Environment & Ecology - 3 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

State of the Global Climate 2022: WMO

Context

The World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) annual 'State of the Global Climate 2022' report reveals that climate change continued its progression in 2022, affecting various aspects of the Earth's environment and society.

Highlights of the Report - State of the Global Climate 2022

1. Climate Modes and Major Events:

• In 2022, two climate modes, namely the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), played significant roles in influencing major weather and climate events worldwide.

2. Global Mean Temperature:

• The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15°C higher than the average recorded between 1850-1900.
• The years 2015 to 2022 ranked among the eight warmest years in the instrumental record since 1850, despite the occurrence of a cooling La Niña over three consecutive years.

3. Greenhouse Gas Concentrations:

• Concentrations of the three primary greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—reached record highs in 2021.
• The annual increase in methane concentration from 2020 to 2021 was the highest ever recorded, and these concentrations continued to rise in 2022.

4. Glacier Thickness Change:

• Reference glaciers experienced an average thickness change of over 1.3 meters between October 2021 and October 2022.

5. Antarctic Sea Ice:

• Antarctic sea ice coverage dropped to 1.92 million km² on February 25, 2022, marking the lowest level on record and nearly 1 million km² below the long-term mean for 1991-2020.

6. Ocean Heat Content:

• Approximately 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases is absorbed by the ocean.
• Ocean warming rates have been notably high in the past two decades, and despite La Niña conditions, 58% of the ocean surface experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2022.

7. Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL):

• The rate of global mean sea level rise doubled between 1993-2002 (2.27 mm∙yr^-1) and 2013-2022 (4.62 mm∙yr^-1).

8. Ocean Acidification:

• CO2 reacting with seawater leads to a decrease in pH, known as 'ocean acidification,' which poses threats to organisms and ecosystem services.
• Ocean surface pH is currently at its lowest, and the rate of pH change is unprecedented.

Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts

1. Extreme Weather Events:

• East Africa experienced severe drought.
• Record-breaking rainfall in July and August caused extensive flooding in Pakistan.
• Europe faced record-breaking heatwaves during the summer, resulting in the highest number of deaths (15,000) compared to other extreme climate events.

2. Food Insecurity:

• In 2021, 2.3 billion people faced food insecurity, with 924 million people experiencing severe food insecurity.

3. Displacement:

• Somalia saw nearly 1.2 million people internally displaced due to the catastrophic impacts of drought.

4. Environmental Changes:

• Global warming is expanding the temperate zone and affecting recurring natural events such as tree blossoming and bird migration.

India-specific Findings and Predictions

Findings:

1. Heatwaves and Crop Decline:

• Heatwaves in the 2022 pre-monsoon season in India led to a decline in crop yields.
• Forest fires, particularly in Uttarakhand, posed additional risks.
• Banning of wheat exports and restrictions on rice exports in India raised concerns for countries already facing food shortages.

2. Indian Monsoon:

• The Indian Monsoon onset occurred earlier, and the withdrawal was delayed in 2022.
• Most of the Indian subcontinent experienced above-average rainfall.
• Heatwave conditions were observed even in non-summer months like February and April.

Predictions:

• With the La Niña phase ending and El Niño forecasts, 2023 is expected to be warmer than 2022.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a normal monsoon, but concerns exist about the potential impact of El Niño on rainfall.

Additional Reference: Synthesis Report of IPCC AR6

This comprehensive report provides an extensive overview of the state of the global climate in 2022, including key findings, predictions, and the impact on both the global environment and specific regions like India.

India’s Cheetah Translocation Project

Context

Following the death of two cheetahs in three days at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh wildlife officials suggested to remove radio collars from 10 free ranging cheetahs.

What is Project Cheetah?

• Project Cheetah is India’s cheetah relocation programme.
• This is the first intercontinental reintroduction of a wild, large carnivore species.
• The project is to bring in 5-10 animals every year, over the next decade, until a self-sustaining population of cheetahs is established.
• Historic cheetah in India - Asiatic Cheetahs were once abundant in India but the last cheetah in the country died in 1952.
• Reintroduced cheetah - The animals brought from Namibia and South Africa are the Southeast African cheetahs.
• Location - Under Project Cheetah, the animals are translocated from the forests of South Africa and Namibia to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
• Since last year, Kuno National Park has received 20 cheetahs with the aim of establishing a free-ranging population.
• Authorities - The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is the apex body entrusted with the implementation of Project Cheetah.
• NTCA comes under the Ministry of forest, environment and climate change.
• The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is also assisting the Indian government in reintroducing cheetahs in India.

What is the debate?

• 20 cheetahs were translocated from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park.
• Of the 20, six imported cheetahs including three new-borns have died.
• Reasons - The two cheetahs that died recently have a similar organ damage.
• The radio collar can be a contributing factor for the cheetah deaths.
• There is a possibility for an infection breaking out because of the radio collar due to the monsoon.
• Because of high moisture, the cheetah may scratch its skin, which can break out an infection.

What are the criticisms against this project?

• Scientific basis - Wildlife specialists said that India’s cheetah reintroduction strategy was based on an unfounded assumption.
• They also claimed that the plan disregards critical scientific results from recent demographic research on free-roaming cheetahs.
• Choice of site - Several wildlife and conservation experts contend that Kuno National Park may not be a suitable habitat for accommodating a large population of cheetahs.
• Spatial requirements - Cheetahs typically require expansive habitats spanning thousands of square miles to roam freely but the area of Kuno NP is expected to be below 500 square miles.
• Habitat requirements - Kuno is inadequate to accommodate such a large number of cheetahs.
• The Supreme Court bench expressed concern over the high density of cheetahs in a particular location.
• Alternatives - It further suggested exploring alternative habitats that may be more suitable than Kuno.
• There are plans to develop a second reserve in Gandhisagar, Madhya Pradesh and also establish a cheetah rehabilitation centre.
• Approach - The preservation of carnivores in environments that are heavily influenced by human activity needs a multidisciplinary approach.
• Prolonged captivity - Quarantining cheetahs for extended periods have affected their adaptive capabilities and given them psychological adjustment problems, making them more vulnerable.

What are the arguments in support of this project?

• Too early to judge - The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) has expressed the progress in India is positive.
• It underscored that the cheetah’s home ranges can be accurately determined only after they firmly established their territories.
• Knowledge - India is advancing its knowledge and understanding of cheetahs in a diverse range of veterinary concerns and behavioural patterns linked to cheetahs that roam freely.
• This knowledge positively impact the long run success of the project.
• Breeding conducive - Cheetahs from 2 distinct countries possess varied genetic makeup whose diversity can be preserved from careful breeding.
• Cheetah exhibit high reproductive rates in favourable ecological conditions and the successful birth of 3 female cubs suggest the conducive environment of Kuno NP.
• Protracted process - The efficacy of wildlife breeding initiatives necessitates an assessment conducted over extended time periods.
• Like Project Tiger, conservation projects of rhinoceros and Asiatic lion a genetically viable population of cheetahs for a prolonged period is possible.
• Hence, it is premature to make a judgement on the programme.
• Damages - Fatalities are inevitable in any animal’s reintroduction project.
• Ecological Benefit - The cheetah reintroduction project enhances the value of grasslands and savannahs which has been neglected for a long time.
• Biodiversity benefit - The Cheetah is the flagship species of grasslands and its conservation will enhance the grassland biodiversity.

Cheetah Conservation Fund

• The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is an international non-profit organization.
• It is the longest-running cheetah conservation project in Africa.

NTCA

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in 2005.
• NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• It has been constituted under Section 38 L (1) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.
• The Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is its Chairperson.

Mass Nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles

Context

About Olive Ridley turtle

• The Olive Ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• They are carnivores and get their name from their olive-colored carapace, which is heart-shaped and rounded.
• Habitat:
  • They are mainly found in the warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
  • Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery (a colony of breeding animals) of sea turtles.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List:Vulnerable
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
  • CITES Appendix I

 The initiative was taken to protect the Olive Ridley turtle

• Operation Olivia: Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early 1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December.

Meri LiFE App

Context

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has introduced the "Meri LiFE" (My Life) mobile application with the aim of empowering young individuals and encouraging their active involvement in addressing climate change. Here's an exhaustive breakdown of the Meri LiFE app:

App Purpose

• The primary objective of the Meri LiFE app is to empower young people and motivate them to actively participate in combatting climate change through simple, everyday actions.

LiFE Themes

• The Meri LiFE app focuses on five key themes, which are:
  1. Save Energy
  2. Save Water
  3. Reduce Single-Use Plastic
  4. Adopt Sustainable Food Systems
  5. Adopt Healthy Lifestyles

5 for 5 Challenge

• Within the app, users are guided through a gamified experience known as the "5 for 5 Challenge." This challenge encourages users to undertake five LiFE actions aimed at contributing to environmental well-being, with the goal of reaching these milestones by World Environment Day on June 5th, 2023.

MoEF&CC Portals

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has established two distinct portals in conjunction with the Meri LiFE app:

1. Mission LiFE Portal:

• The Mission LiFE Portal offers open access to a wealth of educational resources, including over 100 creative videos and knowledge materials related to the LiFE themes. It serves as an educational hub for users seeking information and guidance.

2. Meri LiFE Portal:

• The Meri LiFE Portal is designed to facilitate ministries and institutions in uploading event reports and monitoring the progress of the ongoing mass mobilization drive related to the Meri LiFE app.

About LiFE Mission

• LiFE Mission represents a concerted effort by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to engage individuals and institutions in the shared mission of addressing climate change and fostering environmental sustainability through the Meri LiFE app.

In summary, the Meri LiFE app is a comprehensive initiative by MoEF&CC to engage and empower youth in the fight against climate change by promoting sustainable lifestyle choices and active participation in environmental conservation.

Thawing Permafrost in Arctic and Industrial Contamination

Context

• With rising global temperatures, thawing permafrost is likely to destabilise thousands of industrial sites and linked contaminated areas in the Arctic, which could result in the spread of toxic substances across the region, according to a new study.

Details

• The Arctic, an uninhabited and untouched region, is dotted with countless industrial facilities such as oilfields and pipelines, mines and military bases.
• All this infrastructure is built on permafrost, which was once believed to be perennially stable and reliable.
• The toxic waste from these industrial facilities has been buried in the permafrost, on the assumption that it would stay locked away permanently.
• But danger looms as the planet continues to heat up.
• As the Arctic is getting warmer nearly four times as fast as the rest of the planet due to climate change, permafrost is thawing rapidly, which could destabilise not only the industrial sites but also the contaminated areas.
• And once the destabilisation takes place, toxic substances would be unleashed across the region, threatening numerous species living there and the health of people who depend on them.

What is permafrost?

• Permafrost is essentially any ground that stays frozen — 0 degree Celsius or lower — for at least two years straight.
• These permanently frozen grounds are often found in Arctic regions such as Greenland, Alaska (the United States), Canada, Russia and Eastern Europe.
• It is composed of “a combination of soil, rocks and sand that are held together by ice. The soil and ice in permafrost stay frozen all year long.”
• However, although the ground remains perennially frozen, permafrost regions aren’t always covered with snow.

About The Arctic

• It is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth.
• The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenland), northern Finland (Lapland), Iceland, northern Norway (Finnmark and Svalbard), Russia (Murmansk, Siberia, Nenets Okrug, Novaya Zemlya), northernmost Sweden and the United States (Alaska).
• Land within the Arctic region has seasonally varying snow and ice cover, with predominantly treeless permafrost (permanently frozen underground ice) containing tundra.
• Arctic seas contain seasonal sea ice in many places.
• Life in the Arctic includes zooplankton and phytoplankton, fish and marine mammals, birds, land animals, plants and human societies.
• Arctic land is bordered by the subarctic.

Etymology

• The word Arctic comes from the Greek word arktikos, "near the Bear, northern" and from the word arktos meaning bear.
• The name refers either to the constellation Ursa Major, the "Great Bear", which is prominent in the northern portion of the celestial sphere, or to the constellation Ursa Minor, the "Little Bear", which contains the celestial north pole.

Climate

• The Arctic is characterized by cold winters and cool summers.
• Its precipitation mostly comes in the form of snow and is low, with most of the area receiving less than 50 cm.
• Average winter temperatures can go as low as −40 °C, and the coldest recorded temperature is approximately −68 °C.
• The Arctic is affected by current global warming, leading to Arctic sea ice shrinkage, diminished ice in the Greenland ice sheet, and Arctic methane release as the permafrost thaws.
• The melting of Greenland's ice sheet is linked to polar amplification.

Flora and fauna

• Arctic vegetation is composed of plants such as dwarf shrubs, graminoids, herbs, lichens, and mosses, which all grow relatively close to the ground, forming tundra.
• In the coldest parts of the Arctic, much of the ground is bare; non-vascular plants such as lichens and mosses predominate, along with a few scattered grasses and forbs (like the Arctic poppy).
• Herbivores on the tundra include the Arctic hare, lemming, muskox, and caribou. They are preyed on by the snowy owl, Arctic fox, Grizzly bear, and Arctic wolf.
• The polar bear is also a predator, though it prefers to hunt for marine life from the ice.
• Marine mammals include seals, walrus, and several species of cetacean—baleen whales and also narwhals, orcas, and belugas.
• An excellent and famous example of a ring species exists and has been described around the Arctic Circle in the form of the Larus gulls.

Natural resources

• The Arctic includes copious natural resources (oil, gas, minerals, fresh water, fish and, if the subarctic is included, forest) to which modern technology and the economic opening up of Russia have given significant new opportunities.
• The Arctic also holds 1/5 of the Earth's water supply.

Indigenous population

• The earliest inhabitants of North America's central and eastern Arctic are referred to as the Arctic small tool tradition (AST).
• The Dorset culture refers to the next inhabitants of central and eastern Arctic.
• Descendants of the Dorset culture, known as the Sadlermiut, survived until the beginning of the 20th century.
• The Inuit, present-day Arctic inhabitants and descendants of Thule culture, have migrated throughout the Arctic regions of Eastern Russia, the United States, Canada, and Greenland.

International cooperation and politics

• The eight Arctic nations (Canada, Kingdom of Denmark [Greenland & The Faroe Islands], Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and USA) are all members of the Arctic Council, as are organizations representing six indigenous populations.
  • The council operates on consensus basis, mostly dealing with environmental treaties and not addressing boundary or resource disputes.
• Arctic shipping is subject to some regulatory control through the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters, adopted by the International Maritime Organization on 1 January 2017 and applies to all ships in Arctic waters over 500 tonnes.
• No country owns the geographic North Pole or the region of the Arctic Ocean surrounding it.
• The surrounding six Arctic states that border the Arctic Ocean—Canada, Kingdom of Denmark (with Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the United States—are limited to a 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off their coasts.
• Two Arctic states (Finland and Sweden) do not have direct access to the Arctic Ocean.

Pollution

• Due to the prevailing worldwide sea and air currents, the Arctic area is the fallout region for long-range transport pollutants, and in some places the concentrations exceed the levels of densely populated urban areas.
• An example of this is the phenomenon of Arctic haze, which is commonly blamed on long-range pollutants.
• Another example is with the bioaccumulation of PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) in Arctic wildlife and people.

Climate change

• The Arctic has climate change rates that are amongst the highest in the world.
• The effects of global warming in the Arctic include rising temperatures, loss of sea ice, and melting of the Greenland ice sheet.
• Potential methane release from the region, especially through the thawing of permafrost and methane clathrates, is also a concern.
• The Arctic is especially vulnerable to the effects of any climate change, as has become apparent with the reduction of sea ice in recent years.
• The melting of the ice is making the Northwest Passage, the shipping routes through the northernmost latitudes, more navigable, raising the possibility that the Arctic region will become a prime trade route.
• In addition, it is believed that the Arctic seabed may contain substantial oil fields which may become accessible if the ice covering them melts.
• These factors have led to recent international debates as to which nations can claim sovereignty or ownership over the waters of the Arctic.

Sea Butterflies

Context

The population of the sea butterflies in the Southern Ocean is shrinking due to climate change, making them extremely vulnerable.

What are Sea Butterflies?

• About:
  • Sea butterflies, scientific name Thecosomata, are a suborder of sea snails known as shelled pteropods.
  • They have muscular feet that allow them to swim in water instead of gliding on solid surfaces.
  • Sea butterflies are holoplanktonic (organisms that pass their whole life floating, drifting, or swimming weakly in the water) and spend their entire life cycle in the water column.
  • They are found in all oceans but are more diverse and abundant in colder waters.
  • Sea butterflies have bilateral symmetry and a coiled or uncoiled shell of various shapes and sizes.
    • Their shell is mostly transparent and very fragile and can be easily dissolved by ocean acidification.
  • They have a pair of wing-like lobes or parapodia for propulsion and a head with eyes, tentacles, and a mouth with a long proboscis to capture prey.
  • They have a reduced or absent gill and rely on their body surface for gas exchange.
• Importance:
  • They are a major food source for many fish, seabirds, whales, and other marine animals.
  • They also play a key role in transporting carbon from the surface to the deep ocean through their shells and fecal pellets.

How does Climate Change Impact the Population of Sea Butterflies?

• Ocean Acidification:
  • Increased carbon dioxide absorption by the ocean leads to higher acidity.
  • Reduced availability of carbonate ions necessary for shell formation and maintenance.
  • The ocean is the most acidic in winter because cooler water absorbs more CO₂. This means, the winter months are the most dangerous for the shelled sea butterflies.
    • Sea butterflies' shells can dissolve, weaken, or deform.
    • Increased vulnerability to predators, infections, and stress.
    • Affects metabolism, growth, reproduction, and survival.
• Ocean Warming:
  • Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change.
  • Changes in distribution and abundance of sea butterflies.
  • Seek optimal thermal conditions for development and survival.
  • Alters food availability and quality.
  • Impacts ocean currents and mixing affecting sea butterfly transport.
• Ocean Deoxygenation:
  • Warmer and stratified ocean leads to decreased oxygen levels.
  • Affects sea butterflies' respiration and energy balance.
  • Alters vertical migration patterns.
  • Exacerbates effects of ocean acidification by increasing dissolved carbon dioxide concentrations.

How can this Reduced Population Impact Antarctic Marine Ecosystems?

• Reducing the Food Availability for Higher Trophic Levels:
  • Sea butterflies serve as a major food source for fish, seabirds, whales, and other marine animals.
    • Population decline of sea butterflies can lead to starvation, malnutrition, or reduced reproduction in their predators and prey.
• Disrupting the Balance of the Marine Food Web:
  • Sea butterflies play a crucial role in linking primary producers (phytoplankton) with secondary consumers (zooplankton) and higher trophic levels.
  • Decline in sea butterfly population can alter the structure and function of the marine food web.
  • Biodiversity and productivity of the Antarctic marine ecosystem may be affected.
• Decreasing the Carbon Sequestration Capacity of the Ocean:
  • Sea butterflies contribute to the "biological pump," transporting carbon from the surface to the deep ocean through their shells and fecal pellets.
  • Population decline reduces the amount of carbon sequestered (process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide) in the ocean.
  • This results in increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and further ocean acidification.