chapter 7 Environment And Sustainable Development

Introduction

Economic Development At A Heavy Price

Sustainable Development Path

Environment — Definition And Functions

Definition Of Environment

Biotic And Abiotic Elements

Inter-relationship Study

Functions Of The Environment

Supply Resources (Renewable And Non-renewable)

Assimilate Waste

Sustain Life

Provide Aesthetic Services

Environment's Carrying Capacity

Resource Extraction Above Regeneration

Wastes Beyond Assimilating Capacity

Environmental Crisis

Rising Population And Affluent Consumption

Extinct Resources And Excess Wastes

Absorptive Capacity

Threshold Of Environmental Crisis

Health Costs Of Degraded Environmental Quality

Rising Expenditure On Health

Global Environmental Issues (Global Warming, Ozone Depletion)

Increased Financial Commitments For Government

Opportunity Costs Of Negative Environmental Impacts

Environmental Problems New To This Century?

Demand For Resources Less Than Supply In Early Days

Pollution Within Absorptive Capacity

Rate Of Extraction Less Than Regeneration

Population Explosion And Industrial Revolution

Demand Beyond Rate Of Regeneration

Pressure On Absorptive Capacity Increased

Reversal Of Supply-demand Relationship

Increased Demand, Limited Supply

Waste Generation And Pollution Critical

Global Warming

Ozone Depletion

State Of India’s Environment

Abundant Natural Resources

Rich Quality Of Soil (Deccan Plateau, Indo-Gangetic Plains)

Forests

Mineral Deposits (Iron-ore, Coal, Natural Gas, Bauxite, Copper, Etc.)

Developmental Activities Resulted In Pressure On Resources

Impacts On Human Health And Well-being

Threat Poses A Dichotomy

Poverty-induced Environmental Degradation

Pollution From Affluence And Growing Industrial Sector

Pressing Environmental Concerns

Priority Issues Identified

Land Degradation

Factors Responsible For Land Degradation

Loss Of Vegetation 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

Improper Planning And Management Of Irrigation Systems

Extraction Of Ground Water In Excess Of Recharge Capacity

Open Access Resource

Poverty Of The Agriculture-dependent People

Pressure On Finite Land Resources

Per Capita Forest Land

Excess Felling Of Forests

Soil Erosion Estimates

Loss Of Nutrients

Air Pollution In Urban Areas

Vehicular Emissions As Major Contributors

Number Of Motor Vehicles Increase

Personal Transport Vehicles Contribution

India As Industrialised Nation

Unwanted And Unanticipated Consequences

Significantly Polluting Industries Identified By CPCB

Challenge To India's Environment

Measures Adopted By Ministry Of Environment And Control Boards

Need To Adopt Path Of Sustainable Development

Concern For Future Generations

Development Without Concern For Posterity

Sustainable Development

Environment And Economy Interdependent

Development Ignoring Environmental Repercussions

What Is Needed Is Sustainable Development

Development That Allows Future Generations Quality Of Life

United Nations Conference On Environment And Development (UNCED) Definition

Concept Of 'Needs' Linked To Distribution Of Resources

Meeting Basic Needs Of All (Moral Issue)

Edward Barbier's Definition

Quantitatively Measured In Terms Of Increased Standard Of Living

Sustainable Development Aims At Decreasing Absolute Poverty

Providing Lasting And Secure Livelihoods

Minimising Resource Depletion And Environmental Degradation

Meeting Basic Needs Of All

Brundtland Commission Emphasises Protecting Future Generation

Moral Obligation To Hand Over Planet Earth In Good Order

Present Generation To Bequeath Better Environment

Leave To Next Generation Stock Of 'Quality Of Life' Assets

Present Generation Can Promote Development Compatible With

Conservation Of Natural Assets

Preservation Of Regenerative Capacity

Avoiding Imposition Of Added Costs Or Risks

According To Herman Daly, To Achieve Sustainable Development Needs To Be Done

Limiting Human Population To Carrying Capacity

Technological Progress Input Efficient

Renewable Resources Extraction Sustainable

Non-renewable Resources Rate Of Depletion

Inefficiencies Arising From Pollution Corrected

UN Formulated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030

Chipko Or Appiko — What’s In A Name?

Strategies For Sustainable Development

Use Of Non-conventional Sources Of Energy

Dependence On Thermal And Hydro Power Plants

Adverse Environmental Impacts

Thermal Power Plants Emissions (Carbon Dioxide, Fly Ash)

Hydroelectric Projects Impacts

Wind Power And Solar Rays As Examples

Efforts To Tap These Energy Resources

LPG, Gobar Gas In Rural Areas

Household Fuel In Rural Areas (Wood, Dung Cake, Biomass)

Adverse Implications

Subsidised LPG Provided

Gobar Gas Plants Provided

Benefits Of LPG (Clean Fuel)

Benefits Of Gobar Gas Plant (Fuel, Fertilizer)

CNG In Urban Areas

Use In Public Transport System (Delhi)

Significantly Lowered Air Pollution

Wind Power

Use In Areas With High Wind Speed

Electricity Generation Without Adverse Impact

High Initial Cost, Easily Absorbed Benefits

Solar Power Through Photovoltaic Cells

India Naturally Endowed With Solar Energy

Using Sunlight In Different Ways

Conversion Into Electricity With Photovoltaic Cells

Special Materials Capture Solar Energy

Useful For Remote Areas

Totally Free From Pollution

Efforts To Increase Power Generation Through Solar

India Leading International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Mini-hydel Plants

Use In Mountainous Regions With Streams

Use Energy To Move Small Turbines

Generate Electricity Locally

Environment-friendly

Do Not Change Land Use Pattern

Meet Local Demands

Avoid Large Scale Transmission Towers And Cables

Avoid Transmission Loss

Traditional Knowledge And Practices

Indian People Close To Their Environment Traditionally

Component Of Environment, Not Controller

Environment Friendly Practices

Drifting Away From Traditional Systems

Large Scale Damage To Environment And Rural Heritage

Time To Go Back

Healthcare Example (Medicinal Plants)

Traditional Systems Ignored By Western System

Traditional Healthcare Systems In Great Demand Again

Cosmetic Products Herbal In Composition

Environment Friendly And Relatively Free From Side Effects

Biocomposting

Quest To Increase Agricultural Production

Neglected Use Of Compost, Switched To Chemical Fertilisers

Adverse Effects On Productive Land, Water Bodies

Demand For Irrigation Going Up

Farmers Again Using Compost

Cattle Maintained For Dung As Fertiliser

Earthworms Convert Organic Matter Faster

Process Widely Used

Civic Authorities Benefited

Biopest Control

Advent Of Green Revolution And Chemical Pesticides

Adverse Impacts Showed (Contaminated Food, Pollution)

Milk, Meat And Fishes Contaminated

Efforts To Bring In Better Methods Of Pest Control

Use Of Pesticides Based On Plant Products (Neem)

Mixed Cropping And Growing Different Crops

Awareness About Animals And Birds Helping In Controlling Pests

Examples Of Animals And Birds

Lizards Important

Need To Know Their Value And Save Them

Sustainable Development A Catch Phrase

Paradigm Shift In Development Thinking

Ensures Lasting Development And Non-declining Welfare

Conclusion

Economic Development Puts Pressure On Environment

Demand For Environmental Resources Exceeds Supply

Sustainable Development Minimises Environmental Problems

Meets Present Needs Without Compromising Future Ability

Recap

Environment Functions

Stress On Environment

Threat To India’s Environment

Need To Adopt Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Definition

Promoting Sustainable Development