Companies in the cement, metals and mining industry report better quality data on environmental topics. This finding is part of a first-of-its-kind comprehensive study by Sculpt Partners of the state of sustainability reporting by the top 500 listed companies in India as of Financial Year 2021-22. Sculpt Partners had analysed multiple publicly available resources such as annual reports, websites, investor releases, and other filings on sustainability topics.
The Sculpt report also provides better visibility on sustainability topics that are better reported vis-a-vis others. Companies disclose richer information and metrics for sustainability topics such as Waste Management, GHG Emissions, Water Consumption and Energy Efficient Operations. Some of the industries which are lagging behind on these parameters include Healthcare Services, IT, Financial Services and Media Entertainment and Publication.
Beginning financial year 2022-23, the Business Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) guidelines introduced by SEBI makes it mandatory for the top 1000 listed companies in India (by market capitalisation) to publish sustainability reports and disclose vital ESG information as per BRSR standards.
"In order to align with the SEBI guidelines, we believe that most companies from the lagging sectors need to significantly improve their environment impact reporting practices. Board of Directors, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) of these companies need to step up and establish measurement mechanisms and narratives to report firm sustainability performance in a fair, transparent, accurate and intuitive manner," said Kumar Subramanian, Founding Partner and Managing Director, Sculpt Partners.
Sound environmental reporting practices are part of a robust governance structure to effectively oversee, manage and execute an organisation's sustainability agenda. In this context some of the key findings of the report are:
Less than 15 per cent of the Nifty 500 companies have a dedicated committee of the board to oversee enterprise sustainability agenda.
About 37 per cent report key sustainability risks based on the enterprise risk management framework.
Only 4 per cent report that their board evaluation framework captures sustainability topics.
Only six companies have appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) (or an equivalent key management role) to lead enterprise sustainability initiatives at the management level
Only 2 per cent report that key sustainability indicators are linked to management remuneration
Only three companies disclose exact percentage of remuneration linked with sustainability performance
Kumar Subramanian, Founding Partner and Managing Director, Sculpt Partners said: "The enterprise sustainability mandate has to be steered by the Board. They need to integrate the sustainability agenda with their firm strategy, goal-setting, risk management and management incentives. Boards also need to invest themselves in regular training on contemporary sustainability topics. Where appropriate, they should co-opt an advisory board to seek counsel on sustainability risks and opportunities material to the firm. The management of these companies has to sponsor, articulate and execute key sustainability initiatives within the firm and across their value chain. Robust collection, reporting and third-party verification of sustainability data provides the right foundation for a data-led sustainability strategy and practices, and provides transparency to investors on current performance and future commitments. "
The study also examined disclosure of sustainability information regarding key value chain constituents such as customers, suppliers and the government.
As per the study, most Nifty 500 companies fail to report material information on vital customer-related topics such as product safety and quality, product recalls, and practices regarding product labelling and consumer data protection.
Less than 10 per cent of companies (48 of 500) report indicators on data protection breaches and about 1 per cent (7 of 500) report product recall metrics.
On the supply-side, disclosure is largely limited to policies and initiatives on sustainable sourcing.
Allegations were received from Karanjagia, Singakhunta, Rangamatia and Hatikhulia areas in the district where many brick kilns have allegedly been operating illegally since many years. This in turn is polluting the environment, forests particularly.
As per reports, despite repeated complaints from locals and environmentalists, the local administration has turned a blind eye towards the clear and present ecological danger.
Puranjan Panda, a local resident, told OTV, “We have urged the Tehsildar many a times to close down these illegal kilns which are polluting the atmosphere. But nobody seems to be hearing us. No action has been taken so far and the kilns are operating with impunity.”
Kanhu Charan Behera, an environmentalist, said, “Residents of Soro and the adjoining places are facing many problems due to these illegal brick kilns. The air has become hotter and jungles have thinned over the years.”
Lawyer, Niranjan Jena said, “The Forest Department has completely failed in providing security to Forest land. This should be probed and the responsible persons should be tried as per law.”
It is pertinent to mention here that the United Nations General Assembly announced March 21 as the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.
While hearing an appeal filed by Durga Kisan of Lainga village in Sundargarh district alleging felling of trees on forest land on both sides of the NH-10 without necessary permission, the Kolkata bench of NGT served notices of Secretary of Environment Ministry, Secretary of the Forest department, PCCF Odisha, Roukela DFO and R&B Engineer of Sundargarh.
The NGT noted that the cutting of trees for expansion of the 162 km NH-10 connecting Sambalpur and Rourkela violates the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. It has posted the next hearing on the matter to April 25.
Shankar Prasad Pani, counsel, NGT, said, “Notices have been issued to all parties. Besides, the Forest dept of the Centre and the State were asked to submit action taken report and status report within three weeks.”
Meanwhile, Sanjeet Kumar, DFO, Rourkela, said, “So far, no tree on forest land has been felled for the expansion work. As per the Odisha government order, 2700 trees on non-forest land have been cut whereas 445 trees on the forest land have been left intact.”
Expressing concern over possible felling of 10,000 trees for the NH-10 expansion, environmentalist Ranjan Kumar Panda said, “The way heat wave is on, cutting of trees along the NH is a criminal activity.”
He added, “These days technology is available by which medium to big size plants can be replanted."
"BJP's Chandan Chaudhary, along with some purvanchali people, was preparing for the Chhath pooja on Sunday when another group of BJP supporters attacked and threatened him to leave Delhi," said Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) South Delhi Lok Sabha in-charge Raghav Chadha.
This is the second time Chandan Chaudhary was attacked by other workers of the BJP.
On October 31, two groups of BJP workers -- one led by Chaudhary and the other owing allegiance to BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri -- clashed at a 'Run for Unity' event in South Delhi.
The AAP National spokesperson said that it is unfortunate how BJP treats its own members only because they are Purvanchalis.
"If this is how they treat their own workers, imagine the condition of the common man from Purvanchal under the BJP rule," Chadha said.
He said the Bhartiya Janta Party is trying to divide the country in the name of provinces to win elections.
"When their strategies to divide the country in the name of religion and caste failed, they opted to play politics by dividing the society by discriminating against people based on their provinces," he said.
He said the BJP should not forget that it is because of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that it is in a majority.
"The company has partnered with Gem Enviro Management to set up infrastructure for collection and recycling of used PET plastic bottles in Delhi, in line with the plastic waste management rules," PepsiCo said in a statement.
The food and beverage company said it plans to collect and recycle used PET bottles equivalent to its products sold in the national capital.
"As a responsible leader in the food and beverage industry, we are continually working to reduce the impact of our packaging on the environment and increase recycling of plastic waste," PepsiCo India President and CEO Ahmed ElSheikh said.
"To this end, we have partnered with Gem Enviro to set up Reverse Vending Machines, collection points and collection centres for used PET bottles at several locations across the city. The programme will also provide training to waste pickers and ensure effective recycling of the used PET collected," he said.
PepsiCo is working on Performance with Purpose 2025 goal to design recoverable or recyclable packaging, and support increased recycling of plastic waste. It will pilot the first-ever 100 per cent compostable, plant-based packaging for its popular snacks -- Lay's and Kurkure this year.
"For our beverage business, we believe that non-returnable glass is an opportunity for the on-the-go consumption occasion, and we are planning to scale up this format."
On Friday, ElSheikh and Varun Beverages Ltd Founder Chairman Ravi Kant Jaipuria met Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan to express PepsiCo's commitment to support plastic waste management in the capital city.
According to the researchers, from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, modifications in the structure of a specific gene have a negative impact on individual's test performance.
"In this study, we were able to observe how individual differences in IQ test results are linked to both epigenetic changes and differences in brain activity which are underly environmental influences," said co-author Jakob Kaminski, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the varsity.
For the study, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, the research team compared the IQ test results of nearly 1,500 adolescents with epigenetic modifications.
The researhers focused on testing genes that are important in dopamine-based signal transmission, which plays an important role in the brain's reward system and is crucial in modulating a person's drive and motivation.
The team found a link between the epigenetic regulation of dopamine neurotransmission and an individual's IQ test performance.
Epigenetic modification resulted in the dopamine receptor gene being silenced: neurons carried fewer dopamine receptors, and signal transmission was reduced. In this current study, silencing of the gene was associated with lower IQ test results.
The team is hoping to conduct more in-depth studies to determine the extent of environmentally-induced neurobiological modifications, as well as the degree to which these modifications affect IQ test performance.
Amitabh on Tuesday shared the link of "Carbon" on Twitter and wrote: "A short film by Bhagnani Junior (Jackky). Pertinent and important! An important short film for the betterment of planet Earth."
Directed by Maitrey Bajpai and Ramiz Ilham Khan,"Carbon" is a science fiction short film on global warming. The movie also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Prachi Desai.
The movie is set in 2067, in an earth where Carbon is the gas in abundance and Oxygen is supplied by industries. Jackky plays a man with an artificial heart and Nawazuddin plays the role of a man from Mars.
The cine icon, 74, also lauded the short film "Karta Tu Dharta Tu", which is a tribute to the Mumbai Police. It is directed by Divyansh Pandit.
"A film full of Shraddha (reverence) for those, who we mostly forget". Mumbai police," Amitabh tweeted along with the link of the short film.
The impact of such communications extend out beyond our atmosphere, creating a bubble surrounding Earth, NASA's Van Allen Probes, which study electrons and ions in the near-Earth environment, have revealed.
A certain type of communications -- very low frequency, or VLF, radio communications -- were found to interact with particles in space, affecting how and where they move.
At times, these interactions can create a barrier around Earth against natural high energy particle radiation in space, showed the results of a study published in the journal Space Science Reviews.
"A number of experiments and observations have figured out that, under the right conditions, radio communications signals in the VLF frequency range can in fact affect the properties of the high-energy radiation environment around the Earth," said Phil Erickson, Assistant Director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Haystack Observatory, Westford, Massachusetts.
VLF signals are transmitted from ground stations at huge powers to communicate with submarines deep in the ocean.
While these waves are intended for communications below the surface, they also extend out beyond our atmosphere, shrouding Earth in a VLF bubble.
This bubble is even seen by spacecraft high above Earth's surface, such as NASA's Van Allen Probes.
The probes noticed an interesting coincidence ? the outward extent of the VLF bubble corresponds almost exactly to the inner edge of the Van Allen radiation belts, a layer of charged particles held in place by Earth's magnetic fields.
With further study, VLF transmissions may serve as a way to remove excess radiation from the near-Earth environment.
Plans are already underway to test VLF transmissions in the upper atmosphere to see if they could remove excess charged particles ? which can appear during periods of intense space weather, such as when the sun erupts with giant clouds of particles and energy, NASA said.
The researchers believe that the findings, published in the journal Current Biology could help devise a biotechnological solution to managing polyethylene waste.
"We have found that the larva of a common insect, Galleria mellonella, is able to biodegrade one of the toughest, most resilient, and most used plastics: polyethylene," said Federica Bertocchini of the Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology of Cantabria in Spain.
Although wax worms would not normally eat plastic, the researchers suspect that their ability is a byproduct of their natural habits.
Wax moths lay their eggs inside beehives. The worms hatch and grow on beeswax, which is composed of a highly diverse mixture of lipid compounds.
The researchers said the molecular details of wax biodegradation require further investigation, but it is likely that digesting beeswax and polyethylene involves breaking down similar types of chemical bonds.
"Wax is a polymer, a sort of 'natural plastic,' and has a chemical structure not dissimilar to polyethylene," Bertocchini said.
Bertocchini and her colleagues made the discovery quite by accident, after noticing that plastic bags containing wax worms quickly became riddled with holes.
Further study showed that the worms can do damage to a plastic bag in less than an hour.
"Such is the environment of fear in country now, that if you do not use Patanjali face wash, then you will be called anti-national," the former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) said.
Patanjali Ayrved is the Indian FMCG firm founded by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev.
He was addressing a gathering to launch 'Bihar Te Tihar', the Marathi version of his Hindi book, on the eve of the birth anniversary of dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar.
"Babasaheb Ambedkar had framed Constitution in such a manner that it has provided freedom to every member of society in many ways. But this freedom enshrined in the Constitution has not been delivered to large section of society," Kumar said.
He said that in the present scenario, various sections of society, "including the poor, dalits, women, tribals, backward classes, minorities, and even intellectuals live in fear."
Kumar said that recently 68 students of the Panjab University were booked for sedition for protesting against hike in fee.
"The present scenario in the country is such that if you demand reduction in fee, you will be labelled as anti-national," he added.
"Let us take a pledge to protect and preserve wildlife.Let us show zero-tolerance to illegal trade in wildlife and make a difference," Patnaik said at a function organised here on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
The state government is taking all possible steps to protect and preserve wildlife through a Wildlife Crime Control Cell which is functioning in Bhubaneswar, he said adding due to joint efforts of Wildlife Wing and CID, Crime Branch, illegal trade has been checked to a great extent.
Public awareness campaigns involving the local communities and voluntary organisations are being organised towards this end, he said.
Noting that the theme for this year's Environment Day is "Illegal Trade in Wildlife," the Chief minister said it has been chosen in order to generate awareness against mindless killing of wildlife and illegal trade of their body parts.
Stating that the world is dealing with unprecedented spike in illegal trade, threatening to overturn decades of conservation gains, Patnaik said "we share the earth with millions of different species of plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms."
Every part of the planet is connected directly or indirectly with our life. When species are lost, ecosystems cannot function properly and the lives of all associated partners, including human being, would be disturbed, he said.
The chief minister also congratulated 217 'Prakruti Mitra' and 205 'Prakruti Bandhu' awardees who are doing outstanding work in the field of environment protection and conservation.
"The government has decided to 'revisit' the categorisation system for classification of industries under red, orange and green categories," Environment minister Prakash Javadekar said while replying to a question.
He said that recently during a conference of environment ministers of States, it was resolved to adopt pollution criteria for categorisation of red, orange and green categories of industries and a committee be constituted with State representatives.
He said that in the 59th conference of chairmen and member secretaries of pollution control boards and pollution control committees held in Delhi on April 8 this year, it was agreed to constitute a committee to look into categorisation system of industries based on pollution potential.
Javadekar also said that accordingly a committee headed by the Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and comprising chairman state pollution control boards has been constituted.
"The categorisation will be done on the basis of composite score (100 marks) which may be assigned in accordance with suggested weightage," he said.
Earlier, Javadekar had said that the industrial sectors which will score more than 60 will be categorised as red, those scoring between 30-59 will be orange, 15-29 green and below 15 will be considered as white as they are environment friendly.
The Minister had said that his Ministry is also planning to do away with renewal or certification of industries on a yearly basis.
"We want to do away with every year renewal of the industries. We have suggested five years renewal for red category, ten years for orange and one time certification for green," he had said.
But the warmer water will hold less of the oxygen needed to fuel their bodies, similar to what happens at high altitudes, warns a new University of Washington (UW) study.
It's the combination of physical exertion and lack of oxygen at high altitudes that creates one of the biggest challenges for mountaineers.
Researchers said the same principle will apply to marine species under global warming.
"If your metabolism goes up, you need more food and you need more oxygen. This means that aquatic animals could become oxygen-starved in the warmer future, even if oxygen doesn't change," said lead study author Curtis Deutsch, a UW associate professor of oceanography.
"We know that oxygen levels in the ocean are going down now and will decrease more with climate warming," Deutsch added.
The study found that these changes will act together to push marine animals away from the equator.
About two thirds of the respiratory stress due to climate change is caused by warmer temperatures, while the rest is because warmer water holds less dissolved gases.
If current emissions continue, the near-surface ocean is projected to warm by several degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Seawater at that temperature would hold 5-10 percent less oxygen than it does now.
Viable habitats would shift away from the equator, displacing from 14 percent to 26 percent of the current ranges.
"The Atlantic Ocean is relatively well oxygenated. If there's oxygen restriction in the Atlantic Ocean marine habitat, then it should be everywhere," Deutsch said.
Climate models predict that the northern Pacific Ocean's relatively low oxygen levels will decline even further, making it the most vulnerable part of the ocean to habitat loss.
"For aquatic animals that are breathing water, warming temperatures create a real problem of limited oxygen supply versus elevated demand," said co-author Raymond Huey, a UW professor of biology.
"This simple metabolic index seems to correlate with the current distributions of marine organisms, and that means that it gives you the power to predict how range limits are going to shift with warming," he said.
The findings were published in the journal Science.
"Time is running short," Msuya wrote in a letter to UN member states.
"We are past pledging and politicking. We are past commitments with little accountability. What's at stake is life, and society, as the majority of us know it and enjoy it today."
Citing recent UN reports, Msuya stressed the urgency of addressing climate change and other pressing global challenges.
The call comes as heads of state and environment ministers from across the globe prepare to travel to Nairobi to participate in the world's highest-level environmental forum.
Negotiations at the UN Environment annual assembly are expected to tackle critical issues such as stopping food waste, promoting the decarbonization of economies, tackling the crisis of plastic pollution in oceans, among many other pressing challenges.
"It is time for us to truly give shape to the fundamental transformations that will be required to sustain human life -- transformations in our food systems, energy systems, waste systems, economic systems -- and indeed our value systems," Msuya wrote.
She outlined five key entry points for driving the transformative changes that the planet requires: circularity, a new deal for nature, cities, clean cooling and renewable energy.
"If we are able to drive systemic change across these areas, then we will contribute to lifting people out of poverty and building a safer, healthier and more equitable world. Because by protecting the planet -- as we have seen on so many occasions -- we are also protecting its people."
Seizing on the theme of the fourth UN Environment assembly, Msuya called attention to the many opportunities to be found in the shift to a more sustainable world.
"Some of the most important solutions to the climate crisis -- and to biodiversity loss, and to so many other challenges -- will come from innovation," she wrote.
"And we have proof that well-crafted policies can kick-start innovation and help to diffuse critical new technologies at a pace and on a scale that would have seemed impossible just a generation ago."
Msuya concluded the letter with a strong and direct appeal to UN member states, urging them to come to the environment assembly with courage and determination to fight for a sustainable future.
The UN Environment assembly is the world's highest-level environmental forum, attended by heads of state, environment ministers, CEOs of multinational companies, NGOs, environmental activists, and more, to discuss and make global commitments to environmental protection.
The NGT has directed State Pollution Board to take action against Visa Steel within two months and register a criminal case against it. "In view of the facts and circumstances, we direct the State PCB to talk stringent measures against the industry which may include order of closure. It shall assess environmental compensation against the damage caused to the soil and water as well as cost of restitution and remediation of the environment. In addition to this, criminal prosecution may also be instituted as prescribed under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974," the official order read.
As per allegations by the local farmers, the company released untreated water into canal which went to farmland and affected crops. Apart from that local residents also reportedly suffered from different diseases following which Kalinganagar Parivesh Surakshya Samiti lodged a complaint before the Pollution Control Board. However, after no action was taken, the committee and local residents filed a case before the NGT.
"Our crops are getting severely affected due to the polluted water released by the company. I am also suffering from skin problems as I spend most of the time in the farmland," said a farmer.
Speaking on the matter, complainant Ashwini Dhal, said "As per norms, there should be zero discharge from the factory, but polluted water is being constantly released which is affecting farming. Despite lodging complaint before pollution control board, no action was taken. So, we were forced to apprise the NGT."
Comments from Visa Steel could not be obtained.
With his immense love for nature and birds, Khamari has created a safe environment at Baradala village under Manamunda block of the district which has now become a centre of attraction for tourists and nature lovers.
Sources said that due to extensive poaching, there were only 300 herons in the area prior to Khamari's arrival. Khamari protested poaching of the birds and created awareness among the villagers about the safety of birds. Now thanks to his enthusiastic efforts, the population of grey herons has touched 5000.
Not only herons, Khamari is also continuously working for the safety of bats in Rasabiharipur.
“By profession I am a teacher, however, I love protecting environment and birds. I give my best efforts to achieve my goals," he said.
Apart from his appreciative efforts in saving birds which has earned him accolades from all quarters, Khamari has also received different awards including the Prakruti Bandhu Award from Odisha government for his dedication towards plantation and preservation of different plants.
“We are so proud that he received the Prakruti Bandhu award. In fact he is role model for others,” said Lalit Kumar Sahu, a local.
Karunakar Bhoi, district education officer of Boudh also hailed Khamari terming him a very hard working and dedicated teacher.
“He gives equal priority for gardening, teaching and keeping the environment of the school clean. He is a very dedicated person and it is because of him the Kundipadar UP School has become a model school in the district,” said Bhoi.
Carcasses of turtles washing up the shores have now become a regular feature and environmentalists allege that lack of stern action by the Forest department officials is putting the Olive Ridleys in danger.
"Due to lack of coordinated efforts by the Forest department and the Coast Guard in the form of intensified patrolling, fishing mafia is carrying out fishing activities even in the restricted zones," alleged environmentalist Hemant Kumar Rout.
Also Read: 9 Held For Fishing In Prohibited Zone Of Gahirmatha
The deaths are mainly because the turtles either get trapped in the nets or get crushed after hitting the mechanised fishing vessels during the mating season. It is pertinent to mention here that Gahimatha, which is world's most important nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, was declared a marine wildlife sanctuary in 1997. Every year, thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles migrate in huge numbers from the beginning of November for mating and nesting along the coast of Odisha.
"In order to save the Olive Ridleys, awareness at all levels is a must," said Atulya Bal, a local resident.
Though State government has undertaken several measures and is carrying out of massive awareness drives, such rules and regulations are not implemented properly on the ground. "Patrolling is being undertaken in and around the sanctuary to prevent the operation of fishing trawlers from November to March. So far, we have seized over 30 fishing trawlers," said Bikash Ranjan Das, Divisional Forest Officer.
Also Read: More Than 4 Lakh Olive Ridley Turtles Spotted At Gahirmatha Beach
"On #WorldEnvironmentDay, we reiterate our pledge to preserve our planet's rich biodiversity. Let us collectively do whatever possible to ensure the flora and fauna with whom we share the Earth thrive," he wrote on Twitter.
"May we leave an even better planet for the coming generations," he said.
Modi also shared a brief video of his latest "Mann ki Baat" programme in which he had referred to World Environment Day.
On #WorldEnvironmentDay, we reiterate our pledge to preserve our planet’s rich biodiversity. Let us collectively do whatever possible to ensure the flora and fauna with whom we share the Earth thrive. May we leave an even better planet for the coming generations. pic.twitter.com/nPBMthR1kr
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2020
"The theme this year is biodiversity...(it) is especially pertinent in the current circumstances. During lockdown in the last few weeks the pace of life may have slowed down a bit but it has also given us an opportunity to introspect upon the rich diversity of nature or biodiversity around us," he had said.
Much of the avian fauna had sort of disappeared due to sound and air pollution, and now after years people can once again listen to their melodic chirping in their homes, Modi had said.
He had also pitched for saving rainwater, saying the traditional conservation methods are in the form of very simple remedies, and employing these "we can tap the water".
He also urged people to plant trees and make resolutions so that a daily relationship with nature can be forged.
Temperature is on the rise, so do not forget to "facilitate water for the birds," he said.
President Ram Nath Kovind also went on Twitter to talk about the importance of greener planet for posterity. He said:
Greetings on #WorldEnvironmentDay that reminds us to appreciate inter-connectedness of all living beings. Our ancient wisdom taught us to protect biodiversity and conserve environment. We remain committed to join hands with other nations to ensure a greener planet for posterity.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 5, 2020
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu urged people to reaffirm the commitment for a sustainable planet on World Environment Day.
The Vice President pushed for the sustainable solutions, saying, "On World Environment Day, I call upon the people, governments & all other stakeholders to intensify their efforts for protecting nature and finding sustainable solutions in every sphere of life."
On World Environment Day, I call upon the people, governments & all other stakeholders to intensify their efforts for protecting nature and finding sustainable solutions in every sphere of life. #WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/QpxlLkmNLB
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) June 5, 2020
Keeping in view the ecological crisis that our planet faces today, we must enhance our efforts towards preserving biodiversity and restoring fragmented ecosystems, to not only fight climate crisis but also to ensure food security, water supply and safety of our people, said Naidu.
Let there be a new beginning on this World Environment Day. Together, we can secure the well-being of the people and the planet. #WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/nQFlaBYzfu
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) June 5, 2020
"Let there be a new beginning on this World Environment Day. Together, we can secure the well-being of the people and the planet," added.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also went on Twitter to talk about the significance of biodiversity and its impact on human health. He Tweeted:
Any loss of biodiversity has serious implications on human health including the spread of zoonotic diseases like #COVID19. On #WorldEnvironmentDay, let’s all pledge to nurture and nourish our nature and keep it healthy for future generations. pic.twitter.com/uPMHgUthhF
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 5, 2020
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Tweeted, "Clean energy contributes to building a sustainable future. This #WorldEnvironmentDay, let us renew our commitment to nurture the nature. Let us also vow to intensify our efforts to adopt a healthier mix of fuel to protect natural ecosystems and for a healthier and greener future."
Clean energy contributes to building a sustainable future. This #WorldEnvironmentDay, let us renew our commitment to nurture the nature. Let us also vow to intensify our efforts to adopt a healthier mix of fuel to protect natural ecosystems and for a healthier and greener future. pic.twitter.com/GIG06rSgjE
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 5, 2020
International acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand art to mark World Environment Day.
#WorldEnvironmentDay 2020.
Together we must act #ForNature . My SandArt at Puri beach in Odisha with message, it’s time for nature. Make the planet #Green . @UNEP pic.twitter.com/IC14foOR6l— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 5, 2020
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The study also identified solutions that could cut this volume by more than 80 per cent using available resources, if key decision-makers are willing to make system-wide changes.
The findings from the scientific analysis are captured in a report, 'Breaking the Plastic Wave: A Comprehensive Assessment of Pathways Towards Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution'. The research found that if no action is taken to address the projected growth in plastic production and consumption, the amount of plastic entering the ocean each year would grow from 11 million metric tons to 29 million metric tons over the next 20 years, equivalent to nearly 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of plastic on each metre of coastline worldwide.
Because plastic remains in the ocean for hundreds of years and may never truly biodegrade, the cumulative amount of plastic in the ocean by 2040 could reach 600 million tons -- equivalent in weight to more than 3 million blue whales. And Covid-19 has presented additional challenges in the fight to end ocean-bound plastic pollution, as single-use plastic consumption has increased during the pandemic, according to the International Solid Waste Association.
Although progress has been made in addressing the global plastic challenge, the report finds that current commitments by government and industry will reduce the amount of plastic flowing into the ocean only by 7 per cent by 2040.
"There's no single solution to ocean plastic pollution, but through rapid and concerted action we can break the plastic wave. As this report shows, we can invest in a future of reduced waste, better health outcomes, greater job creation, and a cleaner and more resilient environment for both people and nature," said Tom Dillon, Pew's vice president for environment.
The report identifies eight measures that together could reduce by 2040 about 80 per cent of the plastic pollution that flows into the ocean annually, using technology and solutions available today. Among them are reducing growth in plastic production and consumption, substituting some plastics with alternatives such as paper and compostable materials, designing products and packaging for recycling, expanding waste collection rates in middle- and low-income countries, increasing recycling, and reducing plastic waste exports.
While the system change scenario reduces annual ocean plastic pollution rates by more than 80 per cent, it will take an unprecedented level of activity and will still leave more than 5 million metric tons leaking into the ocean each year in 2040.
Fully eliminating the flow of ocean plastic pollution will require dramatically increasing innovation and investment, with significant technological advances, new business models, and a greater emphasis on research and development.
Results indicate that the plastic crisis is solvable. It took a generation to create this challenge; this report shows we can solve it in one generation, Martin Stuchtey, SYSTEMIQ's founder and managing partner concluded.
(IANS)
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"Satellites collect data all the time and don't require us to go out anywhere," said Hannah Kerner, an assistant research professor at the University of Maryland in the US.
Kerner is among eight researchers recently awarded a rapid-turnaround project grant, which supports investigators as they explore how Covid-19 lockdown measures are impacting the environment and how the environment can affect how the virus is spread.
The newest group of projects includes six that are looking to satellite images to help reveal how Covid-19 lockdown measures are impacting food security, fire ecology, urban surface heat, clouds and warming, air pollution and precipitation, water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
Two projects are exploring how the environment could be impacting how the virus is spread by monitoring dust and weather. NASA's Earth Science Division manages these projects that find new ways to use Earth-observing data to better understand regional-to-global environmental, economic, and societal impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic
(IANS)
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