Environment and Sustainable Development | Class 11 Economics Notes

Global Warming and Ozone Depletion (Box 7.1 and Box 7.2)

Global warming refers to the gradual increase in the Earth's average atmospheric temperature due to increased greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane since the Industrial Revolution. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and increased cattle production contribute significantly to this phenomenon. The atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and CH4 have increased by 31% and 149% respectively since 1750, causing a rise in temperature by about 0.6°C and sea level rise. Consequences include melting polar ice, coastal flooding, disrupted water supplies, species extinction, and increased tropical storms and diseases. The Kyoto Protocol was an international agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ozone depletion involves the reduction of ozone in the stratosphere caused by chlorine and bromine compounds from CFCs and halons used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and fire extinguishers. This depletion allows more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth, causing skin cancer, reduced phytoplankton production, and affecting plants. The Montreal Protocol banned many ozone-depleting substances to protect the ozone layer.

📊 Diagram: No specific diagram, but the boxes provide detailed explanations and real-world impacts of these global environmental issues.

🔗 Connection: These global issues contextualize the environmental challenges discussed in the next section on India's environment.