Why do we need to choose sustainable development?
- The economic development that we have achieved so far has come at a very heavy price - environmental quality.
- As we step into a globalized era promising more economic growth, we have to bear in mind the adverse effects of past development on the planet and choose a path of sustainable development.
Define environment.
The environment can be defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all resources. It includes biotic (living - ex. birds, animals and plants) and abiotic (non-living - ex. air, water, sunlight, rocks) factors that influence each other.
What are the 4 vital functions of the environment?
- It supplies renewable (resources that can be used without the possibility of being depleted - ex. wind, solar) and non-renewable (finite, may be depleted - ex. coal, oil) resources.
- It assimilates waste (absorbs degradation).
- It sustains life by providing genetic and bio diversity.
- It provides aesthetic services like scenery.
What is meant by the carrying capacity of the environment?
The environment can only perform its functions as long as their demand lies within the carrying capacity (the rate of extraction compared to regeneration) of the environment. This implies that the resource extraction is not above the rate of regeneration of the resource and the wastes generated are within the assimilating capacity of the environment.
What is the assimilating capacity of the enviornment?
Assimilating capacity refers to the rate at which the environment can absorb (without harm) any waste generated by the ecosystem.
What would happen if the rate of extraction is more than the rate of regeneration and the waste generated is more than the assimilating capacity of the environment?
If this situation were to occur, the environment would longer be able to sustain life and this would result in an environmental crisis.
How are the developing and rich nations contributing to the environmental crisis?
- Developing countries: The rising population is placing a huge burden on the environment.
- Rich countries: The affluent lifestyle of people in rich countries and their highly polluting production standards are also causing harm to the environment.
Both rich and poor countries are placing strain on the environment’s ability to perform its first 2 functions - provide resources and assimilate waste.
Define absorptive capacity.
Absorptive capacity refers to the environment’s ability to absorb degradation.
The opportunity costs of negative environmental impacts are high. Comment.
As a result of our past development, we are at the threshold of environmental crisis.
- Water crisis: Due our activities, we have polluted and dried up our water sources making water an economic good.
- Depletion: Our intensive extraction has to led to the depletion of vital resources.
- Expenditure on R&D: We are now compelled to spend large sums of money on technology and research to explore new alternatives.
- Health costs: Due to air and water pollution there is an increase in the incidences of respiratory and water-borne diseases.
- Increased financial commitment: Global environmental issues such as global warming and ozone depletion also contribute to the increased financial commitments of the government.
Thus, it is clear that the opportunity costs of negative environmental impacts are high.
Write a note on global warming.
Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth’s lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. It is caused by man-made increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Causes: Burning of coal and other fossil fuels, deforestation, methane gas released in animal waste, etc.
Effects: Rise is temperature, melting of polar ice caps leading to rise in sea level, extinction of various species, more frequent tropical storms, increased incidence of tropical diseases.
Are environmental problems new to this century? If so, why? (Explain demand-supply reversal)
Environmental problems have been caused due to the reversal of demand and supply relationship as a result of industrialization and an increase in population.
- In the early days, before industrialization and the population explosion, the demand for environmental resources was much lesser than their supply. i.e. Our demand was within the carrying capacity and pollution was within the absorptive capacity of the environment. Hence environmental problems did not arise.
- After the industrial revolution and population explosion, the demand for resources for both production and consumption went beyond the rate of regeneration of the resources. The pressure on the absorptive capacity of the environment grew and continues to grow.
- This is known as a demand-supply reversal. Earlier, our demand was lesser than the supply and so, the environment was able to perform its functions. That is no longer the case. Now, demand is high, but the supply of environmental resources and services is limited due to overuse and misuse. Demand is now more than supply leading to an environmental crisis.
Write a note on ozone depletion.
- Ozone depletion refers to the phenomenon of reduction in the amount of ozone present in the stratosphere. A reduction of approximately 5 per cent in the ozone layer was detected from 1979 to 1990.
- It is caused by an increased number of chlorine and bromine compounds in the air.
- These chlorine and bromine compounds are a result of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in cooling substances like air conditioners and refrigerators, or as aerosol repellants, and bromofluorocarbons (halons) used in fire extinguishers.
- As a result of the depletion of the ozone, more Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can reach the earth’s surface and cause damage to living organisms. (Skin cancer in humans and reduced phytoplankton causing damage to aquatic organisms)
- This led to worldwide concern and the adoption of the Montreal Protocol banning the use of chlorofluorocarbons as well as other ozone-depleting chemicals.
The environmental issues of waste generation and pollution have become critical today. Justify.
- Explain demand and supply reversal
2. Negative impacts / High opportunity costs points.
Comment on India’s abundant natural resources.
India’s abundant natural resources: (Any 4)
- Rich quality soil
- Hundreds of rivers and tributaries
- Lush green forests
- Mineral deposits beneath the land surface
- Vast stretch of the Indian Ocean
- Mountain ranges
- We are blessed with black solid in the Deccan plateau that is used for the cultivation of cotton and sugarcane.
- The Indo-Gangetic planes are one of the most fertile and densely cultivated areas in the world.
- Our forests provide shelter to wildlife.
- Roughly 8% of the world’s iron ore reserves are in India.
The threat to India’s environment poses a dichotomy. Comment.
- Poverty-induced environemental degradation: People stuck in poverty cannot practice modern methods of farming and thus rely on methods like shifting agriculture or slash-and-burn which is bad for the environment. They also burn wood for fuel which causes deforestation and air pollution.
- The rich: Their affluent lifestyles and a rapidly growing industrial sector pose a massive burden of demand on the environment. They generate more waste and degradation than the environment can absorb. Moreover, vehicles used for transport are also responsible for a large amount of air pollution.
What are the priority enviornmental issues identified by India?
Priority issues in India:
(i) land degradation
(ii) biodiversity loss
(iii) air pollution with special reference to vehicular pollution in urban cities
(iv) management of fresh water
(v) solid waste management.
Land in India suffers from varying degrees and types of degradation stemming mainly from unstable use and inappropriate management practices. Comment.
Degradation of land in terms of soil erosion is a serious concern in the context of environmental issues in India. According to one estimate, India is suffering soil erosion to the tune of nearly 5.3 billion tonnes a year. Implying a colossal loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are the essential ingredients of soil fertility and essential inputs of crop production.
Factors contributing to land degradation in India:
- Loss of vegetation due to desertification (due to overgrazing) and deforestation.
- Multiple cropping along with subsistence farming by the small and marginal farmers who fail to replenish the nutrients of the soil.
- Excessive use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides which raise productivity but are a challenge to soil fertility.
- Low water-table, owing to excessive use of groundwater.
- Roots hold down the fertile top soil, but, due to deforestation, the top soil can be blown away by the wind or water, leading to soil erosion.
- Soil alkalinity/salinity occurring due to water logging.
What are the rules and restrictions that the Apiko volunteers wanted the contractors and forest officials to follow?
- Locals should be consulted when trees are marked for felling.
- Trees within 100 metres of a water source should not be felled.
- Trees on a slope of 30 degrees or above should not be felled.
Write a note on air pollution in India.
- Air pollution is the presence of materials in the air in such concentrations which are harmful to humans and the environment.
- In India, air pollution is widespread in urban areas where vehicles are the major contributors and a few other areas which have a higher concentration of industries and thermal power plants.
- Vehicular emissions are ground level and thus have the most impact on the general population.
- The number of motor vehicles has increased from about 3 lakh in 1951 to 30 crores in 2019. In 2016, personal transport vehicles (two-wheeled vehicles and cars only) constituted about 85 per cent of the total number of registered vehicles thus contributing significantly to total air pollution load.
What is the CPCB?
To address water and air pollution, the government set up the ‘Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 1974. These boards investigate, collect and disseminate information regarding water, air and land pollution. They provide technical assistance to governments, create manuals, codes and guidelines and create mass awareness.
What are the challenges that India is facing due to industrialization?
Indian is among the top 10 most industrialized countries on earth. This has brought about unwanted and unanticipated consequences such as:
- Unplanned urbanisation
- Pollution
- The risk of accidents
The CPCB has identified seventeen categories of industries (large and medium scale) as significantly polluting.
Define sustainable development.
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present generation without impairing/reducing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” - Bruntland Commission, 1987
The keywords here are:
- Needs: To fulfil everyone’s basic needs, we need to reassess the distribution of resources.
- Future Generations: Without a concern for our successors, we will leave the world in a n economic and environmental crisis.
How can the present generation promote sustainable development?
The present generation can promote sustainable development by:
- Conservation of natural assets
- Preserving the regeneration capacity of the world’s ecosystem
- Avoiding the imposition of added costs and risks to the future generations
What, according to Herman Daly, needs to be done to achieve sustainable development?
- Limit the human population to a level within the carrying capacity.
- Make technological processes input efficient, not input consuming.
- Renewable resources should be extracted on a sustainable basis, that is, rate of extraction should not exceed rate of regeneration.
- For non-renewable resources rate of depletion should not exceed the rate of creation of renewable substitutes.
- Inefficiencies arising from pollution should be corrected.
