This paper explores the risks of human-induced environmental changes through an analysis of current research and risk assessment information. While substantial data on environmental risks exists, risk communication efforts have been limited due to inadequate media coverage and public outreach. The paper recommends improving risk communication by utilizing theories like the Psychometric Paradigm and Theory of Planned Behavior to raise awareness of risks like pollution, species endangerment, and how environmental changes could ultimately threaten humanity. Better strategies are needed to inform the public and mainstream media.

1. Running head: HUMAN-INDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCES 1
Human-Induced Environmental Disturbances Risk Communication Report
Demitra Salteris
University of Maryland, College Park

2. HUMAN-INDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCES 2
Abstract
This paper explores current research that has been conducted pertaining to how humans have
implemented changes to nature and the environment, and how those changes are risking a
potential environmental global crisis. Current risk assessment information and media coverage is
analyzed prior to providing recommendations to further risk communication efforts surrounding
the subject. This paper explores current statistics and risk assessments exposed through several
scholarly sources including The World Wildlife Fund, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
The Center for Environmental Risk Assessment, The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, and BBC
NEWS. The analysis concludes that while there are mass amounts of risk assessment information
spread throughout the web, there are still inadequacies in the risk communication efforts due to
limited media coverage, inadequate public outreach and discoverability. In combination with
limited media coverage, failure to properly adapt to critical audiences results in further failure of
adequate risk communication success. In response, recommendations for improving media
coverage and risk communication efforts will be suggested, including incorporation of the
Theory of Planned Behavior and Slovic’s Psychometric Paradigm.
Keywords: industrialism, human-induced changes, environment, risk communication, global
crisis, Theory of Planned Behavior, Slovic’s Psychometric Paradigm

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Introduction
Since the proliferation of human industrialism and capitalism, there have been many
disturbances that have occurred to the environment due to human-induced changes. The impact
of these human induced environmental changes is still currently a risk topic that is widely
debated in its severity and reach, yet there is substantial evidence indicating signs of global crisis
ensuing. As the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), states, “Global
production and consumption patterns are destroying our life support system – nature – at
persistent and dangerously high rates” (IUCN, 2014, para. 1). So, to clarify humans are
destroying the very thing we rely on to keep us alive. Thus, if nature conservation and a decrease
in pollution and consumption patterns do not occur then it will eventually put not just the
environment, but us humans at extreme risk too. Many people are largely unaware of all of the
human-induced disturbances that are occurring, so they obviously do not know of the traumatic
final consequences that will affect everyone in the end. This unawareness is due to a number of
things from pure ignorance to a lack of knowledge and media coverage on the subject, etc.
Background & Importance
The purpose of this proposal is to present the risk assessment subject of human-induced
environmental changes. We are destroying the world we live in by disturbing the natural
ecosystems with our gluttonous desires and transfixions. Wildlife and plant populations in many
habitats are becoming increasingly affected by human-induced changes to the landscape, or to a
species itself. Much of the rainforests have been destroyed, as well as oceans polluted, species
run out of their natural habitats, genetic modification of organisms (GMO’s), chemical usage,
poaching and much more all due to some humans doing whatever they can to get what they want
(Shah, 1998). It may not be overly apparent to everyone now, however this destruction of nature
will eventually come back to bite us. Every creature has its place in nature, so by killing off one

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species, it affects another, and then that one another, and so forth. It is not only the wildlife that
is at risk however. There are also people at risk from these human-induced environmental
changes, who are from indigenous cultures and rural areas where their livelihoods and cultures
are heavily dependent on the natural resources that are being depleted (World Wildlife Fund
Global [WWF Global], 2014). We are a lot more connected to nature than many make it seem.
According to the IUCN, the largest and oldest global environmental network, “More than 40% of
the world’s oxygen comes from rainforests, 50% of chemical medicines are based on nature, and
100% of our food comes from nature” (2014). We depend on nature to sustain us, and these facts
prove so. So, we need to make sure that we make sure the planet itself remains sustained and
strong. Many are not aware of this building crisis with somewhat limited media coverage, but we
need more people to take heed in conserving the environment before it is too late. There is major
environmental risk in many of our daily actions that has only been assessed and shared with a
small community. For instance, some major oil spills are shared, such as the 2010 BP oil spill,
but then a lot of the bad aftermath from the spill that is affecting the Gulf of Mexico’s wildlife is
not widely presented. Overall, a very limited amount of detrimental natural occurrences caused
by human globalization are covered by mainstream media. Thus, I will further research the risk
of human-induced environmental changes so I may present my community with information to
make them more aware of the resulting consequences of this issue. I will present preliminary
findings on currently ongoing risk assessment on the topic, as well as possible solutions for
creating greater awareness of the issue through public media and communications.
Initial Findings
The damage that humans have put upon the Earth’s natural environment thus far is
already of a high degree. “According to a report from the global conservation organization,

5. HUMAN-INDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCES 5
WWF, has suggested that since 1970 the pressure we exert on the planet has almost doubled and
the natural resources upon which we depend have declined by more than 33% (World Wildlife
Fund [WWF], 2005, para. 2).” This statistic has sadly grown since the aforementioned report by
the WWF was published. The WWF is an international non-governmental organization that
conducts environmental research, conservation and restoration. Current environmental risk
assessment is also conducted by certain governmental agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and The Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA), the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS), and others. Shah (2014) reports online through
globalissues.org that, “the corporate-led form of globalization that we see today also affects how
natural resources are used and what priorities they are used for” (Corporate Accountability
section, para. 4 ).
This depletion of natural resources is affecting some populations much more severely
than others, however it is a risk of a crisis that can affect literally everything that lives on Earth.
Particular animal and marine species have been greatly endangered, such as tigers, lions, rhinos,
penguins, polar bears, tunas, dolphins, and others due to habitat destruction/pollution and
hunting. And vast arrays of forests and woodlands have been cut down, so the creatures and
organisms that live there are affected. However, there are also many people whom have been
affected. Just to give an idea of some numbers, the WWF reported that: “80% of the world’s
undernourished people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods,” “75% of the world’s poorest
households depend directly on subsistence farming or fishing,” and “350 million people depend
on forests for their livelihoods. (WWF, n.d.)” Consequently, this immense number of people’s
livelihoods are at risk. With the overwhelming amount of data to be collected in regards to
environmental changes and conservation, it is difficult to determine an exact time frame of

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resulting impacts of the environmental degradation in the future, if things continue as is. This
risk of global environmental crisis will continue to augment as long as people are not aware of
how to properly conserve the environment and of the impact of their actions when disturbing
nature. The dying out of certain species, as well as global warming changes are not the end of
apparent damage. Research done so far to show how the problems are ongoing demonstrate the
likelihood of eventual global crisis being very high. I will rely on some credible sources from
current research information to attempt to assess exactly how well the risk of environmental
crisis from human-induced environmental disturbances and lack of conservation and proper
treatment of nature.
Media Coverage Analysis
While there has been tremendous effort from organizations and individuals to illuminate
the risk of environmental crisis from human-induced environmental changes, it is still limited.
Many of the sources that I read pertaining to the risk are through scientific journals that I find
through random pages I follow online. However, I feel as though none of the information I learn
about concerning environmental issues is from mainstream news such as television news
channels, national newspapers, radio. I have only found information related to the risk on social
media sites when I go out of my way to search for it, however when I do find sources then some
are greatly detailed. For example, one of the main sources I will use analyze media coverage of
human-induced environmental changes is the WWF’s main global organizational website
(wwf.panda.org). This is a very credible source since it is from a major independent
environmental conservation organization that has been around since 1961. The WWF’s global
website shares news articles illustrating certain ongoing risks, as well as restoration and
conservation efforts. They also work with well-known celebrities and other influential figures in

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hopes of spreading greater awareness and persuasion to join in on efforts. Surely, this aids in
funding efforts as well. The website also shares major social media plugins, like to Twitter and
Facebook, to increase their reach to a greater audience. Another credible source to refer to for
good coverage of these environmental risks is website: globalissues.org. This website consists of
a compilation of articles, links, and research concerning all sorts of social, political, ecological,
and environmental issues that affect us all (globalissues.org, 2014). Nature and animal
conservation is a main subject on the site. The information allotted to the risk that I am analyzing
is tremendous with many explanations of the environmental depletion going on in all different
areas. The main article on the nature and animal conservation has numerous subsections with
information about all different types of declining populations and the causes behind it, along
with other scholarly research on the effects of pollution, poverty and conservation, and much
more. All of the sources shared are from scholarly journals or governmental organizations, so
they are definitely credible and well-researched. Although, I previously mentioned that there is
not a lot of mainstream news coverage of the risk I am analyzing, there are some. One credible
mainstream source I will use is BBC NEWS. Online BBC NEWS (bbc.co.uk), has a science and
environment section. In this section of the website, there are quite a few articles related to the
enormous stresses which humans are inducing upon the environment. These articles also have a
wide range of the different aspects of nature which have been affected, which is helpful in
further risk assessment. I plan on using these aforementioned sources, in addition to many other
credible sources, for further analysis of human- induced environmental disturbances and the
media coverage of this risking global environmental crisis, in the rest of this report.

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Recommendations
While there have been tremendous efforts by some to cover this topic of environmental
global crisis, like from the sources aforementioned, it is still limited. Not all environmental
issues are made openly public, at least not in full elaboration of the severity of many cases. Much
of the research that I located on the topic was found by using direct search terms, and by actually
searching through scholarly databases instead of mainstream media. So, essentially since most of
the risk information of the topic must be specifically searched for, and is not on mainstream
media, it should be spread onto these popular platforms so that more people can be informed.
Not all information that is shared is good either, due to some of it being so detailed that it can
appear overwhelming. To balance these issues, risk information concerning the effect of global
consumption and production patterns on the planet’s environment should be shared on
mainstream media such as the ads on the side of Facebook, in addition to Instagram, and Twitter.
If they want to reach as many people as possible, risk communicators have to stay up to date and
utilize effective hashtags and replies, etc. Additionally, if other risk communicators wish to
illustrate human-induced environmental disturbances are a major risk then they must better
strategize by including some more effective communication practices. The first communication
technique that I think they should employ is Slovic’s Psychometric Paradigm. Since this theory
has to do with risk based on familiarity, we can use it in order to make the public familiar and
aware enough of the risk, then they may better realize the extent to which they will be affected
and will adapt to match the risk type. I also suggest trying to incorporate the Theory of Planned
Behavior as a function of personal risk assessment. Since this theory is when an individual
determines potential harm he/she faces from performing/not performing a behavior, then in this

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case the risk communicators can properly educate the public so that they can better assess the
consequences of their actions.
Conclusions
In order to gain complete understanding of the effects of human’s consumption and
production efforts on the environment, it is necessary to spread the complete details of all
evidence and statistics about human-induced environmental changes to a much wider audience.
This issue is one that in the end will affect everyone. Hypothetically, first the pollution will kill
the bees, and then unable to pollinate majority of crop life, most of those plant species will die
off, then those who depend on the crops to survive will be affected, and then those who trade or
rely on interactions with those people will be affected, and so forth. To put it simply, our
destruction will have a domino effect. The weight of our civilization must be better explained to
the world and announced more publicly instead of being hidden. Better strategizing of
communication techniques like Slovic’s Psychometric Paradigm and the Theory of Planned
Behavior will make the public more aware and empathetic about the global issue, hopefully
eliciting greater response in saving the planet from an untimely demise.

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