Human Impact on Environment

Everything people do — driving a car, throwing away trash, turning on a light — affects the natural world around us. That effect is called our human impact on the environment. It can be harmful or helpful. The good news is that we can choose to help!

How humans harm the environment

• Pollution — releasing harmful substances into the air, water, or land. Car exhaust, factory smoke, and litter are all forms of pollution.
• Deforestation — cutting down large areas of forest to make farmland or build roads, destroying habitats for animals and plants.
• Burning fossil fuels — burning coal, oil, and gas to make energy releases gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the planet.
• Wasting water — leaving taps running or watering gardens during rain uses more fresh water than the planet can easily replace.

How humans help the environment

• Reduce — use less in the first place (shorter showers, fewer single-use items).
• Reuse — use something again instead of throwing it away (refillable water bottle, cloth bag).
• Recycle — sort waste so materials like paper, glass, and plastic can be made into new things.
• Planting trees — trees absorb carbon dioxide, provide oxygen, and restore animal habitats.
• Saving energy — turning off lights and unplugging devices uses less electricity.
• Picking up litter — stopping trash from reaching rivers and oceans protects wildlife.