Class 12 Employability Skills Notes & Study Material
Unit 5 Green Skills
Introduction
Today, we are experiencing unpredictable weather conditions due to climatic changes and environmental deterioration. Deterioration of the environment through the depletion of resources, such as air, water, and soil is taking place globally.
We must adopt practices that are environment-friendly and avoid
using processes that will harm our surroundings.
We can take care of our environment in many ways. For example, we must not leave the tap running while brushing our teeth, use the leftover water in our bottles for watering plants, use cloth bags instead of plastic bags, buy eco-friendly products and reduce the
usage of paper.
- Using non-toxic and natural products for cleaning and washing.
- Using plants inside the home and other places for air purification. – Plants, such as Areca palm and rubber absorb harmful pollutants from the air.
Green Jobs
A way we can contribute to the environment is by encouraging green jobs. Green jobs help protect and restore the environment.
Green job is defined as one that helps bring about and maintain a transition to environmentally sustainable forms of production and consumption. It cuts across all sectors — energy, material, water conservation, waste management, and pollution control.
Benefits of green jobs
The greening of the economy presents a major opportunity to start new businesses, develop new markets, and lower energy costs. Green jobs that contribute to protecting the environment and reducing carbon footprint are becoming a key economic driver of the twenty-first century.
Green jobs help:
- increase the efficiency of energy and raw materials.
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- control waste and pollution.
- protect and restore ecosystems.
- support adaptation to the effects of climate change.
Green jobs in agriculture
Organic gardening and farming is the process by which we can grow plants and crops in an environment-friendly way. It prevents toxic runoff as no synthetic pesticides are used. It prevents water pollution and soil contamination as no chemical is added to the soil. By using organic methods of gardening, one can prevent death of insects, birds, critters and other beneficial soil organisms. Organic fruits and vegetables are free from chemical residues of synthetic fertilisers, and hence, are good for our health.
Green jobs in transportation
Use of energy-efficient vehicles and alternate fuels like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) can help minimise greenhouse gas emissions. The new biofuel Policy announced by the Government of India on 10 August 2018 focusses on initiatives for enhanced use of biomass
so as to improve the availability of ethanol through starch and sugar-based feedstock, develop ethanol technologies and increase the production of biodiesel for blending. Biofuels produced
directly or indirectly from organic material, including BioCNG, Bio-methanol, etc., can generate green jobs.
The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the Ministry of Power, has launched an ‘electric vehicle programme’, which aims towards offering a comprehensive solution to facilitate the adoption of disruptive technology in India. The EESL seeks to create market for electric vehicle, a technology poised to boost e-mobility in the country.
Green jobs in water conservation
There are green jobs in water harvesting and conservation. Rooftop rainwater harvesting refers to the process where rainwater is collected in tanks to be used later. It can be installed in all houses and buildings. It can also help increase the water table. Cycle-run water pumps are being used instead of electricity-run pumps. These do not consume electricity and provide a way for people to exercise.
Green jobs in solar and wind energy
Solar and wind power plants provide clean energy. A Solar Photovoltaic Installer installs and maintains solar panels in homes, businesses or land. A solar lighting technician assembles, tests, and repairs different types of solar photovoltaic home lighting systems and streetlights. Some common jobs in this sector are roofer, solar panel installation technician and field technician.
Green jobs in eco-tourism
Eco-tourism is intended to provide an experience for visitors to understand the importance of conserving resources, reducing waste, enhancing the natural environment and reducing
pollution. This helps improve public image as the visitors feel good about being in an environment friendly place. Green jobs in eco-tourism include eco-tour guides and eco-tourism operators.
Green jobs in building and construction
Houses and buildings are becoming environment-friendly. They use sustainable building materials and follow eco-friendly construction processes and green operations. Green building the design provides an integrated approach to utilisation of renewable and non-renewable resources.
Green jobs in solid waste management
Solid waste is defined as any discarded solid fraction, generated from domestic units, trade centres, commercial establishments, industries, agriculture, institutions, public services and mining activities. The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, has classified solid waste in 14 categories based on the source of origin and type of waste, i.e., domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, institutional, garbage, ash, street sweepings, dead animals, construction and demolition waste, bulky, hazardous and sewage waste.
Green jobs in appropriate technology
Appropriate technology is small-scale technology that is environment-friendly and suited to local needs. Examples of appropriate technology are bike-powered or hand-powered water
pumps, solar lamps in streetlights, solar buildings, etc. It is the simplest technology that can get a job done in an environment-friendly manner with locally available resources.
Limiting greenhouse gas emissions
Some of the greenhouse gases are Carbon dioxide, methane, Nitrous oxide, ozone and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These are emitted due to burning of fossil fuels, using vehicles and refrigerants, and carrying out agricultural activities, etc. These gases can trap heat from the earth and prevent it from escaping into outer space. This causes the earth to heat, leading to ‘global warming’. To reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, people are working towards reducing the use of fossil fuels by finding less polluting energy sources, such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Minimising waste and pollution
Instead of only thinking about how to recycle or reuse waste, we must work towards finding solutions on how to reduce the amount of waste produced. This will help in waste management. In manufacturing plants and factories, managers try to find various ways to reduce the amount of waste produced at every step of the process. Here are some of the ways.
- Reusing scrap material
For example, in paper mills, damaged rolls are sent back to the beginning of the production line, i.e., they are added as raw material. In the manufacture of plastic items, off-cuts, and scrap are re-incorporated into new products. - Ensuring quality control
If the quality of products is maintained, there will be a decrease in rejected products, thus, reducing waste. Automated monitoring equipment is now being used, which can help identify production problems at an early stage. - Waste Exchange
This is where the waste product of one process becomes the raw material for another. It represents the way of reducing waste disposal through re-use. - Managing e-waste
With advanced technology, we have also encountered problems in managing e-waste like old mobile phones, laptops and television sets. It is important to have sustainable development and plan judiciously for recycling e-waste. - Use of eco-friendly material
Scientists have discovered various eco-friendly materials for example, banana leaves and paper plates that are easily disposable, etc. These must be made easily available and their use needs to be encouraged.
Protecting and restoring ecosystems
Human activities, such as excess felling of trees can lead to the destruction of the ecosystem, causing climate change and natural disasters, making it difficult for living beings to survive. People are working now to help conserve the existing ecosystems and restore the degraded ones, using natural solutions. Forests and vegetation help stabilise slopes, and therefore, reduce the risk of landslides. Wetlands can help control floods. Avoiding cutting of forests, planting more trees, investing in soil health and restoration can control the emission of greenhouse gases.
Adapting to the effects of climate change
The climate will change based on the damage already done. Even though people are trying to control the emission of greenhouse gases, global warming will be there due to the damage already done in terms of felling of trees and using land for agriculture, etc. So, we have to adapt to those changes. The Government of India launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June 2008 to deal with climate change and related issues. The NAPCC comprises eight missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, forestry, agriculture, and strategic knowledge for climate change.
