Environment

Awareness…

Introduction –
Definition, Scope &
Importance

Presented By:
Dr. Swati Diixit
 Definition

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.”
 Multi-Disciplinary Nature

Physical Science
Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, Atmospheric
Changes, Oceanography, Geography

Life Sciences Technology

Biology, Civil Engineering,
Biochemistry, Chemical
Microbiology, Environment Science Engineering,
Biotechnology Hydraulics,
Nanotechnology

Modelling
Mathematics, Management & Awareness
Statistics, Computer Economics, Politics, Sociology,
Science Law, Education, Management,
Mass communication
 Multi-Disciplinary Nature

 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.
 Scope

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 & Control
Sources of pollution , their control measures.
 Social Issues w.r.t to Environment
Urban Problems, Sustainable Development,
Reclamation Projects etc.
 Human population & environment
Study 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 Advocacy
Emerging requirement of environment Lawyers to
plead for environment
 Green Marketing
Environment friendly or eco-friendly products with ISO
14000 certification or eco mark.
 Green Media
Magazines, Advertisements, Mass media.
 Environment Consultancy
Consultants working for Environmental Clearance
 Scope

Specialized Scope:
 Environmental Engineering
 Environmental Biotechnology
 Environmental Management
 Environmental Law
 Environmental Economics
 Environmental Journalism
 Green technologies
 Clean development mechanisms
 Importance

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.,
 Need of Public Awareness

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 generation
4. 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 stress

6. Government initiatives are Not sufficient and not
successful
7. General public unaware and uneducated
8. Difficult to achieve goal of sustainability
9. And the last but the most important is
“Ignorance”.
Solution…..
 Solution….

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 Environment

Person Work Done
Indira Gandhi Introduced Environment
Protection in Constitution

Justice Kuldeep Singh (Green Supreme court issued directives

Judge) & to make curricula environment
Sh. M.C. Mehta (Green oriented
Advocate)
Sh. Sunderlal Bahuguna Chipko Movement & Tehri
Bachao Andolan
Smt. Medha Patekar & Ms. Narmada Bachao Andolan
Arundhati Roy
Sh. Rajendra Singh (Magsaysay Efforts for Water Conservation
Award) – Water Man of India
Sh. G.D. Aggarwal Ganga Bachao Andolan
Ms. Menaka Gandhi Wildlife Protection
 Solution….

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
Environmental Concern & Recognition at
International Level
Wangari Maathai
Nobel Peace Prize in 2004
Kenyan Environmentalist

Al Gore & R K Pachauri

Nobel Peace Prize in 2007
 Solution….

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,
 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 22
World Forest Day March 21
World Water Day March 22
World Meteorological Day March 23
Earth Day April 22
International Day for Biological May 22
Diversity
Anti Tobacco Day May 31
World Environment Day June 5
World Ocean Day June 8
World Day to Combat June 17
Desertification and Drought
World Population Day July 11
World Ozone Day September 16
Green Consumer Day September 28
Wildlife Week October 1- 7
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.