QUICK REVISION MODULE
) UPSC PRELIMS 2024 )
ENVIRONMENT
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development is development that
meets the need of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
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THE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ARE:
Conservation
of the
Ecosystem
Progressive Population
Social Control and
Tradition Management
and Culture
PRINCIPLES
OF SUSTAINABLE
INFOGRAPHIC
DEVELOPMENT
Participatory Proper
approach and Human
Collective Resource
responsibility Management
PILLARS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Social
Social
Environmental Economic
SUSTAINABLE
INFOGRAPHIC
DEVELOPMENT
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HISTORY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
UN
Commission
on Sustainable Forest
Development Principles
(CSD)
The Agenda
Con vention on 21
Biod iversity
Rio
Declaration on
The Environment and
Framework Development
Conven tion on
Clim ate Change
(UNFCCC)
1992- Rio Summit: United Nations
Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), also called
Earth Summit resulted in:
1972: UNEP was set up.
1987: Brundtland Report entitled
“Our Common Future” defined
Sustainable development
1972-Stockholm Conference/
UN Conference on the Human
Environment: The concept of
sustainable development received
recognition.
1789-MALTHUS: Human population
grows in a geometric progression,
while subsistence could grow in
only an arithmetic progression.
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HISTORY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Rio Declaration proclaimed 27 principles of sustainable development.
Agenda 21 outlines actions to be taken to achieve sustainability.
Forest Principles provide recommendations for conservation and
sustainable development forestry.
CSD: It is responsible for monitoring implementation of
UNCED decisions.
1997- Kyoto Protocol
2000- Millennium Summit: Millenium Development Goals from
2001 to 2015
2002- Johannesburg Declaration: World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg for a 10-year assessment
of the Rio outcomes (Rio +10).
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THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
2012-UN
Conference These
on Sustainable are based
Development/ Rio+20: on Agenda 21 and
Sustainable the Johannesburg
Development Goals Plan of
(SDGs) were Implementation.
launched.
For the
These are SDGs, the
17 goals baseline is from
with 169 2015 estimates
targets. Deadline (It was 1990
for achieving for MDGs).
SDGs: 2030
Agenda
2030 has five
overarching themes,
SDGs came known as the five
into effect Ps: people, planet,
in January prosperity, peace and
2016 partnerships,
which span across
the 17 SDGs.
SDG
Financing Lab:
An OECD-led initiative SDG Fund:
that strives to inform Created in 2014
decision-makers and by UN to support
policy leaders on how sustainable
to ensure the resources development
needed to achieve the activities.
2030
Agenda.
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
1 2 3
No Zero Good Health
Poverty Hunger & Well-being
6 5 4
Clean Water Gender Quality
& Sanitation Equality Education
7 8 9
Affordable & Decent Work & Industry, Innovation
Clean Energy Economic Growth & Infrastructure
12 11 10
Responsible Sustainable Cities
Consumption & Reduced
& Communities Inequalities
Production
13 14 15
Climate Life Below Life On
Action Water Land
17 16
Partnerships Peace, Justice &
For the Goals Strong Institutions
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Coordination by: NITI Aayog
SDG India Index:
By NITI Aayog- To measure the progress of
India and its States towards the SDGs for 2030
INDIA &
SDGs
23 States have prepared Vision documents and
action plans to guide their efforts on the SDGs.
NITI Aayog is collaborating with IMF:
On estimating the financial cost of achieving
key SDGs.
GREEN ECONOMY =
LOW
CARBON + RESOURCE
EFFICIENT
+ SOCIALLY
INCLUSIVE
GROWTH
GREEN ECONOMY: A green economy is defined as low carbon, resource
efficient and socially inclusive.
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Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) :
Launched in 2013
Aim: To put sustainability at the heart of economic
policies and practices to advance the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development
PAGE brings together five UN agencies
UN Environment,
International Labour Organization,
UN Development Programme,
UN Industrial Development Organization, and
UN Institute for Training and Research
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MEANING & ORIGIN OF EIA
Meaning: It is the study to predict the effect of a proposed
activity/project on the environment.
UNEP defines Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a tool
used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of
a project prior to decision-making.
Origin:
EIA introduced by NEPA in 1970 in US
India: Till 1994, it was an administrative decision and
lacked legislative support.
In 1994, EIA notification promulgated under the
Environmental (Protection) Act 1986.
EIA PROCESS
PROJECT The submission of a project proposal signifies
PROPOSAL: the commencement of the EIA process.
Projects without any negative environmental
SCREENING: impact are cleared at this stage.
PRELIMINARY If Screening does not clear a project, it moves to this stage.
ASSESSMENT: This step can clear projects of the need for a full EIA.
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EIA PROCESS
It is a process of detailing the terms of reference of EIA.
The Ministry of Environment & Forests has published
SCOPING: guidelines for different sectors, which outlines the
significant issues to be addressed in the EIA studies.
Impact Prediction and Assessment of Alternatives.
Once alternatives have been reviewed, a mitigation plan should
be drawn up for the selected option and is supplemented with an
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to guide the proponent
towards environmental improvements
EIA Report
The State Pollution Control Boards will conduct
the public hearing before the proposals are sent to
PUBLIC MOEF for obtaining environmental clearance.
HEARING:
Any one likely to be affected by the proposed project is
entitled to have access to the Executive Summary of the EIA.
Decision-Making
Monitoring the Clearance Conditions.
The Project Proponent, IAA and Pollution Control Boards should
monitor the implementation of conditions. The proponent is required to
file once in six months a report demonstrating the compliance to IAA
IT CATEGORIZED THE PROJECTS INTO 2 CATEGORIES:
Category A Projects Category B Projects
National Level Appraisal State Level Appraisal
Appraised by Impact Assessment Appraised by State Level Environment
Agency and Expert Appraisal Impact Assessment Authority and State
Committee Level Expert Appraisal Committee
Requires Mandatory environmental These projects undergo screening and are
clearance. Hence these projects do classified into 2 types:
not undergo screening. 1. Category B1(EIA is mandatory)
2. Category B2(Do not require EIA)
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Categories of projects
Category 'A' Projects Category 'B' Projects
Require prior environmental Require prior environmental clearance from the
clearance from the Central State/UT Environment Impact Assessment Authority
Government. (SEIAA).
Decision taken based on the Decision taken based on the recommendations of a
recommendations of an Expert State or UT level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC).
Screening done for determining if they require further
Category 'B1' Projects Category 'B2' Projects
Require an EIA report for its Do not require an EIA report for its
appraisal prior to the grant of appraisal prior to the grant of
EIA NOTIFICATION, 2006
EIA CYCLE COMPRISES FOUR STAGES:
SCREENING PUBLIC HEARING
SCOPING APPRAISAL
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Project category Need of environmental clearance
1. Offshore and onshore Oil, Gas and shale exploration
Exempted projects 2. Hydroelectric projects up to 25 MW
3. Irrigation projects between 2000 to 10000 hectares
of command area.
4. Small and medium cement plants
5. Acids other than Phosphoric, Ammonia or Sulphuric
acid
6. MSMEs in dye and dye intermediates, bulk drugs,
synthetic rubbers, medium-sized paint units.
7. All inland waterway projects and expansion and
widening of highways between 25 KM and 100 KM
with defined parameters.
8. Aerial ropeways in ecologically sensitive
areas.
9. Specified building construction and area
development projects; built-up area up to
1,50,000 sq. m.
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KEY PROVISIONS OF THE 2020 DRAFT
REDUCED TIME FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS:
The notice period for public hearings is reduced
from 30 days to 20 days.
EXEMPTION OF PROJECTS:
Projects classified into A, B1 and B2 and a number
of projects are exempted from public scrutiny.
ANNUAL SUBMISSION OF REPORTS:
The new draft EIA, proposes the submission of
compliance reports annually (Earlier: 6 months)
Report Prepared Solely by Project Proponents
NO PUBLIC REPORTING FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.
Instead, the government will take cognizance of reports
only from the violator-promoter, government authority,
Appraisal Committee or Regulatory Authority.
POST-FACTO CLEARANCE:
Another major proposal in the draft 2020 is granting
‘post-facto clearance’ where a project that has been
operating without environmental clearance, can be
regularised or allowed to apply for clearance.
PENALTY FOR FIRMS:
Firms found violating the terms of their
establishment, if they have to get the clearance,
however, will have to pay a penalty.
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