Current environmental challenges and corresponding solution
- 1. Current Environmental Challenges and Corresponding solution Presented by :- Sourabh Tailor
- 2. Is the country's economic growth environmentally sustainable? • Global population swelling and industrialization on the rise in developing nations. • Humanity’s hunger for energy has reached unprecedented levels • There are issues around who builds that and who pays for that. • Energy has both positive and negative impacts on societies • How will we meet this growing demand without dooming our ice caps? 2
- 3. Energy and environment Challenges • Climate change • Pollution • Deforestation • Water scarcity or Hydric stress • Loss of bio diversity • Lack of political will to enforce environmental regulations 3
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- 5. Climate change • The main cause for the climate change is GHG(Green house Gas emission). • The causes of climate change are mostly owing to the large amounts of fossil and coal based energy production, which also release toxics emissions like mercury, sulphur dioxide and other deadly chemicals. • Petroleum based vehicles and Coal based power plants are major sources for emissions. 5
- 6. Impact of climate change • Climate change is impacting the natural ecosystems and is expected to have substantial adverse effects in India mainly on agriculture. • Perhaps more extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires, heat waves and flooding. • Unusual and unprecedented spells of hot weather. • Falling ground water table levels. 6
- 7. Solution for climate change • The National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) is released in 2008 for the climate change . • Policies and program aimed to addressing adaption and mitigation in the face of expected climate change. • Certified home energy audits. 7
- 8. National Action Plan for Climate Change (2008) • Increase the use of clean coal technology:- • Increasing clean and renewable power in India’s power mix. • Lowering the electricity consumption and appliances. Govt. initiated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE). , including the Bachat Lamp Yojana to promote compact fluorescent lighting. • Increase fuel efficiency in road transport. • Increase energy efficiency in steel plant • Expanding the forest cover. 8
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- 10. Environmental Pollution • Environmental pollution consists of six basic types of pollution, i.e Air, Water, Land, Soil, Noise, And Light. 10 The environment will continue to deteriorate until pollution practices are abandoned. ~ B. F. Skinner Pollution is the contamination of the environment by introduction of contaminants that can cause damage to environment and harm or discomfort to humans or other living species.
- 11. Environmental Pollution • Air polluting and climate change are closely linked, as the same greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet are also creating smoggy conditions in major cities that endanger public health. • Indian cities are overflowing with urban waste, both toxic as well as household, their rivers are polluted with sewage and industrial effluents, and there are several reports which show the contamination of fresh vegetables by heavy metals from dirty irrigation water. • According to the Natural Resources Defence Council, dirty water is the world’s biggest health risk. • Soil contamination is a major issue across the world. • Soil pollution threatens food security and poses health risks to the local population. 11
- 12. 12 Causes & Effects of Environmental Pollution Pollution from cars, trucks, and other vehicles Fossil fuel emissions from power plants Water pollution is a major issue. Ozone layer around the Earth has become depleted Electromagnetic radiation Clear cutting of forests. Pollen has increased Radioactive waste Global temperature has risen Waste Disposal
- 13. Impact of Environmental Pollution • "Environmental pollution, degradation of natural resources, inadequate environmental services, such as – poor quality water supply, – lack of sanitation, • Impose severe costs to society in the form of ill health, lost income, and increased poverty and vulnerability. • A significant portion of such diseases affects children younger than five years of age, attributing 22 percent of child mortality in the country to environmental degradation. 13
- 14. Solutions to Environmental Pollution 14 Electric and hybrid vehicles and public transportation systems Ecologically friendly power technologies being built every day Solar power is a fantastic solution Wind power is coming into play Electromagnetic radiation (ER) reduction. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA is measuring air pollution and implementing regulatory procedures for vehicle emissions They also monitor pollen issues and, with the help of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), they implement solutions to reduce pollen in the air.
- 15. Solution of Environmental Pollution • India's environmental protection thrust started as early as 1972, by Prime Minister Indra Gandhi addressed the first United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm. • This commitment soon translated into the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, under which an empowered regulatory infrastructure was set up. • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act followed in 1981. • The environment really escalated after 1990, when India liberalized its economy, moving from a socialist to a market based one. • The first time in 2006, a comprehensive National Environmental Policy was formulated, largely to try and balance development and environmental protection needs. • In 2010/11 there was an attempt by the then Minister of the Environment Jairam Ramesh to initiate an institutionally independent regulator. 15
- 16. • India is a rare country where the judiciary has played a stellar role in protecting the environment, going to the extent of reading environmental pollution as amounting to a violation of Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution of India. • A National Green Tribunal with five specially empowered environmental courts have been set up in different parts of the country. • India's ability to manage emissions and wastes from industry, vehicles, specific sectors like hospitals, and households. • Pollution from here contaminates water systems, rivers, and ground sites like landfills, industrial areas, and the air. • This is the main task of the State level regulatory bodies. • The ineffectiveness of these regulators, the mismanagement of funds earmarked for these purposes, both from underuse and incorrect reporting and the diversion of funds has added to the dismal situation. 16 Solution of Environmental Pollution
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- 18. Deforestation • Forests are important to mitigating climate change because they serve as “carbon sinks”. • Cutting down trees also threatens animals and humans who rely on healthy forests to sustain themselves, and the loss of tropical rainforests is particularly concerning because around 80 percent of the world’s species reside in these areas. • About 17 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down in the past 50 years to make way for cattle ranching. 18
- 19. Solution of Deforestation • Intensification of forest management and creation of compensatory plantations of fast-growing species that can provide an alternative to continued exploitation of natural forests • A vigorous forest-conservation policy that will set aside substantial areas of the remaining tropical forests as ecological reserves to be protected from all forms of encroachment. • The National Forest Policy, released in 1989, aspires to bring 33% of India under forest cover. • Other programs for enhancing cover include the National Forest Action Plan and Joint Afforestation Program. 19
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- 21. Loss of bio diversity • Increasing human encroachment on wildlife habitats is causing a rapid loss of biodiversity that threatens food security, population health and world stability. • Climate change is also a major contributor to biodiversity loss, as some species aren’t able to adapt to changing temperatures. • According to the World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Index, biodiversity has declined 27 percent in the last 35 years. 21
- 22. Solution of Loss of bio diversity • The Central Government has enacted the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. • Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 have been framed for the protection of wetlands, in the States. • The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-System main objective is holistic conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands. • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been established for control of illegal trade in wildlife, including endangered species. • The Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats‘. 22
- 23. Acts and Policies S.No Energy and environment Challenges Acts and Policies 1. Climate change 1. National Action Plan for Climate Change (2008) 2. Environmental pollution 1. National Environmental Policy 2. Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 3. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 3. Deforestation 1. Indian Forests Act 1927 2. Forest Conservation Act 1980 3. Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (recognition of rights) act 2006 4. National Forest policy 4. Bio Diversity 1. National Environment Policy (2006). 2. National Biodiversity Action Plan (2009). 23
- 24. The question is Is this all enough? 24
- 25. Lack of political will to enforce environmental regulations • One of the main reasons for this is that the there is no independent regulatory body for environmental governance. • Mainly due to the absence of political will and public awareness. • Most of our environmental laws are human-centric. • There is lack of independence given to the central and the state boards who still have to depend on the state and the central government for the appointment. • There is also a lack of funds to the Pollution Control Boards and they don’t even have proper infrastructure or laboratories. 25
- 26. References 1. Milind Kandlikar , Ambuj Sagar ; Climate change research and analysis in India: an integrated assessment of a South–North divide ; july 1999 2. Yogesh Chandra Tripathi ; Some Important Environmental Problems in India and Their Remedies; January 2003 3. Ramakrishna B. M , Jayasheela ; Environmental Problems and Sustainable Development: With Special Reference to India Issues and Challenges ; April 2010 4. https://inhabitat.com/top-6-environmental-issues-for-earth-day-and-what- you-can-do-to-solve-them/ 5. http://toxicslink.org/?q=article/indias-pollution-challenges 6. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy 26
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Editor's Notes
- #3: The world’s scientists agree that we are on a path towards disaster that can only be stopped by weaning ourselves off our fossil fuel habit. But that leaves us with a problem. How do we ensure the lights stay on? In May 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) ranked the Indian capital Delhi in a report as the most pAccording to the Central Pollution Control Board, the country's nodal regulator, Indian cities routinely exceed the norm for PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns), which is one of the key measures for air quality. olluted city in the world in terms of air pollution, even above China's capital Beijing
- #6: 60 percent of the population still depends on rain fed agriculture for livelihood, which contributed over 19 percent of the total GDP in the year 2004/05 (April to March). Water storage in the Himalayan glaciers is the source of major rivers and groundwater recharge and uncertainty in water flows owing to climate change will have deep impacts. The use of local firewood and fodder for cooking by 80 percent of rural India and the practice of burning harvested crops on the fields to avoid clearing them before planting new crops, also releases high amounts of carbon. over 400 million people having no access to electricity and coal continues to be touted as the most cost effective solution to the problem
- #9: The NAPCC recommended to coal based power plant to use super critical boiler and in future use ultasuper critical boiler Current policy drafts of the National solar mission suggest increasing solar power to 10GW by 2020. Nuclear capacity would increase to 20GW by 2020 The star labeling program to increase self-selection to high efficiency appliances. The Petroleum Conservation Research Association(PCRA) and BEE are launched voluntary labeling of car in 2009. The national forest policy released in 1989, aspires to bring 33% of india under forest cover.
- #12: The use of pesticides and fertilizers are also major factors in soil pollution.
- #16: However, it was the worst ever industrial accident in Bhopal in 1984, which triggered the passing of the overarching Environmental Protection Act (1986). The industrial accident had resulted in the reported loss of over 20,000 lives through the release of lethal gas from a pesticide factory run by American company Union Carbide (today Dow Chemical). The subsequent increase in industrial activity was beyond the capacity of the environmental regulatory infrastructure to manage and this led to the many citizens filing cases in the Courts against the pollution and its impacts on health. Many new industrial projects were stalled as a result. The system had come under a severe strain, which continues to this day. Also political interference and the lack of independence of the regulator made it virtually ineffective.
- #17: A National Green Tribunal with five specially empowered environmental courts have been set up in different parts of the country to settle the massive number of cases which have been brought up in regular courts, including in the Supreme Court of India. nadequate capacity to regulate the thousands of sources of pollution present as well as a lack of human and technological infrastructure for monitoring and control are additional factors for the failures. For example even though air quality in twelve cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai is being monitored in real time and data on twenty four others is being collected by the Central Pollution Control Board, (externer Link zu Werten: http://www.cpcb.gov.in/CAAQM/mapPage/frmindiamap.aspx) …yet deadly pollutants like PM 2.5 (particulate matter of 2.5 micron, which is highly respirable and the cause of ill health), is being measured only in a few monitoring stations, while lead or benzene (a carcinogenic pollutant) levels are not regularly checked.
- #19: “carbon sinks” meaning that they absorb CO2 that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere and worsen global warming. It is estimated that 15 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. That’s a double whammy for the climate because cattle flatulence is a major source of methane gas, which contributes more to short term climate change than carbon emissions.
- #23: https://www.clearias.com/biodiversity-protection-steps-taken-by-indian-government/ Which prohibit a range of activities in wetland like setting up and expansion of industries , waste dumping and discharge of effluents. The Act, inter alia, provides for the creation of Protected Areas for the protection of wildlife and also provides for punishment for hunting of specified fauna specified in the schedules I to IV thereof. a new component namely ‘Recovery of Endangered Species‘.
- #26: It is looked after the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Due to excessive interference by government on the governance of the Ministry, there is poor implementation of environmental law. primarily focussing on the protection of humans and benefit them and not explicitly meant for the protection of the environment in which humans live.