Name of Institution
Amity School of Engineering and Technology
B-Tech, Semester-I
Environmental Studies (EVS)- 4 Credit
Dr. Manju Rawat Ranjan
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Course Modules
Total 7 Modules
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The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
( Scope and importance)
Natural Resources (Type, Use, problem and suggested measure)
Ecosystem (concept, structure and function, type)
Bio-diversity and its Conservation
Environmental Pollution (Type, causes, effect and remedies)
Social Issue and the Environment
Human Population and Environment
The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
(Scope and importance)
Environment:
Environment is French word “Environner”, which mean to encircle or surround.
That is all the physical and biological surroundings of an organism along with
their interactions such as atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere,
which surround us is known as our environment.
Environment
Abiotic
Air
Water
Biotic
Soil
Material
Plant
Animal
Microbes
Interaction occur between abiotic and biotic component, such as transfer of material
and energy.
Air, water and land, which surround us
influence us and we influence it by
overuse or over exploitation of resources
and also by discharge of pollutants.
The impact is bi-directional, the interaction
could be directly and indirectly.
Environmental Studies
Study of our environment which include both
physical and biological component, interaction
among its component, effect of these component
on human being and vice versa.
However, we can not study Environment in
isolation, environmental studies also had input from
various other discipline of sciences, engineering,
social science, Law, governance.
The multidisciplinary nature of environmental science is illustrated in
following diagram
Life Science
(Biology, biochemistry,
Microbiology etc)
Modeling
Mathematics,
Statistics,
Computer science
Basic and
Applied Studies
Physical Science,
(physics, chemistry,
Earth science, Atmospheric
Science)
Environmental Studies Technology
Civil, Chemical,
Hydraulics ,Nano
Management and
Awareness
Economics, Sociology, Law,
Education, Management, Mass
communication
Scope of Environmental Studies:
Environmental Studies encompasses large number of areas
which mainly include:
Natural Resource- Conservation and Management
Ecology and Biodiversity
Environment Pollution and Control
Economic development and associate socio-cultural issues
Human population and environment.
It can also include highly specialized issues like Environmental
Science, Environmental Engineering and Environmental
Management
This subject had a wide field of applicationResearch and Development: include research and development of
pollution control technology, clean fuel development, sustainable
agricultural practice, carbon credit
Green advocacy: Increase emphasis on implementation of various
acts and laws resulted in environmental lawyers, who could enforced
pollution, wildlife, forest protection related laws.
Green marketing : more emphasis on consumer good which are
more eco-friendly, Food products without contamination of pesticides,
insecticides. Increase use of products with ECO marks.
Green media: Mass media which include print media and electronic
media are Important means of spreading awareness about
environment pollution and conservation.
Importance of Environment studies:
Environmental studies have become significant for the following reason:
Environment Issues being of International Importance: environmental issues such
as global warming, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, marine pollution etc have
a global implication.
Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development : rapid development in the
Selected area leads to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation
Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc which in turn leads to environmental pollution.
Rapid increase in Population: rapid growth of human population resulted into
tremendous increase in the demand of resources such as food resources, energy
resources ultimately leading to the environmental degradation.
Need for An Alternative Solution: recently their is a sense of feeling that current
way of economic development is not feasible for long term as resources base is
not unlimited giving rise to the concept of sustainable development.
Need To Save Humanity From Extinction: There is a grave threat on humanity due
to continuous degradation of its resource base which has implication on survival
and well being of human society.
Need for public Awareness:
International efforts for environment: The subject of environment come into
international focus first with the Stockholm Conference held on 5th 1972, since then
we celebrate World Environment Day on 5th June. It further got attention with the Earth
Summit took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In this summit Agenda 21- a global
agenda for transition to sustainability in the 21st century. Beside that many International
treaty and protocol are done to safeguard environment:
Montreal Protocol on Substances: That Deplete the Ozone Layer, Montreal, 1989
Kyoto protocol: adopted in 1997, come in force in 2005.
Establishment of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in recognition of the problem of global
warming.
Nobel peace prize in 2004 to Ms. Wangari Maathai (Green Belt Movement) and
Jointly to IPCC and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. in year 2007 also highlight the
importance of environment.
Public Awareness for Environment:
Without active people participation government cant force any policy so to make public
aware regarding environmental pollution and its conservation. This awareness can be
achieved by various mean:
Formal Environmental education:
at School level, University and post-graduation level, Higher research
Non-formal education and awareness Program:
• National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC)- Started in 1986 is a multimedia
campaign which uses activities such as seminar, workshops, camps, exhibitions, debate,
street theatre, tree plantation to promote awareness about environment.
• Eco Clubs of National Green Corps: Target audience are school student, 50,000 eco
clubs are set up till now, Govt. provide training and resources.
• Mass Awareness:
Through media including both print and electronic media. Campaign for banning plastic
Product, clean Yamuna campaign. Awareness activities by NGO’s and other institutions
on the occasion of Environment days like Earth day.
• Eco Mark: Eco-labelling of consumer products as Ecomark in 1991. It is an earthen
pitcher and awarded to product that is made, used or disposed off in eco-friendly manner.
Contemporary Indian Environmentalists:
Environmental ethos are always part of ancient Indian civilization as The Jain, Vedic
and Buddhist traditions established the principles of ecological harmony centuries ago.
The first instances of environmental movement was observed in year 1730, where 363
Bishnois, led by Amrita Devi sacrificed their lives while protecting green Khejiri trees
considered sacred by the community, by hugging to them, this incident is the first event
of Chipko movement in the recorded history. Government of India started Amrita Devi
Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award for respecting her effort.
Other environmental activist like Sunderlal Bahuguna, known for his Chipko
movement and Tehri Bachao Andolan,
Smt. Medha Patkar and Ms. Arundhati Roy for Narmada Bachao Andolan, Magsaysay
awarded Rajender Singh known for his water conservation effort.
Green Judge Justice Kuldeep Singh and Green advocate Sh. M.C.Mehta are
Environmental lawyers. Present IPCC chairman Mr.R.K.Pachuri of TERI and late Sh.
Anil Aggrawal the founder chairman of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) are
also known for their scientific wisdom.