Learn how human activity affects the environment and what we can do to help protect it.
The natural world faces serious threats from human activity. Deforestation — the large-scale cutting down of forests — destroys habitats and releases carbon dioxide stored in trees. Pollution of air, water and soil harms wildlife and human health. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) for energy releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere — causing climate change. Rising global temperatures are melting ice caps, raising sea levels, and making extreme weather events (floods, droughts, heatwaves) more frequent. These changes threaten the survival of many species and the ecosystems they depend on. Conservation is about protecting and restoring these environments. Individuals can help by reducing energy use, recycling, eating less meat, planting trees and protecting local green spaces. Governments and organisations work at larger scales: creating nature reserves, introducing clean energy laws, and working internationally to cut emissions.
