EVS Bangalore University BCA - Sem I

1. Unit – I
Multidisciplinary nature of
environmental studies

2. ⚫The term environment is derived from french word
‘ENVIRON’ which means encircle .
⚫So in other words everything that affects living organism
is called as environment .
Environmental science is called as Multidisciplinary as it
brings about an interaction between our natural world
( air, water, soil, and material) and living organism .
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3. Environmental study is an interdisciplinary study that utilizes
information from physical science and social science .
Component Of Environment
Abiotic Biotic
Producer Consumers Decomposers
Climate Edaphic
Fig.1: Components of Environment
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4. Segmentsof Environment
Atmosphere
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Hydrosphere Lightsphere Biosphere
Fig. 2: Segments of Environment

5. ⚫Conservation of nature and natural resources .
⚫Conservation/ protection of biological diversity .
⚫Control of environmental and human pollution.
⚫Social issues in relation to development and environment .
⚫Development of non- polluting renewable energy system
and provide new diamension to nature’s security .
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6. Multidisciplinary nature of
environmental studies
⚫It utilizes information from different streams of
science to deal with various environmental
problems
Life Science
Environmental Studies
Modelling
Management
and
awarness
Physical
science Technology
Fig.3 Environmental Studies 6

7. CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT

8. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• Sustainable – means the “capacity to continue
into the distant future.”
• There should be a) an action, b) a time
dimension, and c) the level of action should
not decrease.
• Sustainable development – present type of
economic development is not sustainable, as it
depletes natural resources and increases
pollution.
• If continued on the same path, the Earth will
run out of natural resources, and pollution
destroy the ecology of the Earth.

9. Definition of Sustainable
development
• Brundtland, defined Sustainable development as
development “that meets the needs of the
present generation, without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.” –Our Common Future 1987.
• Contains two key concepts:
o Poverty Focus – the needs of the world’s poor to which
high priority should be given.
o Future’s Focus – limits imposed by technology and
social organisation on environment’s ability to meet
present and future needs.”

10. Principles of Sustainable
development
Four principles – two developmental and
anthropocentric, and two sustainability and bio-
centric.
1. Developmental: (Basic standards of living
now and for the future):
i)Satisfy the basic human needs and
reasonable standard of welfare for all living
beings, now and in the future.
ii)Achieve more equitable standards of living
both within and among global populations.

11. 2) Sustainability: (preservation of natural
resources now and for the future)
i) Care regarding potential disruption of biodiversity
and regenerative capacity of local and global
ecology.
ii)No undermining of possibility of future generations
to attain similar or improved standards of living,
through running down natural resources stocks and
pollution loads.

12. Features of Sustainable
Development
1.Ethical Guiding Principle: like democracy or social justice –
different interpretations are possible.
2.Anthropocentric: places human beings and their welfare
above concepts of environmental sustainability.
3.Physical sustainability: recognises limits to Nature, and overall
global ecological balance
4.Global Equity: environmental benefits to be equitably
distributed over present generation.
5.Inter Generation Equity: environmental resources and
economic welfare should be available for future generations,
at least equal to present ones.

13. Interpretation of Sustainable
development
• Unfortunately, no common consensus among
countries over the mode and type of sustainable
development to be achieved.
oWho sets the values or standards for
sustainable development? Rich countries or
poor countries?
oWhat are these values and norms? Are they
universally acceptable?
oHow and who should implement them?
oHow should they be implemented?
oAt what level should they be implemented?