Page 675 - Environment
US among G7 ranked lowest to end fossil fuel subsidies
The US is among G7 countries ranked lowest due to its continued support for fossil fuel exploration and production, as well as backtracking on previous pledges to end support to fossil fuels, new research has found.
Earth days getting longer due to Moon
Days on the Earth are getting longer, thanks to the movement of the Moon away from the planet, according to a study which found that 1.4 billion years ago a day lasted just over 18 hours. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reconstructs the deep history of our planet's relationship to the Moon. It shows that 1.4 billion years ago, the Moon was closer and changed the way the Earth spun around its axis. "As the Moon moves away, the Earth is like a spinning figure skater who slows down as they stretch their arms out," said Stephen Meyers, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US. It describes a tool, a statistical method, that links astronomical theory with geological observation (called astrochronology) to look back on Earth's geologic past, reconstruct the history of the solar system and understand ancient climate change as captured in the rock record. "One of our ambitions was to use astrochronology to tell time in the
India among the top five countries in e-waste generation: ASSOCHAM-NEC study
The global volume of e-waste generated is expected to reach 52.2 million tons or 6.8 kg/ inhabitant by 2021 from 44.7 million tons in 2016 at a compound annual growth rate of 20 percent, according to a study on 'Electricals & Electronics Manufacturing in India,' conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)-NEC joint study.
UNEP Chief envisions plastic-free India
Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Erik Solheim on Tuesday underscored that the aim of the top global environment authority is to make India and the world plastic-free.Speaking to ANI on the occasion of World Environment Day, Solheim said, "Our aim is to make India and the world plastic-free to avoid enormous pollution to our environment and to our own health. This must stop and there is no one better to inspire to this than Mahatma Gandhi and Sadhguru (renowned Indian spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev)."Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the UNEP chief highlighted the importance of cleanliness."Gandhi once said that cleanliness is godliness."Solheim also took to Twitter to draw an analogy between plastic pollution and violence."Plastic pollution represents violence against this planet. Wonderful to join a conversation with @SadhguruJV (Jaggi Vasudev) and @deespeak (Dia Mirza). The large numbers of people that have turned out really shows this an issue we all care
Swimmer Ben Lecomte begins record Pacific crossing attempt
A French swimmer has set off from Japan aiming to become the first person to swim across the Pacific Ocean.
Ready to inspect N.Korea's nuclear programme: IAEA
The UN nuclear agency has said it is ready to inspect the nuclear programme of North Korea, if it is authorised to play an essential role in the issue after a political deal is reached.
This family not using plastic bags since years to preserve environment
Setting up an example for everyone on World Environment Day, a family from Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district has shun plastic bags to keep the planet clean and green.The family has not been using plastic bags since last four years to preserve the environment.Speaking to ANI, a family member said, "We have been hearing about all the adverse affects of plastic, so we decided that we will make it a habit to not use it. Plastic bags should be banned.""We took the decision four years ago after we saw the drains in our society being clogged up during rain," he added.It is to be noted that the entire country celebrates World Environment Day on June 5 every year for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
ILO chief calls for urgent action against plastic
Plastic has become the workhorse of the modern economy and provides significant benefits but the current use has many drawbacks, International Labour Organization (ILO) Director General Guy Ryder has said.
It's upon people to act on laws on environment related issues: Vardhan
Relevant laws on pollution and environment related issues have been enacted and it is up to the people to act upon them, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan today said. Addressing the inaugural session of the World Environment Day celebrations on the theme "Natural Capital of India", the minister recalled the strong legacy of India of caring for the environment. He pointed out that land, trees and rivers were all considered to be a part of divine blessings and seen as natural gifts that needed to be protected and nurtured. "Emphasising that a host of relevant resolutions, laws and bills have been passed on pollution and other environment-related issues, Harsh Vardhan said that it is up to the people to act upon them," an official release said quoting him. The minister said every human being can be inspired to work for the environment and small contributions can add up to a larger good. Reiterating the momentum generated by the Green Good Deeds initiative, Harsh Vardhan said the .
Greenpeace urges FMCG firms to commit to 100 pc waste recycling
On the eve of the World Environment Day, Greenpeace today urged Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies to take a "hard look" at their production of plastics and commit to "100 per cent recycling" of their waste. India is the global host to World Environment Day this year, with the theme being 'beat plastic pollution'. Greenpeace India in a statement sent a strong message to the retailers and FMCG manufacturers, and urged them to "take responsibility for the trash they produce". "Greenpeace is calling on companies and manufacturers to take a hard look at their production of plastics and commit to 100 percent recycling of their waste," it said in a statement. The government, it said, needs to hold corporations accountable under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. "The packaging industry is one of the major producers of plastic. Single-use plastics -- such as PET bottles, caps, food wrappers and plastic bags -- produced in FMCG and retail, are four of the top five ...
Environment Day a mission for India: Vardhan
For India, World Environment Day 2018 is not a "symbolic" celebration, but a mission, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan today said. The minister invited people to take care of their Green Social Responsibility and urged them to take up Green Good Deeds in everyday life. He said 700 Green Good Deeds are available and people are required to take small positive actions without any extra efforts that can help conserve our environment. Addressing the gathering, Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment said plastic is a huge environmental and health issue while mentioning that individual in tackling plastic pollution and taking specific measures to deal with single use plastic. Union Environment Secretary C K Mishra highlighted that great ideas have come up during this event and there is a need to package all these ideas in a nice way. He also briefly highlighted that the Paris Agreement (PA) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the two important agreements that have .
Programme for Blue Flag certification initiated
A programme was initiated today for Blue Flag certification of one 'Blue Flag' beach in each of the 13 coastal states and UTs under the World Bank-assisted Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP). Blue Flag has 33 stringent criteria to be complied based on which a beach is certified and permitted to hoist their flag in these beaches. The moment a Blue Flag is hoisted in a beach, the mention is made in the global headquarters of Foundation for Environment Education (FEE) in Copenhagen, Denmark and thereby on the World Tourism Map. FEE-nominated representatives will conduct regular monitoring and audits for compliance and thus, concerted efforts are required to qualify for Blue Flag Certification. "Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the Environment Ministry has embarked upon a programme for Blue flag certification of one Blue Flag beach in each of the 13 coastal States /UTs under the World Bank-assisted ICZMP," an official statement said. The SICOM ...
BRICS or comprehensive reform of UN
BRICS nations today reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, to make it more effective and efficient and to increase the representation of the developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global challenges. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting. After the meeting the foreign affairs ministers of these nations recalled the 2005 World Summit Outcome document and reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN. China and Russia reiterated the importance they attach to the status and role of Brazil, India and South Africa in international affairs and support their aspiration to play a greater role in the UN, a media statement released after the meeting said. The Ministers underscored the importance of sustained efforts aimed at making the UN more effective and efficient in ...
Kerala Govt to reimburse medical expense of Nipah Virus affected people
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday announced that the state government will reimburse the medical expense of Nipah virus affected people.He also added that the government will allot the amount according to the report by District Collector.On a related note, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher assured people of the state that the Nipah Virus is now under control but have to take precautionary measures.Talking to ANI, the minister said, "There won't be 2nd phase of the outbreak, it is almost under control. But we have to take precautionary measures, we can't predict before incubation period. Yesterday and today all results from laboratory tested negative. Hope there are no more positive results."So far, Nipah Virus has claimed 16 lives in Kerala since traces of the virus were first reported from Kozhikode towards the end of May.In the wake of the Nipah Virus outbreak in parts of Kerala, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions in Kozhikode will remain ..
Harsh Vardhan unveils non-plastic bound Nat Geo
Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday unveiled the first non-plastic bound copy of the National Geographic magazine here marking the World Environment Day.
Environment Day to be low key in water scarcity hit Shimla
With the hill city staring at its worst water crisis, the World Environment Day would be a low-key affair. Despite the situation easing a bit, people are still getting water after three to four days for their home based needs. Not many programmes have been scheduled even though Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur would attend a function at Sundernagar in Mandi district. Thakur would launch a tree plantation programme, inaugurate an exhibition on World Environment Day and also launch the Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan (PAPA) at Sundernagar, officials said. Education minister Suresh Bharadwaj would participate in a function at the Ridge here in which students and NGOs would take part. The reckless felling of trees, unplanned and illegal constructions have reduced the queen of hills to a concrete jungle and drying up of water sources have plunged Shimla into severe water crisis.
Gurgaon DC orders probe into death of peacocks
The Gurgaon Administration has ordered probe into incidents of death of peacocks in Bhondsi village and its surrounding areas in the district. Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh today directed Animal Husbandry and Wildlife Departments officials to investigate the matter and ordered to get all birds in poultry farms of Aravali vaccinated, as a precautionary measure. The department has got treated and examined sick peacocks of Bhondsi village and nearby areas who later were released in the forest. "So, far 21 peacocks have died and 72 have been found sick. The autopsy report of the dead peacocks revealed that they had died of heat stroke," an official statement quoting the Gurgaon DC said. "To overcome the shortage of water in the areas of Bandhwadi, Mangar forest area, Bhondsi, Dumdama, Rojka Gujjar, Gairatpur Bas, Wazirabad in the district, water is being supplied through water tankers to fill the pits and ponds in the area," he said. The Forest department would ensure
Project to provide potable water to needy Odisha villages on
The Indian arm of a global relief organization has tied up with an Odisha NGO to ensure access to safe and potable drinking water for above 4,000 families from 20 villages in the state's Balangir and Bargarh districts during peak summer months (April-July), it was announced on Monday
Phased approach needed to tackle plastic pollution: Jairam Ramesh
Describing plastic pollution as a "very serious issue", former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh batted for a phased approach to tackle the problem on the eve of World Environment Day. Stating that banning plastic was no solution to the pollution caused by it, he said waste management was the most important area that needed to be addressed on priority. "We should not swing from one end of the pendulum to the other, going from believing that plastic is a very useful material, to contain its use across the board," he said at an event here. India cannot ban plastic altogether due to a variety of reasons, including its use, he said, stressing on public education to discourage littering. The event was organised by the Global Alliance Incinerator Alliance (GAIA). "There is simply too much plastic in the environment. This has to change," said Pratibha Sharma, National Coordinator of GAIA India. From May 16 to 26 this year, 10 GAIA member organisations and partners conducted clean-up ..
Kerala MLA rakes up controversy wearing mask, gloves in assembly
An Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MLA from Kuttiady town, Parakkal Abdulla, was seen attending Kerala Assembly wearing a mask and gloves to highlight the impact of Nipah virus in state's Kozhikode district.The incident triggered altercation between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members.So far, Nipah Virus has claimed 16 lives in Kerala since traces of the virus were first reported from Kozhikode towards the end of May.In the wake of the Nipah Virus outbreak in parts of Kerala, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions in Kozhikode will remain shut till June 12.Since the Nipah virus was confirmed, the Kerala state health department had issued an advisory for people travelling to the state, urging them to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.For those unversed, Nipah virus, spread by fruit bats, causes communicable disease and is fatal for both animals and humans.The ...
