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Environment Quarterly Summary Ebook
Environment Quarterly Summary Ebook
Quarterly Summary
(July-August-September)
Why Skholar's eBook?
1) Fastest Revision of Exam specific Current
Affairs
2) Crisp & Comprehensive Subject-wise
Coverage
3) Multi-dimensional analysis using Kipling's
method
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Table of Contents
Climate Change ................................................................ 3 Indian Pierrot Butterfly .............................................. 23
IPCC report on land and Climate Change ................ 7 Great Indian Bustard Conservation ......................... 26
India Cooling Action Plan ........................................... 8 Otter and Gecko Lizard ............................................. 27
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Climate Change
Climate Targets
In the recent G7 summit, India and France issued a statement related to climate change,
biodiversity, renewable energy, and ocean resources.
What does the statement talk about?
1. Commitment to enhanced climate actions, support for new low-carbon technologies, and efforts
to accelerate the development and deployment of renewable energy.
2. Need for sustainable use of marine resources, acknowledgement of the link between
environment and security, and ocean governance.
3. India and France also promised to develop, by next year, strategies for containing their
greenhouse gases in the long-term period, possibly for the next 30 or 50 years.
4. From India’s point of view at least, a longer-term low-carbon pathway would be a new
development.
When did Countries announce their climate targets?
1. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, which will come into force next year, every
signatory country is supposed to declare and implement a climate action plan, called Nationally
Determined Commitments (NDCs).
2. Until now, countries have mostly announced their targets for 2025 or 2030. India has declared
targets for 2030.
3. NDCs have to be updated every five years. The first set of NDC was declared in 2015 ahead of
the climate change conference in Paris.
4. The Paris Agreement asks all signatories to ensure that successive NDCs represent a
progression from their current targets.
5. Countries have also been asked to evolve a common timeframe for their action plans.
Successive NDCs, therefore, would all be five-year or ten-year action plans.
Which are India’s targets?
1. To bring down its emission intensity, or emission per unit of GDP, by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030
compared to 2005 levels.
2. To ensure that at least 40 per cent of its electricity in 2030 would be generated from non-fossil
sources.
3. To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes through forests.
Why is Longer-term vision needed?
1. Countries are asked to finalize and commit to longer-term climate targets, over 30-year or 50-
year time horizons.
2. This will help in bringing more predictability into climate actions and also make it easy to
monitor whether the world was progressing adequately to avoid the catastrophic impacts of
climate change.
3. Short-term targets are seen to lack the urgency of the task and delay ambitious actions making it
more difficult or even impossible to act on climate change in the future.
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4. There is growing pressure on the big emitters – China, the United States, European Union, India,
Russia, Brazil, Australia – to come up with long-term action plans, in particular, to aim for net-zero
emissions in the year 2050.
5. The public pressure is also a reason that is growing stronger in Europe.
6. As climate-induced extreme weather events bring in more and more disasters across the world,
the demand for longer-term commitments on climate action has been increasing.
7. Two recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have also
stressed the need for more urgent and ambitious climate action in the longer term. The reports are-
a. The feasibility of containing the global rise in temperatures to within 1.5°C from pre-industrial
times.
b. State of climate-induced land degradation.
How does the European Union respond to the pressure?
1. As part of its NDCs, the European Union of 27 countries has set a combined target of 40 per cent
reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from the 1990 levels.
2. It also came up with a long-term vision to become climate-neutral or attain the goal of net-zero
emissions, by 2050.
3. Recently, the United Kingdom became the first major economy to legislate a law to make itself
climate-neutral by 2050.
4. The UK had been previously aiming to achieve an 80 per cent reduction from the 1990 levels.
Where does India stand?
1. India, being a developing country, is treated differently from developed country parties in the
Paris Agreement.
2. But India is the third single largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the United
States.
3. There have also been demands from India, and other major developing economies such as Brazil
and South Africa, to come up with longer-term commitments
5. India’s commitments are based on its development imperatives.
6. In terms of NDC, India is on the course of achieving all its targets well in time and may even
over-achieve them.
7. On the other hand, developed countries are far from delivering on their climate promises,
especially on their obligation to provide money and technology to help developing and poor
countries in fighting climate change.
UN Climate Action Summit
The United Nations Climate Action Summit was organized in New York, the United States of
America.
Why was the Summit organized?
1. It was a special summit organized to make the countries aware of their responsibilities of
tackling climate change issues.
2. The impacts of climate change are being felt everywhere and are having real consequences on
people’s lives.
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2. According to the clean energy research agency MERCOM, India added 8.3 GW of solar capacity
in 2018. However, there was a fall in it compared to 2017.
3. The MECROM report states that land acquisitions are a major worry for large-scale solar
projects.
4. India needs to come up with a strong domestic action plan to meet its targets.
5. Existing ‘National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)’ should have legal backing to
incorporate the key national commitment under the Paris Agreement.
Just Energy Transition
1. Climate change is a global problem therefore it needs a global solution.
2. The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report suggests that total
global emissions will need to fall by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
3. If these targets are not met, tropical regions, which are densely populated and mainly
concentrated in the global South, are likely to be most negatively affected because of their low
altitudes and pre-existing high temperatures.
Sharing the burden
1. The global South, which has historically contributed less to climate change face the negative
effects of the lifestyle choices made by the global North.
2. A just approach involves a global sharing of the responsibility among countries according to
their respective shares in global emissions.
3. Just Energy Transition (JET) is a new approach that is premised on a sense of global justice in
terms of climatic fallouts and the respective contributions of the countries.
Just Energy Transition (JET)
1. The first priority is to change the energy infrastructure, which requires massive investments for
the green energy programme across the world.
2. According to the JET approach those on the top of the funnel, apart from funding their own
energy transition, partially support the transition for the countries at the bottom and this sharing of
the burden of development be done in a way which inverts this injustice funnel.
3. For a successful energy transition to greener renewable sources, countries have to spend around
1.5% of their GDP.
4. Global energy transition will be financed through a system of the global carbon tax.
5. Those countries which emit more than the global per capita average pay for their own transition
plus fund a part of the energy transition of those who are below this average.
6. Currently, the global average of carbon emissions is 4.97 metric tonne per capita.
7. All the countries with emissions above this level (68 in all) are “payers” to finance energy
transition for ‘beneficiary’ countries (135 in number), which are emitting below this level.
8. The total amount of “carbon compensation” made by the payer nations comes to around $570
billion.
9. The distribution of this fund across them is also based on their distance from the global average,
on how lower their emissions are in comparison to the global average.
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2. It was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change,
its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation
options.
3. Its job is to assess already-published scientific literature and update knowledge on climate
change science.
How land is linked to climate change?
1. Land use, and changes in land use is closely related to climate change because land acts as
both the source as well as a sink of carbon.
2. Activities like agriculture and cattle rearing are a major source of methane and nitrous oxide,
both of which are hundreds of times more dangerous than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.
3. At the same time, soil, trees, plantations, and forests absorb carbon dioxide for the natural
process of photosynthesis, thus reducing the overall carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere.
4. Therefore, large-scale land-use changes like deforestation, urbanisation, change in cropping
pattern, have a direct impact on the overall emissions of greenhouse gases.
Which are the highlights of the report?
1. Nearly 25 percent of all food produced is either lost or wasted. And the decomposition of the
waste releases emissions.
2. If pre-production activities like cattle rearing and post-production activities like transport, energy
and food processing, are considered, then food production could contribute around 37 per cent of
all greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) every year.
3. The land sector is a net absorber of 6 billion tonnes of CO2 every year between 2007 and 2016.
4. Around 25% of ice-free land was subjected to degradation due to human use.
3. Land and ocean together absorb nearly 50 percent of GHGs emitted every year through natural
processes in the carbon cycle.
4. So, land and ocean are significant as carbon sinks.
5. Afforestation and reduction in deforestation are vital approaches in a global strategy to combat
climate change.
Where lies the solution?
1. Reduction in food wastage.
2. Sustainable Agricultural Practises.
3. Shifting of dietary preferences to include more plant-based food, that can reduce emissions from
the land sector up to 8 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year without affecting food security.
What is the role of India?
1. India’s action plan on climate change has a very important component of forests.
2. India has promised that it would create an additional carbon sink of about 2.5 billion to 3 billion
tonnes by the year 2032 by increasing its forest cover and planting more trees.
India Cooling Action Plan
Ministry of Environment highlighted the importance of India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) to reduce
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
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About ICAP
a) The plan lists out the actions required to reduce the cooling demand. The plan has a long-term
vision to address the cooling requirement across sectors.
b) Cooling Requirement is required across different sectors of the economy such as residential,
commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport, and industries, etc.
c) The overarching goal of ICAP is to provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all while
securing environmental and socio-economic benefits for the society.
Targets
The India Cooling Action seeks to,
a) Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38
b) Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38
c) Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38
d) Recognize ‘cooling and related areas’ as a thrust area of research under the National S&T
Programme.
e) Train 100,000 servicing sector technicians with certification by 2022-23
Benefits
a) Thermal comfort for all: The plan has provision for cooling for Economically Weaker Section
(EWS) and Lower Income Group (LIG) housing.
b) Sustainable cooling: It seeks to lower GHG emissions related to cooling.
c) Doubling Farmers Income: The provision of better cold chain infrastructure can give a better
value of products to farmers along with less wastage of produce.
d) The plan seeks to build a skilled workforce for better livelihoods and environmental protection.
e) Make in India: Domestic manufacturing of air-conditioning and related cooling equipment would
be facilitated.
f) Robust R&D on alternative cooling technologies: The plan provides push to innovation in the
cooling sector.
Sea level rise in ports
a) As per the Ministry of Earth Sciences, four ports, Diamond Harbour, Kandla, Haldia and Port Blair,
in India recorded a higher sea-level rise than the global average
b) The data says that Diamond Harbour in West Bengal located at the mouth of the river Hooghly
has recorded the maximum sea level increase.
c) Mean sea level rise for Diamond Harbour was based on recordings over the period from 1948 to
2005.
d) Chennai and Mumbai recorded a sea level rise far below the global and the national averages.
Connection with Global Warming
a) Sea level rise is said to be linked with global warming.
b) As per the fifth assessment report of the International Panel on Climate Change, the global sea
level was rising at an average rate of 1.8 mm per year over the last century.
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c) Rising sea levels can worsen the impacts of coastal hazards such as storm surge, tsunami,
coastal floods, high waves and coastal erosion in the low-lying coastal areas.
d) Global Warming leads to internal expansion of water in oceans and thus a rise in the sea level.
Disaster Management
Amazon Fires
Man-made fires in the Amazon have sent smoke to populated cities and the Atlantic coast.
Where is the Amazon rainforest located?
a) It is a moist broadleaf tropical rainforest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon
basin of South America.
b) It is a vast region that spans across the countries- Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia,
Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and some parts of Argentina.
What is the significance of the Amazon region?
a) Amazon contains nearly a third of all the tropical rainforests left on Earth.
b) Despite covering only around 1% of the planet’s surface, the Amazon is home to 10% of all
known wildlife species, i.e. roughly three million species.
c) It is home to around one million members of indigenous communities.
d) People around the world, as well as locally, depend on the Amazon for food, water, wood, and
medicine.
e) The region helps in stabilizing the climate by playing a critical role in global and regional carbon
and water cycles.
Which are the major reasons for Amazon fires?
a) ‘Fire Day’ was organized by farmers to clear forest lands along the highway that runs through the
heart of the Amazon rainforest.
b) The Brazilian government has announced opening up the Amazon region for business. The
region has large reserves of gold and other minerals.
c) Government’s short-term economic interests led to mass deforestation. Fires are the direct
result of this deforestation.
e) Dry seasons have created favorable conditions for the fires.
Why it is a concern?
a) The Amazon rainforest is a repository of rich biodiversity and produces approximately 20% of
oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
b) The Amazon region is a vital carbon store that slows the pace of global warming.
c) A study by the University of Leeds (2017) states that the carbon intake of the region has already
matched up to the carbon emissions released by the region.
d) On-going fires imply additional carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
e) These fires can affect the Global Water Cycle adversely.
f) More deforestation can lead to Amazon’s transformation from the World’s largest rainforest to
Savanna.
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g) Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has reported that forest fires in the region
have doubled since 2013 and increased by 84% compared to 2018.
How is the world reacting?
a) Germany and Norway have suspended the funding for programs that aim to stop deforestation
in the Amazon.
b) Many countries are putting pressure on Brazil, the main stakeholder, to control the fires.
c) Indigenous groups and environmental activists have led protests.
d) Mass social media campaigns, fund-mobilization campaigns have been launched.
Kerala Floods
Kerala has been experiencing severe floods in consecutive years.
Impact of Floods
1. Floods wash away topsoil and substantial biodiversity of the area.
2. This results in a reduced river-water flow, death of earthworms and spread of viral and bacterial
diseases among crops.
3. Floods impact the poorest strata of the society the most, causing a loss of lives, livelihood
options and assets.
4. They also place an enormous burden on the government in terms of reconstruction budgets.
Causes of floods
1. The root cause of such floods is the high precipitation levels.
2. Anthropogenic factors like unscientific development and over-exploitation of nature aggravate
the damages.
3. Global warming has critical effects on the hydrological cycle.
4. Water is the primary medium through which the climate change impacts trickle down to the
people.
5. The changing precipitation alters the hydrological systems, resulting in floods and droughts in
different regions.
Kerala’s Case
1. In the case of Kerala, a structural transformation and changing patterns of land use are affecting
its environment.
2. There is a considerable human-induced natural imbalance in the State.
3. This is making it vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change.
4. Agriculture is becoming insignificant and services and industry sectors dominate the State’s
economy.
5. Population density much higher than the national average, shift from joint family system to a
single-family and greater inflow of money, particularly from Gulf countries, has resulted in
increased construction activities.
6. The government has also been developing extensive infrastructure to support the booming
services and industry sectors.
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7. Land transactions suggest that people in the State have bought land from farmers over the
decades for construction.
8. A loss in a wetland area will naturally impact the State’s ability to handle floods.
Solution
1.Account for the damage done to natural ecosystems while estimating losses suffered due to
natural disasters.
2. Clarity is needed on the way of restoring the natural assets.
3. A broader assessment of floods from a ‘sustainable development’ perspective is required.
4. Limit economic growth options within the carrying capacity of the ecosystem.
5. An appropriate decision on structure, its location, materials it proposes to use, and permissible
damages it will cause to nature is needed.
6. Gulf model of construction cannot be replicated in Kerala’s fragile and ecologically sensitive
landscapes.
Bottom-Up Approach
1. The 2018 Kerala floods and landslides caused huge financial losses and human tragedies.
2. In 2019, it repeated with intense floods, landslides, financial losses and manifold human
tragedies.
Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP)
1. One set of possibilities is provided by the recommendations of WGEEP, also known as Gadgil
panel.
2. The implementation of recommendations would have definitely reduced the scale of devastation
caused by the downpours.
3. The policy prescriptions were within the framework of constitutional duties and laws.
4. It suggested that the existing laws relating to environmental protection and devolution of powers
to the gram sabha and ward sabha level, be followed.
WGEEP Conservation Model
1. The WGEEP called for a conservation model that replaces the prevailing ‘Develop Recklessly,
Conserve Thoughtlessly’ pattern with one of ‘Develop Sustainably, Conserve Thoughtfully.’
2. This development practices to the local context would have required the full involvement of local
communities.
3. It is inappropriate to depend exclusively on government agencies for deciding on and managing
Ecologically Sensitive Zones.
4. The WGEEP report provides for a bottom-up democratic process for deciding on how global
biodiversity hotspot and water tower of peninsular India should be safeguarded.
Preserving the ‘Sensitive zones’
1. The WGEEP’s mandate asked the government to demarcate ecologically sensitive areas within
the Western Ghats Region as ecologically sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986.
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2. In line with the National Forest Policy, WGEEP decided to assign 60% of the total area of Western
Ghats in Kerala, including the region housing wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, as a zone of
highest ecological sensitivity, ‘ESZ1’.
Areas Under ESZ1
1. ‘Elevation’ and ‘slope’ as two indicators of sensitivity: In Kerala, rainfall increases rapidly with
elevation, and high rainfall and steep slopes render localities vulnerable to landslides. Hence, areas
prone to landslides would come under ESZ1.
2. Extent and quality of natural vegetation: Landslides are under check in areas with intact natural
vegetation because the roots bind the soil.
3. Any disturbance to such vegetation would render any locality that has steep slopes and
experiences high rainfall susceptible to landslides.
4. Therefore, the panel recommended the avoidance of any activity that would cause disturbance in
ESZ1 areas.
Way Forward
1. Panel’s recommendations has to be applied.
2. Powers and responsibilities conferred on citizens under provisions such as the 73rd and 74th
Amendments to the Constitution, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 must be taken full
advantage of.
3. India should assert that conservation prescriptions should not be merely regulatory but include
positive incentives such as conservation service charges.
4. The economic activities like quarrying must be handed over to agencies like the Kudumbashree
groups that are accountable to local communities.
5. The people must engage more actively in the governance of the country and lead it on to a path
of people-friendly and nature-friendly development.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
India has announced a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) at the UN
Climate Action Summit 2019.
About CDRI
1. It aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and
disaster risks. It will ensure sustainable development.
2. It is the partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programs, multilateral
development banks, financing mechanisms, private sector, and knowledge institutions.
3. It envisions a measurable reduction in infrastructure losses from disasters as well as extreme
climate events.
4. It works with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Climate
Agreement.
5. CDRI will conduct country-specific and global activities. It will provide member countries
technical support and capacity development, research and knowledge management.
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Plastic Pollution
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c) Over one-third of plastic waste ends up in nature, especially water, which is the largest source of
plastic ingestion.
d) The report estimates an average person may be ingesting 5 grams of plastic every week.
Situation in India
a) India ranks number three in terms of plastic fibres found in a sample of tap water.
b) 82.4% of tap water sampled in India contains over four plastic fibres per 500 ml.
c) In India, the previous Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report assessed the progress
associated with the Plastic Waste Management Rules.
d) As per the 2017-18 report, only 14 states and UTs had submitted their annual reports to the
CPCB.
e) Uttar Pradesh generated 2.06 lakh TPA (tonnes per annum) plastic waste and had 16
unregistered manufacturing/recycling units.
f) Gujarat created 2.6 lakh TPA of plastic waste generated and zero unregistered manufacturing or
recycling units.
Microplastics in the Arctic region
a) A study by Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute and Switzerland’s Institute for Snow and
Avalanche Research has shown a presence of microplastic particles in the Arctic and the Alps.
b) The study also shows microplastic particles can be transported tremendous distances through
the atmosphere.
About the Microplastics
a) The term ‘microplastics’ was introduced in the mid-2000s. They are small plastic pieces less
than five millimetres long.
b) In the last four decades, concentrations of these particles appear to have increased significantly
in the surface waters of the ocean.
c) Microplastics come from a variety of sources, including from larger plastic debris that degrades
into smaller and smaller pieces.
d) These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean.
e) The ocean circulation transports floating plastic around the globe over the course of the years.
Ocean circulation produces convergence zones, where microplastics tend to accumulate.
f) These large-scale subtropical ocean gyres occur in the North and South Atlantic, North and South
Pacific, and the Indian Ocean.
Plastic Waste in India
1. The government called for a movement to eliminate single-use plastic in India, beginning on
Gandhi Jayanti.
2. The government is working on a ban on single-use plastic items under the Environment
(Protection) Act, well ahead of the earlier deadline of 2022.
What are the current rules on plastic waste?
1. The centre notified the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, and further amended it in
2018.
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2. The rule mandates the segregation of waste which includes collecting recyclable plastic, non-
recyclable plastic and other waste separately for processing by material recovery facilities.
3. The 2018 amendment fixed a six-month deadline for producers to arrange for recovery of waste
in partnership with State Urban Development departments.
4. Plastic should be marked with numerical symbols (such as 1 for PET, 4 for Low Density
Polyethylene, 5 for Polypropylene and so on) to facilitate recycling using the correct industrial
process.
Why is India struggling with plastic waste?
1. Most cities and towns are not prepared to implement the provisions of PWM rules.
2. There is a growing crisis of under-reporting of the true extent of plastic waste.
3. There has been little progress in producers arranging for recovery of plastic waste and marking
the numerical symbols.
4. Recently, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked companies to file plans to fulfill
EPR (extended producer responsibility) obligation.
How much plastic is consumed in India?
1. According to FICCI data, Per capita consumption of plastic is projected to go up from 11 kg in
2014-15 to 20 kg by 2022; about 43% is single-use packaging with poor rates of recovery.
2. Packaging is projected to grow more than double in India by 2020 from 2015, with a
proportionate rise in waste volumes.
3. The pressure on producers to streamline the collection, recycling and processing of all forms of
plastic is also bound to grow.
Which are the limitations?
1. Compostable, biodegradable or edible plastics made from various materials such as bagasse
(the residue after extracting juice from sugarcane), corn starch, seaweed and grain flour are
promoted as alternatives.
These currently have limitations of scale and cost.
a. Some biodegradable packaging materials require specific microorganisms for breaking them
down.
b. Compostable cups and plates made of polylactic acid derived from biomass such as corn
starch, require industrial composters.
c. However, some edible plastics have been successfully marketed in Britain.
4. In India due to the absence of robust testing and certification to verify claims made by
producers, spurious biodegradable and compostable plastics are entering the marketplace.
5. As per CPCB ‘compostable’ marks on plastic items are used without any certification and it has
asked the respective State Pollution Control Boards to take action.
Where to focus?
1. A comprehensive mechanism to certify the materials marketed as alternatives, and the specific
process required to biodegrade or compost them is required.
2. A movement against plastic waste has to prioritize the reduction of single-use plastic in
consumer products.
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3. Focus on tested biodegradable and compostable alternatives for plates, cutlery, cups, rigorous
segregation of waste and scaling up recycling is necessary.
4. Recycling reduces the volume of non-recyclables using methods such as co-processing in
cement kilns, plasma pyrolysis or landfilling.
5. City municipal authorities have to play a key role here.
6. The packing industry should look at innovation and new materials besides facilitating collection
and recycling with the help of city administrations.
Land Degradation
1. India had committed to rejuvenating 50 lakh hectares (5 million) of degraded land between 2021
and 2030.
2. India faces a severe problem of land degradation, or soil becoming unfit for cultivation. About
29% or about 96.4 million hectares are considered degraded.
3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on Land and climate change highlighted that
land everywhere are negatively affected by severe climate change and would lead to extreme food
insecurity.
Bonn Challenge
1. In January 2019, India became part of the “Bonn Challenge”, a global effort to bring 150 million
hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million
hectares by 2030.
2. At the UNFCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 2015 in Paris, India also joined the voluntary Bonn
Challenge and pledged to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested
land by 2020, and an additional 8 million hectares by 2030.
3. India’s pledge is one of the largest in Asia.
4. India also hosted the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for the first time.
Schemes to rejuvenate the land
1. Schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme, Soil Health
Management Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana will be upgraded to tackle land
degradation.
2. The 5 million hectares, part of the Bonn Challenge commitment, It’s going to be a combination of
restoring forest land as well as cultivable land.
Locust Control and Research Scheme
a) Ministry of Agriculture has announced that there has been an incursion of desert locusts in
Rajasthan and Gujarat from areas bordering Pakistan.
b) However, any damage has not been reported to the crops.
c) India has a Locust Control and Research scheme that is being implemented through the Locust
Warning Organisation (LWO).
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d) LWO’s responsibility is monitoring and control of the locust situation in Scheduled Desert Areas
mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and partly in Punjab and Haryana.
e) The LWO publishes a fortnightly bulletin on the locust situation.
About Locust
a) Locusts are certain species of short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae that have a
swarming phase.
b) These insects are usually solitary. However, under certain circumstances, they become more
abundant and change their behavior and habits. This behavioral phase is called the gregarious
phase.
c) When environmental conditions produce many green plants and promote breeding, locusts can
congregate into thick, mobile, ravenous swarms.
d) They devastate crops and cause major agricultural damage and attendant human misery—
famine and starvation.
4P1000 Initiative
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has announced to
organize the conference on 4P1000 initiative.
What is the 4P1000 initiative?
a) The international initiative ‘4 per 1000’ was launched by France in December 2015 at the
Conference of Parties 21.
b) It consists of all voluntary stakeholders of the public and private sectors under the framework of
the Lima-Paris Action Plan (LPAP).
c) It aims to demonstrate that agricultural soils can play a crucial role in food security and climate
change concerns.
d) An annual growth rate of 0.4% (4 per 1000) in the soil carbon stocks in the first 30-40 cm of soil
can significantly reduce the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere related to human activities.
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e) So, the initiative is named as ‘4P1000’. This initiative invites all partners to state or implements
some practical actions on soil carbon storage.
f) It is voluntary. It is up to each member to define how they want to contribute to the goals.
Why is soil conservation important?
a) Human activities emit enormous amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. It
enhances the greenhouse effect and accelerates climate change.
b) Around 30% of this carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by plants annually due to the
photosynthesis process.
c) Decomposition of plants caused by bacteria, fungi, etc. transforms them into organic matter.
d) This carbon-rich organic material is essential for human nutrition because it retains water,
nitrogen, and phosphorus, essential for growing plants.
e) Along with it, Global soils contain around 2 to 3 times more carbon than the atmosphere. This
controls the climate change.
f) Increasing this carbon level in the soils by 0.4% can significantly reduce the increase of carbon
dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Hence, climate change can be controlled efficiently.
g) Soils also ensure food security, i.e. provide food in sufficient quantity.
How to increase the levels of carbon in soils?
a) Policy measures are needed to
i) Reduce deforestation
ii) Encourage agro-ecological practices that increase the quantity of organic matter in soils and
meet the 4 % targets per year.
b) The soils should be nourished with manure and compost.
c) Areas such as degraded forests, arid and semi-arid areas, etc. should be restored.
d) Legumes should be planted more. They fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. Water should be
provided at the foot of plants.
e) Farmers and citizens have to play a significant role in the implementation of these practices.
Who will benefit?
a) There are 570 million farms in the world and more than 3 billion people living in rural areas.
b) It can benefit society as a whole.
Drought Toolbox
The Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
unveiled the Drought Toolbox.
About the toolbox
a) The toolbox can warn about the arrival of drought as well as suggest means to mitigate the
adverse impact of acute water scarcity.
b) This toolbox can be used by countries to assess drought risks in their regions much in advance.
c) The drought uses 30 parameters including soil moisture, rainfall data and temperature data of
the present and past.
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d) The toolbox can accurately evaluate the vulnerability of different geographic regions to drought.
e) UN organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Meteorological
Organization and the University of Nebraska, US worked to develop it.
Need of toolbox
a) As per the UNCCD estimates, the economic impact of drought has increased almost three-fold in
the last few years.
b) Currently, the cost of drought is more than $80 billion a year.
c) Droughts have caused loss of food-grains that can feed as many as 81 million people every day.
d) So, early prediction along with effective policies can help to reduce such losses.
About UNCCD
a) It is the first and only internationally legally binding framework set up to address the problem of
desertification.
b) The Convention is based on the principles of participation, partnership, and decentralization - the
backbone of Good Governance.
c) It was adopted in Paris, France on 17 June 1994 and entered into force in December 1996.
d) It now has more than 180 country Parties to the Convention.
Energy
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2. India is aiming to secure its energy needs by cutting down imports of fossil fuels and reduce
pollution.
3. Major global companies such as Tesla are showing interest to build large factories of lithium-ion
batteries of a 50-gigawatt hour (GWh) with an investment of about ₹50,000 crore.
4. The government wants to make India a global manufacturing hub for electric vehicles and their
components.
Climate Commitments
1. India has become one of the top renewable energy producers globally, with capacity expansion
plans to achieve 175GW by 2022 and 500GW by 2030, as part of its climate commitments.
2. At present, around 22%, or 80,000MW, is generated through clean energy projects.
Investment in Green Energy
1. India is seeking additional clean energy investment of around $80 billion till 2022, and up to $250
billion during 2023-30.
2. Investments in the country’s renewable energy sector doubled over the last five years to around
$20 billion in 2018, surpassing the capital expenditure in the thermal power sector.
3. It is regarded as a turning point for India’s green economy.
Thermal Power Plants
Managing the electricity needs of a country that’s already dealing with water scarcity will be a
challenge before Energy sector.
What will be the challenge?
a) Water is essential for human survival, agriculture and industry. India has only 4% of the world’s
renewable water resources but about 18% of the world’s population.
b) India has announced the goal of 100% electrification. To achieve this, the country’s installed
power capacity will need to be doubled.
c) Even with the growth of renewable energy, coal has been projected to be the backbone of the
electricity sector till 2030 and beyond.
d) As the thermal power plants are water-intensive and operate on coal, there is need of managing
the electricity needs of India as well as water scarcity.
Where are generally TPP located?
a) Thermal power plants (TPPs) consume significant amounts of water during the electricity
generation process.
b) Most of India’s TPPs are located in water-stressed areas.
c) Water shortages have led to electricity-generation disruptions and significant revenue losses to
the economy.
When did Government step in?
a) In December 2015, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a notification
setting limits for water consumption by TPPs.
b) However, the amended Environment Protection (EP) Rules codified in June 2018 ended up
permitting TPPs to use more water than what was initially specified.
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Species
Cat Snake
A new species of ‘cat snake’ has been discovered in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats around the
Koyna wildlife sanctuary region.
About the species
1. The species has been named ‘Thackeray’s cat snake’. The scientific name of the species is
‘Boiga Thackerayi’.
2. The new species has Tiger stripes on its body.
3. The new species is non-venomous. It is known to grow up to approximately 3 feet in length.
4. It is active at night and is known to feed on the eggs of Humayun’s Night Frog. This snake also
favours only arboreal frogs. Arboreal meaning living in trees.
5. The new species is only known in a few localities near the Koyna dam of Maharashtra. But could
be widely distributed.
Microhyla Eos
A new frog species has been discovered from Arunachal Pradesh.
About the species
1. It was discovered from the habitats in an evergreen forest in the Namdapha tiger reserve.
2. The species is described as the newest member of the genus Microhyla.
3. Microhyla genus is a group of narrow-mouthed frogs commonly known as Rice Frogs or Chorus
Frogs. They are widely distributed in Asia.
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4. The new species is named ‘Eos’ after the mythological Greek goddess of dawn. It’s habitat
Arunachal Pradesh is also popularly known as the Land of the Rising Sun.
5. ‘Microhyla Eos’ differs from other narrow-mouthed Chorus frogs by its size, shape, colouration
and markings, foot webbing, and other morphological features.
Namdapha Tiger Reserve
1. Namdapha Tiger Reserve (NTR) was declared in the year 1983 as the 15th Tiger Project of the
country.
2. It is named after the river which originates from Daphabum hill and meets the Noa-Dehing river.
3. NTR falls within the Eastern Himalayan biogeographic province of the Himalayas Biogeographic
zone.
4. It covers the Palearctic Realm and the Indo-Malayan (Oriental) Realm.
5. The Biomes recognized in this area are evergreen Forests, Moist deciduous forests, subtropical
forests, Temperate and Alpines.
Indian Pierrot Butterfly
A rare butterfly species of Indian Pierrot was discovered at Yercaud foothills, Tamil Nadu.
About the species
a) The butterfly belonging to this species is commonly known as the ‘Indian Pierrot or Transparent
Pierrot’.
b) There are around five or six varieties in the genus Tarucus. It makes it a rare species.
c) To date, its presence has been recorded only in Maharashtra, Gujarat and the other Northern
States.
d) Transparent nature of the butterfly makes it difficult to identify. There are lighter black marks on
either of the upper forewings of the butterfly.
e) The butterfly can be seen in scrub jungles, drier areas, near Jujube trees which are considered to
be its host plant.
Dragon tree species
‘Dragon tree species’ was discovered in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district.
About the species
a) The scientific name of the species is ‘Dracaena Cambodiana’.
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e) In India, the Dracaena genus belonging to the family Asparagaceae is represented by nine
species and two varieties in the Himalayan region, the northeast and Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
f) But the recently discovered Dracaena Cambodian is the only true dragon tree species.
g) Several antifungal and antibacterial compounds, antioxidants, flavonoids, etc. have been
extracted from various parts of the plant.
h) But recent overexploitation to meet the increasing demand for dragon’s blood has resulted in
rapid depletion of the plant.
Mediterranean sharks
A report of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) states that Sharks are at risk of disappearing from the
Mediterranean Sea region.
About the report
a) The report is titled as the ‘Sharks in Crisis: A call to action for the Mediterranean’.
b) The report comes on the occasion of Shark Awareness Day observed annually on July 14.
c) As per the report, Overfishing and plastic pollution pose threat to their populations.
d) It states that more than half of shark and ray species in the Mediterranean were under threat and
that almost a third of them have been fished to the brink of extinction.
e) Tunisia has become the second largest fishing country for sharks in the Mediterranean after
Libya.
f) The IUCN Red List of endangered species counts 79 endangered shark and 120 endangered ray
species. Rays are the largest group of cartilaginous fish.
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3. Create awareness and safe zones for vultures in places where there is an existing vulture
population.
4. So far nine states have undertaken programmes to create safe habitats for vultures.
Gharial Conservation
a) Gharial is a species of crocodile listed as a ‘Critically Endangered’ by IUCN.
b) It is native to sandy freshwater riverbanks in the plains of the northern part of the Indian
subcontinent.
c) It is threatened by loss of riverine habitat, depletion of fish resources, and entanglement in
fishing nets.
d) It is one of the longest of all living crocodilians.
Conservation plan
a) Gharials are first bred in Nandankanan Zoological Park and then released into their natural
habitat i.e. Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi.
b) Satkosia gorge is the southernmost limit of gharials’ home range in India.
c) Gharials are individually marked and fitted with radio transmitters for future identification and
tracking of their migration route.
d) The technical assistance for biotelemetry is being provided by the gharial Telemetry Project, The
Madras Crocodile Bank Trust.
e) Odisha is the only state in India having all three species — gharial, mugger and saltwater
crocodile.
Nandankanan Park
a) It is a premier zoological park located near Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
b) Gharials have bred for the first time in captivity in the world at Nandankanan Zoological Park in
1980.
c) It is the first zoo in the World to breed White tiger and Melanistic tiger.
d) Nandankanan is the only conservation breeding center of Indian Pangolins in the world.
e) It is the only zoological park in India to become an institutional member of World Association of
Zoos and Aquarium (WAZA).
f) It is the first zoo in India where endangered Ratel was born in captivity.
g) Nandankanan is the only zoo in India to have an Open-top Leopard Enclosure.
Great Indian Bustard Conservation
a) Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest birds found in the country.
b) The birds prefer terrestrial habitats such as Grassland.
c) It is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ under the IUCN red list.
d) The population of the species is declining because of activities such as Mining & quarrying,
agriculture, invasive species, anthropogenic threats etc.
e) So, a conservation project for ‘Great Indian Bustard’ has been announced.
About the project
a) Project titled ‘Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard-An
Integrated Approach’ has been launched for five years.
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b) As there are just 130 great Indian bustards left in the country, Government has initiated the
project.
c) Funds are provided under the centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife
Habitats (CSS-IDWH)’ under the component ‘Species Recovery Programme’.
d) Funds are provided to states and Union Territories for conservation and protection along with
other 21 critically endangered species.
e) Funds for the project are being provided through ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for conservation.
f) Technical support is supported from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
g) Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra are the important range states involved in this programme.
h) Currently, there are two centres for breeding and hatching- one in Jaisalmer and the other in
Kota, both in Rajasthan.
i) Rajasthan has also launched “Project Godawan” at the Desert National Park.
CSS-IDWH
a) It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched to provide assistance to States/UTs for protection
of wildlife habitat.
b) It is extended till 2019-2020.
c) The activities covered under the scheme include,
i) Staff development and capacity building
ii) Wildlife research and evaluation
iii) Anti-poaching activities
iv) Wildlife veterinary care
v) Addressing man-animal conflicts
vi) Promoting eco-tourism.
d) Financial assistance is also provided to States for the relocation of communities from within
protected areas to other areas.
Otter and Gecko Lizard
a) A proposal on ‘otter conservation’ by India, Nepal, and Bangladesh has been approved by the
International community.
b) The proposal aims to prohibit commercial international trade in a species of otter native to the
subcontinent and some other parts of Asia.
c) The proposal was approved during the 18th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva.
d) The Conference also accepted a separate proposal by India for the inclusion of a species of
gecko lizard found widely in South and Southeast Asia.
Smooth-coated Otter
a) Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The otter species are all semi-
aquatic, aquatic or marine.
b) In the Indian Subcontinent, the Smooth-coated Otter species is widely available. However, its
population is constantly decreasing.
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a) It is a list of species included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade in the species
and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation.
b) International trade in specimens of species listed in this Appendix is allowed only on
presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates.
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Suggestions to India
a) The WRI took note of steps India has taken to mitigate water stress including setting up the Jal
Shakti Ministry.
b) WRI suggests other solutions such as
i) More efficient irrigation
ii) Conserving and restoring lakes, floodplains, and groundwater recharge areas
iii) Collecting and storing rainwater.
Global situation
a) Globally water withdrawals have more than doubled since the 1960s due to growing demand.
b) Qatar is the most water-stressed countries in the world followed by Israel (2nd), Lebanon (3rd),
Iran (4th).
c) Twelve out of the 17 most water-stressed countries are in the Middle East and North Africa.
d) The region is hot and dry, so water supply is low, but growing demands have pushed countries
further into extreme stress.
Water Stress Index
a) Water Stress Index is formulated by London-based risk analytics firm Verisk Maple-croft.
b) The index measures the water consumption rates of households, industries, and farm sectors
and the available resources in rivers, lakes, and streams.
c) The index lists India as the 46th highest risk country in the world.
d) The report states that 11 of India’s 20 largest cities face an ‘extreme risk’ of water stress and
seven are in the ‘high risk’ category.
e) Many metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik, Jaipur,
Ahmedabad, and Indore are among the cities facing ‘extreme risk’.
Key Highlights
a) The average population growth rate among the 11 extreme risk cities is 49%.
b) More than 127 million people will live in these cities by 2035.
c) The report suggests that the effects of climate change like an ‘extended dry season’ would make
matters worse for the country’s cities.
Report on Sulphur dioxide emission
India is the largest emitter of Sulphur dioxide gas in the world.
About the report
a) It was developed by Greenpeace Trust using the data from NASA OMI (Ozone Monitoring
Instrument) satellite.
b) It states that more than 15% of all the anthropogenic sulphur dioxide hotspots exist in India.
c) It makes India the largest emitter of Sulphur dioxide gas.
d) Almost all of these emissions in India are because of coal-burning. Majority of coal-based power
plants in India lack flue-gas desulphurisation technology to reduce air pollution.
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e) Major emission hotspots in India are basically thermal power plants such as Singrauli, Neyveli,
Talcher, Jharsuguda, Chandrapur etc.
Global Scenario
a) The largest sulphur dioxide emission hotspots have been found in Russia, South Africa, Iran,
Saudi Arabia, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Serbia.
b) The pollutant emissions from power plants and other industries continue to increase in Saudi
Arabia and Iran.
c) China and the United States have been able to reduce emissions rapidly. They have achieved this
by switching to clean energy sources.
Steps taken by India
a) Ministry of Environment introduced sulphur dioxide emission limits for coal-fired power plants in
2015 to control air pollution by SO2.
b) But the deadline for the installation of flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) in power plants has been
extended from 2017 to 2022.
State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index (SARAL)
The Union Ministry of Power launched the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index (SARAL).
About the index
a) It is the first of its kind index to provide a comprehensive overview of state-level measures
adopted to facilitate rooftop solar deployment.
b) It has been designed collaboratively by,
i) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
ii) Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF)
iii) Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
iv) Ernst & Young (EY)
c) It ranks the states based on five key aspects –
i) Robustness of policy framework
ii) Implementation environment
iii) Investment climate
iv) Consumer experience
v) Business ecosystem
d) It encourages each state to assess the on-going initiatives and guides to improve its solar
rooftop ecosystem.
Renewable Energy targets
a) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set a target of 175 GW of renewable energy
capacity by 2022.
b) Out of 175GW, 100 GW solar power is to be operational by March 2022.
c) Another 40 GW is expected to come from grid-connected solar rooftops.
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Top performers
a) Karnataka has been placed at the first rank in the Index.
b) Telangana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have got 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rank respectively.
All India Tiger Estimate – 2018
On the International Tiger Day, the results of the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation – 2018
was released.
Findings of the Census
1. The count of tigers in India has risen to 2967, in 2018, according to this census. India is among
the biggest and most secure habitats.
2. The 33% rise in tiger numbers is the highest ever recorded between cycles which stood at 21%
between 2006 to 2010 and 30% between 2010 and 2014.
3. The rise in tiger numbers was in conformity with the average annual growth rate of tigers since,
2006.
4. Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, followed by Karnataka and
Uttarakhand with 524 and 442 tigers respectively.
5. India achieved its commitment to the St. Petersburg Declaration, of doubling Tiger population,
much in advance to the 2022 deadline.
6. Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in their tiger numbers while tiger’s numbers in Odisha
remained constant. All other States witnessed a positive trend.
7. At the landscape level, all 5 landscapes showed an increase with the Central Indian landscape
recording the highest increment.
Method of Sampling
1. India has been estimating its tigers using a double sampling approach involving a mark-
recapture framework to ascertain tiger numbers, which is being improved over time.
2. During the 4th cycle, data was collected using an Android-based application- M-STrIPES
(Monitoring system for Tigers’ Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) and analysed on the
applications’ desktop module.
3. Besides cameras were also used to get the images of wildlife including tigers.
4. Segregation of these images was possible in a short time because of the use of artificial
intelligence software.
MEETR
1. A report of the 4th cycle of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves (MEETR)
was also released.
2. Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh scored the highest and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve,
Tamil Nadu showed the highest increment in management since the last cycle for which the latter
was awarded.
3. 42% of the tiger reserves fell in the Very Good management category, 34% in the Good category,
24% in the Fair category while no tiger reserve was rated Poor.
Report ‘Skin and Bones Unresolved’
The ‘Skin and Bones Unresolved: An Analysis of Tiger Seizures from 2000-2018’, quantifies the
illegal global trade in tigers.
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Conservation
Agriculture
a) India has only 4% of the global freshwater resources. However, it has to quench the thirst of
about 18% of the world population.
b) As per the Central Water Commission, Water use for Irrigation purposes is likely to be reduced to
68% by 2050 from 78% in 2010.
c) For domestic use, it was just 6% in 2010 but it is likely to go up to 9.5% by 2050.
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iii) It is famous for its sweet water fish, especially ‘Labeo bata’ locally known as ‘Pohala.’
iv) However, the lake’s hydrology has undergone serious and visible changes due to reduced inflow
from Mahanadi river over the years.
Initiatives
5. Since fisheries is a state subject in India, fishing in the IW and TS come within the purview of the
states concerned.
6. Other activities in the TS and activities, including fishing beyond the TS up to the limit of the EEZ,
are in the Union list.
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7. So far, there is no Central government law covering the entire EEZ. The Bill attempts to make up
for this.
8. The annual fishery potential of the India’s EEZ is about 5 million tonnes which has to be utilised
judiciously.
9. Measures like formation of a new fisheries ministry and this bill aims to achieve this.
WTO agreements
1. The Bill is also a response to discussions on fisheries’ subsidies at the WTO since the Doha
Round of 2001.
2. India has been defending the rights of developing nations for special and differential treatment.
3. Developed countries contend that nations without laws to manage fisheries in their respective
EEZs are not serious about unregulated fishing.
4. The MFRM Bill of India tries to address this.
Which are the provisions of the bill?
1. The Bill prohibits fishing by foreign fishing vessels, thus nationalising our EEZ.
2. An Indian fishing vessel desirous of fishing in the EEZ, outside the TS, must obtain a permit.
3. It proposes social security for fish workers and calls for the protection of life at sea during
severe weather events.
4. Bigger vessels, particularly trawlers, registered and licenced under state departments, will need a
permit to fish. This is a measure to manage the fishing sector.
5. The Bill respects the jurisdiction of coastal states over the TS.
What is the issue in the bill?
1. Obtaining of a permit for fishing beyond TS has been contested by the fishing industry —
particularly small-scale operators.
2. The bill assums that only large-scale vessels fish outside the TS. Actually, thousands of small-
scale fishing crafts regularly venture into such areas.
3. Their freedom to access fish outside the TS will cease if the Bill becomes law.
4. The Bill lacks match with important regional fishery agreements.
5. It is incomplete compared to the regulations in other coastal nations. However, it is necessary
for the sustainable future of the marine fishing industry.
Where lies the solution?
1. A few exemption clauses to safeguard their livelihoods of small-scale operators beyond TS
should be incorporated in the Bill.
2. State governments, fisher associations and the fishing industry representatives should not
blindly oppose the entire bill on the basis of their fears of the fishing permit. They should argue for
greater “cooperative federalism”.
3. Cooperative governance between them over different territories (IW, TS and EEZ) is key to the
sustainable management of marine fisheries, therefore the fishing sector must be moved to
Concurrent List.
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3. Small-scale fish workers should demand to make the entire IW and TS completely free of
trawling using the FAO/UN Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines to support their arguments.
4. This will raise their incomes, ensure a steady supply to consumers, heal the coastal areas and
curb the bane of destructive fishing.
Draft Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
The Ministry of Environment has unveiled a draft Environmental and Social Management Framework
(ESMF) plan to assess the infrastructure projects situated along the coast.
About the framework
a) The plan lays out guidelines for coastal States to adopt when they approve and regulate projects
in coastal zones.
b) Guidelines would decide how prospective infrastructure projects situated along the coast should
be assessed before they can apply for clearance.
c) ESMF is part of a World Bank-funded project.
d) It is prepared by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management.
e) It seeks to assist the Government of India in enhancing coastal resource efficiency and resilience
by building collective capacity.
f) Currently, three coastal States, Gujarat, Odisha, and West Bengal, have prepared Integrated
Coastal Zone Management Plans with support from the World Bank.
Proposed activities
Key activities proposed for coastal area development are,
a) Mangrove afforestation and shelter beds
b) Habitat conservation activities such as restoration of sea-grass meadows
c) Eco-restoration of sacred groves
d) Development of hatcheries
e) Rearing/rescue centres for turtles and other marine animals
f) Creation of infrastructure for tourism
g) Restoration and recharge of water bodies
h) Beach cleaning and development
i) Other small infrastructure facilities
Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM)
a) It has been established under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate
Change, Government of India.
b) It aims at vibrant, healthy and resilient Coastal and Marine Environment for continuous and
enhanced outflow of benefits to the Country and the Coastal Community.
c) It supports implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) activities in
India.
d) It promotes Research & Development (R&D) and stakeholder participation in the management of
the Coastal areas in India.
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Quiz
1. The ‘Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)’ is funded and supported by
_____________.
A) Asian Development Bank
B) World Bank
C) World Economic Forum
D) New Development Bank
2. Consider the following statements about the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species on Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
I. India is a signatory to the convention.
II. Species listed in Appendix I of CITES enjoy the highest degree of protection.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
A) I only
B) II only
C) Both I and II
D) Neither I nor II
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3. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds
cannot be utilized for which of the following purposes?
A) Assisted Natural Regeneration
B) Forest Fire Prevention and Control Operations
C) Payment of salary and travel allowances of forest officials
D) Management of Biological Diversity
4. As per the latest report by Greenpeace Trust, ____________ is the largest emitter of sulphur
dioxide in the world.
A) China
B) United States
C) India
D) Germany
6. Consider the following statements about Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
I. It is a United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
II. It conducts research and analysis on the climate change science.
Which among the above statements is/are INCORRECT?
A) I only
B) II only
C) Both I and II
D) Neither I nor II
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8. The report ‘Working on Warmer Planet’ is published by which of the following organisation?
A) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
B) Food and Agriculture Organisation
C) World Economic Forum
D) International Labour Organisation
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12. Recently in news, first comprehensive census of orchids of India was launched by which of the
following organisations?
A) Wildlife Trust of India
B) Bombay Natural History Society
C) Botanical Survey of India
D) NITI Aayog
13. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is considered as the ‘Mother
Convention’ of which of the following treaties/conventions?
I. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
II. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
III. Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
A) I and II Only
B) II and III Only
C) I and III Only
D) I, II and III
14. Rare butterfly species ‘Indian Pierrot (Transparent Pierrot)’ is found in which of the following
regions?
A) Andaman islands
B) Goan Western Ghats
C) Lakshadweep island
D) Eastern Ghats
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17. Which state has become the first market in world for particulate matter emissions trading?
A) Maharashtra
B) Gujarat
C) Kerala
D) Tamil Nadu
18. A new species of frog ‘Microhyla Eos’ is found in which of the following states?
A) Maharashtra
B) Arunachal Pradesh
C) Uttarakhand
D) Tamil Nadu
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20. Consider the following statements regarding the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules,
2016.
I. The rule mandates the segregation of waste by the waste generator.
II. Plastic should be marked with numerical symbols to facilitate recycling.
III. Producers must arrange for recovery of waste in partnership with Central Pollution Control
Board.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
A) I and II only
B) II and III only
C) I and III only
D) I, II and III
21. Which of the following statements best describes about the ‘biological carbon pump’?
A) Emission of carbon due to forest fires
B) Emission of carbon due to burning of farm residues
C) Absorbing of carbon by the forests
D) Absorbing of carbon from the surface of oceans by the phytoplankton
22. Which of the following is/are the adverse effects of micro-plastic contamination on soils?
I. The contamination influences the animal tissues and growth.
II. Such soils become breeding ground for mosquitos.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
A) I only
B) II only
C) Both I and II
D) Neither I nor II
23. Consider the following statements about Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks
(UMREPP).
I. The scheme is facilitated by the state governments.
II. It includes solar, wind and hydropower projects.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
A) I only
B) II only
C) Both I and II
D) Neither I nor II
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24. Consider the following statements about National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
I. The force was constituted under the Disaster Management Act of 2010.
II. It deals with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (CBRN) emergencies.
Select the correct statements using the codes given below.
A) I only
B) II only
C) Both I and II
D) Neither I nor II
25. Consider the following statements about ‘National Disaster Management Authority’.
I. It seeks to coordinate the government’s response to natural or man-made disasters.
II. Minister of Home Affairs is the chairman of NDMA.
Select the correct statements using the codes given below.
A) Only I
B) Only II
C) Both I and II
D) Neither I nor II
Answer Keys
1. B 2. C 3. C 4. C 5. D
6. B 7. B 8. D 9. D 10. C
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