Environment refers to those factors that affect the living world as a whole and the ecosystems within that world. There are five elements in particular that form the basis for this. The first element is light, which includes the sun, the light that reaches us and everything in between. The second element is water, the liquid that we breathe and that affects the air around us and even the plants and animals on our planet. The third element is the heat, the heat that radiates from objects and warms us up and the fourth is gravity, the force that keeps the planets in formation and the other major elements that influence the Earth’s crust and atmosphere.

The natural environment or non-living world encompasses all living things and non-living objects existing in nature, which means outside of human intervention. The word is usually used to describe the Earth or any specific portions of Earth. However, it can also cover the aspects of our life on Earth such as the oceans, plants, trees, fish, birds, insects, etc. While we cannot see everything, we can observe the effects of the environment on the earth through scientific research. It encompasses the four components mentioned above and can be seen in visible forms such as the weather, clouds, lightning, and the sun.

In short, the natural environment comprises all living things and non-renewable resources such as oil, coal, gas, timber, natural gas, water, and salt. In comparison, the human-influenced environment includes all people, animals, machines, and concepts. This is why we need to conserve our non-renewable resources such as energy, water, and petroleum. In order to sustain the natural environment, many strategies need to be employed. These include recycling, reusing, and minimizing the use of non-renewable resources.