What is environment?

1. Greening the Earth

2. Chapter One
Environmental studies: A
Multidisciplinary Subject
• Earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago, life is
approx. 3.5 billion years old.
• Encountered Big five mass extinctions-
scientists warn us of a sixth total annihilation
of life on earth. We should STOP
unsustainable ways of exploitation of the
earth’s natural resources.

3. • Significance of Environmental Studies
What is Environmental Studies?
The science that investigates and creates awareness of our
environment in an empirical manner. Scientists identify
hazardous conditions and issue timely warning.
Definitions
*Environmental Protection Act, 1986-”environment includes
water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists
among and between water, air and land and human beings…”
What is a Pollutant?
“any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in any
concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to
environment”.

4. FOUR Units of the Environment
• Biotic resources- all living organisms, food and
interaction.
• Geophysical and abiotic resources- Sunlight,
soil, air, water and climate.
• Ecosystem – harmonious coexistence of biotic
and abiotic
• Natural phenomena in cycles –eg: earth
quake, volcanic eruptions.

6. Interview with
Dr.Oommen V.Oommen
Retired scientist of CSIR(The Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research) ,Chairman state biodiversity board

7. The Need for Environmental Studies
• Environment is everything that we are directly
or indirectly dependent on for our survival,
includes both biotic and the abiotic.
• Our unsustainable development has lead to
depletion of natural resources.
• EVS comprises E sciences, E engineering and E
management.
• In depth study of the environmental issues is
crucial for development without degradation.

8. EVS is a multidisciplinary subject,
Why?
• The study of natural ecosystems and the
interrelationships between biotic and abiotic
demand expertise from different fields.
• understanding this ‘complex’
interrelationships is integral to EVS. It
incorporates branches of biology, the social
sciences, and engineering; the knowledge
base for a healthy planet requires the
interaction of multidisciplinary studies.

9. How do global environmental issues
affect us locally?
• Climate change is listed as the greatest humanitarian crisis of our
time.
• Human development activities have increased the production of
green house gases leading to global warming.
• Climate change leads to :-
*Sea-rise
*severe droughts and floods
*forest fires
*Coral reefs are lost
*Alters species- shift in habitat, change In lifecycles, development of
new physical traits.
*Affect water resources- Vector borne diseases. Eg:mosquitos

10. Environmental Issues in KERALA
• High density of population – 890/sq km—
324/sq km.
• Major environmental problems- pollution of
water bodies, droughts, floods, landslides,
conversion of wetlands into living spaces;(
affect ground water)
• Global climate change- salinity of wetlands
• High concentrations of fluoride- toxic, used in
pesticides (rats)

11. Dichotomy between Environment and
Development
• Environment and Development are interlinked.
Sustainable development: economic
development that is conducted without depletion
of natural resources. Development considering
the needs of the environment.
• Theme of world environment day 2015- “Seven
billion dreams, One planet, consume with care”.
• UN-2012 Rio de Janeiro –sustainable
development

12. How can we sensitize the public?
• Mass media- news papers, radio, tv etc and
virtual media can be used effectively.
• UN secretary- general Ban Ki Moon’s
definition.
• World Environment day- June 5- “Beat Plastic
Pollution” 2018
• Government organizations and
environmentalists work together
• Environmental clubs initiate activities

13. The Role of youth in the conservation
of the Environment
• Involvement in conservation at local level-
maintaining parks, water bodies, streets etc
• Principle-3 R’s- Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
• not in my Backyard syndrome (NIMBY) : large
scale power stations that affect the quality of life.
• Schools and Colleges eco-friendly
• Methods to conserve non-renewable energy
eg: coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

14. 3 R’s

17. Why would EVS should be included in
the syllabus?
• Motivate youth to have active participation in
Environmental issues.
• Identify problems locally and find solutions.
• Inspire successive generations to have
sustainable ways of living.

19. Thank you!