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Subject: Environment

  • UPSC Prelims : Environment and Ecology Analysis part 2

    Pre 2014

    1. Which one of the following is the process involved in photosynthesis?
    1. Potential energy is released to form free energy
    2. Free energy is converted into potential energy and stored
    3. Food is oxidized to release carbon dioxide and water
    4. Oxygen is taken, and carbon dioxide and water vapour are given out
    • Simple. Photosynthesis is the process of food making in plants using co2 and sunlight which also releases oxygen. So obviously energy is being stored in the form of food I. E free energy of sun covered into potential energy
    • Anyway option 3 and 4 are the same. O2 uptake, co2 and water release. Obviously both the options can not be true.
    • Option a and b are contradictory, one has to be true
    1. Which of the following adds/add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on the planet Earth?
    1. Volcanic action
    2. Respiration
    3. Photosynthesis
    4. Decay of organic matter

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 and 3 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 1, 2 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
    • Sort of internal repeat.
    • In the 1st question, we discussed photosynthesis leads to co2 being converted into food I. E, it takes out co2 from the carbon cycle not adds to it.
    • Eliminate 3, now look at 1, volcanic action leads to release of co2, so2 etc.
    • Eliminate 3, include 1
    1. In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following?
    1. Terrace cultivation
    2. Deforestation
    3. Tropical climate

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • 2 is easily true. Deforestation does lead to soil erosion even kids know that.
    • 1 is clearly wrong. Terrace farming is used to stop soil erosion in mountains/ hilly areas.
    • Include 2, exclude 1
    1. Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of
    1. algae and bacteria
    2. algae and fungi
    3. bacteria and fungi
    4. fungi and mosses
    • Ridiculously easy, NCERT
    • Covered In titbit
    1. The most important strategy for the conservation of biodiversity together with traditional human life is the establishment of
    1. biosphere reserves
    2. botanical gardens
    3. national parks
    4. wildlife sanctuaries
    • Ridiculously easy
    • Covered in titbit
    • Biosphere reserve programme name itself is UNESCO Man and biosphere reserve.
    1. With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
    2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities, in those zones except agriculture.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. none
    • Statement 2, all kind of activities except agriculture, sweeping statement, red flag, pause and think. Obviously agriculture is prohibited first. scientific research, tourism in buffer zone etc would be allowed
    • Statement 1, it’s eco sensitive zone not wild life protection zone, so would be constituted under environment protection act not wild life protection act
    1. Consider the following pairs
    1. Dampa Tiger Reserve : Mizoram
    2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary : Sikkim
    3. Saramati Peak : Nagaland

    Which of the above pairs is /are correctly matched?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • Very difficult, just remember these locations in case one of the option is repeated
    • Gumti is in Tripura
    • Saramati is infact highest peak in Nagaland

    8.

    Wetlands Confluence of rivers
    1. Harike Wetlands Beas and Satluj/Sutlej
    2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park Banas and Chambal
    3. Kolleru Lake Confluence of Musi and Krishna

    Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • Harike is easy. You must know it. Bhakhra nangal and other related dam projects
    • Questions on keoladeo have been asked before. Chambal flows on rajasthan – M.P. border. Bharatpur is far away
    • Kolleru has also been asked before, very famous, Krishna and Kaveri
    1. Which of the following have coral reefs?
    1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
    2. Gulf of Kutch
    3. Gulf of Mannar
    4. Sunderbans

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1, 2 and 3 only
    2. 2 and 4 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

    Sunderbans have mangroves not corals

    1. Consider the following:
    1. Bats
    2. Bears
    3. Rodents

    The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 1, 2 and 3
    4. Hibernation cannot be observed in any of the above

    Biology question. You either know it or don’t know it

    1. Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of other three?
    1. Crab
    2. Mite
    3. Scorpion
    4. Spider

    Biology, either know it or don’t know it Crab a crustacean

    1. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain?
    1. Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings
    2. Crustaceans-Diatoms-Herrings
    3. Diatoms-Herrings-Crustaceans
    4. Crustaceans-Herrings-Diatoms

    Diatoms are like algae, would come first. Eliminate 2 and 3

    Herrings eat crustaceans

    This question btw has been asked before

    1. If you travel through the Himalayas, you are Likely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there?
    1. Oak
    2. Rhododendron
    3. Sandalwood

    Select the correct answer using the code given below

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    1. If you walk through countryside, you are likely to see some birds stalking alongside the cattle to seize the insects, disturbed by their movement through grasses, Which of the following is/are such bird/birds?
    1. Painted Stork
    2. Common Myna
    3. Black-necked Crane

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 and 2
    2. 2 only
    3. 2 and 3
    4. 3 only

    Ridiculously difficult

    1. Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins?
    1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
    2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers
    3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally
    4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1, 3 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
    • 2nd statement. Increase in the population of crocodiles responsible for decline in the number of dolphins. Seriously!
    • Eliminate 2, reach the answer
    1. With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coal bed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following ‘statements:
    1. Coal bed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
    2. In India abundant coal bed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    • Statement 1, propane and butane only. Only sweeping, red flag, pause and think. Obviously wrong. Shale gas is natural gas so would contain methane also plus impurities
    • 2nd statement – no shale resources, again wrong. Question was asked in mains 2013.
    1. In India, cluster bean (Guar) is traditionally used as a vegetable or animal feed, but recently the cultivation of this has assumed significance. Which one of the following statements is correct in this context?
    1. The oil extracted from seeds is used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics
    2. The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas
    3. The leaf extract of this plant has the properties of anti-histamines
    4. It is a source of high quality biodiesel

    It was very much in news as India produces maximum quantity of Guar gum and it’s prices fluctuated a lot

    1. With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider the following statemenrs:
    1. ‘Photovoltaics’ is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while ‘Solar Thermal’ is a technology that utilizes the Sun’s rays to generate heat which is further used in electricity generation process.
    2. Photovoltaics generates Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).
    3. India has manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for Photovoltaics.

    Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1, 2 and 3
    4. None
    • 1 is true. Name itself suggests
    • In the last paper also, we disussed, cells produce dc
    • Include 1, exclude 2
    1. There is some concern regarding the nanoparticles of some chemical elements that are used by the industry in the manufacture of various products. Why?
    1. They can accumulate in the environment, and contaminate water and soil.
    2. They can enter the food chains.
    3. They can trigger the production of free radicals.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • 1 and 2 Seems correct.
    • 3 also seems correct
    • Risky approach but I can’t see any reason for any of the statement to be wrong as they are all general statements
    1. Which of the following are some important pollutants released by steel industry in India?
    1. Oxides of sulphur
    2. Oxides of nitrogen
    3. Carbon monoxide
    4. Carbon dioxide

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1, 3 and 4 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 4 only
    4. 1,2, 3 and 4

    All are easily correct

    1. Brominated flame retardants are used in many household products like mattresses and upholstery. Why is there some concern about their use?
    1. They are highly resistant to degradation in the environment.
    2. They are able to accumulate in humans and animals.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    • It’s like 19th question. Both seems correct
    • Risky approach
    1. With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. It serves as financial mechanism for ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ and ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’.
    2. It undertakes scientific research on environmental issues at global level
    3. It is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with specific aim to protect their environment.
    4. Both (a) and (b)
    • Covered in titbit
    • A is true
    • Pure Funding organisations themselves don’t undertake scientific research on their own.
    • A correct, b incorrect, answer reached
    • C is incorrect, it’s not under OECD. Similar question in 2015 about green climate fund
    1. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?
    1. Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference.
    2. The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilo meters from the edge of the wetland
    3. The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed
    4. It is given the status of ‘World Heritage Site’

    Simple if you had gone through ransar convention

    1. With reference to a conservation organization called Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention.
    2. It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    • Again you could answer it, if you had just gone through it
    • Both the statements seem true but 1st is incorrect, it was formed way before signimg of Ramsar
    • Risky approach, I told you
    1. Consider the following international agreements:
    1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
    2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
    3. The World Heritage Convention

    Which of the above has / have a bearing on the biodiversity?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 3 only,
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2. and 3
    • Common sense
    • Heritage – natural heritage sites
    1. The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2 °C above pre-industrial level. If the global temperature increases beyond 3°C above the pre-industrial level, what can be its possible impact/impacts on the world?
    1. Terrestrial biosphere tends toward a net carbon source
    2. Widespread coral mortality will occur.
    3. All the global wetlands will permanently disappear.
    4. Cultivation of cereals will not be possible anywhere in the world.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2, 3 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4,
    • 3rd and 4th statements are sweeping ones, red flag, pause, think, obviously incorrect
    • 2 is common knowledge. Coral reefs affected by global warning
    • You have the answer
    1. Consider the following statements:
    1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
    2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
    3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.

    Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 2 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • 1 is incorrect. Think. Animal welfare board under prevention of cruelty to animal act.
    • 2 and 3 are common knowledge
    1. With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements :
    1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
    2. It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness.
    3. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 and 3 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • All 3 seems correct but 1st is incorrect. It’s am NGO <it was in news for some reason that year. Was in current affair notes>
    • Risky approach I told you
    1. Consider the following statements regarding ‘Earth Hour’
    1. It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO.
    2. It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for one hour on a certain day every year.
    3. It is a movement to raise the awareness about the climate change and the need to save the planet.

    Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

    1. 1 and 3 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only.
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • This is in news every year
    • It’s an initiative of wwf
    • 2 and 3 are obviously true
    1. Every year, a month long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/ tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes?
    1. Bhutia and Lepcha
    2. Gond and Korku
    3. lrula and Toda
    4. Sahariya and Agariya

    Ridiculously difficult

  • UPSC Prelims : Environment and Ecology Analysis part 1

    Prelims 2015

    1. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments
    2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
    3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.

    Select the correct using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only
    (b) 2 and 3 only
    (c) 1 and 3 only
    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    • 3rd is very innocuous statement, has to be correct
    • 6 principle organs of UN
    • IUCN has an observer status at the United Nations.
    • Eliminate 1 we get option (b) as answer.

    2 With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
    2. It is found along the entire coast of India
    3. It is given legal protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
      Select the correct answer using the code given below.
      (a) 1 and 2
      (b) 2 only
      (c) 1 and 3
      (d) 3 only
    • 2nd statement, entire coast, sweeping statement, red flag, pause and think. Obviously there would be stretches where it would not be found
    • Statement 1 is correct, was asked before. So if you solved previous year questions. Definitely plus 2
    • Exclude 2, include 1

    3. With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using the coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction
    2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete
    3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below
    (a) 1 and 2
    (b) 2 only
    (c) 1 and 3
    (d) 3 only

    • 3rd – only. Sweeping . Red flag, pause and think, why not oxides of carbon and some other things also plus everyone know it does contain some toxic elements
    • 1st is easily true, even if you don’t know, imagine fly ash and Brics
    • Exclude 3, include 1

    4. With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity. Consider the following statements:
    1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products.
    2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers.
    3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC).
    Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
    (a) 1 only
    (b) 2 and 3 only
    (c) 1 and 3 only
    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    • 3rd statement. All batteries produce direct current dc not alternating current ac.
    • Similar question on photo voltaic cell was asked last year. Benefit of solving past papers.
    • Eliminate 3, reach the answer
    • Look at option 2, it’s actually reverse. Cell less energy, power small devices

    5. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
    (a) Saltwater crocodile
    (b) Olive ridley turtle
    (c) Gangetic dolphin
    (d) gharial

    Ridiculously easy

    6. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
    (a) Bretton Woods Conference
    (b) Montreal Protocol
    (c) Kyoto Protocol
    (d) Nagoya Protocol

    • Ridiculously easy, covered in titbit
    • Montreal protocol to vienna convention

    7. What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
    (a) It is the United nations Conference on Sustainable Development
    (b) It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization
    (c) It is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change
    (d) It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological diversity

    • Ridiculously easy, covered in bundle
    • Original Rio of 1992,

    8. Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?

    1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
    2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank
      Select the correct answer using the code given below.
      (a) 1 only
      (b) 2 only
      (c) Both 1 and 2
      (d) Neither 1 nor 2
    • The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCC. I think everyone knows that. So obviously 2nd statement is crap
    • Eliminate 2, reach the answer.
    • The GCF is based in the new Songdo district of Incheon, South Korea.

    9. ‘BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes’ is managed by the
    (a) Asian Development Bank
    (b) International Monetary Fund
    (c) United Nations Environment Programme
    (d) World Bank

    • IMF does no such things. Exclude IMF.
    • UNEP does not manage funding
    • It seems like international fund so international body, world bank
    • This strategy is very risky. Don’t use it if you feel comfortable with your attempts

    The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes seeks to promote reduced greenhouse gases from land sector, deforestation and forest degradation in development countries(REDD+) and from sustainable agriculture, as well as smarter land-use planning, policies and practices. It is a new multilateral facility, supported by donor governments and managed by the World Bank.

    10. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the
    (a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
    (b) Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
    (c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
    (d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

    • GM/ BT cotton, BT bringer, always environment minister comes into the picture, remember moratorium by Jairam Ramesh
    • So b/w c and d, now it’s not limited to just wildlife protection so broader act, environment protection act

    The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body constituted in the Ministry of Environment and Forests under ‘Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989’, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

    11. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living tree into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘Living Root Bridges’ are found in
    (a) Meghalaya
    (b) Himachal Pradesh
    (c )Jharkhand
    (d) Tamil Nadu

    The living root bridges of Cheraupunji, so meghalaya

    12. With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. It is global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples
    2. It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for sustainable forest management
    3. It assists the countries in their ‘REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)’ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.
      Select the correct answer using the code given below
      (a) 1 only
      (b) 2 and 3 only
      (c) 1 and 3 only
      (d) 1, 2 and 3
      Difficult
      All 3 seems right but 2nd is incorrect. It provides aid to govts

    13. With reference to an organization known as ‘Birdlife International’ which of the following statements is/are correct?

    • It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
    • The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
    • It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.
      Select the correct answer using the code given below.
      (a) 1 only
      (b) 2 and 3 only
      (c) 1 and 3 only
      (d) 1, 2 and 3
    • Hotspot is common knowledge. Propsed by British biologist Norman Myers in 1988
    • Eliminate 2, now look at 3
    • It seems correct. Birdlife international, bird areas. as a biogeographic region characterized both by exceptional levels of plant endemism and by serious levels of habitat loss

    BirdLife’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) Programme aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for the conservation of the world’s birds and other wildlife.

    14. Which one of the following is the best description of the term “ecosystem”?
    (a) A community of organisms interacting with one another
    (b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms
    (c) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live.
    (d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area.

    • Ridiculously Easy
    • Organism plus surrounding biotic and abiotic environment
    • The term ‘Ecosystem’ was first used by A G Tansley in 1935.

  • UPSC Prelims : Environment and Ecology Analysis

    This is a very short post on how to approach environment and ecology section

    Environment and ecology + biological sciences form very important part of prelims paper. On average 22 questions are asked from this section (some overlap with geography)

    Year wise number of Questions

    • 2015 – 14
    • 2014 – 31
    • 2013 – 22
    • 2012 – 23
    • 2011 – 21

    But the most important thing you should know about this portion is that questions are of three kinds.

    1. Ridiculous difficult – about 25% – 30% of the questions are ridiculously difficult. You don’t have to chase such questions. Chasing them is a futile exercise.

    For instance, consider this question

    Consider the following pairs

    1. Dampa Tiger Reserve : Mizoram
    2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary : Sikkim
    3. Saramati Peak : Nagaland

    Which of the above pairs is /are correctly matched?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    • Now it’s impossible to remember location of all the 500 sanctuaries plus 100 national parks.
    • Don’t go after such questions. Just keep looking for ones in the news, you may just get lucky

    2. Ridiculously easy -20% of the questions are ridiculously easy. You can answer them if you have just even gone through all the portions very superficially. Not being able to answer them is simply a criminal action/ inaction.

    Consider this

    Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?

    (a) Bretton Woods Conference

    (b) Montreal Protocol

    (c) Kyoto Protocol

    (d) Nagoya Protocol

    Not being able to answer this is criminal

    3. Conceptual -Rest 50% can be solved with 80% accuracy with decent knowledge and some logic and tikdams <we will try to solve them>

    At the cost of sounding repetitive, like every other subject, solving past 15 year question papers help. Topics are repeated. You get the feel of actual paper.

    Essential reading –

    • NCERT botany last 4 chapters
    • NIOS environment and ecology pdf
    • prelims titbits – environment and ecology (titbits are of course very selective)
    • civilsdaily environment newscards
    • Civilsdaily environment articles <will create a collection shortly>

    Most imp. Topics

    • Fundamentals of ecology – species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, niche, food chain, food web, energy flow, nutrient flow <N, C, P cycle>, pyramids with examples, succession, (just definition)
    • Protected areas – national park (location difficult to remember but keep looking at the map, look around to see the rivers and hills), sanctuary, biosphere reserve (location imp), wetland, Tiger reserve, community reserve
    • Biodiversity loss, hotspots
    • Types of species – keystone species, critical link
    • Species interaction
    • Environmental treaties, international organisations, funding mechanism
    • Climate change, global warming, ozone depletion
    • Pollution – acid rain, smog, photochemical smog
    • Environmental laws of India (understand them with logic)
    • Agriculture and soil conservation related

    In these last 10 days –

    • Solve last 15 year question papers
    • Revise your environment notes
    • Read newscards related to environment
    • Read titbits related to environment
    • Open your orient blackswan atlas and just go through the location of protected sites, rivers slowing through them, hills etc

    P.S. – We would try to very quickly go through 2011 – 2015 environment and ecology papers and also have a glance at science and tech, art and culture before prelims. <No promises but would try my best>

     

  • Environmental Laws of India

    To understand international treaties related to environment and climate change, funding etc including national action plan on climate change read these blogs first

    1. Primer on Environmental issues
    2. Rio To Paris via Kyoto

    1. Indian Forest Act, 1927

    • Britishers enacted such acts in 1865 and 1876 also, purpose was to monopolize forest resources <esp. timber> for their own exploitation and depriving forest dwellers of their rights
    • It was finally corrected when forest rights act, 2006 was enacted which gave traditional dwellers and community various rights over forest and gram sabha became the ultimate authority <remember Niyamgiri and POSCO>
    • The act does not even define the Forest or Forest Land but define forest produce

    Act establishes 3 categories of forest

    1. Reserve Forest – Most restricted, constituted by state govt on govt property
    2. Protected Forest –
    3. Village Forest –

    2. Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act (PCA), 1960

    • prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals
    • Animal Board of India was constituted under this act
    • Supreme court banned Jallikattu under it which govt tried to revive by a notification but court refused to vacate the stay

    Read the whole story -Jallikattu : Culture v/s cruelty to animals debate here 

    3. Wild Life Protection Act, 1972

    • protection of wildlife i.e animals, birds and plants <yes plants>
    • It has 6 schedules with schedule 1 and part 2 of schedule 2 providing maximum absolute protection
    • Schedule 5 animals can be hunted <vermins?>
    • Schedule 6 plants are prohibited from cultivation and planting
    • National Board for wildlife and National Tiger conservation authority are constituted under this act <function of both recommendation, providing guidelines etc.>
    • National Parks sanctuaries, conservation reserves, community reserves, marine reserves etc are constituted under this act <what’s the difference b/w community and conservation reserve? What is a sacred grove?>
    1. Note – state govt constitute all protected areas including national park
    2. Note – differences b/s national park, sanctuary and biosphere reserves done in earlier titbits, click here to read

     

    4. Forest Conservation Act, 1980

    As the name suggests to conserve forests <4 objectives>

    1. restricting the use of forest land for non-forest purposes
    2. preventing the de-reservation of forests that have been reserved
    3. restrict leasing of forest land to private individuals, authority, corporations not owned by the Government
    4. prevent clear felling of naturally grown trees.

    You need permission to use forest land for non forest purposes <one of the requirement for EIA><btw what permissions are needed to build a factory on a forest land>

    5. Environment Protection Act, 1986

    • Was enacted in the wake of Bhopal gas tragedy under article 253 of constitution <what is article 253, number is not important but content of article very important>
    • Implements agenda of UN conference on human environment
    • regulate environmental pollution, laying down procedures and standards for industrial waste, emissions, hazardous waste
    • Environment Protection Authority, ecosensitive zones under this act <what is ESZ?>

    6. Biological Diversity Act, 2002

    • To implement agenda of CBD
    • sets up National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Board (SBB) and Biodiversity Management Committees <local level and maintains people’s biodiversity register> <PM is not chairperson of NBA>
    • has provisions for notifying heritage sites by State Government in consultation with local body <see everything related to environment  is notified by state govt>

    Note – Provisions of CBD, protocols and functions of various authorities have been discussed in titbits  and blog 

    Acts Related to Pollution –

    Water (prevention and Control of Pollution) act, 1974

    • Creates central board and a state board, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and SPCB
    • Water polluted from industrial waste was the main target

    Air (prevention and control of pollution) act, 1981

    • To implement the decision of UN conference on Human environment
    • This act also covers noise pollution
    • Same CPCB and SPCB implements this act

    Environmental Policies

    National Forest Policy, 1988

    • Earlier forest policy of 1894, 1952
    • aim at a coverage of one-third of the total land area under forest and tree cover (2/3 in hilly and mountainous areas to prevent soil erosion and degradation)

    National Environment Policy, 2006

    • Art 21, right to healthy environment
    • Art 48- state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country (DPSP)
    • Art 51 A – duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures

    Principle underlying the policy

    • Polluter Pay Principle – Internalize the externalities <what does that mean>
    • Policy adopts civil liability not criminal liability for environmental damage
    • Doctrine of Public Trust – state is not owner of natural resources but keep them in trust of citizens

    Wild Life Protection act and Vermin

    Vermin means nuisance animals which attack crops, cattle, property and humans  What the act says –

    • States can send a list of wild animals to the Centre requesting it to declare them vermin for selective slaughter.
    • The Central Government may by notification, declare any wild animal other than those specified in Schedule I and part 11 of Schedule 2 of the law to be vermin for any area <not all area> for a given period of time <not all time>
    • As long as the notification is in force such wild animal shall be included in Schedule V of the law, depriving them of any protection under that law <we discussed schedules above>

    Controversy – central govt has allowed culling of Nilgai <largest Indian Antelope and Indigenous to India>  and Rhesus Monkey and Maneka Gandhi is furious

    They are not endangered animals by any means <IUCN least concern category> but you know Maneka

    P.S. – Did I miss any important act or Policy? Do let us know in comments. Any factoid/ trivia or important point related to act ? mention in comments

  • Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.

    Also Read: Evolution of Forest Rights in India from 1856 to 2006 | In Depth Analysis of FRA & Its Issues

    The environment ministry came out with a draft National Forest Policy (NFP). The policy has been prepared by the Bhopal-based Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) and is aimed at facilitating ecologically responsible behaviour among stakeholders.

    source

    The proposed NFP is going to be third such document after India’s independence with first in 1952 followed by the second in 1988.

    Why is there a need for Forest Policy?

    • Forests and trees constitute nearly one fourth of the geographic area of the country.
    • Protection of this vast and valuable resource, improving and increasing the forest and tree cover requires adequate investment keeping in view the pressures on these forests, and the ecosystem services that they provide to the nation.
    • Large tracts of forest area in the country have degraded due to immense biotic pressure and lack of adequate investment.
    • The crux of the problem in India’s existing forest policy — the Forest Policy of 1988 — has been that it made the forest department the manager of the forests and the people lost their rights over it.
    • But as the Uttarakhand forest fires showed recently, a few hundred forest officials and a few thousand employees of the department can do nothing when a calamity strikes. They need community support in such emergencies.

    Key highlights

    • Less forest on hilly areas: Although the policy continues with the national goal of maintaining a minimum of one-third of the geographical area under forest or tree cover, Hills and mountainous regions may not be required to maintain two-thirds of the geographical area under forest cover.
    • Board to monitor management of forests: The policy states that a National Board of Forestry and State Boards of Forestry are to be established to ensure monitoring of the spread of the forest areas and management of forest cover.
    • Technology to minimize damage to forests: The policy states that forest land diversion projects related to mining, quarrying, construction of dams, roads and other linear infrastructure need to adopt special caution. Use of state-of-the-art technology which causes minimum pollution and damage should be promoted.
    • Green tax on citizens: The draft National Forest Policy (NFP) proposes the levy of a green tax for facilitating ecologically responsible behaviour and supplementing financial resources essential to address forestry woes.
    • Undermines FRA 2006: NFP ignores Forests Rights Act, 2006, which empowers local gram panchayats, especially in tribal areas close to India’s forests, and proposes a joint forest management-like mechanism to enhance agro-forestry.
    • New Mission: The policy proposes to launch a new Community Forest Management Mission, bringing government, community and private land under the new proposed management system.
    • Provisions for responsible tourism: It calls for developing “sound ecotourism models” with the focus on conservation while supplementing the livelihood needs of local communities.
    • Climate change to emerge as important factor in policy: It states that Climate change concerns should be effectively factored into all the forest and wildlife areas management plans and community ecosystem management plans.
    • Purchase of wildlife corridors: The draft policy indicates that CAMPA funds from diversion of forest land by industry are to be used for purchasing wildlife corridors from people.
    • Maintaining Urban forest: The policy also asks for management plans for city forests, parks, garden and woodlands to nurture and sustain urban health, clean air and related benefits.
    • Supports the Government Vermin Policy: In a nod to the Union government’s controversial decision to declare certain animals as “vermin” and implicitly sanctioning the slaughter of nilgai, wild pigs and monkeys in certain States, the forest policy recommends mitigating human-wildlife conflicts by taking up habitat enrichment, providing adequate and timely compensation in case of injury or loss of human life, property, crop damage or livestock casualties and developing teams of well-equipped and trained forest personnel.

    Significance of the policy

    • The policy recommendation for the launch of a national forest streams revival programme in a mission mode to tackle intensifying water crisis in India in the last few decades is a good step.
    • The levy of a green tax for facilitating ecologically responsible behaviour, supplementing financial resources essential to address forestry woes will act as a step to mitigate the effects of pollution.
    • Besides specifying how to manage forests, the draft policy said, “Other ecosystems such as alpine meadows, grasslands, deserts, marine and coastal areas should be protected and managed as well” and this will help to make it comprehensive.
    • It calls for developing sound ecotourism models with the focus on conservation while supplementing the livelihood needs of local communities which is a commendable move.

    Criticism of the policy

    • NFP ignores Forests Rights Act, 2006, which empowers local gram panchayats, especially in tribal areas close to India’s forests, and proposes a joint forest management-like mechanism to enhance agro-forestry. This move will bring back the forest department as the final authority over using forest resources instead of forest dwellers and communities dependent on them.

    Way forward

    • After facing much criticism from the Civil society the centre has withdrawn the draft policy recently. The criticism is not misplaced as the draft policy proposes to dilute the Forests Rights Act (FRA), do away with requirement of having two-third geographical area of mountainous and hill regions under forests, and for allowing industry to have commercial plantations on the forest land , increase the power of the forest bureaucracy and keep local communities out of the decision-making process.
    • While devising a new policy, the ministry must not only focus on increasing the forest area and bettering the quality of the forests but also ensure that the connection between forest-dependent communities and forests is not lost.

    References:

  • Funding Mechanism for Climate Control Worldwide & in India

    We are continuing our discussion from the previous post on UNFCC to Paris Via Kyoto

    In the meantime many a funds were launched –

    1. Green Climate Fund –

    • HQ at Incheon, S. Korea
    • It was 1st talked about in Copenhagen summit and Formally established in Cancun, 2010
    • Target is to raise 100b$ fund every year by 2020 <largest fund with current pledges amounting in excess of 10b$>
    • India’s contention is that funds should be additional <no double counting>, verifiable and mainly in the form of grants
    • There should be balanced support to both adaptation and mitigation

    2. Clean Technology Fund (CTF)- 2nd largest

    3. Adaptation fund –

    • Officially launched in 2007 (Bali), though 1st established in 2001
    • Fund sources – 2% of CERs of CDM, donations from developed countries
    • Direct access mechanism – accredited national implementing entities (NIEs) and regional implementing agencies (RIEs) in developing countries can directly access climate adaptation financing under it <Name our NIE>

    4. Global Environment Facility (GEF) –

    • Established in 1991 by the World Bank in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
    • To  provide funding to protect the global environment <discussed in detail in titbits>

     

    Funding initiatives of India

    1. National Clean Energy Fund –

    • From cess on the coal produced or imported <cess is 200 rs now per ton of coal, increased from 50 to 100 to 200>
    • financing and promoting clean energy initiatives and funding research in the area of clean energy Eg.-  green energy corridor, installation of solar photovoltaic etc

    2. National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change –

    To assist in meeting the cost of national- and state-level adaptation measures in areas that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

    India’s initiatives 

    INDCs , Renewable energy targets

    National and State Action Plan On Climate change

    8 missions

    1.  NATIONAL SOLAR MISSION – Target has been revised to 100,000 MW by 2022 <what is the break up?>

    2. THE NATIONAL MISSION FOR ENHANCED ENERGY EFFICIENCY (NMEEE):-

    • Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT)
    • Framework for energy efficient economic development
    • Star rating of appliances

    NATIONAL MISSION ON SUSTAINABLE HABITAT –

    • Energy efficiency in buildings, urban planning, improved management of solid and liquid waste, modal shift towards public transport
    • Improving resilience of infrastructure, community based disaster management

    4. NATIONAL WATERMISSION (NWM)

    • Increase in water use efficiency by 20% through regulatory mechanisms with differential entitlements and pricing
    • Minimization of wastage and equitable distribution both across and within states

    5.  NATIONAL   MISSION   FOR SUSTAINING THE HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM (NMSHE)

    6. NATIONAL MISSION FOR GREEN INDIA

    • Increase forest/tree cover on 5 million hectares (ha) of forest/non- forest -lands
    • Improve quality of forest cover on another 5 million ha of non-forest/forest lands (a total of 10 million ha)
    • Improve ecosystem services including biodiversity, hydrological services, and carbon sequestration from the 10 million ha of forest/ non-forest lands mentioned above

     7. NATIONAL   MISSION   FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (NMSA)

    10 key dimensions for adaptation and mitigation:

    1. Improved Crop Seeds, Livestock and Fish Culture
    2. Water Efficiency
    3. Pest Management
    4. Improved Farm Practices
    5. Nutrient Management
    6. Agricultural Insurance
    7. Credit Support
    8. Markets
    9. Access to Information
    10. Livelihood Diversification

    8. The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC)

    National Bio-Energy Mission – <is this the 9th mission?, earlier there was talk of clean coal energy being added as the 9th mission>

    • Launched during the 12th Five-Year Plan
    • To boost power generation from biomass, a renewable energy source abundantly available in India
    • To facilitate large-scale capital investments in biomass-fired power stations
    • encourage development of rural enterprises
    • A GIS-based National Biomass Resource Atlas to map potential biomass regions in the country

    India is to add 4 new missions to this list

    1. Wind Mission – modeled on the National Solar Mission
    2. Waste-to-energy mission –  harnessing energy from all kinds of waste, aimed at lowering India’s dependence on coal, oil and gas, for power production.
    3. Mission on dealing with climate impacts on human health – by health ministry
    4. Mission on India’s coastal areas – prepare an integrated coastal resource management plan and map vulnerabilities along the entire nearly 7000-km long shoreline

    Renewable energy initiatives and targets have already been done here

    This also completes Chapter 8 of economic survey

    In the next article we will discuss Ozone depletion, Montreal Protocol, India’s Changed Stand on HFCs, Air Pollution, Acid Rain, Smog, Petrochemical smog etc.

  • UNFCC to Paris Via Kyoto

    Now that we know that anthropogenic global warming is a reality <IPCC 5th report says it with 95% certainty> and is already creating problems for us, we needed to do something about it.

    We can do two things –

    1. Mitigation – Reduce the amount of GHGs in the atmosphere. How – Emit less <use electric cars instead of diesel cars> and remove whatever is present from the environment <plant more trees, geoengineering – carbon capture and storage etc.>
    2. Adaptation: Adjusting to climate change in order to reduce its vulnerability, and enhance the resilience <so we know there would be more droughts so producing drought proof seeds, more cyclones so early warning systems and cyclone shelters>

    Adaptation and mitigation are complementary to each other. For example, if mitigation measures are undertaken effectively, lesser will be the impacts to which we will need to adapt. Similarly, if adaptation measures (or the degree of preparedness) are strong, lesser might be the impacts associated with any given degree of climate change <if we reduce GHGs and global warming is less, we would need to produce less drought proof crops>

    Importance of Adaptation for Developing Countries

    • Adaptation is especially important in developing countries since those countries are predicted to bear the brunt of the effects of global warming and have less capacity to adapt.
    • Also, even if the GHG emission is reduced now, effect of already emitted GHG will be felt for many years.
    • Hence, India always focus on adaptation in international negotiations.

    Back to international negotiations

    As we have already discussed an international legally binding treaty was signed in 1997 in Kyoto based on the principles of UNFCC – i.e Common but differentiated responsibility and Respective Capabilities (CBDR – RC) <Common i.e every country has the responsibility to reduce GHG but differentiated i.e rich countries have more responsibility as they are historically responsible plus respective capabilities i.e they are more capable of reducing GHG>, historical responsibility and primary responsibility for reducing emissions was placed on developed countries.

    Annexes of Kyoto Protocol

    • Annex 1 – Industrialised Countries (mainly OECD) plus economies in transition (mainly former soviet block countries) – They would mandatorily reduce GHGs, base year – 1990
    • Annex 2 – Subset of Annex 1,  Industrialised Countries (mainly OECD), would also provide finances and technology to non annex countries
    • Non annex – not included in annex, all other countries, no binding targets
    • Annex A – gases covered under Kyoto <name those 7 gases>
    • Annex B – Binding targets for each Annex 1 country i.e Japan will reduce emission by X%, Australia by Y% <what was the total cumulative reduction in emission this way?>

    So in KP, a country say Australia will be told you can emit no more than X units of CO2 till 2020. Now it’s a very onerous requirement and what is Australia is not able to achieve it .

    KP contains some flexible mechanisms to allow countries with reduction commitment to exceed their quota in some cases and allow market mechanism to work to allow best possible outcome for the society <Do markets really help here? Explain>

    Flexible Mechanisms of Kyoto Protocol

    1. Emission Trading –

    • Basically idea is that each country will be assigned some fix limit of CO2 emission
    • Those who exceed their emission can buy CO2 credit from those who emitted less than their quota
    • For instance is Australia was assigned 100 units and it emitted only 95, it can sell those 5 units to say Canada which exceeded its emission quota
    • This is cap and trade <cap emissions and trade>

    2. Offset Trading

    • very similar except in it a country earns credit by investing in projects which emit lesser amount of CO2.
    • For instance if canada replaces thermal plant with wind energy plant and saves 100 units of CO2, it can sell it to other countries
    • It is known as baseline and credit trading

    3. Clean Development Mechanism –

    • Annex 1 countries can undertake carbon reduction projects in annex 2 countries.
    • Reduced emission <certified emission reduction, CER> is counted towards their target. 
    • They can even sell such CERs in the market.
    • For instance, Australia <annex 1> providing financing and support for rural electrification project in India (annex 2) and saved emission (due to biomass burning) is it’s CER.

    4. Joint Implementation (JI) –

    Exactly similar to CDM except that two annex 1 countries are involved in this i.e Australia undertaking project in Britain

    How does trading work in reality?

    Each country would assign emission quota or efficiency quota to industries and they would trade for carbon credits and CERs.

    Market based trading schemes in India –

    1. Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT)

    • Under National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) in National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) <New missions proposed under NAPCC?>
    • aims to improve energy efficiency in industries by trading in energy efficiency certificates in energy-intensive sectors <funda is similar to carbon trading and energy saving certificates (ESCers) are issued>
    • Administered by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and in the 1st phase energy intensive sectors are covered

    2. Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Mechanism

    • Under renewable purchase obligation policy (RPO),Distribution companies ( DISCOMS) have obligation to purchase certain fixed % of renewable energy <of their total supply>
    • Renewable producer gets REC for feeding renewable to the grid and if DISCOMS are not able to meet their obligation, they can simply buy REC from the market.

    Bali Road map

    As we know 1st commitment period of KP was from 2008 to 2012 so countries met in Bali <which is the largest island of Indonesia?> in 2007 to discuss what happens after 2012 and Bali Road map was agreed under which-

    1. Adaptation Fund was launched
    2. Bali Action plan (BAP) was agreed <fattes related to adaptation, mitigation, tech transfer cooperation etc.>

    REDD and REDD plus

    • REDD – Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation
    • REDD plus – REDD plus incentives for planting trees, enhancement of carbon stocks
    • So basically it provides a value to the carbon stored in forests and soil, and developed countries would give funds to developing countries for that

    Another summit in 2009 in Copenhagen <capital of Denmark> failed miserably and finally fast forward to 2015 Paris summit –

    Each country announced its intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) <bottom up approach> – clear cut bifurcation b/w annex 1 and non annex country done away with. To know what happened in Paris Click here 

  • Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases

    Read primer on environmental issues first if you have not read that 

     

    Global Warming

    Sun is the source of all energy and all life on earth. Sun emits energy in the form of short wave radiations (high energy i.e shortwave)-

    • A part of which is reflected back by clouds, aerosols, atmosphere
    • A part passes through the atmosphere to reach the earth’s surface which emits it back in the form of longwave radiation – Infra red (low energy, long wave) which warms the atmosphere <atmosphere is warmed by Longwave radiation not shortwave, hence temperature decreases with elevation so called lapse rate> <How does temperature inversion happen then?> and thus there is no net addition to earth’s temperature <oversimplified model but for now it would do>

    Note here that, at night when earth would be the net emitter, temperature would reach dangerously low levels. Then how is avg temperature of earth is maintained at levels conducive to life on earth?

    Role of Green Houses Gases

    • Such gases present in the atmosphere serve as a blanket which trap/absorb some of that Infrared radiation emitted by earth and send some of that back to earth <this effect is k/as Greenhouse effect, you would have observed this in car parked in Sun> and thus help maintain average temperature of earth to 14 <w/o such gases avg temperature would be -16 and life would be impossible on earth>
    • But any increase in such gases would result in more heat trapping resulting in increase in the temperature of earth being reflected in Global warming <Why is Venus hotter than Mercury when Mercury is closest to the Sun>

    Global warming changes the climate of earth hence Global Warming and climate change are often used anonymously.

    Greenhouse Gases

    Most abundant GHGs in earth’s atmosphere are–

    Water Vapour> CO2> CH4> N2O> Tropospheric Ozone>CFCs  <plz note that tropospheric ozone is both a GHG and a pollutant, also included under Air Quality Index. Which other gases are included in AQI?>

    • Water vapour has the max overall effect on greenhouse effect but as water vapour is not directly increased or decreased by Human activities, we are not concerned about amount of water vapour in the atmosphere <we are concerned about anthropogenic i.e human induced global warming>
    • But as atmosphere warms, there would be more water vapour <more water getting converted into vapour> which would trap even more heat, resulting in even warmer atmosphere <positive reinforcement, so called vicious cycle so common in climate systems>

    Global warming Effect of a GHG and GLobal Warming Potential (GWP)

    Each gas’ effect on climate change depends on three main factors:

    1. How Much <higher the concentration, higher the warming>
    2. How long <more the life span, greater the warming>
    3. How Powerful <efficiency of heat trapping>

    Last 2 factors together determine global warming potential

    GWP over 100 years time scale <reference GWP of co2 (lifetime 30-95 years) being taken as 1>

    • CH4 -25 <lifetime is only 12 years>
    • N2O- 300 <lifetime of >100 years>
    • CFC, HFCs, NF3, SF6 etc have over 1000 times GWP than that of CO2 as their lifetime is much longer <not easily degraded> and efficiency of trapping heat much higher.

    Let’s Now look at Global Emission by Economic Source

    Electricity and Heat Production (25%)>Agriculture, Forestry and land use changes  (contribution of agriculture alone is 14%)>Industry (21%)

    Kyoto Protocol of UNFCCC initially vowed to reduce concentration of 6 major GHGs and in 2nd Commitment period another gas was added. Let’s look at those 7 in detail

     

    1. CO2 – Burning down of Fossil fuels, cutting down and burning of Trees

    Concentration of CO2 has increased from 280 in 1750 (pre industrial revolution) to 400 in 2015 i.e increased by 40%

    1. CH4- Primary source is Agriculture and Animal Husbandry <cows and sheep produce methane when they digest food>, manure when it decays, released from wetlands <waterlogged areas>, leakages during natural gas extraction, transportation < Natural gas is nothing but methane>
    2. N20– Excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers and bacteria breaking down nitrogen <what is nitrogen fixation and bacteria which helps in that?>, Fossil fuel Burning, Industrial process (nitric acid, synthetic fibres) <what is laughing gas and tear gas?>
    3. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)– refrigerants, aerosol propellants, solvents, and fire retardants. They were used as replacement to CFC and HCFC which was phased out under Montreal Protocol (deplete ozone layer) but they are even more powerful GHG. Now USA is trying to include HFC in montreal protocol even though they do not deplete ozone  <what would then be used in refrigeration?>
    4. Perfluorocarbons (PFC) – aluminum production and semiconductors
    5. Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) – magnesium processing and semiconductor manufacturing, tracer gas for leak detection, electrical transmission equipment, induding circuit breakers.  
    6. Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) – latest addition, uses similar to PFCs in electronics industry, semiconductors
    • Note 1 – CFCs and HCFCs which are potent GHGs are not included in Kyoto Protocol as they were already being phased out under Montreal Protocol
    • Note 2 – Only molecule containing both Chlorine and Fluorine deplete ozone layer, Fluorinated compounds do not, so HFC, NF3, SF6, PFC etc do not deplete ozone layer

    Short Lived and Long Lived Climate Forcers

    • Factors external to the climate system which force or push the climate towards a new long-term state – either warmer  or cooler depending on the cause of change.
    • For instance, GHGs would be positive climate forcers (both natural and anthropogenic) as they push climate warming.
    • Long-life gases such as CO2, N2O,Fluorinated compounds once emitted exert their effect for long and are k/as Long Lived climate forcers.
    • On the other hand gases such as Methane, tropospheric ozone have a very short life and reducing their emission will quickly lead to reduction in their concentration. Black Carbon or soot is one such very short lived climate forcer.

    Black carbon –component of fine particulate matter and is formed through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. It’s a positive climate forcing agent and warms the atmosphere by –

    1. Directly absorbing sunlight
    2. Reducing albedo when deposited on snow and ice <what is albedo?>
    3. Indirectly by effects on cloud formation

     

    It has major adverse health effects also <you know about PM 2.5> and contains many carcinogens <cancer causing agent>

    Note-  BC is the most effective form of PM, by mass, at absorbing solar energy: per unit of mass in the atmosphere, BC can absorb a million times more energy than CO2

    1. Effect of clouds on global warming?
    2. What is brown carbon and blue carbon?

    Some short lived climate Forcers have cooling effects. For instance – Sulfur aerosols . Fossil fuel combustion emits sulfur dioxide also which then combines with water vapour to form tiny droplets (aerosols) which reflect sunlight <but aerosol lasts 3 days, CO2 warms for 100 years>. But same Sulfur/sulfate is responsible for acid rain

    These aerosols are responsible for cooling observed after volcanic eruption and are being investigated for geoengineering <what is geoengineering?>

    Now a few charts you need to look at carefully as they would form the basis of climate negotiations we would discuss in the next article

    1. Top 10 Absolute emitters of the world

    China is the world’s largest emitter and emits about 1/4th of total world emission. India is at 4th spot.

    2. Top 10 Absolute emitter in per capita terms

    Note that the chart below describes emissions of top 10 absolute emitters only. Among all countries, Qatar top the list. See how low India’s per capita emissions are

    3. Emission intensity

    It matters as India has pledged to reduce its emission intensity <by how much? what did China promise?> even though our intensity is already at the level of EU. One of the reason of our low intensity is domination of services sector which is comparatively less energy and GHG intense but as India tries to push it’s manufacturing sector achieving the target of emission intensity might become a tall order

    4. Cumulative GHG emission

    They describe a country’s total historic emissions and thus historical responsibility. Just look at the share of US and EU. India’s is not even 5% with 17% of global population

    In the next part we will discuss climate negotiations.

  • Primer To Environmental Issues

     

    Since the advent of Industrial revolution humankind has been exploiting the nature like never before. Forests and trees are cut to make way for agriculture land, large factories, transport vehicles etc emit lots of CO2 and other gases and pollutants. But it was all forgotten as it came with immense prosperity.

    But since the 2nd half of 20th century, citizens world over started getting conscious of this unbridled exploitation of nature. There were also signs suggesting this exploitation was unsustainable and harming us. That even the climate was changing.

    Climate is the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period. Climate of any region is generally stable. Climate change is changes in that stable climate due to anthropocentric or natural factors.

    In 1966, the World Meteorological Organization  (WMO) proposed the term climatic change to encompass all forms of climatic variability on time-scales longer than 10 years, whether the cause was natural or anthropogenic. But soon it was realized that major factor was human intervention and since then we are concerned about anthropogenic climate change.

    International Conferences on Environment 

     

    UN conference on Human Environment (UNCHE):-

    • An international conference under the UN aegis in 1972- UN conference at Stockholm to discuss issues realted to environment and development
    • came out with a declaration containing 26 principles concerning environment and development
    • led to creation of UN Environment Programme (UNEP)- an agency of United Nations with HQ in Nairobi, Kenya, which coordinates its environmental activities and assist developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies

    World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)-

    • As things did not change much after UNCHE and its Declaration remained on paper, UN set up a commission in 1984 to give a report on environment and development, World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) – Brundtland Commission <after its chairperson Norwegian PM’s name>
    • Came out with the report Our Common Future in 1987 and enunciated the concept of sustainable development
    • Gave the most iconic definition of that concept to this date

    Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

    Note that the definition contains two key concepts-

    • the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and
    • the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs <so called carrying capacity>

    In 1988, UNEP <set up after UNCHE) and WMO set up an organization called IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change which analyses and synthesizes scientific literature available on climate change and produces assessment reports (1st in 1990, 2nd 1995, 3rd- 2001, 4th- 2207, 5th -2014)

    UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)-

    Brundtland commission report resulted in landmark 1992 summit, UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at Rio De janeiro <What is Brazil’s capital?>, also k/a Earth Summit

    It resulted in 3 legally binding documents –

    1. UN framework convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) <entered into force in June 1994> <1st assessment report of IPCC had already come out in 1990>
    2. UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) <entered into force in DEC 1993>
    3. UN convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) <entered into force in Dec 1996>

    The summit also resulted in 3 non-binding documents

    1. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
    2. Agenda 21 <21 is agenda for 21st century, UNCCD was the result of direct recommendation of Agenda 21>
    3. Forest Principles

    World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)-

    • 10 years after 1st earth summit, another Summit took place, this time in Johannesburg , known as World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
    • US boycotted the summit and I don’t need to tell you the fallout of that

    UN conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) –

    • Another earth summit was convened 10 years later, this time again in Rio, UN conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD). <Are you following that they are changing the name of summits and if you don’t pay close attention, you can mark an MCQ incorrect.>
    • Primary Outcome of the summit was the non binding document <documents of every summit were non binding> The Future We Want
    • Summit also Proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to replace Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. <MDG were agreed upon at the UN’s millennium summit in 2000>

    Meeting of parties to UNFCC

    Meanwhile after coming into force of UNFCC in 1994, various parties (nations) to the conference started meeting every year to come to a legally binding document to reduce GHG to  a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

    Kyoto Protocol –

    • In 3rd such meeting in 1997, called CoP 3 (3rd Conference of Parties) at Kyoto, Japan, Parties came to a conclusion and Kyoto Protocol was signed <entered into force in 2002> <there are frameworks/conventions and under them there are protocols which contain detailed legally binding provisions>
    • Basic objective was to reduce emission of anthropogenic GHG to limit global warming. It followed the principles of UNFCC such as Common But Differential Responsibility and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
    • USA never ratified the KP, Canada walked out in 2011. But anyway 1st commitment period followed from 2008-2012.
    • 2nd Commitment period is from 2012 to 2020 in which only 37 countries have binding targets. <Japan, NZ and Russia participated in 1st commitment period but not in 2nd>

    As KP clearly seemed to be failing, negotiation started for separate treaty under UNFCC for measures to be taken after 2020 resulting in Paris Agreement of Dec. 2015.

    Meeting of Parties to CBD

    Similarly Parties to CBD started meeting since 1994 <they meet every 2 years while UNFCC parties meet every year>. Convention has 3 main goals <UNFCCC only 1 – Climate change>

    1. conservation of biological diversity
    2. sustainable use of its components; and
    3. fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources

    Cartagena Protocol – At COP 5 in 2000, they adopted Cartagena protocol on Biosafety –  to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology..

    Nagoya Protocol– In 2010 they adopted -Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization

    UN declared the decade 2010-2020 as decade of biodiversity

    UN convention to Combat Desertification–

    • UNCCD is  the only internationally legally binding framework set up to address the problem of desertification
    • The Convention is based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization
    • in 1994 treaty signed to prevent and reverse land degradation
    • in 2009, agreed on 11 indicators to measure progress towards the goal of reducing land degradation
    • In 2013 Canada withdrew from this convention as well

    Montreal Protocol – A similar environmental  issue which came into prominence in 1980s was ozone hole or ozone depletion. To recover lost ozone, in 1987 Montreal Protocol(to Vienna convention) on substances that deplete ozone was signed and it was a remarkable success.

    Many other international organization sprang up in 80s and 90s to protect environment and biodiversity. Many other conventions were also signed. Some of them are –

    1. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
    2. Minamata Convention on Mercury
    3. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
    4. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
    5. Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
    6. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands <where is Ramsar?>
    7. Bonn convention on  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals<Capital of East and West Germany?>
    8. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Washington Convention

    Before we end this chapter, a brief summary

    • 1972 – UN conference on Human Environment at Stockholm, Formation of UNEP
    • 1987- World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)-Brundtland commission, report- Our Common Future, Defined Sustainable Development
    • 1987 – Montreal Protocol to Vienna Convention
    • 1988 – WMO and UNEP together formed IPCC
    • 1992 – UN conference on Environment and Development / earth summit at Rio, led to UNFCC, UNNCCD, CBD
    • 1997 – Kyoto Protocol
    • 2002 – World Summit on Sustainable Development /Rio + 10 at Johannesburg
    • 2012 – UN conference on sustainable development/ Rio + 20, report – future we want, SDGs

    Plz note that in the pic above, conference of 1972 and 1992 are interchanged. Learn what is written in text.

    In the subsequent articles we would now discuss these issues (climate change, ozone depletion, acid rain, air pollution. biodiversity etc) in detail.

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