Humans abuse their title as "stewards of the world" and mindlessly contribute to the destruction of the Earth. In my opinion, humans cannot be considered stewards of the earth as proven by the depletion of glaciers, endangerment of species, extreme temperatures and water and air pollution. Human impact is devastating the planet in an irreversible manner. To illustrate our negative effects on the environment much clearer, imagine a domino chain; one irresponsible action can be much more harmful and disruptive towards the environment:
Leaving an unoccupied light on for a long period of time ---> powerplant generates more energy, emitting air pollution ---> pollution rises and is trapped in the ozone layer ---> Heat from the sun is trapped in the pollution-filled ozone layer, making temperatures warmer than usual ---> glaciers melt due to the climate change ---> arctic polar bears are endangered because they lose their habitat
We were supposedly appointed "stewards of the Earth" but our population has grown to abuse the resources we were given and take more than we need regardless of the Earth's inability to adapt. As mentioned in the reaction chain, one of the many indications that humans are putting Earth at stake is the decline in the population of arctic polar bears. The sea ice that act as the bears' hunting and breeding grounds are melting. Certainly, global warming has taken its toll on the Arctic region, one of the few places that'll display the effects of climate change early. According to WWF, air temperatures in the Arctic have risen 5ºC in the last 100 years. This significant increase will produce more precipitation that will melt the snow that the seals inhabit. The loss of the polar bear's primary prey and habitat will make them vulnerable to extinction.
”For every week earlier that break-up occurs in the Hudson Bay, bears will come ashore roughly 10kg lighter and thus in poorer condition. With reproductive success tied closely to body condition, if temperatures continue to rise in response to increases in greenhouse gas emissions and the sea ice melts for longer periods, polar bear numbers will be reduced in the southern portions of their range and may even become locally extinct.”
Dr. Ian Stirling, Polar Bear Scientist
It is apparent that not only has the species' population declined, but the remaining polar bears are struggling to survive. Warmer temperatures is causing the sea ice to become thinner as well as melting earlier in spring and forming later in autumn. According to WWF, the thickness of the sea ice in the summer season has dramatically decreased by 40% over the course of the last 30 years. This poses a threat to polar bears as the period in which they use to catch prey and prepare fasting during the warmer months is shortening. The lack of nourishment and nutrition lowers the bear's immune system and survival rate. Female bears are also less likely to reproduce as a result of malnutrition.
In addition to global warming, pollution and oil spills also affect polar bears. Since they are at the top of the food chain and consume an abundance of creatures, their bodies collect alot of pesticides that accumulate in their prey. Oil spills in the ocean where the polar bears swim dirty their fur coats. The oil is able to prevent the bear from getting proper insulation and as a result, die. It has been observed that polar bears sometimes try to cleanse their fur by licking the oil off, causing kidney failure.
Undoubtedly, the human species continue to endanger the planet. The polar bears are only one of the many species in danger of extinction. Our ecological footprints are so massive, that I believe what we've done is almost impossible to reverse--but we can always improve. Improving our living patterns altogether may or may not have a lasting effect on our planet. Humans have also grown very ignorant in the past decades; a majority of us are aware of our negative impact on the environment yet only a fraction respond to the crisis. In my opinion, our generation has certainly failed as "stewards of the world".
Works Cited
World Wildlife Foundation, Vanishing Kingdom, the Melting Realm of the Polar Bear
http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/Publications/WWFBinaryitem4928.pdf
World Wildlife Foundation, Climate: Impact and Adaptations
http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/impactsandadaptation.html
National Geographic: Human Impact: Ozone and Pollution
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/ozone/ozone.html
Wikipedia: Polar Bears
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear
VIDEO: National Geographic: State of Polar Bears
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/threats-to-animals-environment/polar-bears.html
PHOTO: National Geographic
