Environmental Change

Defining Environmental Change

 

Source: Geo Connexion

Environmental change can be gradual occurrences (e.g. movement of tectonic plates) or events that takes suddenly and frequently place and are catastrophic (earthquakes and tsunamis). Human-induced environmental change, such as habitat loss, climate change, acid deposition, and burning fossil fuels occur. Many people see environmental change as discrete, but environmental change is continuous and takes place every day, albeit at a small, intangible way. All systems and species (humans and non-humans) of earth are interconnected and interdependent, and influence each other in a complex way through human-induced change or natural change. Human activities influence the earth and its ecosystems. When something change in one system, it inevitably lead to a chain reaction in another. Environmental change doesn’t take place in isolation, it takes place, either gradually or fast.

  

Environmental changes affect all of us and has already begun and changing weather patterns will prevail. The difference is how one will respond to it by either trying to protect the environment or to accelerate such change by continuing with an anthropocentric approach. Whether people give a priority to the protection of the environment and to change their environmental behaviour to counteract environmental change and their overall habits, is based upon individual values and an individualistic environmental worldview.

One thing is certain, environmental change adaptation is increasingly seen as both a necessary and urgent.

 

Is environmental change always damaging and destructive in nature?

We live in an absolute breathtakingly beautiful world with an abundance of natural landscapes, ecosystems, and species. Unfortunately human beings are destroying our natural home by daily making the wrong environmental choices and by living unsustainably.
 

Environmental change is twofold. Natural environmental change can take place through different timescales, including long-term and gradual occurrences (e.g. changing geographical phenomena such as movement of tectonic plates and mountain building) and events that takes suddenly and frequently place and are catastrophic by nature (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis).

 

Today environmental change is a hot discussion topic. Environmental change is such a vast, complex concept. Peoples’ perspectives with regards to environmental change and its impact vary greatly. To some it can be seen as an obstacle and challenge and influences one’s overall thinking about environmental change and believe that any earthshattering change in the environment will have a significantly negative effect on species. However, in contrast some people also view it in a positive light with an abundance of creating new opportunities.

 

The general perception is that environmental change is always destructive and damaging as evident by the numerous media coverage (videos, articles, and photos) on the topic and people are just being made highly aware of overall increasing environmental changes and its accompanying changes and what this could mean to them recently through media and greater knowledge. However, it isn’t as simple and environmental change can’t be solely classified as damaging. It is widely accepted that climate is always changing, albeit at a slow and gradual (natural progressive changes) or fast (human-induced changes) pace which is either caused by natural events or manmade activities (rapidly accelerating the change).

 

The earth and climate has always evolved and takes naturally and gradually place for example, slow movement of the continents (plate tectonics). All of the environments on Earth change over time. Certain geological and climatic forces have shaped the Earth’s environment over the last millions of years. We have had ice ages and warmer periods. Natural systems are extremely adaptable and resilient to these changes are caused by variations in Earth's climate.  



Source: PA Times

Humans have always had a significant impact on the environment. Because people are emitting CO₂ at an astonishing fast rate, so too has environmental change taken rapidly place at an astonishingly unprecedented rate. An aftermath of making the wrong environmental choices is the occurrence of environmental change on a large scale. Many times people perceive environmental change as infinitely devastating which causes detrimental damage to, i.e. human beings and animals living in the vicinity but also on a global, wider scale. People view present-day global environmental change as an indirect impact of climate change. The current rise in temperature is significantly higher than previously because there is a higher level of greenhouse gas emissions which leads to higher atmospheric CO₂.

 

One of the greatest strengths human beings possess is our fantastic ability to adapt. But, due to the rapid acceleration of technological and environmental changes, a rapidly escalating population (exceeding the carrying capacity), we won’t have enough time to adapt to the sudden changing conditions and will not be resilient enough to cope with it. The natural environment doesn’t have enough time to replenish and restore itself.   

 

The composition of the Earth’s landscapes and its essential life support systems are dramatically altered by human interference and the climate system is also changed on a global scale. It has detrimental implications for humans and other life on earth. These changes modify the ecological relationships between living things and influences the overall value and quality of ecosystems.

 

Species are affected by environmental change, so much so that it could lead to their extinction. Even though species are acceptably adaptable, they are still vulnerable when there is a sudden change in the environment. Their survival depends on their manner in which they are able to adapt and tolerate environmental disturbance, if they are able to evolve concurrently with these changes, and to reproduce satisfactorily. Slow changes give these species time to adapt to these changes.

 

Large-scale human-induced environmental stresses (which are hazards for humans and other living organisms), lead to environmental change, such as habitat loss, climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid deposition, burning fossil fuels, conversion or clearing of forests, irrigation, loss of biodiversity and destruction of ecological habitat, mining, manufacturing and consuming chemical products, changes in hydrological systems and the supplies of freshwater, stresses on food-producing systems, urbanization, altering temperature (low and high), changes in global precipitation, gases (e.g. ozone, CO₂, methane, oxides of nitrogen), land degradation, fuel wood crisis, and water variation (drought and flooding). Human behaviour (and our resource consumption) is negatively influencing the atmosphere, oceans and landscapes.

Source: ICJ Project

The most vulnerable people to changing environmental determinants live in developing countries where subsistence agriculture is the main source of their livelihood and poverty prevails. Many parts of the world are low-lying and would have to relocate to higher areas as a result of the rise in sea levels.

 

As previously stated environmental change has always occur on the Earth’s surface. But, environmental change can be damaging and destructive as a result of human beings’ behaviour and interference, but it can also be part of a naturally occurring process taking slowly place over a long period of time.