Environmental Degradation

Many of the sources of environmental degradation overlap; however, below is a list to help you develop a more comprehensive overview of the challenges and complexities of combatting environmental destruction.

AIR POLLUTION - Toxins and contaminants from waste/landfills, fossil-fuel emissions, and animal agriculture which severely damage the natural environment.

CONSEQUENCES:

• Global warming, ozone layer depletion and acid rain.

• Sulfur dioxide trapped atmospherically, then dumped back into water and land eco-systems as acid rain where it damages forests and kills fish.

• Detrimental to human health as exposure can cause asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease among others.

ANIMAL AGRICULTURE - One of the leading causes of environmental pollution, yet is often completely unacknowledged as such.

• Includes all facets of raising, maintaining and slaughtering animals for the purpose of human consumption.

  • land desecration for grazing

  • methane gas from animal digestion

  • water pollutants from excrement and slaughter runoff

• Animal agriculture is the single largest culprit for worldwide deforestation.

• The disproportionate quantity of water used to sustain animal agriculture is staggering.

• 2,500 gallons of water are used to produce one pound of beef. - Cowspiracy

• Animal agriculture is unsustainable.

  • “Animal agriculture is one of the worst industries for impacts on the environment. Animal products have been linked to many health issues like multiple cancers, strokes, dementia, cardio-vascular disease and obesity, which are many of the health crises the Global North is struggling with currently.” - United Nations Environmental Programme written statement

CHEMICAL POLLUTION | FACTORY WASTE - Manmade chemical pollutants which are toxic to the environment.

• Examples: herbicides, insecticides, chlorinated solvents and industrial production.

• Can be deadly to plants, animals and people if not properly disposed of due to contamination of air, ground and water.

CLIMATE CHANGE | GLOBAL WARMING | POLAR ICE CAPS MELTING - Significant and long-term changes to climate and weather patterns which pose serious threats to all life on earth.

• Anthropological climate change is from human activity as opposed to natural causes.

• Global warming is a gradual increase in the earth’s overall temperatures attributed to greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide and other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere absorbing sunlight and solar radiation).

• Global warming is causing the polar ice caps to melt, which is not only destroying the entire Arctic ecosystems, like the beloved polar bears, it is also leading to worldwide sea levels rising.

• The melting of the ice caps also contributes to global warming because they efficiently reflect heat away from earth.

DEFORESTATION & FOREST DEGRADATION - Permanent removal and destruction of forests to exploit the land for other uses like agriculture (cattle and crops), palm oil, timber and urbanization.

• The biggest driver of deforestation is animal agriculture.

  • The Wageningen University and Research Centre reports that, “Agriculture is estimated to be the direct driver for around 80% of deforestation worldwide.”

• Deforestation dramatically effects wildlife, ecosystems and the weather.

• The current levels of rainforest destruction will inevitably cause the complete annihilation.

• The entire planetary balance is in peril if forests are destroyed.

  • flooding caused by erosion

  • higher global temperatures

  • mass species extinction

  • water cycle disruption

ENERGY CONSUMPTION - All energy sources impact the environment.

• Energy sources include: fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas. These sources are substantially more harmful than renewable sources.

• The negative environmental effects from the energy sector tick many of the boxes for environmental degradation: air pollution, water pollution, loss of habitat due to industrialization, global warming, water use, and land use fallout.

• Human lifestyles are heavy on the consumption side and energy is no exception.

• Track your own home and lifestyle to see where you can reduce your energy use: curtail heating/air conditioning use, upgrade your HVAC system, install smart thermostats, minimize electronics, use energy efficient appliances, invest in power strips, insulate your home, install energy efficient windows, invest in a tankless water heater, and replace your light bulbs.

EXHAUST FROM FACTORIES & VEHICLES - Factories and vehicles emit pollution caused from burning fossil fuels. These harmful gases contribute to the greenhouse effect by casting carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS - These crops, known as GMOs, can lead to pesticide resistance or greater use of herbicides.

• Although they may help some crops use less pesticides, they can also have the opposite effect resulting in Super Weeds and Super Bugs calling for increased use of more powerful and toxic pesticides.

• The use of toxic herbicides, like Roundup, has increased fifteen fold since the introduction of GMOs. Data from the Non GMO Project.

• Herbicides and pesticides contaminate the ground, water and plants.

• Pesticides and herbicides can be life threateningly toxic to insects (many of which are beneficial - like bees), countless organisms, animals, and humans.

• Pesticides and herbicides are also linked to respiratory conditions, cancer, and other deadly diseases.

LAND USE POLICIES | DEGRADATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES | MINING - Land use is a very politically charged issue . Big businesses have long been successful in lobbying their way into successfully obtaining use permits that have allowed them to develop, mine, log, clear and rob the planet of its natural resources.

• Exploitive land use policies cause a myriad of detrimental effects on the planet.

  • air pollution

  • deforestation

  • erosion

  • global warming

  • species extinction

    • caused from loss of habitat

    • large scale culling of species: wolves, cougars, wild horses and burrows, etc.

  • water supply diminishment

• Disrupting the natural landscape causes the trees, plants and soil to emit the harmful carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These pollutants that the plants were storing are then released back into the atmosphere.

• Vegetation removal kills the environment’s natural purifiers. Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and harmful gases. Of course, trees and planet also release life sustaining oxygen. In other words they are essential!

• Degrading and destroying the natural landscape not only causes entire ecosystems to collapse but it also results in atmospheric changes known as global warming.

INDUSTRIALIZATION - The pursuit of various technologies for humankind has resulted in a devastating fallout for the planet.

• Industrialization has negatively impacted air, water, soil and habitats.

• These pollutants can visibly be seen in the polluted air over factories, the commercial and agriculture runoff into the streams, and the leaching of toxins into the soil and water supply.

• Industrialization has also delivered a devastating blow to countless ecosystems, permanently leading to plant and animal extinctions.

INVASIVE SPECIES - Humans are responsible for uprooting and relocating many plants and animals across the globe which has resulted in negative consequences for the native species upsetting the natural environment.

• Many of humans attempts to bring in invasive species have been unsuccessful and have backfired.

• Invasive species can destroy habitat and decimate and choke out the native plants and animals.

• Many of the fallouts from invasive species have not only been at the expense of the environmental but there has also been a devastating economic toll.

LOWER BIODIVERSITY - Biologically diverse ecosystem are more productive, a loss of biodiversity impacts ecosystems and can be seen in the form of climate change.

• Upsetting nature’s balance can be seen on many levels. Loss of habitat and over harvesting are destroying ecosystems and leading to plant and animal extinction.

OVER FISHING - Modernization in fishing techniques is yielding massive amounts of fish for the the fishing industry.

• The record numbers of fish being depleted from the ocean is causing entire aquatic ecosystems to collapse.

• Some species of fish have been overfished to the point of extinction.

• Marine fishing is costing countless marine mammals and non-targeted species their lives. Massive nets, traps and hooks kill indiscriminately this is known as depredation.

• The concept of sustainable fishing is terribly misleading. “We could see fishless oceans by 2048". Cowspiracy

OVER CONSUMPTION - The current rate at which humans consume is unsustainable.

• Humans are producing, consuming and throwing away record levels of trash, plastic, and waste. Much of which is ending up in our oceans, water ways, and is polluting the air and soil.

• There is not enough space on the planet to sustain human proliferation at predicted levels of elevation.

• The planet cannot sustain human life and proliferation at the rate it is going.

• Dramatic shifts will be necessary in guiding humans towards plant based diets, which use significantly less land, water and resources.

• The earth’s natural purifiers and ecosystems are being destroyed at record levels leaving the surviving species on the planet wallowing in waste, trash and poor air quality.

PLASTIC POLLUTION - Plastic is harmful to land, air and water.

• Plastic contains toxic pollutants that are harmful to all on earth.

• Plastic takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years to breakdown.

• Plastic is responsible for wiping out a staggering amount of marine life.

  • There is a plastic soup floating in the ocean that is mistaken by marine life as food floating in the water.

  • Plastic causes animals to drown, suffocate, or the plastic builds up in the animals stomachs and they die from starvation.

• Plastics can be found in the cells of marine life that have consumed microplastics. This marine life works its way up the food chain and is consumed by humans. The longterm health ramifications to this plastic exposure is being studied.

• The origin of all plastic is fossil fuel. The production of it significantly contributes to global warming and releases untold toxins into the air.

• Plastic production is responsible for accidental chemical spills.

• Plastic toxins often leach into the products humans use everyday.

• For a product that skyrocketed to popularity for being cheap and convenient, the ultimate price our entire planet is paying is incalculable. As the saying goes “if it seems to be too good to be true it usually is”. The global bill for the pervasiveness of plastics is coming due. Contending with its true costs will require massive ingenuity and commitment.

POPULATION EXPLOSION - The human imprint on earth is far greater than any other species. We leave behind incomprehensible levels of waste, pollution, scorched earth and toxins.

• Human population is exploding at an alarming rate, currently clocking in at 7.7 billion and is expected to reach 8.6 billion by 2035. These numbers have grim repercussions for the planet.

• Overpopulation can lead to shortages with food, water and land.

• History has proven that resource scarcity causes war, famine, disease and further environmental destruction.

TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY - Carbon monoxide emissions are associated with the transportation industry that have negative implications on the environment and our health.

• There is also a web of environmental concerns that link to the transportation industry.

  • clearing land for roadways (urbanization)

  • runoff into water supplies

  • air pollution

  • water pollution (water vessels | toxic spills)

  • soil erosion and contamination

  • negative impact on biodiversity (development and deforestation for transportation routes effecting wetlands and ecosystems)

• The ripple effect on all actions and industries impacts the larger landscape. These concerns have given rise to an interest in sustainable transportation methods and green supply lines.

URBAN SPRAWL - Occupies large swaths of land across the globe with low-density housing and poorly planned communities separated by large distances between work and businesses.

• Urban sprawl has lead to a landslide of negative consequences for humans and the environment.

  • air pollution

  • water pollution

  • increased runoff

  • increased flooding

  • loss of natural habitat and wildlife

• Urban sprawl is responsible for the loss of forests, wetlands, woodlands, and open-space.

• Urban sprawl has negative implications on humans’ health and well-being. In a short time these poorly constructed communities become dilapidated and the infrastructures that supports them are not being maintained leading to urban decay and further social issues.

WASTE POLLUTION - There is a new phrase that transparently captures waste pollution: “There is no away”.

• Many people believe they “throw away” their trash, but in reality there is no “away”.

• For years richer nations have been shipping their trash overseas to poorer nations - an awful reflection on the industrialized nations.

• Trash remain in landfills and leaches toxins into our soils and water supplies.

• Items like plastic can take hundreds if not thousands of years to breakdown.

• Recycling rates are dismal at best. Depending on your source plastics are only recycled at a rate of 4-7%. This statistic is painfully low given how packed store shelves remain with single-use plastics.

• For those who think garbage incineration is the solution, think again! Incinerating trash is terrible for human health and the environment. This nasty practice releases dangerous levels of toxins into the air negatively effecting human health (cancer, brain damage, negative effects on the regulatory systems) and creates greenhouse gases that lead to global warming.

• Changing our habits surrounding consumerism can help curb some of these issues.

WATER POLLUTION - Chemical contamination and discarded waste deteriorates the health of creeks, rivers, lakes and oceans.

• Chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, plastics, animal agriculture runoff, sewage, and factory pollutants are some of the examples of the way toxins leach into the ground and disrupt the water ways.

• When the water supply becomes polluted it disrupts the entire water cycle that all life depends on.

• Water is a clear example of how all thing are connected an interdependent. Many inland waterways drain into oceans; therefor, water pollution harms vast webs of humans and wildlife.

• Water pollution from oil spills and acid rain has been responsible for wiping out entire marine habitats.

• Pollution and bacteria built up from toxins can disrupt the oxygen levels in the water causing fish to die because they are not able to breathe.

• Toxins from insecticides like DDT are not just killing marine life, they insidiously work their way up the food chain killing the birds that eat the fish exposed to insecticides.

• The plastic waste epidemic is responsible for upsetting the natural balance and ecosystem of the ocean.

• The loss of life from plastics and trash does not stop with fish. Sea turtles, seals, birds, whales and dolphins are also dying from ingestion or entanglement in our trash.

• Animals and the environment are not the only ones suffering from water pollution, 5 to 10 million people die each year from water pollution related illness.

• These issues are all connected. Pollution on land runs off into streams and rivers which then travel all the way to an ocean. Polluted water is also evaporated into the atmosphere, the wind spreads these toxins across a larger swath of air and space and it becomes acid rain - raining down and polluting other habitats and forests.

Efforts to curb the use of harmful items like plastics, insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides are in the works. Progressive policymakers are working to ban toxic chemicals, shift away from plastics, and practice responsible land use. These forward thinking measures help mitigate the negative effects humans are having on the waterways and the planet. Since these toxins are absorbed into the water, soil and atmosphere it is paramount to support laws, measures, and policies that work to protect the environment.