December 2019: Monthly Environmental News Roundup

1. Spark of hope for flightless birds environment

The Guam rail is a flightless bird, typically 30cm long, dull brown in color and adorned with black and white stripes. This is a rare success story for conservation in recent history. These birds, previously extinct in the jungle, have been rescued by the captive breeding program and its current status has been updated in the IUCN red list of threatened species. Guam rail fell victim to the brown tree snake. These 10 rare species are a spark of hope amid the biodiversity crisis. There are currently a total of 112432 species worldwide, of which over 30,000 species are on the verge of extinction.

2.  P&G India announces 200 crores for ESF

Procter and Gamble (P&G), India announced 200 crores for environmental sustainability fund in collaboration with external partners to introduce environmentally sustainable business solutions. The announcement is for P & G’s global sustainability goals “ambition 2030”, which aims to have a positive impact on the environment and society. The two-day summit has focused on identifying and implementing step-changing environmentally sustainable solutions such as packaging innovations, renewable sources of energy and reading carbon footprint. The MD and CEO of P&G said that India is a priority market for the company and is also at the forefront of innovation. This type of announcement by the company will have a positive impact on the environment for the company, partners, and consumers.

3. India included in top 10 countries in CCPI

The climate change performance index (CCPI), which is based on parameters such as renewable energy and energy use efficiency has included India in its list. India is committed to reaching 175 GW of clean energy capacity by 2022. The country has already achieved 84GW clean energy capacity, which includes 32 GW solar and 37 GW wind energy. Currently, India’s total installed power generation capacity is around 365 GW. India was ranked in the CCPI after an analysis of four parameters, including greenhouse gas emission, renewable energy, climate change and use of energy. The power minister said that measures will have to be taken to reduce CO2 so that the adverse effects of climate change can be minimized.

4. The dangerous rise in sea level

Rising seawater levels may increase the risk of complete submergence of the lower reaches during tsunamis, hurricanes, coastal floods, and coastal erosion. There is an urgent need to evaluate issues in coastal areas due to a rise in the seawater level. There is a greater risk of submergence due to large land subdivisions in the Diamond Harbor area. A similar situation exists in Port Blair, Haldia, and Kandla ports. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel Report, if the carbon emissions are not curbed, the global seawater level will rise so much that along with the metro cities, hundreds of other cities will also be submerged, so we should think mainly for climate change.

5. MOU between India and Switzerland

India and Switzerland have signed an MOU to collaborate on climate change sustainability. This MOU took place on 13 September 2019 between the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on technical cooperation in the field of climate change, Switzerland Government, which will be renewed from time to time. The main objective of the MOU is to enhance technical cooperation between India and Switzerland in the field of climate change and environment on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit. Under this MOU, the two countries will exchange experience, best practices and technical knowledge for environmental cooperation. Also, a joint project facility will be provided with the mutual interest of both countries.

6. Climate negotiators raise concerns over carbon emissions

Climate negotiators discussed a range of issues, including the role of Cabate markets, and the financing of losses and damages from rising temperatures. Under which there was serious disagreement as to how much carbon-cutting of major emitters has to be done. The negotiators of Alliance of small island states (AOSIS) blamed Australia, USA ‘Canada’ Russia, India, China and Brazil as the main culprits of carbon emissions. Negotiators said that these countries failed to submit the revised plan, which promotes global temperature. Continued growth in greenhouse gas by developed countries is a matter of concern. Which will have to be increased collectively.

7. India is setting up a sustainable development cell

The Government of India, Ministry of Coal has decided to set up a Sustainable Development Cell (SDC) for environmentally sustainable coal mining and address environmental concerns during the closure or fragmentation of mines. Role of SDC- This cell will serve as nodal point of the Ministry of Coal. Tasks of the cell – It will adopt a systematic approach, which will start with data collection and then work on the analysis of data and presentation of information etc. SDC will function as follows –
1. Land amelioration and afforestation.
2. Air quality, emission, and noise management.
3. Mine water management.
4. Sustainable overburden management. Apart from this, will work on planning, monitoring, policy, research, and education.

8. Included in the climate emergency word oxford dictionary

Climate emergency was declared the word of the year for 2019 in the Oxford dictionary. This word was included after a hundredfold increase in usage. The use of “climate emergency” has increased by 10796% according to the dictionary of the dictionary. It was said for climate emergency that the way we talk about climate, this word shows its clarity. It is linked to the emergency globally. Climate emergency defeated the words climate crisis, climate action ‘climate denial, extinction, flight shame, global heating, and plant-based, which were shortlisted. oxford says that A situation in which immediate action is required to prevent climate change resulting from potential irreversible environmental damage.

9. Climate crisis growing with fossil fuels

More than double the production of coal, oil, and gas in the country around the world is on track while limiting global temperature to 1.5C. A report that compares countries’ plans for the extraction of fossil fuels with the goals of the Peris Climate Agreement, this report puts global heating below 2C and above the pre-industrial level and aim 1.5. This point exposes a very large gap, with fossil fuel production 50% higher than 2C and 120% higher than 1.5C by 2030. Millions of people fear the high risk of excessive heatwaves, drought, flood, and poverty as the difference between this heating increases. Most of the action to tackle the climate crisis is to reduce emissions, but fossil fuel production shows an increase.

10. Greenland’s ice sheet melted rapidly

Greenland’s ice sheet is lagging faster than ever, putting the lives of millions of people at risk and approaching some irreversible effects of the climate emergency. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC’s), sea-level rise would put 400 million people at risk of flooding every year. Rising sea levels increase the risk of storms. 3.8 tonnes of ice has melted in Greenland and the rate of snow has increased from 33bn to 254 bn tonnes in the last decade. Greenland’s snow melts directly into the sea level, as it rests on a very large mass. The IPCC’s concern is that if the ice does not continue to melt, then the tipping point has to be thought about.

11. Thunberg expressed disappointment for the environment

At the UN climate talks held in Madrid, environmental activist green Greta Thunberg said that nothing has been gained from the school strikes for the climate, as greenhouse gas continues to rise. In the four years since the landmark agreement has taken place, greenhouse gas emissions have increased 4% and the world’s biggest emitters are not expected to produce new commitments for carbon this year. Thunberg is an activist whose single opposition to climate change in Sweden in 2018 has awakened people all over the world. Thunberg hoped at the UN talks that some concrete steps would be taken in COP25, which would raise public awareness.

12. Ocean’s main role in a climate crisis

A report found that increasing pollution of the oceans and plastic pollution of oceans can help in tackling climate emergency. The ocean absorbs both excess heat generated by a greenhouse gas and also absorbs CO2, which helps reduce the effects of climate chaos, but we are reaching the limit of the absorbing capacity of the oceans because vital The ecosystem and natural carbon cycle disrupt our marine life. krill small crustaceans are an important part of the sea carbon cycle, as they pass through sea levels and play a large role in the diet of large species. Protecting the oceans helps make coastal communities more resilient against the effects of coastal chaos. This can help reduce sea-level rise and the effects of severe storms caused by global warming.

13. Goldman group will invest $ 750 for the environment

Goldman Sachs group inc said it would provide $ 750 billion for climate change-fighting financing, advisory services and investment for initiatives. The CEO of Goldman bank said that this investment will help reduce the growing gap in climate change. The bank said the $ 750 billion commitment would be deployed in a number of ways, including advising companies to reduce carbon emissions and be more sustainable. The bank also updated its internal environmental policy framework, so that any new projects could receive financing. Projects that will drill for oil in the Arctic or build new thermal coal plants or new thermal coal mines.

14. 12-year-old girl took responsibility to remove staples from trees

Eilean Faltin, a 12-year-old girl, took on the task of removing staples from trees to save the environment. This girl joined Jackson hights beautification group in 8 years since then she extracts the staples of the trees on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. He says that trees do a lot for us, they are our allies in the climate crisis, they give us oxygen, and we like to throw garbage on it. Staples do not kill trees immediately, but they make them victims of the disease. These staples pierce the xylem of the bark and can prevent nutrients from getting through the tree cells, which inhibits the growth of trees. We are killing trees due to staples, which is very important to protect for environmental protection.

15. EU created a green deal for climate justice

Even after Poland’s net-zero emission target opt-out by 2050, EU leaders have created a major economic plan for climate emergency. According to Poland prime minister, Poland exemplified the 2050 target, meaning legally binding centerpiece of the “European Green Deal”. The EU was successful in bringing two other countries, the Czech Republic and Hungary, to the green deal, which had opposed the deal in the past. This type of green deal has been created for climate justice demonstrations, but the details are not clear as to how it will be difficult to achieve the greenhouse gas reduction target.

16. Colombia will host the 2020 Environment Day

UNEP announced that Colombia will host World Environment Day 2020 in partnership with Germany and focus on biodiversity. World Environment Day takes place every year on 5 June, a major United Nations day to promote worldwide awareness and action for the environment. It is celebrated by millions of people in more than 200 countries. Existing negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystem, which poverty, hunger, health, sustainable consumption and production, water, cities, climate, oceans related to sustainable development goods, according to the report presented by the intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPBES). The targets set for the land is estimated to underestimate progress by 80 percent.

17. Air pollution emerged as a new killer in the UK

Experts say the UK government’s failure to meet WHO standards limiting the number of ultrafine particles is a major health hazard. According to the report published this year in the UK, air pollution has been considered to be the main cause of health problems related to cancer, lung, heart disease, adverse effects on fetal development, poor lung in children and stunted brain development. Emits 2.5 times more than the standard set by the WHO. The US has a standard of 12 micrograms of ultra-fine particles per cubic meter, while the WHO standard is 10 micrograms. Air pollution is also a factor in vehicle pollution – along with meaningful domestic heating systems and industrial pollutants. Studies conducted in London confirm the wide geographic variation in the number of fine particles in the air.

Image credit