Unit 1. Introduction to environmental studies.pdf
- 1. Unit 1 – Introduction to Environmental Studies Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; Components of Environment: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere Scope and importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable development; Brief history of Environmentalism Dr. Nawin Kumar Tiwary Assistant Professor Department of Environmental Studies Indraprastha College for Women University of Delhi
- 2. Environment ‘Environment’ is a term derived from the Latin word ‘Environ’ that means ‘to surround’. As per Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, environment includes all the physical and biological surroundings of an organism along with their interactions. Environment is “the sum total of water, air and land and the inter-relationships that exist among them and with the human beings, other living organisms and materials.”
- 4. Sustainable development Sustainable development is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition was given in Brundtland Commission Report, ‘‘Our Common Future’’, by the Norwegian Prime Minister, G.H. Brundtland, who was also the Director of World Health Organisation (WHO). History: A clear discussion on sustainable development emerged on an international level in 1992, in the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), popularly known as The Earth Summit, held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Rio Declaration aims at “a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new levels of cooperation among states ….” Out of its five significant agreements Agenda-21 proposes a global programme of action on sustainable development in social, economic and political context for the 21st century. This was followed by UN World Summit on Sustainable Develpment (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002 which emphasized on national strategies for sustainable development.
- 5. Sustainable development The key aspects for sustainable development are: (a) Inter-generational equity: This emphasizes that we should minimize any adverse impacts on resources and environment for future generations i.e. we should hand over a safe, healthy and resourceful environment to our future generations. This can be possible only if we stop over-exploitation of resources, reduce waste discharge and emissions and maintain ecological balance. (b) Intra-generational equity: This emphasizes that the development processes should seek to minimize the wealth gaps within and between nations. The Human Development Report of United Nations (2001) emphasizes that the benefits of technology should seek to achieve the goals of intra-generational equity. The technology should address the problems of the developing countries, producing drought tolerant varieties for uncertain climates, vaccines for infectious diseases, clean fuels for domestic and industrial use. This type of technological development will support the economic growth of the poor countries and help in narrowing the wealth gap and lead to sustainability.
- 7. Measures for Sustainable Development (i) Using appropriate technology, the one which is locally adaptable, eco-friendly, resource efficient and culturally suitable. It mostly involves local resources and local labour. Indigenous technologies are more useful, cost-effective and sustainable. (ii) Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle approach: The 3-R approach advocating minimization of resource use, using them again and again instead of passing it on to the waste stream and recycling the materials goes a long way in achieving the goals of sustainability. It reduces pressure on our resources as well as reduces waste generation and pollution. (iii) Promoting environmental education and awareness: Making environmental education the centre of all learning process will greatly help in changing the thinking pattern and attitude of people towards our earth and the environment (iv) Resource utilization as per carrying capacity: Any system can sustain a limited number of organisms on a long-term basis which is known as its carrying capacity. In case of human beings, the carrying capacity concept becomes all the more complex. It is because unlike other animals, human beings, not only need food to live, but need so many other things to maintain the quality of life. In order to attain sustainability it is very important to utilize the resources based upon the above two properties of the system. Consumption should not exceed regeneration and changes should not be allowed to occur beyond the tolerance capacity of the system. (v) Improving quality of life including social, cultural and economic dimensions: Development should not focus just on one section of already affluent people. Rather it should include sharing of benefits between the rich and the poor.
- 8. Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies Environmental science looks at our surroundings, including how we view, interpret, fit into, interact with, and alter our surroundings. Bearing ecological principles at its core, environmental science draws and integrates inputs from different disciplines in science, social science and humanities. For examples: - Zoologists study animals, - Botanists study plants, - Ecologists study how plants and animals interact with their environment, - Geologists study the formation, history, structure, and physical composition of the earth, - Chemists study the composition of both living, and non living materials, and the reactions controlling the distribution of materials, - Social scientists and economists study how we use and interact with our environment, - Philosophers examine how we value our environment, -Journalists describe and interpret our environment, and illustrators show us our environment. Because, the environment is complex and actually made up of many different environments, including natural, constructed and cultural environments, environmental studies is the inter- disciplinary examination of how biology, geology, politics policy studies, law, geology, religion engineering, chemistry and economics combine to inform the consideration of humanity’s effects on the natural world.
- 9. Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies This subject educates the students to appreciate the complexity of environmental issues and citizens and experts in many fields. By studying environmental science, students may develop a breadth of the interdisciplinary and methodological knowledge in the environmental fields that enables them to facilitate the definition and solution of environmental problems.
- 10. Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies Ex: Air Pollution: Environmental issue/topics Major subject/ Topic knowledge required Nature and reaction of air pollutants Chemistry and Chemical engineering Effects of air pollutants on human beings, animal and plants Zoology and botany and various branches of life science. Physics and Chemistry Effect of air pollutants on materials Meteorology, Thermodynamics, Geography Effect of climate on air pollution Mathematical modeling, etc. Air pollution control devices Physics, chemistry and various branches of Engineering History of air pollution and air pollution episodes History Economic impacts of air pollution Economics, Demography Sociological impacts of air pollution Sociology Alternative fuels Various branches of physical sciences Conservation of resources and pollution control Various branches of physical and political sciences Ozone hole and global warming Almost all fields under the sun have got something to contribute to the understanding and prevention of this phenomenon.
- 11. Brief history of Environmentalism International Efforts for Environment Environmental issues received international attention about 35 years back in Stockholm Conference, held on 5th June, 1972. Since then we celebrate World Environment Day on 5th June. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro, in 1992, known popularly as Earth Summit, and ten years later, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held at Johannesburg in 2002, key issues of global environmental concern were highlighted. Attention of general public was drawn towards the deteriorating environmental conditions all over the world.
- 12. Brief history of Environmentalism Contemporary Indian Environmentalists in Environmental Awareness Justice Kuldeep Singh, known popularly as the green judge and Sh. M.C. Mehta, the green advocate, who have immensely contributed to the cause of environment. Sh. Sunderlal Bahuguna, known for his ‘Chipko movement’ and ‘Tehri Bachao Andolan’ Smt. Medha Patkar and Ms. Arundhati Roy known for their ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ The Magsaysay awardee Sh. Rajender Singh known for his water conservation efforts are some such contemporary figures. Dr. Salim Ali was a renowned ornithologist, famous for his work on Indian birds. In modern India, late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi was instrumental in introducing the concept of environmental protection in the Constitution of India as a fundamental duty Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, former environment minister, has worked a lot for the cause of wildlife protection. Citizen’s report on environment was first published by late Sh. Anil Aggarwal, the founder Chairman of Centre for Science & Environment. Even with many such key persons leading the cause to environment, India is yet to achieve a lot in this field.