Human Impact On The Environment
Human impact on the Environment:
Human impact on the environment or anthropogenic impact on the environment includes impacts on biophysical environments, biodiversity and other resources.[1][2] The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting from human activity.
Causes[edit]Technology[edit]The application of technology (in general) often results in unavoidable environmental impacts, which according to the I=PAT equation is measured as resource use or pollution generated per unit GDP. Environmental impacts caused by the application of technology are often unavoidable for several reasons. First, given that the purpose of many technologies is to exploit, control, or otherwise “improve” upon nature for the perceived benefit of mankind while at the same time the myriad of processes in nature have been optimized and are continually adjusted by evolution, any disturbance of these natural processes by technology is likely to result in negative environmental consequences.[6] Second, the conservation of mass principle and the first law of thermodynamics (i.e., conservation of energy) dictate that whenever material resources or energy are moved around or manipulated by technology, environmental consequences are inescapable. Third, according to the second law of thermodynamics, order can be increased within a system (such as the human economy) only by increasing disorder or entropy outside the system (i.e., the environment). Thus, technologies can create “order” in the human economy (i.e., order as manifested in buildings, factories, transportation networks, communication systems, etc.) only at the expense of increasing “disorder” in the environment. According to a number of studies, increased entropy is likely to be correlated to negative environmental impacts.[7][8][9][10]
Agriculture[edit]Main article: Environmental impact of agriculture
The environmental impact of agriculture varies based on the wide variety of agricultural practices employed around the
Human impact on the environment or anthropogenic impact on the environment includes impacts on biophysical environments, biodiversity and other resources.[1][2] The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting from human activity.
Causes[edit]Technology[edit]The application of technology (in general) often results in unavoidable environmental impacts, which according to the I=PAT equation is measured as resource use or pollution generated per unit GDP. Environmental impacts caused by the application of technology are often unavoidable for several reasons. First, given that the purpose of many technologies is to exploit, control, or otherwise “improve” upon nature for the perceived benefit of mankind while at the same time the myriad of processes in nature have been optimized and are continually adjusted by evolution, any disturbance of these natural processes by technology is likely to result in negative environmental consequences.[6] Second, the conservation of mass principle and the first law of thermodynamics (i.e., conservation of energy) dictate that whenever material resources or energy are moved around or manipulated by technology, environmental consequences are inescapable. Third, according to the second law of thermodynamics, order can be increased within a system (such as the human economy) only by increasing disorder or entropy outside the system (i.e., the environment). Thus, technologies can create “order” in the human economy (i.e., order as manifested in buildings, factories, transportation networks, communication systems, etc.) only at the expense of increasing “disorder” in the environment. According to a number of studies, increased entropy is likely to be correlated to negative environmental impacts.[7][8][9][10]
Agriculture[edit]Main article: Environmental impact of agriculture
The environmental impact of agriculture varies based on the wide variety of agricultural practices employed around the