Assignment Code: MED-008/ASST/TMA/2022-23

Course Code: MED-008

Assignment Name: Globalization and Environment

Year: 2022-2023

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

1. Explain the effects of global warming on global climate change. (5)

Ans) Climate change and ecosystem destruction are two of the most destructive ways that the global environmental disturbance presents itself. Threats from ecological harm that results in biodiversity loss are as serious. Future agricultural, pharmaceutical, chemical, materials, and information sectors may benefit from the genetic, biophysical, and ecological data that biodiversity contains. For instance, only 15% or less of the genetic diversity of essential agricultural species, such as maize, rice, sorghum, millets, and peas, is now stored in gene bank collections. The loss of some of the remaining 85% could impede the creation of better crop kinds.

Although it is generally acknowledged that the scale of current environmental problems, such as climate change or biodiversity, necessitates international cooperation in developing and implementing rules and methods of mitigation, recent experience demonstrates that global agreements and their enforcement are effective in areas where the costs are relatively low and the benefits are more pronounced for the more developed countries. It may be difficult, especially for the more developed and powerful countries, to implement evolving norms in numerous areas of environmental protection because doing so could result in higher costs and comparatively fewer immediately observable benefits.

The ozone layer will eventually rebound as a result of a predictable drop in the atmospheric amounts of ozone-depleting chemicals. Compared to other global environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss, protecting the ozone layer was a simpler task to solve. Achieving an ozone layer agreement was advantageous politically. The most productive and wealthy industrial nations on a global scale were also those with the highest rates of skin cancer. Furthermore, unlike greenhouse gases, whose production is intricately linked to the energy and transportation sectors, the production and use of ozone-depleting compounds is not fundamental to any economy.

2. Define flood. List at least four factors that cause flood. (5)

Ans) A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrology and are of significant concern in agriculture, civil engineering and public health.

The majority of all natural disasters are floods. Every year, thousands of lives are lost due to floods, which also have a negative impact on millions of people. About two thirds of all flood-related deaths worldwide occur in Bangladesh, which is by far the nation with the highest risk of flooding. India makes approximately one fifth of all fatalities worldwide and loses, on average, 600 million rupees annually. Every year, floods in South Asian nations cause millions of people to be displaced in addition to the death toll and property destruction.

A flood occurs when water output surpasses the river's canal capacity. Floods are brought on by a variety of sources, such as:

1. Extreme rainfall caused by the climate.

2. Ice and snow melting

3. Failure of dams

4. Ground slips

5. Riverbed silting lowers a river's carrying capacity.

6. Lack of communication between officials of neighbouring states or districts dealing with the same issues.

Even when the onset of floods is well known or predictable in advance, the government and the general public frequently fail to recognise the problem before it is too late to take preventive action.

3. Distinguish between Sudden Disasters and Insidious disasters. Give an example for each of them. (5)

Ans) Sudden disasters are those in which human factors are responsible, rather than natural

factors. Disasters which spreads gradually or without being noticed, but causing serious harm can called as Insidious disasters.

Sudden disasters that are considered ‘natural’ may often be caused by preceding human activities. Mining catastrophes, earthquakes, sudden floods, and landslides may be the result of indiscriminate deforestation or of construction of dams or by seemingly unrelated human activity. Of late, landslides have been occurring at frequent intervals in the hilly terrains of India especially in the Uttaranchal region.

The release of methyl isocyanate at the pesticide plant in Bhopal, India in 1984, and the leakage of radio active substances following an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power reactor in the Soviet Union in 1986 are a couple of examples of sudden disasters.

Insidious and continuing disasters include examples like the leakage of toxic chemicals from a dump site at Love Canal in Buffalo; the tainting of the soil in Times Beach with dioxin oils sprayed on the roads and leakage of radio active materials dumped at wastage dumps at nuclear weapons production facilities. Some natural phenomenon like prolonged drought may be examples of continuing disasters.

Disasters like global warming or the green house effect caused by heat trapping gases in the atmosphere released by burning of fossil fuels, use of chlorofluorohydrocarbons in aerolised perfumes and acid precipitation also come under the disasters under this category.

4. Discuss the role of MNCs and TNCs in economic globalisation. (5)

Ans)TNCs role in economic globalisation: Since the time of mercantilism five centuries ago, TNCs have been involved in global trade. These businesses served as the main conduit between customers in the most industrialised nations and producers in the developing world. Consumables and raw materials manufactured across a variety of emerging nations have been imported into Northern countries by the firms. The global commodity markets are still dominated by a small number of TNCs, and their relevance and involvement in the global trading system has been continuously growing.

Trade inside the firms has been one of the most potent forces driving the growth of global trade, and TNCs have facilitated the creation of global production systems. Nearly two-thirds of the overall trade is conducted among the top 100 TNCs, whose international sales make up 25% of global trade. TNCs are fostering closer linkages between producers in developing nations and consumers in developed nations, and globalisation is spawning forces that present both enormous potential and dangers.

MNCs role in economic globalisation: MNCs are significant economic agents in the modern world and have a significant impact on all facets of our everyday lives. These businesses produce a staggering variety of goods, contribute significantly to the growth of trade and industry, and have a significant impact on the overall economies of the majority of emerging and developed nations. By utilising the benefits of scientific research, adopting timely technical advancements, and growing the scope of operations by mobilising internal earnings, multinational corporations have gradually established their supremacy. They establish their hegemony over the production and distribution of commodities throughout the world by utilising external sources of funding, professionalising the administration, and functioning through a well-integrated organisational framework. They can sway political institutions and even government policy wherever they operate thanks to their financial clout. MNCs perform best in industries that require advanced technologies, modern skills, large-scale operations, and intricate industrial structures.

5. What is Global Environment Facility? Mention its four areas of operation. (5)

Ans) The World Bank was requested to evaluate the need for extra finance and potential donor interest in supporting initiatives to address global environmental concerns in developing nations during the Development Committee meeting in September 1989. For the World Bank meeting in Paris in March 1990, a paper titled "Funding for the Global Environment" detailing the objectives and broad methods was developed. A Global Environment Facility (GEF) was proposed as a pilot programme, in which grants or loans with favourable terms would be given to underdeveloped nations to assist them in implementing environmental protection initiatives. For the Facility's operations, four zones have been designated. These regions

1. Safeguarding the ozone layer.

2. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Safeguarding biodiversity

4. Safeguarding international waters

A number of developing nations took part in two additional meetings held in 1990 and drafted the proposed GEF's modalities, which were then considered and covered the financial allocation criteria and other organisational procedures. There was agreement on the following issues, among others:

1. The GEF should promote initiatives and projects that would benefit the entire world.

2. Programmes supported by the GEF should be put into action after consulting with the UNDP, UNEP, and World Bank.

3. Donor contributions must be made under extremely favourable conditions.

4. Whenever possible, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) may be involved in the planning and execution of the environmental activities funded by the GEF.

In order to enhance openness and democracy in governance and to encourage involvement from all people, the GEF was reorganised in 1994. Hard degradation-related activities' agreed-upon incremental costs are now also eligible for funding under Agenda 21.

6. Explain any four general principles of International Environmental Law. (5)

Ans) General principles of International Environmental Law as follows:

Principle of Good Neighbourliness

Every state has the absolute right to utilise and enjoy its own territory, according to the fundamental rule of international law. However, a state must use its resources in a way that does not interfere with another state's property rights or legal interests, in accordance with the traditional principle of good neighbourliness. The worldwide realm of environmental law has arrived through the backdoor of good neighbourliness. For instance, in the Trail Smelter Arbitration, hazardous gases from smelting activities conducted on Canadian soil flowed into the United States. As a result, a US citizen's property sustained damage. Because Canada disregarded the idea of good neighbourliness, it was held accountable.

Principle of Cooperation

This is a general rule of international law as well. It still holds true while addressing environmental issues. Without governmental cooperation, it is impossible to manage the world's environmental issues.

Principle of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is defined as a strategy in Principle 3 of the Rio Declaration as one that serves the requirements of the present generation without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their own needs. This idea is frequently referred to as the confluence of ecological and economic issues. It is predicated on the premise that economic development and environmental protection are mutually supportive objectives that cannot be achieved alone.

Principle of Polluter Pays

It implies that the cost of the effects of pollution falls on the polluter. In other words, it is the polluter's responsibility to cover the costs of repairing any environmental harm caused by their actions. This principle is particularly crucial when it comes to the North-South interaction. Because the North contributes significantly to global pollution, the South asks that the North shoulder greater responsibility and bear a higher portion of the financial burden for failing to implement pollution abatement measures.

7. Explain how environment is an important agenda of World Bank. (5)

Ans) In order to address environmental and social issues, the bank has operational policies, bank procedures, and good practises. The Bank compiled its emphasis on the environment into an Operational Manual Statement in 1984. The obligation for an environmental evaluation is this statement's most significant component (EA).

According to the project's nature, the World Bank requires borrowers to conduct an EA for projects that can have negative environmental repercussions. The purpose of the EA is to guarantee that development is "environmentally sound and sustainable" with respect to the local ecosystem, human health and safety concerns, societal considerations like cultural property, forced relocation, and trans-boundary and global environmental considerations. An evaluation of the project's possible effects on the environment, both good and bad, as well as workable alternatives, should be included in the EA. Additionally, it must to offer suggestions for reducing the negative effects on the environment.

Other environmental protection-related actions have also been implemented by the Word Bank. It has a public information policy that attempts to make pertinent information about its development projects accessible to the general public. Borrowers are required to consult the project-affected individuals as part of the EA. In order to verify that its projects do not violate any international environmental accords, the Bank also keeps a list of relevant international treaties and legislation. In 1993, an impartial Inspection Panel was established to address the worries of ordinary people who believe that a World Bank project has hurt their interests.

8. List any five multilateral initiatives on bio-diversity. (5)

Ans) List of multilateral initiatives on bio-diversity are as follows:

1. European treaty on the conservation of birds useful to agriculture 1902 1902

2. Convention on nature protection and wildlife preservation in the Western Hemisphere 1940 1942

3. International Convention on regulation of whaling 1946 1948

4. International Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat 1971 1975

5. International Convention on international trade in nendangered 1982 species of wild fauna and flora 1973 1975

9. Discuss in general the environmental concerns of South Asia. (5)

Ans) Many political analysts believe that violent conflicts are quite likely to erupt in today's South Asia. Additionally, they contend that a combination of environmental changes and population growth will increase this vulnerability. The majority of South Asian nations experience resource shortages; water scarcity is particularly pronounced in these nations.

Significant changes in energy use patterns have been observed in South Asia as a result of demographic and economic trends, with serious environmental repercussions. The consumption of renewable energy per person in South Asia did not rise throughout the three decades starting in 1971. The consumption of non-renewable energy, however, has greatly increased. Demand for modern energy sources, especially electricity generated from fossil fuels, is highly "income elastic." This situation exists for a number of reasons.

1. There are less and fewer renewable fuels available.

2. Energy-intensive lifestyles are being fuelled by urbanisation and increased wages.

3. The area has reached a point in its development where many individuals will transfer from using conventional fuels (such as wood, dung, etc.) to contemporary fuels.

As South Asia's population surpasses 1.5 billion and moves closer to 2 billion, its environment needs to be understood and managed in fundamentally new ways, taking into consideration the current resource base and anticipated future resource demand. Regardless of whether it qualifies as "green," "blue," or "brown," the environment must be managed as a region that is fundamentally man-made. It is impossible to separate the trajectory of industry, urban and rural incomes, productivity, trade, technology, and governance from that of natural resource management in South Asia. The environmental and economic policies and institutions of the Regions must overcome this difficult job.

10. Discuss the various initiatives taken in India to protect its wildlife. (5)

Ans) The Environment Act of 1986 (EPA) provides extensive legal protection for the environment. It grants the Central Government broad authority to implement any actions it considers appropriate or necessary for preserving and enhancing environmental quality. Some of the strategies include setting environmental quality standards, limiting industrial operating zones, establishing protocols for managing dangerous compounds, and similar things. The Central Government has the authority to prohibit the establishment of new industries at locations not compatible with the environment and to shut down violating industries. The following are some of the law's main initiatives:

Pollution-Air and Water: The Central Pollution Control Board has the authority to enforce the terms of the Air Act of 1981. The use of harmful fuels and substances is prohibited, restricted areas are declared, and other strategies are used to address air pollution.

Hazardous and Toxic Substances: Hazardous waste generators are accountable for the correct processing and disposal of such wastes under the Hazardous Wastes Rules of 1989. The regulations pertaining to these establish a network of committees to control plant pests, animal pathogens, and genetically modified organisms with the goal of preserving the environment and human health from potential negative effects of gene technology and microbes.

Forests: A legacy of colonial times, the Indian Forest Act of 1927 (IFA) demonstrates a revenue-focused approach. It controls transactions involving forest products and makes it easier to impose taxes on timber. This Act gives the State Government the authority to designate any forest land or waste area as "reserved forests" by notification, granting them exclusive rights to the forest and its "product."

National Environment Policy: The National Environment Policy (NEP) aims to direct the Government in adopting legislation, reviewing regulations, and implementing programmes and projects for environmental conservation. The draught policy, which the Cabinet approved in 2006 after two years of careful consideration by all societal segments, has also been referred to as a declaration of India's commitment to positively influencing global initiatives.

11. Discuss the instances when NGO’s have conflicted socio-political movements. (5)

Ans) NGOs and socio-political movements are at odds with one another. Movements like the Narmada Bachao Andolan have raised certain concerns over the projected Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) across the Narmada River (NBA). It is noted that according to NBA's interpretation, SSP implied:

Unprecedented displacement, infringement on people's rights to life and a livelihood, degradation of land, water, and forest resources, unreliability of benefits, tremendous financial burden, and ensuing worldwide debt trap

According to rumours, the Gujarat government staged demonstrations, festivals, and exhibitions around the state in an effort to spread the myth that the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) was the state's true lifeblood in response to the NBA's criticism of the project. Various Gujarati NGOs were among those endorsing the government's point of view. Some of these NGOs asserted that their main goal was to negotiate a just settlement for people the project would adversely affect. These NGOs labelled the NBA's aggressive opposition as "not responsible activity" and a "lofty ideal." The NGOs further asserted that "sufficient land is not accessible," making "rehabilitation unfeasible." Therefore, a significant number of NGOs asserted that NBA's complete opposition to the proposal was cloaked in language and romanticism.

Other academics disagree, saying that the NBA's stance was "nothing short of challenging the fundamental structures of power and patronage, received categories and ideologies, as well as representative processes that discriminate against the primary victims of economic development." Kothari is one such scholar. As a result, we can infer from the aforementioned example that the socio-political movements that articulate alternative development thinking are quite different from the developmental NGOs in terms of their orientation, which could, as it did in this instance, result in a conflicting relationship between the movements and the NGOs.

12. Discuss the main highlights of Chilka Bachao Andolan. (5)

Ans) The Eastern Coastal region of Orissa is where the Chilka Lake is located. Recent "developmental" activities have accelerated siltation, reduced lake water salinity, and gradually lowered water depth. This is due to the fact that there are more and more industries. The environment of the lake has become contaminated with mercury as a result of the cosmetic alkali unit's direct discharge of effluents into the lake. Deforestation, which caused soil erosion and lake silting, was another factor. The Tatas' propagation of prawn culture only made the situation worse.

In an unsuccessful attempt to create a conference in 1984, the Ministry of Agriculture invited the well-known Indian manufacturing conglomerate Tata to participate. In order to promote regional economic growth, the Orissan government put the lake up for public auction with entrance for large corporations.

The nearby villages had begun to demonstrate against government policy by the early 1990s. The condition of the lake was a critical issue. The Orissa Krushak Mahasangh (OKM), a people's organisation, took up these queries. The conservation of the environment and the means of subsistence for the poor were issues that the Chilka Bachao Andolan addressed.

Finally, the Indian government stepped in, and the project—which was nearly halfway through—was stopped as a result of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests' refusal to provide its approval. The Tatas were forced to resign after more than five years. The Chilka Bachao Andolan is a noteworthy development with a wealth of knowledge to share, including:

First, a local battle that effectively exposed the government and large corporations and focused attention on the growth model and nature of development grew into a bigger movement.

Second, because environmental concerns were raised, the popular movement was successful in gaining international support.

Thirdly, through widespread mobilisation, it has posed a threat to the globalisation process. Fourthly, it has shown how social justice and sustainable development are inextricably linked.

13. Explain the controversy related to seed suicides by poor Indian farmers. (5)

Ans) A phenomenon known as seed suicides is affecting India's agriculture industry. The farming community has been fighting against multinational seed firms that pressured struggling farmers to make substantial investments in their fields for more than ten years. Every year, hundreds of farmers take their own lives. In the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where globalisation is rife and multinational corporations have free reign, more than a thousand farmers committed suicide during a three-year period. Farmers all throughout the nation are terminating their lives in a frantic attempt to escape the new demands that globalisation and the growth of capital-intensive agriculture have placed on them.

The temptation of easy borrowing for the purchase of expensive inputs is part of the promise of enormous profits tied to ingenious methods developed by the chemical and seed businesses. The World Bank, WTO experts, and economists in various ministries have all promised trade liberalisation and agricultural inputs, but the reality of globalisation is different from this corporate propaganda and from these promises.

Vandana Shiva, a well-known environmentalist from India, claims that the epidemic of farmer suicides serves as a true indicator of the strain that globalisation of agriculture has placed on Indian agriculture and Indian farmers. Along the length and width of rural India, farmers are killing themselves primarily due to debt and crop failure. Inevitably, the corporate model of industrial agriculture that globalisation brought to India will also result in debt and crop failure. MNC-driven agriculture is capital-intensive and generates significant debt to pay for expensive internal inputs like seeds and agri-chemicals. Because it is built on monocultures of imported types and unsustainable methods of intensive farming, it is also ecologically susceptible.

She examined the effects of trade liberalisation on Indian farmers and agriculture in her research "Seeds of Suicide," which provides a thorough analysis of the social and environmental implications of globalisation. The tragedy in Andhra Pradesh serves as a case study for the significant social and ecological costs of globalising unsustainable agriculture. These costs are not only felt in the state's cotton-growing regions but also in all other locations where commercially cultivated and chemically farmed commodities are grown. The costs and dangers of globalisation are solely borne by small farmers and landless peasants, while the benefits accrue to seed and chemical multinationals through expanded markets. Contrarily, in affluent nations, farmers benefit from state subsidies, economic protectionism, and advantages like easily accessible crop insurance, making them significantly less sensitive to such hazards.

14. What is meant by ‘Carrying Capacity’ of ecosystems? Mention few facts related to the threat on bio-diversity. (5)

Ans) "Carrying capacity" refers to the capacity of all ecosystems to remove garbage that is spread across the planet as a result of human development. The earth's ability to support life systems deteriorates when this trash exceeds the ecosystems that can clean it up. These ecosystems include woods, rivers, and wetlands like lakes, ponds, and streams. They also include the air we breathe and countless microorganisms like bacteria, algae, fungi, and amoebas that are unacknowledged natural supporters of the agenda for human progress. When any region of the world experiences rapid development in the form of industry establishment, mining, fishing, urbanisation, deforestation, and infrastructure expansion, the development planners typically turn a blind eye to the vast potential of diverse natural assets that would be destroyed temporarily in order to increase short-term financial gain. These natural ecosystems are destroyed due to human greed since they lack a voice and cannot be effective electoral vote banks to affect the election prospects of a developer.

Many animals are killed when a road or railway is built through a dense forest, and the lack of privacy for many animal lives causes their population to decline. wipes them off and exposes them to puachers. This has already occurred to cheetahs, tigers, pandas, and black bucks, and is currently targeted at chirus and rhinos. Many native tree species, like oak, are being displaced by pine and fir. This is a tale of what one can actually see, and how much more loss there is to nature today despite the heightened awakening.

Some shocking data include:

1. In just 50 years, humans have drastically changed ecosystems.

2. 60 percent of ecosystem services worldwide have suffered degradation.

3. 15 of the 24 studied ecosystems are suffering from deterioration.

4. In under 20 years, 20% of corals were gone; 20% of corals were deteriorated. Eutrophication of waters and coastal dead zones are results of nutrient contamination.

5. The current pace of species extinction is 100–1,000 times higher than the background rate.

6. If current trends continue, the current extinction rate will soon be nearing 1,000 times the background rate and could increase to 10,000 times the background rate during the next century.

7. The second half of the next century would see the loss of one-third to two-thirds of all species of plants, animals, and other organisms, a loss that would easily match those of prior extinctions.

15. What are sustainable food security indicators? (5)

Ans) The index is a useful tool for determining the sustainable growth path. It will make it possible for the government to select measures that would ensure sustainable food security. "Sustainable" states are those that have the resources to maintain food security at current levels and to increase it in the future. States with high levels of sustainability but low levels of food security should concentrate on improving access to livelihoods. They should use the resources at their disposal to adopt environmentally friendly practises: States that are food secure but lack sufficient resources should alter their behaviour and ensure resource conservation. It's crucial to strike a balance between current security and long-term sustainability. The preservation of natural resources for selfish reasons while there are hungry people is meaningless. The pursuit and achievement of clean air, clean water, clean surroundings, food production, livelihood generating, and environmental resource sustainability should be prioritised.

The weighted composite index has seventeen indicators in it. The availability index, access index, and absorption index are the first three sub-indices that are created from this set of information. These three indices are then merged to create the "weighted final index." The groupings used are replicated in the list that follows.

1. Weighted net sown area: This is the comparable amount of irrigated farmland needed to produce food.

2. percentage of net planted that is older than 8 years: This exemplifies the potential for area expansion.

3. Food grain output per person: This reflects proven levels of current production that is assured.

4. Per capita forest cover: This is a measure of how well watersheds are maintained.

5. This is potential surface water that has not yet been used but is accessible for use in the future.

6. Untapped groundwater that is still available for use in the future: This is the ratio of untapped groundwater resources to all resources.

7. Eight different types of lands that have been damaged by human activities are represented by this percentage of the total geographical area that has been degraded. Natural wastelands like deserts and sand beaches are not included.

8. Leguminous crop percentage as a percentage of total area under cultivation: This reflects the sustainability of soil fertility with the adoption of workable crop patterns.

16. What are micronutrients? Describe any disease related to deficiency of a micronutrient. (5)

Ans) Usually only a few milligrams or even micrograms of vitamins and minerals are required in the form of micronutrients daily. Among the essential nutrients required by the body are calcium, iron, vitamin A, iodine, and vitamin A. Normal learning, cognitive abilities, immunity, work capability, and reproductive health are all essential for a person's growth and development.

Anaemia is a lack of red blood cells or haemoglobin. Red blood cells and haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that makes them red, are important because they carry oxygen from the lungs around the body. It’s important to find and treat the cause of the anaemia as well as the anaemia itself.

If you have anaemia, you can experience a range of symptoms, including feeling

1. tired

2. your heart beating fast or an irregular heartbeat,

3. dizzy or light-headed

4. short of breath, even when doing things you could usually do easily

Anaemia is most commonly caused by iron deficiency, which can develop for several reasons:

1. If you are not eating enough foods that are rich in iron. Iron is important for the production of red blood cells. People who are following vegan and vegetarian diets may not get enough iron from their diet.

2. If you are unable to absorb iron from the foods you eat. Some health conditions affect how much iron you can absorb from your stomach and bowel, such as coeliac disease.

3. If you experience blood loss. Women are at increased risk of anaemia due to menstruation or heavy periods — 3 in 10 women of child-bearing age have anaemia. People with conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or stomach ulcers may also experience anaemia due to bleeding in the stomach or bowel. Regular blood donors are at risk of developing anaemia too.

4. If you have certain inherited or bone marrow diseases, including thalassaemia.

17. List five characteristics of Environmentally Sound Technologies (EST). (5)

Ans) Technologies that are environmentally friendly have the ability to perform much better on the environment than other technologies. They are not merely isolated technologies; rather, they can be viewed as comprehensive systems that incorporate organisational and administrative practises together with the necessary goods, services, and equipment. An EST has the following characteristics:

1. With no waste.

2. Pollution zero.

3. There is no health risk to employees.

4. Little energy use.

5. Effective utilisation of resources.

According to Agenda 21, "New and efficient technologies will be required to strengthen the capabilities (especially of developing countries) to achieve sustainable development, support the global economy, safeguard the environment," and alleviate "poverty and human suffering." The necessity to address the current technology's improvement and, when necessary, its replacement with more accessible and ecologically friendly technology is inherent to these operations.

Agenda 21, a product of UNCED, contains a definition of EST.

ESTs are technologies, according to Chapter 34 of Agenda 21, which:

1. Defend the environment.

2. Reduce pollution.

3. Sustainable resource use is important.

4. Recycle items and garbage.

The sector that the industry or production processes belong to determines how environmentally friendly the business is. A few industries, including paper and pulp, iron and steel, and food processing, were recognised as major polluters in the Brundtland Commission Report. vehicles, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, and the production of electric power.

An individual company's environmental friendliness is influenced by both the items it produces and the production methods it employs. Low energy consumption items are those made of recyclable and renewable materials. The automobile sector has outperformed other businesses because it has been able to produce vehicles with cheap energy costs while still adhering to environmental standards. The manufacturing of such cars has contributed to Maruti's growth in popularity. It calls for improved engine layouts, lighter weights and lower wind resistance, as well as the partial use of recyclable materials and the reduction of exhaust emissions through catalyzer technology.

18. What is the concept behind ‘Green Business’? (5)

Ans) "How to make money and safeguard the environment at the same time?" is the central question of green business. It allays the concerns of those who view the environment as a "no growth factor" or who have been indiscriminately and negligently consuming natural resources. It can therefore be referred to as a "more responsible business," and the demand for it has grown along with the demand for human and labour rights as well as rights of indigenous peoples and tribal groups who live in areas of the world that have been ruthlessly exploited by powerful "business companies." The exploitation of the Rocky Mountains in the West of the United States, the dense rainforests of Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and back home in India has resulted in the loss of the majority of these areas with their rich environmental wealth of wetlands and minerals for all time due to careless and unrestrained rights granted to businesses in exchange for hard currency earned by profit-hungry businesses or used by the poor country to temporarily pay off debts.

Major catastrophes and mishaps like Seveso, Exxon Valdez, Bhopal, and Chemobyl have been caused by a lack of environmental legislation as a result of a lack of environmental awareness among workers unions, citizens, and international organisations. In October 1987, a fire involving ammonium nitrate in France forced the evacuation of 60,000 people. Many workers perished in fires caused by methane gas in Italy and ammonium in the Sri Ram Fertilizer factory in Delhi. A vinyl chloride explosion in Bulgaria caused numerous fatalities and severe injuries. Explosions in chemical storage facilities at a pyrotechnics manufacturer in the Philippines resulted in multiple fatalities. Even industrialised nations are not exempt from this disregard for environmental regulations, as demonstrated by the 1986 chlorine leak in the USA that killed many people and injured many more.

19. Refer to two instances during which Indian Judiciary has played a positive role in protecting the environment. (5)

Ans) The most effective instances of judicial involvement for environmental protection include:

Delhi Vehicular Pollution Case, 1994: The Supreme Court issued broad directives for the Union government and the State governments to follow in order to combat vehicle pollution in light of the growing pollution in Delhi. All new vehicles must have catalytic converters installed as a requirement, all government vehicles and public transportation must run on compressed natural gas (CNG), and all commercial vehicles older than 15 years are prohibited from operating on Delhi's roadways.

Taj Mahal Case. 1997: This relates to the Taj Mahal, one of India's most popular tourist destinations and a World Heritage Site. Numerous PILs have been submitted to the court because of the extreme pollution and the probable destruction to the monument. The Taj Trapezium, or the area surrounding the Taj Mahal that is approximately 10,400 square kilometres, was declared off-limits to coal-based industries by the Supreme Court. The polluting industries were told to use cleaner fuel or leave the region that was being criticised. In order to reduce the use of diesel generators, the Central Government and the State Government were ordered to create a Green Belt around the Taj Mahal and to provide uninterruptible power. They were also instructed to remove encroachments in the area of the monument that were harmful to its preservation.

20. “Right to clean environment is an inalienable part of human right”. Explain the statement. (5)

Ans) A healthy human habitat is necessary for the right to a clean environment, and this includes access to toxins- and risk-free water, air, and soil. Everybody has a right to a safe place to live and to basic government services. The States have a responsibility to guarantee the environment's protection, preservation, and enhancement. The States must also enact the necessary policies to carry out these goals. However, efforts made in this direction are frequently hampered by a lack of resources, mostly financial and infrastructure-related, especially in developing nations.

Indeed, the environment has been brought up by a number of regional and international organisations as a necessary precondition for living a happy life. However, it should be highlighted that the requirement for a clean environment was only added as a clause or component of the human rights strategy. Some schools of thought argued that it was unnecessary to include the environmental right in the range of human rights because its significance had already been acknowledged since the Stockholm Conference. Others, however, countered that the legal disputes surrounding environmental issues clearly demonstrated the interdependence of all living things and the necessity of a clean environment for human health. In light of this context, bringing environmental legislation under the purview of human rights ensures legitimacy in the area of living a life in safety and dignity.