UNIT-2

Global Environmental Issues

Environmental issues are the harmful effects of human activities on the environment.
These include pollution, overpopulation, waste disposal, climate change, global warming,
the greenhouse effect, etc.

Various environment protection programs are being practiced at the individual,

organizational and government levels with the aim of establishing a balance between man
and the environment.

Some of the current environmental issues that require urgent attention are:

Climate Change
Climate change is a great concern in today’s scenario. This problem has surfaced in the
last few decades. Greenhouse gases are the major cause of climate change.
Environmental changes have several destructive impacts such as the melting of glaciers,
change in seasons, epidemics, etc.

Global Warming
The burning of fossil fuels, emissions from automobiles and chlorofluorocarbons add to
the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has led to an increase in the earth’s
temperature causing environmental changes. This increase in temperature across the
globe is known as global-warming.

Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is a layer of concentrated ozone gas. It protects us from the sun’s harmful
ultraviolet rays. This is the very important layer is being destroyed by CFCs (chloro fluoro
carbons), which are used in industries and everyday life (e.g. aerosol cans).

The chlorine in these compounds destroys the ozone layer. The hole in the ozone layer
leaves humans and wildlife exposed to harmful UV rays resulting in several skin diseases
including cancer.

Water Pollution
The introduction of harmful substances into rivers, oceans, lakes and ponds, which
changes the physical, chemical or biological condition of the water is called water
pollution. The polluted water lacks oxygen and therefore the organisms die.

Water is the main source of life and therefore it is our prime duty to prevent it from any
kind of pollution.
Air Pollution
Air-pollution is the result of emissions from industries, automobiles, and the increasing
use of fossil fuels. The gaseous emissions have added to an increase in the temperature
of the earth. Not only this, but it had also increased the risk of diseases among individuals.

Solid Waste Management

Solid-waste management is defined as the discipline associated with the generation,
storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid waste in a
manner that it does not have a harmful effect on the environment.

Deforestation
Deforestation is the depletion of trees and forests at an alarming rate. The trees provide
us with oxygen, and several raw materials and also maintain the temperature of the earth.
Due to the depletion of trees for commercial purposes, there has been a drastic change
in the earth’s climate.

Forests are an abode to a large number of wild animals and plants. Destruction of forests
has led to the elimination of a large number of plants and animal species affecting
biodiversity.

Overpopulation
The earth’s population is increasing drastically. It is estimated to be more than seven
billion. The increasing population has led to a shortage of resources. If this continues, it
will be very difficult to sustain such a huge population. The other environmental issues
including pollution, waste management, deforestation, climate change and global
warming are all associated with overpopulation.

Solutions to Environmental Issues

Following are some of the most common solutions to the environmental issue:

1. Replace disposal items with reusable items.

2. The use of paper should be avoided.
3. Conserve water and electricity.
4. Support environmental friendly practices.
5. Recycle waste to conserve natural resources.
Environmental issues are a warning of the upcoming disaster. If these issues are not
controlled, there will soon be no life on earth.
 Resource degradation:

Resource degradation is the process of environmental damage that occurs when natural
resources are depleted, destroyed, or polluted, leading to negative impacts on the
environment and human well-being.

The degradation of resources found in nature is a form of environmental damage.

Resource can be defined as a material, found in nature or created artificially, which is in
a state of disequilibrium with the environment, and notes that resources have exergy as
a consequence of this disequilibrium.

Some examples of resource degradation include:

 Water deterioration:
Fresh water is scarce due to economic competition, disputes between users, and
irreversible depletion of groundwater.
 Land degradation:
Inequitable distribution of assets in the economy can lead to overuse of environmental
resources, which can cause land degradation.
 Air pollution:
Resource degradation can lead to air pollution, which can cause health issues.
 Mining degradation:
Resource degradation can lead to soil erosion.
Some factors that can contribute to resource degradation include: unsustainable
agricultural practices, industrial activities, climate change, and population growth.

Carbon Credits And Carbon Trading:

How carbon credits are created ?
Carbon credits are generated by projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas
emissions, such as reforestation, renewable energy projects, and energy efficiency
projects. Each credit represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its carbon dioxide
equivalent (CO2e) that has been reduced or removed.
How carbon credits are traded ?
Carbon credits can be traded between entities after they are certified by a government
or independent certification body. Companies that are regulated under a cap-and-
trade system can use their carbon credits to meet their cap on emissions. If a
company produces fewer emissions than its cap, it can sell the remaining credits.
How carbon trading works ?
In a cap-and-trade program, the government sets a limit on how much greenhouse
gas a company can emit. If a company's emissions exceed the limit, it must purchase
 credits. The European Union and California are examples of places that have cap-
and-trade programs.

Carbon Footprint:
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) released by an
individual, organization, event, or product. It's calculated by adding up the emissions
from every stage of a product or service's lifetime, including material production,
manufacturing, use, and end-of-life.

 Carbon footprint measurement:

Carbon footprints are measured in tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but they
can also be expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalency (CO2-eq). This allows
for easier comparisons between different activities, events, or industries.
 Carbon footprint of
individuals:
In the United States,
the average person's
carbon footprint is 16
tons of CO2 per year,
which is one of the
highest rates in the
world. Globally, the
average carbon
footprint is closer to 4
tons per year.
 Reducing carbon footprint:
Some small changes that can help reduce your carbon footprint include eating less
meat, taking fewer connecting flights, and line drying your clothes.
 Carbon footprint and food:
Plant-based foods generally have a lower carbon footprint than meat and dairy.
 Carbon footprint and the Ecological Footprint:
Carbon footprint is a key component of the Ecological Footprint, which also considers
other human demands on the planet.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS):

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that can help India achieve its net-
zero goal by capturing CO2 emissions from industrial processes and storing them
underground. CCS is gaining attention in India as a way to reduce emissions, and is a
common strategy among the country's oil and gas companies.

Here are some details about CCS in India:

 Government initiatives:
The Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas (MoPNG) is
working on a 2030 Roadmap
for CCUS that will provide
guidelines for oil and gas
companies to develop and
scale up CCS techniques.
Private sector involvement:
The private sector in India is
also starting pilots for CCS
facilities in industries.
 Research and development:
IIT Bombay is developing a cost-effective, eco-friendly CCS technology that can help
industries reduce their carbon footprint.

CCS is a proven technology that has been in safe operation for over 45 years. CO2 can
be stored in saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs that are typically at least
0.62 miles underground.
 Environmental Management standards ISO: 14000
Environmental management system (EMS) refers to the management of an
organization's environmental, programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and
documented manner. It includes the organizational structure, planning and resources for
developing, implementing and maintaining policy for environmental protection.
An EMS can also be classified as

 a system which monitors, tracks and reports emissions information, particularly

with respect to the oil and gas industry. EMSs are becoming web-based in
response to the EPA's mandated greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rule, which
allows for reporting GHG emissions information via the internet.
 a centrally controlled and often automated network of devices now frequently
wireless used to control the internal environment of a building. Such a system
namely acts as an interface between end user and energy (gas/electricity)
consumption.

Brief history of environmental management systems

In 1992, BSI Group published the world's first environmental management systems
standard, BS 7750. Prior to this, environmental management had been part of
larger systems such as Responsible Care. BS 7750 supplied the template for the
development of the ISO 14000 series in 1996, by the International Organization
for Standardization, which has representation from committees all over the world
(ISO) (Clements 1996, Brorson & Larsson, 1999). As of 2010, ISO 14001 is now
used by at least 223149 organizations in 159 countries and economies.
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)
The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary environmental
management instrument, which was developed in 1993 by the European Commission. It
enables organizations to assess, manage and continuously improve their environmental
performance. The scheme is globally applicable and open to all types of private and public
organizations. In order to register with EMAS, organisations must meet the requirements
of the EU-EMAS-Regulation. Currently, more than 4,600 organisations and more than
7,900 sites are EMAS registered.

Goals of EMS
The goals of EMS are to increase compliance and reduce waste.

 Compliance is the act of reaching and maintaining minimal legal standards. By

not being compliant, companies may face fines, government intervention or may
not be able to operate.
 Waste reduction goes beyond compliance to reduce environmental impact. The
EMS helps to develop, implement, manage, coordinate and monitor environmental
 policies. Waste reduction begins at the design phase through pollution prevention
and waste minimization. At the end of the life cycle, waste is reduced by recycling.
 To meet these goals, the selection of environmental management systems is
typically subject to a certain set of criteria: a proven capability to handle high
frequency data, high performance indicators, transparent handling and processing
of data, powerful calculation engine, customised factor handling, multiple
integration capabilities, automation of workflows and QA processes and in-depth,
flexible reporting.

Features of EMS
An environmental management system:

 Serves as a tool, or process, to improve environmental performance and

information mainly "design, pollution control and waste minimization, training,
reporting to tom management, and the setting of goals."
 Provides a systematic way of managing an organization’s environmental affairs.
 Is the aspect of the organization's overall management structure that addresses
immediate and long-term iron of its products, services and processes on the
environment. EMS assists with planning, controlling and monitoring policies in an
organization.
 Gives order and consistency for organizations to address environmental concerns
through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibility and ongoing
evaluation of practices, procedures and processes.
 Creates environmental buy-in from management and employees and assigns
accountability and responsibility.
 Sets framework for training to achieve objectives and desired performance.
 Helps understand legislative requirements to better determine a product or
service's impact, significance, priorities and objectives.
 Focuses on continual improvement of the system and a way to implement policies
and objectives to meet a desired result. This also helps with reviewing and auditing
the EMS to find future opportunities.
 Encourages contractors and suppliers to establish their own EMS.
 Life-cycle analysis (LCA)
Life-cycle analysis (LCA), also known as life-cycle assessment, is a primary tool used to
support decision-making for sustainable development. According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, LCA is a tool to evaluate the potential environmental
impacts of a product, material, process, or activity.
 The goal and scope describe the most important choices, which are often subjective.
For instance, the reason for executing the LCA, a precise definition of the product and
its life cycle and a description of the system boundaries. The system boundaries
describe what is taken into the assessment and what is left out.
What are the 5 stages of a Life Cycle Assessment?

5 Phases of a product life cycle: from cradle-to-grave

 Raw Material Extraction.
 Manufacturing & Processing.
 Transportation.
 Usage & Retail.
 Waste Disposal.
What is the purpose of LCA?
 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) aims to quantify the environmental impacts that
arise from material inputs and outputs, such as energy use or air emissions, over
a product's entire life cycle to assist consumers in making decisions that will
benefit the environment.

How to conduct LCA?

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Step 1: Decide on your scope (boundaries) and functional units.
Step 2: List your inventory.
Step 3: Calculate impacts and consider scenarios for sensitivity analysis.
Step 4: Interpret results.