environment

India State of Forest Report (ISFR), Key Findings and Concerns

Context: A satellite-imagery-based analysis by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Sustainability, suggested that India may have lost nearly 5.8 million full-grown trees in agricultural lands between 2019 and 2022. India State of...

Global Plastic Treaty, Need, Challenges and India’s Stand

Context: Recently the fourth round of negotiations of the Global Plastic Treaty was concluded. Global Plastic Treaty Overview The Global Plastics Treaty, supported by at least 175 United Nations member nations, aims to curtail the use of plastics through a...

Carbon Farming in India, Challenges, Global Initiatives

Context: Carbon farming offers climate solutions and economic benefits but faces challenges, especially in developing countries like India, where tailored strategies are needed for widespread adoption. Carbon Farming Carbon farming involves regenerative agricultural practices that aim to improve ecosystem health,...

Biomedical Waste Management, Types, Category, Challenges

Biomedical waste management refers to the proper handling, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of waste generated during healthcare activities. This type of waste, also known as medical waste or healthcare waste, poses potential hazards to human health and the environment...

National Clean Air Programme, Key Features and Significane

Context: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched by the Indian government aimed to reduce the concentration of particulate matter (PM) in the air by 20-30% reduction by 2024 from 2017 levels, but this target was later revised to 40%...

Dubai Flood, Factors and Climate Change Implications

The recent heavy rainfall event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly in Dubai, marked a significant departure from the region's typical arid climate. On April 15, 2024, a severe thunderstorm brought unprecedented levels of rainfall, causing widespread disruption and...

World Heritage Day 2024, Theme, Objective and Significance

World Heritage Day is celebrated on the 18th of April every year to promote the significance and preservation of entire heritage sites across the World.  This day is urged to celebrate all of the world's cultures on World Heritage Day,...

Aviation Emissions, Metrics, Historical Changes

Context: Despite being highly carbon-intensive, aviation contributes to only 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. Drivers of Change in Aviation Emissions The "Kaya identity" framework, which considers population, income, energy efficiency, and carbon intensity, is used to understand aviation emissions. Factors...

CAR -T Cell Therapy, Clinical Trial and Approval for NexCAR19

Context: In India, researchers collaborated to develop NexCAR19, an affordable CAR-T cell therapy. About Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy CAR T-cell therapy is a form of cancer treatment that modifies T cells, a critical component of the immune...

Microplastics, Types, Efforts to Combat Microplastics

Context: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have designed a sustainable hydrogel to remove microplastics from water. What is a Hydrogel? Hydrogels are three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymer networks that can retain a large amount of water while maintaining structure...