Environment is the sum total of all conditions and influences that surround and affect an organism or group of organisms. The environment includes both the natural world and built environments.
Humans are unique among earth’s creatures in their capacity to change their environment. For example, they can build structures such as dams and roads, they can clear forests and cultivate fields, and they can pollute air, water, and soil. But humans cannot live apart from nature; we depend on healthy ecosystems for our food, water, fuel, building materials, medicines, and much more. Nor can we ignore the fact that our actions are affecting other species; by altering habitats and disrupting food webs, we are putting many species at risk of extinction. It is clear that how we live—and how well we understand our impact on the planet—will determine whether future generations will enjoy a healthy planet with diverse wildlife or a degraded one where only a few species survive.