STATEMENT:

It is a movement to ensure environmental protection, through social, political and scientific

1. Social

General Public/ People/ Society-----end users of the natural resources.

2. Political

Government/ Political Parties---

because government plays role in environmental legislation

3. Scientific Efforts

Researchers, scientific community to introduce environmental friendly approaches/ environmental

Modern History of Encironmental Movement in the World (1900-1970)

a) Environmental Response:

After 20th century environment responded differently and this response was observed by the
environmental scientists. They started research on it by questioning and find out that all this happened
due to the industrial and agricultural revolutions.

Information was restricted to a limited section of the society that is only to the scientists/ researchers.

It was not a movement because public was not involved…

b) Disasters:

In 1952, London smog incident reported more than 20,000 deaths in London. There was no cholera
before industrial revolution. There was no typhoid before industrial revolution. Due to typhoid(20,000)
deaths and cholera reported 6,000 deaths.

 Asthma (NOx)
 Bronchitis (SO2)
 Lungs cancer (Heavy metals)

c) Media:

Media especially through print media European people started to know about Environmental response.
d) An Episode of Environmental Literature

In 1962, a literature was published on Environment named Silent spring (poetry on environment) and
the author was Rachael Carson was the best seller book of 1962. More and more people get awareness
through it.

Un-safe at any speed was written by Ralph Nadel. It was also the best seller book of 1967.

e) Protest against environmental degradation:

Protests and campaigns ( need for social justice) were started. In Manchester, London people started
agitations/ environmental justice/ social campaigns/ slogans…

Need for social justice---became a famous slogan

Public was interested and became more environmentally aware with the passage of time by the media,
print media, scientific community and Publications played important role in educating people.

Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on SCO summit raised voice about "We want environmental
justice”.

This process evolved over time gradually and environmental movement evolved…

 Emergence of Green politics:

Green politics emerged in the world after that…

Definition: After 1967, “It is a political ideology that aims to create ecological sustainable society
rooted in environmentalism, social justice and grass root- democracy”.

a) Already existing political parties (Europe) came into the field for environmental manifesto elections.
They told people give us vote so that we will make green ecology.

b) New Green political parties

 Values party

 Green peace party

These parties raise environmental voice at national level.

c) Non-governmental organization:

 In 1970s, Non government organization appeared as a social groups "Friends of Earth" NGO
 USA EPA was also established.

d) Environmental legislation----Improvement

 Environmental institutions were established and improves

It was constrained/ restricted to Europe/ USA and yet it had to become Global.

1. 1972- UN-Stockholm Conference

NOTES;

Brief History of Environmental Movement and Environmentalism

After world war II, the industrialization expansion was unprecedented that led to economic
development. This revolution brought nature degradation. With each passing day, the people became
environmentally conscious.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 1948 – This international organization was
established in 1948 to protect and preserve nature in its original form. It is still working.

London Smog Episode 1952 And Clean Air Act 1956 – The release of airborne particles from coal
combustion resulted in heavy smog in the city of London that is also known as the Great Smog of
London. Many people died due to this smog. Great smog led to the formation of the Clean Air Act in
1956. It initially aimed to limit air pollution by controlling the emission of air pollutants.

ENVIRONMENTALISM IN THE 1960s-1970s

During 1960-1970, many environmental movements started and international environmental laws were
passed and many historical events occurred.

Beginning of Modern Environmental Movement: The proper environmental laws and movements
actually began in late 1960, with a new awareness about the various issues that our environment had
began to face to due rapid industrialization in the world.

Establishment of WWF 1961 –The world wildlife Fund was created to protect animals and places from
human developmental activities.

Rachel Carson – DDT Scandal, 1962 – Rachel Carson wrote a book Silent Spring in 1962 that discussed
the negative impacts of DDT – pesticides on the environment especially on birds. Due to this book DDT
was eventually banned.

Green Revolution in Agriculture 1966 – This revolution brought about an understanding of the negative
impacts of uncontrolled and unregulated use of pesticides and fertilizers on the environment. It focused
on improving agriculture using environmental friendly techniques. It also started to increase the overall
yield of crops by introducing dwarf genes in the Asian Region.

NEPA 1969 – This was established in order to ensure environmental health by negotiation policies and
acts.

First Earth Day 1970 – This day was celebrated in order to spread awareness among people that
ultimately led to the creation of the biggest environmental movement in history.

Establishment of US EPA – It was created in 1970 in order to monitor human activities that are
negatively impacting the environment of the Earth.

Beginning of EIA 1970 – the United States made it mandatory in response to increasing environmental
awareness. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson played a huge role in this initiative.

Greenpeace, 1971 – A group of committed individuals tried to stop the American Nuclear Weapon test
and this campaign was known as Greenpeace.

ENVIRONMENTALISM IN THE 1980s-1990s

Environmental Justice Movement – In the late 1980s this movement began in response to the unjust
treatment of low-income communities that were exposed to environmental pollution. It is considered an
international movement that aims to encourage social, economic, and environmental justice by
identifying the connection between health and environmental issues.

Later many conferences were organized that included Stockholm conference in 1972 (United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment, 1972), Montreal protocol in 1987 (The Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987), and Kyoto protocol in 1997, etc. People became more
aware of the environmental problems due to industrialization. The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was a
huge environmental issue. More awareness among people was raised through Brundtland Report in
1987 (Our Common Future, 1987).

Earth Summit 1992 – One of the major conferences was held in Rio De Janeiro known as Earth
summit 1992. It aimed to discuss socio-economic development along with ways to solve problems
concerning environmental protection.

ENVIRONMENTALISM IN THE 2000s-2010s

[Check out: Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (review of IEE and EIA) Regulations (2000)]

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000- United Nation Millennium Development Goals were set
in 2000 based on eight goals to be achieved before 2015.

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 2001 – This international environmental treaty
was started in 2001. It aims to reduce or limit the production, manufacturing, and utilization of
persistent organic pollutants.
World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002 – It was the second Earth Summit that aimed to
discuss and organize sustainable development approaches. The key focus was solving problems of the
growing population along with increasing demand for energy, water, and food resources.

Sustainable Development Goals, 2015 – United Nation General Assembly has set 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved before 2030 that aims for the future through sustainable
approaches.

Paris Agreement, 2015 – This international treaty on climate change deals with mitigation and
adaptation to climate change. It aims to limit the global emission of greenhouse gases to reduce rising
global temperature. A total of 191 ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’ members
are parties to the agreement.

During the period of 2015 to 2019 various COP were held at various locations around the world. All
conferences discussed ongoing environmental crises and possible sustainable approaches.

ENVIRONMENTALISM IN THE 2020s

Environmentalism is continuously evolving and dealing with new environmental concerns including
plastic pollution, genetic engineering, global warming, overpopulation, etc.

COP 26, 2021 – This year global united nation conference on climate change will be held in November in
Glasgow hosted by the United Kingdom in response to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
and Paris Agreement. [Check out: COP26 – The 2021 UN Climate Change Conference Event and Pakistan]

COP27, 2022 – COP27 took place in Egypt. For more information about it, read: COP27: Introduction to
Key Topics, Events and Its Importance.