Introduction to Environmental Science Interrelatedness, Issues, and Ethics.
Introduction to Environmental Issues
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Transcript of Introduction to Environmental Issues
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Prepared for class discussionBy
Prof. S.Suryanaraynan.
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} Right to clean environment Understanding the issues and taking responsibility
} Sustainable development
The rate of consumption or use of natural resources should approximate the rate at whichthese resources can be replaced or substituted.
Addresses the principle of justice and equity between people of various regions and also
intergenerational inequities.
Maintains optimum balance among three subsystems economic, social and environmental.
Protection of environment and avoiding/ minimising depletion of natural resources.
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} Sustainable development is"development that meets theneeds of the present withoutcompromising the ability offuture generations to meettheir own needs.". WorldCommission on Environmentand Development (BrundtlandCommission) 1987
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} Population and its implication Impact on environment (I)= P opulation * A ffluence( consumption ) * T echnology coefficient
} Limits to growth Understanding earth s carrying capacity.
Can we limit growth? Principle of sufficiency- this much and not beyond.
} Economy GDP is indicator of economic performance of a nation
Economic growth conflicts with environmental concerns
} Poverty Poor people directly depend on natural resources.
Solutions to environmental issues should consider access to natural resources by poor.
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} Human settlement issues Providing shelter to all Provide water and manage sewage and solid waste. Promote sustainable land use management.
} Land resources
Land is finite resource Management of land as a physical entity and natural resources .
} Forests, mountains and biodiversity Sustainable forest development; critical in climate balance Presence, absence or richness of plant and animal species affect biological wealth.
} Agriculture To meet challenge of growing population Management of agriculture land from encroachment Use of fertiliser and pesticides have environmental implication
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} Water For human consumption, for plant growth
Preservation of water bodies and elimination of contamination
} Ocean Protection of marine lives and resources from erosion, sewage, oil spillage etc.
} Village and community development Protection of grazing land, ponds, streams, forests etc.
Access to natural resources by village community.
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} Non renewable resources of energy Fossil fuels oil, coal and natural gas. Limited and getting depleted. Oil is the major source of energy today and abundant reserves in middle east countries,
particularly Saudi Arabia.( OPEC ).
} Renewable resources of energy Solar, wind, biomass and hydropower and firewood Solar and wind power have great potential technology, scale and viability are issues now. Hydropower depends on rains and have impact on resettlement of local inhabitants.
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} List of issues} Climate change Global warming Global dimming Fossil fuels Sea level rise
Greenhouse gas Ocean acidification Shutdown of thermohaline circulation Environmental impact of the coal industry Urban Heat Islands
} Conservation Species extinction Pollinator decline Coral bleaching Holoceneextinction Invasive species Poaching Endangered species
} Energy Energy conservation Renewable energy Efficient energy use Renewableenergy commercialization Environmental impact of the coal industry Environmentalimpact of hydraulic fracturing
} Environnemental dgradation Eutrophication Habitat destruction Invasive species} Environmental health Air quality Asthma Environmental impact of the coal industry
Electromagnetic fields Electromagnetic radiation and health Indoor air quality Leadpoisoning Sick Building Syndrome Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing
}
Genetic engineering
Genetic pollution
Genetically modified food controversies} Intensive farming Overgrazing Irrigation Monoculture Environmental effects of
meat production Slash and burn Pesticide drift Plasticulture} Land degradation Land pollution Desertification
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} Soil Soil conservation Soil erosion Soil contamination Soil salination} Land use Urban sprawl Habitat fragmentation Habitat destruction} Nanotechnology Nanotoxicology Nanopollution} Nuclear issues Nuclear fallout Nuclear meltdown Nuclear power Nuclear
weapons Nuclear and radiation accidents Nuclear safety High-levelradioactive waste management
}
Overpopulation
Burial
Water crisis
Overpopulation in companion animals Tragedy of the commons Gender Imbalance in Developing Countries Sub-replacement fertility levels in developed countries
} Ozone depletion CFC Biological effects of UV exposure} Pollution Environmental impact of the coal industry Nonpoint source
pollution Point source pollution Light pollution Noise pollution Visual
pollution} Water pollution Environmental impact of the coal industry Acid rain
Eutrophication Marine pollution Ocean dumping Oil spills Thermalpollution Urban runoff Water crisis Marine debris Microplastics Oceanacidification Ship pollution Wastewater Fish kill Algal bloom Mercury
} in fish Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing
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} Air pollution Environmental impact of the coal industry Smog Tropospheric ozone Indoor air quality Volatile organic compound Atmospheric particulate matter Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing
} Reservoirs Environmental impacts of reservoirs} Resource depletion Exploitation of natural resources Overdrafting} Consumerism Consumer capitalism Planned obsolescence Over-consumption
} Fishing
Blast fishing
Bottom trawling
Cyanide fishing
Ghost nets
Illegal, unreportedand unregulated fishing Overfishing Shark finning Whaling
} Logging Clearcutting Deforestation Illegal logging} Mining Acid mine drainage Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing Mountaintop
removal mining Slurry impoundments} Toxins Chlorofluorocarbons DDT Endocrine disruptors Dioxin Toxic heavy metals
Environmental impact of the coal industry Herbicides Pesticides Toxic waste PCB Bioaccumulation Biomagnification Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing
} Waste Electronic waste Litter Waste disposal incidents Marine debris Medicalwaste Landfill Leachate Environmental impact of the coal industry Incineration GreatPacific Garbage Patch Exporting of hazardous waste Environmental impact of hydraulicfracturing
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1. Forest degradation2. Population3. Glaciers melting in Himalayas4. Sunderbans threatened by Global Warming.5. Coral reefs under threat.6. Water scarcity.7. River pollution8. Illegal Mining.9. High dependency on coal for energy.10. Endangered species
Source: Widescreen: World Environment Day: Dangers India facesYahoo! India News Fri 3 Jun, 2011
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Deforestation continues to be a big issue in India. It may haveadded to forest cover in the past decade, but a large percentage ofthe addition is degraded forest cover.
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From 1.21 billion currently, India's population is estimated to overtake China'spopulation of 1.34 billion sometime between 2025 and 2050. Having between 16-18 per cent of the world's population on 2.4 per cent of world's total area putsimmense pressure on its natural resources. The problem is with the demographics;already having one of the youngest populations in the world, the average Indian isexpected to become younger. This, in turn, will lead to an increase in thepopulation because of an increase in the childbearing age. Expect severe watershortages, soil degradation and erosion, deforestation, air, noise and water
pollution.
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While The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) hasadmitted that it made a blunder when it said that the glaciers in theHimalayas will melt completely by 2035, there is no denying the factthat they the glaciers have melted over the past few decades and willcontinue to melt. These glaciers feed most of India's rivers and are themain source of fresh water supply for domestic use, agriculture andpower generation.
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The largest mangrove forest in the world is home to approximately425 species of wildlife, including 300 species of birds and 42 speciesof mammals, including the Royal Bengal Tiger continues to be underthreat. Not to mention the thousands of people who depend on theSunderbans for their livelihood.
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India's island paradises might experience the horrors of hell in thenear future. The coral reefs that protect the ocean's ecosystem havebeen steadily eroding over the years due to global warming. Withthe corals depleting, the marine life and the livelihoods of manypeople is under serious threat.
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One of the biggest environmental issues that India is facingis scarcity of water. Many experts feel the current demand ofan estimated 829 billion cubic yards of water will double by2050, and exceed the 1.4 trillion cubic yards that India hasat its disposal.
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Approximately, more than 400 million people live along theGanges River and about 2,000,000 persons ritually bathe daily inthe river, they are putting themselves at risk. It is filled withchemical wastes, sewage and even the remains of human andanimal corpses that carry major health risk.
Various efforts to clean the river like the Ganga Action Plan have
failed in spite of spending over Rs 900 crore.
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}
Illegal mining has forced tribals and villagers outof their traditional habitats; this has causedanger and resentment, helping fuel inIllegalmining has forced tribals and villagers out oftheir traditional habitats; this has caused angerand resentment, helping fuel insurgencies and
uprisings.
} Illegal mining has forced tribals and villagers out of theirtraditional habitats; this has caused anger and resentment,helping fuel insurgencies and uprisings.
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India has a huge dependence on coal for meeting its energyrequirements and this is not about to change even as it throwsother non-conventional means like nuclear and solar into themix. The high costs of clean energy will mean that its use of coalfor generating power will continue for the next two decades.
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The tiger population has been going up with anincreased effort to protect it; also the awarenesscreated by the media about the threat to itssurvival has made the government clamp downpoaching and sale of its parts
Out of the estimated 8,000 thatremain, 1,500 are in India, verylittle is know about them. They livemostly on the tree-tops andseldom descend to the ground.
} The endangered Bengal tiger:
Getting a fresh lease of life
} The golden Langur: Considered
sacred by many, the primate isone of the most endangeredspecies in India
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} Reference books:1. Environmental management by N K Uberoi. ( chapter 1 and 2 )
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