Unit – Current Challenges Facing Indian Economy

Environment
Environment Functions of Environment Reasons for Environmental Crises
The various reasons for environmental crises are:
It is defined as the total planetary The environment performs four vital
i) Population explosion and advent of industrial revolution.
inheritance and the totality of all functions:
ii) Intensive and Extensive extraction of both renewable and non-
resources. It includes: i) Provides resources for production
renewable resources.
i) Biotic Elements include all ii) Environment assimilates waste
iii) Extinction of many resources.
living elements like birds, iii) Environment sustains life
iv) Affluent consumption and production standards of the developed
animals and plants, forests, iv) It provides aesthetic services
world.
fisheries, etc.
v) Development process has polluted the atmosphere and has resulted
ii) Abiotic Elements include non-
in increased incidence of respiratory and water-borne diseases.
living elements like air, water,
vi) Global environment issues such as Global Warming and Ozone
land, etc.
Depletion.

Global Warming Causes of Global Warming Harmful Effects of Global Warming

The global warming is due to increase in the greenhouse gas i) Melting of Ice
concentrations, like water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and ii) Natural Disasters
It is observed and projected increase
ozone in the atmosphere. iii) Tropical Diseases
in the average temperature of
Among factors that may be contributing to global warming are: iv) Effect on Animals
earth’s atmosphere and oceans. The
i) Burning of fossil fuels, like coal and petroleum products v) Effect on Seasons
global warming is due to increase in
(sources of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone);
the green house gas concentrations,
ii) Deforestation, which increases the amount of carbon
like water vapour, carbon dioxide,
dioxide in the atmosphere
methane and ozone in the
iii) Methane gas released in animal waste; and
atmosphere.
iv) Increased cattle production, which contributes to
deforestation, methane production and use of fossil fuels.
 Ozone Depletion Cause of Ozone Depletion Effects of Ozone Depletion

It refers to destruction of ozone in The problem of ozone depletion is caused by As a result of depletion of the ozone layer, more ultra violet (UV)
the ozone layer due to presence of high levels of chlorine and bromine radiation comes to earth and causes damage to living organisms.
chlorine from manmade compounds in the stratosphere. The origin of i) UV radiation seems to be responsible for skin cancer in
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and these compounds is: human beings.
other forces. It is caused by the high i) CFC, which is used as cooling substances in ii) UV radiation lowers production of phytoplankton, which
levels of chlorine and bromine AC and refrigerators; affects other aquatic organisms.
compounds in the stratosphere. ii) Aerosol propellants and iii) UV radiation can also influence the growth of terrestrial
Bromofluorocarbons (halons), which is plants.
used in fire extinguishers.

Montreal Protocol State of India’s Environment Challenges to India’s Environment

It is a historical treaty designed by India has abundant natural resources in terms of rich quality of soil, Air pollution, water contamination, soil
the members of the United Nations hundreds of rivers and tributaries, lush green forests, plenty of erosion, deforestation and wildlife
to protect the ozone layer by mineral deposits, etc. extinction are some of the most pressing
phasing out CFC, which is supposed i) The black soil of the Deccan Plateau is particularly suitable for environmental concerns of India. The
to be main reason for ozone cultivation of cotton, leading to concentration of textile priority issue identified are:
depletion. Under the Montreal industries in this region. • Land Degradation
Protocol, all the signing members ii) The Indo-Gangetic plains spread from the Arabian Sea to the • Degradation of Forests or Deforestation
agreed to freeze the consumption Bay of Bengal are one of the most fertile, intensively cultivated • Water Pollution
and production of CFC by the year and densely populated regions in the world. • Soil Erosion
2013. iii) India’s forests, though unevenly distributed, provide green cover • Biodiversity Loss
for a majority of its population and natural cover for its wildlife. • Water Pollution
iv) Large deposits of iron-ore, coal and natural gas are found in the • Air Pollution
country. India alone accounts for nearly 20% of the world’s total
iron-ore reserves.
Land Degradation Causes of Land Degradation Degradation of Forests or Deforestation

It refers to a decline in Some of the factors responsible for land degradation are:
the overall quality of i) Loss of vegetation due to deforestation. It is defined as large scale cutting down of trees for
soil, water or ii) Overgrazing, i.e. grazing of natural pastures at stocking executing developmental projects.
vegetation condition, intensities above the livestock carrying capacity.
commonly caused by iii) Encroachment into forest lands.
human activities. iv) Non-adoption of adequate soil conversation measures.
v) Unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction.
vi) Improper crop rotation.
vii) Indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals, such as fertilizers and
pesticides.
viii) Improper planning and management of irrigation systems. Some ways to Control Air Pollution
ix) Extraction of ground water in excess of the recharge
capacity. i) Promotion of public transport like use
x) Poverty of the agriculture-dependent people. of Delhi Metro instead of private
xi) Shifting cultivation. vehicles. Steps should be taken foe
effective traffic planning and
management.
Soil Erosion Biodiversity Loss Water Pollution Air Pollution ii) Promotion of cleaner fuels in vehicles,
like use of CNG instead of petrol and
It takes place when Biodiversity is a term It is caused when toxic It is the presence of diesel.
the surface soil is used to describe the substances enter rivers, pollutants like smoke, iii) Use of cleaner fuels such LPG in
washed away through enormous variety of life streams and other dust particles, etc. in households to reduce indoor air
excessive rains and on Earth, i.e. it refer to water bodies and get air in such pollution.
floods. every living thing, dissolved or lie concentration, which iv) Promotion of cleaner technologies,
including plants, suspended in water. are harmful to man strengthening of emission standards,
bacteria, animals, and and the environment. introducing economic incentives and
humans. strengthening of the monitoring and
reporting system.
 Sustainable Development Ways to achieve Sustainable Development Strategies for Sustainable Development

The following strategies need to be adopted to

It refers to the development process that i) Restrict use of renewable resources
achieve sustainable development:
meets the needs of present generation ii) Substitute non-renewable with renewable
i) Use of Non-conventional sources of energy
without compromising on the ability of resources
ii) Use of cleaner fuels
the future generations to meet their iii) Become Input Efficient
iii) Establishment of Mini-Hydel Plants
respective needs. iv) Control Pollution
iv) Traditional Knowledge and Practices
v) Control the growth of population
v) Use of Bio-compost
vi) Control of Biopest
vii) Change in unsustainable patterns of
consumption and production

Important Dates Relevant to this Chapter

Government set up Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 1974

Government Protection Act 1986

India signed ‘Montreal Protocol’ along with its London Amendment 17th September, 1992