THE IMPACT AND
UNPREDICTABILITY
OF HUMAN ACTIONS ON
THE ENVIRONMENT
Human actions can have unpredictable, uncertain, and
complex consequences on the environment because the
environment
is
a
complex
system
with
many
interdependent components. Human actions can afect
the environment in multiple ways, sometimes in
unexpected and unpredictable ways. For example, when
people build a new factory, they may not anticipate the
impact it will have on the air quality, water quality, or soil
health in the surrounding area. Similarly, when humans
introduce a new species of plant or animal to an
ecosystem, they may not realize the impact it will have on
the existing plants and animals in that ecosystem.
Moreover,
environmental
systems
are
highly
interconnected, meaning that changes in one part of the
system can have unforeseen consequences in other parts
of the system. These consequences can sometimes emerge
over long time frames, making them difcult to predict in
advance. Additionally, environmental systems often have
nonlinear responses to human actions, meaning that small
changes can have large, unexpected impacts.
Overall, the complexity of environmental systems, coupled
with the unpredictability and uncertainty of human
actions, means that the consequences of human actions
on the environment can be highly uncertain and difcult
to predict.
Over the past ffty years, there have been many
environmental disasters that have had serious
consequences. These
disasters
have
led
to
important advances in science, engineering, and
policy, as we work to prevent or reduce the impact
of future disasters. By studying these disasters that
have happened on land, in water, and in the
atmosphere, we can better understand what went
wrong and how we can do better in the future. We
can also imagine new solutions to help prevent or
minimize future disasters. This ongoing efort to
learn from the past and improve the future is
essential for protecting our planet and our
well-being.
HUMANS INDUCE AND
REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL
DISASTERS
AN UNPREDICTABLE
ENVIRONMENT
In this video segment adapted from the International
Institute for Sustainable Development, Inuit observers
share how their traditional knowledge of weather
patterns is being disrupted by unpredictable weather
behaviors. A female Inuit elder explains how, in the
past, women and girls were responsible for forecasting
the weather for hunting trips using traditional knowl-
edge. However, recent changes in climate have made it
difcult to predict the weather and associated animal
behaviors, which is afecting their subsistence lifestyle.
This highlights the impact that climate change can
have on traditional knowledge and ways of life.
HOW HUMANS
DISRUPTED A CYCLE
ESSENTIAL TO ALL LIFE
"How one animal dug up carbon and put it back into
the atmosphere at an astounding pace."