Human Population and Environmentby Dharmendra Kapri | 28-02-2017 03:55 |
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Environment is the topic of common talk these days. The stimulus for this is the rapid deterioration occurring in the environment. Environmental degradation threatens our well-being in fact the very existence of life. Therefore, many organizations of environmentalists have come into existence for saving the environment from worsening. The important problem that have come up in the environment include global warming, ozone holes, acid precipitation(rain and snow), pollution of life-supporting systems(air, water and snow), dwindling natural resources, declining health of oceans, climatic changes, extinction of species, flash floods, soil erosion, garbage disposal in large cities, and undernourishment. The common case of all these problems is undoubtedly the ever-increasing human population. The human population explosion is now the earth's most significant biological phenomenon. With a population of about 7 billion, humans need vast amounts of materials and space to live, grow food and dump wastes. Man, through industry, agriculture and domestic waste, has introduced into the environment about half a million new chemical compounds which were not there 100 years ago. Since the animals, ourselves included, were not originally exposed to these chemicals, there are usually no natural defenses against them. The new chemicals have a potential to change the Eco systems. Many programmes have been formulated to control the human population and to protect the environment by United Nations Organization(UNO), governments of individual countries and private societies. World Population day is observed on July 11 every year to educate the public about the consequence of population explosion and about the advantages of small families. World Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 and World Environment Day on June 5 to make the people aware the need for clean environment. National Pollution Prevention Day is observed in India on December 2 to propagate antipollution feelings among the masses. However, the efforts being made to contain human population and save the environment are inadequate in view of the gigantic problems created in the the environment by human thoughtless activities. Even with sincere and allout efforts started right now, restoration of environment would take about 100 years. A global approach and a change in man's attitude toward environment are essential for this work. |
