1. COP27 presidency launches Sharm-el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda
Tags: Environment International News
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt, the COP27 Presidency launched the Sharm-el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda to enhance resilience for the four billion people living in the most climate-sensitive communities by 2030.
Important facts
The Sharm-el-Sheikh adaptation agenda represents a significant contribution to elevating global action on adaptation and resilience as a top priority.
Each outcome presents a global solution that can be adopted locally to respond to local climate contexts, needs and risks
This will help bring about the necessary changes in mechanisms to protect vulnerable communities from increasing climate hazards, such as extreme heat, drought, floods, or extreme weather.
Developing countries also demanded that the fund should be easily accessible.
It aims to reduce the devastating effects of climate change.
The presidency sought to raise $140 billion to $300 billion to advance these goals.
Developing countries, including India, are asking rich countries to agree to a new global climate finance target, also known as the New Collective Quantitative Target on Climate Finance.
These actions will be carried out in five impact systems – Food and Agriculture, Water and Nature, Coastal and Ocean, Human Settlements, and Infrastructure.
These actions will include enabling solutions to plan and finance these areas.
2. Anamalai Tiger Reserve initiated elephant adoption scheme
Tags: Environment National News
The 'Elephant Adoption Scheme' has been unveiled by Tamil Nadu-based Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in November 2022.
Important Facts:
ATR has started an elephant adoption program in which NGOs, institutions, trusts or individuals can sponsor the cost of elephants in the forest department's camp.
Lima Rose Martin, Director of Martin Group of Companies, Martin Trust and District Coordinator of Rotary Club of Coimbatore Aakriti's 'Go Green' program, adopted two elephants Abhinay and Sanjeev from Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp for one year.
Under the Elephant Adoption Scheme, any donor who is desirous of adopting elephants is said to be exempted under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961.
On 7 November 2022, Lima Rose Martin handed over a demand draft of Rs 1,86,720 to meet the expenses of 2 elephants for 3 months.
Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR):
ATR is one of the four tiger reserves of Tamil Nadu. It is a part of the Southern Western Ghats. It is part of the Anamalai Parambikulam Elephant Reserve declared in the year 2003.
It is surrounded by Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in the east and Eravikulam National Park and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the southwest.
The reserve is also surrounded by the Nenmara Vazhachal, Malayattur and Marayur reserve forests of Kerala.
The mountain ranges found in this sanctuary include Amaravati, Udumalpet, Pollachi, Uledi and Valparai etc.
The tribes found in this region include Kadar, Malasar, Malmalsar, Pulayar, Muduvar and Eravalan.
The main mammals found here include Asian Elephant, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Gaur, Nilgiri Tahr, Tiger, etc.
3. Improvement in the ground water conditions in 909 assessment units as compared to 2107:Jal Shakti ministry report
Tags: Environment National
According to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2022, there has been an improvement in ground water condition in the 909 assessment units of the country as compared to the assessment done in 2017.
The Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2022 was released by the Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 9 November 2022 at New Delhi. The assessment was carried out jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and with the State and Union Territories.
Such joint exercises between CGWB and the State and Union Territories government were carried out earlier in 1980, 1995, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2020.
India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. Ground water is a major source of drinking water and for irrigation in India.
Highlights of the 2022 report
- As per the 2022 assessment report, the total annual ground water recharge for the entire country is 437.60 billion cubic meters (BCM)
- The annual ground water extraction for the entire country is 239.16 BCM.
- Out of the total 7089 assessment units in the country, 1006 units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’.( It means that the rate at which water is extracted exceeds the rate at which the aquifer is able to recharge))
- Analysis indicates improvement in ground water conditions in 909 assessment units in the country compared with 2017 assessment data
- Assessment indicates an overall increase in ground water recharge
Reason for increase in ground water increase
According to the report following were the reasons for increase in ground water recharge:
- increase in recharge from canal seepage,
- return flow of irrigation water and
- Recharges from water bodies/tanks & water conservation structures.
What is Groundwater?
Groundwater is freshwater (from rain or melting ice and snow) that soaks into the soil and is stored in the tiny spaces (pores) between rocks and particles of soil.
It is also called subsurface water to distinguish it from surface water, which is found in large bodies like the oceans or lakes or which flows overland in streams.
4. Uttar Pradesh government to make Vrindavan -Mathura pilgrimage center carbon neutral by 2041
Tags: Environment State News
The Uttar Pradesh government has made an ambitious plan to make the Vrindavan -Mathura tourist pilgrimage center carbon neutral by 2041. This will be the first tourist center in India to plan for a carbon neutral status.
The government expects the tourist arrival in the Mathura Vrindavan region to increase from the present 2.3 crore per year to around 6 crore in 2041. To deal with the expected increase in footfall and increase in carbon footprint, the government has made a plan to make the region carbon neutral by 2041,
Plan of the government
- The entire pilgrimage region will be divided into four clusters each containing two of the eight key cites.
- The plan proposes to form small circuits called ‘Parikrama Paths’ which the pilgrim can undertake either on foot or using electric vehicles.
- To reduce the carbon emission the government intends to ban the use of private tourist vehicles in the entire Braj region
- Only electric public transport will run in the identified region
- All the 252 water bodies and 24 forests in the area will be revived so that they can act as a carbon sink.
Mathura -Vrindavan region and its significance
- The city of Mathura and Vrindavan is associated with Lord Krishna’s birth and childhood.
- Both the cities are situated along the river Yamuna.
- Mathura is mentioned in Ramayana and was one of the capitals of the Kushan King Kanishka (130AD).
- Some of the famous temples of the region are: Govind Dev Temple, Rangaji Temple, Dwarikadhish Temple, Bankey Bihari Temple and the ISKCON Temple.
- Gokul, Barsana and Govardhan are the other townships associated with the legend of Lord Krishna.
What is Carbon Neutral and Net Zero?
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.
Net Zero means the removal of the same amount of Greenhouse gasses (eg CO2, methane, CFC etc. ) from the atmosphere by various means as the amount of Greenhouse gasses which is released in the atmosphere leaving a Zero balance or net Zero.
Important to Know
India has set a target to become zero net emission country by 2070.
Palli panchayat in Samba district of Jammu is the first carbon neutral panchayat in India.
5. UN chief calls for a climate solidarity pact between developed and emerging economies
Tags: Environment International News
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a climate solidarity pact in which developed and emerging economies unite around a common strategy and mobilise resources to address the climate crisis.
Important facts
At the opening of the COP27 United Nations Climate Summit of the Parties in Egypt on 7 November, he said the proposed treaty would give all countries additional efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
He said the international financial system must be reformed to support low-income countries.
At the inaugural session of world leaders at COP27, he said all countries should make "extra effort" to cut emissions and end the construction of coal plants.
He said the two largest economies — the United States and China — have a particular responsibility to join efforts to make this pact a reality.
Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend COP27, although China has sent a delegation of negotiators.
Guterres also launched a plan for a global early warning system for extreme weather events, a project that would cost $3.1 billion over the first five years.
It will also deliver advance warnings about any extreme weather on the planet such as storms and heat waves.
COP27 is the 27th annual meeting of the United Nations on Climate. It is taking place in Sharm El Sheikh until 18 November.
6. World Heritage glaciers to disappear by 2050 : UNESCO
Tags: Environment International News
According to new UNESCO data, by 2050, one-third of the World's Heritage Sites of Glaciers will disappear.
Key points of the UNESCO report
The report highlights the accelerated melting of glaciers regardless of efforts to limit temperature rise.
The report says that it is still possible to save the other two thirds of glaciers, if the rise in global temperatures does not exceed 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial period.
The study, conducted by UNESCO in partnership with the IUCN, shows that these glaciers have been shrinking at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to CO2 emissions and higher temperatures.
Each year, glaciers are currently losing 58 billion tons of ice.
This is equivalent to the combined annual water use of France and Spain and is responsible for about 5% of the global sea-level rise.
Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emission
The study suggests that the only effective solution to this environmental threat is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as quickly as possible.
The report calls for a rapid reduction in CO2 emissions to save the glaciers and the biodiversity it supports.
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, UNESCO also advocated the creation of an international fund for glacier monitoring and conservation.
Some of the endangered glaciers
Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kenya (Africa)
Glaciers in Western Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan) that have shrunk by 27% since 2000
The Dolomites (Italy) (Europe),
Yellowstone National Park (North America).
Importance of Glaciers
Glaciers are important for survival. Half of humanity is directly or indirectly dependent on glaciers as a water source for domestic use, agriculture and electricity.
Glaciers are also supporters of biodiversity, which keeps many ecosystems alive.
Due to the melting of glaciers, people will have to face other challenges including water scarcity, increasing number of disasters, and loss of biodiversity.
7. 8 years expected to be warmest from 2015 to 2022: WMO Report
Tags: Environment
The report titled 'WMO Provisional State of the Global Climate 2022' released at the 27th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC on 6 November.
Key features of the report
The global mean temperature in 2022 is projected to be 1.15 °C above the pre-industrial (1850–1900) average, with 2015 to 2022 (eight years) likely to be the warmest on record.
Report stated that the rate of sea level rise has doubled since 1993 and has risen by nearly 10 mm since January 2020 to a new record high this year.
Concentrations of the main greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – hit record levels once again in 2021.
The annual increase in methane concentrations was the highest on record.
Flood events occurred at various stages during the monsoon season in India, especially in the Northeast in June.
About the report
The WMO State of the Global Climate Report is released annually.
It provides an authoritative voice on the current state of the climate using key climate indicators and reporting on extreme events and their impacts.
The temperature figures used in the tentatively 2022 report are as of the end of September. Its final version will be released in April next year.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
It is an intergovernmental organisation with a membership of 193 member states and territories.
It was established by ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950.
The first State of Climate Report was released in 1993.
Headquartered - Geneva
Its supreme body - the World Meteorological Congress
8. COP27: First time Compensating poor countries for climate disasters
Tags: Environment Summits International News
The 27th Conference of the Parties 9COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP27) is being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on 31 October to 13 November 2022.
Important facts
In this, various countries have agreed to provide financial assistance to poor countries to deal with the loss and damage caused by climate change.
The participating countries agreed on a 20-point provisional agenda.
What is Loss and Damage?
It refers to the economic and non-economic impacts of climate change, including extreme events in countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
The demand for loss and damages is quite old, but it has faced strong resistance from rich and developed countries.
The term was introduced in 1991 as a demand by the island country of Vanuatu, representing the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
What is Conference of Parties (COP)?
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the 'Earth Summit', was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-14 June 1992.
The conference focused on the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment.
The countries assembled here agreed to work together to deal with issues of sustainable development and climate change .
The Rio Earth summit agreed to create the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) where the member countries can discuss issues related to global warming and climate change and take steps to deal with these problems .
It entered into force on 21 March 1994, and has been ratified by 197 countries and territories .
The countries which has ratified the UNFCCC are called as Parties
Every year they meet to discuss climate change related issues . These meetings are called Conference of Parties(COP) .
The first COP was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany .
9. Union Environment minister Bhupendra Yadav to lead Indian delegation at the COP27 meeting in Egypt
Tags: Environment place in news Summits
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav will be leading the Indian delegation to attend the 27th Session of Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 27) scheduled to be held at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from 6-18 November, 2022. The last , COP 26 was held in Glasgow, United Kingdom from 31 October to 13 November 2021.
The COP 27 conference is being organized by the Bonn, Germany based United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with Egypt being the host country.
Agenda of the conference
The COP 27 will focus on delivering action on a number of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency like;
- urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
- building resilience and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, and
- delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.
The theme of the COP 27 is Delivering for People and Planet.
What is Conference of Parties (COP)?
- The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the 'Earth Summit', was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-14 June 1992. The conference focused on the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment. The countries assembled here agreed to work together to deal with issues of sustainable development and climate change .
- The Rio Earth summit agreed to create the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) where the member countries can discuss issues related to global warming and climate change and take steps to deal with these problems .
- It entered into force on 21 March 1994, and has been ratified by 197 countries and territories .
- The countries which has ratified the UNFCCC are called as Parties
- Every year they meet to discuss climate change related issues . These meetings are called Conference of Parties(COP) .
- The first COP was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany .
- The next COP 27 will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh ,Egypt in 2022.
10. India’s per capita Greenhouse gas emissions below world average: UNEP
Tags: Environment
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)report “Emissions Gap Report 2022: The Closing Window”, India’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions were far below the world’s average per capita greenhouse emission average (including land use, land-use change, and forestry—LULUCF) of 6.3 tCO2e (tonne carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2020.
The report released on 27 October 2022 said that India’s average greenhouse gas emission was 2.4 tCO2e (tonne carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2020.
Highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gasses
The highest per capita emission was of the United States of America at 14 tCO2e, followed by 13 tCO2e in the Russian Federation, 9.7 tCO2e in China, about 7.5 tCO2e in Brazil and Indonesia, and 7.2 tCO2e in the European Union.
India’s contribution to historical cumulative CO2 emissions (excluding LULUCF) is three per cent, whereas the US and the EU have contributed 25 per cent and 17 per cent respectively to total fossil CO2 emissions from 1850 to 2019.
China contributed 13 per cent, the Russian Federation seven per cent, and Indonesia and Brazil one per cent each. Least developed countries contributed only 0.5 per cent to historical CO2 fossil fuel .
The report has been released by the UNEP on the eve of the UN Climate Change conference (COP27) in Egypt next month. The report said that the International community is still far off its Paris climate summit 2015 goal of “limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degree Celsius” to the pre industrial level .
However, in absolute terms the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world is China followed by the United States of America , India ,Russia and Japan .
United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environment Programme was set up in 1972 after the United Nation Conference on Human Environment was held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972.
In 1988 it set up Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with World Meteorological Organisation
Headquarters : Nairobi, Kenya
Director: Inger Andersen
