Environment and Sustainable Development – Class 11 Economics notes, important questions and MCQs

Chapter overview

The environment supplies resources, absorbs waste, sustains life and provides beauty. When resource use exceeds the environment's carrying capacity and waste exceeds its absorptive capacity, an environmental crisis results. Sustainable development, defined by the Brundtland Commission (1987), meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Functions of the environment

• It supplies renewable resources such as forests and water and non-renewable resources such as coal and petroleum.
• It assimilates (absorbs) waste, sustains life through air, water and soil, and provides aesthetic services such as scenery.
• Carrying capacity means resource extraction should not exceed regeneration; absorptive capacity is the ability to absorb waste.

Environmental problems

• India faces land degradation, deforestation, air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity and waste management problems.
• Global warming, caused by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, raises temperatures and sea levels.
• Ozone depletion is caused mainly by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); the Montreal Protocol (1987) phased them out.

Sustainable development strategies

• Use of non-conventional energy such as solar and wind power, and cleaner fuels such as LPG and CNG.
• Mini-hydel plants, bio-composting, biological pest control and traditional knowledge in agriculture and health.
• Conservation of forests and water, and people's movements such as Chipko for protecting trees.

Key terms

Carrying capacity

the level of resource use the environment can sustain without being degraded

Absorptive capacity

the ability of the environment to absorb waste and pollution

Global warming

a gradual rise in the Earth's average temperature due to greenhouse gases

Sustainable development

development that meets present needs without compromising the needs of future generations

Renewable resource

a resource that can be replenished naturally, such as forests or solar energy

Important questions with answers

Quick revision

• Functions: supply, assimilate, sustain, aesthetic.
• Carrying and absorptive capacity.
• Global warming, ozone depletion, Montreal Protocol 1987.
• Strategies: solar, wind, LPG, CNG, bio-composting.

Exam tips

• Learn the Brundtland definition word for word.
• Pair each environmental problem with one sustainable strategy.

Practice MCQs

1. Which of these is a renewable resource

   1. coal
   2. petroleum
   3. natural gas
   4. solar energy
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) solar energy. It is replenished naturally.

2. Ozone depletion is caused mainly by

   1. oxygen
   2. water vapour
   3. nitrogen
   4. chlorofluorocarbons
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) chlorofluorocarbons. CFCs were used in refrigerators.

3. The Chipko movement aimed to protect

   1. rivers
   2. wildlife only
   3. trees
   4. mines
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) trees. People hugged trees to stop felling.

4. The definition of sustainable development was given by the

   1. Brundtland Commission
   2. Kothari Commission
   3. Planning Commission
   4. Finance Commission
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) Brundtland Commission. It was published in 1987.

5. The ability of the environment to absorb waste is called

   1. carrying capacity
   2. absorptive capacity
   3. productive capacity
   4. installed capacity
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) absorptive capacity. Exceeding it causes pollution.

6. The Montreal Protocol aimed to protect the

   1. forests
   2. deserts
   3. oceans
   4. ozone layer
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) ozone layer. It phased out CFCs.

7. An environmental crisis arises when

   1. resource extraction exceeds regeneration and waste exceeds absorptive capacity
   2. resource extraction is below regeneration
   3. waste is fully absorbed
   4. population falls
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) resource extraction exceeds regeneration and waste exceeds absorptive capacity. Both capacities are exceeded.

8. Which strategy best reduces urban air pollution from vehicles

   1. burning more coal
   2. using more diesel generators
   3. cutting trees
   4. using CNG in public transport
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) using CNG in public transport. CNG is a cleaner fuel.