Environmental Studies

Environment (French word: Environer ) is the surrounding

things. It includes living things and natural forces. The
environment of living things provides conditions for
development and growth, also causes danger and damage.

Environment consists of the interactions among

plants, animals, soil, water, temperature, light, and
other living and non-living things.
Surrounding
 Environment

Environment is what surrounds us !!

It is the sum total of all social, economical , biological ,
physical and chemical factors which constitute the
surroundings of humans, who are both the creators and
moulders of the environment.
 Elements of Environment

Physical: Atmosphere related: rain, humidity, temperature, climate etc.

Earth related: space, landforms, soils, rocks and minerals etc.
Water related: water bodies, etc.

Chemical Organic, inorganic compounds, water acid, etc.

:
Biologica Microbes, flora, fauna, etc.

l:
Cultural elements such as economic, social and political
Cultural: elements are essentially manmade features.
Components of Environment

There are two main components of Environment

Biotic Components(all living things)

Abiotic Components(Non living things)

 Biotic Components of Environment
• Producers (or autotrophs)

Green plants and some bacteria which manufacture their own food.

• Consumers (or heterotrophs)

Animals which obtain their food from producers

•Primary consumers
•Secondary consumers
•Tertiary consumers

• Decomposers

Bacteria and fungi that decompose dead

organic matter and convert it into
simpler parts
Biotic Components
Abiotic Components(All non living things)
 Realms of the earth: There are four realms of the
Earth :Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and
Biosphere (Point where other three spheres combine)

Fig. Concept of Environment: air, water, land, living organisms and materials
surrounding us and their interactions
together constitute our environment
 Types of Environment (Realms of the
Earth)

Natural Environment Anthropogenic Environment

(an environment that is created
by humans)
 Lithosphere (the solid, outer part of the Earth.)
 Hydrosphere (the total amount of water on a planet.)
 Atmosphere (a layer or a set of layers of gases surrounding a planet or
other material body, that is held in place by the gravity of that body.)
 Biosphere (The biosphere is a global ecosystem composed of living
organisms (biota) and the abiotic (non living) factors from which they
derive energy and nutrients.)
Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies is a multidisciplinary subject that includes all
other disciplines such as Arts, commerce, climatology, geography and
other disciplines.
Fig. Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental studies
Importance of Environmental Studies
 To understand current environmental problems
 Helps to maintain ecological balance
 Provides basic knowledge of environment and related
issues
 Helps to achieve sustainable development & understand
the relationship between development & environment
 Educate people regarding our duties
 Environmental management
 Relates environment with economy
 Aims to protect biodiversity
 Agriculture and design of sustainable products
 information related to population explosion, growth &
development
 Need of Awareness

 To understand current environmental problems

 Helps to maintain ecological balance
 Provides basic knowledge of environment and related issues
 Helps to achieve sustainable development & understand the
relationship between development & environment
 Educate people regarding our duties
 Environmental management
 Relates environment with economy
 To prevent loss of species and aiming biodiversity protection
 Agriculture and design of sustainable products
 Understanding population explosion, growth & development and
associated environmental effects
 Scope of Environmental Studies

Environmental Management

Research and Ecosystem

Development Structure and
Function

Environmental Pollution Control Natural resource

conservation
Scope of Environmental Studies
 Ecosystem Structure & Function
 Ecology and biodiversity
 Natural Resource Conservation
 Environmental Pollution Control
 Environmental Management: CPCB, SPCB
 Industry
 Research & Development
 Social development: NGOs
 Environmental Journalism
 Environmentalist
 Green Advocacy
 Green Marketing
 Sustainable Development

The term sustainable development refers to the

development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of the future
generations to meet their own needs.
 Key aspects of sustainable development
Proper distribution of renewable and non-
renewable resources is the key of the concept
of sustainable development. And it can be
achieve by the use of following points.
Inter-generational equity:
The principle of intergenerational equity states
that every generation holds the Earth in
common with members of the present
generation and with other generations, past
and future.
The principle is the foundation of sustainable
development
Intra-generational equity:
Intra-generational equity deals with the
distribution of resources between the
members of the same generation.
Measures for sustainable
development
• Implementing effective planning for
population control
Using effective/appropriate Technology:

“Design with Nature” Concept

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R’s)
Approach:
Promoting
Environmental
Education
and
Awareness:
 Resource Utilization as Per Carrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity:

Carrying capacity of a region/system could be described broadly as

number of individuals of a species that it can sustain. In case of human
beings, it is rather a complex situation, wherein the region/system has
not only to bear the load of his basic needs but also all other associated
activities including industrial/developmental projects which has direct
impact on limited natural base and environmental quality.
The carrying capacity can be divided into two parts

(a) Supporting capacity (b) Assimilative capacity

• Supportive Capacity refers to capacity of a
region/system provides an assessment of the
stock of available resources with their
regenerative capacity on natural/sustainable
basis.
• Assimilative capacity refers to the ability of
the environment or a portion of the environment
(such as a stream, lake, air mass, or soil layer)
to carry waste material without adverse effects
on the environment or on users of its resources.
Pollution occurs only when the assimilative
capacity is exceeded.
Using effective planning for regeneration
of natural resources:
The political process
1992: Agenda 21 (Rio)

2002: World Summit on Sustainable

Development

2012: The Future we Want (Rio+20)

2015: Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked
global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all“.
The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly (UN-GA) and are
intended to be achieved by the year 2030. They are included in a UN-GA Resolution called the
2030 Agenda or what is colloquially known as Agenda 2030
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
 17 goals under the Sustainable
Development Goals

1.End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2.End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition
and promote sustainable agriculture
3.Ensure healthy lives and promote well being for all at all
stages
4.Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and
promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5.Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6.Ensure availability and sustainable management of water
and sanitation for all
7.Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and
modern energy for all
 17 goals under the Sustainable
Development Goals

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic

growth, full and productive employment and decent work for
all
9. Built resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and
sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequalities within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe,
resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production pattern
13. Take urgent actions to combat climate change and its
impact
 17 goals under the Sustainable
Development Goals

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably managed forests, combat
desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt
biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the
global partnership for sustainable development
Improving quality of life including social,
cultural and economic dimensions
Fig. Multidimensional model for sustainable
development
Measures for Sustainable Development(Summary)

•Effective planning for population control

•Reducing per capita demand of natural resources

•Using efficient technological devices

•Following the 5Rs (Refuse. Reduce, Reuse, Repair and

Recycling) approach

•Promoting environmental awareness through education

•Effective planning for regeneration of natural resources

Problems of Sustainable Development

•Disagreements between stakeholders

Ex- Problem between different communities(Development,
economic growth )

•Uncertainty
Ex- Global environmental issue.

•Consumption and life style

Ex- Comparison between developed and undeveloped
countries.

•Arguments over cause and responsibility

Ex-Pollution, Global warming etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEFwaQej_0E
Natural Resources
Natural resources are the substances which are inherent to earth and
obtained from nature and utilized to create products and services which
are useful for human beings. Forests, water, air, soil , etc. are natural
resources.
 Classification of Natural Resources
Resources
 Renewable Resources
 Non Renewable Resources
 Renewable and Non Renewable Natural
Resources
The resources that can be harvested continuously with proper
planning and management are called renewable resources.
Example: plants, animals, solar energy , wind energy, etc.
Non Renewable resources are natural resources which are
limited in supply and cannot be replenished by natural means.
Once exhausted, they have very little chance of recovery or
resynthesis. Coal, minerals, petroleum, etc. are Non Renewable
resources.
 Forest Resources

A forest, a biotic community with predominance of trees is

an important Renewable natural resource.
It is highly complex, changing environment made up of a
living and non living things. Living things include trees,
shrubs, wildlife etc. and non-living things include water,
nutrients, rocks, sunlight and air.
 Forest Resources
• The word forest is derived from a Latin word “Fores” means
Outside

• Forests are the dominant terrestrial ecosystem of Earth, and are

distributed across the globe.

• Forests account for 75% of the gross primary productivity of the

Earth's biosphere, and contain 80% of the Earth's plant biomass

• Forest are one of the most important natural resources of the

earth.

• Tree forests cover approximately 9.4 percent of the Earth's

surface (or 30 percent of total land area i.e., Approximately 1/3rd
of the earth’s total land area ).
 As per Indian
state of forest
2021. India has
7,13,789 square
kilometres,
21.71% of the
country’s
geographical
area, an increase
from 21.67% in
2019.

Source: https://fsi.nic.in/isfr-2021/chapter-2.pdf
 Benefits of Forests
Protective Function
Forest Provide protection against Soil erosion, Droughts, floods, noise,
radiations

Productive Function
Forest Provide various products like, gum resins, medicines, Katha,
honey, pulp, bamboo, timber, and fruits

Regulative Function
The Forest regulates the level of Oxygen and carbon dioxide in
atmosphere. The forests also help in regulating temperature conditions

Accessory Function
Forest provides aesthetics, habitat to various flora and fauna besides that
it also has an recreational value
 Over-exploitation of Forests
Deforestation

• The permanent destruction

of forest is called
deforestation

• Forest are exploited since

early times for humans to
meet human demand
 Causes of Deforestation
• Fuel requirement
• Raw material for industrial use
• Development projects
• Expansion of cities
• Construction of dams, canal
& highways
• Growing food needs
• Overgrazing
• Shifting Cultivation
• Forest fire
Other causes
•Mining:
•River valley projects
•Natural forces

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 Effects of Deforestation

• Threatens the existence of wildlife

• Biodiversity and genetic diversity
loss
• Effect of hydrological cycle
• Soil erosion
• Land slides on higher altitudes
• Air pollution and global warming
Other consequences

• Loss of habitat
• Inc. intensity and frequency of flood
• Land degradation
• Loss of forest products
• Change in climatic condition
• Siltation of rivers and lakes
• Loss of revenue
• Change in water cycle
• Reduced rainfall
• Expansion of deserts

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 Afforestation
“conversion of bare or cultivated land into forest”

62
 Afforestation
The conservation measure against the deforestation
is afforestation. The development of forest by
planting trees on waste land is called afforestation
• The main objective of afforestation:
• To control the deforestation
• To prevent soil erosion
• To regulate rainfall and maintain temperature
• To control atmospheric condition by keeping it clean
• To promote planned uses of wasteland
• To Protect forest ecosystem and to get benefits of
forest products.
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Water Resources
Distribution of Water
Water used by us in two forms:
i. Water withdrawal
ii. Water consumption
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 Sources of Fresh water

1. Surface water

2. Frozen water

3. Ground water

4. Rain water
Surface water:
Surface water is water in a river, lake, ponds or fresh water
wetland. Surface water is naturally replenished by precipitation
and naturally lost through discharge to the oceans, evaporation,
and sub-surface seepage.
Ground Water:
Sub-surface water, or groundwater, is fresh water located
in the pore space of soil and rocks. It is also water that is
flowing within aquifers below the water table.
Aquifer: A layer of sediment/rock that is highly permeable
and contain water.
Layer of sand and gravel: Good aquifers
Clay and crystalline rocks (e.g. Granite): Not good aquifers
 Overutilization of water and its effect
Overutilization of water means extraction/consumption above the
natural recharge rate of water sources.

Effects:
Subsidence: aquifer got compact (due to more withdrawal and
less recharge) known as ground subsidence
Lowering of water table
 Water logging
Water pollution
Water shortage
Conflicts over Water

Nile Water Conflict: Egypt vs. Ethiopia

Brahmaputra Water Conflict: China,
India, Bangladesh etc.
Indus river conflict: India & Pakistan
Inter-state disputes (e.g., Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over Caveri water)
Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal Conflict
Water Stress
 Solutions to Water Crisis
 Reduce demand.
 Adopt agriculture practices that require less water.
 Reduce industrial consumption through recycling,
reuse and new water-efficient technologies.
 Rainwater harvesting.
 Retain water on land as long as possible through check
dams and contour bunds allowing it to percolate into
the ground.
 Implement rain water harvesting in urban and rural
areas
 Restore traditional system of ponds and lakes.
 Adopt fairer policies

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 Water harvesting
• Water harvesting is collecting and storing rain
water for future use.
• The common methods of water harvesting are :-

• i) Digging pits, ponds, lakes etc.

• ii) Building small earthen dams or concrete
• check dam.
• iv) Construction of reservoirs.
• v) Construction of rooftop collecting units in
• houses.

79
Advantages of underground storage of water

i) It does not evaporate easily.

ii) It spreads out and recharges wells.
iii) It provides moisture for irrigation of crops.
iv) It does not get polluted easily.
v) It does not provide breeding ground for
mosquitoes and houseflies.

80
Common Methods of Urban Rainwater Harvesting
Some of the most familiar methodologies of urban rainwater
harvesting and management are –
1. Surface Runoff Harvesting
2. Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting
3. Recharge Pits
Rainwater Harvesting as State and Central Government Policy
More or less all states in India, through various legislative decisions, have made rainwater harvesting
mandatory in government institutions, commercial complexes, and residential high-rises. Some of these
laws have already come into effect, and others are soon to follow.
The Central Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation, in association with the Central Ground Water
Board, and a battery of groundwater scientists and experts, has also prepared a conceptual document
called the ‘Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India’.
The master plan, related to rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge of groundwater, envisages the
construction of about 23 lakh rainwater harvesting structures in rural areas, and close to 88 lakh
artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting installations in urban centers.
Different methods of water harvesting

82
RAINWATER HARVESTING

83
Land resources
“Land resources include all those features and processes of
the land, which can, in some way, be used to fulfill certain
human needs”.
“The solid portion of the earth’s surface”.
The science dealing with land is known as pedology .
Land resources
  Soil Formation:

 Soil Profile: Horizons O, A, E, B, C

 Function of soil:
 nutrient cycle
agriculture
water storage
emission of gases
degrade pollutant
clay
foundation

* C Horizon is also known as saprolite

Function of soil

Various functions of soil are

•They have a significant role in nutrient cycles.

•They are the basis of agricultural production.

•They store water and regulate water supplies.

•They regulate the emissions of trace gases.

•They degrade pollutants and filter ground water

87
World Land resources and its Usage

88
Land Degradation

The fertility of land supports the growth and

productivity of natural vegetation and
agricultural crops. A number of natural and
man-made factors lower the quality of land.
This is commonly referred to as land
degradation.
 Land Degradation
• Causes
– Natural causes
• Heavy rainfall
• High speed winds
• Natural disasters: earthquake,
landslide, flood, drought.
• Expansion of desert
 Anthropogenic causes
-Mining
-Urbanization
-Deforestation
-Overgrazing
-Water logging Mining Deforestation
-Construction of dams
-Extensive use of fertilizers
-Dumping of industrial and
municipal wastes

Urbanization Overgrazing Excess use of Agrochemicals

Land degradation :Indian Scenario
Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is removal of top soil from its resting place by

various physical agencies like wind and water. It can be
defined as “the detachment and transport of the fertile
layer of soil by water or air.” It is also known as the
creeping death of land.
 Soil Erosion
Soil erosion may be defined as the detachment and removal of
the top soil layers from soil mass
Types
– Normal erosion or geologic erosion
– Accelerated or Anthropogenic erosion
Causes
Climatic agents
• Water induced erosion
– Splash erosion
– Sheet erosion
– Rill/Gully erosion
– Stream bank erosion
• Wind induced erosion
– Suspension
– Saltation
– Surface creep
– Biotic agents
Causes of Soil Erosion

Large scale deforestation

Floods

Overgrazing

Large Violent Winds

Improper agricultural techniques

Effects of soil Erosion

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 Soil Erosion

Control
– Conservational till farming.
– Stubble mulching.
– Contour farming.
– Contour bunding.
– Construction of check dams.
– Terracing
– Strip cropping.
– Alley cropping (Agro-forestry)
– Wind breaks.
Conservational till farming: no till farming
Contour bunding & cultivation Vegetative bunds

Terracing Strip cropping

Alley cropping: Agroforestry
Wind breaks or shelterbelts
Wind breaks or shelterbelts
Stubble Mulching
Afforestation
 Check dam

A check dam is a small dam constructed across a drainage ditch or channel to

lower the velocity of flow

108
 Desertification
Desertification is the process by which the biological productivity
of drylands is reduced due to natural or manmade activities
Or
the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a
result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

109
 Desertification
Types
– Moderate (10 - 25%)
– Severe (25 - 50%)
– Very severe (more than 50%)
Causes
Natural causes Anthropogenic causes

Very low rain fall High salinity

Excessive evaporation Deforestation
Vast difference in diurnal Overgrazing
temperature Conversion of pasture into
Topography related factor arable land

Excessive use of fertilizer

Cause:
Natural Factors:

Low Excessive
Rainfall Evaporation

Salinity Temperature

111
Anthropogenic Factors:

Mining Overgrazing

112
 Desertification
• Effects
– Rapid soil erosion
– Poor soil quality
– Unfavorable climate
– Low water table, salty and hard water
– Economic and human cost
– Decreased productivity of land
– Expansion of desert
– Deposition of soil in water bodies
– Reduction of agricultural land in around river banks
 Desertification
• Control
– Large scale plantation
– Sustainable agricultural practices
– Development of pasture land and controlling
overgrazing
– Development of water catchment
– Rainwater harvesting
Control:

115
Thanks
 What is Energy?
“ capacity to do work”

In physics, energy is the quantitative property that must be transferred

to a body or physical system to perform work on the body, or to heat
it. Energy is a conserved quantity; the law of conservation of energy
states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or
destroyed.

SI unit of Energy is “Joule”

Energy resources refer to “all renewable and non-renewable energy

resources of both inorganic and organic origins discovered in the
earth’s crust in solid, liquid and gaseous form.”
Energy Resources: Global dependencies
Energy Consumption
 Energy Crises
“An energy crisis is any
significant bottleneck in the
supply of energy resources to
an economy.
In literature, it often refers to
one of the energy sources used
at a certain time and place, in
particular those that supply
national electricity grids or
those used as fuel in Industrial
development and population
growth have led to a surge in
the global demand for energy
in recent years.”
 Reasons for Energy Crises

 Over reliance on non renewable energy resources.

 Overpopulation.
 Poor infrastructure/distribution system.
 Wastage/Lack of energy efficiency.
 Major Accidents and Natural Calamities
 Wars and Attacks
 Miscellaneous Factors
 Reasons for Energy Crises

 Over reliance on non renewable energy resources.

 Reasons for Energy Crises

 Per capita energy consumption/Overpopulation

 Production versus Consumption
 Reasons for Energy Crises
 Poor infrastructure/distribution system

World electricity transmission losses to percent of total generation by selected countries

and regions 2001 and 2013 Source: https://www.eia.gov/
 Reasons for Energy Crises
 Wars and Attacks

https://www.oilandgasiq.com/strategy-management-and-
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/14/world/middleeast/saudi- information/whitepapers/cyber-war-us-and-eu-oil-gas-
arabia-refineries-drone-attack.html under-attack-is-asia-n
 Reasons for Energy Crises
 Natural Calamities

Effect of natural disaster on energy transmission system

Damaged wind turbine due to wind storm

 Reasons for Energy Crises
 Miscellaneous Factors
 Effects Energy Crises

 Increase in fuel/resource demand

 Increase in fuel price
 Economic Slowdown
 Political Disturbances
 Effect on tourism and other activities
Headlines: Increase in fuel prize
Renewable Sources of Energy Non Renewable
Sources of Energy

Solar Energy Coal

Wind Energy Natural Gas and Oil

Tidal Energy Nuclear Energy

Geothermal Energy

Biomass Based Energy

 Move Towards Renewable Resources

Renewables use in total energy consumption

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X19300082
Log burning is a simple way use biomass energy
Wood is the largest source of biomass energy. It can also be used in electricity production in wood-
based power stations.
Energy crop
An energy crop is a plant grown as a low-cost and low-maintenance harvest used to make
biofuels, such as bioethanol, or combusted for its energy content to generate electricity or
heat. Example: Jatropha, Sunflower etc.
Energy trapped inside biomass
Biofuels
Biodiesel
Biopetrol
Biogas
Bio-ethanol
Bio-methanol
 Biomass Energy in India

India has a potential of about 18 GW of energy

from Biomass. Currently, about 32% of total
primary energy used in India is derived from
Biomass. More than 70% of the country’s
population depends upon biomass for its energy
needs. India has ~5+ GW capacity biomass
powered plants: 83% are grid connected while
the remaining 17% are off-grid plants.

The leading states for biomass power projects

are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka
each one having more than 1 GW of Grid
interacted biomass power. Other states with
favorable policy and opportunities in Biomass
are Punjab and Bihar.
 Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)
RDF consists largely of combustible components of such waste, as non
recyclable plastics , paper cardboard, labels etc.
These fractions are separated by different processing steps in order to produce a
homogeneous material which can be used as substitute for fossil fuels.

Dehradun based Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), a constituent laboratory of the Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 2014, developed a unique process of
converting plastic waste like polyethylene and polypropylene, both together accounting for 60
per cent of plastic waste, can be converted to either gasoline or diesel. The technology is
capable of converting 1 kg of plastic to 750 ml of automotive grade gasoline. Due to nearly nil
presence of Sulphur in the produced fuel, IIP’s plastic converted fuel is pure and meets the
Euro-III standards. IIP also stated that a vehicle using this fuel would be able to run for at
least two kilometres more per litre. The technology was developed by IIP after nearly a
decade of research in hope of commercialising it for industrial usage.
135
Limitations of Alternative Source of Energy

• Most of the technologies involve high installation cost and

require maintenance.

•The material that find application in designing and

manufacturing of device are not easily available. (Silicon
example)

•Weather problem.

•Geographical problem.
 Use of Alternative Energy Sources
• According to Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) prepared by the
planning commission aim is that at least 10% of the power generation installed
capacity in the country should come from renewable source by the end of the
11th plan period.

•India has the 4th largest installed capacity in wind power after China, U.S and
Germany. The total installed capacity of wind power in India as on March 2017
is around 32 GW. A recent study by National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE)
has shown wind energy potential of 302 GW at 100 m hub-height in India.

•India plan to manufacture biodiesel from inedible vegetable oils. The cost of
setting up a biomass plant is the same as that of a coal based power plant.

•Solar power in India is a fast developing industry. The country's solar installed
capacity reached 33.730 GW as of 31 December 2019. In 2015 the target was
raised to 100 GW of solar capacity (including 40 GW from rooftop solar) by
2022, targeting an investment of US$100 billion.
 Solutions

Move Towards Renewable Resources

Increasing Energy Efficiency
Buy Energy-Efficient Products
Lighting Controls
Energy Simulation
Perform Energy Audit
Common Stand on Climate Change
 Energy Conservation through individual
actions
Role of Individual in conservation of
energy and natural resource
Role of Individual in conservation
of energy and natural resource
Thanks