UNIT 5: Environment Protection (PDF)

UNIT-5: ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION CO 5: Extend the educational components of environment to individual, social, national and legal variable for problem solving. (K4) Contents: Environmental Protection: Environment Protection Act 1986, Initiatives by Non-Government Organizations (NGO’S), Human Populat...

UNIT-5: ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION CO 5: Extend the educational components of environment to individual, social, national and legal variable for problem solving. (K4) Contents: Environmental Protection: Environment Protection Act 1986, Initiatives by Non-Government Organizations (NGO’S), Human Population and the Environment: Population growth, environmental education, Women Education. Environmental Protection The government is not just the protector of the country’s environment but it has immense responsibility for sustaining environmental consciousness. In Indian Constitution, it is clearly stated that it is the duty of the State to ‘protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife. A large number of laws came into existence as the problems arose. The Environment (Protection) Act 1986 The act comes into force on Nov. 19, 1986, the birth anniversary of our late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, who was the pioneer of environmental protection issues in our country. The act authorizes the central government to protect and improve environmental quality, control and reduce pollution from all sources, and prohibit or restrict the setting and operation of any industrial facility on environmental grounds. Overview The Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing the protection and improvement of the environment It empowers the Central Government to establish authorities charged with the mandate of reventing environmental pollution in all its forms and to tackle specific environmental problems that are peculiar to different parts of the country. The Act is one of the most comprehensive legislations with a pretext to protection and improvement of the environment. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering  Background The roots of the enactment of the EPA lies in the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972 (Stockholm Conference), in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for the improvement of the human environment. The Act implements the decisions made at the Stockholm Conference. Constitutional-Provisions The EPA Act was enacted under Article 253 of the Indian Constitution which provides for the enactment of legislation for giving effect to international agreements. Article 48A of the Constitution specifies that the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Article 51A further provides that every citizen shall protect the environment. Coverage The Act is applicable to the whole of India including the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Salient Features of the EPA - ACT Powers of the Central Government: The Central Government shall have the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment in coordination with the State Governments. Compliance with Procedural Safeguards: No individual shall handle or shall be caused to handle any hazardous substance except in accordance with the procedure and without complying with the safeguards, as prescribed. Powers of Entry and Inspection: Any person empowered by the Central Government shall have a right to enter (with the assistance deemed necessary) at any place. Establishment of Environmental Laboratories: The Central Government, as per the Act, is entitled to establish environmental laboratories. Recognize any laboratory or institute as an environmental laboratory to carry out the functions entrusted to such a laboratory. Appointment of Government Analyst: A Government Analyst is appointed by the Central Government for the analyzing the samples of air, water, soil or other substance sent to a recognized environmental laboratory. Penalties for Offences: Non-compliance or Contravention to any of the provisions of the Act is considered as an offence. Any offences under the EPA are punishable with the imprisonment of upto five years or a fine upto one lakh rupee or both. Offences by Companies: If an offence under this Act is committed by a company, every person directly in charge of the company, at the time of the commitment of offence, is deemed to be guilty BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering Drawbacks of the Act Complete Centralization of the Act: A potential drawback of the Act could be its centralization. While such wide powers are provided to the Centre and no powers to the state governments, the former is liable to its arbitrariness and misuse. No Public Participation: The Act also says anything about public participation as regards environmental protection. There is a need to involve the citizens in environmental protection to check arbitrariness and raise awareness and empathy towards the environment. Incomplete Coverage of Pollutants: The Act does not address modern concept of pollution such as noise, overburdened transport system and radiation waves which are also an important cause for the deteriorating environment. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 The act aims to control and prevent air pollution in India. It was amended in 1987. Its main are as follows: 1. To provide for prevention, control, and abatement of air pollution. 2. To provide for the establishment of the boards at the central and state levels to implement the Act (Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board). Salient features To confer on the Boards the powers and duties to implement the provisions of the act. The states should prescribe emission standards for industry and automobiles after consulting the central board and seeing its ambient air quality standards. It states that the sources of air pollution such as Internal combustion engines, industry, vehicles, power plants, etc., are not permitted to release particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other toxic substances beyond a predetermined limit. It also empowers the State Government to designate air pollution areas. They have to prescribe the type of fuel to be used in these designated areas. According to it, it is required the consent of the State Board to operate certain types of industries including the asbestos, cement, fertilizer and petroleum industries. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering  The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 Its objective is to 1.provide prevention and control of water pollution 2. maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness and purity of water in the various sources of water Salient Features It vests regulatory authority in Centre Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB). It empowers CPCB and SPCB to establish and enforce effluent standards for factories discharging pollutants into water bodies. CPCB performs these same functions for Union Territories. It also formulates policies related to the prevention of water pollution and coordinates activities of different State Boards. SPCB control sewage and industrial effluent discharge by approving, rejecting or impose conditions while granting consent to discharge. The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 The Wild Life Act provides 1. Centre and state wildlife advisory boards. 2. Regulations for hunting wild animals and birds. 3. Establishment of the national parks and sanctuaries and 4. Regulations for trade in wild animals, animal products and trophies, and judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act. Salient Features It was amended in 1982 to permit the capture and transportation of wild animals for scientific research & management. Hunting of Species (endangered) listed in Schedule 1 of the Act is prohibited throughout India. This act provides for the regulation of species, like those requiring special protection (Schedule II), big game (Schedule III), and small game (Schedule IV) through licensing. A few species in Schedule V known as vermin which may be hunted. This act administered by the Wildlife wardens and their staff. The Indian government has also started some conservation projects under it for individual endangered species like project Hungal (1970), project Tiger (1973), project Crocodiles (1974), project vulture, Brown-antlered Deer (1981) and Elephant (1991-92,) Ganges Dolphin (1997), project Olive Riddley etc. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering  The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 In 1927, the first Forest Act was enacted to serve the purpose of British rule. It recognizes 4 categories of the forests, namely reserved forests, village forests, protected forests and private forests. Subsequently, in 1980, the Forest (Conservation) Act was promulgated to make certain reforms over the preceding Act of 1927. It was due to alarming India’s rapid deforestation that resulting in environmental degradation. Salient Features It was enacted to consolidate the laws related to forest, the transit of forest produce and the duty livable on timber and other forest produce. It empowered the State to declare forest lands or wastelands as reserved forest and it can sell the produce from these forests. It ensured the preservation of protected forests through rules, licenses and criminal prosecutions. Forest officers and their staffs administer the Forest Act. As per the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes. For this, guidelines for compensatory land on the basis of net present value is made under CAMPA act. ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are legally constituted corporations created by voluntary group of individuals and are not a part of a government. NGOs are the non- profit organizations and are formed to provide public services and to advocate a public policy. NGO’s works at local/state/national/international levels for improving the state of the natural environment, encouraging the observance of human rights, improving the welfare of the disadvantaged, or representing a corporate agenda. Initiatives taken by NGOs Environmental education and awareness among people. Environmental (air/water/land) pollution prevention and control. Protection on forest wealth. Protection of Human health. Afforestation and social forestry. Wild life conservation. Recycling and waste utilization. Rural and eco development. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering  Population stabilization. Development of non-polluting renewable energy sources. Emphasizing the use of non-conventional, pollution free sources of energy eg. Solar, wind , tidal) Conservation of biodiversity. Encouraging organic agriculture. Developing new dimensions to national security. Sustainable development. Some important NGOs and their roles Kalpavriksh (KV)(1979): This organization started as a movement opposed to the distruction of Delhi’s green area. It is mainly conducting research on environmental subjects, such as an environment impact assessment, study of Narmada valley, air pollution and minning activity etc. Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad: KSSP is an important national institution with a membership of over 25,000 along with 900 units. The activities involve eco development, creating awareness on water and energy conservation. UNESCO :The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization with over 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300 conservation and environmental projects. WWF is a foundation, in 2010 deriving 57% of funding from individuals and bequests, 17% from government sources (such as the World Bank, DFID, USAID) and 11% from corporations. Environment and Human Rights NGOs Environmental NGOs are another sub-sector. Like other NGOs networks, transnational environmental networks might acquire a variety of benefits in sharing information with other organizations, campaigning towards an issue, and exchanging contact information. Human rights NGOs may also overlap with those in development, but are another distinct category. Even though NGOs might have common goals relating to development or environment issues, interests and perspectives are diverse. There is also a distinction among BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering groups that take on particular and specific socio-economic issues. The Women’s Environment and Development Organization was created in 1990 with the purpose to advocate for gender inclusion in work related to the Earth Summit. Other groups might focus on issues that include racial minorities and individuals from lower income backgrounds. HUMAN POPULATION & ENVIRONMENT Population is defined as the number of inhabitants settled in an area or country. This indicates the number of people that usually live in an area. Growth rates are the annual changes in population resulting from births, deaths and net migration during the year. A population is the complete set group of individuals, whether that group comprises a nation or a group of people with a common characteristic. In statistics, a population is the pool of individuals from which a statistical sample is drawn for a study. Population Growth The annual average rate of change of population size, for a given country, territory, or geographic area, during a specified period is called population growth. It expresses the ratio between the annual increase in the population size and the total population for that year, usually multiplied by 100. Overpopulation Overpopulation is an undesirable condition in which the current human population exceeds the Earth's actual carrying capacity. A variety of factors contribute to overpopulation. Reduced mortality, improved medical facilities, and the depletion of precious resources are just a few of the factors that contribute to overpopulation. Overpopulation affects more developing countries than developed countries, but it affects the majority of the Earth at the moment. When discussing overpopulation, we should first try to understand the underlying causes. Causes of Overpopulation Decline in the Death Rate The difference between the overall birth and death rates in populations is at the root of overpopulation. The population will stabilize when the number of children born each year equals the number of adults who die. Agricultural Progress At the same time, technological revolutions and population explosions occur. Three major technological BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering revolutions have occurred. They are the industrial revolution, the agricultural revolution, and the tool-making revolution. Agricultural advancements in the twentieth century enabled humans to increase food production and yields by using fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides. This increased human food availability, resulting in population explosions. Improved Medical Facilities Development in medical science made numerous discoveries that enabled to defeat a wide range of diseases. Vaccines have cured illnesses that had previously claimed thousands of lives. The combination of increased food supply and fewer means of mortality tipped the balance and marked the beginning of overpopulation. More Hands to Fight Poverty Poverty is widely regarded as the primary cause of overpopulation. Because of a lack of educational resources, as well as high death rates, which resulted in higher birth rates, impoverished areas are experiencing large population booms. Families that have experienced poverty, natural disasters, or simply need more hands to work are major contributors to overpopulation. Immigration Many people prefer to relocate to developed countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, where the best medical, educational, security, and employment opportunities are available. As a result, those people settle in those areas, eventually overcrowding them. When the number of people leaving the country exceeds the number of people entering, there is usually a greater demand for food, clothing, energy, and housing. This results in a scarcity of resources. Though the overall population remains constant, the density of the population increases, making that location simply overcrowded. Inadequate Family Planning Most developing countries have a large number of illiterate people who live in poverty and have little or no knowledge of family planning. Furthermore, marrying their children at a young age increases their chances of having more children. These people are unable to comprehend the negative consequences of overpopulation, and a lack of quality education leads them to avoid family planning methods. Consequences of over population Natural resource depletion Overpopulation has serious consequences. The first of these is resource depletion. The Earth can only produce a finite amount of water and food, which is insufficient to meet current demands. The majority of the environmental damage seen in the last fifty years has been caused by the planet's growing population. They include destroying forests, hunting wildlife recklessly, polluting the environment, and causing a slew of other BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering issues. Those involved in discussions about overpopulation have noticed an increase in acts of violence and aggression outside of a war zone while competing for resources. Environmental Degradation The excessive use of coal, oil, and natural gas has begun to have serious consequences for our environment. Furthermore, the exponential increase in the number of vehicles and industries has had a negative impact on air quality. Global warming is caused by an increase in CO2 emissions. Melting polar ice caps, changing climate patterns, and rising sea levels are just a few of the consequences of environmental pollution. Wars and conflicts Overpopulation in developing countries places a significant strain on the resources that should be used for development. Water conflicts are becoming a source of tension between countries, potentially leading to war. It promotes disease spread and makes disease control more difficult. Starvation is a major problem that the world is dealing with, and it is contributing to the high mortality rate among children. When discussing overpopulation, the most noticeable feature is poverty. All of this will only worsen if solutions to the factors affecting our population are not sought. We can no longer prevent it, but we can control it. Increased Unemployment When a country becomes overpopulated, unemployment increases because there are fewer jobs to support a large number of people. Because people want to feed their families and provide them with basic necessities, the rise in unemployment encourages crime, such as theft. Expensive Living Expenses As the gap between demand and supply widens due to overpopulation, the prices of essential commodities such as food, shelter, and healthcare rise. People will have to pay more to survive and feed their families as a result of this. Epidemics and Pandemics Poverty is linked to a variety of environmental and social factors, including overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions, malnutrition, and inaccessible, inadequate, or non-existent health care, making the poor more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Furthermore, high population densities increase the likelihood of new pandemics and epidemics emerging. Malnutrition, Hunger, and Famine When resources are scarce, starvation and malnutrition, as well as ill health and diseases caused by a lack of nutrients, such as rickets, become more likely. Famine is typically associated with underdeveloped regions, and there is a strong correlation between poverty levels and famine. Reduced Life Expectancy Less developed countries account for a large portion of global population growth. Less-developed countries BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering thus face lower life expectancy as a result of population growth. This results in a scarcity of resources in these countries, resulting in less access to medical care, clean water, food, and employment, and, ultimately, a sharp drop in life expectancy. Extinction Overpopulation has a severe impact on the world's wildlife. As demand for land grows, natural habitats such as forests are increasingly being destroyed. Data has also been gathered to demonstrate a direct relationship between increases in human population and decreases in the number of species on the planet. Some scientists warn that if current trends continue, up to 50% of the world's wildlife species will face extinction. Increased Intensification of Farming With the increase in population, farming practises have evolved to produce enough food to feed a larger number of people. However, intensive farming methods harm local ecosystems and the land, which may cause problems in the future. Furthermore, because of the machinery required, intensive farming contributes to climate change. If population growth continues at its current rate, this effect will most likely worsen. Rapid Climate Change Overpopulation forces larger countries, such as China and India, to maintain their industrial capacities. Other than the United States, they are now two of the three largest contributors to global emissions. Human activities, according to 97% of the scientific community, are changing global temperatures. Larger populations may accelerate these changes if more is not done to reduce individual carbon footprints on a large scale. Solutions to Control Overpopulation Improved Education One of the first steps is to put policies in place that reflect social change. Educating the masses helps them understand the importance of having only one or two children at most. Similarly, education is critical in comprehending the most recent technologies that are making huge waves in the world of computing. Families who face adversity and decide to have four or five children should be discouraged. Family planning and effective birth control can assist women in making their own reproductive decisions. When discussing overpopulation, an open dialogue on abortion and voluntary sterilization should be seen. Girl Child Education Currently, more than 130 million young women and girls worldwide are not enrolled in school. The majority of these people live in male-dominated societies, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and West Asia, where women do not have the same access to education as men. Gender norms and child marriage complicate their access to education even more. Girls who receive less education are more likely to have children at a young age and are more vulnerable to exploitation. Furthermore, poor families are less likely to send their female children to school. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering Raising Awareness of Family Planning Because the world's population is rapidly increasing, raising awareness among people about family planning and informing them about the serious consequences of overpopulation can help to slow population growth. One of the most effective methods is to inform them about the various safe sex techniques and contraceptive methods available to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Tax breaks or exemptions To combat overpopulation, governments in various countries may need to implement various tax exemption policies. One of them could be to waive a portion of income tax or lower income tax rates for married couples with one or two children. Because humans are more inclined toward money, this may have some positive consequences. Sex Education Knowledge Sex education for young children at the elementary level should be mandatory. Most parents are hesitant to discuss such topics with their children, which leads to their children searching for such information on the internet or discussing it with their peers. Most of the time, the information is insufficient, leaving sexually active teenagers unaware of contraception and embarrassed to seek it. As a result, it is critical for parents and teachers to let go of old inhibitions and educate their children or students on the importance of sex education. Social Media Marketing Some societies have already begun using social marketing to educate the public about the effects of overpopulation. The intervention can be widely implemented at a low cost. Print materials (flyers, brochures, fact sheets, stickers) can be distributed in a variety of settings, including places of worship, sporting events, local food markets, schools, and car parks. Population Characteristics/ Population Dynamics Exponential Growth When a population is increased by a fixed percentage is known as exponential growth eg. 10, 10 2, 103… Population growth takes place exponentially and that explains the dramatic increase in global population in the last 150 yrs. Doubling Time The number of years required for the population of an area to double its present size, is called doubling time. Zero Population Growth ZPG is the absence of Population growth in which equal birth and death rates create a stable human population. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering Life Expectancy Life expectancy is the average number of years remaining for living being of a given age to live. Life expectancy is also called average life span or mean life span. Population Pyramid Population pyramids are graphical representations of the age and sex of a population. For this reason, population pyramids are also referred to as age-sex pyramids. There are three types of population pyramids: Expanding, Constrictive and Stable/ Stationary. Replacement Level The level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to next without migration. Demographic Transition Demographic transition is a phenomenon and theory which refers to the historical shift from high birth rates and high death rates in societies with minimal technology, education and economic development, to low birth rates and low death rates in societies with advanced technology, education and economic development, as well as the stages between these two scenarios. Birth Rate The birth rate is the ratio between the number of live-born births in the year and the average total population of that year. OR The birth rate for a given period is the total number of live human births per 1,000 population divided by the length of the period in years. DeathRate The ratio of deaths to the population of a particular area or during a particular period of time, usually calculated as the number of deaths per one thousand people per year. PopulationDensity Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume; it is a quantity of type number density. It is frequently applied to living organisms and most of the time to humans. It is a key geographical term. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering  Infant Mortality Rate IMR is the number of resident newborns in a specified geographic area (country, state, county, etc.) dying under one year of age divided by the number of resident live births for the same geographic area (for a specified time period, usually a calendar year) and multiplied by 1,000. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN INDIA In India, comprehensive scheme of 'Environmental Education, Awareness and Training' was launched in 1983- 84. The scheme intends to enhance our understanding about the interactions between human beings and environment. Also, it aims to facilitate the development of skills for environmental protection. Objective of the schemes ‘Environmental Education, Awareness and Training To promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society; To spread environment education, especially in the non-formal system among different sections of the society; To facilitate development of education/training materials and aids in the formal education sector; To promote environment education through existing educational/scientific/research institutions; To ensure training and manpower development for environment education, awareness and training; To encourage non-governmental organizations, mass media and other concerned organizations for promoting awareness about environmental issues among the people at all levels; To mobilize people's participation for preservation and conservation of environment. Main activities launched under Environmental Education, Awareness and Training scheme National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC): The National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) in 1986 with the aim of creating environmental awareness at all levels of society. It is a multi-media campaign which utilises conventional and nonconventional methods of communication for disseminating environmental messages to a wide range of target groups. Eco Clubs & National Green Corps (NGC): 'Eco Clubs' were constituted with objectives to educate school children about their immediate environment and impart knowledge about the eco-systems, their interdependence and their need for survival, by involving them in various environmental activities through visits and demonstrations and to mobilise youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of scientific inquiry into environmental problems and involving them in the efforts of environmental preservation. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE): This program unites students, teachers and scientists all over the world and targets school children. The students of GLOBE schools are required to collect data about various basic environmental parameters under the supervision of a GLOBE trained teacher. Grants-in-Aid to Professional Societies and Institutions: The objective of this program is to facilitate optimum utilization of expertise available with professional societies and institutions for promotion of environment education and awareness. WOMEN EDUCATION To empower a women and promoting women's sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices and their right to influence social change for themselves and others can be possible only through women education. An educated woman is like a magic wand that brings prosperity, health, and pride. We just have to unleash her potential and see the magic happen. We have improved a lot on women's education since our independence, but still, a lot remains to be improved. Women education strengthens economies and reduces inequality. It contributes to more stable, resilient societies that give all individuals – including boys and men – the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Investing in girls’ education transforms communities, countries and the entire world. Girls who receive an education are less likely to marry young and more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. They earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families. When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential. contributing their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier children. They are also able to help fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large. A key part of this empowerment is through education. Girls who are educated can pursue meaningful work and contribute to their country’s economy later in life. They are also four times less likely to get married young when they have eight years of education, meaning that they and their families are healthier. It is essential to educate women from downtrodden and suppressed classes so that true equality for all women in India blossoms and move towards fully equal partnership of the sexes, as part of the world-wide revolution of human rights now taking place within and beyond our national borders. The purpose of educating the women to make them involve themselves in the mainstream Indian society, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men. BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering BAS-104/BAS-204 Environment & Ecology GCET, Greater Noida ofElectriEngineering