Environmental Awareness Quiz

Study Notes

Sustainability refers to meeting current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
Sustainability is rooted in three main pillars: environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Environmental sustainability focuses on preserving natural resources and ecosystems.
Economic sustainability promotes long-term economic growth without harming the environment.
Social sustainability ensures social equity, inclusivity, and access to basic needs.
Sustainable development is the process of pursuing economic and social development while protecting and enhancing the natural environment.
The 1987 Brundtland Report defined sustainable development as meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
Sustainable development offers advantages across environments, economies, and social structures.

Environmental Advantages: Conservation of resources (water, soil, energy), reduction in pollution, biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation.
Economic Advantages: Long-term growth, job creation (green industries, renewable energy, eco-tourism), cost savings (efficient resource management), innovation in sustainable practices and materials.
Social Advantages: Improved quality of life (access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, education), social equity (access to resources and opportunities), community well-being (participatory decision-making, inclusive communities), health benefits (reduced exposure to pollutants), preservation for future generations.

Anthropogenic activities significantly contribute to soil erosion, reducing soil fertility, disrupting ecosystems, and impacting agricultural productivity.
Deforestation (tree removal) exposes soil to wind and rain, leading to soil loss. Loss of tree roots reduces soil binding, increasing susceptibility to erosion.
Overgrazing removes vegetation cover, leading to soil compaction and increased runoff.
Unsustainable agricultural practices (monocropping, tillage) deplete soil nutrients and weaken soil structure, increasing vulnerability to erosion.
Mining activities (surface mining, tailings disposal) remove topsoil, leading to soil contamination and erosion.
Urbanization and construction (land clearing) expose soil, and impervious surfaces increase runoff.
Industrial activities can contribute to soil pollution and erosion through the release of industrial waste and emission.

Pollution from industrial waste weakens soil structure and promotes erosion. Heat and emissions can lead to acid rain, degrading soil and washing away nutrients.
Irrigation mismanagement (overwatering) can lead to waterlogging and soil erosion.
Climate change (human-induced) intensifies rainfall, floods, and droughts, exacerbating soil erosion.
Desertification (expansion of deserts) increases wind erosion due to human-driven climate change and unsustainable land use.

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished naturally.
Solar energy derives from the Sun's radiation. Photovoltaic (PV) cells and solar thermal systems convert sunlight into electricity or heat.
Wind energy uses wind turbines to convert wind kinetic energy to mechanical energy then to electricity.
Hydropower uses the movement of water to generate electricity via dams or run-of-river systems.
Biomass energy uses organic materials like wood, agricultural crops, or waste to generate heat or electricity.
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity.

Over-exploitation of surface and groundwater leads to severe environmental, economic, and social consequences.
Declining water tables affect groundwater access, drying wells, and compacting aquifers.
Reduced surface water levels lead to drying rivers and lakes, impacting wetland ecosystems.
Water quality degradation includes salinity increases near coastal areas due to seawater intrusion.

Reduced water levels can lead to pollutant accumulation, making water unsuitable for drinking and agriculture.
Arsenic and fluoride contamination can result from excessive pumping into deeper aquifers.
Soil degradation from waterlogging and salinity can result from improper irrigation practices.
Reduced irrigation capacity can threaten food security and lead to crop failures.
Loss of biodiversity and aquatic life results from over-extraction from wetlands, rivers, and lakes.
Groundwater depletion contributes to desertification.

India is a megadiverse country ranking among top 10 countries for biodiversity.
Varied geography, climate, and history contribute to the country's diversity of ecosystems.
Varied altitudes (Himalayan Mountains to coastal plains) produce distinct microclimates.
Water bodies (rivers, lakes, coastal regions) create habitats for diverse aquatic species.
Diverse ecosystems encompass tropical, subtropical, temperate, and alpine climates, supporting a vast array of flora and fauna.
High plant species count, medicinal plants, agricultural crops, timber, and endemic plant species.