1. Hyderabad to become India’s first city with 100% sewerage facilities by May 2023
Tags: Environment State News
According to the Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, IT and Industries of Telangana, K. T. Rama Rao said that Hyderabad will become the first city in India to have hundred per cent sewerage facilities by next April-May. He made this statement on 1 January 2023 while inaugurating a flyover in Hyderabad.
He said that 31 new Sewage treatment plants (STP) are being built in the city with an investment of Rs ₹3,866 crores.
Rao said, "Keeping the floods of October 2020 in mind, we have developed the Strategic Nala development program with around ₹1000 crores. We will finish the project by March-April 2023. Hyderabad will be the first city in India to have 100 per cent sewerage facilities by April-May",
Chief Minister of Telangana: K.Chandrashekhar Rao
Governor of Telangana: Tamilisai Soundararajan
2. 225 kilometre journey to save the ending forests in Rajasthan
Tags: Environment State News
A unique journey of 225 kilometres was taken out from remote villages and hamlets of western Rajasthan. It ended at Jaisalmer district headquarters last week. The purpose of the journey was to demand the protection of the Oran or the sacred groves.
Important facts
The participants travelled 225 km with a pledge to preserve the sacred groves as a lifeline for the desert.
This raised a strong demand for the protection of Oran or the sacred groves that are facing the threat of destruction.
The Oran or sacred groves face the threat of destruction as their land is being allocated for renewable energy infrastructure and high-tension power lines.
Great Indian Bustards have died during the last few years because of collisions with power lines.
About Oran or the sacred groves
'Orans’ are community forests that act as a store of biodiversity, enable effective water management and serve as a community based regeneration system.
Oran has a rich diversity of traditional flora and fauna and water bodies and is considered sacred and protected by the local people.
It also ensures sustainable extraction of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs) by villagers, in the world’s oldest Aravali Mountain Range and in the Great Indian Desert of Rajasthan.
Sacred groves have been a living expression of man's historical, cultural and emotional attachment to forests.
Oran also forms the natural habitat for India's most critically endangered bird, the Great Indian Bustard.
3. Unique musical dance event held in New Delhi to recharge electric vehicle by dancing
Tags: Environment place in news National
The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas organized a unique one-day event on 23 December 2022, called ‘Dance to Decarbonise’, where renewable energy generated through dance was used to charge electric vehicles. This unique event was held at the National Stadium, in New Delhi as a run up to the India Energy Week that will be held in Bangalore in the month of February 2023.
One of the imperatives of this event was to build engagement around sustainability by leveraging dance and music. The activity involved setting up a state-of-the-art stage, which will harness renewable energy created by people dancing on it to charge an SUV and an e-auto rickshaw.
The event is seen as a commitment by the Government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 and the implementation of responsible energy sources over transformational energy systems for the future.
Union Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas: Hardeep Singh Puri
4. Over 190 nations adopt landmark biodiversity pact to restore natural ecosystems
Tags: Environment International News
Chaired by China and hosted by Canada, the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (GBF), which sets four goals and 23 targets for 2030.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (GBF)
Over 190 nations of the world on 19 December agreed on a historic package of measures deemed critical to addressing the dangerous loss of biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework provides a global roadmap for the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems for the next decade.
The objective of the Framework is to catalyze, enable and inspire urgent and transformative action by governments and local governments, with civil society participation, to prevent biodiversity loss.
In this, four goals and 23 targets have been set which are to be achieved by 2030.
Four global goals
Goal 1
Maintain, enhance or restore the integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems, while significantly increasing the area of natural ecosystems by 2050.
Stop human-induced extinction of known threatened species and reduce the extinction rate and risk of all species tenfold by 2050.
Goal 2
By 2050, the sustainable use and management of biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations and the valuing and promotion of nature's contribution to people, including ecosystem functions and services.
Goal 3
Monetary and non-monetary benefits from the use of genetic resources, and digital sequence information on genetic resources, and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, to be shared fairly and equitably with indigenous peoples and local communities.
Goal 4
Adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation, and access and transfer of technology to fully implement the Kunmin-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in a safe and secure way for all parties, especially developing countries be equally accessible.
Global targets
Effective conservation and management of at least 30 per cent of the world's lands, inland waters, coastal areas and oceans, with emphasis on areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and services. At present, only about 17% of land and 7% of oceans are protected.
5. A non-paper on what would become the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was released
Tags: Environment
-was-released.jpg)
A non-paper on what would become the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was released at a UN summit in Montreal on 18 December, seeking to reconcile the demands of developing and developed countries.
Important facts
If agreed to by China, it will be a historic moment when the world agrees to conserve global biodiversity by 2030.
The draft GBF will be discussed on the last day of the conference. There needs to be a consensus on the framework to be adopted.
One of the GBF's 23 goals is to reach near-zero emissions by 2030, while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Another goal of the GBF is to substantially increase the level of financial resources and mobilise at least US$200 billion per year by 2030 from all sources, including domestic, international, public and private resources, in an effective and easily accessible manner.
Goal 3 of the GBF, also known as the 30x30 goal, is also present. It requires and enables states to ensure that at least 30 percent of terrestrial, inland waters, and coastal and marine areas are areas of special importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions by 2030.
The GBF calls upon member countries to protect 30% combined land and sea for biodiversity conservation.
6. Three Himalayan medicinal plants enter IUCN Red List
Tags: Environment
Three medicinal plant species found in the Himalayas have recently been placed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species following an assessment.
Important facts
These species are found in the Himalayan region spread across Nepal, India, China, Sikkim, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
IUCN is an international organisation (NGO) working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
These three species are as follows-
About the three species
Meizotropis pellita
Commonly known as Patwa, it is a perennial shrub that is endemic to Uttarakhand.
"The species is listed as 'critically endangered' on the basis of being found in a limited area (less than 10 sq km)," the study said.
This species is threatened by deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and wildfires.
The oil extracted from its leaves contains strong antioxidants and can be a natural alternative to synthetic antioxidants in the pharmaceutical industries.
Fritillaria cirrhosa
It is a perennial bulbous herb.
According to the study, its numbers declined by 30% during the assessment period (22 to 26 years).
This species is listed as 'Vulnerable' in view of its rate of decline, length, poor germination capacity, high trade value, extensive harvesting pressure and illegal trade.
In China this species is used to treat bronchial disorders and pneumonia.
This plant is also a strong cough suppressant.
Dactylorhiza hatagirea
This species, also called the salampanza, is threatened by habitat loss, livestock grazing, deforestation, and climate change.
It is used extensively in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and other alternative systems of medicine to cure dysentery, gastritis, chronic fever, cough and abdominal pain.
This species is listed as ‘endangered’.
7. Tamil Nadu becomes first state to launch its own Climate Change Mission
Tags: Environment State News
Tamil Nadu has become the first state in India to launch its own Climate Change Mission. Launching the state climate change mission at the Tamil Nadu climate change summit on 9 December 2022, Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin said that the state will achieve carbon neutrality much ahead of the national target of 2070. The Tamil Nadu Climate Summit was held in Chennai from 8 and 9 December 2022.
Carbon neutral refers to the removal of the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by various means as the amount of carbon dioxide which is released in the atmosphere leaving a Zero balance or zero carbon.
Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission
- The state government announced the launch of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission in the 2021-2022 budget with an outlay of Rs 500 crore to undertake climate change management and mitigation activities.
- The state government established Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company, a special purpose vehicle to implement three major nature conservation projects namely Green Tamil Nadu Mission, Tamil Nadu Wetlands and Tamil Nadu Climate Change.
- The Tamil Nadu climate change mission will be implemented at the district level and it will be coordinated and implemented by climate officers appointed at the district level.
- The Tamil Nadu government has appointed former director of United Nations Environment Programme Erik Solheim as its advisor for the climate change mission.
- During the climate summit a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Resources Institute, Anna University and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management were signed on the occasion, to help the government establish 10 smart villages, 25 green schools and achieve blue flag beaches.
8. Solar Electric Hybrid high speed ferry launched in Goa
Tags: Environment Person in news State News
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched a Solar-Electric Hybrid High Speed Ferry and inaugurated a floating jetty project at Panaji, Goa on 13 October 2022.
The Solar-Electric Hybrid High Speed Ferry project is funded by the government of Goa at a cost of over 3.9 crores and has a carrying capacity of 60 passengers.
The floating jetty has been funded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, the three jetties commissioned were built at a project cost of Rs. 9.6 crores. The jetties are solid concrete structures that float on water, are easy to install and have minimal environmental impact in their construction.
Speaking on the occasion the minister said that the project is likely to boost the tourism sector in the state.
First Solar Powered Ferry in India
The first solar powered ferry in India, Aditya was launched in 2017 in Kerala. It was built by the NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats for the Kerala State Water Transport Department.
9. India’s first carbon neutral farm inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinnari Vijayan at Aluva, Kerala
Tags: Environment Person in news State News
Kerala Chief Minister Pinnari Vijayan on 10 December 2022 inaugurated Kerala's State Seed Farm located in Aluva, Ernakulam district. It is the first farm in India which is carbon neutral.
The farm practices carbon-neutral farming which involves absorption of all the carbon that gets released during various agriculture practices in the soil itself.
The farm avoids using fossil fuels, energy-consuming equipment, and chemicals during cultivation by practicing mixed farming, keeping native breeds of goat, chicken, ducks and cows and producing vermicompost.
Mixed farming involves the cultivation of crops and raising of livestocks.
How the farm is made carbon neutral
- The main crop in the farm is high-yielding paddy and a variety of this crop is grown including njavara, rakthashali, Japanese violet, chottadi, and pokkali. By mixing five different varieties there is reduction in attacks by pests and diseases thereby avoiding the use of pesticides completely?
- Farming of goats, cows, chicken, ducks, bees, fish, vermicompost and azolla has also helped in cutting down waste generation. Converting agriculture waste into compost provides fertiliser for the fields as doe’s cow dung. The ducks and hens in the farm help in controlling pests.
- The animals on the farm are fed fodder, grass, hay and barn, all of which are produced at the farm. To become completely carbon-neutral, the farm has solar panels on the roof which helps in meeting the need for power.
10. U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, COP 15 commences in Montreal, Canada
Tags: Environment place in news Summits International News
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, known as Conference of Parties (COP-15) commenced in Montreal, Canada on 7 December 2022. The two weeklong conference (7-19 December 2022) was originally scheduled to be held in Kunming, China in October but was shifted to Montreal, Canada due to covid situation in China.
This is the second part of the COP15. The first part was hosted by China on 18 August 2021 virtually and the second part was to be held in a face to face conference but it has been shifted from China to Canada. However the host of the COP15 in Montreal is still China.
The Conference focuses on saving the nature
The Biological diversity conference focuses on nature. It is different from the UNFCCC (United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change ) organised Conference of Parties(CoP) which focuses on the problem of global warming and climate change due to emission of greenhouse gasses.
The Biological Diversity conference will focus on nature and how to stop and reverse the degradation of our nature by 2030.
Main issues that will be discussed at the Montreal conference are;
- One of the most notable draft targets is to conserve 30% of land and sea areas globally by 2030.
- It will aim to adopt a global framework for biodiversity to halt and reverse losses of the world's plants, animals, and ecosystems.
- Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of natural genetics resources.
United Nation Convention on Biological Diversity
It is a multilateral treaty which was signed by the countries at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It came into force on 29 December 1993. At present 194 countries are its signatories.
It has 3 main objectives:
- The conservation of Biological diversity
- The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity
- The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
Conferences of the Parties/COP
- Countries which have signed the conventions are called Conferences of the Parties. The meeting of the Conferences of the Parties is also called COP
- The first COP -1 was held in Nassau, Bahamas 1994.
- The 14th meeting was held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (17-19 November 2018)
- It is held after every two years but due to covid it was held in 2021.
