Notes on Environment
Environment can be defined as a sum total of all the living and non-living elements and their effects that influence human life. Environment includes all living or biotic elements such as animals, plants, forests, fisheries, and birds and all non-living or abiotic elements such as water, land, sunlight, rocks, and air.
Wildlife Protection Act (1972) - The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for protection of plants and animal species. Before 1972, India had only five designated national parks. The government has also started some conservation projects under it for individual endangered species like project Hungal (1970), Project Tiger (1973), Project Crocodiles (1974), Brow-antlered Deer (1981) and Elephant (1992,) Ganges Dolphin (1997), Project Olive Ridley, etc.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1974) - It was enacted in 1974 to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution, and for the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water in the country. The Act was amended in 1988.
Forest Conservation Act (1980) - First Forest Act was formulated in 1927. The Forest Act, 1980 is an Act of the Parliament of India to provide for the conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It was further amended in 1988. This law extends to the whole of India.
The Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act (1981) - It is an Act of the Parliament of India to control and prevent air pollution in India. The law was amended in 1987. This was the first attempt by the government of India to combat air pollution.
Environment Protection Act (1986) - Environment Protection Act, 1986 Act of the Parliament of India. In the wake of the Bhopal gas Tragedy or Bhopal Disaster, the [Government of India] enacted the Environment Protection Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution. Passed in May 1986, it came into force on 19 November 1986.
The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, (1997) - It is an act under which the National Environment Appellate Authority can hear appeals regarding the restriction of areas in which any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules (2000) - These rules are framed under the jurisdiction of Environment (Protection) Act 1986. These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs, halons, ODSs such as carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform and CFC except in metered-dose inhalers and for other medical purposes.
The Energy Conservation Act of (2001) - Indian Government enacted the Energy Conservation Act in the year 2001 as a step towards improving energy efficiency and reducing its wastage.
National Lake Conservation Plan (2001) - Ministry of Environment and Forests has been implementing the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) since 2001 for conservation and management of polluted and degraded lakes in urban and semi-urban areas.
The Biological Diversity Act, (2002) - It is an Act enacted by the Parliament of India for the preservation of biological diversity in India, and provides a mechanism for equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of traditional biological resources and knowledge.
National Disaster Management Act (2005) - The Disaster Management Act of 2005 (DMA 2005) is an act passed by the government of India for the 'efficient management of disasters and other matters connected to it.
Forest Rights Act (2006) - The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, is a key piece of forest legislation passed in India on 18 December 2006. It has also been called the Forest Rights Act, the Tribal Rights Act, the Tribal Bill, and the Tribal Land Act.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008) - The Government of India launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) on 30thJune, 2008 outlining eight National Missions on climate change.
The National Green Tribunal Act (2010) - It is a statutory body formed for the expeditious disposal of disputes relating to environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.
The Wetland Conservation and Management Rules (2010) - It ensures better management, conservation and prevention of degradation of existing wetlands in India. These Rules have been drafted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and a Central Wetland Regulatory Authority has been set up to ensure proper implementation of the Rules and perform all its functions.
E-Waste (Management & Handling) Rules (2011) - Notified by the ministry of Environment Forests & Climate Change, these rules recognise the producers’ liability for recycling and reducing e-waste in the country.
National Policy on Biofuels (2018) - For safer, cleaner environment, Government of India has initiated it in 2009 with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as the nodal agency to use bio-waste for fuel generation in a phase-wise manner. Rajasthan became the first Indian state to implement the national policy on biofuels.
Apart from these Acts/legislations, various rules like Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, The Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, The Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, Solid waste management rules (2016) have been implemented.
Environmental Organisations in India
The Animal Welfare Board of India, founded in 1962, headquartered at Ballabgarh in Haryana state, is a statutory advisory body advising the Government of India's Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. It was previously based at Chennai. The founder was Rukmini Devi Arundale.
The Central Pollution Control Board of India is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It was established in 1974 under the Water Act, 1974. The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air Act, 1981.
Forest Survey of India (FSI), founded in June 1981 and headquartered at Dehradun in Uttarakhand, is a Government of India Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organisation for conducting forest surveys, studies and research.
The Central Zoo Authority of India is the body of the government of India responsible for oversight of zoos. The Central Zoo Authority was established as a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment & Forests by the Government of India in the year 1992.
The Wildlife Trust of India, headquartered in Noida, is an Indian nature conservation organisation. WTI was formed in November 1998 in New Delhi, India, as a response to the rapidly deteriorating condition of wildlife in India. WTI is a registered charity in India.
The National Biodiversity Authority is a statutory autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and climate change, Government of India established on October 1, 2003 to implement the provisions under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in December 2005, following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to combat organised wildlife crime. It was formed in 2006.
The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 is an Act of the Parliament of India which enables the creation of a special tribunal to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.
National Ganga Council (2016) is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. It is an important body, which is responsible for various government schemes regarding the cleaning up of the River Ganga. The first meeting of the National Ganga Council was held on 14th December 2019.
Environmental Projects in India
Project Hangul (1970) - The Project Hangul was started in 1970 by the Kashmir government with the help of WWF. Hangul is the name of endangered Kashmiri stag.
Project Tiger (1973) - It was launched on 1st April 1973 is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Government of India. It was launched in 1973 with the help of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (lUCN). Project Tiger is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Project Crocodile (1975) - The Crocodile Conservation Project was launched in 1975 in different States. The Gharial and Saltwater crocodile conservation programme was first implemented in Odisha in early 1975 and subsequently the Mugger conservation programme was initiated.
Project Elephant (1992) - Launched in 1992 by the Government of India to provide financial and technical support to wildlife management efforts by states for their free-ranging populations of wild Asian Elephants.
Project Rhino (2005) - Launched in 2005, Indian Rhino Vision 2020 was an ambitious effort to attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos spread over seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by the year 2020.
Project Snow Leopard (2009) - It was launched in 2009 to promote an inclusive and participatory approach to conserve snow leopards and their habitat. Snow Leopard is on the list of 21 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.
The National Solar Mission (2010) - The program was inaugurated as the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 11 January 2010 with a target of 20 GW by 2022. The installed solar capacity of India was 47.7 GW as of 31 October 2021. The Indian Government had an initial target of 20 GW capacity for 2022, which was achieved four years ahead of schedule.
Swachh Survekshan Survey (2016) - it is the world's largest cleanliness survey. It is conducted every year by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It was first conducted in 2016. According to the survey, Indore came out on the top as the Cleanest City in India.
National Clean Air Program (2019) - In January 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to prepare clean air action plans with an objective to reduce PM2.5 pollution by 20–30% by 2024 as compared to 2017, in 122 cities (NCAP, 2019).
Jal Jeevan Mission (2019) - This mission was launched in August 2019. Its aim is to provide drinking water supply (Har Ghar Jal) to all rural households by 2024.
International Environmental Conventions
IUCN (International Union for Conservation for Nature and Natural Resources) (1948) - It was founded in 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN). The name was changed to IUCN in 1956. It is headquartered at Gland, Switzerland. Based on the risk of extinction, it divides species into nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct.
Ramsar Convention (1971) - For the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971. India currently has 46 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites).
Stockholm Declaration (1972) - The Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, or Stockholm Declaration, was adopted on June 16, 1972 by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at the 21st plenary meeting as the first document in international environmental law to recognize the right to a healthy environment. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was the result of it.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals. The CITES came into force on 1 July 1975.
Vienna Convention (1985) - The objective of the Vienna Convention is to preserve human health, and to protect the environment from any harmful effects of the depletion of the ozone layer.
Montreal Protocol (1987) - It was designed to stop the production and import of ozone depleting substances and reduce their concentration in the atmosphere to help protect the earth's ozone layer.
Earth Summit (1992) - From 3-14 June 1992, Rio de Janeiro hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The focus of this conference was the state of the global environment and the relationship between economics, science and the environment in a political context.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992) - In 1992 the UNFCCC was signed by 154 states at Rio de Janeiro, entering into force in March 1994. Its ultimate objective is the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic human-induced interference with the climate system. The Kyoto Protocol was negotiated under this framework.
Agenda 21 - it is a non binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
Convention on Biodiversity (1993) - The 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.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) (1994) - It was adopted in 1994 for those countries experiencing serious drought and desertification, particularly in Africa. It is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.
Kyoto Protocol (1997) - To fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
Stockholm Convention (2001) - It is an international convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, signed on 22 May 2001 in Stockholm and effective from 17 May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants.
REDD and REDD+ (2005) - REDD+ is a framework created by the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) to guide activities in the forest sector that reduces emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, as well as the sustainable management of forests and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.
Rio+20 (2012) - The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20, or Earth Summit 2012 was the third international conference on sustainable development aimed at reconciling the economic and environmental goals of the global community.
Paris Agreement (2015) - The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
International Solar Alliance (2015) - Initiative for International Solar Alliance was launched by India and France during the Climate Conference in Paris in December 2015. Its first summit was held in New Delhi on March 11, 2018. The Main objectives of the alliance were to reduce the cost of solar energy to meet energy demand in developing countries, in order to keep a check on greenhouse gases that are held responsible for global climate change.
COP 26 / United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) (2021) - The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP26, was the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 13 November 2021.
Biodiversity Hotspots in India
The term ‘hotspot’ was introduced by N. Myers in 1988 for those geographical regions particularly rich in ‘endemic’, ‘rare’ and ‘threatened’ species found in relatively small areas but facing significant threats to habitat loss. There are 4 biodiversity hotspots present in India.
a) The Eastern Himalayas [Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan, Eastern Nepal]
b) Indo-Burma and [Purvanchal Hills, Arakan Yoma, Eastern Bangladesh]
c) The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
d) Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands (and Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines).
Miscellaneous Facts about Environment
a) Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is acidic. The two gases which are mainly responsible for causing acid rain are – Oxides of Sulphur (SO2) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NO2). The rainwater with a PH of less than 5.5 is called acid rain.
b) A musical clock may be nice to listen to during the day, but maybe an irritant during sleep at night. Noise by definition is “sound without value” or “any noise that is unwanted by the recipient”. Noise level is measured in terms of decibels (dB). W.H.O. (World Health Organization) has prescribed optimum noise levels as 45 dB by day and 35 dB by night. Anything above 80 dB is hazardous.
c) Mercury compound is converted into toxic methylmercury due to bacterial action in water bodies. It causes deafness, blurring vision and mental derangement. It also causes Minamata disease that was detected in Japan in 1952.
d) Cadmium in water bodies causes Itai Itai disease also called ouch-ouch disease.
e) Over exploitation of ground water leads to contamination through arsenic. Arsenic causes Black Foot disease.
f) Atal Bhujal Yojana is a groundwater management scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 95th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on 25 December 2019. The purpose of the scheme is to improve groundwater management in seven states of India.
g) Namami Gange Programme, is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as Flagship Programme by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
h) On December 3, 1984, about 45 tonnes of the dangerous gas methyl isocyanate escaped from an insecticide plant that was owned by the Indian subsidiary of the American firm Union Carbide Corporation that caused the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
i) Greenhouse gases are gases that can trap heat. They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere. Excessive amounts of greenhouse gases cause global warming. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. All over the world governments are concerned about global warming. Earth Summit, held at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, in 1992 confronted the issue of greenhouse gases. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol addressed the issue to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by human activities.
j) El Nino during winter causes warm conditions over the Indian subcontinent and during summer, it leads to dry conditions and deficient monsoon. Whereas La Nina results in better than normal monsoon in India. El Niño was recognized by fishers off the coast of Peru as the appearance of unusually warm water.
k) Hydrogen is the fuel of the future. Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can be used in internal combustion engines or fuel cells producing virtually no greenhouse gas emissions when combusted with oxygen.
l) In 2016 Sikkim became the first state to become wholly organic. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the food regulator in the country and is also responsible for regulating organic food in the domestic market and imports.
m) Carbon Credits - A permit which allows a country or organisation to produce a certain amount of carbon emissions and which can be traded if the full allowance is not used.
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