A national-level state of emergency has been declared by the Russian President Vladimir Putin in the regions of Norilsk and Taimyr, northern Siberia. The declared state of emergency in these Arctic regions is to bring in the ‘federal resources’ to assist the arduous clean-up efforts following a spill of more than 20,000 tonnes of diesel into the Ambarnaya river near the city of Norilsk on May 29, 2020 (Nechepurenko 2020). The unprecedented diesel spill into the vast stretches of the waterways...
The article details the author’s experience during a visit to a remote and dying wetland nestled between the India-Pakistan border in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The status of the conservation efforts and the unique social challenges associated with the effort is detailed from the accounts of the author’s field experience in the wetland.
Climate change indicators are observations that can be used to track the current state of climate and its trends. In order to bring objectivity in monitoring climate change, scientists have developed climate change indicators. The indicators are quantified and objective, based on data collected by countries all over the world. These demonstrate considerable change of climate over time.
A primer to UN’s global biodiversity outlook 5 mechanisms to protect nature, ecosystem and humankind
The Global Biodiversity Outlook is the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993, 90 days after the 30th ratification, as stated in its article 36. It has now been ratified by 196 parties (195 countries and the European Community). All UN member states—with the exception of the United States—have...
The glaciers have sculpted various landforms transforming the geomorphology of earth. These landforms are the result of processes of weathering, erosion and deposition under harsh climatic regimes.
Antarctica, a vast expanse of ice and land, harbours one of the most intriguing features under its ice—the subglacial lakes. These isolated lakes form a part of the basal hydrological system and conceal unique biological ecosystems and climate records,thus prompting more scientific missions along with numerous challenges.
Studies show that ozone pollution is harmful for crop production while ozone depletion is damaging for aquatic ecosystems. Emission of ozone depleting CFC-11 is on the rise in Eastern Asia.
Ozone is life threatening if found to be increasing near the earth’s surface as it is toxic to life when inhaled. Ozone not only damages airways, but also reduces crop yields as well if it increases beyond the threshold levels. Worries are mounting as India marks a rate of increase of around 1 per cent each year. Anthropogenic sources of emissions are responsible for increase in surface ozone, which needs urgent control in the near future.
Penetration of airconditioning in the growing economy of India is low whereas the rising cooling requirements are both a challenge and an opportunity.
One of the oldest mountains of the subcontinent, the Aravalli play a significant role in arresting the onslaught of the deserts from western Rajasthan and beyond, apart from preserving the rich cultural heritage. Critically, the ranges also recharge the depleting aquifers of the region.
