Module 5

Environmental Impact
Assessment/
Environmental Impact Analysis
(EIA)
 Environmental Impact Assessment
● Introduction to environmental impact analysis.

● EIA guidelines, Notification of Government of

India (Environmental Protection Act – Air, water,
forest and wild life).

● Impact assessment methodologies.

● Public awareness.

● Environmental priorities in India.

 Objectives of Environmental Management:
● Regulating the exploitation of natural resources.

● Protecting environmental degradation and maintaining

environmental quality.

● Balancing the ecosystem, Preserving the biological

diversity.

● Adopting engineered technology without creating

adverse effects on environment.

● Formulation of suitable environmental laws and

regulations and effective implementation of the same.
 Components of Environmental Management
● Control of atmospheric pollution and environmental degradation.

● Adopting technologies which ensure sustainable development.

● Conducting environmental impact assessment to review the existing

technologies and making it mandatory for clearing major projects of
environmental concern

● Instilling environmental perception among people by conducting

awareness programmes.

● Environmental education and training at schools, colleges and

universities.

● Controlling over-population.
Environmental Impact Assessment Tools
and Techniques
Tools for Conducting EIAs
 Environmental Impact Analysis
Economic Development is the result of the interaction between natural
resources and technology for people.
People are the centre for development.
Therefore, it is rightly said that all human activity should be economic,
social or essentially directed at Satisfying "needs" and "wants" of man
through altering and using environmental resources.

Broadly, there are two types of projects. The firm of new wants and needs in
society.
They ultimately promote consumerism in the society and thereby increase the
number of manufacturing projects.
Thus, both are interrelated. Each project has two dimensions:(a) the intended
objectives/purpose and (b) the unintended consequence.
They are also called externalities or social costs which are unplanned, unwanted
and unanticipated.
The purpose of environmental management is to identify, examine, assess and
evaluate the likely and probable impacts of a proposed project on environment
 Stresses On The Environment
Environmentalists have identified four types of stresses or pressures
that are being continuously inflicted on environment. They are:

● Eutrophic Stress:
Refers to release of various kinds of wastes into the river and other water
bodies and their consequent drying.

● Exploitative Stress:
Refers to the exploitation of natural resources endowment or production
and consumption purposes through agriculture, industry etc.

● Disruptive Stress:
Refers to the physical alterations in nature resulting from such activities
like forest clearance, highways, railways and so on.

● Chemical And Industrial Stress:

Results mainly from development in science and technology.
The environmentalists have identified and classified various
components of environment into four levels as mentioned
below:

(a)Level 1:
Physical Resources, covering land, water and air.

(b) Level 2:
Ecological Resources, consisting of aquatic, terrestrial and
endangered.

(c)Level 3:
Human use values.

(d)Level 4:
Quality of life value.
 What is EIA?
EPA( National Environmental Policy Act
(proclaimed in1970)) called for:
• Public statement of environmentally
significant consequences of all national
actions.
• Public input into project formulation.
• Informed decision-making.

This process became known as EIA.

 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
 ● Assessment of the beneficial and adverse
changes in environment resources or values resulting
from a proposed project.

 ● Essential Elements:
 ♦ Identification of possible positive or negative
impacts of the project.
 ♦ Quantifying impacts with respect to common
base.
 ♦ Preparation of mitigation plan to offset the
negative impacts.
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
● Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely
environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account
inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and
adverse.

● Impact Assessments(IAs) are formal, evidence-based procedures that assess the

economic, social, and environmental effects of public policy.

● Environmental Impact Assessment is a tool designed to identify and predict the

impact of a project on the bio-geophysical environment and on man's health and well-
being, to interpret and communicate information about the impact, to analyze site and
process alternatives and provide solutions to shift out, or abate/mitigate the negative
consequences on man and the environment.

● An environmental impact analysis is typically conducted to assess the potential

impact a proposed development project will have on the natural and social
environment. This may include an assessment of both the short- and long-term effects
on the physical environment, such as air, water and/or noise pollution; as well as
effects on local services, living and health standards, and aesthetics.
 Introduction To EIA
● Economic, social and environmental change is inherent to
development. In the past, the promotion of economic growth was the
main development thrust , with little sensitivity to adverse social or
environmental impacts. The need to avoid adverse impacts and to
ensure long term benefits led to the concept of sustainability.

● In order to predict environmental impacts of any development activity

and to provide an opportunity to mitigate against negative impacts and
enhance positive impacts, the environmental impact assessment (EIA)
procedure was developed in the 1970s.

● An EIA may be defined as: a formal process to predict the

environmental consequences of human development activities and to
plan appropriate measures to eliminate or reduce adverse effects and
to augment positive effects.
 Introduction To EIA
● Environmental Impact Assessment is a tool designed to identify and
predict the impact of a project on the bio-geophysical environment
and on man's health and well-being, to interpret and communicate
information about the impact, to analyze site and process alternatives
and provide solutions to shift out, or abate/mitigate the negative
consequences on man and 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.

● Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a widely accepted tool for

Environment Management.
 ♦ It is being increasingly adopted in several countries.
 ♦ It ensures that the potential problems are foreseen and
addressed at an early stage in the project planning and design.
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):
Introduction
● Using EIA, it is possible to arrive at the following:
♦ The most environmentally suitable option at an early stage.
♦ The best practicable environmental option.
♦ Alternative process.
The Project managers can then address these problems in order to avoid or
minimize environmental Impacts in conjunction with their project planning.
This results in the likelihood of the project planning stages running smoother.

● Environmental Impact Assessment:

♦ It is carried out in order to produce an environmental statement or report.
♦ It is carried out by the developer although the task is often carried out by
the environmental consultants.

● Environmental statement must include:

♦ A description of the project: Location, Design, Scale , Size etc
♦ Description of significant effects
♦ Mitigating measures
♦ A non-technical summary.
Objectives of Environmental Management
 ● Regulating the exploitation of natural resources.

 ● Protecting environmental degradation and maintaining

environmental quality.

 ● Balancing the ecosystem, Preserving the biological diversity.

 ● Adopting engineered technology without creating adverse

effects on environment.

 ● Formulation of suitable environmental laws and regulations and

effective implementation of the same.
 EIA - Why and how?
● For improved diagnosis, development, advice and
management of environmental systems.

● Ways to improve the performance using benchmarking

based on the variation in indicator values between
comparatives.

● Compare input output accounting/ green accounts, etc.)

and the product-oriented approaches and indicators.

● Give recommendations for future development and

harmonisation of evaluation tools for use in extension,
diagnosis and research.
 Purposes of EIA
● Modify and improve design

● Ensure efficient resource use

● Enhance social aspects

● Identify measures for monitoring & managing impacts

● Inform decision-making

● Provide justification for a proposal

 The aim and objectives of EIA:
The aim and objectives of EIA:
● It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in
♦ project planning and design,
♦ Find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts,
♦ Shape projects to suit the local environment and
♦ Present the predictions and options to decision-makers.

● It is to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a

proposed development prior to decision making.

● Subsequently to predict the impacts of commercial, industrial and

legislative proposals, policies and operational procedures and
communicate information to all stakeholders about these impacts.

By using EIA both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved,

such as:
▲ Reduced cost and time of project implementation and design,
▲ Avoided treatment/clean-up costs and impacts of laws and
regulations.
 Integration within EIA
The process of EIA has moved towards the
consideration of all effects arising from a proposal.

These can include:

● Biophysical
● Social
● Health
● Economic
● Risk and Uncertainty
 EIA-Three Core Values
● Sustainability: the EIA process will result in
environmental safeguards.

● Integrity: the EIA process will conform to agreed

standards.

● Utility: the EIA process will provide balanced,

credible information for decision-making.
Different types of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
● Climate Impact Assessment
● Demographic Impact Assessment
● Development Impact Assessment
● Ecological Impact Assessment
● Economic and fiscal Impact Assessment
● Environmental Auditing
● Environmental management systems
● Health Impact Assessment
● Project Evaluation
● Public Consultation
● Public Participation
● Risk assessment
● Social impact assessment
● Technology assessment
 Benefits of EIA include:
• More environmentally sustainable design

• Better compliance with standards

• Savings in capital and operating costs

• Reduced time and costs for approvals

• Avoids later plant adaptations

• Reduced health costs

• Increased project acceptance

 Benefits of EIA
● Cost and time saving in project implementation due avoidance of mid course
design changes or corrections

● Increases acceptability of the project among all stakeholders

● Laws and regulations of the country/society is fully complied and hence no

future conflicts

● Improves project performance by

♦ decreased pollutant emissions,
♦ effective resource utilization and
♦ minimization of treatment and clean-up costs

● A healthy environment (flora, fauna, biodiversity, clean air, water and land)

● Improved human health

● Paves way for sustainable development

 Benefits of Doing an Environmental Impact
Assessment in a Humanitarian Setting

● Sustainable solutions

● Mitigation of negative impacts

● Reduce costs in the long term

 EIA has 3 main functions:
• to predict problems,
• to find ways to avoid them,
• to enhance positive effects.
The third function is of particular importance.
The EIA provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate
ways in which the environment may be improved as part of
the development process.
The EIA also predicts the conflicts and constraints between
the proposed project, program or sectoral plan and its
environment. It provides an opportunity for mitigation
measures to be incorporated to minimize problems.
It enables monitoring programs to be established to assess
future impacts and provide data on which managers can take
informed decisions to avoid environmental damage.
 Common Problems, Shortcomings and
Solutions

● Lack of awareness

● Understanding the complexity of existing tools

● Lack of evidence of success

● Integration
 EIA guidelines
• The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has prepared
Environmental Guidelines, to help the project proponents to work out an EIA.

• Guidelines have been prepared to bring out specific information on the

environment required for environmental clearance.

• The agencies, which are primarily responsible for the respective sectors are
closely involved in preparing the guidelines.

• River valley projects, thermal power projects, mining projects and industries,
ports and harbors, development of beaches, highway/ railroad projects are the
sectors for which guidelines have already been prepared.

• These guidelines basically consist of aspects regarding planning and

implementation of development projects.

• The majority of projects in India, which require EIA's, are large

developmental projects like nuclear power, river valley, thermal power plants
etc, where government plays an important role.
 Agencies for Environmental Impact Assessment
Agency Description

Proposer Organization/individual (Government or Private) initiating

the Project.

Decision making Authority Designated Government agency/Ministry/individual/Head of

state,

Assessor Organization/individual vested with the responsibility of

preparing the EIS.

Reviewing Agency Organization/individual vested with the responsibility of

reviewing the EIS and ensuring compliance of regulations.

Other Government Agencies Mainly local governmental bodies like provincial government
Municipalities/village administration etc.

Experts Persons with special knowledge about the project and matters of
environment who are required to evaluate the proposal.

Members of the Citizens who are affected by the project

Public/society/community
Media Print/electronic media which reflect and review the opinions of
all concerned and report factual happenings.

Special Interest Groups Government and Non-Government Organizations, Professional

bodies, Labour Unions.
 EIA - Eight Guiding Principles
• Participation

• Transparency

• Certainty

• Accountability

• Credibility

• Cost-effectiveness

• Flexibility

• Practicality
 The EIA Process
• Screening
• Scoping
• Assessing
• Mitigating
• Reporting
• Reviewing
• Decision-making
• Monitoring & managing
• Public involvement
 Fundamental components of an EIA
Although legislation and practice vary around the world, the fundamental
components of an EIA would necessarily involve the following stages:

● Screening to determine which projects or developments require a full or partial

impact assessment study;

● Scoping to identify which potential impacts are relevant to assess (based on

legislative requirements, international conventions, expert knowledge and public
involvement), to identify alternative solutions that avoid, mitigate or compensate
adverse impacts on biodiversity (including the option of not proceeding with the
development, finding alternative designs or sites which avoid the impacts,
incorporating safeguards in the design of the project, or providing compensation for
adverse impacts), and finally to derive terms of reference for the impact assessment;

● Assessment and evaluation of impacts and development of alternatives, to predict

and identify the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development,
including the detailed elaboration of alternatives;

● Reporting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or EIA report, including an

environmental management plan (EMP), and a non-technical summary for the
general audience.
 Review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

● Review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), based on the

terms of reference (scoping) and public (including authority)
participation.

● Decision-making on whether to approve the project or not, and

under what conditions; and
Monitoring, compliance, enforcement and environmental auditing.

● Monitoring: Monitor whether the predicted impacts and proposed

mitigation measures occur as defined in the EMP.

● Post monitoring: Verify the compliance of proponent with the EMP.

This stage comes into play once the project is commissioned. It checks
to ensure that the impacts of the project do not exceed the legal
standards and implementation of the mitigation measures are in the
manner as described in the EIA report.
 Components of Environmental
Management
• Control of atmospheric pollution and environmental degradation.
• Adopting technologies which ensure sustainable development.
• Conducting environmental impact assessment to review the existing
technologies and making it mandatory for clearing major projects of
environmental concern
• Instilling environmental perception among people by conducting
awareness
programs.
• Environmental education and training at schools, colleges and
universities.
• Controlling over population
• Controlling over consumption.
 Contents of the EIA
● Details of the proposed project/action and alternates including all phases of action
(Construction, Operation, Shutdown)

● Nature and magnitude of the predicted impacts of the proposed action under the following
three categories

♦ Chemical: Air, Water and land pollution,

♦ Physical: natural disasters like flood, earthquakes etc
♦ Biological: Flora and Fauna, biodiversity, endangered species

● Socioeconomic Identification of human concerns

● Measurement criteria of the significance of the predicted environmental changes

● Estimation of the significance of the impacts of the environmental changes

● Recommendations about the acceptability or otherwise of the proposed projects and

alternates

● Monitoring procedures during and after implementation of the project

● Quantitative estimation of the impacts of different factors the technique of LEOPOLD MATRIX
is often used
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Process guidelines
The various steps involved in the EIA process are enumerated below:
● Identification and selection of a competent coordinator for the EIA
and the collection of all relevant background information.
This is done immediately after a project is identified.

● Broad analysis of the impacts of project activities with a view to

focus on issues needing a detailed study.

● Collection of detailed data on the current environmental status of

the project site is being considered to be implemented.

● Quantitative Impact evaluation terms including potential mitigation

measures.

● Project alternatives should be kept ready before the impact

evaluation.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Process guidelines
● Impact Assessment taking into account that environmental
losses / gains as well as economic costs and benefits for each
alternative proposed.

● preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which

will be a formatted public document specified by authorized
national, state and/or local agencies.

● Public scrutiny of the EIS and review at public hearings.

● Detailed documentation of the work done in the EIA with specific

commendations about the proposed project and alternatives
with comments on the environmental and economic impacts.

● Decision-making process by the decision maker.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Process guidelines
● The decisions normally fall into any one of the following
categories.
♦ Proposal accepted
♦ Proposal accepted with amendments
♦ Alternative proposal accepted
♦ Proposal is rejected
♦ Further study of the proposal.

● Follow up and monitoring of the project activities during

installation and operation phases and conduct audits to
compare actual performance with the EIA predictions and
suggest improved measures.
MoEF has developed guidelines for the preparation of EIA reports along with questionnaires
and check lists for the following sectors. In addition the MOEF has delineated several sitting
criteria.
 The critical issues focused in all these guidelines
● Can the local environment cope with the additional waste and
pollution that the project will produce?

● Will the project location conflict with the nearby land use or
preclude later developments in surrounding areas?

● Can the project operate safely without serious risk of accidents

or long- term health hazards?

● How will the project affect economic activities that are based on
natural resources?

● Is there sufficient infrastructure to support the project?

 The critical issues focused in all these guidelines
● How much of the resources (such as water, energy etc) will the
project consume, and are adequate supplies of these resources
available?

● What kind of human resources will it require or replace and

what will be its social impacts in the short/long-run?

● What damages will it inadvertently cause to the

national/regional assets such as natural resources, tourist areas, or
historic or cultural sites, etc? (UNEP 1988).
 In addition the MOEF has delineated several sitting criteria.

S.No EIA Sector Resources (Questionnaires)

Industry Questionnaire
1 Industry and Mining Projects
Mining Questionnaire

2 Thermal Power Projects Thermal Projects Questionnaire

3 River Valley Projects River Valley Questionnaire

4 New Railways Projects
Highways Projects
5 Road and Higways Projects
Questionnaire
6 Ports and Harbours

7 Airports

8 Communication Projects

9 New Towns
 Impact assessment(IA) methodologies
Impact Assessments (IAs) are formal, evidence-based procedures
that assess the economic, social, and environmental effects of public
policy.

Methodologies:
1. Planning of the IA
2. Carrying out the impact analysis
3. Consultation of affected stakeholders and the
general public
4. Coordination with affected departments
5. Summary and presentation of findings in a report
6. Forwarding findings to decision makers
7. Publication of the IA report (not in all countries)
 Methods of Assessment
 Environmental Impact Value(EIV)

 Vi = Relative change of the environmental quality

of parameters,
 Wi= Relative importance or weight or parameter
 n = Total number of environmental parameters
Project Cycle and Environmental Impact
Assessment with Intervention points
 The eight steps of the EIA process are
presented in brief below:
•Screening: First stage of EIA, which determines whether the proposed
project, requires an EIA and if it does, then the level of assessment
required.

•Scoping: This stage identifies the key issues and impacts that should be
further investigated. This stage also defines the boundary and time limit
of the study.

•Impact analysis: This stage of EIA identifies and predicts the likely
environmental and social impact of the proposed project and evaluates
the significance.

•Mitigation: This step in EIA recommends the actions to reduce and

avoid the potential adverse environmental consequences of
development activities.
•Reporting: This stage presents the result of EIA in a form of a
report to the decision-making body and other interested
parties.

•Review of EIA: It examines the adequacy and effectiveness

of the EIA report and provides the information necessary for
decision-making.

•Decision-making: It decides whether the project is rejected,

approved or needs further change.

•Post monitoring: This stage comes into play once the project
is commissioned. It checks to ensure that the impacts of the
project do not exceed the legal standards and
implementation of the mitigation measures are in the manner
as described in the EIA report.
 Tools for Conducting EIAs
Several tools:

● Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT)

● Environmental Needs Assessment in Post-Disaster Situations
(by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP))
● Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment in Disasters (REA)
● Environmental Stewardship Review for Humanitarian Aid (by
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) & American Red Cross)
 Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT)

Environmental Needs
Assessment in Post-Disaster
Situations (UNEP)

Identifies environmental impacts and risks caused by the

crisis and relief operations as well as potential environmental
pressures of relief efforts.
Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment in
Disasters (REA)

REA is a rapid assessment tool to:

Identify, Define and Prioritize
environmental issues in disaster
situations threatening HUMAN LIFE
& WELFARE so that their effects can
be minimized
 The REA is…

● Simple and rapid

● Designed for use in natural, technological and/or political
disasters
● A useful way to organize and make sense of environmental
information available in disasters
● A consensus-based qualitative assessment process
● Used to identify follow-up actions during a disaster (… Not
a tool which provides answers on how to resolve
environmental issues)
 Environmental Stewardship
Review (ESR) for Humanitarian Aid
The purpose of this worksheet is to assist humanitarian staff improve project performance by identifying and
addressing environmental sustainability issues. Use of this worksheet is consistent with SphereStandard
#6. Include a completed worksheet with the project file.
A. Project Information
Implementing Agency: ________________________
Project Title:_________________________
Project Location:____________________________________________________
Project Coordinator:___________________________________________________
Environmental Stewardship Review completed by: ________Date: _________
B. Project Objectives (Describe the objectives you seek to accomplish by pursuing the proposed project.
What needs will the project be designed to address? This can be cut and pasted from proposal.)

____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________
C. Project Description (Provide a brief description of the proposed project. This can be cut and pasted
from proposal.)

Sphere standards: www.sphereproject.org

 ESR Methodology
● Step A: Project Information
● Step B: Project Objectives
● Step C: Project Description
● Step D: Coordination
● Step E: Environmental Issues Matrix
● Step F: Other Information
● Step G: Determine Need for Additional Studies
● Step H: Take Action!
 Steps A – C: Review Project Aim and Options

● Step A is basic information to identify the project and key

people

● Step B: Project Objectives: to reexamine the activities that

are planned to achieve the project’s aim with an eye
towards capitalizing on environmental opportunities and
reducing environmental impacts.

● Step C: Project Description is a brief description of the

project
Step D: Consultation and Environmental Information
Gathering

The purpose of Step D is to clarify the following:

● What are the environmental issues that may be
associated with the project
● Laws that apply to the project
● Alternative ways to achieve project objectives to reduce
negative environmental impacts
● The cultural, government, and environmental setting of
the project to ensure project sustainability
 Who/what are the key sources of pre-disaster
baseline information?
● Environmental profiles for the country/region
● Satellite images and maps
● Project reports from national and international
environmental agencies
● Local knowledge on natural resource management
● Previous environment-related assessments
● Specific databases, for example, if a national park or marine
reserve in within the affected area, specific reports will
likely be available
● Wildlife and fisheries management plans
● Housing and related development plans
● Land tenure records
 Steps E – F: Environmental Impact
Assessment
Environ- To Yes No Not If Yes, Action Taken
mental Issue answer… sure then… This column provides
This column This column Guidance on space to identify what
asks suggests how to further action needs to
questions ways to address the be taken to address the
related to key obtain the environmenta environmental issue.
envir. issues. information l issue

Will the
•Review Consider
project result
project alternate
in the
proposal. activities
emission of
•Consult which
air pollutants
local natural generate
(e.g., smoke,
resources lower
gases, dust
department emissions..
particles)?
 Step G: Determine Need for Additional
Studies
Can the ESR adequately evaluate a project in terms of:
● Size and scale of the project
● Uncertain and potentially significant
environmental risks
● Cumulative impact.

If not, the ESR must recommend additional studies

be undertaken.
 Step H: Design Mitigation Measures and
Take Action
Consider actions to be taken. Ask:
● Does the project need to be changed in order to
protect people, communities, and the
environment? If so, how?
● Should the project be cancelled?
● What specific actions are needed to take
advantage of environmental opportunities and
minimize potential negative impacts?
List your action recommendations in this table.
 References for Potential Environmental
Activities
● The Environmental Issues Matrix (Step E) offers specific
suggestions on how to address issues:
● Annex 3: Environmental impacts to be considered in an
EIA
● Annex 4.1: IUCN’s Environmental Field Manual offers a
number of ideas for mitigating the environmental
impacts of various response activities
● Annex 4.2: Essential Guidance for Humanitarian Actors
(Leaflet Humanitarian Action and the Environment,
OCHA-UNEP
 Notification of Government of India
(Environmental Protection Act – Air, water, forest
and wild life).
 Environmental Protection Act 1986. –
Air, Water, Forest and Wild life.
Environmental Protection Act 1986. – Air, water, Forest and Wild
life).

Notification of Government of India- Environmental Legislation,

Public awareness.
The Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981
The water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974
 Wildlife protection Act, 1972
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Environmental priorities in India and sustainable
development.
 Environmental Legislation
Environmental Legislation:
The provisions for environmental protection in the constitution were made
within four years of Stockholm Conference, (UN Conference on Human
Environment at Stockholm in June 1972.) in 1976, through the 42nd
amendment as follows :
Article 48a: In the Constitution of India it is clearly stated that
It is the duty of the state to
‘Protect and improve the environment and
To safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country’.

Article 51a(g): It imposes a duty on every citizen ‘to protect and improve
the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife’.

The Department of Environment was established in India in 1980 to ensure

a healthy environment for the country.
This later became the Ministry of Environment and Forests in
1985.

The constitutional provisions are backed by a number of laws – acts, rules,

notifications.
 Indian constitutional provisions
● In 1976 after Stockholm conference →42nd
amendment in the constitution:

♦ the essence of Article 48A: The state should

protect the environment, wildlife and forests

♦ the essence of Article 51A(g): protection

and improvement of natural environment,
wildlife, forests, rivers, lakes is a duty of citizen
of India
 Environmental Legislation
The EPA (Environment Protection Act), 1986 came into force soon after the
Bhopal Gas Tragedy and is considered an umbrella legislation as it fills many
gaps in the existing laws.
(poisonous vapour burst from Union Carbide pesticide plant in December,
1984, in the city of Bhopal)
 2,500 died immediately 3,00,000 were injured 7,000 animals were
injured,

Thereafter a large number of laws came into existence as the problems began
arising, for example,
Handling and Management of Hazardous Waste Rules in 1989.

Following is a list of the environmental legislations that have come into effect:

General
● 1986 - The Environment (Protection) Act authorizes the central government
♦ To protect and improve environmental quality,
♦ To control and reduce pollution from all sources.
 Environmental Legislation
● 1986 - The Environment (Protection) Rules lay down procedures for
setting standards of emission or discharge of environmental
pollutants.

● 1989 - Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules is to

control the generation, collection, treatment, import, storage, and
handling of hazardous waste.

● 1989 - The Manufacture, Storage, and Import of Hazardous

substances Rules
♦ Define the terms used in this context,
♦ Sets up an authority to inspect, once a year,
To inspect the industrial activity connected with hazardous
chemicals and isolated storage facilities.
 Environmental Legislation
● The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and
Control) Rules have been laid down for the
regulation of production and consumption of
ozone depleting substances.
- Montreal protocol 1987, came into force on 1989.

● 2000 - The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management

and Handling) Rules, 2000 apply to every
municipal authority responsible for the collection,
segregation, storage, transportation, processing
and disposal of municipal solid wastes.
 Some Important Indian Environmental Protection Act
Concern for pollution control and
environmental protection.
Central enactments:
● Air Pollution:
♦ The Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957
♦ The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
♦ The Factories Act, 1948
♦ The Industries Act, 1951
♦ The Air act, 1981.
● Pesticides:
♦ The Insecticides Act, 1968
♦ The Poison Act, 1991.
 Some Important Indian Environmental Protection Act
● Water Pollution:
♦ The Rivers Boards Act, 1956
♦ The Water Act, 1974, amended in 1988
♦ The Water cess act, 1977 amended in 1991.
● Forests, Fisheries and other:
♦ The Indian Fisheries Act, 1897
♦ The Indian Forest Act, 1927
♦ The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 amended in 1988
♦ The Wildlife Act, 1972 amended in 1983, 1986 and
1991.
● Comprehensive Environment Protection.
♦ The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
 1. Environment (protection) Act, 1986
● Presented by our late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 23, 1986 after UN Conference
on Human Environment at Stockholm in June 1972.
● Objectives:
♦ Protection and improvement of the environment.
♦ The Environment (Protection) Rules lay down procedures for setting standards of emission or
discharge of environmental pollutants.
♦ Prevention of hazards to all living creatures, Property, Human beings, Plants & Animals.

● General Powers:
♦ The Central government constitutes the authority for the purpose of exercising powers and
performing the functions.
♦ Official body at the state level.
● Functions of the authorities:
♦ Advise the industries for treating the waste water with the best available technology to
achieve the prescribed standards.

♦ The industries to be encouraged for recycling and reusing the wastes.

♦ Encourage the industries for recovery of biogas, energy and reusable materials.

♦ Lay down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.

♦ Examine manufacturing processes, materials and substances that are likely to cause
environmental pollution.
 Environment (protection) Act, 1986
● Powers of the authorities:
♦ Power to enter and inspect any place to perform the functions under this Act.

♦ Power to direct, prohibit or regulate any industry;

♦ Power to stop or regulate supply of electricity or water or any other services.

● Remedial Measure:
♦ In case of emergencies due to accidents or unforeseen events, causing
environmental pollution, the Board has the powers to take appropriate action.

♦ Penalties: Imprisonment which may extend to 5 months or fine up to Rs.1 lakh

or both.

♦ In case of continuing offences Rs. 5000 per day.

 Environment (protection) Act, 1986

● Guidelines to PCBs
♦ Advise the industries about treatment of
effluents using advanced technology.
♦ Encourage recycling and reusing wastes.
♦ Encourage recovery of bio-gas, energy and
reusable materials.
♦ Emphasize on implementation of cleaner
technologies in industries.
2. Water (Prevention and Control of pollution)
Act, 1974
● Water pollution – Contamination or
alteration of physical or chemical or
biological properties of water by any
discharge or any other agent which can
cause nuisance to the public or harm or
injure the public health or aquatic plants or
animal life.

- Maintenance and restoration of quality of all

types of water.
 2. Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974

Brief
● Establishment of Central and State Pollution
Control Boards.
● Conferring the boards with powers: defining
their functions.
● Provisions for funds, budget, accounts and
audit of the boards.
● Penalties for the offenders and defaulters.
● Guidelines for the control boards.
 2. Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974
● Objectives:
♦ Prevention and control of water pollution maintaining or restoring the
wholesomeness of water by preventing and controlling its pollution.
♦ Creating Boards for the above purpose.
● Authorities under various legislation:
♦ Central Pollution Control Board: CPCB The Board consists of
▲ A full-time chairman having specialised knowledge
▲ Maximum of five central government officials from different dept.
▲ Maximum of five state board members from each state
▲ Maximum of three non-officials representing interests of agriculture, trade, fishery
or any industry
▲ Two representatives of central government owned companies or corporations.
♦ State Pollution Control Board: SPCB : Similar functions to be executed
▲ Either a fulltime or part time chairman having special knowledge
▲ Maximum of five state government officials
▲ Maximum of five representatives from among members of local authorities
▲ Maximum of three non-officials representing agriculture, fishery or trade or
industry
▲ Two representatives of State Government companies or corporations
Water (Prevention & Control of pollution) Act, 1974:
Functions & Power
● Roles of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) : Advises the central government in
matters related to preventing and controlling water pollution.

♦ Advises to central government.

♦ Coordination of state PCBs: providing technical guidance. Provides technical
assistance for the establishment of central and state boards for pollution control.
♦ Training programs: defining functions. Confers them with powers and functions
to control pollution.
♦ Organizes training programs for prevention and control of pollution
♦ Creating awareness through mass media. Organizes comprehensive programs
on pollution related issues through mass media.
♦ Technical and statistical data collection.
♦ Manuals for treatment of sewage and industrial effluents and disposal of
sewage.
♦ Lay down standards for water quality parameters.
♦ Establish and recognize labs for analysis
♦ Provides for maintenance & restoration of quality of all types of surface &
ground water.
Water (Prevention & Control of pollution) Act, 1974:
Functions & Power
● Roles of State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) : Advises the
state government in matters related to preventing and
controlling water pollution.

♦ advises to state government.

♦ other activities similar to CPCB.
♦ empowered to take samples for testing from any water
body or effluent – how testing conducted?
♦ any new industry should get consent from SPCB – all
technical details in prescribed format and fees should be
submitted.
▲ Effluent treatment plants: ETPs.
 Water (Prevention & Control of pollution) Act, 1974:
Functions & Power
● Functions: Advises the central government in matters related to preventing and
controlling water pollution.
♦ Provides for maintenance & restoration of quality of all types of surface & ground water.
♦ Provides technical assistance for the establishment of central and state boards for pollution
control
♦ Confers them with powers and functions to control pollution.
♦ Prepares manuals for treatment and disposal of sewage.
♦ Lay down standards for water quality parameters
♦ Organizes training programs for prevention and control of pollution
♦ Organizes comprehensive programs on pollution related issues through mass media.

● Powers: Every industry has to obtain consent from the board.

♦ Power to obtain information from individuals regarding removal or discharge of
water.

♦ Power to enter and inspect any plant, record, register, document and conduct
search of a place if the authority has reason to believe that an offence under this Act
has been committed

♦ Power to grant, and discharge of sewage or industrial effluents and to impose

conditions with regard to discharge.
 Water (Prevention & Control of pollution) Act, 1974:
● Remedial Measures:
♦ In times of emergency, the board has powers to take appropriate remedial
action which includes restraining or prohibiting a person from discharging
polluting matters.

♦ In all other instances the board has to make an application to a court not
lower than that of a first class Magistrate.

● Penalties:
♦ Imprisonment for a period extending to 3 months or fine up to Rs. 5000 or
both In case of continuing violations,

♦ An additional fine extending to Rs. 1000 per day of violation.

3. The Air (prevention and Control of pollution)
Act, 1981
Air pollution: presence of any solid, liquid or gaseous substance
(including noise) in the atmosphere in such concentration which is
harmful to the environment, animals or plants.

● Noise pollution inserted in 1987.

● Central and state pollution control boards: take care of air pollution
prevention.
● Section 20: emission standards for automobiles.
● Registration of motor vehicles.
● State government can declare and area as “air pollution control
area”.
3. The Air (prevention and Control of pollution)
Act, 1981
● Some definitions were framed:

♦ Environment: water, air and land and interrelationship

exists among them and between the living beings.

♦ Environmental pollution: presence of any gas, solid and

liquid substance which is injurious to environment.

♦ Hazardous substance – any substance which cause harm

to living beings and environment.
3. The Air (prevention and Control of pollution)
Act, 1981
Brief

● Standards for quality of air, water and soil.

● Maximum permissible limits of pollutants.
● Procedures for handling and safeguarding hazardous
substances.
● Restricting the areas in which hazardous materials are
handled.
● Safeguards and procedures for the prevention of accidents
that can cause pollution.
3. The Air (prevention and Control of pollution)
Act, 1981
● Objectives:
1. Prevention/control and abatement of air pollution
2. Creating Boards of the above purposes

● Authorities under various legislation:

♦ Central Pollution Control Board: CPCB for the prevention and
control of Air pollution
♦ State Pollution Control Board: SPCB State Board for prevention
and control of Air pollution
● Functions:

♦ To advise, plan and execute nation wide programs.

♦ To provide technical assistance and guidance.
♦ Carry out investigations, research plans and Organise the
training of persons.
♦ To Collect, compile and publish technical and statistical
data.
♦ To prepare manuals, codes or guides regarding prevention,
control or abatement of air pollution.
♦ Lay down standards for quality of air.
♦ To establish or recognise laboratories for the above
purpose.
● Power of the authorities:

♦ Power to declare air pollution control areas

♦ Power to give instructions to authorities under the Motor
vehicle Act, regarding standards for automobile emissions
♦ Restrict industrial operations in air pollution control areas
♦ Power to enter any place & inspect for compliance with
provisional of the Act
♦ Power to take air or emission samples for analysis
● Remedial measures:
In case of emergencies due to accidents or unforeseen
events, causing pollution in pollution control areas, the Board
has power to take appropriate action

● Penalties:
♦ Imprisonment which may extend to 3 months or fine up to
Rs. 10,000 or both
♦ In case of continuing offences Rs. 100 for every day
 4. Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972
India has rich Wild life heritage,
Mammals : 350 species
Birds : 1200 species
Insects : 19000 Known species

● Objectives:
♦ This act is aimed to protect and preserve wildlife
♦ Wildlife populations are regularly monitored and
management strategies formulated to protect them
♦ To preserve the Bio-diversity
♦ To maintain the essential Ecological process
● In 1976 wild life protection was transferred from state to
central government
Indian Board of Wildlife (IBWL) was created in 1952
♦ Setting up Wildlife National Park & Sanctuaries
♦ Endangered Wildlife list

● Important Provisions of this act are:

♦ It defines the wild-life related terminology.
♦ Legal protection has been extended to wild animals, bird species and
plant species
♦ The needs of tribes and conservation of wildlife goals are
harmonized
♦ Under the Act, comprehensive listing of endangered wild life species
was done for the first time and prohibition of hunting of the endangered
species was mentioned.
♦ It provides for the appointment of wildlife advisory Board, Wildlife
warden, their powers, duties etc.
♦ Protection to some endangered plants like Beddomecycad, Blue
Vanda, Ladies Slipper Orchid, Pitcher plant etc. is also provided under
the Act.
♦ The Act provides for setting up of National Parks, Wildlife
Sanctuaries etc.
♦ There is provision for trade and commerce in some wildlife species
with license for sale, possession, transfer etc.
♦ Rights concerning land within sanctuaries permitted
♦ The Act imposes a ban on the trade or commerce in scheduled
animals.
♦ It provides legal powers to officers and punishment to offenders.
♦ No arms licence to people nearby sanctuary.
♦ It provides for captive breeding program for endangered species.
♦ Establishment of central zoo authority
♦ Transportation of wild life and plants restricted

♦ Immunization of live stock

♦ Administrative frame work revamped

♦ Criminal investigation geared

♦ Penalties enhanced

♦ Reward to persons assisting detection of offence

♦ Greater role in wild life protection for central Government

♦ Conservation projects – lion (1972),tiger (1983), crocodile

(1974)
 Several Conservation Projects for individual endangered species like
lion (1972) Tiger (1973), Crocodile (1974) and Brown antlered Deer
(1981) were started under this Act. The Act is adopted by all states in
India except Jammu and Kashmir, which has it own Act. Some of the
major drawbacks of the Act include mild penalty to offenders, illegal
wild life trade in Jammu and Kashmir, personal ownership certificate for
animal articles like tiger and leopard skins, no coverage of foreign
endangered wildlife, pitiable condition of wildlife in mobile zoos and
little emphasis on protection of plant genetic resources.
 Wildlife Protection:
Salman Khan is convicted under Section 51
of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 by an order
of Judicial Magistrate, Jodhpur.
 5. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
amendment in 1992
● The act adopted all over India except J& K.
It covers all forests – irrespective of ownership.

● Objectives:
♦ To protect & conserve the forests (Trees, Plants,
Grass, Honey, Minerals, Rock, Wild animals etc).
♦ To ensure judicious use of forests products.
♦ This act also covers all types of forests including
reserved forests, protected forests and any
forestland.
 This act deals with the conservation of forests and related aspects. Except
Jammu and Kashmir, the act is adopted all over India. The Act covers under it all types
of forests including reserved forests, protected forests or any forested land
irrespective of its ownership.

The salient features of the Act are as follows:

(i) The State Government has been empowered under this Act to use the forests only for
forestry purposes. If at all it wants to use it in any other way, it has to take prior
approval of central Government, after which it can pass orders for declaring some part
of reserve forest for non-forest purposes (e.g. mining) or for clearing some naturally
growing trees and replacing them by economically important trees (reforestation).

(ii) It makes provision for conservation of all types of forests and for this purpose there is
an advisory committee which recommends funding for it to the Central Government.

(iii) Any illegal non-forest activity within a forest area can be immediately stopped under
this Act. Non-forest activities include clearing of forest land for cultivation of any type of
plants/crops or any other purpose (except re-afforestation). However, some construction
work in the forest for wildlife or forest management is exempted from non-forest activity
(e.g. fencing, making water-holes, trench, pipelines, check posts, wireless
communication etc.)
 1992 Amendment in the Forest Act l In 1992,
Some amendment was made in the Act which made provisions for
allowing some non-forest activities in forests, without cutting trees or
limited cutting with prior approval of Central Government.

● These activities are setting of transmission lines, seismic surveys,

exploration, drilling and hydroelectric projects. The last activity involves large
scale destruction of forest, for which prior approval of the Central Government
is necessary.

● Wildlife sanctuaries, National Parks etc. are totally prohibited for any
exploration or survey under this Act without prior approval of Central
Government even if no tree-falling is involved. Cultivation of tea, coffee, spices,
rubber and plants which are cash-crops, are included under non-forestry
activity and not allowed in reserve forests. Even cultivation of fruit-bearing
trees, oil-yielding plants or plants of medicinal value in forest area need to be
first approved by the Central Government. This is because newly introduced
species in the forest area may cause an imbalance in the ecology of the forest.
 ● If the species to be planted is a native species, then no prior
clearance is required. Tusser cultivation (a type of silk-yielding insect) in forest
areas by tribes as a means of their livelihood is treated as a forestry activity as
long as it does not involve some specific host tree Asanor Arjun. This is done in
order to discourage monoculture practices in the forests which are otherwise
rich in biodiversity. Plantation of mulberry for rearing silkworm is considered a
non-forest activity. The reason is same as described above.
● Mining is a non-forestry activity and prior approval of Central
Government is mandatory. The Supreme Court in a case T.N. Godavarman
Thirumulkpad Vs. Union of India (1997) directed all on-going mining activity to
be ceased immediately in any forest area of India if it had not got prior
approval of Central government.
● Removal of stones, bajri, boulder etc from river-beds located within
the forest area fall under non-forest activity.
● Any proposal sent to central governmentfor non-forest activity
must have a cost-benefit analysis and Environmental Impact statement (EIS)
of the proposed activity with reference to its ecological and socio-economic
impacts. Thus, the Forests (Conservation) Act has made ample provisions for
conservation and protection of forests and prevent deforestation.
● Forestry activities include logging, the clearing of forests for
agriculture, construction of forest roads and other
infrastructure needed to support forestry operations, log
transport by land and water, re- and afforestation, tree-
clearing for disease control, saw-milling, charcoal-making and
other transformation of wood(other than pulping and
papermaking) and other activities that involve, at some point,
the removal or the addition of forest cover and other physical
impact on the landscape.

● Non-forestry activities: damming of rivers and flooding of

reservoirs, many types of agricultural projects, the sitting if
industrial plants with toxic emissions. Such activities will
affect forests and forest lands.
 Plantation of mulberry for rearing silkworm is considered a
non-forestry activity.

Any proposal sent to central government for non-forestry

activity must have a cost-benefit analysis and
Environmental impact statement of the proposed activity
with reference to its ecological and socio-economic impacts
 Enforcement of environmental legislation –
drawbacks
● Drawbacks in wild life protection act.
● Drawbacks in forest conservation act.
● Powers are with central govt. action is delayed.
● Penalty is lesser then cost of pollution treatment.
● Not included in right to information act.
● Legal delays – 60 days notice to central government.
● Lack of funds.
● Out of court settlements.
● ETPs are costly for small industries.
● Weak government policy – political influences on the
board heads.
Public awareness
 Why there is no awareness?
● Education does not provide knowledge about
environmental and pollution related aspects.

● Policy makers – politicians: unaware of

environmental and pollution aspects and impacts.

● General public are thinking about development but

not about the impacts of such development on
environment.
 Public Awareness
● Public Awareness:
♦ Our environment is presently degrading due to many activities like
▲ Pollution, deforestation, overgrazing,
▲ Rapid industrialization and urbanization.

♦ In order to conserve our environment, every one must be aware about

▲ environmental problems and objectives of various environmental
policies at national and local levels.

● Objectives of Public awareness:

♦ To create awareness among people of rural and city about
▲ Ecological imbalances, local environment,
▲ Technological development and various development plants.
▲ To focus on current environment problems and situations.

♦ To eliminate poverty by providing employment that overcome the

basic environmental issues.
♦ To learn to live simple and eco-friendly manner.
 Public Environmental Awareness
● Public awareness about environment is at a stage of
infancy. Of late, some awareness has taken place related to
environmental degradation, pollution etc. But incomplete
knowledge and information and ignorance about many
aspects has often led to misconceptions.

● Development has paved the path for rise in the levels or

standards of living but it has simultaneously led to serious
environmental disasters.

● Issues related to environment have often been branded as

antidevelopment. The wisdom lies in maintaining a balance
between our needs and supplies so that the delicate
ecological balance is not disrupted.
 Some of the Main Reasons for the Widespread
Environmental Ignorance

i. Our courses in Science, technology, economics etc. have so

far failed to integrate the knowledge in environmental
aspects as an essential component of the curriculum.
ii. Our planners, decision-makers, politicians and
administrators have not been trained so as to consider the
environmental aspects associated with their plans.
iii. In a zeal to go ahead with some ambitious development
projects, quite often there is purposeful concealment of
information about environmental aspects.
iv. There is greater consideration of economic gains and issues
related to eliminating poverty by providing employment
that overshadows the basic environmental issues.
 Methods to create Environmental Awareness
● Environmental awareness must be created through formal and informal
education to all sections of the society.

● The various methods that are useful for raising environmental awareness.
♦ Through mass media:
▲ Media like Radio, TV and cable network can educate the people on
environmental issues through cartoons, documentaries, plantations
campaign, street plays.
▲ Cinema: Film about environmental education should be prepared and
screened in the theatre compulsorily. This film may be released with tax free
to attract the public.
▲ News papers: All the news papers as well as magazines must publish
the environment related problems.

♦ Through School and Colleges:

▲ Environmental education must be imparted to the students in schools
and colleges.

♦ Voluntary organisations and NGOs:

▲ The services of the voluntary bodies like, Rotary club, NCC, NSS,
should be effectively utilized for spreading the environmental awareness.
 Methods to Propagate Environmental Awareness
● Among students through education: Environmental education must
be imparted to the students right from the childhood stage.

● Among the Masses through mass-media: Media can play an

important role to educate the masses on environmental issues through
articles, environmental rallies, plantation campaigns, street plays, real
eco-disaster stories and success stories of conservation efforts.

● Among the planners, decision-makers, policy makers and leaders

through orientation and training: Since this elite section of the society
plays the most important role in shaping the future of the society, it is
very important to give them the necessary orientation and training
through specially organized workshops and training programs.
 Environmental Education
● In order to achieve the acceptable level of global
environmental sustainability.
● The citizens must be empowered with essential
knowledge and information.
● Then only they can exert pressure on their elected
representatives to develop and implement policies
for securing environmental sustainability.
● These can be achieved through environmental
education.
 Environmental Education
● Environmental education has two essential components:
♦ Alerting the public to the need to achieve global
sustainable development and the likely consequences of
failing to do so.
♦ Focusing the educational curriculum for global
sustainable development by incorporating the know-how
and skills and also the moral imperatives.

● To have a clear idea about the environmental education,

more awareness about the following issues are needed.
♦ Difference between unsustainable development and
environmental sustainability.
♦ Depending on Science and Technology alone will deliver
environmental sustainability?
 Environmental Education
Necessary?
● Progress towards sustainable development is dependent upon a
fundamental change in societies' attitude to nature and the
environment.

● Individual would be willing to adopt less consumptive

lifestyles commensurate with the Earth's ecological capacity.

● Science and technology, however advanced, cannot help in this

matter.

● Hence, what is needed to bring about this change of attitude is

education in moral and ethical philosophy.
In the young minds, it is essential to reinforce the
environment-respecting moral values.
 Environmental Education

● Thinking
● Attitude
● Action
 Why to become Environmental Literate?
• There is widespread evidence and agreement that
we are a species in the process of degrading our own
life support system.

• Correcting this begins by understanding three

important ideas:
♦ Natural capital matters because it supports the
earth’s life and our economies
♦ Our ecological footprints are immense and are
expanding rapidly
♦ Ecological and climate change tipping points
are irreversible and should never be crossed.
 Environmental Literacy – goals
Learning how to live more sustainably requires a foundation of
environmental education aimed at producing environmentally literate
citizens.

● Understand as much as we can about how the earth works and

sustains itself.

● Understand the relationships between the economy and the

earth’s natural support systems.

● Use critical thinking skills to become seekers of environmental

wisdom.

● Understand and evaluate our environmental worldviews and

continue this as a lifelong process.
 First initiative for the protection of
environment

• UN conference on human Environment

5 June 1972 in Stockholm

World Environment Day

According to data collection and
environment assessment studies of World
Bank experts, between 1995 through 2010,
India has made one of the fastest progress
in the world, in addressing its
environmental issues and improving its
environmental quality.

Still, India has a long way to go to reach

environmental quality similar to those
enjoyed in developed economies.

Pollution remains a major challenge and

opportunity for India. Environmental issues
are one of the primary causes of disease,
health issues and long term
livelihood impact for India.
Environmental Priorities in India
 Environmental Issues in India
● Air pollution, water pollution, garbage, and pollution of the natural
environment are all challenges for India. The situation was worse
between 1947 through 1995.

● According to data collection and environment assessment studies

of World Bank experts, between 1995 through 2010, India has made
one of the fastest progress in the world, in addressing its environmental
issues and improving its environmental quality.

● Still, India has a long way to go to reach environmental quality

similar to those enjoyed in developed countries.

● Pollution remains a major challenge and opportunity for India.

● Environmental issues are the primary causes of diseases, health

issues and long term livelihood impact for India.
 Some Common Scenarios

A satellite picture, taken in 2004,

shows thick haze and smoke along
the Ganges Basin in northern
India. Major sources of aerosols in
this area are believed to be smoke
from biomass burning in the
northwest part of India, and air
pollution from large cities in
northern India. Dust from deserts
in Pakistan and the Middle East
may also contribute to the mix of
aerosols.
 Environmental Issues in India
● Major environmental issues are forest and agricultural degradation of land, resource
depletion (water, mineral, forest, sand, rocks etc.),environmental degradation, public
health, loss of biodiversity, loss of resilience in ecosystems, livelihood security for the
poor.

● The major sources of pollution in India include the rampant burning of firewood and
biomass such as dried waste from livestock as the primary source of energy, lack of
organized garbage and waste removal services, lack of sewage treatment operations,
lack of flood control and monsoon water drainage system, diversion of consumer
waste into rivers, cremation practices near major rivers, government mandated
protection of highly polluting old public transport, and continued operation by Indian
government of government owned, high emission plants built between 1950 to 1980.

● Air pollution, poor management of waste, growing water scarcity, falling

groundwater tables, water pollution, preservation and quality of forests, biodiversity
loss, and land/soil degradation are some of the major environmental issues India faces
today.

● India's population growth adds pressure to environmental issues and its resources.
 Environmental Issues in India
There are many environmental issues in India.
Some major issues are :
● Growing Population
● Resource depletion (such as water, mineral, forest, sand, and rocks)
● Poverty: livelihood security for the poor
● Public health
● Degradation of Land
● Agricultural Growth
● Development and Forests
● Negative Consequences of Urbanization
● loss of resilience in ecosystems
● loss of biodiversity
● Air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution
● Greenhouse effect: greenhouse gases emission

The main priority is to find solutions for these issues and ensure that they
are implemented properly for a better future.
 Environmental Issues in India
Population Growth
• There is a long history of study and debate about the interactions
between population growth and the environment. According to a British
thinker Malthus, for example, a growing population exerts pressure on
agricultural land, causing environmental degradation, and forcing the
cultivation of land of poorer as well as poorer quality. This
environmental degradation ultimately reduces agricultural yields and
food availability, causes famines and diseases and death, thereby
reducing the rate of population growth.

• Population growth, because it can place increased pressure on the

assimilative capacity of the environment, is also seen as a major cause
of air, water, and solid-waste pollution. The result, Malthus theorized, is
an equilibrium population that enjoys low levels of both income and
environmental quality. Malthus suggested positive and preventative
forced control of human population, along with abolition of poor laws.
 Environmental Issues in India
Population Growth
• Malthus theory, published between 1798 and 1826, has been analyzed
and criticized ever since. The American thinker Henry George, for
example, observed with his characteristic piquancy in dismissing
Malthus: "Both the jayhawk and the man eat chickens; but the more
jayhawks, the fewer chickens, while the more men, the more chickens."
Similarly, the American economist Julian Lincoln Simon criticized
Malthus's theory. He noted that the facts of human history have proven
the predictions of Malthus and of the Neo-Malthusians to be flawed.
Massive geometric population growth in the 20th century did not result
in a Malthusian catastrophe. The possible reasons include: increase in
human knowledge, rapid increases in productivity, innovation and
application of knowledge, general improvements in farming methods
(industrial agriculture), mechanization of work (tractors), the
introduction of high-yield varieties of wheat and other plants (Green
Revolution), the use of pesticides to control crop pests.
 Environmental Issues in India
Population Growth
• More recent scholarly articles concede that whilst there is no question that
population growth may contribute to environmental degradation, its effects can be
modified by economic growth and modern technology. Research in environmental
economics has uncovered a relationship between environmental quality, measured by
ambient concentrations of air pollutants and per capita income. This so-called
environmental Kuznets curve shows environmental quality worsening up until about
$5,000 of per capita income on purchasing parity basis, and improving thereafter. The
key requirement, for this to be true, is continued adoption of technology and scientific
management of resources, continued increases in productivity in every economic
sector, entrepreneurial innovation and economic expansion.

• Other data suggests that population density has little correlation to environmental
quality and human quality of life. India's population density, in 2011, was about 368
human beings per square kilometer. Many countries with population density similar or
higher than India enjoy environmental quality as well as human quality of life far
superior than India. For example: Singapore (7148 /km2), Hong Kong (6349 /km2),
South Korea (487 /km2), Netherlands (403 /km2), Belgium (355 / km2), England (395
/km2) and Japan (337/ km2).
 Environmental Issues in India
Air Pollution
• Air pollution in India is a serious issue with the major sources being firewood and
biomass burning, fuel adulteration, vehicle emission and traffic congestion. Air
pollution is also the main cause of the Asian brown cloud, which is causing the
monsoon to be delayed. India is the world's largest consumer of firewood, agricultural
waste and biomass for energy purposes. Traditional fuel (firewood, crop residue and
dung cake) dominates domestic energy use in rural India and accounts for about 90%
of the total. In urban areas, this traditional fuel constitutes about 24% of the total.
Firewood, agricultural waste and biomass cake burning releases over 165 million tones
of combustion products into India's indoor and outdoor air every year. These biomass-
based household stoves in India are also a leading source of greenhouse emissions
contributing to climate change.
• The annual crop burning practice in northwest India, north India and eastern
Pakistan, after monsoons, from October to December, are a major seasonal source of
air pollution. Approximately 500 million tons of crop residue is burnt in open, releasing
smoke, soot, NOx, SOx, PAHs and particulate matter into the air. This burning has been
found to be a leading cause of smog and haze problems through the winter over
Punjab, cities such as Delhi, and major population centers along the rivers through
West Bengal. In other states of India, rice straw and other crop residue burning in open
is a major source of air pollution.
 Environmental Issues in India
Air Pollution
• Vehicle emissions are another source of air pollution. Vehicle emissions are
worsened by fuel adulteration and poor fuel combustion efficiencies from traffic
congestion and low density of quality, high speed road network per 1000 people.

• On per capita basis, India is a small emitter of carbon dioxide greenhouse. In 2009,
IEA estimates that it emitted about 1.4 tons of gas per person, in comparison to the
United States’ 17 tons per person, and a world average of 5.3 tons per person.
However, India was the third largest emitter of total carbon dioxide in 2009 at 1.65 Gt
per year, after China (6.9 Gt per year) and the United States (5.2 Gt per year). With 17
percent of world population, India contributed some 5 percent of human-sourced
carbon dioxide emission; compared to China's 24 percent share.

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was passed in 1981 to regulate air
pollution and there have been some measurable improvements. However, the
2012Environmental Performance Index ranked India as having the poorest relative air
quality out of 132 countries.
 Environmental Issues in India
Water Pollution
• India has major water pollution issues. Discharge of untreated sewage
is the single most important cause for pollution of surface and ground
water in India. There is a large gap between generation and treatment
of domestic waste water in India. The problem is not only that India
lacks sufficient treatment capacity but also that the sewage treatment
plants that exist do not operate and are not maintained. The majority of
the government-owned sewage treatment plants remain closed most of
the time due to improper design or poor maintenance or lack of reliable
electricity supply to operate the plants, together with absentee
employees and poor management. The waste water generated in these
areas normally percolates in the soil or evaporates. The uncollected
wastes accumulate in the urban areas cause unhygienic conditions and
release pollutants that leaches to surface and groundwater.
 Environmental Issues in India
Water Pollution
• According to a World Health Organization study, out of India's 3,119
towns and cities, just 209 have partial sewage treatment facilities, and
only 8 have full wastewater treatment facilities. Over 100 Indian cities
dump untreated sewage directly into the Ganges River. Investment is
needed to bridge the gap between 29000 million liter per day of sewage
India generates, and a treatment capacity of mere 6000 million liter per
day.

• Other sources of water pollution include agriculture run off and small
scale factories along the rivers and lakes of India. Fertilizers and
pesticides used in agriculture in northwest have been found in rivers,
lakes and ground water. Flooding during monsoons worsens India's
water pollution problem, as it washes and moves all sorts of solid
garbage and contaminated soils into its rivers and wetlands.
 Environmental Issues in India
Soil Pollution
• In March 2009, the issue of Uranium poisoning in Punjab attracted press
coverage. It was alleged to be caused by fly ash ponds of thermal power
stations, which reportedly lead to severe birth defects in children in the
Faridkot and Bhatinda districts of Punjab. The news reports claimed the
uranium levels were more than 60 times the maximum safe limit. In 2012, the
Government of India confirmed that the ground water in Malwa belt of Punjab
has uranium metal that is 50% above the trace limits set by the United Nations'
World Health Organization. Scientific studies, based on over 1000 samples
from various sampling points, could not trace the source to fly ash and any
sources from thermal power plants or industry as originally alleged. The study
also revealed that the uranium concentration in ground water of Malwa district
is not 60 times the WHO limits, but only 50% above the WHO limit in 3
locations. This highest concentration found in samples was less than those
found naturally in ground waters currently used for human purposes
elsewhere, such as Finland. Research is underway to identify natural or other
sources for the uranium.
 Environmental Issues in India
Noise Pollution
• The Supreme Court of India which is in New Delhi gave a
significant verdict on noise pollution in 2005.Unnecessary
honking of vehicles makes for a high decibel level of noise in
cities. The use of loud speakers for political purposes and for
sermons by temples and mosques makes noise pollution in
residential areas worse.
In January 2010, Government of India published norms of
permissible noise levels in urban and rural areas.
 Noise pollution and Diwali
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
permissible noise level for fire crackers : 125 dB (at
4m distance)

• Most of the fire crackers do not fulfill this need.

• Many of the firework products produce noise near

the threshold of pain.
Noise pollution and Diwali
 Noise pollution and Diwali

Supreme court directions:

• The manufacture and use of fire crackers producing noise exceeding

125 dB at 4 meter distance should be prohibited.

• The limit reduced by 5 log 10 (N) dB, N = number of crackers joined

together.

• Fire crackers should not be used between 10 PM to 6 AM.

• No fireworks in the silence zone: hospitals, educational institutes,

courts, religious places

• Responsibility of the governments to educate students

 Environmental Issues in India
Greenhouse gases emission
• India was the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2009
at 1.65 Gt. per year, after China and the United States . With
17 percent of world population, India contributed some 5
percent of human-sourced carbon dioxide emission;
compared to China's 24 percent share. On per capita basis,
India emitted about 1.4 tons of carbon dioxide per person, in
comparison to the United States’ 17 tons per person, and a
world average of 5.3 tons per person.
 Environmental Priorities in India
● Population control
● Water for all
● Judicious land use
● To protect agriculture
● Good governance
● To protect hotspots
● Educate people – awareness
● Allocation of funds for environmental projects
● To provide fresh air
● Calculative industrialization
● Afforestation
Sustainable
Development
 Why did we become a threat to the
nature?
• We tried to improve our quality of life
• We want to ‘DEVELOP’
• In the process of development we created
problems.
• Is development wrong? What actually went
wrong?
 What is wrong in development?
• We considered “improvement in our economy ”
only as development – That is wrong!

• If a country has sound economy we called it

developed – if it does not then it is undeveloped.

• Economic Development is not the only factor

which will decide the quality of life.
 Economic development led to…
• Over exploitation of natural resources.

• Loss of biodiversity.

• Human oriented thinking – not bothered about

environment and other living beings.

• A mentality that don’t care about future

generation.

• Increased economic differences in nations within

as well as between different nations.
What kind of development we are looking for?

• Two decades back it is realized

that the development should be a
“Sustainable development”.
 What is Sustainable Development?
• “Development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.”

- Brundtland G.H,
former Norweign PM
and Director of WHO
 Sustainable Development
History
● Sustainable development has its roots in ideas about sustainable
forest management which were developed in Europe during the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In response to a growing
awareness of the depletion of timber resources in England, John Evelyn
argued that "sowing and planting of trees had to be regarded as a
national duty of every landowner, in order to stop the destructive over-
exploitation of natural resources" in his 1662 essay “Sylva”.
“Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesty's Dominions” by the
English writer John Evelyn was first presented in 1662 as a paper to the Royal Society. It was published as a
book two years later in 1664, and is recognized as one of the most influential texts on forestry ever
published.

● One of the first uses of the term sustainable in the contemporary

sense was by the Club of Rome in 1972 in its classic report on the Limits
to Growth, written by a group of scientists led by Dennis and Donella
Meadows of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
 Sustainable Development
History
●In 1992, the UN Conference on Environment and Development published in 1992 the Earth
Charter, which outlines the building of a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st
century.
●The action plan Agenda 21 for sustainable development identified information, integration,
and participation as key building blocks to help countries achieve development that recognizes
these interdependent pillars. It emphasizes that in sustainable development everyone is a user
and provider of information. It stresses the need to change from old sector-centered ways of
doing business to new approaches that involve cross-sectoral co-ordination and the integration
of environmental and social concerns into all development processes. Furthermore, Agenda 21
emphasizes that broad public participation in decision making is a fundamental prerequisite for
achieving sustainable development. Under the principles of the United Nations Charter the
Millennium Declaration identified principles and treaties on sustainable development, including
economic development, social development and environmental protection. Broadly defined,
sustainable development is a systems approach to growth and development and to manage
natural, produced, and social capital for the welfare of their own and future generations. The
term sustainable development as used by the United Nations incorporates both issues
associated with land development and broader issues of human development such as
education, public health, and standard of living.
●A 2013 study concluded that sustainability reporting should be reframed through the lens of
four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture.
 Sustainable Development
History
● United Nations Conference on
Environment and
Development (UNCED) at Rio de
Janeiro 1992
● Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily
implemented action plan of the United
Nations with regard to sustainable
development. It is a product of the
Earth Summit (UN Conference on
Environment and Development) held
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
 Sustainable Development
Progress
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development(UNCSD), also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20, or Earth
Summit2012, was the third international conference on
sustainable development, which aimed at reconciling the
economic and environmental goals of the global community. An
outcome of this conference was the development of the
Sustainable Development Goals that aim to promote sustainable
progress and eliminate inequalities around the world. However,
few nations met the World Wide Fund for Nature’s definition of
sustainable development criteria established in 2006.Although
some nations are more developed than others, all nations are
constantly developing because each nation struggles with
perpetuating disparities, inequalities and unequal access to
fundamental rights and freedoms.
 Sustainable Development
Economic, social, and natural capitals
The sustainable development debate is based on the assumption that
societies need to manage three types of capital (economic, social, and natural),
which may be non-substitutable and whose consumption might be irreversible.
Daly(1991),for example, points to the fact that natural capital can not
necessarily be substituted by economic capital. While it is possible that we can
find ways to replace some natural resources, it is much more unlikely that they
will ever be able to replace eco-system services, such as the protection
provided by the ozone layer, or the climate stabilizing function of the
Amazonian forest. In fact natural capital, social capital and economic capital
are often complementarities. A further obstacle to substitutability lies also in
the multi-functionality of many natural resources. Forests, for example, not
only provide the raw material for paper (which can be substituted quite easily),
but they also maintain biodiversity, regulate water flow, and absorb
CO2.Another problem of natural and social capital deterioration lies in their
partial irreversibility. The loss in biodiversity, for example, is often definite. The
same can be true for cultural diversity.
 Sustainable Development
Business
If the degradation of natural and social capital has such important
consequence the question arises why action is not taken more
systematically to alleviate it. Cohen and Winn point to four types of
market failure as possible explanations: First, while the benefits of
natural or social capital depletion can usually be privatized, the costs are
often externalized (i.e. they are borne not by the party responsible but
by society in general). Second, natural capital is often undervalued by
society since we are not fully aware of the real cost of the depletion of
natural capital. Information asymmetry is a third reason—often the link
between cause and effect is obscured, making it difficult for actors to
make informed choices. Cohen and Winn close with the realization that
contrary to economic theory many firms are not perfect optimizers.
They postulate that firms often do not optimize resource allocation
because they are caught in a "business as usual" mentality.
 Sustainable Development

• Sustainable development (SD) is a

pattern of economic development
in which resource use aims to
meet human needs while
preserving the environment so
that these needs can be met not
only in the present, but also for
generations to come.
 Sustainable Development

● The term 'sustainable development' was used by the Brundtland

Commission (1987 ) as per it “meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”.

● According to above definition two key concepts:

♦ the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of
the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given
♦ the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology
and social organization on the environment's ability to meet
present and future needs.
 Sustainable Development

● Sustainability educator Michael Thomas Needham referred to

'Sustainable Development' "as the ability to meet the needs of the
present while contributing to the future generations needs.”

● Additional focus on the present generations' responsibility to

improve the future generations' life by restoring the previous
ecosystem damage and resisting to contribute to further ecosystem
damage.

● "sustainability" was employed to describe an economy "in

equilibrium with basic ecological support systems."
Key Aspects for Sustainable Development
a)Inter-generational Equality : This emphasizes that
we should minimize any adverse impacts on resources
and environment for future generations. i.e. we
should hand over a safe, healthy and resourceful
environment to our future generations.

b)Intra-generational Equality : This emphasizes that

the development processes should seek to minimize
the wealth gaps between and within the nations. This
will support the economic growth of the poor
countries and help in narrowing the wealth gap and
lead to sustainability.
 Sustainable Development
● Sustainability can be defined as the practice of reserving resources for future
generation without any harm to the nature and other components of it .Sustainable
development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with
the social, political, and economic challenges faced by humanity.
● Sustainability science is the study of the concepts of sustainable development and
environmental science.
● There is an additional focus on the present generations' responsibility to regenerate,
maintain and improve planetary resources for use by future generations.
 Scheme of sustainable development
● Sustainability necessitates an interrelationship of the
social, economic and environmental needs of a
developing world

● The concept of sustainable development has in the past

most often been broken out into three constituent
parts:
♦Environmental sustainability,
♦Economic sustainability
♦Socio political sustainability.
Scheme of sustainable development:
confluence of three constituent parts

Multi-dimension model
Multi-dimensional model
Multi-dimensional model
Sustainable Development Matrix
 Dimensions:
•Ecology
•Environment
•Agriculture
•Energy
•Transportation
•Economics
•Business
•
•
•
 Environmental Sustainability

● Environmental sustainability is the process of making

sure current processes of interaction with the
environment are pursued with the idea of keeping the
environment as pristine as naturally .

● Environmental sustainability demands that society

designs activities to meet human needs while
indefinitely preserving the life support systems of the
planet.
 Environmental Sustainability
● An "unsustainable situation" occurs when natural resources are
used up faster than it can be replenished.

● Sustainability requires that human activity only uses nature's

resources at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally.

● Sustainable development is intertwined with the concept of

carrying capacity.

● This entails using water sustainably, only utilizing renewable

energy, and sustainable material supplies (e.g. harvesting wood
from forests at a rate that maintains the biomass and
biodiversity).
 Carrying Capacity
● The carrying capacity is the maximum population
size of a species that the environment can sustain
indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and
other necessities available in the environment.
● Supported indefinitely by an ecosystem without
destroying that ecosystem
● Sigfried von Ciriacy-Wantrup introduced the idea
of safe thresholds
● Depends on available resources and per capita
consumption
● Not "caring" capacity
 What is carrying capacity?
• The number of individuals who can be supported in
a given area within natural resource limits, and
without degrading the natural, social, cultural and
economic environment for present and future
generations.

• If the carrying capacity is exceeded it will negatively

impact sustainable development.

• No population can live beyond the environment's

carrying capacity for long time.
 Carrying capacity
Two components:

● Supporting capacity: the capacity to

Regenerate

● Assimilative capacity: the capacity to

tolerate different stresses
 Carrying Capacity
The carrying capacity of an environment may vary for
different species and may change over time due to
a variety of factors, including:
● Food availability
● Water supply
● Environmental conditions and living space
● It is the function of the number of people.
● The amount of resources each person consumes
● The ability of the earth to process all the wastes
produced.
 Carrying Capacity
For example, consider an island onto which is dropped a
colony of rabbits.
● As long as there is an adequate supply of food and
water, the rabbits will not only survive but they will
reproduce and the colony will get larger.
The rabbit population can continue to grow as long
as food and water are adequate.
● However, if at some point, there are more rabbits
than is food to feed them, then the rabbit population
will start to decline. It depends upon factors such as:
♦ How much each rabbit eats?
♦ How fast the food grows?
♦ How well the natural systems of the island can
handle the waste produced by the rabbits?
 Carrying Capacity
To us:

● The earth is our island.

● We have developed technology to grow, process, and
store food.
● We have also developed technologies for handling
wastes that we create.
● However, there is still a carrying capacity that the earth
can support.
● Sustainability is about finding the balance point among
population, consumption, and waste assimilation.
 Economic Sustainability
● Economic progress is evaluated in terms of welfare(GNP), more efficient production and
consumption of goods and services.
The gross national product (GNP) measures the welfare of a nation's economy through
the aggregate of products and services produced in that nation.

● The stability of prices and employment are among other important objectives.

● To utilize resource to best advantage (efficient and responsible)

● Difference between need and greed

● No economic system is sustainable unless it accommodates the ecosystem it depends

● Unlike traditional societies, modern economies have only recently acknowledged the need to
manage scarce natural resources in a prudent manner – because human welfare ultimately
depends on ecological services

● Ignoring safe ecological limits will increase the risk of undermining long-run prospects for
development.
 Social Sustainability
● Social development refers to improvements in both
individual well-being and the overall social welfare
● Social Sustainability includes human rights, labor
rights and corporate governance
● It emphasizes on individuals behavior, attitude and
actions
● Ideal sustainable life style is not to end consumption but
understanding the minimalistic requirement of it
● Difference between wants and needs
● Challenge to current infrastructure and common
expectations
● Thus, social goals includes protective strategies that
reduce vulnerability, improve equity and ensure that
basic needs are met.
MEASURES FOR
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
 Measures for Sustainable Development
● Using appropriate technology is one which is locally adaptable, eco-friendly,
resource-efficient and culturally suitable i.e. using less resources and producing
minimum waste.

● Reduce, Reuse, Recycle approach: The 3-R approach advocating minimization of

resource use, using them again and again instead of passing it on to the waste stream
and recycling the materials goes a long way in achieving the goals of sustainability.

● Prompting environmental education and awareness : Making environmental

education the centre of all learning process will greatly help in changing the thinking
and attitude of people towards our earth and the environment.

● Resource utilization as per carrying capacity: This is the utilization of the resources
in a region in respect to its consumption and regeneration of these resources (carrying
capacity).

● Improving quality of life including social, cultural and economic dimensions:

Development should not focus just on one section of already affluent people but
should also include sharing of benefits between the rich and poor.
 Appropriate Technology (AT)
● The term appropriate technology is used to describe the use of
technology that results in less negative impacts on the
environment and society, i.e., technology should be both
environmentally sustainable and socially appropriate.

● It is characterized by "low investment cost per work-place, low

capital investment per unit of output, organizational simplicity,
high adaptability to a particular social or cultural environment,
sparing use of natural resources, low cost of final product or
high potential for employment

● Found in both developing and developed countries.

 Appropriate technology
● “Design with nature”

● The goal of Appropriate Technology (AT) is to increase

the standard of living for the developing world
without condescension, complication, or
environmental damage.

● Appropriate technology was meant to address four

problems: extreme poverty, starvation, unemployment
and urban migration.
 Appropriate technology
Solar Powered Lightbulb
• Nokero’s N100 solar-powered light bulb .
• This clever product stores electricity from daylight, one of the few
commodities rural India, Africa and most of the third world has
abundantly.
• Designed specifically for use in developing countries, the LED bulbs
can provide four hours of light when the battery is fully charged.
• That may not sound like much to you or me, but consider the
scarce wood burning fuel this replaces.
• The N100 is constructed from impact-resistant plastic and includes
four solar panels, five LEDs and replaceable NiMH batteries said
to last two years.
• Complete units cost $15 apiece, but may someday cost as little as
$6 per unit in bulk.
 Appropriate technology
Pot-In-Pot Refrigerator
● Pot-in-Pot refrigerator, It is a simple cooling system to
preserve food in rural areas with no electricity.
● Which relies on the concept of evaporative cooling.
● The system works by putting a smaller clay pot inside a
larger one, separating the two by constantly moist
sand.
● Evaporation causes a cooling effect in the inner pot.
● Eggplants are reported to stay fresh for 27 days, nine
times their usual expiration date. Tomatoes and
peppers can last for up to 21 days.
● In 2001, Nigerian Mohammed Bah Abba won the 2001
Rolex Awards because of this invention.
 Appropriate technology
Bonus Corn Sheller
• Designing products for developing nations is a
challenge because inventors are creating technologies
for cultures of which they have little, or no, experience.
• Compatible Technology International visited Guatemala
and observed women hand-shelling corn.
• They saw how labor-intensive the manual shelling
process was, they quickly developed a corn sheller out
of a piece of wood with a hole in the middle.
• The women pushed the ear of corn through the hole,
shaving the kernels from the cob MUCH more quickly.
 Appropriate technology
Lifestraw
● In 2009, an estimated 5,000 deaths from unsafe drinking
water occurred every day.
● This is down from 6,000 in 2007, and Vestergaard Frandsen’s
Lifestraw played its’ part in the decline.
● The Lifestraw is a personal, low-cost water purification tool,
with a service lifetime of 700 liters, or about one year of
water consumption for a single person.
● Unlike other water purification products, Lifestraw is intuitive
to use, can be worn around the neck, and requires no
training, special tools or electricity to operate.
● The sucking action of the straw pulls the water through a filter
that traps 99.999% of waterborne bacteria (such as
Salmonella, Shigella, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus) and
98.7% of waterborne viruses.
 Appropriate technology
Hippo Roller Water Project
● In some African villages, fetching potable water can take most of
an entire day, and is typically a chore left to women and
children.
● The Hippo Roller is a simple tool for transporting water from
distant watering-holes back to homes and villages – an
alternative to the traditional 5-gallon-barrels-on-heads
approach.
● The product itself is similar to a barrel with a handle that you
push ahead of you like a steamroller’s drum, and has a
capacity of 90 liters / 24 gallons.
● That’s nearly a 5 times increase in productivity.
● In the past 15 years, the Hippo Roller Water Project has
distributed over 30,000 rollers, directly benefitting over 200,000
people.
 3R – REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE

● Why do you need to use 3R’s ?

♦ Saving space
♦ Saving natural resources
♦ Save energy
♦ Reduce pollution

● Practice teaches: don't buy things you don't need

or items that come in wasteful packaging or that
cannot be recycled. Reuse and recycle whatever
you can.
 REDUCE
● A key part of waste “reduction” is CONSERVATION.
● Buy and use less- simple living
● Wise packaging selections
● Buy 100% recyclable products ~ recycled paper Refuse store bag,
bring your own shopping bag
● Use durable products
● Avoid buying disposable item
● Cut down on can and frozen food
● Save water
● Save energy
● Carpool, ride a bicycle or take public transportation
● Unplug electrical appliances when not in used
● Drive smaller, more energy-efficient car & use lead-free petrol
 REUSE
● Do not throw away things that are still usable, Pass on to others who can use them.
● One man’s waste is another man’s treasure.
● Reuse disposables like plastic cups, plates, utensils and plastic food storage bags.
● Donate to charity
● Use canvas or cloth bags when shopping
● Reuse plastic bags
● Buy product in refillable containers e.g. washing powder, coffee, tea etc.
● Reuse old envelope
● Use both sides of paper
● save old egg cartons, toilet rolls, margarine and ice-cream tubs for art & crafts
● use rechargeable batteries and refillable print cartridge
 RECYCLE
● Recycling means turning something old into something new.
● Recycling is not only a great way to conserve resources but
even to reduce waste
● Just about anything in your home that cannot be reused CAN
be recycled into something else.
● Set up a system of separating your waste for recycling.
● Deposit them at the various recycle centre.
● Make sure you put the waste in the correct bin.
♦ Paper ~ tie into bundles
♦ Aluminium can ~ empty contents, rinse, dry and crush &
metal containers ~ empty contents and clean
♦ Glass ~ empty contents and clean
♦ Plastic : drinking bottle ~ remove cap, empty bottle, rinse
and crush; plastic containers ~ empty contents and clean
 Multidimensional model for
sustainable development(SD)
Global Interactions

Ecological Balance

Economic Equity Resource

Growth Utilization

Sustainable
Development

Appropriate and cleaner Socio-cultural innovative,

Technological innovations Ecofriendly practices

Regional Development Policies

• Sustainable development ties together concern for
the carrying capacity of natural systems with the
social challenges faced by humanity.

• According to Hasna Vancock, sustainability is a

process which tells of a development of all aspects
of human life affecting sustenance. It means
resolving the conflict between the various
competing goals, and involves the simultaneous
pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental
quality and social equity famously known as three
dimensions.
 Sustainable Development Goals and Practices increases
profitability and builds image and leadership of the business
sector.

Incentives for adopting sustainable practices:

● Financial gain - Pollution avoidance is less costly than

pollution control
♦ Stronger enforcement of environmental regulations
♦ Layering of environmental regulations
♦ Reduced risk of control costs from future domestic
environmental requirements
♦ Reduced risk of control costs from meeting future
international environmental standards
Incentives for adopting sustainable practices

● Boosts profits by substituting knowledge for material inputs

♦ reduces inputs to production (energy, water, materials) per unit output
♦ reduced dependence on external inputs insulates against price volatility
♦ spill-over benefits in terms of enhanced managerial and technical
capacity
● New opportunities in "green" markets
♦ Certified Emission Reductions(CERs) are contingent upon the process
having contributed to sustainable development
♦ Final users, especially in overseas markets, are interested in sustainability
♦ Potential for revenue growth in new markets for products and services
♦ Gain trust/ identify emerging markets by forging connections with
communities.
● Enhance profitability by generating revenues from nature’s services through
ecosystem protection and restoration
♦ Offset degradation from other operations.
♦ Use natural systems to reduce operating costs.
● Overall benefit to the workers and other factors of production
 Sustainable Development Indicators
To improve clarity, several organizations have established
approaches to operationalize the term. One is to set goals
based on realistic possibilities and then evaluate the
performance of a country or community against the goal - a
backcasting model. The other is to design methodologies to
assess progress toward sustainability. Measuring
sustainability is not an easy task. Therefore a concept
of sustainable development indicator (SDI) has been
introduced to assess, measure and monitor sustainability of a
process.
 Sustainable Development Indicators
For measuring sustainability of a development process, a useful way is
to select and organize indicators in a pressure (cause), state (linking
effects), response (policy action) framework. See the following table for
an example of the pressure-state-response framework. Indian Business
Sector may adopt the similar p-s-r framework for selecting / identifying
SDIs.
Example of Pressure-State-Response Framework

Driving Force/Pressure
Sustainability Dimension Goal State Indicators Response Indicators
Indicators

Economic Poverty alleviation Inadequate means Poverty index Employment generation

of livelihood

Social Access to basic services Inadequate public Electricity consumption Off-grid electricity services
infrastructure per capita

Environmental Reduction in health Inadequate access to Morbidity from Provision of fuel with lower
effects from indoor air clean cooking fuel particulate concentrations emissions and efficient
pollution chullas

Technological Capacity to improve Inefficient Energy use per unit of Training and investment to
technological base production technologies output adopt improved technologies
This is a comparison of three major environmental
worldviews.
 Environmental worldviews
Environmental worldviews lie on a scale running from more self- and human-
centered (center) to life-, biosphere- or earth centered (outer rings).

Also, as we move out from the center, from human-centered to more earth-
centered worldviews.

we tend to value other life forms more for their right to exist than for the
products and services they can provide for us.
 The environmental or sustainability revolution
These are some of the cultural shifts in emphasis that will be necessary
to bring about the environmental or sustainability revolution.
 The environmental or sustainability revolution
 Change can occur very rapidly.
 Using the astonishing power of exponential growth, we could bring about a sustainability
revolution in a very short time.

Exponential growth starts off slowly, but at some point it increases at a very rapid rate and heads
sharply upward.

Listed below this curve are some concerns, trends, tools, and technologies that could all be part of
a major shift toward a more sustainable world within your lifetime.
 Major environmental worldviews- How can we live more sustainably?

What are some major environmental worldviews?

Major environmental worldviews differ on which is more important— human needs
and wants, or the overall health of ecosystems and the biosphere.

What is the role of education in living more sustainably?

The first step to living more sustainably is to become environmentally
literate, primarily by learning from nature.

How can we live more sustainably?

We can live more sustainably by becoming
Environmentally literate,
Learning from nature,
Living more simply and lightly on the earth, and
Becoming active environmental citizens.
Public awareness of sustainable development
Public awareness of sustainable development
 Sustainable development
-Indian context
• In the last 50 years our economy grew but rich poor gap also grew.
• We have become self-sufficient in food production. Our food self-
sufficiency came with indiscreet use of fertilizers and pesticides
• We are the largest contributor to population growth – 17million every
year.
• Our economy grew because of increased industries.
• Pollution of air, water and land also grew because of these industries.
• In the recent past migration from villages to cities has increased
tremendously. It results in increased need for shelter, food, water,
energy. All are concentrated in a small area and threaten the carrying
capacity.
 The Indian Context of Sustainable Development
● India has still to go a long way in implementing the concept
of sustainable development.
● We have to lay emphasis on framing a well-planned strategy
for our developmental activity while increasing our
economic growth.
● We have tremendous natural diversity as well as a huge
population which makes planning for sustainable growth all
the more important and complex.
● The National Council of Environmental Planning and
Coordination (NCPC) set up in 1972 was the focal agency in
this regard.
● The Ministry of Environment & Forests, set up in 1985 has
formulated guidelines for various developmental activities
keeping in view the sustainability principles.
 What can we do?
Business:
•Production methods
Personal: •Energy and water use
•Consumption patterns •Waste disposal
•Water & Energy use •Employee benefits
•Clothing purchases •Stockholder relations
•Recreation/hobbies
•Yard care, landscaping
•Household Cleaning
products Community:
•Home purchase •Building a sustainable development
•Vacation planning center/organization
•Family planning •Running a summer school
•Transportation choices •Conference planning
•Devotional program
We can use certain principles for shifting to more environmentally sustainable
economies, or eco-economies, during this century.
Environmentally Sustainable Businesses and Careers
 Some of the components of more environmentally sustainable economic
development
These are some of the components of more environmentally sustainable economic development
favoured by ecological and environmental economists.

The goal is to get economic systems to put more emphasis on conserving and sustaining the air,
water, soil, biodiversity, and other natural resources that in turn sustain all life and all economies.
Such a shift toward more efficient resource use, cleaner energy, cleaner production, ecocities and
natural capital preservation can stimulate economies, create jobs, and be profitable.
Sustainable Development in India: Perspectives
● Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Livelihoods
● Changing Unsustainable Patterns of Consumption
and Production
● Protecting and Managing the Natural Resource Base
of Economic and Social Development
● Sustainable Development in a Globalizing World
● Health and Sustainable Development
● Strengthening Governance for Sustainable
Development at the Local, National and International
levels
 India’s Sustainable Development Priorities
According to the World Resources Institute(WRI), the four dimensions of sustainable
development (SD) are social, economic, environmental and technological well being.
These dimensions provide a framework within which one can specify details for
countries at a given stage of development.

India’s Ninth Plan recognizes the integral link between rapid economic growth and the
quality of life of the people and has set SD priorities. They are :
● Accelerating the growth rate of economy
● Ensuring food and nutritional security
● Providing the basic minimum services like safe drinking water, primary health
care facilities, universal primary education, connectivity to all
● Containing the growth rate of population - Increasing population has led to a
number of interlinked issues: inequalities of income levels, low level of literacy,
unemployment and ultimately poverty
● Ensuring environmental sustainability of the development process -
Environment protection does not only involve prevention of pollution and degradation
of natural resources, but it also involves integrating with the overall development
process and the well-being of people.
 India’s Sustainable Development Priorities
● Empowering of women socially disadvantaged groups
● Promoting and developing people’s participatory
institutions (like Panchayati Raj)
● Strengthening efforts to build self-reliance (capacity
building) - Rapid urbanisation has progressively declined
essential services and the quality of life in urban areas.
Therefore, synergy between environment, health and
development needs to be specially recognized, as no
development process leading to better quality of life can be
sustained in a deteriorating environmental condition.

Poverty alleviation, economic and social development

and environmental protection are overriding SD goals and
priorities of India.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
CURRENT SCENARIO
Sustainable Development was formally initiated for
the international community since the 1992 UN
Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED), which called upon governments to develop
strategies for sustainable development, incorporating
policy measures outlined in the Rio Declaration and
Agenda 21.
Governments wish to implement such strategies,
but then there are continuing battle between
economic and environmental concerns associated
with the development.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

STRATEGY FOR CHANGE – INDIAN AGENDA

● Low-Carbon Models

● Adaptation to Climate Change as a Social

Cause

● Economically Profitable Approach

● Technology Transfer
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
DEVELOP TRAINING COURSES

Develop curriculums to train executing agencies. And

provide training materials to educate local regulatory
government officials.

Develop programs to build the capacity of local

communities to be able to read and monitor the conditions
through simple indicators, to enable them to implement the
models and approaches identified by best practices.

KEY SECTORS TO BE WEAVED IN ARE AGRICULTURE ,

POWER & ENERGY AND WATER.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
SECTORAL BARRIERS
With the absence of legal framework, it is difficult to bring processes to action, technologies
are either not developed at all for lack of a sufficiently profitable market, or if developed, are
not accessible to end-user needs. Too many Action Plans to follow, not a single one that works.

Immediate steps are essential for the protection of the Nature. The primary function of such
attempts is to help stakeholders, for nature conservation and protection. The government
should have the will power to evict those who have made damages. States do not have
provisions for protection, a lot more needs to be arranged to conserve the environment.

We must accept consequences of our diversity, Consequences of 73rd and 74th

amendments.

Following needs to be done to conserve the environment:

•Build human and institutional capacity
•Develop and deploy improved scientific methods for carbon inventory
•Reference baselines, and actively engage stakeholders
•All the components should be evolved simultaneously to enable adaptive management.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
THE GOOD CHANGE - 12TH SEPTEMBER 2012
● The Planning Commission has suggested reworking the National Action Plan
on climate change.

● It has reduced the number of missions and refocused them in line with
"priorities".

● In 2008, the government had laid out a national strategy that would address
India's development concerns and the challenges that climate change would
present.

● The National Action on Climate Change comprising eight missions was

presented as framework to deal challenges of mitigation or reducing emission
intensity of the economy and adapting to the adverse consequences of climate
change. The eight missions covered issues such as solar energy, energy
efficiency, habitat, agriculture, water, Himalayan ecosystems, forestry and
strategic knowledge.
 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD SEEK RESULTS, REVOLUTIONISE

Meet requirements at stakeholder level to meet

compliance requirements. Otherwise array of
brainstorming and matrix of data and detailed
processes in charts shall all go a waste.

●Urban Local Bodies(ULBs): Provide Floor Area

Ratio (FAR) / Floor Space Index (FSI) Benefits on
green constructions.

●Town Planning: Promote vernacular materials,

after educating through Master Plans.
 Roles of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in Environmental Management

● A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization created by private

organizations or people with no participation or representation of any government.

● In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-
governmental status insofar as it excludes government representatives from membership in the
organization.

● It includes academic, scientific, and industrial experts as well as common layman.

The number of internationally operating NGOs is estimated at 40,000.

National numbers are even higher: Russia has 277,000 NGOs.
India is estimated to have between 1 million and 2 million NGOs.

● The pollution control acts enforced by the government alone cannot effectively work in controlling the
pollution of environment.

● In addition to that, it needs the participation and commitment of the public.

● The past experience explains the responsible and the involvement of NGOs on the educating spirits to the
public on environmental protection that plays a major role.

● The NGOs can bring about significant pressure on polluting industries for adopting pollution control
measures.
 Important roles of NGOs
● To conduct preliminary surveys to identify the polluted environment from any pollution
source.

● To keep vigil on abstraction of water/discharge of sewage from any industry in quantity in

relation to flow/volume

● To conduct sampling and analysis of river/well water to establish its quality

● To provide information regarding any causes or permits any poisonous, noxious or polluting
matter into any water body or on land or in air

● To keep vigil in the surrounding area, river, well, land and air against pollution and reporting
to State Board/Central Board, if found any

● To provide information whether any rivers stretch requires prohibition on use for disposal of
polluting matters-for notification under Section 24 of the Water Act.

● To provide information regarding violation of consent such as discharges of wastes during

odd hours etc

● To publish the minimum height of the stack/chimney prescribed for the industry/industrial
operation etc. and ambient air and ambient water standards.
 Important roles of NGOs
● To publish the notified restricted areas where industries, industrial operations etc. shall not be
carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safe-guards

● To provide information on fish kill or other sudden damage to the environment not noticed by
the State Board.

● As far as, Central Board is concerned, it has been extending its full co-operation by providing
financial assistance for conducting mass awareness programme in their area.

● The water testing kit developed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is being provided to
NGOs on subsidised rates making their task easy.

● Simultaneously the technical publications are also being provided on subsidised rates to NGOs
by CPCB.

● In addition to the above, CPCB has been conducting interaction meets and training
programme through selected Institutions and capable NGOs to other NGOs specially for those
working at lower level in villages, town and cities.

● The aptitude and efforts of NGOs who have played magnificent role in environment protection
is appreciated well.
 NGOs- An Indian Perspective
Few of the non-government organizations working for betterment of environment in India are as
follows:
● Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), Mumbai

● Centre for Environmental Education (CEE), Ahmadabad

● Centre for Himalayan Environment and Development, Chamoli

● Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi

● Environmental Society of India, Chandigarh

● Environmental Resources Research Centre (ERRC), Thiruvananthapuram

● Environmental Society of Tirupati

● Green Ray Foundation, Panaji Indian Environmental Society (IES), New Delhi.

● Indian Society for Nature Volunteer, Sonepat.

● Jammu & Kashmir Environment and Wasteland Development Society, Jammu

● Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association, Otacamand.

 NGOs- An Indian Perspective

● Orissa Environmental Society (OES), Bhubaneswar

● Rajasthan Environment Preservation Society, Jaipur

● Research in Environment, Education and Development

Society, Hyderabad

● Society for Conservation of Forest and Wildlife, Pune

● Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development, New

Delhi

● Madras Environmental Society, Chennai.

 International NGOs
Few of the International Non-governmental organizations are as follows:
● Center for International Environmental Law
● Conservation International
● Earth Action
● Earth Times
● EcoNet Acid rain resources
● EnviroLink
● Global Environment Facility
● Natural Heritage Network
● The World Conservation Union
● World Resources Institute
● World Wildlife Fund
● United National Environmental Program
● World conservation monitoring centre
● International Forest Policy
 NGOs- Advantages
● They are flexible in adapting to local situations and responding to
local needs and therefore able to develop integrated projects

● They have ability to experiment freely with innovative approaches

and, if necessary, to take risks

● They enjoy good rapport with people and can render micro-
assistance to very poor people.

● They have the ability to communicate at all levels, from the

neighbourhood to the top levels of government.

● They are able to recruit both experts and highly motivated staff with
fewer restrictions than the government.
 NGOs- Disadvantages
● Paternalists attitudes restrict the degree of participation in
programme/project design

● Restricted/constrained ways of approach to a problem or

area

● Reduced replicability of an idea, due to non-

representativeness of the project or selected area, relatively
small project coverage, dependence on outside financial
resources, etc.

● ‘Territorial possessiveness’ of an area or project reduces

cooperation between agencies, seen as threatening or
competitive.