Unit I- Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental studies

Scope and importance, need for public awareness

Welcome all to this session on the scope and importance of environmental studies. A thing of
beauty is joy forever said the nature poet John Keats. Nature not only has an incredible aesthetic
and recreational value but has innumerable production value. The natural landscapes such as
forests, grasslands, rivers, seashore provide us water for agriculture, timber, fish and fodder. Our
dependence on nature is so great that we cannot survive without protecting the environmental
resources. Respect for nature and all living creatures is not new to India. Many of the cultural
practices adopted by our traditional societies helped to protect and preserve the natural resources.
However over past 200 years, our modern society in their ardent desire for a better quality of life
has found easy answers through technological innovations. The rapid industrialization, intensive
agriculture through fertilizers and pesticides, construction of mega dams for irrigation,
development of better strains of animals and crops no doubt has led to economic growth and cozy
living style. But what is the outcome? Can we see some newspaper clippings of the present day
scenario of the planet Earth?

Let us always remember every activity that we do in our daily lives has an adverse impact on
nature's integrity. Environmental studies hence deal with the issues that arise from the interaction
of human beings with nature. To understand these issues and meet the challenges they pose require
knowledge from diverse field and new modes of thinking. Therefore environmental studies is an
academic field of multi disciplinary approach. The scope of the environmental studies is to focus
on not just development but to steer the new generation in the direction of sustainable development.

What is sustainable development? Listen! Our natural resources can be compared with money in
a bank. If we use it rapidly the capital will be reduced to zero. On the other hand if we use only
the interest then it can sustain us over the longer term.

Earth is like a space ship with limited supply of resources. We can utilize the benefits and services
of nature in such a way that there will natural resources available for the future generations to meet
their needs. This is called sustainable development.
Again, to prevent ill-effects on our environment by our actions is economically more viable than
cleaning up the environment once it's damaged. You know individually we can play a major role
in environment management. Can we try this through an activity?

Allow me to narrate a situation that we come across in our day today life.

Some friends decided to go to a restaurant that is few kilometres away. Since they were all feeling
very hungry, they chose to go by car. They go there, find comfortable seats and order their favorite
dishes in one go so as to save their time. We never forget to order for water bottles. Isn’t it! They
too ordered for the water bottles. After some time, food arrives. They start eating their delicious
food, in between liberally making use of the tissue papers placed on their table. Now hunger is
settled but found still some more food left in the plate. They pacified themselves saying, No
problem we have paid for the food and no harm in wasting them. Then before leaving the place
went to the wash basin, opened the water tap and leisurely washed their hands and goggled their
mouths. Again they say in their hearts the bill we paid includes for this water also.

From this narration can you list the natural resources used by these friends.

Yes you are correct , one fossil fuel, two delicious foods, three tissue paper, four water and do not
forgo the plastic water bottles though it is not a natural resource .

Now let us assess the damage it will cause if the unsustainable use of the natural resources by these
friends continues for a life time.

 The fossil fuels namely the oil wasted is part of the non renewable resource that earth
cannot reform. Once all the fossil fuels are burnt off it will mean the end of oil as source
of energy. In addition the effect of burning fossil fuels on the air we breathe must also
be taken into account.
 The food from farm to plate has journeyed a long distance and utilized several other
important resources .Let us not forget money we pay for the food we order or make is
ours but the resources belong to the society.
  Paper making involves cutting down of trees. Let us often ask this question how much do
I use and how much do I waste? How much I can prevent it from being wasted.
 Water an important resource for sustenance of life on Earth. How much we really need to
use as against how much we waste. Where will the waste water go? These questions will
help us to change the way we use water in a more sustainable way.
 Next is plastic. Think about the plastic articles we use daily in our modern lives. Are we
aware of the effects of plastic on our environment? Can we take efforts to reduce the
amount of plastics we use?

It is the need of the hour to self examine ourselves how we make use of the available resources.
We can reduce wasting natural resources and we can act as watch dogs that inform the Government
about sources that lead to pollution and degradation of our environment. This is possible only
through mass public Awareness. How can you achieve this? Here are few suggested activities for
the interested students

 Join a group such as WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) to study nature.
 Begin reading newspaper articles and periodicals such as 'Down to Earth', Sanctuary
Magazine etc.
 Practice and promote issues such as saving paper, water, reducing use of plastics, practicing

3R principle of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and proper waste disposal.

garbage on roads no smoking or defecating in public places.

The importance of environmental studies to you young students who are critical and creative
thinkers is to develop a new generation committed to advancing environmental sustainability both
locally and globally.

Let us individually appreciate the gifts of nature, use them sustainably and take responsibility of
making the Planet Earth a beautiful place to live in. Thank you!

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