GOOD
India signs Paris Accord
On October 2, India became the 62nd country to ratify the COP21 Paris Agreement on climate change. India that accounts for 4.5 percent of the global emission has to make sincere efforts to achieve the targets. By 2030, India will have to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 33-35 per cent. India is nearly a third of the way through, and climatologists feel it is feasible. India will further have to reduce emission intensity targets. This means by 2025, India will require a 175GW power production capacity from renewable energy sources. With the current government focusing heavily on solar projects, this target too seems achievable. India will have to increase the forest cover by five million hectares and also improve the quality of green cover by an equal measure. As a result, it will achieve the target absorption of 2.5-3 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere.
By 2030, Wind energy will hold key to generating power
There was good news for those who wished to look for alternative methods of generating power. The total global wind power installations that stood at 433 GW by the end of 2015 is set to rise by around 60 GW in 2016. A Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) report said that wind power could supply up to 20 per cent of global electricity by 2030, owing to dramatic cost reductions and efforts to check climate change. While wind power could reach 2,110 GW and add to 2.4 million new jobs. Not to forget, it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 3.3 billion tonnes per year.
Giant Panda are no longer endangered
Some happiness for panda lovers. The giant panda was struck off the endangered list thanks to aggressive conservation efforts. The International Union for Conservation of Nature said in a report that the panda is now classified as “vulnerable” instead of “endangered,” reflecting its growing numbers in the wild in southern China. It said the wild panda population jumped to 1,864 in 2014 from 1,596 in 2014, the result of work by Chinese agencies to enforce poaching bans and expand forest reserves.
The end of El Nino
The latest El Nino weather phenomenon, which was one of the most powerful on record, ended but could be replaced by its stormy sister La Nina in the coming months, the UN meteorological agency said. El Nino affects rainfall patterns and causes both drought and flooding. As it recedes the Pacific cooling trend known as La Nina typically begins, often causing increased rainfall, storms and snow across the globe. The first six months of this year were the hottest on record.
Summit aims for stricter poaching laws
The 17th meeting of the UN’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Johannesburg ended with ivory, rhinos and parrots on the agenda. CITES is a global treaty that regulates trade in wild flora and fauna or products derived from them with an aim to ensure their survival. CITES put a ban on cross-border movement of Pangolins or their body parts for commercial purposes. Global trade in the bones, claws and teeth of wild lions has also been imposed with exemptions for those harvested from captive-bred lions in South Africa. It further rejected proposals by Namibia and Zimbabwe to sell ivory to raise funds for conservation. CITES also recommended that countries with legal domestic ivory markets — which are not regulated by the convention as its remit is cross-border trade —start closing them down because they are seen as contributing to poaching. The silky shark, three species of thresher sharks and nine species of devil rays were also moved in “Appendix II,” to strictly control trade so that species are not overharvested or threatened.
BAD
Environmental crime is 4th largest
The world is being robbed of its natural resources. Apart from climate change, which is posing a threat to natural environment, environmental crime is becoming a major cause for worry. Significantly, this is not limited to wildlife population but the entire ecosystem. Environmental crime has become part of the larger global network of transnational organised crimes, making it the fourth largest crime in the world after drug trafficking ($344 bn), counterfeit crimes ($288 bn) and human trafficking ($157 bn), by some estimates. According to report, environmental crime hampers the ecosystems through massive deforestation, pollution, etc.
Garbage burning is not good
The smoke from burning roadside trash piles contains high concentration of particles that can lead to 1,000 times more toxic exposures to nearby humans, warns a study by researchers at Duke University in the US. The researchers took samples of emissions coming from 24 roadside garbage fires in urban Bengaluru. They then tested the collected particles for toxicity through a chemical analysis and by applying them to culture.
Animal species face extinction threat
While the pandas might have moved from endangered list, there were four out of the six great ape species that are on the verge of extinction with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ (IUCN). The apes have been classified as the species under ‘critically endangered’ list. Of the species, Chimpanzee and Bonobo are not in the critically endangered list. The eastern gorilla is the largest living primate but illegal hunting, devastating population decline in the past two decades, has put it under the critically endangered list. It’s population now stands at less than 5,000. Other species that have suffered decline are — plain zebra, whose population has reduced by 24 per cent; three species of antelope found in Africa.
UGLY
Air pollution
Air pollution has been the most talked about news this year. With studies and reports pointing towards the ill-effects of pollution left, right and centre. Data released by World Health Organisation (WHO) should make all of us extremely concerned about the side-effects of air pollution that is causing over six million deaths a year. The problem is most acute in cities, but air in rural areas is worse than many think, WHO experts said. Another study suggested that rising pollution levels affects youngsters more than it affects grown-ups.
Carbon dioxide at all-time high in human history
CO2 levels in the atmosphere have surged past an important threshold and may not climb down for “generations” despite environmental actions. The 400 parts per million benchmark was broken globally first time in recorded history last year. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) says 2016 will probably be the first full year to exceed the mark. The spike can be partly attributed to a strong El Niño event. El Niño triggered drought conditions in tropical regions. This meant that vegetation was able to absorb less CO2. The last time CO2 was regularly this high was 3m to 5m years ago.
Oceans sucking all the earth’s heat
2016 is the third consecutive hottest year on record. With more greenhouse gas emissions, where does all that heat trapped by the Earth go? The oceans, mostly. While sea levels have seen a one-third rise, warmer waters are having widespread effects. Ocean temperatures have been rising for the past 3 decades; sea surface temperature will further go up over next decade as greenhouse gases build up.
HUMANS HAVE WIPED OUT 58% OF WILDLIFE IN 42 YEARS
The Living Planet Report by WWF-Zoological Society of London says human appetites & activity have driven to extinction over half of all animals with a backbone — fish, amphibia, birds, reptiles & mammals. The Report tracked over 14,000 vertebrate populations of over 3,700 species from 1970 to 2012. It says increased human pressure is using up natural resources faster than they can be replenished, particularly in freshwater habitats.