Plastic Pollution And The Sixth Extinction: A Book Review

Elizabeth Kolbert's book, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, explores the massive die-off of flora and fauna across diverse habitats, including the Panamanian rainforest, the Amazon rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, and even the author's backyard. Kolbert investigates the role of human-driven climate change and activities such as fossil fuel consumption, ocean acidification, pollution, and deforestation in causing what biologists refer to as the sixth mass extinction. The book received critical acclaim for its powerful narrative and insightful examination of the potential loss of 20 to 50 percent of all living species on Earth by the end of the 21st century.

Human-driven climate change

In "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History", Elizabeth Kolbert explores the human-driven climate change that is causing the sixth mass extinction. Kolbert, a staff writer at The New Yorker, reports from various locations around the world, including the Andes, the Amazon rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, and her backyard. She examines the impact of human activities such as fossil fuel consumption, ocean acidification, pollution, deforestation, and forced migration on the planet's biodiversity.

Kolbert notes that human-driven climate change is causing a rapid increase in global temperatures, which is having devastating effects on the Earth's ecosystems. She references the calculation by climatologist James Hansen, who found that the amount of man-made pollution in the atmosphere traps as much extra heat energy every 24 hours as would be released by the explosion of 400,000 Hiroshima-class nuclear bombs. This heat energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and the ocean, leading to a delicate balance in ecosystems worldwide.

The book also discusses the extinction of various species, such as the golden toad in Costa Rica, several frog and toad species in Central Costa Rica and northeastern Australia, and the giant short-faced kangaroo in Australia. Kolbert highlights the impact of human activities on these extinctions, such as overhunting, pollution, clear-cutting, and the transmission of alien species to new environments. She estimates that by the end of the 21st century, between 20 and 50 percent of all living species on Earth could be lost.

Through her writing, Kolbert provides a compelling and scientifically accurate account of the mass extinction unfolding before our eyes. She blends depressing facts with witty and engaging storytelling, making the book accessible and impossible to put down. "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" is a powerful and important book that addresses the most significant topic of our time—the impact of human-driven climate change on the planet's biodiversity.

The impact of human activity on the environment

In her book "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History", Elizabeth Kolbert explores the impact of human activity on the environment and the resulting mass extinction of plant and animal species. Kolbert, a staff writer at The New Yorker, blends intellectual and natural history with field reporting to create a powerful account of the sixth mass extinction, which is currently unfolding.

Kolbert's book highlights the various ways in which human activity threatens life forms. One of the key factors is fossil fuel consumption, which contributes to climate change and the warming of the planet. The author notes that the ocean has absorbed about one-third of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities, leading to ocean acidification. This, in turn, threatens the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and the life forms that depend on them, such as reef-building corals and freshwater mollusks.

Another impact of human activity is deforestation, which involves the clearing of large areas of forests, often for agricultural purposes. This leads to the destruction of habitats and the displacement of numerous plant and animal species. Deforestation also contributes to climate change, as trees absorb carbon dioxide and play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate.

Pollution is another significant way in which human activity impacts the environment. Kolbert writes about how we continue to use the world's atmosphere as a dumping ground for gaseous waste, with more than 90 million tons of waste being released daily. This pollution traps heat energy, leading to rapid warming of the atmosphere and oceans, and causing what biologists refer to as the sixth mass extinction.

In addition to these global issues, Kolbert also discusses the impact of human activity on specific habitats and organisms. She visits four continents, including the Panamanian rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, the Andes, and her own backyard, to document the "die-offs" that are occurring. Kolbert introduces the reader to species that are already extinct or facing extinction, such as the Panamanian golden frog, staghorn coral, and the Sumatran rhino.

Through her book, Kolbert aims to raise awareness about the impact of human activity on the environment and the resulting mass extinction. She estimates that between 20 and 50 percent of all living species could be lost by the end of the 21st century. Kolbert's book received critical acclaim for its compelling and enlightening account of the sixth mass extinction and its accessible and scientifically accurate narrative.

The disappearance of flora and fauna

Elizabeth Kolbert's book "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" explores the massive die-off of flora and fauna happening today, driven by human activities such as fossil fuel consumption, ocean acidification, pollution, deforestation, and forced migration. Kolbert estimates that 20-50% of all living species are at risk of disappearing by the end of the 21st century.

The book covers diverse habitats, including the Panamanian rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, the Andes, the Amazon rainforest, and even the author's backyard. Kolbert introduces a dozen species, some already extinct, such as the golden toad of Costa Rica, and others facing extinction, like the Panamian golden frog, staghorn coral, the Sumatran rhino, and the southern day frog.

Kolbert's writing is described as "eloquent" and "compelling," blending intellectual and natural history with field reporting to create a powerful account of the unfolding mass extinction. She traces the evolution of the extinction concept, from its first articulation by Georges Cuvier in revolutionary Paris to the present day.

The book highlights the impact of human activities on the planet's ecosystems, threatening the web of living species. Kolbert notes that the current extinction event, unlike previous ones, is human-driven, with activities such as pollution and clear-cutting taking a toll on flora and fauna. The book received critical acclaim, praised for its accessibility, wit, and scientific accuracy, offering a depressing yet enlightening account of the sixth extinction.

Kolbert's investigation into climate species extinction and her exploration of how human activity threatens life forms make "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" a significant contribution to the understanding of the current biodiversity crisis.

The role of pollution and fossil fuel consumption

In "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History", Elizabeth Kolbert investigates the sixth mass extinction, which is currently threatening to eliminate 20 to 50% of all living species on Earth by the end of the century. Kolbert explores how human activities such as fossil fuel consumption, ocean acidification, pollution, and deforestation threaten life forms of all kinds.

Kolbert's book highlights the impact of human-driven climate change on the planet's biodiversity. She writes about how the massive "die-offs" of animal and plant life are caused by human activities. The book covers the extinction of various species, including the Panamanian golden frog, staghorn coral, the great auk, and the Sumatran rhino.

The author's research takes her to four continents, including the Amazon rainforest, where she examines the impact of human activities on the delicate ecosystems that support a vast array of species. Kolbert also discusses the impact of pollution, noting that the world's atmosphere is used as an open sewer for the daily dumping of more than 90 million tons of gaseous waste. According to climatologist James Hansen, this man-made pollution traps as much extra heat energy every 24 hours as would be released by the explosion of 400,000 Hiroshima-class nuclear bombs. The resulting rapid warming of the atmosphere and oceans is wreaking havoc on the Earth's ecosystems, threatening the web of living species and the future of civilization.

Kolbert also addresses the impact of fossil fuel consumption, which contributes to climate change and ocean acidification. She writes about the devastating effects of deforestation, which destroys habitats and contributes to climate change. The book received critical acclaim for its blend of scientific accuracy and engaging writing, offering a compelling take on how human activities are altering the planet's ecosystems.

The future of the world

In her book "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History", Elizabeth Kolbert explores the future of the world and the current state of the planet. Kolbert, a staff writer at The New Yorker, is no stranger to reporting on issues concerning the planet. Her previous works include "Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change".

In "The Sixth Extinction", Kolbert investigates the sixth mass extinction event, which is currently unfolding and is predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time, the cataclysm is us. Human activity, such as fossil fuel consumption, ocean acidification, pollution, and deforestation, threatens life forms of all kinds. Kolbert writes, "It is estimated that one-third of all reef-building corals, a third of all freshwater mollusks, a third of sharks and rays, a quarter of all mammals, a fifth of all reptiles, and a sixth of all birds are headed toward oblivion".

The book takes the reader on a journey to four continents, documenting the massive "die-offs" of millions of years ago and those happening in the present. Kolbert's writing is described as lucid and powerful, blending intellectual and natural history with field reporting to create a compelling account of the mass extinction. She introduces the reader to a dozen species, some already extinct, and others facing extinction, including the Panamanian golden frog, staghorn coral, the great auk, and the Sumatran rhino.

Through her research, Kolbert estimates flora and fauna loss by the end of the 21st century to be between 20 and 50 percent "of all living species on Earth". This prediction is supported by other scientists, who say that up to 50 percent of all species are in danger of disappearing by the end of the century due to human-driven climate change. Kolbert also notes that the current general unawareness of this issue is similar to the widespread disbelief during the centuries preceding the late 1700s, when it was believed that prehistoric mass extinctions had never occurred.

Frequently asked questions