| The surrounding influences which are now included in | | | | An environmental hazard where the pollution level puts |
| the meaning of 'the environment' are the air that we | | | | organic life at risk of permanent destruction is more |
| breathe, the water we drink or swim in, our homes, | | | | serious. Environmental pollution where an organic life is |
| numbers of people, traffic, noise, streets, stores, parks, | | | | destroyed temporarily in a certain area, such as an oil |
| countryside, seashore, wildlife, factories, farming and | | | | spill, is more serious again but occurs more frequently. |
| mining. It has become the practice in geography to | | | | Environmental disaster involving widespread and heavy |
| refer to the physical environment when referring to | | | | loss of life is becoming a menacing threat. The |
| natural features, the human environment when | | | | recognition of these dynamic environmental issues has |
| referring to cultural and social conditions and the built | | | | led to the creation of many government agencies. The |
| environment when referring to urban and industrial | | | | first UN conference on the environment in 1972 issued |
| issues. | | | | a 26-principle Declaration which declared the protection |
| Because it is now apparent that mankind its their own | | | | and enhancement of the environment to have |
| environment by the decisions it makes regarding land | | | | become an imperative goal for mankind. |
| use and industrial growth, it is apparent that man has a | | | | As the world population continues to increase the, |
| choice in the type of environment he inhabits. There | | | | environmental management to control pollution is |
| are areas where action can be taken, such as in | | | | becoming increasingly necessary. Unless ecological |
| planning and rural uses, in conservation, flood control | | | | principles, conservation, resource management and |
| and in resources, all these issues collectively referred | | | | population checks are widely adopted, the environment |
| to as environmental management. | | | | may degrade to the point of collapse, perhaps in the |
| Government agencies, which seek to control pollution, | | | | near future. Because the environment is a well |
| are seen as the most widespread type of | | | | structured system, with varying pathways and |
| environmental management bodies. All types of | | | | alternatives with great flexibility, any approach to |
| pollution can be seen as examples of environmental | | | | instability will be difficult to detect and failure will appear |
| damage. Various levels of environmental damage can | | | | suddenly. |
| be identified from that which is seen as a local | | | | Environmental determination is the belief that all human |
| concern and that which is a global concern. | | | | activity can be explained by environmental laws and |
| Environmental contamination, highlighted by such things | | | | controls. It was developed during the 19th century. |
| as plastic bottles left on beaches to the occasional | | | | Environmental determinism is seen as deviation from |
| high levels of noise such as that from aircraft, are | | | | the mainstream of geographical thought, which views |
| seen as the least harmful form of damage to the | | | | geography as a scientific approach to the describing |
| environment. | | | | and mapping regions of the Earth. |