FOR ASSIGNMENT PURPOSE

2. 1. The current condition of the environment
2. Factor that affect the environment
I. Physical environmental factors
II. Spatial distribution of environmental factors
III. Other environmental considerations
3. How can india strike a balancebetween development and environment
protection?
4. Measuring progress in conflict environments (MPICE)
I. Measuring progress in conflict environments (MPICE)
II. Measuring progress � environmental goals and gaps

3. The Current Condition of the
Environment
• Pollution,environmentalpollution.An environmentwherelakes,rivers andthesea arebeing
contaminatedbywastewaterfromhomesandindustrialfacilities, factoriesandmanufacturing
plants.Environmentaldestructionin which woodsandwholesections ofrainforestarelostto
development.Thereisanimbalancetothewaywe enrich ourculturesata dearcosttothe
environment.
• Thebeautiesofnaturearebeing lostoneafteranotherandenvironmentaldestructionis spreading.
On adailybasispollutantsflowintoriversandthe sea bothfromindustryandhouseholds.Areas
wherefishareunabletolive areonthe rise.The oceanscanno longer absorbourpollutionandwe
arenow seeing deadzonesin theoceans whereno life canexist duetothe toxicpollutionthere.If
motherearthweregetting medical care,shewouldbein theemergency roomin critical condition
onthe brinkofneeding lifesupport.
• Whetherwe likeit ornotor canconfrontitor notwe all need toheed the warningsigns ofan
impending environmental9/11.Thereis still time butexpertsgive us onlyaboutadecade to
reversethetides.This isourwakeupcall.

5. 1. Physical Environmental
Factors
• The factorsin the physicalenvironmentthatareimportantto healthincludeharmful
substances,such as airpollutionor proximityto toxicsites(the focus of classic
environmentalepidemiology);accessto varioushealth-relatedresources(e.g., healthy
or unhealthy foods, recreationalresources,medicalcare);and community design and
the “built environment” (e.g., landuse mix,streetconnectivity, transportation
systems).
• The environment can affect health through physicalexposures,such as airpollution
(OECD,2012b). A largebody of workhas documented the effectsof exposureto
particulatematter(solidparticlesand liquid dropletsfound in the air)on
cardiovascularand respiratorymortalityand morbidity(Brooket al., 2010; Laumbach
and Kipen, 2012; Mustafić et al., 2012; Tzivian,2011). Researchhasidentifiedspecific
physiologicmechanismsby whichtheseexposuresaffect inflammatory,autonomic,
and vascularprocesses.

6. 2. Spatial Distribution of
Environmental Factors
• In addition to considering differences between the United States and other countries in
the absolute levels of environmental factors, it is also important to consider how these
factors are distributed within countries. Levels of residential segregation shape
environmental differences across neighborhoods (Reardon and Bischoff, 2011;
Subramanianet al., 2005).
• Neighborhoods with residents who are mostly low-income or minorities may be less able
to advocate for resources and services. Perceptions and stereotypes about area reputation,
local demand for products and services, and the purchasing power of residents may also
influence the location of health-relevant resources. Physical environmental threats (such
as proximity to hazardous sites) may be more prevalent in low-income or minority
neighborhoods, a concern of the environmental justice movement (Brulle and Pellow,
2006; Evans and Kantrowitz, 2002; Mohai et al., 2009; Morello-Frosch et al., 2011). These
neighborhoods may also lack the social connections and political power that can help
remedy adverse conditions.

7. 3. Other Environmental
Considerations
• The panel focused its attentiononthe roleoflocal physical and social
environmentsas potential contributors totheU.S. health disadvantage and did
not systematically examine whether other contexts, such as school or work
environments,differsubstantially acrosshigh-income countries.
• Nordid thepanel examine whether neighborhoodconditions exerta greater
influence on access tohealthcare in the United Statesthan in peer countries.
However, these conditions areimportantto health.For example, the school
environments ofchildren, adolescents, and college students can affect diet,
physical activity,and the useof alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
• Dietaryoptions oncafeteriamenusandin vending machines, opportunities for
physical activity,and health education curricula areall importanttochildren’s
health.

9. How can Indiastrike a balance between development and
environmentprotection?
• India and Chinawith over 35%of the world's population are ona high-growthtrajectory. Thisgrowth comes
with a hidden environmentalcost. As our population grows, finding a balance between economic
advancement and consumption of naturalresources is a vital question that Indiashould address today.
• Developing countries like India can become greenerand lessen their environmentfootprint while at thesame
time continueto grow and deliver goods and services, for vital economic development. Atwo-pronged
approach has to be followed to workin this direction.
• Firstly, enterprises need to decouple production systems from the consumption of materials and energy
(produce morewith less) to become sustainable. Material and energy costs account for 40-60%of the
operating costs of enterprises indeveloping countries. By following steps like switching from non-renewable
to renewable sources of energyand materials targetting cleanerproduction, maximising recyclingand reuse of
wastes andenvironmentally sound product design, enterprises can significantly worktowards sustainable
growth.
• Governments also havea keyrole to play. Policies need to besimplified to createan ecosystem for new
sustainable businesses to flourish. Efforts likethe introduction and adoption of Green Accounting standards
will bea step towards enhancingthe speed of transition among businesses.

11. Measuring Progress in ConflictEnvironments
(MPICE)
• The purposeof thisprojectis toestablishasystemof metricsthatwill assistin formulatingpolicy
andimplementing strategicplanstotransformconflictandbring stabilitytowar-tornsocieties.
Thesemetricsprovidebotha baselineassessmenttoolforpolicymakerstodiagnosepotential
obstaclestostabilizationpriortoaninterventionandaninstrumentforpractitionersto track
progressfromthe pointofinterventionthroughstabilizationandultimatelytoa self-sustaining
peace.
• The purposeof thisprojectis toestablishasystemof metricsthatwill assistin formulatingpolicy
andimplementing strategicplanstotransformconflictandbring stabilitytowar-tornsocieties.
Thesemetricsprovidebotha baseline assessmenttoolforpolicymakerstodiagnosepotential
obstaclestostabilizationpriortoaninterventionandaninstrumentforpractitionersto track
progressfromthe pointofinterventionthroughstabilizationandultimatelytoa self-sustaining
peace.This metricssystem is designedto identifypotentialsourcesofcontinuingviolent conflict
andinstabilityandtogauge thecapacityofindigenous institutionstoovercomethem. The
intentionistoenable policymakerstoestablishrealisticgoals,bringadequateresourcesand
authoritiestobear,focustheir effortsstrategically,andenhanceprospectsforattaininganenduring
peace.

12. Measuring progress � environmental goals
and gaps
• Over the last few decades, a great numberof environmentalgoals and objectives havebeen adopted and a
few success stories canbetold. However, despite the growing body of norms andrules, theoverall global
environmentalsituation continuesto deteriorate. Theinternational community,havingmade veryuneven
progress towards thestated goals, needs to redefine the approach to improvethe state of the environmentand
foster sustainable development.
• Whyis this issue important?
If wemeasured the world's response to environmentalchallengessolely by thenumberof treaties and
agreements that havebeen adopted, then the situation looks impressive. Over 500international
environmentalagreements havebeen concluded since 1972,the yearof the Stockholm Conferenceand the
establishment of theUnited Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP). Theseincludelandmark conventions
on issues suchas trade inendangered species, hazardous wastes, climate change,biological diversity and
desertification. Collectively, thesereflect anextraordinaryeffort to install the policies, aims and desires of
countries world-wide to achievesustainable development. Yet despite the impressive numberof legal texts
and manygood intentions, real progress insolving the environmentalchallenges themselves has been much
less comprehensive, a point clearly underlinedinthe fifth Global EnvironmentOutlook (GEO-5) report (UNEP
2012a)and its companion publication "Measuring Progress: EnvironmentalGoals and Gaps"