Human activities that significantly contribute to ecosystem stress are called proximate human causes. For example, agricultural practices significantly contribute to nutrient over–enrichment in the Gulf of Mexico, which fuels hypoxic conditions that threaten the suitability of waters for swimming and drinking, cause fishery declines, and precipitate clogged pipes and loss of recreational opportunities.
Human activities that act as proximate causes of ecosystem stress are driven by a complex of social variables referred to as social drivers. Social drivers include values, attitudes, and beliefs that motivate human behavior; demographic changes; market dynamics; organizational structures; equity issues; political dynamics; regulatory mechanisms; and technological innovations.
