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Home / IAS Preparation / Environmental Issues

Environmental Issues in India: Definition, Climate Change and Global Warming, Pollution, Deforestation

Last Updated on Apr 02, 2025
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The world around us is undergoing massive change every day and it gives rise to different global environmental issues like climate change, pollution, deforestation etc. These environmental issues require coordinated action at a global level for any immediate relief. As each of our actions contributes to these issues, acknowledging and taking steps to reduce our own excesses on the environment around us is necessary. All of these issues are interlinked and their abatement requires scientific expertise and huge financial investment.

 

Learn about climate change, ozone layer depletion, pollution and deforestation here to prepare for various competitive exams like SSC CHSL, SSC CGL, MTS, IBPS PO etc.

Also read more about Non-Renewable Energy, here.

What is the Environment?
  1. The environment is commonly defined as the surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant survives or functions.
  2. “Environment” includes water, air, land, and the inter-relationship which exists among and between water, air, land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms, etc.

Read about the environment and ecosystem here.

Environmental Issues

Some of the current environmental challenges that require immediate attention are explained below:

Climate Change and Global Warming
  1. Climate change is defined as a long-term shift in the average weather patterns of the earth.
  2. Human activities, notably fossil fuel combustion, are mostly to blame, as they increase heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere, elevating the average surface temperature. This is called global warming.
  3. Global warming is a phenomenon that has been observed since the industrial age in the 18th century.
  4. Climate Change encompasses both human intervention and natural change in climate over longer periods. Global warming focuses primarily on rising temperatures as a result of human activities.
  5. Natural causes of climate change are- the intensity of the sun, volcanic eruptions, and changes in naturally existing greenhouse gas concentrations
  6. Anthropogenic causes are- burning of fossil fuels, livestock production, industrial development etc.
  7. At the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference, almost all countries resolved to shift away from fossil fuels to cleaner and efficient alternatives.

Ozone Layer Depletion
  1. The gradual deterioration of the earth’s ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the discharge of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine from factories or other human activities is referred to as ozone layer depletion.
  2. The consequent increase in UV rays would lead to an increase in skin cancer among humans and adversely affect plant and crop health
  3. Human activities have led to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere.
  4. These gases along with Ozone (which is 0.0008 % of earth’s gases) are called trace gases. They play an important role in maintaining the radiative balance of the earth’s atmosphere.
  5. Substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, hydrofluorocarbons, etc. are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. They are termed Ozone Depleting Substances.
  6. Increased UV levels leading to severe health issues like skin cancer and cataract.

 

Know more about the atmosphere and its composition here.

Pollution
  1. Noise pollution is the presence of unwanted and excessive sound that harms human beings and animals. Noise has the potential to disrupt essential activities like sleeping, reducing one’s quality of life.
  2. Soil pollution refers to the contamination and consequent degradation of land. The presence of pollutants or contaminants that disrupt the balance of nutrients in the soil is a growing concern. It leads to land becoming unsuitable for agriculture and barren.
  3. The contamination of water sources beyond permissible limits is called water pollution. It includes the contamination of both water bodies and groundwater. Major rivers like Ganga and Yamuna face an ever-increasing threat of water pollution from both sewage water discharge and industrial release. Projects like Namami Ganga by the Government are aimed at addressing water pollution by providing financial and technical assistance.
  4. Air Pollution refers to the contamination of the atmosphere by harmful gases, particulate matter and chemicals. Burning of fossil fuels in power plants and vehicles, agricultural activities like aerial spraying of insecticides, slash and burn system and industrial release of carbon monoxide and other chemicals are the major causes of air pollution
  5. The substance or energy that constitutes a particular kind of pollution is known as the pollutant. Pollutants can be in the form of solid, gas, liquid or energy. Pollution always has a source and a recipient.
  6. Pollution is defined as the contamination of the environment by foreign or toxic substances and excess forms of energy that are harmful to the environment. It affects the natural balance and creates adverse conditions for life. It is one of the most dangerous environmental issues in developing countries like India.
  7. Apart from the above-given kinds of pollution, there are others like Radioactive Pollution, Light Pollution, Thermal Pollution.

Read about the poor quality of air in Delhi here.

Deforestation
  1. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines deforestation as the “permanent removal of standing forests.”
  2. It can be through deliberate, natural, or accidental means
  3. It leads to the loss of habitats for a wide variety of species threatening their existence
  4. Forests regulate the climate of the regions. If it is destroyed irrationally, the temperature varies more dramatically from day to night, similar to that of a desert, which could be fatal for many inhabitants.
  5. The absence of trees also allows for a higher release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Forests absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and serve as major carbon sinks.
  6. It can also lead to soil erosion and flooding.
  7. Deforestation also threatens the livelihoods of indigenous communities.

 

Know more about the importance of biodiversity here.

Hoping this helped you to understand more about environmental issues. Practice mock tests prepared by subject experts for cracking competitive exams on the Testbook App.

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Environmental Issues FAQs

Soil pollution is defined as the contamination and subsequent degradation of land. The presence of pollutants or contaminants that disrupt the balance of nutrients in the soil is a growing concern.

Air Pollution refers to the contamination of the atmosphere by harmful gases, particulate matter and chemicals.

Climate change is understood as a long-term shift in the average weather patterns of the earth.

Substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, hydrofluorocarbons, etc. are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

“Environment” includes water, air, land, and the inter-relationship which is present between water, air, land, and humas, living creatures, plants etc.
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