World Geography: Human/Environment Interaction
Sustainability
To sustain means “to give strength to” or “to support.” In terms of geography, sustainability means to make good use of resources to meet current needs while protecting the needs of future generations.
Sustainability includes practices in which people should and should not participate, such as the following:
- Don’t harm the environment.
- Don’t deplete natural resources.`
- Do use energy wisely.
- Do develop products to help the environment.
- Do practice ways of life to save resources.
- Do try to “go green.”
“Going green” means making decisions that help the environment and sustain resources.
| Examples | Results – Benefits |
| Recycling | Reduces pollution |
| Buying glass rather than plastic bottles | Reduces litter |
| Using less water | Saves resources for future generations |
| Turning off lights when leaving a room | Saves energy and money |
| Saving emails on the computer rather than printing them on paper | Saves paper, trees, and money |
| Carpooling | Saves fuel, decreases air pollution |
| Landscaping | Prevents or decreases erosion of soil |
Sustainability can be affected by climate change. Climate change is the shift in weather patterns that can be global or regional. Climate change is caused by human activities that put more carbon dioxide into the air. Examples of human activities that cause climate change include the following:
- Burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas
- Deforestation
Putting increased pollution and gases in the atmosphere causes a greenhouse effect. A greenhouse effect occurs when gases trap the sun’s heat and gradually increase the temperature of the atmosphere. This effect is similar to the temperature increases in the glass houses, called greenhouses, where flowers and plants are grown. These greenhouses are warm to help the flowers and plants grow. The gases from the warm air do not escape the building. When pollution and gases are placed in the atmosphere, the atmosphere traps them and the gases trap the sun’s heat, increasing Earth’s temperature.
Global warming affects sustainability. Global warming is increasing global temperatures as a result of the greenhouse effect. Glaciers are melting and temperatures are rising because of global warming.
KEEP IN MIND . . .
Maintaining sustainability for future generations includes protecting current resources.
Example
Which is an example of global warming?
A. Reforestation
B. “Green living”
C. Colder winters
D. Melting of glaciers
The correct answer is D. When Earth’s atmosphere becomes warmer because of greenhouses gases, Earth’s surface warms.
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