The environment refers to the physical surroundings of human beings, which they are inherently part of and depend upon for essential activities such as production, consumption, and physiological functioning. It encompasses elements such as water, air, land, and natural resources including soil, plants, animals, ecosystems, and energy carriers.
Every organism is part of a broader system and relies on interactions with other organisms for survival. The environment is dynamic and constantly evolving due to ongoing interactions between its biotic and abiotic components.
Resource provision for living beings.
Assimilation of waste materials.
Sustenance of life through balance and diversity.
Aesthetic and cultural services supporting emotional and societal well-being.
Provisioning services: Food, water, timber, and other tangible resources.
Regulating services: Air quality regulation, climate moderation, and water purification.
Socio-cultural services: Recreational, educational, and spiritual values of nature.
Atmospheric gases
Wind
Water
Energy
Temperature
Fire
Land and topography
Soil
Geologic substratum
Green plants
Non-green plants
Decomposers
Parasites
Symbionts
Human beings
Animals
Environmental conservation involves actions taken to protect natural resources and maintain ecological balance. It includes the planned and optimal use of resources to ensure that the needs of the present generation are met without compromising the needs of future generations.
Rapid population growth, especially in developing nations, resulting in high resource demand.
Over-exploitation due to industrialization and unsustainable lifestyles.
Human interference disrupting natural ecosystems and cycles.
Loss of wildlife and biodiversity.
Pollution of air, water, land, and sound.
Deforestation and overuse of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).
Accumulation of pesticides and insecticides in living organisms.
Loss of biodiversity
Desertification
Global warming
Climate change
Depletion of the ozone layer
The central goal of modern environmental management is to minimize the exploitation of natural resources and mitigate the negative consequences. It ensures a sustainable framework that protects nature while supporting human development.
The continuous advancement in technology and rapid industrial development have severely impacted our natural resources. Extensive extraction of non-renewable resources like minerals, coal, and oil has posed a significant threat to the balance of our ecosystem.
Energy resources such as petroleum and coal are depleting rapidly. Once exhausted, humans will have to rely on alternative energy sources. The overuse and unregulated development have led to a decline in the availability of essential resources which cannot be regenerated quickly—highlighting the importance of resource conservation.
Key causes include population pressure and unplanned growth. Since resources form over long geological periods—like coal and petroleum—they are termed non-renewable, necessitating urgent protection and wise management.
The fundamental concept in conservation is optimum utilization by applying the "3R" principles: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. These strategies help minimize waste and environmental damage during crises.
Critical issues today include degradation of land, air, water, and soil quality, as well as loss of flora and fauna. These consequences are triggering major global concerns such as climate change and global warming. Numerous efforts have been made over the last three decades to address these challenges.
A successful Environmental Management Plan (EMP) should integrate various administrative and operational strategies. Below are the major components:
Institutional and administrative setup for managing environmental responsibilities.
Collaborative arrangements with other organizations and government agencies for plan execution.
Self-monitoring systems to ensure adherence to environmental regulations.
Incorporation into development plans, promoting efficient use of water, land, and energy along with recycling initiatives.
Environmental audits for assessing the effectiveness of various mitigation efforts.
Environmental cells and detailed monitoring protocols for tracking environmental impact across all sectors.
Environmental conservation is interdisciplinary in nature, combining insights from both science and social studies. Its scope touches almost every significant academic and applied discipline, including technological and economic aspects.
Controlling environmental pollution and ensuring responsible natural resource management.
Addressing global concerns like climate change and global warming.
Disaster management including response to natural hazards and extreme events.
Development of environmental engineering and sustainability innovations.
Effective ecosystem preservation and habitat conservation practices.
Environmental management is a dynamic and evolving concept focused on integrating ecological responsibility into business operations and development projects. It encompasses organizational structure, responsibility hierarchies, and policy frameworks.
Major functions include:
Goal-setting and continuous monitoring of environmental performance.
Efficient communication and information systems.
Support for sustainable decision-making through data and analysis.
Routine internal and external audits to evaluate project compliance and effectiveness.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a critical tool widely used within environmental management frameworks to measure and mitigate adverse environmental effects of development projects.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a formal procedure generally used for the prior assessment of positive or negative environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or project prior to the final decision to move forward with the proposed action. EIA is an approach which seeks to improve development by a prior assessment. Environment impact assessment includes:
As Mahatma Gandhi once profoundly stated, “There’s enough in the world to meet everyone’s need, but not everyone’s greed.” This perspective aligns closely with the philosophy behind sustainable development.
The idea was officially introduced in the Brundtland Commission’s Report, titled Our Common Future, published in 1987. The report defines sustainable development as development that "meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own."
Essentially, this concept promotes a holistic approach that balances the economy, society, and the environment. A development model is only considered sustainable when it is environmentally sound, socially inclusive, and economically practical.
Environmental sustainability revolves around the responsible use and replenishment of resources. It includes the sustainable yield of renewable resources, the proper disposal of waste, and the development of renewable alternatives for non-renewable materials.
The harvesting rate of resources must not exceed their natural regeneration rate.
Waste generation should remain below the environment’s capacity to absorb and assimilate it.
Substitutes for non-renewable resources must be developed to maintain ecological balance.
The failure to adhere to these principles has led to an alarming increase in environmental degradation. Unchecked human activities and mismanagement of resources are accelerating this crisis, making conservation more critical than ever.
The foundation of sustainable development rests on three interconnected pillars:
Social Sustainability: Promotes equity, well-being, and inclusivity in development.
Environmental Sustainability: Ensures the health and viability of ecosystems and natural resources.
Economic Sustainability: Encourages long-term economic strategies that minimize harm to the environment.
Among these, environmental sustainability forms the core. If ecological concerns are neglected, both the economic and social dimensions of sustainability become unstable. Hence, every development activity must first assess its ecological impact, followed by evaluations of its economic feasibility and social fairness.
No discussion on sustainable development is complete without mentioning the historic Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. This event marked a global turning point in addressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
Attended by leaders from over 100 nations, the summit produced the landmark Declaration on Environment and Development, known as Agenda 21. This declaration outlined a global strategy for sustainable living, advocating action at local, national, and international levels.
The summit also endorsed the Global Forest Principles and formally adopted Agenda 21 to guide the planet’s transition into a more sustainable 21st century.
In September 2000, a significant step towards sustainable development was taken when global leaders gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. They endorsed the Millennium Declaration, which was aimed at sustaining the progress initiated during the Rio Summit.
This declaration led to the creation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight ambitious targets with a completion timeline from 2000 to 2015. These goals focused on reducing poverty and hunger, enhancing education and health, and promoting equality.
To evaluate progress, 21 specific targets and various quantifiable indicators were established. The goals primarily addressed three pillars: human capital, infrastructure, and human rights, all aiming to uplift living standards worldwide.
Following the earlier summit, world leaders reunited in Rio de Janeiro during the Rio+20 Conference in 2012 to revisit and revamp the global development framework. The key document from this gathering, titled "The Future We Want", laid the groundwork for the post-2015 development agenda.
This transition led to the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), succeeding the MDGs. These 17 comprehensive goals include a broader vision for global development and are supplemented by 169 targets and 304 measurable indicators. The SDGs are to be achieved by 2030.
The SDGs were formally adopted during the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit through the global agenda titled "Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". Though the agreement is non-binding, it reflects strong international consensus and cooperation.
Environmental conservation and management involves protecting natural resources and ecosystems through strategic policies and sustainable practices.
The environment provides essential goods and services for human survival, but practices like industrialization, intensive farming, and population growth have strained these resources.
Environmental sustainability depends on managing renewable resources, minimizing waste, and finding substitutes for non-renewable resources.
SDGs encompass 17 goals, 169 targets, and 304 indicators to be achieved by 2030, all framed within the agenda “Transforming Our World”.