Environment Awareness…

Introduction –Definition, Scope & Importance

Presented By:

Mrs. Vaibhavi ApteVisiting Faculty Environment Science

What is Environment ??? Derived from French Word “Environner”

means “surround”. General Definition: Everything that surrounds

and affects living organisms is called Environment

As per Environment (Protection) Act 1986, “ The sum total of water, air and land, the inter-relationships that exist among them and with the human beings , other living organisms & materials.”

Definition

Multi-Disciplinary Nature

Environment Science

Physical SciencePhysics, Chemistry, Earth Science,

Atmospheric Changes, Oceanography, Geography

TechnologyCivil

Engineering,

Chemical Engineering, Hydraulics,

Nanotechnology

Management & AwarenessEconomics, Politics, Sociology, Law, Education, Management,

Mass communication

ModellingMathematics,

Statistics, Computer Science

Life SciencesBiology,

Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology

Life Science :- Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology

Helps in understanding biotic components and its interactions.

Genetics and Biotechnology- Used for finding solutions to environmental

problems. Maths, Statistics, Computer Science Used as a effective tool in environmental

modelling. Economics, Management, Sociology For dealing with Socio economic aspects associated

with various development activities

Multi-Disciplinary Nature

Continue…… Law- Provides guidelines and legal measures for effective

management and protection of environment.

Education Teach in schools, colleges, awareness programmes

Civil and Chemical Engineering, Hydraulics, Nanotechnology Provides technical solutions for environmental pollution

control and waste treatment

Physical Sciences- Physics, Chemistry, Geography etc Used to understand the physical and chemical structure

of abiotic components of environment along with mass and energy transfer.

Multi-Disciplinary Nature

Basic Scope: Natural Resource management & conservation-

Study of different resources, (like forests, Mineral, Land, Energy, Food, Water) their conservation & Management.

Ecology & Biodiversity- Study of Variety of flora and fauna and their interactions. Structure and function of ecosystem.

Environmental Pollution & ControlSources of pollution , their control measures.

Social Issues w.r.t to EnvironmentUrban Problems, Sustainable Development, Reclamation Projects etc.

Human population & environmentStudy of various population factors, Human Rights, value Education.

Scope

Career Oriented Scope : Research & Development in Environment

(Environmental Scientists)- Pollution remedies, Clean up technologies, Energy solutions.

Green AdvocacyEmerging requirement of environment Lawyers to plead for environment

Green MarketingEnvironment friendly or eco-friendly products with ISO 14000 certification or eco mark.

Green MediaMagazines, Advertisements, Mass media.

Environment ConsultancyConsultants working for Environmental Clearance

Scope

Environmental Engineering Environmental Biotechnology Environmental Management Environmental Law Environmental Economics Environmental Journalism Green technologies Clean development mechanisms

Scope

Specialized Scope:

Environment Importance can be categorized at three different levels Global Level

Problems like global warming, ozone depletion, Dwindling of Resources

Local Level Issues which are area specific like mining

problem in a particular area, Problems of solid Waste Handling etc.

Individual Level This level includes concerns at door step..

Like safe drinking water, hygienic vicinity, etc.,

Importance

1. Rapidly changing technologies lead to abandoned wastes

E.g. Steel Mill – Steel is useful in automobiles, food, beverages, building etc. This leads to heavy land pollution, gas production etc,

E.g. E-Waste In todays electronic world.. Use of gadgets, electrical

equipment is leading to high amount of E-waste

2. Fast & Energy demanding lifestyles Global demand is increasing which leads to burden on

natural resources E.g. Petroleum, Electricity, Electromagnetic Radiations Which ultimately leads to high CO2 production. Over Dependence on Machines leads to resource depletion &

Health Therefore, alternate use of wind, solar energy is gaining

importance.

Need of Public Awareness

3. Consumerism leads to environmental degradation

Production, Processing & Consumption of commodities requires extraction of Natural resources

Need of Factory & factory operations- which require land

Commodities like automobiles themselves generate pollution

High standard life style leads to high waste generation4. Definite capacity to tolerate pollutants &

Sustain populations Earth cannot assimilate beyond one limit- hence it is

important to understand the Earth's Life support System its working and on what principles does it work.

Earth Has started acting as a Sink

Need of Public Awareness

5. Environment currently under stress6. Government initiatives are Not sufficient and

not successful7. General public unaware and uneducated8. Difficult to achieve goal of sustainability9. And the last but the most important is

“Ignorance”.

Need of Public Awareness

Solution…..

Solutions…

Understanding Message from our own Cultural Heritage

Indian Culture is based on Principles of environmental Conservation

The concept of keeping forest reserves was first developed by Kautilya, an Indian scholar in the past.

Trees of different species are protected and preserved as sacred groves in most parts of the country. 

Our Vedas are enriched with values of Sun, Water, Mountains, Rivers, Animals.

There is an unparalleled example of “Chipko Movement” in 1973 for Khejri tree.

Van- Panchayats in U.P.

Solution….

Work done for the cause of EnvironmentSolution….

Person Work DoneIndira Gandhi Introduced Environment

Protection in Constitution

Justice Kuldeep Singh (Green Judge) &Sh. M.C. Mehta (Green Advocate)

Supreme court issued directives to make curricula environment oriented

Sh. Sunderlal Bahuguna Chipko Movement & Tehri Bachao Andolan

Smt. Medha Patekar & Ms. Arundhati Roy

Narmada Bachao Andolan

Sh. Rajendra Singh (Magsaysay Award) – Water Man of India

Efforts for Water Conservation

Sh. G.D. Aggarwal Ganga Bachao Andolan Ms. Menaka Gandhi Wildlife Protection

Environmental Concern & Recognition at International Level

Environmental issues received attention after 43 years in Stockholm conference, 1972

Celebration of “World Environment Day” 5th June initiated .

Many other Environmental Conferences: United Nations Conference on Environment and development, Rio de

Janerio in 1992- “Earth Summit” World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg in 2002 Copenhagen Conference, 2007

Award of Nobel Peace prize to environmentalists in 2004 and 2007

Solution….

Environmental Concern & Recognition at International LevelWangari MaathaiNobel Peace Prize in 2004Kenyan Environmentalist

Al Gore & R K PachauriNobel Peace Prize in 2007

Different Environment Protection Efforts Ministry of Environment & Forests, 1986

Eco-mark – GoI introduced Eco-labelling in 1991 called “Ecomark”.

Symbol is a “Earthen Pitcher”. Ecomark is found on various products like soaps and Detergent, Food Items, Plastic Products, Architectural Paints, Cosmetics,

Solution….

Eco Clubs The MoEF has set eco-clubs in schools for involving

school children in Environmental Awareness like Tree Plantation, etc.

Active participation in celebrate and campaigns on Earth Day, World Environment Day.

Eco-Task Force Army men are involved in various activities Eco Task Forces raised by MoEF of Defence, to work on

challenging assignments in the ecologically fragile and sensitive areas.

The objective behind starting ETFs was to solve the twin problems of eco - regeneration and rehabilitation of ex- servicemen.

E.g. 127 BATTALION, DEHRADUN (UTTARAKHAND)

Institutions World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change (IPCC) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Nature Organization (WNO) World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

INDIA……. Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS) Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Centre for Environment Education (CEE) Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Botanical Survey Of India (BSI) Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Forest Survey of India (FSI)

Pune…… Protecterra Ecological Foundation Ecological Society Kalpavriksh Tekdi RANWA Parisar Poona Women’s Council Green Hills Group Environment department – Bharti Vidyapeeth

World Environmental Calendar Day Date

World Wetlands Day February 22World Forest Day March 21World Water Day March 22World Meteorological Day March 23Earth Day April 22International Day for Biological Diversity

May 22

Anti Tobacco Day May 31World Environment Day June 5World Ocean Day June 8World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

June 17

World Population Day July 11World Ozone Day September 16Green Consumer Day September 28Wildlife Week October 1- 7

Our Steps

Towards A Better

Environment

We Can…..

Be Nature Lovers, go for nature trails & treks.

Visit Sanctuaries, National Parks Initiate/Participate in various

environmental Programmes Follow 3R- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Promote Car Pooling Encourage Tree Plantation - Indigenous

Species. Be Responsible Citizens Avoid littering,

Keep our environment clean.

Respect our Mother nature & its offerings.