Chapter 15.3 Modern Environment
The Anthropocene era or the age of man is the new era since the Industrial Revolution, showing the enduring impact of recent human activity on the planet.
Multiple environmental changes generated by human actions include:
Entire species extinctions, carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, groundwater depletion, and the growth of concrete and plastics.
Transformation of the Landscape:
The doubling of cropland and pasturelands during the twentieth century reflects the growing human impact on land use. (Note, over 40% of habitable landmass is now for agriculture)
Deforestation, particularly in tropical regions like the Amazon rainforest, has reduced habitats for wild plants and animals, leading to biodiversity loss.
Urbanization has transformed landscapes into artificial environments, with cities like China experiencing significant ecosystem loss to urban and agricultural growth.
Loss of Biodiversity:
Extinction rates spiked due to agriculture, lumbering, and urban expansion, particularly in sensitive habitats like tropical rainforests, threatening biodiversity.
Industrial fishing has threatened marine biodiversity.
Environmental Pollution and Degradation:
Modern industry, reliant on fossil fuels, has contributed to air, water, and soil pollution, with notable examples in China's air pollution and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Industrial activities in the Soviet Union severely polluted rivers and led to ecological disasters in certain regions.
Chemical pollutants like chlorofluorocarbons have depleted the ozone layer, with international agreements curbing their use.
Urban pollution from auto exhausts, coal burning, and dust has created awful conditions in Beijing, China.
Long-lasting Environmental Impacts:
Radioactive residue from nuclear weapons testing and waste storage persists for tens or hundreds of thousands of years.
Mining activities have scarred landscapes with underground networks of shafts and tunnels, as well as open pit mines.
Depletion of aquifers due to increasing water demand has caused subsidence in cities like Beijing and Jakarta.
Environmental Impact of Global Warming:
Rising temperatures attributed to global warming are leading to the accelerated melting of glaciers and polar ice caps.
Increasing temperatures are causing significant ice melt and subsequently raising sea levels.
Coastal communities worldwide are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges due to sea level rise.
Developing nations in Oceania, such as Tuvalu and Kiribati, are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, facing the threat of displacement.
Low-lying regions like Bangladesh and the Philippines are experiencing more frequent and severe flooding during powerful storms, exacerbating existing challenges.
Impact on Agriculture and Food Security:
Global warming is leading to more extreme weather conditions, including droughts, in various regions.
Extreme weather conditions have affected grain-producing regions worldwide, leading to spikes in grain prices.
Since the 1970s, droughts have become longer and more severe in parts of Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia, and the western United States.
Rising food prices, exacerbated by climate-related events, have contributed to social unrest, as seen during the Arab Spring protests in the Middle East and North Africa.
Africa is facing crop failures, livestock devastation, and conflicts over land and water resources due to surging populations and climate change.
Ecosystem Disruption:
Climate change is disrupting aquatic ecosystems, with oceans and lakes becoming warmer and more acidic due to carbon dioxide absorption.
Increased acidity has harmed marine organisms with calcium shells, threatening aquatic food chains.
Coral reefs, particularly vulnerable to high oceanic temperatures, have experienced significant damage, such as the 2016 bleaching event in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Land-based communities of organisms are also affected, with drier conditions leading to more frequent forest fires and forcing species to migrate or face extinction.
Examples - the spread of malaria-bearing mosquitoes to higher elevations in Ethiopia and bark beetle infestations in western North America due to warmer temperatures.
Early Environmental Awareness:
Deforestation, drought, and desertification were early environmental issues, particularly noticeable in the United States and Germany due to settlement and industrial activities.
Preservation of wilderness areas gained attention, evidenced by the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872.
Second-Wave Environmentalism Beliefs
Second-wave environmentalism saw widespread involvement of many citizens, addressing various issues such as pollution, wildlife protection, and nuclear power.
warned of resource depletion and industrial society collapse due to relentless economic and population growth.
Two prominent perspectives emerged:
"deep ecology," advocating for humans' equivalence with other species
"environmental justice," focusing on the impact of environmental degradation on marginalized communities.
Second-Wave Environmentalism Strategies:
Expressed by various peoples through public education, lobbying, formation of Green parties, and direct action through demonstrations and protests.
In authoritarian regimes like the Soviet Union and China, environmental activism faced challenges but gained traction over time, often grounded in local traditions emphasizing harmony with nature.
In the Global South, environmentalism often took a more locally based approach, addressing issues like food security, health, and displacement due to development projects.
Global Impact and Achievements:
21st century: Environmentalism became a global concern, prompting actions at various levels, including government policies, renewable energy adoption, and huge-scale international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement.
Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement and other climate change regulations due to interest in the oil industry.
Sharp conflicts arose between the Global North and South over initiatives to address global warming
They had different environmental protection and economic development priorities.
Significance and Challenges:
Despite achievements in environmentalism, challenges remain.
Resistance from fossil fuel industries, disagreements between North and South in addressing climate issues, and the need for lifestyle changes in developed countries to achieve sustainability.
The Anthropocene era or the age of man is the new era since the Industrial Revolution, showing the enduring impact of recent human activity on the planet.
Multiple environmental changes generated by human actions include:
Entire species extinctions, carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, groundwater depletion, and the growth of concrete and plastics.
Transformation of the Landscape:
The doubling of cropland and pasturelands during the twentieth century reflects the growing human impact on land use. (Note, over 40% of habitable landmass is now for agriculture)
Deforestation, particularly in tropical regions like the Amazon rainforest, has reduced habitats for wild plants and animals, leading to biodiversity loss.
Urbanization has transformed landscapes into artificial environments, with cities like China experiencing significant ecosystem loss to urban and agricultural growth.
Loss of Biodiversity:
Extinction rates spiked due to agriculture, lumbering, and urban expansion, particularly in sensitive habitats like tropical rainforests, threatening biodiversity.
Industrial fishing has threatened marine biodiversity.
Environmental Pollution and Degradation:
Modern industry, reliant on fossil fuels, has contributed to air, water, and soil pollution, with notable examples in China's air pollution and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Industrial activities in the Soviet Union severely polluted rivers and led to ecological disasters in certain regions.
Chemical pollutants like chlorofluorocarbons have depleted the ozone layer, with international agreements curbing their use.
Urban pollution from auto exhausts, coal burning, and dust has created awful conditions in Beijing, China.
Long-lasting Environmental Impacts:
Radioactive residue from nuclear weapons testing and waste storage persists for tens or hundreds of thousands of years.
Mining activities have scarred landscapes with underground networks of shafts and tunnels, as well as open pit mines.
Depletion of aquifers due to increasing water demand has caused subsidence in cities like Beijing and Jakarta.
Environmental Impact of Global Warming:
Rising temperatures attributed to global warming are leading to the accelerated melting of glaciers and polar ice caps.
Increasing temperatures are causing significant ice melt and subsequently raising sea levels.
Coastal communities worldwide are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges due to sea level rise.
Developing nations in Oceania, such as Tuvalu and Kiribati, are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, facing the threat of displacement.
Low-lying regions like Bangladesh and the Philippines are experiencing more frequent and severe flooding during powerful storms, exacerbating existing challenges.
Impact on Agriculture and Food Security:
Global warming is leading to more extreme weather conditions, including droughts, in various regions.
Extreme weather conditions have affected grain-producing regions worldwide, leading to spikes in grain prices.
Since the 1970s, droughts have become longer and more severe in parts of Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia, and the western United States.
Rising food prices, exacerbated by climate-related events, have contributed to social unrest, as seen during the Arab Spring protests in the Middle East and North Africa.
Africa is facing crop failures, livestock devastation, and conflicts over land and water resources due to surging populations and climate change.
Ecosystem Disruption:
Climate change is disrupting aquatic ecosystems, with oceans and lakes becoming warmer and more acidic due to carbon dioxide absorption.
Increased acidity has harmed marine organisms with calcium shells, threatening aquatic food chains.
Coral reefs, particularly vulnerable to high oceanic temperatures, have experienced significant damage, such as the 2016 bleaching event in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Land-based communities of organisms are also affected, with drier conditions leading to more frequent forest fires and forcing species to migrate or face extinction.
Examples - the spread of malaria-bearing mosquitoes to higher elevations in Ethiopia and bark beetle infestations in western North America due to warmer temperatures.
Early Environmental Awareness:
Deforestation, drought, and desertification were early environmental issues, particularly noticeable in the United States and Germany due to settlement and industrial activities.
Preservation of wilderness areas gained attention, evidenced by the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872.
Second-Wave Environmentalism Beliefs
Second-wave environmentalism saw widespread involvement of many citizens, addressing various issues such as pollution, wildlife protection, and nuclear power.
warned of resource depletion and industrial society collapse due to relentless economic and population growth.
Two prominent perspectives emerged:
"deep ecology," advocating for humans' equivalence with other species
"environmental justice," focusing on the impact of environmental degradation on marginalized communities.
Second-Wave Environmentalism Strategies:
Expressed by various peoples through public education, lobbying, formation of Green parties, and direct action through demonstrations and protests.
In authoritarian regimes like the Soviet Union and China, environmental activism faced challenges but gained traction over time, often grounded in local traditions emphasizing harmony with nature.
In the Global South, environmentalism often took a more locally based approach, addressing issues like food security, health, and displacement due to development projects.
Global Impact and Achievements:
21st century: Environmentalism became a global concern, prompting actions at various levels, including government policies, renewable energy adoption, and huge-scale international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement.
Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement and other climate change regulations due to interest in the oil industry.
Sharp conflicts arose between the Global North and South over initiatives to address global warming
They had different environmental protection and economic development priorities.
Significance and Challenges:
Despite achievements in environmentalism, challenges remain.
Resistance from fossil fuel industries, disagreements between North and South in addressing climate issues, and the need for lifestyle changes in developed countries to achieve sustainability.
