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ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION &
NATURAL RESOURCES
Unit Structure:
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Concept of Environmental Degradation
1.2 Types of Environmental Degradation
1.3 Natural Resources
1.3.1 Renewable Natural Resources
1.3.2 Non -renewable Natural Reso urces
1.4 Summary
1.5 Questions
1.0 OBJECTIVES
To know about the basic concept of environmental degradation.
To study the various types of environmental degradation.
To understand the concept renewable and non -renewable natural
resources.
1.1 CONC EPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
Environmental degradation is just like an umbrella concept as it includes a
variety of issues like pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation, land
disturbance, and a lot more. It is a problem through which the natural
environment deteriorates and depletes biological diversity and reduces the
general health of the environment, which can be natural, or human -made.
Environmental degradation is harming our ecosystem. It is a distinct unit
including both living and non -living e lements that lives within it. Plants,
animals, and we humans depend on the environment for survival directly
or indirectly.
We can broadly understand our ecosystem, through the food chain and
food web process. These living and non -living things are depends upon the
other environmental components like ponds, streams, lakes, etc.
Therefore, a minor change in the environment can affect the whole
system. Our environment has deteriorated for last two centuries.
Sometime, human disturbance is the primary cause of this. The ‘want’ munotes.in
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2 from nature turns into ‘greed,’ which causes our mother nature to deplete
and destroy.
Degradation of environment is one of the essential subjects where our
mother earth is dying because of its hazardous, irresponsible, unthinkable,
and p ermanent cause in this present era. Mindless consumerism and the
hunger for more economic development or growth started its dreadful
effect on Mother Nature. In the present case, sustainable development
becomes a meaningless word.
It happens in several way s, such as the extinction of species, pollution of
common assets, deforestation, and most rapidly by population growth.
Other causes include urbanization, increase in energy consumption,
economic growth, and agriculture intensification.
1.2 TYPES OF ENVIRO NMENTAL DEGRADATION
Basically there are the three types of Environmental degradation as
follows –
1. Land degradation.
2. Water degradation.
3. Air degradation.
Degradation of these three types impacts the worldwide climate and living
conditions to an excellent extent.
1. Land degradation:
The land degradation may be a process during which the worth of the
biophysical environment is suffering from a mixture of human activities or
disturbances acting upon the land. The deforestation accounts for the main
land degr adation problem because it leads to severe erosion, flood, and
loss of fertile soil.
2. Water degradation:
The water degradation occurs when toxic substances enter water bodies
like lakes, rivers, oceans and on by getting dissolved in them, lying
suspended within the water or depositing on the bed. This degrades the
quality of water.
3. Air degradation:
The quality of air can be degraded by natural or man -made sources.
Natural sources include volcanic eruption, windstorm dust. Man -made
sources include pollu tion from moving vehicles, toxic gases from
industries, coal -powered plants, burning wood or other material within the
outdoors, landfills. The most common diseases caused by pollution
include ischemic heart condition, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), carcinoma and acute lower respiratory infections in
children.
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Environmental
Degradation & Natural
Resources
3 1.3 NATURAL RESOURCES
The various types of natural resources are used in human life for
maximum welfare. There are two types of resources used for the
development of a country. These types are of renewable and exhaustible or
non-renewable resources which are most important to any country's
sustainable development.
1.3.1 RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES :
Exhaustible resources are also known as Non -renewable resource. Such
resources ar e natural substances which are not replenished with the speed
at which they are consumed. It is a finite resource. Fossil fuels such as oil,
natural gas, and coal are examples of Exhaustible resources. Humans
constantly draw on the reserves of these substa nces while the formation of
new supplies takes ages.
Exhaustible resources come from the Earth. Humans extract them in gas,
liquid, or solid form and then convert them for their use, mainly related to
energy. The reserves of these substances took billions of years to form,
and it will take billions of years to replace the supplies used.
There are four major types of Exhaustible resources: Oil, Natural gas,
Coal, and Nuclear energy. Oil, natural gas, and coal are collectively called
fossil fuels. Fossil fu els were formed within the Earth from dead plants
and animals over millions of years —hence the name “fossil” fuels. They
are found in underground layers of rock and sediment. Pressure and heat
worked together to transform the plant and animal remains into crude oil
(also known as petroleum), coal, and natural gas.
All of these Exhaustible or Non -renewable resources have proved
historically to be valuable energy sources that are inexpensive to extract.
Storage, conversion, and shipping are easy and cheap. F uels created from
non-renewable resources are still the primary source of all the power
generated in the world due to their affordability and high energy content.
Other Types of Exhaustible or Non -renewable Resources:
Most non -renewable resources are form ed from organic carbon material
which is heated and compressed over time, changing their form into crude
oil or natural gas. However, the term non -renewable resource also refers to
minerals and metals from the earth, such as gold, silver, and iron. These
are similarly formed by a long -term geological process. They are often
costly to mine, as they are usually deep within the Earth's crust. But they
are much more abundant than fossil fuels. Some types of groundwater are
considered non -renewable resources if the aquifer is unable to be
replenished at the same rate at which it's drained.
The problem of pollution and environmental degradation arise due the
maximum and continuous use of exhaustible or Non -renewable resources.
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4 1.3.2 NON -RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURC ES
A renewable resource is one that can be used repeatedly and does not run
out because it is naturally replaced. Examples of renewable resources
include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energy. Their supply
replenishes naturally or can be sust ained. The sunlight used in solar energy
and the wind used to power wind turbines replenish themselves. Timber
reserves can be sustained through replanting.
Renewable resource is important for sustainable development and
environment protection of a nation. There are main two types of renewable
resources i.e. biotic and abiotic. Animals, fish, plants are the biotic
renewable resources whereas air, water, wind energy and solar energy are
the examples of abiotic renewable resources. These two types of
renewabl e resources stock don’t diminish completely. But it is highly
impossible to introduce exclusion principle for renewable resources. Now -
a-days we are using all these renewable natural resource son large scale.
So, in future we may face the problem of sustai nable development and
environment protection. Biofuel is popular renewable source nowadays.
Biofuel, or energy made from renewable organic products, has gained
prevalence in recent years as an alternative energy source to exhaustible
resources such as coal , oil, and natural gas. Although prices are still higher
for biofuel, some experts project that, due to increasing scarcity and the
forces of supply and demand, the prices of fossil fuels will grow higher,
making the price of biofuel more competitive. Type s of biofuel include
biodiesel, an alternative to oil, and green diesel, which is made from algae
and other plants. Other renewable resources include oxygen and solar
energy. Wind and water are also used to create renewable energy. For
example, windmills h arness the wind's natural power and turn it into
energy.
1.4 SUMMARY
This unit discussed about the relationship between the concept of
environmentaldegradation and several types of environmental degradation.
It also analysed and discussed types and importa nce of Natural resources
like renewable and non -renewable natural resources.
1.5 QUESTIONS
Q1. Discuss the meaning and types of environmental degradation.
Q2. Write note on ‘Renewable Natural Resources.’
Q3. Write note on ‘Non -renewabl e Natural Resources.
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5 2
POLLUTION
Unit Structure:
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Land Pollution
2.2.1 Causes of Land Pollution
2.2.2 Effects of Land Pollution
2.2.3 Measures of Land Pollution
2.3 Air Pollution
2.3.1 Causes of Air Pollution
2.3.2 Effects of Air Pollution
2.3.3 Measures of Air Pollution
2.4 Water Pollution
2.4.1 Causes of Water Pollution
2.4.2 Effects of Water Pollution
2.4.3 Measures of Water Pollution
2.5 Noise Pollution
2.5.1 Causes of Noise Pollution
2.5.2 Effects of Noise Pollution
2.5.3 Measures of Noise Pollution
2.6 Questions
2.0 OBJECTIVES
To know about the concept of pollution.
To study the causes, effects and measures of land pollution.
To study the causes, effects and measures of water pollution.
To study the c auses, effects and measures of air pollution.
To study the causes, effects and measure of noise pollution. munotes.in
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6 2.1 INTRODUCTION
The word pollution originates from the Latin word “Polluere” which
means “to soil or defile”. Pollution is the introduction of co ntainments into
the natural environment that cause adverse change. According to The
National Academy’s report review of US Water Management and Control
defines, “pollution as undesirable change in the physical, chemical and
biological characteristics of ai r, water and land, that will be or may be
harmful to human and other life”. Pollution causes an undesirable change
in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of environment. We
come across different types of pollution. Let us study the concepts of
Land, Water and Noise pollution.
2.2 LAND POLLUTION
Land pollution is a serious problem that impacts humans, animals, and the
earth. Without taking measures now to reduce pollution levels, permanent
changes to the land can occur. The adverse changes to t he environment
due to land pollution are subtle, but the problem is much bigger than it
appears.
Definition of Land Pollution:
The basic definition of land pollution is the destruction and contamination
of the land through the direct and indirect actions o f humans. The
pollution results in changes to the land, such as soil erosion. Some of the
changes are irreversible, while others are not.
2.2.1 Causes Of Land Pollution :
There are several known causes of land pollution. Of those, there are six
factors tha t contribute more than others.
1. Deforestation and soil erosion:
When forests are cleared for development and to meet the demand for
wood supply, the soil is loosened in the process. Without the protection of
the trees, the land becomes barren over time a nd starts to erode.
2. Agricultural chemicals:
Part of the farming process often involves the use of harmful pesticides
and insecticides to protect crops. However, the chemicals can cause the
land to become barren. The once -fertile soil is then more suscep tible to
environmental elements, such as the wind.
3. Industrialization:
The Industrial Revolution may have resulted in significant positive
changes to the economy and society, but it also led to significant pollution
of the land. Through unsafe disposal p ractices for chemicals used in
manufacturing, poor regulation, and the overwhelming number of
industries and factories that are polluting the land daily, industrialization
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7 4. Mining:
The min ing process can lead to the creation of large open spaces beneath
the surface of the earth. This can result in the land caving in, which
compromises the integrity of the land. Mining also results in harmful
chemicals, such as uranium, being disturbed and r eleased into the
environment.
5. Landfills:
The garbage found at landfills is filled with toxins that eventually seep
into the earth. During rains, the toxins are washed into other areas and the
pollution is spread. As the population grows, the amount of g arbage filling
landfills also grows.
6. Human sewage:
Untreated human waste can produce toxic gases that can seep into the
ground. As with air pollution, the soil quality is negatively impacted, and
land nearby can be contaminated. In addition to this, the probability of
human illnesses occurring increases.
7. Industrialization:
Due to an increase in demand for food, shelter, and house, more goods are
produced. This resulted in creation of more waste that needs to be
disposed of. To meet the demand of the g rowing population, more
industries were developed which led to deforestation. Research and
development paved the way for modern fertilizers and chemicals that were
highly toxic and led to soil contamination.
8. Construction activities:
Due to urbanization, a large number of construction activities are taking
place which has resulted in large waste articles like wood, metal, bricks,
plastic that can be seen by naked eyes outside any building or office which
is under construction.
9. Nuclear waste:
Nuclear pl ants can produce a huge amount of energy through nuclear
fission and fusion. The left over radioactive material contains harmful and
toxic chemicals that can affect human health. They are dumped beneath
the earth to avoid any casualty.
2.2.2 EFFECTS OF LAN D POLLUTION
The contamination of the land has far -reaching consequences that can be
catastrophic for water, soil, and animals. There are several possible
consequences of land pollution to the environment and animals.
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8 1. Ground water poisoning:
Depending on the soil and whether the chemicals were improperly
disposed of on the land, the chemicals could end up in the ground water.
The process is known as leaching. It can occur on farms, industrial sites,
and landfills.
2. Water nutrient enrichment:
Chemicals , such as nitrogen, are used frequently on farms. Only a small
portion of the nutrients end up benefitting the crops. The remainder
usually ends up in water that is populated by fish, algae, and other life
forms. The nutrient -heavy water saps up most of th e oxygen in the water,
which leaves little for fish and other life. When this happens, the water is
unable to support most lifeforms. For more information on water
pollution.
3. Soil pollution:
Soil pollution is another form of land pollution, where the up per layer of
the soil is damaged. This is caused by the overuse of chemical fertilizers,
soil erosion caused by running water and other pest control measures; this
leads to loss of fertile land for agriculture, forest cover, fodder patches for
grazing, etc .
4. Air pollution:
Landfills across the city keep on growing due to an increase in waste and
are later burned which leads to air pollution. They become home for
rodents, mice, etc which in turn transmit diseases.
5. Shifting habitat:
As deforestation and soil erosion progress, animals are forced to move to
find shelter and food. For some animals, the change is too traumatic, and
this has led to some dying. As a result, some species are at a greater risk of
extinction.
6. Environmental impact:
When deforest ation is committed, the tree cover is compromised. This
leads to a steep imbalance in the rain cycle. A disturbed rain cycle affects
a lot of factors. The green cover is reduced. Trees and plants help balance
the atmosphere, without them we are subjected t o various concerns like
Global warming, the greenhouse effect, irregular rainfall and flash floods
among other imbalances.
7. Distraction for tourists:
The city loses its attraction as a tourist destination as landfills do not look
good when you move aroun d the city. It leads to a loss of revenue for the
state government.
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9 8. Effect on wildlife:
The animal kingdom has suffered most in the past decades. They face a
serious threat with regards to the loss of habitat and natural environment.
The constant human activity on land, is leaving it polluted; forcing these
species to move further away and adapt to new regions or die trying to
adjust. Several species are pushed to the verge of extinction, due to no
homeland. Other issues that we face include increased t emperature,
unseasonal weather activity, acid rains, etc. The discharge of chemicals on
land, makes it dangerous for the ecosystem too. These chemicals are
consumed by the animals and plants and thereby make their way in the
ecosystem. This process is call ed bio magnifications and is a serious threat
to the ecology.
9. Effects of Land Pollution on Humans:
The impact of land pollution is not limited just to the earth and animals.
Humans can also experience negative consequences that can influence
quality of life and health. Some of the potential consequences include birth
defects, the development of breathing disorders, skin diseases, and cancer.
Most of these develop after exposure to waste from water poisoning and
soil contamination. Chemicals that are comm only found in contaminated
soil and water, such as lead, have can impact a child's cognitive
development even if the exposure is very low.
2.2.3 MEASURES OF LAND POLLUTION
There are several possible solutions to land pollution, including
conservation. Cons ervation focuses on preserving natural resources, such
as soil and plants. The efforts to conserve resources can start with utilizing
sustainable practices.
For instance, leaving some of the trees in a forest to naturally die and
decay. This not only leave s the cover needed for the soil and other
vegetation, but it helps to provide the nutrients that the soil needs to
remain fertile.
Other solutions include:
Proper waste disposal that focuses on treating waste and disposing it in
the safest manner possible .
Reusing materials to reduce the need for harvesting of resources.
Products that are not reusable can likely be recycled.
Reducing the usage of non -biodegradable materials, such as plastic
shopping bags. The simple act of switching to a reusable cloth b ag for
groceries can help cut down on the need for non - biodegradable
materials.
Organic gardening can reduce the usage of pesticides and insecticides.
Non-gardeners can help by buying organic food. Create dumping
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10 The n egative consequences of land pollution can be greatly reduced with
the cooperation of everyone. By making a conscious effort to contribute to
a safer environment, the health and well -being of all can be protected.
2.3 AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution means pre sence of either undesirable gases or the excess of
any of the gases in more than normal proportion or presence of both the
above factors, in the atmosphere, as a result of which, the natural quality
of air is adversely affected, hence, it becomes unfit to breathe.
2.3.1 CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION
Several factors are responsible for air pollution –
1. Oxides of carbon:
The combustion of fossil fuels to provide a source of energy is the major
means by which man pollutes the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide (CO),
and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the gaseous pollutants produced in largest
quantities from natural and anthropogenic sources. Consumption of
transport fuels are the principal source of Co and CO2.
2. Oxides of Sulphur:
Gaseous sulphur dioxide (SO2) and sulphu r trioxide (SO3) are serious
pollutants of our atmosphere. Coal combustion, oil refineries, copper, lead
and zinc smelting are the important sources of oxides of SO2 andSO3.
3. Oxides of Nitrogen:
Number of Oxides of Nitrogen exist in the polluted atmosp here play a
significant role in air pollution. The principal sources of nitrogen oxides
are combustion of coal, transport and industrial processes.
4. Industry:
Industries are a major contributor to air pollution. Industrial processes
discharge pollutants such as nitrous oxide and hydro fluorocarbons into
the air. Petroleum refineries also liberate lots of hydrocarbons into the air.
Agricultural practices like livestock rearing and landfills also add to
atmospheric methane concentrations. The overall effec t is amplification in
the global warming probability.
5. Vehicle Emissions:
Vehicle emissions are another source of fossil fuel emissions which
invariably leads to air pollution. Cars, heavy duty trucks, shipping vessels,
trains, and airplanes all burn lo ts of fossil fuels to work. Emissions from
automobile engines hold both primary and secondary pollutants. This is a
major cause of pollution and one that is very difficult to deal with as
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11 for about 10 percent of an individual’s carbon footprint, or the amount of
carbon dioxide our activities and lifestyle contribute to the atmosphere.
6. Household and Farming Chemicals:
Fumigating homes, crop dusting, painting supplies, household cleaning
products, over the counter insect/pest killers, fertilizer dust, all of these
emit harmful chemicals into the air and lead to pollution. In many cases,
when we use these chemicals at offices or homes with no or little
ventilation, we may fall sick if we breathe them in for an extended period
of time.
7. Deforestation:
Deforestation affects the atmosphere in more than a few ways. Forests act
as sponges for carbon dioxide through a process called carbon
sequestration. Trees amass carbon dioxide in their plant tissue as they take
in this gas to undertake food -making. In effect, this action gets rid of
carbon dioxide from the air. When forests are burned and destroyed on
purpose and to tremendous extents, this storage area for carbon dioxide is
remove d, thus increasing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Wood fires are also another effect of deforestation and can be cause air
pollution by discharging particulate matter into the air. These particles can
become lodged in the respiratory system, cau sing irritation to lung tissues.
The particles can also worsen existing health conditions such as asthma
and other respiratory disorders.
8. Smoking:
One can still be at a risk of the dangers of smoking even if they are a non -
smoker. The University of Min nesota estimated that up to 90 percent of
the population is habitually exposed to second -hand smoke. Tobacco
smoke contains up to 40 carcinogens, making it an especially fatal form of
air pollution. If you have smokers in the family air purifiers will ensu re
that the other members don’t suffers from second hand smoke.
9. Indoor Air Pollution:
Use of toxic products also called as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs),
inadequate ventilation, uneven temperature, and humidity level can cause
indoor air pollution, whether you are in office, school or at your
comfortable home. House air pollution can take place due to ignorant
factors, for instance, smoking tobacco inside a room or leaving mold
infected wall untreated. Use of wood stove or space heaters is capable t o
increase the humidity level which can directly affect the health a person in
no time.
10. Microbial Decaying Process:
Manufacturing, chemical, and textiles industries release a large number of
carbon monoxides, hydrocarbons, chemicals and organic compou nds
which contaminate our environment. Bacteria and fungi play a
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12 indicators of abnormal environmental conditions. Decaying of these
microorganisms present in the surrounding releases methane gas which is
highly toxic. Breathing toxic gas like methane may lead to death.
11. Open Burning of Garbage Waste:
Open burning of garbage is much more harmful to your health and the
environment than one may think. As per Engage EPW, Delhi Air Po llution
is choking public health. Delhi generates a whopping 9500 tons of waste
every day, which makes it India’s second waste dumping city. Exposure to
open burning of garbage waste can pose serious health risk including
cancer, liver issues, impairment o f immune system, reproductive
functions; can also affect the developing nervous system.
12. Agricultural Activities:
Agricultural activities have had a serious impact on the decreasing air
quality. To begin with pesticides and fertilizers are the main so urce to
contaminate the surrounding air. Nowadays, pesticides and fertilizers are
mixed with new invasive species which are not found in nature, for quick
growth of the crops and vegetation. Once they are sprayed over, the smell
and the effect of the pesti cides are left in the air. Some mix with water and
some seeps into the ground which not only destroys the crops but also
causes numerous health -related issues.
13. Use of chemical and synthetic products:
Talking about air pollution, we always consider out door air pollution
dangerous for our lives but never talk about indoor air pollution.
Household products cause indoor air pollution which is 10 times more
harmful than outdoor air pollution. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
found in paints, cleaners and p ersonal care products such as perfume and
deodorants are a reason for common heath issues. Risks like asthma or
other respiratory issues and lung disease are other issues cause by inhaling
poor house air quality.
The rate with which the air pollution is i ncreasing in the country,
immediate action has become an absolute necessity. Not only does it affect
human lives but also causes havoc in nature.
Nelson Mandela once expressed his concern about the air pollution and
particularly its effect on human lives, said, “Everyone has the right to an
environment that is not harmful to their health or well -being; and to have
that environment protected, for the benefit of present and future
generations.”
Conserve the energy is the first step towards a better future w ith clean
air to breathe.
Understanding the concept and imbibing the habit of reducing, reuse,
and recycle is crucial.
Use public transport whenever it is feasible to save fuel and reduce
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13 2.3.2 EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
1. Accelerated Global Warming:
Air pollution directly accelerates the rate at which global warming
happens by depleting the Ozone layer. Global warming refers to the
increased temperatures Earth continues to experience. These higher
temperatures lead to the melting of the polar ice caps and icebergs, which
elevates sea levels and creates concern for the human race.
2. Human Respiratory and Heart Concerns.
Air pollution is known to cause irritation in the eyes, lungs, nose, and
throat. It creates respiratory problems a nd exacerbates existing conditions
such as asthma and emphysema. When continually exposed to air
pollution, humans become at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Air
filled with toxins can have a number of adverse effects on the arteries, and
have even been a contributor to heart attacks. The effects of air pollution
are alarming. They are known to create several respiratory and heart
conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart attacks and
strokes along with cancer, among other threats t o the body. Several
million are known to have died due to the direct or indirect effects of Air
pollution.
3. Wildlife Endangerment:
Most diseases and conditions that humans are susceptible to, animals are
as well. Air pollution creates many of the same is sues that humans face.
Heavily polluted areas force inhabitants to seek new homes, which can
negatively impact the ecosystem. Toxic chemicals, which we’ll discuss in
the next bullet, also deposit over surfaces of water that can lead to the
endangerment of marine life animals.
4. Acid Rain:
When air pollution, specifically sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, are
released into sky through fossil fuel burning, it creates the phenomenon
known as acid rain. Water, high in the atmosphere, combines with these
chem icals and becomes acidic in nature. It then scatters the ground,
disguised as normal rainfall. Acid rain has been known to cause harm to
humans and animals alike, and even damage crops.
5. Child Health Problems:
Air pollution is detrimental to your health even before you take your first
breath. Exposure to high air pollution levels during pregnancy causes
miscarriages as well as premature birth, autism, asthma and spectrum
disorder in young children. It also has the potential to damage early brain
developm ent in a child and cause pneumonia that kills almost a million
children below 5 years. Children are at a greater risk of short term
respiratory infections and pulmonary diseases in areas exposed to air
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14 6. Eutrophication:
Eutrophication is a co ndition where a high amount of nitrogen present in
some pollutants gets developed on the sea surface and turns itself into
algae and adversely affects fish, plants, and animal species.
7. Effect on Wildlife:
Just like humans, animals also face some devast ating effects of air
pollution. Toxic chemicals present in the air can force wildlife species to
move to a new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit
over the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.
8. Depletion of the Ozone Layer:
Ozone exists in the Earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting
humans from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is
depleting due to the presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydro
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. As the ozone layer becomes thin,
it will emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause skin and eye -related
problems. UV rays also have the capability to affect crops.
2.3.3 MEASURES OF AIR POLLUTION
1. Use thePublic Mode of Transportation.
Encourage people to use more and more public modes of transportation to
reduce pollution. Also, try to make use of carpooling. If you and your
colleagues come from the same locality and have the same timings, you
can explore this option to save energy and money.
2. Better Household Practices
Discard fireplaces and/or wooden stoves used for heating homes. Use gas
logs in place of wood. Also, eliminate the use of gas -powered lawn and
gardening equipment. Avoid setting fire to garbage, dry leaves, or other
materials in your y ard, and lighting bonfires in the open. Try to mulch or
compost your yard waste. Use cleaning products and paints that are
environmentally friendly. When you’re leaving home, be sure to turn off
the lights, TV, and any other electronic appliances. Fossil f uel plants are a
major cause of air pollutants, and the less energy you need, the less we
have to rely on those plants to generate electricity.This also means turning
to energy efficient devices when possible. Fluorescent light bulbs over the
course of the ir lifespan can reduce energy consumption while adding
significant savings to your pocket.
3. Conserve Energy
Switch off fans and lights when you are going out. A large number of
fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity. You can save the environment
from degradation by reducing the number of fossil fuels to be burned.
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15 4. Understand the Concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. Instead, reuse them for
some other purpose. For example, you can use old jar s to store cereals or
pulses.
5. Emphasis on Clean Energy Resources
Use of Clean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal is on
the rise these days. Governments of various countries have been providing
grants to consumers who are interested in installing solar panels for their
homes. Undoubtedly, this can go a long way to curb air pollution.
6. Use Energy -Efficient Devices
CFL lights consume less electricity than their counterparts. They live
longer, consume less electricity, lead to lower ele ctricity bills, and also
help you to reduce pollution by consuming less energy.
7. Become An Advocate For Clean Energy.
Every day, technology continues to advance that improves the efficiency
and cost of clean energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal. These types
of energy sources create much less air pollution. Even nuclear is leaps and
bounds better than traditional fossil fuel plants when it comes to air
pollution. Find ways to promote and educate the public on clean energy
alternatives. A small cont ribution goes a long way in the grand scheme of
things.
2.4 WATER POLLUTION
Water is an essential resource of life on earth. The quality of water is the
most important factor. Fresh water is a scarce commodity with greatest
amount locked in glaciers and i ce-caps. Water pollution simply means
contamination of water due to any external material or in other words,
introduction of something to natural water which makes in unsuitable for
human consumption. WHO has defined water pollution as “any foreign
materia l either from natural or other sources that may counterminate water
and makes it harmful to life, cause of their toxicity leads to reduction of
normal oxygen level of water causes aesthetically unpalatable afflicts as
spread of epidemic diseases”.
Jacques Yves Cousteau said that “Water and air, the two essential fluids
on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans”. In simple
words, the contamination of water bodies is water pollution. It is the abuse
of lakes, ponds, oceans, rivers, reservoirs , etc. Pollution of water usually
occurs when substances discharged in it negatively modify the water. This
discharge of pollutants can be direct as well as indirect.
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16 2.4.1 CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION
There are many causes of water pollution.
1. Industria l Waste:
Industries and industrial sites across the world are a major contributor to
water pollution. Many industrial sites produce waste in the form of toxic
chemicals and pollutants, and though regulated, some still do not have
proper waste management s ystems in place. In those rare cases, industrial
waste is dumped into nearby freshwater systems. When industrial waste is
not treated properly (or worse, not treated at all), it can very easily pollute
the freshwater systems that it comes into contact with .
Industrial waste from agricultural sites, mines and manufacturing plants
can make its way into rivers, streams and other bodies of water that lead
directly to the sea. The toxic chemicals in the waste produced by these
industries not only have the poten tial to make water unsafe for human
consumption, they can also cause the temperature in freshwater systems to
change, making them dangerous for many water dwelling organisms.
2. Marine Dumping:
The process of marine dumping is exactly what it sounds like, dumping
garbage into the waters of the ocean. It might seem crazy, but household
garbage is still collected and dumped into oceans by many countries
across the world. Most of these items can take anywhere from two to 200
years to decompose completely.
3. Sewage and Wastewater:
Harmful chemicals, bacteria and pathogens can be found in sewage and
wastewater even when it’s been treated. Sewage and wastewater from
each household is released into the sea with fresh water. The pathogens
and bacteria found in t hat wastewater breed disease, and therefore are a
cause of health -related issues in humans and animals alike.
4. Oil Leaks and Spills:
The age -old phrase “like water and oil” is used when describing two
things that do not mix easily or at all. Just as th e saying states, water and
oil do not mix, and oil does not dissolve in water.
Large oil spills and oil leaks, while often accidental, are a major cause of
water pollution. Leaks and spills often are caused by oil drilling operations
in the ocean or ships that transport oil. wildlife.
5. Agriculture:
In order to protect their crops from bacteria and insects, farmers often use
chemicals and pesticides. When these substances seep into the
groundwater, they can harm animals, plants and humans. Additionally,
when it rains, the chemicals mix with rainwater, which then flows into
rivers and streams that filter into the ocean, causing further water
pollution.
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17 6. Global Warming:
Rising temperatures due to global warming are a major concern in terms
of water pollu tion. Global warming causes water temperatures to rise,
which can kill water -dwelling animals. When large die -offs occur, it
further pollutes the water supply, exacerbating the issue. There are many
everyday ways we can help reduce global warming, which wi ll in turn
help lower water pollution. These methods include recycling, carpooling
and using CFL bulbs in our houses.
7. Radioactive Waste:
Radioactive waste from facilities that create nuclear energy can be
extremely hazardous to the environment and mus t be disposed of properly.
This is because uranium, the element used in the creation of nuclear
energy, is a highly toxic chemical. Unfortunately, accidents still occur at
these facilities, and toxic waste is released into the environment. The coal
and gas industries are, in many ways, no better. This is one of the major
impetuses behind the development of alternative, clean sources of energy,
including solar and wind.
8. Mining Activities:
Mining is the process of crushing the rock and extracting coal and other
minerals from the underground. These elements, when extracted in the raw
form, contain harmful chemicals and can increase the number of toxic
elements when mixed up with water, which may result in health problems.
Mining activities emit a large amou nt of metal waste and sulfides from the
rocks, which is harmful to the water.
9. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides:
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used by farmers to protect crops
from insects and bacterias. They are useful for the plant’s grow th.
However, when these chemicals are mixed up with water, they produce
harmful pollutants for plants and animals. Also, when it rains, the
chemicals mix up with rainwater and flow down into rivers and canals,
which pose serious damages for aquatic animals .
10. Urban Development:
As the population has grown exponentially, so has the demand for
housing, food, and cloth. As more cities and towns are developed, they
have resulted in increasing use of fertilizers to produce more food, soil
erosion due to defor estation, rise in construction activities, inadequate
sewer collection and treatment, landfills as more garbage is produced,
increase in chemicals from industries to produce more materials.
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18 2.4.2 EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION
1. Affects Aquatic Life:
Water contamination has a significant impact on aquatic life. It affects
their metabolism and behaviour, as well as causing disease and death.
Dioxin is a toxin that causes a variety of issues, ranging from reproductive
issues to uncontrolled cell development a nd cancer. This chemical
accumulates in fish, poultry, and meat. Chemicals like these make their
way up the food chain before entering the human body.
2. Affects Food chain:
Water contamination may have a significant influence on the food chain. It
upset s the food chain. Cadmium and lead are two hazardous chemicals
that enter the food chain via animals (fish when ingested by animals and
people) and can continue to disturb at greater levels.
3. Groundwater contamination:
Pesticides and fertilisers used i n agricultural production pollute
groundwater as well as our ecology. If this groundwater is directly
delivered to our home via bore -wells or tube wells, it will cause a
multitude of health issues.
4. Affects Human Health:
Pollution affects humans, and fa ecal matter in water sources can cause
illnesses such as hepatitis. Poor drinking water treatment and
contaminated water can always lead to an epidemic of infectious illnesses
like cholera.Water pollution has very negative effects on public health. A
lot of diseases result from drinking or being in contact with contaminated
water, such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery or skin infections. In
zones where there is no available drinking water, the main risk is
dehydration obviously.
5. High TDS in wate r:
Water is the best solvent since it quickly dissolves a wide range of
compounds. TDS in drinking water should be less than 500 mg/litre. The
presence of a high level of TDS in water can cause a variety of health
issues in humans.
2.4.3 MEASURES OF WATER POLLUTION
1. Wastewater treatment:
Wastewater treatment consists of removing pollutants from wastewater
through a physical, chemical or biological process. The more efficient
these processes are, the cleaner the water becomes.
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19 2. Green agriculture:
Globally, agriculture accounts for 70% of water resources, so it is essential
to have climate -friendly crops, efficient irrigation that reduces the need for
water and energy -efficient food production. Green agriculture is also
crucial to limit the chemicals that enter the water.
3. Storm water management:
Storm water management is the effort to reduce runoff of rainwater or
melted snow into streets, lawns and other sites and the improvement of
water quality” according to the US Environmental Protection Agen cy
(EPA). It is important to avoid pollutants from contaminating the water
and helps to use water more efficiently.
4. Air pollution prevention :
Air pollution has a direct impact on water contamination as 25% of human
induced CO2 emissions are absorbed b y oceans. This pollution causes a
rapid acidification of our oceans, and threatens marine life and corals.
Preventing air pollution is the best way to prevent this from happening.
5. Plastic waste reduction:
80% of plastic in our oceans is from land sour ces. In order to reduce the
amount of plastic entering our ocean, we need to both reduce our use of
plastic globally, and to improve plastic waste management.
6. Water conservation:
Without water conservation, we won’t go very far. It is central in makin g
sure the world has better access to clean water. It means being aware that
water is a scarce resource, taking care of it accordingly, and managing it
responsibly.
2.5 NOISE POLLUTION
Noise pollution can be defined as “an undesirable and harmful sound in
the environment, the presence of which causes discomfort to individuals
and also to the animals”. By definition, noise pollution takes place when
there is either an excessive amount of noise or an unpleasant sound that
causes a temporary disruption in the natural balance. This definition is
usually applicable to sounds or noises that are unnatural in either their
volume or their production. Our environment is such that it has become
difficult to escape the noise. Even electrical appliances at home have a
constant hum or beeping sound. By and large, lack of urban planning
increases the exposure to unwanted sounds. This is why understanding
noise pollution is necessary to curb it in time.
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20 2.5.1 CAUSES OF NOISE POLLUTION
1. Industrialization:
Most of the in dustries use big machines which are capable of producing a
large amount of noise. Apart from that, various equipment like
compressors, generators, exhaust fans, grinding mills also participates in
producing big noise. We are familiar with the sight of work ers in these
factories and industries wearing earplugs to minimize the effect of noise.
However, even after taking precautionary measures like these, extensive
exposure to high levels of noise might damage their hearing abilities in the
long run.
2. Poor Urban Planning:
In most of the developing countries, poor urban planning also plays a vital
role. Congested houses, large families sharing small space, fight over
parking, frequent fights over basic amenities lead to noise pollution, which
may disrupt the environment of society. Noise pollution in urban settings
may also be caused when residential properties and industrial buildings are
in proximity. In situations like these, the noise from the nearby industrial
property might hinder the basic well -being o f the individuals living in
residential properties. It doesn’t just affect their sleep and hours of rest but
also has an adverse effect on the development and well -being of children.
3. Social Events:
Noise is at its peak in most of the social events. Whet her it is marriage,
parties, pub, disc or place of worship, people normally flout rules set by
the local administration and create a nuisance in the area. People play
songs on full volume and dance till midnight, which makes the condition
of people living nearby pretty worse. In markets, you can see people
selling clothes via making a loud noise to attract the attention of people.
While this may not seem like much at the outset, over time, it affects the
hearing abilities of the individuals who are constant ly exposed to these
sounds.
4. Transportation:
A large number of vehicles on roads, airplanes flying over houses,
underground trains produce heavy noise, and people find it difficult to get
accustomed to that. The high noise leads to a situation wherein a normal
person loses the ability to hear properly.
5. Construction Activities:
Under construction activities like mining, construction of bridges, dams,
buildings, stations, roads, flyovers takes place in almost every part of the
world. These constructi on activities take place every day as we need more
buildings, bridges to accommodate more people. However, while this does
help us to some degree, in the long run, the noise from construction
activities hinders the hearing abilities of individuals exposed to this sound.
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21 activities, while another part of it consists of people who encounter this
noise either from their homes or while traveling. Even remodelling
buildings can cause hearing los s when performed in enclosed spaces. The
sound of jackhammers chipping away at concrete is enough to upset
nearby workers and residents.
6. Household Chores:
We people are surrounded by gadgets and use them extensively in our
daily life. Gadgets like TV, mobile, mixer grinder, pressure cooker,
vacuum cleaners, washing machine and dryer, cooler, air conditioners are
minor contributors to the amount of noise that is produced. Still, it affects
the quality of life of your neighbourhood in a bad way. While thi s form of
pollution may seem harmless, it, in fact, has far reaching consequences.
The adverse effects on the health of the environment are quite severe. Not
only is the local wildlife affected by pollution, but humans also face a
number of problems due to it.
7. Noise from Air Traffic:
While many find it difficult to believe, air traffic too contributes to
significant levels of noise pollution. Noise from a single aircraft may
produce sounds of up to 130 dB. Now, imagine the amount of noise
produced by th e numerous aircraft traveling our airspace.
8. Catering and Nightlife:
When the weather is good, restaurants, bars, and terraces spill outside.
Late night parties continue with loud music and unnecessary noise made
by the party mongers. These can produce more than 100 dB. The noise
from pubs and clubs are also included.
9. Animals’ Sound:
The noise made by animals cannot go unnoticed, particularly a howling or
barking dog. These can produce noise around 60 - 80 dB.
2.5.2 EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION
1. Hea ring Problems:
Any unwanted sound that our ears have not been built to filter can cause
problems within the body. Our ears can take in a certain range of sounds
without getting damaged. Man -made noises such as jackhammers, horns,
machinery, airplanes, and even vehicles can be too loud for our hearing
range. Constant exposure to loud levels of noise can easily result in the
damage of our eardrums and loss of hearing, causing tinnitus or deafness.
It also reduces our sensitivity to sounds that our ears pick up
unconsciously to regulate our body’s rhythm.
2. Psychological Issues:
Excessive noise pollution in working areas such as offices, construction
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22 Studies show that the occurrence of ag gressive behavior, disturbance of
sleep, constant stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, hysteria and
hypertension in humans as well as animals can be linked to excessive
noise levels. The level of irritation increases with increased noise, and
people tend to become less and less patient. These, in turn, can cause more
severe and chronic health issues later in life.
3. Physical Problems:
Noise pollution can cause headaches, high blood pressure, respiratory
agitation, racing pulse, and, in exposure to extre mely loud, constant noise,
gastritis, colitis and even heart attacks may occur.
4. Cognitive Issues & Behavioural Changes:
Noise affects brain responses and people’s ability to focus, which can lead
to low performance levels over time. Like other sound w aves, too much
noise when it goes to the brain leads to lower response rates as well as
making the mind dull. It is also poor for memory, making it hard to study.
The studies have shown that school children living near railway stations or
airports have pro blems in learning. Research has shown that people who
live near airports or busy roads, usually have a higher incidence of
headaches, take more sleeping pills and sedatives, are more prone to minor
accidents, and are more likely to seek psychiatric treatme nt.
5. Sleeping Disorders:
While it may not seem like much at this point, excessively high levels of
noise are likely to hamper your sleeping pattern, thereby leading to
irritation and uncomfortable situations. Without a good night’s sleep, you
might expe rience multiple problems related to fatigue. This will affect
your performance in the office as well as at home. It is therefore
recommended to take a sound sleep to give your body proper rest. If a
certain noise is disturbing your sleep, take an actionabl e measure to reduce
it. While in some instances, it is completely unavoidable; there are other
instances (like noise from TV or gadgets) that can be easily avoided by
making good lifestyle changes. Interestingly, our ears need rest for 16
hours and even mo re to make up for two hours of exposure to 100 dB.
6. Cardiovascular Issues:
Blood pressure levels, cardiovascular disease, and stress -related heart
problems are on the rise. Studies suggest that high -intensity noise causes
high blood pressure and increas es heartbeat rate as it disrupts the normal
blood flow. Since bringing these rates to a manageable level depends on
our understanding of noise pollution, we need to be wary of the ill -effects
and tackle these situations mindfully.
7. Trouble Communicating :
High decibel noise can put trouble and affect free communication between
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23 understanding the other person. Constant sharp noise can give you a
severe headache and disturb your emotional b alance.
8. Effect on Wildlife:
Wildlife faces far more problems than humans because of noise pollution
since they are more dependent on sound. Animals develop a better sense
of hearing than us since their survival depends on it. A recent study
published i n Biology Letters found that human -created noise affects a
wide range of animals. The ill -effects of excessive noise begin at home.
Pets react more aggressively in households where there is constant noise.
They become disoriented more easily and face many behavioral problems.
In nature, animals may suffer from hearing loss, which makes them easy
prey and leads to dwindling populations. Others become inefficient at
hunting, disturbing the balance of the eco -system.
9. Effects on Species Depending on Mating Call:
Species that depend on mating calls to reproduce are often unable to hear
these calls due to excessive man -made noise. As a result, they are unable
to reproduce and cause declining populations. Others require sound waves
to locate and find their way when migrating. Disturbing their sound
signals means they get lost easily and do not migrate when they should. To
cope up with the increasing sound around them, animals are becoming
louder, which may further add to the pollution levels. This is why
unders tanding noise pollution can help us lower the impact it has on the
environment.
2.5.3 MEASURES OF NOISE POLLUTION
World Health Organization agrees that awareness of noise pollution is
essential to beat this invisible enemy. As of now, there are not many
solutions to reduce sound pollution. However, governments can help in the
following ways:
Establishing regulations that include preventive and corrective
measures.
Governments can take measures such as protecting certain areas, parts
of the countryside, ar eas of natural interest, city parks, etc. to ensure
noise management and reduce noise pollution.
The mandatory separation between residential zones and sources of
noise, like airports.
Creating pedestrian areas where traffic is not allowed to enter other
than offload goods at certain times.
Fines for exceeding noise limits.
Other ways to battle noise pollution are by controlling the sound levels
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24 Removal of public loudspeakers is another way in which pollution can
be countered.
Again, better urban planning can help create ‘No -Noise’ zones, where
honking and industrial noise is not tolerated.
Replacing traditional asphalt with more efficient options can also help
reduce traffic noise by up to 3 dB.
2.6 QUESTIONS
Q1. What is the meaning of land pollution? Discuss the causes of land
pollution.
Q2. What are the effects of land pollution?
Q3. Discuss the measures of land pollution.
Q4. What is the meaning of water pollution? Discuss the causes of water
pollution.
Q5. What are the effects of water pollution?
Q6. Discuss the measures of water pollution.
Q7. What is the meaning of air pollution? Discuss the causes of air
pollution.
Q8. What are the effects of air pollution?
Q9. Discuss the measures of air pollu tion.
Q10. What is the meaning of noise pollution? Discuss the causes of noise
pollution.
Q11. What are the effects of noise pollution?
Q12. Discuss the measures of noise pollution.
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25 3
ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING - 1
Unit Structure :
3.0 Objectives
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Meaning and Importance of Environmental Accounting
3.3 System of Environmental - Economic Accounting (SEEA)
3.4 Environmental and Natural Resources Accounting (ENRA)
3.5 Summary
3.6 Questions
3.0 OBJECTIVES
To understand meaning of environmental accounting.
To know the importance of environmental accounting.
To understand the system of environmental -economic accounting.
To study of environmental and natural resources a ccounting.
3.1 INTRODUCTION
Environmental accounting is a branch of accounting that tries to
incorporate both economic and environmental data. It can be done at the
level of a corporation or a country's economy through the integrated
environmental and eco nomic accounting system, a companion to the
national accounts of countries (among other things, the national accounts
produce the estimates of gross domestic product otherwise known as
GDP).
Resource consumption is monitored, costs for an organization's or nation's
economic impact on the environment are estimated, and fees are disclosed
in the field of environmental accounting. There are extra expenses for
trash management, environmental penalties, fines, and taxes. The price of
remediating or cleaning up c ontaminated areas is also covered.
3.2 MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING
A) Meaning: An environmental accounting system consists of ecological
accounting and traditional accounting that is environmentally
differentiated. The financial im pact that the environment has on a munotes.in
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26 corporation is quantified via accounting that considers environmental
factors. Physical measurements are used in ecological accounting to
evaluate a company's environmental impact.
B) Functions and Roles:
a) External Fun ctions:
By publicly disclosing the objectively verifiable outcomes of its
environmental conservation efforts, a firm can influence the decisions of
stakeholders, such as consumers, investors, and communities.
b) Internal Functions:
An organization's enviro nmental information system includes an internal
function that enables cost management for environmental conservation,
compares the price of conservation efforts to the benefits realized, and
promotes cost -effective and efficient conservation efforts throug h
informed decision -making.
C) Benefits/Importance:
The adoption of environmental management accounting approaches
produces the most noteworthy benefits, even though environmental
accounting might focus on environmental management accounting or
financial a ccounting. The primary emphasis of this type of accounting is
on the expenses associated with the use of energy and material resources
like wood, metal, and coal. Accountants can use activity -based cost
principles to more precisely connect these costs to p articular projects or
events by using environmental management accounting. Traditional
accounting methods tended to group these expenses under the general
heading of overhead. By being able to clearly monitor how these natural
resources are used across man y programmes, decision -makers can identify
areas of synergy that enable them to reduce the amount of waste materials
at the programme or company level.
Relevance : Environmental accounting should provide reliable data that
assists stakeholders in decision -making regarding a company's costs for
environmental conservation and gains from related activities.
Reliability : Environmental accounting should help stakeholders build a
sense of dependability and confidence by eliminating data that is wildly
distorted or incorrect.
Neutrality : information that is disclosed in a fair and objective manner.
Prudence : It's crucial to be explicit about the nature, scope, and basis of
any information you handle that can be ambiguous or unclear.
Completeness : The scope of enviro nmental accounting should encompass
all pertinent data for all environmental conservation initiatives.
Understandability : By establishing understandability of disclosure of key
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27 difficul t for anyone to make an erroneous assessment of the company's
environmental conservation efforts.
Comparability : Environmental accounting allows a corporation to
compare one year to the next. The information provided should be
comparable to that provided b y other companies in the same sector.
3.3 SYSTEM OF ENVIRONMENTAL -ECONOMIC
ACCOUNTING (SEEA)
Introduction:
In order to provide a more comprehensive and flexible view of the
interactions between the economy and the environment, as well as the
stocks and changes in stocks of environmental assets, as they benefit
humanity, the System of Environmental -Economic Accounting (SEEA) is
a framework that combines economic and environmental data.
SEEA is a satellite system for the UN System of National Accounts, a s
stated in its definition (SNA). For the purpose of providing statistics and
accounts that are comparable across national boundaries, it includes the
internationally agreed standard ideas, definitions, classifications,
accounting standards, and tables. Th e SEEA framework and the System of
National Accounts both follow the same accounting concepts (SNA). To
make it simpler to mix environmental and economic statistics, the
framework makes use of SNA -compliant concepts, definitions, and
classifications.
The SEEA is a flexible system that generates a variety of statistics,
accounts, and indicators with a wide range of potential analytical
applications. It is a versatile system that provides a common structure,
ideas, vocabulary, and definitions while also bein g able to be adjusted to
meet national objectives and policy requirements. The System of
Environmental -Economic Accounting (SEEA) is a set of internationally
recognised standard concepts, definitions, classifications, accounting rules,
and tables that are required to generate statistics on the environment and
how it affects the economy that are comparable across national
boundaries. The SEEA framework uses ideas, definitions, and
classifications that are compatible with the System of National Accounts
(SNA) , which has a comparable accounting structure, to make it simpler to
combine environmental and economic data.
The SEEA is a system for organising statistical data for the development
of consistent indicators, descriptive statistics, and monitoring of the
interactions between the economy and the environment as well as the state
of the environment to support decision -making. The SEEA does not offer
even one headline signal. Instead, it is a flexible system that generates a
variety of data and indicators with a wide range of potential analytical
applications. It is a flexible system in that it provides a common structure
as well as common ideas, terms, and definitions while also allowing its
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28 many nations. The SEEA handbook contains more details on the
advantages of environmental accounting, and many of the SEEA products
are also available in other languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, French,
Russian, and Spanish.
The System of Environmen tal-Economic Accounting is undergoing a
multi -year revision project, which was started by the UN Statistics
Division. The new SEEA, which the UN Statistical Commission
recognised as the first worldwide standard for environmental -economic
accounting in 2012 , is organised into three sections: the Central
Framework; Experimental Ecosystem Accounting; and Applications and
Extensions of the SEEA. Subsystems of the SEEA framework that focus
on specific resources or industries include those for energy, water, land
and ecosystems, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. While staying
completely consistent with the overarching SEEA, these "sub -systems"
make an effort to forge connections between the accounting community
and the community of experts in each specific top ic area (with thanks to
the UN Statistics Division).
How is WAVES related to SEEA:
The World Bank is one of the co -authors of the SEEA Central Framework.
By incorporating the significance of natural capital accounting into
national accounting frameworks and development planning, the World
Bank -sponsored WAVES worldwide collaboration seeks to enhance
sustainable development. In order to assist governments in making
economic decisions involving natural resources including minerals, wood,
and fisheries, WAVE S utilises a critical methodology called Natural
Capital Accounting (NCA). WAVES seeks to strengthen nations' ability to
carry out the SEEA and persuade decision -makers of its benefits.
In addition, WAVES works with the Policy and Technical Experts
Commit tee (PTEC) to develop experimental ecological accounting
methods that are based on solid scientific research.
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29 3.4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES
ACCOUNTING (ENRA)
A) Introduction:
The process of "natural resource accounting" is used to estimate th e
cost of resource depletion and environmental harm brought on by
human activity.
The NRA concept was created to convey the intimate connection
between the many components of the natural environment and the
economic development of a country.
It is based on the notion that measurement leads to better resource
management.
B) Historical Perspective:
The requirement for The National Rifle Association (NRA) made its
first step when the connection between economic growth and
environmental degradation was first hi ghlighted at the United Nations
(UN) conference on Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) in
1970.
In 1987, the UN -founded Brundtland Commission first advanced the
idea that there is a close relationship between economic and
environmental operations. Fo llowing environmental accounting was
the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.
C) Initiative taken to promote NRA
i) Initiative at Global Level
The formation of Natural Resource Accounts is required by a resolution
voted by the UN General Assembly on Septembe r 25, 2016, titled
"Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable
development," and backed by more than 190 countries.
India's signature on this resolution serves as its support.
In 2012, the UN approved the System of Economic and Environmental
Accounting. (SEEA). The most recent NRA structure, it has gained
widespread acceptance.
With varied degrees of success, about 30 nations, including Australia,
Canada, China, France, and Germany, have embraced environmental
accounting.
To carry out the N atural Capital Accounting and Valuation of the
Ecosystem Services (NCAVES) Project, which is funded by the
European Union, the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Secretariat
of the Convention on Biological Diversity have worked together
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30 The other four countries involved in this project are Brazil, China,
South Africa, Mexico, and India.
It serves as a general term for projects that make use of an accounting
framework to provide a metho dical way to measure and report on
natural capital stock and movement.
ii) India -specific initiatives
In 2002, the CAG formed the Government Accounting Standards
Advisory Board (GASAB) in an effort to raise the bar for federal
accounting and financial repo rting standards, enhance the standard of
decision -making, and increase public accountability.
Members of it include state governments, regulatory organisations like
the RBI and ICAI, as well as representatives from each accounting
service under the GoI.
The WGEA (Working Group on Environmental Auditing), a global
association of Supreme Audit Institutions, urged (2010) that the audit
institutions support the establishment of Natural Resources Accounts in
their various countries. The CAG of India is a membe r of this
organisation.
D) Significance of Natural Resource Accounting:
Interrelation between Economy and Environment -
It provides a quantitative evaluation of the harm done to the
environment's resources by nonrenewal and aids in the measurement of
deve lopment in the real world.
Aid to Policy framing: sound Database -
To help decision -makers comprehend the potential consequences of
their choices.
Managing SDGs -
Since 4 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are
specifically dedicated to mana ging and accounting for natural
resources, the SDGs and NRA are closely related.
Combatting climate change -
Asset and flow accounting have been recognised as a useful paradigm
for monitoring, quantifying, and analysing climate change.
International agr eements -
It would help India attain the SDGs and join the exclusive group of
countries that create Asset Accounts.
E) Challenges related to Accounting of Natural Resources:
There is a lack of efficient training and capacity building for state
officers.
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31 Restrictions on data periodicity mapping during asset account
preparation.
Multiple agencies are involved in the data gathering for resources,
which could cause issues with data sharing and data dispute.
3.5 SUMMARY
Environmental accounting is a branch o f accounting that tries to
incorporate both economic and environmental data. It can be done at the
level of a corporation or a country's economy through the integrated
environmental and economic accounting system, a companion to the
national accounts of co untries (among other things, the national accounts
produce the estimates of gross domestic product otherwise known as
GDP). In order to provide a more comprehensive and flexible view of the
interactions between the economy and the environment, as well as t he
stocks and changes in stocks of environmental assets, as they benefit
humanity, the System of Environmental -Economic Accounting (SEEA) is
a framework that combines economic and environmental data.
3.6 QUESTIONS
Q1. Explain the importance of Environment al Accounting.
Q2. Discuss in detail System of Environmental -Economic Accounting.
Q3. Elaborate Environmental and Natural Resources Accounting (ENRA).
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32 4
ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING - 2
Unit Structure :
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Green GDP
4.3 Concept of Green Growth and its indicators
4.4 Concept of Green Consumer and Green Business
4.5 Summary
4.6 Questions
4.0 OBJECTIVES
To know about the conc ept Green GDP.
To know the concept of Green Growth.
To study the indicators of Green Growth.
To understand the concept of Green Consumer and Green Business.
4.1 INTRODUCTION
Environmental accounting is a branch of accounting that tries to
incorporate bo th economic and environmental data. It can be done at the
level of a corporation or a country's economy through the integrated
environmental and economic accounting system, a companion to the
national accounts of countries (among other things, the national accounts
produce the estimates of gross domestic product otherwise known as
GDP).
Resource consumption is monitored, costs for an organization's or nation's
economic impact on the environment are estimated, and fees are disclosed
in the field of environm ental accounting. There are extra expenses for
trash management, environmental penalties, fines, and taxes. The price of
remediating or cleaning up contaminated areas is also covered.
4.2 GREEN GDP
A) Introduction :
The term "Green GDP" refers to a measur e of economic growth that
incorporates environmental concerns in addition to a nation's regular GDP. munotes.in
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33 The green GDP includes costs associated with climate change and
biodiversity losses. Indicators like the "Sustainable Development Index"
can be constructed by combining physical measures like "garbage per
capita" and "carbon dioxide per year."
B) Rationale behind Green GDP :
In support of Green GDP: The traditional GDP measurement is flawed in
that it fails to reflect both optimum conditions of living and ec onomic
growth. The standard GDP just measures total economic output; it has no
instruments for identifying the wealthy or assets that come from economic
output. Additionally, the standard GDP is unable to forecast whether or
not the level of income generat ed in a country would be sustainable. To
get past this limitation, the green GDP is desired.
GDP doesn't consider them relevant, hence it can't fully explain National
Capital. Future protective environmental project benefits relative to costs
are not given adequate consideration by policymakers and economists.
The favourable gains that can result from any forest or agricultural area
are not taken into account due to the operational difficulties associated
with assessing and evaluating such assets. Additiona lly, conventional GDP
calculations take into account the consequences of the depletion of the
natural resources needed to support the economy. It is necessary to have a
complete macroeconomic indicator as well as sustainable development.
Because it is inco rrectly believed to be a measure of societal well -being,
GDP is commonly used in the examination of political and economic
policies. The Green GDP will be a suitable replacement in this situation.
C) How is Green GDP calculated?
To calculate green GDP, net natural capital consumption is deducted from
GDP. This includes environmental protection programmes, environmental
harm, and resource depletion. Another choice for these estimations is the
net domestic product (NDP), which subtracts capital depreciation f rom
GDP. Since national accounts reflect resource extraction activities in
monetary terms, all resource extraction activities must be transformed into
a monetary value.
D) GDP versus Green GDP :
Critics claim that some of the results that are predicted by c alculations that
take environmental variables into account are impossible to measure.
When there is no established market for the environmental asset, which
makes trading impossible, this is very difficult. Ecosystem services are
examples of this type of r esource. When valuation is carried out indirectly,
there is a potential that calculations may be based on speculation or
speculative assumptions.
Supporters of these modified aggregates can reply to this critique in one of
two ways. First, as technology de velops, more precise valuation
approaches have arisen and will continue to do so. Second, even if munotes.in
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34 estimates of non -market natural resources aren't exact, the adjustments
they necessitate are still superior to using traditional GDP.
4.3 CONCEPT OF GREEN GRO WTH AND ITS
INDICATORS
A) Introduction :
The world still faces two challenges twenty years after the first Rio
Summit: expanding economic opportunities for everyone in the context of
a growing global population and addressing environmental pressures that,
if not addressed, may make it more difficult for us to take advantage of
these opportunities. Green growth, which emphasises taking advantage of
the opportunities to address both concerns at once, sits at the confluence of
these two issues.
B) Definition :
Green growth refers to fostering economic growth and development in
order to ensure that natural resources continue to provide the resources
and environmental services that are crucial to our wellbeing.
Sustainable development cannot be supplanted by gre en growth. Instead, it
provides a practical and flexible plan for achieving measurable, tangible
progress in both the economic and environmental pillars, completely
taking into account the social effects of the development dynamics of
greening economies. M aking ensuring that natural resources may
sustainably realise their full economic potential is the core objective of
green growth initiatives. In addition to the strong biodiversity necessary to
support food production and human health, this potential incl udes the
capacity to provide the needs of life, such as clean water and air. Green
growth strategies take into account the finite nature of natural resource
replacement.
C) Aim :
Green growth policies are a crucial part of the structural adjustments
needed to encourage strong, more sustainable, and equitable growth. They
are able to launch new development drivers by
Increasing productivity by providing incentives for more efficient use
of natural resources, reducing waste and energy use, opening avenues
for innovation and value creation, and allocating resources to
applications that will generate the highest returns.
Increasing investor confidence by improving government
predictability of serious environmental concerns.
Developing new markets by increasing consumer demand for
environmentally friendly goods, services, and innovations.
Promoting fiscal consolidation by reducing subsidies that have a
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35 environmental fees. Additionally, by following th ese steps, money
might be earned or made accessible for projects that help the poor, like
ones that enhance sanitation and water delivery systems.
Reducing the likelihood of unfavourable environmental effects that
could last a lifetime as well as negative growth shocks brought on by
resource shortages.
Strategies for Greener Growth need to be tailored to fit specific
country circumstances: When creating greener growth strategies, the
demands of each individual nation must be taken into consideration.
Care ful thought will need to go into the best method to handle any
trade -offs and benefit from the links between green growth and
poverty reduction. Examples of the latter include addressing poor
health brought on by environmental degradation, providing people
with more effective infrastructure (such as in the areas of energy,
water, and transportation), and introducing efficient technologies that
can lower costs, increase productivity, while also reducing
environmental pressure. Green growth strategies can enh ance the
security of the poor's livelihoods while lowering their sensitivity to
environmental threats, given the importance of natural resources in
developing countries.
Green growth strategies also recognise that when GDP is used as the
main gauge of eco nomic progress, the importance of natural resources
to prosperity, health, and well -being is sometimes disregarded. As a
result, they must rely on a larger range of development indicators that
consider the nature and content of growth as well as how it aff ects
people's income and welfare.
In order to implement green growth in a way that fosters employment
opportunities, the eradication of poverty, and a strong and sustainable
economy, the OECD is working to identify the policy combinations
and measuring too ls that countries in diverse contexts may apply.
D) Green Growth Indicators:
According to OECD Deputy Secretary -General Rintaro Tamaki, "Green
Growth is about promoting growth and development while ensuring that
natural assets continue to offer the resourc es and environmental services
on which our well -being depends." In order to boost growth and open up
new economic opportunities, governments that pursue green growth plans
must encourage investment and innovation. They also need indicators that
may be used to raise awareness, monitor progress, and identify
opportunities and risks.
A conceptual framework for expansion Five elements that support high -
quality growth in emerging countries are highlighted by quality.
Equity and access,
structural transformatio n,
productivity and efficiency, munotes.in
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36 balancing capital investments are the five main factors.
Understanding the limits that exist in the social, political, and
environmental spheres.
1. Equitable access and distribution: To what extent does economic
growth ensu re that basic needs for environmental resources are met?
How much do governance structures support equitable access to the
benefits of nature and cost -sharing for environmental deterioration?
2. Structural change: How quickly is the transition to a green eco nomy
happening if structural change is being accelerated by economic
growth? How is the production capacity changing, and how quickly
are decent jobs being created in the green sector? How much do
monetary policy, financial investment, the development of h uman
capital, and other policies stimulate structural change in the direction
of green industries?
3. Eco-efficiency: To what extent do growth plans encourage the
separation of economic expansion from the effects of the
environment? How efficiently are energ y and other resources used in
consumption and production activities? How much do policies and
institutions support eco -efficiency?
4. How are stocks and flows of natural capital changing as a result of
investment? - in particular, the elements of the natural capital that are
crucial for socioeconomic growth and may be under danger.
5. The limits of the planet: Which natural resources are essential but
limited, or approaching critical levels? What risks do natural resource
use pose to the economy, society, and e nvironment? How well defined
are the primary policy objectives and restrictions on resource
utilisation (as well as emissions and waste) should be? What
limitations on the use of natural resources should be put in place?
Green growth initiatives inside org anisations as a policy strategy:
IEA: In 2020, the IEA put up a proposal for a "Clean Energy New
Deal," and its executive director Fatih Birol is a fervent advocate.
IMF: In 2020, Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the IMF,
suggested that coun tries reduce their support for fossil fuels, make
emergency loans to green industries, and enact a carbon price.
UNESCAP: In 2012, the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) released the Low
Carbon Green Growth Ro admap for Asia and the Pacific to assess the
opportunities that a low -carbon, green growth route presents for the
region. The roadmap includes five tracks on which to push the
economic system change in order to seek low carbon green growth as a
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37
OECD: In 2011, the OECD published a roadmap for green growth. In
2012, they also published a paper on green growth in underdeveloped
countries.
UNEP: The UN Environment Programme led the Green Economy
Initiative in 2008. (UNEP).
Worl d Bank: In 2012, the World Bank published the paper "Inclusive
Green Growth: The Pathway to Sustainable Development."
The Green Economy Roadmap, a guide for business, policymakers,
and society, was published in 2012 by the International Chamber of
Commerc e (ICC), which in 2010 created the first -ever global corporate
Task Force on the Green Economy.
Green Growth in Developing Countries :
Natural resource exploitation is typically more significant to the
economies of underdeveloped countries. Green technology and sustainable
development are less readily available or affordable to them. Additionally,
they are less equipped to protect themselves against the negative effects of
environmental degradation and climate change. For instance, the
contamination of the a ir and water could harm their health. Green growth
therefore has the potential to improve the lives and wellbeing of people
living in developing countries by protecting the environment and fostering
economic development.
The Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD)
compiled a report on "Green Growth and Developing Countries" in 2012
as a summary for decision -makers. The policy framework presented in this
study is one that developing countries could use to achieve their
socioeconomic and environmental goals. It also draws attention to a
number of concerns that developing countries have regarding green
growth, such as its ability to actually fight poverty and potential barriers
with high costs for green technologies.
4.4 CONCEPT OF GREEN C ONSUMER AND GREEN
BUSINESS
A) Introduction :
"Green consumerism" refers to the consumer desire for products and
services that were created in an environmentally responsible way,
especially one that entails recycling and safeguarding the planet's
resources . Or, to put it another way, green consumerism is the creation,
promotion, and usage of goods and services based on their favourable
effects on the environment.
Economic, social, and cultural influences have shaped the basis for green
consumerism. This is because it is a societal attitude and movement in the
modern era that is designed to especially urge people to be more aware of munotes.in
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38 the firms' production methods and to only buy or consume goods and
services that do not harm the environment. This is why green
consumerism, which focuses primarily on the sustainable and
environmentally friendly consumer behaviour, has created a balance
between consumer behaviour and business objectives.
B) The significance of green consumerism:
Green consumerism is a thorough an d responsible management strategy
that satisfies the requirements of all stakeholders while also preserving the
natural balance of the environment and human health. The importance of
green consumerism can be seen in the following ways:
1. Reduction of pack aging waste:
Sustainable consumption encourages packing options that are cost -
effective. It exhibits social behaviours including the propensity to
purchase unpackaged commodities over loose ones like fruits and
vegetables. It also encourages the recycling of paper and plastic packaging
materials like tins and bags, which usually exacerbate environmental
deterioration.
2. Increased energy efficiency :
Green consumerism encourages energy efficiency, which in turn lowers
greenhouse gas emissions, lowers utility bills, and enables economies to
meet rising energy demands. Through green consumerism, it has been
possible to reduce the risk associated with inefficient industrial processes
and to take advantage of the financial and environmental advantages of
utility systems.
3. Lessening of emissions and other pollution release during
production and transportation procedures :
Green consumerism has drastically reduced emissions from the industrial
and transportation industries. In addition, tight emission standards hav e
been put in place as a result of campaigns and initiatives for green
consumerism, reducing emissions from engines and motors and promoting
clean fuel sources.
4. Consuming more wholesome meals :
The promotion of green consumerism has made it imperative to produce
food in a more environmentally responsible manner. Because they are not
grown or produced using pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, or artificial
chemical fertilisers, locally grown and organic foods may be healthier for
consumers. As a result, con sumers are gradually building a culture of
buying more of these types of foods.
C) How to Become a Green Consumer :
As a result of the promotion of green consumerism, environmentally
friendly food production has gained importance. Because they are not munotes.in
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39 grow n or produced using pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, or artificial
chemical fertilisers, locally grown and organic foods may be healthier for
consumers. As a result, consumers are gradually building a culture of
buying more of these types of foods.
1. Us ing less energy in your surroundings :
Using as little energy as possible at home and at work is only one example
of what may be done on a personal level, even though it can be
challenging to go door to door spreading the word about energy
conservation. In order to comply with this, power sources must be turned
off while not in use, both at home and at work. One might also develop the
habit of spending more time in one particular area each day rather than use
several electrical outlets by working in various places around a property.
2. Changing one's mindset :
Making people utilise services or buy products that prevent the
exploitation of natural resources, the destruction of animal habitats, or
environmental deterioration is difficult. Everyone must develop a daily
green habit and alter their viewpoint on environmental protection and the
dangers of environmental deterioration as a result.
3. Utilizing solar technology and other alternative energy sources :
Utilizing solar -powered equipment, which uses solar e nergy rather than
electricity, is one of the most efficient ways to halt environmental
degradation. Among the products are solar heaters, solar lamps, solar
backpacks, solar geysers, and solar bulbs. While some of these products
are more expensive than ord inary products, they often have longer
lifespans and are more environmentally beneficial because they utilise
natural energy.
It is also advised to employ renewable energy sources like wind.
Governments, energy production facilities, industries, manufactur ers, and
consumers should collaborate to invest in renewable energy sources like
biofuels, biogas, solar, and wind power.
4. Examining the energy labelling on everyday items :
One can practise green consumption by, for instance, examining the
energy labels on appliances before making a purchase. Products that
consume too much energy should be replaced with machinery that uses
less energy. Green consumers should prioritise using green energy and use
as much green electricity as they can.
5. Recycling and usi ng eco -friendly products :
You may easily become a green customer by opting to recycle the items
you use or by utilising eco -friendly ones. For instance, instead of buying
bottled water, you could decide to obtain a water bottle that you can use
every time . In addition, you can substitute cloth wipes for paper wipes, munotes.in
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40 which you can wash and reuse often. In general, contributing to this goal
should involve making eco -friendly purchases.
6. Invest in locally sourced and organic food :
The use of synthetic pesti cides and fertilisers, as well as carbon emissions
associated with transportation, have a significant negative impact on the
environment. Buying organic and locally grown food can help to mitigate
these effects.
7. Purchasing a hybrid car:
These cars eith er use very little gasoline or very little of it. You may
protect the environment from high carbon emissions, which are a key
contributor to climate change, global warming, biodiversity loss, and
habitat destruction, by driving a hybrid vehicle.
D) Green C onsumerism Examples:
Customers seek products bearing the Marine Stewardship Council's
seal, which denotes that they were gathered with ethical environmental
management, while buying seafood including cockles, herring, rock
lobster, salmon, and Hoki.
Coffee consumers in the US and Canada have expressed a desire to
buy coffee that is produced in accordance with organic and shade
growing standards. These beans bear the Bird -Friendly seals of the
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
More than 25 million hectar es of forest gardens in 54 different nations
have received certification from the Mexico -based Forest Stewardship
Council. These woods exceed the environmental and social standards
for sustainable forestry and are more than twice as big as those that
exist ed in 1998.
In more than 20 European countries, beachgoers have discovered
2,750 marinas and beaches that are environmentally friendly and have
hygienic and safety amenities.
Thai customers used the information from the appliance -labeling
programme to en courage the use of single -door refrigerators that are
energy efficient. It was used by 96% of individuals in 1998, up from
12% in 1996.
As a result of consumer acceptance of energy -efficient compact
fluorescent lamps, the world no longer requires nearly 4 0 medium -
sized coal -fired power plants.
A move away from dependency on the main electrical grid and the
construction of solar or wind energy systems by enterprises,
governments, or private citizens.
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41 E) Green Marketing Strategies:
The following strategies could promote consumer confidence in
environmental protection;
1. Being Transparent :
Radicalism and outspokenness are needed for this. Businesses can gain a
competitive edge by being as open as possible regarding their sourcing
and production processes. F or instance, Patagonia's "Footprint
Chronicles," which it publishes, has made openness a trademark of its
reporting on sustainability. Consumers should have access to information
about business practises, goods, and services as part of a green marketing
plan.
2. Making an effort :
Customers favour businesses they believe to be devoted and sustainable.
Companies that support environmental sustainability ought to have a
distinct vision for solutions that promote green products and services.
Companies should t ake the initiative to make comments that demonstrate
leadership and assure investors of lower risks of environmental effect. The
company's social responsibility strategy and principles must also be
communicated and advanced if emotional connections are to be made with
customers.
3. Emphasizing benefits and environmentally friendly solutions :
Since customers want information about the personal benefits of the items
being supplied, businesses can focus on integrating more pro -
environmental benefits of product s. Businesses should think about things
like if their goods enable customers to save money or if they appeal to
people who are style -conscious.
American Apparel is one company that has benefited from portraying
itself as one that supports equitable working conditions for its employees
and the use of organic cotton.
4. Producing durable goods that may be used for an extended period
of time :
Due to the fact that green consumers are constantly seeking out products
that are both affordable and long -lasting ove r the course of their lifetimes,
businesses who have taken the initiative to lessen the life cycle effects of
their products have seen real rewards. Toyota vehicles are a great
illustration; it is said that these vehicles have longer lifespans and
experien ce breakdowns less frequently due to lean production and the
Kaizen technique.
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42 5. Cause marketing and environmental product declarations (EPDs)
with outside help :
Cause marketing, eco -labels, and environmental product declarations are
currently the most well-liked forms of third -party assistance offered
(EPDs). Promotional campaigns or cause marketing, in which a business
donates a portion of the product's sales to an important non -profit, can
help brands stand out in the marketplace.
Eco-labels like Ener gy Star (93 percent), USDA Certified Organic (75
percent), and the chasing -arrows recycling logo might affect purchasing
decisions (93 percent). EPDs provide consumers with thorough
descriptions of products' effects throughout their life cycles.
4.5 SUMMAR Y
The term "Green GDP" refers to a measure of economic growth that
incorporates environmental concerns in addition to a nation's regular GDP.
The green GDP includes costs associated with climate change and
biodiversity losses. Indicators like the "Sustaina ble Development Index"
can be constructed by combining physical measures like "garbage per
capita" and "carbon dioxide per year." Green growth refers to fostering
economic growth and development in order to ensure that natural
resources continue to provid e the resources and environmental services
that are crucial to our wellbeing. "Green consumerism" refers to the
consumer desire for products and services that were created in an
environmentally responsible way, especially one that entails recycling and
safeguarding the planet's resources. Or, to put it another way, green
consumerism is the creation, promotion, and usage of goods and services
based on their favourable effects on the environment.
4.6 QUESTIONS
Q1. Explain Green GDP.
Q2. Elaborate the concept of Green Growth with its indicators.
Q3. Differentiate between Green Consumer and Business Principles.
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43 5
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Unit Structure:
5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Concept of Sustainable Development
5.3 Characteristics of Sustainable Development
5.4 Dimensions of Sustainable Development
5.5 Sustainable Development Goals
5.0 OBJECTIVES
The major objectives of the present unit are as follows:
To understand the concept and origin of Sustainable Development;
To learn the various characteristics and Dimensions of Sustainable
Development;
To gain the knowledge about Sustainable Development Goals with
reference t o India.
5.1 INTRODUCTION
The need to understand the concept of sustainable development arises with
the very central problem of Economics that is ‘scarcity’. Since demand is
continuously rising and resources are limited, we need to find the way to
utilize resources wisely so that it can sustain for future generations too.
With the increasing modernization and globalization, we have witnessed
large -scale exploitation of all the physical as well as the human resources.
Even at present, this exploitation is ha unting us with numerous problems,
such as global warming, climate change, depletion of the ozone layer, etc.
It is very important for us to take immediate steps to protect our planet
against all such mis happenings. Sustainable development is the only
answ er to solve all these problems. The present unit discusses all about the
concept of sustainable development, its characteristics, dimensions and
sustainable development goals.
5.2 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the
present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs ."Brundtland report munotes.in
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44 In other words, we can say that Sustainable development is a pattern of
resources utilization which aims to meet human needs of present
generation considering the needs of future generations. It focuses about
the need to be in our environmental limits while making economic
progress. It is also about ensuring a strong, healthy and just society. This
means meeting the divers e needs of all people in existing and future
generations, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion,
and creating equal opportunity. Sustainable development is about finding
better ways of doing things, both for the future and the present . We might
need to change the way we work and live now to obtain development that
will be sustainable. The concept of sustainable development aims to create
an attitude toward economic extension which ensures that the need of our
future generation shall be given due consideration. With this principle, we
aim toward sustainable growth with sensible use of resources. In
sustainable development, the conservation, protection, and nurturing of all
the resources of our environment are given paramount importance.
The concept of Sustainable Development was recognized first time in
1972 at the UN conference on Human Environment held at Stockholm .
The concept became more popular in Brundtland report ‘Our Common
Future’ in 1987. For the first time, the Brundtland Repor t introduced the
need for the integration of economic development, environmental
protection, and social justice and inclusion.
The need and challenge of Sustainable development was recognized
during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Developm ent
(Earth Summit)held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The summit marked the
first international attempt to draw up action plans and strategies for
moving towards a more sustainable pattern of development. It was
attended by over 100 Heads of State and represen tatives from 178 national
governments.
Since the Earth Summit, the UN has created a wide range of programmes,
agreements with the aim of achieving global sustainable development. The
relevance of Sustainable Development deepens every day because the
popula tion keeps increasing but the natural resources available for the
satisfaction of human needs and wants do not. Sustainable Development is
an effort to maintain the balance among economic growth, environmental
integrity and social well -being.
5.3 CHARACTER ISTICS OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
The basic characteristics of sustainable development are following:
Rise in per capita income:
There should be an uninterrupted rise in real per capita income and
economic welfare on a long -term basis then only develop ment process
can be considered sustaining and fulfilling the needs of future
generation as well.
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Sustainable Development
45 Use of Resources:
Sustainable development emphasizes that resources should be naturally
used in such a way that they are not over -exploited. Resources shou ld
be used efficiently and wisely.Sustainable development aims at making
use of natural resources and the environment for improving the
standard of people in such a way that the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs is not minimized. It reg ulates the use of non -
renewable natural resources so that our future generation can also avail
the benefit of it.
Clean technologies:
It tries to incorporate clean technologies in its production processes, to
reduce pollution levels. Sustainable develo pment aims at promoting
environment -friendly and biodegradable products, while also making
sustainable planning for replacement or replenishment of resource
usage.
Biodiversity protection:
It is concerned with the conservation of biodiversity. This is a key
element in the current context when we are facing the challenges of
climate change, the thinning of the ozone layer and alarming diseases
thereby.
Prediction of environmental impacts:
Sustainable development seeks to maintain the communication be tween
the economic, technological and environmental areas, in order to
predict the impact of the environmental protection measures adopted,
especially in the medium and long term.
Improves the quality of life of society:
Sustainable Development creates awareness that the improvement in
the quality of life should be for everyone. People are entitled to have a
healthy and productive life in harmony with nature
5.4 DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Four broad dimensions of SD are explained below:
1. Economic Dimensions:
Sustainable development emphasizes the rationalization of
economic approaches to achieve the target of growth and
development without wasting resources. It focuses on using of tools
that maximizes production efficiency and minimizes wastages.
Following steps should be considered to achieve Economic
sustainability:
a) Sustainable development means a deep and sustained reduction in
the consumption of energy and natural resourcese specially in munotes.in
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46 developed countries. Steadily reducing the wasteful leve ls of
consumption of energy and other natural resources through
improvements in efficiency and through changes in lifestyles is
essential to achieve sustainable development. Energy consumption
from oil, gas, and coal is 33 times higher in the United States than in
India, and in the Organisation for Economic Co -operation and
Development (OECD) countries it is 10 times higher than in
developing countries.
b) Sustainable development also means changing consumption patterns
that unnecessarily threaten biodiversity in other countries.It is
essential to ensure that environmental pressures are not exported to
developing countries.
c) Industrial countries have a special responsibility to lead sustainable
development, because of their past accumulated consumption of
natura l resources and thus their contribution to global pollution
problems.Rich countries have the financial, technical and human
resources to take the lead in the use of cleaner and less resource -
intensive technologies. It cantransform all the economies towards
sustainable development aligned with natural systems.
Thus,providing leadership to support sustainable development in
other countries is an important aspect of Economic sustainability.
d) Equal distribution of resources is another important aspect of
Economi c sustainability. An effective means of alleviating the
poverty and improving living standards have become the
responsibility of both rich and poor countries.Unequal access to
education, social services, land and other natural resources, freedom
of choice and other political rights are barriers to development.
Equality helps to stimulate the development and economic growth
necessary to improve living standards.
e) Sustainable development,means reducing the growing disparity in
income and access to health care. It should be noted that the policy
of improving access to land, education and other social services
have played a crucial role in stimulating the rapid development and
the growth of Asian tiger economies such as Malaysia, South Korea,
and Taiwan.
f) Sustaina ble development must mean Reduction of military spending
and transferring this fund to development needs. A reallocation of
even a small portion of the resources would accelerate development
significantly.Transferring money from military and defense
expend iture to development needs is essential for economic as well
as social development.
2. Environmental Dimension:
At the environmental level, sustainable development is the optimal use
of agricultural land and water resources in the world, leading to a
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Sustainable Development
47 a) Sustainable development means promotion of more efficient use of
arable lands and water supplies.
b) By improving agricultural practices and by using better technologies
yieldcan be increased manifolds with minimum r esources.
c) Avoiding overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is must for
environment sustainable development.
d) Conserving water by ending wasteful uses and improving efficiency
of water systems is another important step to achieve
sustainability.Global consumption of water is doubling every 20
years, more than twice the rate of human population growth. By
2025, demand for freshwater is expected to rise by 56 per cent,
more than is currently available, causing two in every three people
on the planet to f ace water scarcity.Improving water quality and
limiting surface water withdrawals is essential to protect the
environment and human beings.
e) Conserving biodiversity byslowing down its use and, if possible,
halting extinctions and habitat and ecosystem destr uction are need
for environment friendly development. Preventing de -stabilization
of climate and destruction of ozone layer by human action need to
be implemented.
f) Urban policies have very important implications for future levels of
greenhouse gas emission s and the use of most resources. Greatest
use of resources and wastage of resources are mostly observed in
urban areas.Urbanization policies that encourage the construction of
energy -efficient buildings and production units, play a key role in
high greenho use gas emissions.Urban policies, plans, and
regulations should, play a central role in any national strategy to
promote sustainable development.
3. Social Dimension:
At the humanitarian and social level, sustainable development
seeks to stabilize population growth and stop the flow of
individuals into urban areas by improving the level of rural health
and education services and maximizing public participation in
development planning.
a) Population control is one of the necessary requirements for
sustainable deve lopment. Population is increasing about 80 million
every year. And most of the increase (85%) in the third world
countries, which is characterized by overcrowding, poverty,
unemployment, social crime and underdevelopment.
b) Growing urbanization and migratio nto cities are danger for
sustainable development. There is need to control such migration
through rural development and through standard of literacy.
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48 c) Human Development is necessary to achieve Social and Economic
sustainability. Every year, UNDP issues a report on "Human
Development" which is measured by Decent standard of living,
Education and Health criteria. The report classifies the countries of
the world according to their success in achieving human
development. Health and Education status are too low in most of the
developing economies. The idea of human development has
expanded the meaning of education and its goals. Are educational
institutions able to make a positive contribution to development and
social progress? Or do social burdens go to the fi elds of
unemployment rather than to the labor market? Continued
development requires us to reconsider the approach, methods, and
institutions of education. Similarly, health facilities need to be
expanded so that it can be accessible for each individual in the
society. Making primary health care services more accessible will
be helpful in achieving social sustainability.
d) The main pillars of the success of sustainable development are the
active participation of peoplein the planning and implementation of
national development.Such participation depends on social
acceptance, which is the essence of democracy. Right information,
guidance programs to enlighten people about their roles and
beneficial actions can contribute positively in achieving sustainable
devel opment.
4. Technological Dimension:
Shifting to technologies that are cleaner and more efficient,
minimizes consumption of energy and other natural resources and
do not pollute air, water or land are considered technological
dimension of sustainable developme nt. The objective should be for
technological processes or systems that cause lower waste or
pollutants in the first place, recycle waste internally and work with
natural systems.
a) Sustainable development means accelerating the introduction of
improved tech nologies, as well as the legal provisions for
implementing the same. Technologies currently used in developing
countries are often less efficient and more polluting than
technologies available in industrialized countries.Technological
cooperation - whether by developing or adapting cleaner and more
efficient technologies to local needs - aimed at bridging the gap
between industrialized and developing countries would increase
economic productivity and also prevent further deterioration of the
quality of the environment.
b) Administration of technical progress is necessary to measure the
impact of progress. Sustainable development is the development
that moves society to the era of clean industries and technologies
that use the least amount of energy and resource s, and produce the
minimum gases and pollutants that lead to a rise in the surface
temperature and ozone layer. munotes.in
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49 c) Sustainable development in this area aims to reduce the global rate
of increase in greenhouse gas emissions.Industrial countries will
have to ta ke the first steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,
develop new technologies for more efficient use of thermal energy,
and provide non -thermal energy supplies that are safe and cost -
effective. New technology is the dire need toprevent the degradation
of the protective ozone layer of the Earth.Until such technologies
are available, sustainable development cannot be achievable.
5.5 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in September
2015 by all United Nation’s mem bers as a part of the resolution,
‘Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development’.The sustainable development goals are a wide -ranging list
of goals integrating social, economic and environmental issues of
development. The goals were developed to replace the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) which ended in 2015. Unlike the MDGs, the
SDG framework does not distinguish between "developed" and
"developing" nations. Instead, the goals are applicable to all the nations.
The Sustainable De velopment Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global
goals set by the United Nations. The SDGs build on the principle entitled
"The Future We Want". The Principle is based on two themes‘Challenge
of moving to a Green Economy’ and ‘Future institution framew ork for
Sustainable Development’. The world is facing crisis related to climate,
economy, food, energy, ecology and poverty which are interlinked and
should be addressed simultaneously under the one umbrella.These are the
goals:
No Poverty
Goal 1
Zero Hunger
Goal 2
Good Health and
well being
Goal 3 Quality Education
Goal 4
Gender Equality
Goal 5
Clean water and
sanitation
Goal 6
Affordable Energy
Goal 7
Decent work and
economic growth
Goal 8
Industry, innovation
and inf rastructure
Goal 9
Reduced Inequality
Goal 10
Sustainable cities
and communities
Goal 11
Responsible
consumption and
production
Goal 12
Climate action
Goal 13
Life Below water
Goal 14
Life on Land
Goal 15
Peace, justice and
strong institutions
Goal 16
Partnership for the goals
Goal 17
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50 Removal of po verty from all over the world by 2030
Eradicate the problem of hunger and achieve food security by 2030
Ensure healthy lives and promote well -being for all at all ages
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong
learning opport unities for all
Achieve gender equality and empower for all women and girls
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation
for all
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for
all
Promote sustained, in clusive and sustainable economic growth, full and
productive employment and decent work for all
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Make c ities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development
Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial
and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular
forests, wetlands, mountains and dry lands, in line with obligations
under international agreements
Promote inclusive and peaceful societies for sustainable development,
provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and
inclusive institution at all levels
Strengthen and revitalize the global partnership for the generati on of
revenue and finance essential for sustainable development
To sum up, these 17 goals of Sustainable Development emphasize the 5 P
need to be integrated to have desired outcomes. These P are as follows:
People: We are determined to end poverty and hun ger, in all their forms
and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their
potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment. munotes.in
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51 Planet: We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, through
sustainable consumption a nd production, sustainably managing its natural
resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can
support the needs of the present and future generations.
Prosperity: We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy
prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological
progress occurs in harmony with nature.
Peace: We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies
which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable
developm ent without peace and no peace without sustainable
development.
Partnership: We are determined to mobilize the means required to
implement this Agenda through a revitalised Global Partnership for
Sustainable Development. The inter linkages and integrated nature of the
Sustainable Development Goals are of crucial importance in ensuring that
the purpose of the new Agenda is realised.
Major Initiatives by the Government of India:
In India, the ecosystem is confronting a severe crisis as the area of
agricultu re has decreased substantially. More than 10% of our flora and
fauna are on the verge of extinction. Our prime sources of water - rivers,
lakes are severely polluted from industrial wastage. Moreover, two -thirds
of the land is degraded and not fit for culti vation. The modern waste, such
as chemicals is left free in the running rivers which is endanger for our
aquatic biodiversity.
In spite of that, our country has shown some positive signs to achieve the
target of sustainable development. India is one of the first countries which
participated in the Voluntary National Reviews to ascertain and measure
the growth of sustainable development. Further, our country has
constantly funded the United Nations to boost the agenda of sustainable
development. It is also w orking rigorously with G77 to spread awareness
regarding sustainable development in all the countries of the world.
In line with the spirit of sustainable development, India has passed
numerous Acts to preserve our resources. Some of them are as follows:
1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974
2. The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980
3. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1980
4. The Environment (Protection) Act 1986
5. National Agriculture Policy, 2000, National Population Policy, 2000
and National Water Policy, 2002 have recognized the need for
sustainable development in their specific contexts and formulated
necessary strategies to give effect to such recognition.
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52 6. National Environment Policy 2006 is a response to India’s national
commit ment to a clean environment, mandated in the Constitution in
Articles 48 A and 51 A (g) strengthened by judicial interpretation of
Article 21. It is recognized that the maintenance of the healthy
environment is not the responsibility of the state alone. It is the
responsibility of every Citizen and thus a spirit of partnership is to be
realized through the environment Management of the country.
7. The government has set up a National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the
year 2010. The Tribunal is vested with exclusive powers to adjudicate
the matters pertaining to the issue of the environment. In the last few
years, it has passed various landmark judgements against the large
multi -corporate houses, which were non -compliant with the protection
of the environment. The Tr ibunal is not bound by the principles of the
Civil Procedure Code (CPC) and works in accordance with the
principle of natural justice.
8. India also implemented the National Clean Air Program 2019 to
create awareness regarding the importance of clear air to our health.
This program aims to reduce air pollution and improve the air quality
index by adopting necessary steps at both the central as well as at
state levels.
9. In 2014, Namami Ganges Mission was introduced to clean and
rejuvenate our holy river, Gan ga. Importantly, it aims to create a
better sewage treatment infrastructure and factory handling to reduce
pollution.
10. Apart from the Central government, the state governments have
enforced the state action plans on climate change to build capacity
and im plement sector activities. Till now 27 states and 5 Union
territories have adopted this strategy in sectors like water, land, air,
migration tourism, forestry, agriculture and etc.
11. India is a signatory of the Paris agreement and created various
specializ ed funds for environmental protection, such as the Coal Cess
and the National Clean Energy Fund, the National Adaptation Fund of
Climate Change, etc.
Role of SDGs in India has, over the past years, directed its development
pathway to meet its priorities of employment, economic growth, food,
water and energy security, disaster resilience and poverty alleviation. India
has also aimed to restore its natural capital and adopt transparent and
robust governance along democratic lines. However, emerging challenges
of climate change impacts, increasing inequities, and lagging human
development indices are well recognised by the citizens and the
government. The post 2015 UN Sustainable Development Agenda
framework provides an opportunity to renew and integrate effort s in order
to meet, to a significant degree, national and global aspirations in a
defined time frame.
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53 5.6 SUMMARY
Thus, this unit is devoted to Sustainable Development. It studies the
concept, characteristics, dimensions and Goals of Sustainable
Developm ent in detail. The concept of sustainable development is based
on the effective use of resources in such a manner that not only our present
requirement is fulfilled but also the needs of our future generation are not
compromised. This concept gained popula rity after the conference of 1992
in Rio De Janeiro. Talking about India, the government has taken various
steps to implement the concept of sustainable development. Some notable
steps include setting up NGT, signing of Paris agreement, Namami
Ganges Missi on, setting up a National Clean Energy Fund, etc.Thus, the
unit also highlights the measures implemented by Government of India to
achieve the sustainable Development goals in precise manner to make the
concepts understandable for our leaners.
5.7 QUESTIO NS
Q1. Discuss the concept of Sustainable Development and its
characteristics in brief.
Q2. What is Sustainable Development? What are the different
dimensions of Sustainable Development?
Q3. Explain the economic, environmental and social dimensions of
Sustainable development.
Q4. Explain the sustainable development goals and the major initiatives
taken by the Government of India to meet it.
Q5. Discuss the Sustainable Development Goals.
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54 6
SMART CITY MISSION AND NMSA
Unit Structure:
6.0 Objectives
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Smart City Mission in India
6.3 National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
6.3.1 Objectives
6.3.2 Strategy
6.3.4 Components
6.4 Summary
6.5 Questions
6.6 References
6.0 OBJECTIVES
The m ajor objectives of the present unit are as follows:
1. To understand the concept and scheme of Smart City Mission in India.
2. To learn about National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and its
objectives.
3. To understand the strategy and components of NMSA.
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Smart City Mission is an ambitious project of Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs launched in 2015 to provide a smart solution of problems of
cities which can play a significant role in the economic growth drive.
Cities are engi nes of growth for the economy of every nation. This is the
first time an Urban Ministry programme used the competition method to
select cities for funding and used the strategy of area -based development.
This unit tries to shed the light on features and st rategies of Smart City
Mission adopted for 100 selected cities in the country. National Mission
for Sustainable Agriculture is another massive project of government to
achieve the sustainability in agriculture. It is a much -needed mission
especially in the rainfed areas. The mission focuses on integrated farming,
water use efficiency, soil health management and synergizing resource
conservation. NMSA derives its mandate from Sustainable Agriculture munotes.in
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55 Mission which is one of the eight Missions outlined under N ational Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The present unit elaborates the
objectives, strategy and components of National Mission for Sustainable
Agriculture.
6.2 SMART CITY MISSION IN INDIA
Smart City Mission was launched by the Hon’ Prime Minister o n 25 June,
2015. The main objective of the Mission is to promote cities that provide
core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent
quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
The focus is on su stainable and inclusive development by creation of
replicable models which act as lighthouses to other aspiring cities. 100
cities have been selected to be developed as Smart Cities through a two -
stage competition. The Mission is operated as a Centrally Sp onsored
Scheme.
The Smart city proposals contained more than 5,000 projects worth over
Rs. 2,00,000 crores, of which 45 percent is to be funded through Mission
grants, 21 percent through convergence, 21 percent through PPP and rest
from other sources.
What do we mean by Smart City?
Cities are unions of people; places where people live, come to meet,
exchange ideas, earn livelihoods, access education, health and other
services and enjoy a life of good quality. People are at the core of the city.
Therefore, c ities should work for their people. Cities that work for their
people will continuously become better versions of themselves with each
passing day.
“We shape cities, and they shape us.” – Jan Gehl
Cities are engines of growth for the economy of every natio n. Nearly 31%
of India’s population lives in urban areas and contributes 63% of India’s
GDP (Census 2011). With increasing urbanization, urban areas are
expected to house 40% of India’s population and contribute 75% of
India’s GDP by 2030. This requires co mprehensive development of
physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure. All are
important in improving the quality of life and attracting people and
investments to the City. Development of Smart Cities is a step in this
direction.
The core infrastructure elements in a Smart City would include - adequate
water supply, assured electricity supply, sanitation, including solid waste
management, efficient urban mobility and public transport, affordable
housing, especially for the poor, robust IT connectivity and digitalization,
good governance, especially e -Governance and citizen participation,
sustainable environment, safety and security of citizens, particularly
women, children and the elderly, and health and education.
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56 Features of Smart C ity Mission:
Promoting mixed land use in area -based developments — planning for
'unplanned areas' in order to make land use more efficient. The States
will enable some flexibility in land use and building bye -laws to adapt
to change.
Housing and inclusive ness — Smart city Mission will expand housing
opportunities for all.
Creating walkable localities – Smart city Mission will work in the
direction of reducing congestion, air pollution and resource depletion.
It will boost local economy, promote interactio ns and ensure security.
Road network to be created for not only vehicles and public transport,
but also for pedestrians and cyclists.
Preserving and developing open spaces —It focuses the development
of parks, playgrounds, and recreational spaces in order to enhance the
quality of life of citizens, and to promote eco -balance.
Promoting a variety of transport options to improve connectivity.
Giving an identity to the city — based on its main economic activity,
such as local cuisine, health, education, arts and craft, culture, sports
goods, furniture, hosiery, textile, dairy.
Applying Smart Solutions to infrastructure and services in area -based
development in order to make them better. For example, making Areas
less vulnerable to disasters, using fewer resour ces, and providing
cheaper services.
Smart city Mission Framework
Source: Ministry of housing and urban affairs
Strategy of Smart City Mission:
The purpose of the Smart City Mission is to drive economic growth and
improve the quality of life of people by enabling local area development
and harnessing technology that leads to Smart outcomes. Area -based
development will transform existing areas (Retrofit and Redevelop) , munotes.in
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57 including slums, into better planned ones, thereby improving livability of
the whole C ity. New areas (Greenfield) will be developed around cities in
order to accommodate the expanding population in urban areas.
Application of Smart Solutions will enable cities to use technology,
information and data to improve infrastructure and services.
Comprehensive development in this way will improve quality of life,
create employment and enhance incomes for all, especially the poor and
the disadvantaged, leading to inclusive Cities.
The strategic components of Area -based development in the Smart Cities
Mission are city improvement (Retrofitting) , city renewal
(Redevelopment) and city extension (Greenfield development) plus a
Pan-city initiative in which Smart Solutions are applied covering larger
parts of the city.
6.3 NATIONAL MISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) has been
formulated for enhancing agricultural productivity especially in rainfed
areas focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health
management and synergizing resource co nservation.Agricultural growth
can be sustained by promoting conservation and sustainable use of scarce
natural resources through appropriate measures.Indian agriculture is
predominantly rain fed covering about 60% of the country’s net sown area
and accoun ts for 40% of the total food production. So, the conservation of
natural resources such as soil and water are the need to meet the
burgeoning demands for food grains in the country.
6.3.1 Objectives :
To make agriculture more productive, sustainable, remune rative and
climate resilient by promoting location specific Integrated/Composite
Farming Systems.
To conserve natural resources through appropriate soil and moisture
conservation measures.
To adopt comprehensive soil health management practices based o n
soil fertility maps, soil test -based application of macro & micro
nutrients, judicious use of fertilizers etc.
To optimize utilization of water resources through efficient water
management to expand coverage for achieving ‘more crop per drop’.
To deve lop capacity of farmers & stakeholders, in conjunction with
other on -going Missions e.g., National Mission on Agriculture
Extension & Technology, National Food Security Mission, National
Initiative for Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) etc., in the
domain of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
To pilot models in select blocks for improving productivity of rainfed
farming by mainstreaming rainfed technologies refined through
NICRA and by leveraging resources from other schemes like Mahatm a munotes.in
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58 Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),
Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), RKVY etc.
To establish an effective, inter and intra Departmental co -ordination
for accomplishing key deliverables of National Mission for
Sustainable Agriculture under the aegis of NAPCC (National Action
Plan on Climate Change).
6.3.2 Strategy :
1. Integrated farming system: It will promote integrated farming
system that will be covering crops, livestock & fishery, plantation and
pasture based compo site farming for enhancing livelihood
opportunities, ensuring food security and minimizing risks from crop
failure through supplementary production systems.
2. Resource conservation technologies: Resource conservation
technologies (both on -farm and off -farm) will be popularized which
will support mitigation efforts in times of extreme climatic events or
disasters like prolonged dry spells, floods etc.
3. Effective Water management: For effective use of available water
resources water use efficiency through appl ication of technologies
coupled with demand and supply side management will be promoted.
4. Improved agronomic practices: For higher farm productivity,
improved soil treatment, increased water holding capacity, judicious
use of chemicals/ energy and enhance d soil carbon storage improved
agronomic practices will be encouraged.
5. Creating database: Proper Database on soil resources is required to
facilitate adoption of location and soil -specific crop management
practices& optimization of fertilizer use. Land use survey, soil profile
study and soil analysis on GIS platform will be conducted for creating
required database.
6. Crop specific integrated nutrient management practices: Crop
specific integrated nutrient management practices will be promoted
for improving s oil health, enhancing crop productivity and
maintaining quality of land and water resources.
7. Climate change adaptation: Involving knowledge institutions and
professionals in developing climate change adaptation and mitigation
strategies for specific agro climatic situations will enhance
appropriate farming systems.
8. Programmatic interventions: As per land capability and conducive
to climatic parameters blocks will be selected as pilots for ensuring
integrated development through dissemination and adoptio n of rainfed
technologies. Coordination with other programmes such as
MGNREGS, IWMP, RKVY, National Food Security Mission
(NFSM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture
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59 (NMAE&T) e tc. will be encouraged. A consortium approach may be
evolved with various stake holders including knowledge partners like
State Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Centres by the State
Government to provide single window service/ knowledge provider
system for the benefit of farming community.
9. Supervision and monitoring: State Government may engage reputed
NGOs for implementation of cluster/village development plan in case
of limited govt. infrast ructure is available in that area through a
transparent system of selection and defined process of supervision and
monitoring. For Strong technical monitoring and feedback systems on
climate change mitigation and adaptation issues the experts of central
institutes and state agricultural universities would be involved.
10. Platform will be established to connect, review and coordinate the
implementation of interventions outlined in Mission Document of
NMSA under the guidance of National Action Plan on Climate
Change.
6.3.3 Components:
NMSA has following Fourmajor components or activities:
1) Rainfed Area Development (RAD):
Rainfed Area Development (RAD) will adopt an area -based approach
for development and conservation of natural resources along with
farming systems . This component will introduce appropriate farming
systems by integrating multiple components of agriculture such as
crops, horticulture, livestock, fishery, forestry with agro based income
generating activities and value addition. Besides, soil test/soil health
card based nutrient management practices, farmland development,
resource conservation and crop selection conducive to local agro
climatic condition will also be promoted under this component. A
cluster -based approach of 100 hectare or more will be adopted to derive
noticeable impact of convergence and to encourage local
participation.This component has been formulated in a ‘watershed plus
framework’ to explore potential utilization of natural resources
available through watershed development and soi l conservation
activities.
2) Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF):
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry has been launched in 2016 -17 to
encourage tree plantation on farm land “Har Medh Par Ped”, along with
cropping system. The scheme is being implemented in the States which
have liberalized transit regulations for selected tree species.The
implementation of the sub -mission will result in providing additional
income opportunities for farmers, increase in tree cover that will lead to
higher carbon sequestration and compl iment the national initiatives on
climate change adaptation. In order to make agriculture less vulnerable
to climatic aberrations, Government of India formulated the National munotes.in
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60 Agroforestry Policy in 2014. The policy recommends for setting up of a
Mission or Board to address development of agroforestry sector in an
organised manner. The Sub -Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) under
NMSA is an initiative to this end. The aim of the submission is to
expand the tree coverage on farmland in complementary with
agricult ural crops.Agroforestry not only provides environmental
services, but also economic gains, as about 65 % of the country’s
timber requirement is met from the trees grown outside forests.
3) National Bamboo Mission (NBM):
Bamboo is a versatile group of plant s which is capable of providing
ecological, economic and livelihood security to the people. India has
the highest area (13.96 million ha) under bamboo and is the second
richest country, after China, in terms of bamboo diversity with 136
species (125 indige nous and 11 exotic). But India is a net importer of
bamboo. It means there are greater opportunities to harness the market
potential by increasing its production and ensuring establishment of
proper value chain system. In most of the hilly States of the co untry,
bamboo is used as building material, applications in industries like
paper and pulp, construction, furniture, textile, food, energy production
etc. Keeping in view the vast untapped potential of the bamboo sector,
for boosting domestic cultivation o f quality and appropriate species the
restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) has been approved for
implementation across the country.
4) Soil Health Management (SHM):
Soil Health Management (SHM) will aim at promoting location as well
as crop specific s ustainable soil health management. It includes organic
farming practices through creating and linking soil fertility maps with
macro -micro nutrient management, appropriate land use based on land
capability, judicious application of fertilizers and minimizi ng the soil
degradation.
Assistance will be provided for various improved package of practices
based on land use and soil characteristics, generated through
geographical information system (GIS) based thematic maps and
database on land and soil characteri stics through extensive field level
scientific surveys.This component will also provide support to solve the
problems of soils (acid/alkaline/saline). This component will be
implemented by State Govt., National Centre of Organic Farming
(NCOF), Central Fer tilizer Quality Control & Training Institute
(CFQC&TI) and Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI).
Given the limitations, such as staff and infrastructure, faced by the
department of agriculture at the field level, a Public Private Partnership
Model ma y be adopted by states to ensure that the soil testing is done in
time as per requirement. The private parties can be encouraged to set up
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61 6.4 SUMMARY
Thus, this unit is devoted to two major projects of Government of India in
direction to achieve Sustainable Development. The first is Smart City
Missionaims to drive economic growth and improve quality of life through
comprehensive work on social, economic, physical and institutional pillars
of the city. T he second is National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, a
comprehensive agricultural reform project aims at sustainable agricultural
growth by adopting environment friendly technologies, energy efficient
equipments, conservation of natural resources and promoting integrated
farming. Its objectives, strategy and various components are discussed in
precise manner to make the concepts understandable for our leaners .
6.5 QUESTIONS
Q1. Analyze the Smart City Mission programme of Government of India.
Q2. Wri te a note on Smart City Mission.
Q3. What is National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture? Discuss its
objectives and strategy.
Q4. What is National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture? Explain the
various components of NMSA.
Q5.Write a note on NMSA.
Q6. E xplain the concept of Smart City Mission.
6.6 REFERENCES
Dr. Anjani Singh Tomar, Prof. Amit Kumar Kashyap (2021),
Sustainable Development India and Beyond, Bharti Publications
Dr. Santosh V. Rankhamb, Professor (Dr.) Yasmeen Shaikh, Dr. T. S.
Pathan, Dr. Atulkumar R. Chourpag (2021) Sustainable Development
for Future, Noton Press.
Jonathan M. Harris (June 2000) Basic Principles of Sustainable
Development, Global Development and Environment Institute
working paper
Ministry of Agriculture and farmers welfa re Report
Ministry of housing and urban affairs Report
World Economic Forum Report
www.scientificworldinfo.com/2019/03/dimensions -of-sustainable -
developme nt.html
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62 7
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN INDIA – 1
Unit Structure:
7.0 Objectives
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Overview of Laws to improve the environment in India
7.3 Central Pollution Control Board
7.4 Industrial Pollution Control Measures in India
7.5 Summary
7.6 Questions
7.0 OBJECTIVES
To know about the environmental regulations
To overview thelaws to improve the environment in India
To study about the Central Pollution Control Board
To identify the Industrial Pollution Control Measures in India
7.1 INTRODUCTION
The enact ment of environmental regulations is an essential component of
every government. It is a collection of regulations and statutes that govern
the standard of the air, water, and other aspects of the natural environment.
The environmental laws of India are gr ounded on the principles of
environmental law, and its primary concern is the proper administration of
natural resources such as fisheries, forests, and minerals.
The environmental laws of India are a direct product of what the
constitution mandates should be done with regard to protecting the
environment. Both the constitution of India and its international
obligations discuss the necessity of protecting and preserving the
environment and making use of natural resources in a manner that does
not cause harm to such resources.
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63 7.2 OVERVIEW OF LAWS TO IMPROVE THE
ENVIRONMENT IN INDIA
The safeguarding of the natural world is included in the Constitution of
India, where it is referred to as both a basic obligation and one of the
Directive Principles of Stat e Policy.
Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) Article 48A:
Protecting forests as well as animals and working to improve
environmental conditions are both worthy goals. The administration will
work to preserve and develop the environment, as wel l as to ensure the
safety of the nation's woodlands and wild animals.
Fundamental Duties (Part IV A) Article 51A:
To preserve and improve the natural environment, including the
woodlands, lakes, and rivers, as well as the native fauna, and to show
compassi on for all other forms of life.
History of Environmental Laws in India:
At a United Nations conference on the human environment that took place
in Stockholm in 1972, a comprehensive strategy for safeguarding the
environment was developed. As a consequence of this, the Science and
Technology Department of the United States government established the
National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning in the year 1972.
This was done so that there would be a body in charge of keeping an eye
on environmenta l issues and concerns. This was one of the reasons why
this was done. In the end, this council was superseded by the jurisdiction
of the Ministry of the Environment and Forests.
The government of India has been quite proactive in its efforts to preserve
the natural world. The following is a list of some of the most essential and
important environmental laws and acts, along with an explanation of each.
i) The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:
The objective was to both prevent the water from being unclean and to
stop the process of it becoming dirty. to maintain or restore the water's
original purity and healthfulness after it has been exposed to a variety of
contaminants. It bestows the authority to formulate regulations onto the
Centre Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) as well as the State Pollution
Control Boards (SPCB). Both the CPCB and the SPSB became official
entities as a result of the Water Act of 1974. It grants the CPCB and SPCB
the authority to establish guidelines for factories that discharge pollution
into bodies of water and to ensure that these guidelines are adhered to. The
CPCB is responsible for the same activities throughout the union territory.
In addition to this, it devises policies to put an end to water pollution and
acts as a coordinator for the work of various SPSBs. The SPCB regulates
the discharge of sewage and industrial waste by accepting, denying, or
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64 ii) The Air (prevention and control of pollution) act, 1981 :
The legislation intends to regulate and curtail the problem of air pollution
in India. Its primary objectives are as follows:
• Ensure that measures are taken to avoid, control, and reduce levels of
air pollution.
• To ensure t hat boards are established at both the state and federal levels
in order to carry out the provisions of the act.
It states that things that pollute the air, such as internal combustion
engines, industry, vehicles, power plants, etc., can't release more tha n the
allowed amount of lead, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
oxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or other toxic substances.
Examples of these things include: internal combustion engines, vehicles,
power plants, etc. It provides the state government with the authority to
designate some locations as having poor air quality.
iii) The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 :
It is stated in Article 253 that this law was enacted (legislation for giving
effect to international agreements). This law w as enacted in December
1984, after the gas tragedy that occurred in Bhopal. The United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972 issued
a declaration that was ratified into legislation so that it could be
implemented. In accorda nce with the Environmental Protection Act of
1986 (EPA), the MoEFCC is required to notify ten -kilometer buffer zones
surrounding environmentally sensitive or ecologically fragile protected
areas.
The ozone -depleting substances (regulation and control) rule s, 2000 is one
such statutory body under this act. It controlled the manufacture,
commerce, import, and export of commodities that include ozone
depleting substances and established deadlines for the elimination of
various compounds that are harmful to the ozone layer. These substances
are known as "Ozone Depleting Substances" or "ODSs."In accordance
with these regulations, the use of CFCs, halons, ODSs (such as carbon
tetrachloride and methyl chloroform), and SFC is prohibited, with the
exception of metere d-dose inhalers and other applications related to
medicine.
iv) The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 :
It was approved as a means of making more efficient use of energy and
reducing the amount of trash that is produced. It establishes the guidelines
for how mu ch energy can be consumed by various pieces of equipment
and appliances. It provides customers with norms and guidelines for the
amount of energy that they are permitted to use. It establishes guidelines
for how commercial buildings have to be constructed in order to conserve
energy. The law authorised the establishment of a government entity
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65 v) Biological Diversity Act 2002 :
The CBD, also known as the Nagoya Protocol, was implemented so that it
could function properly. In order to put an end to biopiracy and safeguard
biological variety as well as local producers, a framework consisting of
central boards, state boards, and local committees will be implemented. In
order to establish the National Biodiversity Au thority (NBA), State
Biodiversity Boards (SBBS), and Biodiversity Management Committees
(BMC), the purpose of this bill is: (BMCS).
vi) Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA):
The legislation e nables people who have lived in these woods for
centuries, known as Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD), the ability to utilise and reside on
land that is classified as forest. This statute falls within the jurisdiction of
the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The legislation also establishes who is
responsible for making use of FDST and OTFD in a manner that is
environmentally friendly, safeguards biodiversity, and maintains
ecological equilibrium. It makes it muc h simpler to preserve the
woodlands while while ensuring that the FDST and OTFD have a means
of making a living and food to consume. It is an effort to make amends for
the injustices committed by the colonial authority against the FDST and
OTFD, both of wh ich play a crucial role in ensuring the continued
existence and well -being of the forest environment.
vii) The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 :
It was established in 1992 at the same time as the Rio Summit with the
intention of providing those who had be en harmed by pollution and other
forms of environmental degradation with administrative and legal choices.
Article 21, which states that every person has the right to a healthy
environment, is supported by this argument as well. When a case is
presented be fore the NGT, the NGT is required to make a decision on the
matter within six months of the day on which the case was filed before it.
When it comes to items that have to do with significant environmental
concerns, the NGT has the last decision.
viii) Comp ensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016:
As a result of the passage of the CAF Act, the ad hoc Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority was given the
responsibility of managing the money designated for compensatory
afforestation (CAM PA). When forest land is utilised for anything other
than a forest, such mining or industry, the user agency pays for planting
forests over an equivalent amount of non -forest land, or over double the
area of degraded forest land if no other land is availab le. This is referred to
as compensatory afforestation. According to the regulations, the money
from the CAF should be distributed as follows: 90% to the states, and 10%
shall be kept by the Center. The funds may be put to use in the treatment
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66 of forests, the protection and management of wildlife, the relocation of
villages outside of protected areas, the resolution of conflicts between
humans and wildlife, the training of individuals, the provision of wood -
saving devices, and other activities of a similar nature.
7.3 CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
The Central Pollution Control Board is a significant government
organisation that plays a vital role (CPCB). The Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) of India is a government organisation that is responsible
for monitoring the quality of India's air and water as well as taking care of
any other issues that are linked to pollution in India.
The Central Pollution Control Board is an organisati on that operates under
the auspices of India's Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate
Change (CPCB).
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 led to the
establishment of this organisation. The Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollut ion) Act bestowed upon it both obligations and responsibilities in the
year 1981.
1. Pollution of water bodies, often known as water pollution, is what the
term "water pollution" refers to. The term "water pollution" refers to
the contamination of various bod ies of water, including rivers, lakes,
seas, groundwater, and aquifers, by waste products from industrial and
agricultural processes.
2. Air pollution refers to any alteration, whether it be physical, chemical,
or biological, that takes place in the air. Whe n hazardous substances
such as gases, dust, and smoke are released into the atmosphere, it has a
significant impact not only on people and animals but also on plants.
Please visit this link for further information on pollutants in the air.
It does this by providing the state pollution control boards with technical
assistance and guidance, as well as by mediating any differences that may
arise between the boards.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) maintains its headquarters in
New Delhi, along with s even zone offices and five laboratories. Research
and evaluations of the environment are carried out by the board. Through
collaboration with zonal offices, tribal governments, and municipal
governments, its primary responsibility is to ensure that nationa l standards
remain consistent with a variety of environmental legislation. It is
responsible for determining the level of pollution in the air and water and
recording the findings of its investigations. In addition, the agency
collaborates with private com panies as well as all branches and levels of
government on a diverse array of pollution prevention and energy
conservation programmes and initiatives. It orders the central government
to put an end to and regulate the air and water pollution that has been
occurring. In addition to this, it provides the governments of Union
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67 and other locations. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and its
equivalents, the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), are tasked with
the responsibility of ensuring that laws regarding the prevention and
control of environmental pollution are adhered to.
The Chairman of the CPCB is in command of the organisation, followed
by the Member Secretary and other members of the board. The CPCB is
able to carry out its various duties with the assistance of the nine primary
project budget heads that are listed below.
Pollution assessment (survey and monitoring).
Management of the laboratory and research and develop ment (R&D).
The establishment of standards and recommendations for emissions
and effluent standards that are tailored to the requirements of each
business.
The development of pollution control technologies
Enforcement of pollution control measures
Raising public awareness and publishing literature
Hazard waste management
Powers and Functions of CPCB:
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is charged with a number of
responsibilities and powers, one of which is to provide guidance to both
the Centr al Government and the individual State Governments about how
pollution in the air and water might be reduced, eliminated, and otherwise
managed.
Developing strategies and plans for a variety of programmes to curb
and eliminate water and air pollution
Form ulating strategies and putting together training programmes for
those who work to reduce, eliminate, and manage the negative effects
of air and water pollution.
Collecting, compiling, and disseminating scientific and statistical
information regarding poll ution in the air and water These studies are
intended to brainstorm potential solutions to the problem of pollution
prevention and control.
Putting together instructions, regulations, and codes for how to clean
stack gas devices, stacks, and ducts, as wel l as how to treat and dispose
of sewage and trade effluents; this includes determining how to treat
and dispose of sewage and trade effluents.
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68 7.4 INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES
IN INDIA
Every nation on this globe has a significant challenge in t he form of
pollution brought on by industrial production. Because the negative effects
of industrial pollution are worsening, many groups and individuals are
working to reduce carbon footprints and to live and work in a way that is
better for the environme nt. This effort is being driven by the fact that the
negative effects of industrial pollution are getting worse.
However, factory pollution is still a significant issue, and it will take a
considerable amount of time to successfully control and regulate it . There
are a lot of different approaches that may be taken to address the issue
once and for all.
The Water Act of 1974, the Air Act of 1981, and the Environment
Protection Act of 1986 are the three primary laws that India use to manage
pollution. Each of these laws was passed in its respective years (1986).
The levels of pollution that companies are allowed to produce have lately
been held to stricter restrictions, and older regulations that had been in
effect for decades have been revised. However, there are still disparities
between the best practises and the control mechanisms that are in place
throughout the globe. The businesses that fall into the Orange and Green
categories, for instance, are not monitored as thoroughly as the industries
that fall in to the Red category. The amount of progress made in
technology is irrelevant to the measures and methods for controlling
pollution.
In the past, when it came to preventing pollution, businesses followed the
instructions given to them by the government. Com panies are now
pushing ahead and defining their own objectives as part of programmes
relating to corporate stewardship. These goals include things like zero
liquid discharge, carbon neutrality, and others. The importance of
pollution control has been recog nised by major corporations, and as a
result, these businesses are making the transition to the "best available
technology" (BAT) as well as other technological advancements such as
renewable energy, biogas, Cloud solutions, motion sensors, waste
utilisati on, and waste heat recovery, etc., to further solidify their
dedication to becoming environmental leaders. The government is
providing assistance to companies in a number of other ways as well,
including by promoting and instituting new programmes to comba t
pollution (such as the Delhi odd -even programme, which is a stopgap
measure), Swatch Bharat projects, and so on.
The majority of individuals are mistaken about the role that businesses
play in preventing and controlling pollution. Governance and mandated
compliance are two key aspects of a company's operations, but businesses
must also actively urge the members of their ecosystem —including
workers, suppliers, stakeholders, and so on —to collaborate and provide
assistance. Providing incentives and relaxing attendance limits during
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69 the cause via social and digital media, among other things, would go a
long way toward generating awareness and support for their projects.
1. Confirming the original source :
Utilizing new technology, providing adequate training to personnel so they
can use it properly, developing better technology for getting rid of trash,
and using raw materials with more care are all ways in which pollution
caused by indust ry may be controlled at its source.
2. Recycling :
Increased recycling efforts should be undertaken to recycle as much of the
contaminated water as possible in order to cut down on the amount of
industrial pollution that occurs.
3. Cleaning of Resources :
Organic approaches, such as the utilisation of microorganisms that
consume heavy metals and garbage, should be utilised for the purpose of
cleaning up the water and the soil. In order for enterprises to be able to
recycle the water that they use, rather than dumping it back into a natural
water source, cooling chambers or bins will need to be constructed.
4. Industry Site Selection :
If the locations of the sites and the potential impacts they may have on the
surrounding environment are taken into account, neg ative consequences
may be mitigated.
5. Proper Treatment of Industrial Waste :
It is possible to lessen the effects of pollution by changing people's
behaviours and by constructing and operating facilities specifically
designed to manage waste from industri al processes.
6. Rebuilding Habitats and Afforestation :
Restoring wildlife habitats by increasing the amount of trees and plants in
an area can assist in providing displaced animals with new homes. The
trees have the potential to aid in air purification an d to provide a barrier
from the surrounding environment.
7. Stricter Laws and Enforcement :
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to address the issues
that have arisen as a result of the pollution produced by manufacturers.
There should be more s tringent regulations about how to punish
businesses that do not follow the laws, and there should be larger benefits
for businesses that operate in an ethical manner. It implies instituting
regulations that prevent individuals from abusing the land in ques tion.
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70 8. Regular Environmental Impact Assessments :
It is important for a reputable industry or business to conduct
environmental impact assessments on a consistent basis and submit the
results for public scrutiny. During the course of the review, any
unfav ourable consequences that are discovered should prompt the
formulation and implementation of measures designed to rectify the
situation.
Noting the most effective methods:
United States of America:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States
provides the general public with unrestricted access to all of the data
collected at CEMS -regulated monitoring stations regarding industrial
emissions.
The European Union (EU):
Within the member states of the European Union, the European
Environmen tal Agency is responsible for maintaining the European
Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, also known as the E -PRTR (EU).
It contains statistics on pollution from over 34,000 facilities located in 33
different EU nations.
People in Europe are able to keep track of data regarding industrial air
pollution thanks to the data that is available from the E -PRTR register.
This data includes information regarding the top polluters as well as how
emissions from each industrial location have changed over time an d in
different locations.
When residents have access to data, they are better able to concentrate on
the region in which they live. They are able to examine both the short -term
and long -term patterns of industrial pollution in their neighbourhoods, and
they may utilise this knowledge to guide the choices that they make.
These kinds of data have been used by environmental organisations in
order to discover the sources of air pollution in a specific region, such as
the Tata Steel mill in the Netherlands, and hold those responsible for the
pollution accountable.
Since 2007, when the first statistics were exchanged throughout the Union,
there has been a consistent decrease in the amount of pollution that is
being produced by companies across the whole of Europe.
These case studies of successful policies and procedures from the United
States and the European Union demonstrate how vital it is for the general
people to be informed about the pollution that originates from stationary
sources such as stacks and boiler plants. The individuals who control the
companies become more accountable as a result of tracking emissions
from industrial sources, and the general public is informed about potential
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71 7.5 SUMMARY
The environmen tal laws of India are grounded on the principles of
environmental law, and its primary concern is the proper administration of
natural resources such as fisheries, forests, and minerals. The Central
Pollution Control Board is a significant government organi sation that
plays a vital role (CPCB)responsible for monitoring the quality of India's
air and water as well as taking care of any other issues that are linked to
pollution in India.The negative effects of industrial pollution are
worsening, many groups an d individuals are working to reduce carbon
footprints and to live and work in a way that is better for the environment.
This effort is being driven by the fact that the negative effects of industrial
pollution are getting worse.
7.6 QUESTIONS
1. Outline the o verview of laws to improve the environment in India.
2. Explain the Central Pollution Control Board.
3. List down the measures of Industrial Pollution Control in India.
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72 8
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN INDIA - 2
Unit Structure :
8.0 Objectives
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY)
8.3 National Green Tribunal
8.4 Environmental Education in India
8.5 Summary
8.6 Questions
8.0 OBJECTIVES
To understand about the Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana (PMUY)
To study about the National Green Tribunal
To review the Environmental Education in India
8.1 INTRODUCTION
The directive principles of state policy (DPSP) section of the Constitution
of India states that it is the duty of t he state to protect and improve the
environment, to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country, and to
give the citizens of the country the duty to protect the environment. The
Constitution also states that it is the duty of the state to protect and
improve the environment.
In point of fact, it was challenging for the government to initiate DPSPs
immediately after the country gained its independence since there were a
great number of other issues that were more pressing than the state of the
environm ent. In order to address more pressing challenges, such as
poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and a lack of basic health care,
environmental concerns did not get as much attention as they should have.
The economy was able to produce a greater variety of go ods as a result of
the proliferation of manufacturing enterprises. The ecology in India has
suffered a great deal as a result of this, and in the last decade, there has
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73 Environmental issues are significant for this reason: if they were not
addressed, the world would be a much poorer place. It's possible that
future generations won't want to live on our planet if environmental issues
aren't resolved or addressed soon. The requirements of peop le and those of
the earth are becoming more congruent.
There is no question that, in order for humans to be able to exist in the
future, the environment will need to be safeguarded and maintained in a
healthy state. In point of fact, the requirements of hu mans are becoming
more stringent, which is causing a corresponding shift in the natural
world. The capacity of nature to change and rejuvenate itself is
impressive, but the planet can only accomplish so much, particularly given
the ongoing expansion of bot h human population and technological
capabilities. What is required is to maintain the delicate ecosystem that is
always undergoing change, to safeguard it, and to enhance it.
8.2 PRADHAN MANTRI UJJWALA YOJANA (PMUY)
The Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY) is a government initiative
that was initiated by Prime Minister NarendraModi in the year 2016. At
initially, the idea was to provide below -poverty -line women with a
connection to LPG gas and then expand that to 50 million women. After
that, the objective w as to provide eight crore women with access to LPG
by March of 2020 at the latest. But this objective was accomplished seven
months earlier, in September 2019, when it was originally set.
Benefits of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana:
The majority of deaths th at are attributed to unclean fuel for cooking
are the result of diseases that cannot be passed on to others, such as
coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
and lung cancer. It is possible to guarantee that every person in th e
nation has access to cooking gas by providing LPG connections to
families living below the poverty line. Because LPG connections and
clean cooking fuel may make cooking easier and take up less time, the
plan has the potential to assist in the empowerment of women. In the
majority of parts of India, only women are expected to take care of the
kitchen. The programme also provides employment opportunities for
young people living in rural areas inside the supply chain for cooking
gas.
As part of the PM Garib Kalyan Scheme, the government has also
announced a package of aid with a total value of Rs 1.70 lakh crore to
assist those who are struggling to pay their expenses as a direct result of
the spread of the Covid -19 virus.
The Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana is a government programme that
aims to provide low -income families with access to LPG.
Under this programme, BPL households that have an LPG connection
will get 1,600 INR for each connection. The costs associated with munotes.in
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74 operating this form of assistance are c overed by the government. This
discount applies to the cost of the security charge for the cylinder, the
pressure regulator, the handbook, the safety hose, and any additional
fees associated with fittings.
As part of the initiative, oil marketing busines ses will also provide
interest -free loans for the purpose of purchasing stoves and
replenishing their tanks.
The Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana provides assistance to all BPL
households, regardless of the type of gas distributorship from which
they get thei r supply.
Depending on the circumstances on the ground, gas cylinders of
varying capacities (14.2 kg, 5 kilogramme, etc.) are distributed to the
affected areas.
The advantages of this plan are available to all of the Hilly States,
which includes the st ates that are considered to be "Priority States" in
the Northeast.
The programme ensures that residents of Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur,
Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Tripura have access t o
LPG for cooking, despite the fact that this fuel can be difficult to come
by in certain regions of the country.
The Pradhan MantriUjjawalaYojana aims to provide women who live
below the poverty line with clean fuel as part of its overall mission. People
put their health at risk when they cook using polluting fuels. The Pradhan
MantriUjjwalaYojana seeks to accomplish the following objectives:
To endow women with increased agency and to protect their physical
well-being.
To reduce the number of negative ef fects on one's health that are
caused by the use of polluting fossil fuels and other types of fuels for
cooking.
To put an end to the indoor pollution brought on by the combustion of
fossil fuels, which makes it difficult for people to breathe;
To put an end to the contamination of the environment, which is
brought on by the widespread use of polluting fuels for the purpose of
cooking.
Eligibility: Applicants are able to submit an application for the Pradhan
Mantri UjjwalaYojana if they satisfy the condit ions listed below:
The individual who applies must be a woman over the age of 18 and must
be a woman. Additionally, she needs to be a citizen of India. munotes.in
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75 No one else in the house should have an LPG connection, and her
family's total monthly income should not be greater than what the UT
and State Governments say it should be.
Her family should be living below the federal poverty level.
The applicant's name must be on the list of SECC -2011 and
correspond with the information included in the BPL database
main tained by oil marketing firms. Additionally, the applicant cannot
be engaged in any other government programme that is analogous to
this one.
The steps that were taken to upgrade Ujjwala from phase 1.0 to
phase 2.0:
At the beginning of 2016, when Ujjwala 1 .0 was first introduced, it
wasdecided to make it a priority to provide LPG connections to 5 crore
BPL women.The programme was modified in April 2018 so that women
from seven morecategories, including SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, most
backward classes, tea gardeninha bitants, forest dwellers, and Islands, may
also benefit. Additionally, the targetnumber of LPG connections was
increased to 8 crores. This objective wasaccomplished in August 2019,
which is seven months earlier than the target date.
It was stated in the Un ion budget for the fiscal year 21 -22 that the PMUY
plan will add one crore new connections for LPG appliances. This one
crore additional PMUY connections are intended to deliver deposit -free
LPG connections to low -income households who were unable to secur e
them during the first phase of the PMUY programme. This would be done
through the Ujjwala 2.0 programme.
People who qualify for assistance via Ujjwala 2.0 will be given a free
connection to LPG as well as a free first refill and hotplate. In addition,
there will be a minimum number of papers required to complete the
registration procedure.Migrants will not be required to provide their ration
cards or any evidence of residence under the Ujjwala 2.0 programme.
Both the "family declaration" and the "proof of address" may be satisfied
by an individual's own self -declaration. With the support of Ujjwala 2.0,
the Prime Minister's ambition of ensuring that everyone has access to LPG
will become a reality.
Concerns around the use of the cylinder of LPG:
People who live in more remote places sometimes choose not to make use
of LPG cylinders due to a variety of factors. Studies, stories in the press,
and commentators have all drawn attention to these factors for their
relevance.
To begin, the majority of houses throu ghout the nation, and particularly in
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76 waste, and dung cake as a source of cooking fuel since these things can be
obtained for very little cost.
Second, the present administration of the United States government has
eliminated the cylinder price subsidy. People are now required to fill their
cylinders before they can get the subsidy that is sent into their bank
accounts as part of the direct benefit transfer programme. It might be
challenging for low -income households to shell out the whole amount
required to refill the LPG cylinder.
Recent calamities, such as the demonetization of currency and the
widespread spread of the COVD -19 epidemic, have made matters even
more precarious for an already vulnerable population. The need that a
large portion of the Indian populace pay Rs 1000 per month to replenish
their LPG tanks is an enormous financial burden that the majority of them
are unable to manage.
8.3 NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on October 18, 2010,
as a specialised organisation to address environmental disputes that entail
concerns from a variety of different disciplines. This was done in
accordance with the NGT Act of 2010, which was passed i n 2010. It was
enacted at the same time as the National Environment Appellate Authority
was struck from the statutes. Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which
states that the people of India will have a healthy environment, is another
foundational do cument for this policy.
About NGT:
By virtue of the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010, a specialised body
known as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established. The speedy
and efficient resolution of disputes relating to the preservation and
protect ion of the natural world, including forests and other natural
resources, is the organization's primary objective. After Australia and New
Zealand, India has become the first nation in the developing world to
establish a specialised environmental court. Ind ia is the third nation in the
world to do so overall. The National Green Tribunal holds its hearings and
other business at the following locations: Bhopal, Pune, New Delhi,
Kolkata, and Chennai. The National Green Tribunal holds most of its
hearings and ot her proceedings in New Delhi.
Objectives:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has a number of aims, but the
following are some of the more important ones:
Cases that involve the protection and preservation of the environment,
forests, and other natural reso urces are handled in a prompt and
efficient manner.
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77 To provide relief and recompense for any harm that was inflicted
against individuals or property.
Resolve a variety of environmental disagreements that draw on the
expertise of specialists from a wide r ange of disciplines.
List of statutes that are covered in Schedule I of NGT Act, 2010:
1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
3. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
4. The Ai r (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
7. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Structure of NGT:
Structure of the NGT The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is comprised o f
the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and the Expert Members. These
are the three primary components of the NGT.
In addition, there should be at least ten and no more than twenty full -time
members on the NGT, each of whom should be a judge or an expert in
their field.
All of these individuals are required to remain in their posts for a period of
five years and are ineligible for reelection during that time.The Chief
Justice of India advises the Central Government of India over the
individual who ought to preside over the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
A Selection Committee is established by the federal government of India
to determine the individuals who would serve as Judicial Members and
Expert Members respectively.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been an important body over the
past several years, and as a result, it has been given the power to regulate
the environment and issue stringent directives on pollution, deforestation,
waste management, and other environmental issues. The following are
some of the most significant capabilities that the National Green Tribunal
possesses:
The NGT offers a quicker, less formal, and less expensive way to
settle various environmental disputes.
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78 It reduces the number of cases about environmental issues that hav e to
go to the highest courts.
It makes it possible for environmental law to change by creating a
different way to settle disputes.
It curbs activities that are harmful to the environment. The NGT
monitors compliance with the Environmental Impact Asses sment
(EIA) protocol to ensure that it is carried out as intended. The NGT
also provides assistance to individuals and companies that have been
harmed as a result of initiatives.
Instructions for submitting either an application or an appeal:
The procedure to follow in order to submit a claim to the NGT for
compensation for harm to the environment or an appeal against an order or
decision made by the government is quite straightforward. The NGT
mostly communicates in the English language. You may get the
application or appeal form that you need to use to submit it with the NGT
on their website.
Every application or appeal that does not entail a demand for
compensation is subject to a cost of one thousand rupees, which must be
paid in advance. If you choose t o file a claim for compensation, the charge
will be equivalent to one percent of the total amount of compensation,
with a minimum payment of one thousand rupees.
It is possible to file a claim for compensation in the event that the
following occurred: the return of damaged property; relief or
compensation for those who have been wounded as a result of pollution or
other damage to the environment, such as accidents involving toxic
chemicals;
The NGT will determine the best course of action to take in order t o
improve the environment in these regions.
If a claim for compensation, relief, or the return of property or the
environment is not submitted within five years of the date on which the
need for compensation or relief was identified for the first time, it will not
be taken into consideration.
When it came to environmental protection, the Central Government of
India performed a commendable job when it established the National
Green Tribunal (NGT).
8.4 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN INDIA
Environmental education places a primary emphasis on those aspects of a
person's behaviour that are more directly related to the manner in which
that person interacts with the biophysical environment and the degree to
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79 One of the most r eadily apparent challenges that the globe is confronting
at the moment is pollution. The overexploitation of nature by humans has
a negative impact on the natural world. It is imperative that people are
made aware as soon as possible that the state of the environment is
deteriorating. People's increased awareness and participation might lead to
positive changes and improvements in the environment.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) asserts that "environmental educ ation is a tool to carry out the
aims of environmental conservation." It is not its own distinct area of
science; rather, it is a topic of study that many individuals devote their
entire careers to learning about. It implies utilising education as a tool for
development in order to make people's lives better as well as using
education as a tool to preserve and enhance the surrounding environment.
Evolution:
In 1970, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
gave formal recognition to t he field of environmental education.The
Tbilisi Declaration on Environmental Education was drafted all the way
back in 1977. The primary objective was to increase people's awareness,
knowledge, attitudes, skills, and desire to assist in the protection and
improvement of the natural environment.The highest court in India issued
a directive to the country's government in 1991 ordering that instruction
on environmental issues be made mandatory at all educational levels. In
the school year 2004 -2005, the govern ment mandated that students get
environmental education as part of their regular coursework.
Objectives:
The following is a list of the goals that environmental education aims to
achieve:
1. Raising Awareness: This refers to assisting social groups and peopl e
in gaining knowledge about pollution and the harm it causes to the
environment.
2. Knowledge: To assist individuals and organisations in acquiring
information about the environment that extends beyond their local
surroundings, including information about t he environment in distant
locations.
3. Attitudes: To assist individuals and communities in the formation of a
code of ethics pertaining to the preservation of the natural world.
4. Skill Acquisition and Capacity Building: To assist people and social
groups in acquiring the knowledge and abilities necessary to
differentiate between different items based on their appearance, size,
sound, touch, behaviours, and habitats. In addition, to acquire the skills
necessary to draw objective inferences and conclusions.
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80 5. Participation: providing individuals and other social groups with the
opportunity to take part in the decision -making process about the
environment at all different levels.
There are four components that go into the process of making a decision:
a. the diff erent types of environmental issues on which decisions might be
made; b. the physical setting of the potential environmental decision,
including its size; c. the different types of social groups and individuals
who might interact in a process leading up to an environmental decision;
and d. the time frame within which the decision must be made.
Aims of Environmental Education:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) has outlined a number of objectives that should be a chieved
through environmental education, including the following:
The purpose of environmental education is to demonstrate how the
economic, social, political, and ecological systems of the contemporary
world are all intertwined with one another, as well a s how the choices
and actions of one nation can have repercussions for other nations.
Education on the environment should thus assist nations and regions in
cultivating a feeling of responsibility and solidarity as the foundation
for a new international o rder that will protect and improve the
environment.
The primary objective of environmental education on a local scale is to
assist individuals and communities in comprehending the intricacy of
the interplay between the natural and built environments.
Additionally, to gain the information, beliefs, attitudes, and hands -on
skills necessary to anticipate and address societal issues, as well as to
maintain the quality of the environment in a way that is both
responsible and successful.
Therefore, the process es necessary for environmental education are as
follows: making people aware of the environment, teaching them about
it, changing their attitudes so that they wish to protect it, assessing
environmental measures, and increasing their skills and talents in this
area.
According to Meadows, environmental educators on every continent
come up with materials and approaches that are just as diverse as the
various cultures and ecosystems that may be found across the world.
He provides a rundown of some of the most fundamental concepts upon
which all environmental education is founded. Consider the following:
levels of being, complex systems, population increase and carrying
capacity, environmentally sustainable development, socially sustainable
development, knowled ge, uncertainty, and sacredness. These are topics
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81 The following are some of the underlying ideas that underpin
environmental education:
1. Principles Regarding Resources -
In order to achieve growth that is genuinely sustainable, we will need to
plan how we will use resources over an extended period of time. The
utilisation of a source that is capable of being resupplied is an astute
strategy for conserving resources and making optimal use of those
resources. Unstable is a way of life tha t relies heavily on nonrenewable
energy sources that are in the process of being depleted at an alarming
rate, such as fossil fuel.
2. Principles Regarding Soil -
It is essential for the continuation of human civilization and habitation that
soils be pres erved and that farming be able to continue for an extended
period of time. It is necessary to put a halt to soil erosion since it results in
the loss of resources that cannot be replaced.
The maintenance of a healthy soil and the maintenance of a natural
equilibrium in the environment both need the presence of a grass cover or
a forest cover. They also constitute natural resources that may be put to
productive use.
3. The Principles of Wildlife Protection -
Wildlife populations are significant for a variet y of reasons, including
their aesthetic value, their ecological significance, and their economic
value.
The maintenance of healthy habitats for endangered animals is one way
that nature preserves and other protected wild areas contribute to the
conservatio n of those animals.
Because people and animals depend on the same mechanisms to maintain
their lives, our existence is intricately connected to that of other species.
4. The four guiding principles of environmental management are as
follows –
Good environm ental management is beneficial to both people and the
environment. The administration of natural resources ought to be
rationalised in some way. The elimination of trash can be accomplished by
activities such as recycling and the production of renewable en ergy. The
activities and technologies of humans have a significant influence on
nature and have the potential to alter the capacity of the natural world to
sustain life, including human life.
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82 5. Other Principles -
Culture is the connecting link between ind ividuals and the world in which
they live. It is essential to ensure the safety of our cultural, historical, and
architectural legacy.
8.5 SUMMARY
The Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY) was initiated by Prime
Minister NarendraModi in the year 2016 with the objective to provide
eight crorewomen with access to LPG by March of 2020 at the latest. The
National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on October 18, 2010, as a
specialised organisation to address environmental disputes that entail
concerns from a vari ety of different disciplines. Environmental education
places a primary emphasis on those aspects of a person's behaviour that
are more directly related to the manner in which that person interacts with
the biophysical environment and the degree to which tha t relationship may
be comprehended.
8.6 QUESTIONS
1. Write in detail about Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY).
2. Elaborate the National Green Tribunal.
3. Explain the Environmental Education in India.
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Question Paper Pattern (For IDOL Students Only)
TYB A SE M V I (Economics) – for all Six papers
Time: Three Hours Total Marks: 100 Marks
Please Check whether you have got the right question paper.
N.B. 1) All questions are compulsory. Attempt Sub question (A) or (B) of Question no. 5
2) Figures to the right indicate marks.
3) Draw neat diagrams wherever necessary.
Q1. Answer any TWO questions of the following. 2 0
a.
b.
c.
Q2. Answer any TWO questions of the following. 2 0
a.
b.
c.
Q3. Answer any TWO questions of the following. 2 0
a.
b.
c.
Q4. Answer any TWO questions of the following. 2 0
a.
b.
c.
Q5. (A) Write short notes on any TWO of the following. 20
a.
b.
c.
d.
OR
(B) Multiple choice questions, select an appropriate option (20 MCQs) 20
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