Lakshya UPPSC PT 2022 – Environment & Ecology Lecture -1 – Complete One Year Current Affairs

Table of Contents

Importance of Environment and Ecology in Prelims

The News

A bill to amend the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

Wildlife ( Protection ) Amendment bill 2021

Increase number of Species protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Implement CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Regulates Protection of Wild animals, birds and plants.

Proposals under the bill

Rationalise Schedules under the Act
- It aims to reduce the total number of Schedules from 6 to 4
- Present Situation –

Reduces the number of schedules for specially protected animals to two (one for greater protection level).
Removes the schedule for vermin species
Inserts a new schedule for specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES (scheduled specimens).

Vermins

Invasive Species

Bill empowers Central Government to regulate or prohibit the Import / trade / possession / proliferation of Invasive Species
The central government may authorise an officer to seize and dispose the invasive species.
What is an Invasive Species ?

Implement CITES

CITES – It is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
Classification of plant and animal specimens – They are classified into 3 categories (Appendices) based on the threat to their extinction.
Objective – The Convention requires countries to regulate the trade of all listed specimens through permits
- Obligation under CITES
- Scientific authority
- Management Authority
- Power of Management Authority

Conservation Reserves

Empowers Central Government to notify ‘Conservation Reserves’.
Present Provision – Conservation reserve is declared by the State government
State governments ‘may’ declare areas adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries as a conservation reserve to protect flora and fauna, and their habitat.

Captive Animals

Provides for a person to voluntarily surrender any captive animals /animal Products to the Chief Life Warden.

The News

Recent Research had shown that Blue Blob ‘may’ have helped temporarily stall the melting of Artic Sea Ice.

Fact for Prelims

Definition – It is “cold patch” located South of Iceland and Greenland.
Implication – It has slowed the warming of Iceland’s Glaciers.
Research had shown that cooler waters near “blue blob” were linked to lower air temperature over Iceland glaciers.
Other Facts –
Atlantic warming hole – In the same region, a long – term cooling term named ‘Atlantic warming hole’ used to take place in the same.

The News

Findings

Year 2021 – was the 2nd best Year in the Global Wind Industry. (1st – 2020)
Growth in ‘Onshore Installation’ declined.
Performance of Onshore Installation – Compared to 2020 there a decline of 18% was observed.
Reason – Slowdown in On – shore Wind growth in USA and China (2 biggest market).
Growth in ‘Offshore wind Industry’ was observed.
Performance of off – shore wind power – Compared to 2020, 3 times more growth was observed.
80% of the growth in off shore wind capacity was contributed by China
On – shore wind power – The turbines are located on land and use wind to generate electricity.
Off – shore wind power – The wind over open water (typically the ocean) is used to generate electricity.

The News

Facts for Prelims

PARAMETERS

Categorization of States

Performance

Large States – 1) Gujarat 2) Kerela 3) Punjab
Smaller States – 1)Goa 2) Tripura 3) Mizoram

The News

Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the “Digital Dashboard for District Ganga committees Performance Monitoring System” under Namami Gange Programme.

Fact for Prelims

District Ganga committees – Constituted in Districts on Ganga River Basin.
Objective – Put in place a mechanism at district level to ensure people Participation.
People participate in “management” and “Pollution abatement” in River Ganga.

Function under District Ganga committees

Monitor drainage / sewage falling in River Ganga and its Tributaries.
Properly utilise assets under Namami Gange Programme.
Create strong connect of People with Ganga rejuvenation.

Namami Gange

The News

Recently, UNEP Report titled “Annual Frontiers report” was released.

Facts for Prelims

Facts for Prelims –
Objective – The “UNEP Frontier report” raises awareness about growing environmental challenges
Title of the latest report – “Noise, Blazes and Mismatches: Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern.”
Focus of the report – 1) Urban Noise Pollution 2) Wildfire 3) Phenological shifts.
Noisest city in the World – Dhaka, Bangladesh
Noisest city in India – Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

The News

Facts for Prelims

Microplastics – Plastic particles between 0.33 and 5mm in size.
Sources – Microplastics have variety of sources –
Personal care products
Fibers from synthetic clothing
Pre-production pellets and powders
Fragments degraded from larger plastic products
Classification
Microplastics are classified into 2 –
Primary Microplastics – Microplastics which enter the environment directly.
Example – Include Microplastics found in personal care product, Plastic Pellets used in Industrial manufacturing, Plastic fibres in synthetic textiles.
Secondary Microplastics – Microplastics formed from the breakdown of Larger plastics.
Example – Breakdown caused by exposure to environmental factors, wave action, wind abrasion

Initiatives for Microplastics

The News

On World Water Day (22nd March) Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Sujalam 2.0 campaign

Fact for Prelims

Launched by – Ministry of Jal Shakti (Ministry will take support of 9 different ministries e.g. Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Women and Child development etc).
Objective – To manage Greywater through People’s Participation.
Greywater – It refers to “domestic Wastewater” generated in households or Office building.
Waste Water from all streams is Greywater example Sink, showers etc. except wastewater from toilets. Thus, wastewater containing fecal contaminants is not part of GreyWater.
Implementation – Mobilization of Communities, Panchayats, Schools, Anganwadi will be done to undertake Greywater Management.
Funding – To be sourced from Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase-II /15th Finance Commission tied-grants / MGNREGS or convergence of all 3.
Sustainable Development Goal 6 – It aims to provide universal access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation.

The News

Recently, World Air Quality Report was released, which talked about the State of Global Air quality In 2021.

Fact for Prelims

By – IQAir, a swiss Group
Objective – The report exclusively measures PM 2.5 concentration taken from Ground – level monitoring Stations

PM 2.5

PM 2.5 – consists of fine aerosol Particles measuring PM 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter.
Common chemical constituents of PM 2.5 – Sulfates, Nitrates, black carbon, ammonium.
Common Human made sources of PM 2.5 – Internal combustion engines, Power Generation, Industrial processes, agricultural processes, construction, Residential wood, coal Burning.
Common natural sources of PM 2.5 – Duststorms, sandstorms, Wildfires.