Environment and Sustainable Development

The environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance, including all biotic and abiotic resources. It has four functions: it supplies renewable and non-renewable resources, assimilates waste, sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity, and provides aesthetic services. Problems arise when the rate of resource extraction exceeds regeneration (the carrying capacity) and when waste exceeds the absorptive capacity. Global warming and ozone depletion led to the Kyoto and Montreal Protocols. India supports about 17% of the world's people and 20% of its livestock on only about 2.4% of the world's land area. You will study India's environmental challenges: land degradation, soil erosion of about 5.3 billion tonnes a year, biodiversity loss, air pollution from vehicles and industries, and water contamination. The chapter explains sustainable development as defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987 and Herman Daly's ideas. It describes strategies such as non-conventional energy, LPG and gobar gas, CNG in urban transport, mini-hydel plants, traditional knowledge, bio-composting, bio-pest control, and people's movements like Chipko and Appiko.

Detailed Worksheet: Environment and Sustainable Development Section A - Definitions (10 marks) 1. What is meant by the environment? State its four functions. (2 marks) 2. Distinguish between carrying capacity and absorptive capacity. (2 marks) 3. What is sustainable development, as defined by the Brundtland Commission? (2 marks) 4. What is global warming? Name two greenhouse gases. (2 marks) 5. What is the Chipko movement? (2 marks) Section B - Calculations and Applications (15 marks) 6. India has about 2.4% of the world's land area but supports about 17% of the world's population. If the world population is 800 crore, calculate India's population and the ratio of population share to land share. What does this suggest about pressure on land? (3 marks) 7. The per capita forest land in India is about 0.08 hectare, against a requirement of 0.47 hectare. Calculate the shortfall per person and the percentage of the requirement that is met. (3 marks) 8. India loses about 5.3 billion tonnes of soil a year through erosion. Calculate the loss per day in million tonnes (1 billion = 1,000 million; 365 days). Suggest two measures to reduce it. (3 marks) 9. A city's buses switched from diesel to CNG. If each bus emitted 1.2 kg of particulate matter a day on diesel and CNG cut this by 80%, calculate the daily saving for 5,000 buses. (3 marks) 10. A village has 150 households, each using 6 kg of firewood a day. If 60 households switch to gobar gas, calculate the firewood saved per day and per year (365 days). (3 marks) Section C - Diagrams (10 marks) 11. Draw a flowchart showing the four functions of the environment. (4 marks) 12. Draw a diagram showing how the greenhouse effect leads to global warming. (3 marks) 13. Draw a flowchart showing strategies for sustainable development in India. (3 marks) Section D - Analysis and Higher-order Thinking (15 marks) 14. 'The environment can perform its functions only if its carrying capacity is not exceeded.' Explain this statement with examples of overuse of resources in India. (5 marks) 15. Explain the causes and consequences of land degradation and air pollution in India. Suggest measures to control them. (5 marks) 16. Explain Herman Daly's strategies for sustainable development. How can traditional knowledge and practices help achieve it? (5 marks) Instructions: Time allowed 2 hours. Attempt all sections. Show the steps of all calculations. Draw diagrams and flowcharts neatly with labels.