Why there is a need to keep global warming within 1.5 degree celsius

The Intergovernmental Panel Of Climate Change Report looks into the consequences of the temperature jumping up to 1.5 degrees C and 2 degrees C above the pre-industrial era levels.

The report says the average warming of 1.5-degree Celsius produces a high risk of heat waves, rain falls, coral bleaching, and sea level rise and other issues. According to the Paris agreement, 195 countries agreed to keep up the global temperature below 2-degree Celsius level and make efforts to limit the warming under 1.5-degree Celsius.

 Because of the pollution causing from human actiities, the global average temperature raised to 1-degree Celsius. There is a 0.2-degree Celsius increase in every decade. If this trend continues world would reach 1.5 degree Celsius y 2040. Strong international cooperation and high efforts from countries is needed to reduce emissions rapidly in the coming decade to hold the temperature at 1.5 degree Celsius. There are some measures to be taken by the countries according to the report. That is, shift to low or zero emission power generation, changing food system systems such as moving away from land intensive animal products, electrifying transport, developing green infrastructure and improve energy efficiency by smart urban planning.

       

 NGT states inspection of polluting industrial units in Jodhpur

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has tightened the noose around the pollution causing industrial units of Jodhpur. The Rajasthan pollution Control Board has begun inspection of textile and steel industries of Jodhpur in pursuance of the directions of the NGT.

Total 418 units will be inspected by 6 teams of the board ,the report of which will be submitted to the NGT. The teams  are looking for installation of the flow metre on the inlets and outlets of effluent ,penal meters with GPS installed, compliance treatment plant etc. Earlier the NGT had given direction to stop electric connections of some units responsible of discharge of effluent and non-compliance of its directions.

Some of them have been directed to shut the operations until they ensure compliance of the directions. It was  reported to the NGT that many of the units are still not connected with the CETP and had been discharging the effluent in open areas.

                                         

                                                                                           ( Times of  India - Oct  11,2018)

Air pollution may up mouth cancer risk 

High levels of air pollutants especially fine particulate matter may increase the risk of developing mouth cancer. mouth cancer is increasing in many parts of the world according to the researchers including those from Asia University and Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan. 
Known risk factors include smoking, drinking, human papillom virus, the chewing of betel quid or paan. 
Exposure to heavy metals and emissions from petrochemical plants and air pollution to be harmful to respiratory and cardiovascular health. Diagnoses of mouth cancer were then linked to local area readings for air pollutants taken in 2009. Some of the components of PM2.5 include heavy metals, as well as compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons known cancer causing agents.

Race to clean up oil spill after cargo ships collide off Corsica 

MARSEILLE: French and Italian civil and military teams were working to contain a spreading oil spill in the Mediterranean Monday after a container ship collision off the island of Corsica that prompted France to launch an investigation into "maritime pollution". The accident occurred early Sunday when a Tunisian freighter rammed into a Cyprus-based vessel anchored about 30 kilometres (20 miles) off the northern tip of the French island. The ship's hull was pierced and at least one fuel tank began leaking into the sea off the holiday island of Corsica. French Environment Minister Francois de Rugy said some 600 tonnes of propulsion fuel had spilled into the sea. He condemned the "abnormal behaviour" of the Tunisian ship in a press briefing at Corsica's Bastia airport after surveying the affected area by helicopter. 

Environment Min urges states to create their own initiatives for climate action

Environment Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today urged the State governments to create their own initiatives for climate action beyond implementing Central policies. Addressing a workshop session on “Taking forward the climate agenda", Dr. Vardhan said, States are important partners in implementing the climate change vision of the country and they need to play a proactive role on the issue. 

He said transfer of technology and finance continue to be the major challenges in dealing with climate change.
 Dr Vardhan said, the ministry is taking steps for the revision of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) as well as the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) to reflect the current climate change realities.

Invisible microplastics polluting Sabarmati

The study conducted by Discipline of Earth Sciences of IIT-Gandhinagar on micro plastics in the river system have found out that the microplastics (which are not visible to  naked eye) is polluting the Sabarmati river.

       The microplastics are those plastics that have less than 5 millimetres in size.

researchers isolated two groups of microplastic — small and  ..

       The researchers have found of two groups of microplastics from Sabarmati river:

• size range of 75 micrometres to  212 micrometres
• size range of 212 micrometres to 4 millimetres

       The sources of micro plastics are improper waste disposal, insufficient waste management, urban runoffs and washing machine effluent.

researchers isolated two groups of microplastic.

India, Finland to work closely for environment conservation

     On 10th October, Union Cabinet signed MoC (Memorandum of Cooperation) with Finland.This Moc aims at long term cooperation in the field of environment protection and management of natural  resources through the use of new technologies and best practices.

      The various areas of MoC includes:

• air and water pollution
• remediation of contaminated soils
• waste management including hazardous wastes
• waste-to-energy technologies
• climate change
• environmental and forest monitoring and data management

      

Govt. warns forest fires may burn as climate change triggers extreme weather patterns.

A recent report said that dry forests are under pressure from climate change, deforestation, and fire. The report says that forest fires may increse in the coming days because of climate change, extreme weather patterns. The report identifies weather, climate change-induced extremities, topography and the people s the main causes of the forest fires. It says dry and moist deciduous forests of Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana are affected by forest fires every year. District level analysis between 2003-2016 shows monsoon give early warning of severity for next year's fire.

 A district that experiences higher rainfall than its long-term average during the monsoon likely to experience forest fires the following year. The authors of the report interviews 11 forest officers and they revealed that humans cause the most number of forest fire by negligence and collection of non-timber forest products in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana being the catalysts.

Emission control: Bank wary of funding stressed power plants- Source, Business line

• Coal-based power producers may find it difficult to meet the new emission standards as banks are reluctant to give loans to buy equipment required to control emission.
•  Bankers fear that if they lend more money to the thermal power producers (TPPs), which is stressed, for upgrading the plant and after they don't recover the money, the bank will be held responsible. 
• To meet emission standard, TPPs have to install or upgrade various emission control system.
• For that they require more investment.
• If the power sector accounts are getting sorted out and management changes has happened then the bank won't mind financing installation of emission control equipment.
• The main problem in not giving the loan is that no public sector undertaking want to take decision on taking over stressed assets, with the bank.
• There is the fear of CVC( Central vigilance  commission) and CBI.

'carbon sink' Bhutan counts cost of plans for green future

bhutan is the only country which is having carbon negative country, but the major challenges which are affected were the way of the Himalayan kingdom's decision to follow a green path over the change in economic expansion. The CO2 emission was the major issue for keeping it stable Bhutan is taking adaptive plans to overcome it. bhutan aims to reduce "substantially" its fossil fuel imports in 2020. and Bhutan tries to increase the usage of electric cars and plans to install wind turbines for charging stations.   

Species-rich forests store twice as much carbon as monocultures

Species rich subtropical forests can take up on average twice as much as mono cultures. An international research team has evaluated data from forests grown specifically for this purpose in China with a total of over 150000 trees. The result speak in favour of using many different tree species during reforestation.

Centre notifies e-flow norms for river Ganga asking existing projects to comply with it within 3 years

The centre has notified minimum environmental flow for river Ganga that is to restore and maintain the continuous flow. Any dam or structure meant for diversion of river flows for the purpose of irrigation, hydropower and domestic or industrial use will now have to maintain the minimum flow under notification. All the existing projects which currently exist that are do not meet the norms have to comply it within three years. Mini projects that will not affect the flow of the river are exempted from the order. The draft Ganga Act will soon be proposed it contains the jail terms and fines for the polluters

. Union minister for drinking water and sanitation said that hydro projects should be implemented in such a way that it will not affects the flow of the river. The notification is issued by the protest of environmentalist and former IIT Kanpur faculty member GD Agarwal at Haridwar on the issue of Ganga conservation. Agarwal has been observing hunger strike since June 22 for pollution free and uninterrupted flow in Ganga. The minimum e flow norms will apply to the upper Ganga river basin starting from originating glaciers and its head tributaries which meet at Devaprayag. Based on the notification, the river flow will be monitored hourly intervals from time to time. The Central Water Commission will be the main authority and custodian of the data. It will be responsible for supervision, regular, and regulation of flow. 

Oceans are changing- New understanding of acidification in Southern ocean

New research finds that when westerly winds in Antarctic ocean strengthen during the austral summer which is from October to February, surface water in the region acidify faster than before because of increase in carbon dioxide in atmosphere.


Antarctic Circumpolar Current - Current that circles the landmass as part of the southern ocean.

Delhi's Average Temperature Spiked By 1 Degree In Over A Century: Report

The average temperature in national capital increased by one degree Celsius. In Mumbai by 0.7 degree, by 0.6 degree in Chennai, by 1.2 degree in Kolkata. India is very vulnerable to impact of climate change with over 7000 km of coastline and huge reliance in our Himalayan glaciers and monsoon rains for the livelihood.
      Supporting and implementing comprehensive and urgent action is required to limit temperature rise below 2 degree. The rise in sea level is expected to be 40 cm if it is not limited to 1.5 degree.
   At the current trend there will be be 2 degree rise by 2065. A recent study published in nature climate change journal reviewed economies of over 200 countries and concluded that India would be most affected by climate change.