Environment And Sustainable DevelopmentClass 11 Indian Economic Development NCERT Solutions
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Q1EXERCISES
What is meant by environment?
Solution
The environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all resources. It encompasses all biotic and abiotic factors and their inter-relationships.
- Biotic elements include all living components such as birds, animals, plants, forests, and fisheries.
- Abiotic elements include all non-living components such as air, water, land, rocks, and sunlight.
Therefore, a study of the environment involves understanding the complex interactions between these living and non-living components.
Q2EXERCISES
What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?
Solution
When the rate of resource extraction exceeds the rate of their regeneration, the carrying capacity of the environment is breached. This leads to several negative consequences:
- Environmental Crisis: The environment's ability to perform its vital functions is impaired. Specifically, it fails in its function of life sustenance.
- Resource Depletion: The stock of natural resources diminishes and some may even become extinct. This is particularly true for renewable resources which are treated as non-renewable due to over-extraction.
- Unsustainable Development: Such a path of development cannot be sustained over the long term, as the resource base that supports economic activity is destroyed.
Q3EXERCISES
Classify the following into renewable and non-renewable resources (i) trees (ii) fish (iii) petroleum (iv) coal (v) iron-ore (vi) water.
Solution
Based on the definitions provided in the chapter, the resources can be classified as follows:
- Renewable Resources: These are resources that can be used without the possibility of becoming depleted or exhausted, as a continuous supply remains available. *
(i)
Trees
*
(ii)
Fish
*
(vi)
Water
- Non-renewable Resources: These are resources that get exhausted with extraction and use. *
(iii)
Petroleum
*
(iv)
Coal
*
(v)
Iron-ore
Q4EXERCISES
Two major environmental issues facing the world today are ______ and ______.
Solution
Two major environmental issues facing the world today are global warming and ozone depletion.
Q5EXERCISES
How do the following factors contribute to the environmental crisis in India? What problem do they pose for the government?
(i)
Rising population
(ii)
Air pollution
(iii)
Water contamination
(iv)
Affluent consumption standards
(v)
Illiteracy
(vi)
Industrialisation
(vii)
Urbanisation
(viii)
Reduction of forest coverage
(ix)
Poaching, and
(x)
Global warming.
Solution
The following factors contribute to the environmental crisis in India and pose significant problems for the government:
(i) Rising population: A large population places immense pressure on the environment's finite resources for both production and consumption. It leads to overuse of resources beyond their regeneration capacity. For the government, this poses the challenge of meeting the needs of a growing population without causing further environmental degradation.
(ii) Air pollution: Vehicular and industrial emissions are major contributors to air pollution, especially in urban areas. This leads to respiratory diseases and increased health costs. For the government, the problem lies in regulating emissions, promoting cleaner fuels like CNG, and managing public health expenditure.
(iii) Water contamination: The discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents pollutes rivers and groundwater, with 70% of India's water being polluted. This causes water-borne diseases. The government faces the problem of rising health costs and the huge financial commitment required for setting up water treatment plants.
(iv) Affluent consumption standards: A growing affluent class consumes more resources and generates more waste, leading to increased pollution and resource depletion. This poses a problem for the government in managing waste and controlling pollution from high-consumption lifestyles.
(v) Illiteracy: While not directly mentioned as a cause, illiteracy can lead to a lack of awareness about environmental issues and sustainable practices, making it difficult to implement conservation policies. The government's problem is the challenge of running effective mass awareness campaigns and ensuring public participation in environmental protection.
(vi) Industrialisation: A rapidly growing industrial sector, while crucial for economic growth, contributes significantly to air, water, and land pollution. The government is challenged with the task of regulating polluting industries and enforcing environmental laws without hindering industrial growth.
(vii) Urbanisation: Unplanned urbanisation leads to a concentration of population and economic activities, resulting in severe air and water pollution, and problems of solid waste management. The government faces the challenge of providing adequate urban infrastructure and managing pollution in densely populated cities.
(viii) Reduction of forest coverage: Deforestation for industrial use, agriculture, and fuelwood leads to land degradation, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity. For the government, this poses the problem of ecological imbalance, loss of natural resources, and the need for large-scale afforestation programs.
(ix) Poaching: Poaching leads to wildlife extinction and biodiversity loss, disrupting ecological balance. The government's challenge is to enforce wildlife protection laws effectively and conserve endangered species.
(x) Global warming: As a result of greenhouse gas emissions, global warming leads to climate change, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. This poses a major problem for the government through increased financial commitments for disaster management, adaptation strategies, and meeting international emission reduction targets.
Q6EXERCISES
What are the functions of the environment?
Solution
According to the chapter, the environment performs four vital functions:
- It supplies resources: The environment provides both renewable resources (e.g., trees, fish) and non-renewable resources (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals) which are essential inputs for production and consumption.
- It assimilates waste: The environment has the capacity to absorb and render harmless the waste generated from production and consumption activities.
- It sustains life: It provides the essential genetic and biodiversity that is crucial for the sustenance and evolution of life on Earth.
- It provides aesthetic services: The environment offers services like scenery and natural beauty, which enhance the quality of life.
Q7EXERCISES
Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.
Solution
Six factors contributing to land degradation in India as identified in the chapter are:
- Loss of vegetation occurring due to deforestation: The removal of forest cover exposes the soil to erosion.
- Unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction: Over-extraction of these resources from forests degrades the land.
- Shifting cultivation: This practice involves clearing and burning forest land for cultivation, which leads to soil erosion after a few years.
- Forest fires and over grazing: These activities destroy vegetation cover, making the land susceptible to degradation.
- Improper crop rotation: Not following appropriate crop rotation practices can deplete soil nutrients.
- Indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals: Excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides degrades soil quality and pollutes it.
Q8EXERCISES
Explain how the opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high.
Solution
The opportunity costs of negative environmental impacts are high because the financial resources spent on rectifying environmental damage could have been used for other developmental purposes like education, poverty alleviation, or infrastructure development. The chapter highlights these high costs in several ways:
- Health Costs: Degraded air and water quality lead to an increased incidence of respiratory and water-borne diseases. The expenditure on healthcare to treat these illnesses is a significant cost.
- Expenditure on Resource Exploration: The exhaustion of existing renewable and non-renewable resources compels society to spend huge amounts on technology and research to explore and develop new resources.
- Cost of Remediation: Polluted rivers and dried-up aquifers require substantial financial investment to clean up and restore. This makes essential goods like clean water an economic good that has to be paid for.
- Financial Commitments for Global Issues: Global environmental problems like global warming and ozone depletion require governments to make increased financial commitments for mitigation and adaptation measures.
Thus, the money spent on addressing these negative impacts represents a lost opportunity to invest in social and economic progress, making the opportunity cost very high.
Q9EXERCISES
Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.
Solution
The chapter outlines several strategies and steps for attaining sustainable development in India:
-
Use of Non-conventional Sources of Energy: Shifting from thermal and hydro power to cleaner energy sources like wind power and solar energy to reduce pollution and environmental damage.
-
Promoting Cleaner Fuels: Encouraging the use of LPG and gobar gas in rural areas to reduce deforestation and air pollution from burning biomass. In urban areas, promoting CNG in public transport has proven effective in lowering air pollution.
-
Adoption of Traditional Knowledge and Practices: Reviving and using traditional environment-friendly systems in healthcare (Ayurveda, Unani), agriculture, and housing. These systems are often less resource-intensive and do not cause large-scale environmental damage.
-
Use of Biocomposting: Promoting the use of compost made from organic wastes instead of chemical fertilisers to improve soil health, reduce chemical contamination of water bodies, and manage waste effectively.
-
Implementation of Biopest Control: Using plant-based pesticides (like those from neem) and encouraging natural predators (snakes, birds) to control pests, thereby reducing the pollution caused by chemical pesticides.
-
Development of Mini-hydel Plants: Utilizing the energy of perennial streams in mountainous regions to generate electricity locally, which is environment-friendly and avoids the need for large-scale transmission infrastructure.
Q10EXERCISES
India has abundant natural resources-substantiate the statement.
Solution
The statement that India has abundant natural resources is substantiated by the chapter with the following points:
- Rich Soil: India possesses high-quality soil suitable for agriculture. The black soil of the Deccan Plateau is ideal for cotton cultivation, while the Indo-Gangetic plains are among the most fertile and intensively cultivated regions in the world.
- Rivers and Water Bodies: The country is endowed with hundreds of rivers and their tributaries, providing a crucial source of fresh water.
- Forests: India's forests provide a green cover for a majority of its population and a natural habitat for its diverse wildlife.
- Mineral Deposits: The country has large deposits of various minerals. It accounts for nearly 8 per cent of the world's total iron-ore reserves. Other available minerals include coal, natural gas, bauxite, copper, chromate, diamonds, gold, lead, lignite, manganese, zinc, and uranium.
- Marine Resources: India has a vast stretch of the Indian Ocean, providing rich marine resources.
- Topography: The country's geography includes diverse features like the Himalayan mountain ranges, which are a source of rivers and biodiversity.
Q11EXERCISES
Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so, why?
Solution
Yes, according to the chapter, the environmental crisis is a recent phenomenon. In the early days of civilization, environmental problems did not arise for the following reasons:
- Low Demand: The demand for environmental resources and services was much less than their supply. The population was small, and industrialisation had not yet occurred.
- Within Carrying Capacity: Pollution was within the absorptive capacity of the environment, and the rate of resource extraction was less than the rate of regeneration of these resources.
This situation changed drastically due to two key developments:
- Population Explosion: A phenomenal increase in population led to a surge in demand for resources to meet basic needs.
- Industrial Revolution: The advent of industrialisation further increased the demand for resources for production and consumption.
As a result, the demand for resources went beyond the rate of regeneration, and the waste generated exceeded the absorptive capacity of the environment. This reversal of the supply-demand relationship for environmental quality is the root cause of the current environmental crisis.
Q12EXERCISES
Give two instances of
(a)
Overuse of environmental resources
(b)
Misuse of environmental resources.
Solution
Based on the chapter, here are two instances for each category:
(a) Overuse of environmental resources:
- Excess Felling of Forests: The per capita forest land in India is only 0.06 hectares against the requirement of 0.47 hectares, leading to an excess felling of about 15 million cubic metres of forests over the permissible limit.
- Over-extraction of Groundwater: Extracting groundwater at a rate that is in excess of its recharge capacity, which leads to the depletion of aquifers and land degradation.
(b) Misuse of environmental resources:
- Water Pollution: Discharging industrial effluents and untreated sewage into rivers and other water bodies. The text states that 70 per cent of water in India is polluted, turning rivers like the Damodar into ecological disasters.
- Land Pollution through Agro-chemicals: The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture pollutes the soil, contaminates water bodies, and degrades the land.
Q13EXERCISES
State any four pressing environmental concerns of India.
Solution
The chapter identifies several pressing environmental concerns for India. Four of these priority issues are:
- Land Degradation: India's land suffers from various forms of degradation due to factors like deforestation, overgrazing, and improper agricultural practices, leading to significant soil erosion.
- Biodiversity Loss: Developmental activities, deforestation, and pollution are leading to the extinction of wildlife and the loss of natural habitats and genetic diversity.
- Air Pollution: Vehicular emissions in urban areas and pollution from industries and thermal power plants are major concerns, leading to respiratory diseases and other health problems.
- Management of Fresh Water: Water contamination is a severe problem, with about 70 per cent of India's water being polluted. This has resulted in an increased incidence of water-borne diseases and has made clean water a scarce economic good.
Q14EXERCISES
Correction for environmental damages involves opportunity costs - explain.
Solution
The statement means that the money, time, and resources spent on fixing environmental problems could have been invested in other productive areas of the economy, such as education, healthcare, or infrastructure. This foregone development is the opportunity cost.
For example:
- The government has to spend huge sums on public health to treat diseases caused by air and water pollution. This money could have been used to build more schools or hospitals.
- When natural resources like forests or minerals are depleted, the country must invest heavily in technology and research to find substitutes or new sources. This expenditure is an opportunity cost as it diverts funds from other developmental projects.
- Cleaning polluted rivers or restoring degraded land requires massive financial commitments, which could otherwise be used for poverty reduction programs.
Therefore, the high expenditure on correcting environmental damage represents a significant loss of opportunity for alternative social and economic investments.
Q15EXERCISES
Explain how the supply-demand reversal of environmental resources account for the current environmental crisis.
Solution
The supply-demand reversal of environmental resources is central to the current environmental crisis. This concept can be explained in two phases:
-
Past Scenario (Supply > Demand): In the early stages of human civilization, the demand for environmental resources (like forests, water, minerals) and services (like waste absorption) was much lower than the environment's capacity to supply them. The population was small, and industrial activity was minimal. Consequently, resource extraction was below the rate of regeneration, and pollution was within the environment's absorptive capacity. Environmental problems were not significant.
-
Current Scenario (Demand > Supply - The Reversal): With the population explosion and the advent of the industrial revolution, the demand for resources for both production and consumption skyrocketed. This led to a reversal in the relationship:
- The rate of resource extraction began to exceed the rate of regeneration.
- The generation of waste surpassed the environment's ability to absorb it.
This reversal means we are now faced with an increased demand for environmental quality, resources, and services, but their supply is limited due to overuse and misuse. This imbalance is the core of the environmental crisis, manifesting as resource depletion, pollution, and degradation of life-sustaining systems.
Q16EXERCISES
Highlight any two serious adverse environmental consequences of development in India. India's environmental problems pose a dichotomy - they are poverty induced and, at the same time, due to affluence in living standards - is this true?
Solution
Two Serious Adverse Environmental Consequences of Development in India:
- Widespread Water Pollution: Developmental activities, including industrialisation and urbanisation, have led to severe contamination of water bodies. The chapter states that 70 per cent of water in India is polluted, leading to a high incidence of water-borne diseases and making clean water a scarce economic good.
- Land Degradation and Soil Erosion: The pressure of a rising population and developmental needs has led to extensive deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices. This has resulted in severe land degradation, with soil being eroded at a rate of 5.3 billion tonnes a year, causing a significant loss of essential nutrients from the soil.
The Dichotomy of India's Environmental Problems:
Yes, the statement is true. The chapter explicitly states that "The threat to India's environment poses a dichotomy - threat of poverty-induced environmental degradation and, at the same time, threat of pollution from affluence and a rapidly growing industrial sector."
- Poverty-Induced Degradation: A large segment of the population depends directly on natural resources for survival. Poverty forces them to engage in practices like cutting down forests for fuelwood and fodder or practicing unsustainable agriculture, which leads to deforestation and land degradation.
- Affluence-Induced Degradation: On the other hand, the affluent consumption standards of a growing middle and upper class, along with a rapidly growing industrial sector, lead to a different set of problems. These include high levels of air and water pollution from factories and vehicles, and the generation of large quantities of waste.
Q17EXERCISES
What is sustainable development?
Solution
Sustainable development is a process of development that aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This definition was emphasized by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
The concept has several key aspects:
- Intergenerational Equity: It is built on the moral obligation to hand over the planet in good order to future generations, ensuring they have at least the same quality of life assets as the current generation.
- Meeting Basic Needs: It focuses on meeting the basic needs of all people, particularly the poor majority, for employment, food, energy, water, and housing.
- Resource Conservation: It requires that renewable resources be extracted on a sustainable basis (rate of extraction should not exceed regeneration), and the depletion of non-renewable resources should be offset by the creation of renewable substitutes.
- Minimizing Environmental Damage: It seeks to provide lasting and secure livelihoods that minimize resource depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruption, and social instability.
Q18EXERCISES
Keeping in view your locality, describe any four strategies of sustainable development.
Solution
Based on the strategies mentioned in the chapter, four strategies of sustainable development that could be applied to a locality are:
-
Solar Power through Photovoltaic Cells: In my locality, many houses have flat rooftops that receive ample sunlight. Installing solar panels on these rooftops to generate electricity would be a great strategy. This would reduce dependence on the thermal power grid, lower electricity bills for households, and contribute to cleaner air by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy could also be used to power street lights in the area.
-
Biocomposting of Organic Waste: A significant portion of household waste in my locality is organic (vegetable peels, leftover food). A community-level or individual household biocomposting system could be set up. This would convert organic waste into valuable manure for gardens and parks. This strategy would reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and promote organic farming on a small scale.
-
Promotion of CNG or Electric Vehicles: If the locality is urban with high traffic, promoting the use of cleaner fuels is essential. Encouraging residents to switch to CNG-powered or electric vehicles through awareness campaigns and supporting the setup of charging/filling stations can significantly reduce air pollution and improve the health of the community, as seen in the case of Delhi.
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Reviving Traditional Water Conservation Practices: My locality faces water shortages in summer due to over-extraction of groundwater. A sustainable strategy would be to implement traditional practices like rainwater harvesting. Every household could be encouraged to install systems to collect rooftop rainwater and use it to recharge groundwater. This would help maintain the water table and ensure a more sustainable water supply for the future.
Q19EXERCISES
Explain the relevance of intergenerational equity in the definition of sustainable development.
Solution
Intergenerational equity is the core principle and the most relevant aspect of the definition of sustainable development. It refers to the concept of fairness between generations.
The most widely accepted definition of sustainable development is "development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs." The phrase "without compromising the ability of the future generation" directly embodies the principle of intergenerational equity.
The relevance is as follows:
-
Moral Obligation: It establishes a moral obligation for the current generation to act as stewards of the planet. We have not inherited the Earth from our ancestors; we have borrowed it from our children. This means we must hand over a healthy, productive, and resilient environment to the next generation.
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Long-term Perspective: It forces policymakers and individuals to think beyond short-term gains. Development choices must be evaluated based on their long-term impact on the environment and resource availability for future populations.
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Preservation of 'Quality of Life' Assets: It implies that the present generation should leave a stock of assets—including natural, human, and physical capital—that is no less than what it inherited. This means conserving natural resources, preserving the regenerative capacity of ecosystems, and avoiding the imposition of irreversible damages like climate change or biodiversity loss on future generations.