How is the increasing demand for energy adversely affecting our environment?
How is the increasing demand for energy adversely affecting our environment?
The increasing demand for energy adversely affects our environment in the following ways:
- Air Pollution and Acid Rain: To meet the rising energy demands, fossil fuels (coal, petroleum) are burned extensively. This releases harmful gases like sulfur dioxide () and nitrogen oxides (), which cause air pollution and combine with rainwater to form acid rain.
- Global Warming: Burning fossil fuels releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide (), a greenhouse gas that traps solar heat, leading to global warming, melting of polar ice caps, and severe climate change.
- Habitat Destruction and Ecological Imbalance: Constructing large dams for hydroelectricity submerges vast forest areas, destroys local ecosystems, and displaces wildlife. Similarly, mining for coal and drilling for oil leads to deforestation and soil degradation.
Marking Scheme
- 1Explaining the release of greenhouse gases () leading to global warming, or air pollution/acid rain from burning fossil fuels. (0.5 marks)
- 2Explaining habitat destruction, deforestation, or ecological imbalance due to energy extraction/infrastructure (like dams or mining). (0.5 marks)
Hint
Think about what happens when we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity and how building dams or mining affects forests and wildlife.
Quick Oral Answer
The increasing demand for energy leads to burning more fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases like causing global warming, and pollutants causing acid rain. It also leads to habitat destruction through mining and dam construction.
Analysis & Explanation
Energy demand is directly linked to environmental degradation. As human lifestyles improve, energy consumption rises exponentially. Since the majority of our energy still comes from non-renewable fossil fuels, the combustion of these fuels releases greenhouse gases () and air pollutants (, ). This accelerates global warming and causes acid rain, which damages crops, aquatic life, and forests. Furthermore, physical infrastructure for energy generation (like large dams or mining sites) disrupts natural ecosystems, causes loss of biodiversity, and alters food chains, leading to long-term ecological imbalances.
Common Mistakes
- 1Only mentioning 'pollution' in a very general sense without explaining the mechanism (e.g., greenhouse effect, acid rain, or habitat loss).
- 2Confusing the depletion of the ozone layer with global warming caused by burning fossil fuels.
Interesting Facts
According to global climate studies, energy production (electricity, heat, and transport) is responsible for over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the single largest contributor to climate change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2010?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2010 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Our Environment" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Environmental Impact of Energy Demand" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2010 paper?
This is a Very Short Answer question from Section B in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2010 paper.