Environmental issues
[6][7][8] The bulk of environmental impacts are caused by excessive consumption of industrial goods by the world's wealthiest populations.
[13] 1800s: Martineau · Tocqueville · Marx · Spencer · Le Bon · Ward · Pareto · Tönnies · Veblen · Simmel · Durkheim · Addams · Mead · Weber · Du Bois · Mannheim · Elias Human impact on the environment (or anthropogenic environmental impact) refers to changes to biophysical environments[14] and to ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources[15] caused directly or indirectly by humans.
Some of the problems, including global warming and biodiversity loss, have been proposed as representing catastrophic risks to the survival of the human species.
[43][51] Environmental justice is a social movement that addresses injustice that occurs when poor or marginalized communities are harmed by hazardous waste, resource extraction, and other land uses from which they do not benefit.
It was heavily influenced by the American civil rights movement and focused on environmental racism within rich countries.
With nearly half of the world's population residing in regions highly susceptible to climate change, the urgency for global actions that are both rapid and sustained is underscored.
This financial disparity raises questions about the global commitment to equitable climate action and underscores the need for a substantial increase in support and resources.
The IPCC's analysis suggests that with adequate financial investment and international cooperation, it is possible to embark on a pathway towards resilience and sustainability that benefits all sections of society.
It addresses issues such as pollution control, resource conservation, biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
The field emerged prominently in the mid-20th century as industrialization and environmental degradation spurred global awareness, culminating in landmark agreements like the 1972 Stockholm Conference and the 1992 Rio Declaration.
Internationally, treaties such as the Paris Agreement (2015), the Kyoto Protocol (1997), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) establish cooperative frameworks for addressing transboundary issues.
[65] Environmental assessments may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding public participation and documentation of decision making, and may be subject to judicial review.
[68] Environmentalists advocate the just and sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the environment through changes in public policy and individual behavior.
Al Gore's 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth gained commercial success and a high media profile.
