UNIT – IA : The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies

Short Answer Question:

1. What is Biosphere?
Ans: Biosphere is the total life-containing and life supporting environment of the world
which is restricted to a very thin and irregular veil or film around the globe is called biosphere.
The components of the biosphere are atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere.
2. What is an Environment?
Ans: Environment (from the French environner: to encircle or surround) is (1) the
circumstances and conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms, or (2) the social
and cultural conditions that affect an individual or community. Thus, environment refers to the
sum total of conditions which surround man at a given point in space and time affecting the life
and development of organisms.
3. Name different components of environment.
Ans: The components of environment can be broadly categories as:
1. Physical surrounding: Air, water and land.
2. Biological surrounding: Producers, consumers and decomposers.
3. Social factor and Climatic factor
4. What is physical environment?
Ans: Physical environment refers to the environment on the basis of physical characteristic
and state made up of abiotic components, such as (i) lithosphere (solid earth), (ii) hydrosphere
(water component) and (iii) atmosphere (gas).
5. What is biological environment?
Ans: The biological environment refers to biotic components of the environment comprises
of plants (flora) and animals (fauna), including man as an important component, and
microorganisms. Thus, the biological or biotic environment may be further subdivided into
floral environment and faunal environment and microbial environment.
6. What is social environment?
Ans: Social environment refers to the immediate physical and social setting in which people
live or in which something happens or develops. It includes the culture that the individual was
educated or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom they interact. Social
environment thus involves population interaction and behavior patterns of people or organism
in response to their environment.
7. What is an environmental studies?
Ans: Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects a living organism, it is
essentially multidisciplinary approach that brings about an appreciation of our natural world
and human impact on its integrity. It is an applied science, as it seeks practical answers to the
increasing important question of how to make human civilization sustainable on the Earth’s
finite resources.
8. What are the main objectives of environmental studies?
Ans: The main objectives of environmental studies are:
1) To enhance awareness and sensitivity to the environment and its allied problems;
2) To increase knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental
challenges;
3) To develop skill to identify and help resolve environmental challenges and striving to
attain harmony with Nature.
9. What is meant by ‘Ecomark’?
Ans: An Ecomark is a scheme that provides accreditation and labeling for household and other
consumer products which meet certain environmental criteria along with the quality
 requirements of Indian standards for the product. The Ecomark scheme was launched in 1991
and it is an ‘earthen pitcher’ – a symbol of eco-friendliness and our traditional heritage.
10. What is Green Marketing?
Ans: Green marketing refers to marketing of environmental friendly products and/or services
based on their environmental benefits. It incorporates a broad range of activities, including
product modification, changes to the production process, sustainable packaging, as well as
modifying advertising.
11. What is Green Media?
Ans: Green media is a visual communication company, specialized in graphic design, website
development and presentation. Sound and music productions are also an important part of the
services. Another aspect of green media is designing applications for companies that build
database driven sites. Environmental awareness can be spread through green media for which
environmentally educated are required.
12. What is Green Advocacy?
Ans: Green (Environmental) advocacy is the act of speaking on the behalf of or in support of
another person, place, or things by presenting information on nature and environmental issues
that is absolutely prejudiced and encourages its audience to adopt more environmentally
sensitive attitudes, often more biocentric worldviews.

Descriptive:

1. What is the need for studying environmental issues?

Ans: Environmental issues are subjects, problems or controversies that relate to impairment or
improvement of the air, water, soil, ecosystems, or the impact of people on them.
Environmental issues are a major problem in our world, and all people need to recognize the
need for our social obligations. Severe environmental issues have appeared throughout the
world as a result the effect of humans on our planet has increased significantly over the years.
For example, global warming and climate change is likely to cause a wide chance in regional and
seasonal weather pattern, with longer summers and shorter winters. Extreme weather
conditions like floods and droughts are likely to occur more often. Many believe that such
climate change is already noticeable. India is already being affected by global warming and its
will be stronger in the coming years. Apart from sea-level rise, the meltdown of Himalayan
glaciers is another effect of global warming.
Hence, there is a large need for studying environmental issues to educate ourselves so
that we can learn how to make the effective ethical decisions in order to preserve nature. This
is because we are a part of the complex network of environment where every component is link
up.
2. How do environmental studies help us?
Ans: Environmental studies helps us in understanding and overcoming problems related to
the environment by acquiring awareness, knowledge, attitude, skill, evaluation ability and
participation. Thus,
1. It helps in the maintenance of life and health, in self preservation, and in the preservation
of the human race.
2. It helps to understand different food chains and ecological balance in nature.
3. It helps to understand and appreciate how the environment is used for making a living
and for promoting a material culture.
4. It helps in appreciating and enjoying nature and society.
5. It generates concern for the changing environment in a systematic manner for the future
as well as immediate welfare of mankind.
 6. It directs attention towards the problems of population explosion, exhaustion of natural
resources and pollution of the environment, and throws light on the methods of solution.

3. Discuss the multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies.

Ans: Environmental studies deal with every issue that affects an organism and it gives
emphasis on questions of environmental ethics, aesthetics, literatures, etc. There are three
reasons for studying the state of the environment. Firstly, it is the need for information that
clarifies modern environmental concepts such as the need to conserve biodiversity, the need to
lead more sustainable lifestyles and the need to use resources more equitably. Secondly, there
is a need to change the way in which we view our own environment by a practical approach
based on observation and self learning. Thirdly there is the need to create a concern for our
environment that will trigger pro-environmental action; including activities we can do in our
daily life to protect it. Keeping in view the complex nature of environment, knowledge inputs
from various disciplines of science, social science, law and engineering are included in
Environmental Studies. Few examples as given below:
1. Life science helps in understanding the biotic components and their interactions.
2. For understanding the physical and chemical structure of abiotic components of
environment along with mass and energy transfers we need use the basic concept of
physics, chemistry, geography, etc.
3. Mathematics, statistics and computer science likewise serve as effective tools in
environmental modeling.
4. Subject like economics and sociology for dealing with the socio-economic aspects
associated with various development activities, and so on with other subjects.
Environmental studies, therefore is an interdisciplinary subject where we deal with
different aspects using a holistic approach.
4. Explain the scope of environmental studies.
Ans: Environmental studies as a subject of multidisciplinary in nature have a wide scope. It
encompasses a large number of areas and aspect, which may be summarized as follows:
• Natural resources-their conservation and management
• Ecology and biodiversity
• Environmental pollution and control
• Social issues in relation to development and environment
• Human population and environment.
These are the basic aspects of environmental studies which have a direct relevance to every
section of the society. Environment age 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 in creating new job
opportunities. The opportunities in this field are immense not only for scientists but also for
engineers, biologists.
In the recent years, the scope of environmental studies has expanded dramatically the world
over. Several career options have emerged and there is a good chance of opportunity to find
a job in this field that is broadly categorized as:
• Research & Development in environment.
• Green advocacy.
• Green marketing.
• Green media.
• Environment consultancy.

5. What is the need for Public Awareness about environment?

Ans: The goals of sustainable development cannot be achieved by any government at its own level until
the public has a participatory role in it. In today’s world because of industrialization and increasing
population and rapid urbanization have resulted in stress on natural resources as it has been rapidly
utilized and our environment and quality of life is being increasingly degraded. Over exploitation of
natural resources is a basic concern for everybody. Food shortage we increase in frequency and severity
if population growth, soil erosion and nutrient depletions we continue at the existing rate.
The trend of increasing pollution in various environmental media is evident from the
deterioration air and water quality, higher noise levels, increasing vehicular and industrial emission and
it consequence such as acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion etc. Realizing the urgent need for
arresting the trend; Ministry adopted Policy for Abatement of Environmental Degradation. However, this
is only an approach and not a movement. Till movement is not effected, approach shall stand null and
void. To make movement effective public support is very necessary. There is an urgent need for public
awareness about cleaner environment. It is not only the duty of government but also the people to take
active role for protecting the environment, so protecting our environment is economically more viable
than cleaning it up once, if it damaged.
Therefore, it is only possible when public aware about the ecological and environmental
issues. Public should understand about the fact that if we are degrading our environment, we are harming
ourselves. Environment belongs to all and participation of masses is a must for successful
implementation of environmental protection plans. Hence, it is necessary to create awareness to the
public about environmental problems and to protect the environment through implementing proper
regulations.