Class 11 Economics - WEST-BENGAL
Environment and Sustainable Development
The chapter Environment and Sustainable Development for Class 11 West Bengal (WBBSE) Economics explores the crucial relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. Students will learn about the functions of the environment, such as supplying resources and assimilating waste, and the causes of environmental crisis like population growth and industrialization. It highlights the concept of sustainable development, which aims to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Understanding this chapter is essential for board exams as it carries significant weightage in evaluating students' awareness of current economic and ecological challenges.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Environment
The total planetary inheritance and the totality of all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements that surround us.
Functions of the Environment
It supplies resources, assimilates waste, sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity, and provides aesthetic services.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum number of individuals or load that a system can sustainably support without environmental degradation.
Opportunity Cost of Resource Extraction
The cost of environmental damage caused by excessive resource extraction and overuse, leading to a breakdown in the absorptive capacity of the environment.
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
In the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBBSE) Class 11 Economics examination, this chapter typically carries around 6-8 marks. Questions usually include short-answer type questions (SAQ), multiple-choice questions (MCQ), and descriptive long-answer questions focusing on the causes of environmental degradation and strategies for sustainable development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between economic growth and sustainable development?
Economic growth only measures the quantitative increase in the country's output of goods and services, whereas sustainable development focuses on long-term economic growth alongside environmental protection and social welfare.
Why is the absorptive capacity of the environment declining?
The absorptive capacity is declining because human activities, such as industrial pollution and excessive waste generation, are producing pollutants far beyond the rate at which the environment can naturally break them down.
What are some strategies for achieving sustainable development?
Key strategies include using non-conventional sources of energy, promoting organic farming, shifting to cleaner fuels like CNG in public transport, and practicing the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
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