Is Caring About the Environment Important?
We get food, water, shelter, and everything that we need for our survival from the environment. Considering the number of resources the environment provides us and how it helps us in our survival, it goes without saying that caring about the environment is something that nobody should take for granted. With the growing concern around environmental protection, more and more people are now participating in the “go green” campaigns.
Some have installed solar panels to draw energy from natural sources and conserve fuel and oil. Others have switched to an eco-friendly mode of transportation. People do their part for the planet in different ways.
Deforestation, air & water pollution, and greenhouse gas emission are a few factors that have led to global warming. The finite resources are depleting at a rapid pace, and if a solution isn’t found soon, there is a chance we will end up in an environmental crisis. It has become essential for businesses and individuals, more now than ever, to contribute to the planet and save our resources. In this post, we are going to walk you through a few notable reasons why you should care about the environment and how it can benefit us.
It’s Important to Protect Our Natural Resources
Currently, we have 1.65 trillion barrels of oil, which has been depleted exponentially. That was just one example. Nearly all natural resources are finite. It means there is a good chance we will run out of these natural resources soon if they keep depleting at the current rate. No matter how much technology advances, AI and machine learning can’t replace natural resources. We are already at a point where we should start thinking about the future. Conserving natural resources has become a top priority of environmentalists and individuals. The good news is there are many ways you can take part in conserving natural resources. Simple steps like taking a bus instead of a car or switching to natural sources of energy can make a difference.
We Need to Stop Global Warming
You must already know about climate change and how it’s affecting our environment. Climate change has become the biggest cause of concern, as it is harming wildlife, humans, and the entire planet. This means that global warming must stop soon. We need to rely more on renewable sources of energy, instead of finite sources.
Our environment is greatly affected by the loss of biodiversity, climate change, and rising levels of pollution. We need to take action now to preserve our natural resources and protect our earth from global warming. The arctic ice melting rapidly and a large number of animal species declared extinct are the most hazardous impact of global warming on our planet.
Preserve Biodiversity
Our survival also depends on biodiversity. Plants and animals are essential for the survival of the planet and humans. Unfortunately, many factors play a role in driving plants and animals into the extinction category.
Nobody would want their children to grow up without seeing pandas, bears, and other animals that are nearing extinction. That’s one reason we should protect our biodiversity, but most importantly, the biodiversity balances our planet. As more and more trees are being cut, animals are losing their natural habitat.
It Promotes Our Health
The more we take care of our environment, the better we will get in return. Taking care of the planet will leave us with a habitable home. In the past few decades, we have seen a growing number of chronic diseases. For example, cancer has become more common now than ever. Air pollution alone has been associated with many chronic health conditions, especially respiratory diseases like asthma. Protecting the environment and taking steps to decrease pollution won’t only benefit the planet but it helps promote our health.
Increase Earth Temperature
Even a small increase in atmospheric temperature can have a tremendous impact on the climate. A rise in the temperature will affect the seasons significantly. This will have a negative impact on the plants and animals’ life. Changes in the weather patterns mean the plants and animals won’t be able to survive in certain climatic conditions. As a result, there is a chance we might experience a food shortage. The worst part about this climate change and the sudden rise in the Earth’s temperature is that we are the reason behind this. With the rate at which the trees are being cut down, and forests are destroyed, it’s clear why the level of carbon dioxide has been rising.
It Protects the Ecosystem
Every action you take affects our living organisms and ecosystem greatly. Take water pollution, for example. The more we pollute the environment with plastic, the more we are putting marine life in danger. Therefore, it is important to think about the environmental impact of our actions to ensure that whatever we manufacture, produce, distribute, and use does not have any serious impact on our wildlife and the planet. For example, the waste we throw in the landfill should be biodegradable. Throwing a considerable volume of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste into landfills has a devastating impact on the environment. Not only does it affect the environment, but it affects us too.
The Environment Supplies Many Raw Materials
The wood, paper, and other essential raw materials that we need for our day-to-day lives come from forests. However, with deforestation increasing at a rapid pace, we are running out of these raw materials. The risk of lacking these materials is also pretty high. That’s not even the worst part. Forests are natural habitats for several species of birds and animals. In fact, half of the animal species are found in forests.
Destroying these forests means we are destroying the animal’s habitat. As mentioned before, the main reason why more and more species are entering the extinction category is the continuous depletion of natural resources and not to mention, deforestation. By now, everyone knows that polluting the river and cutting down trees have a detrimental effect on our planet.
It is Our Moral Obligation
As nature provides us with natural resources and is a source of livelihood, it is our legal obligation to take care of nature. We as individuals need to take action to preserve nature, not only because it is our duty but because it is a moral obligation. We are getting natural resources in abundance from nature and for free. So, it only makes sense that we take care of our source of livelihood. Practically, if we stop taking care of nature, we won’t get natural resources. Remember that if nature is destroyed, we will also disappear with it.
How to Protect Our Environment?
We all know about the three R’s – reduce, recycle, and reuse. While these factors are important, one thing that plays a crucial role in preserving our environment is the overlooked “R” — Refuse. When you refuse to buy unnecessary goods, you contribute to the environment in many ways. For example, the goods you get at a discounted price or the goods made of cheap materials have a negative impact on the environment. While it may seem hard, refusing to buy these goods can do wonders for our planet. The worst part is these items are used a couple of times before they end up in your trash can and ultimately in the landfill.
Choose Reusable Items
How often do you see people drink beverages from disposable cups or use disposable plates and grocery bags in their day-to-day life? These are one-time-use items that are thrown into the trash after a single-use. The plastic accumulated in a landfill doesn’t only create a requirement for more space for landfills, but it has a detrimental effect on marine life and the environment. It takes thousands of years for a single plastic water bottle to finish decomposing. It’s much better to use reusable items instead. Jute bags, for example, make a perfect alternative to the plastic bags that are tossed in landfills after a single use. Jute bags stay with you for a long time. They are durable, environment-friendly, and effective.
Recycle More
If none of the “R” works, your last resort is recycling. Learn about what can and can’t be recycled. Some types of plastic materials are recyclable, while others go straight to landfills. Fortunately, most types of items can be recycled. Whether it’s your food items or electronics, they can be repurposed into something useful. The biggest advantage of recycling is that it reduces carbon emissions.
Aluminum made from recycled materials consumes up to 95% less energy in the manufacturing process than aluminum made from raw materials. Sort your waste by recyclable and non-recyclable items and send them to the recycling center. Do not throw the used products directly into the trash, especially the ones that can be recycled.
Bottom Line
The above facts make it clear how important it is for individuals to take care of our environment. Simple steps like spreading awareness about the importance of nature and the ways we can preserve the forests and wildlife can make a big difference to our environmental impact.
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