Unit 4 d) Environment and Development

Human Development and Environmental concerns

Earth’s Atmosphere
• Environment is the sum total of
what is around something or
someone.
• It includes living things and
natural forces.
• There is a constant interaction
among plants, animals, soil, water,
temperature, light and other
living and non-living things.
Above 400 KM - EXOSPHERE
50- 400 Km- THERMOSPHERE
30-50 Km- MESOSPHERE
10-30 KM- STRATOSPHERE
0-10 KM- TROPOSPHERE
EARTH

 Environment means the surroundings or conditions of life, may be social,
political, economic, cultural, natural etc.
 Natural resources are used with other man made resources in order to
produce goods in agriculture, industry or other spheres of economic
activity.
 With continuous use of these natural resources some get depleted, some
may get degraded (lose their quality) or some may get polluted, as such
on account of these, the future generation will not get enough of such
resources for their use and that will adversely affect their output,
income, and living standards.
 Therefore, we should preserve environment by minimizing harm to it

Scope of environment consists of four segments as under:
1. Atmosphere:
The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases, surrounding
the earth:
• It sustains life on the earth.
• It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.
• It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major
portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
• It transmits only ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to
2500nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40m) while filtering out tissue-
damaging ultraviolet waves below 300 nm. The atmosphere is
composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Besides, argon, carbon dioxide, and
trace gases.

2. Hydrosphere:
The Hydrosphere comprises of all types of water
resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir,
polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.
• Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the
oceans,
• About 2% of the water resources are locked in the
polar icecaps and glaciers.
• Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-
rivers, lakes streams, and ground water fit to be used for
human consumption and other uses.

3. Lithosphere:
Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It
consists of minerals occurring in the earth’s crust
and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air
and water.
4. Biosphere:
Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms
and their interactions with environment, viz
atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

Environment and Development
• Growth is essential for Development- trickledown argument
• Dangers of industrialisation were exposed by Carson (1960) ‘Silent
Spring’. Carson expressed her fear about a silent spring due to the
death of Birds being exposed to DDT.
• Boulding (1966), using the metaphor of Spaceship Earth, highlighted
the biophysical limits to economic growth and discussed the change
in orientation required to achieve a sustainable economy.
• Hardin (1968) introduced the word ‘Commons’ for the natural
resources.

• First United Nations conference on Human Environment
opened at Stockholm in June, 1972.
• “Limits to Growth” (1972) Club of Rome- D.H. Meadows & R.
Randers. They predicted the collapse of the world economic
system in the middle of 21st Century and forecasted a halt on
economic growth due to the scarcity of resources.
• Many economists such as Backerman1972 and Nordhaus
1973, rejected the concept of Limits to growth and criticised it
for extrapolating past trends without considering how
technical progress and change in relative prices can overcome
the scarcity limits.
• McNamara (1970)highlighted the aspects such as nutrition,
employment, equitable distribution of income and quality of
life besides growth in output. Streeten, Mahbub ul Haq
advocated basic minimum needs approach.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The term Sustainable Development first came into prominence in the World
Conservation Strategy, presented in 1980 by the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
“Sustainable seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present without
compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.”
It embodies three key concepts:
• Needs of the present and future in particular the essential needs
of the world’s poor to which overriding priority should be given.
• This process emphasize on “intergenerational equity” i.e. equity
within and between generations.
• Limitations imposed by state of technology and social
organisation the environment’s ability to meet present and future
needs.

The production process may involve:
(i) Use of some resources which are non-renewable.
(ii) Use of resources which may be renewable but whose supplies
can not be replenished at the rate at which their depletion takes
place.
(iii)Use of technology that pollutes atmosphere and water bodies.
(iv)In the race of development, output is sought to be increased
through rapid depletion of resources under unhealthy
environmental conditions by the present generation and handing
down less to the future generations.
(v) The rate of development which cannot be sustained at present
rate is called“unsustainable development”.

Principles for Sustainable Development
• Revive Growth
• Change the Quality of Growth
• Conserve and Enhance the Resource Base
• Ensure A Sustainable Level of Population
• Reorient Technology and Manage Risks
• Integrate Environment and Economics
• Reform International Economic Relations
• Strengthen International Economic Cooperation.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
The rapid Industrialization in past years, rising income, higher
consumption levels of the people and rapidly increasing population in
the under-developed countries have created a huge burden on
environment, this has lead to environmental crisis in the form of
depletion of ground water resources, dried river, barren lands,
polluted atmosphere, etc.
Reasons for such crisis are:-
1. SUPPLY-DEMAND REVERSAL OF ENVIRONMENT:
Earlier supply of environmental resources was in excess to their
demand and so there was no crisis. But now the situation has
changed, supply has fallen short of demand. This situation of demand
exceeding supply is called supply demand reversal, which is the main
cause of environmental crisis.

2. Opportunity cost of negative environmental impact:
Limited natural resources- once exhaust impose a huge burden on the system. All
these financial expenditure are the opportunity costs of the negative environmental
impact of past and present industrial development strategy.
3. POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENT:
Poor people with not much access to other resources, directly depend on the
exploitation of natural resources such as forest produce, wood cutting, etc.
4. GROWTH VS ENVIRONMENT:
Improving in the economic status of people(poor), will result in less damage to
environment. However, it is not easy to bring rapid economic growth while keeping
environmental degradation at a minimum level.
5. THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT:
With the growing world population and rising global income and consumption levels,
global environmental degradation is bound to worsen at a rapid pace.

6. GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
Global warming refers to a slow but steady rise in the average temperature of
earth’s surface
It is mostly associated with the release of excessive amounts of greenhouse gases
(GHG), these include CO2, CH4, water vapour, etc. These gases act as a greenhouse
around the earth.
Consequences of Global Warming:
Change in the water cycle- less rain fall
Rise in sea levels (0.5mm/yr)
Changes in profile of species and forests
Changes in productivity and crop output
Spread of diseases and epidemics
7. Transport Development:
Development of transport system based on intensive use of petroleum products has immensely
increased air pollution.
8. Agricultural Development:
Increase in farm activities have also effected environment, by causing soil erosion, land salinization
and loss of fertility. High use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers have affected environment.

RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
1. MITIGATION:
Reducing the amount or extent of future climate change is called
mitigation of climate change. It involves those activities that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and increasing use of renewable energy. In
1997, the Kyoto protocol was adopted.
2. ADAPTATION:
Since a substantial adverse change in climate appears to unavoidable,
the process of adaptation to climate change must have priority. These
are the measures that have to be taken, given the very high likelihood
that climate change will occur and will have adverse effects.

STATE OF ENVIRONMENT IN INDIA:
•Land and soil degradation
•Air pollution
•Deforestation
•Atmospheric pollution
•Water pollution
•Solid wastes

MEASURES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
1. Proper Resource Pricing:
2. People’s Participation-
3. Poverty Alleviation:
4. Reduction in Pollution Levels:
5. Raising the Economic Status of Women:
6. Thus environment has to be conserved, protected and improved
stock of natural assets remains constant and rises over time.
Government must incorporate Environmental accounting into its policy
decisions

Need for Environmental Accounting
Environmental accounting means giving due consideration to
environmental costs while formulating programmes and projects for
economic development. It helps to know whether the industry has been
discharging its responsibilities towards environment or not. Basically an
industry has to fulfil the following responsibilities:
a) Meeting regulatory requirements or exceeding that expectation
b) Cleaning up pollution that already exists and properly disposing of
hazardous material
c) Disclosing to the investors both potential and current the amount
and nature of the preventive measures taken by the management.

MEASURES FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
1. Use of Non-Conventional Energy Sources:
To minimize pollution, the conventional sources of energy should
be replaced by non-polluting renewable energy sources like solar
power, wind energy, etc.
2. Organic Farming: The organic farming method that use
compost manure and bio-pest control should be encouraged as it
is eco friendly. They in fact help in improving the soil quality.
3. Setting up Wind Power Projects:
In the areas where wind flow is substantially higher, wind
turbines should be set-up to generate electricity, and mini- hydro
projects should be produced.

4. Use of Solar Power:
Solar energy has now emerged as a good means of meeting energy
requirements and it is a very good alternative to supplement traditional
power sources.
5. Imposing Fee on Use of Natural Resources: The proposal to tax on
use of ground water in Delhi is one such step. It will prevent
overexploitation of these resources.
6. Replenishment of Natural Resources: Efforts at afforestation and
harvesting of rain water for raising water level are the steps that can be
taken.
7. Reduction in Pollution Levels:
• Pollution levels with in the safe limits and standards.
• Moving out of polluting industries from mega cities.
• Cleaner fuels to be introduced, Vehicular emission norms to be raised.
• Use of Clean technologies to be promoted.

Unit 4 d) Environment and Development

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Unit 4 d) Environment and Development