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You searched “Climate Change”. Your tag search matches the following results:

El Niño & Drought

Why in News In a recent study by Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc) Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (CAOS), it has been found...

14 Dec 2020 Climate Change
IFLOWS-Mumbai: Flood Warning System

Why in News Recently, an integrated flood warning system - known as IFLOWS-Mumbai was launched making Mumbai the second city in India after Chennai...

12 Jun 2020 Climate Change
Climate Change and The Eastern Ghats

This article is based on "A browning east: on climate change and the Eastern Ghats" which was published in The Hindu on February 28, 2020. It talks...

09 Mar 2020 Climate Change
Global Climate Risk Index 2020

Why in News The international environmental think tank ‘Germanwatch’ has recently released the Global Climate Risk Index 2019. The...

05 Dec 2019 Climate Change
UNDP’s Accelerator Lab

Why in News The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched its Accelerator Lab in India. The project has been launched in...

29 Nov 2019 Climate Change
The Big Picture- Rising Oceans, Sinking Cities

Oceans act as a sponge for the ill effects of climate change. They absorb the heat and CO2 generated by greenhouse gas emissions. However, the same...

12 Sep 2019 Climate Change
Climate Change Affecting Banana Cultivation

According to a recent study published in Nature Climate Change, 10 leading banana producer countries including India- the largest producer &...

06 Sep 2019 Climate Change
Climate Change and Land

The article is based on the recent IPCC report “Climate change and Land” published on 8th August and an editorial “Climate on the...

10 Aug 2019 Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Emission

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07 Aug 2019 Climate Change
West Antarctic Ice Sheet

A recent study has revealed that the giant West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is destabilising and is on the verge of a complete collapse. The...

19 Jul 2019 Climate Change
Airplane Contrails and Global Warming

According to a recent study, the airplanes contrails contribute more to global warming than the CO2 emitted by an aircraft. Moreover, the...

01 Jul 2019 Climate Change
Monsoon

Generally, across the world, the monsoons are experienced in the tropical area roughly between 20° N and 20° S. The climate of India is...

24 Jun 2019 Climate Change
Wild Yak (Bos grunniens)

Researchers analysed yak dung to understand the vegetation and climate of the past and the connections they have to extinct the woolly rhino and...

24 Jun 2019 Climate Change
Climate Change Impacting Small Island Developing States

The United Nation (UN) in its report on World Population Prospects 2019 has warned that many Small Island Developing States (SIDS) may fail to...

21 Jun 2019 Climate Change
Climate Change and Crop Production

According to a recent study, India’s grain production is vulnerable to climate change, primarily because of the decline in yield of rice crop...

19 Jun 2019 Climate Change
Air Pollution and Life Expectancy

An environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment in its report “At the crossroad” has said that Life expectancy in India has...

12 Jun 2019 Climate Change
Policy Watch – India’s Wind Energy Potential

As per a report by Fitch Solutions Macro Research, India is likely to install 54.7 GW of wind capacity by 2022 against the 60 GW target set by the...

23 May 2019 Climate Change
Two-metre Sea Level Rise 'Plausible' by 2100

According to new projections, global sea levels could rise by two metres (6.5 feet) and displace tens of millions of people by the end of the...

22 May 2019 Climate Change
In Depth – Biodiversity: Warning Bells

Relentless pursuit of economic growth coupled with climate change has brought an unprecedented one million species at the doorstep of extinction....

16 May 2019 Climate Change
Pacific Decadal Oscillation

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and Assam University set out to understand the drying phase in the...

08 May 2019 Climate Change

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		'title' => 'El Niño & Drought',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a recent study by<strong> Indian Institute of Science&rsquo;s</strong> (IISc) <strong>Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences</strong> (CAOS), it has been found that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o</strong></a> was <strong>not the only cause for droughts</strong> during the Summer <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Monsoon</strong></a> in the Indian Subcontinent.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o</strong> is a recurring climate event during which<strong> abnormally warm equatorial Pacific waters pull moisture-laden clouds</strong> away from the <strong>Indian subcontinent.</strong></li>
<li>It is the usual <strong>suspect</strong> for <strong>failing Indian summer monsoons</strong> between <strong>June and September.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>43% of the droughts that occurred during the Indian summer monsoon season in the past century may have been driven by <strong>atmospheric disturbances</strong> from the <strong>North Atlantic region.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These<strong> droughts</strong> that India faced occurred during years <strong>when El Ni&ntilde;o was absent.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause of these Drought:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sudden and steep drop in rainfall in late August that was linked to an <strong>atmospheric disturbance in the mid-latitude region over the North Atlantic Ocean,</strong> creating a <strong>pattern of atmospheric currents</strong> that move over the indian subcontinent and <strong>&ldquo;derail&rdquo; the monsoon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Change in Drought Pattern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o year drought:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> rainfall deficit</strong> begins <strong>mid-June</strong> and spreads throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Normal year Drought Condition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is normal rainfall during the monsoon season but a <strong>sudden and steep decline was observed in August.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Causes for this August decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An unusual <strong>atmospheric disturbance</strong> in the<strong> mid-latitudes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The middle latitudes are spatial regions on Earth <strong>located between the latitudes 23&deg; and 66&deg; north.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The disturbance emerges from<strong> winds in the upper atmosphere</strong> interacting with a <strong>cyclonic circulation</strong> above abnormally<strong> cold North Atlantic waters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The resulting wave of air currents, called<strong> a Rossby wave, moves from the North Atlantic</strong> towards the<strong> Tibetan plateau</strong> and <strong>hits the Indian subcontinent </strong>around<strong> mid-August, suppressing rainfall and causing drought-like conditions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Atmospheric Circulations that Impact Monsoon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Dipole:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is defined by the<strong> difference in sea surface temperature between two areas</strong> (or poles, hence a dipole) &ndash; a western pole in the <strong>Arabian Sea</strong> (western Indian Ocean) and an <strong>eastern pole</strong> in the eastern Indian Ocean <strong>south of Indonesia.</strong></li>
<li>IOD develops in the equatorial region of Indian Ocean<strong> from April to May</strong> peaking in October.</li>
<li>With a <strong>positive IOD</strong> winds over the Indian Ocean blow from east to west (from Bay of Bengal towards Arabian Sea). This results in the <strong>Arabian Sea</strong> (western Indian Ocean near African Coast) being much <strong>warmer and eastern Indian Ocean around Indonesia becoming colder and dry.</strong></li>
<li>In the <strong>negative dipole</strong> year (negative IOD), <strong>reverse happens</strong> making Indonesia much warmer and rainier.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930138_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930138_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Dipole effect:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was demonstrated that a <strong>positive IOD index</strong> often negated the effect of El Nino, resulting in increased Monsoon rains in several El Nino years like the 1983, 1994 and 1997.</li>
<li>Two poles of the IOD &ndash; the<strong> eastern pole</strong> (around Indonesia) and the <strong>western pole</strong> (off the African coast) were independently and cumulatively affecting the quantity of rains for the Monsoon in the Indian subcontinent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Impact of IOD on<strong> Cyclogenesis</strong> in Northern Indian Ocean:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Positive IOD (Arabian Sea warmer than Bay of Bengal) results in <strong>more cyclones than usual in Arabian Sea.</strong></li>
<li>Negative IOD results in<strong> stronger than usual <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tropical Cyclones</a></strong> in the Bay of Bengal. Cyclonic activity in Arabian Sea is <strong>suppressed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Madden&ndash;Julian Oscillation (MJO), is an eastward <strong>moving band of rain clouds</strong> that travels around the globe spanning 12,000&ndash;20,000 km across the tropical oceans returning to its initial starting point in 30 to 60 days.</li>
<li>In its journey, it interacts with<strong> surface waters</strong> of the Indo-Pacific ocean, the <strong>largest pool of warm water in the globe.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930099_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930099_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>The MJO consists of two parts, or phases: one is the <strong>enhanced rainfall</strong> (or convective) phase and the other is the <strong>suppressed rainfall phase.</strong></li>
<li>Strong MJO activity often<strong> dissects the planet into halves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One half within the<strong> enhanced convective phase</strong> and the other half in <strong>the suppressed convective phase.</strong> These two phases produce opposite changes in clouds and rainfall and this entire dipole propagates eastward.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects of MJO on global weather phenomenon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can modulate the<strong> timing and strength of monsoons.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> Influences tropical cyclone</strong> numbers and strength in nearly all ocean basins.</li>
<li>It can result in <strong>jet stream changes</strong> that can lead to cold air outbreaks, extreme heat events, and flooding rains over the United States and North America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/43-indian-droughts-influenced-by-north-atlantic-air-currents/articleshow/79673081.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TOI</strong></a></p>',
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		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'IFLOWS-Mumbai: Flood Warning System',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an integrated <strong>flood warning system - known as IFLOWS-Mumbai</strong> was launched making Mumbai the second city in India after Chennai to have such a system.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Developed by:</strong> It is developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), in coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).</li>
<li><strong>Working/Features:</strong> The IFLOWS-Mumbai comprises seven modules, namely <strong>data assimilation, flood, inundation, vulnerability, risk, dissemination and decision support system.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It incorporates weather models from <strong>National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF),</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-warming-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong></a> and field data from the rain gauge network stations.</li>
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coast-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geographic Information System (GIS)</strong></a>- based decision support system has all relevant details - such as land topography, land use, infrastructure, population, lakes, creeks and data on river <strong>bathymetry (study of the beds or floors of water bodies)</strong> of all rivers namely Mithi, Dahisar, Oshiwara, Poisar and Ulhas.</li>
<li>The system has provisions to capture the urban drainage within the city and predict the areas of flooding in advance so that the civic body can issue alerts in advance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> This will boost the city&rsquo;s resilience by providing early warning for flooding specially during high rainfall events and cyclones. Bengaluru and Kolkata may also get such a system by 2021.</li>
<li><strong>Need</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mumbai has the history of flooding during extreme rainfall events. It had faced massive floods in July 2005, and recently in 2017.</li>
<li>Rise in extreme rainfall events in India that are <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hotter-oceans-and-supercyclones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>driven by warming temperatures</strong></a> and changes in the monsoon due to climate change.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-report-on-internal-displacement-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Report on Internal Displacement 2020</strong></a>, nearly five million people were displaced in India in 2019 because of disasters related to Southwest Monsoon and Cyclones.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/internal-displacement-caused-by-disasters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;State of India's Environment 2020 in Figures'</strong></a> the internal displacements in India caused by disasters and extreme weather conditions were the highest in the world in 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4662,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Climate Change and The Eastern Ghats',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-browning-east-the-hindu-editorial-on-climate-change-impact-on-the-eastern-ghats/article30935306.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"A browning east: on climate change and the Eastern Ghats"</a> which was published in The Hindu on February 28, 2020. It talks about the importance of the Eastern Ghats while describing the impact of climate change on the region.</p>
</div>
<p>Spread across some 75,000 sq. km. from Odisha to southern Tamil Nadu, Eastern Ghats play an important dual role in fostering biodiversity and storing energy in trees. The Eastern Ghats consist of different eco-regions with its range from south to north along the east coast of India. The important eco-regions consist of Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests, East Deccan dry evergreen forests, Deccan thorn scrub forests, shrublands, and South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests. This diverse landscape is home to endemic flora and fauna. Many animals, including tigers and elephants, and some 400 bird species are found in these discontinuous forests that receive an annual average rainfall of 1,200 mm to 1,500 mm. The Eastern Ghats is considered to be a part of India&rsquo;s natural heritage. The broken hill-ranges of the Eastern Ghats spread across Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, are home to unique ecosystems.</p>
<p>The Eastern Ghats face a serious threat from climate change. The area has shrunk by 16% over the past century, and just one region, Papikonda National Park, lost about 650 sq. km. over the last twenty years.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1583753569_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1583753569_image1.png" width="537" height="609" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Concerns Associated with Climate Change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Loss of Livelihood:</strong> Diminished rainfall can negatively affect the productivity of these forests, in terms of their ability to store carbon, and provide subsistence material. The local forest communities are always dependent on forest produce and other forest resources for sustaining their livelihoods, so if forest productivity is affected by climate change then this will directly have an impact on the well-being of the local communities.</li>
<li><strong>Loss of Biodiversity:</strong> a rise in seasonal temperature, causes reduced plant species diversity and provides a dominant role for herbs over trees.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Eastern Ghats - Challenges Today</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tremendous stress, degradation and damage due to human greed, population pressure, unsustainable development, apathy by public, negligence by public servants, etc.</li>
<li>Haphazard mining, logging, poaching, forest fires, unsustainable harvest of forest produce, pilferage of rare species, smuggling and export of rare flora and fauna, encroachments of forest land and infrastructure development industrialization, springing up of habitations with an intention to colonize and devour the forest.</li>
<li>Though Eastern Ghats is a rich and diverse eco-geographic unit, it has not caught the attention for conservation and to be protected as a prominent eco-geographic unit. For ages the hill ranges have not been viewed as one entity since they are dissected by river gaps, wetland and planes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Degrading Forest Cover and Paris Agreement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Such large scale destruction of forest and tree cover goes against India&rsquo;s commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; under which India committed to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tones through enhanced forest and tree cover.</li>
<li>While the commitment is to increase forest cover through Afforestation forest cover in the Eastern Ghats is being reduced at an alarming rate mainly due to anthropogenic <strong>stress, rapid and unsustainable economic development</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Preserving the Eastern Ghats: Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Promotion of sustainable use of forest resources should be done in order to counter overexploitation.</li>
<li>Government should incentivize settled agriculture in order to counter the impact of shifting agriculture because the practice of shifting agriculture will directly contribute to deforestation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Improving tree cover nationally can confer multiple benefits, including modulation of the monsoon, improved air quality and wider spaces for biodiversity to persist.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Government should finance the usage of indigenous plants and trees for restoring and strengthening the peripheral areas of the forest of Eastern Ghats by tapping into the International Climate Fund available.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Measures should be taken to protect endemism, rarity, endangered species; species which are or may become threatened with extinction and centres of the evolution of domesticated species, are critical for maintaining the range and pace of evolution and speciation.</li>
<li>Conservation of their eco-systems like wildlife Corridors, specialised ecosystems, and special breeding site/area, areas with intrinsically low resilience, sacred groves and frontier forests etc. is also very important. Geomorphological conditions which are known to have substantial effect on eco-systems at large include uninhabited islands in the sea, steep slopes, origins or rivers which are also to be conserved.</li>
<li>There is a need for concerted and macro-level conservation movement by the involvement of all stakeholders especially the public. Collectivizing or binding all individuals and civil society groups into a network will bring much focus and strength to the cause.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #c8f3f7; border-color: #0396a3;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Mains Question:</strong></em><br /><br />Explain the significance of the Eastern Ghats for India. Suggest steps that can be taken to conserve the biodiversity of the region.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		'article_id' => (int) 3808,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Global Climate Risk Index 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The international environmental think tank &lsquo;Germanwatch&rsquo; has recently released the Global Climate Risk Index 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The index analyses the extent to which countries and regions have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575534282_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1575534282_image3.png" width="163" height="366" style="float: right;" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Worst affected in 2018:</strong> Japan, Philippines and Germany</li>
<li><strong>Worst affected between 1999-2018 (long-term index):</strong> Puerto Rico, Myanmar and Haiti</li>
<li><strong>Deaths and financial loss between 1999-2018:</strong> Altogether, about 5 lakh people died as a direct result of more than 12 000 extreme weather events globally. Losses amounted to around US$ 3.54 trillion (in purchasing power parities).</li>
<li><strong>Poor countries had to face much higher impacts:</strong> Of the ten most affected countries and territories in the period 1999-2018, seven were developing countries in the low income or lower-middle income country group, two were classified as upper-middle income countries (Thailand and Dominica) and one was an advanced economy generating high income (Puerto Rico).</li>
<li><strong>Link between climate change and the frequency &amp; severity of extreme heat:</strong> Heatwaves were one major cause of damage in 2018. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the ten most affected countries in 2018, Germany, Japan and India were suffering from extended periods of heat.</li>
<li>Across Europe, extreme heat spells are now up to 100 times more likely than a century ago.</li>
<li>Impact of heatwaves on African countries may be under-represented due to a lack of data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India, which suffered water shortages, crop failures and worst flooding, holds the <strong>5<sup>th</sup> position.</strong> It has fallen from its 14<sup>th</sup> rank of countries hit most by climate change-induced weather phenomena in 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has also recorded the <strong>highest number of fatalities due to climate change</strong> and the <strong>second-highest monetary losses from its impact in 2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2019 Climate Summit in Madrid needs to address the lack of additional climate finance to help the poorest people and countries to address loss and damage. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These countries are <strong>more vulnerable to the damaging effects</strong> of a hazard but <strong>have lower coping capacity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The climate summit needs to result in: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>a decision on how the need for support for vulnerable countries concerning future loss and damage is to be determined on an ongoing basis</li>
<li>the necessary steps to generate and make available financial resources to meet these needs</li>
<li>strengthening the implementation of measures for adapting to climate change</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Germanwatch</strong></p>
<p>Germanwatch, based in Bonn and Berlin (Germany), is an independent development and environmental organisation which works for sustainable global development.</p>
</div>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 3751,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'UNDP’s Accelerator Lab',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Development Programme</strong></a> (UNDP) has launched its <strong>Accelerator Lab</strong> in India. The project has been launched in collaboration with the government&rsquo;s <strong>Atal Innovation Mission</strong> and will look to solve issues through innovative solutions.</p>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This lab will seek to address some of the most pressing issues facing India, such as air pollution, sustainable water management and client-resilient livelihoods through innovation.</li>
<li>The vision is to make faster progress in meeting the ambitious <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong></a> of the U.N. by 2030.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Accelerator Lab</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Accelerator Lab is an innovative new initiative by the <strong>UNDP, State of Qatar</strong> and the <strong>Federal Republic of Germany</strong> to find 21<sup>st&nbsp;</sup>century solutions to today's complex new challenges.</li>
<li>India's Accelerator Lab will be part of a network of 60 global labs covering 78 nations, that will test and scale new solutions to global challenges like climate change and inequality.</li>
<li>These Labs will identify grassroots solutions together with local actors and validate their potential to accelerate development.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-gandhian-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Innovation Mission:</strong></a> It is a flagship national innovation initiative of the Government of India under the NITI Aayog. It aims to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNDP</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed.</li>
<li><strong>UNDP India's</strong> country programme for 2018-2022 has three major focus areas:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inclusive growth</li>
<li>Environment and energy</li>
<li>Strengthening systems and institutions countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/undp-launches-accelerator-lab-in-india-to-work-on-tackling-pollution/article30108154.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 3122,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture- Rising Oceans, Sinking Cities',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XQnUmopftow" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Oceans act as a sponge for the ill effects of climate change. They absorb the heat and CO<sub>2</sub> generated by greenhouse gas emissions. However, the same oceans are today likely to unleash their wrath on a global scale.</p>
<p>According to a draft report of the United Nations <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</strong></a> (IPCC), destructive changes have already been set into motion. By the year 2050, many low-lying megacities and small island nations will experience extreme sea-level events every year. The final report is yet to be released in September after a thorough discussion with all the stakeholders.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Climate Change</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. In the last 650,000 years, there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the <strong>abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago</strong> marking the beginning of the modern climate era, and of human civilization.</li>
<li>The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (almost greater than 95%) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20<sup>th</sup> century and is proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over decades to millennia.</li>
<li>The <strong>oceans</strong> have <strong>absorbed</strong> much of this increased heat, with the top 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) of ocean showing warming of more than 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.</li>
<li>Global <strong>sea level rose</strong> about 8 inches in the last century. The rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double that of the last century and is accelerating slightly every year.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Current Scenario</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the draft report of the IPCC, the events that were expected to happen in the future such as increased number of <strong>cyclones,</strong> enhanced <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-melting-himalayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>melting of glaciers</strong></a>, changed <strong>rainfall &amp; wind flow</strong> pattern, changed chemistry of oceans, inter alia, are faced today itself by mankind.</li>
<li>The volume of water has also increased significantly in recent years due to<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Melting of ice-</strong> presently almost 400 million tonnes of ice is melting every year, and</li>
<li><strong>Thermal expansion</strong> of water (expansion due to the heating of water caused by global warming).</li>
<li>This poses a grave danger to the low-lying areas located throughout the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The number of <strong>Heatwaves</strong> (whereby the surface temperature of the oceans remains above normal for 2-5 consecutive days) &amp; their intensity has increased significantly in the recent past. Their number is going to increase enormously in the times to come.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Findings From the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report states that the <strong>big four</strong> namely, the United States of America, China, India, and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> will face the most devastating fall out of the ocean and ice-related impacts of climate change.</li>
<li>Although three of them <strong>(except India)</strong> have been the major contributors to this man-made problem, yet the biggest sufferers from climate change would be the smaller island nations &amp; countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For e.g, <strong>Kiribati</strong> is expected to wipe out &amp; Kiribas are looking for land in other places.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indonesia-s-new-capital" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indonesia recently changed its capital</strong></a> from <strong>Jakarta to Borneo</strong> due to the fear of submergence of the world&rsquo;s fastest sinking city, i.e, Jakarta.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s emissions are peaking at an extremely high rate.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its gross emissions are <strong>twice</strong> as that of the US (the second-largest emitter) &amp; per-capita emissions of China are touching the average per-capita emissions of OECD countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the draft report, even if <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris agreement targets</strong></a> are met on time, global emissions will reach up to 3&deg;C.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Paris agreement just ended the <strong>capping &amp; fixed target system</strong> that was adopted during the Kyoto protocol, &amp; introduced a new system known as the<strong> &lsquo;Pledge &amp; Review system.&rsquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kyoto Protocol</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 and entered into force in 2005.</li>
<li>The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COP-7</strong></a> in Marrakesh, in 2001, and are referred to as the <strong>Marrakesh Accords.</strong></li>
<li>Its first commitment period started in the year 2008 and ended in 2012.</li>
<li>Kyoto Protocol Phase-1 <strong>(2005-12)</strong> gave the target of cutting down emissions by 5%.</li>
<li>Kyoto Round- 2 gave the target of reducing emissions by at least 18% by the industrialized countries.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The situation is extremely serious today, &amp; the currently adopted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/co2-level-hit-record-high" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)</strong></a> pledges are leading the world towards a higher rise in temperature than expected.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Actions Aggravating Climate Change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Paris agreement is losing its force today.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US has withdrawn from the Paris agreements, and the US President was absent at the recently held <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G7</strong></a> summit.</li>
<li>Even China is opening new coal mines because of its <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade war</strong></a> with the US, thereby reducing its pollution control measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Brazil is ignoring the repercussions of &lsquo;development&rsquo; on the environment. The recent example of which is the deadly <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amazon-rainforest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>amazon forest fires.</strong></a> The same is the case with <strong>Canada, Bolivia, </strong>&amp;<strong> Australia.</strong></li>
<li>Sustainable Development Goals are difficult to achieve if similar situations prevail.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Actions Required</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Globally:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>There is a closed relationship between water, land &amp; cryosphere.</strong> There is a need to adequately address and appreciate that relationship globally.</li>
<li>Oceans cover <strong>three-fourths</strong> of the globe. A large number of fishermen &amp; the economy of various countries are dependent upon the oceans. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Because of global warming, pollution, oil spills, etc. oceans are badly abused. Hence, there is a need for aggressive cuts &amp; a reduction in the abuse of oceans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Costs of adaptation of mitigation measures are highly uncertain</strong> &amp; no country in the world is prepared today to face climate change. Hence, both developed &amp; developing economies need to take a dramatic shift &amp; percolate down the efforts through societies on a war-footing level.</li>
<li>If serious actions are taken immediately, it is possible to restrict the temperature rise to 1.5&deg; C.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>At India&rsquo;s level:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from adaptation, the need of the hour is to avert &amp; delay the calamity by <strong>promoting the non-fossil fuels. I</strong>ndia has already achieved its reduction targets, &amp; is now raising the targets, focussing on <strong>renewable energies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For e.g, India has met its Solar capacity installation targets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India needs to calibrate its developmental programs to ensure that it performs better than industrialized nations. Such areas include <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Road transport-</strong> that is given considerable importance today. But we need to look at the environmental costs it raises for the nation.</li>
<li><strong>Railways</strong> network can be upgraded much more cheaply in a more eco-friendly manner to complement the road network.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is doing well as compared to other countries on the basis of its Paris targets. Diplomatically, India needs to look at its actions that can be matched abroad like
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India in collaboration with France launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-assembly-of-international-solar-alliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance.</strong></a> The need is to take the leadership &amp; pressurize other countries in terms of diplomacy on the issue of reducing their emission targets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The challenges of droughts, shrinking &amp; sinking cities, high temperatures that we face today demand much more aggressive efforts. The time for action has come.</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s resolve to prepone &amp; fulfill its NDC targets from 2030 to 2025 is a welcome step in mitigating climate change.</li>
<li>There are certain sectors &amp; industries which are harmful to the environment. Because of the fear of loss of jobs in such industries (e.g automobile sector), nations have to keep them alive &amp; sustaining. There is a need to identify viable alternatives for such industries.</li>
<li>Oceans are going to increase further. There is a need to plan and prepare for the suitable <strong>rehabilitation program</strong> for the affected people (also known as <strong>Ecological Refugees)</strong>. Nations need to appropriately identify the required efforts to relocate them properly, &amp; the associated costs with their rehabilitation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This issue gains much significance in the Indian context which has 7500 km long coastline, on which many megacities are situated.</li>
<li>The need is to avoid any forced eviction of people, and <strong>empower &amp; invest</strong> in local coastal communities, so as to avert similar situations in the future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
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		'article_id' => (int) 3070,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Climate Change Affecting Banana Cultivation',
		'description' => '<p>According to a recent study published in <strong>Nature Climate Change,</strong> 10 leading banana producer countries including <strong>India- the largest producer &amp; consumer</strong> of banana could see a significant decline in crop yields due to climate change.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study also revealed that the 27 countries that account for 86% of the world&rsquo;s banana production, have seen an <strong>increased</strong> crop yield since 1961 due to the changing climate resulting in more favourable growing conditions.</li>
<li>But climate change is eventually causing a negative impact in India.</li>
<li>Being a<strong> tropical crop</strong> banana grows well under the following conditions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> 15&ordm;C &ndash; 35&ordm;C</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> an average rainfall of 650-750 mm</li>
<li><strong>Regional variation:</strong> Humid tropics to dry mild subtropics</li>
<li><strong>Soil:</strong> Deep, rich loamy soil is most preferred for banana cultivation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Researchers across the globe are concerned about the impact of diseases like <strong>Fusarium Wilt</strong> on bananas, but the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-change-and-crop-production" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impacts of climate change on crop production</a></strong> have been largely ignored. It is imperative that we invest in <strong>preparing tropical agriculture</strong> for future climate change.</li>
<li>Practical solutions to this problem are scattered across banana producing countries. This knowledge exchange needs to start now to counteract predicted <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-change-and-land-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yield losses due to climate change.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-climate-change-can-help-or-hurt-bananas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 2780,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Climate Change and Land',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on the recent IPCC report <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/srccl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Climate change and Land&rdquo;</strong> </a>published on 8<sup>th</sup> August and an editorial <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/climate-change-ipcc-report-global-warming-un-5893072/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Climate on the Farm&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Indian Express on 10<sup>th</sup> August regarding the same.</p>
</div>
<h3>Context</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently, on 8th August, released <strong>Special Report on <em>Climate Change and Land</em> (SRCCL)</strong> which finds that we must dramatically change the way we use land to limit global warming to safe levels by 2030.</li>
<li>It is alarmed about the <strong>degrading land resources globally</strong> and its impact on furthering negative effects of climate change. It concluded that better management of the world&rsquo;s farms and forests is necessary to tackle climate change.</li>
<li>The IPCC report warns that clean energy, clean transport and reduction emissions alone will not cut global emissions enough to avoid dangerous warming beyond 2 degrees Celsius.</li>
<li>It points out that the global food system is responsible for 21 to 37 per cent of the world&rsquo;s GHG emissions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Land Use and Climate change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>About a quarter of the Earth&rsquo;s ice-free land area is subjected to <em><strong>&ldquo;human-induced degradation''</strong></em> according to the <strong>IPCC report.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rapid agricultural expansion</strong> has led to destruction of forests, wetlands and grasslands and other ecosystems thus boosting global warming.</li>
<li><strong>Soil erosion</strong> from agricultural fields, the report estimates, is 10 to 100 times higher than the soil formation rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Land degradation is both cause and consequence of climate change. When land is degraded, it becomes <strong>less productive,</strong> restricting what can be grown and reducing the soil&rsquo;s ability to absorb carbon. This exacerbates climate change, while climate change in turn exacerbates land degradation.</li>
<li><strong>Land serves as a sink for carbon,</strong> because healthy ecosystems and soils can absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Between 2007-2016, these sinks removed 28% of total human carbon dioxide emissions from the air &mdash; an important barrier to even more severe climate change.</li>
<li>However, <strong>degraded land does not have the capacity to absorb carbon; it can actually release carbon.</strong> And it&rsquo;s possible that climate change and human activities could damage land to the point where it becomes a net source of carbon emissions.</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture, forestry and other types of land use</strong> account for 23% of human greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time natural land processes <strong>absorb carbon dioxide equivalent to almost a third of carbon dioxide emissions</strong> from fossil fuels and industry.</li>
<li>Land must remain productive to maintain food security as the population increases as well as the negative impacts of climate change on vegetation increase.</li>
<li>Food security will be increasingly affected by future climate change through yield declines &ndash; especially in the tropics &ndash; increased prices, reduced nutrient quality, and supply chain disruptions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mitigation Strategies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report shows that <em><strong>sustainable land management</strong></em> can contribute to tackling climate change, but is not the only solution. <strong>Reducing greenhouse gas emissions</strong> from all sectors is essential if global warming is to be kept to well below 2&ordm;C, if not 1.5&ordm;C.</li>
<li>Coordinated action to address climate change can simultaneously <strong>improve land, food security and nutrition, and help to end hunger.</strong></li>
<li>The report highlights that climate change is affecting all <strong>four pillars of food security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>availability (yield and production),</li>
<li>access (prices and ability to obtain food),</li>
<li>utilization (nutrition and cooking), and</li>
<li>stability (disruptions to availability).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>More sustainable land use, reducing over-consumption and waste of food, eliminating the clearing and burning of forests, preventing over-harvesting of fuelwood, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help to address land related climate change issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report is expected to be a key scientific input into forthcoming climate negotiations, such as the Conference of the Parties of the <strong>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</strong> in Delhi in September and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference <strong>(COP25)</strong> in Santiago, Chile, in December.</li>
<li>The report could spur moves to pressure developing countries like India to ramp up their global warming mitigation targets.</li>
<li>Countries, including India, could do well to pay heed to the IPCC report&rsquo;s recommendations on curbing land degradation and soil erosion by improving knowledge systems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IPCC report presents another alarming picture regarding climate change effects on agriculture and food systems by emphasising its deleterious effects on land use. It also presents some solutions towards sustainable development strategies to effectively mitigate climate change.</li>
<li>There needs an enhanced commitment from nations more than their pledged <strong>INDCs</strong> (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) under <strong>Paris Climate Deal.</strong> However, it must not be used to pressurize developing countries to ramp up their global warming mitigation targets.</li>
<li>India, which seems well on course to meeting its Paris Climate Pact targets, should be careful about taking up commitments that hobble its agriculture sector.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" height="75">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 518px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #002fff; background-color: #faf7d4;">
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Input</strong></em></span></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Examine the relationship between land use and climate change in the light of food security and global warming&rdquo;</em></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 2743,
		'category_id' => (int) 45,
		'title' => 'Greenhouse Gas Emission',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="/pdf/Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions.pdf" target="_blank" class="downloadbtn" rel="noopener">Download PDF</a><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 700px; border: none; left: 0; top: 0;" src="//docs.google.com/viewer?url=https://www.drishtiias.com/pdf/Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions.pdf&amp;embedded=true&amp;hl=en&amp;embedded=true&amp;hl=en" title="Embedded Document"></iframe></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 2559,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'West Antarctic Ice Sheet',
		'description' => '<p>A recent study has revealed that the giant West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is destabilising and is on the verge of a complete collapse.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The researchers have concluded that this can be tackled by launching a last-ditch engineering project to blanket its surface with &ldquo;artificial snow&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Artificial Snow</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientists have proposed using 12,000 wind turbines to pump seawater 4,900 feet up to the surface, where it would be frozen into &ldquo;snow&rdquo; to weigh the WAIS down enough to stop it collapsing any further.</li>
<li>West Antarctic Ice Sheet could be stabilized by depositing a minimum of 7,400 gigatonnes of artificial snow over 10 years around the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers.</li>
<li>The snow would be compacted as ice, pushing down the glacier and stabilising it, as well as making it thicker.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/189image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/189image3.jpg" width="534" height="518" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recent studies have shown <strong>warmer ocean water</strong> is being pushed toward the huge WAIS, <strong>destabilizing it and speeding up the decline of its huge glaciers.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is because much of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet lies below sea level, making it a Marine Ice Sheet. Marine Ice Sheets are more vulnerable to collapse because of their exposure to warm waters.</li>
<li>West Antarctica is currently the world&rsquo;s largest marine ice sheet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, many of these glaciers have a reverse bed slope, meaning that as they retreat it exposes deeper and thicker ice to the ocean.</li>
<li>That is a very unstable position, and causes a positive feedback effect which accelerates the retreat (and hence contribution to sea level rise).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Climate Change</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, it is more important to focus on the seriousness of the issue at the South Pole because of climate change.</li>
<li>The Antarctica as a whole lost more than 3 trillion tons of ice between 1992 and 2017. Most of that came from West Antarctica, where the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shrinking-sea-ice-extent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rate of ice loss has tripled in the last quarter century.</strong></a></li>
<li>Scientists believe that global warming has already caused so much melting at the south pole that the WAIS is now on course to disintegrate.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would trigger an eventual global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-sea-level" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sea level rise</strong></a> of at least three metres (10 feet) over the centuries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although, full sea level rise projected to follow the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet might not unfold for hundreds of years, but this will eventually submerge low lying cities like Hamburg, Shanghai, New York and Hong Kong.</li>
<li><strong>Melting ice sheets</strong> in Greenland, the Arctic and <strong>shrinking glaciers</strong> around the world would worsen the problem and could ultimately lead to sea level rise by at least five metres (16 feet) even if countries manage to <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>implement the Paris pact.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While geoengineering projects do offer some hope in theory, they could also end up damaging the planet and its ecosystem in unexpected ways.These interventions must not be used as an excuse to delay emissions cuts.</li>
</ul>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 2362,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Airplane Contrails and Global Warming',
		'description' => '<p>According to a recent study, the airplanes contrails contribute more to global warming than the CO<sub>2</sub> emitted by an aircraft.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Moreover, the contrails&rsquo; impact on climate change will triple by 2050 than it was in 2006 because of following reasons: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Modern planes flying slightly higher than their predecessors, which is likely to lead to more contrail cloud formation over the tropics.</li>
<li>Increase in air traffic.</li>
<li>Improvements in fuel efficiency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study also suggested that the impact on the atmosphere due to contrail cirrus clouds will be stronger over Northern America and Europe which are the busiest air traffic areas on the globe. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the impact will also increase in Asia as the air travel is also growing in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The warming effect of cirrus clouds is also short-lived, and because it occurs in the upper atmosphere, it&rsquo;s not clear how much of a difference it actually makes for temperatures at Earth&rsquo;s surface.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Contrails</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The hot, humid exhaust from jet engines mixes with the atmosphere, which at high altitude is of much lower vapor pressure and temperature than the exhaust gas.</li>
<li>The water vapor contained in the jet exhaust condenses and may freeze, and this mixing process forms clouds.</li>
<li>Most of these contrail cirrus clouds dissipate quickly, but under the right conditions they can remain for hours, and when that happens they warm the atmosphere by absorbing thermal radiation emitted by the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Impacts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Jet engine exhaust contains carbon dioxide, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, unburned fuel, soot and metal particles, as well as water vapor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The soot provides condensation sites for water vapor. Any particles present in the air provide additional sites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Depending on a plane's altitude, and the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere, contrails may vary in their thickness, extent and duration.</li>
<li>The nature and persistence of jet contrails can be used to predict the weather. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A thin, short-lived contrail indicates low-humidity air at high altitude, a sign of fair weather, whereas a thick, long-lasting contrail reflects humid air at high altitudes and can be an early indicator of a storm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aviation already has a sizable influence on the climate. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2005, air traffic contributed about 5 percent of humans&rsquo; influence on climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Air traffic roughly doubles every 15 years. And contrails are the aviation industry&rsquo;s biggest climate influencer, even more than CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from planes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But policies to lower aviation&rsquo;s influence on climate change focus on CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, all but ignoring the impact of contrails.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study suggests that contrails are a major factor that climate policies should take into account.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is important to recognise the significant impact of non-CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, such as contrail cirrus, on climate and to take those effects into consideration when setting up emission trading systems or schemes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CORSIA Agreement</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cleaner aircraft emissions would solve the issue, as the reduction of the number of soot particles emitted by aircraft engines decreases the number of ice crystals in contrails and that means climate impact of contrail cirrus will also be reduced.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, soot would have to be decreased a lot to have a significant effect&ndash;even if it was reduced by 90 percent, the contrail cirrus clouds will produce more warming in 2050 than they did in 2006.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, the best option for reducing this effect and aviation&rsquo;s carbon footprint is to fly less.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 2287,
		'category_id' => (int) 26,
		'title' => 'Monsoon',
		'description' => '<p>Generally, across the world, the monsoons are experienced in the tropical area roughly between 20&deg; N and 20&deg; S.</p>
<p>The climate of India is described as the <strong>&lsquo;monsoon&rsquo;</strong> type. In Asia, this type of climate is found mainly in the south and the southeast.</p>
<p>Out of a total of 4 seasonal divisions of India, monsoon occupy 2 divisions, namely.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The southwest monsoon season -</strong> Rainfall received from the southwest monsoons is seasonal in character, which occurs between June and September.</li>
<li><strong>The retreating monsoon season -</strong> The months of October and November are known for retreating monsoons.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Factors Influencing South-West Monsoon Formation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The differential heating and cooling of land and water</strong> creates a low pressure on the landmass of India while the seas around experience comparatively high pressure.</li>
<li><strong>The shift of the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)</strong> in summer, over the Ganga plain (this is the equatorial trough normally positioned about 5&deg;N of the equator. It is also known as the monsoon-trough during the monsoon season).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Inter Tropical Convergence Zone </strong></p>
<p>The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ,) is a broad trough of low pressure in equatorial latitudes. This is where the northeast and the southeast trade winds converge. This convergence zone lies more or less parallel to the equator but moves north or south with the apparent movement of the sun.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The presence of the high-pressure area,</strong> east of Madagascar, approximately at 20&deg;S over the Indian Ocean. The intensity and position of this high-pressure area affect the Indian Monsoon.</li>
<li><strong>The Tibetan plateau</strong> gets intensely heated during summer, which results in strong vertical air currents and the formation of low pressure over the plateau at about 9 km above sea level.</li>
<li><strong>The movement of the westerly jet stream</strong> to the north of the Himalayas and the presence of the tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during summer.</li>
<li><strong>Tropical Easterly Jet (African Easterly Jet).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Southern Oscillation (SO):</strong> Normally when the tropical eastern south Pacific Ocean experiences high pressure, the tropical eastern Indian Ocean experiences low pressure. But in certain years, there is a reversal in the pressure conditions and the eastern Pacific has lower pressure in comparison to the eastern Indian Ocean. This periodic change in pressure conditions is known as the SO.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>El Nino</strong></p>
<p>This is a name given to the periodic development of a warm ocean current along the coast of Peru as a temporary replacement of the cold Peruvian current. &lsquo;El Nino&rsquo; is a Spanish word meaning &lsquo;the child&rsquo;, and refers to the baby Christ, as this current starts flowing during Christmas. The presence of the El Nino leads to an increase in sea-surface temperatures and weakening of the trade winds in the region.</p>
</div>
<h3>Mechanism</h3>
<p><strong>Onset of the South-West Monsoon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The location of <strong>ITCZ shifts north and south of the equator</strong> with the apparent movement of the Sun.</li>
<li>During the month of June, the <strong>sun shines vertically over the Tropic of Cancer</strong> and the <strong>ITCZ shifts northwards</strong>.</li>
<li>The southeast trade winds of the southern hemisphere cross the equator and start blowing in southwest to northeast direction under the influence of <strong>Coriolis force</strong>.</li>
<li>These winds collect moisture as they travel over the warm Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>In the month of July, the <strong>ITCZ shifts to 20&deg;-25&deg; N latitude and is located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain</strong> and the south-west monsoons blow from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The ITCZ in this position is often called the <strong>Monsoon Trough</strong>.</li>
<li>The shift in the position of the ITCZ is also related to the phenomenon of the withdrawal of the westerly jet stream from its position over the north Indian plain, south of the Himalayas.</li>
<li>The easterly Jet Stream (Somali Jet) sets in along 15&deg;N latitude only after the western jet stream has withdrawn itself from the region. This easterly jet stream is held responsible for the burst of the monsoon in India.</li>
<li>As these winds approach the land, their southwesterly direction is modified by the relief and thermal low pressure over northwest India. The monsoon approaches the Indian landmass in two branches: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Arabian Sea branch -</strong> The monsoon winds originating over the Arabian Sea.</li>
<li><strong>The Bay of Bengal branch -</strong> The Arakan Hills along the coast of Myanmar deflect a big portion of this branch towards the Indian subcontinent. The monsoon, therefore, enters West Bengal and Bangladesh from south and southeast instead of from the south-westerly direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another phenomenon associated with the monsoon is its tendency to have <strong>&lsquo;breaks&rsquo;</strong> in rainfall. The monsoon rains take place only for a few days at a time. They are interspersed with rainless intervals. <strong>These breaks in monsoon are related to the movement of the monsoon trough.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Despite an overall unity in the general pattern, there are perceptible regional variations in climatic conditions within the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578393254_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578393254_image5.jpg" width="600" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Retreating Monsoon Season</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The retreating southwest monsoon season is <strong>marked by clear skies and rise in temperature</strong>.</li>
<li>The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes rather oppressive. This is commonly known as the <strong>&lsquo;October heat&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>In the second half of October, the mercury begins to fall rapidly, particularly in northern India.</li>
<li>The weather in the retreating monsoon is <strong>dry in north India</strong> but it is associated with <strong>rain in the eastern part of the Peninsula</strong>. Here, October and November are the rainiest months of the year.</li>
<li><strong>The widespread rain in this season is associated with the passage of cyclonic depressions which originate over the Andaman Sea and manage to cross the eastern coast of the southern Peninsula. These tropical cyclones are very destructive.</strong></li>
<li>A bulk of the rainfall of the Coromandel Coast is derived from these depressions and cyclones.</li>
<li>Unlike the rest of the country, which receives rain in the southwest monsoon season between June and September, the <strong>northeast monsoon is crucial for farming</strong> and <strong>water security in the south</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578393291_image18.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578393291_image18.jpg" width="600" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Impact of Monsoons on Life in India</h3>
<p><strong>Positive</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-monsoon-respite-for-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">About 64% of people in India depend on agriculture for their livelihood</a> and agriculture itself is based on monsoon.</li>
<li>Agricultural prosperity of India depends very much on timely and adequately distributed rainfall. If it fails, agriculture is adversely affected particularly in those regions where means of irrigation are not developed.</li>
<li>Regional variations in monsoon climate help in growing various types of crops.</li>
<li>Regional monsoon variation in India is reflected in the vast variety of food, clothes and house types.</li>
<li>Monsoon rain <strong>helps recharge dams and reservoirs,</strong> which is further used for the <strong>generation of hydro-electric power</strong>.</li>
<li>Winter rainfall by temperate cyclones in north India is highly beneficial for Rabi crops.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Negative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Variability of rainfall brings <strong>droughts or floods</strong> every year in some parts of the country.</li>
<li>Sudden monsoon burst creates a problem of <strong>soil erosion</strong> over large areas in India.</li>
<li>In hilly areas sudden rainfall brings <strong>landslide</strong> which <strong>damages natural and physical infrastructure</strong> subsequently <strong>disrupting human life economically</strong> as well as <strong>socially</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Monsoon Prediction In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>More than a century ago, when there were no computers, IMD&rsquo;s forecasts depended only on snow cover. Lesser cover meant a better monsoon.</li>
<li>British physicist Gilbert Walker, who headed the IMD, designed a <strong>statistical weather model</strong> &ndash; an empirical way of predicting the weather &ndash; based on the relationship between two weather phenomena.</li>
<li>In 2014, the IMD started to use <strong>numerical models</strong> to supplement statistical models for long-range forecasting as well.</li>
<li>Now, although the numerical models used by the IMD are state-of-the-art &ndash; developed by the <strong>US National Centres for Environmental Prediction</strong> &ndash; their forecast capacity is still weak because a longer period of forecast creates more uncertainty in prediction.</li>
<li>At the moment, the IMD provides district-wise weather data but it&rsquo;s not sufficient; because when IMD says there will be scattered rainfall over a particular district, it means that 26-50% that district (by area) will receive rainfall.</li>
<li>The <strong>IMD collects weather data like temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation</strong> through 679 automatic weather stations, 550 surface observatories, 43 radiosonde or weather balloons, 24 radars and three satellites.</li>
<li>Currently, highly advanced dynamical models need supercomputers. Prediction models will not run until proper data about current weather conditions is available.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Factors Responsible for Inaccurate Monsoon Forecast</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> lack of data</strong> due to insufficient monitoring stations.</li>
<li>Automatic weather stations are of substandard quality. They need to be calibrated and cleaned regularly, which does not happen often. That affects data.</li>
<li>Then, there are major data gaps, like those involving dust, aerosols, soil moisture and maritime conditions are not monitored.</li>
<li>The models that we have brought from the west have been developed by western scientists to forecast in their region, little progress has been made is the <strong>fine-tuning of weather models to suit Indian conditions</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of competent software professionals</strong> and scientists working with the IMD.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent Indian Initiatives</h3>
<p>It is crucial for farmers (sowing, harvesting, etc.) and policymakers (payment of compensation, minimum support price, etc.) to know when and for how long the monsoon will remain active over India. For that, better predictions and timely advisories are needed.</p>
<p>To achieve this following initiatives have been taken:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Monsoon Mission of India</strong><br />This initiative of <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences, launched in 2012,</strong> has utilized new approaches (high resolution, super parameterizations, data assimilation etc.) so that forecast skill gets quantitatively improved further for forecasting services of India Meteorological Department (IMD).<br />For the first time, India Meteorological Department used the Monsoon Mission dynamical model to prepare operational seasonal forecast of 2017 monsoon rainfall over India.<br /><strong><br />Objectives</strong>
<ol>
<li>To improve Seasonal and Intra-seasonal Monsoon Forecast</li>
<li>To improve Medium Range Forecast.</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>IMD in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) provides <strong>district-level agro-meteorological advisories</strong> to farmers through 130 agro-met field units in vernacular languages.<br />These advisories are used for critical farm operations such as:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Management of sowing (delayed onset of rains);</li>
<li>Changing crop variety (delay in rainfall);</li>
<li>Spraying Pesticides for disease control (occurrence of rainfall);</li>
<li>Managing Irrigation (Heavy rainfall Forecast).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India Meteorological Department (IMD) provides <strong>meteorological support to the Central Water Commission (CWC)</strong> for issuing flood warnings.</li>
<li><strong>Indo-US expedition<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578393460_image46.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1578393460_image46.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />In 2018, The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-us-indian-ocean-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Ocean Research Vessel, 'Sagar Nidhi'</a>, set out from Chennai, as part of an Indo-US expedition seeking to find answers to the vagaries of the Bay of Bengal-fed southwest monsoon by collecting various data to improve prediction models.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/national-supercomputer-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Supercomputing Mission</a> will fill the necessary gaps in the computing superpower required to predict timely and accurate monsoon forecasts.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Global Warming and Monsoon</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A drastic change in the monsoon rainfall intensity, duration, frequency and spatial distribution can be attributed to the climate change. However, it is too soon to arrive at a conclusion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If all this is in response to global warming then it can be permanent and might accelerate. If not then the monsoon system will revert to a more normal state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>More data and reanalysis is needed to get a clear picture on the complete separation of the global warming impact from natural climate variability (such as El Ni&ntilde;o).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>population of India is increasing</strong> and to provide <strong>food security</strong> to the population, a large part of the monsoon water which is currently unutilized should be held at suitable locations for irrigation and power generation purposes.</li>
<li><strong>India needs to invest more resources</strong> in better prediction of Monsoon forecast in order to achieve reliability and sustainability.</li>
<li>With a warming climate, more moisture will be held in the atmosphere, leading to heavier rainfall, consequently, inter-annual variability of the monsoon will increase in future. The country needs to prepare for this change.</li>
<li>Thus, to secure and bring sustainability to the climate pattern of India we need to take effective and timely steps not just at the domestic front (National Action Plan on Climate Change) but also at international front (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), as we live in a shared world with a shared future.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 2285,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Wild Yak (Bos grunniens)',
		'description' => '<p>Researchers analysed yak dung to understand the vegetation and climate of the past and the connections they have to extinct the woolly rhino and mammoth.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The researchers found that the yak preferred a variety of food. A good diversity of pollen, spores and phytoliths (silica bodies found in plants) were observed. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This also indicated that the yak was able to modify its diet according to the climatic change of the past.</li>
<li>On the other hand, giant mammoth and woolly rhino which used to live with the yak about 18,000-20,000 years ago were not able to adapt to these changes and thus went extinct.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The yak dung analysis also helped to map out the different plants and trees in that area, thus, generating modern botanical analogue of higher Himalayas.</li>
<li>These animals mostly depend on the regional flora and studies can throw light on the past vegetation of an area,</li>
<li>Across the globe, many researchers are working on fossilized dung of extinct animals. A comparison of the present results with the extinct ones can help understand more about ancestor climatic factors and other adaptation strategies of mega herbivores.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wild Yak</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Yak (Bos grunniens) is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and the adjacent high-altitude regions.</li>
<li>Yaks belong to the Bovini tribe, which also includes bisons, buffaloes, and cattle.</li>
<li>It can tolerate temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius</li>
<li>IUCN Red list status: Vulnerable</li>
<li>Listed under Appendix I of CITES</li>
<li>Indian WildLife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule II</li>
<li>The most serious threat to the Wild Yak&rsquo;s survival is casual and market hunting. The Yak is hunted for its meat, horns, and other materials.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 2267,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Climate Change Impacting Small Island Developing States',
		'description' => '<p>The <strong>United Nation (UN)</strong> in its report on <strong>World Population Prospects 2019</strong> has warned that many Small Island Developing States (SIDS) may fail to achieve several <strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030</strong> because of increasing population and climate change risks.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Small Island Developing States</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are islands of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.</li>
<li>The SIDS were recognized as a distinct group of developing countries in June 1992, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development. Total number of SIDS are 39.</li>
<li>SIDS&rsquo; unique and particular vulnerabilities are highlighted in &ldquo;The Future We Want&rdquo;, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio+20) that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012</li>
<li>Their small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to global environmental challenges and external economic shocks, including to a large range of impacts from climate change and potentially more frequent and intense natural disasters SIDS continue to address those structural and external challenges to achieve their sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Reasons for missing SDGs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Population:</strong> Several SIDS, including Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, are experiencing a sharper population growth, higher than the global average rate of 1.07 per cent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The total population of these countries is only 71 million, but growing fast: said to increase to 78 million by 2030 and 87 million by 2050, added the report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate change:</strong> The challenge is bigger for these small countries because of their vulnerability to climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise.</li>
<li><strong>Geographical reasons:</strong> One-third of the entire population of SIDS lives on lands that are less than five metres below the sea level. This makes them highly vulnerable to sea-level rise, storm surge and coastal destruction.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Impact of Climate Change on SIDS</strong></p>
<p>These countries contribute only 1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and yet are among the first to experience the worst impacts of climate change.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agricultural production, fisheries, and related sectors</strong> are declining as the climate changes, threatening livelihoods and economic growth.</li>
<li>In addition, extreme weather spawned by climate change is destroying SIDS <strong>land, real estate and infrastructure,</strong> with economically catastrophic effects, highlighted UN Environment Programme in a report.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism</strong> forms the foundation of many SIDS economies, and climate change is impacting it. Tourists are being discouraged from travelling to SIDS in the fear of violent and life-threatening storms.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 2245,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Climate Change and Crop Production',
		'description' => '<p>According to a recent study, India&rsquo;s <strong>grain production is vulnerable to climate change</strong>, primarily because of the <strong>decline in yield of rice crop during extreme weather conditions.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers from Columbia University in the US studied the effects of climate on <strong>five major crops in India</strong>: finger millet, maize, pearl millet, sorghum, and rice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These five grains are essential for meeting India&rsquo;s nutritional needs.</li>
<li>These crops make up the vast majority of grain production during the June-to-September monsoon season with rice contributing three-quarters of the supply for the season.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can be noted that recently, the<strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-hunger-continues-to-rise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations' State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report 2018</a> </strong>said that climate change is already having a <strong>negative effect on global agriculture</strong> and is driving up the <strong>number of hungry people around the world.</strong></li>
<li>The study, however, found that<strong> the yields from grains</strong> such as millet, sorghum, and maize are <strong>more resilient to extreme weather.</strong></li>
<li>On the other hand, <strong>yields from rice</strong> experiences <strong>larger declines during extreme weather conditions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By relying more and more on rice, India&rsquo;s food supply is <strong>potentially vulnerable</strong> to the effects of varying climate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, expanding the area planted with alternative grains like finger millet, maize, pearl millet, sorghum can reduce variations in Indian grain production caused by extreme climate.</li>
<li>The study shows that <strong>diversifying the crops</strong> that a country grows can be an effective way to adapt its food-production systems to the growing influence of climate change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also offers benefits like <strong>improving nutrition</strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/alternative-cereals-can-save-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saving water</a>, reducing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Of late, there has been growing awareness about these alternative grains, often clubbed as <strong>&ldquo;Smart Food&rdquo;</strong>. Few important developments are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/2023-is-the-international-year-of-millets-fao" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India celebrated 2018 as the national year of millets</a>.</strong> Moreover, India's proposal to observe an <strong>International Year of Millets in 2023</strong> has been approved by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).</li>
<li><strong>ICRISAT</strong> which conducts research on six highly nutritious drought-tolerant crops, recently discovered important factors for<strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-resistant-chickpea-varieties" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heat and drought tolerance in chickpea</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 2178,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Air Pollution and Life Expectancy',
		'description' => '<p>An environment think tank <strong>Centre for Science and Environment</strong> in its report <strong>&ldquo;At the crossroad&rdquo;</strong> has said that <strong>Life expectancy in India has gone down by 2.6 years</strong> due to deadly diseases caused by air pollution.</p>
<p>The report is based on the study of three different organisations:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Global Burden of Disease Study 2017</li>
<li>WHO publication titled <strong>Air Pollution and Child Health</strong></li>
<li>The review papers by scientists from the Forum of International Respiratory Societies</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Air pollution is now the <strong>third highest</strong> cause of death among all health risks ranking just above smoking in India. This is a combined effect of outdoor particulate matter (PM 2.5), ozone and household air pollution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While exposure to outdoor <strong>particulate matter (PM)</strong> accounted for a loss of nearly one year and six months in life expectancy, exposure to household air pollution accounted for a loss of nearly one year and two months. <strong>Household air pollution contributes about a quarter of the outdoor air pollution in the country.</strong></li>
<li>Due to this combined exposure, South Asians, including Indians are dying early. Their life expectancy has reduced by over 2.6 years. This is much higher than the global tally of reduced life expectancy by an average of 20 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Air pollution can harm acutely as well as chronically, potentially affecting <strong>every organ in the body.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ultra-fine particles pass through lungs are taken up by <strong>cells and carried via the bloodstream</strong> to expose virtually all cells in the body. Air pollution may be damaging every organ and virtually every cell in the human body.</li>
<li>The research shows each and every body part, from heart and lung disease to diabetes and dementia, and from liver problems, brain, intelligence, abdominal organs, reproduction, and bladder cancer to brittle bones and damages skin.</li>
<li>Fertility, foetuses and children are also affected by toxic air.</li>
<li><strong>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)</strong> are responsible for the 49% of overall deaths due to air pollution, followed by lung cancer deaths (33%), diabetes and ischaemic heart disease (22% each) and stroke at (15%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Evidence of Health Risk</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This year has seen mounting evidence on the impact of air pollution on public health.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <strong>State of Global Air 2019</strong> estimates, over 1.2 million Indians died early due to exposure to unsafe air in 2017.</li>
<li><strong>Type 2 diabetes:</strong> this study has, for the first time, accounted for risks from type 2 diabetes linked to air pollution. This has serious implications for India where type 2 diabetes has taken an epidemic form.</li>
<li>Epidemiological studies in Asia, Europe and North America, supported by toxicology research, have provided strong evidence that exposure to ambient and household PM2.5 contributes to type 2 diabetes incidence and mortality.</li>
<li>Globally for type 2 diabetes deaths and <strong>disability-adjusted life years (DALYs),</strong> after high blood sugar and excess body weight.</li>
<li>Exposure to PM 2.5 pollution has contributed to 276,000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs from type 2 diabetes in 2017 worldwide.</li>
<li>Approximately 80% of Indians breathe air that is worse than the levels recommended by <strong>National Ambient Air Quality Standards,</strong> the entire population of the country lives in areas with PM2.5 concentrations above the WHO Air Quality Guideline of 10 &micro;g/m3.</li>
<li><strong>Premature death:</strong> India records the highest premature deaths of children under five years due to toxic air. Over 1 lakh children under the age of five fell victim to air pollution. In 2016, for almost every ten deaths in children under the age of five, one was due to air pollution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It quantifies the burden of disease from mortality and morbidity.</li>
<li>DALYs for a disease or health condition are calculated as the sum of the Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality in the population and the Years Lost due to Disability (YLD) for people living with the health condition or its consequences.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 1995,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'Policy Watch – India’s Wind Energy Potential',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hiw8j__cdcc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>As per a report by Fitch Solutions Macro Research, <strong>India is likely to install 54.7 GW of wind capacity by 2022 against the 60 GW target set by the government.</strong> It has also been found that the <strong>land acquisition issues and grid bottlenecks</strong> will lead to delays to project implementation in the wind sector.</p>
<p>The country has set an ambitious target of installing <strong>175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022,</strong> which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro-power.</p>
<h3>Wind Energy Potential of India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India was one of the early starters in wind energy compared to other nations especially developing nations. It is at the <strong>fourth position internationally</strong> in overall wind generation capacity.</li>
<li>India has <strong>potential of about 60 GW on wind</strong>. It is quite likely that it would go up substantially because over the time some of the old wind power stations that have very low capacity could be replaced with wind turbines which have higher capacity.</li>
<li>There is <strong>another unexplored area, which is in the oceans</strong>. Across the world, exploration from this area, is at nascent stage. India has a bit of problem because on eastern side it has a lot of cyclones which hit the coast. Probably, it can explore <strong>wind energy on the western side</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is a country having around 7,700 km long coastline and in all of its exclusive economic zones, it has enough opportunity to harness wind energy.</li>
<li>It is found by the National Institute for Wind Energy (based in Chennai) that western states have larger potential in terms of a stable, steady and a speedy windflow starting from <strong>Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh</strong>.</li>
<li>In offshore wind energy sector, the Government of India has already allocated Rs. 10,000 crores as the initial seed money from clean energy fund, which is basically collected from coal cess.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Policies Related to Wind Energy in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Initially, the Government had the National Wind Power Policy but subsequently both the onshore and offshore wind policies were developed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For offshore wind energy, India has a very vibrant policy which came up in October 2015, known as <strong>National Offshore Wind Energy Policy framework</strong>. The objective is to develop the offshore wind energy in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along the Indian coastline.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Solar-Wind Hybrid policy was issued in May 2018.</strong> The main objective of the policy is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid system for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land. The wind - solar PV hybrid systems will help in reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Problems in the Wind Energy Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>For the past three years, there has been a lull in the wind power sector.</strong> In 2016-17, India added around 5.5 GW; in 2017-18, it came down to 2 GW.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Initially, the growth in the wind energy sector picked up because of the incentives in generation, accelerated depreciation and taxation. <strong>The Government has gradually taken these incentives away.</strong></li>
<li>The lowest bidding price in solar energy is Rs 2.23 per unit whereas in the wind energy, it is about Rs 4.50. <strong>Investors find investment in solar energy sector more lucrative.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Policies related to wind energy being still in transition phase.</li>
<li>The Government of India came with framework with respect to auctioning in December 2017. There is a <strong>ceiling of tariff imposed on every auction</strong>. Winds being region specific, <strong>achieving the particular tariff rate becomes difficult</strong>.</li>
<li>General challenges with respect to distribution companies (discom risks), for instance, curtailment in power generation, delayed payments to energy producers etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in Harnessing Offshore Wind Energy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Offshore entails lot of data collection</strong> before one actually ventures into it. For instance, Germany before it started its first few projects, took eight years of time to collect the metocean data and the geological data.</li>
<li>For producing wind energy from offshore,<strong> a lot of investment is required</strong> in developing the support infrastructure.</li>
<li>Presently, Europe is the leader in offshore. The tariffs there is equivalent to what India&rsquo;s onshore tariff is. <strong>Europe&rsquo;s offshore wind energy was supported over the years by incentives. Such a support is missing in India.</strong></li>
<li>There is a concern that who would put money on offshore given the <strong>production of solar energy right now being so cheap and onshore wind sector itself not as developed</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to <strong>delink grid development with energy generation</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The Government of India needs to trust the market.</strong> It is the market which has led to low tariffs for solar as well as the wind , so imposition of ceiling leads to arbitrary curtailment of free flow of market mechanism.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has become prisoner to the proposition that prices or tariffs have to go only down. India&rsquo;s economic history shows that tariffs go up and down whether it is in real estate or in oil sector. In a competitive market situation when for any number of reasons, if price go up, government should learn to live with that.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India should first fully exploit onshore potential</strong> and it should also utilize next few years for creating all the data that any investor would require before investing in the offshore wind energy sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Firstlly, India needs to replace inefficient windmills at older sites with new windmills.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At each stage of harnessing energy from winds, <strong>India needs competitive private investment to drive the progress.</strong></li>
<li>There is a <strong>merit in developing solar and wind in a complementary manner</strong>. From grid security perspective, as compared to solar, wind is better in monsoon and night. Also, such a system will require a lower investment.</li>
<li>The way India has developed its solar energy sector, it needs to think on those lines for the wind energy sector as well.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>India is well on track in achieving its paris commitments. India rather should take a challenge of being among the top five countries in the world in getting rid of fossil fuels in the energy sector. Renewable energy is absolutely free and considering wind energy in particular, India has enough opportunity to capitalize untapped potentials both in the offshore and the onshore.</em></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 1991,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Two-metre Sea Level Rise 'Plausible' by 2100',
		'description' => '<p>According to new projections, global sea levels could rise by two metres (6.5 feet) and displace tens of millions of people by the end of the century. It is double than the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) benchmark estimates.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A group of the world's leading ice scientists have released expert judgement on the situation, drawing on their own experience and observations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They found it "plausible" that under the business-as-usual emissions scenario, sea-level rises could exceed two metres by 2100.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The vast ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica contain enough frozen water to lift the world's oceans dozens of metres. The expansion of water as oceans warm also contributes to sea level rise.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thermal expansion:</strong> which is well-quantified, is currently the primary contributor to sea level rise and is expected to be the primary contributor over the course of the next century.</li>
<li><strong>Glacial contributions:</strong> to sea-level rise are not less important rather it is more difficult to predict and quantify. Values for predicted sea level rise over the course of the next century typically range from 90 to 880 mm, with a central value of 480 mm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IPCC in its fifth assessment report:</strong> said that under current emissions trajectories would likely rise by up to one metre by 2100.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>That prediction has since been viewed as conservative, as the levels of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise year on year, and satellites showing accelerated rates of melt-off from massive ice sheets atop Antarctica and Greenland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequences:</strong> of a sea-level rise of this magnitude would clearly have profound consequences for humanity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Around 1.79 million square kilometres of land could be lost and up to 187 million people displaced. Many small island states, particularly those in the Pacific, will effectively be pretty much inhabitable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Efforts of Governments:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Paris climate deal, struck between nations in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) and encourages countries to work towards a 1.5 degrees Celsius cap.</li>
<li>IPCC released a landmark climate report that called for a drastic and immediate drawdown in coal, oil and gas consumption in order to arrest the rapid rise in the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 1947,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'In Depth – Biodiversity: Warning Bells',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E2ZXTJm-UJk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Relentless pursuit of economic growth coupled with climate change has brought an unprecedented one million species at the doorstep of extinction.</strong> This is the finding of a landmark <strong>UN report (known as the Global Assessment)</strong> on the damage done by modern civilisation to the natural world. The report compiled by 145 expert authors from 50 countries is based on the review of about 15,000 scientific and government sources. Also, <strong>the report is the first comprehensive look in 15 years at the state of planet&rsquo;s biodiversity</strong>.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Biodiversity</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to <strong>all the varieties of life that can be found on Earth</strong> (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) as well as to the <strong>communities that they form and the habitats in which they live</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>The Convention on Biological Diversity, Article 2:</strong> Biological Diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.</li>
<li>It can be understood at three levels:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Species diversity</strong> refers to the variety of different species (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) such as palm trees, elephants or bacteria.</li>
<li><strong>Genetic diversity</strong> corresponds to the variety of genes contained in plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. It occurs within a species as well as between species. For example, poodles, German shepherds and golden retrievers are all dogs, but they all look different.</li>
<li><strong>Ecosystem diversity</strong> refers to all the different habitats - or places - that exist, like tropical or temperate forests, hot and cold deserts, wetlands, rivers, mountains, coral reefs, etc. Each ecosystem corresponds to a series of complex relationships between biotic (living) components such as plants and animals and abiotic (non-living) components which include sunlight, air, water, minerals and nutrients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Findings from the UN Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>More than half a million species on land have insufficient habitat for long term survival</strong> and are likely to become extinct. An average of 25% of animals and plants are now threatened.</li>
<li>Global trends in insect population are not known but rapid decline in some locations have been documented.</li>
<li>Forests have been cleared at astonishing rates especially in tropical areas. Between 1980 and 2000, 100 million hectares of tropical forests were lost.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Urban areas have more than doubled since 1992.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Soils are being degraded</strong> as never before <strong>reducing the productivity of 23% of the land surface of the earth</strong>.</li>
<li>More than a third of the world&rsquo;s land surface and nearly 75% of world&rsquo;s freshwater resources are now devoted to crop or livestock production.</li>
<li><strong>Plastic pollution has increased ten folds since 1980</strong>. Every year, the world dumps 300-400 million tonnes of heavy metals, solvents and other wastes into the water.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Environmental Problems</h3>
<p><strong>Plastic Waste</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>About 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the sea every year. <strong>At this rate, world will face a future with more plastic in the ocean than fish by the year 2050.</strong></li>
<li>Plastic is manufactured from the elements and chemicals derived from petroleum substances which is the reason behind it producing toxic effects through various chemical reactions from the initial production to its use and finally as a trash.</li>
<li>It is severely dangerous for human beings and organisms. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Plastic waste not only affects a sea life but also the sea salt.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>More than 90% sea organisms are eating plastic in some form whereas in 1960s this figure was only 5%.</li>
<li>Plastic flows into seas from sewers, construction activities, fishing, shipping etc.</li>
<li><strong>Waste management is easy if at individual level, one resorts to 3Rs : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><em>Microplastics</em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Microplastics are <strong>small plastic pieces</strong> less than five millimeters long, which aquatic life and birds mistake for food.</li>
<li>Microplastic includes microbeads that are used in cosmetics and personal care products, industrial scrubbers which are used for aggressive blast cleaning, microfibers used in textiles and virgin resin pellets used in plastic manufacturing processes.</li>
<li>High level of microplastics are found in the Pacific, Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Climate Change</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Climate change is another environmental problem that has surfaced in the last couple of decades.</li>
<li>It happens due to the pollution of the atmosphere by greenhouse gases and other contaminants.</li>
<li>It <strong>affects</strong> the fundamental requirements for remaining healthy i.e. <strong>air, drinking water, food</strong> and <strong>shelter</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Global warming,</strong> that happens due to changes in climate, has observable effects on the environment such as shrinking glaciers, earlier break up of ice on rivers and lakes, increased droughts, extreme weather etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Deforestation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been estimated that around half of the world&rsquo;s mature forests have been cleared by humans.</li>
<li>Forests are an essential part of the global ecosystem and the biosphere. <strong>They help to regulate climate, protect soils from erosion and provide habitat to vast number of plants and animal species.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Land Degradation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a problem in virtually every terrestrial ecosystem that is reducing the welfare of more than three billion people.</li>
<li>A recent assessment has found that <strong>only a quarter of land on earth is substantively free of the impacts of human activities and this is projected to decline to just one-tenth by 2050</strong>.</li>
<li>The ongoing degradation has many impacts on species, the quality of habitats and the functioning of ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Overpopulation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one of the crucial current environment problems.</li>
<li>Population explosion in less developed and developing countries is <strong>draining the already scarce resources</strong>.</li>
<li>Recent analysis have revealed that even if the destruction of natural resources ends now, it would take 5-7 mn years for the natural world to recover.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Light Pollution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light, known as light pollution has serious environmental consequences for humans and wildlife.</strong></li>
<li>It washes the star light in the night sky, interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystem, has adverse health effects and wastes energy.</li>
<li>Excessive artificial light leads to <strong>adverse behavioural changes in insect and animal population</strong>. Artificial light confuses an animal&rsquo;s natural body cycle, thus also affecting its immune system.</li>
<li>Light pollution can be tackled by switching off the lights when and where ever necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of human activities on other species:</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Many scientists feel that the world is in the middle of a sixth major mass extinction, one caused solely by human beings.</strong></li>
<li>The Living Planet Report, 2018 has found that <strong>human activity has killed 60% of the earth&rsquo;s mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970</strong>. The earth has lost about half of its shallow water corals in the past 30 years.</li>
<li>Despite current laws, millions of exotic and wild birds are exploited, hunted and sold as part of a illegal wildlife trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Birds are one of the nature&rsquo;s best scavengers helping in eliminating waste and hazardous remains and reducing the spread of disease to humans and other animals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bees</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bees are the <strong>extraordinary creatures that exist in all types of climates around the world</strong>.</li>
<li>Bees, are in fact, <strong>keystone species with others dependent on them for survival</strong>.</li>
<li>Pollination not only makes food available for other organisms but also allows floral growth which provides habitat for animals.</li>
<li>As pollinators, bees also <strong>contribute billions to the world economy</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agricultural economies like India face high risk from the bee decline. Without them, India&rsquo;s food production will reduce by one-third as out of the 160 million hectares cropped area in India, some 55 million hectares depend on honey bees for pollination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For the past decade, there has been continuous drop in the worldwide bee population.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><em>Biodiversity needs to be considered as an equally important issue as the climate change. The decline in biodiversity is not just an environmental issue but also an economic, security, moral and ethical issue. The biggest challenge and opportunity lies in changing approach towards development. People need to shift to clean technologies for protecting the nature. Ultimately, the world needs to come together to make a global deal to save nature.</em></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 1889,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Pacific Decadal Oscillation',
		'description' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers from the <strong>Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Assam University</strong> set out to understand the drying phase in the northeast.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Northeast India, one of the wettest places on the Earth has been experiencing rapid drying, especially in the last 30 years. Some places which used to get as high as 3,000 mm of rain during the monsoon season have seen a drop of about 25-30%.</li>
<li>It is found that rainfall in the region is largely dependent on monsoon rainfall and the impact of <strong>Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO)</strong> clearly visible in the region in the form of deficit rainfall over the years.</li>
<li>Decreasing monsoon rainfall is associated with <strong>natural changes in the subtropical Pacific Ocean</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Pacific Decadal Oscillation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PDO is a long-term ocean fluctuation of the Pacific Ocean, which waxes and wanes approximately every 20 to 30 years.</li>
<li>Just like El Nino/La Nina in the tropical Pacific, PDO has a signature for a longer time (on the decadal scale) in the sea surface temperatures and its interaction with the atmosphere, which in turn affects the northeast Indian summer monsoon.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Comparison from ENSO</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Time scale:</strong> PDO is a pattern of Pacific climate variability similar to <strong>El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)</strong> in character, but which varies over a much longer time scale. The PDO can remain in the same phase for 20 to 30 years, while ENSO cycles typically only last 6 to 18 months.</li>
<li>The PDO, like ENSO, consists of a warm and cool phase which alters upper-level atmospheric winds.</li>
<li><strong>The implication of PDO Shifts:</strong> PDO phase can have significant implications for the global climate, <strong>affecting Pacific and Atlantic hurricane activity, droughts</strong> and <strong>flooding</strong> around the Pacific basin, the productivity of marine ecosystems, and global land temperature patterns.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on ENSO:</strong> PDO can intensify or diminish the impacts of ENSO according to its phase. <strong>If both ENSO and the PDO are in the same phase,</strong> it is believed that El Ni&ntilde;o/La Nina impacts may be magnified. Conversely, if ENSO and the PDO are out of phase, it has been proposed that they may offset one another, preventing "true" ENSO impacts from occurring.</li>
</ul>',
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