According to a recent UN research titled ‘Healthy Environment, Healthy People’, environmental devastation is responsible for at least a quarter of the world’s entire burden of illness. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the ecosystems that support us — all fall under this category.
We can agree that there is a need for a healthy environment to realise our human rights. We see this in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) by the United Nations.
What Is Environmental Health?
The environment may directly or indirectly impact our health and well-being; environmental health investigates how our bodies and the environment interact to keep us healthy.
The following terms are used:
Factors such as how they live and what they eat naturally impact people’s health and well-being; it is referred to as “environmental well-being”.
The term “environment” encompasses everything outside of ourselves, including the physical, natural, social, and behavioural contexts.
Some individuals feel that health encompasses more than just the absence of disease or infirmity; they say it also includes one’s whole physical, mental, and social well-being.
What Is The Importance Of A Healthy Environment?
We must live in safe and healthy environments to maintain our health. Our health and well-being are greatly influenced by the environment we live in. The world around us provides us with energy and the elements we need to survive, such as:
Fresh air
Consumption of water that is safe to drink
Nutritious food
Secure surroundings
The majority of what we see and do daily may impact our health. The constructed environment, as well as the natural environment, are both included. It’s important to look at health issues in the context of the places we inhabit and the people we interact with.
Major Health Issues
Human health and the environment impact one another; thus, they must be addressed simultaneously. To ensure that the environment does not harm people’s health, individuals from all walks of life must work together.
Climate Changes
As the Earth’s temperature rises due to greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s heat and warm the Earth’s surface, ocean temperatures rise, affecting marine habitats and ecosystems and causing extensive floods and odd weather patterns throughout the world.
Pollution
Climate change and biodiversity have resulted in a slew of environmental problems. Pollution occurs in various forms, including air, water, soil, radioactive, noise, light, and thermal pollution. All these variables affect our environment. Climate change and global warming are harmful to public health because they contaminate the air, land, and water, making people ill.
Pollution of the water and air is a major problem. People and animals are in danger because it is costly and harmful. Pollution may be avoided by enacting legislation, enforcing stringent restrictions, and informing the public about the sources and consequences of pollution.
Deforestation
This method harms plants and trees beneficial to the public. Forest cover is disappearing at an alarming pace due to natural fires, illicit logging, and agricultural practices.
The quantity of wood taken for commercial purposes depletes oxygen supplies and increases greenhouse gas emissions, which are both harmful to the ecosystem. The most intricate and crucial aspect of the ecosystem that makes up the environment is biodiversity, which is threatened by global warming, pollution, and deforestation.
Disease
Mitigation and control are two of the most important variables impacting environmental health; hence, clean drinking water, pest management, and sickness prevention are essential.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous materials management, waste disposal systems, polluted sites, avoiding underground storage tank leaks, and swift catastrophe response have become more vital. Waste management systems may be upgraded to reduce the risk of contaminating natural resources and spreading disease.
Because of global industrialisation, more people live better lifestyles, which means they must be clean and dispose of their trash properly. Industrial technologies and materials are often related to illnesses transmitted by individuals who fall ill due to them.
The Benefits Of A Healthy Environment
We must clean the environment to live a safe, clean, cool, and healthy existence. Because it might make our lives easier, this is an essential issue to address.
The following are some of the advantages of keeping the environment clean:
Stay away from infections that are spread by a polluted atmosphere.
An area is free of air pollution.
Water becomes cleaner and more enjoyable to drink.
When people are doing their everyday duties, things will be calmer.
Because it is critical to keep the environment clean, we must recognise the importance of a healthy environment. Cleaning the ditches surrounding our houses, sweeping the yard, and putting the garbage away are examples.
To improve the environment, everyone must be aware of and take responsibility for the state of the environment. This is something that has to be learnt from a young age. We are taught at school to maintain a clean environment.
Conclusion
The people of the globe and the future of the Earth must do all they can to reduce the quantity of pollution entering the world. We must work together to reduce pollution, promote recycling, and save energy. People should now discuss pollution in groups of three or four, including the forms of pollution, methods of preventing pollution, the health implications of pollution, and global warming.