Chapter 8 – Environment and Natural Resources
Q1. What is environmental politics?
Environmental politics deals with global, national, and local efforts to address issues like pollution, climate change, and sustainable use of natural resources through laws, movements, and international cooperation.
Q2. Why is the environment considered a global issue?
Environmental problems like climate change, ozone depletion, and biodiversity loss cross national borders and require collective global action for sustainable solutions.
Q3. What is sustainable development?
It is development that meets current needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs, balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity.
Q4. What is climate change?
Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, rainfall, and weather patterns, primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Q5. How does climate change affect developing countries?
Developing countries are more vulnerable due to limited resources, weak infrastructure, and dependence on agriculture, making them suffer more from rising sea levels and extreme weather.
Q6. What is the Kyoto Protocol?
A 1997 international treaty that committed industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Q7. What is the Paris Agreement?
Signed in 2015, it aims to limit global temperature rise below 2°C, with voluntary emission reduction commitments by countries and regular progress reviews.
Q8. What are global commons?
Resources like the atmosphere, oceans, Antarctica, and outer space that belong to no single country but require collective responsibility for their protection and sustainable use.
Q9. What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth—plants, animals, ecosystems—essential for ecological balance and human survival.
Q10. Why is biodiversity declining?
Due to habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, overexploitation, and invasive species, biodiversity is rapidly decreasing worldwide.
Q11. What is the Earth Summit?
The 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro where leaders adopted Agenda 21 and discussed climate, forests, and biodiversity protection.
Q12. What is the significance of Agenda 21?
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive action plan for sustainable development, encouraging global and local environmental actions into the 21st century.
Q13. What is ozone depletion?
It refers to the thinning of the ozone layer caused by CFCs and other chemicals, increasing harmful UV radiation and health risks.
Q14. What is the Montreal Protocol?
A 1987 international agreement to phase out substances that deplete the ozone layer, especially CFCs. It’s considered highly successful.
Q15. What is resource geopolitics?
It studies how countries compete and cooperate for access to natural resources like oil, gas, water, and minerals, affecting foreign policies and conflicts.
Q16. Why is oil a strategic resource?
Oil powers economies, militaries, and transport. Control over oil supply and trade routes often influences geopolitical strategies and conflicts.
Q17. What is the Arctic conflict?
Countries compete for control over Arctic resources (oil, gas) and shipping routes as ice melts due to climate change, raising security and environmental concerns.
Q18. What is environmental justice?
It ensures fair treatment and participation of all people in environmental decision-making, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities affected by pollution or displacement.
Q19. What are environmental movements?
Mass actions or campaigns by people to protect nature, resist harmful projects, or promote sustainable practices, like the Chipko Movement in India.
Q20. What was the Chipko Movement?
Started in 1973 in Uttarakhand, villagers hugged trees to stop deforestation, becoming a symbol of environmental resistance and forest conservation.
Q21. What is Narmada Bachao Andolan?
A movement against large dams on the Narmada River due to displacement of people and environmental concerns, highlighting the cost of development projects.
Q22. What is ecological footprint?
It measures how much land and resources individuals or societies consume versus what Earth can renew, indicating sustainability or overconsumption.
Q23. What role do NGOs play in environmental protection?
NGOs raise awareness, mobilize communities, influence policy, and take legal action to protect the environment and promote sustainability.
Q24. How is India addressing environmental issues?
Through laws, policies, awareness programs, renewable energy promotion, and participation in global agreements like the Paris Climate Accord.
Q25. What is water conflict?
Disputes between countries or regions over sharing and managing freshwater sources, like the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan.
Q26. What is e-waste?
Electronic waste like old phones and computers, often poorly disposed of, harming the environment and human health, especially in developing countries.
Q27. What is green energy?
Energy from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydro that produce less pollution and are sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Q28. What is desertification?
Land degradation in dry areas due to deforestation, overgrazing, and poor irrigation, reducing agricultural productivity and displacing people.
Q29. What is India’s National Solar Mission?
A government initiative under the National Action Plan on Climate Change aiming to promote solar energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Q30. Why is international cooperation essential for environmental protection?
Because pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss are global issues, they need shared responsibility, funding, and joint efforts among nations for effective solutions.