Page 351 - Environment
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau receives biggest early winter snow in 57 years
China's northwestern Qinghai Province has witnessed record precipitation in the last 57 years as continuous snow swept the region since the beginning of November, a media report said Tuesday. Snow accumulation between November 2 and 7 has reached 18 cm on the ground in Dulan County, Haixi Mongolian Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, where the height above mean sea-level averages 3,180 metres, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the world," is an important region to monitor climate changes with the weather and the glaciers as indicators. "Twenty-seven counties in Qinghai have seen the November snow set historical records. The provincial capital of Xining has seen precipitation reach 25.8 mm, also a record high," said Ma Zhanliang, senior engineer with the provincial climate centre. China is keeping the meteorological records of the region for the last 57 years. He said the big snowfall was triggered by the collision of southward polar ..
College students monitor air quality in several locations of Delhi to raise awareness on pollution
Concerned about poor air quality in Delhi, a group of college students have come together to monitor the air quality index daily in several locations in the city and raise awareness about the health hazards posed by pollution. The overall air quality in the national capital was in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday, while some areas in the city experienced 'severe' pollution due to low wind speed, which is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants, authorities said. The move aims to urge the Delhi government to realise that people are worried about the situation, and take concrete steps, according to a statement by the drive jointly launched Help Delhi Breathe, Haiyya, a grassroots mobilisation organization, and Ambee, a company working on air quality data and analytics. The locations where the air quality were monitored included a number of schools, hospitals, markets, bus stops and government buildings, it said. They will first train the youths on air quality data monitoring, ...
Winter session of Karnataka Assembly in Belagavi from Dec 10
: The winter session of Karnatakaassembly will be held in the northern district of Belagavifrom December 10 to 21, the assembly Secretariat said Tuesday. The Secretariat has issued intimation about the commencement of the session to all the members and officials concerned. "In exercise of the powers conferred under Article 174(1) of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Karnataka has summoned the Karnataka legislative assembly to meet at 12:15 pm on December 10 in the legislative assembly chamber at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha,Belagavi," the intimation read. This would be the first assembly session for H D Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Belagavi after coming to power in the State. Belagavi in north Karnataka, bordering Mahrarashtra, has been hosting legislature session once a year since 2006. This was followed by construction of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modelled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat in Bengaluru, during the BJP government .
Delhi's overall air quality 'very poor', many areas record severe pollution: Authorities
The overall air quality in the national capital was in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday, while some areas in the city experienced 'severe' pollution due to low wind speed, which is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants, authorities said. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall air quality index in the city was recorded at 372, which falls in the 'very poor' category. Ashok Vihar, Anand Vihar, Bawana, Mundaka, Rohini, Sonia Vihar and Wazirpur, all recorded 'severe' air quality while 21 areas recorded 'very poor' air quality, it said. At 396, the overall air quality of Ghaziabad was the worst in the National Capital Region (NCR), just points below severe category. Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida too recorded 'very poor' overall air quality. On Tuesday, the PM2.5 particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres level was recorded at 220, while the PM10 level was recorded at 369, the CPCB data said. According to the ...
WB forms panel to check spitting, littering in public places
The West Bengal government is planning to put in place stricter measures to check unabated spitting and littering at public places, Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim said Tuesday. On the advice of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the government formed a committee, which would modify the existing laws and look into options of imposing stricter penalities on offenders, the minister told reporters at the secretariat. "We have seen people, knowingly or unknowingly, polluting public places by spitting here and there and throwing trash. We are spending lakhs to keep the city clean, paint the walls and its bridges. It's time we raise awareness of common people, too, to stop this nuisance," he said. According to Hakim, the committee, headed by Chief Secretary Malay De, would also include Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya, Director General Virendra and Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar among others. A senior official at the secretariat said the West Bengal Prevention ..
Govt needs to invest big in EV charging infra to boost e-mobility in India: TERI DG
The government needs to make large investments for setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and facilitate research to boost e-mobility in the country, TERI Director-General Ajay Mathur said Tuesday. "The government has intended to boost e-mobility in the country. But, it is a chicken-and-egg story. Here, charging infrastructure is the egg. Thus, the government needs to make huge public investments in the charging infrastructure as well as (facilitate) research on that," Mathur said, on the sidelines of the launch of the Energy Transitions Commission's (ETC's) report. Admitting that private players are reluctant to invest in the EV charging infrastructure, he suggested that initially, the government can bring in a business model with public investment on the lines of UJALA scheme by Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), which can later be self sustaining. Under the UJALA scheme, EESL had brought down the price of energy-efficient and environmentally safe LED bulbs to .
Electrification scheme contributed to people's ease of living, education, income: Study
A research body linked to the BJP Tuesday said the Union government's scheme to connect all houses with electricity has made positive contributions to people's lives in a host of fields, including ease of living, education, income generation, health and their sense of security. The study by Public Policy Research Centre, which is headed by BJP vice president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, was confined to Madhya Pradesh with researchers covering its 34 revenue villages besides many more habitations spread across seven districts, the researchers said, while releasing the findings. Sahasrabuddhe said 'Saubhagya' scheme, which is aimed at connecting all households in the country with power, has opened the path for security, respect and self-reliance for beneficiaries and has also led to "democratisation of aspirations". The researchers did over 250 case studies. Villages newly connected to electricity have undergone a social change with enhanced use of television, mobile phones ..
Harari to deliver lecture on new challenges of 21st century in Mumbai
Renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari will deliver a lecture on "The New Challenges of the Twenty-first Century" here in December and will talk about the impending challenges that may surface in light of environmental and technological developments taking place.
Changes inside Earth may have caused ice age: Study
Earth's latest ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago may have been caused by changes deep inside the planet, according to a study. Based on evidence from the Pacific Ocean, including the position of the Hawaiian Islands, geophysicists at Rice University in the US have determined Earth shifted relative to its spin axis within the past 12 million years. This caused Greenland to move far enough towards the north pole to kick off the ice age that began about 3.2 million years ago. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, is based on an analysis of fossil signatures from deep ocean sediments, the magnetic signature of oceanic crust and the position of the mantle "hot spot" that created the Hawaiian Islands. The evidence suggests Earth spun steadily for millions of years before shifting relative to its spin axis, an effect geophysicists refer to as "true polar wander," researchers said. "The Hawaiian hot spot was fixed, relative to the spin axis, from about
China develops small multi-rotor drone that can climb to 5,000 meters
China has developed a small-size multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which can climb up to 5,000 metres, the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute (CHRDI) said on Tuesday. The electricity-powered small UAV features distinctive pitch control technique, which makes it unique in the UAV market, said CHRDI, China's helicopter research organ of Avicopter under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The X-M20 "Crane", with the weight only 20 kilograms, is designed to have a service ceiling up to 5,000 metres and wind resistance capacity up to seven level, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. As to the outstanding endurance capacity, the small UAV can fly about one hour with its maximum payload of five kms, it said. The X-M20 is configured with high-performance blades, which reduces its power consumption and noise level and makes it more capable of long-endurance flight, the report said. The small multi-rotor UAV could be used in multiple missions such as ..
Rajasthan's Jhalana learning to live with leopards
Consider this: India lost 260 leopards in the first six months of this year of which 90 were killed by poachers, says a study of the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). This clearly shows leopards have failed to receive their share in the current conservation narrative.
Oppn refuses discussion on drought, wants govt to compensate
Opposition Congress and NCP Tuesday refused to hold any discussion in the Maharashtra Legislative Council over the prevailing drought conditions in the state, but asked the government to immediately provide compensation to the affected farmers. As soon as Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar called for the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde (NCP) said farmers and farm labourers do not have any work left and there have been massive crop losses due to drought. "Things have gotten so worse that farmers have to light their own pyre and commit suicide," he said. He claimed that even 22 days after drought was declared, the government was yet to undertake relief measures and water tankers were not being roped into service. Munde demanded that the government should announce Rs 1 lakh per hectare as compensation to drought-hit farmers and waive the fees of students for the entire year. He also sought that the electricity bills of the last year in drought-hit areas ..
Google invests $700 million in Danish data centre, secures green energy
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Google will invest almost $700 million in a Danish data centre powered by the abundant green energy that underpins power-
Thai prosecutor among trio jailed for USD 1.4 mn rhino horn haul
A public prosecutor and two Thais were sentenced for four years Tuesday after they were caught attempting to smuggle more than a dozen rhino horns worth USD 1.4 million through Bangkok's main airport last year. The smugglers were caught with bulging bags of the contraband at Suvarnabhumi airport, accompanied by the senior justice official who tried to sneak them through customs undetected. The trio were convicted Tuesday for "illegally importing prohibited goods" and given four years in prison each, according to a statement from Samut Prakan provincial court where the trial took place. The two smugglers, Thitirat Arai and Kansini Anutranusatra, fled after they were stopped by customs officials who x-rayed the bag. They were later apprehended. Authorities found 21 rhino horns weighing 49 kilogrammes traced back to Africa where the critically endangered species is widely hunted, its horn prized for unproven medicinal qualities and as a status symbol in China and Vietnam. The court said .
Net-zero Carbon Emissions From Harder-to-abate Sectors is Technically and Financially Possible by Mid-century
/ -- New report by the Energy Transitions Commission shows that reaching net-zero carbon emissions from heavy industry and heavy-duty transport can be done through ambitious policy, accelerated innovation, and investment, with minimal cost to the global economy Reaching net-zero carbon emissions from heavy industry and heavy-duty transport sectors is technically and financially possible by 2060 and earlier in developed economies and could cost less than 0.5% of global GDP, according to the report published today by the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC). The report Mission Possible: Reaching net-zero carbon emissions from harder-to-abate sectors by mid-century outlines the possible routes to fully decarbonize cement, steel, plastics, trucking, shipping and aviation - which together represent 30% of energy emissions today and could increase to 60% by mid-century as other sectors lower their emissions. The 'Mission Possible' report was developed with contributions from over 200 ...
1st global assessment biodiversity report to be launched in May 2019
In May 2019, representatives of 130 governments, including India, will be presented for discussion and possible approval a global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services since 2005, it was announced on Tuesday.
Take the lead in fight against climate change: Vardhan to developed nations
The climate actions of developing nations are ambitious despite their contribution to climate change being minimal, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said Tuesday, asking developed nations to fulfill their climate obligations "expeditiously". Addressing the ministerial meet of BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) countries hosted by the Union Environment Ministry, Vardhan said developed countries must take the lead in the fight against climate change by their actions as well as by their provision of enhanced financial support and other aid to developing countries. Ahead of the crucial climate conference in Poland later this year, the Indian minister said developed countries seemed to be "shedding" their responsibilities in the pre-2020 period and delaying climate action, which he said would place additional mitigation burden on developing countries. Vardhan said developed countries are "far from realising" their climate finance commitment of mobilising USD 100 billion .
J-K: High-level panel to be set up for winding up IWDP dept
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has directed the officials concerned to form a high-level panel for closing down Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) offices and absorbing its staff in allied wings of the forest department, an official spokesperson said on Tuesday. According to the spokesperson, this has been decided to ensure proper use of manpower and assets of the department. In a meeting convened here to discuss the road map for winding up the IWDP department, Commissioner Secretary to the state administration Manoj Kumar Dwivedi directed officials to set up the committee headed by the principal chief conservator of forest, he said. This committee will work out the modality for transfer of movable and immovable infrastructures and examine the issues pertaining to seniority, promotional avenues and amendment in recruitment rules, the spokesperson said. At the meeting, Dwivedi said, "To strengthen the department and make it viable, we should make proper use of the
China successfully launches five satellites
China Tuesday successfully launched five satellites, including four nanosatellites, on a single rocket from a launch centre in the country's northwest Gansu province. Shiyan-6 satellite and four other microsatellites were launched by Long March-2D rocket and have successfully entered their pre-set orbit, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center said. It was the 292th mission of the Long March rocket series, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Shiyan-6 will be used for conducting space environment exploration experiments. The term nanosatellite refers to a small artificial satellite weighing between 1 and 10 kilogrammes.
NASA selects ancient crater as Mars 2020 rover landing site
NASA has chosen a 3.6 billion-year-old crater as the landing site for its unmanned Mars 2020 rover mission to seek signs of past life on the Red Planet, the US space agency said Monday. NASA selected Jezero Crater after a five year search during which every available detail of over 60 candidate locations on the Mars was scrutinised and debated by the mission team and the planetary science community. The rover mission is scheduled to launch in July 2020 as NASA's next step in exploration of the Red Planet, the US space agency said in a statement. It will not only seek signs of ancient habitable conditions -- and past microbial life -- but the rover also will collect rock and soil samples and store them in a cache on the planet's surface, the statement said. NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) are studying future mission concepts to retrieve the samples and return them to Earth, so this landing site sets the stage for the next decade of Mars exploration. "The landing site in Jezero ...
