INDUS AND GANGES RIVER DOLPHINS- 2 DIFFERENT SPECIES
Context: The researchers studied ancient DNA that they got out of skulls and skeletons which were 20 to 30 to even 150 years old of South Asian river dolphins and the detailed analysis has revealed that the Indus and Ganges River dolphins are not one, but two separate species. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology […]
DOLPHIN BOOM IN ODISHA’S CHILIKA LAKE
Context: The population of dolphins in Chilika, India’s largest brackish water lake, and along the Odisha coast has doubled in 2021 compared to 2020. The population estimation exercise for dolphins and other cetacean species covered almost the entire coast of Odisha. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Species in news, Conservation of Ecology and Environment, […]
EUROPEAN UNION’S CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN WORK
Context: After the European Union became a “strategic partner” of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc in December 2020, both blocs pledged to make climate change policy a key area of cooperation. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Climate Change, Conservation of the Environment, Pollution control and Management, Important Agreements and Treaties for […]
REWORKING NET-ZERO, DECLARATIONS OF CARBON-NEUTRALITY
Context: At the latest count by the non-profit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) 32 countries had declared, in some documented form, their proposed intention to achieve carbon neutral status by mid-century or thereabouts. Of these, only eight have any firm status, the rest being in the form of proposed legislation or mentions in policy […]
NGT: STRENGTHEN HSPCB AND OTHER DIRECTION TO CPCB
Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in a landmark judgement, directed Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to strengthen its capacity, both in terms of human resource and setting up of modern laboratories. NGT also directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to prepare recruitment rules to be followed by all states, mechanism for annual […]
NEW SPECIES OF RED ALGAE DISCOVERED IN INDIAN COASTS
Context: Two new species of seaweed have been discovered by a group of marine biologists on the west and south east coasts of India. Relevance: Prelims, GS-II: Environment and Ecology (Species in news) Dimensions of the Article: About the discovery if these new species Significance of the discovery of the weed About the discovery if […]
AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANTS NOW CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Context: African Forest elephant has been declared as ‘critically endangered’ and the African Savanna (or bush) elephant has been declared as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Both species were earlier listed as ‘vulnerable’. Relevance: Prelims, GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Conservation of Ecology, Protected species) Dimensions of the Article: About conservation […]
PONG DAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: MIGRATORY BIRDS FOUND DEAD
Context: As many as 27 migratory birds have been reported dead on account of avian influenza in Himachal Pradesh’s Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary setting off alarm bells and forcing authorities to shut down the sanctuary. Earlier in January 2021, avian influenza (H5N1) led to the death of over 5,000 migratory birds in the Pong Dam […]
NITI AAYOG CEO ON NET ZERO EMISSION ENERGY TRANSITION
Context: Niti Aayog CEO reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving ‘Net Zero Emission’ targets in energy by 2050, even though it calls for a concerted strategy and massive investments. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Shell have released a report titled “India: Transforming to a Net-Zero Emissions Energy System”, recently. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and […]
WATER, THE LOOMING FRONTIER
Context: NITI Ayog and WaterAid, amongst others, have found that over 70% of India’s surface and groundwater is contaminated by human and other waste and is likely to carry viruses. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Water Resources and their Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation) Mains Questions: How has the water crisis in India worsened due […]