NCERT Class 12 Political Science Contemporary World Politics: Chapter 6 — Environment and Natural Resources
This chapter from NCERT's Class 12 Political Science, 'Contemporary World Politics', delves into the critical issues of environment and natural resources in global politics. It examines the rise of environmentalism since the 1960s, analyzing environmental movements and the concepts of common property resources and global commons. The chapter also discusses India's stance on environmental debates and the geopolitics of resource competition. It highlights the challenges posed by deforestation, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, and pollution, emphasizing their impact on ecosystems and human health. The text underscores the political dimensions of environmental issues, from forests to atmosphere, and concludes by noting the voices of indigenous peoples. This chapter is crucial for understanding the interconnectedness of environmental challenges and world politics for CBSE students.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Political Science |
| Book | Contemporary World Politics |
| Chapter | Chapter 6 — Environment and Natural Resources |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 516 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the significance of environmental and resource issues in world politics.
- Analyze the historical development and impact of environmental movements.
- Define and assess concepts like common property resources and global commons.
- Discuss India's position in contemporary environmental debates.
- Recognize the geopolitical implications of resource competition.
- Acknowledge the concerns of indigenous peoples in environmental discourse.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Environmentalism | A social and political movement concerned with protecting the natural environment. |
| Common property resources | Resources that are owned and managed by a community or group of users. |
| Global commons | Natural resources that lie outside the political reach of any one state and are shared by all humanity. |
| Biodiversity | The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. |
| Ozone hole | A region of the Earth's stratosphere with a significant thinning of the ozone layer. |
| Geopolitics | Politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors. |
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Practice questions
- What is the significance of the 1992 Earth Summit in global politics? Answer: The 1992 Earth Summit brought environmental issues to the centre-stage of global politics.
- Name two environmental problems mentioned in the text that affect food production. Answer: Overgrazing of grasslands and overharvesting of fisheries.
- What is the 'ozone hole'? Answer: A steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere.
- What are 'global commons'? Answer: Natural resources that lie outside the political reach of any one state and are shared by all humanity.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Environmental issues gained prominence in world politics from which decade onwards?
Explanation: The chapter states that the rising profile of environmentalism began from the 1960s onwards.
Q2. The 1992 Earth Summit is significant for:
Explanation: The text explicitly mentions that the 1992 Earth Summit brought environmental issues to the centre-stage of global politics.
Q3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a cause of restricted food production?
Explanation: While deforestation is mentioned as a problem, the text lists overgrazing, overharvesting, and water pollution as directly restricting food production.
Q4. The 'ozone hole' refers to a decline in:
Explanation: The text defines the 'ozone hole' as a steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere.
Q5. According to the Human Development Report 2016, what is a major consequence of lack of access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries?
Explanation: The report states that lack of access to safe water and sanitation results in the death of more than three million children every year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of Chapter 6 of Contemporary World Politics?
Chapter 6 focuses on the growing significance of environmental and resource issues in world politics, analyzing environmental movements, concepts like common property resources and global commons, India's stance, and the geopolitics of resource competition.
When did environmentalism start gaining prominence in world politics?
Environmentalism started gaining prominence in world politics from the 1960s onwards.
What is the significance of the 1992 Earth Summit?
The 1992 Earth Summit is significant because it brought environmental issues to the centre-stage of global politics.
What are some of the environmental concerns discussed in the chapter?
The chapter discusses concerns such as declining cultivable land fertility, overgrazing, overharvesting of fisheries, water body depletion and pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and ozone depletion.
What does the chapter say about India's role in environmental debates?
The chapter briefly discusses the stand taken by India in more recent environmental debates.
What is the 'ozone hole' and what danger does it pose?
The 'ozone hole' is a steady decline in the Earth's stratospheric ozone. It poses a real danger to ecosystems and human health.
What is the geopolitical aspect of resource competition mentioned?
The chapter discusses the geopolitics of resource competition, implying how competition for natural resources influences international relations and power dynamics.
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NCERT Class 12 Political Science — Contemporary World Politics — Chapter 6 — Environment and Natural Resources. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.