UPSC Environment Ecology Agriculture Notes

2023-07-05 19:03:49 Toppers of 2020, 2021 and 2022 Mains have recommended this channel for Prelims and Mains Prep:

CLICK HERE TO JOIN
https://t.me/+hvCFQq2CED5kMTBl Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-05 17:30:02 #Environment

■ A stocktake before the Global Stocktake-

The Bonn Climate Change Conference was the last big milestone in climate negotiations before the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement at COP28 in Dubai in December.

The Global Stocktake is mandated under Article 14 (1) of the Paris Agreement to assess collective progress towards long-term global goals which includes progress on greenhouse gas reduction, building resilience to climate impacts, and securing finance to address the climate crisis.

● About the Bonn agreement:

Two agenda items:

Mitigation pathways compatible with the temperature goal

Climate finance flows from developed countries to developing countries to enable them to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions

Agendas as points of contention: These agendas have caused a rift between the developing countries and the Environmental Integrity Group represented by the European Union and others.

● India’s climate policy:

Derived from the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

Underlined the need for “financing” a ‘just transition’ in sectors such as energy and transport in order to reach net zero emissions by 2070.

Concerns about the difficulties it is going to face in decoupling its economic development from greenhouse gas emissions.

The route to ‘just transition’ needs to be clubbed with the means of implementation.

● Just transition pathways:

Shift from reliance on non-renewable, fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable, clean energy sources in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change and promote sustainability.

Seeks to ensure that access to energy is equitable and benefits all members of society, rather than primarily benefiting corporations and the wealthy.

Scope of Just transition

Aligned with the Paris Agreement strand, which is self- differentiation grounded in the idea of nationally determined contributions.

Inserted in Paris Agreement to allow developing countries to align their low-carbon development pathways.

Helps the parties in respecting other soft obligations emanating from the UN Sustainable Development Goals of 2015 and the ILO’s guidelines on just transition.

● Mobilising finance:

Only a fraction of $100 billion has been realised: At 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, 2020 was made the deadline for developed countries to jointly mobilise $100 billion a year for developing countries.

Adaptation finance has lagged behind mitigation finance: It is probably due to the absence of universally agreed-upon metrics.

● Mitigation Work Programme:

Aim: To urgently scale up mitigation ambitions and implementation in this decade in a manner that complements the Global Stocktake.

Functioning: The programme will work along a number of lines which could include organising workshops to identify policies and technologies that are actionable solutions.

● Conclusion:

In the efforts towards aligning climate finance with the Paris Agreement temperature goals, it is important to integrate the World Bank in climate change negotiations and hold it accountable as it is making huge investments in fossil fuels.

Therefore, the pursuance of the Global Stocktake as per the Paris Agreement needs to comply with the principle of equity, justice and fairness.

SOURCE - THE HINDU Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-05 16:30:36 Essay PYQ Notes- Paper wise and Topic wise Mains PYQ Notes- For GS 1, 2, 3, 4 and Essay!

For the first time ever, a high quality Essay resource based on PYQs. Score 140+ with our Essay Guide!

Bringing the Only resource for Mains GS you will ever need!


Mains PYQ Notes Features:

1. Answer writing + Syllabus coverage

2. Multiple dimensions + Definitions + Value addition

3. Extensive use of Facts, figures, Data, Examples, Illustrations, Anecdotes, Article Numbers, Section Numbers and Case laws to eliminate the need for referring to multiple resources.

4. Highest Standards of Quality (Check Sample)

5. Also immensely helpful of State PCS Mains based on UPSC pattern (UPPSC, BPSC etc)

Complete solution to the mains challenge!

ESSAY PYQ Guide
     @ Rs.699/-

Register Now!

Get the complete set of 5 Books at the Early Bird Price!

Register for the set!

Website

Join our channel https://t.me/DistilledIAS

Queries @DistilledIAS_Support Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-04 18:46:49 More than 43 people who cleared 2023 prelims mentored by this channel



CLICK HERE TO JOIN
https://t.me/+YmR0qprwiAcyMzQ1 Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-04 17:30:26 #Environment

■ Financing the Green Transition-

The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) lifts the heavy burden of implementing the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) and financing projects in the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

It has disbursed 60 percent of the total loan sanctioned to finance India’s infrastructure needs.

It also declared its intent to introduce takeout financing products, invest in Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InVITs) and refinance loans.

● NIP and Climate Change:

Integration of climate risk in NIP is largely limited to building for acute physical risks, such as disasters and extreme events.

Building resilience against chronic physical risks like rising temperatures or accelerated loss of biodiversity finds comes under broad policy recommendations

Contrary to the global trend in the adoption of nature-based solutions and embracing green and blue infrastructure, NIP continues to focus on traditional grey infrastructure such as stormwater drainage infrastructure.

● G7 and Climate based Infrastructure:

G7 has supported mandating disclosures, under the task force on climate-related financial disclosures, for banks and companies

But these largely remain voluntary, especially in India.

It has extended business responsibility and sustainability reporting (BRSR) to the top 1,000 listed companies

However,operationalising the concepts and mainstreaming their implementation is a time-consuming effort and the lack of expertise makes the task complicated.

● Financial risks due to climate change:

There is a growing consensus that climate change poses financial risks.

Insurance companies exiting California due to wildfires are citing the risks faced by them in a world plagued by climate disasters.

Central banks have initiated stress testing measures to measure their portfolios performance in varying climate scenarios.

● India and Climate Based Infrastructure:

Indian regulators have announced a framework for green/blue bonds, and green deposits.

They also intend to propose guidelines for climate stress testing.

However,the financial institutions are struggling to accomplish the procedures.

Identifying relevant climate risks, correlating them to financial risks and quantifying them is a complex process.

One also needs to consider the credit risks

● PPPs and Climate Based Infrastructure:

NaBFID is well-placed to consider recommendations on investing in pre-planning and site investigation, adopting a collaborative planning process with departments and downstream contractors involved to enable the success of PPPs.

Moreover, plans to proceed on the takeout financing route need an assessment of how broad-based growth and demand for credit would be.

● Way Forward:

NaBFID needs to focus on structural measures that improve asset provisioning and quality as well as produce returns on investment to address climate-related financial and infrastructure challenges

NaBFID needs to take advantage of innovative financial products that have proliferated in a bid to mainstream climate adaptation and mitigation.

Green bonds, sustainability-linked bonds, and transition bonds all seek to divert global financial flows towards projects aimed at climate mitigation and resilience.

On the success of India’s sovereign green bond, issuances by NaBFID for private placements could increase green capital flows to infrastructure.

NaBFID can also consider the transition bonds (finance projects that are not entirely green but are attempting to reduce their emissions).

● Conclusion:

Employing entity-level and project-level safeguards to direct funds to appropriate projects, through innovative financing structures, would attract a diverse investor base and enable scaling of finance.

Most transition bond frameworks, for instance, recommend an entity-level transition plan.

SOURCE - INDIAN EXPRESS Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-03 17:30:31 #Environment

■ Centre plans ‘market’ scheme to promote sustainable living-

The Environment Ministry has issued a draft notification detailing a proposed ‘Green Credit Scheme’ that will incentivise a host of activities including afforestation programmes, water conservation, waste management and remedying air pollution by allowing individuals and organisations to generate ‘green credits’.

These credits, through a yet-to-be-specified mechanism, can also be traded for money.

● Green Credit Programme:

The Green Credit Programme will leverage a competitive market-based approach for Green Credits thereby incentivising voluntary environmental actions of various stakeholders.

It will also encourage private sector industries and companies as well as other entities to meet their existing obligations, stemming from other legal frameworks, by taking actions which are able to converge with activities relevant for generating or buying Green Credits,”

Unlike carbon markets, where only greenhouse gas emissions are traded, the Green Credit Scheme is “trickier” as it involves accounting for a wide range of actions.

The notification for instance lists out eight sectors, or activities, that can qualify for generating credits. They include

Tree plantation-based green credit to promote activities for increasing green cover through tree plantation and related activities

Water-based green credit to promote water conservation, water harvesting and water use efficiency/savings, including treatment and reuse of wastewater;

Sustainable agriculture-based green credit to promote natural and regenerative agricultural practices and land restoration to improve productivity, soil health and nutritional value of food produced

Waste management-based green credit to promote sustainable and improved practices.

● Carbon Markets:

Carbon markets are a tool for putting a price on carbon emissions.

It allows the trade of carbon credits with the overall objective of bringing down emissions.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement provides for the use of international carbon markets by countries to fulfil their NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions).

NDCs are climate commitments by countries setting targets to achieve net-zero emissions.

A carbon credit is a kind of tradable permit that equals one tonne of carbon dioxide removed, reduced, or sequestered from the atmosphere.

● Prelims Takeaway:

Carbon Markets

Kyoto Protocol

SOURCE - THE HINDU Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-02 17:39:35 #Agriculture

■ The status of transgenic crops in India-

Three States, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, have deferred a proposal, approved by the Centre’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), to test a new kind of transgenic cotton seed that contains a gene, Cry2Ai, that purportedly makes cotton resistant to pink bollworm, a major pest.

This conflict shows that a broad acceptance of genetically modified crops continues to be elusive.

● Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

The GEAC consists of a panel of plant biotechnologists and is headed by a senior official of the Environment Ministry and co-chaired by the scientist of the DBT.

To resolve the issue of States not according approvals on testing, because of differing attitudes to GM crops, the GEAC is considering a proposal by the DBT to declare some regions across India as ‘notified testing sites’.

There are 42 such proposed sites and, if it goes through, companies wanting to conduct trials of GM crops at these locations won’t need the permission of States for trials.

● Status of transgenic crops in India:

There are an array of crops — brinjal, tomato, maize, chickpea — in various stages of trials that employ transgenic technology. However, cotton remains the only transgenic crop that is being commercially cultivated in India.

After a long hiatus, the GEAC, the apex technical body approved the environmental release of Mustard hybrid DMH-11 and its parental lines, for seed production and testing. This is one step away from full commercial cultivation.

However, the GEAC, which is under the Union Environment Ministry, isn’t the final arbiter in the case of GM crops. There is a long-standing litigation in the Supreme Court on the permissibility of allowing transgenic food crops in farmer fields based on petitions filed and asking for a stay on the release of the crop because it would encourage farmers to spray herbicides, which are banned in India.

In 2010, the GEAC had approved GM brinjal, but this was put on an “indefinite moratorium” by the United Progressive Alliance government.

● Process of regulating transgenic crops in India:

The process of developing transgenic crops is an elaborate one as inserting transgenic genes into plants to elicit a sustained, protective response is a mix of both science and chance.

There are multiple safety assessments done by committees before they are cleared for further tests in open plots of lands, which are located at either agricultural universities or are plots controlled by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

A transgenic plant can apply for commercial clearance, only after it has proven to be demonstrably better than comparable non-GM variants on claimed parameters (for instance, drought tolerance or insect resistance) without posing ecological harm to other species that may be being cultivated in the vicinity.

Open field trials often take place over multiple crop seasons, and types of geographical conditions, to assess its suitability across different States.

● Advantages of GMO crops:

It improves production and raises the farmer’s income.

It reduces the use of pesticide and insecticide during farming that might be great moves for the betterment of the food supply.

It can feed a rapidly increasing population because it shows dramatically increased yields.

It can produce more in small areas of land.

● Disadvantages:

The production imposes high risks to the disruption of ecosystem and biodiversity because the “better” traits produced from engineering genes can result in the favouring of one organism. Hence, it can eventually disrupt the natural process of gene flow.

It increases the cost of cultivation and is more inclined towards marketization of farming that works on immoral profits.

The transgenic crops endanger not only farmers but also the trade, and the environment as well.

SOURCE - THE HINDU Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-01 17:30:40 #Agriculture

■ Fertiliser for Thought-

The maximum retail price (MRP) of urea has remained unchanged during the nine years and more of the present government.

The only revision has been from companies having to mandatorily coat their entire material with neem oil since May 2015, for which they could charge an extra 5 percent.

● Urea subsidy scheme:

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved its continuation to ensure supply of the fertiliser “at the same price”.

That works out to subsidising a single nutrient product, whose average production/import cost is in the region of Rs 30,000 per tonne.

● PM-PRANAM scheme:

The decision not to raise the urea MRP till 2024-25 has been announced along with a PM-PRANAM scheme that aims to promote alternative fertilisers and balanced plant nutrition.

● Why has the use of urea not decreased?

Initiatives like compulsory neem coating, reducing the bag size, and launch of the so-called Nano Urea haven’t helped bring down the consumption of this fertiliser containing 46 per cent nitrogen (N).

Urea retails at a fifth or even less than that of most other fertilisers, so, farmers have no reason to cut back on its use

The Modi government has proposed the introduction of sulphur-coated urea, which, it claims, would be more economical and efficient than the plain-vanilla fertiliser.

● What can be done?

Using urea as a carrier product for delivering sulphur or zinc to crops.

The government should allow urea, di-ammonium phosphate & other commodity fertilisers to be freely coated with all secondary & micro nutrients.

MRPs of such fortified fertilisers must be set free.

● Conclusion:

If the yield benefits from applying sulphur or zinc-coated urea are significantly more from ordinary urea, the farmer may not mind paying extra.

And that could also pave the way for the price decontrol of urea and bringing it under the nutrient-based subsidy regime.

SOURCE - INDIAN EXPRESS Buka / Bagaimana

2023-06-30 17:30:48 #Environment

■ The world’s worst animal disease is killing frogs worldwide-

A recent multinational study has developed a method to detect all strains of Chytridiomycosis.

● Chytridiomycosis:

It is an infectious disease that affects amphibians, especially frogs worldwide.

It is caused by either of two species of amphibian chytrid fungus. They are called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans.

It is an emerging disease that is significantly impacting amphibian populations across the globe.

The disease has caused the decline or complete extinction of over 200 species of frogs and other amphibians.

● How chytrid fungus infects the frog?

Chytrid fungus is a waterborne fungus that disperses into the environment in order to search for a new host.

The fungus travels through water sources until it finds a new host, and enters through the skin.

Chytrid infects frogs by reproducing in their skin.

The single-celled fungus enters a skin cell, multiplies, and then breaks back out onto the surface of the animal.

This damage to the skin affects the frog’s ability to balance water and salt levels and eventually leads to death if infection levels are high enough.

● Prelims Take Away:

Chytridiomycosis

Amphibians

Chytrid fungus

SOURCE - THE HINDU Buka / Bagaimana

2023-06-29 17:30:57 #ENVIRONMENT

■ UN adopts 'historic' high seas treaty-

The world's first international treaty to protect the high seas was recently adopted by the United Nations.

Nearly 200 nations signed the document, after agreeing to its terms in March following roughly 15 years of discussion.

The treaty is meant “to prevent a cascading of species extinctions” brought on by overfishing, oil extraction, deep-sea mining and other activities with environmental impacts that occur in the high seas.

● About UN High Seas Treaty:

It is the first-ever treaty to protect the world's oceans that lie outside national boundaries.

It is also known as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean.’

It is a legally binding treaty that aims at protecting, caring for, and ensuring the responsible use of the marine environment

The treaty is built on the legacy of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
which is the last international agreement on ocean protection.

● Highlights of the treaty:

It aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030

It will provide a legal framework for establishing vast marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect against the loss of wildlife and share out the genetic resources of the high seas.

It also covers environmental assessments to evaluate the potential damage of commercial activities, such as deep-sea mining.

The treaty aims at strengthening resilience and contains provisions based on the polluter-pays principle as well as mechanisms for disputes.

It also recognizes the The treaty also considers the special circumstances faced by small-island and landlocked developing nations.

It will establish a conference of the parties (CoP) that will meet periodically and enable member states to be held to account on issues such as governance and biodiversity.

It also aims to protect the rights and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities.

The treaty also includes a pledge by signatories to share ocean resources.

● Prelims Takeaway:

High Seas

Treaties to protect oceans

SOURCE - TOI Buka / Bagaimana