Environment

Friday, January 6, 2023 9:49 AM

REVISE
a. India Green push - challenges, initiatives, Key conclusions
b. Conservation efforts
a. FCA amendment, WPA amendment
b. CC -
i. Challenges and solutions
ii. CoP 27 - key announcements, India initiatives
c. H-W conflict, land degradation, illegal WL trade, coasts - initiatives
d. BBNJ Treaty
c. EIA
d. Project Cheetah
e. Air pollution, Wetlands - initiatives
f. GM crops

STATISTICS

a. INDIA
a. Present scenario
i. Per capita emissions - 1.8 Co2e (1/3 of global average)
ii. Contribution to global cumulative emissions so far - 3% vs 50% (US, EU, UK)
iii. 4th - Climate risk index
b. Future estimates:
i. Yearly emissions in Gt of CO2e
2022-23 2070 2070
2.9 (3rd largest) 11.8 0.4 if $12 Tn invested in green initiatives by 2050
ii. India is likely to see world's biggest rise in energy demand this decade, with demand climbing 3 per cent annually - World energy outlook IEA

b. GLOBE
a. Present scenario
i. Emissions gap report 2022 - UNEP
Top 1% HH 17% emissions
Bottom 50% 12% emissions

ii. GHG rise from pre-industrial levels - WMO

CO2 150%
CH4 260%
N2O 125%

iii. 1.15 deg above 1850-1900 levels

iv. Already consumed 80% of carbon budget for 1.5 target by 2019
v. Oceans store 90% of accumulated heat from antho-GHG

b. Future estimates:
i. $ 4 Tn pa needs to be invested in RE up until 2030 to be able to reach net zero by 2050
ii. IPCC AR 6
1) Must become Net zero by 2050
2) Reduce GHG by 45% by 2030 for 1.5 target
3) Current efforts ~ 2 deg rise by 2100
iii. CC induced GDP loss by 2050 = 18%
iv. OECD - Total climate finance needed is $1 Tn PA by 2025, rising to $2.4 Tn PA in 2026-2030

INDIA'S GREEN PUSH - Laws (Energy conservation amendment act), missions (NGH2M), fiscal incentives (PLI) and market incentives (Carbon market)

1. National Green Hydrogen Mission

a. Green hydrogen is when hydrogen is produced via electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity generated from renewable sources like solar or wind
(Black - coal, Grey - NG, Blue - FF + CCS)
b. Mission objective:
i. To make India a Global Hub for production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives
ii. Rs 19744 Crore
iii. Two umbrella sub-missions under the programme
1) Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT) - fund the domestic manufacturing of electrolyser
2) Support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways
iv. Expected Mission Outcomes by 2030
1) Development of Green Hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMTPA
2) Over ₹1 L Cr reduction in fossil fuel imports
3) Renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW

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 3) Renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW
4) Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual GHG
c. Potential
i. Clean fuel -
1) Hydrogen fuel cell cars - lighter load
a) only byproduct is water, 3 times efficient than petrol
b) Hydrogen Fuel cells are better than EV
i) Encountering Chinese Hegemony in Rare Earth Mineral
ii)
Refuelling 5 min
Charging 30-45 min
2) Hydrogen IC engines
a) similar to normal IC engines
b) heavier load - Assist decarbonisation of construction vehicles and bulk TP
ii. Economy:
1) Potential saving of $3 Tn in Forex by 2070 (largely crude oil and coking coal) by moving to a RE based system - McKinsey estimate
2) Bio and plastic waste can be converted into hydrogen - combat twin problems of waste management and energy security.
3) Boost indigenous manufacturing while simultaneously reducing industrial emissions
iii. Climate action:
1) NDC - 45% reduction in emission intensity
2) RE that cannot be stored in grid can be channeled to produce it

d. Concerns at present:
i. Per kg production cost (2020, Council for Energy, Environment and Water)
Grey H2 Green H2
$1.7-2.3 $3.5 - 5.5
ii. 50 billion litres of demineralised water supply needed - balance mission objective and demand for water
iii. Infrastructural Issues:
i. Electrolyser mfg- import dependence for critical earth metal, platinum group of metals, nickel
ii. lack of fuelling station infrastructure ( < 500 operational hydrogen stations in the world today, mostly in Europe, Japan, SK)
iv. Safety
i. handling and TP since inflammable
ii. Difficulty in Detection - lacks smell

e. Supportive initiatives
i. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board approved 5% vol./vol. blending of green H2 with PNG (would be scaled phase wise to reach 20%)
ii. Delhi is the first Indian city to operate buses running on hydrogen spiked compressed natural gas (H-CNG)
iii. Budget 2023 - Battery Energy Storage System: Developing capacity of 4,000 MWH will be supported with VGF
iv. OIL commissioned India’s first 99.999% pure Green Hydrogen pilot plant (installed capacity of 10 kg per day) at its Jorhat Pump Station in Assam

2. BIO-FUELS

a. Renewable fuel derived from bio-mass

b. Evolution
i. 1st gen - produced directly from food crops
i. Bioethanol - fermentation of corn and sugarcane
ii. Biobutanol - fermentation of starch
iii. Biodiesel - transesterification of vegetable oils like soyabean or palm
ii. 2nd gen - from non-food matter like wood and food crop waste
i. Biohydrogen from pyrolysis
ii. Biogas from anaerobic decomposition of organic matter
iii. 3rd gen - specially engineered energy crops such as algae
iv. 4th gen - GE crops coupled with geo-sequestration of emissions
c. Target by National policy on Biofuels - 20% ethanol blending by 2025
d. Utilization via Flex fuel vehicles - IC engine capable of combusting blended petrol (20% - 85%)
i. Coal gasification -----> Methanol ----> DME ~ diesel
ii. Ethanol from bio-refineries and molasses
e. Advantages:
i. Economy:
i. CAD - saving $ 4 Bn by 20% blending
ii. Waste-to-wealth ---> farmer income
ii. Env:
i. Low carbon intensity than FF
ii. 80% reduction in GHG if diesel replaced by DME
iii. SWM
f. Constraints:
i. Supply side:
i. Ethanol - sugarcane water intensive, restriction on inter-state movement
ii. Consistent supply of blended fuels
iii. Food vs fuel
ii. Demand side:
i. High price - less ethanol price compared to petrol is pocketed by OMC
ii. Ethanol blend has lesser mileage
iii. Vehicle modification for E20 can further increase cost
g. Initiatives

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 g. Initiatives
i. VGF for biorefineries
ii. PM JIVAN - promoting 2G ethanol production
iii. E100 - to establish a pan-India ethanol production and distribution network
iv. Niti roadmap - 10% import substitution of crude by methanol by 2030
v. 20% DME blending notified by BIS
vi. MoRTH - pilot project on Flexi-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) - 100% petrol as well as 20 to 100% blended ethanol
vii. GST on ethanol meant for Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme from 18% to 5%

h. Way forward:
i. Focus on 2nd generation non-food crops
ii. Augmenting Infrastructure of OMCs for ethanol storage, handling, blending and dispensing

3. ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

a. PM at Global mobility summit - Mobility powered by clean energy is biggest weapon against CC
b. EV - an automobile which uses energy stored in rechargeable batteries as fuel
c. Statistics
Global $280 Bn (2022)------> $1 Tn (2026) - McKinsey
Most growth expected in China, EU, US
India > 13 L in use (2022)
a. 65% 3 wheeler
b. 30% 2 wheeler
c. 2.5% 4 wheeler
d. Benefits:
i. Economics
1) Reduce CAD - TP sector consumes 1/3 of total oil
2) Falling battery costs
3) Performance efficiency 3.5 times IC engines
4) Battery production will improve investments in Renewable energy generation
ii. Env:
1) Face of clean mobility - Road emissions = 20-30% PM 2.5
2) Achieve net zero
e. Challenges:
i. Economics
1) Import dependence - Co, Li (100%) needed 6 times more in EV compared to diesel cars
2) 70% Li-ion cells imported from China and Hong Kong
3) Comparatively higher EV cost
4) FAME promotion but still high import duty on foreign manufactured EVs
ii. Infra
1) Charging infra deficit
2) Large scale Battery mfg missing - capital, tech and skill intensive industry
iii. Safety - scooter fire in Palghar
iv. Env - Only emission shifting - electricity from coal TPP

f. Initiatives
i. Production of EV:
1) Faster manufacturing and adoption of EV (FAME):
a) By Ministry of Heavy Industries as part of National electric mobility mission plan
b) Aims to develop tech, create demand (incentivize purchases), set pilot projects and improve charging infra
2) PLI for auto and automotive components, PLI for advanced chemistry cells
3) 10k electric buses under PM e-bus Sewa scheme
4) KABIL - explore global reserves
5) National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage
ii. Incentivise Sale:
1) GST reduction from 12% to 5%
2) IT exemption on buying EV using vehicle loan
3) Battery swapping policy - reduce dependence on charging infra
4) Shoonya program by Niti ayog - promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles
5) Go electric campaign
iii. Disincentivise old FF run vehicles:
1) Green tax (as % of road tax)
a) On commercial vehicles (for goods and passengers) after 8 years
b) On private vehicles after 15 years
2) Vehicle scrappage policy
a) Commercial vehicles (for goods and passengers) after 15 years
b) Private vehicles after 20 years

g. Case study
i. E-rickshaw = most efficient 3 wheeler vehicle in WB
ii. China incentivised both producers, consumers of EV, alongside disincentivising sale of FF based vehicles

h. Way forward
i. Improve R&D
ii. Ensure passenger safety
iii. MoU with resource rich nations

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 iii. MoU with resource rich nations
Li Aus, Brazil, Chile
Co DRC, Madagascar, Cuba
Ni Aus, Brazil, Burundi

4. MISSION LiFE

a. India-led global mass movement @ CoP 26 which aims to nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment
b. Move from 'use-and-dispose' economy to a circular economy
c. Features
i. 5-year programme (2022-2027) to mobilise at least 1 billion people
ii. Within India, at least 80% of all villages and ULBs are aimed to become environment-friendly by 2028
iii. visualizing three core shifts in our collective approach towards sustainability
1) Change in demand - 75 lifestyle practices unveiled for simple yet effective env friendly actions
2) Change in supply - in accordance with 1)
3) Change in policy - to support sustainable consumption and production
iv. Niti ayog will incubate for 1st year, subsequent implementation by MoEFCC

d. Potential to deliver tangible benefits

i. If 1Bn out of 8 Bn population adopt env conscious lifestyle, GHG drop by 20% - UNEP
ii. Installing water-efficient fixtures (taps and showers) can reduce water consumption by 30-40%
iii. Nurture a global network of Pro Planet People
iv. Meeting INDCs

e. Cases:
i. Cuba
1) Food rationing and bicycles
2) Small scale gardening - local food needs less investment and is climate resilient
ii. Chandigarh draft cycling policy - 0.5 day leave for 7 day cycling
iii. French car maker Renault uses 33% recycled materials in all its cars in Europe

f. Related initiatives
i. Budget 2023
1) Amrit Dharohar - Promote local communities for optimal use of wetlands
2) Green Credit Programme - Will be notified under EPA to incentivise env sustainable actions by companies, individuals and local bodies
3) Circular economy - 500 New plants under GOBARdhan scheme
ii. Waste to wealth
1) GOBARdhan and SATAT schemes
a) converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas (CBG)
b) Asia's largest CBG plant in Sangrur, Punjab
2) Moorhen Yoga Mats @ Deepor Beel, Assam - Water Hyacinth woven into 100% biodegradable mats
iii. SBM
iv. #Giveitup campaign - to voluntarily give up LPG subsidy
v. Right to repair
vi. Urban agriculture (fresh food, food resilience, combat urban heat islands, organic waste management)

5. WAY FORWARD - towards successful energy transition

a. "Distributed Renewables" like small scale hydro, rooftop solar and biomass create most jobs per unit of installed capacity. This can help in smooth transition of coal rich
belts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh
b. Promote Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs): early retirement of high-emission infra
i. Reskilling and alternate employment in coal mining regions
ii. Low hanging fruits:
1) Solarise agri electricity demand
2) Electrify diesel-run MSMEs
3) Decentralised RE for HH cooking
iii. Being mindful of impact of energy transition on livelihoods - One-size-fits-all approach counterproductive
c. NGHM + EV + Biofuel
d. Wave and tidal energy - Scotland champion
e. CCUS (net zero, circular economy, can even boost oil production)

6. CONCLUSION
a. Balancing Green push with curbing Energy poverty
b. ‘equity and climate justice’ and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC)
c. Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Laurate) - A world of 3 zeros - 0 poverty, 0 hunger, 0 net carbon emissions

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

1. Forest conservation rules (2022)

a. to implement the provisions under Forest Conservation Act 1980 and replace forest conservation rules 2003
b. Mandate
i. FCA 1980 regulates extraction of forest resources — from timber and bamboo to coal and minerals — by industries as well as forest dwelling communities
ii. FC Rules 2003 - procedural framework to obtain prior approval from CG for using forest land for non-forest purposes as provided in 1980 act -
1) Diversion of forest land for a commercial or infrastructure project
2) De-reservation of land recognized as forest

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 2) De-reservation of land recognized as forest
3) Assignment of forest land to any private person by way of lease
c. Case - TN Godavarman case 1996 extended protection of FCA 1980 to areas meeting dictionary meaning of forest and not only the ones marked as 'forest' in
CG/SG records
d. Key Provisions
i. 'Preamble’ that underlines India’s commitment to preserving forests, biodiversity and tackling challenges from CC
ii. Amending name of act to Forest Conservation and Augmentation Act
iii. Application - lands notified in any government record as ‘forest’ on or after 1980
iv. Prior approval from CG in 2 stages:
1) ‘In- Principle’ approval, after considering recommendation of Advisory Committees constituted under these rules
2) ‘Final’ approval after having received compliance report and ensuring its completeness
v. Compensatory Afforestation allowed in states/UTs other than one in which forest land is being diverted, de-reserved or leased
vi. Exemptions
1) Forest land situated 100 km away from international borders and to be used for “strategic projects of national importance”
2) land ranging from 510 hectares for security and defence projects
e. Issues
i. On or after 1980 - against Godavarman judgement - 27% of total forests today are outside notified forest areas and face risk of losing legal protection - SC in
Ashok Kumar Sharma (retd. IFS) vs UoI directed govt to follow forests as defined in Godavarman case
ii. NCST - Contradicts with Forest Rights Act 2006
1) FRA requires govt to seek prior and informed consent of forest dwellers before allowing a project on their traditional lands. However FCA 2022 allows GS
consent after Stage 1 or even Stage 2 clearance
2) After approval, CG leaves it for SG to pass the final order
iii. Limitation of New plantation
1) cannot compensate for the loss of carbon stocks and other ecosystem services provided by old-growth forests in any realistic timeframe
2) Natural ecosystems sequester more carbon
3) IPCC - not degrading existing ecosystems in the first place will do more to lower CC impact than restoring destroyed ecosystems
iv. Ecological security key to national security
1) CG can exempt clearance for 'any other purpose'
2) amendment detrimental to high altitude deserts of Lahul and Spiti, Alpine forests of Uttarakhand, forests of northeastern regions
3) trigger extreme weather events
v. Forests in concurrent list - States interests

2. WPA 1972 AMENDMENT

a. Objective
i. Improve WL protection by making WPA CITES compliant
ii. Better management of protected areas (4) - NP, WS, conservation reserves, community reserves
b. Constitution - 48A, 51A (g), 42 CAA (protection of wild animals and plants, forests from List 2 to List 3)
c. Provisions
i. Reduced # schedules from 6 to 4 [I - highest protection, II - lesser protection, III - protected plants, IV - specimens under CITES schedules]
ii. Increased penalties
1) Max penalty for 'General violations' from 25k to 1L
2) Min fine for Specially protected animals from 10k to 25k
iii. Conservation reserves notified by CG/SG - smooth transit corridors for inter-park animal movements
iv. CG exclusive powers
1) Designate Management Authority - grant X/M permits for specimen trade
2) Regulate/prohibit trade/prohibit/proliferation of invasive alien species
v. Voluntary surrender of Captive animals
vi. Chief Wildlife warden to manage all State sanctuaries
d. Concerns
i. PSC (Head - Jairam Ramesh) objected to Sec 43 due to commercial trade apprehension - Allows elephant use for religious or any other purpose
ii. Does not address H-W Conflict, ESZ
iii. Conflict with FRA 2006 - locals ability to graze across pastures in Conservation areas impacted
iv. CG hold over Vermin declaration - Kerala request to declare Wild Boar turned down by MoEFCC

3. ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES
a. Basics
i. National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of MoEFCC - SG to declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of NP and WS as eco-fragile zones or Eco-
Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under EPA 1986
ii. 10-km rule is general principle which can be extended
iii. Prohibited activities - Commercial Mining, Commercial use of wood, Major HEP, pollution causing industries
iv. Permitted - RW harvesting, Organic farming, Renewables, agriculture
b. Importance
i. Buffer zones - shock absorber
ii. Transition zones - aid in-situ conservation
iii. Minimise Human-animal conflict and forest depletion
c. Recent SC ruling
i. Modifies previous judgement of minimum 1km ESZ around protected forests, NP and WS across India
ii. ESZs cannot be uniform across the country and need to be decided on a case-by-case basis
iii. Purpose of declaring ESZs is not to hamper the day-to-day activities of the citizens but to protect the environment and wildlife
iv. CG, SG should notify ESZs as per rec. of expert committees within 6 months. However, mining within the national parks/wildlife sanctuaries and within an area
of 1 km from their boundary shall not be permissible.
d. Challenges
i. CC induced damage - land, water and ecological stress
ii. Forest rights dilution in ESZ
iii. Increasing settlements around forests
iv. Impact of tourism beyond carrying capacity
e. Way forward

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 e. Way forward
i. Participatory planning - CG, SG to consult with locals, environmentalists and forest depts
ii. Consensus among states
iii. Eco-tourism, sustainable livelihood and green infra in ESZ
iv. Regular inspections, surveillance, and penalties for violators
v. K Kasturiranjan committee - 37% WG should be declared as ESZ

4. WETLANDS
a. Unique ecosystems with open, standing water and hydrophytic vegetation

b. Statistics
i. > 7L in India = 4.86% TGA
ii. Wetland International South Asia (WISA) Report
1) India lost 1/3 of its natural wetlands
2) Chennai 90%, Mumbai 70% lost
c. Significance
i. Carbon sinks - Peatlands 2X carbon compared to global forests
ii. Water sponges - shock absorbers for urban floods, tidal surges, delay droughts
iii. Kidneys of landscape - Cattails, reeds absorb As, Cd, Pb
iv. Natural GW recharge
v. Regulate local climatic conditions
vi. Livelihood and cultural value
d. Challenges
i. Concretisation of wetland area - encroachments, unplanned urbanisation
ii. Cultural Eutrophication - algae overgrowth, increase BOD, reduce DO
iii. Invasive species - water hyacinth, Salvinia
iv. Unsustainable harvesting of wetland resources - sand, fish
v. Unregulated tourism infrastructure
vi. Heat waves
vii. Lack proper rules implementation and poor community participation
e. Measures taken
i. Wetland Conservation and Management rules 2017 - prohibit Wetland conservation, set up Wetland conservation authorities
ii. Centre for Wetland conservation and management - to address research needs and knowledge gaps
iii. Wetland Rejuvenation initiative - involve Wetland Mitras
iv. Wetland Change Atlas 2022
v. Ramsar Convention - international treaty that provides framework for national action and international cooperation for conservation and 'wise use' of wetlands
vi. Montreux Record - sites where there has been or likely to be adverse ecological changes due to human activities
f. Cases
i. Arcata Wetland (California) - 6 marshes in line with appropriate algae for river purification
ii. Ramveer Tanwar - restored > 20 ponds around Noida
iii. Delhi Master Plan - Blue Green policy

5. Human-animal conflicts
a. Struggles that arise when the presence or behavior of wildlife poses actual or perceived direct, recurring threats to human interests or needs
b. Data (2019-21)
Elephants killed - ~300 Humans killed by elephants - ~ 1550
Tigers killed - ~300 Humans killed by tigers - ~ 125

c. Driving forces:
i. For humans
1) Population growth
2) Land use transformation - from forests and grasslands to agrarian areas and urban agglomerates
3) Eco-tourism - increased human presence in protected areas
ii. For animals
1) Species habitat loss and fragmentation
2) Growing livestock populations ----> overgrazing ----> decline in wild herbivore population (primary prey population impoverished)
3) Wildlife beyond carrying capacity of the ecosystem - Sundarbans
4) Irregular rains (CC) and sporadic events (forest fires)
d. Cases:
i. Elephant rampage in Wayanad
ii. Asiatic lion in mango plantations - proximity of Gir NP
e. Solutions:
i. Preventive
1) National H-W conflict mitigation strategy
2) State level monitoring committees
3) Wildlife corridors between protected areas

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 3) Wildlife corridors between protected areas
4) WPA - culling of vermin, prevent poaching
5) Barriers - economically viable and higher success rate at small scales
a) “bee-fences” under project RE-HAB by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for elephants
6) Reserved grazing grounds for livestock - prevent trips into deeper forest
7) Movement tracking - collars, cameras, pugmarks, drones
8) Guarding - shepherds and dogs with livestock
9) Waste management to restrict wildlife access to refuse
10) Relocation
ii. Mitigative
1) Just compensation systems - account for both economic and social costs
2) Livestock and crop insurance
3) Regulate hunting
4) Wildlife translocation
f. Suggestions - Standing Committee on Science, tech, env and CC
i. HAC Advisory Committee to be headed by the Chief Wildlife Warden

6. Illegal WL trade
a. Issues
i. Gaps in protection - ineffective CITES implementation
ii. Growing demand for Chinese medicine
iii. Highly profitable trade
iv. Porous borders with Nepal, Bangladesh
b. Impact
i. Reduced Carbon sequestration - timber
ii. Diminished role of Ecosystem engineers with unique functional traits - Pangolins control insect population
iii. Spread of Zoonotic diseases via Wet markets
iv. Proliferation of other illegal crimes from WL trade proceeds - FATF
c. Initiatives:
i. CITES - WPA made CITES compliant in 2022
ii. WL Crime Control Bureau
iii. Traffic - NGO = joint programme of WWF + IUCN

7. Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)

a. Refers to marine biodiversity found in areas beyond national jurisdiction (~ 60% of the world's oceans)
b. Not regulated by any legal framework aimed at conservation, making it vulnerable to over-exploitation and degradation
c. Importance of biodiversity conservation
i. Ecosystem services
ii. Economic benefits
iii. Medical advances
iv. Cultural, spiritual and aesthetic value
v. Endangered species - Dugong, Blue Whales etc.
d. Challenges of Biodiversity conservation
i. Evil quartet - habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, co-extinction, invasive alien species
ii. Climate change, Pollution
iii. Limited resources for individual nations
e. India's Approach to Biodiversity Management
i. Biodiversity Act 2002
ii. CRZ, EPA, WPA, FCA
iii. Projects for threatened species - Tiger, Elephant, Cheetah, Snow Leopard
f. UNCLOS
i. Ratified by 168 countries, including India, making it one of the most widely accepted treaties in the world
ii. Adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1994
iii. Recognizes the rights and responsibilities of coastal states in their respective maritime zones (including EEZ)
iv. Provided legal basis for CBD, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
g. BBNJ under UNCLOS - key features
i. Establishes Marine protected areas (MPAs)
ii. Focus on financing marine conservation - Global North (EU) have pledged money for delivery of the treaty
iii. Bringing new rules for mining at sea - Stringent EIA norms
iv. Arrangements for sharing marine genetic resources
v. A new group called Conference of Parties (CoP) will oversee and enforce compliance with treaty’s terms

h. Way forward - Equitable benefit sharing, capacity building, and transfer of marine technology

8. CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION
a. Project Cheetah 2009 - World's 1st inter-continental large carnivore translocation project - NTCA as Nodal agency
b. Extinction causes - Poaching, declared vermin by British, Easily tamed, unable to breed in captivity
c. Asiatic cheetah reasons - ancestor to others, substantial numbers, max genetic diversity
d. Kuno NP reasons
i. Habitat - open canopy type forest similar to grasslands
ii. Adequate prey base - Chital, cattle
iii. Devoid of human settlements
iv. Can sustain 21 Cheetahs as part of Sheopur-Shivpuri open forest (6800 km2)
e. Significance
i. Re-establish its functional role as top predator
ii. Contribute to global conservation efforts (<7000 adults globally)
iii. Habitat restoration and enhance carbon restoration
iv. Enhance livelihood prospects for locals - eco-tourism

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 iv. Enhance livelihood prospects for locals - eco-tourism
v. Model for future restoration projects - Translocation of Gir lions
vi. South-South cooperation - India-Africa
f. Concerns
i. Co-existence of large predators - leopards, tigers
ii. 9/20 deaths - heat stroke, renal failure, collar infection, infighting
iii. Authorities lack experience - experts of Namibia, South Africa consulted on a very limited basis
iv. Adaptation to Indian photoperiods
v. Kuno ~750km2 but Cheetahs need large territories
g. Steps
i. NTCA forms Cheetah Project Steering Committee (CPSC) to oversee project implementation for 2 years

CC

a. Significant changes in climate characteristics for a decade or more - World has now entered era of global boiling as per UN secy gen
b. Impact
Environment Humans:
i. Oceans i. Vulnerable nations - SIDS
a) Increasing SST - Intensity and frequency of disasters a) 39 in Caribbean, Pacific, South China Sea, IOR
b) Only 1% global emissions
c) LDCs suffer at least 8% loss of GDP every year
d) Fragile economies - hydro-meteorological hazards and
poor EWS
ii. Vulnerable sections
a) Internally displaced
i) 0.2 Bn by 2050 - WB
ii) 50% of them are indigenous communities
b) Refugees
i) life and asset loss (1.2 Bn by 2050)
ii) 80% of them are women
c) Children - 1 Bn at extreme risk - UNESCO

i. Sea level rise (0.2m since 1900)

b) Asphyxiation, algae bloom
c) AMOC weakening
d) Coral bleaching
ii. Cryosphere
a) Arctic amplification
b) Polar Greening - poleward shift of species
c) Glacial retreat - Hindu Kush region supports 35% global population
d) Permafrost thawing
iii. Biodiversity
a) Rate of adaptation << Rate of CC
b) Evil Quartet - Habitat loss and fragmentation, species overexploitation, Invasive
species, Co-extinction
c) Zoonotic diseases

c. Issues:
GLOBE Climate Justice a. North-South divide
b. Disproportionate burden on SIDS
c. CBAM - violates WTO law for discriminating between EU and foreign products
Climate Colonialism a. Conditional support for developing nations
b. Decarbonisation vs fast development
c. Scramble for REE, Critical minerals for EV, Green energy tech
Carbon Colonialism a. Profits from Carbon trade
b. Carbon leakage - companies relocate to countries with less stringent regulations to avoid the costs
associated with reducing their own emissions
Climate Finance a. $100 Bn pa an illusion (Best practise - Denmark commitment for loss and damage)
b. OECD - 2/3 of public climate financing was provided as loans, not grants/concessional lending. This
means that while poorer countries shell out money towards repayment and interest, the loan is still
counted as climate finance provided by the developed world
Climate targets a. Voluntary NDCs
b. Nationally determined targets - expectation vs reality
c. Business as usual approach of developed nations - disregard proportional responsibility
Coal a. Phase out vs phase down
b. Double standards by developed - Natural Gas good vs coal bad
Climate denialism a. By US itself
b. Aus - FF exploitation by Global North in absence of RE development hence no historic responsibility

INDIA Additional carbon sink of 2.5 - 3 BnT CO2 eq a. Challenges

through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 a. ISFR
1997 19%
2021 24%

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 2021 24%
2 decades for 5% increase , but now 9% in 7 years needed
b. Industry led growth - FF, Mfg
c. FSI estimate on carbon sink - all values in BnT CO2 eq
2015 29.38
2030 31.87 in business-as-usual approach without intervention
of fresh efforts
a. For base year 2005 - India's target will be met if 31.88 - 32.38 by 2030, practically making
our pledge for doing 'something more' redundant
b. Initiatives -
a. Green India Mission
b. CAMPA
c. CHALLENGING

Reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent a. India reduced emission intensity by 24% b/w 2005-2016
by 2030 from 2005 level b. KUSUM, Ujala, Railways net zero by 2030, 5 star rating
c. ACHIEVABLE

50% electricity from renewable sources by 2030 a. Challenges:

1. Central Elec authority report - 40% by 2030
2. Lack tech and resources - need $10 Tn to meet net zero
3. NSG
b. Initiatives - NSM, Solar-wind hybrid, OSOWOG
c. CHALLENGING

General challenges a. Adaptation to CC

1. Its effectiveness decreases with increased warming
2. maladaptation or poorly planned adaptation has short term repercussions
b. RBI Report 'Towards a greener cleaner India' - Duel objectives of 'developed by 2047' and reducing
emissions
1. former will increase GHG by 10X 2021 levels
2. Need to increase green energy share to 82% and reduce energy intensity by 5.4% annually
3. Net zero target will raise inflation for 3 years but is beneficial for long run
4. Risk in banking sector (esp. PSB)
a. due to shortening of productive life of fossil fuel based assets
b. Even non-conventional assets contribution to bank risk is increasing
c. Risk due to uncertain and stronger weather events
5. Assessing the level of Carbon tax compatible with India's growth trajectory

d. MITIGATION - making the impacts of climate change less severe by preventing or reducing GHG (more crucial than adaptation)

Net zero Germany 2045 India 2070

US, EU 2050
Rus, China 2060

Methane i. Methane alert and response system (MARS) by a. Harit Dhara

a. 17% of GHG but 30% of GW UN - alert nations
b. Specific point sources - easy ii. Global Methane Pledge (30% reduce by 2030 -
to control to curb CC atleast 0.2 deg C decrease between 2040-2070)
c. GWP = 25 times CO2
CCUS Norway Niti Ayog recommends National Decarbonisation Fund for
a. esp. for Heavy industries - industry transition
I&S, chemicals, cement
Fishing a. WTO - Prohibit subsidy to Illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing ~ 30% global catch
b. DETECT-IT & Marine protected areas
Vulnerable nations Loss and Damage Fund CDRI (IRIS)

e. ADAPTATION - process of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change
i. Mission LiFE
ii. Mission Innovation
i. @ CoP 15 Paris, 24 members including India and EU
ii. Increase public-private engagement in transformative technologies against CC
iii. India - NGHM, Zero emission shipping
iv. Integrated Bio-refineries mission
a) By India and Netherlands with Canada, Brazil as core and EU, UK as supporting members
b) target of replacing 10% of fossil-based fuels with bio-based alternatives by 2030
iii. Climate smart agriculture
iv. Coral restoration
i. Cryomesh technology for freezing and storing coral larvae which could eventually help rewild reefs threatened by climate change
ii. Bio rock technology
iii. Distribution in India

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 iii. Distribution in India

iv. Coral triangle - Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste = 75% global coral species

v. Effective disaster management

vi. Renewable Energy Federalism
i. States act as laboratories of policy innovation in energy transition - RJ, GJ in solar, MH, TN in Wind
ii. Success of national targets depends on how well they align with states' priorities
vii. Climate finance-
i. Importance:
i. Just transition
ii. Climate resilience
iii. Loss and damage
ii. Mechanisms:
i. International agreements - Green climate fund, Special CC fund, Adaptation Fund
ii. Loans/grants from MDBs
iii. Gov allocations
iv. Carbon pricing mechanisms
v. Private finance - green bonds, blue bonds, transition bonds
iii. Way forward - instead of EU pocketing it, diverting CBAM proceeds to Global South

9. DEGRADATION

a. Land degradation
i. Persistent reduction in productive capacity of soil to support BD and provide ecosystem services
ii. Statistics
TGA 29.3% (98 Mn Ha)
> 50% area under degradation in JH, RJ, GJ, Delhi

iii. Types - E S A P
Soil Erosion Loss of top cover of the soil
a. by the action of wind, water or gravity
b. By deforestation - Around 90% of deforestation in 2000-2018 from agriculture
Soil Salinization Saline and alkaline encrustations consisting of salts of sodium, potassium and magnesium appear on the top layer
a. Capillary action
b. Poor quality water
c. Excess fertiliser
Soil Acidification Excessive built-up of hydrogen or Aluminium cations in soil due to
a. long term rainfall
b. Acid deposition due to mining activities
Soil Pollution Presence of chemicals in soils which are either out of place or higher than normal concentrations

iv. Extreme form of land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions of the world is called as desertification
v. Impacts - Invasive species (prosopis Julifera), H-W Conflicts, poverty, migration, social instability
vi. Initiatives:
1) UNCCD
a) only legally binding international treaty which links environment and development to sustainable land management
b) CoP 15
i) Restore 1 Bn Ha by 2030
ii) Intergovernmental panel on droughts (66% India affected), forced migrations and women in land management
2) UN REED programme to build capacity of developing countries for REED+ of UNFCCC
3) India targets under UNCCD
a) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) status by 2030
b) Restore 26 Mn ha by 2030
4) MoEFCC - National REDD+
5) Afforestation - National mission for Green India, National Afforestation Programme, CAMPA, Agro-forestry, Halophytic species
6) Sustainable land use - PMKSY, PKVY, Soil HC
7) Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas by ISRO
vii. Cases:
1) Banni (Kachchh) - Grassland restoration
2) Familial forestry - 1 Mn trees in N.W RJ
3) Cuba - Tomato, onion, garlic are extreme weather resistant

b. Coasts
i. Significance

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 i. Significance
15% Population Blue economy - tourism, ports
Coastal ecology - mangroves, corals Minerals - Garnet, Monazite

ii. Key challenges

1) Sea level rose by 8.5 cm in IOR in last 50 years
2) Erosion hazard @ 34% coastline
3) Island submersion events
4) Extreme weather events
5) Dangerous marine litter
6) CAG report - large scale CRZ violations in the coastal stretches
a) MoEFCC hadn’t notified NCZMA as a permanent body - was being reconstituted every few years
b) Expert Appraisal Committees (EAC) absence during project deliberations
c) Projects approvals despite inadequacies in EIA reports
d) SCZMA not reconstituted in KT, reorganization delayed in Goa, OD and WB
e) District Level Committees (DLCs) not constitutes in Andhra, lacked locals participation in TN
iii. Initiatives
1) Mangrove Alliance for Climate (CoP 27)
2) Enhancing Coastal and Ocean Resource Efficiency (ENCORE) - WB aided
3) CRZ 1991 under EPA 1986
a) 4 zones
b) 2018 notification on recc. of Shailesh Nayak Committee:
i) Temporary tourism infra (toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water etc.) permitted in Beaches at minimum 10 m from High Tide line - now
permissible in the “No Development Zone” (NDZ) of the CRZ-III areas
ii) CRZ Clearances streamlined
One. CRZ 1,3 - MoEFCC approval
Two. CRZ 2,3 - SCZMA approval
iii) No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters for Islands close to the mainland coast and for all Backwater Islands in the mainland
iv) Defense and strategic projects are exempted from regulations
4) Global partnership on Marine litter
5) London Convention to safeguard oceans against human activities
6) MARPOL under IMO to prevent ship pollution

c. Water pollution
i. Law - Water (Prevention and control of pollution) act 1974 - created CPCB
ii. CPCB report on Polluted river stretches (PRS = BOD > 3 mg/l)
1) Decline in polluted Stretches - development of infra for sewage and industrial effluent management
2018 351
2022 311
2) Unchanged polluted stretches categorized in Priority I & II
3) # PRS - MH > MP
4) 57% locations were observed complying with BOD < 3.0 mg/L criteria

d. Air pollution
i. Statistics
1) 7 Mn premature death from air pollutants
2) 39/50 Indian cities in Global Air Quality Report
3) Average lifetime loss of 5.3 years in India - AQI Report of Chicago Univ
ii. Pollutants
CO, CO2 - FF O3 - NOx + VOC
SO2 - 70% from powerplants NH3 - Agriculture
NO2 - 80% from motor fuel exhaust PM2.5, PM10 - Fly ash (construction, roads)
CH4 - Agriculture, dumpsites, leaks
iii. Causes
1) Northern plains - industrial concentration
2) Winter air property - denser, pollutants not dispersed
3) Lack of sea breeze dispersal in Inland plains
4) PM levels - line sources (vehicles), point sources (PP, factories), area sources (dump yards, sewage treatment plants), natural sources (forest fires)
5) Household pollution - bio-mass fuels, open-fire cooking stove
6) Case of Mumbai
a) Delayed wind reversal towards sea - further amplified by calm air after monsoon retreat after Oct 10
b) Steep T gradient between city and nearby hills ---> air rushes from hills towards Mumbai, picking up dust from construction sites
c) Increased construction activity in past 3 years
d) Amplifiers - refineries, garbage heaps
iv. Effects
1) Animals
a) Respiratory ailments, eyes, digestive track, reproductive health
b) Children most vulnerable
c) 18% deaths in India (2019)
2) Plants
a) Stomata block, sapling growth
b) Crop yields reduce by 5-12%
3) Env - acid rain, GW, Ozone depletion
4) Economy

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 4) Economy
a) Absenteeism from work ---> further burnout and mental stress during overtime for lost time
b) Demand slump as people stay indoor
c) Reduced lifetime of IT equipment - SO2 quicken degradation of electronic circuitry
v. Measures
1) National Air monitoring Programme (NAMP) - National AQI under it by CPCB for 8 pollutants
2) NAAQS, SAFAR by MoES
3) Vehicles - BS-6, FAME, E-20 target, CNG, LPG
4) Industries - Coal based TPP scrubbers, ESP, Zig Zag tech in brick kilns
5) NCAP - 2019 by MoEFCC in 132 cities
a) 40% PM reduction target by 2026
b) PRANA portal for monitoring
c) Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan - cash rewards for cities
d) Challenges
i) Low # air quality monitors per Mn population
India 0.14
US 3.4
ii) Lack mech for inter-state coordination eg effect of PJ Parali in Delhi
iii) City project reports not in public domain
iv) <40 cities met targets in 2021-22
v) Underutilized funds
vi. Way forward
1) WHO 4 pillar Strategy - expand knowledge base, monitor and report, international coordination, institutional capacity building
2) Mumbai
a) Adopt Sensor based AQI monitoring units (Cost 50k) in addition to currently used Continuous ambient air quality monitoring systems (CAAQMS, cost -
1.3Cr)
b) Integration of AQI monitoring system with existing command and control system of admn - helps authorities to monitor pollutant spikes, identify and
punish violators
c) Est a Commission for Air Quality Management - coordinate efforts from different jurisdictions like Thane, Navi Mumbai etc.
d) Proactive engagement with domain experts, scientists and environmentalists
e) 'Emission study' to identify pollution bottlenecks like traffic jam stretches

ENV IMPACT ASSESSMENT

a. Notified under EPA 1996, to minimise adverse impact of dev projects

b. Process:
a. Screening - A, B1
b. Scoping - Terms of reference by an env consultant firm
c. Public consultation - now prepare Env Mgt Plan
d. Appraisal - SEAC, EAC appraise EMP and EIA reports
e. Decision by MoEFCC

c. Draft EIA 2020

a. Post facto clearance allowed
i. against NGT ruling which disallows post-facto approvals
ii. Env violations by projects will invite fines (only remedy) - govt seems to legitimise or regularise env violations
b. Public hearing
i. reduced from 45 to 40 days
ii. CG can declare 'strategic projects' - exempted from public consultation
iii. Recent amendments to EIA rules to allow exemption for the following:
1) Strategic and Defence Projects located 100 km from LoC
2) Thermal PP upto 15 MW based on biomass or non-hazardous municipal solid waste using auxiliary fuel such as coal up to 15%
3) Hydroelectric power generation (up to 25 MW)
4) Ports and Harbor catering to small fishermen and having low pollution
5) Airport - Expansion activities in existing airports related to terminal building expansion without increase in the airport’s existing area
c. Post implementation compliance reports every year (changed from every 6 months)
d. B2 exempted from env clearance
e. Other concerns - CAG report 2017
i. Non-accredited consultants
ii. Weak post implementation monitoring
iii. No quorum needed for public hearing
d. Way forward:
a. Needs a relook
b. A robust and effective EIA is sine-qua-non to balance eco growth with Env management

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