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Definition of Environmental Studies

The document defines environmental studies as the study of surroundings and conditions that organisms live and operate in. It discusses how every organism interacts with and is reliant on its environment. The degradation of the environment has become a serious problem for human existence, causing pollution and loss of resources. Environmental studies aims to educate people on preserving environmental quality. The objectives of environmental studies are to create awareness of environmental problems, impart knowledge about the environment, develop concern for the environment, motivate public participation in protection and improvement, and acquire skills to identify and solve problems. Environmental studies incorporates the disciplines of environmental science, engineering, and management. Environmental science studies environmental systems and human impacts. Environmental engineering protects the environment from human effects.

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ankit pandey
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68 views5 pages

Definition of Environmental Studies

The document defines environmental studies as the study of surroundings and conditions that organisms live and operate in. It discusses how every organism interacts with and is reliant on its environment. The degradation of the environment has become a serious problem for human existence, causing pollution and loss of resources. Environmental studies aims to educate people on preserving environmental quality. The objectives of environmental studies are to create awareness of environmental problems, impart knowledge about the environment, develop concern for the environment, motivate public participation in protection and improvement, and acquire skills to identify and solve problems. Environmental studies incorporates the disciplines of environmental science, engineering, and management. Environmental science studies environmental systems and human impacts. Environmental engineering protects the environment from human effects.

Uploaded by

ankit pandey
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

The word environment is derived from the french word 'environner' meaning
surroundings. Hence, everything surrounding us is called "ENVIRONMENT".
Every living organism is constantly interacting with its environment
comprised of air, light, water, land or substratum and the various kinds of living
organisms.The environment may be defined as the surroundings or conditions in
which an organism lives or operates
Every organism is surrounded by materials and forces that constitute its
environment. It is the environment from where every organism must derive its
requirement. The environment creates favourable conditions for the existence and
development of living organisms.The survival of any organism requires a steady
supply of materials and removal of waste products from its environment.
The degradation of the environment has become a serious problem for the
existence of human beings. Pollution of soil, water and air causes harm to living
organisms as well as loss to valuable natural resources.Environmental studies
involves educating the people for preserving the quality of environment.

OBJECTIVES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF


ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES:

According to UNESCO (1971), the objectives of environmental studies are:


(a) Creating the awareness about environmental problems among people.
(b) Imparting basic knowledge about the environment and its allied problems.
(c) Developing an attitude of concern for the environment.
(d) Motivating public to participate in environment protection and environment
improvement.
(e) Acquiring skills to help the concerned individuals in identifying and solving
environmental problems.
(f) Striving to attain harmony with Nature. According to UNESCO, the guiding
principles of environmental education should be as follows:
(a) Environmental education should be compulsory, right from the primary up to
the post graduate stage.
(b) Environmental education should have an interdisciplinary approach by
including physical, chemical, biological as well as socio-cultural aspects of the
environment. It should build a bridge between biology and technology.
(c) Environmental education should take into account the historical perspective, the
current and the potential historical issues.
(d) Environmental education should emphasise the importance of sustainable
development i.e., economic development without degrading the environment.
(e) Environmental education should emphasise the necessity of seeking
international cooperation in environmental planning.
(f) Environmental education should lay more stress on practical activities and first
hand experiences.

DISCIPLINES INCLUDED IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

The disciplines included in environmental education are environmental sciences,


environmental engineering and environmental management.
(a) Environmental Science:
It deals with the scientific study of environmental system (air, water, soil and
land), the inherent or induced changes on organisms and the environmental
damages incurred as a result of human interaction with the environment.

(b) Environmental Engineering:


It deals with the study of technical processes involved in the protection of
environment from the potentially deleterious effects of human activity and
improving the environmental quality for the health and well beings of humans.

(c) Environmental Management:


It promotes due regard for physical, social and economic environment of the
enterprise or projects. It encourages planned investment at the start of the
production chain rather than forced investment in cleaning up at the end.

SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

The scope of environmental studies include:


1. Developing an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its related
problems.
2. Motivating people for active participation in environmental protection and
improvement.
3. Developing skills for active identification and development of solutions to
environmental problems
4. Imbibe and inculcate the necessity for conservation of natural resources
5. Evaluation of environmental programmes in terms of social, economic,
ecological and aesthetic factors.

IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

In the industrialized era that we live today, every component that we intake - be it,
air, water or food are contaminated by industrial activities. THERE IS NO ZERO
POLLUTION. To minimize this problem, knowledge of environmental studies is
essential. An in-dept study of environmental studies will help us in the following
ways:
1. We will begin to appreciate and adopt the idea of "Development Without
Destruction Of The Environment"
2. Knowledge about "Various Types Of Environments & Different Environmental
Hazards"
3. Playing an effective role in protecting the environment by "Demanding Changes
In Law And Enforcement Systems".
4. Having a "Positive Impact" on "Quality Of Life".
5. Creating a "Concern And Respect For The Environment".
\
NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS:

Increasing population, Urbanization and poverty have generated pressure on the


natural resources and lead to a degradation of the environment. TO PREVENT
THE ENVIRONMENT FROM FURTHER DEGRADATION, the supreme court
has ordered and initiated environmental protection awareness through government
and non-government agencies to take part in protecting our environment.
Environmental pollution cannot prevented by laws alone. Public
participation is equally important with regard to environmental protection.
Environmental Education (EE) is a process of learning by giving an overall
perspective of knowledge and awareness of the environment. It sensitizes the
society about environmental issues and challenges interested individuals to develop
skills and expertise thereby providing appropriate solutions.
Climate change, loss of biodiversity, declining fisheries, ozone layer
depletion, illegal trade of endangered species, destruction of habitats, land
degradation, depleting ground water supplies, introduction of alien species,
environmental pollution, solid waste disposal, storm water and sewage disposal
pose a serious threat to ecosystems in forest, rural, urban and marine ecosystems.
Both formal and informal education on the environment will give the
interested individual the knowledge, values, skills and tools needed to face the
environmental challenges on a local and global level.

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