Human Activities, Sustainable Development and Environmental Degradation

Abstract

Environmental degradation is a significant issue affecting everyone, resulting from various factors such as natural disasters and human activity. Poverty is a major cause, as it encourages overuse of natural resources, such as trees for charcoal production. This leads to deforestation, air pollution, and other unsustainable behaviours.  Poverty also affects sustainable practices, access to environmental education,   and the likelihood of engaging in harmful practices like burning wood or disposing of waste. Deforestation, the deliberate clearing of forests for other uses, is a major cause of environmental degradation due to its impact on climate change, disruption of the water cycle, and reduction of biodiversity. It also contributes to soil erosion, desertification, and other land degradation issues.

Human activities, such as accommodating the growing population, have also negatively impacted the environment through soil, water, and air pollution. Water pollution is a result of human activity near water sources, large-scale factory pollution, and a lack of proper sanitary facilities. Air pollution is caused by overcrowding and the emission of hazardous manufacturing gases. Since the beginning of time, humans have had an impact on the environment, and scientists have been concerned about this since the planet's food supply is running out. A significant portion of the effects humans have had on the environment can be attributed to our efforts to accommodate the growing population. The commercial fishing industry poses a threat to marine life, as water deterioration affects their longevity and causes illness and disease. Wildlife conservation is becoming increasingly challenging due to habitat loss and habitat loss. Because of the ongoing destruction and threats to wildlife's natural habitat, wildlife conservation is getting harder. The two main causes of habitat loss are deforestation and water pollution. While deforestation may result in an abundance of land for humans, it also causes animal homelessness.  Food production rises in tandem with a significant increase in population. However, in order to meet the demand for food security, crops with extremely low nutritional contents are produced using hazardous fertilisers to aid in this production.