CBSE Class 11 Economics NCERT Solutions: Environment and Sustainable Development

Solution: The environment is understood as the complete planetary inheritance and the sum total of all resources available to us. It encompasses all the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements that interact with and influence each other. Biotic elements include all forms of life such as birds, animals, plants, forests, and fisheries. Abiotic elements consist of non-living components like air, water, land, rocks, and sunlight.

Solution: The environment, comprising essential elements like sun, soil, water, and air, is crucial for human survival. The concept of the environment's 'carrying capacity' signifies that the rate at which resources are extracted should not surpass their natural rate of regeneration, and the waste generated should be within the environment's capacity to assimilate. When resource extraction exceeds regeneration, the environment's carrying capacity is compromised, leading to degradation and potentially the absence of life. This imbalance disrupts ecological systems and threatens long-term sustainability.

Solution: Resources can be classified based on their ability to regenerate:

Renewable Resources: These are resources that can be replenished naturally over time or are available in continuous supply. From the given list, trees and fish are renewable resources.

Non-renewable Resources: These are resources that exist in finite quantities and are consumed much faster than they can be regenerated. Examples from the list include petroleum, coal, and iron-ore. While water is generally considered renewable through the water cycle, in many contexts of scarcity and pollution, its availability can be limited, leading some to consider its management akin to non-renewable resources in specific situations, though biologically it is renewable.

Solution: Two major environmental issues facing the world today are Global warming and Ozone depletion.

Solution: Several factors contribute to India's environmental crisis, posing significant challenges for the government:

1. Rising population: A high population growth rate intensifies pressure on natural resources, leading to increased pollution of soil and water, and greater demand for energy and housing.

   Government Problem: Managing resource allocation, pollution control, and providing basic amenities for a growing population.

2. Air pollution: Primarily caused by industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust, it leads to respiratory diseases and environmental degradation.

   Government Problem: Implementing and enforcing emission standards, promoting cleaner fuels, and managing industrial pollution.

3. Water contamination: Industrial discharge, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff pollute water bodies, causing waterborne diseases like diarrhoea and hepatitis.

   Government Problem: Ensuring access to clean drinking water, treating wastewater, and regulating industrial discharge.

4. Affluent consumption standards: Higher consumption, especially of goods requiring air conditioning, leads to the use of CFCs, contributing to ozone depletion.

   Government Problem: Promoting sustainable consumption patterns and regulating the use of ozone-depleting substances.

5. Illiteracy: Lack of awareness about environmental issues and the sustainable use of resources exacerbates the crisis.

   Government Problem: Designing and implementing effective environmental education and awareness programs.

6. Industrialisation: While crucial for economic growth, unplanned industrialisation leads to increased air, water, and noise pollution, and poses risks of industrial accidents.

   Government Problem: Balancing industrial development with environmental protection, enforcing pollution control norms, and managing industrial risks.

7. Urbanisation: Rapid urban growth, often unplanned, results in the expansion of slums, strain on infrastructure, and increased environmental degradation and health issues.

   Government Problem: Sustainable urban planning, providing adequate infrastructure, and managing waste and pollution in urban areas.

8. Reduction of forest coverage: Excessive felling of trees beyond permissible limits leads to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and increased flooding risks.

   Government Problem: Implementing effective forest management policies, afforestation programs, and controlling illegal logging.

9. Poaching: The illegal hunting of wildlife leads to the extinction of species and disrupts ecosystems.

   Government Problem: Strengthening wildlife protection laws, anti-poaching enforcement, and conservation efforts.

10. Global warming: Caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions, it leads to melting ice caps, rising sea levels, disruption of water supplies, and extreme weather events.

    Government Problem: Developing strategies to mitigate climate change, adapt to its impacts, and participate in international climate agreements.

Solution: The environment performs four vital functions that are essential for the sustenance of life and economic activity:

1. Environment Supplies Resources: The environment provides all the resources necessary for production and consumption. These include both renewable resources, which can be replenished naturally (like trees and fish), and non-renewable resources, which exist in finite quantities and get depleted with use (like fossil fuels).
2. Environment Assimilates Waste: Human activities generate waste products. The environment has the capacity to absorb and break down these wastes. However, when the rate of waste generation exceeds the environment's assimilation capacity, pollution occurs.
3. Environment Supports Life: The environment provides the basic life-support systems, such as air, water, and fertile soil, which are essential for human survival and the survival of all other living organisms.
4. Environment Provides Services: The environment offers various intangible services, such as climate regulation, aesthetic beauty, and recreational opportunities, which enhance the quality of life.