Factors that Contributed to the Present Environmental Crisis
The present environmental crisis occurred due to changes in the population or species which led to destabilization of environment survival. As illustrated by Taylor (1240-1275), one factor that has contributed to the present environmental crisis is the degrading of the environment quality which is no longer able to serve the needs of available species. The cause of environment degradation is less rainfalls experienced in the world and subsequent increases in temperatures.
Another factor that has caused the current environmental crisis is increased pressure of predation making the environment unfavorable. In this condition, it becomes hard for populations or species to survive and most of them become depleted (Taylor, 1240-1275). It is not possible to completely control predation because there are different types of feeding behaviors for different species.
Overpopulation is another great factor that has contributed to the present environmental crisis. When the number of individuals raise, their needs and their consumption rate also increase to a level where the environment is unable to contain the pressure (Taylor, 1240-1275). Overpopulation of animals is naturally controlled by predators because they look for the old and sick animals and feed on them. The environment is able to support a given number of individuals and if the number gets overpopulated they result into competition for the available resources in the environment.
Industrial revolution is another factor that has resulted to the present environmental crisis. The problem was ignored and it was not visible until the industrial revolution started to progress. Many people in the world were only concerned about the industrial growth and neglected the effects it caused. Gas emissions caused environmental crisis and was not addressed until late in the 20th century.
How serious is the Present Environmental Crisis
The present environmental crisis is serious because there is a great rise of climate disaster in the world. 70% of the disasters in the world are associated with climate unlike two decades ago when only 50% of the crisis was associated with climate. The green house gas emissions have reached dangerous points and they are likely to cause more harm in the environment if nothing is done to contain the present situation. The current projected climate change is worse than previous projections by IPCC (Global stewards, 1). Every part of the world has serious environmental problems that may lead to more crises in future. The climatic change is a current threat to the environment and to the food supply in the world.
How the world is to be impacted
According to Global Stewards, (1), the present environmental crisis affects the whole world and it comes with a price tag. The number of people in the world affected by the climate disaster increase every year as the cost of responding to disaster increases. The world is to be impacted by the present environmental crisis due to the effects of destructive sudden rains that have been evident in the world. Another impact of the present environmental crisis in the world is that the situation may cause intense tropical storms that may be dangerous for the population in the world (Global Stewards, 1). The increase of serious droughts and floods may occur in the whole world because the environment can no longer contain the large populations. The impact is already being experienced due to the increased humanitarian needs currently in the world.
References
Global Stewards. Current Environmental issues and News, (2011). [Online], Available from http://www.globalstewards.org/issues.htm. Viewed on 31 August 2011.
Taylor, M. Scott. "Innis Lecture: Environmental crises: past, present, and future." Canadian Journal of Economics 42.4 (2009): 1240-1275. Business Source Complete. EBSCO. Web. 31 Aug. 2011.
