earth as a living planet

Humans have brought Earth to brink of biotic crisis

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELSOCIO-ECONOMIC & CALTURAL IMPECT THROUGH THESE ISSUES

-DR.ANILKUMAR PANDYA

For us only planet to live is the Earth

EARTH AS A LIVING PLANET

EARTH AS A LIVING PLANET

What is the Environment? The environment encompasses the whole

of life on earth and the complex interactions that link the living world with the physical world

In a general sense, this covers everything contained within the air, land and water

Time also is a key factor as historic issues have an influence on the status of the environment - locally and globally, both now and in the future.

Natural, Man-made & Social environment .

Structure and function of an ecosystem

Functional unit : a.) Biotic (producers & consumers) b.) Abiotic (climate & Inorganic salts )

a.) Biotic : 1) Autotrophic 2) Heterotrophic

ABIOTIC COMPONANTS

Minerals

LifeMantle

Biotic Components

Change in any component causes discomfort to all & affect normal life

Five mass extinctions End Ordovician (~445 Ma)

Late Devonian (~365 Ma)

End Permian (~250 Ma) End Triassic (~210 Ma)

End Cretaceous (65 Ma)

And we are moving towards the

SIXTH……

Habitat fragmentation

Emergence of discontinuities in organism’s preferred environment.

Fragmentation and destruction of Great Ape habitat in Central Africa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Grasp_africa.jpg

The 34 Terrestrial Hotspots

The 11 Marine Hotspots

Global Environmental Issues

Environmental Change Sudden and dramatic natural changes to the environment

have occurred in the distant past, but only relatively recently has one species had the potential to upset the whole balance of the Earth's ecosystem

The global population growth The rise of industry and its rapid

expansion has been a major source of pollution.

This has caused changes in the balance of our environment

Global Environmental Issues

From http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/intro/21cent/kankyo/contents_e/globe_prob/index.html

Global Warming Ozone Layer Depletion Acid Rain Deforestation Loss of Biodiversity Pollution Desertification Waste disposal

• Human activities are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which cause more heat to be trapped

Global Warming

• Predicted effects of global warming include:

– Higher sea levels– Higher temperatures– Variable climatic conditions – These changes are expected

to cause a significant impact on agriculture and ecosystems.

Greenhouse gases help to maintain the earth’s temperature at a level suitable to support life

Photo © Gary Braasch

Photo courtesy of Richard Wilson,Bangladesh Maps, Harvard University

Ozone Layer Depletion The ozone layer protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV)

light The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone depleting

substances as refrigerants, solvents and insulation is destroying the ozone layer

A ‘hole’ is observed over Antarctica every autumn Depleted ozone levels cause the following impacts:

Increased penetration of UV light to earth Increased risks of skin cancer and eye diseases Damage to agricultural crops Disruption to marine food chains

Ozone layer thickness measured in Dobson Units

Animation sourced from:

Prepared June 2004 Slide 21

Acid Rain The burning of fossil fuels leads to atmospheric emissions of NO2

and SO2

These gases react with water and oxygen to make sulfuric and nitric acids. Sunlight increases the rate of these reactions

Rain, snow and fog can be polluted with these acidic compounds, which is then deposited at the earths surface

The deposition of acids can: Damage forests and soils Causes acidification of lakes and other water bodies Disturb wildlife Cause the decay of building and other structures Impact on human health

Deforestation The deforestation of tropical rainforests is a major global problem-

each year millions of hectares are lost Deforestation rates in some countries continue to increase despite

worldwide pressures Rainforests are destroyed for wood products, and to make way for

agricultural activities, mining and dams.

The impacts of deforestation include: Loss of livelihood for local inhabitants Variable environmental conditions (susceptibility to flood,

aggravated droughts, soil erosion etc) Loss of biodiversity and disturbance to ecosystems Loss of carbon sink

ABOUT 22 HECTARES OF FORESTLAND ARE CUT DOWN

EVERY MINUTE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity has three key components:

Genetic diversity Species diversity Ecological diversity

Approximately 2.1 million species are known to exist, but up to 50 million still to be discovered Biodiversity is important for food, drugs, maintaining ecological

stability, aesthetic and cultural benefits Natural causes and human activity can threaten biodiversity The loss of biodiversity means ecosystems are destabilized, vital

resources are lost and genetic variation is reduced

Types of Pollution

Water Pollution Air Pollution Soil Pollution Noise Pollution Thermal Pollution Marine Pollution Nuclear Pollution

Water Pollution

A change in water quality that impacts on living organisms

Types and effects of water pollution include: Infectious agents, such as typhoid, cholera Nutrients and eutrophication Toxic materials, through mining Organic chemicals Sediments can disrupt

aquatic ecosystems

Causes of water pollution Caused through sewage and other wastes Caused through industrial discharges Caused through agricultural discharges Caused through solid waste of industries

Measure to control water pollution Disinfection of water Sedimentation Filtration Softening of water

Each liter of wastewater pollutes at least eight liter of freshwater

Air PollutionAir pollution occurs due to the presence of undesirable solid or gaseous particles in the air, in quantities that are harmful to human health and the environment

Effects of Air Pollution

Effect on human healthEffect on vegetationEffect on animalsEffect on non-livingsEffect on climate

Measures to control Air pollution

Controlling pollution at the source Construction of tall chimneys Development of green belt around

industrial areas Use of better quality fuel and use of

catalytic converters Sprinkling water in mining areas to

reduce the dust particles Air quality monitoring

Soil Pollution It is the contamination caused by

chemicals and other subsistence's resulting in the loss of the fertility of the production of soil.

Causes of Soil Degradation Humans, Insecticides, Industrial wastes,

Radioactive waste, Nitrification Methods of controlling the soil

degradation1. By making vegetation cover2. By terrace or contour bonding3. By controlling the grazing4. By applying water infiltration measures

for soil and moisture conservation

Noise Pollution A sound of unpleasant and annoying nature• Greater than 140 dB causes noise pollution• Normal talk 40 dB shouting is 60 dB• Big auto machines 90 dB• Traffic 70 dB• Lightening 120 dB• Airplanes 150 dB• Rocket engines 190 dB

Desertification Removing ground cover and degrading fertile land

initiates desertification Water washes away nutrients, the land becomes

inhospitable The process is accelerated by expanding populations

and the need to overuse fragile areas of land

Waste Disposal Waste disposal methods include:

Open dumping and landfill Ocean dumping Exporting waste Waste to energy plants

Minimizing the waste stream: 3R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle Composting Waste to energy

Hazardous waste disposal Needs to be safely handled and disposed of to minimize

threats to the environment and human health

Threats to Biodiversity

1. Loss/degradation of habitat2. Overexploitation of resources3. Pollution4. Extinction of species due to aggressive non-native species5. Global environmental changes

Disaster management Floods, Earthquakes, Cyclones, Landslides, Droughts, Tsunami Public awareness training Institutional mechanisms Incentives &resources for mitigation Land use planning & regulation Hazard resistant design &construction Structural and constructional reinforcement of existing buildings Dams, Reservoirs, Maintaining Wetland Early warning system Public Health System

Social Issues & the Environment

From Unsustainable to Sustainable development Urban problems related to energy (energy

efficiency) Water conservation, rain water harvesting Resettlement & Rehabilitation of people

Social Issues & the Environment Environmental ethics: Resource consumption pattern & the need for equitable

utilization: Urban-Rural; Rich-Poor; Religious faith; man-Woman; Professional-

Non-Professional; Educated-Uneducated; Sense of use-overuse-misuse by individual, especially between Eastern Western countries.

Preserving resources for future generation. Ethical basis of environment education & awareness. -The gandhian way of life. -Education in nature-:Shantiniketan model

The conservation ethic& traditional value system of India Hindu-God & Goddess. Animals as `VAHAN’. Plants &Flowers as symbols: ( Ficus, Tulsi, Bilipatra, Lotus etc.)

Way of conserving nature and living sustainable life style.

The Solutions are Simple

CARBON FOOTPRINT Ecological Footprint (EF)

46

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

IS A MEASURE OF THE

‘LOAD’ IMPOSED BY A GIVEN POPULATION ON NATURE.

IT REPRESENTS THE LAND AREA NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN CURRENT LEVELS OF RESOURSES CONSUMPTION AND WASTE DISCHARGE BY THAT POPULATION.

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINTAS AN INDIVIDUAL WE REQUIRE

CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LAND AND WASTE PRODUCTION ; THIS IMPACT ON THE EARTH – OUR ECO-FOOTPRINT

1.8 HECTARES X 10 BILLION =18 BILLION HECTARES

◘ 1.8 hectares of productive land is available for each person. But every human uses 2.3 hectares

Today humanity’s eco-footprint is 40 % larger than what the planet can regenerate.That is, it take about a year and five month (17 months) for earth to regrow what we use in a single year.

◘ To save the environment and ensure socio-equity, rich nations need to cut down consumption by 90 per cent

Ecological Footprints

This is one of indicator of sustainability

This is widely used now a day in all forums

The Ecological Footprint is usually measured in global hectares.

Because trade is global, an individual or country's Footprint includes land or sea from all over in the world.

Ecological Footprint is often referred to in short form as Footprint (not footprint).

4 planets needed by 2050

1900 21002002 2050

If we all keep / adopt the western patterns of production & consumption

Technology

Enforcement

Policy

Financial mechanisms

Education &

Communication

Legal

Systems

Drivers of Change

Handprint

It is vital that we instigate change in order to improve living standards of all and reduce the impact on planet.

Choices that we make now will shape our opportunities in future and those of future generations.

But availability of alternative models and vision for sustainable future is not enough, what we need is ‘action’.

Decrease your Footprint

Increase your Handprint

Handprint is a new tool being developed by Centre for Environment Education (CEE), India to help measure action at different levels.

One needs to ask what one does at individual,

community, national and

global level.

The Concept of Sustainable Development

“Taking care of the needs of the present generation without compromising on the capabilities of future generation.”

World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987

THANKS