September 2019: Monthly Environmental News Roundup

1. Differences among EPA officials over California’s air pollution

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Andrew Wheeler said that California has poor air quality from the same states in the USA. It has 82 non-attainment areas as well as 34 million people living in areas not standard national ambient air quality standards. Since the 1970s, California has also failed to perform the most basic tasks under the Clean Air Quality Act. The Trump government is also pressuring the California government to comply with environmental regulations. While Janet McCabe, a senior EPA officer during Obama’s administration, says California’s air pollution is being overstated while California is working more toward clean air than other states in the USA. Such criticism of the EPA is invalid.

2. Tibet succeeded to a great extent in environmental protection

The Autonomous Region of Tibet is one of the most important green areas in China. According to the 2018 report of the Department of Environment, the daily air quality of Tibet is 98.2%, which is classified as good. Tibet planted trees in about 863 villages and converted landslide areas into forests. Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is ranked 4 out of 164 cities in China in terms of air quality. Luo, head of the Department of the Environment, said that the Tibetan people have a tradition of respecting and protecting the natural environment, for which people here are constantly active.

3. This airport received the award for carbon neutral status

Tag Farnborough airport received the Energy and Carbon Transition Award on 20 Sep 2019, which is part of the Sustainability Impact awards given by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. IEMA has observed that this airport has come up with a well-planned strategy for achieving technology and standards, carbon accreditation level 1-2009, level 2-2010, level 3-2013 and level 3+ in 2018 has already achieved a cadence of carbon-neutral status, reducing emissions up to 42%. This airport became the first business aviation airport in the world to achieve carbon-neutral status following the airport Council International Europe assessment last year. This airport strives to continuously reduce carbon emissions.

4. Reduction in carbon emissions from the environmental flight path

The Cardiff airport has created an environmental flight path with the aim of becoming a carbon-neutral airport in collaboration with the Welsh Government, Airport Operators Association and WSP Consultancy. The Environmental Flight Path is a framework developed to track environmental and sustainability successes. The airport has seen a 53% reduction in carbon emissions over 8 years. This airport aims to provide 100% power from renewable and clean energy sources. The CEO of Cardiff airport stated that the environmental flight path would continue as a living and breathing strategy which will be reviewed from time to time so that it can become a carbon-neutral airport.

5. Paper receipt more reliable than the digital receipt

Independent research shows that most consumers prefer paper acknowledgment over digital options. The research surveyed 8883 consumers in Europe and North America and found that 69% of UK consumers preferred paper receipts over digital options, with 76% of people believing that paper receipts are more practical for returning goods. Before using digital receipts in place of a paper receipt, consumers and retail traders will have to think that this option is not free from environmental impact. Research shows that most people do not want digital receipts and rely on paper receipts. The use of paper receipts will lead to unilateral environmental protection and on the other hand to data security.

6. People Hit the Road for a Clean Climate

Inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, people from 150 countries around the world protested in the streets to take action to stop the growing threat to the climate. Organizers estimate that students from most of Australia and other Asian countries took to the streets to demonstrate against climate change. Australian street protests will be the biggest demonstration by the Australian nation since the Iraq War. Australia is the largest exporter of coal and liquid natural gas. Inspired by this movement of climate change, many environmental activists and students of India demonstrated in the capital of India, Delhi, giving the message of climate cleanliness.

7. Airbnb will make a trip to Antarctica for Environmental Research

Airbnb gives people related to the environment an opportunity to pay an all-expense-paid trip to the Antarctica continent to conserve the environment and participate in scientific research. In this trip, five people will have the opportunity to study in Antarctica, the reason for the micro-plastic coming to this area under study, the collection of Antarctica ice sample and climbing the major glacier. Scientist Christie Jones Williams, who will train the researchers, says the program aims to identify and prevent pollution hazards. For this journey, it is necessary to love the environment, so that the given tasks can be completed. Airbnb will partner in ocean conservation with this task, which will eventually help clean up the environment.

8. Groundwater level drop likely due to gas extraction near Adani mine

 A Queensland gas company plans to excavate fracking near the Adani coalmine. Also, gas explorer Ridge said that there are also plans to conduct fracture stimulation of two sandstone wells 25 km from the Adani site. Gas Extraction of this scheme will affect the water resources of the coal mine. On this, Adani says that we will evaluate the proposal to supply safe, cheap and reliable energy for the gas extraction project. While environmentalists say that the natural gas company has been the most dangerous to the environment, their actions can cause unpredictable effects in water. According to government biological assessment fracking operations will affect the composition and quality of groundwater.

9. Israel birders visited Canada for the environment

Israel is called the country of birds. Israeli birders Alina Kakal, Amir Balwan, Dan Alone, and Jonathan visited Toronto in Canada on an environmental message related to the conservation of birds and wildlife. During this time, he had a meeting with Canadian environmental activists in Toronto, in which Dan Alone said that we live in the world’s best birding destination. Israel is well known among birdwatchers worldwide. While Elon said that 30000 to 500000 birdwatchers come to Israel every year to try and learn about birds. At the meeting, Israeli birders apprised Canadian environmentalists of ongoing efforts to conserve birds and wildlife.

10. Thump mocks climate activist Greta Thunberg

A few hours after young environmental activist Greta Thunberg made a sentimental speech at the United Nations, President Donald Trump mocked her on Twitter, saying that she is a very happy young girl who is looking for a bright and wonderful future. Thunberg did not respond directly to Trump and updated the bio on his Twitter a few hours later, stating that there is a 16-year-old climate activist who has also been involved in global climate strikes to support the environment. Thunberg initially initiated a climate protest outside the Swedish parliament alone. He also raised concerns about rising levels of air emissions during the US tour.

11. Climate revolt in London postponed for government action

The climate rebellion in London, which began on 7 October, is being closed for some time so that the government can take immediate action to deal with the climate crisis. This rebellion is part of a growing ecological emergency. In the past, lakhs of people participated in the global climate strike. The protesters peacefully protested in London on major splashes, resulting in the parliament contributing to the declaration of a climate emergency, topping the environmental crisis in political age groups. The rebels mainly have 3 demands from the government – 1. Telling the truth about the ecological emergency. 2 . Biodiversity reduction by 2025. 3. Formulating carbon emissions.

12. Environmental group wins petition filed on peat extraction

A petition was filed by the environmental group Friends of the Irish environment for not taking action the peat exclusion rules against the ministry of communication, climate, and action, the ministry of housing, planning and level government as well as Ireland and the Attorney General. Judging this petition, the High Court held that peat cannot be removed from areas larger than 30 hectares of Irish bogs unless the developer has a plan to do so. While proving the environmental group to be right, the high court directed the 2019 European Union (Environment Impact Assessment) peat extrusion regulations and the planning and development act 2000 (Exempted Development) regulations 2019 to be fully followed.

13. The companies with the highest emissions in the world were analyzed

All major companies in the world were analyzed about climate change. In which the high-emission company publicity disclosed plan was to be given, which was based on their temperature score. The company’s temperature score is its emission intensity and scientifically recognized plan to reduce emissions limits in the future. 3000 companies were listed in this analysis. Out of which 18% the company is committed to limit the rising temperature of industrial levels to 1.5 ° C while one-third of the top 200 companies did not disclose their greenhouse emissions. While global heating is a growing concern. The report suggests that only five companies will be on track by 2050 and global temperatures likely to rise to 2.7 ° C.

14. The biggest strike in the history of climate action

To reduce climate change, global environmental leaders along with youth from all over the world are going on a global strike. This protest started in the eastern parts of the world. First Swedish girl Greta Thunberg protested in front of the Swedish Parliament. After this, his leadership was followed by school students from all over the world. Students left school to protest in public places. The protest calls for 1.4 million students from an estimated 123 countries to take strong measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The impact of this protest was also seen in 70 cities and towns in India. India’s capital Delhi is also one of the most polluted cities in the world.

15. Youngsters pretend to drop dead to save Earth

In Thailand (Bangkok), more than 200 youths went to the Ministry of Environment, giving a slogan of climate protection and pretending to drop dead on the ground and demanded the government to take strict action against climate change. Striker leader Nanticha Ocharoenchai said that if action is not taken on climate change, then this situation will be created in the future. The youth of Thailand demand from the government to stop using fossil fuels by declaring a climate emergency. Students say that we are leaving school, because what would be the meaning of such school education, if our earth itself will not be safe.

16. Amazon fires can increase climate change

Amazon’s forests catch a lot of fire. People are being deliberately put forward in the Amazon forests in search of land. This widespread fire is causing a shortage of rainfall there, as well as taking wildlife away from their habitats, resulting in devastating losses. Whereas rich rainforests play an important role in changing the weather system, generating oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide as well as preventing greenhouse gases that lead to an increase in global warming. Broil Farrell, director of the David Rockefeller Center, researched the Gazette to find out the fire conditions in the Amazon jungles, stating that Amazon forest fires can be very widespread in climate change.

17. Pacific Island country wants money to make zero carbon in shipping

Pacific Blue shipping testimony by the governments of Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu has targeted a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 and a full reduction in emissions by 2050. For this, the multinational institute wants to raise funds through concessional loans, grants from direct private sector investment and the issuance of regional blue brands. These, in turn, will be used to withdraw existing passenger and cargo losses with low carbon technology and to purchase new emission vessels. Without shipping, the people of the island area cannot survive, there is a lot of fuel used to ship 80 to 90% of the goods by shipping; consumption of these conventional fuels increases climate change.

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