Environmental Issues

Master environmental issues and conservation for RRB exam preparation with comprehensive coverage of ecological challenges and solutions.

Climate Change

Global Warming

Overview

• Definition: Long-term heating of Earth’s climate system
• Causes: Human activities, greenhouse gas emissions
• Temperature Rise: 1.1°C increase since pre-industrial era
• Critical Threshold: 1.5°C limit (Paris Agreement)

Greenhouse Gases

• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): 76% of total emissions
• Methane (CH₄): 16% of total emissions
• Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): 6% of total emissions
• Fluorinated Gases: 2% of total emissions

Climate Change Effects

• Rising Sea Levels: 3.3mm per year rise
• Extreme Weather: Increased frequency of extreme events
• Melting Glaciers: Arctic ice loss at alarming rate
• Ocean Acidification: Increased CO₂ absorption by oceans

Climate Agreements

Paris Agreement (2015)

• Objective: Limit global warming to well below 2°C
• Target: Pursue efforts to limit to 1.5°C
• Nationally Determined Contributions: Country-specific climate goals
• Global Stocktake: Every 5 years assessment

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

• First Commitment: 2008-2012
• Second Commitment: 2013-2020
• Binding Targets: Emission reduction targets for developed countries
• Flexibility Mechanisms: Carbon trading, clean development mechanism

Air Pollution

Air Quality Issues

Types of Air Pollution

• Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10): Fine particles affecting health
• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): From vehicle emissions, industrial processes
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂): From burning fossil fuels
• Carbon Monoxide (CO): Incomplete combustion
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): From solvents, fuels

Health Impacts

• Respiratory Diseases: Asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer
• Cardiovascular Problems: Heart disease, stroke
• Premature Deaths: 7 million annual deaths globally
• Vulnerable Groups: Children, elderly, people with existing conditions

Air Quality Index (AQI)

• Good (0-50): Minimal impact
• Moderate (51-100): Acceptable for most people
• Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150): Minor effects
• Unhealthy (151-200): Everyone may experience effects
• Very Unhealthy (201-300): Health warnings
• Hazardous (301+): Emergency conditions

Air Pollution Control

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

• Launch Date: January 2019
• Target: 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 by 2024
• Coverage: 122 non-attainment cities
• Budget: ₹300 crore annual funding

Control Measures

• Vehicle Emission Standards: BS-VI norms implemented
• Industrial Emissions: Strict industrial pollution control
• Renewable Energy: Promotion of clean energy sources
• Afforestation: Tree plantation drives

Water Pollution

Water Quality Issues

Sources of Water Pollution

• Industrial Waste: Chemical discharge from factories
• Domestic Sewage: Untreated municipal waste
• Agricultural Runoff: Pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste
• Thermal Pollution: Hot water from power plants
• Marine Pollution: Oil spills, plastic waste

Water Quality Parameters

• pH Level: Ideal range 6.5-8.5
• Dissolved Oxygen: Minimum 5 mg/L for aquatic life
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand: Indicator of organic pollution
• Total Dissolved Solids: Measure of dissolved substances
• Coliform Bacteria: Indicator of fecal contamination

Major Water Bodies

• Ganga River: National River Conservation Programme
• Yamuna River: Highly polluted, major cleanup efforts
• Lakes: Urban lakes facing pollution challenges
• Coastal Waters: Marine pollution affecting coastal areas

Water Conservation

Jal Jeevan Mission

• Objective: Functional tap connection to every rural household
• Target: 100% rural household connectivity
• Investment: ₹3.60 lakh crore
• Current Status: 42% rural households covered

Conservation Measures

• Rainwater Harvesting: Capturing and storing rainwater
• Watershed Management: Integrated water resource management
• Efficient Irrigation: Drip irrigation, sprinkler systems
• Wastewater Treatment: Treating and reusing wastewater

Biodiversity Conservation

Biodiversity Loss

Current Status

• Species Extinction: 1 million species at risk of extinction
• Habitat Loss: 75% of land environment significantly altered
• Ocean Health: 66% of marine environment affected
• Forest Cover: 10 million hectares lost annually

Threats to Biodiversity

• Habitat Destruction: Urbanization, deforestation
• Climate Change: Changing ecosystems
• Pollution: Chemical, plastic, air pollution
• Overexploitation: Overfishing, overhunting
• Invasive Species: Non-native species displacement

Protected Areas

• National Parks: 104 national parks covering 40,500 km²
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: 553 sanctuaries covering 122,500 km²
• Biosphere Reserves: 18 biosphere reserves
• Tiger Reserves: 50 tiger reserves under Project Tiger

Conservation Initiatives

Project Tiger (1973)

• Objective: Tiger conservation
• Coverage: 50 tiger reserves
• Tiger Population: 2,967 tigers (2018 census)
• Achievement: Successful conservation model

Project Elephant (1992)

• Objective: Elephant conservation
• Elephant Reserves: 32 reserves
• Elephant Population: 27,312 elephants (2017 census)
• Habitat Protection: Corridor conservation

Biological Diversity Act (2002)

• Objective: Conservation of biological diversity
• Provisions: Biodiversity management committees
• Benefit Sharing: Equitable sharing of benefits
• Intellectual Property: Traditional knowledge protection

Waste Management

Solid Waste Management

Waste Generation

• Urban Waste: 62 million tonnes generated annually
• Per Capita: 0.5 kg per person per day
• Collection Efficiency: 80% in urban areas
• Treatment Capacity: Only 30% of waste treated

Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban

• Objective: Clean urban India
• Target: 100% scientific waste management
• Components: Household waste, public sanitation
• Achievement: 97% waste collection coverage

Waste Management Hierarchy

• Reduce: Minimize waste generation
• Reuse: Use materials multiple times
• Recycle: Convert waste to new materials
• Recover: Energy from waste
• Dispose: Safe disposal as last option

Plastic Pollution

Plastic Waste Issues

• Generation: 26,000 tonnes plastic waste daily
• Recycling Rate: Only 60% actually recycled
• Marine Pollution: 8 million tonnes enter oceans annually
• Single-Use Plastics: Major environmental concern

Ban on Single-Use Plastics

• Phase-out: Single-use plastics banned
• Alternatives: Promoting eco-friendly alternatives
• Awareness Campaigns: Public education programs
• Enforcement: Strict monitoring and penalties

Forest Conservation

Forest Cover

Forest Statistics

• Total Forest Cover: 712,249 km² (21.67% of geographical area)
• Dense Forest: 416,473 km² (12.68%)
• Open Forest: 295,776 km² (9.02%)
• Mangrove Cover: 4,975 km²

Forest Types

• Tropical Forests: Western Ghats, Northeast India
• Temperate Forests: Himalayan region
• Alpine Forests: High altitude areas
• Mangrove Forests: Coastal regions

Conservation Programs

National Afforestation Programme

• Objective: Afforestation and tree plantation
• Achievement: 28 lakh hectares afforested
• Community Participation: Involvement of local communities
• Funding: Central and state government funding

Joint Forest Management

• Community Involvement: Local communities in forest management
• Benefit Sharing: Economic benefits to communities
• Protection: Better forest protection
• Sustainability: Long-term forest management

Renewable Energy

Clean Energy Transition

Renewable Energy Capacity

• Total Capacity: 150 GW installed (as of 2023)
• Solar Power: 63 GW installed
• Wind Power: 42 GW installed
• Biomass: 11 GW installed
• Small Hydro: 5 GW installed

Solar Energy Initiatives

• International Solar Alliance: 121 member countries
• Solar Parks: 42 solar parks with 23 GW capacity
• Rooftop Solar: 8 GW installed capacity
• Solar Pumps: 2.5 lakh solar agricultural pumps

Wind Energy

• Leading States: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra
• Offshore Wind: 30 GW target by 2030
• Wind-Solar Hybrid: Combined renewable projects
• Green Energy Corridors: Transmission infrastructure

Environmental Laws and Policies

Key Legislation

Environment Protection Act (1986)

• Framework Law: Comprehensive environmental protection
• Central Authority: Central Pollution Control Board
• State Authorities: State Pollution Control Boards
• Regulatory Powers: Pollution control and prevention

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1981)

• Air Quality Standards: Standards for air pollutants
• Industrial Emissions: Control of industrial pollution
• Vehicle Emissions: Standards for vehicle pollution
• Monitoring: Regular air quality monitoring

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1974)

• Water Quality Standards: Standards for water quality
• Pollution Control: Prevention and control of water pollution
• Discharge Standards: Standards for wastewater discharge
• Monitoring: Water quality monitoring systems

International Commitments

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• Implementation: National action plans for SDGs

Convention on Biological Diversity

• Conservation: Biodiversity conservation
• Sustainable Use: Sustainable use of biological resources
• Benefit Sharing: Fair sharing of benefits
• Implementation: National biodiversity action plans

Practice Questions

Question 1

What is the target temperature rise limit set by the Paris Agreement?

Question 2

What is the full form of NCAP in air pollution control?

Question 3

How many national parks are there in India?

Question 4

What is the current tiger population in India as per 2018 census?

Question 5

What is the installed capacity of solar power in India?

Question 6

Which year was the Environment Protection Act enacted?

Question 7

What is the objective of Jal Jeevan Mission?

Question 8

What percentage of India’s geographical area is under forest cover?

Question 9

What is the amount of plastic waste generated daily in India?

Question 10

Which SDG focuses on climate action?

Important Facts

Environmental Statistics

• Air Quality: Delhi among world’s most polluted cities
• Water Availability: India has 4% of world’s water, 18% population
• Forest Cover: Increased by 3,976 km² in last decade
• Renewable Energy: 40% of power capacity from renewables
• Waste Management: 100% waste collection in major cities

Global Rankings

• Environmental Performance Index: India ranks 168 out of 180
• Climate Risk Index: 7th most affected country by climate change
• Biodiversity: One of 17 mega-diverse countries
• Carbon Emissions: 3rd largest CO₂ emitter globally

Conservation Success

• Project Tiger: Tiger population increased from 1,411 to 2,967
• Ganga Cleanup: Water quality improved at major locations
• Forest Cover: Net increase in forest and tree cover
• Renewable Energy: 4th largest renewable capacity globally

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