crisis

What you need to know about the nature crisis

We are experiencing a dangerous decline in nature and humans are causing it:

• We are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands. (Becoming Generation Restoration, UNEP)
• One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. (IPBES)
• 75 percent of the Earth’s land surface has been significantly altered by human actions, including 85 percent of wetland areas. (IPBES)
• 66 percent of ocean area is impacted by human activities, including from fisheries and pollution. (IPBES)
• Close to 90% of the world’s marine fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted. (UNCTAD)
• Our global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss with agriculture alone being the identified threat 24,000 of the 28,000 species at risk of extinction. (Chatham House and UNEP)
• Agricultural expansion is said to account for 70% of the projected loss of terrestrial biodiversity. (CBD)

From 7-19 December 2022, countries met in Montreal for  COP15  to strike a landmark agreement to guide global actions on biodiversity.  The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework lays out an ambitious plan that addresses the key drivers of biodiversity loss and puts us on the path to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. See  UNEP’s COP-15 page  for more information and the latest updates.

What are the impacts of nature loss and degradation

Nature loss has far-reaching consequences. Damaged ecosystems exacerbate climate change, undermine food security and put people and communities at risk. 

• Around 3.2 billion people, or 40 percent of the global population, are adversely affected by land degradation.
• Up to $577 billion in annual global crop production is at risk from pollinator loss.
• 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by land clearing, crop production and fertilization.
• Development is putting animals and humans in closer contact increasing the risk of diseases like COVID-19 to spread. About 60 percent of human infections are estimated to have an animal origin. 
• 100-300 million people are at increased risk of floods and hurricanes because of coastal habitat loss. 
• Declines in nature and biodiversity at current trajectories will undermine progress toward 35 out of 44 of the targets of SDGs related to poverty, hunger, health, water cities, climate, oceans and land.

What do we need to do to halt and reverse nature loss?

We only have until the end of the decade to bend the curve on nature and biodiversity loss. Transformational change is possible if we start now at every level from local to global. Actions that should be taken include:

• The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) in Montreal later this year must culminate in a clearly defined, ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that is matched by finances and accountability mechanisms to achieve the framework’s targets. Read more about COP 15 .
• Investments in nature-based solutions will need to at least triple by 2030 if the world is to meet its climate change, biodiversity and land degradation targets. Explore UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature report and watch the video.
• Preventing the large-scale collapse of nature will require effective conservation of more of our land, inland waters and oceans, as well as the world delivering on its current commitment to restore at least one billion hectares of degraded land in the next decade. Learn about the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
• Agriculture has altered the face of the planet more than any other human activity. We need to transform our food systems to become more sustainable and resilient in order to reverse environmental degradation, restore ecosystems and ensure food and nutritional security. Read about food system impacts on nature and biodiversity.
• Governments must assign a financial value on the services that nature provides to people so that environmental action can be prioritized in policy and investment decisions. Read the IPBES new report for how assigning values to nature can help address biodiversity loss.
• Tax structures and subsidies should be reformed to incentivize sustainable production and ensure that environmental degradation no longer pays. This joint FAO-UNDP-UNEP report calls for governments to rethink the way agriculture is subsidized and supported.
• Corporations should put sustainability at the heart of decision making and focus on new sustainable business models to meet society’s needs in ways less impactful on the environment. UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook for Business briefs provide roadmaps that business can follow to address our environmental challenges.
• All financial players should align their business strategies with global and national sustainability goals including the SDGs, the Paris Agreement and the upcoming Biodiversity Framework. Read more about how to catalyze action across the financial system .

Related Sustainable Development Goals

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Environmental Degradation Essay

Introduction.

Have you ever thought about what keeps us living in this world? Is it the air, water, food, land, plants or animals? All these living and nonliving things in the environment are what make life possible in the world. We should be grateful for many things in the environment that enable us to lead a happy life. If you are wondering how the environment balances everything perfectly, you must understand the significance of the environment and the need to control its degradation.

The environmental degradation essay in English will be helpful for students to develop an awareness of environmental degradation. Although environmental degradation is not a recent phenomenon, the continuous exploitation of nature has posed serious threats to the environment. Hence, it is necessary to be aware of the issues and implement effective ways to reduce environmental degradation.

Related essay: Essay on Environment Day

Causes of Environmental Degradation

The human population is growing at an unexpected rate, along with their needs. As human needs are mostly met by the environment, all the natural resources are getting impaired and wasted. Even though most of these resources are said to be renewable, the rising demands of humans lead to their increased use, which eventually results in the depletion of natural resources. So, overpopulation is the main cause of environmental degradation, which is discussed in this environmental degradation essay.

To make our lives comfortable, we highly depend on the environment for food, clothes and shelter. As a result, we cut down several trees to build homes and living spaces. This further affects the environment as it will lead to deforestation. As the forest area is cleared for human purposes, there will be a rise in carbon dioxide levels, which makes the environment unfit for living beings.

Pollution is yet another cause that is detailed in this environmental degradation essay in English. Pollution can happen through air, water or land. There are many industries and factories that emit pollutants into the air, water and land, thus contaminating these natural resources. Some of these pollutants are harmful to us and may cause serious health problems in the long run. By throwing away waste materials like plastics and other chemicals, we are contributing to soil pollution and threatening our lives.

Ways to Solve Environmental Degradation

As we have seen the main factors that contribute to environmental degradation, let us be familiar with how to solve them through this environmental degradation essay in English. We can save our environment if we firmly believe that future generations also need to live here. One of the most important ways to reduce environmental degradation is through reforestation. As we relentlessly cut down trees, let us pledge to plant more trees and bring back the forests. In this way, we can control the level of carbon dioxide in the air. We must also implement the 3 Rs in our lives by reducing, recycling and reusing materials. Along with taking several innovative measures to control pollution, we can address the issue of environmental degradation.

You can find essays similar to the environmental degradation essay, along with a wide range of kids’ learning resources, such as poems, short stories, worksheets, etc., on BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main effects of environmental degradation.

Any adverse change in the environment would affect humans. As toxic gases and pollutants are inhaled by humans, it impacts their health by causing many respiratory issues. Besides, the ozone layer depletes due to the presence of these pollutants, which emits harmful radiation to the Earth. It could also lead to climate change.

What leads to environmental degradation?

Overpopulation and urbanisation are the major factors that contribute to environmental degradation. Humans tend to exploit the environment for their selfish needs. Due to pollution and deforestation, harmful gases get accumulate in the environment, which leads to its degradation.

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Conclusion: Environmental Protection—Our Common Responsibility

• First Online: 06 January 2023

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• Alberto A. C. C. Pais 4 &
• Telma Encarnação 4 , 5 , 6  

Part of the book series: Environmental Challenges and Solutions ((ECAS))

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Environmental pollution is increasing globally and, together with climate change, is a priority on the environmental, political, business, and scientific agendas. Air, land, and water pollution have an impact on all ecosystems and our lives and can jeopardize our future and future generations.

The importance of policies on public awareness and perception is recognized and can have an effective role in the protection of the environment. Policymakers, companies and industries, civil society, scientists, all sectors of society should be involved for the same purpose; coordinated efforts at an international level are needed to tackle all the challenges planet Earth face.

Therefore, it is crucial to stimulate the discourse, narrative, and debate about environmental pollution and degradation and mitigation strategies.

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Human progress is no excuse to destroy nature. A push to make ‘ecocide’ a global crime must recognise this fundamental truth

Professor of Environmental Politics & International Relations, UNSW Sydney

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Scientists recently confirmed the Amazon rainforest is now emitting more carbon dioxide than it absorbs, due to uncontrolled burning and deforestation. It brings the crucial ecosystem closer to a tipping point that would see it replaced by savanna and trigger accelerated global heating.

This is not an isolated example of nature being damaged at a mass scale. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change this month confirmed global heating is now affecting every continent, region and ocean on Earth. That includes Australia, which is a global deforestation hotspot and where the Great Barrier Reef is headed for virtual extinction .

In the face of such horrors, a new international campaign is calling for “ecocide” – the killing of ecology – to be deemed an international “ super crime ” in the order of genocide. The campaign has attracted high-profile supporters including French President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

Making ecocide an international crime is an appropriate response to the gravity of this harm and could help prevent mass environmental destruction. But whether it does so will depend on how the crime is defined.

Defining ecocide

The global campaign is being led by the Stop Ecocide Foundation . Last month an independent legal panel advising the campaign released a proposed amendment to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It would make ecocide a crime, defining it as:

unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.

Defining a new international crime is a tricky balance. It must:

• capture the gravity, nature and extent of the harm
• set appropriate, but not impossible, standards of proof
• set moral standards that other international laws should follow.

The draft definition marks an important step in getting ecocide on the international agenda. And it does a good job of defining and balancing the core elements of ecocide – “severe” and either “widespread” or “long-term” damage to “any element of the environment”.

Laudably, these core elements show a concern for ecosystem integrity, human rights to a healthy environment, and the way grave damage to ecosystems can have devastating local and planetary consequences well into the future. This is a significant achievement.

Despite these strengths, lawyers and scholars , including ourselves, have identified problems with the definition.

Read more: Repeating mistakes: why the plan to protect the world’s wildlife falls short

Towards an ecological approach

A key concern is that the proposed definition considers only “unlawful” or “wanton” acts to be ecocide.

Most environmental destruction is not illegal. We need look no further than Australia’s land clearing laws or, indeed, federal environment law which has comprehensively failed to protect nature.

Under the proposed definition, lawful acts are only ecocidal if they are “wanton” – defined as “reckless disregard for damage which would be clearly excessive in relation to the social and economic and benefits anticipated”.

This condition assumes some ecocidal damage is acceptable in the name of human progress. According to the panel, such “socially beneficial acts” might include building housing developments and transport links.

This assumption furthers the human-centred privilege and “ get-out-of-jail ” clauses that have so weakened international environmental law to date.

We are not saying that housing, transport links or farms should not be built. But, in a period some scientists are calling the sixth mass extinction , they cannot come at the expense of crucial species and ecosystems. Sustainable development must respect this boundary.

The assumption also fails to recognise the gravity of ecocide. Such trade-offs – formally known as “derogations” – are rejected by international conventions governing slavery, torture, sexual violence, and fundamental human rights.

For example, the Convention Against Torture states:

no exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.

An international crime of ecocide must meet a similar standard. It should recognise that all forms of life, and the ecological systems that support them, have value for their own sake.

This perspective is known as multispecies justice . It holds that human well-being is bound to flourishing ecosystems, which have an intrinsic value outside the human use for them.

Genocide – the annihilation of human groups – is recognised as a crime against humanity. As political philosopher Hannah Arendt argued, genocide is an attack on human diversity that erodes the “very nature of mankind” and poses a grave threat to global order.

In the same way, the definition of ecocide should recognise that acts which destroy biological diversity, and lead to species extinction, threaten the very nature and survival of Earth’s multi-species community.

In Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe, the Balkans and more recently Myanmar , millions were killed and dispersed under a crime against humanity known as “ethnic cleansing”. Yet this killing and dispersal is happening to non-human communities as we write. The vast habitat destroyed by deforestation is as important to displaced animals as our homes are to us.

And this is a shared calamity. Mass environmental destruction is an attack on the foundations of all life that makes up the biosphere, of which humanity is only a part.

Read more: There's no end to the damage humans can wreak on the climate. This is how bad it's likely to get

What should be done?

The Stop Ecocide Foundation says the proposed definition will now be “made available for states to consider”.

As they do so, we ought to work towards a definition of ecocide that puts non-human lives at its centre. The crime of ecocide must be defined in a way that honours its victims – the myriad beings of the Earth.

In the meantime, political efforts to rein in biodiversity destruction must become an urgent global priority. And citizens can press their governments to criminalise the ecocidal acts that have become business as usual.

The Stop Ecocide Foundation chair Jojo Mehta provided the following response to this article:

The “unlawful or wanton” threshold is important, for the following reasons.

The other international crimes are based on acts which are already criminal under national laws. Not only would it be a stretch to expect states to accept a completely new across-the-board offence at international level, but it would crudely cut across both national legislation and the work of all those improving regulation and best practice.

With the word “unlawful”, existing laws in their specificity are given much needed reinforcement, and the evolution of new ones is supported. Thus the crime will dynamically grow more powerful, while respecting differences between national bodies of law.

“Wanton” addresses cases where the activity is legal but the likely destruction is disproportionately severe. It shouldn’t be assumed that the social and economic benefits mentioned are those of investors or wealthy consumers, nor that these will outweigh damage.

Effects, including cultural effects, on local and indigenous communities, and the wider implications of ecological harm, must be considered too.

This definition doesn’t aim to prevent each and every form of environmental harm – that is the job of national laws and regulations - but to make it clear that provoking the worst harms is a deeply serious crime worthy of sitting alongside genocide and war crimes. This is an incredibly powerful and – we believe – a profoundly transformative message.

Read more: Ordinary people, extraordinary change: addressing the climate emergency through 'quiet activism'

• International law
• Great Barrier Reef
• land clearing
• Environmental damage
• Environmental destruction
• environmental laws
• International crime

Lecturer in Strategy Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Education Focused) (Identified)

Professor of Indigenous Cultural and Creative Industries (Identified)

Lecturer / senior lecturer in construction and project management.

Research Fellow in Dynamic Energy and Mass Budget Modelling

Communications Director

Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Climate Change — Comprehensive Analysis of the Current Global Environmental Crisis

Comprehensive Analysis of The Current Global Environmental Crisis

• Categories: Climate Change Deforestation

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Words: 1827 |

10 min read

Published: Mar 14, 2019

Words: 1827 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

Table of contents

Climate change, ozone depletion, and global warming, air pollution, contamination of water sources, deforestation, soil erosion, habitat losses.

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Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Eco Criticism › Ecocriticism: An Essay

Ecocriticism: An Essay

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on November 27, 2016 • ( 3 )

Ecocriticism is the study of literature and environment from an interdisciplinary point of view where all sciences come together to analyze the environment and brainstorm possible solutions for the correction of the contemporary environmental situation. Ecocriticism was officially heralded by the publication of two seminal works, both published in the mid-1990s: The Ecocriticism Reader , edited by Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm , and The Environmental Imagination, by Lawrence Buell.

Ecocriticism investigates the relation between humans and the natural world in literature. It deals with how environmental issues, cultural issues concerning the environment and attitudes towards nature are presented and analyzed. One of the main goals in ecocriticism is to study how individuals in society behave and react in relation to nature and ecological aspects. This form of criticism has gained a lot of attention during recent years due to higher social emphasis on environmental destruction and increased technology. It is hence a fresh way of analyzing and interpreting literary texts, which brings new dimensions to the field of literary and theoritical studies. Ecocriticism is an intentionally broad approach that is known by a number of other designations, including “green (cultural) studies”, “ecopoetics”, and “environmental literary criticism.”

Western thought has often held a more or less utilitarian attitude to nature —nature is for serving human needs. However, after the eighteenth century, there emerged many voices that demanded a revaluation of the relationship between man and environment, and man’s view of nature. Arne Naess , a Norwegian philosopher, developed the notion of “Deep Ecology” which emphasizes the basic interconnectedness of all life forms and natural features, and presents a symbiotic and holistic world-view rather than an anthropocentric one.

Earlier theories in literary and cultural studies focussed on issue of class, race, gender, region are criteria and “subjects”of critical analysis. The late twentieth century has woken up to a new threat: ecological disaster. The most important environmental problems that humankind faces as a whole are: nuclear war, depletion of valuable natural resources, population explosion, proliferation of exploitative technologies, conquest of space preliminary to using it as a garbage dump, pollution, extinction of species (though not a human problem) among others. In such a context, literary and cultural theory has begun to address the issue as a part of academic discourse. Numerous green movements have sprung up all over the world, and some have even gained representations in the governments.

Large scale debates over “dumping,” North versus South environmentalism (the necessary differences between the en-vironmentalism of the developed and technologically advanced richer nations—the North, and the poorer, subsistence environmentalism of the developing or “Third World”—the South). Donald Worster ‘s Nature’s Economy (1977) became a textbook for the study of ecological thought down the ages. The historian Arnold Toynbee recorded the effect of human civilisation upon the land and nature in his monumental, Mankind and Mother Earth (1976). Environmental issues and landscape use were also the concern of the Annales School of historians , especially Braudel and Febvre. The work of environmental historians has been pathbreaking too. Rich-ard Grove et al’s massive Nature and the Orient (1998), David Arnold and Ramachandra Guha’s Nature, Culture, Imperialism (1995) have been significant work in the environmental history of India and Southeast Asia. Ramachandra Guha is of course the most important environmental historian writing from India today.

Various versions of environmentalism developed.Deep ecology and ecofeminism were two important developments. These new ideas questioned the notion of “development” and “modernity,” and argued that all Western notions in science, philosophy, politics were “anthropocentric” (human-centred) and “androcentric”(Man/male-centred). Technology, medical science with its animal testing, the cosmetic and fashion industry all came in for scrutiny from environmentalists. Deep ecology, for instance, stressed on a “biocentric” view (as seen in the name of the environmentalist group, “ Earth First! !”).

Ecocriticism is the result of this new consciousness: that very soon, there will be nothing beautiful (or safe) in nature to discourse about, unless we are very careful.

Ecocritics ask questions such as: (1) How is nature represented in the novel/poem/play ? (2) What role does the physical-geographical setting play in the structure of the novel? (3) How do our metaphors of the land influence the way we treat it? That is, what is the link between pedagogic or creative practice and actual political, sociocultural and ethical behaviour towards the land and other non-human life forms? (4) How is science —in the form of genetic engineering, technologies of reproduction, sexualities—open to critical scrutiny terms of the effects of science upon the land?

The essential assumptions, ideas and methods of ecocritics may be summed up as follows. (1) Ecocritics believe that human culture is related to the physical world. (2) Ecocriticism assumes that all life forms are interlinked. Ecocriticism expands the notion of “the world” to include the entire ecosphere. (3) Moreover, there is a definite link between nature and culture, where the literary treatment, representation and “thematisation” of land and nature influence actions on the land. (4) Joseph Meeker in an early work, The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology (1972) used the term “literary ecology” to refer to “the study of biological themes and relationships which appear in literary works. It is simultaneously an attempt to discover what roles have been played by literature in the ecology of the human species.” (5) William Rueckert is believed to have coined the term “ecocriticism” in 1978, which he defines as “the application of ecology and ecological concepts to the study of literature.”

Source: Literary Theory Today,Pramod K Nair

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Categories: Eco Criticism

Tags: Annales School , Arne Naess , Arnold Toynbee , Cheryll Glotfelty , Deep Ecology , Earth First! , Ecocriticism , green studies , Harold Fromm , Literary Theory , Mankind and Mother Earth , Nature and the Orient , Nature's Economy , The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology , The Ecocriticism Reader , The Environmental Imagination

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Major Causes of Environmental Destruction

We are at a critical crossroads in our world today. We are the first generation on our planet to truly understand the far-reaching impacts that human actions are having on our environment, and yet, we are the last generation that can truly make the biggest impact in solving these challenges.

The list below discusses many of the environmental challenges that we are facing in our world today. Together as a human race, we have the solutions and the resources that we need right now to move forward and transition to a sustainable world for everyone. As you read about these challenges, how can you play a role in bringing forth the changes that we need during this very important time in our planet’s history?

• Land disturbance and destruction

All over the world today, there are many ways that land is being degraded, such as the cutting down of our global forests, to the increasing development of natural ecosystems and fragmentation of habitat, and mining , natural ecosystems are under threat as never before.

We must implement habitat protections and work within the limits of nature to preserve and restore what nature remains for the health of our Earth.

• Poaching and overfishing

Today, species are under such a great threat due to human activities and biodiversity is being eroded at such an alarming rate, that we stand to lose many of our natural treasures that support the web of life on our planet. We must protect both individual species that are under threat and the critical habitat of these species.

• Agriculture

Agriculture has one of the largest environmental footprints of all human activities on our planet today, composing almost half of all land use [1]. While most subsistence agriculture has very little impact on land, most global commercial forms of agriculture are contributing to problems of environmental degradation, such as erosion, runoff, water pollution, and a loss of soil fertility.

Eliminating these environmental problems that plague global agriculture will require a transition to ecological and organic farming such as biodynamic and permaculture farming that respect nature’s limits and naturally build soil fertility.

• Invasive species

As human beings have increased traveling and trade all around the world, many species of organisms have been transported to areas that they would never have been able to access in the past.

This has led to many environmental problems such as new diseases that decimate native species, and invasive species that are able to outcompete the native species.

Today, our world is becoming increasingly toxic due to the pollution of our air, water, and land. This not only hurts wildlife and other organisms that live in natural ecosystems, it also hurts our own health and can lead to chronic and fatal diseases like cancer.

For a healthy planet and human population, we simply must stop the production of such toxic substances and return to the use of natural substances that are safe and do not compromise our own health and our global environment.

In much of the world, those living in poverty are left with few options for survival but to utilize natural resources for food, shelter, fiber, and to generate an income. Unfortunately, due to the increased use of these natural resources, many ecosystems around the world are becoming stressed and cannot sustain such intensive use.

In order to solve the challenge that global poverty poses to natural resource destruction, we absolutely must solve the problem of global poverty itself, and ensure that there is a fair, equitable, and sustainable world for everyone on Earth.

• The use of fossil fuels for energy

Using fossil fuels as humanity’s primary energy source to run our economies and lives has been one of the biggest causes of environmental destruction, such as oil spills, the production of greenhouse gases, and water pollution from hydraulic fracturing , the era of fossil fuel energy much quickly come to an end.

We now have more options and technology than ever before to transition away from fossil fuels and to embrace a clean, 100% renewable energy future.

• Lack of regulations, enforcement, and resources

While it is important to understand the consequences that humanity’s negative actions have on the planet, the changes that are needed to truly transform an environmentally destructive situation into a positive one require proper regulations, enforcement of those regulations, and the political, fiscal, and human resources that are necessary to effectively put them into place.

• Human behavior and overconsumption of resources

Our relationship to our planet Earth and how we consume its natural resources must be wholly transformed into one where we finally live in harmony with nature and its limitations and restore our planet.

References [1] http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1209_051209_crops_map.html

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Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi . We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. Read more about us .

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