ABSTRACT

This chapter deals with a look at how humans affect the environment, including the issue of overpopulation; how desire for a higher standard of living is taking a toll on the natural world; why the current lifestyle is polluting and exhausting precious resources, such as the water, land, and the atmosphere. It examines the important environmental issues of today and look at the reasons why they are important, as well as why those reasons tend to change over time. In order to understand the significance of where climate change and energy choices fit in with the importance of developing a sustainable environment and lifestyle, it is necessary to understand some fundamental concepts about why sustainability is so important. Sustainability is equated with renewable fuel sources, reducing carbon emissions, protecting the environment, and keeping ecosystems in balance. Its focus is to protect the natural environment, promote human and ecological health, and employ progressive innovation, while maintaining/improving the standard of living.