Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies

Unit 1: Introduction to environmental studies

Definition of Environment:

The word ‘environment’ is derived from the French word ‘environner’ means ‘‘to encircle or
surround.’’ It is a word describing the conditions/surroundings in which organism or group of
organisms live. It includes all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) things that surround us. The air that
we breathe, the water that sustains our lives, the food that gives us energy, the towns and the cities
that we live in, in fact everything around us constitute the environment. Thus, environment can be
defined as “the sum total of water, air and land and the inter-relationships that exist among them
and with the human beings, other living organisms and materials.”

In other words, it concerns with the ‘‘Biosphere’’ which include all parts of hydrosphere (water),
lithosphere (land) and atmosphere (air) and their interaction with the biotic components.

Biotic substances include: plants, trees, microorganisms, animals etc.

Abiotic substances include: air, water, sunlight, temperature

Environment influences human beings, while at the same time human beings also influence the
environment by modifying the environment to suit his immediate needs much more than any other
organism. For example, he devastated forests for the use of tree as wood, land under cultivation. He
polluted the rivers and other water resources. With over-exploitation and abuse man has been
responsible for massive degradation of nature, natural systems, environment and wild life.

Segments of environment:

The environment consists of four segments of the earth namely atmosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere and biosphere:

Atmosphere: The atmosphere forms a distinctive protective layer of gases that surrounds the planet
and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. It protects the surface of earth from the sun’s
harmful ultraviolet rays. It helps in sustaining life on the earth through regulation in temperature,
therefore preventing the earth from becoming too hot or too cold. Earth's atmosphere is composed
of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and one percent other gases.

Hydrosphere: The hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers,
streams, reservoirs, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water. Oceans represent 97% of the earth’s
water and about 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar ice caps and glaciers. Only about 1%
is available as fresh water as surface water in rivers, lakes, streams, and as ground water for human
use.

Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the
earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.

Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with environment,
(atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere).

Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies:

Keeping in view the complex nature of environment, knowledge inputs from various disciplines of
science, social science, law and engineering are included in environmental studies

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 Life sciences including botany, zoology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry help in
understanding the biotic components and their interactions. Genetics and biotechnology are
emerging as useful tools for finding solution to the environmental problems
 Physics, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, oceanography and geography help in
understanding the physical and chemical structure of abiotic components of environment
along with mass and energy transfers
 Mathematics, statistics and computer science serve as effective tools in environmental
modelling
 Economics, sociology and management provide inputs for dealing with the socio-economic
aspects associated with various developmental activities
 Civil engineering, hydraulics, chemical engineering and nanotechnology provide the technical
solutions to environmental pollution control and waste treatment that are extremely
important for the protection of the environment
 Environmental laws provide the guidelines and legal measures for effective management and
protection of the environment
 Environmental education and mass communications are two important subjects that are
necessary for providing awareness among people

Scope of environmental studies:

Environmental studies as a subject has a wide scope. It encompasses a large number of areas and
aspects, which are as follows:

 Natural resources – their conservation and management

 Ecology and biodiversity
 Environmental pollution and control
 Social issues in relation to development and environment
 Human population and environment

As we look around at the area in which we live, we see that our surroundings were originally a natural
landscape such as a forest, a river, a mountain, a desert, or a combination of these elements. Most of

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us live in landscapes that have been heavily modified by human beings, in villages, towns or cities.
People in the cities get their food resources from rural areas which are also dependent on natural
landscapes such as forests, grasslands, rivers, seashores, for resources such as water for agriculture,
fuel wood, fodder, and fish. Everything around us forms our environment and our lives depend on
keeping its vital systems as intact as possible. Our dependence on nature is so great that we cannot
continue to live without protecting the earth’s environmental resources. Thus most traditions refer to
our environment as ‘Mother Nature’ and most traditional societies have learned that respecting
nature is important for their livelihoods. This has led to many cultural practices that helped traditional
societies protect and preserve their natural resources. Respect for nature and all living creatures is
not new to India. All our traditions are based on these values.

Over the past 200 years however, modern societies began to believe that easy answers to the question
of producing more resources could be provided by means of technological innovations. For example,
growing more food by using fertilizers and pesticides, developing better strains of domestic animals
and crops, irrigating farmland through mega dams and large scale industries led to rapid economic
growth, but the negative impact of this development led to environmental degradation.

Therefore, in order to protect, preserve and conserve the environment from further degradation, the
scope of environmental studies has expanded in the recent years. Environmental studies is very
important for getting clean drinking water, hygienic living conditions, clean and fresh air, fertile land,
healthy food etc.

Several career options have emerged in this field that are broadly categorized as:

 Research & Development (R&D) in environment: Skilled environmental scientists have an

important role to play in examining various environmental problems in a scientific manner
and carry out R & D activities for developing cleaner technologies and promoting sustainable
development. They also are important in controlling pollution through development of
various clean treatment technologies.
 Green advocacy: With increasing emphasis on implementing various Acts and Laws related to
environment, need for environmental lawyers has emerged, who should be able to plead the
cases related to water and air pollution, forest, wildfire etc.
 Green marketing: while ensuring the quality of products with ISO mark, now there is an
increasing emphasis on marketing goods that are environment friendly. Such products have
ecomark or ISO 14000 certification. Environmental auditors and environmental managers
would be in great demand in the coming years.
 Green media: Environmental awareness can be spread amongst masses through mass media
like television, radio, newspaper, magazines, hoardings, advertisements etc. for which
environmentally educated persons are required.
 Environment consultancy: Many non-government organizations (NGO), industries and
government bodies are engaging environmental consultants for systematically studying and
tackling environment related problems.

Importance of Environmental Studies

 To understand the various factors of environment and to appreciate nature

 To create an awareness regarding environmental issues
 To provide solutions to these environmental issues

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 To understand impact of environment on man and his life, and impact of human life on
environment
 To understand the importance of food chains and the need to maintain ecological balance
 Helps in understanding global environmental issues like global warming, depletion of ozone
layer, degradation of forests, ground water depletion and contamination, desertification,
scarcity of energy resources, loss of wild life, etc. that affect the mankind as a whole.
 To implement techniques for optimal and efficient usage of natural resources to conserve
them because they are limited and will be exhausted if used irrationally.
 To understand the interactions between the biotic and abiotic for establishing standards
accepted as clean, safe and healthy for man and ecosystem
 To understand the importance of sustainable development in protection, preservation and
conservation of natural resources.

Need for public awareness

The scientific and industrial revolution in the recent times has had a negative impact on the
environment. As the earth’s natural resources are dwindling and our environment is being increasingly
degraded by human activities, it is evident that something needs to be done.

We feel that only the Government can do something to save the environment. But, if we go on
harming our environment, there is no way in which the Government can perform all these clean-up
functions.

Prevention of environment degradation must become a part of all our lives because prevention is
better than cure. Just as for any disease, prevention is better than cure. This will also reduce the cost
incurred for cleaning up the environment once it is damaged.

Individually we can play a major role in environment management. The active co-operation of every
one, at every level of social organizations, scientists, educationists, social workers, politicians,
administrators and public is needed for solving the issues concerning environment.

Over exploitation of natural resources is a basic concern for everybody. One of the reasons for over-
exploitation is population growth. Thus if we concentrate on controlling the population explosion,
pollution can be reduced drastically through controlled usage of natural resources.

Only by celebrating “World Environmental Day” we cannot get rid of this concern. Government alone
cannot do anything until unless every citizen is aware of the environmental pollution & their effects
and do their bit to save the planet. This is the time to make aware and motivate each and every
individual for environmental consciousness.

We can be the good citizens who inform the concerned department about sources polluting and
degrading our environment. All this is possible through mass public awareness. Mass media such as
newspapers, radio, television, strongly influence public opinion. However, to become successful in
protection of our Mother Nature each of us should feel strongly about the environment, only then the
press and media will add to our efforts. Politicians in a democracy will only respond positively when
there is a strong public supported movement. On this earth we are living with a limited supply of
resources. Each of us should be responsible for usage of resources optimally and also spread the
awareness to as many people as possible.

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Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising on the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable
development considers the impact of environmental changes and tries to minimise the impact.

Sustainable development is based on two fundamental concepts.

1. Considering earth’s carrying capacity and stresses on natural resources like forest, soil fertility,
healthy wetlands, ozone layer etc. which provide basic requirements of human being.
2. Balancing of economic, social and ecological goals which include the basic needs like health,
literacy, democratic values etc.
However, both the concepts are concerned with quality of life and conservation of environment.
There are three pillars of sustainable development namely
 Community development (which includes providing basic needs like food, shelter, clothes,
health, education etc.),
 Economic development (which include industrialization creating job opportunity)
 Environmental protection (which includes providing clean air, safe water, quality
environment).
Sustainable development can be achieved through
 Stabilisation of population growth
 Conservation and rational exploitation of forest resources.
 Afforestation in waste lands and deforested areas.
 Control of pollution (Air, water, land etc.)
 Maintenance of sustainability in agriculture
 Recycling of waste and residue
 Conservation of biodiversity
 Development of non-polluting renewable energy systems
 Updating environmental laws and its strict imposition.
 Assessment of ecological security.

For the sustainable development, the following points should be considered

 The input of matter and energy should be reduced up to their limiting values.
 The exhaustible and polluting fossil fuels should be replaced by less harmful renewable
energy.
 Technology should be developed which provides essential goods with minimum waste in a
non-polluted manner.
 The population growth should be slow down which will reduce stress on global life support.
 There should be strict implementation of environmental laws.
 Steps should be taken for the conservation of forest, conservation of biodiversity, recycling of
wastes, control of pollution etc.
 There should be integrated land use planning.
 Environmental education should be made compulsory to create awareness about the basic
environmental issues.

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