Drought is one result of destroying the natural environment.
Destroying our natural environment has many effects on us as well as every living thing. By contributing to climate change, water pollution, species extinction and food shortages, humans are slowly destroying life on this planet. Certain industrial processes such as drilling for natural gas or burning fossil fuels, for example, have the worst effects in the long run.
Climate Change
Climate change results from large amounts of greenhouse gases being let into the atmosphere. As of 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that humans activities are contributing to recent climate change. These activities include raising livestock and sometimes clearcutting forests to raise cattle, burning fossil fuels and increasing energy consumption. A warming climate can have several negative effects on life on earth. Extreme temperatures and weather (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, severe droughts and tsunamis) can be the result of rising temperatures. As well, decreasing air quality and increasing diseases can also be a result of climate change, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Water Shortage
With severe droughts connected to climate change, water supply can dwindle over time. In addition, some human processes can pollute groundwater and freshwater sources, making the water that is available polluted. In his 2010 documentary "Gasland," filmmaker Josh Fox points to one process of attaining natural gas that contributes to groundwater pollution. "Fracking" is a process by which chemicals are forced into the ground to allow natural gas to escape. These chemicals, however, remain in the ground and eventually find their way into ground water. When the majority of water supplies in the world are polluted and therefore not drinkable, life on earth will suffer.
Species Extinction
As the human population grows, societies naturally expand outward, developing land that was previously undeveloped. Clear-cutting of forests, especially rain forests, can destroy the habitats of numerous species from insects and plants to animals. Destroying animal habitat can wipe out a species. As well, pollution of land and water, and overhunting, can hurt the populations of various species, depending on where in the world they live.
Food Shortage
Natural disasters such as floods and droughts can cause serious crop damage and lead to hungry populations. As noted above, these disasters can be caused by climate change, which can be caused by human activities. As well, overexploitation of the environment can lead to a food shortage, according to the World Food Programme. Planting a monoculture for years in one spot, for example, will deplete soil of needed nutrients and ultimately lead to infertile soil.
Tags: climate change, burning fossil, burning fossil fuels, change water, climate change
