ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the definitions of environment, ecosystem, biodiversity and environmental sustainability. It provides examples of the ecosystem and discusses the environmental impacts, including pollution impacts and resource depletion impacts. Resource depletion occurs when people consume non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels or potentially renewable resources such as fish stocks and woodlands that are inappropriately managed. Linkages between different elements of the environment may give rise to secondary and/or cumulative impacts. Impacts affect receptors and as with aspects there is a generic list of environmental receptors that might be affected by an organisation's activities. This chapter also shows the key natural cycles affected by human activity. It also discusses the cause and impacts of air pollutants, hydrological cycle, food chain/energy cycle, climate change, ozone depletion, and water pollutants. The chapter is the essential guide for students who preparing for the IEMA Associate Membership Exam and NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management.
