PIB Summary- 5th June, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP)

Why in News?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India envisages celebrating World Environment Day 2023 with a thrust on the Mission LiFE.

About EIACP Programme

• The EIACP (Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme) is a Central Sector sub-scheme implemented in alignment with Mission LiFE.
• It is a revamp of the Environmental Information System (ENVIS), which was established as a planned program in 1983.
• The ENVIS has now been incorporated into the broader scheme of Environment Education, Awareness, Research, and Skill Development.
• The EIACP serves as a comprehensive platform for the dissemination of environmental information, facilitating policy formulation, and promoting alternate livelihoods through green skilling.

About Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

• Mission LiFE was proposed by the Prime Minister of India at COP 26.
• It aims to be a global mass movement led by India, encouraging individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment.
• The movement will showcase sustainable goals and climate actions taken by countries and individuals worldwide.
• It promotes a democratic approach to fighting climate change, allowing everyone to contribute based on their capacities.
• The spirit of the movement is encapsulated in the P3 model, which stands for Pro Planet People.
• Mission LiFE operates on the principles of a lifestyle for the planet, by the planet, and of the planet.

Li-ion Battery Recycling Technology

Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) transferred cost-effective Lithium-ion battery recycling technology to nine recycling industries and start-ups.

About Li-ion battery recycling technology

• Li-ion battery recycling technology is an indigenous development that can process various types of discarded Li-ion batteries.
• The technology has the capability to recover more than 95% of Lithium (Li), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn), and Nickel (Ni) contents in the form of their corresponding oxides/carbonates with a purity of around 98%.
• The recycling process involves leaching, followed by hierarchical selective extraction of metal values through the solvent extraction process.
• The recovered secondary raw materials can be used for battery manufacturing or in other potential applications.
• This technology has been developed under the Centre of Excellence on E-waste Management.

About Lithium

• Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal with the symbol Li and atomic number 3.
• It is the lightest of all the metals and the least dense solid element.
• It is highly reactive and flammable, and easily oxidizes in air or water.

Occurrence

• Lithium is a rare element and is mostly found in minerals such as spodumene, lepidolite, and petalite.
• It is also found in brines and clays in certain regions of the world, such as the “Lithium Triangle” in South America, which includes Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.

Uses
Lithium has a range of industrial applications, including:

• Lithium-ion batteries: It is a critical component of rechargeable batteries used in mobile devices, laptops, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage systems.
• Aerospace industry: Lithium is used in the manufacturing of aircraft parts due to its lightweight and strong structural properties.
• Glass and ceramics: Lithium is used in the production of heat-resistant glass and ceramics, such as ovenware and laboratory equipment.
• Pharmaceuticals: Lithium is used as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
• Lubricants: Lithium is used in greases and lubricants due to its ability to reduce friction and wear.