The ‘right to repair’ movement
Context: Recently the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted unanimously to make a push for the right of consumers to repair their electronic devices. The ‘Right to Repair’ movement has been making the case for allowing people to fix the products they buy. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution & Degradation), GS-II: Governance (Government […]
‘Earth Overshoot Day’ 2021
Context: Humanity has again used up all biological resources that our planet regenerates during the entire year by July 29, 2021, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of the Environment) Dimensions of the Article: What is Earth overshoot day? Earth Overshoot Day […]
Wounded mountains
Context: The tragic death of nine tourists in a landslip in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh is another pointer to the fragility of the ecology of the Himalayan States. The descending boulders from destabilised terrain, which crushed a bridge like a matchstick, are a source of worry even for cautious local residents, and for unwary […]
Gross Environment Product in Uttarakhand
Context: The Uttarakhand government recently announced it will initiate valuation of its natural resources in the form of ‘Gross Environment Product’ (GEP), said to be along the lines of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Environment, Environment Pollution and Degradation, Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: About Putting […]
Last patches of tropical lowland forest in Assam
Context: A recent study by researchers has highlighted the importance of the last fragments of tropical lowland forests in Assam by showing interactions between plants and fruit-eating birds in them. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography – Forest Resources and Natural Vegetation), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Environment and Ecology) Dimensions of the Article: Tropical […]
India: G20 nations should pledge GHG reductions by 2030
Context: India urged the G20 nations to pledge for reductions by 2030 at the 2021 G20 climate meet. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Groupings, Foreign Policies, Agreements and treaties affecting India’s Interests), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of Environment and Ecology) Dimensions of the Article: About G20 Structure and functioning […]
The Ganga’s message
Context: A new study by an NGO has found evidence of a modern-day scourge, microplastics, in the river, with the highest concentrations in Varanasi and Kanpur, followed by Haridwar. What the data show is the alarming presence of plastic filaments, fibres, fragments, and in two places, microbeads, with their composition pointing to both industrial and […]
Monsoon revival sees rise in extreme rainfall events
Context: Rainfall amid the monsoon’s revival since mid-July 2021 has seen significant variation across the country. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Climatology, Important geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Climate Change and its Impact) Dimensions of the Article: Monsoon in India Recent extreme rainfall events Cause of Extreme Rainfall Events Click Here to read about Monsoon in […]
SC upholds NGT ban on firecrackers
Context: The Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to a National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on the sale and use of firecrackers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the National Capital Region (NCR) and all cities and towns where the ambient air quality is in the poor or above categories. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution, […]
Great Indian Bustard
Context: Recently, the Central government informed the Rajya Sabha that there were no Great Indian Bustards (GIB) in Kutch Bustard Sanctuary (KBS) in Gujarat Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Species in News, Conservation of Biodiversity) Dimensions of the Article: About the Great Indian Bustard About the Habitat of Great Indian Bustard On the brink […]