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Identify and explain two environmental problems that have emerged as a result of human activity, and explain how each has led to social and/or political instability.

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Final answer:

Deforestation and climate change, stemming from human activity such as logging and fossil fuel usage, lead to social tension, resource competition, and political instability, particularly affecting disenfranchised communities.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two significant environmental problems emerging from human activity are deforestation and climate change. Deforestation, often driven by the timber industry and agricultural expansion, drastically alters ecosystems, leading to soil erosion and habitat loss. Likewise, the exploitation of fossil fuels has led to climate change, which not only harms natural habitats but also precipitates extreme weather events and global social tensions.

Critical to understanding these issues is their direct impact on social and political instability. In regions affected by deforestation and pollution, such as the Amazon Basin, these environmental damages have led to competition over diminishing resources, social unrest, and even conflict. Similarly, climate change exacerbates poverty and displacement, setting the stage for political upheaval and even war, as seen in cases of environmental racism where disenfranchised communities bear the brunt of environmental degradation.

Not only do these environmental issues pose a threat to ecological integrity, but they also stand as root causes for disarray within societies, highlighting a critical link between environmental stewardship and global stability.

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