Natural Resources, Environmental Impact and Climate Change

Natural Resources

Natural resources are elements from nature that satisfy human needs. For a resource to be considered natural, it must be available in sufficient quantity and be economically viable to extract. These are classified into:

• Renewable: Resources that can regenerate over time.
• Non-renewable: Resources that do not regenerate on a human timescale.

Threats to Biodiversity

Certain human activities pose significant threats to biodiversity:

• Overfishing: Collecting plants or animals faster than they can regenerate.
• Habitat Destruction: A critical problem that often leads to species extinction.
• Invasive Species: Organisms artificially introduced into an ecosystem where they do not belong.

Environmental Impacts

Environmental impact refers to any alteration in the environment caused by human activity. These impacts are classified into two types:

• Positive: Actions that imply an improvement to the environment.
• Negative: Actions that produce environmental deterioration.

Causes of Negative Impacts

• Fossil Fuel Combustion: Leads to increased CO2 emissions.
• Industrial Processes: Primarily related to the emission of pollutants.
• Land Use Changes: Altering natural spaces necessary for living and cultivation.
• Overexploitation: The depletion of biological resources, leading to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.

Environmental Impact Assessment

This is a preventive tool for conservation and management. Its phases include the environmental impact study, public information, and the environmental impact statement.

Atmospheric Changes

Evolution of Chemical Composition

Earth's early atmosphere was formed from gases released by intense volcanic activity. It was a reducing atmosphere, lacking oxygen and composed primarily of hydrogen, methane, and nitrogen.

Climate Change

Earth's average temperature is 15°C, though it has undergone abrupt changes throughout history. The early Earth was much warmer than it is today. With the appearance of life, atmospheric CO2 levels decreased.

Ozone Layer Formation

Over time, the accumulation of oxygen allowed for the formation of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. This layer protects living beings from harmful ultraviolet radiation, enabling life to develop outside of water.

Increased Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon occurring in the lower atmosphere. Gases such as CO2, methane, and water vapor retain infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping into space. An increase in these gases causes global temperatures to rise.