Environmental and Ecological Issues

Alternative Energy sources Renewable energy Nuclear Power Reduce the carbon intensity of fossil fuels Energy efficiency and conservation Transport and urban planning Building design Reforestation and avoid deforestation Eliminating waste methane Geoengineering Greenhouse gas remediation Biomass Carbon air capture Carbon capture and storage Societal control Population Sustainable life-style

Wetland Conservation Programme Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic system where the water table is usually near the water surface and land is covered by shallow water. Essential as: control floods, water treatment, recharging of water sources, reduce sediments, check soil erosion, bulwark against encroachment by the sea, winter resort for birds and … Read more Wetland Conservation Programme, Ramsar Convention and The Montreux Record.

Bruntland Report (1983) was the first publication and recognition of the term ‘Sustainable Development’ “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generation” Three pillars of sustainable development (Bruntland) Care and respect for People, Planet and Prosperity (Commercial Activities) <hence poverty alleviation, conservation and business development> These three pillars … Read more Sustainable Development

Convention on Biodiversity Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in 1992 and entered into force on December 29, 1993 There are 193 parties. Its secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada. US has signed but not ratified the treaty. It is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity sustainable use of … Read more Convention on Biodiversity, Nagoya Protocol and Achii Targets

Convention on Biodiversity Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in 1992 and entered into force on December 29, 1993 There are 193 parties. Its secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada. US has signed but not ratified the treaty. It is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of biodiversity sustainable use of … Read more Convention on Biodiversity, Nagoya Protocol and Achii Targets

It is the long term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time Though it has been happening naturally for millions of years, in recent years it has accelerated due to anthropogenic causes and has been causing global warming. UNFCCC defines climate change as – “a change of climate which is … Read more Climate Change

An increase in the average temperature of Earth’s near surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century 4th assessment report of IPCC: global temperature increased 74+0.18 degree C during the 20th century. Caused by greenhouse gases Water vapour, Co2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Ozone, CFCs (in order of abundance) Since the industrial revolution, the burning of … Read more Global Warming

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is a set of steps designed to use market/financial incentives in order to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from deforestation and forest degradation. Its original objective is to reduce green house gases but it can deliver “co-benefits” such as biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation. REDD+ is … Read more Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)

 Act of 1991 To regulate development activity on India’s coastline The approach adopted by the first notification was to define the ‘High Tide Line’ and ‘Coastal Regulation Zone’ and thereafter specify the activities permitted and restricted in the vicinity of the CRZ This regulated zone was further divided into four categories (CRZ 1-4) as per permitted … Read more Coastal Regulation Zone

Treaty Signed/Into force Major Points Aarhus Convention on Access to information for public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters 1998 Aarhus is a Danish city Adopted at the fourth ministerial conference in the ‘Environment for Europe’ process Links environmental rights and human rights   India – No Vienna Convention for … Read more Important Environmental Treaties