Question

How humans have impacted the environment?

Answer 1

Human impact on the environment or anthropogenic impact on the environmentincludes changes to biophysical environments[1] and ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources[2][3] caused directly or indirectly by humans, including global warming,[1][4] environmental degradation[1](such as ocean acidification[1][5]), mass extinction and biodiversity loss,[6][7][8][9]ecological crises, and ecological collapse. Modifying the environment to fit the needs of society is causing severe effects, which become worse as the problem of human overpopulation continues.[10] Some human activities that cause damage (either directly or indirectly) to the environment on a global scale include human reproduction,[11]overconsumption, overexploitation, pollution, and deforestation, to name but a few. Some of the problems, including global warming and biodiversity loss pose an existential risk to the human race,[12][13] and overpopulation causes those problems.[14][15]

The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting from human activity. The term was first used in the technical sense by Russian geologist Alexey Pavlov, and it was first used in English by British ecologist Arthur Tansley in reference to human influences on climax plant communities.[16] The atmospheric scientist Paul Crutzen introduced the term "Anthropocene" in the mid-1970s.[17]The term is sometimes used in the context of pollution emissions that are produced from human activity but also applies broadly to all major human impacts on the environment.[18]