SCORE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SEP)

ENVIRONMENT (CURRENT) – SEP PRELIMS CRASH COURSE: TARGET 2021

Under the Guidance of M K YADAV

Published by: www.theiashub.com I Contact: 9560082909

theIAShub © 2019 | All Rights Reserved

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SCORE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SEP)

PRELIMS CRASH COURSE, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 3

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BASEL BAN AMENDMENT BLUE FLAG PROGRAMME & BEAMS

UNFCCC COP-25

CARBON MARKET, CARBON CREDITS, & CARBON PRICING

UNEP’S EMISSIONS GAP REPORT 2020

BONN CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (CMS)

STATE OF INDIA’S BIRDS 2020 (CMS)

BIOROCK OR MINERAL ACCRETION TECHNOLOGY

CLIMATE ENGINEERING/GEO-ENGG., CARBON SINK & NEGATIVE EMISSION TECHNOLOGIES

CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION & STORAGE (CCUS)

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY OUTLOOK (GBO) UN SUMMIT ON BIODIVERSITY

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ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS

SAMPLE HANDOUT





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The News: Croatia became the 97th country to ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, a global waste dumping

prohibition.

With Croatia’s ratification, a necessary 3/4th of the parties to the Basel Convention have ratified the agreement, making it into an international law.

About Basel Convention The Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their

Disposal was adopted in 1989 at Basel, Switzerland, and it came into force in 1992.

Background - It was adopted in response to a public outcry following the discovery, in the 1980s, in Africa and other parts of the developing world of deposits of toxic wastes imported from abroad.

Objective – To protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, transboundary movements and management of hazardous wastes and other wastes (household waste and incinerator ash).

The Convention covers toxic, poisonous, explosive, corrosive, flammable, ecotoxic and infectious wastes. It does not address the movement of radioactive waste.

Based on the concept of prior informed consent, it requires that, before an export may take place, the authorities of the State of export notify the authorities of the prospective States of import and transit, providing them with detailed information on the intended movement.

The movement may only proceed, if, and when all States concerned have given their written consent.

The Basel Convention Ban Amendment:

Adopted by the parties to the Basel Convention in 1995.

With Croatia’s ratification, the Basel Ban has now become a new Article in the Convention and has entered into force in the 97 countries.

It prohibits all export of hazardous wastes, including electronic wastes and obsolete ships from 29 wealthiest countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to non- OECD countries.

USA, the world’s most wasteful country per-capita, has not ratified the Basel Convention (but signed it), nor the Ban Amendment. - Nearly, 40% of e-waste delivered to US recyclers is exported to Asian and African countries.

Other countries like Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, Brazil, and Mexico are yet to ratify the ban. India is also yet to ratify the ban.

The News: On the occasion of International Coastal Clean-Up Day (celebrated since 1986), 8 beaches of India have

been recommended for the coveted International eco-label, the Blue flag certification.

India has also launched its own eco-label BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) under ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project.

2. BLUE FLAG PROGRAMME & BEAMS

1. BASEL BAN AMENDMENT

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES & DEVELOPMENTS IN ENVIRONMENT





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Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)

FEE is an umbrella organisation of NGOs, with member organisations in more than 70 countries, with an objective of promoting sustainable development through environmental education.

It was established in 1981

The International Head Office of FEE is located in Copenhagen, Denmark Its five programmes: Eco-Schools, Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) and Learning about

Forests (LEAF), Blue Flag and Green Key.

About Blue Flag certification The 'Blue Flag' is a voluntary certification by the Foundation for

Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, marina or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its stringent standards, under 4 heads:

1. Environmental Education and Information, 2. Bathing Water Quality, 3. Environment Management and Conservation and 4. Safety and Services in the beaches.

It serves as an eco-label. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.

The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an Eco-tourism model to provide to the tourists/beach goers clean and hygienic resources.

The Blue Flag certification requires beaches to create certain infrastructure (portable toilet blocks, grey water treatment plants, a solar power plant, etc.).

The Environment Ministry had relaxed Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules that restrict construction near beaches & islands, to help states construct infrastructure and enable them to receive ‘Blue Flag’ certification.

About Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Service Program (BEAMS)

Change (MoEFCC).

Objective - To abate pollution in coastal waters & beaches. - To promote sustainable development of beach

amenities/ facilities. - To protect & conserve coastal ecosystems & natural

resources. - To encourage local authorities & stakeholders to

strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, safety and security for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment norms.

- To promotes beach tourism and recreation in absolute harmony with nature.

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List of Beaches in India awarded Blue Flag certification

Ghoghala beach (Diu) Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat)

Padubidri (Karnataka)

and Kasarkod

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5.

6.

Kappad beach (Kerala) Eden beach (Puducherry)

Rushikonda Pradesh)

beach (Andhra

7. Golden beach (Odisha) 8. Radhanagar beach (Andaman &

Nicobar Islands)

First beach in South Asia to receive the Blue Flag certification:

Chandrabhaga beach, on Odisha’s Konark coast in 2018.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) It is a process for the management of the

coast using an integrated approach, regarding all aspects of the coastal zone, including geographical and political boundaries, in an attempt to achieve sustainability.

The concept was born in 1992 during the

Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro. It is a World Bank assisted project. SICOM would be implementing the project at

the national level and state level.

The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, will provide scientific and technical inputs.

BEAMS has been prepared by Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM), established under the aegis of Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate





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The News

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 25 took place under the Presidency of the Government of Chile and held with logistical support from the Government of Spain.

Conference of Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC. (The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995).

This was also the 15th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 15) and the 2nd Conference of Signatories to the Paris Agreement (CMA 2).

About COP 25: Key Highlights The prime objective of the conference was to complete the rule-book to the 2015 Paris Agreement that

will become effective in 2020 to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol (which comes to an end in 2020).

However, the COP 25, the longest UN climate talks on record, failed to achieve its objective. Many issues were pushed to next year due to the disagreements between the member nations.

It also fell short on its primary deliverables — rules to govern Global Carbon Market and finance for ‘loss and damage caused by extreme weather events.

On Climate Pledges – - Countries agreed in Paris in 2015 to revisit their climate pledges by 2020. But many countries were

pushing for a clear call for all countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges next year. This is seen as a key means of ensuring countries put a focus on improving their current pledges, as well as empowering civil society to hold them to account.

- But countries such as China and Brazil opposed placing any obligation on countries to submit enhanced pledges next year, arguing it should be each country’s own decision.

- They instead argued the focus should be on pre-2020 action by developed countries to meet their previous pledges ie. Kyoto Protocol and Finance/Technology transfer.

On Loss & Damage - Agenda – Reviewing the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM), which was established in 2013

to deal with “loss and damage”.

- Outcome

COP25 failed to establish a funding mechanism for loss and damage. Instead, countries agreed

to establish an Expert Group to advise on the issue and a “Santiago network” to facilitate

technical support.

Final texts noted that the GCF (Green Climate Fund) already supports activities that can be

defined as relating to “loss and damage”. It merely “urged” developed countries to “scale up”

finance.

India played a mixed role:

- On the question of markets, India emphasised the transition of the Clean Development Mechanism

(CDM) credits earned under the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement.

- Pointed out that that excessively cheap emissions reductions enabled by the CDM as well as the

possibility of double counting could corrupt the process.

Other Developments

- Green Deal by European Commission was announced for member nations to cut emissions by at

least 50% by 2030 & go net zero by 2050.

- Gender Action Plan (GAP) – Adoption of new five-year gender action plan (GAP), intended to

“support the implementation of gender-related decisions and mandates in the UNFCCC process”.

3. UNFCCC COP-25





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- IPCC submitted 2 Special Reports on 1) Climate Change & 2) Land and Oceans & Cryosphere - Both of these reports were only “noted”, as opposed to “welcomed”.

LOSS AND DAMAGE

What is Loss & Damage? While there is no official definition, loss and damage usually refers to the ‘residual effects’ of climate change

that cannot (or will not) be avoided through mitigation (reductions of GHGs) and adaptation (adjustments to climatic changes).

These ‘residual’ adverse impacts are already ‘locked in’ as a result of past, current and projected future emissions.

This includes impacts related to extreme weather events (such as flooding, droughts, or cyclones) and slow onset events (such as sea-level rise, desertification, or melting glaciers).

These impacts can be further identified as: - Economic impacts – which are easily quantifiable (such as damages to infrastructure) - Non - Economic impacts – Which cannot be expressed in monetary terms (such as loss of life, livelihood,

biodiversity, cultural heritage or identity).

While ‘losses’ are generally understood to be irreversible, ‘damages’ can be repaired or alleviated Loss and Damage is a concept where developing countries, who are facing the worst impacts of climate

change, hold the developed countries, who have historical responsibility for climate change, liable for compensating them for adverse climate change impacts.

Loss and damage under UNFCC

1990s - Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have been actively promoting loss and damage since the very beginning of UNFCCC negotiations. First proposed by Vanuatu on behalf of Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

2013 – L&D fully institutionalised by Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) as the

main vehicle under UNFCCC to address the residual impacts of climate change.

2015

- Paris Agreement represents another major breakthrough by dedicating an entire article to impacts

associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

- The Agreement established loss and damage (at least implicitly) as a third pillar of the international

climate regime (apart from adaptation & mitigation).

- However, it explicitly states that this does not provide any basis for liability and compensation.

2016 - Climate change negotiations in Marrakech conducted a first review of the WIM and adopted a new

workplan for the WIM’s Executive Committee.

DOHA AMENDMENT TO KYOTO PROTOCOL

'Doha Amendment' establishes a 2nd commitment period (2013–20) for Annex I Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

To enter into force, the protocol requires the acceptances of 144 states. As of Oct 2020, 147 countries have

accepted the Doha amendment. Of the 37 parties with binding commitments, 34 have ratified.

The amendment includes new commitments for parties to the Protocol

- Reduction in GHG emissions by at least 18% below 1990 levels (from the earlier 5%).

- Adds nitrogen trifluoride to the list of 6 greenhouse gases covered earlier (6 GH gases include Carbon

dioxide (CO2); Methane (CH4); Nitrous oxide (N2O); Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); Perfluorocarbons (PFCs);

and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6))





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4. CARBON MARKET, CARBON CREDITS, & CARBON PRICING

Carbon Market & Carbon Credit A carbon credit is a permit or certificate allowing the holder to emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse

gases.

A carbon market allows countries, or industries, to earn carbon credits for emission reductions they make in excess of what is required of them. These credits can be traded to the highest bidder in exchange for money.

The buyers of carbon credits can show the emission reductions as their own and use them to meet their own emission reduction targets.

A carbon market already existed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, but several countries walked out of the Kyoto Protocol and, thus, the demand for carbon credits had waned.

As a result, developing countries like India, China and Brazil had accumulated huge amounts of carbon credits. These credits are now in danger of getting redundant. - Thus, they have argued that their accumulated unused carbon credits should be considered valid

in the new market mechanism. But, the Developed countries questioned the authenticity of the unused carbon credits, pointing to

weak verification mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. The discussion over carbon markets is deferred to the next CoP.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and Carbon Pricing Under the Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to set up a new global carbon market

system (for trading of carbon emissions) to help countries decarbonise their economies at lower cost.

Article 6 aims at promoting integrated, holistic and balanced approaches that will assist governments in implementing their NDCs through voluntary international cooperation.

Article 6 contains three separate mechanisms for “voluntary cooperation”: 1. Article 6.2 (Market based mechanism) allows countries to strike direct bilateral and voluntary

agreements to trade carbon units (that are in excess of their NDCs Targets). 2. Article 6.4 (Market based mechanism) creates a centralised governance system for public and the

private sector to trade emissions reduction anywhere in the world. This system, known as the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM), is due to replace the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), established under the Kyoto Protocol.

3. Article 6.8 (Non Market based mechanism) develops a framework for cooperation between countries to reduce emissions outside market mechanisms, such as developmental aid (ie. where no trade is involved).

This cooperation mechanism, if properly designed, should make it easier to achieve reduction targets and raise ambition.

In particular, Article 6 could also establish a policy foundation for an emissions trading system, which could help lead to a global price on carbon.

Under this mechanism, countries with low emissions would be allowed to sell their exceeding allowance to larger emitters, with an overall cap of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ensuring their net reduction.

The second commitment period affects only 14% of global emissions because only EU Member States, other

European countries and Australia have commitments.

USA, Russia, Canada, and Japan have opted out of Kyoto. Developing countries do not have binding targets.





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5. UNEP’S EMISSIONS GAP REPORT 2020

Supply and demand for emissions allowances would lead to the establishment of a global carbon price that would tie the negative externalities of GHG emissions to polluters. In other words, by paying a price on carbon, states exceeding their NDCs would bear the costs of global warming.

The News: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

recently released the eleventh edition of the Emissions Gap Report 2020.

About the Emission Gap Report It is a flagship report from UNEP that assesses the gap

between anticipated emissions in 2030 and levels consistent with the 1.5°C and 2°C targets of the Paris Agreement.

Every year, the report features the ways to bridge the gap. Uniqueness of this year’s report - The report focuses on 3

areas to bridge the gap, which has become even more pertinent in the wake of COVID-19:

1. Role of COVID-19 fiscal rescue and recovery measures

in the global transition to decarbonization.

2. Role & opportunity for reducing emissions from

shipping and aviation sectors, where international

emissions are not covered by the Nationally

Determined Contributions NDCs.

3. Role of lifestyle change in decarbonization.

Key findings of reports: Record high GHG emissions: Global GHG emissions continued to grow for the third consecutive year in

2019, reaching a record high of 52.4 Gigatonne carbon equivalent (GtCO2e).

Record carbon emission: Fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (from fossil fuels and carbonates)

dominate total GHG emissions, including Land Use Change (LUC, about 65%) and, consequently, the

growth in GHG emissions.

G20 countries account for the bulk of emissions: Over the last decade, the top 4 emitters (China, USA,

EU27 + UK, and India) have contributed to 55% of the total GHG emissions.

- The top 7 emitters (including the Russia, Japan, and international transport) have contributed to

65%, with G20 members accounting for 78%.

GHG emissions exacerbated by Forest Fires: Since 2010, global GHG emissions have grown 1.4% per

year on average, with a more rapid increase of 2.6% in 2019 due to a large increase in vegetation forest

fires.

Current NDCs remain seriously inadequate to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement and

would lead to a temperature increase of at least 3°C by the end of the century.

Countries committing to net-zero emissions goals: Around 126 countries covering 51% of global GHG

emissions have net-zero goals that are formally adopted, announced or under consideration.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)

Submissions by countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement which presents their national efforts to reach the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal of limiting warming to well below 2°C.

New/updated NDCs were to be submitted in 2020 and every five years thereafter.

INDIA’S PROPOSED NDCS Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 33

to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level.

Achieve 40% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030

Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.





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UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) UNEP is leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and promotes

the implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the UN system.

It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) in 1972.

It is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It hosts the secretariats of many critical multilateral

environmental agreements (Convention on Biodiversity, CITES, Minamata Convention on Mercury, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer & Montreal Protocol, Convention on Migratory Species etc.)

United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the governing body of UNEP. It is the world’s highest- level decision-making body on the environment.

Important Reports - Global Environment Outlook (GEO), Emission Gap Report, Invest into Healthy Planet, Frontiers etc.

Notable Initiatives by UNEP The World Meteorological Organization

and UNEP established the Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988.

UNEP is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

Major Campaigns by UNEP - Clean up the World - Billion Tree Campaign - World Environment Day (June 5th)

6. BONN CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (CMS)

Inequity in emissions:

- Generally, rich countries have higher consumption-based emissions (emissions allocated to the

country where goods are purchased and consumed, rather than where they are produced) than

territorial-based emissions, as they typically have cleaner production, relatively more services and

more imports of primary and secondary products. Both emission types have declined at similar

rates.

- The emissions of the richest 1% of the global population account for more than twice the combined

share of the poorest 50%.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on emission level: CO2 emissions could decrease by about 7% in 2020

compared with 2019 emission levels due to COVID-19.

- However, atmospheric concentrations of major GHGs (CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O))

continued to increase in both 2019 and 2020.

The News The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of

Wild Animals (CMS), also called the Bonn Convention, was hosted by India in February 2020 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

About the 13th COP of Bonn Convention:

India has taken over the Presidency for the next 3 years, till 2023.

Theme of CMS COP-13 - ‘Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home’.

Mascot for CMS COP-13– ‘Gibi’ - The Great Indian Bustard. GIB is a critically endangered species (according to the IUCN) and has been accorded the highest

protection status (listed in Schedule I) under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-great-indian-bustard





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FLYWAYS Flyways are the area used by a group of birds during their annual cycle which includes their breeding

areas, stop over areas and wintering areas.

There are 9 flyways in the world. 3 of the 9 flyways pass through Indian Subcontinent: 1. Central Asian Flyway (CAF)

- This is a migration route, covering over 30 countries, for different water birds linking their northernmost breeding grounds in Russia (Siberia) to the southernmost non-breeding (wintering) grounds in West and South Asia, the Maldives and British Indian Ocean Territory.

- India has a strategic role in the flyway, as it provides critical stopover sites to over 90% of the bird species known to use this migratory route.

India has proposed inclusion of the Great Indian bustard, Asian elephant and Bengal florican in

Appendix-I of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

Major Outcomes: 10 new species were added to CMS Appendices at

COP13.

7 species were added to Appendix I, which provides the strictest protection: the Asian Elephant, Jaguar, Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican, Little Bustard, Antipodean Albatross and the Oceanic White-tip Shark.

CMS COP13 also adopted the Gandhinagar Declaration, which will send a message to the first negotiating session of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework convening in Rome.

The Declaration calls for migratory species and the concept of ‘ecological connectivity’ to be integrated.

The first ever report on the Status of Migratory Species, presented to CMS COP13, shows that despite some success stories, the populations of most migratory species covered by CMS are declining.

Integration of biodiversity and migratory species considerations into national energy and climate policy and promote wildlife-friendly renewable energy.

Prime Minister of India pledged

- To focus on the conservation of migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.

- The establishment of an institutional facility for undertaking research and assessment of the conservation of migratory birds, the conservation of marine turtles, reduction of pollution from micro-plastic and single-use plastic, transboundary protected areas, and sustainable infrastructure development.

India is home to several migratory

species of wildlife including snow

leopard, Amur falcons, bar headed

Geese, black necked cranes, marine

turtles, dugongs, humpbacked

whales, etc.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

Signed in 1979 in Bonn, Germany & entered into force in 1983.

It is the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species (terrestrial, aquatic, & avian), their habitats and migration routes.

It is an environmental treaty under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision- making organ of this convention.

It brings together the States through which migratory animals pass (the range states) and lays down conservation measures.

Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the Convention, and Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals/

Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II.

India is a party to this convention since 1983. China, Russia, US, Canada, Japan are not its

members.





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7. STATE OF INDIA’S BIRDS 2020 (CMS)

The News

Recently, the State of India’s Bird 2020 was released at the 13th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The first-of-its-kind analysis was carried out by ten research and conservation organisations across India.

It used a massive database of over 10 million observations uploaded by 15,000 birdwatchers on the online platform (e-Bird) and ‘citizen science data’ to assess the distribution and trends of common Indian birds.

State of India’s Bird Report 2020: Key Findings

Over 50% of the 867 species studied, exhibit a population decline in the long term while 146 are at great risk in the short term.

Most affected

- The populations of raptors (eagles, hawks, kites, etc.), migratory seabirds and birds that live in specialised habitats were the most affected in the past decades.

- The number of birds in the Western Ghats, which is considered one of the world’s foremost biodiversity hotspots, also declined by almost 75% since 2000.

However, steady gain was registered in the numbers of the national bird, Peacock. It has shown a dramatic increase in both abundance and distribution across the country

The number of house sparrows has also stabilised nationwide, although there is still a marked decline in their population in cities.

126 species, including the peafowl, house sparrow, Asian Koel, rose-ringed parakeet and the common tailorbird, are expected to increase in numbers, primarily due to their ability to survive in human habitats.

2. East Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF) - The East Asia/Australasia Flyway extends from Arctic Russia and North America to the southern

limits of Australia and New Zealand. - It encompasses large parts of East Asia, all of Southeast Asia and includes eastern India and the

Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 3. Asian East African Flyway (AEAF)

- The Asian East African Flyway extends from Arctic Russia to South Africa and Madagascar in Africa. - The flyway pass cover area from west of Tibetan plateau and Himalayas including central Asia and

West Asia - It also covers parts of north-western India.

RAPTOR MOU Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia is

also known as Raptor MoU.

Raptors MoU is an agreement under CMS. It aims to promote coordinated actions to maintain the favourable conservation status of migratory birds

of prey (raptors) throughout their range in the African-Eurasian region/

India is a signatory to Raptor MoU. It is not legally binding.





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8. BIOROCK OR MINERAL ACCRETION TECHNOLOGY

ANALYSIS OF SPECIES Indian Peacocks:

The numbers of India’s national bird, the Indian Peacock, has increased dramatically over the past few decades.

The increase in numbers of the species has been attributed to a combination of the bird expanding its range (earlier it was absent in Kerala), conservation efforts and associated penalties for poaching under Schedule I of the Wildlife Act.

It is listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List.

Indian vultures:

It has experienced catastrophic population declines starting in the early 1990s. The declines are almost entirely attributable to inadvertent poisoning by the livestock anti-inflammatory

drug diclofenac.

Surveys conducted have shown that White-rumped Vulture has suffered the most severe declines, followed by Indian Vulture and Egyptian Vulture.

House Sparrow: The House Sparrow has been found to be stable across the country as a whole, although declining in

the major cities.

It has been declared as the “State Bird of Delhi” to save the species and enhance awareness about their life and habitat.

The reasons for the decline include decreasing insect populations (a key part of the diet of sparrow chicks) and paucity of suitable nesting sites.

Moreover, the popular theory that radiation from mobile phone towers is a factor is not supported by the findings of this report.

Bustards in India:

All the four species of bustards in India (the Great Indian Bustard, Macqueen’s Bustard, Lesser Florican and Bengal Florican) have suffered continuous population declines.

The decline is observed due to historical hunting and widespread habitat loss, with their slow growth and reproduction.

Waterbirds It showed overall long-term declines, amongst which migratory shorebirds and gulls and terns appear to

have declined the most.

Overall, migratory species (both long-distance and within-subcontinent) show steeper declines than residents.

The News

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with help from Gujarat’s forest department, is attempting for thefirst time a process to restore coral reefs using biorock or mineral accretion technology.

A biorock structure was installed in the Gulf of Kachchh.

About Biorock or Mineral Accretion Technology Biorock is the name given to the substance formed by electro accumulation of minerals dissolved in

seawater on steel structures that are lowered onto the sea bed and are connected to a power source, in this case solar panels that float on the surface.





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9. CLIMATE ENGINEERING/GEO-ENGG., CARBON SINK & NEGATIVE EMISSION TECHNOLOGIES

The technology works by passing a small amount of electrical current through electrodes in the water. When a positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode are placed on the sea floor, with an

electric current flowing between them, calcium ions combine with carbonate ions and adhere to the structure (cathode).

This results in calcium carbonate formation. Coral larvae adhere to the CaCO3 and grow quickly.

Also known as “climate engineering”, geo-engineering is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth’s climate system to limit adverse global warming and counter climate change.

It includes techniques to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and technologies to rapidly cool the Earth by reflecting solar energy back to space.

Types of Geo-engineering proposals:

Carbon dioxide removal techniques (CDR): techniques to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Ocean fertilisation using phytoplankton and iron: - Phytoplankton in the ocean use photosynthesis to capture CO2. - When they die, they sink deep into the ocean, taking all that CO2 with them. - Phytoplankton needs iron to grow. - Increasing the ocean’s iron content (iron fertilization) will cause the phytoplankton population to

increase, thereby removing more CO2.

Biochar production: - Biochar is a type of charcoal made from animal wastes and plant residues (such as wood chips, leaves,

and husks) which can sequester carbon by circumventing the normal decomposition process or acting as a fertilizer to enhance the sequestration rate of growing biomass.

Artificial trees: - Artificial trees essentially would be a series of sticky, resin-covered filters that would convert

captured CO2 to a carbonate called soda ash.

- Periodically, the soda ash would be washed off the filters and collected for storage.

Carbon filtering: - Carbon burial: For example; burning large quantities of wood in power plants with carbon-capture

technology, grazing cattle in a way designed to turn grasslands into giant carbon sinks, or converting C02 into stones.

- Direct Air Capture: This technology uses huge fans to suck air through a filter to which CO2 chemically bonds. When heated, the filter releases the CO2, which can then be sold for other uses, such as growing vegetables in greenhouses, making carbonated drinks or even fuel.

Solar geo-engineering, or “solar radiation management” (SRM); technologies to rapidly cool the Earth by reflecting solar energy back to space.

Stratospheric aerosol injection: - The idea is to simulate the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions, and enhancing the reflectivity of

marine clouds. - When volcanoes erupt, they spread into the atmosphere tiny particles, commonly known

as "aerosols." - Light-coloured aerosol particles can reflect incoming energy from the sun in cloud-free air, and dark

particles can absorb it. - A small fleet of aircraft, for example, could conceivably inject sulfate-aerosols or other reflecting

particles into the stratosphere and drive large-scale cooling.





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10. CARBON CAPTURE, UTILISATION & STORAGE (CCUS)

Marine cloud brightening: - Another idea is to increase the Earth’s ‘albedo’, which is the measure of the amount of solar radiation

the planet reflects back than it absorbs.

- Because whiter surfaces reflect more light than darker ones, a whiter Earth will reflect more of the Sun’s energy back into space, helping to keep temperatures cooler.

- One way to do this is to make clouds brighter and whiter. - This can be done by spraying seawater into clouds over the ocean. The saltwater will cause them

to grow bigger and brighter. - Other proposals to increase the Earth’s albedo include painting houses white, planting crops that

are pale , and perhaps even laying out reflective sheets in deserts.

Cirrus cloud thinning (CCT): - CCT is almost the opposite of marine cloud brightening. High-altitude Cirrus clouds are thin and

whispy, so they don't reflect much solar radiation back into space, and instead trap long-wave radiation on earth.

- CCT proposes thinning them further through cloud seeding, letting more long-wave radiation escape. - The problem with CCT is that cloud seeding can have the exact opposite effect, thickening the Cirrus

formations.

Space reflectors: - Technologies like giant mirrors in space or umbrellas in orbit can be built to reflect sunlight away

and keep the planet cooler. - All these ideas have been proposed, but would be so expensive that no one really thinks we could

afford them.

Negative Emissions & Negative Emission Technologies (NET)

‘Negative emissions’ are nothing but the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. This can be done naturally, such as by protecting and restoring degraded forests so they become carbon

sinks and better agricultural practices that leave carbon in the ground

These are ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or even change the earth’s radiation balance through geo-engineering. For instance by burning bio-energy, capturing the carbon released, and pumping it into underground geological reservoirs. This is known as Bio-energy, Carbon, Capture and Storage (BECCS).

The News:

The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has invited proposals from Indian researchers in the area of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) under Accelerating CCUS Technologies (ACT), in collaboration with other ACT member countries.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

CCUS aims to reduce carbon emission by either storing or reusing it so that captured carbon dioxide does not enter the atmosphere. It can be applied across the energy system.

Carbon Capture: It aims to capture CO2 emissions from point sources such as coal/thermal power plants and industrial processes, to prevent its release into the atmosphere.

Utilisation: Examples of utilisation include: - Captured CO2 can be converted to several valuable products: methanol, biofuels, plastics, urea,

polymers, syngas, etc.





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11. GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY OUTLOOK (GBO)

- In the food and drink industry as a carbonating agent, preservative, packaging gas, and as a solvent for the extraction of flavours and in the decaffeination process.

- In the pharmaceutical industry as a respiratory stimulant or as an intermediate in synthesis of drugs.

- In Enhanced oil and coal-bed methane recovery where the carbon dioxide is injected into depleting oil or gas reserves to increases the amount of recovery

Storage: it can either take place in the geological formations such as depleted oil & gas fields, deep saline formations, coal bed formations, ocean bed, etc.

CCUS is one of the identified innovation challenges in the Mission Innovation (MI) programme.

Accelerating CCUS Technologies (ACT)

It is an international initiative to establish CO2 capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as a tool to combat global warming.

Objective: To fund research and innovation projects that can lead to safe and cost-effective CCUS technology.

There have been two ACT calls, the first (in 2016), which mobilised funds from participating partners and the European Commission, and the second call (in 2018) was funded by participating national funding agencies only.

The 16 ACT member countries and organizations have decided to participate in this third ACT call. ACT members are funding agencies from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy,

Netherlands, Norway, the Nordic Region, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, USA etc.

Benefits/significance Promote greater participation and cooperation in clean energy technology: It would bring together

carbon capture and GHG reduction technology decision-makers, scientists and government officials.

Augment clean technology development: It facilitates high-level strategic updates, case studies on emerging technologies, and connect on research in the industry to advance clean technology.

Reduction of cost of clean technology: Global cooperation on CCUS Technologies will reduce the upfront cost and accelerate the development of its commercialisation of clean technology.

Adding economic value: Captured CO2 can be utilised to make useful chemicals or fuels of commercial importance.

Raise awareness of diverse global initiatives and projects related to clean energy technology.

The News: The fifth edition of the UN’s Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO 5) report was recently published by the

UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).

About Global Biodiversity Outlook report

It is a flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties called for the preparation of a periodic report on

biological diversity: The Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO).

Mission Innovation Global initiative of 24 countries and the

European Union (EU) to dramatically accelerate global clean energy innovation.

It was announced in 2015 at COP21 (Paris)

Aim: to double governments’ clean energy Research & Development (R&D) investments in transformative clean energy technologies.

India is one of the founding members and Department of Science & Technology (DST) is an active partner.





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It summarizes the latest data on the status and trends of biodiversity and draws conclusions relevant to the further implementation of the Convention.

GBO-5 - It provides a global summary of progress

towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. - It is based on a range of indicators, research

studies and assessments as well as the national reports provided by countries on their implementation of the CBD.

- GBO is particularly based on the assessment by IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

- GBO - 5 draws on the lessons learned during the first two decades of this century to clarify the transitions needed to realize the vision agreed by world governments for 2050, ‘Living in Harmony with Nature’.

Key findings from the report At the global level, none of the 20 Aichi

Biodiversity targets have been fully achieved, though six targets have been partially achieved (Targets 9, 11, 16, 17, 19 and 20).

The rate of deforestation has fallen globally by about a third.

There have been an increasing number of successful cases of eradication of invasive alien species from islands.

Key Suggestions

Various areas of action could reduce the rate of biodiversity loss, and could potentially lead to net biodiversity gains after 2030, by following areas of actions: - Enhanced conservation & restoration of

ecosystem - Climate change mitigation. - Action on pollution, invasive alien species

and overexploitation. - More sustainable production of goods and

services, especially food; and

- Reduced consumption and waste.

Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) It is a multilateral treaty signed at the 1992 Rio Earth

Summit.

It is ratified by 196 countries and is legally binding on its signatories.

India is also a party to the Convention and ratified it in 1994.

The goals of the Convention are: - Conservation of Biological Diversity - Sustainable use of the components of the

Biodiversity - Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from

the genetic resources

Two supplementary protocols to CBD are: 1. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs). 2. Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their utilization.

Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, including Aichi Targets were adopted in 2010, in Nagoya, Japan, by the Parties to the CBD. - Strategic Plan is a 10 year framework for action

by all countries and stakeholders to save biodiversity and enhance its benefits for people.

- The 2050 Vision for Biodiversity was adopted as part of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- 2020.

- Aichi Target – The Nagoya Protocol came up with 20 ambitious but achievable targets collectively called the “Aichi Target”.

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

Established: 2012 It is an intergovernmental organization established to

improve the interface between science and policy on issues of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

It is not a United Nations body.

In 2019, (IPBES) published its first global assessment on the state of the Earth’s biodiversity.





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The News: The first-ever UN Summit on Biodiversity was convened by the President of the UN General Assembly in

New York, with India as a participant.

The meeting took place on the margins of the opening of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

About the Summit

Theme of the Summit: “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development”.

Objectives: - Highlight the degradation of biodiversity and

the urgent need to accelerate action on biodiversity for sustainable development.

- Provide an opportunity for Heads of State and Government and other leaders to raise ambition for the development of post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity in 2021.

- This framework, and its effective implementation, must put nature on a path to recovery by 2030 to meet the SDGs and realize the Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”.

Outcome of the summit: - The member-nations of the Convention on

Biological Diversity (CBD) took note of the link between biodiversity loss and the spread of animal pathogens.

- They called for an end to destructive industrial and commercial practices.

- There is consensus that conservation targets set a decade ago in Aichi, Japan, to be achieved by 2020, have spectacularly failed.

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12. UN SUMMIT ON BIODIVERSITY

India’s Achievements India, with only 2.4% of the earth’s land area hosts

around 8% of the world’s recorded species.

In last decade, India has increased the combined forest and tree cover to 24.5% of the total geographical area of the country.

Highest number of tigers in the wild and have doubled its numbers ahead of the deadline of 2022.

Recently announced the launch of Project Lion and Project Dolphin.

Committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land, and achieve land- degradation neutrality by 2030.

Set aside extensive area for meeting the conservation objectives, contributing to Aichi Biodiversity Target-11 and the SDG -15.

Established a comprehensive institutional and legal system to realize the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Operationalized a system for access and benefit- sharing provisions of the CBD through a national network of 0.25 million Biodiversity Management Committees.

SCORE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SEP)

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