High LPG prices are scorching the air pollution fight
Context: The price of LPG refills has risen by more than 50% to over ₹900 per cylinder in November 2021 compared to around ₹600 over 2020. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and degradation, Conservation of Environment and Ecology), GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Welfare Schemes, Government Policies & Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: […]
Afforestation funds released to states
Context: The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has so far disbursed ₹48,606 crore to 32 States, according to a response by the Environment Ministry in the Lok Sabha. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Environment and Ecology), GS-II: Governance (Governmental Policies and Initiatives) Dimensions of the Article: Understanding Compensatory Afforestation About […]
Breathing fresh air into the NCR’s pollution control
Context: Chief Justice of India asked the Government as a ‘layman’ the question that haunts the Capital, that is, why does pollution continue to smother Delhi despite orders from Supreme Court, action from Government and lawyers arguing so much. The court gave the Government 24 hours to find a way or make way for the […]
Decarbonisation scheme not effective enough: CSE report
Context: A key scheme introduced in 2008 by the Indian government to improve energy efficiency in Indian industries and consequently reduce greenhouse gas emissions is not effective, according to a recent report by New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: What Does Decarbonisation Mean? […]
Over 700 elephants died by electrocution: MoEFCC
Context: A whopping 1,160 elephants were killed in the country due to reasons other than natural causes in the past 10 years up to December 2020, according to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Important Protected Areas, Conservation of Biodiversity) Dimensions of the Article: Details of […]
Boosting green hydrogen
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that India would aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Climate Change, Conservation of the Environment, Pollution control and Management), GS-III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: What is Green Hydrogen? Challenges in using green hydrogen Need for Green Hydrogen About India’s […]
Himalayan glacier changed track 20,000 years ago: study
Context: Nearly 20,000 years ago, a 5-km-long Himalayan glacier “abruptly” changed course and over time fused into an adjacent glacier in present day Pittoragarh, Uttarakhand. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Distribution of Key Natural Resources, Water Resources, Important Geophysical Phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Climate change and its impact) Dimensions of the Article: What is […]
Wide fault lines within the Global Climate Risk Index
Context: The address by Barbados Prime Minister at the 26th United Nations Conference of Parties, or COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, attracted global attention with her remark that failure to provide critical adaptation finance as well as measuring the extent of loss caused by climate change with respect to “lives and livelihoods” was immoral. Recent discussions […]
Warming of climate over the last 24,000 years
Context: Scientists have reconstructed Earth’s climate since the last ice age, about 24,000 years ago. The study suggests that current temperatures are unprecedented in 24,000 years. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Climate Change and its impact, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of the Environment) Dimensions of the Article: About the study on Climate Change Evolution […]
Bats: An important yet misunderstood species
Context: Unfortunately, despite the critical roles bats play such as devouring insects in farms, fields etc., including agricultural pests and disease-causing mosquitoes and spreading the seeds of many important tree species – bats remain among the most misunderstood of all animals. With scientific evidence mounting that the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes COVID-19 originated in bats, […]