Our world can change.
The air and water can get dirty. This can hurt plants and animals. It can even hurt us. We must help our Earth.
Can you help the Earth stay clean?
Our Earth can change in bad ways.
This can happen when we use too many resources. We might lose clean air or good soil.
We can also lose forests or clean water. This makes it hard for plants and animals to live. Some animals might even disappear forever. This is a big problem for people too. We must work to protect our world.
Environmental degradation is when the Earth's natural systems get worse. This can happen when we use up too many resources. We might lose clean air, good soil, or fresh water.
It can also mean losing habitats. A habitat is a home where plants and animals live.
One big problem is biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is the variety of different living things on Earth. Humans have changed about 70% of the land on our planet. Because of this, many animals and plants are in danger. A report found that human activity destroyed 68% of vertebrate wildlife since 1970. Vertebrates are animals with a backbone, like birds or fish.
Water is also at risk. Only about 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh water. Most of that is frozen in ice. This makes clean water very precious. Pollution can make water dirty and hard to use.
Climate change also changes how water moves. It can cause more floods or more droughts. These changes make it harder for people and nature to stay healthy.
Environmental degradation happens when the Earth's natural systems get worse. This can occur when we use up resources like clean air, water, or soil. It also happens when ecosystems are destroyed or when wildlife goes extinct. This process can make other environmental issues even harder to fix. The United Nations calls this a major threat to our world. It is a change that makes the environment less able to meet the needs of people and nature.
This damage can happen in many different ways. Some ways are easy to see, like deforestation where forests are cut down. Other ways are harder to notice right away. For example, plastic pollution can build up slowly over a long time. Greenhouse gases can also build up and change the climate system. These changes can lead to tipping points that cause big shifts in nature. When habitats are lost, the living things that depend on them suffer.
Humans have changed the Earth in many ways over a long time. Since humans started farming over 11,000 years ago, we have altered about 70% of the land. This has caused the amount of plant life to be cut in half. A 2020 report by the World Wildlife Fund found a big loss in wildlife. It said human activity destroyed 68% of vertebrate wildlife since 1970. Scientists say human activity has even pushed Earth into a sixth mass extinction event.
Fresh water is another vital resource that is being degraded. Only about 2.5% of all water on Earth is fresh water. Most of that is frozen in ice caps in Antarctica and Greenland. This means only a tiny amount is available for us to use. People use most of this water for farming and irrigation. About 85% of fresh water goes to crops and parks. Other uses include domestic needs like bathing and industrial tasks like cooling machines.
Climate change makes water problems even more difficult. As the planet gets warmer, glaciers melt more quickly at first. This can cause more flooding and then lead to water shortages later. Higher temperatures also change how much water evaporates from the ground. Warmer water can also lead to more bacteria growing in lakes and rivers. This can change the whole balance of life in the water. These changes affect everyone, especially people living in rural areas.
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the Earth's natural systems. It occurs when resources like air, water, and soil are depleted. This process also includes the destruction of ecosystems and habitats. It can lead to the extinction of wildlife and widespread pollution. Scientists define it as any change that is considered harmful or undesirable. This degradation is a major global concern. The United Nations identifies it as one of ten official threats. It reduces the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological needs.
Degradation happens through both direct and indirect processes. Direct degradation is often easy to see. An example is deforestation, where large areas of forest are cleared. Indirect processes are harder to notice immediately. Plastic pollution can build up in the environment over long periods. The buildup of greenhouse gases can also cause damage. These gases can push the climate system toward tipping points. Once these points are reached, the environmental impact is amplified. This creates lasting changes that are difficult to reverse.
One of the most serious forms of degradation is biodiversity loss. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat. Human activity has significantly altered the planet's biological makeup. Since the start of agriculture 11,000 years ago, humans have changed 70% of Earth's land. This has reduced global vegetation biomass by half. Terrestrial animal communities have also seen a 20% decline in biodiversity. A 2020 report found that human activity destroyed 68% of vertebrate wildlife since 1970. Scientists suggest human activity has pushed Earth into a sixth mass extinction event.
The loss of species impacts essential ecosystem services. These are the natural processes that support life. For example, pollinators like bees help plants grow. Soil organisms keep the ground healthy for farming. When habitats are destroyed, these services decline. This affects food security and the supply of freshwater. Many species that control pests or provide food are also in decline. In 2019, the IPBES reported that roughly one million species face extinction. This is largely due to industrial agriculture, livestock rearing, and overfishing.
Water degradation is another critical component of environmental decline. Fresh water is a vital resource for all life on Earth. However, only 2.5% of all water on Earth is fresh water. Most of that is frozen in ice caps in Antarctica and Greenland. This leaves only a tiny fraction available for human use. Currently, 85% of fresh water is used for irrigation. Another 6% is used for domestic purposes like bathing. Industrial uses account for about 4% of consumption. One in three people globally already faces water shortages.
Climate change significantly alters the global water cycle. As mean global temperatures rise, evaporation rates change. This affects how much water reaches groundwater supplies. Warmer winter temperatures can reduce the winter snowpack. This leads to less water being available during the summer months. In mountain regions, rising temperatures cause glaciers to melt rapidly at first. Eventually, the glaciers retreat and the total water supply decreases. This creates a cycle of flooding followed by severe droughts.
Rising temperatures also affect the quality of water. Warmer water can lead to increased bacterial growth. It can also decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. This change can harm aquatic ecosystems and the species within them. Additionally, rising sea levels can cause saltwater intrusion. This happens when salt water pushes into freshwater reservoirs and aquifers. This process makes coastal freshwater supplies much harder to use. These changes create a complex web of environmental challenges for the entire planet.
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