"Human impact on the environment (or anthropogenic environmental impact) refers to changes to biophysical environments and to ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources caused directly or indirectly by humans."
Covers topics such as population growth, urbanization, consumption patterns, resource depletion, environmental degradation, and pollution.
Climate change: Study of the negative impact of human activities on the environment, global warming, and its consequences on ecosystems and human society.
Biodiversity: Study of the variety of life in habitats, ecosystems, and biomes, including the interaction of different animal and plant species.
Natural resource management: Management of the environment and natural resources, including soil, water, air, forests, and minerals.
Environmental policy: Policies and regulations that govern human activities that impact the environment.
Pollution: The introduction of harmful substances into the environment, which can harm human health and the natural environment.
Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Urbanization: The process of urban growth and the impact on the environment and human society.
Ecosystem function and restoration: The study of how ecosystems function and the steps needed to restore them after they have been disrupted.
Energy resources and use: The study of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and their impact on the environment.
Environmental justice: The fair and equitable distribution of environmental benefits and harms across different communities and social groups.
Urban Environment: Characterized by a high concentration of people, buildings, and infrastructure. This environment is typically associated with densely populated cities and towns.
Rural Environment: Generally characterized by low population density, open spaces, and natural landscapes. This environment is typically associated with agricultural areas and small towns.
Agricultural Environment: This environment is characterized by the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock. It includes farms, ranches, and other agricultural areas.
Forest Environment: This environment is characterized by trees, woody vegetation, and diverse wildlife. It includes forests, woodlands, and other natural environments with significant tree cover.
Coastal and Marine Environment: This environment is characterized by the presence of water bodies such as oceans, seas, bays, and estuaries. It includes coastal areas, ports, and marine ecosystems.
Mountain Environment: This environment is characterized by rugged terrain, high altitude, and a unique ecosystem. It includes mountain ranges, peaks, and other high-altitude areas.
Arctic and Antarctic Environment: This environment is characterized by extreme cold temperatures and ice cover. It includes polar regions, tundra, and other areas with sub-zero temperatures.
Industrial Environment: This environment is characterized by factories, power plants, and other industrial facilities. It includes areas with high levels of pollution and environmental degradation.
Tourist and Recreational Environment: This environment is characterized by tourist attractions, recreational facilities, and natural landmarks. It includes national parks, theme parks, and other areas that attract visitors.
Residential Environment: This environment is characterized by residential areas and neighborhoods. It includes homes, apartments, and other living spaces.
"Modifying the environment to fit the needs of society is causing severe effects including global warming, environmental degradation (such as ocean acidification), mass extinction and biodiversity loss, ecological crisis, and ecological collapse."
"Some human activities that cause damage (either directly or indirectly) to the environment on a global scale include population growth, neoliberal economic policies and rapid economic growth, overconsumption, overexploitation, pollution, and deforestation."
"Some of the problems, including global warming and biodiversity loss, have been proposed as representing catastrophic risks to the survival of the human species."
"The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting from human activity. The term was first used in the technical sense by Russian geologist Alexey Pavlov..."
"The atmospheric scientist Paul Crutzen introduced the term 'Anthropocene' in the mid-1970s."
"Many of the actions taken by humans that contribute to a heated environment stem from the burning of fossil fuel from a variety of sources, such as: electricity, cars, planes, space heating, manufacturing, or the destruction of forests."