Negative Impacts of the Industrial Revolution
One of the major impacts of the industrial revolution has been the quick increase in human population. The world’s population currently stands just above seven billion people. However, in comparison to the beginning of the industrial revolution, this is a major increase from merely 700 million inhabitants in the 1700s. This is an increase of nearly 1000% in just 250 years. This population growth has detrimental effects on the environment as the natural resources are unable to provide for the people effectively resulting in their exhaustion (Frader, 2006).
Another adverse impact of the industrialization revolution was the growth in a number of cities around the factories built. This is where factories were built for the purpose of creating numerous products that required high levels of man power. As a result, the cities grew rapidly and without a particular plan (McLamb, 2011). The current society is an excellent example of its effects where numerous factories in major cities continue to lack effective means of disposing waste and ensuring sanitation. This has prompted dumping into rivers and other large water bodies, killing animals and plants alike.
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The biggest negative impact of the industrialization revolution was the production of automobiles. Though this creation has been able to simplify the transport system enabling movement from one continent to the other, the fuels that are combusted pose a major threat to the environment. This is where the fumes generated are disposed into the air and continue to make the air more toxic and harmful not only to human health but also the plant and animal life (Frader, 2006).
Change of Negative Impacts on Environment
The increase in human population has been a major factor in the environmental issues experienced in the current society. As a result of this, humankind is seen to prioritize industrial activities as opposed to taking care of the environment. This is evident where forests are cut down to create space for building settlements and factories leading to the deterioration of the soil such that it can no longer produce enough food for the human population (McLamb, 2011). The population growth has led to the exhaustion of fertile land such that it can no longer produce as much food crops as before.
The creation of cities around factories has also had its share effect on the environment. Other than the pollution caused by these factories on the air and water masses, the cities have created a congestion of people (McLamb, 2011). The majority of the population has opted out from practicing farming and rushed to be part of the revolution in industrial professions (Frader, 2006). This has led to massive congestion leading to the creation of slums and unsanitary environments that cause further pollution to the land, water, and air.
The industrial revolution has led to a high demand for motor vehicle and other machinery requiring the use of fossil fuels. This has created massive air pollution where in some places like China the air is too toxic for people to breathe resulting in poor health to many of its residents (Frader, 2006). The fumes produced by combusting fossil fuels have led to the emission of greenhouse gasses that have depleted the ozone layer propelling the climate change experienced in the current society.
Environmental Movement in the 1970s
The environmental movement in the 1970s can be equated to the early 20th Century form of environmentalism usually referred to as conservationism led by Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot. Conservationism preached for the wise and efficient use of natural resources. This was mainly due to the rapid growth of the industrial movement in the world. However, in the 1970s the environmental movement was not a means of production concern for future development but a consumer demand for a community that is safe, clean and maintains natural beauty. This was a means of improving the standards of living as the continued economic progress was seen to have detrimental effects on the environment (McLamb, 2011). In this regard, the free market practice was considered to be an ineffective means of ensuring the demand for a beautiful, safe and clean environment.
The growing consumer demand led to individuals seeking the assistance of political action. These included the Federal legislations in a bid to protect basic air and water supplies. The Clean Air Act of 1970 and the Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 were the most notable means of protecting the environment. Other federal actions included the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1970 would lead to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency and Council that would help ensure Environmental Quality. These would focus on the protection of marine life, endangered species, safe drinking water, conservation of resources and ways to recover along with water pollution control (Gordon, 2012). These laws would be significant in the shift of the environmental movement groups from minor local issues affecting the US to become a lobby in Washington and influence the politics of the country.
Laws Passed on Environmental Issues
Clean Air Act and the Water Pollution Control Act of 1970 and 1972 respectively were noted as effective legislation to control emissions of factories and the dumping of waste from the same. This would ensure water sources are kept clean and could be safe for drinking by the local communities around the factories (Gordon, 2012). The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 was another law used to identify the effects of dumping factory waste into the ocean and its effects on marine life. This law would ensure factories found alternative ways of disposing of waste collected after manufacturing processes. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was a law enacted by President Richard Nixon as a means of protecting wild fauna and flora from extinction. This would help capture wild animal species and reverse extinction at whatever cost.
The Safe Drinking Water Act was signed into law in 1974 where the public would be provided with water that is safe for drinking. According to the law, the EPA agency would set significant standards that would be followed by all states and the suppliers of drinking water. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 was enacted as a means of governing the disposal of waste and hazardous material on the environment (Gordon, 2012). This law was mainly pertaining to industrial factories that would dispose of chemical waste aimlessly damaging the environment and putting the health of the people at risk also. The Clean Water Act and the Superfund Act of 1977 and 1980 respectively would also ensure that through the activities of the EPA activities damages caused on natural resources could be reversed.
Current State of the Environment and Recommendations
Following the appointment of Ronald Reagan as President of the United States, the significant steps that were undertaken by the environmental movement were curtailed. This was through the appointment of James G. Watt, who identified efforts by the environmentalists as radical. The funding for the EPA was cut down by nearly one third between 1980 and 1983. However, the quest for environmentalist organizations such as the Sierra Club grew with the backing of the American public rising from 180,000 to 630,000 members in just a decade. Reagan would be forced to replace Watt and Buford with more moderate administrators on environmental issues (Gordon, 2012). This would further propel politicians like George Bush Sr., to the presidency when he declared himself as an environmentalist. More support for environmental changes was made into the 1990s and early 2000s making the world somewhat cleaner than previously particularly in the case of water and air.
The most pressing issue is the nation’s unwilling stance to address long-term effects such as global warming, population growth, depletion of fossil fuel resources and climate change. The country should undertake serious research that will help identify alternative fuel sources and implement those that can replace fossil fuel. Additionally, lower standards should be set to further lower standards of GHG emissions particularly on automobile combustion and factory release. This will further propel the country towards ensuring reduced occurrence of global warming. An agreement should be reached between various governments in ways that will ensure reduced combustion of fossil fuels and strategies of cleaning air and water to ensure that the world moves forward as one community against environment destruction.
References
Frader, L. L. (2006). The Industrial Revolution: A History in Documents. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gordon, E. L. (2012) History of the Modern Environmental Movement in America . American Center, Online. Retrieved 13 July 2016 from http://photos.state.gov/libraries/mumbai/498320/fernandesma/June_2012_001.pdf
McLamb, E. (2011) The Ecological Impact of the Industrial Revolution. Ecology, Online. Retrieved 13 July 2016 from http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/18/ecological-impact-industrial-revolution/
