Class 12 Economics - ODISHA
Environment and Sustainable Development
The chapter 'Environment and Sustainable Development' in Class 12 Economics explores the crucial relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. Students will study the dual functions of the environment: supplying resources and assimilating waste. The chapter highlights the causes of environmental crisis, such as population growth, industrialization, and poverty, alongside critical global issues like global warming and ozone depletion. Crucially, it introduces the concept of sustainable development—meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations—and discusses strategies for achieving it in India, making it a high-scoring chapter for Odisha board examinations.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Environment
The total planetary inheritance and the totality of all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements that surround us and influence each other.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population or level of resource consumption that an environment can sustain indefinitely without undergoing permanent deterioration.
Opportunity Cost of Negative Environmental Impact
The heavy economic burden and health costs borne by society due to pollution, resource depletion, and loss of biodiversity.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
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.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Odisha (BSE) Class 12 Economics board examinations, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions usually include short-answer questions (2-3 marks) defining environmental functions or sustainable strategies, and long-answer questions (5 marks) explaining the causes of environmental crisis or measures to achieve sustainable development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two major functions of the environment?
The two major functions are supplying resources (renewable and non-renewable) and assimilating waste generated by economic activities.
What causes an environmental crisis?
An environmental crisis occurs when the demand for resources exceeds their regeneration rate, and the generation of waste exceeds the environment's assimilating capacity, mainly driven by population explosion, industrialization, and overconsumption.
How can India achieve sustainable development?
India can achieve sustainable development by using non-conventional energy sources, promoting organic farming, adopting cleaner technologies, spreading environmental awareness, and managing waste effectively.
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