The environment includes all living organisms and all natural resources on planet Earth. These biotic and abiotic factors influence each other. Microorganisms. Plants, animals and human beings are examples of biotic factors while abiotic includes air, water, soil, land, sunlight etc. There is an interlinking and inter as well as intra-dependence among these biotic and abiotic factors. Environmental science includes systematic and scientific study of all these factors.
Environmental resources are very important for all living organisms. Resources are both renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are those which can be used without the possibility of the resource becoming depleted or exhausted. That is, a continuous supply of the resource remains available. Examples of renewable resources are the trees in the forests and the fishes in the ocean on the other hand non-renewable resources are those which get exhausted with extraction and use, for example, fossil fuel. The environment also assimilates waste generated by all living organisms. It sustains life by providing genetics and biodiversity and it also provides aesthetic services like scenery etc.
The increase in population, unlimited use of natural resources, accumulation of solid waste including hazardous waste, pollution of all kinds of the environment to a large extent has deteriorated the environment at the global level. Today the world is facing its consequences. We all have to take steps for the conservation of the environment at local, national and global levels. Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core is an approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing, needs against an awareness of the environmental, social and economic limitations we face as a society.
Objectives
- To understand the concept of environmental science, environmental awareness & Conservation.
- To create awareness about environmental conservation needs and importance
- To analyze the causes and effects of ‘environmental degradation’ and natural ‘resource depletion
- To understand environmental challenges at local, national and global levels.
- To study the concept of Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals
Programme Outcomes
- Accept the importance of Environmental science, awareness, Consciousness & Conservation.
- Understand the importance of SDGs for a future society.
- Identify the critical role of teachers in attaining SDGs.
- Realize their role by appropriately integrating SDGs for environmental conservation into their teaching and research.
- Course Coordinator: Dr. Varsha S. Kumar