General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - December 2018

Dec 2018

May 23, 2022

Past Seven Years Warmest on Record

The past seven years were the warmest on record, and 2021 did not see record-breaking temperatures because of a La Niña event at the start and end of the year, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). La Nina is a cooling of surface temperatures in the Central Pacific. While this had a temporary cooling effect, it did not reverse the overall trend of rising temperatures. The average global temperature in 2021 was about 1.11 (± 0.13) °C above the pre-industrial level.
The report comes even as north, central and western India reel under an onslaught of pre-monsoon heat waves, with temperatures in March breaching century-old records.

May 19, 2022

Pollution Behind 23.5 Lakh Premature Deaths in 2019

India saw more than 23.5 lakh premature deaths due to pollution of all types in 2019, the highest among all countries globally. This is one of the key takeaways of a new study.
In India, air pollution is most severe in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (northern India), where topography and meteorology concentrate pollution from energy, mobility, industry, agriculture, and other activities.
Economic losses due to modern forms of pollution such as ozone pollution increased between 2000 and 2019 in India and are now approximately 1% of its GDP.

Environmental Pollution: NHRC Issues Advisory to Centre, States, UTs and High Courts

The National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) issued an advisory to the Centre, states, Union Territories (UT) and High Courts to prevent, minimise and mitigate impacts of environmental pollution and degradation of human rights. Issuing the advisory, the Commission observed that in spite of having one of the world's best statutory and policy framework for environment protection, India is experiencing a serious problem of air and water pollution and ecological degradation causing impediments in the enjoyment of basic human rights.
The advisory recommended to the governments to ensure, among others, effective and expeditious punishment of polluters and violators of environmental laws. These efforts should include strengthening of Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) and other regulatory authorities along with creation of separate investigation and prosecution wings.

May 18, 2022

Austrian Glaciers Likely to Disappear by End of Century

Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), warned that Austrian glaciers are likely to disappear entirely by the end of this century due to global warming. He said that the melting of glaciers and polar ice will continue for centuries in spite of the fight against climate change, and he has no more hope for the Austrian glaciers.
The melting of glaciers will impact the supply of drinking water and electricity production and raise the sea level, threatening a number of megacities.
However, the WMO Secretary-General said he remains cautiously optimistic about the global efforts to mitigate climate change, with politicians' strong climate pledges at the Glasgow climate conference held in UK in 2021 and private companies' technological advances.

May 17, 2022

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav Addresses BRICS High Level Meeting on Climate Change

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav participated in the BRICS High Level Meeting held virtually. Speaking at the BRICS high-level meeting on Climate Change, the minister highlighted the relevance of the forum to jointly address climate change, to explore approaches to accelerate low-carbon and resilient transition, and to achieve sustainable recovery and development.
The BRICS High Level Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China and was attended by Environment Ministers of BRICS nations including Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.
BRICS Environment Ministers expressed commitment to strengthen collaboration on climate change, and broaden and deepen the contents of cooperation. Further, the countries agreed to carry out policy exchanges and cooperation in areas of environment and climate change.

52nd Tiger Reserve of India: Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan

The Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary in Rajasthan was notified as India's 52nd tiger reserve. This is Rajasthan's fourth tiger reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska and Mukundra. The 52nd Reserve of India will conserve biodiversity and bring in ecotourism and development to the area. The newly notified tiger reserve includes the tiger habitat between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in the northeast and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve on the southern side and facilitates dispersal of tigers from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
The floristic diversity of this new tiger reserve makes it an important area for research and education. Historic and cultural sites like Bhimlat, Ramgarh palace would encourage eco tourism and provide employment opportunities to local communities.
Wild animals like Indian wolf, leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, golden jackal, chinkara, nilgai and fox can be seen in the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve.

May 11, 2022

Environment Minister Yadav To Address Desertification COP

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav lead an Indian delegation at the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) of the UNCCD at Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire. Mr Yadav addressed the high-level segment, including a Heads of States Summit.
- Despite COVID pandemic, India as President of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP-14 made significant contributions in bringing the nations together toward the global goal of halting and reversing land degradation.
- India had hosted the fourteenth session of Conference of Parties of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification from 2nd to 13th September 2019 in New Delhi and is the current President of the same. At COP-14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India would raise its ambition of the total area that would be restored from its land degradation status, from twenty-one million hectares to twenty-six million hectares between now and 2030.

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates a vehicle scrapping facility in Haryana

Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated a vehicle scrapping facility in Nuh district of Haryana. The automobile scrapping policy brought by the Union government will reduce pollution, while increasing the production capacity in the sector at lower cost. The biggest benefit from this policy will be that copper, steel, aluminum, rubber and plastic will be easily available.
- The automobile sector is providing employment to crores of people in the country. By the end of 2024, this new vehicle scrapping policy will generate a large number of jobs and this policy will also play an important role in cleaning the environment.

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