UNIT 6
Environmental Policies & Practices
Global warming
Global warming is a Global phenomenon. It refers to a gradual increase in the temperature of the Earth due to trapping of green house gases. A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are 95-100% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Gases such as CO2, SO2, NO2,CH4, etc are the green house gases. Most of these are the polluting gases that are produced by the industries. These gases trap the heat from the sunrays that are reflected from the sun.
Causes of Global Warming
It is the effect of the process of trapping of Heat due to CO2 which has been going on since times unknown. As we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas for energy or cut down and burn forests to create pastures and plantations, carbon accumulates and overloads our atmosphere. Certain waste management and agricultural practices aggravate the problem by releasing other potent global warming gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide.
The major greenhouse gases are water vapour, which causes about 36–70% of the greenhouse effect; carbon dioxide (CO2), which causes 9–26%; methane (CH4), which causes 4–9%;and ozone (O3), which causes 3-7%. Clouds also affect the radiation balance.
Human activity since the Industrial Revolution has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to increased radioactive forcing from CO2, methane, troposphere ozone, CFCs and nitrous oxide.
Effects of global warming
- Sea level rise is accelerating. The planet's temperature is rising.
- Dangerous heat waves are becoming more common.The number of large wildfires is growing.
- Extreme storm events are increasing in many areas. More severe droughts are occurring in others. These are having significant and harmful effects on our health, our environment, and our communities.
Prevention Of Global Warming
The various ways to control Global Warming are:-
- Control of population. But, since it is not possible to control population, the best way to control Global warming is by planting trees - Decrease deforestation/plant forests
- Produce more fuel-efficient vehicles
- Use of ecofriendly and biodegradable products.
- Improve energy-efficiency in buildings
- Develop carbon capture and storage processes
Acid rain
ACID RAIN is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is usually acidic i.e. it has low pH. Acid rain is caused by emissions of Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.
It involves deposition of aqueous acids, acidic gases and acidic salts. Acid deposition has 2 parts: wet and dry - Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog & snow - Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles - Half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition.
Sources
Acid rain comes from chemical reactions in the atmosphere among oxygen, water and sulfur or nitrogen oxides. When sulfur dioxide dissolves in small droplets of water in clouds, it reacts with the hydrogen and oxygen of the water to form a weak solution of sulfuric acid. Similarly, nitrogen oxides form weak nitric acid in water droplets. The clouds can drift over hundreds of miles carrying their acid droplets. When conditions are right for rain, the droplets grow and fall to the ground. In many areas of the United States, such as the great plains, the acid rain falls mostly on land used for agriculture.
Causes of Acid Rain
The primary cause of acid rain is the emission of harmful gases and emissions by industrial power plants and factories, and to some extent, cars as well.
Burning of fossil fuels lead to emission of gases that give oxides of Sulphur and nitrogen.
Burning of gasoline and diesel in cars build the amount of acidified water droplets in the atmosphere.
Effects of Acid Rain
The effects of acid rain are unhealthy and harmful. Buildings, national monuments and bridges tend to deteriorate faster.
Acid rain has been found to be very hard on trees. It weakens them by washing away the protective film on leaves, and it stunts growth.
The biggest reason to find satisfactory solutions for acid rains is the damage to natural ecosystems. This rain will affect the plants, trees, rivers, lakes, soil and land wherever it may fall on.
Animals and plants that live in such areas are severely affected. Their food sources get diminished, they may develop unhealthy diseases or mutations, or they may even die in extreme cases,
EFFECT ON HUMANS
The pollutants that cause acid rain—Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides damage human health. These gases interact in the atmosphere to form fine sulphate and nitrate particles that can be transported long distances by winds and inhaled deep into people's lungs. When we breathe in air pollution, these very fine particulates can easily enter our body, where they can cause breathing problems (asthma), bronchitis and over time even cause skin cancer.
Solutions for acid rain
To solve the acid rain problem, people need to understand how acid rain damages the environment. They also need to understand what changes could be made to the air pollution sources that cause the problem. Use Low Sulphur Coal The amount of Sulphur oxides emitted by a power plant can be reduced by burning coal with a very low percentage of Sulphur present.
Ozone layer depletion
The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, preventing it from reaching the earth’s surface. This layer in the atmosphere protects life on earth from the dangerous UV radiation from the sun. The chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, which were used as refrigerants and aerosol spray propellants, posed a threat to the ozone layer.
The destruction of the ozone layer is seen to cause increased cases of skin cancer and cataracts. It also causes damage to certain crops and to plankton, thus affecting natures food chains and food webs. This in turn causes an increase in carbon dioxide due to the decrease in vegetation. Protecting the Ozone Layer Ban the use of CFC’s Have to replace with something Current replacements are greenhouse gases and do not eliminate ozone depletion, just slow it down.
Environment protection act
An Act to provide for the protection and improvement of environment and formatters connected therewith. Whereas the decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of human environment. The Environment (Protection) Act 1986 was introduced after the Bhopal gas tragedy during Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of our country.
OBJECTIVES
- To protect the forests and wildlife in the country.
- To improve the quality of life by protection of environment.
- To co-ordinate the activities of the various regulatory agencies already in existence.
Environment it includes water, air and land and the inter relationship which exists between water, air and land and human being, other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.
Environment pollutant
It means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such concentration as may be injurious to environment pollutant.
Hazardous substance
It means any substance or preparation which, by reason of its chemical or physic-chemical properties or handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plant, micro-organism, property or the environment.
Environment pollution
It means the presence of any environmental pollutant in the environment. It includes all extraneous materials that are harmful to human being ,animals and plants life.
Sources And Causes For The Pollution
- Combustion
- Construction
- Mining
- Agriculture Chemical plants
- Coal-fired power plants
- Oil refineries
- Petrochemical plants, Nuclear waste
- Large livestock farms (dairy cows, pigs, poultry, etc.)
- PVC factories
- Plastics factories and other heavy industry are increasingly significant in the pollution equation.
Air(prevention and control of pollution)act
Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. It is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air. Sources of Air Pollution are:-
- Man-made
- Natural
Major Air Pollutants
- Carbon Monoxide
- Sulphur Dioxide
- Carbon Dioxide
- Chlorofluoro Carbon
- Nitrogen Oxide
- Ozone
Object
- To provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
- To provide for the establishment of central and state board with a view to implement the Act.
- To confer on the boards the power to implement the provisions of the Act and assign to the boards functions relating to pollution.
Prevention And Control Of Air Pollution
- Power to declare air pollution control areas
- Power to give instructions for ensuring standards for emission from automobiles • Restrictions on use of certain industrial plants
- Person carrying on industry, etc. not to allow emission of air pollutants in excess of the standards laid down by State Board
- Power to take samples of air or emission and procedure to be followed in connection therewith
Environmental Pollutants
- Burning fossil fuel
Burning fossil fuels in cars and power stations releases SO2 and other green house gases.
- SO2 dissolve in rain – acid rain
Acid rain damages trees and pollutes rivers and lakes which Results in erosion of buildings and statues.
Penalties And Procedure
Failure to comply with the provisions of section 21 or section 22 or with the directions issued under section 31A.— (1) whoever fails to comply with the provisions of section 21 or section 22 or directions issued under section 31A, shall, in respect of each such failure, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year and six months but which may extend to six years and with fine, and in case the failure continues, with an additional fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day during which such failure continues after the conviction for the first such failure. (2) If the failure referred to in sub-section (1) continues beyond a period of one year after the date of conviction, the offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to seven years and with fine.
Water(prevention and control of pollution)act
The Water Act was enacted by Parliament Act, 1974 purpose to provide for the prevention of control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water. As on day, it is applicable in all the states of India.
OBJECTIVES
- The water(prevention and pollution control) act 1974, provides for following:
- Prevention and control of water pollution
- Maintaining or restoring the wholesomeness of water
- Establishment of board for prevention and control of water pollution
- An act to provide for the levy and collection of a cess on water consumed by persons carrying on certain industries and by local authorities, with a view to augment the resources of the central board and the state boards for the prevention and control of water pollution constituted under the water (prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974.
Application and Commencement
It applies in the first instance to the whole of the States of Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal and the Union Territories.
POLLUTION
- Pollution means such as
- Contamination of water or
- Alternation of physical, chemical Or biological properties of water or
- Discharge of any Sewerage effluent Or trade Effluent Of or any other liquid or solid substance into water As may render such water harmful
- To public health
- To domestic , commercial , industrial, agriculture
- To life of animal And plant or aquatic Organisms.
Sewage effluent
Sewage effluent means effluent from Any sewerage system or Disposal works and Includes silage from open drains. Trade effluent Trade effluent includes . Any liquid ,solid or gaseous Substance Which discharge from any Premises Used for Carrying on Any industries operation or processes, or treatment And disposal system Other than domestic sewage.
Wildlife protection act
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for protection of plants and animal species. Before 1972, India only had five designated national parks.
Objectives
Prohibition on Hunting of Specified wild animals, birds and plants.
Setting up and management of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Control of Trade and Commerce in wildlife and wildlife products.
Definitions under the Act
- "animal" includes amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, and their young, and also includes, in the cases of birds and reptiles, their eggs.
- "animal article" means an article made from any captive or wild animal, other than vermin, and includes an article or object in which the whole or any part of such animal has been used and an article made therefrom.
- "hunting" includes
- Capturing, killing, poisoning, snaring, or trapping any wild animal, and every attempt to do so
- Driving any wild animal for any of the purposes specified in sub clause
- Injuring, destroying or taking any body part of any such animal, or in the case of wild birds or reptiles, disturbing or damaging the eggs or nests of such birds or reptiles.
- "taxidermy" means the curing, preparation or preservation of trophies
- Rugs, skins, and specimens of such animals mounted in whole or in part through a process of taxidermy
- Antler, horn, rhinoceros horn, feather, nail, tooth, musk, eggs, and nests.
- "wildlife" includes any animal, bees, butterflies, crustacean, fish and moths; and aquatic or land vegetation which forms part of any habitat.
- Hunting of Wild Animals • The Act prohibits hunting of wild animals. No person shall hunt any wild animals as specified in the schedules.
However there are some exceptions to it.
Sanctuary: - An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and be protected for the rest of their lives. • Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintaining each animal until his or her natural death.
National Park:- A national park is a park in use for conservation purposes. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns.
Forest conservation act
Forest conservation is a practice of planning and maintaining forested areas for the benefit and sustainability for the generations.
The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 was acted to control deforestation.
Penalties for offences in Reserved Forests: – No person is allowed to set fire or clearings – Cattles are not permitted – No permission to collect any forests products
Protected forests – No permission to do anything for trees which are mentioned in Act.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru referred dam and valley projects as “Temples of modern India”. These big dams and rivers valley projects have multi-purpose uses. However, these dams are also responsible for the destruction of forests. They are responsible for degradation of catchment areas, loss of flora and fauna, increase of water borne diseases, disturbance in forest ecosystems, rehabilitation and resettlement of tribal peoples.
India has more than 1550 large dams, the maximum being in the state of Maharashtra (more than 600), followed by Gujarat (more than 250) and Madhya Pradesh (130).
The highest one is Tehri dam, on river Bhagirathi in Uttaranchal and the largest in terms of capacity is Bhakra dam on river Satluj in Himachal Pradesh. Big dams have been in sharp focus of various environmental groups all over the world, which is mainly because of several ecological problems including deforestation and socio-economic problems related to tribal or native people associated with them.
The Silent valley hydroelectric project was one of the first such projects situated in the tropical rain forest area of Western Ghats which attracted much concern of the people.
The crusade against the ecological damage and deforestation caused due to Tehri dam was led by Shri. Sunder Lal Bahaguna, the leader of Chipko Movement.
The cause of Sardar Sarovar Dam related issues have been taken up by the environmental activitist Medha Patkar, joined by Arundhati Ray and Baba Amte. For building big dams, large scale devastation of forests takes place which breaks the natural ecological balance of the region.
Floods, droughts and landslides become more prevalent in such areas. Forests are the repositories of invaluable gifts of nature in the form of biodiversity and by destroying them (particularly, the tropical rain forests), we are going to lose these species even before knowing them. These species could be having marvellous economic or medicinal value and deforestation results in loss of this storehouse of species which have evolved over millions of years in a single stroke.
REFERENCES :
1. Textbook Of Environmental Science By Deeksha Dave And E.Sai Baba Reddy, Cengage
Publications.
2. Text Book Of Environmental Sciences And Technology By M.Anji Reddy, BS Publication.
3. Comprehensive Environmental Studies By J.P.Sharma, Laxmi Publications.
4. Environmental Sciences And Engineering – J. Glynn Henry And Gary W. Heinke – Prentice Hall Of
India Private Limited.
5. A Text Book Of Environmental Studies By G.R.Chatwal, Himalaya Publishing House
6. Introduction To Environmental Engineering And Science By Gilbert M. Masters And Wendell P. Ela -
Prentice Hall Of India Private Limited.
