Environment and Ecology: June 2023 UPSC Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

Arctic Sea Ice 

Why in news?

A recent study says that the loss of Arctic sea ice is inevitable in the decades ahead, even if the world sharply reduces carbon emissions.

What is Arctic sea ice?

• They are the massive sheets of ice that pad the Arctic region.
• During winter, the sea ice envelops most of the Arctic Ocean and in summer, due to longer periods of exposure to sunlight, a portion of it melts.
• Sea ice normally melts and is at its thinnest and most sparse in mid-September.
• With the onset of winter and dipping temperatures, the ice reaches its zenith in March.

What is happening to Arctic sea ice?

• The Arctic sea ice is decreasing as acknowledged in several reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
• Ice-free arctic - If the global emissions drive temperature beyond 4.5°C, then the Arctic is ice-free by 2081-2100.
• Under this assumption, the world will see its first ‘sea-ice free summer’ before 2050.
• Polar jet streams - They are currents of air that form when warm and cold air meet.
• The diminished sea ice while warming the Arctic also leads to a weakening of the polar jet streams.
• Western disturbances - This weakening has been linked to rising temperatures and heatwaves in Europe as well as unseasonal showers in northwest India.

What does the new study say?

• As much as 90% of the ice-melting was due to human-instigated, or anthropogenic factors and the rest of it (10%) is caused by natural variability.
• The new study corrected for the existing climate models and the ice-free summer is inevitable.
• But reducing carbon emissions might better able to adapt to climate ‘tipping points.’
• Above 4.5°C - It turned out that there were also likely to be ice-free Augusts and Octobers by 2080 in the emission scenarios where temperatures rose above 4.5°C.
• Below 2°C - Even if the temperature-rise was restricted to say 1.5°C or 2°C, as envisaged in the Paris Agreement, there is no scenario under which the Arctic sea ice can be saved in summer.

Why is the Arctic sea ice important?

• Arctic sea ice play a major role in influencing global climate and the rise and fall in Arctic sea temperatures.
• Albedo effect - Sea ice is light-coloured and therefore has more albedo.
• Thus sea ice plays a vital role in keeping Polar Regions cool and maintaining the earth’s energy balance.
• Natural barrier - Sea ice also keeps the air cool by forming a barrier between the cold air above and the relatively warmer water below.
• Feedback Loop - As the amount of sea ice decreases, the Arctic region’s cooling effect is reduced leading to ‘feedback loop’.
• More absorption of solar energy causes ocean warming, which leads to more loss of sea ice and further warming.
• Biodiversity - Changes in sea ice can affect biodiversity and impact mammals such as polar bears and walruses.
• These mammals rely on the presence of sea ice for hunting, breeding, and migrating.
• Arctic lifestyle - The reduction in ice cover also affects the traditional hunting lifestyle of indigenous Arctic populations such as the Yup’ik, Iñupiat, and Inuit.
• New pathways - Reduced ice can open commercial and economic opportunities provoking global competition.
• Reduced ice opens up shipping lanes and increases access to natural resources in the Arctic region.

Heatwave Conditions

Why in News?

Odisha is currently facing an intense heatwave since April 2023, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in most monitoring centers across the state.

• Delayed monsoon could be a contributing factor for this heat wave. In 2023, the monsoon arrived over the Kerala coast on June 8, which is a delay compared to its normal onset date of June 1.

What are Heat Waves?

• About:
  • Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather that can cause adverse impacts on human health, the environment, and the economy.
  • India, being a tropical country, is particularly vulnerable to heatwaves, which have become more frequent and intense in recent years.
• IMD Criteria for Declaring Heat Wave in India:
  • Heat Wave need not be considered till maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C for Plains and at least 30°C for Hilly regions.
  • If the normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40°C, then an increase of 5°C to 6°C from the normal temperature is considered to be heat wave condition.
    • Further, an increase of 7°C or more from the normal temperature is considered a severe heat wave condition.
  • If the normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C, then an increase of 4°C to 5°C from the normal temperature is considered to be heat wave condition. Further, an increase of 6°C or more is considered a severe heat wave condition.
  • Additionally, if the actual maximum temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, a heat wave is declared.

What are the Causes of Heat Waves?

• Global Warming:
  • One of the primary causes of heatwaves in India is global warming, which refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average temperature due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities.
  • Global warming can result in higher temperatures and changes in weather patterns, leading to heatwaves.
• Urbanisation:
  • Rapid urbanisation and the growth of concrete jungles in cities can lead to the phenomenon known as the "urban heat island effect."
  • Urban areas with high population density, buildings, and concrete surfaces absorb and retain more heat, leading to higher temperatures, particularly during heatwaves.
• Sparse Pre-Monsoon Season Showers:
  • Less moisture in many areas, leaving large parts of India arid and dry.
  • The sudden end of pre-monsoon rain showers, an uncommon trend in India, has contributed to the heat waves.
• El Nino Effect:
  • El Nino often increases temperatures in Asia, combined with the weather pattern to create record high temperatures.
  • Trade winds coming from South America normally blow westward towards Asia during the Southwest Monsoon and warming of the Pacific Ocean results in weakening of these winds.
  • Therefore, moisture and heat content get limited and results in reduction and uneven distribution of rainfall across the Indian sub-continent.

What are Its Impacts?

• Impact on Health:
  • Rapid rises in heat gain can compromise the body’s ability to regulate temperature and can result in a cascade of illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hyperthermia.
  • Deaths and hospitalizations from heat can occur extremely rapidly or have a lagged effect.
• Impact on Water Resources:
  • Heatwaves can exacerbate water scarcity issues in India; drying up of water bodies, reduced water availability for agriculture and domestic use, and increased competition for water resources.
  • This can lead to conflicts over water, affect irrigation practices, and impact water-dependent industries.
• Impact on Energy:
  • Heatwaves can increase electricity demand for cooling purposes, leading to strain on power grids and potential blackouts.
  • This can disrupt economic activities, affect productivity, and impact vulnerable populations who may not have access to reliable electricity for cooling during heatwaves.

Way Forward

• A Heat Waves Action Plan:
  • As deaths due to heatwaves are preventable, the government must prioritise preparing a long-term action plan to safeguard human lives, livestock, and wildlife.
  • Effective implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-30 with the State playing a leading role and sharing responsibility with other stakeholders is now the need of the hour.
• Implementing Climate Action Plans:
  • National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) should be implemented in true spirit for inclusive growth and ecological sustainability.
  • Nature-based solutions should be taken into account, not just for tackling climate change induced heat waves but also doing it in a way that is ethical and promoting intergenerational justice.
• Sustainable Cooling:
  • Passive cooling technology, a widely-used strategy to create naturally ventilated buildings, can be a vital alternative to address the urban heat island for residential and commercial buildings.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the third part of its AR6 stated that ancient Indian building designs that have used this technology, can be adapted to modern facilities in the context of global warming.

Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023 

Context

The world is facing challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) by 2030. (As per the Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023 report)

• The report has been released by a collaborative effort of the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency, United Nations Statistics Division, World Bank and the WHO

What is SDG 7?

SDG 7 refers to Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims at reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix.

Factors limiting the world in achieving SDG 7 are

The report provides the following recommendations

• Scale up efforts to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency to meet the targets of SDG 7.
• Enhance financial flows and investment in clean energy technologies, especially in developing countries (to the tune of USD 1.4-1.7 trillion through 2030).
• Address the challenges of high inflation, uncertain macroeconomic outlook, and debt distress
• Accelerate progress in energy intensity improvement to exceed the targeted rate and ensure sustainable energy consumption patterns.
• Strengthen international cooperation and support for countries facing energy challenges, especially the least-developed countries and small island developing states.
• Monitor and track progress regularly to identify gaps and take necessary corrective measures.

India’s status

• India is ‘On-Target’ to meeting universal access to electricity
• In April 2018 India achieved its goal, ahead of schedule, of providing electricity to every village in India
• Despite a national policy push for clean fuel for cooking, more than two-thirds (479) of districts remain ‘Off-Target’.

India’s initiatives for SDG7

• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (also known as Saubhagya)
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) (separation of agricultural and non-agricultural feeders to improve supply)
• Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) (for financial restructuring and turnaround plan for state DISCOMs)
• Atal Distribution System Improvement Yojana (ADITYA)
• PM-KUSUM

About the 2030 SDG Agenda

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, also called the 2030 Agenda, was launched by a UN Summit in 2015 and is aimed at ending poverty in all its forms. There are 17 SDGs, which are an urgent call for action by all countries in a global partnership. 2023 marks the halfway point for achieving SDGs by 2030.

Ground-Level Ozone

Context

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has issued an alert on rising ozone pollution and multi-pollutant crisis in the national capital on World Environment Day 2023 (June 5).

World Environment Day (WED)

• It is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
• It was established in 1972 by the UN at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. In 1973, the first WED was held with the theme “Only One Earth”.
• WED 2023 is hosted by Côte d’Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands with the theme #BeatPlasticPollution.

Highlights of the CSE Analysis

• Ground-level ozone usually exceeds the safety standard (50 ppb over an 8-hour average) on all summer days in some locations in Delhi-NCR every year.
• Ground-level ozone, which should ideally become negligible in the night air, remains a problem at night too in the Delhi-NCR region.
• Even winter months (winter can inhibit the formation of ground-level ozone) in Delhi-NCR face excess ozone levels, making it an all-year problem.

Paris Global Climate Financing Summit

Why in news?

Recently, they held the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris with the objective of tackling the lack of financial support for developing countries. The Summit was announced at the 27^th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the UNFCCC. India’s Finance Minister also attended the summit.

What are the Key Highlights of the Summit?

The Scale of Crises Faced by Developing Countries:

• Developing countries are grappling with a combination of crises, including poverty, escalating debt levels, and inflation triggered by events such as the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.
• Besides economic challenges, developing nations are under pressure to decarbonise their economies while lacking sufficient Climate Finance.

Demands from the Global South

• Leaders from the Global South demand that Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) address transboundary challenges and provide increased resources for development, including climate finance.
• Developing countries call for more concessional and grant financing to address their debt burdens, also advocating for debt reductions particularly for the least developed nations.
• While acknowledging the potential of private sector investment, they emphasise that long-term development funds are necessary to complement private sector financing.

Announcements at the Summit

• The Summit announced the unlocking of an additional USD 200 billion lending capacity for emerging economies.
• The IMF announced the allocation of USD 100 billion in SDRs (Special Drawing Rights) for vulnerable countries, although some SDRs still require approval from the US Congress.
• They announced a new Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) deal worth 2.5 billion Euros for Senegal, aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s electricity mix.
• Zambia and the involved parties reached a USD 6.3 billion debt restructuring deal, and they made calls for a Global Expert Review on Debt, Nature, and Climate.
• The EU called for increased coverage of global emissions by Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and allocating a portion of revenues to climate finance.
• The Summit indicated that they would achieve the long-awaited USD 100 billion climate finance goal this year.

What is Climate Finance? 

About
It refers to local, national, or transnational financing—drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing—that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change

Global Discussions

• The UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement call for financial assistance from Parties with more financial resources (Developed Countries) to those that are less endowed and more vulnerable (Developing Countries).
• This is in accordance with the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities” (CBDR).
• In UNFCCC COP26, they made new financial pledges to support developing countries in achieving the global goal for adapting to the effects of climate change.

Significance

Climate Change Impact Mitgation and Adaptation

• Climate finance requires large-scale investments for climate impact mitigation to significantly reduce emissions.
• Adapting to the adverse effects of a changing climate is equally important, and it requires significant financial resources.
• Climate finance is critical to achieve the goal of limiting the rise in the earth’s average temperature to below 2°C over pre-industrial levels, (2018 IPCC report).

Recognition of Responsibilities

• It recognises that the contribution of countries to climate change and their capacity to prevent it and cope with its consequences vary enormously.
• Hence, developed countries should also continue to take the lead in mobilising climate finance through a variety of actions, including supporting country-driven strategies and taking into account the needs and priorities of developing country Parties.

EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership 

Why in News?

The Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India has held a meeting with the Executive Vice President of European Green Deal, European Union, where both discussed cooperation under the EU – India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership..

What are the Key Highlights of the Meet?

• Cooperation under the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership:
  • The meeting focused on discussing collaboration in areas such as energy efficiency, Renewable energy, Green hydrogen, Energy storage, and Diversification of the global supply chain for the energy sector.
• Renewable Energy Capacity Expansion:
  • India highlighted its efforts to ramp up renewable energy capacity, including the establishment of manufacturing facilities for advanced solar cells and panels.
  • Manufacturing capacity for the most advanced solar cells and panels is increasing; and by 2030, a total manufacturing capacity of 80 GW will come up.
• Energy Storage and Round-the-Clock Renewables:
  • Recognizing the need for energy storage to facilitate round-the-clock renewable energy supply, India plans to introduce bids for more storage capacity and has already initiated a bid for Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for energy storage.
  • India proposed joint pilots with the EU in areas like Green Steel and other frontier technologies, highlighting India's pilot project for round-the-clock renewables using hydrogen and ammonia as storage.
• Green Hydrogen and Free Trade:
  • India emphasized the importance of free and open trade for the journey towards green hydrogen and cautioned against Protectionism.
  • Mentioned India's plan to increase electrolyser manufacturing capacity and upcoming Production Linked Incentive bids in that regard.
• Global Energy Efficiency Targets:
  • The Executive Vice President of the European Green Deal appreciated India's leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
  • Both sides discussed the need to bring the agenda of energy efficiency to the global stage and set global energy efficiency targets.
• Grid-Scale Battery Storage Systems and Green Mobility:
  • Collaboration opportunities were explored in batteries for grid-scale storage, particularly for green mobility. India aims to have a significant market share in green mobility, with a majority of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and a substantial portion of four-wheelers expected to be green by 2030.
• Detoxifying Agriculture and Energy Access:
  • The Power Minister expressed India's goal of transitioning away from chemical fertilizers in agriculture. The issue of energy access for the global population, especially in Africa, was discussed.
  • The role of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in bringing clean energy to regions without access was highlighted, and a partnership between the EU, ISA, Africa, and India was proposed to address this issue.

What is EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership?

• About:
  • The India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership was agreed at the EU-India Summit in 2016.
  • It is financed by the Partnership Instrument of the EU and managed by the Delegation of the European Union to India.
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Limited (PwC India) is the implementing partner for this project, together with NIRAS A/S, EUROCHAMBRES and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
• Objective:
  • It aims to reinforce cooperation on clean energy and implementation of the Paris Agreement by strengthening joint activities for deployment of climate friendly energy sources, including solar and wind energy.
  • The objective is envisaged to be achieved by focusing on Energy Efficiency (EE), Renewable Energy (RE) and Climate Change (CC).
• Focus Areas:
  • Energy Efficiency:
    • Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)
    • Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB)
    • Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI)
  • Renewable Energy:
    • Large Scale Solar PV
    • Solar PV Rooftop
    • Offshore Wind
    • Energy Storage
    • Green Hydrogen
  • Climate Change:
    • Adaptation
    • Mitigation
    • Cooling (including Cold-Chain)
    • Knowledge Management
  • Others:
    • Smart Grid
    • Sustainable Finance

Bonn Climate Meet

Why in News?

Recently, Delegates to the Paris Agreement met in Bonn, Germany, paving the way to some key decisions for the UN Climate Conference (COP 28) in Dubai in 2023.

• The Bonn session concluded with the agreement to share "informal notes" that will guide continued work leading up to COP (Conference of Parties) 28 in Dubai.

What are the Key Highlights of the Meet?

• Global Stocktake:
  • Technical discussions were held on the Global Stocktake (GST), producing a short Framework on the elements to be included in the stocktake exercise.
  • GST is a process mandated by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which is an exercise to assess progress in combating Climate Change and determines ways to strengthen global efforts to address the gap in adequacy.
  • According to the Paris Agreement, the GST should take place every five years, starting in 2023. The actual meeting on GST would come in at COP28.

• Advancing Post-2030 Ambition:
  • Parties and civil society representatives used the meeting to focus on post-2030 ambition, particularly through advancing the work on the Global Stocktake.
  • It seeks to strengthen efforts in adapting to climate change impacts and mobilizing financial and technical resources for developing nations.
• Funding Arrangements for Loss and Damage:
  • Discussions focused on implementing balanced funding arrangements to address Loss and Damage (L&D) caused by climate change, particularly for vulnerable communities.
  • While progress was made in operationalizing the Santiago Network on loss and damage, the issue of the network's host remained unresolved.
  • The Santiago Network aims to catalyze the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies, networks and experts, for the implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimizing and addressing L&D at the local, national and regional level, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
• Climate Finance Alignment:
  • The EU emphasizes the need to align global financial flows with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
  • This includes examining the pool of donors and ensuring that the scale of financial support matches the requirements to address the climate crisis.
  • The EU and many other countries emphasize the importance of addressing climate finance at COP28.
• Post-2025 Climate Finance Goal and Funding Arrangements:
  • Constructive and substantive discussions took place in the technical expert dialogues regarding the new post-2025 climate finance goal and funding arrangements, including a fund for loss and damage.
• Urgency of Adaptation:
  • Developed countries, including the EU, acknowledge the urgency of addressing adaptation needs.
  • They commit to scaling up support by strengthening existing arrangements and institutions with proven experience and expertise in assisting vulnerable communities.

The Axolotl

Latest Context

The Axolotl, a species of salamander ((lizard-like amphibians), has an extraordinary capacity to regrow damaged body parts, inspiring researchers to explore the mechanisms behind this exceptional capacity.
Understanding the elusive o (for "ova deficient" gene, which is essential to the axolotl's regeneration process), is the main goal of their research.

Facts about Axolotl

• Axolotls (amphibians) spend their whole lives underwater. They can only be found in the wild in LakeXochimilco (Mexico City), a network of man-made channels, small lakes, and temporary wetlands that helps feed water to Mexico City's 18 million people.
• Also, a UNESCO World Heritage site is Lake Xochimilco.
• Similar to humans, axolotls have two copies of each gene, one from the mother and one from the father.
• Prey: They eat mollusks, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, and some fish.
• Features: Their capacity to regrow lost body parts and their rare trait of neoteny, which means they maintain larval features throughout life, have attracted scientists.
• Cancer researchers are also interested in these characteristics because of their special resistance to the growth of cancerous tissues.
• Axolotls live their whole lives in the water despite the fact that they are amphibians, but they are now almost extinct in the wild.
• Threat: A combination of habitat loss (primarily brought on by Mexico City's continuous urbanisation), water pollution, and invasive fish species (such carp and tilapia, which compete with axolotls for food and feed upon them) has resulted in a significant reduction in axolotl populations.
• Protection Status: International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN): critically endangered species (since 2006).

What is Organ Regeneration?

• The process of repairing or replacing damaged or missing organs or tissues in living organisms is known as organ regeneration. It is an amazing occurrence that differs greatly amongst many species, including both plants and animals.
• The ability to regenerate organs holds great potential for medicinal uses, including the treatment of diseases and injuries that damage human organs.
• Major Processes
  • Remodelling: To form new structures, the current tissues must be reshaped and reorganised. For example, plants and some marine life, like jellyfish, may replace lost components by drastically altering the tissues that still exist.
  • Blastema formation: This involves the development of a mass of immature cells that can specialise into multiple cell types and create new tissues and organs at the site of damage. For example, some animals, like salamanders, can produce a blastema first and then restore lost sections.
  • Compensatory hypertrophy: It involves increasing the size and function of the remaining part of an organ to compensate for the loss of another part. For example, in humans if one kidney is removed from a human, the other enlarges.
  • Other Example of Organisms that can Regenerate Organs: Planarians, Zebrafish and Sea cucumber.