Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 3, 2022
Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 3 (January 17 to 23) 2022.
Air Pollution
Delhi air quality remains in ‘very poor’ category with AQI at 314
The levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 138 in the ‘very poor’ and 212 in the ‘moderate’ category respectively.
Delhi among 3 global cities part of NASA’s air pollution challenge
NASA has invited individuals and teams to analyse a 5×5 km grid in the three cities, and the data gathered in this manner will be shared with the US embassy in Delhi and the Delhi government.
Water Security
Delhi: Yamuna water too toxic to treat for 134 days last year
The data from Wazirabad pond shows that ammonia levels stayed above 1 ppm for 16 days in January 2021, and for 27 days in February, 19 days in March and 13 days in April.
Delhi: Domestic sewage to blame for 80% of Yamuna river pollution
Domestically generated sewage is the main reason for the Yamuna’s pollution and contributes to more than 80% of the total effluents being discharged into the river, DPCC has said.
10 water bodies may be labelled Delhi’s first wetlands this March
The Delhi State Wetland Authority is expected to release a draft notification for each water body under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules of 2017.
Waste Management
Pvt firm told to clear waste from Aravalis
The MCG additional commissioner directed the private firm, to dispose the trash it had allegedly dumped in the surrounding villages in Aravalis.
Biodiversity Conservation
Centre to introduce guidelines on relocation of tigers soon
The National Tiger Conservation Authority in India will soon come out with guidelines for the reintroduction of tigers that can used by other Tiger Range Countries.
5 new tiger reserves likely in India this year
Five more sites are expected to be formally declared tiger reserves by the end of this year.
Climate Change
Sixth mass extinction event in progress, claims study; blames human activities
Earth is witnessing the sixth mass extinction event, a study has claimed. Led by University of Hawaii, the research blames human activities for the rapid deterioration of the number of species in the planet.
67% population under 18 years in India consider climate change global emergency: Report
In India, about 67 per cent of the population under the age of 18 years consider climate change a global emergency, compared to about 58 per cent of adults, according to a new UNDP report.
Sustainable Development
SC seeks govt. response on creation of ‘independent’ Indian Environment Service
The Supreme Court on Friday sought the government’s response on the creation of an independent Indian Environment Service in the “All India Service cadre”.
Centre to rank states on rapid green nods
The Union environment ministry plans to rank states, specifically state environment impact assessment authorities, on the speed with which they accord environmental clearances to development projects.
International News
Peru declares ‘environmental emergency’ on coastal area hit by oil spill
Government said it plans “sustainable management” of 21 beaches tarred by 6,000 barrels of oil that spilled from a tanker ship unloading at a refinery.
Tonga Struggles With Ash, Psychological Trauma After Eruption And Tsunami
The eruption was so powerful that space satellites captured not only huge clouds of ash but also an atmospheric shockwave that radiated out from the volcano at close to the speed of sound.
