Savitribai Phule Pune University

(Formerly University of Pune)

Value Education Course (VEC)

Syllabus for F.Y.B.Sc. Students

(As Per National Education Policy-2020)

For Colleges Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University

To be implemented from Academic Year 2024-2025
 VEC-101-T: Environment Education-I
Course type: VEC (Theory) No. of Credits: 2
Semester : I

Course Outcomes

After the completion of this course, student will be able to-

CO-1: describe how human activities impact the environment.
CO-2: explain principles of sustainable development and resource management.
CO-3: analyze local, regional, and global environmental issues and their effects.
CO-4: evaluate different strategies for conserving biodiversity and ecosystems.
CO-5: apply relevant environmental policies and ethical considerations to real-world scenarios.
CO-6: design and implement action plans for community-based environmental projects.

Course Content

Chapter 1: Humans and the Environment [06 hours]

The man-environment interaction: Humans as hunter-gatherers; Mastery of fire; Origin of
agriculture; Emergence of city-states; Great ancient civilizations and the environment; Middle
Ages and Renaissance; Industrial revolution and its impact on the environment; Population
growth and natural resource exploitation; Global environmental change.
The emergence of environmentalism: Anthropocentric and eco-centric perspectives (Major
thinkers); The Club of Rome- Limits to Growth; UN Conference on Human Environment 1972;
World Commission on Environment and Development and the concept of sustainable
development; Rio Summit and subsequent international efforts.
Suggested Readings
1. Fisher, Michael H. (2018) An Environmental History of India- From Earliest Times to
the Twenty-First Century, Cambridge University Press.
2. Headrick, Daniel R. (2020) Humans versus Nature- A Global Environmental History,
Oxford University Press.
3. Hughes, J. Donald (2009) An Environmental History of the World- Humankind’s
Changing Role in the Community of Life, 2nd Edition. Routledge.
4. Perman, R., Ma, Y., McGilvray, J., and Common, M. (2003) Natural Resource and
Environmental Economics. Pearson Education.
5. Simmons, I. G. (2008). Global Environmental History: 10,000 BC to AD 2000.
Edinburgh University Press
Chapter 2: Natural Resources and Sustainable Development [08 hours]
Overview of natural resources: Definition of resource; Classification of natural resources-
biotic and abiotic, renewable and non-renewable.
Biotic resources: Major type of biotic resources- forests, grasslands, wetlands, wildlife and
aquatic (fresh water and marine); Microbes as a resource; Status and challenges.
Water resources: Types of water resources- fresh water and marine resources; Availability
and use of water resources; Environmental impact of over-exploitation, issues and challenges;
Water scarcity and stress; Conflicts over water.
Soil and mineral resources: Important minerals; Mineral exploitation; Environmental
problems due to extraction of minerals and use; Soil as a resource and its degradation.
Energy resources: Sources of energy and their classification, renewable and non-renewable
sources of energy; Conventional energy sources- coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy; Non-
conventional energy sources- solar, wind, tidal, hydro, wave, ocean thermal, geothermal,
biomass, hydrogen and fuel cells; Implications of energy use on the environment.
Introduction to sustainable development: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- targets
and indicators, challenges and strategies for SDGs.
Suggested Readings
1. Chiras, D. D and Reganold, J. P. (2010). Natural Resource Conservation: Management
for a Sustainable Future.10th edition, Upper Saddle River, N. J.
Benjamin/Cummins/Pearson.
2. John W. Twidell and Anthony D. (2015). Renewable Energy Sources, 3rd Edition, Weir
Publisher (ELBS)
3. William P.Cunningham and Mary A. (2015) Cunningham Environmental Science: A
Global Concern, Publisher (Mc-Graw Hill, USA)
4. Gilbert M. Masters and W. P. (2008). An Introduction to Environmental Engineering
and Science, Ela Publisher (Pearson)
5. Singh, J.S., Singh, S.P. & Gupta, S.R. 2006. Ecology, Environment and Resource
Conservation. Anamaya Publications https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Chapter 3: Environmental Issues: Local, Regional and Global [08 hours]
Environmental issues and scales: Concepts of micro-, meso-, synoptic and planetary scales;
Temporal and spatial extents of local, regional, and global phenomena.
Pollution: Impact of sectoral processes on Environment, Types of Pollution- air, noise, water,
soil, municipal solid waste, hazardous waste; Transboundary air pollution; Acid rain; Smog.
Land use and Land cover change: land degradation, deforestation, desertification,
urbanization. Biodiversity loss: past and current trends, impact.
Global change: Ozone layer depletion; Climate change.
Suggested Readings
 1. Harper, Charles L. (2017) Environment and Society, Human Perspectives on
Environmental Issues 6th Edition. Routledge.
2. Harris, Frances (2012) Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition. Wiley- Blackwell.
3. William P. Cunningham and Mary A. (2015). Cunningham Environmental Science: A
global concern, Publisher (Mc-Graw Hill, USA)
4. Manahan, S.E. (2022). Environmental Chemistry (11th ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.
org/10.1201/9781003096238
5. Rajagopalan, R. (2011). Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure. India: Oxford
University Press.
Chapter 4: Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems [08 hours]
Biodiversity and its distribution: Biodiversity as a natural resource; Levels and types of
biodiversity; Biodiversity in India and the world; Biodiversity hotspots; Species and ecosystem
threat categories.
Ecosystems and ecosystem services: Major ecosystem types in India and their basic
characteristics- forests, wetlands, grasslands, agriculture, coastal and marine; Ecosystem
services- classification and their significance.
Threats to biodiversity and ecosystems: Land use and land cover change; Commercial
exploitation of species; Invasive species; Fire, disasters and climate change.
Major conservation policies: in-situ and ex-situ conservation approaches; Major protected
areas; National and International Instruments for biodiversity conservation; the role of
traditional knowledge, community-based conservation; Gender and conservation.
Suggested Readings
1. Bawa, K.S., Oomen, M.A. and Primack, R. (2011) Conservation Biology: A Primer for
South Asia. Universities Press.
2. Sinha, N. (2020) Wild and Wilful. Harper Collins, India.
3. Varghese, Anita, Oommen, Meera Anna, Paul, Mridula Mary, Nath, Snehlata (Editors)
(2022) Conservation through Sustainable Use: Lessons from India. Routledge.
4. Bhagwat, Shonil (Editor) (2018) Conservation and Development in India: Reimagining
Wilderness, Earthscan Conservation and Development, Routledge.
5. Krishnamurthy, K.V. (2003) Textbook of Biodiversity, Science Publishers, Plymouth,
UK
 VEC-151-T: Environment Education-II
Course type: VEC (Theory) No. of Credits: 2
Semester : II

Course Outcomes

After the completion of this course, student will be able to-

CO-1: identify various types of environmental pollution and their impacts on health.
CO-2: explain the basic concepts of climate change, including its causes and effects.
CO-3: analyze different strategies for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
CO-4: evaluate various environmental management practices and their effectiveness.
CO-5: apply the principles of key environmental treaties and legislation to case studies.
CO-6: create action plans that address specific environmental issues based on current policies
and management practices.
6.

Course Content

Chapter 1: Environmental Pollution and Health [08 hours]

Understanding pollution: Production processes and generation of wastes; Assimilative
capacity of the environment; Definition of pollution; Point sources and non-point sources of
pollution.
Air pollution: Sources of air pollution; Primary and secondary pollutants; Criteria pollutants-
carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particulate matter and sulphur
dioxide; Other important air pollutants- Volatile Organic compounds (VOCs), Peroxyacetyl
Nitrate (PAN), Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Persistent organic pollutants
(POPs); Indoor air pollution; Adverse health impacts of air pollutants; National Ambient Air
Quality Standards.
Water pollution: Sources of water pollution; River, lake and marine pollution, groundwater
pollution; water quality Water quality parameters and standards; adverse health impacts of
water pollution on human and aquatic life.
Soil pollution and solid waste: Soil pollutants and their sources; Solid and hazardous waste;
Impact on human health.
Noise pollution: Definition of noise; Unit of measurement of noise pollution; Sources of noise
pollution; Noise standards; adverse impacts of noise on human health.

Thermal and Radioactive pollution: Sources and impact on human health and ecosystems.
Suggested Readings
1. Jackson, A. R., & Jackson, J. M. (2000). Environmental Science: The Natural
Environment and Human Impact. Pearson Education.
 2. Masters, G. M., & Ela, W. P. (2008). Introduction to environmental engineering and
science (No.60457). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
3. Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2015) Environmental Science. Cengage Learning.
4. Central Pollution Control Board Web page for various pollution standards.
https://cpcb.nic.in/ standards/
5. Ahluwalia, V. K. (2015). Environmental Pollution, and Health. The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI).
Chapter 2: Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation [06 hours]
Understanding climate change: Natural variations in climate; Structure of atmosphere;
Anthropogenic climate change from greenhouse gas emissions– past, present and future;
Projections of global climate change with special reference to temperature, rainfall, climate
variability and extreme events; Importance of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C limits to global warming;
Climate change projections for the Indian sub-continent.
Impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change: Observed impacts of climate
change on ocean and land systems; Sea level rise, changes in marine and coastal ecosystems;
Impacts on forests and natural ecosystems; Impacts on animal species, agriculture, health,
urban infrastructure; the concept of vulnerability and its assessment; Adaptation vs. resilience;
Climate-resilient development; Indigenous knowledge for adaptation to climate change.
Mitigation of climate change: Synergies between adaptation and mitigation measures; Green
House Gas (GHG) reduction vs. sink enhancement; Concept of carbon intensity, energy
intensity and carbon neutrality; National and international policy instruments for mitigation,
decarbonizing pathways and net zero targets for the future; Energy efficiency measures;
Renewable energy sources; Carbon capture and storage, National climate action plan and
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs); Climate justice.
Suggested Readings
1. Pittock, Barrie (2009) Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions. 2nd
Edition. Routledge.
2. www.ipcc.org; https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-cycle/.
3. Adenle A., Azadi H., Arbiol J. (2015). Global assessment of technological innovation
for climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing world, Journal of
Environmental Management, 161 (15): 261-275.
4. Barnett, J. & S. O’Neill (2010). Maladaptation. Global Environmental Change—
Human and Policy Dimensions 20: 211–213.
5. Berrang-Ford, L., J.D. Ford & J. Paterson (2011). Are we adapting to climate
change ? Global Environmental Change—Human and Policy Dimensions 21: 25-33.
Chapter 3: Environmental Management [06 hours]
Introduction to environmental laws and regulation: Constitutional provisions- Article 48A,
Article 51A (g) and other derived environmental rights; Introduction to environmental
legislations on the forest, wildlife and pollution control.
Environmental management system: ISO 14001 Life cycle analysis; Cost-benefit analysis
Environmental audit and impact assessment; Environmental risk assessment, Pollution control
and management; Waste Management- Concept of 3R (Reduce, Recycle and Reuse) and
sustainability; Ecolabeling /Ecomark scheme
Suggested Readings
1. Jørgensen, Sven Marques, Erik João Carlos and Nielsen, Søren Nors (2016) Integrated
Environmental Management, A transdisciplinary Approach. CRC Press.
2. Theodore, M. K. and Theodore, Louis (2021) Introduction to Environmental
Management, 2nd Edition. CRC Press.
3. Barrow, C. J. (1999). Environmental management: Principles and practice. Routledge.
4. Tiefenbacher, J (ed.) (2022), Environmental Management - Pollution, Habitat, Ecology,
and Sustainability, Intech Open, London. 10.5772/
5. Richard A. Marcantonio, Marc Lame (2022). Environmental Management: Concepts
and Practical Skills. Cambridge University Press.
Chapter 4: Environmental Treaties and Legislation [10 hours]

An overview of instruments of international cooperation; bilateral and multilateral agreements;

conventions and protocols; adoption, signature, ratification and entry into force; binding and
non-binding measures; Conference of the Parties (COP)
Major International Environmental Agreements: Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD); Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing;
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES);
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance; United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD); Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer;
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Kigali Amendment;
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal; Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade; Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants; Minamata Convention on Mercury; United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Kyoto Protocol; Paris Agreement; India’s status
as a party to major conventions
Major Indian Environmental Legislations: The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; The Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; The Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; The
Biological Diversity Act, 2002; The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006; Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules,
2000; Industry-specific environmental standards; Waste management rules; Ramsar sites;
Biosphere reserves; Protected Areas; Ecologically Sensitive Areas; Coastal Regulation Zone;
Status phase-out of production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances by India;
National Green Tribunal; Some landmark Supreme Court judgements
Major International organisations and initiatives: United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),World Commission on
Environment and Development (WCED), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and Man and
the Biosphere (MAB) programme.
Suggested Readings
1. UNEP (2007) Multilateral Environmental Agreement Negotiator’s Handbook,
University of Joensuu, ISBN 978-952-458-992-5
2. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (2019) A Handbook on
International Environment Conventions & Programmes. https://moef.gov.in/wp-
content/uploads/2020/02/ convention-V-16-CURVE-web.pdf
3. Kanchi Kohli and Manju Menon (2021) Development of Environment Laws in India,
Cambridge University Press.
4. India Code – Digital repository of all Central and State Acts:
https://www.indiacode.nic.in/
5. Bohra, Saroj, Judicial Intervention and Evolution of Environmental Principles and
Doctrines (January 7, 2019). Available at SSRN:
https://ssrn.com/abstract=3311406 or http://dx.doi. org/10.2139/ssrn.3311406

Note: Case Studies and Field Work is compulsory

The students are expected to be engaged in some of the following or similar identified
activities:
1. Discussion on one national and one international case study related to the environment
and sustainable development.
2. Field visits to identify local/regional environmental issues, make observations
including data collection and prepare a brief report.
3. Documentation of campus biodiversity.
4. Campus environmental management activities such as solid waste disposal, water
management, and sewage treatment.