EVS Chapter 1 - Environmental Studies PDF

## Environmental Education (Sem. – II) ### 1. Introduction This chapter introduces the meaning, nature and scope of the subject environment. It also explains the man-environment relationship and importance of environmental studies. On the basis of our study so far, we can say that our rate of imp...

## Environmental Education (Sem. – II) ### 1. Introduction This chapter introduces the meaning, nature and scope of the subject environment. It also explains the man-environment relationship and importance of environmental studies. On the basis of our study so far, we can say that our rate of impact on the environment has been increasing, particularly over the last century. The basic causes that can be identified are as follows: - Increasing Population. - Developments and advances in technology. - Increasing human knowledge. The natural environment around man is being rapidly degraded at alarming levels. It is getting consistently polluted due to smoke, dust, sewage, and city refuse. In most parts of the world, people live in unhygienic conditions with poor sanitation. With the present type of living, there is a steady growing pressure on the resources like lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), and atmosphere (air). ### 2. Importance of Environmental Studies The study of the environment becomes important as it helps us to understand the relation between man and environment. It helps us to understand its components and the interrelations amongst the components. It also gives an insight into how a change, alteration, or damage of any one component may gradually affect the entire natural system. Environmental study is a systematic study of environmental factors which influence life on Earth in the context of human existence. It is that branch of knowledge which involves the better understanding of natural forces that may affect the physical and emotional health of man, and his well being. More simply, the environment may also be defined as a science concerned with all the problems faced by man in relation to the surrounding in totality. In other words, environmental science is a logical study of complex physical (abiotic) and biotic factors, interrupted by man, creating imbalances in the environment. An appreciation and concern for the environment are values that need to be inculcated during the years of education. **Focus of Environmental Studies** - Understanding the relation between society and the environment and appreciate the creative genius of nature and natural environment. - It should also help to understand the wisdom of traditions and cultures, but also question traditional practices/religious beliefs that are not environmentally sound or harmful for the environment. - It must make people understand the complexities and contradictions involved in protecting our natural environment, thus enabling them to understand various dimensions and help them to take decisions. - It must also look into issues related to the environment and development; the environment and social conflict based on gender, class, ethnicity, rural/urban issues of access and control over resources, and unequal distribution of resources. - On imparting education that helps to develop responsible environmental behaviour and make informed decisions and bring in changes in attitudes leading to an improved environment. Environment comprises a number of factors that interact with each other in some or other way so as to keep the planet Earth alive and support life on Earth. If we closely look at these factors, they form the components of our environment. These components can be grouped as Abiotic or non-living and Biotic or living components. ### 3. Definition of Environment The term "Environment" is derived from the word "environs", which means "to be around". Webster’s dictionary defines the environment as, “The circumstances, objects, conditions by which one is surrounded, the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors that act upon an organism, or an ecological community and determine its form and survival, the aggregate of social, cultural factors that influence the life of an individual or community". From the above definition, we learn that: - Environment refers to the surroundings in which we live. It includes air, soil, water, plants, birds, and animals around us. - Every factor of environment has its effects on our life and our activities. - Environment changes according to time and place. - Environment is the aggregate of the total conditions and surroundings of mankind. - Environment in its broader perspective includes natural and cultural, or human environment. - Environment is a functioning live system which includes living and non-living components which interact in a very complex way. - Environment is highly delicate (fragile) and so we have to live in harmony with it; to protect our rich biodiversity. - Environment holds the key in the economic growth and survival of living things. ### 4. Nature Environmental science is a comprehensive discipline of knowledge. It is an interdisciplinary subject, as it invites the attention of varied disciplines like Geography, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, and many Social Sciences. In the course of environmental studies, geographical perceptions form basic foundations for the identification of environmental upsets. It has to open out the important underlying principles of physical forces which are generally neglected by man in the struggle for development. The nature of the environmental studies is heterogeneous and dynamic. As a result, the patterns of man environment actions are very complex. Man has modified his biotic and physical surroundings. He has been constantly engaged in the exploitation of resources. The rate of exploitation exceeds the rate of replacement. Thus, depletion of resources on one hand and quest for short-term profits on the other hand have created a critical situation. Environmental studies include these aspects of human race and the environmental mess. Deterioration of environmental quality projected serious problems of complex nature. Some of the major problems are population explosion, soil erosion, deforestation, pollution of air, water, and land, extinction of living species. Proper identification, knowledge and detailed study follows the nature of environmental studies. ### 5. Scope The protection and proper utilisation of the environment are necessary for the survival of human civilization. Therefore, the scope of environmental studies is extensively wide. Though man depends upon physical spheres, he always attempts to modify them in the desired direction. In doing so, appropriate steps are not taken. Consequently, natural systems are disturbed. Interactions between these elements of natural systems must be studied carefully because interdependence is the foundation of environmental stability. Environmental study enables man to accept his environmental responsibilities; otherwise, it may lead to environmental disequilibrium. The role of environmental studies is vital in terms of proper identification of environmental problems and their precise solutions with proper care and conservation of resources. ### 6. Components of Environment - **Natural or Physical** - Abiotic or non-living - Location - Topography - Climate - Size and shape - Coastline - Minerals - Soil - Biotic or living - Natural vegetation - Animals - **Human or Anthropogenic** - Social - Political - Economic #### 6.1. A Natural or Physical Environment #### 6.1.1 Abiotic or Non-living components - **Location:** The term Location in Geography has been used since very early days of Romans and Greeks. This term is derived from the Latin word *locus*, meaning place. It is a relative term. It expresses relative occurrence of space. The location of a country becomes one of the most prime factors that influence the range of human activities that will develop in that country. Location primarily has an influence on climate. Location is looked upon either as absolute location or as relative location. Absolute location is referred in terms of latitudes and longitudes. For example, India’s location is 8° 4' 28" and 37° 17' 53" North latitudes and 68° 7' 3" and 97° 24' 47" East Longitudes. It gives us an idea about any country’s products, people and level of economic and commercial development. Relative location is mentioned with reference to some other reference like a country or a natural or man-made feature. Relative location of the country can be studied in different ways. - **Location in Terms of Its Relation to Water Bodies and Land Areas**: Countries located near the sea have a maritime location. With the help of this type of location, we get an idea about continental and maritime activities of the country. There are different types of maritime locations. They are: - Insular - Peninsular - Isthumian - Littoral Maritime location gives direct access to the world market for finished products and raw materials. There are a number of other advantages of maritime location. Coastal waters provide rich harvest of fish, salt, and petroleum, etc. In addition to these advantages, maritime countries enjoy more pleasant climate which keeps people active. Of all the maritime locations, insular location is most advantageous since it provides advantages for the import of raw materials and export of finished products. - **Continental Location**: Countries which are located away from the sea in the interior parts of the continents have a continental location. e.g. Afghanistan, Mongolia, Poland etc. Since such countries are away from the sea and surrounded by land from all sides, contacts with other countries are limited. The extreme climate of continental countries affects productive activities. Overall, the effect of this is seen in their economic backwardness and the poor development of international trade. - **Location in Relation to Transport Lines**: There can be two types of locations in relation to transport lines. They are: - **Focal Location**: Whenever two or more than two trade routes converge or cross, it is said to have a focal location. For example, Chicago in U.S.A. (Fig. 1.2) and Thane, Pune, Ahmednagar, (Fig. 1.1) Kolhapur and Mumbai in Maharashtra. Focal location is the best location for the development of manufacturing industries and trade since two roads or railways cross each other. Thane is the best example of focal location. It was just an ordinary village of fishermen. Today, it has become one of the important industrial and trade centres of India. Two national highways and a railway that passes through this town has made it easily accessible to different parts of India. - **Portal Location**: The location of a coastal site, possessing a harbour, at which ships call to load and unload goods is known as a portal location. For example, Mumbai, (Fig. 1.4), New York (Fig. 1.3). Such portal locations very important for the development of internal and international trade. - **Vicinal Location**: Location with reference to two immediate neighbouring countries is known as Vicinal location. It is advantageous to have economically developed countries in the neighbourhood. This encourages the development of economy and the trade of the country. For example, the economy and the trade of most of the South American countries have developed mainly because of the USA. Big American companies have invested huge capital in these countries. Americans have invested their capital in the sugar industry of Cuba and Brazil, coffee plantation of Brazil and Columbia, or oil and minerals mining industry of Venezuela, Chile and Peru. All these countries have benefited greatly because of their nearness to U.S. manufacturing region and U.S. market. - **Topography:** Physical features of a region like mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys, etc. form the topography. These factors of the environment influence the development of economic activities. - **Mountains:** Mountain regions have remained economically backward. Agriculture is not much developed due to limited level land and rapid soil erosion. Due to the lack of transport and communication facilities and undulating nature of the terrain, human settlements are limited and manufacturing industries are not developed. Mountains offer limited opportunities for primitive activities, such as, fruit gathering, animal rearing, shifting agriculture, etc. However, mountains are store houses of minerals and forests. Around the mountains, which are accessible to densely populated industrial regions, mining and lumbering activities are well developed. These mountain products move to the plains, and thus trade is developed to some extent. With a rapid revolution in transport and communication technology, research in plant growth and animal breeding and agriculture, many mountainous regions which were considered hopeless for the development of economic and commercial activities have become very useful for man. Today, most of the plantation crops like rubber, tea, coffee etc. are cultivated along the lower slopes of some mountains and tourism in tropical countries has developed in the areas of high mountains. e.g. Mahabaleshwar, Matheran, Lonavala etc. - **Plains:** Plains occupy about 55 per cent of the land area and support nearly 90 per cent of the world’s population. The concentration of population in plains is mainly because of the fertility of soil, level land, presence of a number of rivers, and well developed transport facilities. Since transport and communication facilities are well developed, and different raw materials are easily available, a number of manufacturing industries are also well developed. The development of both, agriculture and manufacturing industries helps to develop trade. Foodgrains and manufactured products from plains move to mountains and minerals and wood move to the plains. Thus, trade between plain regions and mountainous region always well developed at least for certain commodities. - **Plateaus:** Rolling or flat land at higher elevation is known as a plateau. The development of economic and commercial activities on a plateau depends upon their location, climate, natural vegetation, and the availability of mineral and power resources. A plateau which is located in the interior part of a continent, the climate is cool and dry. Grazing and dry farming are the only economic activities of man. Agriculture is only on a subsistent basis. Only surplus animal products are available for trade. For example - Plateaus of N. America, Central Asia etc. Plateaus located near coastal areas, enjoy hot and humid climate. On such plateaus, plantation crops like coffee, tea, sugarcane etc. can be well developed, and exported to many other countries. For example - Deccan plateau of India, plateau of East Africa etc. The plateaus of S. Africa and Brazil are rich in mineral and power resources. They export this mineral wealth to European countries, and N. America. - **Climate:** Of all the factors of the environment, climate is the most fundamental factor. Climate influences practically all the dimensions of human life, ranging from man’s physical and mental abilities to the choice of his activities. Human settlements, capacities to undertake work, soil types, vegetation types, etc. are all affected by climate. Climate is that factor of our physical environment which has a profound effect on economic development and activities of man. Climate is the sum total of the atmospheric conditions experienced over any region during a long period of time. - **Climate and Activities:** Activities of man are greatly influenced by climate. Certain activities are found only in certain climatic region. For example, hunting, fishing, collection of wild fruits and primitive agriculture are important activities of the equatorial region, hunting is the main activity of the tropical grassland region, wheat cultivation, fruit farming, wine manufacturing etc. are the activities of the Mediterranean region, agriculture is the most important activity of man in the monsoon region, lumbering and trapping of animals is well developed in the coniferous forest region, while in tundra and deserts, due to very harsh environmental conditions, the scope for the development of human activities is very limited. The soil types also differ from region to region, and are greatly influenced by climate. Agricultural decisions on what to grow, how to grow, and what to grow are influenced by the climate. For example, rubber cannot be grown anywhere else other than the tropical countries, or wheat can be grown worldwide, but the time of cultivating wheat is different. - **Climate and Transport:** Climate also affects the development of transport facilities. In the areas of heavy rain, road and railway tracks are often flooded. River transport is also disrupted due to floods. Air transport becomes very difficult in stormy and cloudy or fogy weather conditions. In polar areas, water in ports and harbours is frozen, in Himalayan region due to heavy snowfall, roads are covered with snow which has to be removed with the help of dredgers. - **Climate and Markets:** The distribution of population is greatly affected by the types of climate. Areas of extreme climate are the areas of low density of population, and the areas of mild climate are the areas of high density of population. Due to this, the distribution of population on the surface of the Earth is very uneven. In other words, the distribution of needs and wants is uneven. Densely populated countries of Europe import wheat from U.S.A. and Canada or Pakistan, and China imports rice from Myanmar and Thailand. Due to cold winters in Europe and N. America, the demand for woolen clothing is very high and therefore, these areas import raw wool from Australia and South Africa. There is a good relationship between climate and development of some tertiary activities like the tourism industry. To escape from the severe cold of winter season, many people from N. Europe, and N. America go to spend their vacation in the sunny climate of the Southern part of these continents. In tropical areas, many rich people go to hill stations like Matheran, Mahabaleshwar, Simla or Ooty. - **Size and Shape of a Country:** Large-sized countries like the U.S.A., Canada, Russia, China or India are likely to have a wider range of resources. Owing to their large size, they might possess larger diversity in their geological and geographical conditions. Larger and more diverse the resource base, more is the possibility of economic growth and development. Smaller countries like the U.K. or Japan have limitations in the availability of resources. Smaller countries may have to depend on imports for their requirements. For example, U.K. has to import about 50% of its food requirements from Canada, U.S.A., and Argentina. On the other hand, a country may have a fragmented, elongated or compact shape. A compact country can have all its economic development as the co-ordination of its various resources becomes easy. On the other hand, if it is fragmented, it will hinder the development and that too which will be uneven. A country having great longitudinal extent or elongated shape like in the case of Chile or Peru, may face problems of political control and integration. A fragmented country like the Philippines also faces problems of overall balanced development. - **Coastline:** Among the different modes of transport, water transport is the cheapest. Most of the world trade is carried out by water transport. Therefore, the nature of coastline is an important geographical factor influencing international trade of any country. Coastlines may be: - Broken and Smooth or Indented and Regular - Low and High The development of ports and harbours for international trade depends upon the nature of coastline. Broken coastline encourages the development of natural ports and harbours. When a coastline is broken, there are a number of bays and headlands. Headlands help to reduce the force of wind, and waves. Water in bay is, therefore, calm, which is essential for launching ships and also for loading, and unloading of cargo. Coastline of many West European countries, Japan, and N. America is broken and has encouraged the development of a number of natural ports and harbours to develop international trade. On the other hand, smooth or regular coastlines are directly exposed to strong winds and powerful sea waves. This discourages the development of natural ports and harbours. The coastline of Africa, S. America, and India is smooth. There are a very few good natural ports, and harbours. Their international trade is also not very well developed. - **Minerals:** Minerals are the most unevenly distributed resource on the Earth's surface. Some countries possess large amounts of the world's known deposits of minerals and power resources, while others are completely devoid of those particular minerals, e.g. 75% of the world's coal reserves are concentrated in the U.S.A. and Western Europe, about 90% of the world's oil reserves are found in the U.S.A. and Middle-Eastern countries. This uneven distribution of minerals and power resources has led to large-scale trade in mineral, and power resources. The areas with rich mineral deposits have attracted large numbers of people, from distant places to areas which were considered to be less suitable for human settlement. The economies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq are entirely dependent on oil exports. - **Soils:** Different types of soils are found in different regions. Soil is a governing factor in raising a particular crop e.g. black cotton soils are suitable for cotton, tobacco, etc. alluvial soils for sugarcane, jute, rice, etc. The fertility of soil controls the quality and quantity of a particular crop, e.g. Alluvial soil in the Nile delta is good for cotton, or Virginia tobacco grown in the sandy loam soil in South-Eastern parts of U.S.A. As a result, Egypt exports cotton, and U.S.A. exports tobacco. The permafrost soils of the Tundra are not useful for agricultural practices. #### 6.2. Biotic or Living environment The natural vegetation and animal life are the two most important factors of the living or the biotic environment. - **Natural Vegetation:** The vegetation cover is directly dependent on climate. Natural vegetation provides us with timber, wood, fruits, etc. Lumbering is an important activity in the areas of softwood coniferous regions. It has also helped to develop paper, and pulp industry, and ship building industry. On the other hand, in the regions of tropical hardwood forest, the scope for the development of economic activities is very limited on account of the nature of wood, unhealthy climate, lack of transport facilities, etc. - **Animal Life:** Hunting and fishing are amongst the oldest occupations of man. From time immemorial, native animal life of the lands have been hunted for food, clothing and other materials, likewise, from wherever man has lived by sea, lakes, and rivers, fishing has developed. Both occupations require direct adjustment to the environmental conditions. Hunting and fishing are still the primary occupations of several tropical parts of the world. Today, commercial grazing and commercial fishing are the leading occupations in the extensive temperate grasslands and coastal regions of the temperate latitudes. Thus, various factors of the natural environment exert considerable influence on the production of various goods and the commodities and pattern of economic and commercial activities of man. The development of internal, inter-regional and international trade is deeply rooted in the variations in various environmental factors. #### 6.3. Human or Anthropogenic environment When we examine the ascent of man, we find that initially he was subordinate to Nature. The sheer necessity for survival made him look around for tools and weapons or aids to increase his power, and efficiency. Nature with her inherent resistance, posed tremendous difficulties for man to progress. But with superior intellect, man ultimately won the struggle with the aid of culture, which not only strongly changed his physical existence but also helped him to flourish. According to Zimmermann, culture is the sum total of all the devices produced by man, with the aid, advice, and consent of Nature, to assist him in the attainment of his objectives. Natural Environment determines the extent of opportunities, but to what extent these opportunities are exploited and used by man depends on the level of technological, cultural, economic, and social changes, Government attitudes, population, etc. - **Social Environment:** The population is unevenly distributed on the Earth's surface. The size of the population affects the flow of the world commerce. Densely populated countries of Asia demand large quantity of food grains as their domestic production is inadequate to feed their population. On the other hand, countries like the U.S.A, and Canada export food grains, owing to their moderate population and large exportable surplus. The composition of trade is not only determined by the size of the population but also by the habits, tastes, fashions and religions, etc. of the people in different parts of the world. For instance, Americans prefer coffee as a major beverage and import it from Brazil, whereas the British prefer tea owing to the habits and tastes, therefore, import tea from India. As fashions of wearing different styles of dresses change very fast, the Australians prefer exporting raw wool rather than ready-made garments. Sometimes, even thickly-populated regions with high per capita income restrict trade in particular commodities, as in the case of the Middle-East countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc. ban trade in wine, as it is prohibited by their religion, or India, for instance, has not developed beef cattle, in spite of the highest number of cattle population in the world, as cattle is considered as a holy animal. - **Political Environment:** A Government plays a significant role in promoting people’s welfare through economic development. The political condition prevailing in a country directly affects the flow of commerce of that country. The countries of the world follow different political systems such as Democratic, Communist, Dictatorial, etc. The countries following the same political system form a Trade Block to regulate their trade and get more benefits from international trade, e.g. EEC, LAFTA, WTO, G-7, OPEC, etc. Formation of such groups helps to reduce unhealthy competition amongst the members and stimulate commerce. The countries with stable political conditions can develop their domestic and international trade. The countries with internal political conflicts and external wars, etc. find it difficult to export their goods, e.g. recent political crisis in the former Russia had created tremendous shortage of commodities, or the political crisis in the Middle-East created major oil crisis. The Government policies of taxation, quota system, assistance for the development of industries also determines the economic development and political environment of the country. - **Economic and Technological Environment:** The development of science and technology has raised the position of man from being at the mercy of Nature to the one who can exploit its resources systematically. Man has overcome the barriers of the environment, and today, can produce certain goods in the areas that were unsuitable for their production. He has converted the temperate grasslands into areas producing wheat and corn on a large scale, by the use of sophisticated machinery, which does the entire farm work from ploughing to harvesting. This also requires large capital investment. He has also extended his search for mineral resources to deep-sea beds and to Polar Regions. All this was possible due to the availability of huge capital and technological development. The development of infrastructure is also greatly influenced by the availability of capital and technology. Infrastructure forms the backbone of any economy. Therefore, the development of manufacturing, trade and commerce is dependent on this infrastructure which requires capital, and technological advancement in the form of communication facilities, speedy transport, banking, etc. From above, we have understood so far, it is clear that human race is entirely dependent of its natural environment for its survival. But so far, except in theory, man has shown no apparent signs of respecting his environment. He has been considering the Earth as an unlimited storehouse of resources that will support man for an indefinite period. ### 7. Bio-geochemical cycles Biogeochemical cycle or cycling of substances is a pathway by which a chemical substance moves through biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) compartments of Earth. For example, Carbon cycle, Nitrogen cycle, Oxygen cycle etc. #### 7.1. The Carbon Cycle - All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and even rocks. Because the Earth is a dynamic place, carbon does not stay still. It is on the move! - In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to some oxygen in a gas called carbon dioxide. - Plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to make their own food and grow. The carbon becomes part of the plant. Plants that die, and are buried may turn into fossil fuels made of carbon like coal, and oil over millions of years. When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly goes back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Before, causing what is known as a “Glacier…. Such disturbances to the water cycle responsible for disastrous results on the ecology, and man himself as a part of the ecosystem. ### 13. Concept of Sustainability and Sustainable Development #### 13.1. Introduction The first step in the study of sustainable development is to decide just what is meant by the term "development". When we understand it, it will be possible to think about from the environment point of view. Unfortunately, it is not easy to define "development" since it is an idea or concept, that can have different meanings to different people. Normally in everyday speech "development" usually implies "growth" and "change", especially for better. It is common to speak about "development of our skills", such as swimming, developing our bodies (to make more attractive) "developing a city park" etc. The development of resources raises many problems. It is usually the case that when development of resources is discussed, improvement in economic status is understood. Such economic improvement implies that more, and more better paid jobs will be available, and that many other facilities will be available. Very often "development" is considered to be the equivalent of economic growth. Many times the other side of the development is not taken into consideration. When we plan for the exploitation of resources for economic development, sometime environment is adversely affected. This development leads to air, water, soil pollution. Many plants, animals, minerals, power resources are likely to get extinct. They will not be available for future generation. In this context, the process of sustainable development should be viewed as an interplay between these components. Some of the issues, concerns, methodologies, and action plans for achieving sustainable development at the regional and global levels have been discussed in this chapter. ### 14. Environment and development The term "environment" comprises for spheres, namely, atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrospheres, and biosphere. The first three are closely linked to the biosphere. Here, the term "development" includes all human activities aimed at improving economic status and providing social security - shelter, food, water, good health, etc. - is closely linked with the exploration and many times exploitation of living and non-living resources; which are found in all four spheres, which are mentioned above. This leads to the qualitative and quantitative changes into environmental components. Sometimes these changes are irreversible in nature. During the last one hundred years, the way in which we have exploited resources, the environment is experiencing great stress, due to massive human interference with the world’s interdependent web of life. Unplanned and excessive use of natural resources has resulted in their quantitative decline. For example, over-exploitation of groundwater has resulted in freshwater scarcity, over-fishing has resulted in reduced catch, large-scale deforestation has resulted in the loss of biodiversity and degradation of soil quality; over-silting in the number of streams, and rivers. ### 15. History of Sustainable Development The concept of "sustainable development" is by no means a new concept for Indians. Indian literature dating back to called "vedic" times has a number of references in respect of sustainable use of water, forest, animals, land, and many other living resources. Rapid growth of industries all over the world has helped realise the importance of sustainable development. Over years, for the long-term welfare of society, it is firmly included in most national, and international policies of most of the countries. The first authentic document, which had immense and provocative impact on developers, and policy makers, was a report on "limits to growth" prepared by the "Club of Rome". The report touched upon various aspects, like demographic pressure, economic growth, industrial development, and environmental pollution. In other words, the report speaks about the gloomy future of mankind in respect of overuse of resources. “The First United Nations Conference on Human Environment” held in Stockholm in 1972 was the second major milestone, which focused on the link between economic progress and environmental problems. The major achievement of this conference was the realisation that the protection of the environment is the responsibility of all countries and can be achieved only through positive social responses. The World Conservation Strategy initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provided the platform for an international debate on "sustainable development". The most important piece of writing on sustainable development is the publication of an international report titled "Our Common Future" by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) in 1987. This report gave the most comprehensive definition of sustainable development. As per this report, the main objective of any development should be to ensure the satisfaction of human needs. Over exploitation of resources may force human beings to compromise their ability to meet essential needs in the future. The report concludes with the remark “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. The international dimension of the sustainable development was brought in front of the world at the “Second United Nations Conference on Environment and Development” (UNCED), which is popularly known as “Earth Summit I”, held in Rio-de-Janeiro in 1992. Representatives of 170 countries attended this conference. The conference produced very important documents. One of the most important document was the “Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Agenda 21”; which includes United Nations Framework, Conservation on Climate Change, Statement of principles on Forests, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. These documents have played very important roles in developing, and implementing sustainability plans in a number of member countries. One of the most important contribution of the Summit was the formation of "Commission on Sustainable Development" (CSD). The Earth Summit II was held in New York in 1997, to assess the progress made in the field of "Development and Environmental protection" during the five years following the previous Summit held at Rio. The Earth Summit III, also known as Rio + 10 conference, held at Johannesburg, South Africa, during September 2002, that discussed the success stories, and status reports related to sustainable development of participating countries. ### 16. Definitions of Sustainable Development A number of definitions have been proposed at different times during the evolution and growth of the concept of sustainable development. Some of the important and more acceptable ones are given below: - “Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs”. Brundtland 1987. - “Sustainable agriculture is a system that can evolve indefinitely towards greater human utility, greater efficiency of resources use and a balance with environment which is favourable to humans and most other species”. Harwood 1990. - “Sustainable development involves devising a social and economic system, which ensures that these goals are sustained; i.e. that real incomes rise, that education standard increase, that the health of the nation improves, that the general quality of life is advanced”. Pearce Makandia and Barbier 1989. No single approach to sustainable development is consistently useful. Sustainable development, sustainable growth, sustainable use have been used interchangeably, as if their meanings are same; but, they are not. Sustainable growth is a contradiction in terms: nothing physical can grow indefinitely. Sustainable use is only applicable to renewable resources. Sustainable development is in this context to mean: improving the quality of human life whilst living within the carrying capacity of the ecosystems. UNEP, WWF 1991. Sustainable development of renewable rescources implies respecting limits to the development process, even though these limits are adjustable by technology. The sustainability of technology may be judged by whether it increases production, but retains environmental, and other limits. Holdgate 1993. Sustainable development is concerned with the development of a society, where the costs of development are not transferred to future generations, or atleast an attempt is made to compensate such costs. Pearce 1993. From the above definitions, it is clear that sustainability is one of those value added terms that has to be “understood” and not “explained”. ### 17. Importance of Sustainable Development It is necessary to realize that sustainable development does not mean no human impact on the environment. Such a situation is impossible to achieve as long as there are people on the Earth. There is a need to change the socio-economic systems in order to reduce environmental impacts. It is necessary to reduce the amount of resources exploited and used for economic growth - these must be replaced by an emphasis on sustainable development - the qualitative improvement in human welfare. To achieve this, there is a need to bring about drastic changes at global, national, and regional or local levels so as to achieve a globally sustainable future. Sustainable development is a global challenge which must be based on a long term perspective, and is required for the entire world’s population, not just a select and privileged few. Following points reflect the need for sustainable development: - **Environmental Issues:** Most of the environmental issues are related to physical, environmental and human elements in one way or other. Man by the virtue of his intelligence has tried to understand various processes and forces operating in the natural environment. He has made use of these forces of nature to his benefit to satisfy his needs, and wants. This has resulted environmental issues. Today, there is a need to tackle these issues. - **Human Capacity:** Human capacity to use these environmental forces and natural resources depends upon his scientific and technological development. Hence, we find that the rate of exploitation of resources and pollution created in this process is much more in the industrialized economies as compared to the industrially underdeveloped economies. The development processes provides comfort, and luxuries, and human well being. - **Cost of Development:** Although mankind has enjoyed the fruits of development, but, in the process of development has paid a heavy price in terms of degraded and polluted environments. The development has resulted due to exploitation of natural resources. But human ideas of development, greed has resulted in a rapid rate of exploitation of resources. - **Resource Exploitation:** The technology used for exploitation of resources has given man tremendous capacities to exploit resources beyond human limits. The end result is reckless exploitation of resources which has resulted in wastage, overexploitation, depletion and degradation of resources, making resource exploitation unsustainable. - **Resource Consumption:** Today, many resources are on or near verge of exhaustion. This becomes a major problem particularly in the case of fossil fuels and mineral resources. These resources are known as fund resources, which mean they are limited. Fossil fuels, in particular, once used cannot be reused in any other way. Thus, limited fossil fuel resources pose a threat to any economy in the future. Another major problem is related to the use of these fossil fuels which are responsible for tremendous amounts of pollution of air. Other resources like forests, water, air, etc. are known as flow resources and have a capacity to regenerate. But, the rate at which these resources are being exploited is tremendous. Here too, the problem is of two fold. Firstly, the time required for the regeneration is far more than the rate at which they are exploited, the best example is rate of destruction of forests. Secondly, resources like water are not only being consumed on larger scale but are also being depleted due to pollution and contamination. Theoretically, the long term result of environmental degradation would be local environments that are no longer able to sustain human populations to any degree. Such degradation on a global scale could imply extinction of humanity. | Consumption of renewable resources | State of environment | Sustainability | |---|---|---| | More than nature’s ability to replenish | Environmental degradation | Not sustainable | | Equal to nature’s ability to replenish | Environmental equilibrium | Steady-