Environment And Sustainable Development - Class 11 Economics - Chapter 7 - Notes, NCERT Solutions & Extra Questions
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What is meant by environment?
Environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all resources. It includes all the biotic (living elements such as birds, animals, plants, forests, and fisheries) and abiotic factors (non-living elements such as air, water, land, rocks, and sunlight) that influence each other. A study of the environment calls for a study of the inter-relationship between these biotic and abiotic components.
What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?
When the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration, several critical issues arise:
1. Resource Depletion: Non-renewable resources like fossil fuels get exhausted with extraction, and even renewable resources like forests and fisheries can become depleted if used irresponsibly.
2. Environmental Degradation: The environment loses its ability to assimilate wastes and support life, leading to deteriorating air, water, and soil quality.
3. Loss of Biodiversity: Over-extraction can lead to habitat destruction, which, in turn, threatens plant and animal species with extinction.
4. Economic Consequences: Essential resources become scarce, driving up costs and necessitating significant investment in alternative resources and technologies.
5. Health Impacts: Degraded environmental quality leads to increased incidence of diseases, thus escalating healthcare costs.
6. Global Challenges: Accelerated resource depletion contributes to broader global issues like climate change and global warming, compounding the crisis at a planetary scale.
Classify the following into renewable and non-renewable resources (i) trees (ii) fish (iii) petroleum (iv) coal (v) iron-ore (vi) water.
Renewable Resources:
1. Trees – Trees are considered a renewable resource because they can regrow and reproduce naturally over relatively short periods, assuming sustainable forestry practices are followed.
2. Fish – Fish are also renewable as long as fishing practices are sustainable and do not exceed the natural reproduction rates and carrying capacity of the aquatic environments.
3. Water – Water is a renewable resource through the natural water cycle involving processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. However, local availability can sometimes be a concern.
Non-Renewable Resources:
1. Petroleum – Petroleum is a non-renewable resource because it forms over millions of years from the remains of ancient organisms and cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
2. Coal – Like petroleum, coal is a non-renewable resource formed over geological timescales from plant material and cannot be regenerated within a short period.
3. Iron-ore – Iron-ore is non-renewable, as it is a finite mineral deposit that does not regenerate once extracted and utilized.
Two major environmental issues facing the world today are ____________and ___________ .
Two major environmental issues facing the world today are global warming and resource depletion.
How do the following factors contribute to the environmental crisis in India? What problem do they pose for the government?
(i) Rising population
(ii) Air pollution
(iii) Water contamination
(iv) Affluent consumption standards
(v) Illiteracy
(vi) Industrialisation
(vii) Urbanisation
(viii) Reduction of forest coverage
(ix) Poaching, and
(x) Global warming.
Rising population increases resource demand, stressing environmental capacity. Air pollution from vehicles and industries worsens respiratory health. Water contamination affects drinking water and aquatic life. Affluent consumption standards lead to excessive resource use and waste. Illiteracy hampers environmental awareness and sustainable practices. Industrialisation causes pollution and resource depletion. Urbanisation strains infrastructure and increases waste. Reduction of forest coverage leads to biodiversity loss and climate impact. Poaching threatens wildlife species. Global warming exacerbates weather extremes and sea level rise. These factors create complex challenges for the government, necessitating multifaceted policies for sustainable development, pollution control, resource management, and public education.
What are the functions of the environment?
The environment performs four vital functions:
1. Supplies Resources: It provides both renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources, like trees and fish, can replenish themselves, while non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels, deplete upon use.
2. Assimilates Waste: It absorbs and recycles waste material generated by human and natural activities.
3. Sustains Life: It maintains the genetic and biological diversity that is crucial for various life forms.
4. Provides Aesthetic Services: It offers scenic natural beauty and recreational spaces which contribute to human well-being.
These functions are crucial for maintaining the balance and health of our planet, supporting human and ecological life.
Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.
Six factors contributing to land degradation in India include:
1. Loss of Vegetation: This occurs due to deforestation driven by industrial, agricultural, and urban expansion.
2. Unsustainable Fuel Wood and Fodder Extraction: Excessive collection depletes forest resources.
3. Shifting Cultivation: Continuous cultivation in the same land leads to loss of soil fertility.
4. Indiscriminate Use of Agro-Chemicals: Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides contaminates soil and water bodies.
5. Improper Crop Rotation: Failure to rotate crops exhausts soil nutrients.
6. Improper Planning and Management of Irrigation Systems: Poor irrigation practices lead to waterlogging and salinization.
These factors have variously led to soil erosion, reduction in land productivity, and environmental degradation.
Explain how the opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high.
The opportunity costs of negative environmental impacts are high primarily because of the substantial economic, health, and ecological expenditures required to mitigate these effects. Resources like water and clean air become scarce due to pollution, leading governments and communities to spend heavily on technology and infrastructure to provide clean alternatives. Additionally, health costs surge due to diseases linked to poor environmental quality, placing a financial burden on both healthcare systems and families. Moreover, the degradation of ecosystems necessitates restoration projects, which are often costly and complex. Finally, economic activities, such as tourism and agriculture, suffer significant losses when natural aesthetics and biodiversity decline. Thus, pursuing unsustainable development has far-reaching economic implications.
Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.
Sustainable development in India involves a series of targeted actions aimed at preserving the environment while promoting economic growth:
1. Use of Non-Conventional Energy Sources: Promoting non-conventional sources like wind, solar, and biomass energy to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
2. Promotion of LPG and Gobar Gas in Rural Areas: Replacing traditional fuels with cleaner alternatives like LPG and biogas to prevent deforestation and reduce air pollution.
3. Implementation of CNG in Urban Transport: Encouraging the use of Compressed Natural Gas in public transport to mitigate urban air pollution.
4. Development of Mini-hydel and Solar Projects: Utilizing India’s geographical advantages to harness small-scale hydroelectric and solar energy.
5. Revival of Traditional Practices and Knowledge: Reintegrating traditional and local knowledge into practices like agriculture and healthcare to ensure environmentally sustainable practices.
6. Biocomposting and Biopest Control: Adopting organic waste management and natural pest control methods to reduce the use of chemical inputs in agriculture.
India has abundant natural resources - substantiate the statement.
India is indeed rich in natural resources which can be substantiated by the diversity and abundance found across the country. Rich soil quality supports diverse agricultural production, with regions like the Indo-Gangetic plains and Deccan Plateau being highly fertile. Additionally, India has a vast array of water resources with hundreds of rivers and tributaries, essential for agriculture, power generation, and drinking purposes.
The country also boasts significant mineral deposits, ranking high in global reserves of iron ore and possessing other minerals like bauxite, copper, and manganese. Forests in India contribute to biodiversity while also providing raw materials and environmental benefits. These examples underscore the breadth of natural resources across India, affirming its richness in this regard.
Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so, why?
No, the environmental crisis is not a recent phenomenon, but the severity and global recognition of the issues have intensified recently. In early human civilization, the demand for environmental resources was much lower than their supply, ensuring pollution stayed within the environment's absorptive capacity and resource extraction remained within regeneration rates. However, the modern environmental crisis emerged due to the population explosion, industrial revolution, and escalating resource demands that outpaced natural regeneration rates. Currently, this reversal in the supply-demand relationship means that we have amplified demand with limited supply, leading to critical levels of waste generation and pollution, thus making environmental issues particularly severe today.
Give two instances of
(a) Overuse of environmental resources
(b) Misuse of environmental resources.
(a) Overuse of Environmental Resources:
1. Deforestation: Extensive removal of trees to make way for agricultural activities, urban expansion, or timber extraction leading to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and disrupted ecosystems.
2. Overfishing: Excessive fishing in various bodies of water, exceeding the natural regenerating capacity of fish populations, which disrupts marine life balance and leads to the depletion of key species within these ecosystems.
(b) Misuse of Environmental People:
1. Improper Chemical Waste Disposal: Industries discharging toxic chemicals and pollutants directly into the environment (rivers, soils, air) without proper treatment, leading to pollution, health hazards, and degradation of natural habitats.
2. Land Mismanagement: Utilizing agricultural practices that degrade soil health through excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, leading to reduced soil fertility, increased salinization, and contamination of water sources.
State any four pressing environmental concerns of India.
India faces several pressing environmental concerns that urgently need to be addressed. The four key issues include:
- Land Degradation: Stemming from deforestation, unsustainable land use, improper crop rotation, and overuse of chemical fertilizers, land degradation in India results in loss of fertile soil and diminished agricultural productivity.
- Biodiversity Loss: Due to habitat destruction, pollution, overuse of resources, and invasive species, biodiversity in India is under severe threat, which impacts ecosystem balance and functionality.
- Air Pollution: Predominantly in urban areas, air pollution is driven by vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and burning of fossil fuels, leading to severe health issues and deterioration of air quality.
- Water Pollution and Management: Contamination of water bodies from industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and improper waste disposal poses significant challenges for maintaining safe drinking water supplies and aquatic life health.
These concerns highlight the need for sustainable and effective environmental management strategies in India to ensure environmental health and safety.
Correction for environmental damages involves opportunity costs - explain.
Opportunity costs for environmental corrections arise when resources invested in repairing, preserving, or enhancing the environment could have been used elsewhere in the economy. Addressing environmental damages often requires significant financial input, such as investing in cleaner technologies, enforcing regulations, or restoring ecosystems. These funds might otherwise have been allocated to immediate socioeconomic needs like healthcare, education, or infrastructure. Additionally, economic activities might need to be limited or modified, potentially reducing economic growth or profitability in the short term to achieve long-term sustainability. Therefore, every investment in environmental correction has an opportunity cost linked to the benefits forgone from alternative uses of those resources.
Explain how the supply-demand reversal of environmental resources account for the current environmental crisis.
The supply-demand reversal in environmental resources significantly contributes to the current environmental crisis. Initially, the demand for environmental resources and services was well within their supply capacity, which meant minimal environmental impact. However, due to an explosion in population and rampant industrialization, the demand has surged beyond the environment's regenerative capacity. Resources are being consumed at a rate faster than their natural replenishment, leading to depletion and degradation, while waste production exceeds the environment's assimilative capacity. This mismatch, where the demand far outstrips the limited supply due to overuse and misuse, is a fundamental trigger for the variety of environmental problems we face today, ranging from pollution to resource scarcity.
Highlight any two serious adverse environmental consequences of development in India. India's environmental problems pose a dichotomy - they are poverty induced and, at the same time, due to affluence in living standards - is this true?
Two serious adverse environmental consequences of development in India are deforestation and air pollution. Deforestation, largely driven by agricultural expansion, timber extraction, and infrastructure development, has led to significant biodiversity loss and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Air pollution, especially in urban areas, primarily results from vehicular emissions and industrial activities, causing severe health issues and reducing air quality dramatically.
Indeed, India's environmental issues present a dichotomy of being caused by both poverty and affluence. Poverty leads to overuse of natural resources for survival, such as over-farming and reliance on wood for fuel, which degrade the environment. Conversely, affluence increases consumption and waste production, intensifying pollution and resource depletion, underlining the complex nature of India's environmental challenges.
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is development that ensures the needs of the current generation are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It emphasizes a balance between economic growth and the preservation of environmental quality. The concept underscores the importance of managing natural resources prudently and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits.
Sustainable development calls for enhanced living standards for the poor while limiting environmental degradation and promoting the efficient use of resources. This form of development integrates economic, social, and environmental policies in order to achieve reduced poverty, sustained economic growth, and environmental protection. Conservation of nature, preserving the regenerative capacity of the Earth, and making sure future generations inherit a safe and rich natural environment are central aims.
Keeping in view your locality, describe any four strategies of sustainable development.
In my locality, sustainable development strategies focus on preserving the environment while promoting economic growth. Use of Solar Energy is prominent, with many households and businesses installing solar panels to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy and decrease carbon emissions. Water Conservation practices, such as rainwater harvesting and the use of water-efficient fixtures, are encouraged to combat water scarcity. Waste Management initiatives have been strengthened, promoting recycling and composting to minimize landfill use and reduce pollution. Lastly, there is a strong push for Green Transportation, with incentives for using public transport, cycling, and walking, alongside infrastructure development for electric vehicles to curb air pollution. These strategies collectively aim to create a sustainable future for the locality.
Explain the relevance of intergenerational equity in the definition of sustainable development.
The concept of sustainable development hinges significantly on intergenerational equity, which emphasizes the responsibility of the current generation to manage and conserve resources for future generations. This principle is enshrined in the widely accepted definition of sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
The emphasis on not compromising the future potential underscores the ethical obligation to ensure that future generations inherit an environment and access to resources that are no less than what we enjoy today. By embedding intergenerality equity, sustainable development advocates for a balanced and equitable resource distribution that spans both current and future needs, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability and welfare.
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Comprehensive Class 11 Notes on Environment and Sustainable Development
Introduction
Definition and Importance of Environment
The environment refers to the natural world encompassing all living and non-living elements. It includes biotic components like plants, animals, and microorganisms, and abiotic components such as air, water, and soil. The environment is crucial as it supports life, offers resources, and maintains ecological balance.
The Relationship Between Environment and Economic Development
Economic development often leads to environmental degradation due to resource exploitation and pollution. Thus, it is essential to balance economic activities with the conservation of the environment to achieve sustainable development.
Overview of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is a holistic approach that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It focuses on equitable resource distribution and long-term environmental health.
Environment: Definition and Functions
What is the Environment?
The environment is the sum of all external conditions and influences affecting the life and development of organisms. These include both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
Biotic and Abiotic Components
Biotic components consist of:
- Plants
- Animals
- Microorganisms
Abiotic components consist of:
- Air
- Water
- Soil
- Sunlight
Functions of the Environment
- Supply of Resources: Includes renewable resources like forests and fish, and non-renewable resources like fossil fuels.
- Waste Assimilation: The environment absorbs and neutralises pollutants.
- Life Support through Genetic and Bio-diversity: Sustains various life forms by providing habitats and maintaining biodiversity.
- Aesthetic Value: Offers scenic beauty and recreational spaces.
Environmental Degradation and Resource Depletion
Causes of Environmental Degradation
- Industrialisation
- Deforestation
- Overuse of chemicals
- Pollution
Effects of Resource Depletion
- Loss of biodiversity
- Soil erosion
- Water scarcity
- Air and water pollution
The Link Between Degradation and Development
Economic development often leads to environmental degradation due to increased resource extraction and pollution. Balancing development with environmental conservation is crucial for sustainable growth.
Major Environmental Challenges in India
Air Pollution
Increased vehicle emissions and industrial activities contribute significantly to air pollution.
Water Contamination
Pollution from industrial effluents and agricultural run-off contaminates water bodies, posing health risks.
Soil Erosion and Deforestation
Deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices lead to soil erosion and loss of fertile land.
Biodiversity Loss
Human activities like habitat destruction and pollution lead to the extinction of species and loss of biodiversity.
Global Environmental Issues
Global Warming
Global warming is the rise in Earth's average temperature due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. It leads to climate change, melting polar ice caps, and sea-level rise.
Ozone Depletion
Ozone depletion is the reduction of the ozone layer caused by chemicals like CFCs. This results in increased UV radiation reaching Earth, causing health and environmental issues.
International Agreements and Conferences
Agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement aim to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Sustainable Development
Definition of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Principles of Sustainable Development
- Needs of the Present vs Future Generations: Ensuring resources are available for future generations.
- Equitable Distribution of Resources: Fair distribution of resources to ensure social justice.
Strategies for Achieving Sustainable Development
- Use of Non-conventional Energy Sources: Utilising renewable energy sources like wind and solar power to reduce environmental impact.
- Pollution Control: Implementing measures to reduce pollution and promote clean technologies.
- Traditional Knowledge and Practices: Leveraging traditional practices that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Strategies for Sustainable Development in India
Case Studies on Successful Practices
- CNG in Urban Areas: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner fuel alternative in public transport.
- Gobar Gas in Rural Areas: Using cattle dung to produce biogas for cooking and fertiliser.
Government Policies and Initiatives
Policies like the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the Swachh Bharat Mission aim to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation.
Conclusion
Summary of Key Points
Balancing economic development with environmental conservation is crucial for sustainable growth. Adopting sustainable practices ensures resources are available for future generations.
The Role of Individuals in Promoting Sustainable Development
Individuals can contribute by adopting eco-friendly practices, reducing waste, and supporting sustainable policies.
Future Prospects and Challenges
Achieving sustainable development requires global cooperation, robust policies, and public awareness. The path to sustainable development is challenging but essential for a healthy and equitable future.
Recap
Quick Summary of Key Concepts
- Environment supports life through resources, waste assimilation, biodiversity, and aesthetics.
- Environmental crises: Pollution, resource depletion, and ecological damage.
- Sustainable development: Balancing current needs with future well-being.
- Strategies: Renewable energy, pollution control, and traditional practices.
- Individual role: Eco-friendly practices and supporting sustainable policies.
graph TD
A[Environment] --> B[Biotic Components]
A --> C[Abiotic Components]
B --> D[Plants]
B --> E[Animals]
C --> F[Air]
C --> G[Water]
C --> H[Soil]
C --> I[Sunlight]
J[Functions of Environment] --> K[Resource Supply]
K --> L[Renewable]
K --> M[Non-renewable]
J --> N[Waste Assimilation]
J --> O[Life Support]
J --> P[Aesthetic Services]
Adopting a sustainable approach ensures the well-being of our planet and future generations. Let us work together to promote environmental sustainability and make Earth a better place for all.
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