France Hosts Pro-nuclear Meet to Push for EU Recognition of Climate Benefits
France hosted a meeting of ministers from 16 pro-nuclear European states aimed at coordinating expansion of atomic power and urging the EU to recognise its role in meeting climate goals for 2050.
The meeting in Paris included EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson and representatives from 14 EU countries including France, Belgium and the Netherlands, plus Italy as an observer and the United Kingdom as a non-EU invitee.
As per a draft of the post-meeting, the countries would encourage the commissioner to integrate nuclear energy into the EU's energy policy by recognising nuclear alongside other green energy technologies in EU decarbonisation goals.
May 11, 2023
Deep depression over Bay of Bengal Intensifies into Cyclonic Storm 'Mocha'
The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm; 'Mocha'; overnight and it is likely to make landfall between Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and Sittwe in Myanmar.
The cyclone, named Mocha by Yemen -- pronounced as 'Mokha', is likely to bring heavy rain to the Andaman island chain.
In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP-- Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand-- decided to name cyclones in the region. In 2018, five more countries were added-- Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. After the aforementioned countries sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the list.
May 10, 2023
COP28 President Designate Urges Oil & Gas Industry to Phase out Methane Emissions by 2030
The United Arab Emirates' COP28 president designate Sultan al-Jaber said that the oil and gas industry should phase out its methane emissions by 2030 and that investment in technology was needed to develop carbon alternatives.
Jaber was speaking in Abu Dhabi at the inaugural UAE Climate Tech conference.
Jaber also renewed calls for a tripling of renewable energy capacity to 11,000 gigawatts by 2030 and then doubling that again by 2040, but added that renewable energy was not the only answer to climate change.
Rare Butterfly Genus Named After Lord of the Rings Villain Sauron
A new species of butterfly with unique orange wings and dark dots on its eyes was discovered by scientists. The genus was named Saurona, after the dark lord Sauron, who is the primary antagonist of the epic high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, because of its remarkable appearance.
The Eye of Sauron is a well-known symbol from the Lord of the Rings, and was famously depicted on screen as a fiery orange eye peering over the landscape of Middle Earth. So when a group of butterflies with bright orange hindwings and dark eyespots needed redescribing, researchers wasted no time in honouring the work of J.R.R. Tolkien in the name of a new genus.
May 08, 2023
Lithium Reserves Found in Rajasthan
Lithium reserves were traced in Degana, Rajasthan.
According to mining as well the Geological Survey of India (GSI) officials, the reserves are said to be higher than the ones found in Jammu & Kashmir in February 2023.
Officials have alleged that the quantity of lithium here can meet 80 percent of the country's demand.
At present, 47 per cent of the world's lithium is produced in Australia, 30 per cent in Chile and 15 per cent in China. However, China processes 58 per cent of the world's lithium, Chile 29 per cent and Argentina 10 per cent.
May 05, 2023
Wayanad Tops Swachh Bharat Mission's ODF Plus Rankings
Wayanad district in Kerala came first in the ODF Plus rankings of the Swachh Bharat Mission in three-star category, followed by Mancheriyal district in Maharashtra and Anupur in Madya Pradesh.
While Wayanad scored 100 points in the ODF ranking, Manchaeriyal and Anupur got 90.45 and 88.79 points respectively.
The ODF Plus scores of panchayats and districts were calculated on the basis of the ODF Plus progress report submitted by the villages till October 1, 2022.
Earlier, the district had won two national awards in the sanitation and waste management sectors.