[Physical]

As more and more people become aware of the impact we are having on the environment, it is safe to assume that actions taken to protect the health of our planet will continue to increase!

There are many ways that people are already striving to reduce how their presence is felt by the earth, and these ideas are continuously being spread and embraced.

So, what does the future hold for planet earth?

The Population Problem

The booming population has to be taken into account when considering actions in the future. Just fifty years ago the entire population of the planet was counted below three billion. This figure has more than doubled during the last fifty years to currently exceed seven billion! Experts predict that this number could well reach nine billion by the year 2050.

The largest problem with a rapidly increasing population is maintaining an efficient level of food production for this many people. Food production at such an intense level will inevitably cause further harm to our already fragile environment, and will fuel climate change.

Climate Change Conundrum

As the population grows and contributes to the ever-divisive issue of climate change, more is going to have to be done to combat this. Increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and erratic rainfall patterns create countless associated problems – both for human beings and the rest of the natural world.

It has been estimated by experts that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere will be twice what it was before the Industrial Revolution by 2050. And, the more CO2 in the air, the more the consequences of climate change will become apparent. Consequences which, in many respects, are irreversible!

Sustainable Growth

In order to support a continuation in the population increase, and to combat the impact of climate change, we must make strides towards embracing sustainable growth. But, what does this mean and how can we all get on board?

Sustainable growth involves finding realistic solutions to support all of the ways in which our planet will continue to develop. But this must be done without causing further harm to the environment. This can be achieved in a number of ways, and requires participation at all levels.

The idea of a carbon footprint is a great way to measure sustainable growth, and the carbon footprint of businesses and individuals must be lowered if we are to protect the planet.

Lowering Your Carbon Footprint

When it comes to big businesses, there are several changes that can be made in regards to the energy that they use and the waste that they create. This is something that will need to be adopted universally to have the greatest impact. However, there are also things that each and every person can do to contribute to positive change.

The following are great ways that you can lower your own carbon footprint:

• Drive less – walk or cycle instead
• Avoid flying where possible
• Eat less meat
• Insulate your home well to use less energy
• Invest in renewable energy
• Support environmentally friendly businesses
• Buy local produce

These are simple small changes that we can adopt in order to become personally responsible for the future of our planet. Click here to read more from PAMA London on the problems our planet faces and how you can help!

[Physical]

With over seven billion people currently living on our precious planet, the impact of the human population on the earth’s resources is hard to avoid! Today we are going to explore the human impact on the planet, and how we can all work to reduce the problems caused by our presence! Doing so is essential if we are to continue living here!

Population

The population of our planet continues to increase at an alarming rate. The current estimate of over seven billion people is a dramatic increase from the approximate one billion people that inhabited the planet just 200 years ago*.

As the amount of people increases, so too does the demand on our natural resources increase. We need to produce more food, more energy, more housing – and all of these things require additional resources, and therefore place an additional strain upon the planet.

Farming

Humans have been farming on this planet for more than 10,000 years! Although this is obviously necessary in order to cultivate food, this also involves transforming landscapes and disrupting natural areas. For example, forests are completely destroyed in order to create land that is suitable for planting crops or raising animals for food.

Farming at the massive scale in which we do poses a problem because of the damage caused to the land, especially when deforestation is taking place. A huge amount of water is also required for farming which can lead to water shortages in other areas.

Industrial Development

Since the age of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700’s, the prominence of factory manufacturing processes has boomed. The problem with the majority of factories is that they use excessive amounts of natural resources and require massive amounts of energy to run effectively.

The waste that is created by these factories around the world contributes massively to global warming, as well as the pollution of our air and water.

Pollution

Pollution is one of the biggest issues when it comes to how humans are causing ongoing damage to the planet. The environment is being harmed by countless chemicals and other substances.

The main causes of pollution that we can identify are the aforementioned waste from industrial sources, as well as sewage and the use of pesticides on the crops that we grow. Our use of automobiles also massively contributes to pollution.

It has been suggested that there could be as many as two billion cars on the roads by 2035*! Automobiles are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to air pollution, emitting dangerous levels of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and other chemicals.

It is true that certain types of pollution can be tackled and the effects therefore relieved to some degree. However, other types of pollution can remain toxic for many thousands of years, thereby having a seriously detrimental impact on the planet and its inhabitants.

What Can We Do?!

In order to lower the human impact on the planet, to combat pollution and to better prepare the earth for some of the unavoidable problems caused by over-population, we all have to make conscientious decisions when it comes to affecting the planet.

At PAMA London we advocate making ethical choices when it comes to your clothing and fashion choices, such as with the use of charcoal bamboo in our clothing.

In addition to making sustainable choices when it comes to your clothing, there are other ways that you can lower or limit your carbon footprint. You can try to use transportation less by walking more, always recycle your rubbish and try to use less energy in your home.