We explain what the environment is and what its general characteristics are. We also explain what renewable, non-renewable and perpetual resources are.
In an environment all its components relate to each other.
What is the environment?
The environment is understood as the various natural and social components that interact in an interconnected system. From a natural perspective, the environment is made up of elements such as air, water, soil, flora and fauna. These components, in turn, They relate to each other in a delicate balance that sustains life on the planet..
The social components of the environment are related to human activities and interaction with the elements of nature. Humans depend on natural resources (such as food, water, and energy) to meet their basic needs.
The relationship between the natural and social components of the environment is complex and dynamic.. For example, deforestation of a forest can lead to loss of biodiversity, soil degradation and altered weather patterns, while affecting water availability and the health of local communities.
Environmental problems, including climate change, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution and soil degradation, require a sustainable approach for their mitigation and resolution. It’s necessary that States and companies implement environmental conservation practicespromote the development of clean technologies and adopt policies that focus on caring for the environment.
Environment or environment? Although it is widely used, the term “environment” is incorrect. The error arose from a mistranslation at the Stockholm Summit in 1972, when a secretary of the summit, who only spoke Swedish and English, wrote a glossary for Spanish-speaking journalists in Spanish. The woman forgot the comma when she saw in the dictionary “environment: environment”. With the frequent use of the erroneous term, the Royal Spanish Academy ended up accepting “environment” as a translation of environment.
Environmental problems
As a consequence of the overexploitation of resources and the lack of care for natural and ecological cycles, the main environmental problems of today occur:
- Climate changeIt manifests itself in the increase in the planet’s temperature and in the intensification of extreme phenomena such as droughts, heat waves and storms.
- Deforestation. It is the disappearance of large areas of native forest. In general it is produced by the expansion of the agricultural frontier.
- Soil degradationIt manifests itself in the progressive loss of soil fertility and productivity.
- Pollution. It is the presence of toxic substances and pollutants in the environment that can affect human beings, ecosystems and the climate.
Elements that make up the environment
The elements that make up the environment can be differentiated between biotic and abiotic.
- Biotic elements. They are represented by all living beings. They include plants, animals, insects, microorganisms and fungi. From a social point of view, they also include all people.
- Abiotic elementsAir, water, rocks and all elements that do not have or have never had life constitute the abiotic elements of the environment. Abiotic elements also include all elements built by societies such as buildings, streets and urban infrastructure.
Natural resources
Wind energy is a type of perpetual resource.
Throughout history, human beings have used what the environment has offered them to obtain everything they need for survival: water, food, housing, clothing, leisure, communication.
Natural resources are all those elements of nature to which human beings put some type of use. They can be classified into:
- renewable resourcesThey are capable of reproducing themselves within a certain socially acceptable time. Used correctly, they are always available for extraction and use. They include all crops and animals raised to obtain raw materials.
- Nonrenewable resources. They have their origin in geological processes, which is why their formation takes place in very different times than the time it takes for society to use them. As they take millions of years to form, the existence of renewable resources can be considered fixed and their reserve tends to be depleted as they are used. They include minerals and hydrocarbons such as oil and gas.
- Perpetual resources. These are resources that society uses but whose existence is so great and their renewal so constant that they are inexhaustible. They include solar energy, Earth’s radiation, sea water, air and wind.
Caring for the environment
Companies that extract resources and transform them into manufacturing, states and societies in general play a fundamental role in the way natural resources are used and how the waste generated by these activities is managed.
Companies depend on natural resources for their production processes and generation of goods and services. The exploitation of these resources without considering their renewal times can lead to the overexploitation of ecosystems.loss of biodiversity and air, water and soil pollution.
States play a key role in regulating and supervising business activities to ensure that they are conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner. However, The relationship between companies and states can be complexsince economic interests can sometimes influence political decisions and the application of environmental regulations. This can lead to a lack of effective control over business activities and to inadequate management of natural resources.
Societies also play a fundamental role in the link between human activities and nature since Consumption patterns and the lifestyle of societies have a direct impact on the use of natural resources and the generation of waste..
While individual actions have less impact on environmental deterioration than large polluting industries, It is important that each person can rethink their habits and behaviorssuch as reducing the use of plastics and incorporating recycling practices, avoiding unnecessary electricity consumption and saving valuable resources such as drinking water.
The concept of environment
The concept of environment comes from ecology, a science developed during the 20th century as a branch of biology that studies the relationships between living beings and their environment. It was coined by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel, who defined ecology as “the study of the relationships of organisms with their environment.”
Since then, the concept of environment has been used to describe the set of physical, chemical and biological factors that influence living beings and determine their distribution, abundance and behavior. For this reason it is very common to assimilate the concept of environment with that of nature.
As studies progressed during the 20th century, Research on the environment increasingly included the importance of social factors, economic and cultural in understanding and managing environmental problems. This led to an expansion of the concept of environment, considering not only the physical and biological components, but also the social and human aspects that interact with the natural environment.
The environmental movement
The environmental movement emerged in Europe in the 1970s. and has since expanded globally, generating a significant impact on awareness and action around environmental issues.
Concern about air and water pollution, and the degradation of natural ecosystems led to the creation of organizations and movements dedicated to environmental protection. One of the most important events was the Stockholm Summit, where for the first time the limits of economic growth and the need to adopt a more sustainable approach to the use of natural resources.
The environmental movement spread rapidly to other countries around the world, motivated by growing public concern and awareness about the environmental impacts of human activities.
Today, the environmental movement remains very important worldwide. The climate crisis, biodiversity loss, pollution and other environmental challenges remain critical issues on the global agenda. Political denunciation, collective action, environmental education and the search for sustainable solutions are some of the main actions of environmental movements.
Throughout history, environmentalism has had very important figures worldwide. Some of the most notable are:
- Wangari Maathai (1940-2011)She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in reforestation and promoting sustainability in Africa.
- Vandana Shiva (1952-). She is an Indian philosopher, physicist and writer. She stands out as a leader of ecofeminism in her fight for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable production of healthy food.
- Berta Caceres (1971-2016). She was a Honduran who fought to defend the environment and against the privatization of access to river water. She was murdered in March 2016.
- Chico Mendes (1944 – 1988). He was a Brazilian activist who opposed deforestation and the expansion of the agricultural frontier in the Amazon. He was assassinated in December 1988.
International Environment Day
International Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly. It commemorates the beginning of the Stockholm Summit, which took place between June 5 and 16, 1972 in Sweden.
The Stockholm Summit was the first time in history that the authorities of the countries of the world met, motivated by the concern that was beginning to arise regarding the impact of economic and productive activities on the environment.
Every year International Environment Day has a specific theme that highlights a relevant environmental problem. Problems such as water pollution, climate change or the extinction of species are usually addressed. Every June 5, countries hold conferences, conventions or events related to the theme of that year, and symbolic activities such as the…