Current Affairs March 2019 - Environment
1 - Environment Minister launches the anthem on ‘plastic-free India’ in seven languages
The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Harsh Vardhan launched an anthem ”Plastic Waste-Free India’‘ which has been composed and produced by Pandit
Deendayal Upadhyaya Smriti Manch (PDUSM)- a non-profit organisation which works in the field of social and environmental issues.
2 - India collaborates with four nations to protect Asian rhinos
India decided to collaborate with Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia with an objective to increase the population of three Asian rhino species - Greater one-horned rhinoceros, Javan rhino and Sumatran rhino, by signing the New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019 at the recently held Second Asian Rhino Range Countries, at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi.
3 - Air pollution from stubble burning costs India USD 30 billion annually
According to a study of US-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Air pollution due to crop residue burning in northern India causes an estimated economic loss of USD 30 billion (Rs 2 lakh crore) annually, and is a leading risk factor of acute respiratory infections, especially among children.
4 - IITs, IISc and SDC collaborate for climate change vulnerability assessment for Indian Himalayan region
Indian Institute of Technology- Guwahati, Mandi, and Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, Department of Science (DST) have joined hands with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to develop a climate change vulnerability assessment for the Indian Himalayan region comprising 12 states using a common framework called as the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
5 - India’s deepest shaft cave discovered in Meghalaya
In Meghalaya India’s deepest shaft cave discovered. During the 28th edition of the annual ‘Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Expedition’, a five- member team of cavers of Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA) has discovered India’s deepest shaft at Krem Um Ladaw. It has 105 m deep shaft entrance passage.
6 - Israelis cave explorers unveiled ‘world’s longest salt cave’
The Israeli cave explorers discovered the world’s longest cave named Malham near the Dead sea, beating the record-holder in Iran.
The cave is spread in an area of 10 kilometers (6.25 miles) and it runs through the Israel’s largest mountain, Mount Sodom and spills out to the southwest corner of the adjacent Dead Sea.
7 - World Meteorological Organization (WMO) releases ‘State of the Global Climate Report’
A new report on ‘the state of the Global Climate in 2018’, of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the physical and socio-economic impacts of climate change are accelerating day by day. It is the 25th annual record of the Global climate.
Notification of Island protection zone (IPZ) 2019 for Andaman and Nicobar Island Protection Zone (IPZ) 2019 notification for Andaman and Nicobar has been notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The purpose of these changes in the Island Protection Zone (IPZ) is aligned with the Niti Aayog’s proposal for holistic development in the Islands.
