Class 11 Economics - ODISHA
Environment and Sustainable Development
The chapter 'Environment and Sustainable Development' in Class 11 Economics for Odisha (BSE) students explores the critical economic challenges of resource depletion and environmental degradation. It covers the dual functions of the environment—supplying resources and absorbing wastes—and examines how economic growth has strained this balance. Students learn about the concept of carrying capacity, the causes and consequences of global warming and ozone depletion, and India's specific environmental challenges. Finally, the chapter introduces sustainable development as a pathway to meet current human needs without compromising the ability of future generations, making it a high-scoring topic in board exams.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Environment
It includes all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements that surround us and interact to sustain life on Earth.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population or level of resource consumption that an environment can sustainably support without undergoing permanent degradation.
Opportunity Cost of Development
The environmental damage, resource depletion, and pollution caused as a trade-off for rapid industrialization and economic growth.
Global Warming
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
This chapter typically carries around 6-8 marks in the Odisha (BSE) Class 11 Economics examination. Questions usually include 1-mark objective questions, 2-mark short notes on terms like carrying capacity or global warming, and 4-mark descriptive questions explaining the strategies for sustainable development or the functions of the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two major functions of the environment?
The environment supplies resources (renewable and non-renewable) and it assimilates waste generated by human and economic activities.
Why is sustainable development necessary for India?
India faces severe environmental challenges like land degradation, air pollution, and deforestation due to poverty and rapid industrialization; sustainable development ensures resource conservation for future generations.
What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?
Renewable resources can be replenished naturally over time (like solar and wind energy), whereas non-renewable resources exist in finite quantities and get exhausted with use (like coal and petroleum).
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