People, Development &

Environment

Global Online UGC NET/SET

 Syllabus
• Development and environment: Millennium development and
Sustainable development goals.
• Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and
their impacts on environment.
• Environmental issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air pollution, Water
pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste (solid, liquid,
biomedical, hazardous, electronic), Climate change and its Socio-
Economic and Political dimensions.
• Impacts of pollutants on human health.
• Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal,
Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.
• Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.
• Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate
Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio
Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement,
International Solar Alliance.

What is an environment?
Environment means everything around to a living being. Especially the
circumstances of life of people or society in their life conditions. It
comprises the set of natural, social and cultural values existing in a
place and at a particular time, that influence in the life of the human
being and in the generations to come. I.e., it is not only the space in
which life develops, but it also includes living beings, objects, water,
soil, air and the relations between them as well as intangibles like
culture.
Environment consists of all living and non-living things which surround
us. Therefore, the basic components of the environment are:

1. Atmosphere or the air

2. Hydrosphere or the water
3. Lithosphere or the rocks and soil
4. The living component of the environment or the biosphere

What is atmosphere?
We all know that earth is a unique planet due to the presence of life.
The air is one among the necessary conditions for the existence of life
on this planet. The air is a mixture of several gases and it encompasses
the earth from all sides. The air surrounding the earth is called the
atmosphere.
• Atmosphere is the air surrounding the earth.
• The atmosphere is a mixture of different gases. It contains life-
giving gases like Oxygen for humans and animals and carbon
dioxide for plants.
• It envelops the earth all round and is held in place by the gravity
of the earth.
• It helps in stopping the ultraviolet rays harmful to the life and
maintains the suitable temperature necessary for life.
• Generally, atmosphere extends up to about 1600 km from the
earth’s surface. However, 99 % of the total mass of the
atmosphere is confined to the height of 32 km from the earth’s
surface.
Structure of the atmosphere
The atmosphere can be divided into five layers according to the
diversity of temperature and density. They are:
➢ Troposphere
➢ Stratosphere
➢ Mesosphere
➢ Thermosphere (Ionosphere)
➢ Exosphere

Troposphere
• It is the lowermost layer of the atmosphere.
• The height of this layer is about 18 km on the equator and
8 km on the poles.
• The thickness of the troposphere is greatest at the equator
because heat us transported to great heights by strong
convectional currents.
• Troposphere contains dust particles and water vapour.
• This is the most important layer of the atmosphere
because all kinds of weather changes take place only in
this layer.
• The air never remains static in this layer. Therefore, this
layer is called ‘changing sphere’ or troposphere.
• The environmental temperature decreases with increasing
height of the atmosphere. It decreases at the rate of 1
degree Celsius for every 165 m of height. This is called
Normal Lapse Rate.
• The zone separating troposphere from the stratosphere is
known as tropopause.
• The air temperature at the tropopause is about – 80
degree Celsius over the equator and about – 45 degree
Celsius over the poles. The temperature here is nearly
constant, and hence, it is called tropopause.

Stratosphere
• Stratosphere is found just above the troposphere.
• It extends up to a height of 50 km.
• The temperature remains almost the same in the lower
part of this layer up to the height of 20 km. After this, the
temperature increases slowly with the increase in the
height. The temperature increases due to the presence of
ozone gas in the upper part of this layer.
• Weather related incidents do not take place in this layer.
The air blows horizontally here. Therefore, this layer is
considered ideal for flying of aircraft.
• The upper limit of the stratosphere is known as
stratopause.
• One important feature of stratosphere is that it contains a
layer of ozone gas.
• The relative thickness of the ozone layer is measured in
Dobson Units.
• It is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere,
from approximately 20 to 30 km above the earth’s surface.
• It contains a high concentration of ozone (O3) in relation
to other parts of the atmosphere.
• It is the region of the stratosphere that absorbs most of
the sun’s ultra-violet radiations.

Mesosphere
• It is the third layer of the atmosphere spreading over the
stratosphere.
• It extends up to a height of 80 km.
• In this layer, the temperature starts decreasing with
increasing altitude and reaches up to – 100 degree Celsius
at the height of 80 km.
• Meteors or falling stars occur in this layer.
• The upper limit of the mesosphere is known as
mesopause.

Thermosphere
• This layer is located between 80 and 400 km above the
mesopause.
• It contains electrically charged particles known as ions, and
hence, it is known as the ionosphere.
• Radio waves transmitted from the earth are reflected back
to the earth by this layer and due to this, radio
broadcasting has become possible.
• The temperature here starts increasing with heights.

Exosphere
• The exosphere is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere.
• Gases are very sparse in this sphere due to the lack of
gravitational force. Therefore, the density of air is very less
here.

What are MDGs?

MDG stands for Millennium Development Goals, eight poverty-
addressing goals set by the United Nations in 2000. Delineating eight
specific goals, 189 member states and 23 International Organizations,
the MDGs should be met by 2015.

The following are the eight Millennium Development Goals:

1. to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger;

2. to achieve global primary education;
3. to empower women and promote gender equality;
4. to reduce child mortality;
5. to promote maternal health;
6. to fight malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases;
7. to promote environmental sustainability; and
8. to develop a universal partnership for development.
MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Millennium Development Goal 1 has three targets:
1. To halve the proportion of people whose daily income is less than
$1.25
2. To achieve full and productive employment, as well as decent
work for all, including young people and women
3. To halve the proportion of individuals suffering from hunger in the
period between 1990 and 2015.

MDG 2: -Achieve universal primary education

There is only one target for millennium development goal 2:
 1. To ensure that children universally – including both boys and girls
– will be able to complete a full course of primary education by
2015.

MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

There was only one target under millennium development goal 3:
1. To eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education
by 2005, and in all levels of education by 2015.

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality

The Millennium Development Goal 4 has only one target:
1. To reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds in the period
between 1990 and 2015
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
In this regard, millennium development goal 5 has two targets:
1. To reduce the maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent
2. To achieve universal access to reproductive health

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases

In this regard, Millennium Development Goal 6 has three targets:
1. To halt by 2015 and have started to reverse the spread of
HIV/AIDS
2. To achieve global access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for those who
need it by 2010
3. To have ceased and started reversal of the incidence of malaria
and other major diseases by 2015
MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
As such, millennium development goal 7 has 4 targets:
1. To integrate the principles of sustainable development into every
nation’s policies and programmes, and also reverse the depletion
of environmental resources
2. To reduce biodiversity loss and achieve a substantial reduction in
the rate of loss by 2010
3. To halve the proportion of the universal population without
sustainable access to clean and safe drinking water and basic
sanitation by 2015.
4. To achieve substantial improvement in the lives of a minimum of
100 million slum dwellers by 2020.

MDG 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

MDG8_LogoMillennium development goal 8 has 6 targets that seek to
develop global partnership for development, namely:
• To further develop an open, predictable, rule-based, non-
discriminatory trading and economic system
• To address the special needs of the least developed countries
• To address the special needs of small island developing States and
landlocked developing countries
• To deal exhaustively with the debt problems of developing nations
• To provide access to affordable essential drugs in the developing
world – in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies
• To avail benefits of new technologies, especially information and
communications, in collaboration with the private sector

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global
Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a
universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure
that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

The 17 SDGs are integrated—that is, they recognize that action in one
area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must
balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern
energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,
full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification,
and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the
global partnership for sustainable development
What are Anthropogenic activities?
Anthropogenic activities do not only mean that human activities to
meet the demand for food, housing, clothing, and energy, it also
includes all those development activities which directly or indirectly
affect nature.

Impact of Human Activities on Environment!

In order to meet the basic needs of increases population, the present
society has under taken a series of steps like rapid industrialization,
unplanned urbanisation, deforestation, overexploitation of natural
sources, etc.
The outcomes of the above human activities have contributed
significantly to the degradation of environment around us.
Some important impacts of human activities on environment are
outlined below:

1. Deforestation:
In order to provide timber and farm land to increased population, large
number of forest trees are cut and forest area is converting to farm
lands. The rate of deforestation is so faster that around 1.5 million
hectare of forest cover is lost every year is India alone. The process of
deforestation results in decreasing rainfall, increasing global
temperature, loss of top soil, modification of climatic conditions etc.

2. Industrialization:
Although the industrial activities of man provide basic need of the
society, simultaneously the same release a lot of pollutants to the
environment. The pollutants in environment cause loss of raw
materials, health hazards, increase in death rate, damage to crop,
making environment unfit for living organisms etc.

3. Loss of ecological balance:

The excessive use, misuse and mis-management of biosphere
resources results in disturbance in ecosystem or ecological imbalance.

4. Air pollution:
The anthropogenic release of various air pollutants to the environment
causes a number of dreaded phenomena like green house effect,
ozone layer depletion, acid rain and smog formation etc.

5. Water pollution:
Human activities in respect of disposal of sewage wastes, solid wastes,
municipal wastes, agricultural and industrial wastes cause the
environment unfit for day to day use. Besides, polluted water spreads
or leads to different diseases.

6. Increased consumption of natural resources:

Since the starting of industrial era, the natural resources are constantly
utilised for the production of one or more products for the day to day
use of society.

7. Production of waste:
Rapid industrialization and unplanned urbanization release a lot of
toxic waste material either in solid or liquid or gaseous state which
induces a number of serious environmental hazards.
8. Extinction of Wildlife:
Since forests are natural habitats of wild life (both plants and animals)
deforestation leads to the extinction of valuable wild life and loss of
biodiversity.

9. Habitual destruction:
The commercial and industrial activities associated with mining,
construction of dams, fishing, agriculture etc. cause habitat destruction
which is a pathway to pollution.

10. Noise pollution:

The man-made noise due to mechanized automobile, industries, trains,
aero planes, social functions etc. causes noise pollution which has
impact on both biotic and a biotic components of environment.

11. Radiation pollution:

The radiations from radioactive substances used in nuclear reactors
and nuclear weapons can have significant impact on genetic materials
of body (DMA, RHA etc.)

12. Soil erosion:

The anthropogenic processes like deforestation and overgrazing induce
soil erosion which causes moisture reduction, lowering of productivity ,
decline in soil fertility etc.
 “Environmental issues are defined as problems with the
planet’s systems (air, water, soil, etc.) that have developed
as a result of human interference or mistreatment of the
planet.”
We are in a state of planetary emergency, with environmental
problems piling up high around us. Unless we address the various
issues prudently and seriously, we are surely doomed for disaster.
Current environmental problems also require urgent attention

1. Pollution
There are various types of pollution – air, water, soil, noise, radioactive,
light and thermal and these are primary causes that affect our
environment in many ways. All these types of pollution are interlinked
and influence each other. Therefore we need to tackle all of them
together.

2. Soil Degradation
Globally, food security depends on the factor whether or not soils are
in good condition to produce crops. According to UN estimates, about
12 million hectares of farmland a year get seriously degraded.
3. Global Warming
Climate changes like global warming are the result of human practices
like the emission of greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising
temperatures of the oceans and the earth’ surface causing natural
disasters that include flooding, melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea
levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods,
hurricanes, wildfires, drought, excessive snow or desertification.
4. Overpopulation
The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces
a shortage of resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion
in less developed and developing countries is straining the already
scarce resources.
5. Natural Resource Depletion
Another crucial current environmental problem is the depletion of
Natural resources. We, humans, use so many natural resources that it
would need almost 1.5 Earths to cover all our needs.
6. Generating Unsustainable Waste
The huge production of waste due to our hyperconsumption is a major
threat to the environment. As per the study, the average person
produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day, and the US alone accounting for
220 million tons a year.
7. Loss of Biodiversity
Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and
loss of biodiversity. Ecosystems, which took millions of years to perfect,
are in danger when any species population is decimating.

Balance of natural processes like pollination is crucial to the survival of

the ecosystem, and human activity threatens the same. Another
example is the destruction of coral reefs in the various oceans, which
support the rich marine life.
8. Ozone Layer Depletion
The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet
that protects us from the sun’s harmful rays. The depletion of the
crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed to pollution caused
by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-fluoro carbons (CFCs). Once
these toxic gases reach the upper atmosphere, they create a hole in
the ozone layer, the biggest of which is above the Antarctic.
9. Acid Rain
Acid rain occurs due to the presence of certain pollutants in the
atmosphere. Acid rain can be caused due to combustion of fossil fuels
or erupting volcanoes or rotting vegetation which releases sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere.
10. Overfishing
Overfishing affects natural ecosystems severely and leads to an
imbalance of ocean life. Around 63% of global fish stocks are estimated
to be overfished. Overfishing caused fishing fleets to migrate to new
waters that would further deplete the fish stocks.

Air Pollution-
Air pollution may be defined as the presence of one or more
contaminants like dust, mist, smoke and colour in the atmosphere that
are injurious human beings, plants and animals.

Air pollutants
Air Pollutants refer to the abnormal substances (solids, liquids, and
gases) that are present in air in intolerable limits.
Classification of air pollutants: Air pollutants can also be divided into
two categories:
➢ primary pollutant
➢ econdary pollutant.

Primary pollutants: Primary pollutants are emitted directly from the

sources. The example of primary pollutant includes carbon dioxide
(CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide, nitric-oxide, ammonia,
hydrogen sulphide, and radioactive substances. Industrial fumes and
smokes, ash, dust, mist, are other primary sources of air pollution.
Secondary pollutants: The secondary pollutants are not emitted
from the sources. They are formed when primary pollutants interact
with atmospheric constituents. Example includes sulphur-trioxide
(SO3), nitrogen-trioxide, ozone (O3), hydrocarbons, acid rain, etc.
• Sulfuric acid (H2SO4 ) . As a result of the reaction in the
atmosphere of water vapor (H2O) and sulfur-rich gases discharged
as an industrial by-product, this acid rushes to the ground along
with the rain, forming what is called an “acid rain” and causing
damage to all the organic matter that is exposed to it.
• Ozone (O3 ) . Although in certain regions of the atmosphere ozone
exists naturally and harmlessly, in other regions of the
atmosphere it can become an extremely toxic and harmful
element, which arises by photolysis of nitrogen oxides discharged
into the atmosphere by heating and other systems. urban. The
result, when these oxides come into contact with ultraviolet
radiation, is the separation of their elements and the interruption
 of their degradation cycle, becoming ozone and free radicals,
which form the “photochemical smog”.
• Methane (CH 4 ) . In many cases, methane counts as a secondary
pollutant, since it originates from the decomposition of organic
matter, which is very abundant in garbage dumps or in rural
livestock farming areas (due to the herds of the herd). This
disgusting and highly flammable odor gas then rises to the
atmosphere, where it accumulates causing the greenhouse effect .
• Peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN) . This highly stinging compound for the
eyes and lungs, and capable of damaging plants by prolonged
exposure, is one of the main components of urban smog. It is
produced from the decomposition in the air of volatile organic
compounds, such as those used in paints and liquid petroleum
derivatives .

environmental
Pollutant common sources human health risks
risks
exacerbates symptoms
of heart disease, such
carbon automobile as chest pain; may
contributes to
monoxide emissions, fires, cause vision problems
smog formation
(CO) industrial processes and reduce physical
and mental capabilities
in healthy people
automobile
damage to
nitrogen emissions, inflammation and
foliage;
oxides (NO electricity irritation of breathing
contributes to
and NO2) generation, passages
smog formation
industrial processes
 environmental
Pollutant common sources human health risks
risks
major cause of
haze;
contributes to
acid rain
electricity
formation,
generation, fossil-
which breathing difficulties,
sulfur fuel combustion,
subsequently particularly for people
dioxide industrial
damages with asthma and heart
(SO2) processes,
foliage, disease
automobile
buildings, and
emissions
monuments;
reacts to form
particulate
matter
interferes with
nitrogen oxides
the ability of
(NOx) and volatile
certain plants to
organic compounds
respire, leading
(VOCs) from reduced lung function;
to increased
industrial and irritation and
ozone (O3) susceptibility to
automobile inflammation of
other
emissions, gasoline breathing passages
environmental
vapours, chemical
stressors (e.g.,
solvents, and
disease, harsh
electrical utilities
weather)
particulate sources of primary contributes to irritation of breathing
matter particles include formation of passages, aggravation
 environmental
Pollutant common sources human health risks
risks
fires, smokestacks, haze as well as of asthma, irregular
construction sites, acid rain, which heartbeat
and unpaved roads; changes the pH
sources of balance of
secondary particles waterways and
include reactions damages
between gaseous foliage,
chemicals emitted buildings, and
by power plants monuments
and automobiles
adverse effects upon
loss of multiple bodily
biodiversity, systems; may
metal processing, waste decreased contribute to learning
lead (Pb) incineration, fossil-fuel reproduction, disabilities when
combustion neurological young children are
problems in exposed;
vertebrates cardiovascular effects
in adults

Sources of air pollutants

Major sources of air pollution include both natural sources and man-
made source (anthropogenic).
A. Natural sources:
The natural sources of air pollutants includes volcanic eruptions, forest
fires, deflation of sands and dusts, storms, etc. The major pollutants
from natural sources includes:
• olcanic pollutants are produced as a result of volcanic activities.
Examples: ashes, smokes, carbon dioxide, chlorine, sulfur, dust
and other gases.
• Land surface pollutants often get mixed with earth’s atmosphere.
The dust, sand, soil particles, salt, etc. are the examples of land
pollutants.
• The cosmic particles and rays, comets, etc. are the natural sources
of air pollution.
• Green plants and vegetation that produces Volatile organic
compounds (VOC) in large quantity are indirect pollutants.
B. Anthropogenic (Man-made sources)
Industries, automobiles, agriculture, power plants, domestic sources,
etc. are the man-made or anthropogenic sources of air pollution.
Pollutants from anthropogenic sources (human activity or man-made
sources) includes:
• Industrial air pollutants are the harmful substances that are
released into the air during the manufacturing, production and
other industrial process. The smokes, fumes, etc. emitted from
large industries and power plants are the examples of industrial
air pollutants. The dust and particulate matters also gets mixed
with air to worsen the situation.
• Domestic air pollutants are the contaminated chemicals and
substances that released into the air as a result of household
activities. The domestic sources of air pollutant includes gases
from kitchen, burning of coal gas, fuel wood, etc.
 • Vehicular pollutants are emitted by various automobiles. The
mixes and polluted the air. For example, the smoke, gases, fumes,
emissions from surface, water and air transport vehicles causes
pollution.
• Agricultural activities also involve the introduction of pollutants
into the environment. When insecticides, pesticides and
herbicides are sprayed on agricultural fields, they also get mixed
with air. This results to an increase in air pollution of the
surrounding environment.
• Pollutants from fossil-fuel based power plants: The heavy
dependence on fossil fuels for meeting the power requirement
has done much damage to our environment. When fossil fuels are
burnt, the produces several harmful gases including CO2. The heat
generated from the power plants negatively affects the
environment. The smokes and fly ash that is discharged get mixed
with air.

How to Control Air Pollution?

Much of the air pollution is caused due to human activity. The
following remedial measures can be taken to control air pollution:
• Plant more trees. Trees absorb greenhouses gases such as CO2 and
releases O2 into the air.
• Use fewer vehicles. Vehicles releases much of the pollutants into
the air. An alternative way to save air polluting is to start using e-
vehicles.
• Use less fossil fuels. Fossil fuels such as coal, when burned,
releases massive quantity of polluting gases into the environment.
• Make use of Renewable energy. Unlike thermal power plants, that
pollutes the air, renewable sources of power such as hydro power,
wind power, solar power, etc., are comparatively less polluting.
 • Use green technologies. Unlike traditional factories, that releases
a lot of polluting fumes in the air, modern green plants release a
minimal of polluting gases.

What is Water Pollution?

Water pollution can be said to be the contamination of water due the
presence of different direct and indirect pollutants in it. Most of the
time the pollutants are emitted into the water and for all those reasons
the water becomes highly contaminated with some of the most
hazardous chemicals emitted into the water.

Sources of Water Pollution

Point Source
Point source refers to a situation when there is one confirmed source
of water pollution. These are generally sewage treatment plants,
industrial mills, oil refineries, and chemical or electronics factories. The
discharge from these sources can be categorized as a primary source of
continuous pollution. This pollution can also include oil spills, septic
leakage, and large waste dumping.

Non-point Source
Non-point sources of water pollution are those that do not have one
fixed origin. This kind of pollution mostly includes run-off water from
rain or agricultural wastewater. The dirt, debris, and pollutants mix into
this run-off and end up in our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans.
Water pollution is caused due to several reasons. Here are the few
major causes of water pollution:

• Sewage and Waste Water: Sewage, garbage and liquid waste of

households, agricultural lands and factories are discharged into
lakes and rivers. These wastes contain harmful chemicals and
toxins which make the water poisonous for aquatic animals and
plants.

• Dumping: Dumping of solid wastes and litters in water bodies

causes huge problems. Litters include glass, plastic, aluminum,
styrofoam etc. Different things take different amount of time to
degrade in water. They affect aquatic plants and animals.

• Industrial Waste: Industrial waste contains pollutants like

asbestos, lead, mercury and petrochemicals which are extremely
harmful to both people and environment. Industrial waste is
discharged into lakes and rivers by using fresh water making the
water contaminated.
 • Oil Pollution: Sea water gets polluted due to oil spilled from ships
and tankers while traveling. The spilled oil does not dissolve in
water and forms a thick sludge polluting the water.

• Acid Rain: Acid rain is pollution of water caused by air pollution.

When the acidic particles caused by air pollution in the
atmosphere mix with water vapor, it results in acid rain.

• Global Warming: Due to global warming, there is an increase in

water temperature. This increase in temperature results in death
of aquatic plants and animals. This also results in bleaching of
coral reefs in water.

• Eutrophication: Eutrophication is an increased level of nutrients in

water bodies. This results in bloom of algae in water. It also
depletes the oxygen in water, which negatively affects fish and
other aquatic animal population.

Soil pollution
Soil pollution happens when the toxic chemicals, pollutants or
contaminants in the soil are high causing risk to the plants, wildlife,
human beings and to the soil.
The major causes of soil pollution are:
• Use of chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and
fertilizers are the main factors.
• The breaking of the underground storage tank
• Leakage of wastes from landfills
• Direct discharge of industrial wastes
• Harmful irrigation practices
• Improper maintenance
 • Leakage from sanitary sewage, acid rain falling onto the soil
• Fuel leakage of automobiles that soak into the soil
• Soil pollution can have harmful effects on ecosystems, human
beings and plants. It can harm the water and food which are in
direct contact with the polluted soil.

Noise pollution
When there is too much noise or an unpleasant sound causing a
temporary disruption in the natural balance is known as noise
pollution.
The main causes of noise pollution are:
• Industrialization
• Poor urban planning
• Social events
• Transportation
• Construction activities
• Household chores
• Noise pollution causes health issues like
• Hearing problems
• Sleeping disorders
• Cardiovascular issues
• Trouble in communicating
Effects of Noise Pollution
• Hearing Loss – One of the main effects of noise pollution on animals
or human health is temporary or permanent hearing loss. The noise
released by various sources of noise pollution is not suitable for
eardrums. It is of higher value than any human or animal can hear.
• Stress, Anxiety, and Depression – Not just hearing loss, excessive
noise can cause cancer, impotency, lack of memory, poor
concentration, interruption in speech etc. Also, noise pollution also
leads to an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression in humans.
People of every age groups are suffering from tensions due to the
increasing noise pollution in the environment.
• Bad for Cardiovascular Health – One of the effects of noise pollution
is the increase in heart diseases. Loud noise causes an increase in the
blood flow in the arteries and hence leads to the high heartbeat.
Also, it increases the cholesterol level in the body which makes it
difficult for the heart to pump blood in the arteries. Not only this,
loud noise also leads to an increase in anger and irritability in
humans.
• Sleeping Problems – Insomnia is counted as one of the major effects
of noise pollution. Loud noise disturbs the sleep of a person which
eventually affects a normal human functioning. Also, an increase in
noise pollution causes neurological problems, hypertension,
exhaustion, and excessive sweating.

Radioactive pollution
Radioactive pollution happens when there is the presence of
radioactive materials in the environment caused by the emission of
harmful radiations like alpha or beta particles or gamma rays.
The main causes of radioactive pollution are:
• Nuclear accidents from nuclear energy generation plants
 • The use of nuclear weapons for mass destruction
• Mining
• Spillage of radioactive chemicals
• Tests on radiation
• Cosmic rays

The major effects of radioactive pollution are:

• Genetic mutations
• Diseases like cancer
• Infertility in soils
• Cell destruction

Energy is the capacity of a physical system to perform work.

Energy exists in several forms such as heat , kinetic or
mechanical energy, light, potential energy , electrical, or
other forms. Energy is the ability to do work. Energy sources
could be classified as Renewable and Non-renewable.
Conventional sources of energy
• Conventional sources of energy are those sources which have
been in use from time immortal.
• They are exhaustible except hydro-energy.
• They cause pollution when used as they emit smoke and ash.
• Their generation and use involve huge expenditure.
• Very expensive to maintain, store, transmit as they are carried
over long distances through transmission grids.
• Examples are – coal, natural gas, water, firewood
Coal
Coal is a black rock that can be burned to produce energy. Coal is made
from fossilized plants. It is ranked depending on how much
“carbonization” it has gone through: peat is the lowest rank of coal as
it has gone through the least amount of carbonization, whereas
anthracite is the highest rank of coal.
Oil
Another form of non-renewable energy is oil, a very versatile liquid
fossil fuel that can be used for energy generation as well as a wide
range of other applications. It is usually stored deep beneath the
earth’s surface. Oil is extracted by drilling into where it is trapped
between 2 layers of rock, a pipe is then inserted in the hole to siphon it
to the surface.
When the so-called drill rigs are set up, either onshore or offshore, oil
can be extracted 24/7 for several decades. Once the oil has been
drilled, it must be refined to separate it from several other chemicals.

Natural gas

Natural gas is the second most abundant non-renewable

energy source. While coal is a rock and oil is a liquid, natural
gas is – as the name suggests – a gas. Natural gas is
predominantly methane. It was formed like the other fossil
fuels with pressure and heat pressing on organic material
over millions of years. Unlike oil and coal deposits, natural
gas is not found in big open pockets but rather trapped in
rock formations.

The process of extraction, called hydraulic fracturing, is

slightly more complicated. It involves high-pressure water
being piped underground to break the rock and release the
gas. If the rock is too hard, chemicals are used to dissolve
the rocks.
Non-Conventional sources of energy
• Non-conventional sources of energy have generally been
identified in the recent past.
• They are inexhaustible.
• Generally, these are pollution-free.
• Low expenditure required.
• Less expensive due to local use and easy maintenance.
• Examples are – geothermal energy,solar energy, wind energy,
tidal energy, biogas energy, nuclear energy
Solar Energy
The sun is our most powerful source of energy. Sunlight, or solar
energy, can be used for heating, lighting and cooling homes and other
buildings, generating electricity, water heating, and a variety of
industrial processes. The technology used to harvest the sun's energy is
constantly evolving, including water-heating rooftop pipes, photo-
voltaic cells, and mirror arrays. Rooftop panels are not intrusive, but
large arrays on the ground can compete with wildlife habitat.

Wind Energy
Wind is the movement of air that occurs when warm air rises and
cooler air rushes in to replace it. The energy of the wind has been used
for centuries to sail ships and drive windmills that grind grain. Today,
wind energy is captured by wind turbines and used to generate
electricity. Issues periodically arise about where turbines are installed,
as they can be problematic for migrating birds and bats.

Hydroelectricity
ater flowing downstream is a powerful force. Water is a renewable
resource, constantly recharged by the global cycle of evaporation and
precipitation. The heat of the sun causes water in lakes and oceans to
evaporate and form clouds. The water then falls back to Earth as rain
or snow and drains into rivers and streams that flow back to the ocean.
Flowing water can be used to power water wheels that drive
mechanical processes. And captured by turbines and generators, like
those housed at many dams around the world, the energy of flowing
water can be used to generate electricity. Tiny turbines can even be
used to power single homes.
While it is renewable, large-scale hydroelectricity can have a large
ecological footprint.

Biomass Energy
Biomass has been an important source of energy ever since people first
began burning wood to cook food and warm themselves against the
winter chill. Wood is still the most common source of biomass energy,
but other sources of biomass energy include food crops, grasses and
other plants, agricultural and forestry waste and residue, organic
components from municipal and industrial wastes, even methane gas
harvested from community landfills. Biomass can be used to produce
electricity and as fuel for transportation, or to manufacture products
that would otherwise require the use of non-renewable fossil fuels.

Geothermal Energy
The heat inside the Earth produces steam and hot water that can be
used to power generators and produce electricity, or for other
applications such as home heating and power generation for industry.
Geothermal energy can be drawn from deep underground reservoirs
by drilling, or from other geothermal reservoirs closer to the surface.
This application is increasingly used to offset heating and cooling costs
in residential and commercial buildings.

Ocean Energy
The ocean provides several forms of renewable energy, and each one is
driven by different forces. Energy from ocean waves and tides can be
harnessed to generate electricity, and ocean thermal energy—from the
heat stored in seawater—can also be converted to electricity. Using
current technologies, most ocean energy is not cost-effective
compared to other renewable energy sources, but the ocean remains
an important potential energy source for the future.

What is Hazard Mitigation?

Hazard mitigation describes actions taken to help reduce or eliminate
long-term risks caused by hazards or disasters, such as flooding,
earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, or dam failure. As the costs of
disasters continue to rise, governments and citizens must find ways to
reduce hazard risks to our communities. As communities plan for new
development and improvements to existing infrastructure, mitigation
can and should be an important component of the planning effort.

Types of Mitigation Techniques

Prevention- Government, administrative, or regulatory actions that

influence the way land and buildings are developed to reduce hazard
losses. Includes planning and zoning, floodplain laws, capital
improvement programs, open space preservation, and stormwater
management regulations.
Property Protection- Modification of buildings or structures to protect
them from a hazard or removal of structures from a hazard area.
Includes acquisition, elevation, relocation, structural retrofit, storm
shutters, and shatter-resistant glass.

Public Education and Awareness- Actions to inform citizens and elected

officials about hazards and ways to mitigate them. Includes outreach
projects, real estate disclosure, hazard information centres, and
school-age and adult education.

Natural Resource Protection- Actions that minimize hazard loss and

preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. Includes sediment
and erosion control, stream corridor restoration, watershed
management, forest and vegetation management, and wetland
restoration and preservation.

Emergency Services- Actions that protect people and property during

and immediately after a hazard event. Includes warning systems,
emergency response services, and the protection of essential facilities.

Structural Projects- Actions that involve the construction of structures

to reduce the impact of a hazard. Includes dams, setback levees,
floodwalls, retaining walls, and safe rooms.

Common Mitigation Actions

• Enforcement of building codes, floodplain management codes and
environmental regulations.
• Public safety measures such as continual maintenance of
roadways, culverts and dams.
 • Acquisition of relocation of structures, such as purchasing
buildings located in a floodplain.
• Acquisition of undeveloped hazard prone lands to ensure no
future construction occurs there.
• Retrofitting of structures and design of new construction, such as
elevating a home or building.
• Protecting critical facilities and infrastructure from future hazard
events.
• Planning for hazard mitigation, emergency operations, disaster
recovery, and continuity of operations.
• Development and distribution of outreach materials related to
hazard mitigation.
• Deployment of warning systems to alert and notify the public.
Environmental Protection Act of 1986
19th November 1986, Environment Protection Act came in
force in the Parliament of India in the wake of Bhopal
Tragedy. It is under Article 253 of the Indian Constitution.
The Environment Protection Act is mainly to the protection
and development of the environment from the danger of
human beings, other living being, plants and property.
It mainly focuses on the prevention and development of
pollution in the environment and the causes of human health
if any accident happens.

National Action Plan on Climate Change

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) an initiative
formulated by Government of India on 30th June 2008 to
deal with the future policies and programs for the climatic
improvement and adjustment. It put together the national
plan on water, renewable energy, energy efficiency
agriculture, etc.
The executions of the Action plan are constituted under 8
missions that are responsible to achieve the goals of
adaptation and improvement. They are as follows:
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) an initiative
formulated by Government of India on 30 June 2008 to deal
with the future policies and programs for the climatic
improvement and adjustment. It put together the national
plan on water, renewable energy, energy efficiency
agriculture, etc. The executions of the Action plan are constituted
under 8 missions that are responsible to achieve the goals of
adaptation and improvement. They are as follows:
• National Solar Mission– The main objective is to use solar energy for
power generation and other uses. To promote the use of solar
power, this initiative was started in 2010.
• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency– The main
objective is to save and promote maximum energy by developing
new policies and measures. In 2009, the Prime Minister’s Council
approved it on Climate Change.
• National Mission on Sustainable Habitat– It emphasized on Energy
conservation on urban waste, management recycling which includes
the production of power from waste, development of energy
efficiency in buildings and use of public transport. Prime Minister
approved this mission in 2011.
• National Water Mission– To improve water efficiency through
pricing and other measures. The main objective of the mission is to
help to preserve water, minimize wastage and to make sure that the
distributions of water are done on an equitable basis across and
within 224 the states. Ministry of Water Resources, River
 Development and Ganga Rejuvenationare the members who
supported this mission.
• National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem– It aims
to preserve the biodiversity, forest conservation and other ecological
problems that are causing problems in the Himalayan region.
• National Mission for a “Green India”– Its main goal is to expand the
forest and promote “Green India” by protecting, refurbishing and
enhancing the forests in India which are diminishing. It’s taking
various measures in responding to climate change by adopting and
taking different steps towards it. In 2014, Ministry of Environment
and Forests got go ahead to work on this from the Cabinet.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture– The main objective is
how climatic change affects crops and their development through
various mechanisms. For example, in areas where there are more
rains, it focuses on integrated farming, use of water efficiently, soil
health management, etc. It got approval from the government in
2010.
• National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change– It
aims for the climatic changes and its impact. The mission tries to
improve through research and international collaboration. The
mission is run by the Department of Science and Technology.

International Agreements/efforts
➢ By international agreements, we mean treaties or contract
between different countries for different global issues like air
pollution, climate change, protection of the ozone layer, etc.
International agreements have different names like treaties,
pacts, protocols, acts, etc.
➢ Most of the agreements are legally binding between the countries
that have approved them.
Each nation has respective responsibilities under the agreements.
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substance is a global agreement to
protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of various
substances that are responsible for ozone reduction. The main
objective of the Montreal Protocol was to protect the ozone layer
by taking different steps to manage the production and
consumption of depleting substances (ODS) and to remove it
completely. It was agreed on 26 August 1987, and entered into
force on 16 September 1989, following the first meeting in
Helsinki, May 1989.
Signed: 16 September 1987

Rio Summit
Rio Summit or The United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio de Janeiro
Earth Summit was the major United Nations conference which
was held on Rio from 3rd to 14th June 1992.
The main objective of the summit was to stop the destruction of
various natural resources and to handle pollution which is
affecting the planet. And the condition of the global environment
and its association between economics, science and the
environment in a political context. 105 countries participated in
the Earth Summit, for this development.

Convention on Biodiversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international
treaty with three main objectives:-
1. Conservation of biodiversity
2. Sustainable use of biodiversity
 3. Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits which occur from the
genetic recourses.
This treaty was signed on 5th June 1992 and was effective from
29th December 1993. Over 196
countries participated in Rio de Janeiro.

UNFCCC – United Nation Framework Convention on Climate

Change
• The UNFCCC secretariat (UN Climate Change) was established in
1992 when countries adopted the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The UNFCCC entered into force on 21 March 1994. Today, it has
near-universal membership.
• The 197 countries that have ratified the Convention are called
Parties to the Convention.
• The convention is legally non-binding but makes provisions for the
meeting called ‘protocols’ where negotiating countries can set
legally binding limits.

Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement which was extended
on the 1992 United Nations. Framework Convention on Climate
Change like to reduce the greenhouse gas emission based on scientific
agreement.
• This Protocol was signed on 11th December 1997 and was effective
from 16th February 2005 in Kyoto. Over 192 countries participated
in this.
• India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol known as the Doha Amendment to the protocol.

Paris Agreement
Paris Agreement is an international agreement to fight against climate
change. The main objective of this agreement was to stop global
warming and the threat of dangerous climatic changes. Over 195
countries participated in the Paris Agreement from 30th November to
11th December 2015.
• The Paris Agreement opened for signature on 22 April 2016 – Earth
Day – at UN Headquarters in New York. It entered into force on 4
November 2016.
• Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well
below 2 °C above preindustrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit
the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels

International Solar Alliance

In International Solar Alliance over 122 countries participated and the
same was initiated by India and founded in the year 2015.
• The main objective of this alliance is to increase the use of solar
energy among the International Solar Alliance member countries in a
convenient, safe, affordable and sustainable manner.
• Vision and mission of the International Solar Alliance is to provide a
dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource-rich
countries where the global community, including bilateral and
multilateral organizations, corporate, industry, and other
stakeholders, can make a positive contribution to assist and help
achieve the common goals of increasing the use of solar energy in
meeting energy needs of prospective ISA member countries in a
safe, convenient, affordable, equitable and sustainable manner.
• Its major objectives include global deployment of over 1,000GW of
solar generation capacity and mobilization of investment of over US
$1000 billion into solar energy by 2030.