Syllabus: GS-III: Environmental Degradation

Why in the News?

On 26 September 2025, the world observed World Environmental Health Day (WEHD). This year’s theme focused on the impact of clean air on public health, addressing air pollution, climate change, and respiratory diseases. The occasion highlighted that environmental health is not just an ecological concern but also a public health emergency, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that 12.6 million deaths annually are linked to environmental causes such as air pollution, unsafe water, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

What is Environmental Health?

Environmental health refers to the physical, chemical, biological, and cultural conditions of the environment that influence human health. It covers aspects like clean water, sanitation, air quality, biodiversity, and soil health.

Indicators of Environmental Health:

• Levels of air, soil, and water pollution.
• Ecological diversity and biodiversity balance.
• Access to safe drinking water.
• Sanitation conditions.
• Agricultural productivity and food safety.

Provisions Related to Environmental Health

Key Acts

• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: The central law for overall environmental protection, empowering the government to set standards for air, water, and soil, regulate hazardous substances, and ensure environment quality.
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: Regulates water pollution, establishes Central and State Pollution Control Boards, and sets discharge limits.
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: Controls atmospheric pollutants, with monitoring boards and standards for industrial and vehicular emissions.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides for the conservation of wild flora and fauna and the establishment of protected areas.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Promotes conservation and sustainable use of biological resources and ensures benefit-sharing.
• National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: Establishes a special tribunal for speedy and effective disposal of environmental disputes.
• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 & Indian Forest Act, 1927: Regulate forest use and conservation.
• Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA): Recognizes rights of forest dwellers, ensuring ecological balance alongside livelihood security.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP, 2019) and schemes like “Namami Gange” for improved air and water health.
• Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 & E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016: Regulate handling, recycling, and disposal of hazardous and non-biodegradable waste.
• Ozone-Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000: Regulate production, import, and phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.
• Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2018: Divides coastal areas for development, biodiversity protection, and disaster management.

Landmark Supreme Court Judgments

• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India series: Established key doctrines like the “Polluter Pays Principle,” “Precautionary Principle,” and “Absolute Liability” for hazardous industries.
• Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India (1996): Integrated sustainable development and precautionary principle in environmental jurisprudence.
• Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991): Recognized the right to access clean water as part of Article 21 (right to life).
• Municipal Council, Ratlam v. Vardichand (1980): Directed local bodies to maintain sanitation and public health.
• Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India (1996): Reinforced strict liability for pollution and hazardous chemicals.
• Recent Supreme Court Order (2024–25): Recognized protection from climate change impacts as a fundamental right under Articles 14 and 21.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 21: Includes the right to a healthy environment within the right to life.
• Article 48A: Directs the state to protect and improve the environment.
• Article 51A(g): Makes environmental protection a fundamental duty of citizens.

These elements provide a strong framework for environmental health in India, balancing legal mandates, policy innovations, and judicial activism for sustainable development and public well-being.

Climate-Health Nexus

• Climate Change = Biggest Health Threat (WHO):
  • Between 2030–2050, an estimated 250,000 additional deaths annually will occur due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress.
  • Health damage costs (excluding other sectors) may reach USD 2–4 billion annually by 2030.
• Impacts:
  • Worsens air pollution → respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD.
  • Increases spread of vector-borne diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya).
  • Extreme weather events (floods, droughts, heatwaves) disrupt food security.
  • Mental health impacts from displacement and loss of livelihoods.
• Case Study: In India, recurring heatwaves (Delhi, Rajasthan, 2024) have pushed mortality rates higher and threatened labour productivity, particularly among outdoor workers.

Global and Indian Scenario

• Global Level:
  • The IPCC stresses that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is essential to avert catastrophic health outcomes.
  • 23% of global deaths are linked to environmental risks like unsafe water, toxic chemical exposure, and poor sanitation.
• India’s Challenge:
  • India is among the most climate-vulnerable countries, with extreme heat, floods, and air pollution causing rising mortality.
  • Air Pollution: India contributes to 7 of the world’s 10 most polluted cities (WHO, 2023).
  • Child Health: Nearly 2 lakh child deaths in India annually are attributed to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and hygiene (UNICEF).

Cultural-Ethical Dimension

Indian scriptures long emphasised living in harmony with nature:

• Atharva Veda (12.1.12): “Earth is my mother, and I am her child.”
• Traditional Wisdom: Stepwells, ponds, and tree planting were equated with generational wealth, underscoring ecological balance.
• Proverb: “Treat the earth well. It was loaned to you by your children.”

Such cultural wisdom provides a foundation for eco-friendly living and sustainable practices.

Way Forward

• Policy Interventions:
  • Strict enforcement of air and water quality standards.
  • Accelerated implementation of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and state missions.
• Health Infrastructure:
  • Strengthen climate-resilient health systems, especially in vulnerable rural and coastal regions.
  • Expand disease surveillance for climate-sensitive diseases.
• Lifestyle Changes (Eco-friendly living):
  • Adopt plant-based diets, reduce carbon footprints, promote walking/cycling.
  • Encourage reduce, reuse, recycle principles.
  • Promote renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass).
• Community and Behavioural Change:
  • Mass awareness campaigns (like Swachhta Hi Seva 2024) linking environmental health with personal well-being.
  • Grassroots engagement through schools, panchayats, and NGOs.
• Global Cooperation:
  • India’s leadership in International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) must be scaled globally.
    

Conclusion

Environmental health is no longer a peripheral issue—it is central to human survival and sustainable development. Rising deaths linked to climate and environmental degradation show that ecological balance is public health security. India must integrate its traditional ethos of living in harmony with nature with modern science and global climate commitments. Only then can we ensure a healthier planet and healthier people, fulfilling both constitutional rights to a clean environment and SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-being) & SDG-13 (Climate Action).

Mains Practice Question

1. “Environmental health is as much a public health challenge as it is an ecological concern.” Discuss in the context of climate change and India’s sustainable development goals.

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