Class 12 Political Science - ODISHA
Environment and Natural Resources
The chapter 'Environment and Natural Resources' in Class 12 Political Science for Odisha (BSE) students explores the growing significance of environmental issues in global politics. It highlights how ecological degradation, climate change, and resource scarcity have become major international concerns. Students will learn about the unequal responsibility of developed and developing nations in causing and solving environmental crises, key global summits like the Rio Earth Summit, the concept of sustainable development, and the rights of indigenous people regarding natural resources. This chapter is vital for board exams as it bridges traditional security and modern planetary concerns.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Global Commons
Those areas or resources of the earth that lie outside the sovereign jurisdiction of any single state and require common management by the international community, such as Antarctica, the ocean floor, and outer space.
Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
The principle that all nations are responsible for addressing global environmental degradation, but developed countries bear a heavier historical burden because they caused the majority of industrial pollution.
Rio Earth Summit (1992)
A major UN conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that popularized the concept of sustainable development and led to conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and forestry.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, balancing economic growth with environmental protection.
Indigenous Rights
The struggles and claims of original inhabitants over their ancestral lands, forests, and natural resources against displacement caused by large-scale developmental projects.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Odisha (BSE) Class 12 Political Science board examination, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions usually include short-answer questions (2 marks), long-answer/essay-type questions (4 or 7 marks) on concepts like CBDR and global commons, and objective multiple-choice questions regarding important environmental summits and dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Global commons refer to natural resources and regions outside national jurisdiction that need joint governance, such as the Earth's atmosphere, Antarctica, the ocean floor, and outer space.
Developing countries argue that developed nations are historically responsible for past greenhouse gas emissions due to industrialization, and immediate strict cuts would hinder their economic growth and poverty eradication.
The Rio Summit produced conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and forestry, and recommended a list of development practices called 'Agenda 21' to achieve sustainable development.
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