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Introduction:

Our environment consists of all living, non-living, natural and man-made things around us. Many physical, chemical and natural forces also belong to it. Water, air, soil, ecosystem are all part of environment. Living things constantly adapt themselves to environmental conditions by interacting and interacting with other elements of the environment.

Table of contents:

• What is environment?
• Types of environment
• Components of environment
• Conservation of environment
• Environment and sustainable development
• Environment protection act
• Constitutional provisions for protection of environment
• Importance of environment
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• 1. What is environment?

The word environment comes from the French word 'Environment', which means to keep or surround. Basically, the environment is the aggregate of all living and non-living elements and their effects that affect human life. Around us there are many natural, unnatural, living and non-living things that are part of our environment. Environment refers to every living and non-living thing on Earth where life exists. Elements such as animals, people, sunlight, water, trees and wind make up the environment. Biotic and abiotic factors interact and influence each other. The four spheres of the environment are the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Besides the natural environment, there is also the man-made environment, i.e. areas where people have converted land for personal use for urbanization and agricultural production etc.

2. Types of environment:

The four main components of the environment are -- atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere.

1. Atmosphere: One of the main components of the environment is the atmosphere. It is made up of different types of gases. An atmosphere is made up of the layer of gas that surrounds a planet or other celestial body. Earth's atmosphere is made up of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and one percent other gases.
2. Lithosphere: Another component of the environment is the lithosphere, the solid, outer part of the Earth. The lithosphere consists of the fragile upper part of the mantle and the crust, the outermost layer of Earth's structure. It is bounded by the atmosphere above and the asthenosphere (another part of the upper mantle) below.
3. Biosphere: Another component of the environment is the biosphere, which is the sum of all ecosystems. The term biosphere comes from the Greek "bios" meaning "life" and "spira" meaning the shape of the Earth. Life is found in this part of the Earth and survives by interacting with other elements. It includes water, soil, plants, animals and bacteria.
4. Hydrosphere: The hydrosphere includes all water on Earth's surface. It is interconnected with the other 'spheres' of the Earth system. Water, the most abundant substance in our planet's atmosphere, is found everywhere on Earth in liquid, solid, and vapor states, although its abundance varies from place to place and time to time.

• 3. Components of environment:

The two main components of the environment are --

1. Biotic Components
2. Abiotic Components

1. Biotic Components: The biotic components of an ecosystem are all living organisms that affect other organisms in an ecosystem. Biotic components include animals, plants, micro-organisms, dead organisms and even animal waste. All these biotic components interact to develop new generations i.e. reproduce new organisms to maintain stability in the food chain.
2. Abiotic Components: All the non-living components of the environment, which affect the environment, belong to the abiotic components. Water, air, sunlight, soil, humidity, temperature, salinity, rainfall, altitude, soil type, minerals, air, dissolved oxygen, mineral nutrients present in soil, air and water. Abiotic factors can be of two types, chemical or physical elements of the environment.

• 4. Conservation of environment:

Environmental conservation refers to preserving natural resources and ecosystems from destruction by human activities such as sustainable agriculture, deforestation and burning of fossil fuels for future generations. The main objective of environmental conservation is to try to protect the elements and balance of the environment through the responsible use of natural resources. Certain policies and practices should be adopted so that the environment is not polluted due to water pollution, air pollution and the balance of natural elements is not disturbed in any way. They are ----

1. Conservation of Biodiversity: To protect and conserve Earth's diverse life forms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, to maintain ecological balance and resilience, as well as to prevent species extinction. This requires the creation and management of protected areas, habitat restoration and species recovery efforts.
2. Protection and conservation of natural resources: Natural resources must be conserved for future generations through responsible use and management of natural resources (water, soil, forests, minerals and wildlife). This requires implementing sustainable practices such as sustainable forestry, water conservation measures and wildlife management to ensure that resources are depleted faster than replenished.
3. Environmental Pollution Control: Prevention and reduction of air, water and soil pollution by reducing the release of harmful substances into the environment through waste management, cleaner production techniques and reduction of plastic pollution.
4. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from human activities to combat the causes of climate change and prepare for its impacts, such as vulnerable ecosystems and communities from extinction, through adaptation strategies.
5. Sustainable agriculture and food security: Sustainable agriculture practices protect soil health and conserve water by reducing chemical inputs to the soil. Its aim is to meet current needs and ensure food security without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
6. Education and Awareness: Public awareness about environmental issues and responsible use of environmental resources should be increased and a sense of responsibility for conservation should be encouraged through conservation programmers.

Environmental conservation is essential to maintaining the health of ecosystems and preserving the beauty and diversity of our planet. It is also crucial to protect human health and ensure the availability of resources for future generations. Effectively addressing global environmental challenges requires collaboration between governments, businesses, communities and individuals worldwide.

• 5. Environment and sustainable development:

Environment and sustainable development are interrelated. The main goal of sustainable development is to achieve a balance between the use of natural resources for economic development while meeting the needs of present and future generations, preserving ecosystem services, which are essential for everyone's well-being and livelihood. While there is no specific blueprint for this, there must be an understanding of the contribution of ecosystem services to livelihoods, the benefits and harms of changes arising from development interventions. Sustainable development addresses issues such as pollution, climate change, deforestation and loss of biodiversity Environmental sustainability is an important component of the Sustainable Development Goals, as these development activities can also lead to environmental degradation, but "environment and development" is more applicable from the perspective of "environment versus development". Sustainable development strategies clearly address the need to integrate poverty alleviation, development processes and ecosystem values.

• 6. Environment protection act:

The Environment (Protection) Act is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted in May, 1986 and passed by the Government of India on November 19, 1986 under Article 253 of the Parliament of India. This Act is considered to be a response to the Bhopal Gas Leak, known as India's worst industrial tragedy. The Act was introduced at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972 to implement the protection, improvement and related issues of the environment. Consisting of 4 chapters and 26 sections, the Act is an "umbrella" law that provides a framework for environmental regulation in India, covering all major industrial and infrastructure activities and prohibiting and regulating certain activities in coastal zones and environmentally-sensitive areas. Chapter I of the Act contains basic information such as short title, extension, commencement date and definitions, Chapter II describes the general powers of the Central Government, and Chapter III empowers the Central Government to take steps to protect the environment and authorizes the Government to appoint officers to achieve these objectives in the chapter. The Act empowers the Government to direct the prohibition, prohibition or regulation of industries, pollution and also provides for penalties for violation of the provisions of the Act and rules, orders and directions.

• 7. Constitutional provisions for protection of environment:

The right to a healthy environment is an integral part of the right to life, which includes the right to clean drinking water and the right to health. The Constitution of India has specific provisions for environmental protection in its Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties and Fundamental Rights. The constitutional provision is that every citizen has the right to maintain, protect and live in a healthy environment. At the Stockholm Conference, the growing awareness of environmental issues in the 1970s and the global movement to conserve the environment led the Indian government to pass the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1976 through an amendment directly adding environmental protection provisions to the Constitution. Article 48-A was added to Directive Principles of State Policy by the 42nd Amendment. This right was accepted as a universal human right also known as the Magna Carta of the Human Environment at the Stockholm Conference. The right to a clean environment is recognized under Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Indian Constitution.

• Guiding Principles of State Policy:

Article 47: According to this Article, one of the basic responsibilities of the state is to "raise the level of nutrition, standard of living and public health of its people". The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and protect the forests and wildlife of the country.

 Article 48A: According to this Article, "The State shall endeavor to preserve and promote the forests and wildlife and environment of the country."

Article 51A (g): According to this Article, it is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to show compassion towards living beings.

• Basic Duties:

According to the Article 51-A, Clause (g), it is the duty of every Indian citizen to preserve and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and animals. As a result of compassion for all living things, both the State (Article 48-A) and every individual (Article 51-A (g)) have a duty to preserve and improve the natural environment. The main objective of this section is to create an environment-friendly culture by building standards and institutions related to conservation of environment, preservation and protection of nature and natural resources.

• Fundamental Rights:

Although the Indian Constitution does not expressly mention the right to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right, the right to a clean environment is one of the fundamental rights enshrined under Articles 14, 19, 21, and 32 of the Fundamental Rights (Part-III) established by the Judiciary.

1. According to Article 14 of the Constitution everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection under the law, which implicitly imposes an obligation on the State to exercise fairness in its environmental protection measures.
2. The Supreme Court interpreted Article 19(1) to address the menace of noise pollution. In the PA Jacob case, 1993, the court declared the use of loudspeakers or sound amplifiers unprotected under Article 19(1).
3. The Supreme Court, in Article 21, interpreted the right to life to include the right to a clean environment. It states "No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except by procedure established by law." In the Derhadun Mining Case of 1988, the Supreme Court declared the right to a healthy environment as a natural corollary of Article 21 and in Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar the Supreme Court Held that the right to clean water and air in Article 21 qualifies as a fundamental right.
4. Article 32 and Article 226 of the Constitution of India allow any person to be sued by the Supreme Court for violation of fundamental rights through Public Interest Litigation.
5. Also, there are provisions under the Indian Penal Code that identify offenses against the environment caused by the public. These are --
6. Section 268 of the IPC- states, “A person is guilty of public nuisance who does any act or is guilty of any unlawful omission which causes any general injury, danger or danger to the public or generally to those living in the vicinity or occupying the property. causes nuisance, or which is likely to cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have an opportunity to exercise any public right. A common nuisance is not excused simply because it causes some convenience or benefit."
7. Section 277 of the IPC- According to this section, a person who pollutes the water of a public reservoir shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both.
8. Section 278 of IPC- According to this section, if a person pollutes the atmosphere thereby adversely affecting human health, he can be punished with fine up to five hundred rupees.
9. Section 290 of IPC- According to this section, "Whoever causes public nuisance in any case not otherwise punishable by this Code, shall be liable to a fine which may extend to Rs. 200."

Apart from the above sections, there are other environmental protection laws in India to protect the environment. Namely –

1. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
2. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
3. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

• 8. Importance of environment:

The influence of environment on human life is immense. The environment supports biodiversity and provides ecosystem services, regulates climate by mitigating climate change, affects human health, and affects the economy by providing natural resources. The important effects that the environment has on all life on Earth are:

Biodiversity: Environments maintain biodiversity by supporting a variety of plant and animal species, which are essential for ecosystem stability and resilience.

Climate regulation:  A healthy ecosystem helps regulate temperature, precipitation and atmospheric composition, and the natural water cycle and carbon cycle regulate global climate. A healthy ecosystem regulates the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, playing an important role in mitigating climate change.

Human health: Healthy environment clean air, water and soil are important for human health so environmental pollution has adverse effects on human health.

Natural Resources: The environment provides us with various essential natural resources such as water, air, soil, minerals and wood etc. which affect human survival, industrial processes and affect the economy.

Economic impact: Many industries directly affect the economy as they are directly dependent on natural resources and ecosystem services.

Ecosystem Services: Ecosystems provide essential services such as nutrient cycling, flood control, and soil formation that are vital for sustaining human life.

In short, a healthy environment is essential to sustain the existence of life on earth.

Conclusions:

Our environment is not just a collection of trees, rivers, animals; It is the basis of our existence. All living and non-living elements of nature that exist around us are part of this environment. A healthy environment directly affects ecosystems, biodiversity, climate and human health, as well as providing natural resources, industry, economy and culture, so protecting the environment is of utmost importance. But today the environment is being severely damaged due to some man-made activities, so we should make a concerted effort to save the environment from damage and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for the next generation.

FAQs:

1. Who is the father of the environment?

• Alexander von Humboldt is known as the Father of the Environment due to his remarkable contributions to laying the foundations of modern environmental science through his famous researches and writings ‘Life and Works’ in the late 18th century.

• 2. Who is called the mother of the environment?

• One author, Rachel Carson, is a marine biologist known as the mother of the environmental movement.
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• 3. Who started Environment Day?
• World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment (5–16 June 1972). A year later, in 1973, the first WED was held with the theme "Only One Earth".
• 4. What is the cleanliness of the environment?

• Decomposers and scavengers break down waste organic matter and release energy into the environment, so they are also called scavengers of nature.