ENVIRONMENT MAINS

365

LEGEND BHAIYA
1
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Table of Contents:
Climate Change:

 Climate change and agreements Disaster Management:

 India and climate action at a Glance
 Climate equality at a Glance  Disaster management in India at a glance
 Indian Traditional practices and climate changes  Infrastructure resilience at a glance
 Climate changes Impacts  Heatwave management in india at a glance
 Mitigation and Adaptation  Earthquake management in india at a glance
 Cryosphere and Climate change at Glance  Glacial Lake outburst flood
 Ozone Hole  Landslide management in India at a glance
 Carbon Farming and Carbon Border adjustment  Crowd disaster management in india at a glance
Mechanism  Fire safety regulations in India
 Forest fires management in india at a glance
Air pollution: 
 Urban Air pollution in India at a Glance

Water and Land Degradation:

 The Water (Prevention and Control of pollution)

Amendment act,2024.
 Ground water Management in India at a glance

Sustainable Development:

 Sustainable development goals at a glance

 Sustainable tourism at a glance
 Sustainable Finance
 Sustainable lifestyle
 Sustainable Agriculture in India
 Waste management
 Miscellaneous

Renewable Energy and Alternative energy sources:

 Renewable energy in India at a glance

 Solar energy in India at a Glance
 Hydrogen energy in India at a glance
 Ethanol blending in India at a glance
 Tidal energy
 Energy transition in India at a glance
 Electric vehicles In India at a glance

Conservation Efforts

 Forest Conservation in India at a glance

 Wildlife conservation and protection
 Wetland conservation in India at a glance

LEGEND BHAIYA
 2
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Developed countries must urgently deliver on the USD
100 billion/year goal through 2025.
 Adherence to the precautionary principle in the
COP28 Highlights implementation of geo-engineering technologies.
 Enhanced capacity-building support by operating entities
Recently, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the of the Financial Mechanism (e.g., GEF).
UNFCCC took place in Dubai, UAE, resulting in the adoption of
the UAE Consensus. Loss and Damage (L&D)
Pillars of COP28: COP28 climate conference in Dubai officially
operationalized the loss and damage fund to assist
 Fast-tracking a just, orderly, and equitable energy vulnerable countries.
transition Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund: It entails compensation
 Fixing climate finance from wealthy industrialized nations, historically
 Focusing on people, lives, and livelihoods responsible for climate change, to poorer nations facing
 Underpinning everything with full inclusivity severe climate impacts despite low carbon footprints.
 First announced during COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt)
Key Outcomes in 2022.
 Launch of Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency  Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for L&D was
Pledge (India not a signatory) established at COP19 in 2013 to address L&D in
 Introduction of the Global Cooling Pledge for COP28 developing countries.
 Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter
India's Stand on the Fund:
 Initiation of the Global Green Credit Initiative (GGCI) by
India Strong advocate for expanding the L&D fund to all
developing nations, not just small island states and the
COP28 UAE Declarations: least developed countries.

 Agriculture, Food, & Climate

 Climate and Health
 Climate Relief, Recovery & Peace

Other Initiatives

 Adoption of the Global Goal on Adaptation-UAE

Framework for Global Climate Resilience
 Launch of COP28 Gender-Responsive Just Transitions and
Climate Action Partnership
 Appointment of the Youth Climate Champion. Challenges in L&D Fund:
Issues Persisting from COP28  Lack of a universally agreed definition for categorizing
L&D activities.
 Failure to agree on rules for the global carbon market.  Insufficient data and processes for systematic collection,
 Attempts by the US to implement regulations were recording, and reporting of L&D impacts.
blocked by the EU, Africa, and Latin America.  Low financial pledges (~$700 million) compared to the
 Current levels of climate finance are insufficient to meet estimated annual funding requirement in the hundreds
the adaptation finance gap. of billions.
 Promotion of marine geoengineering technologies like  Limited technical capacity in developing countries to
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). model L&D scientifically.
Way Forward
India's Concerns at COP28
 Build on COP28 UAE Consensus to establish a universally
 Climate and Health Declaration. acceptable definition of L&D.
 Equity and Justice.  Implement mitigation and adaptation actions globally to
 Fossil Fuel Cuts prevent and minimize L&D.
Way Forward  Integrate the concept of L&D into national and
international climate action policies.
LEGEND BHAIYA
 3
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
India and Climate Action  Strengthen targets to achieve higher emissions
reductions aligned with a 1.5°C pathway.
India's Climate Targets
 Enhance climate change knowledge management and
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Goals (2030): institutional coordination.

 Reduce Emissions Intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 Green Credit Program (GCP)
levels.
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
 Achieve about 50% cumulative electric power installed
(MoEFCC) notified rules for Green Credit Program (GCP) 2023.
capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources.
 Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes About Green Credit (GC): Incentives provided for activities
of CO2 equivalent through forest and tree cover. benefiting the environment, traded on a dedicated exchange
similar to carbon credits.
Panchamrita Targets (COP26 Glasgow):
Key Differences:
 Achieve net zero emissions by 2070.
 Increase non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. Green Benefits individuals and communities.
 Meet 50% of energy requirements from renewable Credit
sources by 2030. Carbon Primarily benefits industries and corporations.
 Reduce carbon intensity of the economy by less than Credit
Underlying Legislation
45% by 2030.
 Cut total projected carbon emissions by one billion  Green Credit Program (GCP) under the Environment
tonnes by 2030. (Protection) Act, 1986.
Achievements/Progress:  Carbon Credit Trading Scheme under the Energy
Conservation Act, 2001.
 Reduced emission intensity of GDP by 33% from 2005 to
Purpose:
2019.
 Achieved 45.5% (203 GW) of installed electricity capacity  Market-based mechanism to incentivize environmentally
from non-fossil fuel sources as of June 2024. positive actions voluntarily.
Challenges/Issues in Achieving Climate Targets:  This setup provides overview of India's climate targets,
achievements, challenges, and initiatives like the Green
 Overall rating remains "Highly insufficient" according to Credit Program.
Climate Action Tracker.  Aligned with the 'LIFE' (Lifestyle for Environment)
 Challenges include slow decommissioning of coal-based Initiative.
plants, high greenhouse gas emissions (including  Encourages industries, companies, and entities to fulfill
methane), and constraints in scaling renewable energy. environmental obligations voluntarily.
 Established under "The Environment (Protection) Act,
Policies/Schemes/Initiatives:
1986" with the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) as the nodal agency.
 Governed by an inter-ministerial Steering Committee.
 Policies: National Action Plan on Climate Change , Key Highlights of Green Credit Rules (Amended):
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change , Climate  Forest Departments of all States and Union Territories
Change Action Program etc. mandated to identify degraded land.
 Schemes: PM-KUSUM, Solar rooftop program, ultra-  Focus on eco-restoration of degraded forest areas under
mega solar parks, Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) the GCP.
scheme, Ujjwala, IJJALA, FAME India scheme, etc.  Number of trees planted varies based on site conditions.
 International Initiatives: International Solar Alliance  Tree plantation to be completed within two years as
(ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure instructed by ICFRE.
(CDRI).
 Other Rules: Preference given to indigenous species.
Way Forward:  Plantation of high-quality seedlings and retention of
naturally growing seedlings emphasized.
 Halt new coal power capacity and develop a sustainable
plan for retiring existing capacity. Carbon Credits Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023:

LEGEND BHAIYA
4
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Ministry of Power (MoP) announced reforms in the Carbon  Indian industry stakeholders have limited experience
Credits Trading Scheme (CCTS). with cap-and-trade markets.
 Complex Institutional Framework.
Major Reforms Announced:
 Difficulties in setting realistic emission reduction targets.
 Bureau of Energy Efficiency tasked with developing  Balancing targets to avoid oversupply (lower prices) or
standards and registering projects under an offset undersupply (higher prices) of carbon credits.
mechanism.  Renewable Energy Shortage.
 BEE to validate carbon credits (beyond verification). Way Forward:
 Non-OEs can now register decarbonization projects and  Streamline and strengthen institutional structure.
generate carbon credits voluntarily.  Formulate transparent, well defined Methodology to set
emission targets.
Significance of Reforms:
Climate Equality:
 Deepens the Indian carbon credit market by including
Non-OEs. Types of Inequalities
 Enables foreign decarbonization projects to choose India Carbon Developed countries emit a Unequal high
for certification, reducing reliance on overseas standards Inequality share of global CO2 emissions.
agencies. between
Nations:
About CCTS, 2023:
Carbon Higher income groups within countries
 Establishes a carbon credit trading market to support Inequality typically have significantly higher carbon
India's decarbonization goals. within Nations: emissions.
 Carbon credit equals one tonne of CO2 removed,
reduced, or sequestered from the atmosphere.

Key Features: Current Situation (Emission Gap Report 2023):

 Globally, the richest 10% account for 48% of emissions.

 Specifies the structure for both voluntary trading and  Bottom 50% of households contribute only 12% of global
compliance in the Indian Carbon Market. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
 Creation of Accredited Carbon Verification Agencies
(ACVAs) for verification activities. Need to Address Inequality:
Institutional Framework:  Acknowledge historical contributions to climate change.
 National Steering Committee for Indian Carbon Market  Ensure climate measures do not exacerbate social and
(NSCICM) for governance and monitoring. economic disparities.
 Bureau of Energy Efficiency identifies and recommends  Design policies that are targeted and equitable,
sectors for inclusion in the Indian carbon market to the enhancing efficiency of climate investments.
Ministry of Power.
 Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC): Measures Taken
Regulates trading of Tradable Carbon Credit Certificates
 Geneva Pledge on Human Rights and Climate Action
(TCCC).
(2015): Promotes sharing of best practices between
 Grid Controller of India Limited (GCIL): Acts as the
human rights and climate experts.
registry for obligated and non-obligated entities in the
 UNDP Climate Promise Initiative: Aims to foster climate
carbon market.
action globally.
Other Initiatives in India's Carbon Markets
 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) India's Efforts:
 Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Scheme
 Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts) under Perform  Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme and Forest Rights Act, 2006: Protect rights of indigenous
communities.
 Global Hydrogen Trading Mechanism (GHTM):
 Supreme Court Recognition: Acknowledged the right to
 Voluntary Carbon Market in Agriculture Sector:
be free from adverse effects of climate change under
Challenges to CCTS:
Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

LEGEND BHAIYA
 5
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Renewable Energy Initiatives: Initiatives like the  6.7 million children displaced in India (2015-2021) due to
International Solar Alliance (ISA) promoting accessible weather-related events.
renewable energy.  In Bangladesh, girl marriages increased by 50% during
heatwaves lasting over 30 days.
Way Forward:
 In Ethiopia, approximately 20% of girls and 5% of boys
 Implement policies that discourage investments in miss school to fetch water under normal circumstances.
polluting and fossil fuel activities.
Factors Behind Children's Vulnerability :
 Increase public investments in low-carbon energy
infrastructure, transportation, and energy efficiency.  Limited physical capabilities.
 Prioritize investment in the production and collection of  Economic and social inequality.
climate inequality statistics to inform policy-making.  Only 2.4% of climate finance supports projects focusing
on children.
Indian Traditional Practices & Climate Change:
MITIGATION AND WAY FORWARD
Agriculture:
• Ensure child-critical services are shock-responsive,
portable, and inclusive.
 Natural Farming: Examples include Zero-Budget Natural
• Enhance children's adaptive capacities and resilience for
Farming (ZBNF), enhancing soil health and reducing
a climate-changed world.
water usage.
• Focus humanitarian and development policies, actions,
 Adaptation to Sea Level Rise: Kuttanad Kaliyanam
and investments on children and young people under
farming in Kerala involves below sea level paddy
UNFCCC.
cultivation.
 Water Use Efficiency: Meghalaya's bamboo drip Climate Change Impact on Women
irrigation system.
Data: Girls often receive less food than boys during climate-
 Architecture and Housing: Traditional techniques like
related food shortages.
Dhajji-Dewari and Taq system in Kashmir provide
resilience against extreme weather. Women comprise 43% of the agricultural labor force in
 Sacred Grooves: Act as repositories of traditional crop developing countries, facing significant impacts from climate
varieties and medicinal plants, preserving genetic change.
resources.
 Rainwater Harvesting: Traditional methods like Jhalaras Only 2% of gender-tagged international adaptation finance is
in Rajasthan and Zabo in Nagaland mitigate drought gender-responsive (Adaptation Gap Report).
effects. Women and children are 14 times more likely than men to
Issues with Adoption of Traditional Practices: die during disasters (UNDP). 80% of people displaced by
 Risks of declining agricultural productivity. climate change are women (UN figures).
 Some practices, like ZBNF, lack scientific validation.
 Threatened by modernization and a lack of Women's Role in Climate Action:
documentation.
 Women's expertise in natural resource management can
 Concerns over foreign entities patenting India's inform effective climate action strategies.
traditional knowledge.
 Women often act as first responders and play crucial
Conclusion: Engage communities in participatory
roles in post-disaster recovery efforts.
mapping and ethnographic research to document and
 Climate investments can be enhanced through grassroots
preserve traditional knowledge and Integrate traditional
women's organizations.
knowledge into national climate change policies to
 Countries with higher proportions of women in
enhance resilience.
parliament tend to have stricter climate policies.
Way Forward:
Climate Change Impact:  Adaptation initiatives should identify and address
gender-specific impacts, especially in sectors like water
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON CHILDREN and food security.
Impact on Vulnerable Sections :  Develop technologies that consider women's priorities,
needs, and roles.

LEGEND BHAIYA
6
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Ensure climate action policies are Gender-Aware, Climate Change Impact on Health:
Gender-Sensitive and Gender-Responsive.

Climate Change Impact on Elderly Population:

Impacts

 Elderly face higher susceptibility to heat-related illnesses

and mortality during heatwaves.
 Heat-related deaths among those over 65 have increased
by 70% in the past two decades (WHO).
 Extreme weather events and migration of family
members can lead to increased social isolation among
the elderly.
 Extreme weather events can cause economic hardship,
resulting in the loss of assets, pensions, disability
benefits, and other essential resources.

Way Forward: Constraints:

 Increase Awareness. • Low-income countries face a financing gap for addressing

 Ensure accessible infrastructure, transportation options, the health impacts of climate change.
and healthcare services are available to meet the needs • There is a lack of effective use of climate information by
of seniors. health actors to prepare for and respond to climate-
related health risk.
Impact of Climate Change on Rural Poor: • Research and knowledge gaps, inadequate access to local
meteorological observations, insufficient human and
Impact
institutional capacity.
• Poor households lose about 5% of their total income
Steps Taken
annually due to heat stress compared to wealthier
households. • COP28 UAI Declaration: Unveiled the Declaration on
• Low-income communities bear the brunt of climate Climate and Health (India has not yet signed).
hazards, experiencing property damage, livelihood • World Health Summit (WHS): Annual summit held in
losses, and economic setbacks. Berlin, Germany.
• In 2019, countries like Bangladesh, China, India, and the • Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and
Philippines each saw over 4 million displacements due to Health (ATACH): Initiative by the World Health
disasters (IPCC). Organization (WHO) focusing on climate and health.

Mitigation: India's Initiatives:

• Mobilize resources from initiatives like the Green Climate • National Action Plan on Climate Change and Human
Fund to promote climate justice. Health.
• Empower local communities with climate-resilient • Environmental Health Surveillance
initiatives through strategies like WWF's community- • National Health Mission.
based conservation. • Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), 2022: Guidelines
• Implement UN recommendations on climate finance to for developing green and climate-resilient hospitals.
ensure marginalized groups.
Way Forward:

• Adopting a 'One Health' Approach

• Building Climate-Resilient, Low-Carbon Health Systems.
• Tailored Climate Information and Services.

Climate Change Impact on Indian Sub-continent:

Impact:

LEGEND BHAIYA
 7
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
• India's average temperature increased by approximately • Transition Challenges: Low and middle-income countries
0.7°C from 1901 to 2018. face economic and institutional hurdles in shifting to low-
• Frequency of daily precipitation extremes (>150 mm per carbon energy
day) rose by about 75% from 1950 to 2015. • Initiative: Global Methane Pledge
• North Indian Ocean experienced a sea-level rise at a rate • Powering Past Coal Alliance
of 3.3 mm per year from 1993 to 2017. • Energy Transition Partnerships (ETP)
• Increased Ambition Target set in COP 26 (Aim to achieve
Extreme Events:
Net-Zero emissions by 2070).
• Arabian Sea witnessed a 52% increase in cyclonic storms • National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
from 2001 to 2019 (IISER study).
IPCC AR6 Recommendations:
• Marine heatwaves expected to increase significantly,
from 20 days per year to 220-250 days per year. • Limit global warming to 1.5°C.
• Frequency of extreme positive Indian Ocean Dipole • Peak global greenhouse gas emissions before 2025.
events projected to increase nearly threefold over the • Achieve global net zero CO2 emissions by the early
21st century. 2050s. EG: In Mauritius, UNDP supported the
government in installing battery energy storage capacity
Way Forward:
funded by the Green Climate Fund.
• Collaborate through platforms like Coalition for Disaster
Climate Finance
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to develop infrastructure
that can withstand climate impacts. Climate finance refers to funding from various sources
• Improve hyper-local weather forecasting to better (public, private, and alternative) aimed at supporting actions
prepare for extreme weather events. for climate change mitigation and adaptation, as defined by
• Implement climate-smart agriculture practices to the UNFCCC.
enhance food security and resilience.
Current Needs:
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION
The global transformation to a low-carbon economy requires
Global: an estimated USD 4-6 trillion annually (Emission Gap Report
2022).
• Global average CO2 concentration was 417.9 ppm in
2022 (WMO Bulletin). Between USD 6-8 trillion from 2015 to 2030 is needed to
• Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) levels have risen transform current energy systems, and approximately USD 10
by 26.4% and 124% respectively since pre-industrial trillion to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
times (WMO, 2022).
Significance of Climate Finance:
• Global greenhouse gas emissions increased by 1.2% from
2021 to 2022 (UNFCCC Report, 2023). I • Facilitates a just transition to low-carbon energy systems,
especially in low- and middle-income countries.
India:
• Addresses loss and damage and enhances resilience
• India has contributed 5% to global warming to date (IPCC against climate change impacts in developing nations.
Report, 2023). • Supports restoration of natural capital and biodiversity.
• In 2022, India accounted for 8% of global CO2 emissions,
Major Constraints:
ranking third highest globally (Emission COP Report,
2023). • Only about 8% of total climate financing in 2019-2020
• Per capita carbon emissions were 2 tonnes per person was allocated to adaptation efforts.
per year in 2021, among the lowest globally. • Approximately 94% of current climate investment is
driven by debt or equity seeking returns.
CHALLENGES IN MITIGATION:
Global Initiatives:
• Adaptation Finance: Needs are 10-10 times higher than
current public flows (Adaptation Commission Report, Loss and Damage Fund: Operationalized to assist vulnerable
2023). countries in coping with climate change impacts, established
• NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions): Minimal during COP 28.
progress since COP 27.

LEGEND BHAIYA
 8
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Green Climate Fund (GCF): Established in COP 16 (2010), • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): Developed eco-labelling
aiming to mobilize USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to standards (IS/ISO 14024:1999).
support climate action in developing countries. • Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Regulated by the Central
Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to address
New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG):
consumer rights violations and misleading
advertisements.
• SEBI (Security and Exchange Board of India): Business
Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) norms
and guidelines on green bonds.
• UN's High-Level Expert Group: Focus on preventing
greenwashing through initiatives like the TechSprint on
Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities.
WAY FORWARD
• Transparency and Accountability
• Harnessing Technology.
New commitments under the Paris Agreement for enhancing • Utilize AI, natural language processing, and machine
climate finance. learning to combat greenwashing and effectively
measure project impacts.
Other Funds and Mechanisms: Adaptation Fund, Special
Climate Change Fund (SCCF), Least Developed Countries Fund DECARBONISATION IN INDIA:
(LDCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Clean Technology
Decarbonization is process of reducing or removing carbon
Fund (CTF), among others.
dioxide and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the
Initiatives in India atmosphere.

• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): Aspects:

Established in August 2015 to finance adaptation
• Reducing GHG emissions.
activities.
• Absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
• Priority Sector Lending: Directed towards renewable
energy projects to boost green investments. Challenges in Decarbonization :
• SIDBI's Avaana Sustainability Fund (ASF): Approved by
GEF to support sustainable development initiatives. • High Dependence on Conventional Fuels.
• Union Budget 2022-23: Introduced sovereign green • Contributes about 60% to India's energy mix.
bonds to fund green infrastructure projects. • Challenges in adopting low-carbon technologies, CCUS
(Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage), etc.
Recommendations • Shortage of green finance.
• Lack of bankable projects for investors.
• Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance
• Skill gap in the labor force.
(IHLEG):
• Advocate for boosting tax revenues, phasing out harmful Way Forward:
subsidies,
• Aim to increase private finance substantially beyond • Establish an administrative setup at the ministry level
current levels. integrating MoPNG, MNRE, and Ministry of Power and
• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) should triple Coal to coordinate energy-related initiatives.
their support by 2030. • Utilize NITI Aayog's modelling expertise to forecast future
trends, crucial for planning, monitoring, and course
GREENWASHING correction.
• Formulate an Expert Group on Energy Transition with
NEED FOR REGULATING GREENWASHING:
industry representatives from diverse sectors to provide
• Erosion of Public Trust.EG:: In 2015, the US EPA exposed strategic inputs.
Volkswagen for using software to manipulate emission
tests in its Clean Diesel cars. Transport Sector: Emissions from India's Transport
• Impact on Innovation. Sector:
• Contributes to 14% of energy-related CO2 emissions in
INITIATIVES TO PREVENT GREENWASHING India.
LEGEND BHAIYA
 9
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
• Among the top three greenhouse gas-emitting sectors in • Potent climate forcers with shorter atmospheric lifespans
the country. than CO2 but higher warming potential.
• Emissions grew by 37.5% from 1990 to 2019 (Towards
Impact of SLCPs:
Decarbonising Transport 2023).
Challenges in Decarbonisation: • Second largest contributor to human-caused climate
• High deployment costs for technologies like electric warming, responsible for up to 45% of global warming.
vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure. • Ground-level ozone exposure leads to health issues like
• Consumer hesitancy due to cost and safety concerns. lung inflammation and allergies.
• Insufficient focus on fuel standards. • Black carbon deposition accelerates ice melt on
• High reliance on fossil fuels in power generation (43% of snowfields.
total installed capacity).
Solutions to Reduce SLCPs:
Initiatives to Decarbonise the Transport Sector
• Promote farm-scale anaerobic digestion and eliminate
• Targets: Achieve 45% mode share for rail freight by 2030; open burning in agriculture.
30% EV market share by 2030. • Implement pre-mining de-gasification and recover
• Implementation of Bharat Stage VI Emission Standards. methane from coal mine ventilation air.
• Ethanol blending in petrol targeted to reach 20% by • Treat biodegradable municipal waste to produce
2025. compost or bioenergy, reducing methane emissions.
• Establishment of Forum for Decarbonizing Transport by
NITI Aayog. Climate Engineering:
• FAME India under the National Electric Mobility Mission
Objective: Intervene in the climate system to address global
Plan.
warming, not by reducing GHG emissions directly.
Way Forward
• Shift towards sustainable mobility to reduce energy Methods: Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation
consumption without limiting mobility. Modification (SRM).
• Transition to clean energy sources in transport to cover
remaining demand with carbon-neutral energy. Significance:
• Aim for carbon neutrality in transport by 2050 through • Mimics natural processes.
large-scale transformation. • Temporarily reduces the urgency for GHG emissions
Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) reductions.
• Fills gaps in climate policy.
Global
Potential Risks:

• Adverse impacts on ozone layer, rainfall, crop

production, and ocean acidification.
• Increased dependency on technology.
• High costs potentially exacerbating global inequalities.

Ethical Issues

• Uncertainties and synergistic environmental risks.

• Transparency in decision-making.
• Major Research and Development Program (MRDP) by
DST to study geoengineering implications.
• IITM developing Earth system models for solar
geoengineering simulations.
alliance dedicated to reducing SLCPs, with India joining in
2019. UNESCO's Recommendations:

Key Outcomes of CCAC Conference 2024: • Introduce laws to regulate climate actions, prevent harm,
and prohibit weaponization.
• Establishment of CCAC Technology and Economic • Ensure inclusive participation in climate action from
Assessment Panel. marginalized groups.

LEGEND BHAIYA
10
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
• Promote open collaboration and continuous monitoring Acidity levels in the western Arctic Ocean are increasing three
of climate actions. to four times faster than in other ocean waters.
• Enhance institutional, technological, and ethical
Governance: Arctic lacks a single governing treaty like
capacities for effective climate action.
Antarctica; instead, it falls under multiple national
Impact of Climate Change on Cryosphere: jurisdictions.

The last decade has seen the seven worst years of ice loss, Initiatives for Arctic Region:
threatening the disappearance of tropical, mid-latitude, and
• Arctic Council promotes cooperation among Arctic states
Polar Region glaciers; for EG: Venezuela may lose all its
for environmental protection and sustainable
glaciers first. Himalayas could lose 50% of their current ice by
development.
2100.
• UN High Seas Treaty aims to address climate change
Impact of Melting Cryosphere: impacts.
• India's Arctic Policy focuses on studying climate change's
Melting affects Earth's energy balance maintained by high
impact on India's climate and energy security.
albedo; releases stored carbon in permafrost; strengthens
• Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)
extreme weather events and raises sea levels.
initiatives.
If all glaciers and ice sheets melted, global sea levels would
Conclusion: Exploration in the Arctic should prioritize safety
rise by over 60 meters (NASA).
and sustainability, minimizing ecosystem disruption from
Steps Taken to Protect Glaciers: resource exploitation.

• Himalayan Monitoring Assessment Program (HIMAP) by Hindu Kush Himalayas:

ICIMOD.
 Spans approximately 4.3 million square km across
• UNESCO's World Glacier Monitoring Services.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar,
• 2025 declared International Year of Glacier Preservation
Nepal, and Pakistan.
by UN.
 Extends about 3,500 km from east to west.
• National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem
under NAPCC since 2008. Significance of HKH Region:
• Himansh Research Station established in Chandra basin,
Himachal Pradesh, 2016.  Home to world's highest peaks including Mount Everest
and Kanchenjunga, known as the Third Pole or Water
India's Interest in Arctic: Tower of Asia.
Ministry of Earth Sciences launched India's first Winter
Scientific Expedition to the Arctic.

Significance:

• Arctic climate changes affect global monsoons and sea

levels.
• Arctic holds significant undiscovered oil, natural gas, coal,
and mineral resources.
• Potential new shipping routes and mineral extraction.
• Crucial for understanding global climate patterns and
their links, like Arctic-Himalayan connections.

Arctic Amplification:  Source of 10 major Asian river systems.

 Hosts 4 Global Biodiversity Hotspots.
Arctic is warming over twice as fast as the global average.  Supports livelihoods of 240 million people.
Melting Sea Ice: Sea ice extent in 2022 is significantly below Climatic Risks:
the long-term average.
 Increasing intensity and frequency of climate change
Changing Chemistry of Arctic Ocean: hazards.

LEGEND BHAIYA
11
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Predictions of up to 75% glacier melt by 2100 due to  Human-made contributors are ozone-depleting
global warming (Asian Development Bank). substances (ODSs) like chlorine, bromine, CFCs, carbon
 Economic losses from disasters totaled $545 billion from tetrachloride, and halons.
1985 to 2014. Initiatives:
 The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1985 under the
Global initiatives for protecting Himalayan Ecosystem: Vienna Convention, aims to eliminate ODS production
and use.
 Building Adaptation and Resilience in HKH Initiatives.  The 2016 Kigali Amendment further targets the reduction
 International Centre for Integrated Mountain of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Development.  According to UNEP, the ozone layer is expected to
 Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment recover within four decades.
Programme (HIMAP) coordinated by ICIMOD India's Efforts:
 Himalayan Adaptation Network by IUCN.  India has surpassed the 35% reduction goal for
 Living Himalayas Initiative by the World Wide Fund for Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), achieving a 44%
Nature (WWF). reduction from 2020 levels and eliminating HCFC 141b.
 Initiatives include adherence to the Vienna Convention
India's Initiatives: and Montreal Protocol, a phased HCFC management
plan, and the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) for
 National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, sustainable cooling solutions.
launched by india as part of  India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
 National Action Plan on Climate Change. SECURE Change (MOEFCC) oversees efforts through its Ozone
(Securing livelihpods, conservation, sustainable use and Cell.
restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems)
Himalaya by MoEFCC and the UNDP. Carbon Farming:
The European Parliament and European Council are
Ozone Hole: collaborating to establish the EU's first Carbon Removal
Certification Framework, aimed at promoting carbon farming.
As per recent study, from 2020-22, ozone hole has grown
larger and thinner over Antarctica. Since 2004, researchers About Carbon Farming: Carbon farming employs
saw a total reduction of 26% at the core of ozone hole. regenerative agricultural techniques to enhance agricultural
About Ozone hole: productivity, restore ecosystems, and combat climate change
 Exceptionally depleted ozone in the stratosphere by storing carbon and reducing emissions.
(between 10 KM and 40 KM above the Earth's surface)
over Artic/ Antarctic.  Methods include agroforestry, conservation farming
 Ozone layer is a thin shield of gas in Earth's atmosphere (minimizing soil disturbance), integrated nutrient
that protects the Earth, absorbing the sun's ultraviolet management, and renewable energy production from
rays. grasslands conservation.
Arctic hole: Antarctic Hole:
First observed in 2011 during First identified in 1985. Potential Benefits:
spring. Forms in August and
Caused by the Arctic vortex dissipates by late  Carbon Sequestration: Agricultural soils can absorb 3-8
trapping cold air, November due to polar billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually.
maintaining high stratospheric clouds that  Supporting Farmers' Income: Carbon credit systems
concentrations of ozone- catalyze reactions incentivize farmers by offering additional income through
depleting substances that releasing chlorine atoms. environmental services.
lead to ozone depletion.
Challenges:

Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion:

 Natural factors include changes in the Antarctic polar

vortex, aerosols from wildfires and volcanic eruptions,
and variations in the solar cycle.

LEGEND BHAIYA
12
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Challenges include inadequate policy support and insufficient  Globally, air pollution was the 2nd largest risk factor of
resources to invest in sustainable land management
practices, especially for small-scale farmers.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism:

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry highlights the role of

green energy in helping industries manage the EU's Carbon
Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

About CBAM: CBAM is a policy tool aimed at pricing carbon death, causing 8.1 million deaths in 2021 (State of Global
emissions associated with carbon-intensive goods entering Air Report, 2024).
the EU, promoting cleaner industrial practices in non-EU  Affects buildings, forests, and aquatic life.
countries.  Contributes to climate change through short-lived
climate pollutants like black carbon, ozone, methane,
 Covers goods from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and etc.
Switzerland.
 Operates like a non-tariff barrier (NTB) impacting Indian Regulatory Measures to improve air quality:
exports, particularly iron, steel, and aluminum products  Acts: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
valued at USD 8.2 billion to the EU in 2022.  Statutory Bodies: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
 Designed to comply with WTO rules. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) under
the CAQM in the National Capital Region and Adjoining
Areas Act 2021.
 Monitoring: SAMEER app, System of Air Quality and
Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Swachh
Vayu Sarvekshan 2023.

Way Forward

 Implementing a system where polluters pay for

emissions, similar to the EU Emission Trading System.
 Deploying G-enabled autonomous robots in South Korea
to monitor air quality in industrial areas.
 Utilizing NASA's Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of
Potential Impact on India:
Pollution (TEMPO) satellite for monitoring air pollution
 CBAM could significantly affect India's exports. India is from space.
adopting low-carbon technologies and promoting Air Pollution In Major Cities :Delhi
initiatives like the Green Hydrogen Mission to mitigate its
impact.  Change in wind direction towards Northwest post-
 Negotiations with the EU are ongoing to exempt MSMEs monsoon, bringing dust from Rajasthan, Pakistan, and
from CBAM regulations. Afghanistan.
 Vehicle emissions contribute 40% of PM2.5 emissions in
Air Pollution:
Delhi.
Acc to Urban air pollution in India (2023 World Air Quality  Stubble burning in National Capital Region (NCR):
report, IQAir):
Temperature Inversion:
• Ranked 3rd globally in air pollution.
 Occurs when a layer of warmer air traps cooler air near
• Annual average PM2.5: 54.4 µg/m3 (10 times WHO the ground.
guideline of 5 µg/m3).  During temperature inversion, the inversion height
lowers, restricting pollutant dispersion into the upper
• 9 out of 10 world's most polluted cities in India (e.g., atmosphere.
Begusarai, Guwahati, and Delhi in Top 3).  Concentration of pollutants increases under inversion
Impacts of Urban Air Pollution : conditions.

LEGEND BHAIYA
13
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Case of Mumbai Implementation: Led by the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB), with City Action Plans (CAPs) executed at state and
Reasons for air pollution increase:
municipal levels.
 Disruption in local wind patterns:
 Swachh Vayu Survekshan: Ranks cities based on CAP
 Disturbed cycle between sea-to-land and land-to-sea implementation and air quality improvements.
winds leads to higher levels of Particulate Matter (PM).
 Dip in La Niña: Cooling ocean surface alters wind Progress and Challenges
patterns.
 Progress: Some cities have shown improvements in
 Creates temperature gradient between city and nearby
PM2.5 and PM10 levels.
hills, directing winds and dust towards the city.
 Challenges: Include insufficient air quality monitors, poor
Cloud Seeding: data capture, underutilization of funds, and issues with
fiscal strategy and trans-boundary emissions.
Researchers are exploring the potential of cloud seeding to
address Delhi's air pollution issues. Way Forward:

 Cloud seeding is a technique used to enhance  Adopt standardized air quality monitoring methods and
precipitation by introducing substances into clouds. invest in technological tools.
 Chemicals used: Includes salts such as silver iodide,  Strengthen fiscal responses and mandate compliance
potassium iodide, sodium chloride, or materials like dry with clear targets.
ice.  Encourage private sector involvement and enhance
stakeholder cooperation for effective implementation.
Conditions required: Effective in clouds with suitable
temperature (-10 to -12 degrees Celsius), at least 50% cloud THE WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION)
cover, and relative humidity above 75%. AMENDMENT ACT, 2024:

Applications: Recently passed by Parliament, amending the Water

(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
 Can help clear particulate matter and pollutants like
smog and haze from the atmosphere. Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Union territories passed
 Used in hydroelectric power generation, fog dispersal, resolutions to adopt the amendments, invoking Article 252 of
cyclone modification, and controlling forest fires. the Constitution.

Challenges: About Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,

1974:
 Potential toxicity of substances like silver iodide to
aquatic life.  Prevent and control water pollution and maintain water
 Debate over human intervention in natural processes wholesomeness nationwide.
and regulatory concerns.  Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) and State
 High operational costs and unpredictable weather Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).
impacts.  Initially applicable in 25 states.

Conclusion: Collaborative efforts are needed to establish Key Amendments (Water Amendment Act, 2024)
clear guidelines and ethical standards for cloud seeding
 Chairman of SPCB: Previously nominated by state
projects, considering potential long-term impacts on
government; now terms and conditions prescribed by the
ecosystems and weather patterns.
central government.
5 Years of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)  Consent Exemptions: State governments empowered to
exempt certain industrial categories from requiring
About NCAP
permission.
Aim: Improve air quality in 131 cities identified as non-  Penalties: Decriminalizes violations, imposes fines
attainment cities (NAC) and Million Plus Cities exceeding ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).  Heads of departments held accountable for violations,
subject to penalties.
Targets: Achieve up to 40% reductions in PM10 and PM2.5
concentrations by 2025-26. Other Provisions:
LEGEND BHAIYA
14
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Tampering with Monitoring Devices: Fine ranging from  National Water Mission: Aims to conserve water
₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh. resources and ensure sustainable management.
 Adjudicating Officers: Appointed by central government  Water Conservation Initiatives: Implemented through
for penalty determination. schemes like Atal Bhujal Yojana.
 Environment Protection Fund: Receives penalty  Sahi Fasal Campaign: Promotes sustainable agricultural
proceeds. practices to reduce water consumption.
 Appeals: May be filed before the National Green
Way Forward: Recommendations by World Resource
Tribunal, with a deposit of 10% of the penalty.
Institute's Atlas:
Criticism:
 Implement nature-based solutions and green
 Challenges in enforcing penalties due to logistical and infrastructure.
cultural reasons.  Encourage commitments to invest in mangrove
 Amendments criticized for potentially ignoring climate restoration and wetland conservation.
and water crisis concerns.  Implement strategies to resolve water crises in
 Raises concerns over state authority in managing SPCBs. agriculture.
 Cities should formulate action plans to enhance
Conclusion: There is need for Stakeholder Engagement
resilience against urban water challenges.
through consultations with environmental experts, industry
representatives, and civil society organizations to refine the URBAN WATER CRISIS IN INDIA:
amendments and address concerns.
Bengaluru faced its severest water crisis in decades,
Extreme Water Stress: highlighting the broader issue of urban water scarcity in India.

Extreme Water Stress Occurs when a country uses at least Definition: Inadequate access to clean and safe water,
80% of its available water supply. exemplified by recent crises in cities like Bengaluru and
Chennai.
High Water Stress: Indicates withdrawal of 40% of available
water supply. "Day Zero": Term used when water resources become
critically scarce due to drought worsened by climate change.
Current Situation:
Reasons Behind the Crisis:
 25 countries, including India, face extreme water stress
(World Resources Institute - WRI).  Projected doubling of India's water demand by 2030 due
 Half of the world's population lives under highly water- to rapid urbanization (UN Report).
stressed conditions for at least one month annually (WRI  India houses 18% of the world's population but only
Data). possesses 4% of global water resources.
 Over-extraction worsened by unplanned urbanization.
Impacts:
 Notably seen in polluted water bodies like Bellandur Lake
 By 2050, 31% of global GDP will be vulnerable to high (Bengaluru).
water stress, with India, Mexico, Egypt, and Turkey
Key Initiatives to Tackle the Crisis:
accounting for over half of this exposure (WRI Data).
 60% of the world's irrigated agriculture faces extreme  National Water Mission (NWM): Focuses on integrated
water stress (WRI Data). water development and conservation.
 Urban River Management Plans (URMPs): Implemented
Causes of Global Extreme Water Stress:
in 60 cities under Namami Gange to manage urban
 Overexploitation of water resources, especially for rivers.
agriculture.  Jal Shakti Abhiyan - Catch the Rain Campaign: Promotes
 Unsustainable water use policies. water conservation nationwide.
 Climate change disrupting the hydrological cycle and Way Forward
reducing water availability.  Promote green-blue infrastructure and wetland
 Lack of investment in water infrastructure. restoration.
 Sustainable Water Management: Implement models like
Initiatives Taken in India: Telangana's Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM).

LEGEND BHAIYA
15
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Educate and involve communities, like the recycled water Objective: Integrated mission to reduce pollution and
campaign in Orange County, USA. conserve the Ganga and its tributaries.
 Collaborate internationally, such as the LOTUS-HR
Key Features: Central Sector Scheme implemented by
program between Netherlands and India for sewage
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
treatment in Delhi.
Major States Covered: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
Groundwater Management in India:
Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal.
 India is the world's largest user of groundwater,
Achievements:
extracting 25% of the global supply annually.
 Indo-Gangetic basin has surpassed the groundwater  885 out of 1072 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs)
depletion tipping point. monitored via Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring
 Over 60% of monitored wells show declining water levels Stations.
over the last decade.  Dissolved Oxygen levels in the Ganga within acceptable
limits as per 2022 survey.
Reasons for Decline in Groundwater:
Challenges:
 Rapid increase in borewells (1 million to 20 million in 50
years).  Slow pace with only 232 out of 409 projects completed
 Long-term decline in monsoonal rainfall due to climate by December 2022.
change.  Limited capacity of sewage treatment plants (STPs) to
 State subsidies on power (including solar pumps) for handle major basin state sewage.
agriculture.  Financial management issues with released funds below
 Other Factors such as Population growth, urbanization, allocations by June 2023.
and industrial demands outpacing supply.
Way Forward:
Impacts of Groundwater Decline:
 Verify efficiency of existing STPs through independent
 Reduced surface water availability due to interconnected assessments.
aquifers.  Innovate revenue models for sustainable water
 Land subsidence from shrinking aquifers. infrastructure operations.
 Threats to food security and farmer livelihoods.  Restore local water bodies integral to river conservation.
 Increased costs for water extraction and energy.
WATER TRADING:
Government Initiatives for Groundwater Management:
NITI Aayog's proposal for water trading to enhance treated
 National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme wastewater reuse.
(NAQUIM)
About Water Trading
 Jal Kranti Abhiyan
 Atal Bhujal Yojana Market mechanism treating water as a tradable commodity.
 Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
 Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020 Mechanism: Companies can purchase water from third
parties for reuse.
Suggestions to Improve Groundwater Management:
Need for Treated Wastewater Reuse
 Shift to less water-intensive crops like pomegranates and
cumin.  Address urban water pollution with only 40% of
wastewater treated.
 Policy reforms like separating agricultural and household
electricity connections.  Balance spatial water distribution and tackle water
scarcity.
 Restructure governance with recommendations from the
Mihir Shah Committee.  Manage overuse in agriculture, a net virtual exporter of
water.
NAMAMI GANGE PROGRAMME (NGP)
Challenges:
About NGP
 Establishing appropriate pricing and storage for treated
wastewater.
LEGEND BHAIYA
16
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Ensuring continuous supply amidst maintenance and LAND DEGRADATION AT A GLANCE:
quality issues.
Land degradation refers to Reduction in land's ability to
 Lack of economic value for water hindering market
produce benefits under specific management.
development.
India: 29.7% degraded land, significant acidity in arable land.
Way Forward
Global: Cultivated soils lost 75% of original carbon, 50%
 Establish Independent Regulatory Authorities (IRAs) for
topsoil lost via erosion.
water allocation and pricing.
 Develop trading platforms with reuse targets and site- Global Targets:
specific plans.
 Learn from global models like Australia, Spain, and South  Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) aims to restore one
Africa for efficient water management practices. billion hectares by 2030.
 Global Land Initiative pledges to halve degradation by
MINAMATA CONVENTION 2040.

Fifth Conference of Parties (COP 5) held in Geneva focused on India: Committed to restore 26 million hectares by 2030.
reducing mercury supply sources and trade.
Constraints:
Major Outcomes:
 Rapid land use changes for development.
 Emphasis on national capacity building and global study  Illegal logging, encroachment, and unregulated grazing.
on mercury supply, trade, production, and use.  Limited knowledge and high restoration costs.
 Established 15 mg/kg as the threshold concentration for  Extreme weather, excessive fertilizers, and pesticides.
mercury-contaminated wastes.
Global Initiatives:
About Minamata Convention on Mercury
 UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
 First global treaty protecting human health and  LDN Fund catalyzes private investments.
environment from mercury's adverse effects.  Bonn Challenge targets 350 million hectares by 2030.
 Mercury can harm nervous, thyroid, kidney, lung,  UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).
immune, eye, and skin systems.
 Goals: Ban new mercury mines, phase out existing ones, India:
and reduce mercury in products and processes.
 National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
 Named after Japan's Minamata city, central to Minamata
 Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas.
disease from severe mercury poisoning.
 Integrated Watershed Management Program.
Annexes of the Convention:
 Annex A: Mercury-added products like batteries, Way Forward:
fluorescent lamps, pesticides.
 Annex B: Manufacturing processes using mercury.  Expand global restoration targets to 1.5 billion hectares
 Annex C: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining. by 2030.
 Annex D: List of mercury emission point sources.  Use indigenous knowledge for sustainable practices.
 Annex E: Arbitration and conciliation procedures.  Promote agroforestry in wastelands.
 Regulate soil pollution in line with international
Successes of the Convention: 148 countries ratified. standards (Stockholm, Basel Conventions).

 Significant reduction in mercury use and emissions. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
 Improved monitoring and reporting systems.
 Originated from the 1987 Brundtland Commission report.
Challenges:  Adoption: Formally adopted at the UN Sustainable
Development Summit in 2015 as "Transforming our
 Managing mercury in artisanal gold mining.
world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".
 Compliance and enforcement in resource-limited
countries. Challenges:
 Providing technical and financial support to developing
 Asia Pacific not expected to achieve all 17 SDGs before
nations.
2062 (UNESCAP SDG Progress Report, 2024).
LEGEND BHAIYA
17
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Disparities across countries, genders, urban-rural areas, electricity provision, infrastructure development, and
etc. higher education.
 Economic development disparities, rapid urbanization,
Andhra Pradesh: Implements 'Navaratnalu', a cluster of 9
regional variations.
flagship programs targeting vulnerable communities.
 Systemic weaknesses, limited access to resources,
inadequate participation of marginalized communities. Way Forward:

Initiatives:  Break down SDGs for implementation at sub-national

and local levels, ensuring gender-responsive and
 MYAC (One Million Youth Actions Challenge): Encourages
community-centric approaches.
youth to promote SDGs 6, 12, 13, and 15 through
 Establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
collective action.
 Raise awareness about SDGs in Panchayati Raj
 Inclusion in censuses and capacity-building in Central
Institutions (PRIs) and empower rural bodies.
Asian countries aid decision-making.

Way Forward: Sustainable Tourism

 Integrate climate action (SDG 13) into national policies. Tourism that considers economic, social, and environmental
 Implement Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as impacts, meeting the needs of visitors, the industry,
reforestation, afforestation, wetland restoration, and environment, and host communities (World Tourism
green infrastructure. Organization).
 Support initiatives like the ENACT partnership (launched
in CoP27) focused on environmental issues through NbS. Basic Principles:

Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  Optimal use of resources, conserving natural heritage
and biodiversity.
UN-Habitat released "Smart Cities Mission, India: Localising  Promote intercultural understanding and tolerance.
SDGs" report with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.  Equitable distribution of socio-economic benefits.
Challenges in SDG Localization: Environmental Footprint of Tourism:
 Limited finance, data, and capacities for sub-national  Tourism contributes to 8% of global carbon emissions.
monitoring.
 Transport-related CO2 emissions expected to rise 25%
 Lack of policy coherence and coordination between from 2016 levels by 2030 under current trends.
national and local efforts.
 Limited awareness of SDGs at sub-national levels in Issues/Challenges in Ensuring Sustainable Tourism:
diverse countries like India.
 Limited focus on environmental aspects, neglecting social
Benefits of SDG Localisation: and economic dimensions.
 Absence of dedicated organizations or agencies to
 Promotes cooperative and competitive federalism, enforce sustainable tourism rules and regulations.
fostering healthy competition.
 Misleading claims of sustainability without genuine
 Enhances state capacity at all government levels. efforts or impact.
Efforts for SDGs Localization: Way Forward (National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism
 NITI Aayog oversees SDG adoption and monitoring (NSST), 2022):
nationwide.  Formulating Sustainable Tourism Criteria of India (STCI)
 Foster competitive and cooperative federalism among  Develop criteria based on global practices tailored to
states and Union Territories (UTs). India's specific needs.
 SDG India Index: Introduced by NITI Aayog to track SDG  Establish a certification scheme to recognize sustainable
progress across states and UTs. tourism practices.
Examples of SDG Localization :  Establish National and State Resource Centres for
capacity building among stakeholders.
 Viksit Bihar ke 7 Nischay: Includes schemes on inclusion,  Create a Vision Group on Sustainable Tourism under the
entrepreneurship, women's job reservation, water and Union Minister for Tourism.
LEGEND BHAIYA
18
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Unregulated Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR):  Strengthen international cooperation for blended finance
and sustainable financial systems.
Challenges of Unregulated Tourism in the IHR:
Mission LIFE ('Lifestyle for Environment'):
 Rapid growth in tourist numbers, expected to reach 240
million by 2025. MoEF&CC conducted awareness activities as part of Mission
 Significant solid waste generation, approximately 8.395 LIFE.
million tonnes annually.
About Mission LIFE: India-led global movement promoting
 Loss of forests and biodiversity due to infrastructure
sustainable consumption and production aligned with SDGs.
development.
 Altered landscapes from traditional to less eco-friendly Launched at UNFCCC COP26 to engage individuals and
infrastructure. communities in environmental preservation.
 Seasonal tourism causing overcrowding, cultural erosion,
and social impacts. Targets and Phases:

Way Forward:  Goals include making 80% of villages and urban local
bodies environmentally friendly by 2028.
 Implement a multi-year strategy with local community  Phases involve demand and supply changes, influencing
partnerships. policies for sustainable consumption.
 Foster inter-departmental collaboration for active
monitoring and regulation. Challenges in Implementation:
 Design climate-smart infrastructure through  Challenges include the feasibility of uniform sustainable
environmental assessments and risk disclosures. approaches and lack of precise data for informed
 Utilize technology for tourism satellite accounts and decisions.
multi-hazard zoning.  Issues such as greenwashing and financial incentives for
Sustainable Finance: clean energy hinder implementation.

Report 'Sustainable Finance: Bridging the Gap in Asia and the Expected Impacts:
Pacific' launched by ESCAP.  Predicted reductions in emissions and air pollution, with
Sustainable Finance is Integration of environmental, social, significant job creation in clean energy sectors.
and governance (ESG) considerations in financial investments.  Expected investments in clean energy technologies and
economic stimulation through sustainable practices.
Tools of Sustainable Finance:
Way Forward:
 Green deposits, sovereign green bonds, and green and
social impact bonds by IFC.  Develop outcome-oriented indicators to measure the
 Aligned with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for environmental impact of sustainable choices.
financing sustainable development.  Promote green nudges to encourage sustainable
lifestyles and traditional practices.
Status and Challenges:  Incentivize adoption of sustainable options through tax
breaks and carbon pricing.
 Developing countries face an annual financing gap of
 Integrate knowledge of sustainable lifestyles into
$2.5 trillion to $4 trillion for sustainable
educational curricula for long-term impact.
development.
 COMPILED BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 High debt service burdens and economic challenges
exacerbate financial gaps.
 Sustainable finance aims to mobilize funds for green
growth and resilience against global risks.

Recommendations:

 Promote local currency financing for energy transition

and green technologies.
 Advocate for concessional financing and risk-sharing
mechanisms by development banks.
LEGEND BHAIYA
19
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Circular Economy:  Engage stakeholders including urban local bodies (ULBs),
informal cooperatives, regulators, etc.
 Encourage decentralized governance at municipal and
panchayat levels.
 Support circular economy through public procurement
policies, tax incentives, etc.

Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Act, 2023

About Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Act,

2023:

 Broadens definition of "coastal aquaculture" to include

various verticals.
 Registration under this Act supersedes permissions under
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification.
 Roles expanded to set standards for inputs and effluent
 Only 7.2% of the global economy operates in a circular discharge, regulate aquaculture units, and promote
manner, with a declining trend (Circularity Gap Report biosecurity.
2023).
Significance of Amendments
Need of Circular Economy (CE) in India:
 Economic benefits include ease of business and
 Replace Linear Economic Model: India saw a six-fold employment generation.
increase in annual material consumption from 1970 to  Environmental benefits through sustainable aquaculture
2015. practices and biosecurity measures.
 Enhance household disposable income by reducing costs
of products and services. Issues with the Act:
 Decrease dependency on imported resources.
 Challenges noted in effective implementation due to
 Potential to create an annual value of ₹40 lakh crore by
manpower and infrastructure deficiencies.
2050, equivalent to 30% of India's current GDP.
 Potential environmental impacts from intensive coastal
Constraints: aquaculture.

 Requires systemic change in how goods and services are Conclusion: The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment)
designed, produced, consumed, and disposed. Act, 2023, aims to modernize and regulate coastal
 Businesses lack incentives due to the costly and time- aquaculture to foster sustainable growth and economic
consuming nature of transitioning. benefits while addressing environmental concerns.
 Inefficiencies in waste management sector, including
Organic Farming in India:
informal nature and lack of collection and sorting
facilities. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA) established a dedicated
Schemes and Policies:
organic promotion division.
 Regulatory measures: National Resource Efficiency Policy About Organic Farming: A production management system
(NREP), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), etc. promoting ecosystem health, biodiversity, and biological
 Awareness campaigns: Swachh Bharat Mission and activity without synthetic inputs.
others.
 Financial Incentives: Tax benefits, subsidies, and low- India has the world's highest number of organic farmers (44.3
interest loans for the recycling industry. lakhs) and ranks 6th globally in certified organic area.

Way Forward: Sikkim achieved the milestone of becoming the world's first
100% organic state.
 Integrate informal sector into formal economy,
recognizing their role. Benefits of Organic Farming:

LEGEND BHAIYA
20
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Prohibits harmful pesticides, promotes carbon Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)
sequestration, and enhances biodiversity and soil health.
Developed by Subhash Palekar in India, focusing on four key
 Expanding market segment, reduces input costs, and
elements.
builds resilience against extreme weather.
 Provides healthier produce with higher nutritional Elements of ZBNF:
quality.
1. Beejamrit: Seed treatment using cow dung and cow
Challenges for Organic Farming: urine.
2. Jeevamrit: Inoculation made from local cow dung and
 High initial input costs and lower yields compared to
cow urine.
conventional farming.
3. Acchadana: Maintaining favorable micro-climate in soil.
 Inefficient marketing and distribution supply chains.
4. Waaphasa: Soil aeration.
 Higher prices of organic produce compared to
conventional alternatives. Significance of ZBNF:
 Issues with Certification Process for Organic Farming
 Improves farmers' income, soil health, environmental
Challenges: conservation, livestock sustainability, and employment
opportunities.
 Lack of standardization, resulting in varied certification  Reduces production costs and minimizes use of chemical
criteria across regions and agencies. inputs like Endosulfan.
 Poor quality of certifications, leading to doubts about the
authenticity of organic products. Challenges with ZBNF:
 Insufficient number of third-party accreditation agencies,
 Concept of zero cost input is debated and hard to
affecting credibility and availability of certifications.
achieve practically.
Initiatives Taken:  Limited evidence supporting claims of higher yields in
ZBNF.
 National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP):  Labor-intensive agricultural method.
Establishes standards for organic products in India.
 Yield variations due to reliance on natural factors.
 Participatory Guarantee System of India (PGS-India):
Involves local communities in certifying organic products. Initiatives Taken:
 FSSAI Jaivik Bharat Logo: Indicates organic certification
 National Mission on Natural Farming: Promotes adoption
for food products under the Food Safety and Standards
of natural farming practices.
Authority of India.
 Krishi Sakhis: Trained farmers and para extension
 PM PRANAM Scheme: Focuses on promoting organic
professionals for grassroots promotion.
farming practices.
 Other initiatives include National Mission on Sustainable
Other Initiatives: Agriculture.

 Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes Way Forward:

organic farming among farmers.
 Conduct extensive long-term experiments before
 National Project on Organic Farming: Supports the
nationwide implementation.
expansion and adoption of organic farming practices.
 Neutral subsidy provision for farming practices.
 Organic Value Chain Development in Northeastern
 Build resilient supply chain networks for farm inputs.
Region Scheme: Enhances organic farming and market
linkages in the region.  Emphasize scientific research and support indigenous
cow breeds.
Way Forward:
Agroforestry
 Combine organic farming with other sustainable
It combines agriculture and forestry, emphasizing interactions
agriculture practices.
and interdependence with natural elements.
 Strengthen the certification process and increase the
number of accredited agencies. Status: Covers 8.65% of India's total geographical area (NITI
 Support the development and availability of organic Aayog GROW report).
fertilizers and pesticides.
Components include crops, trees, and livestock.
LEGEND BHAIYA
21
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Agroforestry systems include Agri-silviculture, Silvopastoral,  Include organic fertilizers like Biocompost,
and Agrosilvopastoral systems. Vermicompost, etc.

Attributes of Agroforestry: Initiatives for EFFs in India:

 Productivity: Increases production of desired goods and  PM PRANAM Scheme: Focuses on environmental
enhances land productivity. restoration and promoting EFFs.
 Sustainability: Conserves production potential and
natural resources.
 Adoptability: Acceptance of the practice among farmers.

Significance of Agroforestry:

 Enhances profitability through combined outputs.

 Preserves biodiversity and natural resources.
 Decreases input costs and enhances food security.  Development of Nano Urea and Neem Coated Urea.
 Contributes to carbon sequestration.  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) to
facilitate distribution of these fertilizers.
Challenges:  GOBARdhan promotes the use of organic manure
through waste management.
 Insufficient research on suitable agroforestry models
across diverse agro-climatic regions. Plastic Waste Management in India
 Lack of market mechanisms for tree growth.
 Million Tonnes Per Annum plastic waste generated in
Initiatives Taken: India (CPCB annual report 2020-21).
 Per capita plastic waste generation doubled over the last
 Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (Har Medh Par Ped) Scheme
two decades (CPCB annual report 2020-21).
launched in 2016-17.
 Ranked third globally in generation of single-use plastics
 Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture
(Plastic Waste Makers Index 2020).
(MIDH) since 2014-15.
 National Agroforestry Policy, 2014: Exempts many tree Challenges in Plastic Waste Management (PWM):
species from Felling and Transit rules.
 Absence of mechanism for assessing plastic waste
Way Forward: generation.
 Lack of action plan for enforcement, institutional
 Conduct research on ecological and social impacts.
strengthening, etc.
 Ensure availability of certified planting material.
 Absence of uniform framework for compliance like non-
 Develop new agroforestry models for different agro-
registration of plastic units.
climatic zones.
 Delay in implementation of ban on Single Use Plastics
Environmentally Friendly Fertilizers (EFFs) (SUP).

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves the Initiatives:

launch of Urea Gold, an Environmentally Friendly Fertilizer.
 Plastic Waste Management Rules and its amendments.
About Urea Gold (Sulphur-Coated Urea):  Extended Producer Responsibility on Plastic Packaging,
2022.
 Non-organic slow-release fertilizer coated with molten  Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 Clean and Green campaign.
sulphur on preheated urea granules.  Private sector collaboration.
 Ensures gradual nitrogen release, prolonging
effectiveness and enhancing soil health. Recommendations:
 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) study
 Methodology for municipal waste quantity and
shows SCU reduces urea consumption by 25%.
composition.
Environmentally Friendly Fertilizers (EFFs):  Encouragement of producers to achieve recycling
targets.
 Aim to reduce environmental pollution from nutrient loss  Establishment of strict compliance and penalty
by controlling nutrient release into soil. measures.
LEGEND BHAIYA
22
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Incentives for eco-friendly alternatives to SUP. Need for Proper E-Waste Management:

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024  Economic benefits from recovering valuable materials
(PMW Rules 2024): like gold, silver, etc.
 Prevents occupation of significant landfill space.
 Recently notified under the Environment (Protection) Act
 Addresses social impacts like engagement of child labor.
1986.
 Aligns with the Basel Convention to control hazardous
 Mandates local bodies to assess annual plastic waste
waste movement globally.
generation.
 Centralized registration portal for producers, importers, Global Initiatives:
and brand owners.
 E-Waste Challenge by the World Economic Forum
 Online submission of annual reports on implementation
promoting a circular economy for electronics.
to regulatory bodies.
 E-Waste Coalition formed by seven UN organizations.
E-Waste Management in India:
Current Governance Framework of Battery Waste in India:

 Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 under the

Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
 Introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and a
centralized online portal for EPR certificates.
 Mandatory recovery targets for materials from waste
batteries.
 Implementation committee to recommend guidelines for
environmental compensation.
E- Waste Includes discarded electrical and electronic
equipment, including solar photovoltaic panels, not intended Way Forward:
for reuse, along with waste from manufacturing,
 Separate regulations for handling lithium-ion batteries
refurbishment, and repair processes.
from electronic waste.
 16.01 lakh tonnes of e-waste generated annually (2021-  Establishing a Deposit Refund System to incentivize
22). battery returns.
 Third largest e-waste generator globally, after China and  Setting up a dedicated collection agency for batteries.
the USA (Global E-Waste Monitor 2024).
Sewage Management in India
 567 e-waste processing facilities with an annual capacity
of -17.23 lakh tonnes. India generates over 33,000 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of
sewage from Class I cities and Class II towns, with only 18.6%
Challenges associated with E-Waste in India: of this being treated.
 Around 85% of e-waste managed by the unorganized Institutional Arrangements and Initiatives:
sector.
 Only approximately 33% of total e-waste generated is  Water management is a state subject, with states/UTs
collected and processed. responsible for river cleanliness.
 Import of 80% of e-waste from developed countries  National Urban Sanitation Policy (2008) mandates local
meant for recycling. governments for safe waste disposal.
 Short product lifecycles with limited repair options.  74th Constitutional Amendment (1993) decentralized
water supply to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
E-Waste Management Framework in India:  Environmental laws like Environment (Protection) Act,
 Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) 1986, and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act,
Amendment Rules, 2003: Covered hazardous materials 1974, require STPs.
in e-waste composition. Challenges with STPs:
 E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011:
Introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).  Capacity issues in ULBs; audit in Jharkhand revealed no
 E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016: Introduced sewage networks in sampled ULBs, resulting in 175 MLD
Producer Responsibility Organizations. untreated wastewater.
LEGEND BHAIYA
23
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Low compliance; only 23% of treatment capacity meets  Legally binding agreement adopted in 2001 to conserve
regulatory parameters. and share PGRFA globally.
 Capital-intensive STPs without a clear policy framework.  Establishes Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-
sharing (MLS).
Way Forward:
 Facilitated the creation of Svalbard Global Seed Vault in
 Implementing underground STPs in land-scarce cities. Norway.
 Adopting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) like artificial Indian Initiatives in the Seed Sector:
wetlands.
 Establishing multiple monitoring points.  Seeds Act, 1966; National Seed Policy, 2002.
 Utilizing treated sewage for non-potable purposes like  Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act,
irrigation and horticulture. 2001.
 Establishing uniform water quality standards for better  Seed Village Programme, Sub-Mission for Seed and
regulation. Planting Material (SMSP).
 Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited: Cooperative
Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA)
society focusing on seed production, testing,
Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights (GSFR) under the
Green Buildings:
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture (ITPGRFA) adopted the Delhi Framework on Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) introduced new green
Farmers' Rights. rating tools to promote green building projects under its Net
Zero mission.
Key Highlights of Delhi Framework:
About Green Buildings:
 Emphasizes synergy across UN instruments for farmers'
rights.  Use environmentally friendly materials, processes, and
 Advocates for farmer-managed seed systems and operations to reduce energy costs and waste.
sustainable production.  Examples include cool roofs, Agrocrete, and Carbon Craft
 Promotes farmer-centric partnerships, including South- Tile.
South collaborations.  Green Building is Different from:Energy-efficient
buildings (use less energy for heating, cooling, and
About Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
appliances).
(PGRFA):
Advantages:
 Essential raw materials for crop varieties, including seeds
and genetic materials.  25% less energy consumption compared to traditional
 Crucial for developing new crop varieties and enhancing buildings.
productivity.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building
sector (38% contributor).
Threats to PGRFA Conservation:
 Health benefits by avoiding harmful substances like
 Genetic vulnerability due to mono-cropping. VOCs.
 Imbalance in Intellectual Property Rights between  Economic benefits with the global market projected to
breeders and farmers. grow significantly.
 Other challenges: Pollution, climate change, population Challenges in Constructing Green Buildings:
growth, urbanization.
 High initial construction costs.
Way Forward:
 Governance issues affecting building code enforcement.
 Develop comprehensive information systems for PGRFA.  Climate-specific construction challenges.
 Utilize genebanks (in-vitro, field, cryobanks) for  Limited access to skilled labor and design expertise.
conservation and improvement.
Initiatives Taken:
 Enhance on-farm management practices for genetic
resources.  Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) by Bureau of
Energy Efficiency (BEE).
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food
 Eco-Niwas Samhita 2018 for residential buildings.
and Agriculture (ITPGRFA):
LEGEND BHAIYA
24
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Challenges Faced
by TERI and MNRE.
 Technical Information and Data: Lack of sufficient data
 Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
for informed decision-making.
certification.
 Local Governance: Weak decision-making powers hinder
Way Forward: effective action.

 Financial incentives like tax breaks to encourage green Way Forward:

buildings.
 Enhance public participation through advocacy and
 Long-term investments via green bonds.
legislation.
 Retrofitting existing buildings.
 Incorporate data-driven approaches in environmental
 Strengthening infrastructure for waste management.
movements.
Environmental Movements in India  Connect local issues with global environmental
conservation efforts.
50th Anniversary of Chipko Movement (2023): Highlighted
the milestone of this iconic environmental movement. Renewable Energy in India at a Glance:

About Chipko Movement  Achieve 50% of cumulative electric power from

renewables by 2030 (INDC).
 Started by Rajasthan's Bishnoi community in the 18th
 Non-fossil fuel energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030
century.
(Panchamrita targets).
 Led by Amrita Devi against tree cutting orders, leading to
 Aim for 500 GW of renewable energy installed capacity
a royal decree banning tree cutting in Bishnoi villages.
by 2030 (Panchamrita targets).
 Primarily village women.
 Major Leaders: Sunderlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Current Status (Power Ministry, June 2024):
Bhatt, Gaura Devi.
 Installed Capacity of Renewable Energy (incl. Hydro): 195
 Impact: Symbolized eco-feminism, mobilizing women to
GW (43.7% of total).
conserve forests.
 Installed Capacity of Non-Fossil Fuel: 203 GW (45.5% of
About Eco-feminism: total).

 Philosophical Movement: Connects ecological concerns Share in Total Installed Capacity:

with women's roles.
 Solar: 85 GW (19.2%),Wind: 46 GW (10.5%),Biomass
 Critique: Challenges capitalist patriarchal systems
cogeneration: 10 GW (2.3%),Waste to Energy: 0.5 GW
dominating societal values and ethics.
(0.1%).
 Significance: Values traditional ecological knowledge
often held by women. Global Rankings
Major Environmental Movements:  4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, 4th
in Wind Power Capacity,5th in Solar Power Capacity.
 Silent Valley Movement (1973): Opposed a hydro-electric
dam in Kerala's Kundapuzha River. Solar Energy in India:
 Appiko Movement (1983): Led by Panduranga Hegde in
Karnataka's Western Ghats, inspired by Chipko.  Installed Capacity: 85 GW (June 2024).
 Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985): Protested against large  Potential: 748 GW peak (National Institute of Solar
dams on the Narmada River. Energy).
 5th globally in Solar Power Capacity.
Impacts:
Challenges:
 Leadership to Women: Empowered leaders like Gaura
Devi.  Decline in Solar Photovoltaic Potential (SPV) due to
 Policy Influence: Led to environmental policies like the increased aerosol load from carbon emissions (IMD
Forest Rights Act 2006. Study).
 Advocacy for Sustainable Development: Promoted  Gujarat and Rajasthan show decreased SPV potential
sustainable practices and environmental justice. despite hosting largest solar parks.

LEGEND BHAIYA
25
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Initiatives:  Current capacity: 11 GW rooftop solar, with Gujarat
leading at 82%.
 Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Programme: Aims for
40,000 MW by March 2026. Challenges:
 Production-Linked Incentive Scheme: Promotes high-
 Grid stability and energy storage due to solar energy
efficiency Solar PV Modules.
variability.
 Solar Park Scheme: Establishes hubs for solar energy
 High costs, dependency on imports, and limited DISCOM
generation.
participation in net metering.
 PM-KUSUM: Aims for 34.8 GW solar power capacity
addition by March 2026. Conclusion: Urgent measures needed such as streamlined
 Cochin International Airport: World's first solar-powered approvals, grid improvements, revised net-metering policies,
airport. and unified facilitation.
 Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana: Provides solar
electricity to low and middle-income households. International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Solar Rooftop Power: India hosted the 6th ISA Assembly, welcoming Spain as its
99th member.
Recently approved by the Union Cabinet, PM Surya Ghar
Muft Bijli Yojana aims to install rooftop solar in one crore Key Highlights:
households nationwide.  Viability Gap Funding (VGF) cap increased to 35% for
About PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana solar projects.
 Global Solar Facility (GSF) secured $35 million for off-
 Ministry: Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. grid, rooftop, and productive solar projects.
 Objective: Provide free electricity up to 300 units/month
for one crore households. About ISA:
 Subsidy Structure: Offers Central Financial Assistance for  Launched in 2015 at COP-21, Paris, jointly by India and
Residential Rooftop Solar (RTS) systems: France.
 1-2 kW: Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000  Intergovernmental organization promoting solar energy
 2-3 kW: Rs 60,000 to Rs 78,000 deployment.
 Above 3 kW: Rs 78,000
 Headquartered in Gurugram, with a focus on global solar
Other Features: energy solutions and financing.

 Model Solar Villages in each district to promote rooftop Objectives:

solar in rural areas.
 Towards 1000 strategy aims for $1,000 billion
 Incentives for Local Bodies, a National Portal for subsidy investment, 1,000 GW capacity, and energy access for 1
applications, and payment security for Renewable Energy billion people by 2030.
Service Companies (RESCO).
 Promotes technology transfer and finance mobilization
Significance: for just energy transition.

 Estimated annual savings of Rs 15,000 crore for one crore Challenges

families.
 Lack of finance, technology, and uneven global electricity
 Addition of 30 GW solar capacity through residential access.
rooftop systems.
 Initiatives like One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)
 Expected reduction of 720 million tonnes CO2 equivalent and STAR C for capacity building and interconnectivity
emissions. among member countries.
Solar Rooftop Power: Conclusion: ISA asserts India's leadership in global solar
 Photovoltaic panels installed on roofs to capture sunlight initiatives, fostering collaboration for sustainable energy
and convert it into electrical energy. solutions worldwide.
 Components include solar modules, inverters, and Hydrogen Energy in India:
electrical units.

LEGEND BHAIYA
26
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Hydrogen Fuel Cell: Uses chemical energy from hydrogen to Significance of Ethanol Blending:
generate electricity, emitting only heat and water as by-
products.  Reduced Pollution: Use of E20 leads to reduction of
carbon monoxide emissions by about 50 per cent in two-
Green Hydrogen (GH2): Produced via renewable methods wheelers and about 30 per cent in four-wheelers
like solar or wind-powered electrolysis of water. compared to petrol.
 Reduce Import: help in lowering India's energy import
Targets:
dependency Boost farmer income and help in achieving
 National Green Hydrogen Mission: Aims to develop a international commitment of the government.
green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million  Impact on Food and water security, due to demand of
metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). water intensive sugarcane crop.

Current Status: India currently produces 6.5 MMTPA of Challenges:

hydrogen, primarily used in refineries and fertilizer
 Disparity in ethanol supply across states.
production.
 Need for vehicle adjustments to accommodate ethanol
Benefits of Hydrogen as Fuel: blends.
 Cost Increases: High prices of ethanol affecting
 Can blend with natural gas to reduce emissions, crucial affordability.
for sectors like transportation and steel towards  High expenses involved in ethanol program execution.
achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Initiatives:
Challenges:
 National Policy on Biofuels-2018: Framework to ensure
 High Production Costs: Approximately $4-5 per kg for biofuel availability.
green hydrogen.
 Ethanol Blending Program (EBP): Targeting 20% ethanol
 Requires substantial investment in supply chains and blending in petrol by 2025.
storage facilities.
 Reduced GST: Decreased from 18% to 5% for ethanol
 Inflammable nature and logistics costs are significant under EBP.
hurdles.
 PM JI-VAN Yojana: Supports second-generation ethanol
Steps Taken projects.
 Flexi-Fuel Engines: Included in Production-Linked
 National Green Hydrogen Mission: Launched to promote Incentive (PLI) scheme.
hydrogen utilization.
 Industry Initiatives: First green hydrogen plant in the Way Forward:
stainless-steel sector, blending hydrogen into CNG and
 Ensure consistent supply of Ethanol nationwide.
PNG networks, and introduction of hydrogen-based fuel-
 Strengthen oil marketing companies' infrastructure.
cell electric vehicles.
 Focus on sustainable ethanol supply chains.
ETHANOL BLENDING IN INDIA AT A GLANCE  Encourage development of E20-compatible technologies.

About Ethanol: A principal-biofuel, naturally produced by the SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TOWARDS AFFORDABLE
fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical TRANSPORTATION (SATAT):
processes such as ethylene hydration. Ethanol Blending:
About SATAT
Involves a blended motor fuel containing ethyl alcohol that is
at least 99% pure, derived from agricultural products.  Objective: Establish Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants for
automotive fuels.
Potential of biomass energy in India: 28 GW through Surplus
biomass availability in India.  CBG Production: Purified bio-gas with methane content
(>90%) and high calorific value (47-52 MJ/kg).
Key Targets  Components: Includes CO, Hydrogen Sulphide, Nitrogen,
Oxygen, and Moisture.
 Targets of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025
 Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
(Updated) and 5% blodiesel blending in diesel by 2030.
(MoPNG).
(National Policy on Blofuels, 2018).
Targets under SATAT:
LEGEND BHAIYA
27
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 5000 CBG Plants by 2023  Reassessing ocean energy potentials for practical
 15 MMT of CBG exploitation.
 50 MMT of Bio-Manure  Establishing demonstration and pilot projects for
commercial viability.
Challenges in Implementation:
 Inclusion of ocean energy in Non-solar Renewable
 Complex regulatory approvals involving multiple Purchase Obligations (RPOs)
ministries.  Conducting pragmatic Environmental Impact
 Lack of financial support for new renewable energy Assessments (EIA)
projects since April 2021. Energy Transition:
 Limited involvement of Oil PSUs in CBG project setups.
 Challenges in biomass availability and price Definition: Shift from high greenhouse gas emitting energy
unpredictability. sources like fossil fuels to low or zero-emission sources.

Way Forward: India Ranks 63rd globally (up from 67th in 2023) (WEF
Fostering Effective Energy Transition Report, 2024)
 National Bio-fuel Coordination Committee (NBCC):
Regular meetings to resolve implementation issues. Installed Renewable Energy (RE) Capacity: Increased from
 Shift to GBI from Capex-based subsidies for CBG plants. 76.37 GW in 2014 to 195 GW (including hydro) in 2024.
 Establishing a dedicated financial institution for bio-fuel Challenges
projects.
 Creation of Bio Fuel Infrastructure Fund and Credit  Require adding or replacing 80 million kilometers of
Guarantee Fund. power lines by 2040 to meet national climate and energy
 Use of AI-based sensors for quality analysis and supply goals.
chain optimization.  Clean energy technologies (e.g., advanced batteries,
next-gen nuclear reactors) are still in early stages of
Tidal Energy: development or deployment.
Tidal and Wave Energy Potential:  Majority of clean energy infrastructure investments since
2021 focused in advanced economies and China.
 Tidal energy: Estimated at 12,455 MW
 Wave energy: Estimated at 41,300 MW Global Initiatives to Facilitate Energy Transition

Potential Areas:  International Solar Alliance (ISA) (2015): Promotes solar

energy deployment in member countries.
 Tidal energy: Gulf of Khambat, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Bay,  Clean Energy Transition Programme (IEA): Supports
Hoogly River, South Haldia & Sunderbans critical energy transition minerals; India is a member.
 Wave energy: Throughout India's coastline  Just Energy Transition Partnerships: Led by IEA and WEF
to ensure fairness in energy transitions.
Significance of Tidal Energy:
 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) by EU:
 Enhances energy security and diversification Aims to reduce carbon leakage by imposing tariffs on
 Reliable and predictable energy source carbon-intensive imports.
 Supports India's long coastline utilization
Electric Vehicles (EVs):
 Reduces fossil fuel dependency and diversifies energy
mix Propelled by electric motors powered by rechargeable
 Aligns with India's commitments under COP26 battery packs, contrasting with Internal Combustion Engines
(ICE) that burn fuel for power.
Challenges:
Types of EVs
 Corrosion and complex design for marine environments
 Alters water flow patterns, impacting coastlines 1. Battery EVs (BEVs): Operate solely on battery-powered
 Installation obstructs marine routes, causing conflicts electric drivetrains.
2. Hybrid EVs (HEVs):Involving both engine and electric
Way Forward: motor.
3. Parallel HEVs: Engine and electric motor work together.

LEGEND BHAIYA
28
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
4. Plug-in HEVs: Larger battery packs charged through  National Forest Policy of India, 1988: Targeting a
external sources. minimum of 1/3rd of the country's geographical area
5. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs): Use fuel cell under forest and tree cover.
technology for electric propulsion, known for zero
emissions. Status of Forests in India:

Contribution of EVs in Reducing Carbon Emissions:  Total Forest and Tree Cover: Represents 24.62% of the
total geographic area, with a 0.28% increase since 2019.
 Zero tailpipe emissions reduce CO2 locally (e.g., 1% (India State of Forest Report 2021)
increase in EV sales lowers CO2 by 0.096%).  17 States: Have more than 33% of their area covered by
 Benefits of EVs over Traditional Combustion Engines forests.
 Superior energy efficiency (electric motors achieve over
Importance of Forests
90% energy conversion).
 Reduced registration fees and road taxes in many  Carbon Sink: Absorbs about 24,000 million tonnes of
regions. CO2, valued at approximately $120 billion.
Key Issues:  Natural Shields: Protects against extreme weather like
storms and floods, e.g., mangroves and coastal forests.
 Policy uncertainties impacting market stability.  Community Resources: Vital for livelihoods, providing
 Lowered targets under FAME-II (due to budget food, fuel, and security.
constraints).  Biodiversity Habitat: Supports a diverse range of flora
 FAME focuses on supporting public and shared electric and fauna species.
transportation.
 Limited exemptions and rebates for road taxes in only 19
states/UTs.

Government Initiatives for EV Adoption:

 Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric

Vehicles in India (FAME India)
 Includes incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles.
 Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the Initiatives Taken by India
Automotive Sector
 Provides financial incentives to boost local  Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 or Van
manufacturing of EV components. (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980
 Tariff Cap for EV Public Charging  Legislative amendment aimed at enhancing forest
 Road Tax Waiver on EVs conservation and sustainable management.
 India's Initiatives to Improve Tree Cover
Way Forward:  Nagar Van Yojana: Focuses on boosting green cover in
 Stable National Policy on Electric Mobility urban and peri-urban areas.
 Ensure consistency and clarity in policies to support long-  Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS)
term EV adoption.  Recent SC Judgment: State of Telangana Vs Mohd. Abdul
 Enhanced Budget Allocation for FAME-II Qasim, 2024
 Extend support beyond current tenure to incentivize e- Best Practices
buses and expand charging infrastructure.
 Encouragement for Charging Stations.  Forest Environment Tax by Japan
 Establishment of Manufacturing Hubs  Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) by UNEP and ADE

Forest Conservation in India: Way Forward

Targets:  Balancing Ecological Conservation with Economic

Imperatives
 INDC: Aim to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3  Including community forestry and joint forest
billion tonnes of CO2 by 2050. management.

LEGEND BHAIYA
29
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Community Forest Governance:  National Afforestation Program (NAP), Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
Community Forestry refers to Situation where communities
(CAMPA).
have rights to manage forest resources to enhance their
 Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping for
livelihoods.
effective forest management.
Benefits include resources for livelihoods, nutrition,
Global:
employment, biodiversity conservation, and leveraging
indigenous knowledge.  UN Strategic Plan for Forests (2017-30): Aims for
sustainable management of all types of forests.
Steps Taken by India to Involve Local Communities:
 Global Forest Goals: Six goals with 26 associated targets
 National Forest Policy (1988): Includes Joint Forest to be achieved by 2030, including a 3% increase in global
Management Program. forest area.
 Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
Way Forward
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA): Provides
legal framework for communities to manage traditional  India's Proposal: Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap
lands. and Information Platform from G20 for forest restoration
 Van Panchayats in Uttarakhand: Local forest councils. and degraded land management.
 Eco-Development Committees (EDC): For villages in  Utilizing the Global Fire Management Hub for sharing
Protected Areas and buffer zones. best practices.

Challenges Faced: Wildlife Conservation in India:

 Lack of priority and policy support for community Constitutional Provisions: Legislative Measures:
participation.
 High implementation costs of Integrated Forest Article 48A (Directive Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972:
Management (IFM). Principles of State Policy) Provides legal framework for
 Conflict with commercial interests (e.g., mining projects). emphasizes protecting the wildlife conservation and
environment. Article 51(g) penalties for violations.
Way Forward: (Fundamental Duties) Network of Protected Areas:
mandates compassion Includes National Parks,
 Telangana Model: Green Fund for environmental towards living creatures. Sanctuaries, Conservation
concerns. Wildlife conservation falls Reserves, and Community
 Recognition of Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights under the Concurrent List Reserves.
in states like Chhattisgarh. (7th Schedule).
 Financial and institutional support, inclusive approaches. Legislation and Implementation: Forest Conservation Act,
1980 and Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Sustainable Forest Management (SFM):
Implementation primarily by States/UTs.
(SFM) refers to Stewardship of forests for economic, social,
and ecological functions while maintaining their biodiversity Species-Specific Conservation: Species Recovery Programmes
and regeneration capacity. like Project Tiger and Project Cheetah.

 Goals include forest health, biodiversity conservation, Challenges: Human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, wildlife
climate change mitigation, community development, and crime, and illegal activities.
preserving traditional knowledge.
Way Forward:
Measures Taken by India for SFM:
 Strengthen NGOs' role.
India Legislative Framework:  Improve resilience of nature reserves.

 Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980: Allows government 50 years of Project Tiger:
to declare reserved or protected forest areas.
Objectives and Implementing Agency:
 Indian Forest Act 1927 and Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
 Joint Forest Management (JFM): Involves collaboration  Ensure viable tiger populations for scientific, economic,
between forest authorities and local communities. aesthetic, cultural, and ecological values.

LEGEND BHAIYA
30
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Implementing Agency: National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA). Wildlife Governs licensing for scheduled
(Protection) species.
Achievements: Licensing No licence for Schedule I species
(Additional without Central Government
 Tiger population increased to 3,682 in 2022 from 2,967 in
Matters for consultation.
2018. Consideration) Parameters: existing licences,
 Achieved targets under the TX2 Initiative ahead of Rules, 2024: implications on hunting or trade.
schedule.
 55 Tiger Reserves established by 2024, up from 9 in 1973. Living Animal Registers possession, transfers, births,
 23 Tiger Reserves accredited with Conservation Assured Species and reports deaths of scheduled
Tiger Standards (CA/TS). (Reporting and animal species.
Registration) Species listed in CITES Appendices or
Activities under Project Tiger: Rules, 2024: Schedule IV of WPA, 1972.
Key Amendments in WPA, 2022:
 Establishment and development of Tiger Reserves.
 Core-buffer strategy for effective management.  Removes vermin species schedule; adds extinction-listed
 Use of technology like UAVs (e-Bird project) and M- CITES species schedule.
STRIPES for monitoring.  Consolidates schedules to four: Schedule I (highest
protection), Schedule II (lesser), Schedule III (plants),
Global Initiatives:
Schedule IV (CITES specimens).
 Participation in International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA),  Allows elephant use for religious or other purposes.
Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference  Establishes Managing and Scientific Authorities for
(SFTLC), TRAFFIC, Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP), import/export regulation.
and IUCN's Integrated TigerHabitat Conservation  Empowers Chief Wildlife Warden for sanctuary control.
Programme (ITHCP).  Centre can notify conservation reserves adjacent to
national parks/sanctuaries.
Challenges:
Concerns about the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act,
 Limited capacity among local officials for effective 2022:
surveillance.
 Building trust between forest departments and local  Open Sale and Purchase of Elephants.
communities.  Centre's Control over 'Vermin' Declaration:
 Financial constraints for habitat restoration.  Shifts authority from State Boards for Wildlife to a
 Human-wildlife conflicts and habitat loss due to climate Standing Committee led by Forest Minister.
change and land use.
Way Ahead:
Conclusion
 Focus on expanding and improving tiger habitats.  Establish clear ownership verification protocols.
 Enhance connectivity between habitats.  Upholding Federalism in Wildlife Management.
 Mitigate human-tiger conflicts through outreach and  Ensure state autonomy within conservation efforts.
compensation policies.  Incorporating Scientific Research:
 Temporary Restrictions on Vermin Declaration.
THE WILDLIFE (PROTECTION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2022:

Recently amended to introduce new rules under the Wildlife Wildlife Crime:
(Protection) Act, 1972.
Wildlife Crimes
New Rules under the Amendment:

Captive Elephant Specifies rules for the transfer of  Includes illegal trade, possession, and movement of
(Transfer or captive elephants. wildlife contrary to laws.
Transport) Rules, Application to Deputy Conservator of  Driven by demand for medicine, pets, bushmeat,
2024: Forests (DCF) in the jurisdiction. ornamental plants.
Conditions include genetic profiling  Linked with organized crime, like ivory trade involving
and inability of the owner to maintain serious crimes.
the elephant.
LEGEND BHAIYA
31
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Impact:  Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC)
launched
 40% seized species threatened or near-threatened.
 Facilitates money-laundering and illegal financial flows. Coral Bleaching:
 Risks disease transmission; impacts food, medicine, and
energy services.
 Undermines government roles, revenue loss,
enforcement costs.

Steps to Combat Wildlife Crime

Global:
Widespread coral bleaching along Indian coast affecting
 UN Global Programme for Combating Wildlife and Forest regions like Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay,
Crime. Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
 UNODC initiatives since 1997; SAWEN in South Asia;
CITES monitoring. Status:

India:  2023-2024 marks the fourth global mass coral bleaching

event (NOAA).
 Wildlife Crime Initiative with TRAFFIC and WWF.  Previous events: 1998, 2010, 2014-2017.
 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for forfeiture of  About 30% of world's coral reefs severely damaged; 60%
equipment used in crimes. at risk by 2030.
 Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under MoEF to combat
organized wildlife crime. Causes

COP 14 to CMS:  Rising sea surface temperatures (SST) increasing at 1-2°C

rate.
CMS COP 14 held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.  Marine heatwaves, invasive species like crown of thorns
starfish.
About CMS:  Chemical contaminants, pathogens, El Nino, ocean
acidification.
 UNEP treaty since 1983 for migratory species
conservation. Initiatives in India
 133 member countries; India member since inception.
 Appendices classify species needing conservation action  Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 1991.
(I) or international agreements (II).  Eco-development activities by Gulf of Mannar
Biosphere Reserve Trust.
Key Developments: Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) compiled  Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
India's migratory species list for CMS before COP 13. promotes artificial reefs.
 Coral Reef Recovery Project-Mithapur in Gulf of
Outcomes Kachchh.

 Added 14 species to CMS Appendices, e.g., Eurasian Lynx, International Cooperation

Pallas's Cat.
 New Concerted Actions for species like Chimpanzee,  Member of International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).
Straw-colored Fruit Bat.  ICRI's 30by30 initiative aims to save 30% of degraded
 Single Species Action Plans (SSAPs) for species such as reefs by 2030.
Atlantic Humpback Dolphin, Hawksbill Turtle, Angelshark.
Way Forward
Agreements
 Deploying innovative technologies like Biorock for
 Agreement on Central Asian Flyway (CAF) with 30 Range coral restoration.
States; India hosts coordinating unit.
LEGEND BHAIYA
32
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Ex-situ breeding of resilient corals. India hosts 7 lakh wetlands spanning 16 Mha, covering 4.88%
 Focus on sustainability, reducing marine pollution, of its geographic area. However, it lost 2 out of 5 wetlands in
building resilient coastal communities. the last three decades.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Significance of Wetlands:

Recent research by UNESCO and IUCN highlights that World  Act as carbon sinks and water reservoirs.
Heritage Sites (WHS) cover less than 1% of Earth's surface but  Support diverse biodiversity habitats.
safeguard over 20% of global biodiversity.  Buffer against natural disasters like coastal erosion.
 Hold cultural, recreational, and livelihood value.
 WHS protect more than 20,000 endangered species.  Serve as landscape filters for contaminants.
 Act as critical sanctuaries: Key in preserving species like
Javan Rhinos, Vaquitas, Pink Iguanas, Sumatran Rhinos, Schemes/Policies/Initiatives:
Sumatran Orangutans, and Mountain Gorillas.
 Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017:
About World Heritage Sites (WHS) and Convention: Govern wetland protection.
 Establishment of the Centre for Wetland Conservation
 Designated for outstanding universal value under the and Management (CWCM).
1972 World Heritage Convention.  National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
 There are 1199 WHS globally (as of Sept 27, 2023), (NPCA).
categorized as cultural, natural, or mixed.  National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
 India has 42 WHS: 34 cultural, 7 natural, and 1 mixed.  India is a party to the Ramsar Convention with 82 Ramsar
World Heritage Convention sites, e.g., Yashwant Sagar, Tampara Lake, Pichavaram
Mangrove, Thane Creek.
 Adopted to protect both cultural and natural heritage.
Constraints:
 Implemented by 195 State parties including India,
overseen by the World Heritage Committee.  Altered hydrological regimes due to salinization and
 Strategic Objectives (Five Cs): Credibility, Conservation, over-extraction.
Capacity-building, Communication, and Communities.  Urban and agricultural runoff pollution.
Why World Heritage Sites are Unique in Biodiversity  Invasive species proliferation (e.g., Water hyacinth,
Conservation: Salvinia).
 Climate change impacts like sea-level rise and harmful
 Encompass diverse sites including natural and cultural algal blooms (HAB).
heritages like Khangchendzonga National Park, India.
Way Forward:
 Integrated into regional planning and National
Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).  Establish holistic monitoring protocols.
 World Heritage Fund supports in emergencies and  Restore degraded wetlands.
disasters.  Enforce strict pollution norms and waste management.
Challenges Faced by World Heritage Sites  Ensure sustainable water flow to wetlands.
 Promote participatory conservation involving local
 Decline in endangered species populations (e.g., communities.
Sumatra's Tropical Rainforest Heritage).
 Human activities like development, encroachments, and Mangroves Conservation:
climate change exacerbate threats.  Coastal plant formations in tropical and subtropical
Conclusion: Emphasizes increased protection and priority for regions, vital for shoreline stability and biodiversity.
WHS to support global biodiversity goals like the Kunming-  Known as 'coastal woodlands' or 'tidal forests'.
Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Extent in India:
Wetland Conservation in India
 Total Mangrove Cover: 4,992 sq km (ISFR, 2021).
Wetlands include areas flooded or saturated with water, like  Found in regions like Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat,
marshes, fens, and marine zones up to six meters deep. Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Andaman Nicobar Islands, etc.

Ecosystem Services provided by Mangroves:

LEGEND BHAIYA
33
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Carbon sequestration: Store three times more carbon  Supports livelihoods and has intrinsic value.
than tropical forests of similar size.  Acts as nature's "kidneys" by filtering contaminants.
 Coastal protection against calamities.
Schemes/Policies/Initiatives
 Support livelihoods of coastal communities.
 Biodiversity hubs: Home to over 1,500 fauna species.  Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017.
 Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management
Threats to Mangroves:
(CWCM).
 Extinction risk: 50% of mangrove ecosystems are  National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems
vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. (NPCA).
 Climate change effects: Increased storms and sea-level  National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
rise.  Ramsar Convention: India has 82 Ramsar sites (e.g.,
 Development impacts: Deforestation for dams and Yashwant Sagar, Tampara Lake).
urbanization.  Blue Flag Certification: 12 Blue Flag beaches in India.
 Pollution: Black carbon from industrial and biomass
Constraints
sources.
 Unsustainable fishing practices.  Hydrological Changes: Groundwater salinization and
over-extraction.
Initiatives for Mangrove Conservation in India:
 Waste Disposal: From urban areas and agricultural
 India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 by FSI. runoff.
 MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats &  Invasive Species: E.g., water hyacinth, Salvinia.
Tangible Incomes) by MoEFCC.  Unsustainable Resource Use: Overharvesting of wetland
 Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) resources.
and Magical Mangroves campaign.  Unregulated Development: Tourism infrastructure
 National Coastal Mission Programme on 'Conservation without adequate protection.
and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs'.
Way Forward
Way Forward
 Implement standardized protocols.
 Indian Forest Act, 1927; Environmental Impact  Focus on rehabilitating degraded wetlands.
Assessment (EIA), 1986; Forest Conservation Act, 1980.  Enforce stricter pollution norms.
 Connect mangroves with terrestrial forests, e.g.,  Improve treatment and disposal.
Sundarbans.  Ensure optimal and sustained water flow.
 Establish 'Mangrove Germplasm Preservation Centres'.  Encourage participatory conservation.
 Support UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-
2030). Mangrove Conservation

Wetland Conservation in India Littoral plant formations in tropical and subtropical coastal
areas also Known as coastal woodlands, tidal forests, or
Land saturated or flooded with water, either seasonally or mangrove forests.
permanently (includes marshes, fens, peatlands, and shallow
marine waters). Extent in India

Current Situation:  Cover: 4,992 sq km (ISFR, 2021).

 Notable Locations: Gulf of Kutchh, Gulf of Khambhat,
 Extent: 7 lakh wetlands covering 16 million hectares, Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Lakshadweep,
about 4.86% of India’s geographic area. Sundarbans, Mahanadi Delta, Godavari, Krishna,
 Loss: India has lost 2 out of 5 wetlands in the last 30 Pichavaram, Muthupet, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
years.
Significance of Mangroves:
Significance:
 Coastal Protection: Shields against coastal calamities.
 Helps in carbon sequestration.  Livelihoods: Supports coastal communities.
 Provides habitat for diverse species.  Biodiversity: Hosts over 1,500 species of fauna.
 Reduces coastal erosion.

LEGEND BHAIYA
34
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Carbon Sequestration: Stores three times the carbon of  Drought: 68% of cultivable area susceptible.
tropical forests.
Vision and Approach:
Threats
 Proactive focus on prevention, mitigation, and
 Extinction Risk: 50% of mangrove ecosystems are preparedness.
endangered, or critically endangered (IUCN Red List).  Vision (NDMP 2016): Build disaster resilience across
 Climate Change: Increases storm frequency and sea-level sectors.
rise.  Reduce disaster risk through local capacity building.
 Pollution: Contaminants from coastal and agricultural  Minimize loss of lives, livelihoods, and assets.
runoff.  Enhance disaster coping ability.
 Unsustainable Fishing: Overharvesting of resources.
Constraints:

 Increasing risk due to factors like accelerating extinctions

and climate change.
 Disasters disproportionately affect poor, migrants,
elderly.
 Insufficient early warning systems and search and rescue
facilities.
 Lacks specific goals; challenges in mobilizing finance.

Government Initiatives:

 National Disaster Management Act 2005 & National

Initiatives in India Disaster Management Plan 2016.
 ISFR 2023: Report by Forest Survey of India.  NDMA Guidelines: For various disasters (e.g.,
 MISHTI: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & earthquakes, cyclones).
Tangible Incomes (MoEFCC).  National Policy on Disaster Management 2009.
 SAIME: Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystem.  Sendai Framework: Signed for 2015-2030 disaster risk
 Magical Mangroves Campaign. reduction.
 National Coastal Mission: Focuses on conservation and  Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
management of mangroves and coral reefs. Way Forward
Way Forward  Build Back Better: Improve resilience and reduce
 Strengthen Laws: Enhance Indian Forest Act, EIA, and vulnerability post-disaster.
Forest Conservation Act.  Specific Goals: Align with Sendai Framework targets.
 Ecological Conservation: Connect mangrove forests with  Infrastructure: Upgrade facilities for early warning, relief,
terrestrial forests (e.g., Sundarbans). and rescue.
 R&D: Designate important mangrove areas as  Expand Financial Resources: Leverage international
Germplasm Preservation Centres. collaborations and public-private partnerships.
 International Cooperation: Align with the UN Decade for Infrastructure Resilience
Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.
Resilient Infrastructure Can absorb, respond to, and recover
Disaster Management in India from hazards and shocks.
Disaster Risks Infrastructure for Resilience: Supports broader social and
economic resilience without creating new risks.
 Earthquakes: 58.8% of land prone to moderate to high
intensity. Types of Resilience
 Floods & Erosion: Over 40 million hectares (12% of land)
at risk.  Resilient Infrastructure: Ability to withstand and recover
 Cyclones & Tsunamis: 5,700 km of 7,516 km coastline from disruptions.
vulnerable.  Asset Resilience: Stability of physical infrastructure
assets.
LEGEND BHAIYA
35
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Service Resilience: Continuity and reliability of  Across Lifecycles: Implement strategies to minimize
infrastructure services. carbon emissions throughout infrastructure lifecycles.
 Infrastructure Governance: Effective management and  Land Use: Avoid land use changes and extend
regulation of infrastructure systems. infrastructure lifespans to further reduce emissions.
 Social and Economic Resilience: Enhancing community
Socio-Economic Outcomes
well-being and economic stability.
 Systemic Resilience: Overall capability of systems to  Enhance opportunities for women’s participation in
withstand disruptions. decision-making and governance.
 Fiscal Resilience: Financial stability and capability to  Potential to generate approximately 59 million jobs by
manage infrastructure costs. 2030.
Need for Infrastructure Resilience Challenges for Integrating Nature-Based Infrastructure
Solutions (NbIS)
 Climate Impact: Potential global annual loss in
infrastructure sectors could reach 14% of GDP.  Knowledge Gaps: Requires interdisciplinary skills not
 Finance: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear typically possessed by traditional engineers.
half of this liability.  Cost-Benefit Accounting: Difficulty in quantifying
 Investment: India relies heavily on government financing, ecosystem services and integrating these values.
with minimal private sector involvement.  Risk Identification: Lack of robust processes for credible
 Global Risk Models: Used to assess infrastructure risks risk assessment.
related to geological and climate hazards.  Politically unattractive due to reduced privatized profits
and high gestation periods.
Challenges
Conclusion: Focus on long design lifecycles for infrastructure
 Obsolescence: Aging infrastructure, e.g., collapsing
to ensure resilience and adapt to climate change and
bridges.
biodiversity loss.
 Governance Issues: Poor planning, outdated standards,
weak regulation, low investment. Heatwave Management in India
 Systemic Risks: Climate change, biodiversity loss.
IMD Criteria for Heatwaves
 Cost: High upfront costs and lack of standardized
resilience metrics.  Plains: Max temperature ≥ 40°C
Way Forward  Hills: Max temperature ≥ 30°C

 Increase Private Investment: Boost funding from private Declaration of Heatwaves

sector.  Actual Temperature: 45°C or above for general areas;
 Standardization: Develop certifications for resilient 40°C or above for coastal areas.
infrastructure.  Departure from Normal: Heat wave when temperature
 Nature-Based Solutions (NbIS): Integrate into planning departure is 4°C to 5°C; severe heat wave when
for cost-effective and sustainable resilience. departure is 6°C or more.
Nature-Based Infrastructure Solutions (NbIS) Conditions Favorable for Heatwaves:
Practices that protect and provide infrastructure while  Anti-cyclone presence
enhancing climate adaptation, environmental integrity, and  Dry, cloudless sky
social well-being.
 Hot, dry air
Role:
Effects of Heatwaves:
 Complement: Supports traditional infrastructure.
 Health: Over 10,000 deaths (2000-2020)
 Cost-Efficient: Typically 51% cheaper than conventional
 ncreased energy demand, wildfires, droughts, and
infrastructure projects.
pollution
 Reducing Carbon Emissions and Socio-Economic Benefits
 Estimated 5.8% loss in daily working hours by 2030
Carbon Emissions Reduction:  Increased migration, impacts on food security

LEGEND BHAIYA
36
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Initiatives:  Other: Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS),
National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (NERMP),
 IMD Color-Coded Alerts: Green (Normal), Yellow (Heat
India Quake app
Alert), Orange (Severe Heat Alert), Red (Extreme Heat
Alert) Way Forward
 Heat Action Plans: Collaborations with NDMA and local
 Incorporate earthquake-resistant design features
health departments
 Strengthen and retrofit priority structures
 Work Hours: Rescheduling for workers and laborers
 Improve compliance, capacity development, and
Way Forward emergency response

 Develop a national heatwave strategy and local hotspot Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
identification
Sudden release of large amounts of water from a glacier.
 Integrate climate adaptation in heat plans
 Upgrade forecasting systems for early alerts Vulnerability in India
Earthquake Management in India  Over 9 million people in High Mountain Asia at risk.
 Glaciers may lose 30-50% of their volume by 2100 due to
Sudden shaking of the earth due to stress release from
global warming.
tectonic plates or crustal movements.
Occurrences: Kedarnath (2013),Chamoli (2021),Sikkim (2023)
59% of landmass in earthquake-prone areas.
Effects of GLOFs:
Seismic Zones:

Zone V (Very High Risk): 11%  Unanticipated and disastrous.

 Catastrophic impact on lives.
Zone IV (High Risk): 18%  Destruction of infrastructure and ecosystems.
 Potential to trigger secondary disasters.
Zone III (Moderate Risk): 30%
Mitigation Measures:
Causes:
 NDMA Guidelines (2020): Management and response
Tectonic plate movements, fault slippage, volcanic and
strategies.
anthropogenic activities
 Structural Measures: Creation of reservoirs, depressions,
Recent Earthquakes embankments.
 Early Warning System: Planned for real-time alerts at 55
Morocco: Northward convergence of African and Eurasian
at-risk glacial lakes.
plates
 Hydro Project Guidelines: By Central Electricity Authority
Taiwan: Reverse faulting due to compressional forces (CEA) for slope stability.

Afghanistan: Subduction of Arabian and Indian plates Way Forward

Turkey: Squeezed by collision of Arabian and Eurasian plates  Implement comprehensive monitoring systems for
infrastructure and settlements.
Challenges:  Study potential sources of avalanches, slides, or rock
 Difficult prediction falls.
 Lack of earthquake-resilient infrastructure  Reduce lake water volume using controlled breaching or
 High retrofitting costs outlet control structures.
 Movement of tectonic plates Landslide Management in India
Initiatives: Slope failure due to gravity exceeding frictional forces holding
the material in place.
 Risk Assessment: Geological Survey of India (GSI)
 Standards: IS 1893 for seismic design Landslide Classification: Geographical Susceptibility: 3.17% of
 Guidelines: NDMA guidelines India’s area is prone; 4.75% is "very highly susceptible."

LEGEND BHAIYA
37
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Causes: Fire Safety Regulations in India

Himalayas: Steep slopes, rapid rivers, erosion, snowmelt, and Notable incidents: Rajkot gaming zone, Harda firecracker
heavy rains. factory, Delhi hospital fire.

Western Ghats: Basalt rocks, high gradient; less rainfall Fire Statistics: 7,435 deaths in over 7,500 fire incidents in
needed due to water retention. 2022 (NCRB), 800 factory fires in Delhi over two years.

Initiatives Existing Standards

 National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM): By Constitution: Fire service is a State subject.
Geological Survey of India.
National Building Code (NBC): Central fire safety standard.
 Landslide Atlas: By National Remote Sensing Centre,
ISRO. Model Laws: Model Building Bye Laws (2016), Model Bill
 MNREGA Scheme: Structural mitigation in hill areas. (2019), Fire and Life Safety guidelines.
 NIDM: Recognized as a global center of excellence for
landslide disaster reduction (2023-2026). Challenges

Way Forward:  Lack of uniform safety legislation.

 NBC provisions are recommendatory, not mandatory.
 Prohibit construction on slopes >30° or near spring  Shortage of staff and equipment: 5,191 fire stations
lines/first-order streams. needed; 5,03,365 personnel shortage in 2019.
 Use hazard zonation, load-bearing tests, and slope maps
in urban planning. Way Forward:
 Promote growth of fast-growing trees and grasses.  Enact state-level Fire Acts for mandatory fire department
Crowd Disaster Management in India clearances.
 NDMA Guidelines: Improve adherence to safety
Situations where dense crowds lead to stampedes or standards.
disasters, often occurring at religious sites, concerts,  Fire Services Outreach: Extend to block and Gram
nightclubs, and malls. Panchayat levels.
 Finance Commission: Municipalities over one million
Factors Prompting Crowd Disasters
must create fire hazard plans.
 Structural Collapse: Morbi Bridge (Gujarat), Kalkaji
Forest Fires in India
Temple (Delhi).
 Fire/Electricity Issues: Uphaar Cinema fire (1997) due to Reasons for Forest Fires
code violations.
 Sudden Crowd Behavior: Mahakumbh Mela stampede  Natural Causes: Lightning, volcanic eruptions, high
(1954). summer temperatures, flammable chir pine trees.
 Poor Management: Seoul crowd tragedy (2022).  Anthropogenic Causes: Slash-and-burn cultivation,
 Other Issues: Lack of coordination and managerial negligence in campfires, accidental fires (90% globally
measures. man-made - IUCN).
 Climate Change: Dry seasons, increased transpiration,
Challenges higher temperatures, and CO₂ emissions.

 Urgency and fatigue among responders. Benefits of Forest Fires:

 Dangerous behaviors and false information.
 Poor coordination and response strategies.  Regeneration of certain forests.
 Reduction of fuel loads and undergrowth.
Way Forward  Removal of exotic species.
 Nutrient addition through ashes.
 NIDM Strategies: Assess crowd types and motives.
 Develop infrastructure and queue systems. Issues and Gaps:
 Conduct mock drills and risk assessments.
 Timely updates and CCTV monitoring.  No dedicated forest fire management institution.

LEGEND BHAIYA
38
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Insufficient attention to mitigation, preparedness, and  International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea
research. (SOLAS): Signatory.
 Limited community involvement and data utilization.
Technological Solutions:
National Steps Taken
 Bioremediation: Technologies like Oiltzapper and
 New National Forest Policy (1988) Olliverous for oil sludge and crude oil.
 National Action Plan on Forest Fire (NAPFF, 2018): Aims  Floating Booms: Temporary barriers to contain spills.
to minimize forest fires.  Sorbents: Materials like straw and volcanic ash for oil
 Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme: absorption.
MoEF&CC initiative.
Volcanic Eruptions
Global Initiatives
Openings or vents where lava, tephra (small rocks), and
 Global Wildland Fire Network: UNISDR. steam erupt onto the Earth's surface.
 Global Fire Management Hub: FAO.
Types of Eruptive Events:
NAPFF Guidelines
 Pyroclastic explosions: Fast-moving hot gas and volcanic
 Fire risk zoning and mapping. matter.
 Maintenance and creation of fire lines.  Lava flows: Flow of molten rock.
 Controlled burning and fire terracing.  Gas emissions: Release of volcanic gases.
 Glowing avalanches: Hot gas and ash flows.
Oil Spills
Recent Major Eruptions:Mount Etna (Sicily),Mount Vesuvius
Release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into the (Italy),Hunga Tonga (Tonga Island).
environment, especially marine areas.
Impacts of Volcanic Eruptions
Recent Occurrences: Ennore Oil Spill, Tamil Nadu and
Nagapattinam Oil Spill, Tamil Nadu.  Respiratory diseases, burns, and injuries.
 High concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and ash.
Causes of Oil Spills:
 Creation of lahars (mudflows) when ash mixes with
 Equipment failures and human errors. water.
 Deliberate illegal dumping.  Damage to agriculture, infrastructure, and economic
 Natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes). activities.

Impacts of Oil Spills: Mitigation Measures:

 Damages insulation and water-repelling properties of  Using seismometers, gas sensors, and satellites.
mammal fur and bird feathers.  Measuring Ground Deformation.
 Affects immune systems and reproduction of marine  Thermal Imaging.
mammals like dolphins and whales.  Effective Response Systems.
 Blocks sunlight, harming photosynthesizing
Dams in India:
phytoplankton.
 Impairs mangrove forests, reducing coastal protection.  India is the 3rd largest dam-owning country after the USA
and China.
Initiatives Taken:
 Number of Dams: Approximately 5,700 dams.
 National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (1996):
Distribution:
Managed by Indian Coast Guard.
 Merchant Shipping Act (1958): Includes provisions for  Maharashtra: Highest number of large dams (1,848).
pollution prevention and containment.  Madhya Pradesh: Largest number of dams over 100 years
 International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil old (83).
Pollution Damage (2001): Ratified by India in 2015.
Concerns Associated with Dams:
 MARPOL Convention: Signatory.
 80% of Indian dams are over 25 years old.

LEGEND BHAIYA
39
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Sediment Accumulation: 3,700 dams expected to lose  Develop systems for effective communication and impact
26% of storage by 2050 due to sediment (UN estimate). mitigation.
 Non-Compliance: Issues highlighted by CAG audit
reports. El Niño-Monsoon Link

Initiatives for Dam Safety:

About ENSO: Climatic phenomenon involving fluctuating
 National Register of Large Dams (NRLD): Maintained by ocean temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific.
Central Water Commission (CWC).
 Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP):
Phases
Comprehensive rehabilitation of 736 dams across 19
states (2nd and 3rd phases).
 Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application La Niña: Cooling of ocean surface with below-
(DHARMA): Utilizes AI for dam safety. average sea temperatures.
 World Commission on Dams: Formed by the World Bank
and IUCN for knowledge exchange.
 International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD): El Niño: Warming of ocean surface with above-
Facilitates global dam engineering knowledge. average sea temperatures.

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Establishment: Founded in 1875, celebrated its 150th year of

Neutral: Neither El Niño nor La Niña.
service.

Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Impact: El Niño tends to weaken monsoon rainfall,
while La Niña enhances it.
Mandate:
Mechanisms:
 Provide meteorological information for agriculture,
irrigation, shipping, aviation, and offshore oil exploration.  Disrupts Walker circulation, affecting air and
 Issue warnings for severe weather events (e.g., cyclones, moisture flow.
heatwaves).
 Shifts jet stream, influencing weather systems and
 Conduct research in meteorology and related fields.
moisture transport.
Achievements:  Weakens pressure gradients and alters wind
patterns.
 Recognized by WMO for long-term observations at
Dwarka, Veraval (Gujarat), and Cuttack (Odisha). Other Impacts of El Niño
 Radars: 39 Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) nationwide.
 Aviation: Weather monitoring for 117 airports.  Affects marine fisheries.
 Air Quality: AQEWS with 88% accuracy for extreme  Causes localized threats like drought and rising food
pollution events. prices.
 UN Recognition: Praised for early warning during Super
Triple Dip La Niña
Cyclone Amphan (2020) and Cyclone Mocha (2023).

Challenges: Recent study highlights the impact of the triple-dip La

Niña (2020-2023) on air quality in India.
 Few weather models for predictions.
 Issues with analyzing satellite and radar data. Observed Impacts:
 Difficulty predicting cloudbursts, lightning, etc.
 Peninsular India: Poor air quality due to high PM2.5
Way Ahead from northerly winds and slower surface winds.
 North India: Improved air quality due to weaker
 Invest in satellite observations, ground-based
western disturbances and faster ventilation.
measurements, and ocean monitoring.
 Share data and expertise internationally.
 Use AI for better climate predictions.
LEGEND BHAIYA
40
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
Triple Dip La Niña: A rare event where La Niña persists  Positive PDO: May accelerate global warming.
for three consecutive years.

Previous Occurrences: 1998-2001, 1973-1976, 1954-

1956.

2020-2023: Unique for not following a strong El Niño.

Possible Explanations

 Influences from Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

 Extended La Niña possibly triggered by Australian
bushfires (2019-2020).
 Climate change altering ENSO characteristics.
Why PDO Enhances Cyclone Frequency:
Conclusion: Highlights need for a global approach to
 Negative PDO & La Niña: Create favorable
understand and predict ENSO variations.
conditions for tropical cyclones.
Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)  Current Situation: PDO entered a cooler (negative)
phase in 2019; if it continues, more tropical
Recent study suggests PDO, combined with global cyclones expected in post-monsoon months.
warming, may increase cyclone frequency.  Historical Data: Fewer equatorial-origin cyclones
About PDO: Long-term ocean fluctuation in the Pacific (43% decrease) from 1981-2010 compared to 1951-
Ocean with two phases: 1980 due to PDO's positive phase.
 Cyclone Formation: Warmer waters allow cyclones
Cool/Negative Phase: Lower sea-surface temperatures to gain more moisture and increase in intensity.
in the eastern Pacific. Equatorial cyclone formation is rare due to low
Warm/Positive Phase: Higher sea-surface temperatures Coriolis force.
in the eastern Pacific. Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)
Phases Duration: Each phase lasts about 20-30 years, New early warning indicator for potential breakdown of
but recent phases have been shorter. the AMOC.
Impact on Indian Monsoon: About AMOC: Circulates water in a long cycle within the
 El Niño and Positive PDO: Typically adverse for Atlantic Ocean, transporting warmth and nutrients
Indian monsoon. globally.
 La Niña and Negative PDO: Generally beneficial for Drivers: Temperature and salt content differences.
the monsoon.
Climate Impact: Considered a tipping element in the
Linkage with Global Warming climate system.
 Negative PDO: May slow global warming by mixing Threats: Accelerated melting of Greenland glaciers and
colder deep ocean waters with warmer surface Arctic ice sheets.
waters.
Implications of Collapse:

 Rise in Atlantic sea levels.

 Changes in wet and dry seasons in the Amazon.

LEGEND BHAIYA
41
ENVIRONMENT MAINS 365 SUMMARY BY LEGEND BHAIYA
 Increased temperature fluctuations and warmer Negative IOD: Cooler western and warmer eastern
southern hemisphere. Indian Ocean; leads to increased rainfall in Australia and
drier conditions in East Africa.

Neutral IOD: Sea surface temperatures are close to

normal across the Indian Ocean.

Link with ENSO:

Positive IOD: Often associated with El Niño (warming of

equatorial Pacific).

Negative IOD: Often associated with La Niña (cooling of

equatorial Pacific).

Impact: IOD effects are generally weaker compared to

ENSO events.

Tipping Points

Thresholds where a small change can push a system

into a new, often irreversible state.

Nine Key Tipping Points:

1. Amazon Rainforest: Increased drought frequency.

2. Greenland Ice Sheet: Accelerating ice loss.
3. Arctic Sea Ice: Massive losses.
4. Permafrost: Melting.
5. Atlantic Circulation: Slowdown since the 1950s.
6. West Antarctic Ice Sheet: Accelerating ice loss.
7. Boreal Forest: Increased fires.
8. Coral Reefs: Mass die-offs.
9. East Antarctic Ice Sheet: Accelerating ice loss.

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

IOD has turned positive.

About IOD (Indian Niño) : Difference in sea surface

temperatures between the eastern and western Indian
Ocean.

Phases:

Positive IOD: Warmer western Indian Ocean near

Somalia; enhances rainfall in the Indian subcontinent
and Africa, while reducing it in Indonesia, Southeast
Asia, and Australia.

LEGEND BHAIYA