VMBO Year 3 · Sustainable living · Section 7.1
Humans and the environment
How do humans depend on the environment?
Humans depend on natural systems for survival and everyday life. Six important contributions are:
- Oxygen for aerobic respiration.
- Water for drinking and other uses.
- Food, much of it produced directly or indirectly by plants.
- Energy sources, including fuels, sunlight and wind.
- Raw materials, such as timber and metals.
- Space for recreation, including walking and sport.
How do humans affect the environment?
Human activities add substances to the environment and remove materials from it. Pollution occurs when harmful substances or excessive quantities of substances enter air, water or soil. Examples include smog and fine particulate matter.
Resource depletion occurs when resources are used faster than they are replenished. Habitat degradation or destruction occurs when natural ecosystems are damaged or replaced, for example by buildings or farmland.
Causes of environmental pressure
Population growth can increase demand for food, water, housing and land. Consumption patterns and lifestyles also matter: high energy and material use can create large environmental impacts. The pressure therefore depends on both the number of people and how resources are produced, distributed and used.
Climate change
Human emissions of greenhouse gases are warming the climate. Consequences include rising sea levels and changes in the frequency or severity of some extreme weather events.
Biodiversity loss
Biodiversity includes variation within species, between species and among ecosystems. Habitat loss, pollution and other pressures can reduce biodiversity and drive species towards extinction, disrupting ecological relationships.
Deforestation
Deforestation means removing forest and converting the land to another use. It destroys habitats and can release stored carbon dioxide, while reducing future carbon uptake by trees.
Sustainable development
Sustainable development aims to meet present needs while safeguarding the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Measures include using lower-impact energy sources such as sun and wind, protecting and restoring habitats, preventing waste and reducing pollution. Countries also cooperate through international agreements to address environmental problems.
Glossary
- Habitat degradation and destruction
- Damage to or loss of natural ecosystems, for example through conversion to cities or farmland.
- Biodiversity
- The variety of life, including variation within species, among species and among ecosystems.
- Sustainable development
- Meeting current needs while protecting environmental and other conditions needed by future generations.
- Fine particulate matter
- Tiny airborne particles from sources such as combustion, traffic, agriculture and natural processes.
- Climate change
- Long-term changes in climate; current global warming is mainly driven by human greenhouse-gas emissions.
- Deforestation
- Loss of forest through clearing and conversion to another land use.
- Overpopulation
- A situation in which population demand exceeds the resources or environmental capacity available under particular living and consumption conditions.
- Smog
- Harmful air pollution involving particles and gases, sometimes producing visible haze.
- Resource depletion
- Using resources faster than they can be replaced or regenerated.
- Pollution
- Introducing harmful substances or excessive amounts of substances into air, water or soil.