90% of paint samples tested contain lead above permissible limits in India: Study Subject: Environment Section: Pollution Context: 51 paints used to paint houses, which are available in the Indian market, analyzed by two research and advocacy groups Toxics Link and International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a network of over 600 non-governmental organizations. […]
Why Bhutan’s Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is disputed by China Subject: Environment Section: Protected Area Context: China claims for the first time to Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans about 740 sq km (285 sq miles) in eastern Bhutan. Details: Bhutan rejected the claim, pointing out the area had never featured in 24 previous rounds […]
Action initiated against Kannada filmstars, godmen for wearing tiger claw pendants Subject: Environment Section: Environmental legislation Context: Authorities in Karnataka have initiated action against four Kannada film actors and two self-proclaimed godmen who have openly flouted the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 by wearing tiger claw lockets around their necks. Details: Following the […]
Brazzaville Summit of the Three Basins needs to find ways to protect world’s tropical forests Subject: Environment Section: International conventions Context: The Three Basins Threat Report: Fossil Fuel, Mining, and Industrial Expansion Threats to Forests and Communities, published by Earth Insight and other non-profits, documents the challenges that the world’s remaining tropical forest […]
Seed without Borders Subject: Environment Section: Judiciary Context: A two-day workshop on “Seeds Without Borders” was held in Thimphu, Bhutan. Details: Nine countries from Asia and the Pacific signed an agreement to strengthen the region’s seed sector. Seed without Borders (SwB): SwB is a regional seed policy agreement that speeds up the distribution […]
Why India is launching a national framework for climate services Subject: Environment Section: Climate change Context: India is about to launch its maiden national-level framework towards providing climate services and information. National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS): Spearheaded by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Aim: To bring a seamless working platform for users […]
Fixing fashion’s pollution problem with natural dyes Subject :Environment Section: Pollution Textile industry in India: Accounts for more than two percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides direct employment to 45 million people. This water-intensive industry is a polluting one, as it generates one-fifth of the world’s industrial water pollution. Usage […]
What are dust suppressant Subject :Environment Section: Pollution Context: Delhi govt to use dust suppressants to combat poor AQI What are dust suppressant Dust suppressants may be salts of calcium or magnesium that can absorb moisture. Dust suppressant powder would be mixed along with water and sprayed on roads to keep the dust […]
Deforestation surges in hotspot of critically endangered Bornean orangutans Subject :Environment Section: Species in news Context: Deforestation within a pulpwood concession that overlaps with key orangutan habitat in Indonesian Borneo has escalated in recent months. Details: Concession holder PT Mayawana Persada cleared 14,000 hectares (34,600 acres) of forest between January and August, or […]