Defining the Environment and Understanding Human Impact

What is the Environment?

We can define the environment as the space in which some kind of natural exchange that makes life possible takes place. The environment is not only the space itself but also the different forms of life that inhabit it. That is, if we were speaking of space only, we would be referring merely to a spatial location. On the other hand, the concept of environment expands this idea to include everything related to life developing in that space. Today, the environment is a topic very much in vogue because of the debate generated around its care and how human activity contributes increasingly more rapidly to damage it.

The environment is nothing other than the medium, precisely the place or space in which different life-related processes are carried out. This life can be very diverse, encompassing not only human life but also animal and vegetable life. Each environment is characterized by particular elements that make it special and different from the rest, so it is impossible to speak of a single environment.

Components of the Environment

To better understand what the environment is composed of, we should speak of three levels: the physical, the biological, and, if necessary, the socio-economic.

• Physical Level: This refers to everything related to geography, climate, and geology. These elements form the basis upon which all life forms are established.
• Biological Level: This is composed of the human population, as well as the flora and fauna that occupy this space.
• Socio-Economic Level: This refers to the activity of the human being and its effect on the environment.

The Impact of Human Activity

The biggest problem facing the environment today is the damage that humanity has been causing it in recent centuries. In this sense, we must acknowledge that the environment may present changes or natural disturbances related to the physical space or even the actions of different plant or animal species (such as when generating the phenomenon known as a plague).

However, there have been no more significant changes to the environment than those generated by human industrial, productive, and economic activities. These alterations affect all living beings that inhabit the environment.

Key Results of Environmental Alteration

• Deforestation
• Pollution
• Urbanization
• The use of chemical products
• Climate change