IAS Exam Congress

EnvironmentFLASH(Addendum)
for
CS (Prelims) - 24

Introduction:
This file is addendum to “EnvironmentFLASH”
If you find any discrepancies in the compilation, you can write to us we will rectify it.
Best wishes 🙏
 1. Green deposits:
➢ Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came up with a regulatory framework for
banks to accept green deposits from customers.
➢ Green deposits are interest-bearing deposits collected by regulated entities (REs), such
as banks and financial institutions, with the purpose of financing environmentally
friendly projects. The funds from these deposits are allocated specifically to support
green activities that contribute to climate change mitigation and other
environmental objectives.
➢ Normally, deposits cannot be allocated for specific projects. They go towards the
common deployment pool. With green deposits, they are carved out specifically towards
green financing. This is the biggest difference between the two apart, all the rules
applicable to normal deposits will be applicable to green deposits.
➢ Green deposits can be offered by:
➢ Scheduled commercial banks including Small Finance Bank (excluding Regional Rural
Banks, Local Area Banks, and Payments Banks) and
➢ All deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) registered under the
Reserve Bank of India, including Housing Finance Companies.
➢ To be denominated in Indian Rupees only,Not mandatory for RE to raise green deposits.
➢ RE cannot finance green activities/ projects first and raise green deposits later.
➢ Investments made by REs in Sovereign Green Bonds are also covered under the
framework.
➢ Deposits raised under the framework are covered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit
Guarantee Corporation.
➢ Green activities/ projects financed under the framework can be classified under the
priority sector if they meet priority sector lending (PSL) guidelines of RBI
Allowed Projects Excluded Projects

1. Renewable energy initiatives (solar, wind, 1. Projects involving new or existing extraction
biomass) 2. Production and distribution of fossil fuels,
2. Energy efficiency improvements including improvements and upgrades,
3. Clean transportation (electric vehicle 3. Nuclear power
infrastructure), and 4. Direct waste incineration, alcohol, weapons,
4. Sustainable water and waste management tobacco, gaming, or palm oil industries
5. Green Buildings 5. Renewable energy projects generating energy from
biomass using feedstock originating from
protected areas
6. Landfill projects and hydropower plants larger
than 25 MW
➢ To combat greenwashing, REs must adhere to strict guidelines that require the
disclosure and verification of how green deposits are used.
➢ This includes Mandatory third-party verification and detailed reporting on the
allocation of funds
➢ REs must provide a detailed report annually to their Board of Directors, covering the
amount raised through green deposits, the list of projects financed, and the impact of these
projects.
How are green deposits different from regular deposits? - The Hindu BusinessLine

IAS Exam Congress

 2. CMS COP 14:
➢ The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species
of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) concluded with a range of decisions, including the addition
of 14 species receiving added protection for conservation.
➢ The COP14 — first to happen in Central Asia — concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
➢ Main Pointers:
➢ To address the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats among wild life,
the COP14 took an initiative — Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC) — to
“protect and connect natural areas” to ensure that key areas of migratory species are
identified, protected and connected.
➢ Agreement on an Initiative for the Central Asian Flyway- It spans 30 Range States, after
nearly two decades of inconclusive negotiations, the adopted initiative includes the
establishment of a coordinating unit in India with financial support from the Indian
Government
➢ The COP also introduced three action plans for aquatic species, such as Hawksbill turtle,
threatened with exploitation for their use and trade. It also had new plans for Angelshark,
which has seen a steady decline in 50 years and become “exceedingly rare” in its historical
range.
➢ Single species action plan: It is the key instrument developed under the Agreement
on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). Purpose: It is
for the purpose of implementing coordinated measures to restore migratory waterbird
species to a favourable conservation status.
Hawksbill Turtle:
➢ One of the smaller sea turtle species, the hawksbill turtle gets its name from
its narrow, elongated head which tapers sharply with a V-shaped lower jaw..
➢ Hawksbills are solitary nesters, they nest at intervals of 2-3 years, about 2 to
4 times per season.
➢ Habitat: Typically found around coastal reefs, rocky areas, estuaries, and
lagoons.
➢ Range: Most tropical of all sea turtles. Found in tropical and subtropical
waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
➢ In India, Hawksbill turtles are found in the Lakshadweep Islands, the Andaman Islands and a few beaches
in the Nicobar Islands such as Indira Point. In Tamil Nadu, they were sighted on a few occasions in the Gulf
of Mannar, which is rich in coral reefs
➢ Conservation Status: IUCN: Critically Endangered | WPA: Schedule I | CITES: Appendix I

Common Angel Shark:

➢ They are found in coastal and outer continental shelf sediment habitats in
the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic. They may also be found in
estuaries and brackish water.
➢ Conservation Status: IUCN: Critically Endangered | CITES: Appendix I
➢ Angel Shark is a cartilaginous fish similar to a ray or skate.

CMS COP14: Draft resolution for conservation of hawksbill turtle &

angelshark adopted

IAS Exam Congress

3. Wetland City Accreditation:
➢ WCA is a voluntary accreditation system established under Ramsar Convention
during Conference of Parties -12 (COP-12) held in 2015.
➢ It recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands.
➢ It aims to further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands,
as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
➢ It seeks to encourage cities that are close to and dependent on wetlands, primarily Wetlands
of International Importance, but also wetlands with other conservation category status, to
develop and strengthen a positive relationship with these valuable ecosystems.
➢ This voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or
human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive branding
opportunities for their efforts in demonstrating strong positive relationships with
wetlands.
➢ The Wetland City Accreditation is valid for 6 years, after which it must be renewed,
providing that it continues to fill each of the 6 criteria, which then need to be reviewed by
IAC
➢ These are the first three Indian cities for which nominations have been submitted for
Wetland City Accreditation (WCA). These three cities have been selected by MoEFCC
based on proposals submitted by State Wetlands Authorities in collaboration with
Municipal Corporations:
➢ Indore: Sirpur Lake (Ramsar Site) , Yashwant Sagar is a Ramsar site located close to
Indore.
➢ Bhopal : Bhoj Wetland(Ramsar Site is the city’s lifeline),world-class wetland’s
interpretation centre, Jal Tarang.
➢ Udaipur: five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop
Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
Indore, Bhopal, Udaipur nominated for International Wetland city tag | India News - Business Standard

4. Invasive Species:
➢ The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines invasive alien species (IAS) as
“species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural past or present
distribution threatens biological diversity”. These include animals, plants, fungi, and
even microorganisms, and can influence all kinds of ecosystems.
➢ CBD, the United Nations’ global treaty on safeguarding biological diversity, sums up
characteristics of IAS as follows: “arrive, survive and thrive.”
➢ In India, the legal definition of IAS under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended
in 2022), is narrower. They are defined as “species of animal or plant which is not
native to India, and whose introduction or spread may threaten or adversely impact
wildlife or its habitat.” Crucially, this leaves out species within India which might be
invasive to a particular region — like the chital in Andamans, which are protected in
mainland India, but have become a menace in the island chain.
➢ For example, although Katsagon(Haplophragmaadenophyllum) is native to Eastern
India, on being introduced to other states under afforestation campaigns, it has
become invasive. Similarly, the NBA itself has recognized that the introduction of
several protected native species including Asian Elephant, Barking Deer and Spotted

IAS Exam Congress

 deer from mainland India to Andaman and Nicobar islands has posed a threat to the
native flora and fauna and are considered invasive species in the island.
➢ It is estimated that invasive species are a pronounced threat to biological diversity in
7 out of 10 biogeographic zones in India and more than 90% of forests have the
prevalence of highly invasive species. Further, the National Biodiversity Authority
(“NBA”) has identified 170 invasive species in India.
➢ The list of invasive wildlife in India is dominated by certain species of fish such as the
African catfish, Nile tilapia, red-bellied piranha, and alligator gar, and turtle species
such as the red-eared slider.

IPBES Report on Invasive species:

● There are 37,000 alien species, including plants
and animals, that have been introduced by many
human activities to regions and biomes around the
world.
● More than 3,500 out of the 37,000 introduced alien
species pose major global threats to nature
● Invasive alien species (IAS) play a key role in 60%
of global plant and animal extinctions, and
cost humanity more than $400 billion a year.
● Not all alien invasive species have negative
impacts
● The water hyacinth is the world’s most
widespread invasive alien species on land.
Lantana, a flowering shrub, and the black rat
are the second and third most widespread
globally. The brown rat and the house mouse are
also widespread invasive alien species.
● Invasive alien species like Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti spread diseases such as malaria, Zika and West
Nile Fever.
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/rise-of-the-invaders-94662\

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/invasive-species-natural-ecosystems-threaten-92628
36/\\

IAS Exam Congress

5. Sandalwood:
➢ Sandalwood grows in deciduous forests, it is a partial,
or hemiparasite that needs four or five other trees
growing around it.
➢ Under the ground, sandalwood roots form a haustorium
that forms an octopus-like hold on the host tree’s roots,
from where water and nutrients are taken.
➢ It has been valued for many centuries, for its fragrant
oil, its prized wood, and the many medicinal uses it
has been put to.
➢ Sandalwood fruit is about 1.5 cm in diameter, the
fleshy fruit is a shiny purplish black when ripe. The one
seed inside is a hard, dry kernel, not the usual tough seed
coat protecting a fleshy interior. This makes it difficult
for the seed to survive beyond one season.
➢ Both the above properties - the need for other trees in
the early growth phase, and the seeds, which are
short-lived and cannot be stored, have added to the
overexploited tree’s difficulties. This has led to a drastic fall in the number of sandalwood
trees in the forests of South India.
➢ The IUCN has classified sandalwood as a Endangered species.

IAS Exam Congress

 ➢ It is not surprising that Australia is now the world’s largest supplier of sandalwood
and its oil.
➢ The fruit is bitter, and not to human tastes. But it is loved by birds. About 10 species,
such as the Asian Koel, and the Gray Hornbill swallow the fruit whole, and over time
drop the seeds at great distances from the tree they feasted on. These birds are among
India’s larger frugivores, or eaters of fruit.
➢ Sadly, the thinning of forests has reduced bird populations, and therefore the chances
of proper seed dispersal.
➢ Researchers at the Kerala Agricultural University in Thrissur, working with European
colleagues have tried various ways of priming sandalwood seeds for germination.Best
results were obtained when they soaked freshly collected sandalwood tree seeds in a 5%
solution of polyethylene glycol-6000 for two days. This interesting synthetic substance
induces osmotic pressure on the cells of the seed and pushes the germination
process forward. This is called osmopriming, and when done correctly is more
effective than soaking in just water.
Sprouting a sandalwood sapling - The Hindu
India removed from the CITES Review of Significant Trade process for Red Sanders:
➢ The Red sanders species was listed for Review of Significant Trade (RST) process more or less since 2004.
➢ The CITES RST process enables disciplinary action in the form of trade suspensions directed at
countries that do not meet their obligations. Loopholes in convention implementation led to put India
under watch list of CITES RST.
➢ In the recently concluded CITES Standing Committee meeting, India has been removed from the Review of
Significant Trade for Red Sanders.
➢ RST is Developed by the United Nations International Computing Centre and funded by the European
Union (launched at COP 19). It was designed to identify species that may be subject to unsustainable
levels of international trade, and to identify problems and solutions concerning effective implementation of
the Convention.
➢ Action will help the farmers growing Red sanders to increase their income through cultivation and export of
Red Sanders from the plantations.
Shri Bhupender Yadav says based on compliance and reporting India has been removed from the Review of
Significant Trade process for Red Sanders Shri Yadav says this development is a major boost for the farmers who
grow Red Sanders

6. GRI Biodiversity Standard:

➢ The Global Reporting Initiative Biodiversity Standard was developed by the Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international independent standards organisation that
assists businesses, governments and other entities understand and report their impacts on
issues related to climate change, human rights and corruption.
➢ The new global benchmark for accountability has been issued to inform biodiversity
impacts by organisations through their supply chain and operations. The aim is to
understand the impacts as nature faces extreme pressures, with over one million plant and
animal species being pushed towards extinction.
➢ The new paper, GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024, is a major update to the Biodiversity
Standard that can be used by companies across the world.
New GRI Biodiversity Standard demands reporting of drivers of biodiversity loss, impact on
Indigenous Peoples

IAS Exam Congress

7. World's biggest permafrost crater in Russia’s Far East:
➢ The Batagaika crater is situated in Russia’s Far East, specifically in the Sakha
Republic. This remote region has become a focal point for studying the effects of climate
change on permafrost.
➢ The expansion of the Batagaika crater
can be attributed to the thawing of
permafrost, a phenomenon triggered
by global warming. As temperatures
rise, the once-frozen ground undergoes a
process of degradation, leading to the
formation of this colossal crater.
➢ Permafrost refers to ground or soil
that remains frozen at or below the
freezing point (0 degrees Celsius or 32
degrees Fahrenheit) for two or more
consecutive years. It is typically found
in high-latitude regions near the poles,
such as the Arctic and subarctic areas.
World’s biggest permafrost crater in Russia’s
Far East thaws as planet warms - The Hindu

8. Benzene Pollution:
➢ Benzene Pollution is a colourless or light-yellow chemical that is liquid at room
temperature. It has a sweet odour and is highly flammable. Benzene is formed from
both natural processes and human activities.
➢ Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a
natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. Normal environmental
concentrations of benzene are unlikely to damage animals or plants. It does have a low to
moderate toxicity for aquatic organisms, but this is only likely to be apparent when
high concentrations arise from significant spills.
➢ The indoor benzene exposure is often higher than outdoor. The outdoor air usually
contains a low level of benzene from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle
exhaust, and industrial emissions. The benzene in indoor air comes from products
such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
➢ Further, fuels such as coal, wood, gas, kerosene or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for space
heating and cooking also lead to higher benzene concentration indoors.
➢ Benzene works by causing cells not to work correctly(carcinogen). For example, it can
cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to
anaemia. Also, it can damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies
and causing the loss of white blood cells.
➢ Benzene is also part of CPCB NAAQs ,mandate provided to the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
empowers it to set standards for the quality of air.

IAS Exam Congress

 ➢ The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India has set the annual limit for
benzene in the air at 5 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) since November 2009.
There is no short-term standard for benzene

9. Lead Poisoning:
➢ Lead is a heavy metal element that is toxic to
humans and can cause serious health
problems when ingested or inhaled, especially
in high amounts. Major sources of lead exposure
include lead-based paints, lead batteries,
contaminated soil and water, and occupational
exposure in industries such as mining, smelting,
and battery recycling.
➢ What is Lead poisoning?: It is a condition that
occurs when a person’s body accumulates high
levels of lead, a toxic metal. It can lead to
various health issues, especially in children,
including learning disabilities, neurological
problems, stunted growth, and organ damage
➢ Sources of Lead Pollution:
● Informal and substandard recycling of lead-acid batteries
● Lead in water from the use of leaded pipes, lead from active industry (such as mining),
lead-based paint and pigments, and leaded gasoline.
● Lead solder in food cans, as well as in spices, cosmetics, Ayurveda medicines, toys, and
other consumer products.
➢ WHO has identified lead as 1 of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern.
➢ All household paints should have lead less than 90 ppm (parts per million) and their
label should say so,. The rules issued by the environment ministry and enforced by
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) regulate lead in household and decorative
paints.
➢ Lead is also part of CPCB
NAAQs.

Lead poisoning in Odisha, a silent scourge - The Hindu BusinessLine

IAS Exam Congress
10. Plastic Pollution and Global Regulations:
➢ All plastics or polymers (large molecules) are formed by joining monomers (single
molecules) through a process called polymerisation. During polymerisation, additives
(such as colourants, fillers) and processing aids (such as catalysts, lubricants,
solvents) are added to monomers to provide plastic the desired qualities, such as
colour, flexibility, stability and strength.
➢ The study shows that there are more additives and processing aids used in making
plastic than monomers—the building blocks of plastic. About 55 per cent of the
substances identified are categorised as plastics additives, 39 per cent as processing
aids, and 24 per cent as monomers.
➢ Most of these substances are toxic. They include bisphenols (such as bisphenol A or
BPA), per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, phthalates, brominated flame retardants
and organophosphate flame retardants.
➢ Phthalates are a series of chemical substances, which are mainly used as plasticizers
added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics for softening effects. Phthalates can
potentially disrupt the endocrine system.Phthalates are in hundreds of products, such as
vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair
sprays).
➢ Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the
production of polycarbonate plastics. It is found in various products including shatterproof
windows, eyewear, water bottles, and epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans, bottle
tops, and water supply pipes.Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health
effects on the brain and prostate gland of foetuses, infants and children
➢ A handful of countries have put systems in place to regulate the chemicals that are
used in not just manufacturing plastics but all kinds of products. One such regulation
is the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of
Chemicals (REACH) regulation:
➢ REACH is a comprehensive regulatory framework implemented by the European Union
(EU) to ensure the safe use of chemicals and to protect human health and the
environment.
➢ Under REACH, companies manufacturing or importing chemicals into the EU in
quantities of one tonne or more per year are required to register those substances with
the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
➢ REACH also empowers the EU to impose restrictions on the manufacturing, placing on the
market, or use of certain hazardous chemicals if they pose an unacceptable risk to human
health or the environment
➢ India does not have a regulation identical to the European Union’s REACH
regulation. However, India does have laws and regulations governing the
registration, evaluation, and use of chemicals, albeit in different forms and under
different authorities.
➢ The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals (MSIHC) Rules, 1989:
These rules regulate the manufacture, storage, import and export of hazardous
chemicals in India.
➢ The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): BIS sets standards for various products,
including chemicals, to ensure their quality, safety, and performance. While BIS
standards may not directly mirror the scope of REACH, they contribute to chemical safety and
regulatory compliance in India.

IAS Exam Congress

 ➢ Plastic waste management rules(amended 2024): defines biodegradable plastics as not
only capable of “degradation by biological processes in specific environment such as
soil, landfill” but also as materials that do not leave “any microplastics.” Biodegradable
plastic involves plastic goods being treated before they are sold. When discarded, the
material is expected to decompose naturally over time though there are no tests yet to
determine if such plastics completely degrade. Compostable plastics, on the other hand,
do degrade, but require industrial or large municipal waste management facilities to
do so.
Plastic, the forever pollutant
No microplastics: new rules queer the pitch for ‘biodegradable’ plastics - The Hindu

11. Forever Chemicals(per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance):

➢ The US Environmental Protection Agency has set its first-ever drinking water standard to
protect people against toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in water and other household and everyday
items.
➢ PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. This is a large group of
human-made chemicals – currently estimated to be nearly 15,000 individual
chemical compounds – that are used widely in consumer products and industry. They
can make products resistant to water, grease and stains and protect against fire.
➢ Waterproof outdoor apparel and cosmetics, stain-resistant upholstery and carpets,
food packaging that is designed to prevent liquid or grease from leaking through,
and certain firefighting equipment often contain PFAS. PFAS are also found in
IAS Exam Congress
 unexpected places such as high-performance ski and snowboard waxes, floor waxes and
medical devices.
➢ PFAs can migrate to the soil, water and air during their production and use. Since
most PFAs do not break down, they remain in the environment for long periods of
time.
➢ Health risks that are attributed to PFA exposure, including decreased fertility,
developmental effects in children, interference with body hormones, increased
cholesterol levels and increased risk of some cancers.
➢ Removal of PFAS:
➢ Incineration: The most common method of destroying PFAS is incineration, but most PFAS
are remarkably resistant to being burned. That’s why they’re used in firefighting foams. Most
PFAS will break down completely at incineration temperatures around 1,500 degrees
Celsius (2,730 degrees Fahrenheit), but it’s energy intensive and suitable incinerators
are scarce.
➢ Supercritical Water Oxidation: Scientists have developed supercritical water oxidation to
destroy PFAS. High temperatures and pressures change the state of water, accelerating
chemistry in a way that can destroy hazardous substances.
➢ Researchers are working with plasma reactors, which use water, electricity, and argon gas to
break down PFAS.

➢ Filtration system can be used with activated carbon in the rain water harvesting system. The
activated carbon will need to be removed and replaced regularly. Also, the old contaminated
material must be destroyed.
➢ one class of PFAS can be broken down into mostly harmless components using sodium
hydroxide, or lye, an inexpensive compound used in soap
In a first, US limits ‘forever chemicals’ in tap water: What health risks do PFAS pose? – Firstpost
How to destroy a ‘forever chemical’ PFAS

12. Plastic Credits Model:

➢ It is a market-based mechanism that enables businesses to offset their plastic
footprints by investing in projects that prevent plastic pollution or promote plastic
collection/recycling and waste management. Essentially, businesses can earn “plastic
credits” by implementing measures to reduce plastic usage, collect/recycle plastic waste, or
support initiatives aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of plastic.
IAS Exam Congress
 ➢ These earned plastic credits can be traded or sold on plastic credit marketplaces,
providing businesses with additional revenue streams while supporting other
organisations’ sustainability projects.
➢ Plastic credits promote a linear model of production and disposal, rather than a
circular economy.
➢ They do not address the root cause of plastic pollution, which is the overproduction and
consumption of single-use plastics.
➢ Plastic credits may create a false sense of sustainability and divert attention from the
need to reduce and redesign plastic products.
What is plastic credit model and how it can help MSMEs reduce plastic waste - SME News | The
Financial Express

13. Plastic Overshoot:

➢ Recently, the Earth witnessed it’s 1st Plastic Overshoot Day on July 28, 2023. This
marks the point in the year when the amount of plastic waste generated exceeds the
global waste management capacity.
➢ The Plastic Overshoot Day Report by Swiss-based research consultancy Earth Action
(EA) sheds light on the alarming issue of plastic pollution and its implications on the
environment.
➢ Plastic Overshoot Day is determined based on a country’s Mismanaged Waste Index
(MWI). The gap in waste management capacity and plastic consumption is called MWI.
➢ The report identifies 12 countries responsible for 52% of the world's mismanaged
plastic waste. India is among them, alongside China, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia,
Mexico, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, and
Kazakhstan.
➢ The three countries with the highest mismanaged waste percentages—Mozambique
(99.8%), Nigeria (99.44%), and Kenya (98.9%) belong to Africa.
➢ India ranks fourth in the MWI, with 98.55% of generated waste.
➢ India's per-person consumption is 5.3 kg, significantly lower than the global average
of 20.9 kg.Plastic Overshoot Day for India occurred on January 6, 2023
India among the 12 countries responsible for 52% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste:
Report.

14. Beema Bamboo:

➢ Beema or Bheema Bamboo is a superior clone, selected from Bambusa balcooa, a
higher biomass yielding bamboo species. This bamboo clone has been developed by the
conventional breeding method.
➢ This species is considered to be one of the fastest-growing plants. It grows
one-and-a-half feet per day under tropical conditions. It is said to be the best
‘carbon sink’ to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions.
➢ A fully-grown bamboo tree may generate over 300 kilograms of oxygen annually and it may
be sufficient for one person for one year.
➢ A four-year-old bamboo may absorb over 400 kg of carbon dioxide per annum from
the surrounding areas. Bamboo raised on one acre can sequester 80 tonnes of carbon
dioxide annually.

IAS Exam Congress

 ➢ Beema Bamboo has been developed by N Bharathi of Growmore Biotech Ltd, the
agri-technology company based at Hosur, Tamil Nadu. This clone is thorn-less and
sterile.
➢ The plants developed through tissue culture are free from pest and disease, vigorous
and superior and they can grow in the field for more than hundred years without
any replanting.
➢ The bamboo’s calorific value is equal to that of coal. Cement industries are buying
this bamboo species for their boilers. Bamboo fibre is used by the textile industry for
making fabric and garments.
A wonder bamboo from Tamil Nadu to mitigate climate change

15. Sustainable Building Materials:

➢ The building sector, a major energy
consumer, accounts for over 33% of India’s
electricity usage, contributing to
environmental degradation and climate
change.
➢ The India Cooling Action Plan forecasts an
eightfold increase in cooling demand
between 2017 and 2037, emphasising the
need for thermal comfort while reducing
active cooling demand.
➢ Initiatives like the Eco-Niwas Samhita
(ENS) and the Residential Energy
Conservation Building Code are steps in
the right direction. The ENS introduces the
Residential Envelope Transmittance
Value (RETV), a metric measuring heat
transfer through a building’s envelope.
Lower RETV values lead to cooler indoor environments and decreased energy usage.
➢ Popularity of materials like Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks, red bricks, fly
ash, and monolithic concrete (Mivan). Despite concerns about sustainability, monolithic
concrete construction was favoured by building developers.
➢ RETV evaluation for these buildings revealed that AAC blocks consistently had the
lowest RETV across all climatic conditions, indicating their potential as a thermally
efficient material.
On sustainable building materials | Explained - The Hindu

IAS Exam Congress

16. Kigali Amendment,Quito Adjustment:

➢ In 2018, the Quito Adjustment is the adjustment made to the Montreal Protocol. It
aims high to avoid 1ºC of future warming.
➢ In this, the decision to strengthen enforcement mechanisms of this accord in response to
an unexpected rise in global emissions of the banned chemical
trichlorofluoromethane or CFC-11 was adopted.

IAS Exam Congress

17. Trees Outside Forest Initiative:
➢ It’s a joint initiative of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. TOFI seeks to enhance
tree cover in seven Indian states by identifying promising expansion opportunities
and engaging the right levers.
➢ Through our research and stakeholder consultations, we have identified key impediments
to enhancing trees-outside-forests (TOF) cover through agroforestry in seven states:
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar
Pradesh.
How can small-scale farmers benefit from trees on farms? - The Hindu.

18. Kampala Declaration:

➢ A significant step has been taken by 48 African countries to adopt the Kampala
Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (KDMECC)
to address the interconnection between human mobility and climate change on the
continent.
Kampala Declaration on climate change, human mobility now has 48 African countries as
members

19. Qanat System:

➢ The Qanat system, an ancient and
ingenious method of water management,
has played a pivotal role in sustaining
agriculture and settlements in the arid and
semi-arid regions for centuries.
➢ There are the bodies of water underground,
known as aquifers, some of which can be
found at the tops of the valleys or near the
mountains.
➢ A Qanat system taps these aquifers and,
using underground tunnels, moves the water, using gravity, over many kilometres.
The tunnel then exits at a lower-lying area.
➢ The Qanats have been used for centuries in the arid and semi-arid parts of north Africa, the
Middle East and Asia, where water supplies are limited. It is known by a variety of names,
“foggara” in north Africa, “falaj” in Oman and “qarez” in parts of Asia.
➢ The Persian Qanat World Heritage Site is consisted of 11 active qanats, spread
within the central area of Iran
An ancient system that could bring water to dry areas

IAS Exam Congress

20. Soil Acidification:
➢ Soils are turning acidic due to industrial activities and intense farming. In India, soil
acidification might lead to loss of 3.3 billion tonnes of soil inorganic carbon (SIC)
from the top 0.3 metres of its soil over the next 30 years, according to the study
published in the journal Science.
➢ Carbon in soil can be stored in the form of SIC or soil organic carbon (SOC). The
former includes mineral forms of carbon like calcium carbonate produced by weathering
parent material in soil or from the reaction of soil minerals with atmospheric carbon
dioxide.
➢ The latter, which plays a role in nutrient cycling, is the main component of soil
organic matter such as plant and animal waste, microbes and microbial byproducts.
➢ Acidic soils in India are widespread in the humid southwestern, northeastern and
Himalayan regions. The northeastern region, in particular, has recorded acidity in
approximately 95 per cent of the soils.
➢ Together, soils store more than thrice the quantity of carbon in vegetation or double
the quantity of carbon in the atmosphere.
➢ Soils are the second largest active store of carbon after the oceans (40 000 billion tonnes).
There is more carbon stored in soil than in the atmosphere (760 billion tonnes) and in
vegetation (560 billion tonnes) combined.
➢ So the order of carbon storage is: Oceans>Soils>Atmosphere>Vegetation.
Acidification may strip Indian soils of 3.3 billion tonnes of essential carbon, affecting crop growth,
sequestration: Study

21. Saiga Antelope:

➢ The saiga antelope is a large, nomadic,
migratory herbivore that lives across the
Eurasian Steppe. It's found in Kazakhstan,
Mongolia, the Russian Federation,
Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
➢ They have an unusual hanging nose, which
makes them look like a camel, although they are
goat-sized, and male saigas have horns
➢ Recently, the Saiga (Saiga tatarica) species
category was changed from Critically
Endangered to Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN).
➢ Current population numbers for Saiga in Russia are 38,000, up from 4,500 in 2016, while
Uzbekistan hosts an estimated 500 Saiga, c.200 of which were first discovered in the Aral
Sea Region in 2021 whilst the remaining 300 are isolated by human-made barriers to
migration
Miracle on the Steppe: The Saiga has beaten extinction for now, finds new IUCN Red List

IAS Exam Congress

22. Walking fish, unicorn and sneezing monkey discovered in Eastern
Himalayas:
➢ A walking fish, a unicorn (of sorts), a blue eyed frog, a ‘sneezing’ monkey, are among
the two hundred and eleven new species discovered in Eastern Himalayas in the last six
years, says the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative’s latest report termed “Hidden
Himalayas: Asia’s Wonderland”.
➢ As part of WWF's global initiatives, the Living Himalaya Network Initiative (LHI) has
been established to drive transformative conservation impact across the Eastern Himalayan
countries of Bhutan, India (North-East), and Nepal.
Walking fish, unicorn and sneezing monkey discovered in Eastern Himalayas | Trending News -
The Indian Express

23. Sea creatures and what makes them special:

➢ Sea Horse:
➢ Sea horses are tiny fish that are named for the shape of their head,
which looks like the head of a tiny horse. They are classified as fish,
in the genus Hippocampus.
➢ Seahorse populations in India are distributed across diverse
ecosystems such as seagrass, mangroves, macroalgal beds, and
coral reefs
➢ Unique: The female deposits eggs into the male's pouch after a
mating dance and pregnancy lasts about 30 days. While inside
the pouch, the male supplies nutrients to his developing
embryos, before giving birth to up to 1,000 babies
➢ Mantis Shrimp:
➢ These crustaceans live in tropical and semi-tropical seas, are
vividly coloured and up to 38 cm long.
➢ Crustaceans include crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and
barnacles. They are relatives of insects
➢ Shy and retreating, they are nevertheless ruthless hunters
and defenders of their homeland – a burrow or hole on the
sea-bed.
➢ The punchers are equipped with the equivalent of a pair of
lead-lined (actually calcified) ‘boxing gloves’, with which they flay
punches.
➢ They are family minded: a gentleman will guard his lady.
➢ Mantis shrimp have astonishingly complex eyes mounted on stalks, with as many as 16 colour
receptors (we have just three), several of which are sensitive to UV light.
➢ Octopus:
➢ With their wise domed heads, forward-facing eyes, extraordinary IQ and Houdini-like
escape-ability
➢ Entirely soft-bodied, octopuses are armed with a single, hard venomous beak with
which they stab their prey, and the powerful suckers on their arms.
➢ They are solitary creatures, only coming together to mate (the male dies soon after)
and can change colour and texture at will.
➢ When threatened, they will squirt you with a face-full of black ink and zoom away.

IAS Exam Congress

 ➢ Starfish:
➢ Technically they are not ‘fish’ but sea stars and may have
between 5 and 40 arms radiating from a central disc.
➢ They’re brainless – but each arm contains all the vital
organs needed for survival and can thus exist independently.
So independently, that if an arm is detached from the starfish,
it will grow another arm in its place – and the dismembered
arm will grow back into an entirely new starfish.
➢ Starfish use hydraulics to move around the ocean floor
➢ They are a ‘keystone’ species in their habitat but can be
disastrous in the wrong place – like the Crown of Thorn
starfish which are making mincemeat of the corals of the
Great Barrier Reef.
➢ Hermit Crab:
➢ Hermit crabs are small crustaceans that lack a shell and must “borrow” one from
another animal.
➢ They use empty snail shells (e.g., whelk or periwinkle) or other hollow objects as a
shelter for partial containment and protection of the body.
➢ Habitat: Hermit crabs, worldwide in distribution, occur in sandy- or muddy-bottomed marine
waters and occasionally on land and in trees.
➢ They can grow up to 6 inches long,There are two pairs of antennae and five pairs of legs.
➢ They are opportunistic scavengers, feeding on anything they can find.
➢ They have tough pincers but a soft body, which they coil up inside their borrowed shell, using
their hooked tail to help them to grip on.
Scintillating sea creatures and what makes them special | Eye News - The Indian Express

24. Elephant Corridors:

➢ An elephant corridor is a land strip facilitating the movement of elephants between
two or more viable habitat patches. Corridors leading the animals away from forest
habitats into human domain without connecting to viable habitat patches are not
considered true elephant corridors.
➢ Recently, the Indian government identified 62 new elephant corridors, marking a
significant milestone in the nation's commitment to wildlife conservation. This brings the
total number of such corridors to 150, a remarkable increase from the 88 registered
in 2010.
➢ State Wise Distribution:
➢ According to the report, West Bengal leads with 26 corridors, constituting 17% of the
total.
➢ East central India contributes 35% (52 corridors), while the North East region has
32% (48 corridors).
➢ Southern India has 21% (32 corridors), and northern India has the lowest with 12%
(18 corridors).
➢ India is home to 60% of the Asian elephant population.
➢ India states with highest elephant population: 1st Karnataka (25%) > 2nd Assam > 3rd
Kerala > 4th Tamil Nadu > 5th Odisha > 6th Uttarakhand.
150 elephant corridors identified in India; West Bengal leads: Report

IAS Exam Congress

Segur Elephant Corridor:
● The area, comprising Mudumalai, Nagarhole, Bandipur,
Sathyamangalam and Wayanad, forms part of the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve, a tract measuring over 5,000 square kilometre,
which is home to the largest population of Asian elephants in the
world, numbering over 6,000.
● Segur elephant corridor, notified by the Tamil Nadu government
in 2010, is a critical “elephant corridor that links these habitats
to the Eastern Ghats”.
Segur elephant corridor | A jumbo right of passage - The Hindu

25. Leopard Population:

➢ India’s leopard numbers rose by 8%
from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in
2022, according to a report made
public by the Environment Ministry
recently.
➢ While the highest number of leopards
were reported in Madhya Pradesh
(3,907), only three other States
reported over a 1,000 animals each
Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka
(1,879) and Tamil Nadu (1,070).
➢ leopard densities are higher in Tiger
Reserves compared to areas outside
Protected Areas.
➢ The Indian leopard, despite being
listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972, is classified
as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red
List.
➢ Central India shows a stable or slightly
growing population of leopards (2018:
8071, 2022: 8820), Shivalik hills and
Gangetic plains experienced decline
(2018: 1253, 2022: 1109).
National leopard survey shows count up, but fewer animals outside tiger reserves: What this
means | Explained News - The Indian Express

IAS Exam Congress

26. Peepal Tree:
➢ The peepal tree, scientifically known as Ficus religiosa L., belongs to the Moraceae
family. ‘Ficus’ means fig and ‘religiosa’ means venerated. Its Sanskrit name ‘ashvattha’
translates to ‘under which horses stand’.
➢ The common English names for this tree are sacred fig, sacred bo, peepal or pipul.
➢ This is a large, deciduous or semi-evergreen tree without aerial roots. Generally, it
grows to a height of 25 m and is often epiphytic. Its leaf is heart-shaped with a wavy
margin and an elongated tip. This tree flowers in July-September and fruiting occurs in
September-November. The fruits are small green figs that become purple when ripe.
➢ This species is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asian countries like
Bhutan, China, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam
➢ According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the peepal tree (Ficus
religiosa) has a status of "Least Concern"
➢ In all the three major religions that originated on the Indian subcontinent, that is,
Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, this tree is considered significant. Hindu hermits and
Jain monks used to meditate under this tree as it is considered sacred.
➢ Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment under this tree. Buddhists
regard the peepal tree as the personification of the Buddha.
Book Excerpt: The Peepal, a tree sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains of the Subcontinent

27. Ants:
➢ Ants are social insects that live in colonies. Individual ants perform specific tasks for
the colony, like supplying food, cleaning the nest, defending the colony, etc. There’s
no ‘control room’ telling which ant what to do, yet they seem to know exactly what to do
and when.
➢ The amount of food they carry perfectly matches the colony’s total hunger.
➢ A female ant's fate to become a worker or queen is mainly determined by diet, not
genetics. Any female ant larva can become the queen – those that do receive diets richer
in protein.
➢ Ant colonies can compare different sites before building their nests. Individual ants fail to
do this on their own whereas, together, they turn into competent site inspectors.
➢ Although only a few ants in a colony are foragers, they sense and sate the colony’s
hunger. Foragers bring food from a wild source and distribute it to ants in the nest.
They store the food they collect, such as honeydew or nectar, in their ‘crop’ – a
pouch above the stomach – and feed other ants mouth-to-mouth. They fetch more
food when the colony is more hungry. They leave in search of more food when the stock in
the colony drops below a certain threshold. All this continues until the colony has been fed.
➢ For example, ants leave substances called pheromones on their way to the food
source so other foragers from the colony can follow the pheromone trail – instead of
searching for the source from scratch.
➢ Ants can defend their colonies from predators and other threats using various
strategies. They use chemical defenses to deter predators, and they are also able to
construct physical barriers to protect their nests.
➢ Ants are well known as cultivators of fungi. Some species of ants have a symbiotic
relationship with fungi, where the ants cultivate the fungus for food and the fungus
helps decompose leaf litter and other organic matter in the ants' nest(2022 PYQ)
IAS Exam Congress
How do ants know how much food their hungry colony needs? - The Hindu

28. Sperm Whales:

➢ The various species of whales inhabiting Earth's oceans employ different types of
vocalisations to communicate. Sperm whales, the largest of the toothed whales,
communicate using bursts of clicking noises — called codas — sounding a bit like
Morse code.
➢ Sperm whales, which can reach about 60 feet (18 metres) long, have the largest
brain of any animal. They are deep divers, feeding on giant squid and other prey.
➢ Sperm whales were historically heavily hunted, and today are globally designated as
Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Scientists document remarkable sperm whale 'phonetic alphabet' - The Hindu

29. Tunicates:
➢ They are a species of marine invertebrates with an
evolutionary history from at least 500 million years ago.
➢ Researchers are interested in them as they are the closest
relatives of vertebrates, which includes fish, mammals, and
people.
➢ Studying them is critical to understanding our evolutionary
history.
➢ The limited studies on them reveal them to be weird creatures that come in an array of
shapes and sizes.
Science for All | What are tunicates? - The Hindu
30. Banni Grasslands:
➢ Gujarat’s wildlife got another boost last week when the National CAMPA (Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) approved the state
government’s plan to set up a cheetah conservation and breeding centre in the
Banni Grasslands Reserve, a protected forest located in the southern end of Kutch. The
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will monitor the project.
➢ Back in 2009, Banni was identified by the Wildlife Institute of India as one of the 14
potential sites for reintroduction of the cheetah in India, along with the Desert National
Park in Tal Chhapar in Rajasthan and Kuno in Madhya Pradesh.
➢ The Banni region emerged from the sea as a result of tectonic activities, received
soils from the rivers flown from Bhuj mainland and ends in Greater Rann of Kutch.
Soils deposited by the rivers and the wind, made the land of Banni richer enough that is
could generate diverse grass species, once reported up to 40 grass species, mostly palatable
with saline grass species.
➢ Banni grassland supports numerous animal genetic resources like Banni buffalo, Kankrej
Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Camel, and horse. This grassland acts as breeding and nesting
ground for more than 250 bird species.
➢ Pastoral lifestyle of the communities not only conserved its rich animal genetic resources
but also protected the Banni grassland ecosystem.
➢ Prosopis juliflora introduced to Banni in 1961 to check the ingress of the salt pan desert −
the Great Rann of Kutch which lies in Banni's northern fringes − has rapidly taken over
50 percent of the grasslands with ecological and social impacts.
IAS Exam Congress
Rare forest ecosystem faces steady degradation in Kollam - The Hindu
31. Mystica Swamps :
➢ Myristica swamps are called live fossils, a biodiversity hotspot dominated by evergreen
trees belonging to Myristicaceae family, one of the oldest flowering plants on earth.
➢ Myristica swamps, a rare and archaic forest ecosystem largely confined to Kulathupuzha
and Anchal forest ranges in Kollam, is facing slow and steady degradation due to
multiple factors including man-myristica conflict.
➢ A member of a living animal or plant species that is almost identical to species
known from the fossil record (not the recent fossil record), i.e. they have changed
very little over a long period.

Rare forest ecosystem faces steady degradation in Kollam - The Hindu

IAS Exam Congress

32. Carbon Farming:
➢ Carbon farming combines two concepts by implementing regenerative agricultural
practices that restore ecosystem health while improving agricultural productivity
and soil health, and mitigating climate change by enhancing carbon storage in
agricultural landscapes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
➢ The practice is easy to adopt across various agro-climatic zones. It can also help ameliorate
soil degradation, water scarcity, and challenges related to climate variability.
➢ A simple implementation of carbon farming is rotational grazing. Others include
agroforestry, conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management,
agro-ecology, livestock management, and land restoration.
➢ Agroforestry practices — including silvopasture and alley cropping — can further
diversify farm income by sequestering carbon in trees and shrubs.
➢ Conservation agriculture techniques such as zero tillage, crop rotation, cover cropping,
and crop residue management (stubble retention and composting) can help minimise
soil disturbance and enhance organic content, particularly in places with other intense
agricultural activities.
➢ Integrated nutrient management practices promote soil fertility and reduce emissions by
using organic fertilisers and compost.
➢ Agro-ecological approaches such as crop diversification and intercropping have benefits
for ecosystem resilience.
➢ Livestock management strategies including rotational grazing, optimising feed quality, and
managing animal waste can reduce methane emissions and increase the amount of carbon
stored away in pasture lands.
➢ Carbon farming does offer numerous benefits, its effectiveness varies depending on
multiple factors — geographical location, soil type, crop selection, water availability,
biodiversity, and farm size and scale.
➢ Regions with long growing seasons, sufficient rainfall, and substantial irrigation are
best suited to practise carbon farming because they provide the best conditions
carbon farming can be challenging in hot and dry areas where the availability of
water is limited, and prioritised for drinking and washing needs.
➢ Regions with extensive agricultural land, such as the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Deccan
Plateau, are well suited to adopt carbon farming whereas the mountainous terrain of the
Himalayan region is less so
➢ The ‘4 per 1,000’ initiative was launched by the France government at the COP21
Paris climate summit in 2015.aim of the initiative is to demonstrate that agriculture, and
in particular agricultural soils, can play a crucial role where food security and climate
change
What is carbon farming? | Explained - The Hindu

33. Awnings:
➢ Awnings are said to be ideal for
introducing vegetation in commercial
streets and public spaces, while also
improving air quality in the city.
➢ Introduced in Santa Maria Street in
Valladolid, Spain, the awnings are
tensioned sail-like structures that
IAS Exam Congress
 have been anchored to the facades of surrounding buildings.
➢ They mimic natural canopies found in forests and various plant species. The lightness
and ease of installation of the ‘Greenshades’ allow for shade and the presence of greenery
in commercial streets and public spaces, where trees or other vegetation are often absent.
➢ The awnings can be placed in streets, where planting trees may not be feasible owing
to the lack of space. The plants grow hydroponically, with a water supply point and water
outlet for draining purposes.
➢ Awnings, the tensile spaces are designed to reduce the temperature both in their
surroundings and under the cover. Behind this is the phenomenon of
evapotranspiration, which is the transfer of water to the atmosphere by plants. The
plants chosen for these awnings belong to species that are optimised for the absorption of
gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxid
All about the vegetated canopies for creating green spaces in urban Spain | Explained News - The
Indian Express

34. Cryogenic Carbon Capture:

➢ Cryogenic Carbon Capture (CCC) is a highly innovative CO2 capture technology that
has the potential to reduce carbon emissions from fossil-fueled power plants by
95–99%, at half the cost and energy of current state-of-the-art (Amine based)
carbon capture processes.
➢ CCC also removes other pollutants, such as SOX, NOX, and mercury.
➢ The Cryogenic CO2 Capture (CCC) process dries and cools flue gas from existing
systems, modestly compresses it, cools it to a temperature slightly above the point
where CO2 forms a solid, expands the gas to further cooling, precipitates an amount
of CO2 as a solid that depends on the final temperature, pressurises the CO2, and
lastly reheats the CO2 and the remaining flue gas by cooling the incoming gases. The
final result is the CO2 in a
liquid phase and a gaseous
nitrogen stream.
➢ In addition to the cost and
energy efficiency advantages,
the CCC process enjoys
several ancillary benefits,
including leveraging of
existing capital
investments, pollutant
control, water savings, and
potential energy storage.
Cryogenic Carbon Capture

IAS Exam Congress

35. Using shellfish to clean up excess nutrients and pollution from water
bodies:
➢ Shellfish aquaculture is gaining acceptance as a method to remove excess nutrients
and contaminants from coastal and estuarine waters, says a recent report.
➢ Excess nutrients such as nitrogen that end up in rivers and streams as the result of
human activities can cause algal blooms, loss of seagrass and low oxygen levels,
which can lead to large numbers of fish and other organisms dying.
➢ Geukensia demissa, known as the ribbed mussel, is one type of shellfish proposed for these
nutrient removal programs. This mussel lives in various habitats and can filter
bacteria, microalgae, and detritus containing nutrients and contaminants. In
addition, this shellfish is not for sale on the commercial market
Using shellfish to clean up excess nutrients and pollution from water bodies

36. The Great Blue Wall Initiative:

➢ Movement launched to conserve and restore marine and coastal biodiversity while
unlocking the development of a regenerative sustainable blue economy.
➢ At the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, Western Indian Ocean states and partners
including International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have launched the
Great Blue Wall initiative to establish a network of marine and coastal conserved
areas to benefit biodiversity and local livelihoods, empowering communities to
become stewards of the ocean.
➢ The initiative sets out to help countries reach the following targets: protect 30% of the
ocean by 2030; achieve net gain of critical blue ecosystems – such as mangroves,
corals, seagrasses – by 2030; develop a regenerative blue economy and create millions of
jobs by supporting local communities through funding, training and technical assistance.

37. Great green wall Initiative:

➢ The "Great Green Wall" is an
initiative to increase the amount
of arable land in the Sahel, the
region bordering Africa's Sahara
Desert. Eleven nations are investing
in projects as varied as agroforestry
to sustainable development.
➢ Launched by the African Union in
2007, the Great Green Wall has
grown from an ambitious
tree-planting drive into a
comprehensive rural development
initiative.

IAS Exam Congress

Aravali Green Wall Project:
➢ It is an ambitious plan to create a 1,400km long and
5km wide green belt buffer around the Aravali
Mountain range covering states of Haryana,
Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi.
➢ In the initial phase, 75 water bodies will be
rejuvenated, starting with five waterbodies each in every
district of Aravalli landscape.
➢ It will cover degraded land in Gurgaon, Faridabad,
Bhiwani, Mahendergarh and in Rewari districts of Haryana.
➢ The plan is inspired by Africa’s ‘Great Green Wall’ project, running from Senegal (West) to
Djibouti (East), which came into effect in 2007.
Shri Bhupender Yadav launches Aravalli Green Wall Project, a major initiative to green 5 km buffer area
around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states

38. New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG)

➢ A New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), also known as the
post-2025 climate finance goal, will be negotiated with a baseline of $100 billion per
year, considering the needs and priorities of developing countries.This new goal will
be set in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on
implementation, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries.
Deliberations on setting the new goal aim to strengthen the global response to the threat
of climate change in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate
poverty, including by making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low
greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.
➢ Need for NCQG:
● Developed countries provided $83.3 billion in 2020 out of the promised $100 billion per year.
● However, an analysis by Oxfam suggests that these figures may be inflated by as much as
225% due to misleading and dishonest reporting.
● The $100 billion target set in 2009 lacked clarity in terms of the definition and source of
‘climate finance.’
Recognise ‘Un-enabling’ environment that prevents climate finance access, says Global South at
UN talks in Cartagena.

39. Debt-for-nature swap deal:

➢ Countries prominently vulnerable to climate change and the loss of natural
biodiversity are often the ones least able to afford the investment to strengthen
resilience.
➢ This is because of their debt burden. Gradually, these factors combine to put the affected
countries in jeopardy; they face prolonged fiscal crisis, which forces them to rely on the
mercy and the aid of the international community to stay afloat.
➢ International organisations and multilateral development banks exercise multiple
types of measures to help highly vulnerable countries survive financial catastrophes
caused by climate change impacts.

IAS Exam Congress

 ➢ Usually banks in developed countries buy the debts of such counties and replace
them with new loans which mature later. These have lower interest rates.
➢ According to an article by officials with the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
debt-for-climate and debt-for-nature swaps seek to free up fiscal resources so that
governments can improve resilience without triggering a fiscal crisis or sacrificing
spending on other development priorities.
➢ Conditional climate grants are designed and structured to make them impossible to divert
and are targeted only for climate investment purposes. So the creditor countries trust and
favour conditional grants.
➢ In May 2023, the world’s first and largest debt swap to conserve oceans was signed by
Ecuador. The country had exchanged $1.6 billion denominated bonds for a new $656
million loan.
➢ Under the debt-for-nature swap, Gabon has agreed to a deal with the Bank of America, the
US International Development Finance Corporation (USDFC) and The Nature Conservancy
(TNC), to refinance $500 million in national debt toward marine conservation efforts in the
country.
Gabon announces $500 million debt-for-nature swap deal for marine conservation

40. Bears of India:

Only brown bear is endangered all others are vulnerable

Read from here: Get To Know Your Indian Bears! - Wildlife SOS

IAS Exam Congress

41. Types of Hydrogen:

42. Gape Limitation:

43. Right against Climate Change:

➢ Recently SC in a judgement related to protection of Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat due
to power transmission lines expanded the scope of Articles 14 and 21 to include the
"Right To Be Free From Adverse Effects Of Climate Change".
For First Time, Supreme Court Recognizes Right To Be Free From Adverse Effects Of Climate
Change

IAS Exam Congress

44. Gambusia Fish:
➢ Mosquitofish, native to fresh waters of the southeastern United States, are known for their
appetite for mosquito larvae.
➢ They can consume up to 250 larvae per day, making them a potential weapon against
mosquito populations.
➢ Two species of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis and Gambusia holbrooki, were
considered environmentally friendly and sustainable.
➢ Yet, the unintended result was the worldwide dissemination of these fish from the U.S.,
causing ecological disturbances.
➢ Invasive Nature: Their adaptability and high tolerance to fluctuating environmental
conditions contribute to their extensive dispersion, making them highly invasive.
Mosquitofish are considered among the hundred most detrimental invasive species.
➢ Fish other than Gambusia which has received the most attention as a mosquito
control agent is Poecilia reticulata, the common guppy. Both are considered invasive
Using mosquitofish to fight mosquitoes throws India a tougher puzzle | Explained - The
Hindu

45. Denotification of Pobitora WLS:

➢ The Supreme Court on March 13 froze the Assam government’s move to withdraw a
nearly 26-year-old notification constituting the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, which
hosts one of the largest rhino populations in the country.
➢ The proposal for de-notification of any Sanctuary/National Park requires the
recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife, as per the provisions of the
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and thereafter, approval from the Supreme Court also
➢ Denotification of Tiger reserves: No State Government shall de-notify a tiger reserve,
except in public interest with the approval of the Tiger Conservation Authority and
the National Board for Wild Life
Supreme Court stops Assam’s move to withdraw notification of Pobitora wildlife sanctuary - The
Hindu

46. Some Initiatives related to corals(Coral bleaching was covered in Part1):

➢ Coral Reef Watch: For more than 20 years, NOAA Coral Reef Watch (CRW) has been using
remote sensing, modelled, and in situ data to operate a decision support system to help resource
managers, scientific researchers, decision makers to prepare for and respond to coral reef
ecosystem stressors.Offering the world's only global early-warning system of coral reef
ecosystem environmental changes, NOAA CRW remotely monitors conditions that can cause
coral bleaching, disease, and death
➢ Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network: The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
established the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) in 1995. The GCRMN's main
goal is to report on the condition of the world's coral reefs.
➢ EU Copernicus Climate Change Service(C3S): The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)
supports society by providing authoritative information about the past, present and future climate
in Europe and the rest of the World.

This document is prepared by @littichokaa for IASEC

Best Wishes.! :
IAS Exam Congress