Social issues and environment

Social Issues and EnvironmentSustainable developmentUrban problems related to energyWater conservationRain water harvestingWatershed management, rehabilitation and resettlement of peopleClimate changeGlobal warmingAcid rainOzone layer depletionNuclear hazards and accidents; holocaustWasteland reclamationConsumerism and waste

Sustainable development

• Started after 1992 Earth Summit, Rio De Janeiro (Brazil).

• Agenda-21 and Red Data Book.• Economic development that is conducted

without depletion of natural resources.• Development that meets the needs and

aspirations of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Urban PlanningUrban planning is a technical and political process concerned with the use of land, protection and use of the environment, public welfare, and the design of the urban environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas such as transportation, communications, and distribution networks.

Why more energy is required in urban areas

Traditional housing in India required very little temperature adjustments as the material used, such as wood and bricks, handled temperature changes better than the current concrete, glass and steel of ultra-modern building.

Cities are the main centres of economic growth, trade, education, innovations and employment.

Increasing movement of rural folk to cities in search of employment.

Spreading of the cities into the sub-urban or rural areas too, this phenomenon is known as “urban sprawl”.

Energy use is closely related to development in industry, transport, communication, commercial, household and agricultural activities.

Solutions for urban energy demandReduce energy required to produce the

same amount of goods/services (Increase Efficiency)

Better technologyReduction in unnecessary consumptionUse of renewable sources like solar and

wind energyEnvironment friendly buildings

Resettlement and rehabilitation of peopleReason for this:Developmental projects like dams, power projects, highways etc.Natural calamitiesWar and epidemicsInternational politics and law

Environmental ethicsDevelopment of civilizationsTraditions and customsDevelopmental policiesInter-generation and Intra-generation equityDevelopment and conservationLife-style and consumerism

Consumerism and waste products

Behind Consumerism

Types of consumerism

Methods to control Consumerism

Rain Water HarvestingRainwater harvesting is a technique of collection and storage of rainwater into natural reservoirs or tanks, or the infiltration of surface water into subsurface aquifers (before it is lost as surface runoff). One method of rainwater harvesting is rooftop harvesting.o Collectiono Storageo Recharge