Chapter 8: Environment and Natural Resources

Environment and Natural Resources

Political Science • NCERT Solutions • Chapter 8

Objective Type Questions
1. Which among the following best explains the reason for growing concerns about the environment?
Answer: (c) The environmental degradation caused by human activities has become pervasive and has reached a dangerous level.
2. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the Earth Summit:
a. It was attended by 170 countries, thousands of NGOs and many MNCs: Correct
b. The summit was held under the aegis of the UN: Correct
c. For the first time, global environmental issues were firmly consolidated at the political level: Correct
d. It was a summit meeting: Correct
3. Which among the following are TRUE about the global commons?
True Statements:
  • a. The Earth’s atmosphere, Antarctica, ocean floor and outer space are considered as part of the global commons.
  • b. The global commons are outside sovereign jurisdiction.
  • c. The question of managing the global commons has reflected the North-South divide.
  • d. The countries of the North are more concerned about the protection of the global commons than the countries of the South.
(Note: All provided options describe valid characteristics or political realities of the Global Commons).
Short Answer Questions
4. What were the outcomes of the Rio Summit?
The Rio Summit (1992) produced:
  • Rio Declaration: Principles of environmental protection.
  • Agenda 21: A comprehensive blueprint of action for sustainable development.
  • Conventions: It led to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity, and principles on Forestry.
  • Sustainable Development: It combined economic growth with ecological responsibility.
5. What is meant by the global commons? How are they exploited and polluted?
Global Commons refers to areas or resources that are not owned by any single nation but are common to mankind. Examples include the Earth’s atmosphere, Antarctica, the Ocean Floor, and Outer Space.

Exploitation & Pollution:
  • Since no single state owns them, they suffer from the “Tragedy of the Commons.”
  • They are polluted by industrial emissions (Atmosphere), dumping of waste/oil spills (Oceans), and debris from satellites (Outer Space).
  • Advanced nations with superior technology often exploit resources (like seabed mining) disproportionately compared to developing nations.
6. What is meant by ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’? How could we implement the idea?
Meaning: It is a principle from the Rio Declaration stating that while all states share a common responsibility to protect the environment, their responsibilities are differentiated based on their historical contribution to degradation. Developed countries (North) must bear a heavier burden than developing countries (South).

Implementation:
  • Kyoto Protocol (1997): Exempted developing nations like India and China from binding emission cuts initially.
  • Financial Aid: Developed nations providing funds to help developing nations switch to green technology.
  • Technology Transfer: Sharing eco-friendly technologies at subsidized rates.
Long Answer & Essay Questions
7. Why have issues related to global environmental protection become the priority concern of states since the 1990s?
Priorities shifted because the consequences of environmental degradation became global and undeniable:
  • Transboundary Nature: Issues like ozone depletion and global warming do not respect national borders; no single country can solve them alone.
  • Limits to Growth: The realization that current economic models were unsustainable (Club of Rome report).
  • Loss of Biodiversity: Rapid extinction of species threatens food security and ecosystems.
  • Health & Security: Environmental degradation leads to new health risks and conflicts over scarce resources (water wars), making it a security issue.
8. Compromise and accommodation are the two essential policies required by states to save planet Earth. Substantiate the statement in the light of the ongoing negotiations between the North and South on environmental issues.
The North-South divide requires negotiation based on equity:
  • North’s View: Developed countries (North) emphasize the current state of the environment and demand equal restrictions on all countries to prevent further damage.
  • South’s View: Developing countries (South) argue that the North is historically responsible for the damage due to industrialization. They demand the “Right to Development” to lift their populations out of poverty.
  • Compromise & Accommodation:
    • The Rio Declaration accommodated the South’s view via “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities.”
    • The Paris Agreement represents a compromise where nations set voluntary targets (NDCs) rather than imposed quotas, allowing developing nations to grow while gradually greening their economies.
9. The most serious challenge before the states is pursuing economic development without causing further damage to the global environment. How could we achieve this? Explain with examples.
Achieving development without destruction requires Sustainable Development:

Strategies:
  1. Renewable Energy: Shifting from fossil fuels to solar, wind, and nuclear energy. (Example: India’s International Solar Alliance).
  2. Clean Technology: Adopting cleaner fuels like CNG for public transport to reduce urban pollution. (Example: CNG buses in Delhi).
  3. Circular Economy: Reducing waste through recycling and reusing materials rather than a “use-and-throw” culture.
  4. Conservation: Protecting natural habitats and creating bio-reserves to maintain biodiversity. (Example: Sacred Groves in India).
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