Unit-IX People, Development and Environment

➢ Development and environment: Millennium development and

Sustainable development goals.
➢ Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities
and their impacts on environment.
➢ Environmental issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air
pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution,
Waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), Climate
change and its Socio-Economic and Political dimensions.
➢ Impacts of pollutants on human health.
➢ Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro,
Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.
➢ Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.
➢ Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on
Climate Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal
Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto
Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance.
 CHAPTER 1; DEVELOPMENT AND
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Degradation
Economic activities such as production and consumption have led to environmental
degradation over the last few years. This is recognizable from the fact that there is a
certain carrying capacity of the environment. When the rate of extraction of resources
exceeds the rate of their regeneration, the environment fails to perform its activities. The
resulting phenomenon is called environmental degradation.
Resources are limited and therefore, their overutilization is leading to their extinction. The
waste generated is also exceeding the absorptive capacity of the environment.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals are eight goals that all 191 UN
member states have agreed to try to achieve by the year 2015. The United Nations
Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000 commits world leaders to combat
poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination
against women. The MDGs are derived from this Declaration, and all have specific
targets and indicators.

The Eight Millennium Development Goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
2. Achieve universal primary education;
3. Promote gender equality and empower women;
4. Reduce child mortality;
5. Improve maternal health;
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
7. Ensure environmental sustainability; and
8. Develop a global partnership for development.
Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) defines

this using the concept of sustainable development. It explains sustainable development
as a process that provides for the present generation without compromising on the needs
of the future generations.

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

1: No Poverty
2: Zero Hunger
3: Good Health and Well-being
4: Quality Education
5: Gender Equality
6: Clean Water and Sanitation
7: Affordable and Clean Energy
8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10: Reduced Inequality
11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
12: Responsible Consumption and Production
13: Climate Action
14: Life Below Water
15: Life on Land
16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
 CHAPTER 2; HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION
Ecosystem: Term given by A.G. Tansley (1935)
“An Ecosystem is a self-regulating group of biotic communities of species interacting with
one another & with their non-living environment exchanging energy & matter.

Ecology: Term coined by Earnest Haeckel (1869)

• Study of organisms in their natural home introducing with their surroundings.

Hot spots: Area which exhibit high species richness as well as high speciecs endemism
are termed as hot spots of biodiversity.
Total hotspots in world = 35
Hotspots in India = 4
1. The western 2. The Himalayas 3. The Indo-Burma Sundalands- nicobar
Ghats region group of Islands.

Anthropogenic Activities &Their Impacts on Environment

“The term anthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting
from human activity.”
 CHAPTER 3- ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: LOCAL,
REGIONAL & GLOBAL

Pollution
Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics
of air, water & soil that may harmfully affect the life or create a potential health hazard
of any living organization.

Pollutant
Any Substance which causes pollution is called pollutant.
Example: Smoke, dust, oxides of nitrogen (No, No2), So2

1. Primary Pollutant: “A Primary Pollutant is an air pollutant emitted directly from a

source. Ex. Hydrocarbons (HC/Vocs), Carbon monoxide (Co), Nox, Sox, particulate
matter.”
2. Secondary Pollutant:“ Not directly emitted as such, but forms when other
pollutants (Primary Pollutants) seat in the atmosphere.” Ex: Tropospheric ozone (O 3),
PAN (Peroxy acetyl nitrate), Acid Rain.

Types of pollution
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Soil pollution
• Noise pollution
• Radioactive pollution
• Light pollution
• Thermal pollution
• Marine pollution.
Atmosphere:
• The vast expanse of air which envelopes the earth is called atmosphere. Among the
four elements of environment, the atmosphere is most dynamic as changes take place in
it not only from one season to another but also over shorter periods of a few hours.

• The atmosphere is held to the earth by the force of gravity of the total mass of the
atmosphere; about 99% is within a height of 30 km from the earth’s surface.

Composition of atmosphere:
Gases Per cent
Nitrogen 78.08%
Oxygen 20.94%
Argon 0.9340%
Carbon dioxide 0.0318%

Besides gases, water vapours, dust particles, smoke, salts and other impurities,
microorganisms, pollen grains etc. are also present in the air in varying quantities in the
lower layers of atmosphere.

Structure of Atmosphere
• The atmosphere consists of almost concentric layers of air with varying density &
temperature.
• In the atmosphere, broadly five layers can be identified:

1. Troposphere: lowest layer of atmosphere, thus laying closet to the earth’s surface.
• It extends roughly to a height of 8 km near the poles & about 18 km at the equator.
• Temperature in this layer decreases with increases height, roughly at rate of 1oc for
165 meters of ascent.

2. Stratosphere: Extends upto a height of 50 km.

• Temperature ceases to fall, and remains constant up to height of 50 km.
• Due to presence of ozone layer which absorbs the UV-radiation of Sun.
3. Mesosphere: extending up to a height of 80 km.
• Temperature decreases with height.

4. Ionosphere: located between 80 & 400 km.

• It is an electrically charged layer, in which ions reflect radio waves back to the
earth’s surface & enable wireless communication.
• Temperature starts increasing with height.

5. Exosphere: Upper most layer of atmosphere. Extending beyond the ionosphere

above a height of about 400 km.
• This layer is extremely rarefied & gradually merges with the outer space.

Air Pollution:
• Air pollution is an atmospheric condition in which certain substances (including the
normal constituents in excess) are present in concentration which can cause undesirable
effect on man & his environment.

Air Pollutants
Air pollutants may occur in gaseous or particulate form & may be organic or inorganic in
nature. On the basis of origin of pollutants they can be classified as primary or
secondary pollutants.

1. Primary Pollutants: These are emitted directly from the point source (identifiable
source). Eg. Carbon monoxide (Co), oxides of nitrogen (Nox), oxides of sulphur (Sox),
hydrocarbons, radioactive substances etc.

2. Secondary Pollutants: These are formed by interaction of primary pollutant (s)

with other primary pollutant (s) or with some natured constituents of atmosphere. Eg.
Ozone (O3), peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), Photochemical smog.
Causes/Sources of Air Pollutants

The sources of air pollution are natured & man-made (anthropogenic).

Natural Sources: Volcanic eruptions, Forest fires, Sea Salt Sprays, pollen grains of
flowers, spores etc.
Man-made: Thermal power plants, vehicular emissions, fossil fuel burning, industrial
units, agricultural activities etc.

Thermal power plants: The main pollutants emitted are fly Ash & SO2, NOx

Vehicular emissions: Pollutants-carbon monoxide (CO), un-burnt hydrocarbons, oxides

of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of Sulphur (SOx), Particulate matter, smoke & odour are
emitted by the vehicles.
• Unleaded Petrol which was considered to be green fuel for vehicles emits benzene (a
cancer causing pollutant).
• CNG burning produces potentially hazardous carbonyl emissions.

There are 17 categories of most polluting industries which are normally not allowed to
established in thick populated areas.

Indoor Air Pollution.

The environment inside buildings, offices & houses also have several pollutants.

Randon gas: the most important indoor air pollutant.

• Responsible for a large number of lung cancer.
• Radon can be emitted from building materials like bricks, concrete, tiles etc.
A house wife wood as fuel for cooking inhales BAP (benzo-(a) Pyrene) equivalent to 20
packets of cigarette a day.
Pollutants Time Industrial Ecologically
Weighted Residential Rural & Sensitive
Average other Areas Area.
1. SO2 MG/m3 Annual * 50 20
24 hours 80 80
2. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Annual * 40 30
MG/m3 24 hours ** 80 80
3. Particulate Matter (Size Annual 60 60
less than 10 MM) or Pm10 24 hours 100 100
MG/m3
4. Particulate Matter (Size Annual 40 40
less than 2.5 MM) or Pm2.5 24 hours 60 60
MG/m 3

5. Ozone (O3) MG/m3 8 hours 100 100

1 hours 180 180
6. Lead (Pb) Mg/m 3
Annual 0.50 0.50
24 hours 1.0 1.0
7. Carbon Monoxide (CO) 8 hours 02 02
MG/m 3
1 hours 04 04

Water Pollution

Water Pollution can be defined as alteration in Physical, chemical or biological

characteristics of water making it unsuitable for designated use in its natural stack.

• Primary source of organic pollution = Domestic sewage

• Source of water pollution in major river of India = untreated sewage > agriculture
run off > unregulated small scale industries.
DO

BOD

COD
Water borne disease: Cholera, dysentery, typhoid, jaundice, Hepatitis A or E,
diarrhoea, Skim & eye infections, Salmonella & E. coli infection, Polio.

• Minamata disease: Mercury dumped into water is transformed into water soluble
methyl mercury by bacteria action. Methyl Mercury accumulates in fish. In 1953, People
in Japan suffered from vision & hearing problems & abnormal mental behaviour. This
disease called Minamata disease.

• Itai-Itai disease: By cadmium. In this disease bones, liver, kidney, lungs. Pancreas
& thyroid are affected.

• Blue-Baby Syndrome or methoaemoglobinemia disease: Nitrate when present

in excess in drinking water.

• Fluorosis disease: Excess of Fluoride in drinking water. Arsenic pollution of ground

water in Bangladesh & Wes Bangal is causing various types of abnormalities.

Noise Pollution

• The unpleasant & unwanted sound is called noise.

• Decibel scale (dB) is a measure of loudness. Noise can affect human ear because of
its loudness & frequency (pitch).

➢ The central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) committee has recommended permissible
noise level for different locations.
 Table 1.1
Area Category of Area Noise Level in dB.
Code Day Night
(A) Industrial 75 70
(B) Commercial 65 55
(C) Residential 55 45
(D) Silence Zone 50 40

Effects of Noise:
I.Interferes with man’s communication.
II.Hearing damage.
III.Physiological & Psychological Changes: Hypertension, insomnia (sleeplessness),
gastro-intestinal &digestive disorders, Peptic ulcers, blood pressure changes, behavioural
changes etc.

Control of noise Pollution:

• Reduction in source of noise
• Through Law
• Planting more trees having broad leaves.

Light Pollution

Types of light pollution:

1. Glare: From unshielded lighting is a public health hazard.
2. Light trespass: Unwanted light enters one’s property.
3. Sky glow: Glow effect that can be seen over populated areas.
Greenhouse Effect

Troposphere, the lowermost layer of the atmosphere, traps heat by a natural process
due to the presence of certain gases. This effect is called Greenhouse Effect.

Greenhouse Gases:

• Carbon dioxide [(CO2): 355 PPM (1990), 405 PPM (2017)]: contribution about 65%
to global warming.
• Ozone (O3)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous oxide (N2O)
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• Water Vapours.

Impacts of Enhanced Greenhouse effect:

• Global Temperature increase
• Rise in sea level
• Effect on human health
• Effect on agriculture: Positive, Negative
Acid Rain
Acid Rain (PH falls below 5.6) is caused by emissions of Sulfur dioxide (SO 2) & nitrogen
oxide (NO2), which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Effects of Acid Rain

• It cause deterioration of building especially made of marble. Ex. TajMahal.
• Damage stone statues.
• Damages metals & Car finishes
• Affect Aquatic life. Etc.

Ozone layer Depletion

Reduction in the concentration of ozone in the ozone layer.

• A natural sunscreen in the stratosphere called the ozone layer.
• This layer filter out harmful ultraviolet radiations from the sunlight & thus protect
various life from on the earth.
• The amount of atmosphere ozone is measured by ‘Dobson Spectrometer’ & is
expressed in Dobson Units (DU).
Causes.
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): are used as Coolants in refrigerator & air conditioners.
• Nitrous oxide (N2O): Emitted by supersonic aircrafts.

Effect of ozone Depletion:

• Skin cancer
• Lens & Corner of eye will result in increase in incidents of cataract.
• Crops
• Degradation of paints etc.

Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change

 CHAPTER 4-WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste
Solid waste refers to the range of garbage arising from animal and human activities that
are discarded as unwanted and useless. Solid waste is generated from industrial,
residential and commercial activities in a given area, and may be handled in a variety of
ways. As such, landfills are typically classified as sanitary, municipal, construction and
demolition or industrial waste sites.

Management of liquid waste through sewage treatment:

There are three stages for treatment of sewage water. They are:
1. Primary or physical treatment.
2. Secondary or Biological treatment.
3. Tertiary or chemical treatment.
Basel convention
• Basel convention is an international environment agreement on “control of trans
boundary movement and disposal of hazardous waste’ which was drafed on 22nd
March, 1989.
• Basel BAN
On 31st Dec, 1997 a “total ban” on the trans boundary movement

E-waste or electronic waste is created when an electronic product is discarded

after the end of its useful life.

Used as an antistatic additive in industrial

Perfluoroocta applications and found in electronics, also
noic found in non-stick cookware (PTFE). PFOAs
acid (PFOA) are formed synthetically through
environmental degradation.

CHAPTER 5-NATURAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES

Natural Resources: Life on this planet earth depends upon a variety of goods &
services provided by the nature, which are known as Natural resources.

Examples: Water, air, soil, minerals, coal, forests, crops & wildlife, Phosphorus etc.

Types of Natural Resources:

1. Renewable resources: Which are in exhaustive and can be regenerated within a

given span of time, eg. Forests, wildlife, wind energy, oxygen, biomass energy, tidal
energy, hydro-power, solar energy, Geothermal energy etc.
2. Non-Renewable Resources: Which can’t be regenerated.Eg? Fossil fuels like coal,
Petroleum, minerals etc. once use exhaust these reserves, the same can’t be
replenished.

CHAPTER 6- NATURAL HAZARDS AND

DISASTERS: MITIGATION STRATEGIES.

1. Earthquakes i.Hurricanes
2. Tsunamis ii.Lightning
3. Volcanoes iii.Tornadoes
4. Mass-wasting iv.Tropics storms
5. Landslides v.Flooding
6. Meteorites vi.Desertification
vii.Drought
viii.Wildfire.
ix.Blizzards
x.Avalanches
 CHAPTER 7: ACTS AND INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS ON ENVIRONMENT

THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986

WHERE AS the decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take
appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of human environment;

1. SHORT TITLE, EXTEND AND COMMENCEMENT

(1) This Act may be called the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for
different provisions of this Act and for different areas.

India: National action plan on climate change (NAPCC).

• Publication date: 2008

Eight National Missions form the core of the NAPCC, which represents a multi-pronged,
long-term and integrated approach for achieving key goals in the context of climate
change. These include: National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy
Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National
Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for a Green India,
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for
Climate Change
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on 11 December 1997 and entered into
force on 16 February 2005.

The Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to reduce the onset of
global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to "a level
that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
(Article 2). The Kyoto Protocol applies to the six greenhouse gases listed in Annex A:
Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydro-fluorocarbons
(HFCs), Per-fluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

Earth Summit

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known
as the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, the Rio Summit, the Rio Conference, and the Earth
Summit (Portuguese: ECO92), was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de
Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.

Paris Agreement.

Global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels; and to limit
the increase to 1.5 °C, since this would substantially reduce the risks and effects of
climate change.

Adopted on 12 December 2015.

International Solar Alliance

It is headquartered in India In January 2016, Narendra Modi, and the then French
President François Hollande jointly laid the foundation stone of the ISA Headquarters and
inaugurated the interim Secretariat at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in
GwalPahari, Gurugram, India.