Environment and Sustainable

Development
By
Mr. Pankaj Kumar, PGT Economics, JNV Bhavnagar
Mr. Santlal Kumar, PGT Economics, JNV
Banaskantha
Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Pune Region
 Environment
 Functions of the Environment
 Basic Problems Related To Environment
 Pollution
 Types Of Pollution
 Excessive Exploitation Of Natural Resources
 Causes Of Environmental Degradation
 Global Warming
 Steps To Save Our Environment
 Sustainable development
 Features of Sustainable Development
 Strategies for Sustainable Development
 Environment
 Environment is defined as the total
planetary inheritance and the totality
of all resources. It includes all the
biotic and abiotic factors that
influence each other.
Functions of the
Environment
1. Supply of Resources
Functions of the
Environment
2. It assimilates waste
 Functions of the
Environment
It sustains life by providing
3.

genetic and bio diversity

 Functions of the
Environment
4 . It also provides aesthetic
services like scenery
Basic Problems Related To
Environment
The two main problems related to environment
are:-
 Problem of Pollution
 Problem of excessive Exploitation of Natural
Resources
Pollution

 Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into

the natural environment that cause adverse
change.
 Pollution can take the form of chemical
substances or energy, such as noise, heat or
light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can
be either foreign substances/energies or naturally
occurring contaminants.
 Air
Pollution
Types of Water
Pollution Pollution
Noise
Pollution
 Air Pollution
 Air pollution is the introduction
Of particulates, biological molecules, or
other harmful materials into Earth's
atmosphere, causing diseases, death to
humans, damage to other living organisms
such as animals and food crops, or
the natural or built environment.
 Air pollution may come
from anthropogenic or natural sources.
 Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air
pollution has been recognized as a threat
to human health as well as to the
Earth's ecosystems.
 Causes of Air pollution
1. Burning of Fossil Fuels
2. Agricultural activities
3. Use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers
4. Exhaust from factories and industries
5. Mining operations
6. Smoke from vehicles
Water Pollution
 The contamination of water bodies in
simplest words means water pollution.
Thereby the abuse of lakes, ponds, oceans,
rivers, reservoirs etc is water pollution.
 Pollution of water occurs when substances
that will modify the water in negative fashion
are discharged in it. This discharge of
pollutants can be direct as well as indirect.
Causes of Water Pollution

1. Industrial waste
2. Sewage and waste water
3. Mining activities
4. Marine dumping
 Noise Pollution
 Noise pollution takes place when there is either
excessive amount of noise or an unpleasant sound
that causes temporary disruption in the natural
balance.
 Our environment is such that it has become
difficult to escape noise.
 Even electrical appliances at home have a
constant hum or beeping sound. By and large,
lack of urban planning increases the exposure to
unwanted sounds
 Causes of Noise Pollution
1. Industrialization
2. Poor Urban Planning
3. Social Events
4. Transportation
5. Construction Activities
6. Household Chores
Excessive Exploitation Of
Natural Resources
It mainly includes :-
 Deforestation
 Degradation Of Soil
 Deforestation
 Deforestation is the removal of a forest or
stand of trees where the land is thereafter
converted to a non-forest use.
 Examples of deforestation include conversion
of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use.
 Tropical rainforests is where the most
concentrated deforestation occurs.
 Almost 30% of the world is covered by
forests, excluding water mass.
 Causes of
Deforestation
1. Agricultural Activities: As earlier
mentioned in the overview, agricultural
activities are one of the major factors
affecting deforestation.
 Due to overgrowing demand for food
products, huge amount of tress are fell
down to grow crops and for cattle gazing.
2. Logging: Apart from this, wood based
industries like paper, match-sticks,
furniture etc also need a substantial
amount of wood supply.
 Wood is used as fuel both directly and
indirectly, therefore trees are chopped for
supplies. Firewood and charcoal are
examples of wood being used as fuel.
 Some of these industries thrive on illegal
wood cutting and felling of trees.
 Soil Degradation
 Soil degradation is the decline in soil quality
caused by its improper use, usually for
agricultural, pastural, industrial or urban
purposes.
 Soil degradation is a serious global environmental
problem and may be exacerbated by climate
change.
 It encompasses physical, chemical and biological
deterioration.
Causes Of Environmental
Degradation
1. Land Disturbance

2. Pollution
3. Overpopulation
4. Landfills
5. Deforestation
6. Natural Causes
 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 green
house gases since the Industrial Revolution.
 Much of the recent observed and projected global
warming is human-induced. It is caused by man-
made increases in carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil
fuels and deforestation.
 Adding carbon dioxide, methane and such other
gases to the atmosphere with no other changes
will make our planet’s surface warmer. The
atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and
CH4 have increased by 31 per cent and 149 per
cent respectively above pre-industrial levels since
Causes of Global
Warming
It occurs due to greenhouse gases (carbon
dioxide, methane and other gases which have the
capacity to absorb heat) through burning of fossil
fuels (coal and petroleum) and deforestation
(increases the carbon dioxide level in
atmosphere).
 Much of the recent observed and projected global
warming is human induced.
 The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide
and methane have increased by 31% and 149%
respectively above pre-industrial level since 1750.
 Different effects of
global warming:
 During the past century, the atmospheric
temperature has risen by 1.10° F (0.60° C).
 Melting of polar ice resulting in increase in sea
level (during the past century, sea level has risen
by several inches) and the risk of coastal flooding
has increased.
 Disruption of drinking water supplies dependent
of snow melts.
 Extinction of species.
 More frequent tropical storms.
 Increased incidence of tropical diseases.
Ozone Depletion
It refers to the phenomenon
of reductions in the amount
of ozone layer in the
stratosphere.
Causes of Ozone
Depletion
It is caused by high levels of chlorine and
bromine compounds in the stratosphere.
Origin of these compounds are Chloro
flurocarbons (CFCs), used as cooling
substances in air conditioners and
refrigerators or as aerosol propellants
and bromofluro-carbons (halons) used in
fire extinguishers.
Effects of Ozone Depletion

 More ultraviolet radiation comes to

Earth causing damage to living
organisms, skin cancer in humans, low
production of phytoplankton affecting
aquatic organisms.
 Influences the growth of terrestrial
plants.
Steps To Save Our
Environment
 Social Awareness
 Population Control
 Enforcement Of Environment Conservation
Act
 A forestation Campaign
 Control Over Pollution
 Water Management
 Management Of Solid Waste
 Improvement Of Housing
 Sustainable development (SD) is a process for
meeting human development goals while maintaining
the ability of natural systems to continue to provide
the natural resources and ecosystem services upon
which the economy and society depend.
 Sustainable development is the organizing principle for
sustaining finite resources necessary to provide for the
needs of future generations of life on the planet.
 Sustainable development is development that
meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
Features of Sustainable
Development
 Sustained rise in Real Per Capita Income and
Economic Welfare
 Rational Use Of Natural Resources
 No Reduction Inability of Future Generation
 Check Over Pollution
Strategies for Sustainable
Development
1. Use of Non-conventional Sources of Energy
2. LPG or Gobar Gas in Rural Areas
3. CNG in Urban Areas
Strategies for Sustainable
Development
4. Solar Power Through Photovoltaic Cells
5. Bio Composting
6. Wind Power
Strategies for Sustainable
Development
7. Mini-Hydel Plants
8. Traditional Knowledge and Practices
9. Bio-pest Control
Conferences and Reports on
the Environment

 UN activity in the field of environment has been

driven by major conferences and reports.
 UN Conference on the Human Environment (1972)
 World Commission on Environment and
Development (1987)
 United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (1992)
 General Assembly Special Session on the
Environment (1997)
 World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)
 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (2012)
 UN Sustainable Development Summit (2015)
 (1972)
 Economic and Social Council resolution of 30 July
1968 recommended the General Assembly consider
convening a UN conference on problems of the human
environment.
 Conference convened by General Assembly
resolution of 3 December 1968
 Held in Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972
 Led to the establishment of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP)
World Commission on Environment
and Development (1987)

 Established by General Assembly resolution of 19

December 1983.
 Prepared a report for General Assembly in 1987.
 Based on a four-year study.
 Entitled Our Common Future, also known as
the Brundtland report.
 Developed the theme of sustainable
development.
United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development
(1992)
 Convened by General Assembly resolution of 20
December 1988.
 Held in Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992.
 Known at the time as the Earth Summit.
 Later came to be called the Rio Conference.
 Led to the establishment of the Commission on
Sustainable Development.
General Assembly Special Session
on the Environment (1997)
 Called for by General Assembly resolutions.
 Known as the Earth Summit +5.
 19th special session of the General Assembly.
 Held in New York, 23-27 June 1997.
 Review of the implementation of Agenda 21.
 Outcome document: General Assembly
resolution of 27 June 1997, Programme for the
Further Implementation of Agenda 21.
World Summit on Sustainable
Development (2002)

 Convened by General Assembly resolution of 20

December 2000
 Also known as Rio +10
 Held in Johannesburg, 26 August - 4 September
2002
 Reviewed progress in the implementation of
Agenda 21 since its adoption in 1992
 Outcome document: includes:
 Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable
Development
 Plan of Implementation
 Called for by General Assembly resolution 66/197
UN Conference on
Sustainable
 Known as Rio+20 Development (2012)
 Held in Rio de Janeiro, 20-22 June 2012
 Rio +20 website
 Outcome document: includes "The future we
want"
UN Sustainable Development
Summit (2015)
 Convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the
General Assembly
 New York, 25 - 27 September 2015
 Outcome document: includes "Transforming our
world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development"
 Goal 1: No Poverty
 Goal 2: Zero Hunger  Goal 10: Reducing Inequalities
 Goal 3: Good Health and Well- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and
Being for People Communities
 Goal 4: Quality Education  Goal 12: Responsible
 Consumption and Production
Goal 5: Gender Equality
 Goal 13: Climate Action
 Goal 6: Clean Water and
Sanitation  Goal 14: Life Below Water
 Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Goal 15: Life on Land
Energy  Goal 16: Peace, Justice and
 Goal 8: Decent Work and Strong Institutions
Economic Growth  Goal 17: Partnerships for the
 Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, Goals
and Infrastructure