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, […]
The lowdown on India’s Glasgow announcement
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise declaration at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow of striking enhancements in India’s emissions reduction targets did not, for several reasons, get the rave reviews the Government may have expected. International commentators expressed disappointment that India was promising net zero emissions only by 2070 instead of 2050. Relevance: GS-III: […]
CoP26 summit: One Sun One World One Grid
Context: One Sun One World One Grid group — and was announced at COP26 by summit host United Kingdom’s Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of the Environment, International Treaties and Agreements), GS-II: International Relations (India’s neighbors, Foreign Policies affecting India’s Interests), GS-III: Industry and Infrastructure (Solar Energy, Renewable […]
CoP26 summit: ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’
Context: India launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations, saying that it gives a new hope, a new confidence and satisfaction of doing something for the most vulnerable countries. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of the Environment, International Treaties and Agreements), GS-II: International Relations (India’s […]
CoP26 summit: India’s Carbon Neutrality by 2070
Context: In the COP26 climate summit, India said that it will achieve net zero emissions by 2070 – putting a time-bound target to achieve net zero for the first time. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of the Environment, International Treaties and Agreements), GS-II: International Relations (Foreign Policies affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: […]
CoP26 summit: On Methane, Forests and Climate finance
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Context: Leaders at the CoP26 global climate conference in Glasgow have pledged to stop deforestation by the end of the decade and slash emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane to help slow climate change. India said that climate finance cannot continue at the levels decided in 2009, and emphasised that it should […]
UNEP production gap report 2021
Context: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently released its report called “2021 Production Gap Report”. According to the report, government’s plan to produce fossil fuels will evade the Paris Deal limits. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of Environment and Ecology, International Treaties and Agreements, International Organizations and their reports) Dimensions […]
Reasons for India’s bouts of extreme weather
Context: Kerala and Uttarakhand have received incessant rainfall in October 2021 leading to doubts over the potential role of climate change behind these extreme weather events. In both these States and other states as well, over the last few years, there have been variations in the pattern and intensity of rainfall. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and […]
WMO report on Carbon dioxide emissions in 2020
Context: A report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said the increase in CO2 from 2019 to 2020 was slightly lower than that observed from 2018 to 2019 but higher than the average annual growth rate over the last decade. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of Environment and Ecology) Dimensions […]
China’s cracking down on super skyscrapers
Context: Aiming to reduce China’s energy consumption, the country has passed guidelines limiting the height of super-high buildings as part of a larger crackdown on “vanity projects” in the country. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Energy and Reduction of Carbon footprint) Dimensions of the Article: About China’s crackdown on skyscrapers Towering glass structures […]