2. WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENT ?
Environment , the physical and biological
factors along with their chemical interactions
that affect an organism or a group of organisms.
Environment is the surroundings of a physical
system that may interact with the system by
exchanging mass, energy, or other properties.
3. Environment issues
Pollution :
Pollution is when something is added to the environment that is harmful or
poisonous to living things. Smoke in the air from factories is a type of pollution as it
is bad for the lungs when breathed in. Sewage in drinking water is another type of
pollution, as it can make people ill because it contains germs and viruses. People
living next to a building site where there is too much noise can become sick as they
cannot sleep.
There are different types of pollutions –
Air, water, soil, noise, plastic and thermal.
4. Climate change :
Climate change today is less of a natural process. It is rapidly occurring due to
the ill effects of human actions responsible for disturbing and harmful out comings
such as global warming, greenhouse effect, urban heat, coal industry etc. Climate
change is not only changing the overall weather scenario, but has larger and
harmful effects
Global warming :
Global warming is another environmental issue which is increase in earth’s
temperature due to effect of greenhouse gases called carbon dioxide, methane,
water vapor and other gases. These gases possess heat trapping capacity that are
needed to create greenhouse effect so that this planet remains warm for people to
survive. Without these gases, this planet would turn be cold for life to exist.
5. Deforestation :
With population growing at a rapid pace, the demand for food, shelter and
cloth has almost tripled in last few decades. To overcome growing demand, a
direct action that we have come to recognize as “Deforestation”
occurs. Deforestation means, clearing of forests or green cover for means of
agriculture, industrial or urban use.
Industrial and household waste :
At present, tons of garbage is produced by each household each year. Items
that can be recycled are sent to local recycling unit while other items become a
part of the landfills or sent to third world countries. Due to increase in demand
for food, shelter and house, more goods are produced. This resulted in creation
of more waste that needs to be disposed of. Most waste is buried underground in
landfill sites. The presence of huge landfills sites across the city pose serious
environmental concerns. It affects human health, degrades soil quality, effects
wildlife, cause air pollution and results in climate change
6. Natural causes :
Things like avalanches, quakes, tidal waves, storms, and wildfires can totally
crush nearby animal and plant groups to the point where they can no longer
survive in those areas. This can either come to fruition through physical
demolition as the result of a specific disaster, or by the long term degradation of
assets by the presentation of an obtrusive foreign species to the environment
Urban sprawl :
Not only India and China are classic examples of over population and urban
sprawl leading to land degradation. Today almost all countries are using the land
irresponsibly to meet the ever-growing demand of the greedy human wishes. The
expansion of industrial areas has not only led to land degradation and soil
pollution, but the habitat destruction is a terrible misery. Natural environment
consisting of flora and fauna is indiscriminately destructed and lost completely
instead of being replaced. This in the long run has harmful impact for human
survival and cause serious environmental issue.
8. Effects of environment degradation
Impact on Human Health: Human health might be at the receiving end as a
result of the environmental degradation. Areas exposed to toxic air pollutants
can cause respiratory problems like pneumonia and asthma. Millions of people
are known to have died of due to indirect effects of air pollution.
Loss of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is important for maintaining balance of the
ecosystem in the form of combating pollution, restoring nutrients, protecting
water sources and stabilizing climate. Deforestation, global warming,
overpopulation and pollution are few of the major causes for loss of
biodiversity.
9. Ozone Layer Depletion: Ozone layer is responsible for protecting earth from
harmful ultraviolet rays. The presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydro
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is causing the ozone layer to deplete.
As it will deplete, it will emit harmful radiations back to the earth.
Loss for Tourism Industry: The deterioration of environment can be a huge
setback for tourism industry that rely on tourists for their daily livelihood.
Environmental damage in the form of loss of green cover, loss of biodiversity,
huge landfills, increased air and water pollution can be a big turn off for most
of the tourists.
Economic Impact: The huge cost that a country may have to borne due to
environmental degradation can have big economic impact in terms of
restoration of green cover, cleaning up of landfills and protection of
endangered species. The economic impact can also be in terms of loss of
tourism industry.
10. As you can see, there are a lot of things that can have an effect on the
environment. If we are not careful, we can contribute to the
environmental degradation that is occurring all around the world. We
can, however, take action to stop it and take care of the world that we
live in by providing environmental education to the people which will
help them pick familiarity with their surroundings that will enable to
take care of environmental concerns thus making it more useful and
protected for our children and other future generations.
11. Conservation
Conservation of environment simply implies the sustainable use as well as
management of natural resources which include wildlife, water, air, and earth
deposits. There are renewable and non-renewable natural resources.
Conservation of natural resources generally focuses on the needs & interests
of human beings, for instance the biological, economic, cultural and
recreational values. Conservationists have the view that development is
necessary for a better future, but only when the changes occur in ways that
are not wasteful.
12. Environmental preservation is viewed or seen as the setting aside of earthly
resources for preventing damage normally caused by contact with humans or
by certain human activities, such as logging, mining, hunting, and fishing,
only to replace them with new human activities such as tourism and
recreation. Furthermore regulations and laws may be enacted for the
preservation of natural resources. Being earth friendly is very essential as this
will save our planet at the time making a better place to live in for us, for
future generations.
13. 10 Easy ways we can help :!!!
1. Create a compost heap in your garden or use a compost bin. This helps
recycle food waste and other biodegradable materials.
2. When going shopping, make it a habit to bring your own eco-bags and say
no to plastic bags as much as possible.
3. Join as many tree planting trips as you can.
4. If possible, try carpooling to work, business presentations, events, or even
to run errands. Think of ways you can reduce the number of trips you make
using your car.
5. Reduce emissions from cars by walking or cycling. These are not just great
alternatives to driving, they are also great exercise.
14. 6. Use public transport, when you can, for everyday travel.
7. Send your drinking bottles, paper, used oil, old batteries and used tires to a
depot for recycling or safe disposal; all these very cause serious pollution.
8. Do not pour chemicals and waste oil on to the ground or into drains leading
to bodies of water.
9. Wherever possible, separate biodegradable and recyclable waste from non-
biodegradable and work to reduce the amount of non-biodegradable or
recyclable waste.
10. Reduce the amount of meat you eat, or even better become vegetarian.