General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - May 2019

May 2019

Oct 08, 2020

European Union Parliament Votes for 60% Emission Cut by 2030

The European Union Parliament voted updating its climate target to reduce emissions by 60% by 2030 as compared to 1990 levels. Earlier EU had set a goal of reducing 40% emission by 2030.
The World Wildlife Fund and other Non-Governmental Organisations were insisting on at least 65% emission reduction by 2030. The voting was held under the presidency of Germany. Certain countries such as Poland were reluctant towards the set target. Still criticisms prevail over the fact that the target should be 55%. This is because, according to certain countries, a target of 60% might induce employment problems.
European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
It was the first large greenhouse gas emission trading scheme. Till date it remains the biggest. The scheme was launched in 2005. It is considered as a major pillar of EU Energy Policy. Between 2008 and 2016, the scheme helped EU reduce its emissions by 3.8%.

Oct 07, 2020

Amazon at the Risk of Changing from Forest to Savanna

A team of Europe based scientists have recently found that the tropical forests especially the Amazon forest are slowly changing into Savannah like environment.
According to the study around 40% of Amazon forest are at the risk of changing into Savannah like environment. This is mainly because of increased Greenhouse gas emissions and reduced rainfall.
The shrinking forest tend to lose their ability to absorb man-made emissions and thereby adding up to global warming.
Many of the rainforest in the world are also growing into Savana like grasslands. The study has found that apart from Amazon forest, the forests in Congo Basin are also at the risk of changing into Savannah. The rainforests are highly sensitive to global climate change and also lose their ability to adapt very quickly. Once lost, it will take decades for the rain forests to return to their original state according to the report.
Savannah
These forests are characterized by wet summers and dry winters. They have high annual range of temperature. They hold sparsely populated trees with tall grasses. Forest fires are frequent in Savanna.
Savannah type of climate is most common in Sudan and hence it is also called Sudan climate.
Amazon forests
The Amazon is the biggest rainforest in the world. The forest is estimated to hold 15,000 tree species and 390 billion individual trees. Two thirds of the Amazon rainforest is found in Brazil.

Oct 06, 2020

Delhi CM Launches Anti-Pollution Campaign

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a Mega Anti-Pollution Campaign, called "Yudh Prasudushan ke Virudh". The campaign was launched to reduce pollution levels in Delhi. During the campaign, the Delhi Government will focus on technology developed by Pusa Agriculture Institute to control stubble burning.
Under the campaign, thirteen pollution hotspots were identified. A separate plan has been prepared for each hotspot based on their respective cause of pollution. A new policy and a new anti-dust campaign has been introduced. According to the new policy, an agency that cuts down trees in Delhi has to plant 80% of them in a new spot.

Oct 04, 2020

Damage Uncovered on Antarctic Glaciers Reveals Worrying Signs for Sea Level Rise

A new study into the structural damage of two major Antarctic glaciers reveals that ice shelf weakening has rapidly evolved in recent years.
Multi-satellite imagery identified damage areas, sparking concerns that structural weakening could lead to major ice shelf collapse in the decades to come. This collapse, in turn, reduces the glaciers' ability to hold back major sections of the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet from running into the ocean.
Pine Island Glacier and Thwaites Glacier are located in the Amundsen Sea Embayment. The fastest-changing outlet glaciers in the region, they account for Antarctica's largest contribution to global sea level rise. Scientists have anticipated for at least 20 years that these glaciers will be the first to respond to climate change, Jessica O'Reilly, an environmental anthropologist at Indiana University, told GlacierHub.
If the ice shelves of these two glaciers collapse, it could trigger large-scale disintegration of the nearby West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which holds enough ice to raise global sea level by about 10 feet. The glaciers provide a natural buffering system that is holding back the enormous ice sheet upstream, but if structural damage is weakening the ice shelves, rapid outflow into the ocean could occur in the coming years.

Oct 03, 2020

Red Panda Photographed for First Time at Arunchal's Chug Valley

Wildlife activists are thrilled about the fresh spotting of a red panda in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh's Chug Valley. What is more, the furry creature has been photographed too. This happens to be the first time a red panda has been photographed in this particular area of the border state.
A WWF official said that last time a Red Panda was visually captured in Arunachal Pradesh was back in 2012.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

August GK, July GK, June GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26