Environment

As the dominant species on earth, humanity is the world's leading consumer of natural resources, and the world's leading producer of pollutants. We have a profound effect on the environment and the beings that coexist with us. Thus, we must carefully monitor our activity regarding the environment, so as to prevent harm to the earth as a whole, in particular its wildlife.

One major environmental issue is that of global warming, which is the heating up of the earth's atmosphere as a result of the entrapment the sun's rays by greenhouse gases released into the air. This "atmospheric buildup of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is largely the result of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels" (Environmental Protection Agency). Thus, in order to protect the planet as a whole, we need to reduce our use of fossil fuels and chlorofluorocarbons, which are damaging the environment.

Otherwise, the effects could be disastrous. As the environmental group Greenpeace explains, "A combination of melting ice caps and thermal expansion of water in the oceans means that many low lying island states will be submerged." Furthermore, much of earth's life can only be supported in a certain temperature range, and numerous species would die from even a slight change in temperature.

More specifically though, humanity has caused the destruction of organisms' natural habitats and through its direct actions. Deforestation kills millions of trees per year and slash and burn agricultural practices are reducing the size of the world's rainforests at an alarming rate. When an animal's natural habitat is destroyed it stands little chance of survival. The European Environment Agency explains that as a result of habitat destruction, "whole species or populations of plants and animals have disappeared causing a loss of genetic resource that is not only regrettable from an aesthetic or philosophical point of view but also threatens man's food supply." Hence, our actions not only injure plants and animals, but also ourselves.

Global warming and habitat destruction are just two of the many examples of our negative influence on the environment. As humans, we must remember that we too are members of wildlife, and are part of the delicate balance of nature. When we actively alter that balance, we can be playing an active role in the earth's undoing, as species become extinct and the world's landscape is altered. It can only be hoped that the world's policy makers will realize the key role humanity plays in the environment, and that they will legislate in order to preserve the earth's integrity. Indeed, without their leadership, the world will surely become a seared and fetid wasteland that can no longer support life.