Our environment is regularly affected by human behavior, and the effects can either be negative or positive. The negative effects of human behavior on the environment include pollution, deforestation, climate change, and noise whereas the positive effects of human behavior on the environment include the protection of the ozone layer, the preservation of the world’s endangered species, and the conservation of the resources of the earth. Human impacts on the environment are unavoidable because, we do exist on the planet, and we have to leave a mark or footprint where we live.
The environmental have the ability to shape and influence the human behavior. Environmental cues are factors that trigger a reaction over something (Steg, 2013). Environmental cues notify an individual on how to react on what happens to the environment, and therefore, they shape and persuade human behaviors. A good example of an environmental cue is water running from the taps and wasted to the ground. Lets take a scenario whereby a person is on his/her way to work or in the market, when he/she notices water running from the tap, the water being wasted is an environmental cue that will influence that person’s behavior whereby, he or she will stop, close the taps In order to save the water or just leave it running. In this scenario, this prompt influenced the person’s behavior because, the individual had to stop and close the taps in order to save the water. In this scenario, the person was able to positively impact the environment by saving the water from being wasted.
Human behavior can be modified to support sustainability in so many ways. First, individuals can engage in sustainable ways to positively impact the environment and change their daily routine behaviors. In addition, human beings can be tailored to modify their behaviors in order to live sustainably. When people encounter environmental cues, they are supposed to engage in sustainable behaviors in order to contribute negatively to the environment. When human behavior is modified for instance, when a person cleans the environment to prevent pollution, it will help in limiting the negative effects on the environment. In addition, human activities such as avoiding pollution, keeping the environment clean, saving energy, and planting more trees can limit the negative effects on the environment, thus supporting sustainability (Manning, 2009).
Social norms are known to power the human behavior and beliefs about the environment. According to the Social norms, behavior influence environmental policy, pro-environmental behaviors affect pro-environmental beliefs (2013). Human beings act in a certain way because they hold certain values on the issues. For instance, individuals will not litter the ground just because they want to keep their compound clean, but when they make it a norm not to litter the ground and to keep the environment clean, it will keep the value of making the environment clean, thus positively affecting it. Steg notes that, social norms influence in a person’s behavior maybe a tipping point for making the environment clean, thus a close step to a sustainable future (2013). Individual should practice social norms like recycling and water and electricity conservation in order to positively affect the environment, and minimize the negative effects on the environment caused by social norms. Nonetheless, if a person stays in an environment where recycling and conserving water and electricity are not social norms, this can influence the person’s beliefs and behavior and can negatively affect the environment. Therefore, social norms play a vital role in preserving or affecting the environment (Social norms, behavior influence environmental policy, 2013).
There are a number of solutions that can successfully change human behavior and habits in order to lessen the negative influence on the environment. Individuals can alter their everyday’s conducts in order to positively affect the environment. The two possible solutions that could successfully change human behavior in order to minimize negative effects on the environment are take up energy efficient solutions and keeping the environment clean. For instance, one can focus to avoid polluting the environment, saving water and electricity as well as saving gas. When one does all these, it will lessen negative environmental impacts. In addition, people can focus on buying hybrid cars, and using solar panels in order to conserve the valuable resources on the planet in addition to avoiding air pollution. Recycling is also a possible solution to lessen negative impacts on the environment because; the environment will be liberated from plastics. One can focus to re-use grocery bags, or even procure household products in bulk thus creating less waste. Therefore, human behavior and habits can be changed in order to lessen negative effects on the environment.
In conclusion, changing human behaviors to support sustainability can be a hefty task, but it aids to positively affect the atmosphere. Environmental clues influence people’s behavior either positively or negatively, depending on what they choose to do in a situation. However, human behavior can be modified to support sustainability in order to limit negative impacts on the environment. People should be determined to positively affect the environment by making conscious decisions to reduce carbon emissions, pollution, saving energy and water, in addition to preserving the earth’s reserves in order to diminish the negative environmental impacts. Humans cannot avoid impacting the environment, but they can change their behavior to minimize the negative impacts on the environment and sustain future sustainability.
References
Social norms, behavior influence environmental policy. (2013). Retrieved from https://asunews.asu.edu/20130214_behaviorpolicy
Steg, L. (2013). Environmental psychology: An introduction. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Manning, C. (2009). The psychology of sustainable behavior. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
