India must take lead in controlling climate change: Centre for Science and Environment

• Reacting to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s special report on global warming,  the Centre for Science and Environment said on Monday that India must take the lead in forming a global coalition to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C world to save its poor and vulnerable population
• The report outlines climate change impacts that can be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5ºC compared to 2°C, or more. According to the summary of the report, the global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5°C compared with 2°C by 2100.According to the report, regionally differentiated multi-sector risks are already apparent at 1.5°C warming. 
• This is more prevalent in south Asia, especially in India, Pakistan and China where vulnerable people live. As the temperatures rises, the world’s poorest will be more disproportionately impacted, points out the report. The report also highlights how India is at a risk of experiencing annual conditions equivalent to the deadly 2015 heatwaves.
• However, it would be disastrous for the poor and for developing countries, the Center for Science and Environment pointed out.

Plant to convert e-waste into bio fuel to be made operational soon

• Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said Saturday a plant to covert plastic waste into bio-diesel will soon be made operational at the Indian Institute of Petroleum in Dehradun. 
• He was speaking at the International E-Waste Day event organised by the International Finance Corporation  
• "The plant has been set up at Dehradun and it will be operational by January end. The facility, which will be run on pilot basis, is capable of converting plastic waste into bio-diesel. The model will then be replicated across the country," Vardhan said. 
• The plant has the capacity to convert one tonne of plastic waste into 800 liters bio fuel which will be of highest quality and it can be used in any diesel automotive vehicle, according to a government official. 
• Vardhan said the whole country was concerned about the problem of e-waste and the government had amended the existing rules to ensure better management of e-waste and bio-medical waste through.

India Joins Hands with Finland for Environmental Cooperation

• The Union Cabinet has approved an agreement between India and Finland on environmental corporation. 
• The memorandum of cooperation will bring in the latest technologies and best practices that will further help in bringing about better environment protection, better conservation, and better management of climate change and wildlife protection and conservation.
• The memorandum of cooperation will include partnership between two countries in air and water pollution prevention and purification, waste management, climate change, cooperation in promotion of circular economy, low-carbon solutions, sustainable management of natural resources, conservation of marine and coastal resources and integrated water management of oceanic or sea islands.

Goa’s environment faces problems from infrastructure boom

• Mining is considered the major environmental issue in Goa. In the recent years there are many other issues that have potential for serious environmental consequences.
• There is an emphasis on road and coastal infrastructure development through the Bharatmala and Sagarmala programmes.
• There is also a construction boom and pressure on ecologically sensitive zones and private forests.
• Since Goa shares an environment similar to that of Kerala, environmentalists question whether it is wise to push for unbridled development, considering the havoc that Kerala faced in the recent floods.

SOURCE : MONGABAY

Microsoft and Niti Aayog partner to deploy AI solution

• Microsoft India will support Niti Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise for new initiatives and solutions across several core areas including agriculture and healthcare and the environment. 
• Microsoft will also accelerate the use of AI for the development and adoption of local language computing, in addition to building capacity for AI among the workforce through education.
• Under the agreement, Microsoft will provide Niti Aayog advanced AI-based solutions such as farm advisory services, healthcare screening models at primary health centers along with building capacity for AI through education. 
  
  
  SOURCE : economic times

Indian Railways to use 'green' composite sleepers

• Aiming to become more eco-friendly, Indian Railways has decided replace wooden sleepers with composite sleepers that are not only lighter but also stronger.
• The Railways has decided to use the composite sleepers in a limited way. It is being used mainly on girder bridges.
• Railways preferred them over wooden sleepers because of environmental issues that cropped up over the cutting of trees.
• The green and sustainable element is what attracts people, but people now realise its durability is beneficial because there`s no maintenance with this product once it`s installed.
• It doesn`t have to be repainted, re-oiled, re-sanded... and it will last between two and three times longer than timber.

SOURCE : ZeeBusiness

In Mali, donkeys help with the fight against waste

In the Malian capital of Bamako, donkey carts driven by young men including 19-year-old Arouna Diabate play a vital role battling the fast-growing city’s waste problem.

Every morning before dawn, Diabate hitches his donkey to a cart and sets off on his rounds, going door-to-door to collect household garbage that he delivers to a local waste transfer station for a monthly salary of about £27.

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and the authorities struggle to provide adequate public services in the capital. Bamako’s population more than quadrupled from the mid-1970s to 1.8 million as of 2009, according to census data.

The population boom has made the issue of waste disposal in Bamako more acute, requiring Diabate’s boss, Moustapha Diarra, to deploy eight donkey carts in his district instead of the two he managed a decade ago.