Ch 23 - Environment And Sustainable Development

Question 1

What is meant by ‘environment’?

Answer 1

The environment encompasses all biotic elements like birds, animals, plants etc. and abiotic elements like air, water, sun etc. Occurring naturally on earth or some region there of.

Question 2

Name two main components of environment

Answer 2

A) biotic or living components
B. Abiotic or non-living components

Question 3

Name two renewable and non-renewable resources

Answer 3

Two renewable resources are trees in the forest, fishes in the ocean
Non-renewable resources are fossil fuels and minerals like petroleum, natural gas, coal etc.

Question 4

What are renewable resources?

Answer 4

Renewable resources are those resources which are replenished easily over time, and hence can be used with out the possibility of the resource becoming depleted or exhausted. Ex- trees in the forests, fishes in the ocean etc.

Question 5

What are non-renewable resources?

Answer 5

Non-renewable resources are those resources which can get exhausted or depleted over time as they are used up. Ex- fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas,coal and minerals.
These resources need to be used carefully, while keeping the requirements of the future generations in mind.

Question 6

Based on current projections, within around ____ to ___ years, all the world’s extractable _____,______,_______ ___ and ____________ ___ deposits, which are our current energy sources, would have been used up.

Answer 6

1. 50
2. 75
3. Coal
4. Oil
5. Natural gas
6. Uranium 235

Question 7

What is the significance of the environment?

Answer 7

The significance of the environment-
A) the environment provides various resources to man which are renewable or non-renewable in nature. Renewable resources are those resources which are replenished easily over time and hence can be used without the possibility of the resource becoming depleted or exhausted. Ex- trees in forests, fishes in the oceans etc.
Non renewable resources, on the other hand, are those resources which can get exhausted or depleted over time as they get used up. Ex- fossil fuels like petroleum - natural gas and minerals. These resources need to be used carefully while keeping the requirements of the future generations in mind.

B) The environment is also an absorber of harmful wastes and by products, that is, it assimilates waste products. The smoke from chimneys and exhaust pipes of vehicles, sewage from cities and towns, industrial effluents are all absorbed by the environment. These harmful wastes and by products are absorbed, cleaned and recycled by various natural processes.

C) The environment also sustains life by providing bio - diversity. The genetic variations created by the pressures exerted by the environment on various life forms allows those life forms to adapt, evolve and produce genetic variations which can survive in harsh environments. Hence, the environment produces and maintains relationships between different life forms and the abiotic components and sustains life.it is therefore important to preserve these life forms by preserving the environment.

D) Apart from the biological significance of the environment, the environment is also important from the aesthetic point of view.it provides scenery and landscapes to us which are priceless to us, and often play an important role in man’s culture around the world.

Question 8

How are environmental problems caused?

Answer 8

With the advancement of human civilisation, human wants have expanded and diversified. This has led to a rapid depletion of Human Resources. Many resources are being used up at a rapid rate, which has caused over- utilization and depletion of many resources. With the rapid use of resources, a lot of environmental problems have cropped up like pollution of air and water, degradation of natural resources like soil and forests and the depletion of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels and minerals.

Question 9

Explain pollution

Answer 9

The term pollution refers to an undesirable change in the quality of a natural resource or the natural ecosystem. The change may be harmful to life immediately or over a long period of time. Thus, pollution adversely affects the health of living beings.
Pollution is caused by a pollutant. A pollutant is a waste material or substance which causes an undesirable change in a natural resource or ecosystem. Smoke, dust and poisonous gases in the atmosphere and industrial effluents and sewage from cities in water are some common examples of pollutants. Further, human activities also generate heat and create noise or harm living beings in a multitude of other ways.

Question 10

Explain air pollution

Answer 10

Air pollution is when chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, are introduced into the atmosphere. Major air pollutants include sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide (which is also a major greenhouse gas), toxic metals, and particulate matter.

Question 11

What are the effects of air pollution?

Answer 11

The health effects caused by air pollution may include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing and aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions. These effects can result in increased medication, increased doctor or emergency room visits, more hospital admissions and premature death.

Question 12

What are the sources of air pollution?

Answer 12

Major artificial sources (caused by human beings) of air pollution include:

Smoke from power plants, factories, incinerators, furnaces, etc.

Exhaust of vehicles and automobiles like cars, buses, bikes, airplanes, ships, etc.

Chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers and dust from farming and other agricultural practices.

Fumes from paint, hair spray, varnish, aerosol sprays and other solvents.

Waste deposition in landfills, which generates methane, which also contributes to
global warming.

Major natural sources of air pollution include:

Dust from natural sources, usually barren land.

Methane, emitted by the digestion of food by animals, for example cattle.

Smoke, particulate matter and carbon monoxide from wildfires.

Volcanic activity, which produce sulphur, chlorine, and ash particulates.

Question 13

Explain water pollution

Answer 13

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (example lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater) by pollutants discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. Major sources of water pollution include industrial chemicals and effluents, nutrients, waste water, sewage, etc.

Question 14

What are the effects of water pollution?

Answer 14

A number of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea etc. are produced by the pathogens present in polluted water, affecting human beings and animals. Water Pollution affects the chemical composition of water. The pollutants, including toxic chemicals can alter the acidity, conductivity and temperature of water.It also kills life that inhabits water-based ecosystems like fish, birds, plants, etc.and hence disturbs the natural food-cycle, which causes instability in ecosystems.

Question 15

What are the sources of water pollution?

Answer 15

Major sources of water pollution include:
Discharge from sewage treatment plants and sewage pipes from cities and towns.
Industrial effluents released by factories into water bodies.
Chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural farms which constitute runoff from farms.
Contaminated storm water from storm water drains in cities.
Release of heated or radioactive water by power plants into water.
Oil spills and leakages from tankers and oil rigs.
Growth of algae in water bodies.

Question 16

Explain noise pollution

Answer 16

Noise pollution is an excessive and displeasing environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life.

Question 17

What are the effects of noise pollution?

Answer 17

Noise pollution in the form of unwanted sound can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. Chronic exposure to noise may cause noise-induced hearing loss. People exposed to significant occupational noise demonstrate significantly reduced hearing sensitivity compared to non-exposed people. High and moderately-high noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects, a rise in blood pressure, and an increase in stress thus affecting the physical and mental health of people.

Question 18

What are the sources of noise pollution?

Answer 18

Major sources of noise pollution include -

1.Vehicular traffic, like cars, buses, airplanes, trains etc.
2.Industrial processes like stone crushing, making of steel plates, sawing, printing, etc.
3. Construction work on roads, bridges, buildings, etc.
4.Various noises from houses like stereos, televisions, etc.
5. Consumer products like air conditioners, refrigerators, etc.

Question 19

Explain soil degradation

Answer 19

Soil degradation refers to an undesirable or deleterious change or disturbance in the quality of the soil. It leads to a change in the species of plants and animals in an area, and often leads to a loss of quality and productivity of the soil in an area. The soil loses its natural nutrients, minerals and organic matter (known as humus) and disrupts the natural balance of the natural ecosystem. The soil hence becomes unfit or unsuitable for growing plants and crops.

Question 20

What are the Causes of soil degradation?

Answer 20

Major causes of soil degradation include:
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Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which causes soil acidification, increases salinity and alkalinity of the soil, reduces organic matter, and increases levels of organic pollutants and toxins and heavy metals (like Cadmium, Lead, etc.).
Waterlogging caused by excessive irrigation and failure to subsequently drain the water from the fields causes an increase in salt content of the soil, making it unfit for growing plants, as well as serves as a breeding ground for mosquitos.
Overgrazing by animals in fields, which reduces plant cover and leaves the soil prone to erosion.

Question 21

The World Health Organization states that ____________ people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution. Worldwide more deaths per year are linked to air pollution than to automobile accidents.

Answer 21

2.4 million

Question 22

Damage from soil erosion worldwide is estimated to be ________________ per year (around Rs ____ ________ per year). As a result of erosion over the past __ years, __ percent of the world’s arable land has become unproductive.

Answer 22

1. $400 billion
2. 20 lakh crore
3. 40
   4.30

Question 23

What are the effects of soil degradation?

Answer 23

Soil degradation can significantly reduce the yield potential of soil for growing crops. The presence of pollutants in soil also leads to pollution of groundwater, which has increased levels of nutrients, organic toxins, and heavy metals. Also, degradation of soil causes the soil to lose its green cover, and hence reduces biodiversity in that region, as the growth of plants in an area is essential for animals to survive and for the food chain to function normally. This also leads to extinction of plant and animal species. Soil degradation also leads to desertification, that is, the land gradually gets converted into a desert which becomes unfit for cultivation or habitation

Question 24

Explain habitat degradation

Answer 24

Habitat degradation refers to the process in which habitats lose their normal functioning or quality to support native life due to human activities. Habitat degradation leads to a reduced carrying capacity of that area, that is, the number of animals or plants of a particular species the area can support. This leads to a reduced population of various species in that area (or habitat) which in turn leads to an imbalance in the natural food chain and ecosystem. This imbalance can lead to the mass extinction of many plants and animals on our planet.

Question 25

What are the causes of habitat degradation?

Answer 25

Major causes of habitat degradation:
1.Deforestation and wood extraction for the timber industry.
2.Conversion of forest land into agricultural land
3.Urban expansion of natural habitats
4.Soil erosion and desertification, which can lead to whole forests degenerating into deserts.
5.Slashing or slash-and-burn agricultural methods, where forests are burnt and crops grown using the ashes as a natural fertilizer.

Question 26

What are the effects of habitat degradation?

Answer 26

Habitat destruction vastly increases an area’s vulnerability to natural disasters like flood and drought, crop failure, spread of disease, and water contamination. Agricultural land too suffers from the destruction of the surrounding landscape. Over the past 50 years, the destruction of habitat surrounding agricultural land has degraded approximately 40% of agricultural land worldwide through erosion, nutrient depletion, pollution, etc. Habitat degradation has also led to the loss of many valuable ecosystem services like the nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and carbon cycles, which in turn has increased the frequency and severity of acid rain, algae blooms, and fish kills in rivers and oceans and contributed tremendously to global climate change.It also leads to loss of biodiversity and species extinction, which upsets the natural balance and may alter the ecosystem. Aesthetic uses such as bird watching, recreational uses like hunting and fishing, and ecotourism are also affected adversely by habitat degradation, as most of them rely upon virtually undisturbed habitat.

Question 27

If the current rate of deforestation continues, there will only be ___ of the world’s tropical forests left by ____, and another ____ in a degraded state.

Answer 27

1. 10%
2. 2030
   3.10%

Question 28

What is sustainable development?

Answer 28

Sustainable Development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.

Question 29

What is the definition of sustainable development quoted from Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report?

Answer 29

According to this definition, “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

This definition emphasizes two important things. One, that natural resources are vital to every one of us- even to the unborn future generations. Two, that it is a long term concept. It does not narrowly focus only on the present economic growth but it also takes into account the future economic growth.

Question 30

What does the concept of sustainable development emphasise on?

Answer 30

The concept of sustainable development emphasizes that we have no right to deny the right to life to future generations. The world’s stock of resources is not only meant for present generation but also for future generations. That is why it is our responsibility to use the environment judiciously to meet our needs of today, then bequeath them to our children and grandchildren (the future generations) so that they are able to meet their own needs as well. That makes it a long term concept

Question 31

What are the ways in which we can contribute to sustainable development?

Answer 31

Resources- finding substitutes for nonrenewable resources and using renewable resources judiciously. Solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, tidal energy and biofuels(like gobar gas) are being widely and increasingly used as substitutes for energy sources like coal, oil and natural gas that are being depleted rapidly. In many villages of India, solar energy appliances like solar cookers, solar lanterns and solar heaters are being encouraged and promoted by the government. In coastal areas the wind energy harnessed by windmills is being used to generate electricity.

Recycling - to use again, to re-process. To make paper we need wood pulp which comes from trees. Therefore by recycling used paper we can contribute to saving trees from being cutdown. Water is a scarce resource yet we do not use water judiciously. We can reuse rainwater by rainwater harvesting.

Reduce - to use less or economize. Our consumption should be restrained to meeting our basic needs. We can walk instead of driving to the local market or climb using stairs instead of taking a lift, switch off fans and lights that we don’t need.

Question 32

What is meant by depletion of resources? Give two examples of resources whose reserves have been diminishing rapidly in the last 100-150 years.

Answer 32

Resource depletion is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials in an area or region. Resource depletion is most commonly used in reference to farming, fishing and mining.Today’s economy is largely based on fossil fuels, minerals and oil. The value of these resources has increased over time as demand for them has increased rapidly, while at the same time the supplies of these resources have decreased considerably due to over-exploitation.
The reserves of petroleum, natural gas, coal, uranium-235, and gold have been diminishing rapidly in the last 100-150 years

Question 33

What are the full forms of UNEP, EPA, IPCC, MEF

Answer 33

UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), EPA (Environment Protection Agency), IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), and in India the MEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests)