General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - August 2019

Aug 2019

Jun 09, 2020

Mangrove Forests Could be Wiped out in 30 Years

According to a new study, mangrove forests could disappear under rising sea levels by 2050 if the greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated.
Examining sediment data from 78 mangrove ecosystems from the last 10,000 years, a team of researchers from Rutgers University found that if the sea level rises by more than 6 millimetres or 0.23 inches per year, the mangroves would be in danger of dying in just 30 years. They are more likely to survive when sea-level rise is less than 5 millimetres (about 0.2 inches) per year, which is projected for low-emissions scenarios this century.
These ecosystems, such as the world's largest mangrove delta Sunderban spread across India and Bangladesh, are vital to storing planet-heating carbon dioxide. They act as buffers protecting coastlines from tropical storms and soil erosion. They are also very rich in biodiversity as they provide habitat to many species of tropical fish, providing livelihoods to coastal communities.

Jun 08, 2020

India's 1st Online Waste Management Platform

Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched India's 1st online waste management platform of Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation (APEMC) on the occasion of World Environment Day to ensure 100% safe disposal of industrial toxic wastes. The State Department of Environmental Management, APEMC, will take over responsibility of the online platform.
APEMC has been set up as a government company to handle the industrial waste & will work in coordination with Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) with a strong regulatory framework.
As per the Environmental Rules and Regulations APPCB will make necessary provisions for industries/organizations to hand over the waste generated by their units which cannot be treated within their premises, to APEMC for management of waste.
The platform will comply with the principles of 6 'R's– Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Redesign, Refurbish and Remanufacture.

Jun 07, 2020

Scientists Identify the Cleanest Air on Earth

Scientists have identified an atmospheric region that has the cleanest air on the Earth, in a first study of its kind. They have found that the region in Southern Ocean remains unchanged by human-related activities.
The study, led by Professor Sonia Kreidenweis of Colorado State University, found the boundary layer air that feeds the lower clouds over the Southern Ocean to be pristine – free from aerosols or any other pollutants.

Kenya Bans Single-use Plastics from Beaches and Parks

The Kenyan authorities have banned all single-use plastics, such as water bottles and straws, from national parks, beaches, forests and other protected areas.
The start of the ban coincides with World Environment Day and comes three years after Kenya announced one of the world's strictest bans on plastic bags.
The UN Environment Programme welcomed the ban saying it showed Kenya's commitment to addressing the global scourge of plastic pollution.

Jun 06, 2020

Sixth Mass Extinction Threat Grows

A recent analysis of data has warned of an acceleration in the sixth mass extinction. For the analysis published scientists examined available data related to 29,400 species of terrestrial vertebrates and found that 1.7% of them, or 515 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, have fewer than 1,000 individuals each and are on the brink of extinction including in India.
Among those facing extinction, 243 (47%) are continental and 272 (53%) insular (island-dwelling). Most of them are from South America, followed by Oceania, Asia, Africa, North and Central America, and then Europe with less than 1% of them. The greatest numbers of mammals on the brink extinction are in Asia and Oceania. Most such birds live in South America and Oceania. The distribution of species on the brink extinction shows they also include those in the biodiversity hotspots of the Himalayas and the Western Ghats.

Jun 05, 2020

Air Pollution in China Back to Pre-Covid Levels

Air pollution in China has climbed back to pre-pandemic levels, and scientists say Europe may follow suit.
Air pollution causes at least 8m early deaths a year, and cleaner skies were seen as one of the few silver linings of Covid-19. Experts have called for action to help retain the air quality benefits of lockdowns, and measures taken to date have included expanding cycle lanes and space for walking in cities.
Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) shows concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) across China are now at the same levels as one year earlier. At the height of the country's coronavirus response in early March, NO2 levels were down by 38% from 2019 and levels of PM2.5 were down by 34%.

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