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EST Assignment 9

Sustainable development is defined as development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. The main objectives of sustainable development are to balance the consumption and replenishment of natural resources, ensure economic growth does not cause irreparable environmental damage, and maintain living conditions and resource use to continue meeting human needs without undermining natural systems. Environmental impact assessments evaluate proposed projects' environmental impacts to determine if they are environmentally sound and within ecosystem limits to receive an environmental clearance allowing development.

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46 views

EST Assignment 9

Sustainable development is defined as development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. The main objectives of sustainable development are to balance the consumption and replenishment of natural resources, ensure economic growth does not cause irreparable environmental damage, and maintain living conditions and resource use to continue meeting human needs without undermining natural systems. Environmental impact assessments evaluate proposed projects' environmental impacts to determine if they are environmentally sound and within ecosystem limits to receive an environmental clearance allowing development.

Uploaded by

vivek ramesh
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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41. What is sustainable development?

What are the


critical objectives?

Sustainable development is defined as

“Development that meets the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future

generation to meet their own needs.”

This definition emphasizes two important points. One,


the natural resources are important for our present day
survival as for the survival of our future generations.
Two, any present developmental activity or programme
must take into account, its future consequences.
The main cause of unsustainability is in ever increasing
human population and over exploitation of resources.
In developing countries, resource exploitation occurs
mainly to meet the needs of human population for
food, fodder, fuel, wood and shelter.
Human activities affect the sustainability of biosphere.
The various human activities meant to improve the
quality of life are usually accompanied by
environmental degradation. Such activities as
overfishing, agriculture, over use of fresh water supply,
deforestation and industrialization cause
environmental degradation and social stress because of
negative changes in the ecosystem.
Sustainable development is the organizing principle for
meeting human development goals while at the same
time sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide
the natural resources and ecosystem services upon
which the economy and society depend.

An environmentally sustainable society meets the


current needs of its people for food, clean air, clean
water, shelter and other basic resources without
compromising the ability of future generation to meet
their needs.

The critical objectives of Sustainable development are


1. To emphasize that rate of consumption and use of
natural resources must balance the rate at which
these resources can be either substituted or
replaced.
2. To ensure that the economic and industrial
development must go on in such a way that no
irreparable damage be done to the environment.
3. To ensure a state of society where living conditions
and resource use continue to meet human needs
without undermining the integrity and stability of
the natural system.
4. To ensure availability and quality of fundamental
human needs such as air, water, food and shelter
and to address public health risk through
investments in ecosystem services.

Consumption of State of
Sustainability
natural resources environment

More than
Environmental
nature's ability to Not sustainable
degradation
replenish

Equal to nature's
Environmental Steady state
ability to
equilibrium economy
replenish

Less than
Environmental Environmentally
nature's ability to
renewal sustainable
replenish

42. What are all the steps that can be taken to ensure
sustainable development in the field of (1) Transport,
(2) Energy and (3) Agriculture.

Transport
Transportation is a large contributor to greenhouse gas
emissions. It is said that one-third of all gasses
produced are due to transportation. Motorized
transport also releases exhaust fumes that contain
particulate matter which is hazardous to human health
and a contributor to climate change.
Sustainable transport has many social and economic
benefits that can accelerate local sustainable
development. Sustainable transport can help create
jobs, improve commuter safety through investment in
bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways, make access to
employment and social opportunities more affordable
and efficient. It also offers a practical opportunity to
save people's time and household income as well as
government budgets, making investment in sustainable
transport a 'win-win' opportunity.
Following steps would reduce the total number of
vehicle trips in order to lower greenhouse gases
emission:
 Improving public transit through the provision of
larger coverage area in order to provide more
mobility and accessibility, new technology to provide
a more reliable and responsive public transportation
network.
 Encouraging walking and biking through the
provision of wider pedestrian pathway, bike share
stations in downtowns, locate parking lots far from
the shopping center, etc..
 Increase the cost of car ownership and gas taxes
through increased parking fees and tolls,
encouraging people to drive more fuel efficient
vehicles. This can produce a social equity problem,
since lower income people usually drive older
vehicles with lower fuel efficiency. Government can
use the extra revenue collected from taxes and tolls
to improve public transportation and benefit poor
communities.
Energy
 Sustainable energy is clean and can be used over a
long period of time. Unlike fossil fuels and bio-fuels
that provide the bulk of the world’s
energy, renewable energy sources like
hydroelectric, solar and wind energy produce far
less pollution. Solar energy is commonly used on
public parking meters, street lights and the roof of
buildings. Wind power has expanded quickly; its
share of worldwide electricity usage at the end of
2014 was 3.1%. As renewable energy becomes
more common, fossil fuel infrastructures are
replaced by renewable, providing better social
equity to these communities.

Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture consists of environment
friendly methods of farming that allow the
production of crops or livestock without damage to
human or natural systems. It involves preventing
adverse effects to soil, water, biodiversity,
surrounding or downstream resources—as well as
to those working or living on the farm or in
neighbouring areas. Elements of sustainable
agriculture
include permaculture, agroforestry, mixed
farming, multiple cropping, and crop rotation. It
involves agricultural methods that do not
undermine the environment, smart farming
technologies that enhance a quality environment
for humans to thrive and reclaiming and
transforming deserts into farmlands.

43. Explain the importance of protecting the


environment side by side with industrial development.
(or) Explain the need for EIA.

Unfortunately industrial development has had adverse


impact on the environment. Most of the
developmental activities such as building of dams,
roads, airports, industries, railway tracks, cities, etc. use
enormous amounts of natural resources as raw
material and they may generate waste, which is
disposed off into the environment. Waste disposal
causes damage to air, soil and water, and brings about
depletion of natural resources.
The protection of the global environment is in the
interest of all of us living on this planet.
Various measures have been taken at national and
international levels to correct a number
of environmental problems.
In light of the above it is important to anticipate the
likely environmental problems and threats that may
arise out of the proposed developmental activities and
human actions. Such an anticipation is termed
“Environmental Impact Assessment” (EIA).
EIA is tool that improves decision making and ensures
that the project under consideration is an acceptable
option.

44. Define the concept and legal aspect of EIA.

Concept of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)


Sustainable development and environmental
conservation are necessary for survival and well being
of future generations.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool which
helps to evaluate environmental impact of proposed
developmental projects or programs. The clearance to
the project is accorded after mitigation strategies are
included in the plan.
EIA thus proves to be a tool which improves decision
making and ensures that the project under
construction is environmentally sound and within limits
of the capacity of assimilation and regeneration
capacities of the ecosystem. Environmental clearance
of developmental projects is mandatory for the new
project.

The important aspects of EIA are:


• risk assessment,
• environmental management and
• post product monitoring.

EIA provides a cost effective method to eliminate or


minimize the adverse impact of development projects.
Legal bases of environmental impact assessment
The EIA process will be designed such that its
guidelines follow basic legal and policy equipments. For
example: EIA is to-
(1) serve as a primary environmental tool with clear
provisions.
(2) apply consistently to all proposals with potential
environmental impacts.
(3) use scientific practice and suggests strategies for
mitigation.
(4) address all possible factors such as short term, long
term, small scale and large scale effects.
(5) consider sustainable aspects such as capacity for
assimilation, carrying capacity, biodiversity protection.
(6) lay down a flexible approach and provides for public
involvement.
(7) have in-built mechanism of follow up and feedback
for comply into mandatory requirements.
(8) include mechanisms for monitoring, auditing and
evaluation.

45. What is meant by environmental clearance? Name


any three projects requiring such clearance.
Environmental clearance is the ‘go ahead’ signal
granted by the Impact Assessment Agency in the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
India, after the EIA requirements are fulfilled.
EIA appraises the environmental health and social
implications of planned developmental
projects. It thus links environment with development.
The goal of EIA is to ensure environmentally safe and
sustainable development.
EIA was introduced in India in 1978, with respect to
river valley projects. Later the EIA legislation was
enhanced to include other developmental sections
since 1941.
All projects that require clearance from central
government can be broadly categorized into the
following:-
(1) Industries
(2) Mining
(3) Thermal power plants
(4) River valley projects
(5) Infrastructure and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone)
(6) Nuclear power projects.

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