Environment Awareness… Introduction – Definition, Scope & Importance Presented By: Mrs. Vaibhavi Apte Visiting Faculty Environment Science

What is Environment ???  Derived from French Word “Environner” means “surround”.  General Definition: Everything that surrounds and affects living organisms is called Environment  As per Environment (Protection) Act 1986, “ The sum total of water, air and land, the inter- relationships that exist among them and with the human beings, other living organisms & materials.” Definition

Multi-Disciplinary Nature Environment Science Physical Science Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, Atmospheric Changes, Oceanography, Geography Technology Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Hydraulics, Nanotechnology Management & Awareness Economics, Politics, Sociology, Law, Education, Management, Mass communication Modelling Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science Life Sciences Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology

 Life Science :- Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology Helps in understanding biotic components and its interactions.  Genetics and Biotechnology- Used for finding solutions to environmental problems.  Maths, Statistics, Computer Science Used as a effective tool in environmental modelling.  Economics, Management, Sociology For dealing with Socio economic aspects associated with various development activities Multi-Disciplinary Nature

Continue……  Law- Provides guidelines and legal measures for effective management and protection of environment.  Education Teach in schools, colleges, awareness programmes  Civil and Chemical Engineering, Hydraulics, Nanotechnology Provides technical solutions for environmental pollution control and waste treatment  Physical Sciences- Physics, Chemistry, Geography etc Used to understand the physical and chemical structure of abiotic components of environment along with mass and energy transfer. Multi-Disciplinary Nature

Basic Scope:  Natural Resource management & conservation- Study of different resources, (like forests, Mineral, Land, Energy, Food, Water) their conservation & Management.  Ecology & Biodiversity- Study of Variety of flora and fauna and their interactions. Structure and function of ecosystem.  Environmental Pollution & Control Sources of pollution, their control measures.  Social Issues w.r.t to Environment Urban Problems, Sustainable Development, Reclamation Projects etc.  Human population & environment Study of various population factors, Human Rights, value Education. Scope

Career Oriented Scope :  Research & Development in Environment (Environmental Scientists)- Pollution remedies, Clean up technologies, Energy solutions.  Green Advocacy Emerging requirement of environment Lawyers to plead for environment  Green Marketing Environment friendly or eco-friendly products with ISO certification or eco mark.  Green Media Magazines, Advertisements, Mass media.  Environment Consultancy Consultants working for Environmental Clearance Scope

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

Environment Importance can be categorized at three different levels  Global Level  Problems like global warming, ozone depletion, Dwindling of Resources  Local Level  Issues which are area specific like mining problem in a particular area, Problems of solid Waste Handling etc.  Individual Level  This level includes concerns at door step.. Like safe drinking water, hygienic vicinity, etc., Importance

1. Rapidly changing technologies lead to abandoned wastes  E.g. Steel Mill – Steel is useful in automobiles, food, beverages, building etc.  This leads to heavy land pollution, gas production etc,  E.g. E-Waste  In todays electronic world.. Use of gadgets, electrical equipment is leading to high amount of E-waste 2. Fast & Energy demanding lifestyles  Global demand is increasing which leads to burden on natural resources  E.g. Petroleum, Electricity, Electromagnetic Radiations  Which ultimately leads to high CO2 production.  Over Dependence on Machines leads to resource depletion & Health  Therefore, alternate use of wind, solar energy is gaining importance. Need of Public Awareness

3. Consumerism leads to environmental degradation  Production, Processing & Consumption of commodities requires extraction of Natural resources  Need of Factory & factory operations- which require land  Commodities like automobiles themselves generate pollution  High standard life style leads to high waste generation 4. Definite capacity to tolerate pollutants & Sustain populations  Earth cannot assimilate beyond one limit- hence it is important to understand the Earth's Life support System its working and on what principles does it work.  Earth Has started acting as a Sink Need of Public Awareness

5. Environment currently under stress 6. Government initiatives are Not sufficient and not successful 7. General public unaware and uneducated 8. Difficult to achieve goal of sustainability 9. And the last but the most important is “Ignorance”. Need of Public Awareness

Solution…..

Understanding Message from our own Cultural Heritage  Indian Culture is based on Principles of environmental Conservation  The concept of keeping forest reserves was first developed by Kautilya, an Indian scholar in the past.  Trees of different species are protected and preserved as sacred groves in most parts of the country.  Our Vedas are enriched with values of Sun, Water, Mountains, Rivers, Animals.  There is an unparalleled example of “Chipko Movement” in 1973 for Khejri tree.  Van- Panchayats in U.P. Solution….

Work done for the cause of Environment Solution…. PersonWork Done Indira GandhiIntroduced Environment Protection in Constitution Justice Kuldeep Singh (Green Judge) & Sh. M.C. Mehta (Green Advocate) Supreme court issued directives to make curricula environment oriented Sh. Sunderlal BahugunaChipko Movement & Tehri Bachao Andolan Smt. Medha Patekar & Ms. Arundhati Roy Narmada Bachao Andolan Sh. Rajendra Singh (Magsaysay Award) – Water Man of India Efforts for Water Conservation Sh. G.D. AggarwalGanga Bachao Andolan Ms. Menaka GandhiWildlife Protection

Environmental Concern & Recognition at International Level  Environmental issues received attention after 43 years in Stockholm conference, 1972  Celebration of “ World Environment Day” 5 th June initiated.  Many other Environmental Conferences:  United Nations Conference on Environment and development, Rio de Janerio in “Earth Summit”  World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg in 2002  Copenhagen Conference, 2007  Award of Nobel Peace prize to environmentalists in 2004 and 2007 Solution….

Environmental Concern & Recognition at International Level Wangari Maathai Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 Kenyan Environmentalist Al Gore & R K Pachauri Nobel Peace Prize in 2007

Different Environment Protection Efforts  Ministry of Environment & Forests, 1986  Eco-mark – GoI introduced Eco-labelling in 1991 called “Ecomark”.  Symbol is a “Earthen Pitcher”.  Ecomark is found on various products like soaps and Detergent, Food Items, Plastic Products, Architectural Paints, Cosmetics, Solution….

Eco Clubs  The MoEF has set eco-clubs in schools for involving school children in Environmental Awareness like Tree Plantation, etc.  Active participation in celebrate and campaigns on Earth Day, World Environment Day. Eco-Task Force  Army men are involved in various activities  Eco Task Forces raised by MoEF of Defence, to work on challenging assignments in the ecologically fragile and sensitive areas.  The objective behind starting ETFs was to solve the twin problems of eco - regeneration and rehabilitation of ex- servicemen.  E.g. 127 BATTALION, DEHRADUN (UTTARAKHAND)

Institutions  World Health Organisation (WHO)  Global Environment Facility (GEF)  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)  United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  World Nature Organization (WNO)  World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

INDIA…….  Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS)  Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)  Centre for Environment Education (CEE)  Wildlife Institute of India (WII)  Botanical Survey Of India (BSI)  Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)  Forest Survey of India (FSI)

Pune……  Protecterra Ecological Foundation  Ecological Society  Kalpavriksh  Tekdi  RANWA  Parisar  Poona Women’s Council  Green Hills Group  Environment department – Bharti Vidyapeeth

World Environmental Calendar DayDate World Wetlands DayFebruary 22 World Forest Day March 21 World Water Day March 22 World Meteorological Day March 23 Earth DayApril 22 International Day for Biological Diversity May 22 Anti Tobacco DayMay 31 World Environment DayJune 5 World Ocean DayJune 8 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought June 17 World Population DayJuly 11 World Ozone DaySeptember 16 Green Consumer DaySeptember 28 Wildlife WeekOctober 1- 7

We Can…..  Be Nature Lovers, go for nature trails & treks.  Visit Sanctuaries, National Parks  Initiate/Participate in various environmental Programmes  Follow 3R - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle  Promote Car Pooling  Encourage Tree Plantation - Indigenous Species.  Be Responsible Citizens Avoid littering, Keep our environment clean.

Respect our Mother nature & its offerings.