Institutions And Measures - 2 | Environment for UPSC CSE PDF Download

ECO MARK

• a government scheme of labeling of environment friendly products to provide accreditation and labelling for household and other consumer products which meet certain environmental criteria along with quality requirements of the Bureau of Indian Standards for that product.
• Objective - to recognize good environmental performance as well as improvements in performance of the unit
• Any product, which is made, used or disposed of in a way that significantly reduces the harm to environment, could be considered as ‘Environment Friendly Product’.
• The project would help in capacity building by conducting training, workshops, seminars, conference etc. on the issues pertaining to the industry and environment interface. This would facilitate the change in attitude of the stakeholders and the industry on the need to support the proactive industry.

URBAN SERVICES ENVIRONMENTAL RATING SYSTEM (USERS)

• Project funded by UNDP executed by Ministry of Environment and Forests and implemented by TERI.
• Aim - to develop an analytical tool to measure the performance, with respect to delivery of basic services in local bodies of Delhi and Kanpur. (identified as pilot cities).
• Performance measurement (PM) tool was developed through a set of performance measurement indicators that are benchmarked against set targets using the inputs-outputs efficiency outcomes framework.

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION & RURAL LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT (BCRLIP)

• Aim - conserving Biodiversity in selected landscapes, including wildlife protected areas/critical conservation areas while improving rural livelihoods through participatory approaches.
• Development of Joint Forest Management (JFM) and eco-development in some states are models of new approaches to provide benefits to both conservation and local communities.
• The project intends to expand to other globally significant sites in the country to strengthen linkages between conservation and improving livelihoods of local communities that live in the neighborhood of biodiversity rich areas-as well as to enhance the local and national economy.
• The Project would be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with five financiers (IDA loan, GEF grant, contributions from Government of India, State Governments and beneficiaries), amounting to around Rs. 137.35 crores, spread over six years.

NATIONAL CLEAN ENERGY FUND

• ‘National Clean Energy Fund’ (NCEF) was constituted in the public account of India in the Finance Bill 2010-11.
• Objective - to invest in entrepreneurial ventures and research & innovative projects in the field of clean energy technology.
• The Central Board of Excise and Customs consequently notified the Clean Energy Cess Rules 2010 under which producers of specified goods namely raw coal, raw lignite and raw peat were made liable to pay Clean Energy Cess.
• Any project with innovative methods to adopt to clean energy technology and research & development shall be eligible for funding under the NCEF.
• Government assistance under the NCEF shall in no case exceed 40% of the total project cost.
• Indo-French Project to Study Effects of Climate Change on Farming
• The Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) launched a multi-disciplinary Indo-French research project titled ‘Adaptation of Irrigated Agriculture to Climate Change (AICHA).’
• The study aims at developing an integrated model for analysing the impact of climate change on ground water-irrigated agriculture in south India.
• Berambadi village and surrounding areas in Hangla hobli of Gundlupet taluk in Chamaraja nagar district have been selected for a field study under the project.
• The project would explore adaptation strategies based on innovative cropping systems and water resource management policies, by considering a range of scenarios for agricultural systems and policies, to be tested at the farm and the watershed scale.
• The methodology will combine remote sensing, field surveys and advanced numerical analysis with hydrological, agronomical and economic modeling, and will pay particular attention to sustainability and acceptability issues.

NATIONAL MISSION FOR ELECTRIC MOBILITY

• A National Mission for Electric Mobility (NCEM) to promote electric mobility and manufacturing of electric vehicles in India.
• The setting up of NCEM has been influenced by the following three factors:
• 1.Fast dwindling petroleum resources
• 2.Impact of vehicles on the environment and climate change.
• 3.Worldwide shift of the automobile industry towards more efficient drive technologies and alternative fuels including electric vehicles

Barriers

• Higher cost of Electric Vehicles, Challenges in battery technology, Consumer mindset, Inadequate government support
• Objective to resolve these barriers by providing government intervention/support, adoption of mission mode approach for fast decision making and ensuring collaboration amongst various stakeholders.
• The NCEM will be the apex body in the Government of India for making recommendations in these matters.

SCIENCE EXPRESS - BIODIVERSITY SPECIAL (SEBS)

• SEBS is an innovative mobile exhibition mounted on a specially designed 16 coach AC train, traveling across India from 5 June to 22 December 2012 (180 days) to create widespread awareness on the unique biodiversity of the country.
• SEBS is the fifth phase of the iconic and path-breaking Science Express.
• The SEBS is a unique collaborative initiative of Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India.
• The state-of-the-art exhibition aboard SEBS aims to create wide-spread awareness on the unique biodiversity of India, Climate Change, Water, Energy Conservation and related issues among various sections of the society, especially students.

Do you know?
Under the leadership of NGO. aaranyak’s Greater adjutant stork project team, 14 women self-help groups of Dadara village in Kamrup district have formed a ‘Hargila (Greater adjutant stork) army’, for the conservation and protection of these birds.

ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION, AWARENESS & TRAINING (EEAT) SCHEME

• EEAT a Central Scheme launched during the 6th Five Year Plan in 1983-84 with the following objectives:
  1. To promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society.
  2. To spread environment education, especially in the nonformal system.
  3. To facilitate development of education/training materials and aids in the formal education sector.
  4. To promote environment education through existing educational/scientific institutions.
  5. To ensure training and manpower development for EEAT.
  6. To encourage NGOs, mass media and other concerned organizations for promoting awareness about environmental issues.
  7. To use different media (audio & visual) for spreading messages concerning environment and awareness and
  8. To mobilize people’s participation for preservation and conservation of environment.

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS CAMPAIGN (NEAC)

• The NEAC was launched in 1986 with the objective of creating environmental awareness at the national level.
• It is a multi-media campaign which utilises conventional and non-conventional methods of communication for disseminating environmental messages.
• Under this campaign, nominal financial assistance is provided to registered NGOs, schools, colleges, universities, research institutions, women and youth organisations, army units, State Government Departments etc. from all over the country for organising/ conducting awareness raising activities
• These activities which include seminars, workshops, training programmes, camps, rallies, exhibitions, competitions, folk dances and songs, street theatre, puppet shows, preparation and distribution of environmental education resource materials etc., are followed by action like plantation of trees, management of household waste, cleaning of water bodies etc.

ECO-CLUBS (NATIONAL GREEN CORPS)

• The main objectives of this programme are to educate children about their immediate environment and impart knowledge about the eco-systems, their inter-dependence and their need for survival, through visits and demonstrations and to mobilise youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of scientific inquiry into environmental problems and involving them in the efforts of environmental preservation.
• Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)
• The GLOBE is an International Science and Education Programme, which stress on hands-on participatory approach. India joined this programme during the August, 2000.
• This programme, which unites students, teachers and scientists all over the world, is aimed at school children.
• The students of GLOBE schools are required to collect data about various basic environmental parameters under the supervision of a GLOBE trained teacher and use it for explaining hypothesis as well as to enhance their scientific understanding of the earth.

MANGROVES FOR THE FUTURE

• Mangroves for the Future are a partnership-based initiative promoting investment in coastal ecosystems for sustainable development.

Mission

• to promote healthy coastal ecosystems through a partnership-based, people-focused, policy-relevant and investment-orientated approach, which builds and applies knowledge, empowers communities and other stakeholders, enhances governance, secures livelihoods, and increases resilience to natural hazards and climate change.
• Member countries: India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, SriLanka, Thailand, Vietnam. Outreach countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, TimorLeste. Dialogue countries: Kenya, Malaysia, Tanzania.
• MFF provides a collaborative platform to help countries, sectors and agencies in the MFF region tackle the growing challenges to coastal sustainability.
• MFF has adopted mangroves as its flagship ecosystem in recognition of the important role that mangrove forests played in reducing the impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the severe effect on coastal livelihoods caused by the loss and degradation of mangroves.
• However MFF embraces all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, wetlands, beaches and seagrass beds.