Assignment Code: BPAG-174/ASST /TMA / 2021-22

Course Code: BPAG-174

Assignment Name: Sustainable Development

Year: 2021-2022

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

Assignment A

Answer the following in about 500 words each.

Q1. Discuss the meaning and nature of sustainable development. 20

Ans) Sustainable development according to Barbara Ward was largely about people, their economic and social well-being and aspirations for equity in their relationships with each other, in a context where environment-society imbalances could threaten economic and social stability.

‘Sustainable development thus, is development that meets the needs of present and future generations. Given the global and local effects of environmental decay, it is no surprise that sustainable development has become a catchword in development planning and resource management.

“In essence, sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development, and institutional change, are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.”

Nature Of Sustainable Development

Keeping in view what we leave or pass on to our children and grandchildren, we must think of the full range of physical and human capital, and natural resources that will determine their welfare. Adopting the principle of sustainable development would necessarily require a fundamental change in thinking. The data used for decision-making must reflect the true costs of resource depletion and pollution, as they affect future generations rather than just the short-term costs of profits of depleting income-producing resources. The data must take account of future needs on par with current needs, not ‘discounted’ in a way that carries decisions in favour of short-term effects.

The idea of sustainable development requires a careful consideration of sustainable threshold levels for both economic and environmental systems. For example, deforestation may be necessary for agriculture development in a regional economy like Brazil, but it could prove fatal and detrimental to global ecological stability. When a country experiences rapid population growth or dramatic urbanisation, increase in Gross National Product or GNP may hide or camouflage major development problems. The same difficulty arises when the world demand for the raw resources from a country or a region rises to meet increasing global needs. In sum, until we are prepared to define sustainability in ways that take stock of both the external threat from food policies in the North and the internal threat from demographic pressure in the South, it will remain illusory.

The World Commission has noted that measures of success in sustainable development must take account of the context and the need to meet social challenges. The sustainability aspect requires that environmental administrators aim at:

1. Maintaining ecosystem and related ecological processes, essential for the functioning of biosphere;

2. Sustaining biological diversity by ensuring the survival and promoting the conservation in their natural habitats of all species of flora and fauna;

3. Observing the principle of optimum sustainable yield in the exploitation of living natural resources and ecosystems;

4. Preventing or abating significant environmental pollution or harm;

5. Establishing adequate environmental protection standards;

6. Undertaking or requiring prior assessments to ensure that major law, policies, projects, and technologies contribute to sustainable development; and

7. Making all relevant information public without delay in all cases of harmful or potentially harmful releases of pollutants, especially radioactive releases.

It was considered at the Rio Summit (1992) that the Brundtland Report (1989) lacked a clear definition of sustainability. The World Bank’s Environment Department now has formulated a new definition. It is in two parts: i) Output Guide: Waste emissions should be within the assimilative capacity of the local environment without degradation, and ii) Input Guide: Harvest rates of renewable resources should be within the natural regenerative capacity; depletion rates of non-renewable resources should be equal to the rate at which renewable substitutes are developed.

Q2. Elucidate the relationship between food security and sustainable development. 20

Ans) The complex relationships between food security and sustainable development are influenced by the following issues:

Green Revolution

Low productivity in the agricultural sector has a huge impact that extends beyond the agricultural sector to food security and improved nutrition of children. Low productivity prevents households and countries from accumulating assets, diversifying their economies and making use of new technologies to move into higher value-added sectors. Low agricultural productivity is one of the most important factors that contribute to food insecurity in Sub- Saharan Africa. To meet the growing demand for food, in the early 1960s, green revolution was introduced through the rapid transfer and adoption of new technologies in the agricultural sector. This included the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides, irrigation technology, mechanisation of farms and new high-yielding seeds. The green revolution, a kind of shift from traditional to more modern agricultural methods, substantially reduced the risks of mass starvation and famines in the developing world.

Globally, the green revolution, while increasing agriculture productivity at an unprecedented scale, proved to be ecologically unsustainable since it has disturbed the environmental sustainability and ecological balance. It has also led to loss of biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. However, over the years, the environmental and social problems associated with high levels of inputs, monoculture systems, inefficient and polluting use of water, and the inability to reach many small farmers have come to the fore.

Loss of Biodiversity

For centuries, the agricultural base of developing countries were built upon the locally available natural resources, indigenous knowledge and traditional methods of agriculture production. Traditional knowledge of resource conserving farming practices aimed at producing and harvesting different crop varieties, livestock and fisheries. Basically, these practices are in harmony with the environment. However, over the years, a number of essential nutrients of the land have depleted due to large-scale introduction of single crop under mechanised agriculture practice. As a result of shifting the agriculture practices from genetically diverse traditional food crops to high-yielding monocultures has resulted in the loss of nearly three-fourth of its food crop diversity. The practice of chemical intensive farming, as part of green revolution has led to problems of water pollution in streams and rivers from the runoff from fertilizers.

Depletion of Livestock and Fisheries

Livestock production has important implications for ecosystems and ecosystem services, as it is the single largest user of land either directly through grazing or indirectly through consumption of fodder and feed grains. The global importance of livestock and their products is increasing as consumer demand expands with population growth, rising incomes, and urbanisation. This rapid worldwide growth in demand for food of animal origin, with its accompanying effects on human health, livelihoods, and environment brings the issue of sustainable development to the forefront.

Industrial livestock production, the most rapidly growing means of raising livestock, poses a range of pollution and human health problems. Intensive livestock feeding systems has given rise to serious food safety and health concerns. Some marine fish stocks are already under threat of extinction due to over-fishing. For example, modern forms of pig and dairy farming also produced serious problems of water pollution. The rapid expansion and increased technological efficiency in fisheries, as well as the global state of the resources is causing widespread concern.

Desertification

Desertification is one of the greatest environmental and development problems of the 21st century. Desertification, as detrimental process brings about a gradual and an unnoticed reduction in the productive capacity of land over a period of years. The end point of this deteriorating and ecologically unsustainable process would lead to the formation of a complete wasteland incapable of producing anything useful for the community.

Many low-income countries are located in tropical and sub-tropical regions, which are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, and in semi-desert zones, which are threatened by decreasing water availability. Large-scale droughts that affect several countries simultaneously have wider implications for food security. Africa is highly susceptible to land degradation, and it is estimated that two thirds of African land is already degraded to some degree. Currently, land degradation affects 65 per cent of the people in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa will have not just the highest incidence of hunger and poverty, as before, but also more food-insecure people than any other part of the world, including the developing countries of South Asia.

For example, per capita agricultural production increased by about 40 per cent between 1980 and 2001 in developing countries but fell by about 5 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa over the same period, in large part due to land degradation and low access to modern agricultural inputs and technology. Most of the population in African countries is experiencing high-drought frequency since they are agro-pastoralists, whose livelihoods are constantly threatened by erratic rainfall and arid environmental conditions. These countries are among the poorest in the world and are extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and are struggling to cope with the impacts of droughts and famines.

Climate Change

Climate change has been identified as a ‘threat multiplier’ in global security, as it poses a threat to human security, particularly in societies that already lack significant progress in developmental sectors. Climate change worsens the living conditions of farmers, fishermen and forest-dependent people who are already vulnerable and food insecure. More frequent and intense, extreme weather will have adverse immediate impacts on food production, infrastructure for food distribution, livelihood assets and opportunities in both rural and urban areas. Loss of arable land is likely due to increased aridity, groundwater depletion and rise in sea levels, which will have significant impact on global food security

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Among various regions, Africa is considered the most vulnerable region in terms of climate change, because of its physical and socio-economic characteristics and its extreme climatic conditions. African eco-systems are very fragile and cannot absorb the shocks that climate change introduces. Agricultural production in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate change. Increased climate variability and droughts in Africa may lead to significant loss of livestock. Nearly 40 per cent of the Sub-Saharan population is currently undernourished and this number is expected to increase.

As a multi-dimensional phenomenon, food security reflects the highly interconnected concerns of food access, availability, and utilisation, as well as the dynamic dimensions of ecological sustainability. Globally, the changed patterns of rainfall would have serious impact on food security. For example, climate change will have an overall negative effect on the yields of major cereal crops.

Assignment B

Answer the following questions in about 250 words each.

Q3. Briefly discuss the environmental components of sustainable development. 10

Ans) The environment is a component of sustainable development that is being harmed by economic expansion and social inequities. The three components overlap because they are interconnected. Cheap fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) have undoubtedly accelerated economic expansion, but they have also harmed the environment by releasing billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs). This is one of the current key causes of climate change. originally emphasised in the Johannesburg Plan for Sustainable Development:

1. The sustainable use of biomass and energy;

2. Changing the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, especially in developed countries;

3. Moving towards cleaner production and eco-efficiency;

4. Inclusion of private companies and authorities;

5. Focal areas include transport, waste and chemicals;

6. Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development;

7. Improvement of health infrastructure to deal with the adverse impact of environmental damage;

8. Integration of economies and societies in a globalising world;

9. Assisting Small Island (developing) states with technology, capacity building; coastal biodiversity etc.

10. Regional efforts in Africa and Latin America; and

11. Means of implementation and institutional framework upgradation.

Growth and Environment

Poverty reduction is a condition for environmental conservation and an input towards sustainable development, as stated in the Brundtland Report (1987). Sustainable development and the environment are intertwined, determining how to reduce the negative impacts of human activities on the environment. Sustainable ecological approach refers to eco-development that protects the biosphere, improves quality of life, and protects the environment.

So, for sustainable development, environmental considerations must be factored into socio-economic decisions. For example, in highway building, private stakeholders are asked to plant trees or flowers on the divider. This is a development/environment trade-off.

Q4. Discuss the features of Earth Summit 1992. 10

Ans) United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), byname Earth Summit, conference held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June 3–14, 1992), to reconcile worldwide economic development with protection of the environment. The Earth Summit was the largest gathering of world leaders as of 1992, with 117 heads of state and representatives of 178 nations in all attending. By means of treaties and other documents signed at the conference, most of the world’s nations nominally committed themselves to the pursuit of economic development in ways that would protect the Earth’s environment and non-renewable resources.

Earth Summit 1992 produced the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Statement of Forest Principles, and Agenda 21. The Earth Summit also led to the establishment of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development is a set of principles that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in the areas of environmental protection and sustainable development. The Rio Declaration states that nations have the right to exploit natural resources within their borders if their actions do not affect the environment in other nations. It also calls on all national and local governments to develop and implement plans that preserve the environment and natural resources for future generations.

Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It is an action agenda for the UN, other multilateral organizations, and individual governments around the world that can be executed at local, national, and global levels. One major objective of the Agenda 21 initiative is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21. Its aim initially was to achieve global sustainable development by 2000, with the "21" in Agenda 21 referring to the original target of the 21st century.

Q5. Describe the characteristics of green technologies. 10

Ans) Green technologies generally have the following five characteristics:

High Efficiency Energy and Resource Use

Green technology has proven to be a cost-effective technique for economic development, without increasing energy consumption or negatively impacting the environment. Adopting more efficient technology or industrial processes, or applying well established strategies to reduce energy losses, can significantly enhance energy efficiency.

Low Costs

Green technologies are low-cost because they require little capital expenditure to implement or design. It is a basic technology because it is not subject to increasing specialisation and compartmentalisation. All in all, these technologies are low-energy, versatile, and repairable. Green technologies reduce production and processing costs and are more accessible.

Non-generation of Secondary Pollutants

Secondary pollutants are dangerous contaminants that originate in the atmosphere. Secondary pollutants are formed when main pollutants react in the atmosphere. Secondary pollutants are now a major concern due to their diverse composition. Photochemical smog occurs when primary pollutants react with air molecules such molecular oxygen, water, and hydrocarbons. Green technologies don't produce them.

Use of Renewable Energy and/or Materials

Energy constraint and climate change have prompted new energy technologies. Existing energy methods are no longer economically viable due to concerns about climate change. To fulfil the increasing energy demands of socio-economic development, it is vital to adopt green technologies that promote renewable and clean energy. Current technological advancements in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, shale gas, biofuels, and geothermal energy are promising since they can produce energy with no carbon emissions. This conserves the ecology and safeguards the environment.

Beneficial to Human Health and Ecosystems

Ecosystem function is the natural process' ability to provide products and services to humans. Ecosystem services are human-derived advantages from ecosystems. Ecosystem services are human-valued aspects of natural ecosystem function and process. Human health is ultimately dependent on eco-friendly products and services. These include access to clean water, food, and fuel, which are essential for human survival. Green technologies safeguard the environment and ensure ecosystem services. It also aids effective ecosystem function.

Assignment C

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each.

Q6. What is green accounts approach? 6

Ans) National accounts that account for environmental externalities are referred to as the Green Accounts approach. They aid in our comprehension of the environmental consequences of our social, political, and economic actions. Green accounting considers the environmental damage produced by human activities, which is not considered in standard accounting. SD concerns are not addressed by the traditional national accounting system. Despite the fact that there have been various research and models on the matter, Paul P. Craig and Harold Glasser were able to tackle this difficulty by providing a Transfer Model approach to integrate the Green Accounts strategy in the quest of SD. To add meaning and context to green accounts, the approach focuses on stocks and flows, as well as bio-geophysical factors.

Q7. Comment on the concept of development. 6

Ans) The term "development" encompasses a wide range of concepts and is difficult to define. It can be evaluated in terms of objectives and procedures, as well as economic and human development and long-term viability. Meeting fundamental necessities, lowering poverty, inequality, and unemployment, improving living standards, expanding access to education, and increasing life expectancy are all examples of development. Development entails a complex of economic, social, political, and cultural developments that result in a fundamental transformation of society. Development is concerned with long-term, permanent economic growth, which is measured in terms of an increase in real GDP per capita and is accompanied by specific structural and social changes in a society. Economic growth is not the same as development. Growth is unidirectional in nature and is linked to rising national wealth. The goal of development is to improve people's quality of life, not necessarily their Gross National Product (GNP).

Q8. Make a list of the goals of sustainable development. 6

Ans) The three primary goals of sustainable development are to:

1. Minimise the depletion of natural resources when creating new developments;

2. Create development that can be maintained and sustained without causing further harm to the environment; and

3. Provide methods for retrofitting existing developments to transform them into environment friendly facilities and projects.

Global organisations such as United Nations, NGOs, aid organisations and even governments at the national levels are increasingly sponsoring efforts to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals are realised for every individual across the board.

Q9. What do you mean by global commons? 6

Ans) Individuals, groups of individuals, such as towns, and even governments may own property rights. International commons or global commons are enormously huge commons that are not under the jurisdiction of any single government. There is, however, a distinction to be made between international and global commons. International commons are resource domains that are shared by multiple nations, such as the Mediterranean Sea, which is shared by several nations. Global commons, on the other hand, are resource areas that all countries have legal access to, such as space. Global commons have traditionally been defined as areas of the earth that are outside of any country's national authority and to which all nations have access.

Q10. Examine the term ‘sustainable choices’. 6

Ans) We need both sustainable technologies and sustainable choices to achieve sustainability. Sustainable development is now critical to future resource usage and management. Plastic bags are non-renewable and require harmful UV radiation to degrade. Paper bags, on the other hand, are recyclable. Plastic production has grown faster than any other material since the 1950s, with a global shift from durable to single-use plastics. Plastic is mostly made from non-renewable fossil fuels.

Alternatives to plastic bags include jute, paper, biodegradable, and reusable bags. Jute bags are commonly recommended as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags since they are manufactured from biodegradable material, a plant fibre called jute, which is mainly cellulose. This is safe for the environment and agriculture. The eco-friendly bags are made of materials that are easily destroyed by bacteria and other micro-organisms in the air. So, they decompose quickly into simpler forms. Thus, we can see the importance of making sustainable choices