- Practice · 5 marks
Human civilization, development and the environment
Short answer
Development moved through hunter-gatherer, agricultural, industrial, and modern stages, causing increasing deforestation, pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Sustainable development, defined by Brundtland 1987, meets present needs without compromising future generations, balancing economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection.
Briefly trace the history of human civilization and development in relation to the environment. Explain how development has led to environmental problems and define sustainable development.
Humans have always changed their environment, but the scale of change has grown with each stage of development.
| Stage | Period | Use of environment | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter-gatherer | Up to about 10 000 years ago | Hunting, fishing, wild fruits, fire | Very small; population low and nomadic |
| Agricultural revolution | From about 10 000 years ago | Farming, domestic animals, settlements, irrigation | Forest clearing, soil erosion, early cities, first large waste |
| Industrial revolution | From about 1750 | Coal, steam power, factories, urban migration | Air and water pollution, big rise in and population |
| Modern/technological era | 20th century onward | Oil, electricity, chemicals, automobiles, mass consumption | Global issues: ozone depletion, climate change, plastic waste, biodiversity loss |
Environmental problems from development
- Population growth and urbanisation raise demand for food, water, energy and housing.
- Fossil fuel use causes air pollution and global warming.
- Industrial and municipal waste pollutes land and water; chemical use creates hazardous waste.
- Deforestation, over-grazing and mining cause biodiversity loss and land degradation.
- Consumption and resource depletion exceed the earth's carrying capacity.
Sustainable development
Defined by the Brundtland Commission (1987): "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". It balances three pillars: economic growth, social equity and environmental protection. Practices include renewable energy, cleaner production, 3R of waste, efficient use of resources, environmental impact assessment, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2030).
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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