How has human land use impacted the environment? the answer is for anyone who needs it Ways that humans impact the environment is pollution and deforestation which can cause global warming and mass extinction. When humans pollute the earth they slowly start to cause global warming. When we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity, drive our cars, and power our lives we release heat trapping gasses into the atmosphere which slowly makes the world warmer. Deforestation get rid of some of our oxygen supply but it also can lead to mass extinction. When we cut down and burn trees it gets rid of animals homes. If the animals homes get destroyed they are forced to compete with other animals for their survival. Therefor one animal will survive while the other one dies and if this process occurs frequently it leads to many animals going extinct.