Hosea Alfandi Irawan ( Environmental Activist)
The environment is all components of nature, both biotic (living things) and abiotic (non-living things), which form an ecosystem that is interrelated and influenced one another. The importance of protecting and preserving the environment has become an increasingly urgent global issue amidst the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, pollution, and ecosystem damage. We live in complete dependence on the environment. Without clean air, potable water, fertile soil and a stable climate, human survival would be severely compromised. Unfortunately, in recent decades, human activities such as deforestation, industrialization, exploitation of natural resource and over consumption have caused significant environmental damage. This is a loud alarm that we need to review the way we live and develop.
Barry Commoner, an American biologist and environmental activist, is one of the key figures in building modern ecological consciousness. In his book The Closing Circle (1971), Commoner proposed four ecological laws that are still relevant today. One of them is
Everything is connected to everything else
Which means that everything in nature is interconnected and influences each other. Commoner warned that technological advances and industrial growth that do not pay attention to their impact on the environment are the main causes of ecosystem degradation. For example, the use of synthetic chemicals and fossil fuels has caused soil, water, and air pollution. He also mentioned that modern technology is often more dangerous than traditional technology because its impact on the environment is more difficult to predict and control.
Through his views, Commoner makes us realize that humans are not a separate entity from nature, but part of a complex ecosystem. Therefore, every human action, whether on an individual or industrial scale, has an impact on the balance of nature. The importance of the environment is not only for the survival of the current generation, but also future generation. If natural resources continue to be exploited without control, then future generations may not have clean water, fresh air, or even land suitable for agriculture.
UNEP Report
A 2021 report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that humanity is currently facing three major interrelated crises; the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, and the pollution crisis. All three stem from unsustainable human activities and exacerbate each other. According to UNEP, more than one million species of living things are threatened with extinction, and climate change has led to more frequent and more severe natural disasters. Air pollution has caused the premature death of millions of people every year. This shows that environmental degradation is not only an ecological issue, but also a social, economic and public health issue.
Awareness of the importance of protecting the environment must start from us. Small changes such as reducing plastic use, planting trees, saving water and energy, and supporting environmentally friendly product can have a positive impact. Furthermore, the role of the government and the industrial sector is also very important. Strict regulations on industrial waste, investment in renewable energy, and conservation of forest and marine areas must be strengthened. Environmental education should also be an important part of the education curriculum at all levels. When people understand the interconnection between human life and nature, there will be a collective awareness to preserve it.
The environment is the very foundation of human life and other creatures on earth, and any damage to it is a direct threat to survival. Barry Commoner’s view teaches that everything in nature is interconnected. Therefore, if humans damage one part of the environment, the impact will spread to the entire system. Protecting the environment is not the job of a few, but a shared responsibility. By understanding the importance of the relationship between humans and nature, and adopting a sustainable lifestyle, we can ensure that the earth remains livable, not only for now, but also for generation to come.
Reference
Commoner, Barry. (1971). The Closing Circle: Nature, Man, and Technology. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP). (2021). Making Peace with Nature: A Scientific Blueprint to Tackle the Climate, Biodiversity and Pollution Emergencies. Nairobi: UNEP.
Soemarwoto, Otto. (2001). Ecology, Environment and Development. Jakarta: Djambatan.
