What is the environment? Definition and examples
The Environment includes the conditions or surroundings in which any organism lives. An organism is a life form, such as a bacterium, fungus, plant, or animal. Human beings, for example, are organisms.
The environment, as far as humans are concerned, is our natural world, including, for example, the atmosphere, land, vegetation, oceans, rivers, and lakes. Put simply, the term refers to all the physical surroundings on our planet.
The environment’s non-living part
The non-living part consists of:
The atmosphere
There is a layer of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other gases that surround the Earth which we call the atmosphere, i.e., the air.
The hydrosphere
This part includes all the bodies of water on our planet such as the oceans, rivers, lakes, and polar ice. It also includes clouds and water in the air.
The lithosphere
We refer to the surface of the Earth, i.e., rocks and soil, as the lithosphere. It is the outer layer of the Earth’s upper mantle.
The non-living parts of the environment are crucial for the survival of all organisms.
The living part of the environment
We call the environment’s living part the biosphere. It includes all the world’s ecosystems. It is Earth’s living layer, where life exists.
National Geographic has the following definition of the biosphere:
“The biosphere is made up of the parts of Earth where life exists. The biosphere extends from the deepest root systems of trees to the dark environment of ocean trenches, to lush rain forests and high mountaintops.”
In every part of the non-living environment, i.e., the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere, there is life. In other words, the biosphere is in the air, water, and land.
Damaging the environment
During the twentieth century, scientists became increasingly concerned about the way humans affected the environment. Over the past few decades, lay people have also become concerned.
According to many studies, we are polluting the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere at an alarming rate. Human activity is causing our planet to warm up. We refer to this as global warming. If we don’t take drastic action, many coastal areas across the world will be under water by the end of this century.
National Geographic says the following about how we impact the environment:
“Humans impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water.”
“These negative impacts can affect human behavior and can prompt mass migrations or battles over clean water.”
Recent technological advancements aim to reduce environmental damage by promoting sustainable practices, such as renewable energy and waste reduction methods.
What does environmentally friendly mean?
If something is environmentally friendly or eco-friendly, it does not harm the environment. Cycling to work, for example, is more environmentally friendly than driving, because bicycles don’t pollute the atmosphere while vehicles do.
Some companies use the term when promoting their goods or services. We refer to the overuse of the term in marketing as greenwashing.
Environmental education and awareness campaigns are increasingly important, as they empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions that positively impact the planet.
A global concern
The environment is a subject that most of us across the world are concerned about. Here is a translation of the term in various major languages:
El medio ambiente (Spanish), l’environnement (French), die Umwelt (German), l’ambiente (Italian), окружающая среда (Russian), 環境 (Cantonese Chinese), 环境 (Mandarin Chinese), पर्यावरण (Hindi), পরিবেশ (Bengali), ماحول (Urdu), البيئة (Arabic), 環境 (Japanese), lingkungan (Indonesian), môi trường (Vietnamese), çevre (Turkish), สิ่งแวดล้อม (Thai).
Etymology of environment
Etymology is the study of where words came from and how their meanings have evolved over time.
The term environment first appeared in the English language in the early 1600s. It meant “state of being environed.” It is derived from the French word “Environ,” meaning “surrounding.”
By 1827, it meant “the aggregate of the conditions in which a person or thing lives.” It was not until 1956 that we started using it in its current specialized ecology sense (protecting our atmosphere, oceans, and land).
Video – What is the Environment
This interesting video presentation, from our sister channel in YouTube – Marketing Business Network, explains what the ‘Environment’ is using simple and easy-to-understand language and examples.