The Amazon rainforest has been reeling under fires prompting global concerns. According to Brazilian Space Research Agency (INPE), more than 74,000 fires have been recorded in the Amazon region between January and August 2019. There has been an 84% increase in the number of fires compared with the same period in 2018 According to scientists… Continue reading Telling numbers: Counting Amazon fires, assessing forest lost
Category: Factly: Environment
This category contains all Current Affairs Factly Articles for Prelims, related to the Environment. You can find all relevant Environment related updates on this page. This page is specifically useful for UPSC Prelims exam.
CITES CoP 2019: 18 endangered sharks and rays afforded protection
18 species of sharks and rays, were included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These sharks and rays species are threatened by the scale of international trade in their fins and meat. The decision was taken at the ongoing CoP 18 of CITES… Continue reading CITES CoP 2019: 18 endangered sharks and rays afforded protection
CITES CoP 2019: Conservationist Vivek Menon wins Clark Bavin Award
Conservationist Vivek Menon, head of Wildlife Trust of India was awarded the prestigious Clark R Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award for the year 2019. The award was presented at the ongoing CoP 18 of CITES being held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Bavin Awards recognise the extraordinary efforts that law enforcement officers and other field-based individuals… Continue reading CITES CoP 2019: Conservationist Vivek Menon wins Clark Bavin Award
Microplastics in drinking water not a health risk for now: WHO
The World Health Organization(WHO) has released its first report into the effects of microplastics on human health. In this report,WHO looked into the specific impact of microplastics in tap and bottled water. The report said that the level of microplastics in drinking water is not yet a health risk for humans. It said that microplastics… Continue reading Microplastics in drinking water not a health risk for now: WHO
From drones to social media, big data helps mitigate impact of complex disasters in Asia
According to the UNESCAP report,rising global temperatures have increased the frequency and intensity of floods,cyclones and droughts in the Asia pacific region. Since 1970,natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region have killed two million people which is around 59% of the global death toll for that period. However,technological innovations have helped in reducing some of that… Continue reading From drones to social media, big data helps mitigate impact of complex disasters in Asia
7 new species of insects that can walk on water discovered
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India(ZSI) have discovered seven species of water treaders semi-aquatic insects.These insects can walk or run on the surface of the water. The newly described species belong to the genus Mesovelia whose size ranges from 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm. These insects are equipped with hydrophobic setae(bristles) on their legs.The… Continue reading 7 new species of insects that can walk on water discovered
NITI Aayog releases Report on the Composite Water Management Index 2.0
NITI Aayog has released a second report on Composite Water Management Index(CWMI 2.0). The report has been prepared in association with Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Rural Development. CWMI 2.0 ranks various states for the reference year 2017-18 as against the base year 2016-17. Gujarat continues to hold on to its rank one… Continue reading NITI Aayog releases Report on the Composite Water Management Index 2.0
SARAL – ‘State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index’
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) has launched the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index–SARAL. It is the first of its kind index to provide a comprehensive overview of state-level measures adopted to facilitate rooftop solar deployment. The index has been designed by MNRE, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India… Continue reading SARAL – ‘State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index’
Explained: Report on illegal global tiger trade counts 2,359; highest in India
A recent report titled ‘Skin and Bones Unresolved:An Analysis of Tiger Seizures from 2000-2018’ has quantified the illegal global trade in tigers and tiger parts between 2000 and 2018. The report has been compiled by TRAFFIC in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund(WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN). The report says that… Continue reading Explained: Report on illegal global tiger trade counts 2,359; highest in India
Worsening water quality reducing economic growth by a third in some countries: World Bank
The World Bank has released a report on the relation between water pollution and economic growth. The report relied on the biggest-ever database assembled on global water quality using monitoring stations, satellite data and machine learning models. According to the report,poor water quality is affecting economic growth and worsening health conditions.It says that a lack… Continue reading Worsening water quality reducing economic growth by a third in some countries: World Bank
