In a zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, there is a cage near which a notice reads — ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’. Inside the cage, there is no animal, but a mirror in which you can see yourself. We (humans) are truly the most dangerous animals on this planet. We have polluted the atmosphere and the water bodies, we have destroyed forests and the habitat of so many species! But have we always been this way? To answer that, let us go back in time and take a look at our history.
About 2,00,000 years ago, the Homo Sapiens had evolved. As time passed, most of them started living in small hunter-gatherer societies. Their survival was mostly dependent upon flesh of other animals. They knew a great amount of information about plants and herbs. Our early ancestors, for a long time, lived like animals.
Then, around 12,000 years ago, humans developed agriculture. Since then, everything changed quickly. Now, they were not fully dependent upon hunting for their survival. This gave a boost to their creativity. They could now think about other things besides their survival. Thus, they started inventing things. Tools and weapons became sophisticated, and cultures became more complex. As farming became more and more efficient, what we call ‘civilisation’ began.
Over centuries, connections among humans all over the world grew, and this led to opportunities to exchange knowledge and ideas. Progress became exponential!
About 500 years ago, the scientific revolution began. Advancement in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology and chemistry transformed everything we thought we knew. The Industrial Revolution followed soon after, laying the foundation for the modern world. Humans started exploiting the planet’s natural resources to satisfy their ever-growing greed for conveniences, comfort and possessions. The degradation of the environment and climate change caused by humans in the past century has increased at a rate never seen before in any other time in history.
What Are The Causes Of Depletion of Natural Resources?
- Energy Production: Energy produced from coal, oil and natural gas emits large amounts of greenhouse gases, causing global warming.
- Resource Consumption: The ever-growing population needs a greater use of natural resources, which nowadays surpasses the Earth’s capacity to regenerate.
This depletion of natural resources is causing serious impact. Natural habitats of multiple species are getting destroyed, as a result of which, many of them are going extinct. Water cycles are changing, terrestrial and marine ecosystems are being affected, there is an increase in the extreme meteorological phenomenon, and oceans and water bodies are facing a drop in their pH levels making them acidic, which is causing havoc for marine life.
Can We Stop Nature’s Devastation?
Yes, although there are certain irreversible consequences, we can still fix much of the damage that has been caused to the environment. For that, it is necessary to tackle the problem at its root. Some of the important steps we need to implement are:
1. Decarbonising Our Economies: Minimising our carbon emission is necessary. Our economy largely depends upon petroleum and related industries. It is time we change that now.
2. Renewable Energy Resources: Switching to renewable resources such as sun, water and wind will certainly improve our current predicament.
3. Judicious Use Of Resources: Making responsible and equal use of material resources will ensure that they last longer.
Following these steps will help us achieve a more sustainable ecosystem and fix the deteriorating condition of our planet up to some extent. Do you care about the environment? Wish to make a change? Have an idea to resolve issues? Ecochirp Launchpad Programme is your chance.
We are excited to launch our first edition of the Ecochirp Launchpad Programme 2020 (ELP 2020). It will be a game-changer for all budding enviro-preneurs. ELP is a 12-week launchpad programme for youth-led environmental solutions. This virtual programme will have weekly learning modules that include webinars, mentoring sessions and weekly tasks, which will support you to launch your idea into a validated business plan.
To apply at, click here.
About the author: Aaditya is an inquisitive Class XII science student from Eastwood International School, Doomwali, Punjab. He is a nature lover and has a YouTube channel called ‘The Viking Show’.