1. What is the environment? Environment components and functions.

The environment is the sum of all external conditions and influences that affect the life,
development, and survival of organisms. It encompasses both living (biotic) and non-living
(abiotic) elements that interact to form ecosystems. As a multidisciplinary field, environmental
studies integrates knowledge from biology, physics, chemistry, geology, sociology, and
economics to understand and manage the natural world and human impact upon it.
The environment can be broken down into four main components: atmosphere (air), hydrosphere
(water), lithosphere (earth), and biosphere (life). The atmosphere regulates climate and supports
life through oxygen and carbon dioxide cycles. The hydrosphere includes all water bodies,
essential for all known forms of life. The lithosphere consists of the Earth’s crust and upper
mantle, providing soil, minerals, and a physical base for life. The biosphere represents all living
organisms, interacting with each other and with the physical environment in complex food webs
and nutrient cycles.
Each component of the environment serves critical functions. These include supporting
life (e.g., oxygen production by plants), regulating natural processes (e.g., the water cycle),
provisioning resources (e.g., food, water, timber), and offering cultural, aesthetic, and
recreational benefits. Furthermore, the environment has a self-regulating capacity—ecosystems
can often restore balance after disturbances, though this capacity is limited by the scale and
intensity of human activities.
Today, human-induced pressures like pollution, deforestation, and overexploitation of
resources have disrupted environmental balance, leading to loss of biodiversity, climate change,
and resource scarcity. Understanding the structure and functions of the environment is essential
for promoting sustainable development—meeting present needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet theirs.
To protect and sustain our environment, it is crucial to raise public awareness, promote
conservation efforts, and apply scientific knowledge responsibly. The environment is not
separate from human life; it is the foundation of it.

2. Describe your knowledge of natural resources and the flow of natural resources in the
economic system.

Natural resources—earth’s endowment of materials and energies—form the very foundation of

every economic system. Broadly speaking, they fall into two categories. Renewable resources,
such as forests, fresh water, fish stocks, solar radiation and wind, regenerate on human
time-scales if managed sustainably; non-renewable resources, including fossil fuels (coal, oil,
natural gas) and mineral ores, accumulate only over geological epochs and, once consumed,
cannot be replenished within any conceivable planning horizon.

An economy can be viewed as a continual process of drawing “low-entropy,” highly ordered

natural inputs from the environment, transforming them into goods and services, and finally
returning “high-entropy” wastes and emissions back into nature. The flow of natural
resources thus proceeds through a series of stages:

a. Extraction and Harvesting

At this stage, economies withdraw raw materials from ecosystems: timber is felled, ore is
mined, water is drawn from aquifers or rivers, oil is pumped from wells, and fish are
caught in harvest operations. Even renewable flows like wind and sunlight require
infrastructure—turbines and solar panels—to capture their energy.
b. Processing and Transformation
Raw inputs are seldom used in their native state. Iron ore must be smelted into steel;
crude oil refined into fuels, plastics or petrochemicals; timber sawn into lumber or
processed into paper. These operations often consume additional energy—frequently
sourced from fossil fuels—and generate by-products such as slag, tailings or chemical
effluents.
c. Production and Manufacturing
Intermediate materials are assembled into capital and consumer goods. Automobiles,
machinery, electronics, and buildings all embody embedded resource content. The
complexity of modern manufacturing can blur the boundary between raw material flows
and the intangible services layered on top.
d. Distribution and Consumption
Finished goods are transported via road, rail, sea, or air to markets around the world.
Households, firms, and governments then consume these goods or utilize services—
driving vehicles, heating and cooling buildings, eating agricultural products—thereby
“using up” the embedded resources.
e. Waste Generation and Emissions
At the end-of-life, many products are discarded. Some are recycled—metals, glass, paper,
and certain plastics can re-enter the production cycle—while others are landfilled or
incinerated, releasing greenhouse gases, chemical pollutants, or microplastics into
ecosystems.
f. Recycling and Regeneration
To close the loop, economic actors reclaim and re-process materials. Effective recycling
reduces pressure on virgin resource stocks, while sustainable forestry, fisheries
management, and groundwater recharge ensure renewable inputs remain available.

3. Describe your knowledge of air pollution (definition, sources, some main pollutants)

Air pollution is the contamination of the lower atmosphere by solid particles, liquid droplets or
gases in concentrations that endanger human health, ecosystems and material integrity. It “occurs
due to the presence of undesirable solid or gaseous particles in the air in quantities that are
harmful to human health and the environment” . Because people inhale roughly 12 kg of air daily
—far more than the food and water they consume—even small increases in airborne pollutants
can have outsized impacts on health and ecology .
In understanding its origins, air pollution can be divided
into natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural events such as volcanic eruptions, dust storms
and wildfires release ash, sulfur gases and particulate matter, but these tend to disperse quickly
and rarely alter atmospheric composition in the long term . In contrast, human activities
dominate most urban and industrial settings. Mobile sources—vehicles, ships and aircraft—emit
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons, while stationary sources such as
power plants, refineries and factories discharge sulfur oxides, suspended particulate matter and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Even indoor environments can become polluted by
combustion appliances, solvents and building materials that release fine particulates, carbon
monoxide and VOCs .

Pollutants fall into two broad categories. Primary pollutants are emitted directly from
identifiable sources; five of these—carbon oxides (CO and CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), sulfur
oxides (SOₓ), VOCs (mostly hydrocarbons) and suspended particulate matter—account for about
90 percent of global air pollution . Secondary pollutants form in the atmosphere through
chemical reactions among primary pollutants, producing harmful compounds such as sulfuric
and nitric acids (components of acid rain) and ground-level ozone.

Among primary pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas from incomplete
combustion—especially vehicle exhaust—and impairs oxygen transport by binding to
hemoglobin . Sulfur oxides arise from burning sulfur-bearing fuels and contribute to respiratory
irritation and acid deposition . Nitrogen oxides also originate in combustion processes and drive
ozone and acid-rain formation . Hydrocarbons (VOCs)evaporate from fuels or escape during
incomplete combustion, playing a central role in photochemical smog . Particulate matter—
ranging from soot and dust to asbestos fibers—penetrates deep into the lungs, exacerbating
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases . Finally, lead, historically emitted by gasoline additives
and certain industries, remains a potent neurotoxin when inhaled .

A clear grasp of these definitions, sources and pollutant types is essential for crafting effective
control strategies—from emission standards and cleaner technologies to urban planning and
public awareness campaigns—thereby safeguarding both human health and the environment.

4. Describe your knowledge of water pollution (definition, sources, some main pollutants)

Water pollution is the degradation of aquatic ecosystems through the introduction of xenobiotic
substances, biological agents or physical alterations that compromise water’s designated uses. It
“occurs when the quality or composition of water changes directly or indirectly as a result of
man’s activities such that it becomes unfit for any purpose” . Because water is the lifeblood of
ecosystems and human societies alike, understanding its pollution pathways is critical for
sustainable management.

Sources of contamination are broadly classified as point and non-point. Point sources discharge
effluents at identifiable locations—municipal sewage outfalls, industrial effluent pipes and
oil-refinery discharges—facilitating targeted treatment but often overwhelming treatment
capacity . Non-point sources are diffuse and episodic: agricultural runoff laden with nitrates and
phosphates, urban stormwater carrying hydrocarbons and heavy metals, and atmospheric
deposition from acid rain . Groundwater pollution occurs when leachate from landfills, poorly
maintained septic systems or leaking underground storage tanks infiltrates aquifers, threatening
potable supplies .

Waterborne pollutants can be grouped into several principal classes. Pathogens—bacteria,

viruses and protozoa from untreated sewage and animal wastes—induce diseases such as cholera
and dysentery . Oxygen-depleting wastes, primarily organic matter from domestic sewage and
food-processing effluents, elevate biological oxygen demand (BOD), driving hypoxia and fish
kills in contaminated waters . Inorganic nutrients such as soluble nitrates and phosphates fuel
eutrophication, triggering algal blooms that disrupt trophic dynamics and further deplete
dissolved oxygen upon decay . Toxic xenobiotics—persistent pesticides (e.g., DDT), heavy
metals (mercury, lead) and industrial solvents—bioaccumulate and biomagnify in food webs,
causing neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption and carcinogenesis . Hydrocarbons and complex
organic chemicals from oil spills, detergents and plastics resist degradation, impair
photosynthesis and poison aquatic fauna . Finally, suspended sediments elevate turbidity,
smother benthic habitats and transport adsorbed pollutants, while thermal discharges from power
plants reduce oxygen solubility and disrupt ectotherm breeding cycles .

Mitigating water pollution requires integrated strategies: advanced effluent treatment, best
management practices in agriculture, constructed wetlands, watershed-scale planning and
stringent regulatory frameworks. Only through such measures can we safeguard water quality,
protect public health, and preserve the integrity of aquatic ecosystems.

5. Describe your knowledge of the ecosystem (definition, structure, types, and causes of
ecosystem degradation). Give an example of a food chain/ food web.

An ecosystem is a dynamic network where living organisms—plants, animals, and

microorganisms—interact with one another and their physical surroundings, such as soil, water,
air, sunlight, and nutrients, creating a cohesive, self-regulating system. Structurally, ecosystems
consist of non-living elements like inorganic substances (e.g., carbon, nitrogen), organic
compounds (e.g., proteins, lipids), and climatic conditions (e.g., temperature, rainfall), alongside
living components. These biotic elements include producers, such as green plants and algae that
convert solar energy into usable forms through photosynthesis; consumers, including herbivores,
carnivores, and omnivores that feed on other organisms; and decomposers, like fungi and
bacteria, which break down dead material to recycle nutrients. Functionally, ecosystems depend
on energy flow, where sunlight is harnessed by producers and passed through food chains across
trophic levels, and on biogeochemical cycles—like those of water, carbon, and nitrogen—that
sustain ecological stability by circulating essential elements. Ecosystems are divided into two
main categories: terrestrial, encompassing biomes such as forests, grasslands, deserts, and
mountains, and aquatic, which includes freshwater habitats (e.g., rivers, lakes) and marine
environments (e.g., oceans, coral reefs). However, human activities severely threaten these
systems. Habitat destruction from deforestation and urban sprawl reduces and fragments natural
spaces, while pollution from industrial, agricultural, and household sources degrades air, water,
and soil quality. Overharvesting resources, such as through excessive fishing or logging,
diminishes species populations, and the introduction of invasive species disrupts native
biodiversity. Additionally, climate change shifts weather patterns, challenging species’ survival
limits. These disturbances can eliminate critical keystone species, causing widespread
disruptions across interdependent ecological networks. A clear example of energy transfer is
seen in a grassland food chain: grass, as a producer, captures sunlight and is eaten by
grasshoppers (primary consumers), which are then consumed by frogs (secondary consumers),
followed by snakes (tertiary consumers), and finally hawks (quaternary consumers), illustrating a
simplified segment of a broader, interconnected food web.

6. What are the effects of global warming? Why climate change is a major concern in
Vietnam?

Global warming, caused by the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane,
results in significant environmental changes. Rising sea levels occur due to the melting of polar
ice caps and glaciers, such as the Arctic ice sheet, threatening coastal regions. Extreme weather
events, including hurricanes, floods, and droughts, become more frequent and intense—e.g., the
2017 Atlantic hurricane season was notably destructive. Ecosystem changes and biodiversity loss
arise as species struggle to adapt, with phenomena like coral reef bleaching due to warmer
oceans. Ocean acidification, from absorbed carbon dioxide, harms marine life like shellfish.
Additionally, health risks increase with heatwaves and the spread of diseases such as malaria in
warmer climates.
Why Climate Change is a Major Concern in Vietnam
Climate change poses a severe threat to Vietnam due to its geography and socio-economic
conditions. With a long coastline and large populations in coastal areas and river deltas, Vietnam
faces risks from rising sea levels and flooding. The Mekong Delta, producing over half of
Vietnam’s rice, is vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, damaging crops and threatening food
security, as agriculture, especially rice farming, drives the economy. Coastal cities like Ho Chi
Minh City are prone to flooding and storm surges, while typhoons frequently devastate
infrastructure ill-equipped to cope. Vietnam’s limited resources hinder adaptation, amplifying
vulnerability.
Despite these challenges, Vietnam is acting by investing in renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind)
and implementing adaptation measures like sea walls and improved irrigation. However, its
dependence on agriculture and exposure to climate impacts make it a critical concern, requiring
international cooperation for effective mitigation.
 7. Greenhouse Effect: nature greenhouse effect, causes (give 5 greenhouse gases), effects

Climate change represents a pressing global emergency that necessitates swift and decisive
action, as its effects are already transforming life on Earth. This crisis stems largely from human
behavior, particularly the widespread use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas to power
industries, transportation, and households. These activities release enormous quantities of carbon
dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere, creating a blanket that traps heat and drives up global
temperatures. Additionally, deforestation—especially in vital ecosystems like the rainforests—
worsens the situation by eliminating trees that naturally sequester CO₂, amplifying the
greenhouse effect. Industrial processes, such as manufacturing concrete or producing chemicals,
further escalate the problem by emitting powerful greenhouse gases like methane (CH₄) and
nitrous oxide (N₂O), which trap heat far more effectively than CO₂. As a result, the planet is
warming rapidly, unleashing a cascade of devastating impacts. Extreme weather patterns,
including scorching heatwaves, prolonged droughts, raging wildfires, and torrential floods, are
intensifying, threatening food security, human lives, and natural systems. Rising sea levels,
fueled by melting polar ice and glaciers, endanger coastal regions with inundation and erosion,
while stronger storms wreak havoc on communities and infrastructure. Wildlife faces mounting
pressure too, with habitats changing faster than many species can adapt, driving countless toward
extinction. Tackling this monumental challenge demands a unified response across all levels of
society. Governments must enact bold measures, such as taxing carbon emissions and scaling up
investments in clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Companies have a
critical role to play by embracing eco-friendly operations, cutting waste, and developing greener
technologies. Individuals can contribute through practical steps—opting for public transit, eating
less meat, or choosing sustainable products. Time is running out, but through collective
determination and immediate action, we can curb the escalating damage of climate change and
secure a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come.

8. Forms of Energy: Definitions, Classification, Concept of each kind of energy, and

examples
Energy is the capacity to do work or bring about change, and it manifests in a variety of
interconvertible forms that underpin virtually every physical process. Mechanical energy
encompasses both kinetic energy—the energy of motion, quantified by one-half mass times
velocity squared, as exemplified by a speeding car or a rushing river—and potential energy,
which is stored by virtue of position or configuration, such as water held behind a dam
(gravitational potential energy) or a compressed spring (elastic potential energy). Thermal
energy, often referred to as heat, arises from the collective microscopic motions of particles and
is directly related to temperature; it powers steam turbines in power plants and provides the
warmth we feel from a fire. Chemical energy is locked in the bonds between atoms and is
released or absorbed during chemical reactions; common examples include the combustion of
gasoline in an engine, the metabolic breakdown of food in living organisms, and the discharge
processes in batteries. Electrical energy results from the movement or separation of electric
charges and can be observed in household currents lighting our homes or in the sudden discharge
of static electricity from a Van de Graaff generator. Radiant energy, also known as
electromagnetic energy, is carried by waves or photons across the spectrum—from radio waves
and visible light to X-rays—and is harnessed by solar panels to generate electricity or by
microwave ovens to heat food. Nuclear energy rests within the nuclei of atoms and is liberated
through fission, as in nuclear reactors using uranium, or fusion, as in the sun’s conversion of
hydrogen to helium. Gravitational energy, a subtype of potential energy, results from the
attraction between masses; it drives tidal movements under the Moon’s influence and generates
hydroelectric power when water descends through turbines. Finally, elastic energy is stored when
materials deform—stretching a bow stores energy that propels an arrow, and compressing a
rubber band readies it to snap back. From a resource standpoint, these forms originate from
renewable sources like wind, solar, hydro, and biomass that naturally replenish, or from
nonrenewable reserves such as coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium that are finite. Through
interconversions—chemical energy in coal to thermal energy by combustion, to mechanical
energy in steam turbines, to electrical energy delivered to our homes—energy’s diverse forms
enable the technologies and processes central to modern life.

9. Calculate the GHGs emission in 1 crop if we use 10L diesels, 10kgNitrogen fertilizer, and
5000kWh electricity; assume these materials release CO2, N20, and CH4. Please using
GWP CO2 equivalence factor to convert it into CO2 emission (refer the below table)

1. Read off emission factors (per unit)

CO₂ N₂O CH₄
Input
(g/unit) (g/unit) (g/unit)
Diesel (per L) 3 875.70 0.14 0.65
N fertilizer (per kg) 10 125.56 0.17 0.24
Electricity (per kWh) 948.48 0.01 0.01

And the Global Warming Potentials (GWP) for a 100-year horizon:

 CO₂: 1
 N₂O: 265
 CH₄: 28
2. Compute total emissions of each gas
1. Diesel (10 L)
o CO₂: 3 875.70 g/L × 10 L = 38 757 g
o N₂O: 0.14 g/L × 10 L = 1.4 g
o CH₄: 0.65 g/L × 10 L = 6.5 g
2. Nitrogen fertilizer (10 kg)
o CO₂: 10 125.56 g/kg × 10 kg = 101 255.6 g
o N₂O: 0.17 g/kg × 10 kg = 1.7 g
o CH₄: 0.24 g/kg × 10 kg = 2.4 g
3. Electricity (5 000 kWh)
o CO₂: 948.48 g/kWh × 5 000 kWh = 4 742 400 g
o N₂O: 0.01 g/kWh × 5 000 kWh = 50 g
o CH₄: 0.01 g/kWh × 5 000 kWh = 50 g

3. Convert each gas to CO₂-equivalents

We multiply each gas mass by its GWP and sum:

a) Diesel

CO₂-eq (diesel)=38 757×1+1.4×265+6.5×28=38 757+371+182=39 310 g CO₂-eqCO₂-eq (diesel

)=38757×1+1.4×265+6.5×28=38757+371+182=39310 g CO₂-eq

b) Nitrogen fertilizer

CO₂-eq (fertilizer)=101 255.6×1+1.7×265+2.4×28=101 255.6+450.5+67.2=101 773.3 g CO₂-eq

CO₂-eq (fertilizer)=101255.6×1+1.7×265+2.4×28=101255.6+450.5+67.2=101773.3 g CO₂-eq

c) Electricity

CO₂-eq (electricity)=4 742 400×1+50×265+50×28=4 742 400+13 250+1 400=4 757 050 g CO₂-e
qCO₂-eq (electricity)=4742400×1+50×265+50×28=4742400+13250+1400=4757050 g CO₂-eq

4. Sum everything
Total CO₂-eq=39 310+101 773.3+4 757 050=4 898 133.3 g CO₂-eq≈4 898 kg CO₂-eq≈4.90 tonn
es CO₂-eqTotal CO₂-eq=39310+101773.3+4757050=4898133.3 g CO₂-eq≈4898 kg CO₂-eq≈4.
90 tonnes CO₂-eq
Final Answer

The total greenhouse-gas emissions for that crop (10 L diesel + 10 kg N-fertilizer + 5 000 kWh
electricity) amount to ≈ 4 898 kg CO₂-equivalent (≈ 4.90 t CO₂-eq).

10. The role of each Environmental Protection tool? List and describe economic instruments:
taxation, charge, and fees; give examples for each.

Environmental protection tools, particularly economic instruments like taxation, charges, and
fees, play a crucial role in promoting sustainable behavior and managing environmental
resources. These tools are based on the principle of internalizing external costs, meaning that the
financial responsibility for environmental damage is placed on those who cause it, rather than on
society at large. By increasing the cost of activities that harm the environment, these instruments
encourage individuals and businesses to adopt more efficient and sustainable practices, reduce
pollution, and invest in cleaner technologies. Taxation, for example, involves imposing taxes on
environmentally harmful activities or products. A notable instance is the carbon tax, which
targets the carbon content of fossil fuels like gasoline and coal, as implemented in Sweden to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another example is the plastic bag tax in Ireland, which has
effectively decreased plastic bag usage and litter by making consumers pay for each bag.
Charges are another type of instrument, consisting of fees for specific environmental services or
impacts, often proportional to the level of resource use or pollution. Waste disposal charges, such
as “pay-as-you-throw” schemes, incentivize waste reduction and recycling by charging based on
waste volume. Similarly, tiered water usage charges, used in places like Cape Town during water
crises, discourage excessive consumption by increasing rates for higher usage. Fees, distinct
from taxes and charges, are payments for accessing or using environmental resources. National
park entrance fees, like those at Yellowstone, help manage visitor numbers and fund
conservation efforts, while fishing license fees regulate fishing activities to prevent
overexploitation and support sustainable management. Together, these economic instruments—
taxation to deter environmentally damaging behavior, charges to encourage resource efficiency,
and fees to control access and fund conservation—form a comprehensive approach to
environmental protection. They create financial incentives for sustainability, mitigate
environmental harm, and generate revenue for preserving natural ecosystems. The success of
these tools, as seen in various global initiatives, underscores their importance in achieving a
balance between economic development and environmental stewardship, ensuring a healthier
planet for future generations.

11. The wastewater treatment diagram? Describe each stage in the wastewater treatment
plant.

Wastewater, if discharged untreated, can pose serious threats to public health and the
environment, contaminating water bodies, spreading diseases, and disrupting ecosystems.
Therefore, wastewater treatment plants are essential infrastructure in modern societies,
employing a series of stages to remove contaminants and ensure the effluent meets regulatory
standards. The process begins with preliminary treatment, where large debris like sticks and rags
are screened out, and grit chambers remove sand and gravel to protect downstream equipment
from damage and wear. Next, primary treatment uses sedimentation tanks where wastewater is
held for several hours, allowing gravity to separate heavier solids, which settle as primary
sludge, while lighter materials like oils are skimmed off, removing a significant portion of
suspended solids and organic matter. The core of the process is secondary treatment, which often
uses the activated sludge method: microorganisms in aeration tanks consume dissolved organic
matter, with air pumped in to support aerobic bacteria. The mixture then moves to secondary
clarifiers, where microbial flocs settle out, drastically reducing organic pollutants. For water
requiring higher quality, such as for irrigation or industrial reuse, tertiary treatment employs
advanced methods like sand or membrane filtration to remove remaining solids, and disinfection
with chlorine, UV light, or ozone to eliminate pathogens, sometimes targeting nutrients or
micropollutants for specific needs. Throughout these stages, sludge is generated and must be
managed: it is thickened to reduce water content, digested anaerobically to break down organic
matter and produce biogas, and dewatered using centrifuges or belt presses for safe disposal or
reuse as fertilizer. Each stage is crucial; preliminary treatment safeguards equipment, primary
and secondary treatments remove the bulk of pollutants, tertiary treatment ensures high-quality
effluent for sensitive environments or reuse, and sludge treatment handles waste responsibly,
often turning it into a resource. This comprehensive approach not only protects public health and
ecosystems but also promotes sustainable water management by enabling the reuse of treated
water and the recovery of valuable byproducts.

12. Concepts of Bioremediation/Biodegradation? Application of

Bioremediation/Biodegradation in Environmental Protection?
Biodegradation refers to the natural breakdown of complex organic contaminants—such as
hydrocarbons, pesticides, solvents, and other industrial chemicals—into simpler, non-toxic end
products like water, carbon dioxide, and microbial biomass by the metabolic activity of
microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, algae) and their enzymes. Building on this inherent process,
bioremediation is the intentional use or enhancement of biodegradation to clean up polluted
environments, including soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediments. By optimizing
subsurface conditions—adjusting nutrient levels, oxygen availability, pH, moisture, and
temperature—or by introducing specialized microbial strains in a practice known as
bioaugmentation, practitioners accelerate the conversion of hazardous compounds into harmless
substances. In the aftermath of oil spills, for example, native hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria can
be stimulated by adding nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich fertilizers or by introducing
laboratory-cultured consortia, while in situ bioventing techniques inject air into contaminated
soils to boost aerobic microbial degradation of petroleum constituents directly where they lie. In
municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, activated sludge systems and trickling filters
harness suspended and biofilm microbial communities, respectively, to consume organic
pollutants measured as biochemical oxygen demand before effluent discharge. Groundwater
contaminated by chlorinated solvents and polychlorinated biphenyls is treated in anaerobic
bioreactors that cultivate reductive bacteria—such as Dehalococcoides species—capable of
dechlorinating toxic compounds (e.g., trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene) into benign ethene
gas. Phytoremediation techniques employ metal-accumulating plants—Indian mustard, willow,
or certain grasses—to extract heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic from soils, with
periodic harvesting of above-ground biomass gradually reducing soil contamination. In cases of
leaking fuel tanks or landfill leachate plumes, subsurface biobarriers composed of organic
substrates or slow-release nutrients establish zones where indigenous microbes intercept and
biodegrade migrating petroleum hydrocarbons. Finally, pesticide-laden soils may be remediated
through composting or biopile systems, where contaminated earth is mixed with bulking agents,
aerated, and maintained at thermophilic temperatures, enabling specialized microbial consortia to
mineralize persistent agrochemicals into harmless byproducts. Together, these bioremediation
strategies offer cost-effective, sustainable, and ecologically gentle solutions for restoring
environmental quality by leveraging and enhancing nature’s own detoxification processes.

13. List and describe 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Below are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all UN Member States in
2015, each with a brief description of its core aim:

1. No Poverty
End extreme poverty (living on <$1.25/day) in all its forms everywhere by 2030.
2. Zero Hunger
Eradicate hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable
agriculture.
3. Good Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages, including universal health
coverage and reduced maternal and child mortality.
4. Quality Education
Guarantee inclusive, equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for
everyone.
5. Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, eliminating discrimination
and violence.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
Secure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment, and decent work for everyone.
 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, foster inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and
promote innovation.
10. Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries, including income disparities and social
exclusion.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, including waste reduction and
resource efficiency.
13. Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts through mitigation,
adaptation, and resilience.
14. Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable
development.
15. Life on Land
Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests,
combat desertification, and halt biodiversity loss.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build
effective, accountable institutions.
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development.

14. Give an example of using Barometer of Sustainability to compare the Human Welling
and Ecosystem Welling between two provinces A and B
Provide an example of using the Barometer of Sustainability to compare Human Well-being and
Ecosystem Well-being between two provinces, A and B.
Introduction to the tool:
The Barometer of Sustainability is an assessment tool for sustainable development that measures
and displays two key dimensions:
Human Well-being
Ecosystem Well-being
Both dimensions are evaluated on a scale from 0 (very poor) to 100 (very good) and are typically
categorized into five levels: poor, weak, moderate, good, and very good.
Example illustration:
Assume we are evaluating two provinces, A and B, based on several specific indicators. The data
is taken from environmental and social reports in 2024.
Indicator Province A Province B
Access to clean water (Human) 85 65
School attendance rate (Human) 90 70
Air pollution level (Eco) 40 70
Forest cover rate (Eco) 50 80
Overall scores:
Province A:
Human Well-being = (85 + 90)/2 = 87.5 → Very good
Ecosystem Well-being = (40 + 50)/2 = 45 → Moderate
Province B:
Human Well-being = (65 + 70)/2 = 67.5 → Good
Ecosystem Well-being = (70 + 80)/2 = 75 → Good
Analysis using the barometer:
Province A has very high human well-being, but moderate ecosystem well-being, suggesting that
social development is strong but may be putting pressure on the environment.
Province B shows a better balance between the two dimensions. Although its human well-being
is not as high as Province A’s, its ecosystem is better protected.
Through the Barometer of Sustainability, we can see that Province B is following a more
sustainable path, while Province A needs to improve its environmental protection efforts to
achieve balanced development between humans and nature.

15.

1Women:
Natural resource management at the community level: Women, especially in rural areas, are
often responsible for managing water, agriculture, household energy, etc. This gives them a direct
role in the use and conservation of natural resources.
Education and nurturing of future generations: Women play a vital role in shaping children’s
environmental awareness through caregiving and education, helping to instill a sense of
environmental responsibility from an early age.
Leadership and decision-making: An increasing number of women are participating in
environmental policymaking, leading NGOs, and contributing to sustainable development
strategies.
2. Youth:
Innovation and creativity: Youth are often at the forefront of applying green technologies,
launching eco-friendly startups, and promoting sustainable consumption and production
practices.
Communication and social mobilization: Young people have the power to spread environmental
messages widely through social media, volunteer activities, and environmental campaigns.
Practical action: Youth actively participate in activities such as tree planting, waste collection,
forest protection, and wildlife conservation.
3. Indigenous People (Ethnic minorities and long-established local communities):
Traditional and local knowledge: Indigenous communities have deep knowledge of local
ecosystems, medicinal plants, sustainable farming practices, and resource management that align
closely with environmental protection.
Forest and biodiversity protection: Many indigenous communities live in or near forests and
serve as frontline guardians against illegal logging and exploitation.
Participation in resource management: Recognizing indigenous land and resource rights helps
enhance conservation efforts and promotes sustainable development.
Women, youth, and indigenous people are not just vulnerable groups affected by environmental
degradation, but are also key active agents in environmental protection and sustainable
development. Empowering their participation leads to more inclusive, effective, and equitable
solutions to today’s environmental challenges.