Chapter – 8

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.
• While all living elements – the birds, animals and plants, forests, fisheries etc. –
are biotic elements, abiotic elements include air, water, land etc. Rocks and
sunlight are examples of abiotic elements of the environment.

Functions of the Environment: The environment performs four vital functions –

(i) It supplies resources: Resources here include both renewable and non-
renewable resources.
o Renewable resources are those which can be used without the
possibility of the resource becoming depleted or exhausted. That is, a
continuous supply of the resource remains available. Examples of
renewable resources are the trees in the forests and the fishes in the
ocean.
o Non-renewable resources, on the other hand, are those which get
exhausted with extraction and use, for example, fossil fuel.
(ii) It assimilates waste.
(iii) It sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity.
(iv) It also provides aesthetic services like scenery etc.

Effect of Economic Development or Resources and Environment

(i) The environment is able to perform these functions without any
interruption as long as the demand on these functions is within it’s carrying
capacity.
(ii) 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.

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 (iii) If these two conditions are not fulfilled, then the environment fails to
perform its third and vital function of life sustenance and this results in an
environment crisis.

Reasons for Environmental Crisis

The rising population of developing countries and affluent consumption and
production standards has put huge stress on the environment. Many resources have
become extinct, and the wastes generated are beyond the ‘Absorptive Capacity’ of
the environment. Absorptive capacity means the ability of the environment to
absorb degradation.

The various reasons for environmental crisis are summarized as under:

1. The population explosion and advent of industrial revolution has increased the
demand for environmental resources, but their supply is limited due to overuse
and misuse.
2. The intensive and extensive extraction of both renewable and non-renewable
resources has exhausted some of the vital resources. Due to this, huge amount
of money is spent on technology and research to explore new resources.
3. Extinction of many resources and continuous rise in population has also
resulted in environmental crisis.
4. Due to affluent consumption and production standards of the developed world,
the wastes generated are beyond the absorptive capacity of the environment.
5. The development process has polluted the atmosphere and waters and there is
decline in air and water quality (70% of water in India is polluted). It has
resulted in increased incidence of respiratory and water-borne diseases.
6. The expenditure on health is also rising. Global environmental issues such as
global warming and ozone depletion also contribute to the increased financial
commitments for the government.

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 Reasons for environmental crisis
• Population Explosion and Advent of industrial revolution.
• Extensive Extraction of Renewable and Non-renewable resources.
• Extinction of Many Resources.
• Affluent Consumption and Production Standards.
• Air and Water Pollution due to Development Process.
• Global Warming and Ozone Depletion.

Thus, the opportunity costs of negative environmental impacts are high and
environmental issues of waste generation and pollution have become critical
today.

Opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high: Increased

financial commitments of the government due to global warming and ozone
depletion and rise in expenditure on health due to decline in air and water quality
shows that opportunity costs of negative environmental impacts are high.

Meaning of Opportunity cost

Opportunity cost is the cost of next best alternative foregone or sacrificed. For
example, suppose, a farmer can produce either 50 quintals of rice or 40 quintals of
wheat on his land with the given resources. If he chooses to produce rice, then he
will have to forego the opportunity of producing 40 quintals of wheat.

Reversal of Supply-Demand relationship: reason for Environment

Degradation

In the Past, Demand was less than Supply

In the early days of civilization, demand for environmental resources and services
was much less than their supply.
• Pollution was within the absorptive capacity of the environment; and
• Rate of resource extraction was less than the rate of regeneration of these
resources.

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 As a result, environmental problems did not arise.

Presently, Demand is more than Supply

In the present period, the demand for resources is in far excess of supply, i.e.
demand is beyond the rate of regeneration of the resources. With the population
explosion and with the advent of industrial revolution, the pressure on the
absorptive capacity of the environment has increased tremendously.
Thus, a reversal of supply-demand relationship is responsible for degradation of
quality of the environment.
We are now faced with increased demand for environmental resources and
services, but their supply is limited due to overuse and misuse. Hence, the
environmental issues of waste generation and pollution have become critical
today.

Global Warming
Global warming is the observed and projected increase in the average
temperature of earth’s atmosphere and oceans. During the past century, the
atmospheric temperature has risen by 1.1degree F (0.6 degree C) and sea level has
risen several inches.

Cause of Global Warming

The global warming is due to increase in the greenhouse gas concentrations, like
water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone in the atmosphere.
Among factors that may be contributing to global warming are:
• Burning of coal and petroleum products (sources of carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, ozone).
• Deforestation, which increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere
• Methane gas released in animal waste; and
• Increased cattle production, which contributes to deforestation, methane
production and use of fossil fuels.

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 The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane (CH4) have
increased by 31% and 149% respectively above pre-industrial levels since 1750.

Main Effects of Global Warming

Global Warming adversely affects the earth:
• Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the earth’s poles. It has led to a
steep rise in sea level and coastal flooding.
• Hurricanes and other tropical storms are likely to become stronger.
• Increased incidence of tropical diseases, like malaria, cholera, dengue,
chikungunya, etc.
• There are thousands of species (like polar bears) in danger of becoming
extinct forever.

Ozone Depletion
Ozone depletion refers to destruction of ozone in the ozone layer due to
presence of chlorine from mammade chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other
forces.

Cause of Ozone Depletion

The problem of ozone depletion is caused by high levels of chlorine and bromine
compounds in the stratosphere. The origin of these compounds is:
• CFC, which is used as cooling substances in AC and refrigerators; or
• Aerosol propellants and Bromo fluorocarbons (halons), which is used in
fire extinguishers.

Main Effects of Ozone Depletion

As a result of depletion of the ozone layer, more ultra violet (UV) radiation comes
to earth and causes damage to living organisms.
• UV radiation seems to be responsible for skin cancer in human beings.
• UV radiation lowers production of phytoplankton, which affects other
aquatic organisms.
• UV radiation can also influence the growth of terrestrial plants.

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 Montreal Protocol
As ozone layer prevents most harmful wavelengths of ultraviolet light from
passing through the earth’s atmosphere, its depletion has generated worldwide
concern. It has led to adoption of the “Montreal Protocol”.
• Montreal Protocol is a historical treaty designed by the members of United
Nations to protect the ozone layer by phasing out CFC, which is supposed
to be main reason for ozone depletion.
• Under the Montreal Protocol, all the signing members agreed to freeze the
consumption and production of CFC by the year 2013.
• India signed the Montreal Protocol along with its London Amendment on
17.09.1992.
• The Montreal Protocol has significantly reduced the burden of CFCs in the
stratosphere and helped in ozone recovery.
• ‘Paryavaran” means Environment and ‘Mitra” means Friend and the time
has arrived for us to become ‘Parwayavaran Mitra’ (Friends of the
Environment).

State of India’s Environment

India has abundant natural resources in terms of rich quality of soil, hundreds of
rivers and tributaries, lush green forests, plenty of mineral deposits.
(i) The black soil of the Deccan Plateau is particularly suitable for cultivation
of cotton, leading to concentration of textile industries in this region.
(ii) The Indo-Gangetic plains spread from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of
Bengal – are one of the most fertile, intensively cultivated and densely
populated regions in the world.
(iii) India’s forests, though unevenly distributed, provide green cover for a
majority of its population and natural cover for its wildlife.
(iv) Large deposits of iron-ore, coal and natural gas are found in the country.
India accounts for nearly 8 per cent of the world’s total iron-ore reserves.
(v) Bauxite, copper, chromate, diamonds, gold, lead, lignite, manganese, zinc,
uranium, etc. are also available in different parts of the country.

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 Conclusions: However, the developmental activities in India have resulted in
pressure on its finite natural resources, besides creating impacts on human health
and well-being.

Challenges to India’s Environment: Air pollution, water contamination, soil

erosion, deforestation and wildlife extinction are some of the most pressing
environmental concerns of India.
(i) Land degradation.
(ii) Biodiversity loss
(iii) Air pollution with special reference to vehicular pollution in urban cities
(iv) Management of fresh water and
(v) Solid waste management.

Causes of Land Degradation

• Loss of vegetation occurring due to deforestation.
• Unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction
• Shifting cultivation
• Encroachment into forest lands
• Forest fires and over grazing
• Non-adoption of adequate soil conservation measures
• Improper crop rotation
• Indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides
• Improper planning and management of irrigation systems
• Extraction of ground water in excess of the recharge capacity
• Open access resource and
• Poverty of the agriculture – dependent people.
• India supports approximately 17 per cent of the world’s human and 20 per cent of
livestock population on a mere 2.5 per cent of the world’s geographical area. The
high density of population and livestock and the competing uses of land for
forestry, agriculture, pastures, human settlements and industries exert an
enormous pressure on the country’s finite land resources.

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(I) Degradation of Forests or Deforestation
Deforestation involves the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and
woodlands.
• Deforestation is rising at such a rapid scale that it has totally disturbed the
ecological balance of the country.
• The per capita forestland in the country is only 0.06 hectare against the
requirement of 0.47 hectare to meet basic needs.
• There are very serious and dangerous consequences of forest depletion, like
chances of more floods, soil erosion, heavy siltation of dams and changes
in climate.

(II) Soil Erosion

Soil erosion takes place when the surface soil is washed away through excessive
rains and floods.
• Deforestation is one of the major reasons for soil erosion.
• As per the estimates, soil is being eroded at a rate of 5.3 billion tons a year,
which is in excess of the recharge capacity. As a result, country loses 0.8
million tones of nitrogen, 1.8 million tons of phosphorus and 26.3 million
tons of potassium every year.

(III) Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all
sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are a part.
• Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is fundamental to
ecologically sustainable development.
• Biodiversity loss has serious economic and social costs for any country as
many plant and animal species are severely threatened by the destruction of
their habitat and over-exploitation of resources. So, there is an immediate
need for biodiversity conservation.

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(IV) Air Pollution
Air pollution is the presence of materials in air in such concentration, which
are harmful to man and the environment.
• In India, air pollution is widespread in urban areas where vehicles are the
major contributors, and in a few other areas, which have a high
concentration of industries and thermal power plants.
• Vehicular emissions are of particular concern as these are ground level
sources and have the maximum impact on the general population.
• The number of motor vehicles increased from 3 lakh in 1951 to 30 crores in
2019. Personal transport vehicles (two-wheeler vehicles and cars only)
constitute about 85% of the total number of registered vehicles, thus,
contributing significantly to total air pollution load.
• India is one of the ten most industrialized nations of the world. However,
this achievement comes with unwanted and unanticipated consequences
like unplanned urbanization, pollution and the risk of accidents. The CPCB
(Central Pollution Control Board) has identified 17 categories of industries
(large and medium scale) as significantly polluting.

(V) Some Ways to control Air Pollution

Air pollution causes health problems and also causes damage to the environment
and property. It has resulted in ozone depletion, which is leading to climate
change. So, there is a serious need to take steps to control it. Some of the ways to
control air pollution are:
(i) Promotion of public transport like use of Delhi Metro instead of private
vehicles. Steps should be taken for effective traffic planning and
management.
(ii) Promotion of cleaner fuels in vehicles, like use of CNG instead of petrol
and diesel.
(iii) Use of cleaner fuels such as LPG in households to reduce indoor air
pollution.

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 (iv) Promotion of cleaner technologies, strengthening of emission standards
introducing economic incentives and strengthening of the monitoring and
reporting system.

Pollution Control Boards

To address water and air pollution in India, the government set up the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 1974. This was followed by states establishing
their own state level boards to address all the environmental concerns.
Main Functions of Pollution control Boards
• They investigate, collect and disseminate information relating to water, air
and land pollution, lay down standards for sewage/trade effluent and
emissions.
• These boards provide technical assistance to governments in promoting
cleanliness of streams and wells by prevention, control and abatement of
water and air pollution in the country.
• These boards also carry out and sponsor investigation and research, relating
to problems of water and air pollution and for their prevention, control or
abatement.
• They also organize, through mass media, a comprehensive mass awareness
programme for the same.
• They also prepare manuals, codes and guidelines relating to treatment and
disposal of sewage and trade effluents.
• They assess the air quality through regulation of industries.
• State boards periodically inspect every industry under their jurisdiction,
through their district level officials, to assess the adequacy of treatment
measures provided to treat the effluent and gaseous emissions.
• They also provide background air quality data needed for industrial siting
and town planning.
• They monitor the quality of water in 125 rivers (including the tributaries),
wells, lakes, creeks, ponds, tanks, drains and canals.

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 The various measures adopted by the Ministry of Environment and the central
and state pollution control boards may not yield reward unless we consciously
adopt a path of “Sustainable Development”.

Sustainable Development
• Development that will allow all future generations to have a potential
average quality of life that is at least as high as that which is being enjoyed
by the current generation.
• The concept of sustainable development was emphasized by the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which
defined it as: ‘Development that meets the need of the present generation
without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own
needs.
• Sustainable development is a development that meets the basic needs of all,
particularly the poor majority, for employment, food, energy, water,
housing, and ensures growth of agriculture, manufacturing, power and
services to meet these needs.
• The Brundtland commission emphasizes on protecting the future
generation i.e., we have moral obligation to hand over the planet earth in
good order to the future generation.
• The present generation can promote development that enhances the natural
and built environment in ways that are compatible with (i) conservation of
natural assets (ii) preservation of the regenerative capacity of the world’s
natural ecological system (iii) avoiding the imposition of added costs or
risks on future generations.

Ways to achieve sustainable development: -

(i) Limiting the human population to a level within the carrying capacity of
the environment.
(ii) Technological progress should be input efficient and not input consuming.
(iii) Renewable resources should be extracted on a sustainable basis, that is, rate
of extraction should not exceed rate of regeneration.

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 (iv) For non-renewable resources rate of depletion should not exceed the rate of
creation of renewable substitutes and
(v) Inefficiencies arising from pollution should be corrected.
(vi) In 2015, the UN formulated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
intended to be achieved by the year 2030.

Strategies for Sustainable Development

Sustainable development will not only save the present generation from the high
opportunity cost of negative environmental impact but will serve the interests of
the future generation also.
The following strategies need to be adopted to achieve sustainable development:
1. Use of Non-conventional sources of energy: India is hugely dependent on
thermal and hydro power plants to meet its power needs. But both these
sources have adverse environmental impacts.
• Non-conventional sources like wind power and solar rays are cleaner
and greener energy sources but are not yet been explored on a large-
scale due to lack of technological devices.
• In areas with high speed of wind, windmills can provide electricity
without any adverse impact on the environment.
• India is naturally endowed with a large quantity of solar energy in the
form of sunlight. With the help of photovoltaic cells, solar energy can
be converted into electricity.
• In recent years, India has been efforts to increase to increase power
generation through solar. India is also leading an international body
called ISA (International Solar Alliance)
• Both the sources (wind power and solar rays) are totally free from
pollution. Although, their initial cost is high, but the benefits are such
that the high cost gets easily absorbed.

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 2. Use of cleaner fuels
• In Urban areas, use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is being
promoted to be used as fuel. In Delhi, use of CNG in public transport
has significantly lowered air pollution.
• In Rural areas, households generally use wood, dung cake or other
biomass as fuel. These fuels have several adverse implications like
deforestation, reduction in green cover, wastage of cattle dung and air
pollution. To overcome this problem, use of LPG and gobar gas is
being promoted as they are cleaner fuels and helps in reducing
household pollution to a large extent.

3. Establishment of Mini-Hydel Plants In mountainous regions, perpetual

streams can be found almost everywhere.
• These streams can be used to generate electricity (via turbines) through
Mini-hydel plants.
• Such power plants are environment-friendly and generate enough
power to meet local demands.
• Moreover, large-scale transmission towers and cables are also not
required in such plants.

4. Traditional Knowledge and Practices: Traditionally, people in India have

been close to their environment. All practices relating to agriculture system,
healthcare system, housing, transport, etc. used to be environment friendly.
• The shift from the traditional systems has caused large-scale damage to
the environment and to our rural heritage.
• For example, India is well known for its AYUSH treatment with about
15,000 species of plants, which have medicinal properties.
• However, with the advent of western system of treatment, we ignore
our traditional systems of Ayurveda, Unani, etc.
• These old systems are environment friendly, relatively free from side
effects and do not involve large-scale industrial and chemical
processing.

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 5. Use of Bio-compost: The use of chemical fertilizers to increase the
agricultural production has not only adversely affected the large areas of
productive land but also contaminated the water bodies.
• Due to use of chemical fertilizers, demand for irrigation has been going
up year after year.
• With the rise in demand for organic food, farmers have again started
using compost made from organic wastes of different types.
• In certain parts of the country, cattle are maintained only because they
produce dung, which is an important fertilizer and soil conditioner.

6. Control of Biopest: The advent of green revolution has increased the use of
chemical pesticides, which not only contaminates the food products, but also
pollutes the water bodies.
• To meet this challenge, better methods of pest control are promoted.
For example, need based pesticides are environment friendly and free
from side effects.
• In addition, awareness is being created for use of various animals and
birds (like snakes, lizards, owls, peacocks) as natural pest controllers.
• Mixed cropping and growing different crops in consecutive years on the
same land have also helped farmers.

7. Change in unsustainable patterns of consumption and production: With

increasing purchasing power, wasteful consumption, linked to market driven
consumerism, is stressing the resource base of developing countries further.
• It is important to counter this through education and public awareness.
• In several areas, desirable limits and standards for consumption and
production need to be established and applied through appropriate
mechanisms, including education, incentives, and legislation.
The Government of India has taken many steps for sustainable development. The
given strategies, (if strictly implemented and followed) will prevent further

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 degradation of environment, so that natural resources remain a common heritage
for future generations also.

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