Environmental deterioration is now being considered as the largest and deadliest threat facing us today. It means the disintegration of the Earth or worsening of the environment due to many factors, such as over-consumption of natural assets i.e. air, soil, and water; the destruction of environments, the eradication of wildlife, etc. The main reasons behind environmental deterioration are- ever-expanding human population, constantly expanding the monetary development and application of polluting the technology. When there is depletion of earth’s resources, there is a direct and negative impact on the environment in the form of extinction of species; pollution in the air, water, and soil, etc.
Major causes and effects of Environmental deterioration:
The main causes of environmental deterioration are:
• Overexploitation of natural resources
• Land disturbance
• Urbanization
• Intensification of agriculture
• Pollution in the air, water, and soil
• Landfills
• Population explosion
• Rapid increase in the use of energy and transportation
• Deforestation
• Overuse of science and technology
• Lack of education and awareness
• Natural causes- like earthquakes, tidal waves, storms, wildfires, etc.
The main effects of this include the following:
• Depletion of the ozone layer
• Loss of biodiversity
• Acid rain
• Floods, landslides, soil erosion, famines
• Global warming
• Public health issues
• Spread of diseases
• Wars
• Loss of livelihood for many people
• Deterioration in human health
• Negative impact on the tourism industry
• Negative economic impact
Measures that could mitigate Environmental deterioration:
Some ways in which environmental deterioration could be reduced are:
• Conservation of natural resources- such as water, energy, etc.
• Keeping our surroundings clean
• Spread social awareness
• Purchase recycled products
• No usage of plastic
• Huge fines for illegal dumping
• Reduction of waste levels
• Stricter government regulations
Environment and the Constitution of India:
The Indian Constitution, 1950, did not include any specific provisions related to the protection of the environment. By the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, specific provisions related to certain aspects of the environment were incorporated in the Constitution; specifically in Part IV- Directive Principles of State Policy and List III- Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
So now, following are the provisions in the Indian Constitution relating to the environment:
• Article 48A- Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife.
• Article 51A (g) under Part IVA- It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
• Seventh Schedule (Article 246) List III- Concurrent List- Item no.17- Prevention of cruelty to animals; Item no.17A- Forests; Item no. 17B- Protection of wild animals and birds.
Article 21 and the right to a pollution-free environment:
Article 21 of the Indian Constitution is the guiding light and all the other articles are subservient to it. It is the celebrity provision of the Constitution and has a very unique place as a fundamental right for the people. It protects life as well as personal liberty; and includes a gamut of other rights such as the right to health, right to a pollution-free environment, right to food, etc.
The right to life has been used in a much-diversified manner in India to protect the environment. It includes, among other things, the right to live with dignity, the right to survive as a species, right to livelihood, etc. and has a multidimensional interpretation.
Judicial interpretation:
The right to a healthy and wholesome environment has been incorporated in a series of judgments of the courts across India. The link between the quality of the environment and right to life was addressed for the first time by a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in Charan Lal Sahu v. Union of India [1990 AIR 1480].
In Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar [AIR 1991 SC 420], it was observed by the Supreme Court that “right to life guaranteed by Article 21 includes the right to enjoy pollution free air and water for full enjoyment of life”. In this case, the Supreme Court recognized that the right to a wholesome environment is a part of the fundamental right to life.
In M.C.Mehta v. Union of India [1987 SCR (1) 819], popularly known as the Oleum Gas Leak case, a new concept of managerial liability was developed by the Supreme Court i.e. absolute and non-delegable. This was with respect to disasters that arise from the storage or usage of hazardous materials from their factories. It was the duty of the enterprise to ensure that no harm is inflicted on anyone, irrespective of negligence or not. This is known as the strict liability concept.
In Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India [AIR 1996 SC 2715], it was held by the Apex Court that although industries are vital for the development of the country, they have to keep in mind the concept of ‘sustainable development’ which implies striking a balance between environment protection and development.
In the Indian Council of Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India [1996 3 SCC 212], the polluting industries were directed to provide compensation for the harm caused by them to the villagers in the affected areas, especially to the underground water and the soil.
In Francis Coralie v. Union Territory of Delhi [AIR 1981 SC 746], it was observed by Justice Bhagwati – “We think that the right to life includes the right to live with human dignity and all that goes along with it, namely, the bare necessities of life such as adequate nutrition, clothing and shelter, and facilities for reading, writing and expressing oneself in diverse forms, freely moving about and mixing and mingling with fellow human beings”.
Role of technology:
One of the main causes of environmental problems is a technology and the way it is used. Technology can be both- the source as well as the remedy of environmental issues. However, technology, by itself, cannot play any role. It depends on the way it is used- positively or negatively, as also the forms of technology that are used. Technology is an intermediary agent of global change and not the prime cause of it. The design, selection as well as application of technology are matters of social choice.
The impact of technology on the environment can be direct as well as indirect. As far as direct impact is concerned, it is mostly made by new technologies by creating completely new substances- for example, DDT, CFCs, etc. The indirect impacts arise from the ability of humans to mobilize vast resources and expand economic output immensely through continuous changes in technology. For example, the disappearance of infectious diseases such as cholera and typhoid has resulted in an increase in the life span.
The impact of technology on the environment is not the same across the globe. This is due to the fact that development, acceptance as well as the use of technology by humans is highly uneven and differs across regions and countries depending on their social as well as economic conditions.
Positive effects of technology on the environment:
1. The introduction of computers has drastically reduced the need for maintaining paper files, and these simple changes will have a considerable impact on the environment in the long run and shall help in the preservation of forests.
2. Recycling technology will also help in the elimination of waste.
3. There is an immense amount of research going into the generation of power and electricity and there are hopes of finding cleaner renewable sources of energy to replace fossil fuels and reduce global warming and climate change.
4. New methods are under scrutiny for improvement of efficiency of the existing systems, such as solar power, wind turbines, hydro-electric power, etc.
5. New systems for the removal of waste and improvement of efficiency with respect to electricity distribution may benefit people in the long run by cutting emissions and improving efficiency.
6. Projects that involve cars running on cleaner fuels may also provide a significant change in the way we live in the times to come.
7. Energy-efficient products that have already been brought into use are also an outcome of technological advancements and are contributing to a cleaner environment.
8. The new technology that will result in providing a boost to food production, improvement of infrastructure, improvement in healthcare and sanitation facilities could result in a dramatic change in the quality of life in the developing world.
Ill-effects of technology on the environment:
1. Technology mismanagement and lack of appropriate control measures lead to environmental pollution. In recent years, we have witnessed the production of a greater number of machines, weapons, and automobiles. An environment that has continuously got polluted due to technological advancements, ultimately result in air pollution, water, and soil pollution. The emission of poisonous gases by industries has caused an immense amount of air pollution. Disposal of waste into the water channels by industries leads to water pollution. Similarly, noise pollution is generated from the testing and usage of weapons, noise from industries and automobiles, etc.
2. Technology contributes to the depletion of resources. An increase in industrial activity requires raw materials from natural resources that eventually tend to get depleted due to over-usage. Farming activities like bush burning, deforestation and using chemicals for improving soil fertility ultimately lead to environmental deterioration. Extensive mining of diamonds, gold, and other minerals has been contributing towards the depletion of resources at an alarming rate. Over-exploitation of fossil fuels becomes an environmental threat in the long run.
3. Technological advancements in the modern world result in an imbalance in the ecological systems. A direct probable result of technology is the collapse of ecological life and extinction of organisms. Although it is possible that ecosystems revive themselves from these negative effects, but continuous environmental degradation through destructive human activities affected by technology will ultimately lead to a total collapse.
4. Global warming is another challenge that is a result of technology. Unchecked technological advancement specifically in areas causing air and water pollution leads to imbalances in atmospheric gases. Emission of harmful gases such as CO2 in huge amounts leads to the formation of greenhouse effects which forms the major component of global warming.
Conclusion:
Technology has overwhelmingly shaped the society, the economy as well as the environment. It has been the cause of many environmental problems but is also the key to addressing the issues of environmental degradation, climate change, waste management, food scarcity and other pressing challenges faced by the world today. If used in a prudent manner, it can prove to be a boon to solve most of the problems and issues faced by the environment in the present time.
“The views of the authors are personal“
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you mean by environmental deterioration?
Ans. Environmental deterioration is now being considered as the largest and deadliest threat facing us today. It means the disintegration of the Earth or worsening of the environment due to many factors, such as over-consumption of natural assets i.e. air, soil, and water; the destruction of environments, the eradication of wildlife, etc. The main reasons behind environmental deterioration are- ever-expanding human population, constantly expanding the monetary development and application of polluting technology. When there is depletion of earth’s resources, there is a direct and negative impact on the environment in the form of extinction of species; pollution in the air, water, and soil, etc.
Are any of the aspects of the environment mentioned in the Indian Constitution?
Ans. The Indian Constitution, 1950, did not include any specific provisions related to the protection of the environment. By the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, specific provisions related to certain aspects of the environment were incorporated in the Constitution; specifically in Part IV- Directive Principles of State Policy and List III- Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
So now, following are the provisions in the Indian Constitution relating to the environment:
• Article 48A- Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife.
• Article 51A (g) under Part IVA- It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
• Seventh Schedule (Article 246) List III- Concurrent List- Item no.17- Prevention of cruelty to animals; Item no.17A- Forests; Item no. 17B- Protection of wild animals and birds.
How is the ‘right to life’ related to the environment?
Ans. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution is the guiding light and all the other articles are subservient to it. It is the celebrity provision of the Constitution and has a very unique place as a fundamental right for the people. It protects life as well as personal liberty; and includes a gamut of other rights such as the right to health, right to a pollution-free environment, right to food, etc.
The right to life has been used in a much-diversified manner in India to protect the environment. It includes, among other things, the right to live with dignity, the right to survive as a species, right to livelihood, etc. and has a multidimensional interpretation.
The right to a healthy and wholesome environment has been incorporated in a series of judgments of the courts across India. The link between the quality of the environment and right to life was addressed for the first time by a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in Charan Lal Sahu v. Union of India [1990 AIR 1480].
In Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar [AIR 1991 SC 420], it was observed by the Supreme Court that “right to life guaranteed by Article 21 includes the right to enjoy pollution free air and water for full enjoyment of life”. In this case, the Supreme Court recognized that the right to a wholesome environment is a part of the fundamental right to life.
In M.C.Mehta v. Union of India [1987 SCR (1) 819], popularly known as the Oleum Gas Leak case, a new concept of managerial liability was developed by the Supreme Court i.e. absolute and non-delegable. This was with respect to disasters that arise from the storage or usage of hazardous materials from their factories. It was the duty of the enterprise to ensure that no harm is inflicted on anyone, irrespective of negligence or not. This is known as the strict liability concept.
In Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India [AIR 1996 SC 2715], it was held by the Apex Court that although industries are vital for the development of the country, they have to keep in mind the concept of ‘sustainable development’ which implies striking a balance between environment protection and development.
In the Indian Council of Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India [1996 3 SCC 212], the polluting industries were directed to provide compensation for the harm caused by them to the villagers in the affected areas, especially to the underground water and the soil.
In Francis Coralie v. Union Territory of Delhi [AIR 1981 SC 746], it was observed by Justice Bhagwati – “We think that the right to life includes the right to live with human dignity and all that goes along with it, namely, the bare necessities of life such as adequate nutrition, clothing and shelter, and facilities for reading, writing and expressing oneself in diverse forms, freely moving about and mixing and mingling with fellow human beings”.
What is the role of technology in environmental deterioration?
Ans. One of the main causes of environmental problems is a technology and the way it is used. Technology can be both- the source as well as the remedy of environmental issues. However, technology, by itself, cannot play any role. It depends on the way it is used- positively or negatively, as also the forms of technology that are used. Technology is an intermediary agent of global change and not the prime cause of it. The design, selection as well as application of technology are matters of social choice.
The impact of technology on the environment can be direct as well as indirect. As far as direct impact is concerned, it is mostly made by new technologies by creating completely new substances- for example, DDT, CFCs, etc. The indirect impacts arise from the ability of humans to mobilize vast resources and expand economic output immensely through continuous changes in technology. For example, the disappearance of infectious diseases such as cholera and typhoid has resulted in an increase in the life span.
The impact of technology on the environment is not the same across the globe. This is due to the fact that development, acceptance as well as the use of technology by humans is highly uneven and differs across regions and countries depending on their social as well as economic conditions.
What are the positive and negative effects of technology on the environment?
Ans. The positive effects of technology on the environment include:
1. The introduction of computers has drastically reduced the need for maintaining paper files, and these simple changes will have a considerable impact on the environment in the long run and shall help in the preservation of forests.
2. Recycling technology will also help in the elimination of waste.
3. There is an immense amount of research going into the generation of power and electricity and there are hopes of finding cleaner renewable sources of energy to replace fossil fuels and reduce global warming and climate change.
4. New methods are under scrutiny for improvement of efficiency of the existing systems, such as solar power, wind turbines, hydro-electric power, etc.
5. New systems for the removal of waste and improvement of efficiency with respect to electricity distribution may benefit people in the long run by cutting emissions and improving efficiency.
6. Projects that involve cars running on cleaner fuels may also provide a significant change in the way we live in the times to come.
7. Energy-efficient products that have already been brought into use are also an outcome of technological advancements and are contributing to a cleaner environment.
8. The new technology that will result in providing a boost to food production, improvement of infrastructure, improvement in healthcare and sanitation facilities could result in a dramatic change in the quality of life in the developing world.
The ill-effects of technology on the environment are:
1. Technology mismanagement and lack of appropriate control measures lead to environmental pollution. In recent years, we have witnessed the production of a greater number of machines, weapons, and automobiles. An environment that has continuously got polluted due to technological advancements, ultimately result in air pollution, water, and soil pollution. The emission of poisonous gases by industries has caused an immense amount of air pollution. Disposal of waste into the water channels by industries leads to water pollution. Similarly, noise pollution is generated from the testing and usage of weapons, noise from industries and automobiles, etc.
2. Technology contributes to the depletion of resources. An increase in industrial activity requires raw materials from natural resources that eventually tend to get depleted due to over-usage. Farming activities like bush burning, deforestation and using chemicals for improving soil fertility ultimately lead to environmental deterioration. Extensive mining of diamonds, gold, and other minerals has been contributing towards the depletion of resources at an alarming rate. Over-exploitation of fossil fuels becomes an environmental threat in the long run.
3. Technological advancements in the modern world result in an imbalance in the ecological systems. A direct probable result of technology is the collapse of ecological life and extinction of organisms. Although it is possible that ecosystems revive themselves from these negative effects, but continuous environmental degradation through destructive human activities affected by technology will ultimately lead to a total collapse.
4. Global warming is another challenge that is a result of technology. Unchecked technological advancement specifically in areas causing air and water pollution leads to imbalances in atmospheric gases. Emission of harmful gases such as CO2 in huge amounts leads to the formation of greenhouse effects which forms the major component of global warming.
