ENVIRONMENTAL STUD
,Human influences on the environment
• Over thousands of years, humans have
gradually changed the environment they
live in. With the recent human explosion
and with modern technology, the rate of
change has accelerated, upsetting the
balance in natural ecosystems and
threatening the continuation of life on Earth
as we know it. With headlines in our daily
newspapers such as ‘Ecosystems on edge of
irreversible collapse’ or ‘Human activity
over past 50 years endangering the survival
of future generations’, we cannot help but
be aware of the need to consider ways in
which we can contribute to a more
sustainable future.
,What is meant by the environment?
• The place where an organism lives is called its habitat. The
conditions in a habitat, both abiotic (temperature,
humidity, light, water, etc.) and biotic (living organisms),
make up the environment and support life. There are
other meanings of environment but this is the one that
applies to this module.
, What is sustainable development?
• A sustainable environment is achieved by using the natural
resources at a controlled rate so that they do not run out and
they do not damage the environment.
• Sustainable development refers to development of industry,
agriculture and housing to improve the quality of life without
damaging the Earth’s renewable resources. To do
this, ecological balance, economic growth and social
responsibility must all work together.
Why is the environment threatened?
• The world population, now nearing 7 billion, is increasing by
about 80 million people per annum and is projected to reach
between 8 and 12 billion by the year 2050, with nearly all the
growth expected in the developing world. This human
population explosion has resulted in an increased demand for
food, energy, medicines, manufactured goods and housing
space, putting more and more pressure on the natural
resources, upsetting the balance in the environment and
threatening the continuation of life on Earth as we know it.
• The Living Planet Report published in 2008 by the Worldwide
Fund for Nature warned that the use of fossil fuels, the spread
of cities, destruction of natural habitats for farmland and over-
exploitation of the oceans are destroying Earth’s ability to
sustain life.
• It seems that humanity’s ‘ecological footprint’ has grown so
large that the planet’s resources are being used faster than
they can be generated.
,Human influences on the environment
• Over thousands of years, humans have
gradually changed the environment they
live in. With the recent human explosion
and with modern technology, the rate of
change has accelerated, upsetting the
balance in natural ecosystems and
threatening the continuation of life on Earth
as we know it. With headlines in our daily
newspapers such as ‘Ecosystems on edge of
irreversible collapse’ or ‘Human activity
over past 50 years endangering the survival
of future generations’, we cannot help but
be aware of the need to consider ways in
which we can contribute to a more
sustainable future.
,What is meant by the environment?
• The place where an organism lives is called its habitat. The
conditions in a habitat, both abiotic (temperature,
humidity, light, water, etc.) and biotic (living organisms),
make up the environment and support life. There are
other meanings of environment but this is the one that
applies to this module.
, What is sustainable development?
• A sustainable environment is achieved by using the natural
resources at a controlled rate so that they do not run out and
they do not damage the environment.
• Sustainable development refers to development of industry,
agriculture and housing to improve the quality of life without
damaging the Earth’s renewable resources. To do
this, ecological balance, economic growth and social
responsibility must all work together.
Why is the environment threatened?
• The world population, now nearing 7 billion, is increasing by
about 80 million people per annum and is projected to reach
between 8 and 12 billion by the year 2050, with nearly all the
growth expected in the developing world. This human
population explosion has resulted in an increased demand for
food, energy, medicines, manufactured goods and housing
space, putting more and more pressure on the natural
resources, upsetting the balance in the environment and
threatening the continuation of life on Earth as we know it.
• The Living Planet Report published in 2008 by the Worldwide
Fund for Nature warned that the use of fossil fuels, the spread
of cities, destruction of natural habitats for farmland and over-
exploitation of the oceans are destroying Earth’s ability to
sustain life.
• It seems that humanity’s ‘ecological footprint’ has grown so
large that the planet’s resources are being used faster than
they can be generated.
