UNIT 1:INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Environment is the sum of total land, water, air, (abiotic factors) interrelationship among
themselves and also with the human beings and other living organisms (biotic factors).

Thus, our environment can be defined as "the social, cultural, and physical conditions that
surround, affect, and influence the survival, growth, and development of people, animals, and plants."

The word environment is derived from the French word „environner‟ which means to „encircle or
surround‟.

The biologist Jacob Van Uerkal (1864-1944) introduced the term ‘environment’.

As given by Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1986 „Environmental Science deals

with the study of processes in soil, water, air and organisms which lead to pollution or
environmental damages and the scientific basis for the establishment of a standard which can be
considered acceptably clean, safe and healthy for human beings and natural ecosystems.‟

Environment Science is the systematic and scientific study of the environment and our role in
it.

Environmental Studies can be defined as the branch of the study concerned with
environmental issues which includes sources, reactions, transport, effect, and fate of a biological
species in the air, water and soil and the effect on and from the human activities upon these is
referred as Environmental studies.

Objectives and principles of Environmental Science:

According to UNESCO (1971), the objectives are:

a) Creating awareness about the environment and environmental problems.
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 programmes.
e) Acquiring skills to help the concerned individuals in identifying and solving environmental
problems.
f) Striving to attain harmony with nature.

The guiding principles of Environmental Science according to UNESCO:

a) Compulsory education from primary up to post graduate stage.
b) Should have an interdisciplinary approach.
c) Environmental education should take into account the historical perspective, the current
and the potential historical issues.
d) Should emphasize the importance of sustainable development.
e) Should emphasize the importance of international agreements.
f) Should lay more stress on practical activities.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Environment is complex and has multifarious aspects. Environmental sciences deal with
working of earth, its life support systems, its interactions, influences, its problems, solutions.
Keeping in view the complex nature of environment knowledge and information from various
disciplines of science, social science, law and engineering have to be included in environmental
studies to understand it completely.

 Life sciences like botany, zoology, microbiology, genetics and bio technology etc help in
understanding the biotic components and their interactions.

 Physical sciences like physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, Oceanography etc help in
understanding physical and chemical structure of abiotic components of environment along with
mass and energy transfer.

 Mathematics, statistics, computer science serve as effective tools in environmental

modelling.

 Subjects like economics, management and sociology provide the inputs for dealing with the
socio economic aspects associated with various developmental activities.

 Civil engineering, Nanotechnology, Chemical engineering provides technical solutions to

environment pollution control and waste management.

 Environmental laws provide the guidelines and legal measures for effective management and
protection of environment.

 Environmental education and mass communication are two important subjects that are
instrumental in disseminating environmental awareness.

 Environmental ethics provide the guidelines for sustainable life style.

Environmental Sciences, therefore, is a multi-disciplinary subject where we deal with different

aspects using holistic approach.

SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Because of environmental studies has been seen to be multidisciplinary in nature so it is

considered to be a subject with great scope. Environment is not limited to issues of sanitation
and health but it is now concerned with pollution control, biodiversity conservation, waste
management and conservation of natural resources. This requires expert eyes and hence is
creating new job opportunities. The opportunities in this field are immense not only for
scientists but also for engineers, biologists. There is a good chance of opportunity to find a job in
this field as environmental journalists.

Environmental science can be applied in the following spheres:

1. The environment consists of four segments of the earth namely atmosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere and biosphere. These four spheres interact with each other forming a complex
system.
2. Ecosystem Structure and Function: The study of ecosystems mainly consists of the study of
the processes that link the leaving organism or in other words biotic component to the non-living
organism or a biotic component. So for the study of environment we should aware with biotic
and a biotic components.
3. Natural Resource Conservation: For managing and maintenance of forests which are natural
resources and for the maintenance of wildlife forms task under natural resource conservation. It
is also a scope of environmental studies.
4. Environmental Pollution Control: With the knowledge of environmental science everybody
can control the pollution. He/she can handle the waste management and also look for ways to
control pollution on the aspect of pollution control.
5. Environmental management: There are several independent environmental consultants who
are working with Central and State pollution control Board. They offer advice to solve the
problems of environment the optimum solution for the upcoming problems. They give direction
for controlling pollution due to industrial development. There are several current consultants
who are working with government pollution control boards, involved in policy making,
pollution control and maintenance of ecological balance.
6. The scope of environmental studies in industry: Environmental scientist‟s work towards
maintenance of ecological balance, they also work towards conservation of biodiversity and
regulation of natural resources as well as on preservation of natural resources. Most of the
industries have a separate environmental research and development section. These sections
govern the impact that their industry has on the environment. Our environment is being
degraded by the rapid industrialization. To combat this 4 menace there is a growing trend
towards manufacture of "green" goods and products. So we can say that there is a good scope in
the field of industry from environmental studies.
7. Research and development: Research and development have tremendous scope due to
increment in public awareness regarding the environment. Various universities and
governmental organizations offer a scope for such research. These universities conduct research
studies in order to develop the methods toward monitoring and controlling the source of
environmental pollution. Due to an increasing threat from global warming, many steps are
being undertaken for the reduction of greenhouse gases and the adoption of renewable energy
resources. They generate awareness now regarding the use of solar energy for variety of
purposes. This provides scope of environmental history in the field of research and development.
8. Social Development: NGO (Nongovernmental organizations) help in creating awareness
regarding the protection of the environment and making the masses aware of various
environmental issues. They also generate a public opinion in this field. They work towards
disseminating information and in bringing about changes in political policies that are personally
effect the environment. The social dimension of this profession includes controlling population
explosion through organizing advisory awareness camps

IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of protection and conservation of
our indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment.
Environment science has become significant for the following reasons:

1. Environment Issues Being of International Importance:

It has been well recognized that environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion,
acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues
and hence must be tackled with international efforts and cooperation.

2. Problems Cropped in the Wake of Development:

Development, in its wake gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, and Transportation
Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed
World. The North, to cleanse their own environment has fact fully, managed to move „dirty‟
Factories of South. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the
Environmental impact of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither practicable nor desirable,
even if developing world follows that.

3. Explosively Increase in Pollution:

World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this planted lives in India. Evidently
with 16 per cent of the world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area, there is a heavy
pressure on the natural resources including land. Agricultural experts have recognized soils
health problems like deficiency of micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of
soil structure

4. Need to Save Humanity from Extinction:

It is incumbent upon us to save the humanity from extinction. Consequent to our activities
constructing the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of development.

5. Need for Wise Planning of Development:

Our survival and sustenance depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of the product
have all to by synchronized with the ecological cycles in any plan of development our actions
should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and development.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT

Sustainability and sustainable development are often used interchangeably. Both emphasise the
risk of consuming resources faster than they can be replenished.

According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, the definition of

Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

The definition was given by “Brundtland Commission” in its report “Our Common Future (1987)”.
Core elements (or) the pillars of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development not only focuses on environmental issue. The United Nations, 2005-
World summit outcome document refers to the four independent and mutually reinforcing
pillars of sustainable development.

 Three core elements or the pillars of sustainable development are economic development,
social development and environmental protection. If anyone pillar is weak then the system as
a whole is unsustainable.

Sustainable development not only meets the human needs but it simultaneously sustaining the
ability of natural system to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the
economy and society depends.

 Environmental sustainability

• It prevents nature from being used as an inexhaustible source of resources and ensures its
protection and rational use.

• Aspects such as environmental conservation, investment in renewable energy, saving water,

supporting sustainable mobility, and innovation in sustainable construction and architecture,
contribute to achieving environmental sustainability on several fronts.

 Social Sustainability:

• It can foster gender equality, development of people, communities and cultures to help achieve
a reasonable and fairly-distributed quality of life, healthcare and education across the Globe.

 Economic Sustainability.

• Focuses on equal economic growth that generates wealth for all, without harming the
environment.

• Investment and equal distribution of economic resources.

• Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions.

Sustainable economic growth, achieving sustainable livelihood, living in harmony with nature and
appropriate technology are important for sustainable development.

GLOBAL ISSUES ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 Inequitable growth of national economies (north south divide).

 Loss of biodiversity: Despite mounting efforts over the past 20 years, the loss of worlds
biodiversity continues.
 Climate change: As a global problem, climate change requires a global solution. Within
climate change, particular attention needs to be paid to the unique challenges facing developing
countries.
 Tackling climate change and fostering sustainable development are two mutually reinforcing
issues.
 Intellectual property rights (IPRs): There is a need for welfare of all rich and poor to have
affordable access to the results of innovation that can lead to sustainable development.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development implemented

Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in order to overcome poverty.

To bring sustainable development in the worldwide United Nations (UN) launched the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs. In September 2015, 193 countries came
together at the United Nations to adopt and commit to a long-term, comprehensive strategy to
tackle the world‟s greatest challenges related to global sustainable development.

• There are 17 goals and 169 targets to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by
2030. Reaching the goals requires action on all governments, businesses, civil society and people
everywhere all have a role to play.

The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:

GOAL 1: No Poverty
GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 13: Climate Action
GOAL 14: Life below Water
GOAL 15: Life on Land
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal