Page 113 - Ai Book - 10

Species and Ecosystems

The depletion of the gene pool in various ecosystems has serious implications for the global economy since
a substantial proportion of the production of medicines and drugs depends on species found in the tropical
forests.
Space Junk

The increasing amount of space ‘junk’ is a pollution problem that has been largely overlooked. It indicates the
need for international agreements on the issue. Management of outer space by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty has
not been endorsed by all nations.

Environmental Degradation

Environmental degradation caused by factors such as over-exploitation of the land, drought and global climatic
changes leads to deepening poverty and famine, which in turn contribute to social unrest and conflict.
Conflict and War

The threat of nuclear war presents us with the possibility of unprecedented global ecosystem destruction.
Excessive military expenditure diverts funds from the urgent environmental problems facing developing nations.

SOLUTIONS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development helps in attaining development in all fields without causing any harm to the
environment. As we already know, it has three dimensions — ecological dimension, economical dimension and
social dimension. By integration of all these three dimensions at all levels, we can attain the goal of sustainable
development easily.

Principles of Sustainable Development

The main principles of sustainable development are:
Improving quality of human life Caring for all forms of life

Minimise depletion of natural resources Conserving earth’s vitality and diversity

Influencing attitudes towards environment Enabling communities to care for their own environment

SOLUTIONS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Here are some long term and short term solutions related to sustainable development:

Short Term Solutions Long Term Solutions

z Illegal deforestation should be stopped z Launching awareness campaigns for farmers and
z Regenerate forests to compensate for the lost industrialists.
forest cover z Government must form policies to stop illegal

z Recycling of waste with proper disposal system activities that are not environment-friendly.
z Treatment of industrial waste z Make the cost of treating waste cheaper than
z Relocating polluting industries to the outskirts releasing the waste indiscriminately.

z Prohibiting addition of toxic chemicals to the soil z Placing more emphasis on development of
sustainable agriculture.
z Rainwater harvesting Protecting ecology through taxes and fines.
z Using alternative sources of energy z

107
107