Essay Example: Society and Its Impact on the Environment

The interactions between human society and the environment are constantly changing. The environment which is essential for providing various raw materials and goods necessary for sustaining human life is at the same time used and altered by many different people with dissimilar interests and values. Throughout history, human life has been affected and also affected the environment. That is much of the environmental conservation has been achieved through human action, and so is the case for any environmental destruction. There is an increase in the environmental problems realized over time especially with increased incidences of global warming and atmospheric pollution (Harper, 202).

The environment can be defined as the total of all conditions and influences that affect the life and development of organisms. Life flourishes because of the environment. All organisms are an integral part of the environment; that is they influence the environment and also get influenced by the environment. However, of all living organisms man impacts the environment to a great extent through his actions.

Increased industrialization, rapid human population growth, advancement in technology and new modes of transport to a great extent contribute to the increasing environmental pollution. Environmental pollution tends to cause serious problems on the environment such as the extinction of biodiversity, depletion of the ozone layer, global warming and even so endangering the existence of human society. Air pollution through the release of greenhouse gases, rapid industrial activities also increase the release of carbon (IV) oxide into the environment which has resulted in increased temperatures in the atmosphere which in turn causes global warming. Air pollution through the release of nitrogenous gases, hydrocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons has also led to the depletion of the ozone layer which in turn causes numerous health hazards thereby threatening human life. The ozone layer is responsible for protecting human life from emissions of dangerous ultraviolet rays. Environmental pollution further leads to loss of soil fertility hence reducing agricultural productivity.

The increased human population is the main cause of deforestation. The human society has resulted in clearing forests with the aim of creating more land for settlement which in turn translates to environmental degradation, loss of soil fertility which results in diminishing marginal productivity. Deforestation also disturbs existence of terrestrial ecosystems.

Increased need for human needs is also another reason for environmental pollution. The need for various raw materials and foods have led to environmental degradation. For instance, the need for coal energy leads to the release of nitrogenous pollutants and the oxides of Sulphur during combustion in automobile industries. These oxides are responsible for the formation of acid rain which affects plants, animals, corrodes stones and buildings also cause respiratory diseases. Increased human activities alongside a rapidly increasing population of the society have in turn led to climatic changes which have further caused seasonal variations and rapid changes in the atmospheric conditions. Increased concentration of greenhouse gases has altered the hydrological cycle which has further altered rainfall patterns hence reducing agricultural productivity. This has translated to the rising cases of drought and famine across the world and migration of various animals in search for greener pastures.

The society and the environment are exclusively interdependent. Human society needs the environment for survival, equally human beings are responsible for the sustainability and preservation and conservation of the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to stress the awareness to establish sound environmental management policies and also devise alternative sources of energy that are in line with our goals and objectives of environmental conservation. The society equals the environment. A society that does not attach any importance to environmental preservation is an incomplete society.

Works Cited

Harper, Charles, and Monica Snowden. Environment and Society: Human Perspectives on Environmental Issues. Taylor & Francis, 2017.