Concise Environmental Notes

Population and Environment

  • India's 2011 population: 1,210,193,422 (crossed 1 billion).
  • Second most populous country after China; projected to surpass China by 2050.
  • Population stabilization expected by 2050 despite declining fertility rate.

Causes of Overpopulation

  • Birth rate exceeds death rate.
  • High fertility rate compared to other countries.
  • Early marriage and universal marriage system.
  • Poverty and illiteracy: families believe more members increase income; more children needed for old-age care.
  • Less use of contraceptives.
  • Cultural norm: preference for sons as breadwinners.

Effects of Overpopulation

  • Unemployment increases.
  • Manpower underutilization due to economic issues.
  • Infrastructure strain: transportation, communication, housing, healthcare shortages.
  • Increased slums and traffic congestion.
  • High demand for food and natural resources (minerals, forests, water).
  • Overexploitation and scarcity of resources.
  • Decreased production and increased costs, leading to inflation.
  • Income inequality widens.
  • Crime rates increase.
  • Pressure on housing and health services.
  • Loss of agricultural land and socio-political unrest.
  • Environmental pollution.

Human Rights

  • Basic rights every human should enjoy (e.g., life, liberty, freedom of speech, equality before the law).
  • Ensure dignity and worth.
  • Emerged after World War II; Universal Declaration adopted in 1948.

Value Education

  • Value is proportional to utility at physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels.
  • Education should provide wisdom and resultant peace.
  • Spiritual education leads to equanimity.
  • Environmental education promotes attitudes and values for environmental protection.

Environment and Human Health

  • AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome): caused by HIV, disrupts the immune system.
  • First reported in 1981.
  • Transmission: shared needles, contaminated blood transfusions, anal sex, sexual relations with infected persons.
  • Symptoms:
    • Major: weight loss, chronic diarrhea, prolonged fever, night sweats.
    • Minor: persistent cough, skin infections, tuberculosis, nervous system damage.
  • Non-influencing factors: social contact (touching, kissing, sharing equipment), air, mosquitoes.
  • Diagnosis: ELISA test (detects HIV-antibodies), Western blot (confirmatory test).
  • Control/Prevention: No cure or vaccine; prevention is key.

Women and Child Welfare

  • India is committed to the welfare of vulnerable sections.
  • Shift from curative to developmental orientation in welfare programs.
  • Oriented towards social justice and empowerment of marginalized groups.
  • Department of Women and Child Development (1985) formulates plans and policies.
  • National Commission of Women (NCW) constituted in 1992 to examine legal safeguards for women.

Role of Information Technology

  • Increased understanding of environment and health issues.
  • GIS (Geographical Information System) is used to map land use patterns.
  • The internet provides environmental information and raises public awareness.
  • Specialized software analyzes data for epidemiological studies.

Institutions in Environment

  • Government and non-government organizations (NGOs) protect the environment.
  • Well-known organizations: BSI, ZSI, BNHS, WWF-I, CSE, CEE, WLII, CEQ, EPA, FAO, EEC, International Maritime Organization, NCC.
  • NGOs: voluntary bodies shaping environmental policies.
  • Examples: ICSU, IUCN, WRI, Friends Of Earth, Green peace, IEB, UNDP, UNESCO, World Bank, WCED, WWF.

People and Environment

  • Key environmental thinkers: Charles Darwin, Ralph Emerson, Henry Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, E.Q. Wilson.
  • Indian figures: Salim Ali (ornithology), S.P. Godrej (wildlife conservation), M.C. Mehta (environmental law), Medha Patkar (tribal rights), Sunderlal Bahuguna (Chipko movement).

Social Issues Related to Environment

  • Unequal economic growth: widening disparity between rich and poor.
  • Urbanization: energy-intensive materials, increased vehicle use.
  • Industrialization: pollution from industries and chemicals.
  • Gender issues: unequal opportunities for women.
  • Human population explosion: rapid increase impacting economy and environment.
    • Causes: decreased death rate, increased birth rate, migration, lack of education, poverty.
    • Effects: overuse of resources, increased food demand, waste generation, pollution, deforestation, global warming, habitat loss, unemployment, poverty, increased crime.

Important Environmental Acts

  • The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  • The Forest Conservation Act, 1980
  • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  • The Environment Protection Act, 1986
  • The Biodiversity Act, 2002
  • The Disaster Management Act, 2005
  • National Environment Policy- 2006

Important Days

  • World Environment Day: 5th June
  • World Population Day: 11th July
  • Earth Day: 22nd April
  • AIDS Awareness Day: 1st December

Important Full Forms

  • IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature
  • WWF: World Wide Fund for Nature
  • UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • WHO: World Health Organization
  • EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

  • Assessment of potential environmental impacts of a proposed project.
  • Objective: ensure sustainable development with minimal environmental degradation.
  • Ministry of Environment and Forests responsible for environmental projects.
  • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): shows possible project impact on society and environment.
    • Covers: deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, socio-economic impact, risk analysis, waste reduction.
  • Required for projects needing clearance, international funding, or in sensitive areas.

Guiding Principles:

  • Participation, Transparency, Certainty, Accountability, Credibility, Cost-effectiveness, Flexibility, Practicality.

Procedure for EIA:

  • Project authorities provide information.
  • Scrutiny by technical staff.
  • Advisory committee discusses; site visits if needed.
  • Recommendations for approval or rejection.

Use and application of EIA:

  • Identify potential impacts, examine significance, assess mitigation, recommend measures, inform decision-makers.

Constraints to EIA:

  • Data collection can be difficult and expensive.
  • Potential for delays.

Control Pollution and Conserve Natural Resources:

  • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1981): Controls air pollution by setting limits on emissions.
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1974): Prevents water pollution from industrial, agricultural, and household wastewater.
  • The Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Provides for National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
  • Forest conservation Act (1980): Power to create Reserve Forests, and the right to use Reserved Forests for Government use alone.

Kyoto Protocol and Montreal Protocol

  • Kyoto Protocol: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Montreal Protocol: Protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances.

AGENCIES/