Science

1. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
UNIT 1 Introduction to Environmental Studies
Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies Scope and importance; Concept of
sustainability and sustainable development.

2. INTRODUCTION
 Now a days the word environment is often being used by almost all people around
us, on television & in newspapers.
 Everyone is speaking about the protection & preservation of environment.
 Global summits are being held regularly to discuss environmental issues.
 During the last hundred years the mutual relationship among environment, social
organization & culture has been discussed in sociology, anthropology &
geography.
 All this shows the increasing importance of environment.
 Besides, it is a fact that life is tied with the environment.

3. MEANING & DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT
 Environment, the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or
operate.
 The term environment is derived from a French word "Environia" means to surround.
 It refers to both abiotic (physical or non-living) and biotic (living) environment.
 The word environment means surroundings, in which organisms live.
 Environment and the organisms are two dynamic and complex component of nature.
 Environment regulates the life of the organisms including human beings.
 Human beings interact with the environment more vigorously than other living beings.
 Ordinarily environment refers to the materials and forces that surrounds the living organism.

4. THE COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT
 BIOTIC ENVIRONMENT
 ABIOTIC ENVRIONMENT
 BUILT ENVIRONMENT

5.  Biotic Environment It includes all biotic factors or living forms like plants, animals
and micro-organisms.
 Abiotic Environment - It includes non-living factors like temperature, light, rainfall,
soil, minerals etc. It comprises of atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere.
 Built Environment - It includes buildings, streets, house, industries etc.

6. MULTI DISCIPLINARY NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
 The environment is complex and actually made up of many different environments,
including natural, constructed and cultural environments.
 The study of environmental components is multidisciplinary nature, since it
includes all disciplines.
 The use of the term Environmental science may imply angle subject, but the
essence of environmental science is its multi-disciplinary nature.
 The subject has evolved from integrated use of many disciplines such as science,
humanities, commerce, and geography as follows-

7.  These many disciplines are involved with environmental science which contribute
towards understanding the spectrum of interrelationships between the biotic and
abiotic environments.
1. Biological science
2. Physical science
3. Formal science
4. Social science
5. Applied science

8. 1. Biological sciences - It forms an important component of environmental sciences
as it is essential to acquire the knowledge of organisms living in it. The basic
concepts of botany, zoology, microbiology, biotechnology are studied for studying
the different aspects of environment and their inter relationships.
2. Physical sciences - It helps in understanding the changes which are involved with
the abiotic system like the energy transfer and nutrients cycling, acid rain, ozone
hole etc which require the knowledge of physical chemistry.
3. Mathematics, statistics and computer sciences serve as an effective tool for
environment modelling.

9. 4. Civil engineering, Chemical engineering and nanotechnology provide technical
solution for environmental pollution control and water treatment.
5. Sociology, economics and management help in dealing with socio-economic
aspects of environment.
6. Environment law provides legal measures for effective management and protection
of environment.
7. Mass communication helps in spreading environment awareness.

10. SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
 Environmental science has a vast scope since it covers a wide range of subject matters
or issues related to our complex life-supporting system.
 Scope of the subject can be described in terms of major areas of applicability as well
as career opportunities related to the subject.
 Three major areas of applicability of the subject are
i. Management of natural resources
ii. Conservation of ecosystem and biodiversity, and
iii. Prevention and control of pollution.

11.  In addition, environmental science plays a key role in solving complex
environmental issues of varying scale, including climate change, ozone layer
depletion, energy crisis, desertification, urbanization, population explosion, and so
on.
 Scope of the subject in terms of career opportunities is fairly vast.
 For the last two decades, environmental science has been considered to be
associated with a number of career opportunities.

12.  The scopes and importance are summarized as follows:
1. The study creates awareness among the people to know about various renewable and
nonrenewable resources of the region. The endowment or potential, patterns of
utilization and the balance of various resources available for future use in the state of a
country are analyzed in the study.
2. It provides the knowledge about ecological systems and cause and effect relationships.
3. It provides necessary information about biodiversity richness and the potential dangers to
the species of plants, animals and microorganisms in the environment.
4. The study enables one to understand the causes and consequences due to natural and
main induced disasters (flood, earthquake, landslide, cyclones etc.,) and pollutions and
measures to minimize the effects.
5. It enables one to evaluate alternative responses to environmental issues before deciding
an alternative course of action

13. 6. The study exposes the problems of over population, health, hygiene, etc. and the
role of arts, science and technology in eliminating/ minimizing the evils from the
society.
7. The study tries to identify and develop appropriate and indigenous eco-friendly
skills and technologies to various environmental issues.
8. It teaches the citizens the need for sustainable utilization of resources as these
resources are inherited from our ancestors to the younger generation without
deteriorating their quality.
9. The study enables theoretical knowledge into practice and the multiple uses of
environment.

14. CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY &
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.“
 The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
defines this using the concept of sustainable development.
 Sustainable development is based on the three pillars of sustainability: Economic,
environmental and social sustainability.
 It is only achieved when there is balance or a trade-off between these three
aspects.

15. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture.
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all.
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment and decent work for all.

16. 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster
innovation.
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries.
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development.
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity
loss.
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to
justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development.

17.  Sustainable development has gained momentum as a larger movement over the
years.
 We now associate it with improving living standards, poverty alleviation, nutritional
improvements,
 The features of sustainable development include a sustained rise in per capita
income (PCI)worldwide, rational usage of resources, pollution checks, population
control and relative dependence on renewable sources of energy to meet future
generations' needs.

18. THE WAY FORWARD WITH SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
 The planet must shift to renewable sources of energy as compared to the regular
thermal or hydropower plants that lead to climatic degradation.
 Solar energy is an effective alternative that we can harness using photovoltaic cells.
 It is less costly and environmentally friendly.
 A shift to wind energy is also an option.
 Setting up windmills in areas with high-speed wind can help convert the natural
resource into electricity for commercial or household usage.
 Another effective solution can come through the use of natural manure or bio-
compost as a substitute for chemical fertilizers.

19.  This helps avert soil erosion and soil pollution.
 Subsidized LPG as a fuel in rural areas and CNG as a fuel for vehicles in urban areas
could lead the way forward.
 The rest of the change can come majorly through increased awareness and
consciousness.
 Only when the gravity of the situation and a moral responsibility towards
forthcoming generations is realized can we pass on a healthy environment to them.