Main content
Course: Middle school Earth and space science > Unit 5
Lesson 3: Human impacts on the environmentHuman impacts on the environment
Review your understanding of human impacts on the environment in this free article aligned to NGSS standards.
Key points
- Humans impact the environment through their activities. Examples of human activities include land and water use, deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels.
- In many cases, the impacts of human activities are negative. For example, when humans clear forests, it causes habitat loss and puts other species at risk.
- Negative human impacts increase as the population grows. They also increase as the average person uses more natural resources.
- Science can help identify solutions to reduce our impacts on the environment. However, it is up to us—as individuals and as a society—to put these solutions into action.
Want to join the conversation?
- how did the water just suddenly dry up??...🧐(24 votes)
- Global warming is part of the problem but thats not all. Humans over use water for produce, livestock,and humans use water to wash and drink. Does this help?(33 votes)
- how many animals are there?(9 votes)
- approximately 8.7 million(20 votes)
- Why does it have any grass(7 votes)
- There is no grass because of global warming and human usage. All the water has either evaporated or has been used by humans.(10 votes)
- how many animals are there? and where the water??(9 votes)
- 4 and there is no water(3 votes)
- I know that smoke is hazardous to our health, but how can salt be unhealthy?(5 votes)
- What if we start helping Earth,but wouldn't we still have low water from evaporation(4 votes)
- what type of animals live here(5 votes)
- What would happen if we decide not to try and clean up Earth? How would it impact are everyday life?(5 votes)
- What is grass never been out side(4 votes)
- Is there anyway to fix this(3 votes)