Ans: Human activities have a profound impact on the environment, often leading to both immediate and long-term consequences.
a). Deforestation:
Human activities, like logging and land clearance for agriculture, result in deforestation.
This leads to habitat loss, disrupts ecosystems, and contributes to climate change by reducing carbon storage in forests.
b). Pollution:
Industrial, agricultural, and urban activities release pollutants into the air, water, and soil.
Air pollution, caused by emissions from vehicles and industries, leads to respiratory diseases and contributes to climate change.
Water pollution from chemicals and waste disrupts aquatic ecosystems and affects human health.
Soil pollution reduces agricultural productivity and can contaminate food.
c). Climate Change:
The burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation releases greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).
This leads to global warming, resulting in rising temperatures, melting ice caps, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
d). Loss of Biodiversity:
Habitat destruction, overexploitation of resources, and pollution harm ecosystems and lead to species extinction.
The loss of biodiversity reduces ecosystem resilience and affects human well-being by disrupting natural processes.
e). Overexploitation of Resources:
Overfishing, mining, and extraction of resources without sustainable practices deplete natural resources.
This threatens the availability of essential resources like fish, minerals, and freshwater.