There is the increasingly strong evidence for humanity's influence on the
global climate. This fact leads to changes in weather patterns, water
resources, the cycling of the seasons, ecosystems, extreme climate events,
and much more. Extreme events, whether natural or human-induced, can
cause significant environmental change, not to mention their
impacts on peoples' lives.
Much of the Earth's above ground biomass and biodiversity is held
within its forests. Not only are forests sources of food, fuel, construction materials,
fibers, and biological diversity, they are also important in carbon sequestration,
soil stabilization, air and water filtration, and tourism.
Coastal landscapes offer fertile soils, flat land for urban development, and sheltered,
deep-water bays for harbors and ports. Coasts are used by millions of people annually
for recreation and they support a growing tourist trade. Although coastal zones account
for only 20 per cent of the world¹s land area, a majority of the world's human
population inhabit them.
Water is fundamental to almost all living things on the Earth. Humans depend on
a clean and reliable supply of fresh drinking water for health and survival, as well as
for sanitation and crop irrigation. Only about 2.5 per cent of all water
on the planet is fresh. Of that amount, only about 0.5 per cent is surface water
(found in lakes, rivers, wetlands) or accessible groundwater.
Urban living for many people represents having healthier lives and maintaining a higher living standard than their
rural counterparts. Urban areas also tend to strengthen infrastructures by consolidating transportation
services, utilities, and roads. It is also true that cities use the majority of the world's resources
and discharge similar amounts of waste .
It is through agriculture that people have brought about some of the greatest changes to the global environment.
The total area devoted to crops worldwide has increased as food production has more than kept pace with global
population growth. At the same time, environmental damage caused by agricultural practices is continuing, and,
in many parts of the planet, intensifying.
Energy is essential for the fulfillment of many basic human needs.
It is through the utilization of convertible energy sources that the modern world
has transcended its agrarian roots and fostered the energy-driven societies that
characterize it today. Generating the power to sustain these societies has entailed
extracting massive amounts of natural resources from the planet.
