Microsoft Corp, Nike, Unilever, Starbucks Team Up to Combat Global Carbon Emissions
Microsoft Corp, Nike Inc , Starbucks Corp, Unilever NV and five other industry titans from various sectors are teaming up to help businesses globally achieve zero carbon emissions.
Called "Transform to Net Zero", the group plans to recruit other members and will work with the Environmental Defense Fund and focus on delivering guidance, research and blueprints for businesses to achieve zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.
The announcement gave no details of any investment the companies would make, outlining only initial research and other work to be completed over the next five years.
Some aims for net zero carbon emissions include reductions across the entire value chain, including impact of products and services, and the substantial commitment and willingness to invest in and speed innovation.
Researchers from Singapore Discover a New Species, 'Bathynomus Raksasa' in Indian Ocean
A team of researchers from Singapore confirmed the discovery of a new species called 'Bathynomus Raksasa' (Described as "cockroach of the sea"). The researchers found the new species in 2018 during a deep-sea survey off of the coast of Banten, Western Java, Indonesia (Indian Ocean).
'Bathynomus Raksasa' is the second-largest isopod species known to researchers to date and is the sixth "supergiant" species from the Indo-West Pacific.
The largest isopod is 'Bathynomus Giganteus', which is commonly found in the deep waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
Government Approves the Zonal Master Plan of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone
In the review meeting of "Char Dham Road Project" over a virtual platform, Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) informed the approval of the Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone by the Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) earlier this month.
The review meeting of Char Dham project was chaired by Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of MSME.
On 18th December 2012, the Ministry of Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the notification of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone of area covering 4179.59 square kilometers from Gaumukh to Uttarakashi.
In consultation with the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of Uttarakhand and Indian Road Congress the notification was amended on 16th April 2018.
The Zonal Master Plan was prepared by the State government of Uttarakhand and appraised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The Zonal Master Plan was made based on the watershed approach and the governance in the forest and wildlife area, watershed management, irrigation, energy, tourism, public health and sanitation and road infrastructure.
Jul 17, 2020
EU's Greenhouse Gas Strategy Fails to Plug Methane Hole
The European Union does not plan to crack down on planet-warming methane emissions from gas imports despite pressure from oil companies, activists and academics
While the EU plans to impose carbon dioxide (CO2) taxes on imports of energy intensive goods, critics say the world's biggest gas importer is not targeting suppliers of the fuel hard enough in its methane strategy due to be unveiled this year.
This comes despite an unlikely alliance of big oil firms, environmental activists, investors and researchers pushing the bloc to plug this hole in its methane plan and punish gas producers that fail to rein in their emissions.
The draft methane plan, which may be subject to change, says the European Commission will propose legislation requiring gas firms to better monitor and report methane emissions, but it does not include setting methane standards for imported gas.
South African Continent Slowly Peeling Apart
In one of the hottest places on Earth, along an arid stretch of East Africa's Afar region, it's possible to stand on the exact spot where, deep underground, the continent is splitting apart.
This desolate expanse sits atop the juncture of three tectonic plates that are very slowly peeling away from each other, a complex geological process that scientists say will eventually cleave Africa in two and create a new ocean basin millions of years from now. For now the most obvious evidence is a 35-mile-long crack in the Ethiopian desert.
The African continent's tectonic fate has been studied for several decades, but new satellite measurements are helping scientists better understand the transition and are offering valuable tools to study the gradual birth of a new ocean in one of the most geologically unique spots on the planet.
This is the only place on Earth where you can study how continental rift becomes an oceanic rift.
Jul 16, 2020
Poba Reserve Forest in Assam"s Dhemaji to be Upgraded to Wildlife Sanctuary
The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced the upgradation of Poba Reserve Forest, a vital biodiversity hotspot in Dhemaji district of Assam, as a wildlife sanctuary. The announcement was made during a meeting with senior officials of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli districts at Jonai.
Declared in 1924 as Poba Reserve Forest, it has an area of 10,522 hectares and is home to a large number of flora and fauna.
Poba is one of the richest rain forests of North-East India in terms of the flora and fauna found in it and can be very well termed a biodiversity hotspot.
The Reserved Forest (RF) was created in the year 1924.
Jul 12, 2020
India's 2018 Tiger Census Sets New Guinness Record
The fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation 2018, results of which were declared to the nation on Global Tiger Day last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has now entered the Guinness World Record for being the world's largest camera trap wildlife survey.
The Environment Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has fulfilled its resolve to double the tiger numbers four years before the target. The country now has an estimated 2,967 tigers as per the latest census.
With this number, India is home to nearly 75 per cent of the global tiger population and has already fulfilled its resolve of doubling tiger numbers, made at St. Petersburg in 2010, much before the target year of 2022.
The citation at the Guinness World Record website reads: "The fourth iteration of the survey -- conducted in 2018-19 -- was the most comprehensive to date, in terms of both resource and data amassed. Camera traps were placed in 26,838 locations across 141 different sites and surveyed an effective area of 121,337 square kilometres.
Jul 10, 2020
UN: World Could Hit 1.5-degree Warming Threshold in 5 Years
According to the UN weather agency, the world could see average global temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial average for the first time in the coming five years.
The 1.5-C mark is the level to which countries have agreed to try to limit global warming. Scientists say average temperatures around the world are already at least 1 C higher now than during the period from 1850-1900 because of man-made greenhouse emissions.
The World Meteorological Organisation said there is a 20% chance that the 1.5 C level will be reached in at least one year between 2020 and 2024. The period is expected to see annual average temperatures that are 0.91 C to 1.59 C higher than pre-industrial averages.
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