Prepared for class discussion By Prof. S.Suryanaraynan.

Right to clean environment

Understanding the issues and taking responsibility

Sustainable development
The rate of consumption or use of natural resources should approximate the rate at which these resources can be replaced or substituted. Addresses the principle of justice and equity between people of various regions and also intergenerational inequities. Maintains optimum balance among three subsystemseconomic, social and environmental. Protection of environment and avoiding/ minimising depletion of natural resources.

Sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.". World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) 1987

Population and its implication

Impact on environment (I)= Population * Affluence( consumption ) * Technology coefficient

Limits to growth
Understanding earths carrying capacity. Can we limit growth? Principle of sufficiency- this much and not beyond.

Economy
GDP is indicator of economic performance of a nation Economic growth conflicts with environmental concerns

Poverty
Poor people directly depend on natural resources. Solutions to environmental issues should consider access to natural resources by poor.

Human settlement issues

Providing shelter to all Provide water and manage sewage and solid waste. Promote sustainable land use management.

Land resources
Land is finite resource Management of land as a physical entity and natural resources .

Forests, mountains and biodiversity

Sustainable forest development; critical in climate balance Presence, absence or richness of plant and animal species affect biological wealth.

Agriculture
To meet challenge of growing population Management of agriculture land from encroachment Use of fertiliser and pesticides have environmental implication

Water
For human consumption, for plant growth Preservation of water bodies and elimination of contamination

Ocean
Protection of marine lives and resources from erosion, sewage, oil spillage etc.

Village and community development

Protection of grazing land, ponds, streams, forests etc. Access to natural resources by village community.

Non renewable resources of energy

Fossil fuelsoil, coal and natural gas. Limited and getting depleted. Oil is the major source of energy today and abundant reserves in middle east countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.( OPEC ).

Renewable resources of energy

Solar, wind, biomass and hydropower and firewood Solar and wind power have great potentialtechnology, scale and viability are issues now. Hydropower depends on rains and have impact on resettlement of local inhabitants.

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List of issues Climate change Global warming Global dimming Fossil fuels Sea level rise Greenhouse gas Ocean acidification Shutdown of thermohaline circulation Environmental impact of the coal industry Urban Heat Islands Conservation Species extinction Pollinator decline Coral bleaching Holocene extinction Invasive species Poaching Endangered species Energy Energy conservation Renewable energy Efficient energy use Renewable energy commercialization Environmental impact of the coal industry Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing Environnemental dgradation Eutrophication Habitat destruction Invasive species Environmental health Air quality Asthma Environmental impact of the coal industry Electromagnetic fields Electromagnetic radiation and health Indoor air quality Lead poisoning Sick Building Syndrome Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing Genetic engineering Genetic pollution Genetically modified food controversies Intensive farming Overgrazing Irrigation Monoculture Environmental effects of meat production Slash and burn Pesticide drift Plasticulture Land degradation Land pollution Desertification

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Soil Soil conservation Soil erosion Soil contamination Soil salination Land use Urban sprawl Habitat fragmentation Habitat destruction Nanotechnology Nanotoxicology Nanopollution Nuclear issues Nuclear fallout Nuclear meltdown Nuclear power Nuclear weapons Nuclear and radiation accidents Nuclear safety High-level radioactive waste management Overpopulation Burial Water crisis Overpopulation in companion animals Tragedy of the commons Gender Imbalance in Developing Countries Subreplacement fertility levels in developed countries Ozone depletion CFC Biological effects of UV exposure Pollution Environmental impact of the coal industry Nonpoint source pollution Point source pollution Light pollution Noise pollution Visual pollution Water pollution Environmental impact of the coal industry Acid rain Eutrophication Marine pollution Ocean dumping Oil spills Thermal pollution Urban runoff Water crisis Marine debris Microplastics Ocean acidification Ship pollution Wastewater Fish kill Algal bloom Mercury in fish Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing
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Air pollution Environmental impact of the coal industry Smog Tropospheric ozone Indoor air quality Volatile organic compound Atmospheric particulate matter Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing Reservoirs Environmental impacts of reservoirs Resource depletion Exploitation of natural resources Overdrafting Consumerism Consumer capitalism Planned obsolescence Over-consumption Fishing Blast fishing Bottom trawling Cyanide fishing Ghost nets Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Overfishing Shark finning Whaling Logging Clearcutting Deforestation Illegal logging Mining Acid mine drainage Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing Mountaintop removal mining Slurry impoundments Toxins Chlorofluorocarbons DDT Endocrine disruptors Dioxin Toxic heavy metals Environmental impact of the coal industry Herbicides Pesticides Toxic waste PCB Bioaccumulation BiomagnificationEnvironmental impact of hydraulic fracturing Waste Electronic waste Litter Waste disposal incidents Marine debris Medical waste Landfill Leachate Environmental impact of the coal industry Incineration Great Pacific Garbage Patch Exporting of hazardous waste Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing
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Forest degradation Population Glaciers melting in Himalayas Sunderbans threatened by Global Warming. Coral reefs under threat. Water scarcity. River pollution Illegal Mining. High dependency on coal for energy. Endangered species

Source: Widescreen: World Environment Day: Dangers India faces Yahoo! India News Fri 3 Jun, 2011

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Deforestation continues to be a big issue in India. It may have added to forest cover in the past decade, but a large percentage of the addition is degraded forest cover.
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From 1.21 billion currently, India's population is estimated to overtake China's population of 1.34 billion sometime between 2025 and 2050. Having between 1618 per cent of the world's population on 2.4 per cent of world's total area puts immense pressure on its natural resources. The problem is with the demographics; already having one of the youngest populations in the world, the average Indian is expected to become younger. This, in turn, will lead to an increase in the population because of an increase in the childbearing age. Expect severe water shortages, soil degradation and erosion, deforestation, air, noise and water pollution.

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While The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has admitted that it made a blunder when it said that the glaciers in the Himalayas will melt completely by 2035, there is no denying the fact that they the glaciers have melted over the past few decades and will continue to melt. These glaciers feed most of India's rivers and are the main source of fresh water supply for domestic use, agriculture and power generation.
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The largest mangrove forest in the world is home to approximately 425 species of wildlife, including 300 species of birds and 42 species of mammals, including the Royal Bengal Tiger continues to be under threat. Not to mention the thousands of people who depend on the Sunderbans for their livelihood.

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India's island paradises might experience the horrors of hell in the near future. The coral reefs that protect the ocean's ecosystem have been steadily eroding over the years due to global warming. With the corals depleting, the marine life and the livelihoods of many people is under serious threat.
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One of the biggest environmental issues that India is facing is scarcity of water. Many experts feel the current demand of an estimated 829 billion cubic yards of water will double by 2050, and exceed the 1.4 trillion cubic yards that India has at its disposal.
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Approximately, more than 400 million people live along the Ganges River and about 2,000,000 persons ritually bathe daily in the river, they are putting themselves at risk. It is filled with chemical wastes, sewage and even the remains of human and animal corpses that carry major health risk. Various efforts to clean the river like the Ganga Action Plan have failed in spite of spending over Rs 900 crore.

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Illegal mining has forced tribals and villagers out of their traditional habitats; this has caused anger and resentment, helping fuel inIllegal mining has forced tribals and villagers out of their traditional habitats; this has caused anger and resentment, helping fuel insurgencies and uprisings.

Illegal mining has forced tribals and villagers out of their traditional habitats; this has caused anger and resentment, helping fuel insurgencies and uprisings.
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India has a huge dependence on coal for meeting its energy requirements and this is not about to change even as it throws other non-conventional means like nuclear and solar into the mix. The high costs of clean energy will mean that its use of coal for generating power will continue for the next two decades.
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The endangered Bengal tiger: Getting a fresh lease of life

The golden Langur: Considered sacred by many, the primate is one of the most endangered species in India

The tiger population has been going up with an increased effort to protect it; also the awareness created by the media about the threat to its survival has made the government clamp down poaching and sale of its parts

Out of the estimated 8,000 that remain, 1,500 are in India, very little is know about them. They live mostly on the tree-tops and seldom descend to the ground.

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Reference books: Environmental management by N K Uberoi. ( chapter 1 and 2 )

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