Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies

Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies
Lecture #1


Outline

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Definition
Scope and Importance
Need for public Awareness
Green Technology


Introduction
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“If you plan for one year, plant rice, if you plan for 10 years plant trees and if you plan for 100 years, educate people”

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So, if we want to manage our earth, we must make people environmentally educated

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Definition: Environmental Studies is the scientific study of the environmental system and the status of its changes on organism

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Environment can be defined as the circumstances or conditions that surrounds an organism

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Environmental Sciences, is the systematic study of our environment and existence in it


Framework for addressing environmental problem

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Scientific Assessment:

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Risk Analysis

Results from simulations are analyzed. Potential effects

Public Education and involvement:

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Through publications, awareness through media

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Explanation of the problem along with probable cost

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Public Education and
Involvement

Political Action:

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Collection of information, data, simulations , model, predict the future

Risk Analysis:

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Scientific Assessment

Course of Action

Evaluation:

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Actions to be evaluated, monitored

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Improve the initial assessment

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Political Action

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Evaluation


Objectives of environmental studies
 Awareness
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Knowledge

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To help people acquire the skills for identifying and solving environmental problems

Evaluation Ability

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To help people acquire social values, strong feelings of concern for the environment and the motivation to act in protecting and improving

Skills

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To help people acquire basic understanding of the total environment and associated problems

Attitude

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To help people acquire an awareness of and a sensitivity to the total environment and its allied problems

Evaluate environmental measures and education programs

Participation

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Active involvement at all levels in working towards resolving environmental problems


Importance of Environmental Studies

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Conservation of energy by introduction alternate sources, improved technologies, processes compatible with environment

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Increase in economic productivity through improved health of people

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Conservation of fast depleting natural resources

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New ways and means to maintain ecological balance

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Knowledge about waste management, treatment and disposal techniques

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Social responsibility towards control of environmental pollution and protection


Major Global Environmental Problems

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Rapid population growth

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Food shortage and famines

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Water Storage

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Depletion of non renewable fossil fuels

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Damage to the environment

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Acid Rain

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Global Warming

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Deforestation

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Disposal of solid and hazardous wastes




Solutions towards Global issues
 REDUCE
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Consumption of natural resources to the extent possible

Emission of carbon into atmosphere
Developmental projects affecting environment
Human activities accelerating global warming and climate changes
Deforestation for developmental activities
Consumption of non biodegradable materials in every day life
Human activities causing pollution of water bodies, air, forests, soil
Consumption of energy to reduce pollution and exploitation of nature

RECYCLE –

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All wasted/spent natural resources to reduce their consumption
All used materials with the available technologies
All used materials manufactured with trees/plants to reduce deforestation

REUSE –

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All spent natural resources to reduce more fresh consumption
All materials manufactured with trees/plants for their conservation
All recycled materials to reduce the demand


Solutions towards Global issues cont..

• Increasing awareness towards environmental issues
• Progress has been made in establishing laws, policies in controlling air and water pollution
• Food production has improved the nutrition of millions in developing world
• Decline“If
don’t act now,
we may not have another
in %we
of undernourished
individual
chance to do so”


Public Awareness
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Environmental consciousness to be propagated at all the levels
Present and future generations all want to share and enjoy clean environment and natural resources
Sustainability development and conservation of natural resources and the eco system

Major Goals of Environment Education

 development of educational material
 Encourage NGO’s, media to promote awareness at all levels
 Promote environmental education through existing educational / research
institutes

 Training in environment education

People’s awareness for preservation and conservation of environment


Environmental Education

 Formal
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Environmental education in school system

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Environmental education at college & university level

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Environmental Appreciation course

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Environmental concepts in management and Business studies

 Non- formal
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NGO’s

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Campaign

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Eco Clubs


Green Technology

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It is also known as Clean Technology

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It is application of environmental Sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources by curbing the
negative impacts of human involvement

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The field of "green technology" encompasses a continuously evolving group of methods and materials, from
techniques for generating energy to non-toxic cleaning products.


Expected Goals from green technology

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Sustainability

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Cradle to Cradle design

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Cycle of manufactured products, by creating products that can be fully reclaimed or re-used

Source Reduction

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Meeting the needs of society in ways that can continue indefinitely into the future without damaging or depleting natural resources.

Reducing waste and pollution by changing patterns of production and consumption

Innovation

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Developing alternatives to technologies - whether fossil fuel or chemical intensive agriculture - that have been demonstrated to damage health
and the environment.

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Viability

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Technology used should not only be environmentally benign but also economical to enhance its implementation


Areas of Green Technology

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Energy

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Search for products whose contents and methods of production have the smallest possible impact on the environment

Green Nanotechnology

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Green building encompasses everything from the choice of building materials to building’s location

Environmentally Preferred Purchasing

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Includes the development of alternative fuels, new means of generating energy and energy efficiency

Green Buildings

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The most urgent issue for green technology

Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at the scale of the nanometer, one billionth of a meter
"Green nanotechnology" is the application of green chemistry and green engineering principles to this field

Green Chemistry

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The invention, design and application of chemical products and processes to reduce or to eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.


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Example:

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20 percent – of building materials were
from recycled content and over
75 percent of construction waste
was recycled

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Power used for operations will be green power

supplied by wind energy

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The office chair contains 42% recycled material and is 96%
recyclable