EVS ASSIGNMENT

❑ VIVEK GUPTA AND MRIDUL YADAV (FIRST YEAR)

❑ B.A(H) POLITICAL SCIENCE (KIRORIMAL COLLEGE)
❑ ROLL NO: 23171112/2317125
❑ CONTENTS TO BE COVERED

Introduction To Environmental Studies

❑ Components of Environment
❑ Environmental Education
❑ Difference between Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
❑ Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
❑ Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies
❑ Important landmarks in Environmentalism
❑ Concept of Sustainability and Sustainable Development
 ENVIRONMENT
❖ The term Environment is derived from French word ‘Environ’ which literally means ‘surrounding’.
Anything and everything which surrounds us i.e. all living beings or biotic components (microbes,
plants and animals) and non-living or abiotic components (air, water, sunlight etc.) present in the
nature, form the environment.

❖ Environment is thus defined as “the sum total of water, air and land and the inter-relationships
that exist among them and with the human beings, other living organisms and materials.
COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT
Layers of atmosphere and their composition
 Environment Education
❖ The categories of environmental education objectives are:
 Awareness—to help social groups and individuals acquire an awareness and sensitivity to the total
environment and its allied problems.
 Knowledge—to help social groups and individuals gain a variety of experience in, and acquire a
basic understanding of, the environment and its associated problems.
 Attitudes—to help social groups and individuals acquire a set of values and feelings of concern for
the environment and the motivation for actively participating in environmental improvement and
protection.
 Skills—to help social groups and individuals acquire the skills for identifying and solving
environmental problems.
 Participation—to provide social groups and individuals with an opportunity to be actively involved
at all levels in working toward resolution of environmental problems
Environmental Education in India
▪ India also started taking significant steps
to propagate environmental education. At
post-graduation level, the environmental
education was started by many central and
state universities in India during 1985-
2000. In 1991, Hon. Supreme Court of India
gave historical ruling to implement
environmental education at all the levels
and gave directions to make
Environmental Studies a compulsory
paper for all the streams at under-
graduate levels in Indian universities. At
present, various short-term and regular
courses on environment and its various
dimensions are being run in various
universities in India.
 Difference between Environmental Science and
Environmental Studies

 ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE  ENVIRONMENT STUDIES

Environmental studies is It strictly deals with the scientific aspects of
multidisciplinary subject which the environment, its complex problems and
studies about various the tangible solutions whereas Environmental
dimensions (scientific, social, Studies, in addition to the scientific aspects,
cultural, economic, political also deals with the socio-economic, cultural,
etc.) of the environment, its traditional, legislative and historical
issues and challenges and dimensions of the environmental issues.
tangible solutions in a holistic
way. It studies the human-
environment interaction and its
results at micro and macro
level.
Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
 Multidisciplinary means interaction of various subjects or disciplines.
Environmental studies deal with all the aspects of biotic and abiotic
components of the environment.
 Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
 Life Sciences (Zoology and Botany): to assess the biodiversity richness and endemism of the given region and
possible reversible or irreversible changes in the biological diversity of the region by the anthropogenic
activities. An expert from life sciences will also assess the ecosystem goods and services being provided by the
nature in the specific region.
 Earth Sciences (Geology, Geography, Geochemistry etc.): Earth Sciences will study about the details of
geological and geographical terrain, soil/rock profile, tectonic and seismic activity in the region etc.
 Chemical Sciences: it will be helpful in understanding various chemical processes and reactions taking place
in different matrices of the environment. It is also important to understand the fate and effect of pollutants
on air, water, soil.
 Anthropology, History and Archaeology: to assess the historical or archaeological importance of the
monuments, tribal population, traditions or practices in a region or at the site of the construction.
 Social Sciences, Sociology and Economics: to assess the socio-economic stature of the population
and possible changes the same with on-going developmental projects.
 Law and Legal Aspects: expertise from legal background is also required to satisfy different legal
aspects during a developmental project activity (like land acquisition, relocation and
rehabilitation etc.).
 Mathematics, Computer Modelling and Statistics: we need different statistical tools and models
to statistically validate the obtained data from the study. Also, we are using numerous
mathematical and computational models in day-to-day activities like meteorological predictions.
Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies
 Academics: as discussed above, the subject has been introduced in numerous schools, colleges and
universities in India and abroad, at school, under-graduation and postgraduation levels. The student
may pursue the subject. Worldwide, large number of dedicated departments, centers, universities
and institutions have been established for the subject.
 Research & Development: research and post-doctoral works have been going on worldwide to
understand the environmental mechanisms and to get cost-effective cutting-edge technologies to
mitigate environmental issues and challenges.
 Industries: in order to effectively implement the environmental guidelines and technologies and to
mitigate the environmental degradation directly or indirectly caused by the industries, a large
number of industries have been recruiting environmental engineers/scientists/experts.
 Ministries and Agencies: ministry of environment and various environmental agencies & conventions
of national and international repute frequently create vacancies for the environmental experts. Few
of the examples of such agencies are UNEP, IPCC, CITES, RAMSAR, USEPA etc.
 .

 Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Consultancy: a large number of national and

international NGOs and consultancies are working as an extended hand to conserve the environment
and its various components. Most of the NGOs and consultancies are old and have an experienced
workforce. Some of the examples are Bombay Natural History Society, IUCN, Conservation
International, World Wide Fund for Nature, Wildlife Trust of India, Centre for Environmental
Education, Centre for Science and Environment, Kalpavriksha, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust etc.
 Green Journalism: environmental awareness is indispensable for the environmental conservation and
media (print, electronic and social media) is the strongest medium to propagate the awareness.
Green journalism is the term given when media raises the environmental issues and its practical
solutions suggested by the experts of the subject.
 Environmental legislation and Green Advocacy: for an effective environmental conservation, it is
indispensable to have stringent legislative provision and effective implementation of the same. Legal
experts specialized in environmental law may act significantly in environmental conservation
Important landmarks in Environmentalism
 ENVIRONMENTALISM
In 1970, book ‘Limit to Growth’ by the Club of Rome
attracted the global attention. Ramsar Convention
came into existence on 02nd February 1971 with the
aim to conserve wetlands globally. Hence, World
Wetlands Day is observed every year on 02nd
February
India started Project Tiger in 1973 to save is national
animal of India. In between, India and the world
witnessed worst industrial disasters, Bhopal Gas
Tragedy (02nd and 03rd December, 1984) and
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster (26th April, 1986), which
taught many lessons to globe.
The concept of Sustainable Development was
introduced to the world by Brundtland Commission
Report (Our Common Future) in 1987.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
came into the existence in 1989 to formulate the
framework to combat global warming-climate
change. The Agenda 21 was adopted in the Earth
Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1991
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 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 With the onset of 1980s, the world started finding the middle path so that the long-term
economic development may be pursued without harming the environment. With this aim,
the United Nations established World Commission on Environment and Development
(WCED), under the chairmanship of Geo Harlem Brundtland (former Prime Minister of
Norway) in December 1983.
 Hence, this commission is commonly known as the Brundtland Commission. The task of
the commission was to formulate “A global agenda for change”. Brundtland Commission
submitted its report entitled “Our Common Future” in 1987 which gave the concept of
Sustainable Development to the world.
 Report defines Sustainable Development as “development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustainability is a long-term idea that means making the entire world sustainable.
However, sustainable development refers to pathways by which the goal of sustainability
and sustainable world can be achieved.
 SDG’s GOALS
 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): these are the seventeen goals set as the ‘2030
agenda for sustainable development’. It was adopted by the United Nations state members
in 2015 as ‘a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and planet, now and into the
future.’
 Environmental Sustainability: it means that we should consume the environmental goods
and services in a sustainable manner. Mahatma Gandhi, once rightly said “Earth provides
enough to satisfy every man’s need but not everyone’s greed”. The present rate of over-
exploitation of natural resources exceeds manifolds the rate of replenishment of the same,
which is causing environmental degradation at an exponential rate. Therefore, the natural
resources should be utilized sustainably. Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water
and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
 Social Sustainability: it defines a society having fair and equal opportunities for its
population with gender equality, good health and education facilities and people’s
participation in nation building. Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-
Being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 16
(Peace, Justice and strong Institutions) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) indicates social
sustainability.
 .

 Economic Sustainability: economic sustainability means the

equitable distribution of the resources. No one should be deprived of
the basic needs to sustain a healthy life. Benefits should be earned
from the resources but not at the cost of irreversible loss to the
environment.
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