English 1100 Essay: Human Activities and Environmental Degradation

This argument and research essay examines the detrimental impact of human activities on the environment, drawing upon the "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity" by Ripple et al. (2017) as a central point of reference. The essay highlights critical issues such as ozone depletion, global warming, resource depletion, and the excessive growth of the human population, emphasizing the urgency of reversing negative environmental trends. It explores the interconnectedness of these challenges and advocates for sustainable practices, including the adoption of renewable energy sources, the protection of terrestrial and marine reserves, and the reduction of food wastage. The essay also underscores the importance of individual awareness and collective action, supported by scientific evidence and the perspectives of various researchers, to ensure a better future for humanity and the planet. The author stresses the need for a comprehensive approach, including policy changes, corporate responsibility, and individual behavioral adjustments, to mitigate the ecological catastrophe and safeguard biodiversity.

ARGUMENT AND RESEARCH ESSAY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Warning to humanity:
Impact on the environment by human activities
This essay aims to discuss the article by Ripple et al. (1026), about the World
Scientist's Warning to humanity. This essay aims at discussing the need for reducing the
impact on the environment. The greed of humans will eventually lead to the destruction of the
environment. Several potential risks will lead to the ozone depletion layer and will lead to
huge depletion of the earth. The major cause of this is excessive population growth. Thus it is
important to focus on the warning notice that is being generated by world scientists (Ripple et
al. 1026). According to the scientist, it is important to take effective measures for reversing
the negative trends. Thus it can be stated that with the activities performed by a human it will
become difficult to maintain the proper environment and will lead to degradation of the
environment. Thus proper action needs to be implemented so that it can ensure better
protection towards the environment.
With the growing human population, it is observed that the resources available on
earth are getting depleted. Humans are utilizing each resource to an extreme level that is
leading to the extinction of the resources. In addition to this, the activities performed by
humans are leading to global warming and depletion of ozone layers. This ensures proper
implementation that will safeguard the biodiversity (Ripple et al. 1026). After analyzing the
report it can be stated that the concerns raised by world scientist is true and is very crucial to
be addressed on time so that humans can have a better future and can have a better place to
live. Every human being should be aware of their activities so that they can perform their
tasks effectively. This will ensure that they are not doing any activity that will harm the
environment. Thus it is important to take major steps that will reverse negative trends and
will create a better world to live. However, in order to implement proper policies for
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conserving nature, it is important to have proper pressure from corporate so that they can act
properly towards managing the ecological catastrophe. In order to achieve this, it is important
to have a proper way of managing terrestrial and marine reserves, developing proper
enforcement for anti-poaching laws so that wildlife can be maintained properly. It is
important to safeguard all the resources and species so that it can ensure a better way of
managing diversity.
Apart from this everyone should be aware of the impacts that are created on the
environment by an individual's activity. Apart from this, it is also important to adapt to
renewable energy resources so that it can ensure a better economic system. The reason behind
providing a notice towards humanity is the effect that is created by the behavior of humans
over the past few years (Ripple et al. 1026). The activity of humans has affected the
environment at an alarming rate. The ozone depletion per year has increased due to the
excessive use of chlorofluorocarbons. It is important for every human to understand that these
type of carbons a lead to ozone depletion (Ripple et al. 1026). Once the ozone layer gets
depleted the UV rays from the sun will enter the earth atmosphere and will cause great harm
to humans and living beings. Apart from this the freshwater resources have also decreased
over the years and this will affect the freshwater fishes and living beings. The major reasons
for such a devastating situation are the excessive growth of the human population. With the
increasing population, resources are being used in a huge amount that is leading to excessive
emissions of CO2. This has the ability to impact the environment and rises temperature to a
great extent. Global warming will further lead to an excessive rise in temperature and will
impact the living condition of polar bears. Due to an increase in temperature ice starts getting
melted at polar areas. These further increase the water level in the lower geographical areas
(Huang, Jianping, et al. 417). In addition to this after analyzing the human trends over years it
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is observed that with the increase in the human population, the amount of ruminant livestock
gets reduced.
Thus after analyzing the report, it can be stated that there is a need to have proper
control over the activities performed by the human. Thus this notice will be an effective way
of managing the activities. This is important to be implemented and circulated among the
people so that they can understand the effect created by them while using these resources. In
order to provide support towards these report around 15,000 signatories from all over the
world has signed this petition. According to scientist “the journal aims at describing the
importance of displaying the realistic concerns related to environment.” (McGlade,
Christophe, and Paul Ekins. 187) This article has also provided possible remedies for
ensuring better working towards the conservation of the environment. According to several
authors, humanity is busy pushing the limits of the Earths ecosystem beyond its capacity.
This is further affecting the ecosystem and leading to irreversible harm. In addition to this,
according to authors the growing population is creating huge pressure on resources and
affecting the natural resources.
The second notice towards humanity was being given as they failed to preserve their
nature and the challenges related to the environment started increasing at an alarming rate.
The activities performed by human are jeopardizing the nature and creating societal threats.
However, people failed to limit the population growth, failed to limit the emission of
greenhouse gases, failed to protect the other habitats. This leads to needing of urgent steps
that will safeguard the biosphere (Karl, Thomas R., et al. 1469). In addition to this several
political leaders responded to this article and stated that it has become a crucial part to have a
proper action that will ensure the preservation of resources effectively. Apart from this in
order to protect the ozone layer, it is important to act decisively so that it can reduce the
impacts. Proper advancements are made so that poverty and hunger can be reduced to a great
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extent. For having better control over the activities performed by the people it is important to
have a better sustainability transition that are expected to come along in diversified ways.
This requires civil society pressure and evidence that are basically prepared based on pressure
and evidence that are created by a group of people. In order to prevent the widespread misery
and catastrophic diversity loss, it is important for human to perform the practices that are
environmentally sustainable and has alternative results.
The steps that can be taken in order to maintain proper sustainability includes
maintaining the activities that ensure proper conservation of the ecosystem. This includes
protecting the forests, grasslands and other habitats. Secondly, adapting to the adequate
policy will ensure a better remedy towards the poaching and the exploration trade performed
by a human. The third way in which humans can preserve the resources is by reducing food
wastage through the help of proper education and better infrastructure throughout the world
(Yan, Xiao‐Hai, et al.472). One of the major reasons behind the depletion of the environment
and resources are excessive human growth. Thus it becomes important to educate every men
and woman about proper family planning. This also includes providing proper education
regarding better engagement with society so that they can ensure the preservation of
resources.
Thus from the above information, it can be stated that there is a need to have a proper
check on the activities performed by humans. After analyzing the human behaviours it can be
stated that there is a need to have a proper implementation of steps that has the ability to
safeguard the biodiversity. The biodiversity needs to be maintained in a way that it can
provide a better future (Crutzen, Paul J., et al. 227). There is a huge need to preserve the
resources for future use. Thus the essay is being prepared in favour of the article as it is
important to have a better knowledge of the effects that are created by human activities.
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Every human should be aware of the effects generated. Proper steps will ensure a better
future for the people.
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References
Crutzen, Paul J., et al. "N 2 O release from agro-biofuel production negates global warming
reduction by replacing fossil fuels." Paul J. Crutzen: A pioneer on atmospheric chemistry and
climate change in the anthropocene. Springer, Cham, 2016. 227-238.
Huang, Jianping, et al. "Drylands face potential threat under 2 C global warming target."
Nature Climate Change 7.6 (2017): 417.
Hughes, Terry P., et al. "Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals." Nature
543.7645 (2017): 373.
Hughes, Terry P., et al. "Global warming transforms coral reef assemblages." Nature
556.7702 (2018): 492.
Karl, Thomas R., et al. "Possible artifacts of data biases in the recent global surface warming
hiatus." Science 348.6242 (2015): 1469-1472.
McGlade, Christophe, and Paul Ekins. "The geographical distribution of fossil fuels unused
when limiting global warming to 2 C." Nature 517.7533 (2015): 187.
Ripple, William J., et al. "World scientists’ warning to humanity: a second notice."
BioScience 67.12 (2017): 1026-1028.
Yan, Xiao‐Hai, et al. "The global warming hiatus: Slowdown or redistribution?." Earth's
Future 4.11 (2016): 472-482.
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