Introduction to Environment Global environmental issues National environmental issues Food Scarcity in India water Scarcity in India Sustained development

1. INTRODUCTION TO
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Mr.VIJAY
JRF
Gandhi Institute of Technology

2. Definition of Environment
 Environment -French word - 'environ’ -surroundings.
 Hence, everything surrounding us -"ENVIRONMENT".
 Environmental Protection Act (1986) defined “Environment
as the sum total of water, air and land, their interrelationship
among themselves and with the human beings, other living
beings and property.”
 It can also be defined as “ external surroundings and
conditions which directly or indirectly affects the livingconditions which directly or indirectly affects the living
organism”
 Environmental science is a systemic study of our environment
and our place in it - mainly the abiotic and biotic components.
 It is a comprehensive sum of all living and non – living things
and their interactions.
 It is an applied science as its seeks practical answers to
making human civilization sustainable on the earth’s finite
resources.
 Its components include biology, geology, chemistry,
physics, engineering, sociology, health, anthropology,
economics, statistics, computers and philosophy.

3. Multidisciplinary nature

4. Environment
• Atmosphere - The atmosphere
implies the protective blanket of
gases, surrounding the earth.
• Hydrosphere - The
Hydrosphere comprises all types
of water resources oceans, seas,
lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs,lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs,
polar icecaps, glaciers, and
ground water.
• Lithosphere - Lithosphere is the
outer mantle of the solid earth.
• Biosphere - Biosphere
indicates the realm of living
organisms and their interactions
with environment, viz
atmosphere, hydrosphere and
lithosphere

5. Elements of Environment
• Physical elements - space, landforms,
water bodies, soils, rocks and minerals.
• Biological elements - plants, animals,• Biological elements - plants, animals,
microorganisms and men.
• Cultural elements - economic, social and
political elements are essentially
manmade features

6. Why I should know
Environment
• 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.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.

7. The importance’s of environmental
studies are as follows
1. To clarify modern environmental concept like how
to conserve biodiversity.
2. To know the more sustainable way of living.
3. To use natural resources more efficiently.3. To use natural resources more efficiently.
4. To know the behaviour of organism under natural
conditions.
5. To know the interrelationship between organisms
in populations and communities.
6. To aware and educate people regarding
environmental issues and problems at local,
national and international levels.

8. Current Environmental
Problems
Current Environmental
Problems
• POLLUTION
Air Pollution.
Water Pollution.
Noise Pollution.Noise Pollution.
Littering (spilling of oils in oceans)
Soil contamination (by lead, heavy metals)
Radioactive contamination.
Thermal pollution.
Visual Pollution.

9. A Broader View of Pollution

11. Estimated
world
population- 7
billion
population ofpopulation of
India - 1.252
billion

12. Natural Resource
Depletion

13. Improper waste disposal
Improper Dumping of Domestic waste Sewage waste
Plastic abuse Industrial Chimney

14. Climate change
NATURAL CAUSES
 Volcanic eruptions
Ocean currents
Solar Variation

15. HUMAN CAUSES (Anthropogenic or
Man-made causes)
Greenhouse gases Coal mining Burning of fossil fuels
Deforestation Industrial processes Agriculture

16. Effects of Climate Change
Melting ice sheets  Sea level rise

17. • Heavy rainfall across the globe

18. ……
Extreme drought Hurricanes
Decline in crop productivity
Rise in temperature

19. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Natural causes:
 Narrow geographical area
 Low population
 Low breeding rate
 Natural disasters
Anthropogenic causes:Anthropogenic causes:
 Habitat modification
 Overexploitation of selected
species
 Innovation by exotic species

20.  Pollution
 Hunting
 Global warming and climate
change
 Agriculture

21. Extinct organisms of India
Indian Cheetah Indian AurochsIndian Cheetah
Pink-Headed DuckSumatran Rhinoceros
Indian Aurochs
Sivatherium

22. Deforestation
Causes for Deforestation

23. Effects of Deforestation

24. Ocean Acidification

25. Effect of ocean acidification
• The main impact is on shellfish and
plankton in the same way as human
osteoporosis.osteoporosis.

26. Ozone Layer Depletion
•absorbs most of UV light
from sun in stratosphere
•Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
•Halon.
•Carbon tetrachloride (CCl ),•Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4),
Methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3)
•Hydrobromofluorocarbons
(HBFCs)
•Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs)
•Methyl bromide (CH3Br)
•Bromochloromethane
(CH2BrCl)

27. • O
Ozone Hole on Antarctica
What happens in absence of Ozone

28. Progressive increasing in the Ozone Hole

30. Acid Rain

32. Adverse effects
Surface waters and aquatic animals Forests and other vegetation
Soils Acidification Human health effects

33. National Environmental
Problems
• India’s Food Crises
• Food Security exists, when all people, at all times, have physical and
economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their
dietary needs and food preference for an active and healthy life.
(World Food Summit, Rome, 1996)(World Food Summit, Rome, 1996)

34. •Improper methods of cultivation- not much use of
science and technology.
•Poverty and ignorance of Indian formers-Not much
financial support to farmers
•Wastage of food-in wrong process of cooking.
•Ignorance of preserving method-Improper storage facility.
•Defective food habit.
Cause of food shortage of India
Poverty
•Defective food habit.
•Dishonesty of dealers.
•Excessive growth of population.
•Loss of fertility of soil by pollution
•Industrialization- Land loss
•Least interest on Agriculture –new generation
•Climate change –Improper rain-Acid rain
•Salinity in soil- soil pupation
Wastage of food
Improper storage of food

36. Stark Realties
• INDIA has witnessed high economic growth in last one decade
and high total production of food grains at the national level.
BUT India has
• 29% of the 872.9 million undernourished people (FAO)• 29% of the 872.9 million undernourished people (FAO)
• 49% of the world’s underweight children (WHO)
• 34% of the world’s stunted children (WHO)
• Over 46% undernourished children (WHO)
• India is ranked 67 way below neighboring countries like China,
Nepal & Pakistan, in 2011 Global Hunger Index by the IFPRI.
• As for child nutritional status & child mortality rate, India is doing
worse than some Sub-Saharan African Countries & South Asian
neighbours (FOCUS 2006).

37. INDIAN AGRI-BUSINESS:FACTS AND FIGURES
2nd largest arable land(184 million hectares) in the world.
Largest irrigated land(55 million hectares) in the world.
Largest producer of :
Wheat(15% of global production)
Pulses(21% of global production)
Milk(90 million tones).
Are we really food short?
37
Milk(90 million tones).
Largest producer and exporter of spices.
2nd largest producer of rice(22% of global rice production) and the largest
producer of world’s best BASMATI RICE.
Largest livestock population.
2nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables.
source: FICCI, Ministry of Agriculture(2008)

38. How to solve the food problem of India:
• Introduction of improved method of cultivation based on science and
technology.
• Improvement of financial and educational status of the Indian
cultivators.
• Attracting educated people to the profession of cultivation.
• Provision of water-pipes, electricity, insecticides, fertilizer and
research work for agriculture.
• Mechanization of agriculture.
• Equitable land-reform.
• To refrain from holding feast and picnics in order to check the
possible wastage of food.possible wastage of food.
• To know the proper method of dressing and cooking in order to
check the wastage of food.
• To know the method of food preservation in order to save the
perishable foods from wastage.
• Provision of cold storage in every village and refrigerator in every
household.
• Changing food habit on everybody’s part.
• Family-Planning through birth control.

39. Case study

40. Water Scarcity in India
• renewable resource- but finite resource
• only 3 per cent of the world’s water is fresh-
roughly one-third of it is inaccessible
• Simply put, water scarcity is either the lack of
enough water (quantity) or lack of access to safe
water (quality).
• It currently affects around 2.8 billion people around
the world, on all continents, at least one month out
• It currently affects around 2.8 billion people around
the world, on all continents, at least one month out
of every year and more than 1.2 billion people lack
the access to clean drinking water.

42. Survey
• The United Nations' FAO states that by 2025,
1.9 billion people will be living in countries or
regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-
thirds of the world population could be under
stress conditionsstress conditions
• 780 million people lack access to clean
water.
• Inadequate access to safe drinking water for
about 884 million people.
• In the 20th Century,Population grew 3 fold but
Water demand grew to 6 folds!

44. India's water
crisis is mainly a
man-made
problem.

45. Causes for water scarcity
• Population growth-over population
• Food production-Agricultural
irrigation
• Climatic change and variability
• Land use-industrialization
• Water quality-pollution• Water quality-pollution
• Water demand-various purposes
• Ground water exploitation
• Improper Biogeochemical cycle-
Pollution
• Wastage of water

46. Effects
• 1 out of every 4 deaths under the age of 5 worldwide
is due to a water-related disease.
• 80% of the Illness cause by unsafe water and
Sanitation condition in world.

47. .• Every day in rural communities and poor urban
centres throughout sub-Saharan Africa, hundreds of
millions of people suffer from a lack of access to
clean, safe water.
• Women and girls especially bear the burden of
walking miles at a time to gather water from streams
and ponds - full of water-borne disease that is makingand ponds - full of water-borne disease that is making
them and their families sick.

48. Freshwater fish are going extinct at five times the rate
of marine fish species

49. In the last 100 years 50% of the world’s
wetlands have been lost to development

50. India is facing a
water crisis that
has implications
.
has implications
not only for its
1.1 billion people,
but for the entire
globe.

52. Water Conservation Tips
for Indoors
• Let your parents know about
leaks in your house
– Leaks are easily fixable
and
– save you water and money
• Tell your parents about high-
efficiency washers,efficiency washers,
faucets, and toilets
• Run your dishwasher or
washing machine only with full
loads
• Turn off the faucet when
brushing or shaving
• Take shorter showers

53. Case study

55. Sustainable Development
• The use of renewable and nonrenewable
resources in a manner that satisfies our
current needs but does not compromise
the future availability of resources
• According to the UN, sustainable• According to the UN, sustainable
development “meets the needs of the
present without sacrificing the ability of
future generations to meet their own
needs.”

56. • Any query- mail me
vijayhemmadi@gmail.com