EVS

UNIT -1
Introduction to Environmental Studies
 Introduction to Environment
• Human population dynamics such as population pressure, economic development are
the primary drivers of environmental change. Rapid urbanization, coupled with pollution
and technological innovation are causing additional influences.
• Our future depends on our ability to understand and evaluate evidence-based arguments
about the environmental consequences of human actions and technologies, and to make
informed decisions based on those arguments.
• The environmental science emphasise on the need for equitable, ethical, and sustainable
use of Earth’s resources by a global population that nears the carrying capacity of the
planet.
• Issues related to environmental problems are incredibly diverse, and they interact in
myriad ways. Despite this complexity, environmental issues can be studied by aggregating
them into three broad categories:
a) The causes and consequences of the rapidly increasing human population
b) The use and depletion of natural resources
c) Damage caused by pollution and disturbances, including the endangerment of
 Definitions
• Environment is the sum total of all conditions and influences that affect the
development and life of all organisms on earth.
• The word “environment” originates from “environ” which means things that
surround. As per definition of the Environment Protection Act, environment
includes all the physical and biological surroundings and their interactions.
• The environment may be defined as the complex of climatic, biotic, social, and
edaphic factors that act upon an organism and determines its form and survival.
• The environment provides resources that support life on the earth and help in the
growth of a relationship between living organisms and nature.
• ECOLOGY: Ecology is the branch of science that deals with the study of
interactions between living organisms and their physical environment. Both are
closely inter-related and they have continuous interaction so that any change in
the environment has an effect on the living organisms and vice-versa.
 Element of Environment

• The environment is constituted broadly of two components, i.e., non-living or

physical and living or biological. Non-living or physical includes air (atmosphere),
water (hydrosphere), and soil (lithosphere).
• Living or biological consists of plants, microbes, animals, humans, etc., and
collectively are known as the biosphere.
 Principles of Environment
1) Nature knows best: Humans must understand nature and follow its
rules to ensure a continuous and steady supply of resources; one must
not go against natural processes. If any disruption is caused in the cycle
of nature, this can bring imbalance to our ecosystem.
2) All forms of life are important: Each organism plays a fundamental
role in nature. It is easy to appreciate beautiful organisms like
butterflies, especially if one knows their important role in pollination.
The giant ones like elephants, whales, and alligators are the ones we
respect mixed with fear or wonder and their products. But when it
comes to unlovely, squirmy, and troublesome creatures, this principle is
unusually overlooked.
3) Everything is connected to everything else: In an ecosystem, all
biotic and abiotic components interact to ensure that the system is
sustained. Any intrusion from outside may cause an imbalance and
collapse of the system.
 Principles of Environment
4) Everything changes The environment is continuously changing. Organisms also
develop through time. However, these natural changes have affected these
changes with our current technology now cause problematic events for us. Humans
should rethink their relationship with the environment. Because our belief that it is
beneficial to the environment often turns out to be catastrophic.
5) Everything must go somewhere Everything ends up elsewhere. It doesn’t just
disappear. For example, if you throw a piece of candy wrapper away, it disappears
but does not cease to exist. It ends up elsewhere. Gases released in the
atmosphere may spread, but they will end up a component of the atmosphere and
be brought down by rains. Any particular type of waste should always be a concern
to us. It may be a pollutant or a resource, depending on certain factors. Be a
responsible person and throw your trash in a proper place.
 Principles of Environment
6) Ours is a finite earth Earth’s resources can be classified as either renewable or
non-renewable. Renewable resources are those that can be quickly replenished by
natural cycles (e.g., water, air, plants, animals), while non-renewable resources are
those that cannot be replenished through natural cycles. Although renewable
resources can be replenished, it is important to understand that these are
renewable only if they are not overused and not destroyed by factors such as
pollution.
7) Nature is beautiful: and we are stewards of God’s creation! Among all creatures,
humans are the only ones made in God’s image and have been given the right to
have dominion over all his creations. Being the most intelligent and gifted with
reason, humans can manipulate and create changes in nature for their own
advantage. Yet, creation exists not to be ravaged or abused but to be taken care of
Humans cannot exist without nature. They are conatural with the environment
they live in.
 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
• Environmental studies as a subject has a wide scope. It encompasses a large
number of areas and aspects, which may be summarized as follows:
• Natural resources — their conservation and management
• Ecology and biodiversity
• Environmental pollution and control
• Social issues in relation to development and environment
• Human population and environment
 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
• Several career options have emerged in this field that are broadly categorized as:
1. Research & Development (R & D) in environment: Skilled environmental
scientists have an important role to play in examining various environmental
problems in a scientific manner and carry out R& D activities for developing cleaner
technologies and promoting sustainable development.
2. Green advocacy: With increasing emphasis on implementing various Acts and
laws related to environment, need for environmental lawyers has emerged, who
should be able to plead the cases related to water and air pollution forest, wildlife
etc.
3. Green marketing: While ensuring the quality of products with ISO mark, now
there is an increasing emphasis on marketing goods that are environment friendly.
Such products have ecomark or ISO 14000 certification. Environmental auditors
and environmental managers would be in great demand in the coming years.
 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

4. Green media: Environmental awareness can be spread amongst masses through

mass media like television, radio, newspaper, magazines, hoardings,
advertisements etc. for which environmentally educated persons are required.
5. Environment consultancy: Many non- government organizations (NGOs),
industries and government bodies are engaging environmental consultants for
systematically studying and tackling environment related problems.
 MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
• Environmental science is a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary subject which deals with
every aspect of life. That requires the knowledge of various subjects like biology,
chemistry, physics, microbiology, biochemistry, statistics, geology, economics,
management, law, sociology, etc.
• Environmental study has evolved from the integrated use of many disciplines.
Environmental quality is the most important issue for development. To ensure
environmental quality, there is a need to find a sustainable environmental management
approach to assure a better quality of life and protect the environment and natural
resources that are the foundations of well-being.
• In order to face these challenges, it is necessary to establish a multidisciplinary approach
for a deeper understanding of the technological, political, and social options and
strategies for managing the relationship between society and the environment. Thus the
environmental study requires the knowledge developed in many different disciplines
 MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

• Life sciences, including botany, zoology, genetics, ecology, biochemistry,

biotechnology, microbiology, etc., help understand the environment’s biotic
components.
• Physical sciences, including chemistry and physics, geology, atmospheric science,
oceanography, geography, etc., provide knowledge of the physicochemical
structure of the environment’s abiotic components.
• Economics, sociology, management, mass communication furnish inputs to deal
with socio-economic aspects associated with various developmental activities.
 MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

• Mathematics, statistics, computer science, serve as effective tools in resources

management. Synthesis of civil engineering, hydraulics, chemical engineering,
and nanotechnology provides the technical solutions to environmental pollution
control and waste treatment that are extremely important for protecting the
environment.
• Political science and environmental law provide a tool for the guidelines and
judicious management for effective management and environment protection.
• Education and mass communication helps in making people aware of various
environmental problems and their solutions. The study of the environment with a
multi-disciplinary approach helps to generate a sustainable use of resources for
present and future generations.
 STRUCTURE AND COMPONENTS OF
ENVIRONMENT
• The environment generally represents four spheres, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the
atmosphere, and the biosphere; these correspond to rocks, water, air, and life. Therefore, the
environment can be defined as the study of the earth, air, water, living beings, and mutual
relationships.
• Environment has been classified into four major components:
1. Hydrosphere,
2. Lithosphere,
3. Atmosphere,
4. Biosphere.
• Hydrosphere: includes all water bodies such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and ocean etc.
Hydrosphere functions in a cyclic nature, which is termed as hydrological cycle or water cycle.
• Lithosphere: Lithosphere means the mantle of rocks constituting the earth’s crust. The earth is a
cold spherical solid planet of the solar system, which spins in its axis and revolves around the sun at
a certain constant distance. It mainly, contains soil, earth rocks, mountain etc. Lithosphere is divided
into three layers-crusts, mantle and core (outer and inner).
 STRUCTURE AND COMPONENTS
OF ENVIRONMENT
• Atmosphere: The cover of the air, that envelope the earth is known as the atmosphere.
Atmosphere is a thin layer which contains gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide etc. and which
protects the solid earth and human beings from the harmful radiations of the sun. There are
five concentric layers within the atmosphere, which can be differentiated on the basis of
temperature and each layer has its own characteristics. These include the troposphere, the
stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere and the exosphere.
• Biosphere: it is otherwise known as the life layer, it refers to all organisms on the earth’s
surface and their interaction with water and air. It consists of plants, animals and micro-
organisms, ranging from the tiniest microscopic organism to the largest whales in the sea.
Biology is concerned with how millions of species of animals, plants and other organisms
grow, feed, move, reproduce and evolve over long periods of time in different environments.
Its subject matter is useful to other sciences and professions that deal with life, such as
agriculture, forestry and medicine. The richness of biosphere depends upon a number of
factors like rainfall, temperature, geographical reference etc.
 Importance of Environment
• At present a great number of environment issues, have grown in size and complexity
day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth. We study about these
issues besides and effective suggestions in the Environment Studies. Environment
studies have become significant for the following reasons:
1. Environment Issues Being of International Importance: It has been well recognised
that environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine
pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and
hence must be tackled with international efforts and cooperation.
2. Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development: Development, in its wake gave
birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems, Agriculture and
Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed world. The North,
to cleanse their own environment has, fact fully, managed to move ‘dirty’ factories of
South. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental
impact of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither practicable nor desirable, even
if developing world follows that.
 Importance of Environment
3. Explosively Increase in Pollution: World census reflects that one in every seven
persons in this planted lives in India. Evidently with 16 per cent of the world's
population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area, there is a heavy pressure on the
natural resources including land. Agricultural experts have recognized soils health
problems like deficiency of micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and
damage of soil structure.
4. Need for An Alternative Solution: It is essential, specially for developing
countries to find alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as under:
(1) A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally
sound and sustainable development. (2) A goal common to all citizens of our earth.
(3) A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-
consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world.
 Importance of Environment
5. Need To Save Humanity From Extinction: It is incumbent upon us to save the
humanity from exinction. Consequent to our activities constricting the
environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of development.
6. Need For Wise Planning of Development: Our survival and sustenance depend.
Resources withdraw, processing and use of the product have all to by synchronised
with the ecological cycles in any plan of development our actions should be
planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and development.
 SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM
• The developing countries face today critical situation on economic and
environmental fronts. For economic growth they have to give priority to
agricultural industrial bases but at the cost of environment.
• The resource base, once depleted, sets in chain of environmental degradation
which finally weakens the economy. Our population explosion remains the core
issue.
• Our development policy should be such that the ecosystem is sustainable, i.e., it
contains the element of renewability. This requires sound management strategy
which ensures the continuation of socio-economic development in the long run.
 SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM
The important components of sustainable development/ ecosystem are:
• Population stabilisation
• Integrated land use planning
• Conservation of biodiversity
• Air and water pollution control
• Renewable energy resources
• Recycling of wastes and residues
• Environmental education and awareness at all levels.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• As per the definition of the director of World Health Organization (WHO), Prime
Minister G.H. Bruntland (Norway), sustainable development means “meeting the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their needs”! The important components of sustainable development are:
• Population stabilization (growth below 0.5 per cent)
• Integrated land-use planning
• Conservation of biodiversity, Air and water pollution control
• Renewable energy resources
• Recycling of wastes and residues
• Environmental education and awareness at all level
 Emergence of Environmental Issues
• Many global and local environmental problems had been identified by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that poses a big challenge for national
and international organizations (UNEP, 2016). For example, ozone layer depletion,
photochemical pollution in the air, desertification, water pollution, microplastics,
soil erosion and, municipal and industrial wastewater, acid rain events, population
growth and urbanization, deforestation and biodiversity loss, climate change are
some environmental issues that threaten our natural resources and human
health.
 CLIMATE CHANGE
• Climate change is the rising issue of the present time. It addresses the complex
shifts in the weather of planet earth and climate systems. It includes global
warming and other extreme weather events, rising sea levels, extinction of
species and shift in wildlife populations, habitat destruction, and many other
impacts. These shifts in weather threaten food production and the rising sea level
increases the risk of flooding. The earth’s temperature is rising nearly twice the
rate as it was 50 years ago.
• The GHGs emitted by human activities are mainly blamed for this continuous
warming of the earth. Although GHGs are essential as they keep the earth
liveable by stopping some radiations from reflecting back. However, due to rapid
industrialization, intensive agriculture, and deforestation, the concentration of
these GHGs has risen to record levels in the last three million years [United
Nations (UN), 2020]. Hence, we need drastic action now to combat climate
change in the present and future.
 CLIMATE CHANGE
• Many global efforts are made so far to reduce the impacts of climate change, and the recent
was the Paris agreement in 2015. However, global warming continues and hit its record levels
in 2018. Some organizations and agreements related to climate change are discussed below:
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): The UN IPCC was formulated by the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme for
providing a source of scientific information regarding climate change. According to AR5 of IPCC
(2013):
1. Various Human activities are responsible for climate change
2. The average global temperature has risen about 0.85°C from 1880 to 2012.
3. The average global sea level rose by 19 cm from 1901 to 2010, and it is predicted to rise 40–
63 cm by 2100 and 24–30 cm by 2065 in relation to the reference period of 1986–2005
4. If the present conditions persist and the concentration of GHGs keep rising, then the global
mean temperature will rise continuously above the pre-industrial level by the end of this
century
 CLIMATE CHANGE
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The ‘Earth
Summit’ produced UNFCCC in 1992 to address climate change, and it is ratified by 197
countries.
• Kyoto protocol: For a global response to climate change, the countries formulated the
Kyoto protocol in 1995. It aimed to set the emission reduction targets and to bind the
developed countries legally with them. It has 192 parties, and its first commitment
period was from 2008 to 2012, and the second began in 2013 and will end up in 2020.
• Paris Agreement: It was adopted in the 21st conference of parties (COP) in 2015 in
Paris. Its goal was to combat climate change and fasten the actions and initiatives
needed for a low carbon future and sustainable living. Now 186 countries have ratified
the Paris agreement (UN, 2020).
• Climate Action Summit 2019: The Secretary-General of the UN convened a Climate
Summit on 23rd September 2019. Its goal was to bring the world’s leading countries,
the civil society, and the private sector to support the initiatives to mitigate climate
change.
 GLOBAL WARMING
• Global warming is a gradual increase in the earth’s
temperature generally due to the greenhouse effect
caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and
other pollutants.
• This phenomenon has been observed over the past one or two
centuries. This change has disturbed the climatic pattern of the
earth. However, the concept of global warming is quite
controversial but the scientists have provided relevant data in
support of the fact that the temperature of the earth is rising
constantly.
• There are several causes of global warming, which have a
negative effect on humans, plants and animals. These causes
may be natural or might be the outcome of human activities. In
order to curb the issues, it is very important to understand the
 Man-made Causes of Global Warming

• Deforestation: Plants are the main source of oxygen. They take in

carbon dioxide and release oxygen thereby maintaining
environmental balance. Forests are being depleted for many
domestic and commercial purposes. This has led to an
environmental imbalance, thereby giving rise to global warming.
• Use of Vehicles: The use of vehicles, even for a very short
distance results in various gaseous emissions. Vehicles burn fossil
fuels which emit a large amount of carbon dioxide and other toxins
into the atmosphere resulting in a temperature increase.
• Chlorofluorocarbon: With the excessive use of air conditioners
and refrigerators, humans have been adding CFCs into the
environment which affects the atmospheric ozone layer. The ozone
layer protects the earth surface from the harmful ultraviolet rays
emitted by the sun. The CFCs have led to ozone layer depletion
making way for the ultraviolet rays, thereby increasing the
 Man-made Causes of Global Warming

• Industrial Development: With the advent of industrialization,

the temperature of the earth has been increasing rapidly. The
harmful emissions from the factories add to the increasing
temperature of the earth. In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel
for Climate Change reported that the increase in the global
temperature between 1880 and 2012 has been 0.9 degrees
Celsius. The increase is 1.1 degrees Celsius when compared to
the pre-industrial mean temperature.
• Agriculture: Various farming activities produce carbon dioxide
and methane gas. These add to the greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere and increase the temperature of the earth.
• Overpopulation: An increase in population means more people
breathing. This leads to an increase in the level of carbon dioxide,
the primary gas causing global warming, in the atmosphere.
 Natural Causes of Global Warming

• Volcanoes: Volcanoes are one of the largest natural contributors to

global warming. The ash and smoke emitted during volcanic eruptions
goes out into the atmosphere and affects the climate.
• Water Vapour: Water vapour is a kind of greenhouse gas. Due to the
increase in the earth’s temperature, more water gets evaporated from
the water bodies and stays in the atmosphere adding to global
warming.
• Melting Permafrost: Permafrost is frozen soil that has environmental
gases trapped in it for several years and is present below Earth’s
surface. It is present in glaciers. As the permafrost melts, it releases
the gases back into the atmosphere, increasing Earth’s temperature.
• Forest Blazes: Forest blazes or forest fires emit a large amount of
carbon-containing smoke. These gases are released into the
atmosphere and increase the earth’s temperature resulting in global
warming.
 Effects of Global Warming

• Following are the major effects of global warming:

• Rise in Temperature: Global warming has led to an incredible
increase in earth’s temperature. Since 1880, the earth’s
temperature has increased by ~1 degrees. This has resulted in an
increase in the melting of glaciers, which have led to an increase
in the sea level. This could have devastating effects on coastal
regions.
• Threats to the Ecosystem: Global warming has affected the
coral reefs that can lead to the loss of plant and animal lives.
Increase in global temperatures has made the fragility of coral
reefs even worse.
• Climate Change: Global warming has led to a change in climatic
conditions. There are droughts at some places and floods at
some. This climatic imbalance is the result of global warming.
 Effects of Global Warming

• Spread of Diseases: Global warming leads to a change in the

patterns of heat and humidity. This has led to the movement of
mosquitoes that carry and spread diseases.
• High Mortality Rates: Due to an increase in floods, tsunamis
and other natural calamities, the average death toll usually
increases. Also, such events can bring about the spread of
diseases that can hamper human life.
• Loss of Natural Habitat: A global shift in the climate leads to
the loss of habitats of several plants and animals. In this case,
the animals need to migrate from their natural habitat and many
of them even become extinct. This is yet another major impact of
global warming on biodiversity.
 OZONE LAYER

• “The ozone layer is a region in the earth’s stratosphere

that contains high concentrations of ozone and protects
the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the
sun.”
• The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the
earth’s atmosphere. It has the potential to absorb around 97-99%
of the harmful ultraviolet radiations coming from the sun that can
damage life on earth. If the ozone layer was absent, millions of
people would develop skin diseases and may have weakened
immune systems.
 OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
• “Ozone layer depletion is the gradual thinning of the earth’s
ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused due to the release
of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine
from industries or other human activities.”
• Ozone layer depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer present in the
upper atmosphere. This happens when the chlorine and bromine atoms
in the atmosphere come in contact with ozone and destroy the ozone
molecules. One chlorine can destroy 100,000 molecules of ozone. It is
destroyed more quickly than it is created.
• Some compounds release chlorine and bromine on exposure to high
ultraviolet light, which then contributes to ozone layer depletion. Such
compounds are known as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
• The ozone-depleting substances that contain chlorine include
chlorofluorocarbon, carbon tetrachloride, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and
methyl chloroform. Whereas, the ozone-depleting substances that
contain bromine are halons, methyl bromide, and hydro
 Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion

• Ozone layer depletion is a major concern and is associated with a number of

factors. The main causes responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are
listed below:
• Chlorofluorocarbons: Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of
ozone layer depletion. These are released by solvents, spray aerosols,
refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc. The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the
stratosphere are broken down by ultraviolet radiations and release chlorine
atoms. These atoms react with ozone and destroy it.
• Unregulated Rocket Launches: Researches say that the unregulated
launching of rockets results in much more depletion of the ozone layer than the
CFCs do. If not controlled, this might result in a huge loss of the ozone layer by
the year 2050.
• Nitrogenous Compounds: The nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, N2O
are highly responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
• Natural Causes: The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain
natural processes such as Sun-spots and stratospheric winds. But it does not
cause more than 1-2% of the ozone layer depletion.The volcanic eruptions are
 Effects Of Ozone Layer Depletion

• The depletion of the ozone layer has harmful effects on the environment. Let
us see the major effects of ozone layer depletion on man and environment.
• Effects on Human Health: Humans will be directly exposed to the harmful
ultraviolet radiation of the sun due to the depletion of the ozone layer. This
might result in serious health issues among humans, such as skin diseases,
cancer, sunburns, cataract, quick ageing and weak immune system.
• Effects on Animals: Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to skin
and eye cancer in animals.
• Effects on the Environment: Strong ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal
growth, flowering and photosynthesis in plants. The forests also have to bear
the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays.
• Effects on Marine Life: Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to
harmful ultraviolet rays. These are higher in the aquatic food chain. If the
planktons are destroyed, the organisms present in the food chain are also
affected.
 Solutions to Ozone Layer Depletion

• The depletion of the ozone layer is a serious issue and various programmes have been
launched by the government of various countries to prevent it. However, steps should
be taken at the individual level as well to prevent the depletion of the ozone layer.
Following are some points that would help in preventing this problem at a global level:
• Avoid Using ODS: Reduce the use of ozone depleting substances. E.g. avoid the use
of CFCs in refrigerators and air conditioners, replacing the halon based fire
extinguishers, etc.
• Minimise the Use of Vehicles: The vehicles emit a large amount of
greenhouse gases that lead to global warming as well as ozone depletion. Therefore,
the use of vehicles should be minimised as much as possible.
• Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Products: Most of the cleaning products have chlorine
and bromine releasing chemicals that find a way into the atmosphere and affect the
ozone layer. These should be substituted with natural products to protect the
environment.
• Use of Nitrous Oxide should be Prohibited: The government should take actions
and prohibit the use of harmful nitrous oxide that is adversely affecting the ozone
layer. People should be made aware of the harmful effects of nitrous oxide and the
products emitting the gas so that its use is minimised at the individual level as well.
 ACID RAIN
• Acid Rain, as the name suggests, can be said as the precipitation
of acid in the form of rain in the simplest manner. When
atmospheric pollutants like oxides of nitrogen and sulphur react
with rainwater and come down with the rain, then this results in
Acid Rain.
• Acid rain is made up of highly acidic water droplets due to air
emissions, most specifically the disproportionate levels of sulphur
and nitrogen emitted by vehicles and manufacturing processes. It
is often called acid rain as this concept contains many types of
acidic precipitation.
• The acidic deposition takes place in two ways: wet and dry. Wet
deposition is any form of precipitation which removes acids from
the atmosphere and places them on the surface of the earth. In
the absence of precipitation, dry deposition of polluting particles
and gases sticks to the ground through dust and smoke.
 Effects of Acid Rain

• Acid rain is very harmful to agriculture, plants, and animals. It washes

away all nutrients which are required for the growth and survival of plants.
Acid rain affects agriculture by the way it alters the composition of the soil.
• It causes respiratory issues in animals and humans.
• When acid rain falls down and flows into the rivers and ponds it affects the
aquatic ecosystem. It alters the chemical composition of the water, to a
form which is actually harmful to the aquatic ecosystem to survive and
causes water pollution.
• Acid rain also causes the corrosion of water pipes, which further results in
leaching of heavy metals such as iron, lead and copper into drinking water.
• It damages the buildings and monuments made up of stones and metals.
 Real-Life Examples

• Taj Mahal, one of the 7 wonders of the world, is largely affected

by acid rain. The city of Agra has many industries which emit the
oxides of sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. People
continue to use low-quality coal and firewood as a domestic fuel,
adding to this problem.
• Statue of Liberty which is made of copper has also been
damaged by the cumulative action of acid rain and oxidation for
over 30 years and is, therefore, becoming green.
 Prevention of Acid Rain

• The only precaution that we can take against acid rain is having a
check at the emission of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur.
• Acid rain is harmful to animals, plants and the monuments.
• Being responsible citizens, one should be aware of the harmful
effects they cause and of the industries which give out nitrogen
and sulphur compound wastes unethically.
 Earth Summit 1992
• The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known
as Earth Summit/Rio Summit held in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil, from June 3 to June 14,
1992, is considered one landmark conference. The idea of environmental conservation,
sustainable development, and the efforts to bridge the gaps between environment and
economy were discussed internationally. After the Stockholm conference in 1972, the
Earth Summit was a step forward in taking concrete actions on the ground. Leaders from
170 countries worldwide, including 115 heads of the states, participated in the event.
The conference was held to bring the member states on a common platform to achieve
a bigger sustainability objective. The conference’s major outcomes include the Rio
Declaration, Convention on forestry, also known as forest Principles, and Agenda 21.
Some legally binding agreements like the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biodiversity, and Convention to Combat
Desertification were also opened for signature to the member states. These are
discussed briefly below:
 Earth Summit 1992
• Rio Declaration(Earth Charter): The declaration states 27 guiding principles for
the conservation and restoration to maintain different ecosystems. The document
was signed by all the heads of the States and Government representatives. It
mentions the “Polluter Pays Principle,” which makes the polluter responsible for
the damage caused to the natural environment and bear the clean-up cost. When
we start to form a common baseline, it is observed that developed countries have
caused a lot more pollution than developing countries. The cost they have to bear
for clean-up is huge. The developing countries, which are still fulfilling basic
requirements for their countrymen, may pollute in the time to come (Sharma,
2015). The great outcome for bridging these gaps was the principle of “Common
but differentiated responsibilities” to conserve ecosystems
 Earth Summit 1992
• Convention on Forestry or Forestry Principles: It is a document that lays down
forest conservation and sustainability principles. Initially, there was a lot of
controversy over this issue as developed nations, like the U.S.A., Germany insisted
on having an internationally binding agreement for global conservation and forest
management. This would help them globalize the forest resources of developing
nations and use them for industrial processes. Countries like India were
principally against this as forests are a resource and part of tradition (Sharma,
2015).It remains a non-legally binding agreement
 Earth Summit 1992
• Agenda 21: Agenda 21 is a comprehensive document that lays down the principles of
sustainable development covering all the aspects of society and came with a concrete
plan for the implementation. It addresses the contemporary environmental problems
and the social aspects aggravating poverty, social injustice, consumption patterns,
human health conditions, etc. The agenda explicitly discussed the financial
mechanisms and partnerships among the countries to achieve the goals mentioned
above. It postulated that partnerships should be such that developing countries
should get appropriate financial and technological assistance to meet sustainable
growth targets. Environmentfriendly technology would enable the developing
countries in the long run by reducing the damage done to the environment. Countries
receiving any form of international assistance has to work out a detailed analysis of
the existing situation and the basis on which the funding is to be given, like
determining the research areas where and how the changes in the environment affect
the people, understanding social aspects, ways to alleviate poverty, providing health
care facilities for all, etc. and extensive regular monitoring of situation to account for
improvement over time.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• UNFCCC is an acronym for the United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change. It came into force on 21st March 1994. It has
been ratified by 197 countries and is called to have a near-universal
membership. The countries that have ratified the convention are
called the UNFCCC conference of parties (COP).
• UNFCCC is the primary multilateral treaty governing actions to combat
climate change through adaptation and mitigation efforts directed at
control of emission of Green House Gases (GHGs) that cause global
warming. Even though climate change is a global concern some of the
countries are majorly responsible for greenhouse gas emissions into
the atmosphere. Many island nations are facing the major brunt of
this Climate Change in the form of sea-level rise, cyclones, erratic
weather conditions, etc. UNFCCC is a major step in the direction to
control the downward spiral of climate change.
 Kyoto Protocol
• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 and came
into force in February 2005. The protocol was set to reduce the emission of six
major Green House Gases (GHG) like carbon dioxide (CO2 ), methane (CH4 ),
nitrous oxide (N2 O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and
sulfurhexafluoride (SF6 ).The protocol also encouraged financial mechanisms to
achieve the targets through a carbon-credit system and coming up with non-
renewable energy sources with fewer carbon emissions.It guided developed
countries to provide funds for new technological implementation in developing
countries yet to install and develop it. The percent reduction targets were
different for developed countries under the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities.
 Montreal Protocol
• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer is an important Multilateral Agreement regulating the
production, consumption, and emissions of ozone-depleting
substances (ODSs). It is an important part of international
environmental conventions and protocols.
• The Montreal Protocol under Vienna convention specifies phasing out production
of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) to protect the ozone layer present in the
stratosphere. It came into force on 16thSeptember 1987, and in the year 2012, it
became the first treaty to be universally ratified by all the countries of the world.
The protocol has a comprehensive list of ODS like chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs),
halons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons(HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), etc. to
be phased out with deadlines. The deadline may vary for developed and
developing countries based on the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities
 Montreal Protocol
• In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was a landmark agreement signed by 197
countries to phase out the ozone-depleting substances that is CFCs. After more
than 30 years of Montreal protocol, NASA scientists have found the recovery of
ozone in the Antarctic region for the first time. A 20 percent decline is observed in
the depletion of ozone since 2005. The UN has projected that it would heal
completely by the 2030s in the Northern Hemisphere, by 2050s in Southern
Hemisphere,and by 2060s in the polar regions.
 Montreal Protocol – Important Points

• The Protocol was signed in 1987 and entered into force in January 1989. The protocol gives provisions to reduce
the production and consumption of ODSs to protect the ozone layer.
1. It phases down the use of ODSs in a stepwise, time-bound manner.
2. It gives different timetables for developing and developed countries.
3. All member parties have specific responsibilities related to the phasing out of various groups of ozone-depleting
substances, controlling ODS trade, reporting of data annually, controlling export and import of ODs, etc.
4. Developing and developed countries have equal but differentiated responsibilities.
5. However, both groups of nations have time-bound, binding, and measurable commitments under the protocol,
making it effective.
6. Under the protocol, there is a provision for it to be amended and adjusted according to the new scientific,
economic, and technological advancements made.
7. The Protocol has undergone nine amendments or revisions.
8. The governance body for the protocol is the Meeting of the Parties. Technical support is given by the Open-ended
Working Group. Both meet once every year.
9. The Parties are aided by the Ozone Secretariat, which is based at the headquarters of the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) at Nairobi.
10.It has been ratified by 197 Parties (196 member states of the UN plus the EU) making it the first United Nations
treaty to be ratified by every country in the world.
11.Multilateral Fund: The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was set up in 1991 to
help developing countries to comply with the provision of the Protocol. This is under Article 10 mentioned
above.It provides financial and technical assistance to developing member countries whose yearly per capita
consumption and production of ODSs is less than 0.3 k
 Convention on Biological Diversity
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international agreement to
conserve biodiversity, use its products sustainably, and share the benefits of
utilizing biological, genetic resources. The convention came into force on
December 29, 1993, and was ratified by 196 member nations. The Conference of
Parties of the Convention, in due course of time, have developed important
supplementary treaties contemporary to developing science and technology. Two
such treaties are Cartagena Protocol and Nagoya Protocol.
 CITES
• Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
(CITES) It is an international agreement between member nations to check on
international trade of wildlife species of plants and animals so that their existence
is not threatened. The CITES resolution was adopted in 1963 and came into force
on 1st July 1975. The convention maintains a check on live animals and plants’
trade and a wide range of products derived from them, e.g., exotic leather and
furs, timber products, elephant tusks, tiger skin, other body parts, etc. CITES
ensure that the trade of any such plants, animals, and products is authorized
through a licensing system, and scientific authorities are guiding on the extent of
trade. Convention has an extensive list of species covered under appendix I, II,
and III and the levels to protect them from exploitation. To date, over 35000
species of plants and animals are listed under CITES. Not all the species listed are
endangered or threatened in existence but enlisting them makes the sustainable
use of natural resources more viable for the future.
 Ramsar Convention
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (waterfowl
convention) is a framework convention for conserving wetlands and wise use of its
resources. The Convention was adopted on 2nd February 1971 in the city of Ramsar, Iran,
and came into force in 1975. The convention uses the term wetlands broadly and includes
water bodies like lakes, rivers, deltas, mangroves, coastal areas, and man-made bodies like
ricefields, reservoirs, etc. In order to become a member of the convention, the country
has to designate at least one site of ecological importance in the country and cooperate to
manage the transboundary wetlands. To date, there are 171 member parties to the
convention. The convention works in close association with six other International
Organisation Partners (IOPs) working on nature conservation that includes IUCN, World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International, Wetlands International, Wildfowl and
Wetlands Trust and International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Birdlife
International for proper management of wetlands. India has 37 Ramsar sites (wetlands of
international importance) that include some of the major lakes like Chilika Lake in Odisha,
Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, Hussainsagar Lake in Hyderabad, and others. Under
the convention, a register is maintained where a change in any Ramsar site’s ecological
character has occurred because of natural or human activities, and the record is referred