CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
(Question to THINK) Are our present lifestyles sustainable?
We Are Living Unsustainably .
Environmental destruction and degradation: wasting, depleting, and degrading
the earth’s natural capital
Happening at an accelerating rate
Also called natural capital degradation
Three “E”s : Economics. Ecology / Environment. Equity (social).
Sustainability means the capacity of the earth’s natural systems and human
cultural systems to survive, flourish, and adapt to changing environmental
conditions into the very long-term future.
It requires a transition in human attitudes toward the environment, and a
shift in behavior, can lead to a much better future for the planet in the future
Why do we talk of Sustainability?
Concept of Sustainability
We are faced with so many challenges today.
1. Demographic Challenge:
The current population of India is a little over 1,348,418,800
Indian population is equivalent to 17.74% of the total world population.
India ranks number 2 in the list of countries by population.
The population density in India is 455 per Km.
33.2 % of the population is urban (449,945,237 people in 2018)
2. Resource Challenge:
• An increasing usage of resources, renewable and non renewable alike.
• Renewable resources are resources that are replenished naturally in the course of time. The rate at which we are
consuming them does not affect their availability in the long term.
• E.g. 1. Solar energy, 2. Wind energy 3. Geothermal energy 4. Water 5. Air 6. Soil 7. Cultivated Plants 8. Biomass
• 9. Biofuels 10. Animals
• The non-renewable resources are those that are available to us in limited quantities, or those that are renewed
so slowly that the rate at which they are consumed is too fast. This means that their stocks are getting depleted
before they can replenish naturally.
• E.g. 1. Coal 2. Oil 3. Peat 4. Uranium 5. Gold 6. Aluminium 7. Sand 8. Iron 9. Phosphate rock 10. Rare earth
elements
3. Environmental challenge:
• Higher levels of environmental impacts of human activities. The capacity of this world to sustain its population is
compromised.
MEANING OF SUSTAINABILITY
The process or the activity can be maintained without exhaustion or collapse.
Intra and Inter-generational issue.
Capacity of a system to accommodate changes:
Rates of use of renewable resources should not exceed their rates or
regeneration.
Rates of use of non-renewable resources should not exceed at which renewable
substitutes are developed.
Rates of pollution emissions should not exceed the assimilative capacity of the
environment. Can you keep blowing a balloon beyond a certain limit?
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The Brundtland Commission Report ,1987 titled “OUR COMMON FUTURE” defines thus, “Sustainable development is the
development that meets the needs of the present (people) without compromising the ability of future generation to
meet their own needs”.
In other words it is improving the quality of life of the present generation without excessive use or abuse of natural
resources, so that they can be preserved for the next generation.
The Commission was formerly known as The World Commission on Environment and Development. The mission of the
Brundtland Commission is to unite countries to pursue sustainable development together.
The term was first coined in 1972 at the United Nations Conference on Human Environment at Stockholm.
The most important piece of writing on Sustainable development is in the publication by the World Commission on
Environment and Development (WCED) in 1987 titled „Our Common Future”.
In 1992 at the Earth summit at Rio-de-Janerio, 170 countries signed many important documents on sustainable
development pledging preservation of environment.
Currently, there are 197 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Sustainable development is often referred as the marriage of economy and ecology. i.e. to attain economic development
without compromising the ecological balance.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Contd….
There are three aims of sustainable development :-
a) Social-guarantying equal access to resources to all human communities
b) Economic- to attain balanced growth
c) Ecological- to preserve the eco system
Need for sustainable development
To curb or prevent the environmental degradation
To ensure a safe human life
To check the exploitative technology and find alternative sources
To check the over exploitation and wastage of natural resources
To regenerate renewable energy resources
COMPONENTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The components are broadly divided into three elements namely social, economic and
environmental. The three are interlinked.
a) Social components-human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic) equity (dependence / independence)
quality of life institutional structures and organization political structures
• Workers health and safety
• Impact on local communities, quality of life
• Benefits to disadvantaged groups
b) Economic components: money and capital employment technological growth investment
market forces
• Creation for new markets and opportunities for sale growth
• Cost reduction through efficiency and improvements and reduced energy and raw material inputs
• Creation of additional value
c) Environmental components: biodiversity materials energy biophysical interactions
• Reduce waste, effluent generation, emission into environment
• Reduce impact on human health
• Use of renewable raw material
• Elimination of toxic substances
PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1. Integration of environment and economic decision
Holistic approach to environmental, social, and economic issues
Minimize environmental impacts (pollution, waste, disruption, etc.)
Use renewable energy and resources efficiently
Develop Design for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
2. Stewardship or humans as the caretaker of the environment
3. Shared responsibility, accountability and decision making
Prevention and mitigation
Conservation
Waste minimization
4. Enhancement of productivity, capability, quality of nature and human life
5. Rehabilitation and reclamation
6. Scientific and technological innovations
Sustainable Society
Sustainable Development
Economic Environmental
Social Equity
Efficiency Responsibility
•Living conditions •Economic growth •Consumption of
•Equal opportunity •Efficiency and resources
•Social cohesion competitiveness •Materials and wastes
•International solidarity •Flexibility and stability •Risks
•Maintenance of •Production / •Rate of change
human capital. consumption •Natural and cultural
•Employment landscape
•International trade
Sustainability: PROBLEMS TODAY
1. Depletion of finite resources
fuels, soil, minerals, species
2. Over-use of renewable resources
forests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public funds
3. Pollution
air, water, soil, sound
4. Inequity
economic, political, social, gender
5. Species loss
endangered species and spaces
Sustainability: SOLUTIONS
1. Cyclical material use
emulate natural cycles; 3 R’s
2. Safe reliable energy
conservation, renewable energy, substitution, interim
measures
3. Life-based interests
health, creativity, communication, coordination,
appreciation, learning, intellectual and spiritual
development
SUMMARY
Sustainability:
The capacity of the earth’s natural systems and human cultural systems to survive, flourish,
and adapt into the very long-term future
Requires:
A transition in human attitudes toward the environment, and a shift in behavior, can lead to a
much better future for the planet in the future.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is the best policy.
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The two key concepts:
(1) the concept of “needs”, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which
overriding priority should be given;
(2) The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the
environment's ability to meet present and future needs.
International law is a set of principles,
obligations and rules that bind intl. behaviour -
needs
Mutual advantage
Credible threat
Credible enforcement (a problem even in
well-established bodies such as EU)
INTERNATAIONAL ORGANISATIONS
1. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): This is the oldest global
environmental organization.
Founded in 1948. It’s Headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, Switzerland.
Today, the largest professional global conservation network.
A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development.
More than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non-
government organizations.
Thousands of field projects and activities around the world
2. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) It is an INGO founded in April 1961. It is working to stop the
degradation of the planet’s natural environment and build a future in which humans live in
harmony with nature, by:
Conserving the world's biological diversity.
Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable.
Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
It’s Headquarter is in Gland (Switzerland).
INTERNATAIONAL ORGANISATIONS
3. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an agency of the United Nations that coordinates its
environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
UNEP, established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst,
advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment.
4. International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): It is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It
was established by the UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide the world with a
clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-
economic impacts. In the same year, the UN General Assembly endorsed the action by WMO and UNEP in jointly
establishing the IPCC.
The IPCC is a scientific body under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
Currently, 195 countries are members of the IPCC.
5. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their
transition to a sustainable energy future. The Founding Conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency was
held in Bonn, Germany, on January 26, 2009. 75 countries signed the Agency's statute.
6. World Nature Organisation (WNO)
The World Nature Organization is the intergovernmental organization dedicated to environmental protection on a
global scale. WNO initiative was born in 2010 by states which are threatened by rising sea levels.
INTERNATAIONAL ORGANISATIONS
7. Global Environment Facility (GEF) It was established in October 1991 as a $1 billion pilot program in the World Bank to assist
in the protection of the global environment and to promote environmental sustainable development.
The GEF work focuses on seven main areas, including biodiversity, climate change (mitigation and adaptation),
chemicals, international waters, land degradation, sustainable forest management/REDD+,Ozone layer depletion.
8. The Economy of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB)
TEEB study was launched by Germany and the European Commission in response to a proposal by the G8+5
Environment Ministers in Potsdam, Germany in 2007, to develop a global study on the economics of biodiversity loss.
The second phase of the TEEB study is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with support
from a number of organizations, including the European Commission, German Federal Ministry for Environment,
Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
9. World Meteorological organisation (WMO)
It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873. Established in
1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations in 1951 for meteorology (weather and climate),
operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
INTERNATAIONAL ORGANISATIONS
10. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights
organization in the world and a Non profit organisation. Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk
and fellow animal rights activist Alex Pacheco,
PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals
suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing
trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry. It work on a variety of other
issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds, and other “pests” as well as cruelty
to domesticated animals.
11.Green Peace: It is a nongovernmental organisation working for conservation and
Protection of environment. Its goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all
its diversity. Greenpeace campaigns are geared towards a sustainable planet. It was set up
in Vancouver, Canada in 1971.
It focuses its campaigning on worldwide issues such as global warming deforestation,
overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering, and anti-nuclear issues.
Global Environmental Conventions
1972 – UN Conference on Human Development, Stockholm (Sweden)
created United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
1980 - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN),
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
1983 - the Brandt Commission was appointed.
1987 – World Commission on Environment & Development published Brundtland Report, “Our
Common Future”.
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
1992 – Rio Earth Summit published Agenda 21,
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally
by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in
every area in which human impacts on the environment.
Statement of Forest Principles, a set of principles to underpin the sustainable
management of forests worldwide
1992 - UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
1992 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
1995 UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
1997 Kyoto Protocol
Industrial agreement negotiated in 1997 in Kyoto (Japan) between
industrialized countries (excluding the US) to reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases.
2000 – Millennium Development Goals
(8 goals…will see later)
2002 – Johannesburg Declaration (WSSD)
(will see later)
POPULATION:
Group of individuals of species occupying a definite
geographic area at a given time.
• World population - exponential growth
1 billion in 1800
2.5 billion in 1950
6 billion in 2000
7 billion in 2011
Population Growth
The population will continue to grow till equilibrium is achieved.
i.e. Number of births = Number of deaths
First 10 largest countries
Population growing by 90 million/year. (Projected for 2050)
Of which 93 % in developing countries Sr. No. Country
Population (In Millions)
1 India 1628
2 China 1369
3 United States 404
Reasons for growth- 4 Indonesia 312
Spread of public health programmes in developing countries 5 Nigeria 304
Increased food production 6 Pakistan 285
Every second 4-5 children are born and 2 people die 7 Brazil 244
Nearly 2.5 persons gets added every second
8 Bangladesh 211
Reduction industrial in mortality rate because of revolution,
Improved personal Hygiene, Modern medicines etc. 9 Ethiopia 188
10 Congo 182
Human Population and the Environment
Due to Population growth:
Fossil fuel from oil fields will run dry.
Food shortage will occur and malnutrition
Industrial growth will create ever-greater problems due to pollution of soil, water and air.
Seas will not have enough fish.
Larger ozone holes will develop due to the discharge of industrial chemicals into the atmosphere.
The Climate change will affect human health and the health of all other spices.
Global warming due to industrial gases will lead to a rise in sea levels and flood all low-lying areas,
submerging coastal agriculture as well as towns and cities.
Water ‘famines’ due to the depletion of fresh water, will create unrest and eventually make
countries go to war.
Economic and political conflicts between nations will bring impending doom.
Degradation of ecosystems will lead to extinction of thousands of species, destabilizing natural
ecosystems of great value.
More intensive use of resources will result in leaving nothing for future generation.
Per capita of agricultural produce will go down
The disparity between the rich and the poor is expanding
Impacts of Population
Pollution – increase in cars and emission of greenhouse gases into
atmosphere
Deforestation –to build houses for increasing population
Freshwater Availability – increase in waste production and
contamination of water
Natural Resources – increase burning of fossil fuels, excessive use of
coal
Global Warming – overall increase in temperature and chances of
natural disasters
Habitat Loss – change in ecosystems affecting tropic levels
POPULATION EXPLOSION:
An enormous growth of human beings is called as population explosion.
Reasons… for population explosion:
Higher fertility rate due to failure of family planning
Predominating religious or superstitious nature
Importance of male child
Social insecurity
Poverty and backwardness
IF WE DON’T CONTROL POPULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPLICATION
Land / Housing
Food
Forests
Water supply and
Sanitation
Energy resources
Effects of Population Growth on our Environment!
One of the factors responsible for environment degradation is population growth or population density. In particular,
population density plays the most important role in shaping the socio-economic environment. Its effects are felt on the natural
environment also.
1. Generation of Waste:
Due to his destructive activities, man has dumped more and more waste in environment. As the man-made waste is not
transformed, it causes degradation and the capacity of environment to absorb more waste is reduced. Further, waste leads to
air and water pollution. Examples: municipal solid waste (household trash/refuse), hazardous waste, wastewater (such as
sewage, which contains bodily wastes (feces and urine) and surface runoff), radioactive waste, and others.
2. Threat to Biodiversity:
Due to his destructive activities, man has extracted more and more minerals from the earth. Animals have been hunted and
plants have disappeared. There has been loss of biodiversity. These have led to ecological imbalance.
3. Strain on Forests:
Man has established new housing colonies. National highways and hydropower projects have been built and forests have been
wiped out. These destructive activities have increased and led to ecological imbalance.
Effects of Population Growth on our Environment!
4. Urbanization:
Rapid growth of population has led to urbanization which has adversely affected environment. Due to population pressure,
natural resources in the cities are depleted at a fast rate due to population pressure.
Moreover, population does not have proper sanitation facilities and pure drinking water. As a result, the health of the people is
adversely affected. No doubt, urbanization reduces pressure on the rural environment, but it brings with if environmental
damages through industrial growth, emissions and wastes.
5. Industrialisation:
Underdeveloped countries are following the policy of heavy industrialisation which is causing environmental degradation. The
establishment of such industries as fertilizers, iron and steel, chemicals and refineries have led to land, air and water pollution.
6. Land Degradation:
Intensive farming and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides have led to over-exploitation of land and water resources. These
have led to land degradation in the form of soil erosion, water logging and salination.
7. Transport Development:
Environmental degradation is also due to transport development in the different parts of the world. The automobiles release
huge quantities of poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. The development of ports and
harbours have led to oil spills from ships adversely affecting fisheries, coral reefs, mangroves and landscapes.
8. Climatic Change:
Effects of Population Growth on our Environment!
Climatic changes are irregular due to green house gases. The thin skin of air that surrounds the planet is being affected by human
activities as never before. Urban people are still being exposed to unaccepted levels of toxic pollutants. Further, forests are still
being degraded by acid deposition generated by faraway industries, and greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the
atmosphere.
9. Productivity:
Environmental degradation not only harms health but also reduces economic productivity. Dirty water, inadequate sanitation,
air pollution and land degradation cause serious diseases on an enormous scale in developing countries like India.
These, in turn, reduce the productivity levels in the country. To take specific instances, water pollution has led to declining
fisheries in rivers, ponds and canals in both urban and rural areas. Water shortages have reduced economic activity in towns, and
cities and villages.
Soil and hazardous wastes have polluted ground water resources which cannot be used for agricultural and industrial
production. Deforestation has led to soil erosion and consequent loss of sustainable logging potential.
Last but not the least, atmospheric changes have given rise to disruption of marine food chain, damages to coastal infrastructure
due to sea-rise and regional changes in agriculture productivity due to hurricanes in seas.Thus, environmental degradation
undermines economic productivity of a nation.
10. Technology:
Presently, environmental pollution is caused by old technology which releases gases and pollutants causing chemical and
industrial pressure on environment.
POVERTY AND ENVIRONMNET
Poverty is the inability to meet one’s basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. Of course poverty could be relative ,i.e.
depending on what one feels for him / herself , absolute poverty means that one is unable to meet his or her basic
necessities and there is also income poverty .
Absolute poverty:
When a household does not have sufficient income to sustain even a basic acceptable standard of living / meet
basic needs. Absolute poverty thresholds will vary between developed and developing countries
The extreme poverty measure now used by the World Bank is the percentage of the population living on less than
$1.90 a day (PPP)
Relative poverty
A level of household income that is considerably lower than the median level of income within a country.
More than 1.3 Billion people are living below the poverty line of one dollar a day
More than 1 billion lack sanitation facilities and poverty is on the rise
1. Poverty forces one to venture into more extensive agriculture by clearing marginal land for cultivation. This will expose
the soil to destructive environmental forces. The vegetation cover is loosed and will lead to more rapid erosion of the
top soil needed for cultivation.
2. Rapid Growing Population - more people, more space, more food, more demands, more housing, more exploitation of
nature.
3. Statistics show that almost four million children are dying each year because of acute respiratory infection linked to
indoor and out-door air pollution. Other environment-related diseases killing the children are diarrhea caused by lack of
clean water and sanitation and also cholera, malaria and asthma etc.
4. People have no quality drinking water as they pollute the rivers by washing inside them and by also using a river as a
dumping site for the bins.
Family Welfare Programmes
Basic training of Multi Purpose Health Worker e.g.
Auxiliary nurse and midwife
Village health guides schemes
Rural Health Training Centre as part of “National Rural
Health Mission".
Family welfare Training and Research Centre,
Mumbai
Human Health and Environment
The huge population pressurizes and degrades the environment physically,
chemically and biologically.
The state of health of people depends on clean environment.
The changes in human environment increases the incidence of many diseases.
Various diseases- HIV/ AIDS, TB, Malaria, Water borne diseases
(Ayushman Bharat Scheme – To cover health) introduced on 23rd Sep 2018
Climate and Health
Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Hazardous chemicals like pesticides etc.
Infectious diseases, Water related diseases, Risks due to chemicals in food
Cancer and the environment
FAMILY WELFARE PROGRAM
In order to control population India began Family Planning Programme which was later made
into Family Welfare Programme.
The slogan ‘hum do hamare do’ is to bring awareness into the seriousness of the issue.
Female sterilization is the most popular method of contraception used in developing countries
The use of oral contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices for women, and the use of condoms for
men is on the rise.
India and China have been using permanent sterilization more effectively.
Education plays a vital role in family planning
Methods of sterilization
India has succeeded in population control to some extent but much needs to be done.
Permanent sterilisation done by a minor surgery.
Tubectomy in females is done by tying the tubes that carry the ovum to the uterus.
Male sterilization or vasectomy, is done by tying the tubes that carry the sperm.
Both are very simple procedures, done under local anesthesia, are painless and patients have no
post operative problems. Vasectomy does not cause any loss in the male’s sexual ability but only
arrests the discharge of sperm.
Use of Condoms by males, Intrauterine devices (Copper Ts), contraceptive pills by females are
effective methods.
Urbanisation:
Urbanization refers to a process in which an increasing proportion of an entire
population lives in cities and the suburbs of cities. Historically, it has been closely
connected with industrialization.
Urban areas are usually thought to be centres of business, commerce, industry, and
population. Urbanization essentially means the proportion of the population living
in urban places.
Urban population growth is both due to migration of people to towns and cities
from the rural sector in search of better job options as well as population growth
within the city.
India is the 7th largest country in the world by area. It has many large cities that
contribute to its massive population.
In fact, the country has a total of 39 cities each having populations exceeding one
million.
Mumbai and Delhi have more than 10 million each.
388 towns have populations exceeding 100,000,
2,483 towns with populations of over 10,000
ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH
Changes in our environment induced by human activities in nearly every sphere of life have
had an influence on the pattern of our health.
We expect urbanization and industrialization to bring in prosperity, but on the down side, it
leads to diseases related to overcrowding and an inadequate quality of drinking water,
resulting in an increase in waterborne diseases such as infective diarrhoea and air borne
bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis, asthma etc.
Pesticides in food supplies affected our health.
Modern medicine increase our problems rather than healing. Many drugs have side effects.
(Recently Govt. has banned some 300 plum medicines)
Environmental health, as defined by WHO, comprises those aspects of human
health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, chemical,
biological, social, and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also refers to
the theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing
those factors in the environment that adversely affect the health of present
and future generations.
EXAMPLES:
Millions of children die every year due to diarrhoea from contaminated water or food. An
estimated 2000 million people are affected by these diseases and more than 3 million children
die each year from waterborne diseases across the world.
Large numbers of people in tropical countries die of malaria every year and millions are infected.
In India, about half the children under the age of four are malnourished and 30% of newborns are
significantly underweight.
Hundreds of millions of people suffer serious respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and
tuberculosis, from crowded homes and public places. Motor vehicle exhaust fumes, industrial
fumes, tobacco smoke and cooking food on improper ‘chulas’, contribute to respiratory diseases.
Millions of people are exposed to hazard ous chemicals in their workplace or homes that lead to
ill health due to industrial products where controls are not adhered to.
Tens of thousands of people in the world die due to traffic accidents due to inadequate
management of traffic conditions. Poor management at the accident site, and inability to reach a
hospital within an hour causes a large number of deaths, especially from head injuries.
Basic environmental needs such as clean water, clean air and adequate nutrition which are all
related to environmental goods and services do not reach over 1000 million people living in
abject poverty.
Globalisation and infectious disease:
Globalization is a world-wide process which includes the internationalization of
communication, trade and economic organization. It involves parallel changes such as rapid
social, economic and political adjustments. Whilst globalization has the potential to enhance
the lives and living standards of certain population groups, for poor and marginalized
populations in both the non-formal as well as formal economic sectors of developing
countries, globalization enhances economic inequalities.
Tuberculosis (TB) kills approximately 2 million people each year
The spread of HIV/AIDS and the emer gence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is
contributing to the increasing morbidity of this disease.
According to WHO nearly 1% of the world’s population is newly infected with TB each year.
Five to ten percent of people who are in fected with TB (but who are not infectedwith HIV)
become sick or infectious at some time during their life. (WHO, 2002).
Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The cause of
malaria, a single celled parasite called plasmodium, was discovered in 1880. Later it was
found that the parasite is transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female
Anopheles mosquito, which requires blood for the growth of her eggs.
Water related diseases:
Diarrhea, Cholera, Dysentery, Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis A and E can
cause jaundice, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. In the case of
Hepatitis E, it can even cause liver failure.
In many parts of the world the adverse health impacts of dam
construction, irrigation development and flood control is related to
increased incidence of malaria.
Other health issues indirectly associated with water resources
development include nutritional status, exposure to agricultural
pesticides and their residues.
Insects such as mosquitoes that breed in stagnant water spread
diseases such as malaria and filaria.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from
birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you
choose to live your life. These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity, fairness,
equality, respect and independence. These values are defined and protected by law.
Several environmental issues are closely linked to human rights. These include the equitable
distribution of environmental resources, the utilisation of resources and Intellectual Property
Rights (IPRs), conflicts between people and wild life, resettlement issues around development
projects such as dams and mines, and access to health to prevent environment related
diseases.
Proper nutrition and health are fundamental human rights. The right to life is a Fundamental
Right in our constitution. As a deteriorating environment shortens life spans, this in effect has
an impact on our fundamental constitutional right.
VALUE EDUCATION
Value education in the context of our environment is expected to bring about a new
sustainable way of life. Education both through formal and non-formal processes must thus
address understanding environmental values, valuing nature and cultures, social justice,
human heritage, equitable use of resources, managing common property resources and
appreciating the cause of ecological degradation.
Environmental value education is not taught but it has to be inculcated.
Values in environment education must bring in several new concepts.
Why and how can we use less resources and energy?
Why do we need to keep our surroundings clean? Swachch Bharat
Why should we use less fertilisers and pesticides in farms?
Why is it important for us to save water and keep our water sources clean?
Why should we separate our garbage into degradable and non-degradable types before
disposal?
All these issues are linked to the quality of human life and go beyond simple economic growth.
They deal with a love and respect for nature. These are the values that will bring about a
better humanity, one in which we can live healthy, productive and happy lives in harmony with
nature.
Strategies for sustainable living
(Dos and Don’ts)
YOU MUST
Work towards the protection of our environment and the preservation of our wild species.
Consciously avoid committing acts that damage our environment and will publicly assert my
dislikes for acts against the environment.
Not permit others to cause harm to the wilderness and our wild species without protest.
Use resources carefully by reducing, reusing and recycling whatever I use such as water,
paper, plastic, metal and glass articles.
Not carelessly throw away items that are made of our precious natural resources.
Use energy carefully and close off electrical appliances when not in use.
Not waste energy by using a fuel based vehicle when I can walk or cycle.
Visit our wondrous wild places with clean air, water, soil, and all their plants and animals,
and become party to their conservation.
Not permit any individual or Government action spoil our environment or damage
wilderness without protest.
Always care for Mother Earth.
Try not to damage her knowingly or unknowingly.
WOMAN AND CHILD WELFARE
There are several environmental factors that are closely linked to the
welfare of women and children.
Each year, close to eleven million children worldwide are estimated to have
died from the effects of disease and inadequate nutrition. Most of these
deaths are in the developing world.
In some countries, more than one in five children die before they are 5
years old.
Seven out of 10 of childhood deaths in developing countries can be
attributed to five main causes, or a combination of them. These are
pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles, malaria and malnutrition. Around the
world, three out of every four children suffer from at least one of these
conditions
The PM’s Ayushman Bharat is aimed at health care of this section
CASE STUDY
Chula issue
The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.6 billion
early deaths occur annually from cooking stove pollution.
400,000 to 550,000 children under five and women die each
year in India due to indoor smoke. Chula smoke is the third
highest cause of disease and death after dirty water and lack of
sanitation. Hence by providing access to clean water, sanitation,
food and ventilated homes, over half the diseases and
premature deaths could be avoided in India.
COMMON SICKNESS AFECTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN INDIA
1. Respiratory conditions: Caused and worsened by polluted air. Crowded ill-ventilated homes and living
in smoky households with open fires can trigger respiratory conditions especially in children
2. Pneumonia: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) most frequently pneumonia, is a major cause of death
in children under five, killing over two million children annually. Upto 40% of children seen in health
centers suffer from respiratory conditions and many deaths attributed to other causes are, in fact,
“hidden” ARI deaths.
3. Gastro intestinal conditions: Contaminated water and food causes widespread ill health especially in
children.
4. Diarrhoea: Diarrhoea is caused by a wide variety of infections. Urgent diagnosis and treatment of
diarrhoea is a priority for saving a child’s life. Usually children below 5 years of age are victims.
5. Measles: Measles is a rash that appears with fever and body ache in children and is caused by a virus.
It infects over 40 million children and kills over 800,000 children under the age of five. Can be
controlled by vaccination.
6. Malaria: This condition is closely linked to pool ing and stagnation of water in tropical environments. It
is caused by a parasite transmitted to humans by female mosquitoes. Approximately 700,000 children
die of malaria globally each year, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
7. Poverty-environment-malnutrition: There is a close association between poverty, a degraded
environment, and malnutrition.
ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH
With the growth of IT spread of awareness on environment and
human health has become a possibility.
Environmental information is easily accessed through the use of
satellites. To name some of the facilities…
National management information system (NMIS).
Environmental information system (ENVIS).
Remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS).
Geographical information system (GIS).
The World Wide Web (WWW).
UNIT-IV. Human Population and the Environment
Short Questions
1. What do you mean by carrying capacity of population?
2. Define: “Population Explosion”.
3. Define: Birth rate
4. Define: Death rate
5. What is population pyramid?
6. What is India Population Project?
7. What are the reasons behind the increased population growth in the less developed nations
compared with developed nations?
8. List out few family welfare projects in India.
9. Differentiate between HIV and AIDS.
10. List any four vector-borne diseases.
LONG QUESTIONS
1. Discuss the factors influencing human population.
2. Draw a typical population pyramid of a developing country and discuss how it is likely to differ from that of a
developed country.
3. Discuss the population growth variation among nations.
4. Discuss the effect of population growth on
i) Food resources ii) Water resources and iii) Energy resources.
5. Explain the term “Population Explosion”.
6. Explain the impacts of population growth on environmental issues.
7. Outline the various family welfare plans in the post independent India.
8. Discuss the role of IT on environment.
9. Discuss the role of IT in environment and human health.
10. What are the modes of transmission of HIV and how it can be prevented?
11. Write a note on water-borne diseases.
12. Define: Human Rights. Discuss the salient features of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by UN.
13. Write notes on human rights.
14. What is value education? What are the objectives of it?
15. Explain the steps taken in India to impart value education.
16. Write a short note on Women and Child welfare.
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