CALCUTTA INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT (CA 2)

VALUES AND ETHICS IN PROFESSION (BCA S 301)

FULL MARKS 25 LAST DATE OF SUBMISSION 31.10.2021

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. State how the growth of technology is contributing to the depletion of

resources. (5)

Ans- Resource depletion is a negative impact of technology on the

environment. It refers to the consumption of a resource faster than it can be
replenished. Natural resources consist of those that are in existence without
humans having created them and they can be either renewable or non-
renewable. There are several types of resource depletion, with the most
severe being aquifer depletion, deforestation, mining for fossil fuels and
minerals, contamination of resources, soil erosion and overconsumption of
resources. These mainly occur as a result of agriculture, mining, water usage
and consumption of fossil fuels, all of which have been enabled by
advancements in technology.
Due to the increasing global population, levels of natural resource degradation
are also increasing. This has resulted in the estimation of the world’s eco-
footprint to be one and a half times the ability of the earth to sustainably
provide each individual with enough resources that meet their consumption
levels. Since the industrial revolution, large-scale mineral and oil exploration
has been increasing, causing more and more natural oil and mineral
depletion. Combined with advancements in technology, development and
research, the exploitation of minerals has become easier and humans are
therefore digging deeper to access more which has led to many resources
entering into a production decline.
Moreover, the consequence of deforestation has never been more severe,
with the World Bank reporting that the net loss of global forest between 1990
and 2015 was 1.3 million km2. This is primarily for agricultural reasons but also
logging for fuel and making space for residential areas, encouraged by
increasing population pressure. Not only does this result in a loss of trees
which are important as they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but
thousands of plants and animals lose their natural habitats and have become
extinct.

2. What is Club of Rome? What has been stated in the report Limits to Growth?

(5)

Ans- The Club of Rome is a platform of diverse thought leaders who

identify holistic solutions to complex global issues and promote policy
initiatives and action to enable humanity to emerge from multiple
planetary emergencies.
The organisation has prioritised five key areas of impact: Emerging New
Civilisations; Planetary Emergency; Reframing Economics; Rethinking
Finance; and Youth Leadership and Intergenerational Dialogues.
The book is “The Limits to Growth,” and its message is
simple: Either civilization or growth must end, and soon.
Continued population and industrial growth will exhaust the
world's minerals and bathe the biosphere in fatal levels of
pollution. As the authors summarize, “if the present growth
trends.. continue unchanged, the limits of growth on this
planet will be reached sometime within the next hundred
years.”
“The Limits to Growth,” in view, is an empty and misleading work. Its
imposing apparatus of computer technology and systems jargon conceals a
kind of intellectual Rube Goldberg device—one which takes arbitrary
assumptions, shakes them up and comes out with arbitrary conclusions that
have the ring of science. “Limits” pretends to a degree of certainty so
exaggerated as to obscure the few modest (and unoriginal) insights that it
genuinely con tains. Less than pseudoscience and little more than polemical
fiction, “The Limits to Growth” is best summarized not as a rediscovery of the
laws of nature but as a rediscovery of the oldest maxim of computer science:
Garbage In, Garbage Out.
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3. What are the steps that can be taken to reduce environmental degradation?

(5)

Ans- For reducing environmental degradation various steps can be taken ,some of
them are listed below

1. Stop Deforestation
In order to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental
degradation, stopping deforestation is crucial for our
environmental system.

2. Government Regulations
Governments set high taxes for activities that harm our
planet and support environmentally-friendly behavior
with financial subsidies.

3. Fines and Punishment For Illegal dumping

There should also be high fines for illegal dumping to
reduce the adverse ecological consequences.

4. Reduce Consumption Levels

It has become essential to reduce our consumption levels. Our
developed society always strives for the latest electronics,
smartphones, and the trendiest clothes and so on.
5. Reuse and Reduce Waste Generation
By reducing waste production by using your items and
food more efficiently.

6. Avoid Plastic
In order to cut down plastic waste, avoid buying items with
plastic wrapper or packaging, refrain from using disposable
plastic bags, cups, plates, containers, cutlery, etc.

We can, however, take action to stop it and take care of the

world that we live in by providing environmental
education to the people who will help them pick familiarity
with their surroundings that will enable to take care
of environmental concerns

4. Briefly state how ethics is related to the environment? (5)

Ans- Environmental ethics is a branch of ethics that studies the

relation of human beings and the environment and how ethics
play a role in this. Environmental ethics believe that humans are
a part of society as well as other living creatures, which includes
plants and animals. These items are a very important part of the
world and are considered to be a functional part of human life.
Environmental ethics are a key feature of environmental studies
that establishes the relationship between humans and the
earth. With environmental ethics, you can ensure that you are
doing your part to keep the environment safe and protected.

Environmental ethics builds on scientific understanding by

bringing human values, moral principles, and improved decision
making into conversation with science. It was Earth Day in 1970
that helped to develop environmental ethics in the US, and
soon thereafter, the same ethics were developed in other
countries, including Canada and North America. This is
important because the ethics of the environment are of major
concern these days.
5. What is energy crisis? How energy crisis is caused and what steps can be taken
to stop energy crisis?

(5)

Ans- “An energy crisis is any significant bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to
an economy.

Causes of energy crisis are as follows-

1. Overconsumption

2. Overpopulation

3. Poor Infrastructure
Aging infrastructure of power generating equipment is yet
another reason for energy shortage

4. Unexplored Renewable Energy Options

Renewable energy still remains unused in most of the countries.
Most of the energy comes from non-renewable sources like coal

5. Delay in Commissioning of Power Plants

Due to delaying result is that old plants come under huge
stress to meet the daily demand for power. When supply
doesn’t match demand, it results in load-shedding and
breakdown.

6. Wastage of Energy

7. Poor Distribution System

8. Major Accidents and Natural Calamities

9. Wars and Attacks etc

Steps for stopping energy crisis are list[ed below

1. Move Towards Renewable Resources

The best possible solution is to reduce the world’s dependence
on non-renewable resources and to improve overall
conservation efforts.
2. Buy Energy-Efficient Products
Replace traditional bulbs with CFLs and LEDs. They use fewer
watts of electricity and last longer.

3. Easier Grid Access

People who use different options to generate power must be
given permission to plug into the grid and getting credit for the
power you feed into it.

4. Energy Simulation
Energy simulation software can be used by big corporates and
corporations to redesign the building unit and reduce running
business energy costs.

5. Perform Energy Audit

The energy audit is a process that helps you to identify the
areas where your home or office is losing energy and what steps
you can take to improve energy efficiency.