🔆Asiatic Golden Cat:
✅It is a medium sized cat with relatively long legs.
✅Other names:They are known as the “fire cat” in Thailand and Burma, and as the “rock cat” in parts of China.
✅Appearance: Their fur ranges in color from cinnamon to various shades of brown, and also gray and black (melanistic).
✅They are solitary and territorial. Once considered nocturnal, a radio-tracking study showed them to be diurnal and crepuscular.
✅These are polygynous (mating with multiple females) with no breeding season.
✅Habitat: This cat is known to occur across a wide range of habitats, including dry deciduous forests, subtropical evergreen forests, tropical rainforests, temperate and sub-alpine forests, and at elevations ranging from 0 m to 3,738 m.
✅Conservation Status:
IUCN: Near threatened
CITES: Appendix I
Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule 1
#species
#prelims
#environment
✅It is a medium sized cat with relatively long legs.
✅Other names:They are known as the “fire cat” in Thailand and Burma, and as the “rock cat” in parts of China.
✅Appearance: Their fur ranges in color from cinnamon to various shades of brown, and also gray and black (melanistic).
✅They are solitary and territorial. Once considered nocturnal, a radio-tracking study showed them to be diurnal and crepuscular.
✅These are polygynous (mating with multiple females) with no breeding season.
✅Habitat: This cat is known to occur across a wide range of habitats, including dry deciduous forests, subtropical evergreen forests, tropical rainforests, temperate and sub-alpine forests, and at elevations ranging from 0 m to 3,738 m.
✅Conservation Status:
IUCN: Near threatened
CITES: Appendix I
Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule 1
#species
#prelims
#environment
#GS3 #environment
New tiger reserve for Chhattisgarh : Guru Ghasidas Tamore Pingla
Source: 📰 The Indian Express
New tiger reserve for Chhattisgarh : Guru Ghasidas Tamore Pingla
Source: 📰 The Indian Express
🔆The article discusses the outcomes of the COP29 climate summit, focusing on the issue of climate finance and the need for a just transition.
Key Points:
✅Insufficient Climate Finance:
🔸Developed countries pledged $300 billion annually by 2035, falling short of developing countries' needs.
✅Challenges in Financing Climate Action:
🔸Developing countries face high debt burdens and limited access to affordable finance.
🔸The current financial system is not adequately equipped to support the scale and speed of the transition.
✅The Need for a Just Transition:
🔸Ensuring that the transition to a low-carbon economy is equitable and inclusive.
🔸Supporting workers in fossil fuel industries and vulnerable communities.
🔸Addressing social and economic impacts of climate policies.
✅India's Climate Actions:
🔸India has undertaken various initiatives to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
#gs3 #mains #prelims
#environment
Key Points:
✅Insufficient Climate Finance:
🔸Developed countries pledged $300 billion annually by 2035, falling short of developing countries' needs.
✅Challenges in Financing Climate Action:
🔸Developing countries face high debt burdens and limited access to affordable finance.
🔸The current financial system is not adequately equipped to support the scale and speed of the transition.
✅The Need for a Just Transition:
🔸Ensuring that the transition to a low-carbon economy is equitable and inclusive.
🔸Supporting workers in fossil fuel industries and vulnerable communities.
🔸Addressing social and economic impacts of climate policies.
✅India's Climate Actions:
🔸India has undertaken various initiatives to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
#gs3 #mains #prelims
#environment
🔆The article analyzes Beijing's successful efforts to reduce air pollution and draws parallels with Delhi's situation.
Key Points:
📍Beijing's Success:
✅Significant reduction in air pollution levels between 2013 and 2017.
✅Coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including transport, industry, and energy.
Stricter regulations, technological advancements, and public awareness campaigns.
✅Substantial financial investment in pollution control measures.
📍Delhi's Challenges:
✅Similar air pollution levels to Beijing in 2015.
✅Need for comprehensive and integrated approach to tackle pollution.
✅Importance of regional cooperation to address transboundary pollution.
✅Political will and sustained efforts required for long-term impact.
📍Lessons for Delhi:
✅Prioritize public transport and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
✅Improve industrial emissions standards and enforce regulations.
✅Invest in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.
#science_and_technology #GS3 #environment
Key Points:
📍Beijing's Success:
✅Significant reduction in air pollution levels between 2013 and 2017.
✅Coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including transport, industry, and energy.
Stricter regulations, technological advancements, and public awareness campaigns.
✅Substantial financial investment in pollution control measures.
📍Delhi's Challenges:
✅Similar air pollution levels to Beijing in 2015.
✅Need for comprehensive and integrated approach to tackle pollution.
✅Importance of regional cooperation to address transboundary pollution.
✅Political will and sustained efforts required for long-term impact.
📍Lessons for Delhi:
✅Prioritize public transport and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
✅Improve industrial emissions standards and enforce regulations.
✅Invest in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.
#science_and_technology #GS3 #environment
🔆UN talks on drought deal in Saudi
✅The UN-hosted COP16 talks in Saudi Arabia failed to produce a binding protocol on drought response.
✅While no binding deal was reached, significant progress was made toward a future global drought regime, with plans to finalise it at COP17 in 2026 in Mongolia.
✅Droughts, exacerbated by environmental destruction, cost over $300 billion annually.
By 2050, 75% of the global population is expected to be affected by drought.
✅The UNCCD emphasised the need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by the decade’s end, requiring $2.6 trillion in global investments.
#gs3 #mains #prelims
#environment
✅The UN-hosted COP16 talks in Saudi Arabia failed to produce a binding protocol on drought response.
✅While no binding deal was reached, significant progress was made toward a future global drought regime, with plans to finalise it at COP17 in 2026 in Mongolia.
✅Droughts, exacerbated by environmental destruction, cost over $300 billion annually.
By 2050, 75% of the global population is expected to be affected by drought.
✅The UNCCD emphasised the need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by the decade’s end, requiring $2.6 trillion in global investments.
#gs3 #mains #prelims
#environment
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated the Advanced Facility for Pashmina Certification and Next Generation DNA Sequencing Facility at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a revolutionary technology that enables the rapid and high-throughput decoding of entire genomes, analysing millions of DNA sequences simultaneously.
This allows researchers to gain deeper insights into genetic diversity, evolutionary relationships, and population health
#prelims #mains
#environment
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a revolutionary technology that enables the rapid and high-throughput decoding of entire genomes, analysing millions of DNA sequences simultaneously.
This allows researchers to gain deeper insights into genetic diversity, evolutionary relationships, and population health
#prelims #mains
#environment
🔳 PM Modi laid the foundation stone of India's first Green Hydrogen Hub under the National Green Hydrogen Mission near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, which is being developed by NTPC Green Energy.
◼️The first Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam is being set up by NTPC Green Energy Limited.
◼️The Hub will produce 1500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen and 7500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen derivatives like Green Methanol, Green Urea
◼️The hub will also include establishing 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacities.
◼️The Green Hydrogen Hub will help in achieving the National National Green Hydrogen Mission target of 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum of Green Hydrogen and the addition of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #environment #economics
◼️The first Green Hydrogen Hub at Pudimadaka near Visakhapatnam is being set up by NTPC Green Energy Limited.
◼️The Hub will produce 1500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen and 7500 tonnes per day of Green Hydrogen derivatives like Green Methanol, Green Urea
◼️The hub will also include establishing 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacities.
◼️The Green Hydrogen Hub will help in achieving the National National Green Hydrogen Mission target of 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum of Green Hydrogen and the addition of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
#UPSC #PSC #prelims #currentaffairs #environment #economics
Post-Glacial Ecosystems: A Silver Lining to Climate Change? 🌍❄️
📰 Why in News?
Glacier retreat, a clear consequence of climate change, is revealing opportunities for developing new ecosystems that could help mitigate climate change impacts, as per a global study.
🌱 Key Findings:
✅ Emerging Ecosystems: Glacier retreat gives rise to new ecosystems, capable of capturing carbon through biogeochemical processes and biomass growth.
✅ Microbial Colonization: Microorganisms like bacteria and algae are the first settlers, followed by plants (lichens, mosses, grass), enriching the soil for larger life forms.
✅ Temporary Habitats: Deglaciated areas, particularly in Himalayas and sub-polar regions, act as biodiversity hotspots and serve as refuges for cold-adapted species.
🌍 Why Are These Ecosystems Important?
✅ Biodiversity: Potential for medicinal and agricultural discoveries.
✅ Eco-Tourism: Boosts local economies while promoting conservation.
✅ Water Regulation: Post-glacial ecosystems in regions like the Himalayas help regulate water availability, affecting rivers that millions depend on.
🧊 About Glaciers:
✅ What Are They? Massive ice sheets moving under their own weight, shaping landscapes like valleys and moraines.
✅ Significance: Glaciers store 69% of the world’s freshwater and are critical for water supplies.
🌊 Impacts of Melting Glaciers:
✅ Rising Sea Levels: Causes coastal flooding and erosion.
✅ Freshwater Scarcity: Shrinking glaciers threaten future water supplies.
✅ Biodiversity Loss: Disrupts ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
✅ Economic Risks: Tourism-dependent regions, like the Himalayas, face uncertainties.
✅ Global Warming Feedback Loop: Loss of reflective glacier surfaces accelerates warming.
🌟 Way Forward:
Efforts to study, manage, and promote biodiversity in post-glacial ecosystems are vital for creating a sustainable balance between climate change mitigation and natural habitat preservation. 🌿
#Environment
📰 Why in News?
Glacier retreat, a clear consequence of climate change, is revealing opportunities for developing new ecosystems that could help mitigate climate change impacts, as per a global study.
🌱 Key Findings:
✅ Emerging Ecosystems: Glacier retreat gives rise to new ecosystems, capable of capturing carbon through biogeochemical processes and biomass growth.
✅ Microbial Colonization: Microorganisms like bacteria and algae are the first settlers, followed by plants (lichens, mosses, grass), enriching the soil for larger life forms.
✅ Temporary Habitats: Deglaciated areas, particularly in Himalayas and sub-polar regions, act as biodiversity hotspots and serve as refuges for cold-adapted species.
🌍 Why Are These Ecosystems Important?
✅ Biodiversity: Potential for medicinal and agricultural discoveries.
✅ Eco-Tourism: Boosts local economies while promoting conservation.
✅ Water Regulation: Post-glacial ecosystems in regions like the Himalayas help regulate water availability, affecting rivers that millions depend on.
🧊 About Glaciers:
✅ What Are They? Massive ice sheets moving under their own weight, shaping landscapes like valleys and moraines.
✅ Significance: Glaciers store 69% of the world’s freshwater and are critical for water supplies.
🌊 Impacts of Melting Glaciers:
✅ Rising Sea Levels: Causes coastal flooding and erosion.
✅ Freshwater Scarcity: Shrinking glaciers threaten future water supplies.
✅ Biodiversity Loss: Disrupts ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
✅ Economic Risks: Tourism-dependent regions, like the Himalayas, face uncertainties.
✅ Global Warming Feedback Loop: Loss of reflective glacier surfaces accelerates warming.
🌟 Way Forward:
Efforts to study, manage, and promote biodiversity in post-glacial ecosystems are vital for creating a sustainable balance between climate change mitigation and natural habitat preservation. 🌿
#Environment
NEWS :UN Environment Programme (UNEP) led initiative focuses on biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and enhanced water security in Lake Tanganyika Basin.
Lake Tanganyika Basin:
1️⃣ Shared by four countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia.
2️⃣ One of Africa's Great Lakes and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by volume.
3️⃣ Internationally recognised as a Global biodiversity hotspot.
#environment #prelims
Lake Tanganyika Basin:
1️⃣ Shared by four countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia.
2️⃣ One of Africa's Great Lakes and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by volume.
3️⃣ Internationally recognised as a Global biodiversity hotspot.
#environment #prelims
🔆 Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs)
📍 Definition:
✅ Chlorine, bromine, CFCs, carbon tetrachloride, halons, etc.
📍 Potential Drivers of Ozone Hole over Antarctica:
1. Changes in Antarctic polar vortex
2. Changes in solar cycle
3. Increased atmospheric abundance of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
📍 Polar Vortex
✅ Stratospheric wind patterns with vast low-pressure areas and very cold air, more pronounced over the South Poles.
✅ Leads to formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs).
📍 Impact of Volcanic Eruptions on Ozone Layer:
✅ Triggers massive stratospheric water vapor plume.
✅ Injects large quantities of sulphur dioxide (facilitates chemical conversion of chlorine making it more reactive).
✅ Contributes atmospheric bromine and hydrogen chloride.
✅ Eruption particles provide surfaces for chemical reactions for ODSs.
📍 PSCs (Polar Stratospheric Clouds):
✅ Also known as nacreous clouds or mother of pearl.
✅ Formed below -78°C and trap outgoing longwave radiation.
📍 Location:
✅ Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, a submarine volcano in the Tongan archipelago located in the Southern Pacific Ocean, erupted in January 2022.
📍 Ozone Layer Depletion Process (Infographic):
✅ 1st step: UV rays split chlorine atom from CFC molecule.
✅ 2nd step: Chlorine atom breaks up ozone molecule.
✅ 3rd step: The chlorine molecule left behind creates chlorine monoxide and oxygen (O2).
#environment
📍 Definition:
✅ Chlorine, bromine, CFCs, carbon tetrachloride, halons, etc.
📍 Potential Drivers of Ozone Hole over Antarctica:
1. Changes in Antarctic polar vortex
2. Changes in solar cycle
3. Increased atmospheric abundance of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
📍 Polar Vortex
✅ Stratospheric wind patterns with vast low-pressure areas and very cold air, more pronounced over the South Poles.
✅ Leads to formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs).
📍 Impact of Volcanic Eruptions on Ozone Layer:
✅ Triggers massive stratospheric water vapor plume.
✅ Injects large quantities of sulphur dioxide (facilitates chemical conversion of chlorine making it more reactive).
✅ Contributes atmospheric bromine and hydrogen chloride.
✅ Eruption particles provide surfaces for chemical reactions for ODSs.
📍 PSCs (Polar Stratospheric Clouds):
✅ Also known as nacreous clouds or mother of pearl.
✅ Formed below -78°C and trap outgoing longwave radiation.
📍 Location:
✅ Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, a submarine volcano in the Tongan archipelago located in the Southern Pacific Ocean, erupted in January 2022.
📍 Ozone Layer Depletion Process (Infographic):
✅ 1st step: UV rays split chlorine atom from CFC molecule.
✅ 2nd step: Chlorine atom breaks up ozone molecule.
✅ 3rd step: The chlorine molecule left behind creates chlorine monoxide and oxygen (O2).
#environment
🔆What is PBAT?
✅Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat in Tripura has introduced compostable bags made from PBAT as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic (SUP).
📍What is PBAT?
✅PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer used as an eco-friendly substitute for traditional plastics.
✅It is a copolymer of adipic acid, 1,4-butanediol, and terephthalic acid and can be processed using conventional plastic manufacturing methods.
✅PBAT is often blended with other biopolymers to enhance its mechanical and barrier properties
📍Properties of PBAT
✅100% compostable – breaks down into water, CO₂, and biomass under industrial composting conditions within 180 days.
✅Flexible and tough, making it ideal for bags, films, and packaging.
✅It is moisture-resistant, chemically inert, and offers good barrier properties.
#gs3
#environment
✅Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat in Tripura has introduced compostable bags made from PBAT as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic (SUP).
📍What is PBAT?
✅PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer used as an eco-friendly substitute for traditional plastics.
✅It is a copolymer of adipic acid, 1,4-butanediol, and terephthalic acid and can be processed using conventional plastic manufacturing methods.
✅PBAT is often blended with other biopolymers to enhance its mechanical and barrier properties
📍Properties of PBAT
✅100% compostable – breaks down into water, CO₂, and biomass under industrial composting conditions within 180 days.
✅Flexible and tough, making it ideal for bags, films, and packaging.
✅It is moisture-resistant, chemically inert, and offers good barrier properties.
#gs3
#environment