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Causes to Support - Environment
India
is home to 372 mammals, 1228 birds, 428 reptiles, 204 amphibians, 2546 fishes,
57,245 insects, 5,042 molluscs and several other species of invertebrates. It
is the only country to have all the five major vertebrates - the tiger, lion,
panther, elephant and the rhino of the 81,000 species of animals recorded. But
everything is endangered by reckless human activity.
Environment is a
word that conjures up different images in our mind. Most often the word 'environment'
brings images about Nature - forests, animals, trees, landscapes. It is the whole
system in which we humans co-exist and interact with other living beings. Every
kind of human development has its positive or negative effect on the environment.
For instance more demand for food means more areas to be brought under cultivation
which in turn may mean more forests to be cleared, or more animals being raised
for procuring meat. The contemporary environmental crisis is the outcome of man's
despoliation of the earth. The natural systems on which mankind depends are crumbling,
as forests shrink, deserts expand, soil get eroded - all at an alarming pace.
With the spectre of environmental collapse staring us in the face, mankind has
finally come to recognise that our earth is a closed system.
Issues
- Biodiversity
- Energy
- Climate
Change
- Environment
Education
- Waste
- Forests
- Pollution
a. Air
b. Water
c. Noise - Sustainable
Development
- Animals
- Research
& Advocacy
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Now for the cause of Environment Biodiversity The
1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, listed 169 Critically Endangered (CR)
and 315 Endangered mammals. The 2000 analysis lists 180 CR and 340 Endangered
mammals.
Biodiversity is defined as 'the variability among living organisms
from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and
the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within
species, between species, and of ecosystems'.
Some relevant websites:
www.teri.org
www.makingindiagreen.com
www.indev.nic.in
www.envindia.com/kalpvriksh.htm
www.greenpeaceindia.org
Top Energy India
figures among the top ten contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
The environmental implications of energy use arise primarily out of the fact that
worldwide nearly 90% of the primary energy consumption comes from combustion of
fossil fuels. Utilization of less polluting renewable energy forms has been relatively
low. The most direct impact of fossil fuel use is an increase in air pollution
levels, particularly in urban areas with expanding vehicular population. Use of
fossil fuels also produces greenhouse gases, increasing the threat of global warming.
Some relevant websites:
www.teriin.org
www.aceee.org
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Climate change
Carbon
dioxide emissions,are expected to double from pre-industrial levels by 2100. In
response, the earth's average surface temperature is expected to warm up by 1oC
to 3.5oC over this century - a more rapid change in climate than has
occurred for the last 10,000 years.
The earth's climate has been evolving
continuously over many millennia. The last two centuries, however, have witnessed
the development of the greenhouse problem, which threatens to change climate in
an unprecedented manner. Greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere allow incoming
ultraviolet solar radiation to pass through relatively unimpeded, but partially
absorb and re-emit outgoing infrared terrestrial radiation. This natural process
raises the earth's average temperature from -18 ºC to +15 ºC, and is
hence, vital for life on earth. India is highly vulnerable to climate change as
its economy is heavily reliant on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and
forestry, and its low lying densely populated coastline is threatened by potential
rise in sea level.
Some relevant websites: www.cseindia.org
www.greenpeaceindia.org
Top Environmental
Education Environmental
education is a way of understanding environments, and how humans are part of,
and influence, environments." - Anon
Environmental education seeks knowledge
of the world and the place of humans in it. Developing this knowledge requires
understanding the links among Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and
biosphere, and how humans are linked within this system. Understanding how human
cultures and values, social organisations, economic activities, and history interact
with physical and biological systems to affect human health and ecological systems
is the essence of environmental studies. Given the unprecedented advance in human
capabilities during the last two centuries, the primary challenge for those who
study the environment is to identify and understand the consequences of human
activities.
Some relevant websites:
www.ceeindia.org
www.indev.nic.in
Top Waste During
the last decade garbage was produced in India at nearly twice the rate of population
growth.Waste is something very human, produced only as a result of human industry.
Ever heard of an Elephant wrapping his/her bamboo in plastic bags or a tigers
killing more prey that they can possibly eat? No other creature in nature produces
waste that later poses a problem to the environment. Managing waste is a challenging
task and as our cities grow it will become indeed more complex. Waste and the
problems associated with its disposal are urban concepts, especially in a country
like India. In rural India most of the waste that is generated are biodegradable
in nature like agricultural waste, animal litter, food scraps etc. This waste
is either composted or fed to the animals. The rural folk manage their waste by
themselves for there is no municipality or a local body taking care of it. One
does not in fact, come across huge garbage dumps with rotting waste in villages,
a common sight in the cities. However, with growing consumerism, disposable items
like plastic bags, bottles and packaging waste have also started making appearance
in many parts of rural India.
Some relevant websites:
www.plt.org
Top Forests
India's
forest cover is 19 per cent of its total geographical area - of this 11 per cent
is good or dense forest - 8% is under heavy deforestation and denudation. People
throughout the world are increasingly recognizing the importance of forests and
trees in improving human welfare. Both natural and man-made forests have economic,
social and environmental benefits. Depletion of forests has resulted in loss of
biodiversity, possible global climate change, degradation of watersheds, and desertification.
Reduced fuelwood supplies have significantly influenced how women and children
(the primary fuelwood gatherers) spend their time. Deforestation, together with
land degradation, exacerbates the problem of poverty in rural areas. Deforestation
causes the permanent depletion of a renewable resource, loss of genetic diversity,
and reduction of agricultural productivity.
Some relevant websites:
www.teriin.org
www.wii.gov.in
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Pollution
a.
Air Pollution
70% of the air pollution is contributed
by the vehicular pollution followed by industrial pollution, pollution from thermal
power plants and domestic activities.Air pollution means the presence in the atmosphere
of one or more contaminates such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, smoke or vapour in
quantities to be harmful to human, plant, animal and even property. The atmospheric
environment of man is both narrow and finite. The average person, requires oxygen
at pressures approximating 3 pounds per square inch. Man can not survive for long
if oxygen is not available in close to that proportion and at that pressure, other
constituents of air include variable amounts of water vapour, nitrogen (78 per
cent), carbondioxide, carbon monoxide and certain other gases, all of which, total
less than one per cent by weight. The proportion of the gases are about the same
in all parts of the world. Water vapour amounts to 1 to 3 per cent by volume throughout
the world's atmosphere.
b. Water Pollution
A staggering 70 per cent of the available water in India is polluted. It is also
estimated that 73 million work days are lost every year due to water related diseases.
The cost of treating such diseases and the loss in production amount to Rs. 600
crores a year.Water is so much a part of our daily life and existence, that we
are inclined to take it for granted, believing that it will always be available
in abundance. Such, however, is not the position. Our supplies of water are very
limited. According to the Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Water
Pollution, fresh water is only 2 % of the earth's total water supply. 1,998% is
locked in icecaps, glaciers and clouds. Almost 85 per cent of the rainfalls go
into the sea and never reach the land. The small remainder precipitates on land.
It is this water that fills the lakes, wells, underground supplies, and keeps
the rivers flowing. The latter constitutes only 0.00008 per cent of the total.
Humanity is left with only one tea-spoonful of sweet water for every five liters
of total water. This presents a dismal picture of the State of our drinking water.
In a world population of 5,000 million, as many as 1700 million lack safe drinking
water.
c. Noise Pollution
An American environmental
expert predicts that if the noise level continues at the present rate most people
living in major metropolitan areas will be deaf by the year 2050.Noise is a major
factor of environmental pollution: The pollution by noise is the creation of the
modern age and it has increased in many folds with the development of science
,technology and high speed means of transport. The ill effects of noise pollution
are in no way less harmful than those of water, soil or air pollution. An international
urban planner Victor Gruen once called noise 'a slow agent of death'. Noise pollution
can disturb a person in his normal work. It could cause distraction, annoyance,
torture to a tired, ailing or sick person. It could also be a contributory cause
for health problems like impaired hearing, high blood pressure and nervous breakdown.
Some relevant websites:
www.pollutionfreeindia.org
www.cleantech.org
www.cseindia.org
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Sustainable Development
"Development
that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs"--- The World Commission on Environment
and Development, Brundland Commission 1987
Sustainable Development is
defined as a pattern of social structured economic transformations (i.e development)
which optimizes the economic and societal benefits available in the present, without
jeopardising the likely potential for similar benefits in the future. A primary
goal of sustainable development is to achieve a reasonable and equitably distributed
level of economic well being that can be perpetuated continually for many human
generations.
Some relevant websites:
www.sdnp.delhi.nic.in
www.ecouncil.ac.cr
www.devalt.org
Top Animals
India
is home to several animal species that are gravely threatened including over 77
mammals, 22 reptiles and 55 birds and 1 amphibian species.Conservation of wildlife
includes the preservation of all species, the enhancement of wildlife habitat,
the control of wildlife problems, and the consumptive use of wildlife. The rapid
extinction of many species of animals is an area of increasing concern. Habitat
preservation and enhancement are critical to the existence of wildlife in an area.
Animals cannot live in an area that does not provide the proper food, cover, water,
and special needs. People's activities alter many habitats to the detriment of
wildlife.
Some relevant websites:
www.wildlifetrustofindia.org
www.indev.nic.in/wwf
Research
& Advocacy
CSE's efforts are specifically designed to create
awareness about problems and propose sustainable solutions. Research at CSE often
consists of in-depth learning about an environmental problem and then finding
answers in accordance with CSE's core values. This often involves learning from
micro-experiences of the poor and the local -- and translating them into lessons
for macro-policy.
CSE's advocacy strategy involves building support from
a broad-based constituency. The Centre networks extensively with grassroots organisations,
industry leaders, experts, government agencies and mass media in India and abroad
in lobbying for change.
http://www.cseindia.org/html/aboutus/overview2.htm For
details on Government Environment Funding Schemes click here:
http://www.envfor.nic.in/funding/funding.html
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