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Subject: Conservation & Mitigation

1. Conservation Progs.
2. Worldwide initiatives
3. Mitigation Strategies
4. Conventions and Protocols

  • Environmentalism at the core

    The article explains the importance of focusing on the green supply chain for ensuring sustainability along with the progress of the organisations.

    Sustainability as an essential issue

    • The U.N’s. Millennium Development Goals and the World Bank Group’s global practices have recognised sustainability as an essential issue of global importance.
    • Economic, social and other forms of sustainability have evolved over the years, but it is environmental sustainability that has gained significant popularity.

    Economy and sustainability

    • Some firms have positioned environmental practices at the forefront due to legislation, and industry and government commitments.
    • Several firms have prioritised environmental practices due to compelling regulatory norms, and a potential to manage costs, risks and optimise eco-friendly practices.
    • However, organisations in the manufacturing sector focus on waste reduction and energy efficiency improvements excessively and fail to see the big picture of environmentalism.

    Adopting green supply chains for long-lasting benefits

    • Only through organisational learning can people be urged to work towards long-lasting benefits.
    • In this context, green supply chain practices are useful.
    • These include green procurement, green manufacturing, green distribution, and reverse logistics.
    • With practices starting from acquisition of eco-friendly raw material to disposal/ reuse/ recycle of used products, employees, suppliers, distributors, retailers and customers will be able to integrate environmental concerns in the daily operations of a firm.
    • Thus, green supply chain practices enable organisational learning in environmental sustainability.
    •  Research shows that the positive impacts of environmentalism can only be felt in the long term when they get embedded into organisational learning systems through green supply chain practices.
    • The resultant learning system smoothens the knowledge flow in the organisation.

    Focusing on linkages

    • Linkages between green supply chain practices, corporate environmental performance, corporate economic performance is necessary for an organisation’s progress and environmental protection.
    • When the different players of a manufacturing supply chain realise the inherent benefits associated with organisational learning dimensions, their drive towards environmentalism increases.

    Conclusion

    Policymakers should support this thinking by not merely imposing environmental practices as regulatory norms but by emphasising on the creation of green supply chain-based learning systems in manufacturing.

  • [pib] “Blue Flag” Certification

    The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has announced the first time eight beaches of India are recommended for the coveted International eco-label, the Blue flag certification.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the seawater recedes from the shoreline a few kilometers and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the seafloor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at:

    (a) Bhavnagar

    (b) Bheemunipatnam

    (c) Chandipur

    (d) Nagapattinam

    Which are the eight beaches?

    The eight beaches are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman & Diu, Kasargod and Padubidri beach in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden beach of Odisha and Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar.

    About Blue Flag Certification

    • This Certification is accorded by an international agency “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads i.e.
    1. Environmental Education and Information,
    2. Bathing Water Quality,
    3. Environment Management and Conservation and
    4. Safety and Services on the beaches.
    • It started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001 when South Africa joined.
    • Japan and South Korea are the only countries in South and southeastern Asia to have Blue Flag beaches.
    • Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395, respectively.

  • Etosha Salt Pan, Namibia

    NASA has recently captured images depicting the wet and dry cycles of Etosha Pan in Africa’s Namibia through the year.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/ dried up in the recent past due to human activities?

    1. Aral Sea
    2. Black Sea
    3. Lake Baikal

    Select the correct option using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 2 only

    (d) 1 and 3 only

    Etosha Salt Pan

    • The Etosha pan is hollow in the ground, wherein water may collect or in which a deposit of salt remains after the water has evaporated.
    • The 120-kilometre-long dry lakebed and its surroundings are protected as Etosha National Park, Namibia’s second-largest wildlife park.
    • The pan is mostly dry, but after a heavy rain, it acquires a thin layer of water that is heavily salted by the mineral deposits on the surface.

  • Global Biodiversity Outlook-5 Report

    The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) 5 report was leaked before its official release. Let’s look at the highlights of the report.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following pairs:

    Terms sometimes seen in the news- Their origin

    1. Annex-I Countries- Cartagena Protocol
    2. Certified Emissions- Nagoya Protocol Reductions
    3. Clean Development- Kyoto Protocol Mechanism

    Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    About GBO report

    • The GBO is the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
    • It is a periodic report that summarizes the latest data on the status and trends of biodiversity and draws conclusions relevant to the further implementation of the Convention.
    • It summarizes progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Convention, such as the Aichi Targets and identifies key actions to achieve these.

    Highlights of the Report

    • GBO-5 is an overview of the state of nature. It is a final report card on the progress made by countries in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
    • What the world needed was a shift from business-as-usual, the report said. This transformation needed to take place in all human activities that were interlinked with natural resources.
    • This shift was crucial, the report added as natural resources would continue to decline and the world would not be able to meet the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals.
    • The GBO-5 suggested some shifts that need to be implemented to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity. These include:
    1. Transition within land and forests: The report called the restoration of all forests that had been degraded. It also urged restoring local ecosystems.
    2. Sustainable agriculture: Farmers would have to reduce the use of chemicals and instead focus more on agroecological farming practices, the report said.
    3. Sustainable food systems: The report urged people to eat healthier, plant-based food and less meat. It also called for a focus on the problem of food wastage within the supply chain and household.
    4. Climate action: The report called for nature-based solutions to reduce climate change
    5. One health: Agricultural and urban ecosystems, as well as wildlife, should be managed in an integrated manner, it said.

    Failure to meet the targets

    None of the 20 ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’ agreed on by national governments through the CBD has been met, according to the report. The world was supposed to meet these targets by 2020. Whatever little progress has been made, has to do with the following:

    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 1 (Creating awareness about the value of biodiversity)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 (17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, to be effectively and equitably managed)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 16 (Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 17 (Creation, adoption and implementation of an effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan)
    • Aichi Biodiversity Target 19 (Improvement and dissemination of knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity).

    Back2Basics: Convention on Biological Diversity

    • The CBD, known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty.
    • The Convention has three main goals including the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
    • It has two supplementary agreements:
    1. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety- An international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another
    2. Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS)
    • All UN member states—with the exception of the United States—have ratified the treaty.

  • What is Project Dolphin?

    In his Independence Day Speech this year, PM has announced the government’s plan to launch a Project Dolphin. The proposed project is aimed at saving both river and marine dolphins.

    Project Dolphin

    • The Project will be on the lines of Project Tiger, which has helped increase the tiger population.
    • So far, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which implements the government’s flagship scheme Namami Gange, has been taking some initiatives for saving dolphins.
    • Now, Project Dolphin is expected to be implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

    About Gangetic Dolphin

    • The Gangetic river system is home to a vast variety of aquatic life, including the Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica).
    • It is one of five species of river dolphin found around the world.
    • It is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems.
    • An adult dolphin could weigh between 70 kg and 90 kg. The breeding season of the Gangetic dolphin extends from January to June.
    • They feed on several species of fishes, invertebrates etc.

    Why is it important to save dolphins?

    • The construction of dams and barrages and increasing pollution has led to a decline in the population of aquatic animals in the rivers in general and of dolphins in particular.
    • Aquatic life is an indicator of the health of river ecosystems.
    • As the Gangetic dolphin is at the top of the food chain, protecting the species and its habitat will ensure

    Aquatic life as an indicator of the health of a river system

    • Globally, there have been such examples. For instance, the Rhine Action Plan (1987) of the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) brought back the salmon.
    • The return of the migratory fish is taken as an indicator of the river’s improved health.
    • Salmon used to migrate from the North Sea to the Rhine every year and reproduce, but this stopped when pollution increased in the river.
    • After a chemical accident in 1986 that caused the death of fish and microorganisms, the Action Plan was launched.
    • This led to an improvement in the quality of the river water, and the salmons began to return.

    What has been done to save Gangetic dolphins so far?

    • Although efforts to save them were started in the mid-1980s, the estimates suggest the numbers have not risen as a result.
    • The Gangetic dolphin remains listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
    • After the launch of Ganga Action Plan in 1985, the government on November 24, 1986, included Gangetic dolphins in the First Schedule of the Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972.
    • This was aimed at checking hunting and providing conservation facilities such as wildlife sanctuaries. For instance, Vikramshila Ganges Dolphin Sanctuary was established in Bihar under this Act.

    Conservation so far

    • The government has prepared The Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin 2010-2020.
    • It identified threats to Gangetic Dolphins and impact of river traffic, irrigation canals and depletion of prey-base on Dolphins populations.
    • On October 5, 2009, the then PM declared the Gangetic river dolphin as the national aquatic animal.
    • A notification was issued by the MoEFCC the following year. Now, the National Mission for Clean Ganga celebrates October 5 as National Ganga River Dolphin Day.

  • Thinking of new recovery path

    Growth and environmental protection are not the polar opposites of each other. The article analyses the issue of balancing the two and using pandemic as an opportunity to evolve novel recovery path.

    Pandemic: opportunity to new recovery path

    • The pandemic presents an opportunity for us to think of a new recovery path, one that can decouple economic growth and environmental degradation.
    • It becomes more important as India sees opportunities on the global call to diversify the supply chain and its internal call for Atmanirbhar Bharat.
    • For that, we need to strengthen our production and manufacturing capabilities.

    Issue of regulatory infrastructure

    • Monitoring and implementing environmental regulations is the biggest challenge we face.
    • Take the municipal solid waste rules.
    • Two decades after the regulations came into effect, their status not in good shape.
    • A comparatively recent regulation, centred around Extended Producer Responsibility, has also posed challenges in monitoring and implementation.
    • In a recent ruling, the judiciary not only ruled against the industry but also blamed officials responsible for implementing the regulations.

    Focus on implementation and monitoring

    •  In the long run, diluting regulatory norms will create more adverse impacts resulting in greater community upsurge.
    • The focus has to be to improve the system’s capabilities to monitor and implement regulatory requirements.
    • There needs to be greater transparency and accountability; there is no dearth of technology to facilitate this.
    • The intention and capacity to take action, rectify and diffuse is critical.
    • The right ecosystem between the industry, community and regulator is crucial.
    • If the three stakeholders remain isolated and get activated only in a crisis, we will not make any progress towards solving the issue.

    Way forward

    • We need to couple growth and environmental protection.
    • Environmental health will be the key enabler of socio-economic growth in the future.
    • Industry needs to realise that it is a part of an ecosystem and not at the centre of it.
    • Communities get impacted, either positively or negatively,  they need to empower themselves through education, so that they are not driven by the agenda of individuals with vested interests.
    • We have a challenge in implementing environmental regulations.
    • The community does not trust that the industry is meeting its compliance requirements, so, the regulatory system’s role is to improve this trust quotient.

    Conclusion

    As we plan our recovery past the pandemic, we have a good chance to create a new normal. We need to align towards a common cause and goals. We should not miss this chance.

  • Species in news: Barn Owl

    With a thriving rat population playing havoc with its coconut yield, the UT of Lakshadweep hires barn owls for help.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.The Red Data Books published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contains lists of:

    1. Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
    2. Threatened plant and animal species.
    3. Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a) 1 and 3

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3

    (d) 3 only

    Barn Owl

    IUCN status: Least Concerned

    • The barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds.
    • It is found almost everywhere in the world except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalayas, most of Indonesia, and some Pacific islands.

    What is Barn?

    • A barn is an agricultural building usually on farms and used for various purposes.
    • It refers to structures that house livestock, including cattle and horses, as well as equipment and fodder, and often grain.

  • [pib] Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA)

    NITI Aayog will virtually launch the India Component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)–Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA).

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.The term Intended Nationally Determined Contribution is sometimes seen in the news in the context of:

    (a) Pledge made by the European countries to rehabilitate refuges from the war-affected Middle East.

    (b) Plan of nation outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate changes.

    (c) Capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

    (d) Plain of action outlined by the countries of the regarding SDGs.

    What is NDC-TIA?

    • It is a joint programme, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
    • On behalf of the GoI, NITI Aayog will be the implementing partner.
    • It aims to promote a comprehensive approach to decarbonize transport in India, Vietnam, and China.
    • It is implemented by a consortium of seven other organisations.

    Working

    • The programme has a duration of 4 years.
    • The India Component will focus on establishing a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform for decarbonizing transport in India, strengthening GHG and transport modelling capacities.
    • It would help in financing climate actions in transport, offering policy recommendations on electric vehicle (EV) demand and supply policies.

    Why need TIA?

    • India has a massive and diverse transport sector that caters to the needs of billion people.
    • It has the world’s second-largest road network, which contributes to maximum GHG emissions through all means of transportation.
    • With increasing urbanisation, the fleet size i.e. the number of sales of vehicles is increasing rapidly.
    • It is projected that the total number of vehicles will be doubled by 2030.

  • What is Biochar?

    A new research has shown that Biochar application is more effective in promoting pulses growth and yield in Ghana.

    Try this PYQ:

     

    Q.In the context of which one of the following are the terms ‘pyrolysis and plasma gasification’ mentioned? (CSP 2019)

    (a) Extraction of rare earth elements

    (b) Natural gas extraction technologies

    (c) Hydrogen fuel-based automobiles

    (d) Waste-to-energy technologies

    What is Biochar?

    • Biochar is a high-carbon, fine-grained residue that is currently produced through modern pyrolysis processes (direct thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen and preventing combustion).
    • It produces a mixture of solids (the biochar proper), liquid (bio-oil), and gas (syngas) products.
    • Biochar may increase soil fertility of acidic soils (low pH soils), increase agricultural productivity, and provide protection against some foliar and soil-borne diseases.

    Its benefits

    • Carbon Sink: The burning and natural decomposition of biomass releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane to the Earth’s atmosphere. The biochar production process also releases CO2 (up to 50% of the biomass); however the remaining carbon content is stable indefinitely.
    • Soil Amendment: Biochar is recognized as offering a number of soil health benefits. The extremely porous nature of biochar is found to be effective at retaining both water and water-soluble nutrients. Its presence in the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity, and reduce pressure on old-growth forests.
    • Water retention: Biochar is hygroscopic. Thus it is a desirable soil material in many locations due to its ability to attract and retain water.

    ————————-//———————-

    Back2Basics

    What is Pyrolysis?

    • Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures in an inert atmosphere.
    • It involves a change in chemical composition. The word is coined from the Greek-derived elements pyro “fire” and lysis “separating”.
    • It is most commonly used in the treatment of organic materials. It is one of the processes involved in charring wood.
    • It is considered as the first step in the processes of gasification or combustion.

    How does it work?

    • In general, pyrolysis of organic substances produces volatile products and leaves a solid residue enriched in carbon, char.
    • Extreme pyrolysis, which leaves mostly carbon as the residue, is called carbonization.
    • The process is used heavily in the chemical industry, for example, to produce ethylene, many forms of carbon, and other chemicals from petroleum, coal, and even wood, to produce coke from coal.

  • BIS’ draft standard for drinking water supply

    The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has prepared a draft standard for the supply system of piped drinking water.

    Try this question for mains:

    Q.Climate change, scarcity, population growth, demographic changes and urbanization pose challenges for water supply systems in India. Analyse.

    About the Draft

    • Labelled ‘Drinking water supply quality management system — requirements for piped drinking water supply service’, the draft has been prepared by the BIS’ Public Drinking Water Supply Services Sectional Committee.
    • It outlines the process of water supply, from raw water sources to household taps.
    • It has been developed keeping in view the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission for providing safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024 through tap connections.
    • It is expected to make the process of piped water supply more uniform, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas of the country where the system runs on various government orders and circulars.
    • At present, the standard is expected not to be made mandatory.

    Highlights of the draft

    • The draft outlines the requirements for a water supplier or a water utility on how they should establish, operate, maintain and improve their piped drinking water supply service.
    • The process begins with the identification of a water source, which can either be groundwater or surface water sources such as rivers, streams or reservoirs.
    • It doesn’t mention how water utilities should treat the water, but states that the process should be planned in such a manner that after treatment it should conform to the Indian Standard (IS) 10500 developed by the BIS.
    • The IS 10500 outlines the acceptable limits of heavy metals such as arsenic, and other parameters like the pH value of water, its turbidity, the total dissolved solids in it, and the colour and odour.

    What is the water supply process?

    • The supply system as outlined in the draft should begin with the identification of a raw water source.
    • Water should then be pumped into the treatment plant and treated to achieve acceptable drinking standards.
    • After the water is released from the plant, there should be reservoirs in the distribution system for storage of this water, and disinfection facilities to get rid of contamination at any stage of distribution.
    • Pumping stations or boosters, if necessary, should be provided to maintain adequate pressure throughout the distribution system.

    District Metering Area (DMA) concept

    • The document also states that the concept of district metering area (DMA) should be adopted where possible.
    • DMA is a concept for controlling leakages in the water network, which is essentially divided into a number of sectors, called the DMAs, and where flow meters are installed to detect leaks.
    • The water supplier/utility may provide bulk water meters in the water distribution system to ensure water audit, however, the provisions should be made for domestic meters also.

    What’s there in the draft in addition to the water supply process?

    • There are guidelines on water audit, which is a calculation of the amount of water put into distribution against the amount that is consumed.
    • The draft states that a water audit should be conducted on a quarterly basis.
    • Effort should be made by the water agency to bring down the water loss up to 15% of the total water supplied in the system.
    • The water utilities are also required to conduct surveys among consumers and obtain feedback on their service as per the draft.
    • Guidelines on internal audit, management review, documenting performance indicators for improvement, and timely action against non-conformity issues also find mention.