Page 436 - Environment
Australia committed to Paris agreement: PM
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected calls from conservative colleagues to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
Rapid, far-reaching changes needed to cap global warming at 1.5°C
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in a new assessment.With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand-in-hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society, the IPCC said on Monday.The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C was approved here by the IPCC on Saturday. It will be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in December when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change."With more than 6,000 scientific references cited and the dedicated contribution of thousands of expert and government reviewers worldwide, this important report testifies to the breadth and policy relevance of the IPCC," said the IPCC chief Hoesung Lee.Ninety-one authors and review editors from 40 countries prepared the IPCC report in .
UN warns paradigm shift needed to avert global climate chaos
Avoiding global climate chaos will require a major transformation of society and the world economy that is "unprecedented in scale," the UN said Monday in a landmark report that warns time is running out to avert disaster. Earth's surface has warmed one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) -- enough to lift oceans and unleash a crescendo of deadly storms, floods and droughts -- and is on track toward an unliveable 3C or 4C rise. At current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, we could pass the 1.5C marker as early as 2030, and no later than mid-century, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) reported with "high confidence". "The next few years are probably the most important in human history," Debra Roberts, head of the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department in Durban, South Africa, and an IPCC co-chair, told AFP. A Summary for Policymakers of the 400-page tome underscores how quickly global warming has outstripped humanity's attempt to tame it, and .
French Space Agency to have representative office in UAE
, 7th October, 2018 (WAM) - While announcing the setting up of French space agency, CNES' representative office in Abu Dhabi, Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of the agency, said that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as one of the major actors in the space scene.CNES, which is considered as the oldest space agencies in the world, will now become the first such agency to have its representative office in Abu Dhabi. The agency will be represented by Donato Giorgi, WAM reported.In an interview to WAM, Jean-Yves Le Gall also said that France would like to take forward the collaboration with UAE in the space sector. "The UAE space programme in a few years has made the country one of the major actors in the space scene, in the UAE, you will find a lot of dynamism, vision and interesting space, this is why we decided to enter in to a very special partnership through opening of a representative office of CNES in Abu Dhabi. We have lot of links with the UAE, and I am sure, we are going ..
Over 300 vehicles fined for violating anti-pollution measures in Delhi
Over 300 vehicles were fined for violating anti-pollution measures in the national capital on first day of a "mega drive" Sunday, officials said. The mega drive launched in view of poor ambient air quality in the city in winters and it will continue till the festival of Diwali, a senior Transport official said. "On the first day of the drive, a total of 311 motorists were fined," he said. Fines to the tune of Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 were realised from the drivers violating the rules, he said. As many as 158 were fined for violating anti-pollution rules and another 153 were challaned for not having valid 'pollution under check' certificate, he added. Forty teams comprising 5-6 Transport Department officials have been deployed for the drive, the official said.
Nepal says its tiger population has almost doubled from 2009
The number of tigers roaming the jungles of Nepal has nearly doubled because of initiatives from the government, conservationists and local authorities who have worked for years to increase the tiger population in the Himalayan nation, an official said Sunday. Gopal Prakash Bhattarai of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation said that the latest tiger count showed there were 235 tigers in the jungles almost twice as many as the 121 that were found in 2009. "Even the nation's prime minister is involved and he heads the National Tiger Conservation Committee," Bhattarai said, adding that there has been better security in the conservation areas and awareness among the people living near these locations. Leaders of nations with tiger populations had met in 2010 and pledged to double the number by 2022. Bhattarai said Sunday that Nepal is already heading in that direction and could be among the first nations to meet the goal.
TRS rule 'disastrous' for Telangana farmers: Uttam Kumar Reddy
Alleging that the TRS rule proved 'disastrous' for farmers in the state, Congress in Telangana Sunday claimed if voted to power in the December 7 assembly elections, it would bring the much needed change in the lives of farming community. Addressing 'Rythu Garjana' meeting at Kodad, Telangana Congress Chief Uttam Kumar Reddy noted that farmers needed better facilities for farming and a good Mimimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce. Claiming that farmers neither got any support from the state or central government nor good MSP for their produce, Reddy said,"farmers need good MSP and not alms." He also alleged that the crop insurance scheme was not implemented properly and no farmer received any compensation for the damage they suffered due to natural calamities like drought or unseasonal rains in the state. "Situation turned worse and more than 4,500 farmers committed suicide since the formation of Telangana state," a party release quoted Reddy as saying. He accused
Guj lions will not relocated as situation is under control: Rupani
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said Sunday lions in the Gir forest were safe and they would not be relocated. Earlier in the day, the Forest Department started the vaccination of lions in the Gir sanctuary to protect them from a deadly virus blamed for the death of some of the big cats. As many as 23 lions have died in the sanctuary in less than a month. Most of them have succumbed to canine distemper virus (CDV) and protozoa infections, forest officials had said. "The situation in Gir is under control and the lions are completely safe in the forest. The state government is sensitive and committed towards the conservation of lions in the state, and lions will not be relocated," Rupani told reporters at Bilkha in Junagadh district where the Gir forest is located. The lions, an endangered species, are being vaccinated under intensive veterinary care and as per standard protocol, officials said Sunday. CDV is considered a dangerous virus and it was blamed for wiping out 30 per cent .
Don't export old diesels to eastern Europe, EU warns German carmakers
BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Commission fears that carmakers in Germany would seek to export old diesel cars removed from German streets under planned trade-off incentives to eastern European countries, Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska said on Sunday.
Poor monsoon led to nearly 70 pc crop loss in Jodhpur, indicates survey
Approximately 70 per cent crops sown in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district failed due to poor monsoon, according to a preliminary survey conducted by the agriculture department. Threat of drought looms large in western Rajasthan with the region reporting below average rain fall dampening the hopes of farmers. "Approximately 70 per cent of crops sown in the district in non-irrigated areas have failed" Deputy Director (Agriculture) B K Dwivedi said. He said the actual loss can be asessed after getting detailed report on crop failure by the revenue department. As far as the Jodhpur district is concerned, a total 13.50 lakh hectares of land is sown in the district during kharif season. Of this, 4.50 lakh hectares is irrigated land while the remaining 9 lakh hectares is non-irrigated. With a good landing of monsoon this year, the farmers proceeded with sowing of crops such as millet, groundnut, moong, til and cotton on a large scale. However, the absence of follow up rains led to disappointment .
Healthy nation can be a wealthy nation: VP
Vice PresidentM Venkaiah Naidu Sunday urged doctors to create awareness among people on the dangers posed by lifestyle diseases, saying a healthy nation can become a wealthy nation but not vice-versa. Speaking after inaugurating a free medical camp here, Naidu stressed on the need to pay greater attention towards one's health and wellness as prevention was better than cure, an official release said. Naidu noted that the country's spending on healthcare would naturally come down if people were healthy. He lauded the Centre for launching 'Ayushman Bharat' to provide health insurance cover to five crore families in rural and 2.5 crore families in urban areas. The scheme would provide coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Later, giving away 'Rythu Nestham' awards, Naidu warned that farmers would give up agriculture unless farming was made profitable and viable. He also suggested that the focus should be on bringing down the input costs and not on increasing ...
New distant object found during hunt for Planet X
In their search for unknown dwarf planets and Planet X and for distant Solar System objects, a team of scientists have discovered a new extremely distant object far beyond Pluto with an orbit.
Deep depression over Arabian Sea to turn into severe cyclonic storm; bring rainfall to TN, Kerala
A deep depression, expected to turn into a severe cyclonic storm, over the Arabian Sea is likely to bring rainfall to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and the Lakshadweep archipelago during next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department said Sunday. After turning into a severe cyclonic storm, it is likely to cross the coasts of Oman and Yemen, the IMD said. The Coast Guard has said it has put its formations on high alert and its dornier aircraft and ships have been deployed off Kerala, Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands, and south Tamil Nadu seas. "A high-level meeting was conducted at Kochi and Lakshadweep with district and Union Territory Administration to assess preparedness and meet any cyclone related contingency. Specific disaster contingency and preparedness meetings were held all the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands," the Coast Guard said. The sea condition would be "rough to very rough" during next 12 hours. An advisory has been issued to fishermen at sea to return to harbour, .
Telangana IT Minister invited to Bloomberg New Economy Forum
Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao is expected to take part in the two-day Bloomberg New Economy Forum, to be held in Singapore next month. Rao, who has been invited for the meet, was expected to participate in the discussions based on issues related to the state, an official release said Sunday. Bloomberg will bring together 300 leading global CEOs, sitting and former leaders, as well as thought leaders and experts for meaningful discussions, it said. The forum will have discussions on how to manage global institutions, reduce inequality and fight climate change.
35 smuggled exotic birds, animals seized in Bengal
Around 35 exotic birds and animals smuggled into India from Bangkok via Myanmar were seized by DRI personnel at the city's international airport and two persons were arrested, an official said on Sunday.
Trump to announce pro-ethanol measure on Tuesday ahead of Iowa trip: sources
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce the lifting of a federal ban on summer sales of higher-ethanol blends of gasoline on Tuesday in Washington DC ahead of a trip to Iowa the same day, according to two sources familiar with the planning of the event.
Low pressure likely to cause rainfall in Odisha from Oct 10
The formation of a low pressure over Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger rainfall in several parts of Odisha from October 10, the Meteorological Centre here said Sunday. The low pressure area, formed over south-east Bay Of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea, is very likely to become well marked and concentrate into a depression on Monday, it said in a bulletin. The low pressure is likely to move northwestwards towards Odisha during the next 72 hours. Under its influence, rain and thundershower is likely to occur in many parts of the state for two to three days from October 10, it said. Some places in coastal region of the state are expected to experience heavy rainfall. In view of the adverse weather conditions, the MeT centre has advised fishermen not to venture into the deep sea at south-east and adjoining east-central Bay Of Bengal during the next 24 Hours and over central and adjoining north Bay Of Bengal till October 10. Those who are out in deep sea have been ...
Centre reconstitutes EPCA, the authority tasked with tackling environment pollution in NCR
The Centre has reconstituted the Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority or the EPCA, which is tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region. The tenure of the last EPCA expired on October 3. "...the Central government hereby re-constitutes the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority," an order issued by the Environment Ministry on October 3 said. The ministry said that while reconstituting the EPCA, it tried to broad-base the organisation and therefore brought in more members. Former secretary Bhure Lal continues to be the chairman, while the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) DG Sunita Narain is one of the members. The other members of the 20-member re-constituted authority include Ajay Mathur, who is the Director General of The Energy Research Institute (TERI), Arunabha Ghosh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Energy Environment and Water, Navroz K. Dubash, the .
Make farming profitable: Vice President
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday warned that farmers might leave agriculture unless farming was made viable and profitable.
Radhamohan Singh calls on farmers to adopt organic farming
Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh on Sunday called on farmers NGOs and other stakeholders to adopt organic farming to improve soil health and fertility. At a programme organised here by the National Centre of Organic Farming, he said the Centre is committed to promoting organic farming and providing all possible help to farmers in this regard. "Organic farming has the potential of providing livelihood to farmers, and create employment opportunities for rural as well as for urban people," Singh said. Under the 'Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY)', Rs 1,307 crore has been allotted between 2015-16 and 2018-19 financial years to promote organic farming in the country on cluster mode, he said, adding under the scheme, till date 23.02 lakh hectare land has been brought under certified organic farming. The minister said, taking inspiration from Sikkim, that has become the first organic state of India, other northeastern and hilly states are preparing to go for fully organic ...
