Current Affairs - Environment

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India and the University of Calcutta discovered a new species of lynx spider named Hamataliwa mawlyngot in Meghalaya. The species was named after Mawlyngot village in the East Khasi Hills, where it was identified. This discovery is significant because it marks the first recorded presence of the genus Hamataliwa in Meghalaya, helping bridge a geographical distribution gap between Southern India, China, and Southeast Asia. The spider is small in size, inhabits tea plantation regions, and functions as an active predator. By feeding on pest populations, it serves as a natural biological control agent and contributes to maintaining ecological balance in agricultural landscapes.

The "35x35" global electrification target proposed by the COP31 co-presidency of Turkey and Australia aims to increase electricity’s share of global final energy demand from the current 20% to 35% by 2035. The initiative is supported by analyses from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and is intended to help countries align with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Greater electrification is considered essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating the transition to clean energy, improving energy efficiency, and supporting long-term global climate objectives.

Eighteen Namo Oxygen Parks were inaugurated across New Delhi on World Environment Day 2026 under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. The initiative was launched by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to improve urban air quality, increase green cover, enhance biodiversity, and provide recreational green spaces for citizens. The parks are designed to function as urban green lungs and support environmental sustainability. Alongside this initiative, the Delhi Government announced a target of planting 15 lakh trees and released important environmental planning documents to strengthen conservation and ecological governance in the national capital.

Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, popularly known as Surha Tal, became India’s 100th Ramsar Site on World Environment Day 2026. Located in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, the sanctuary is an ecologically significant wetland that supports a wide variety of migratory and resident bird species. Its recognition under the Ramsar Convention highlights its international importance for biodiversity conservation and sustainable wetland management. The sanctuary contributes to maintaining ecological balance by supporting aquatic life, regulating water systems, and providing breeding and feeding habitats for birds. This achievement also reflects India’s growing commitment to environmental conservation and wetland protection.

Amolops kamal is a newly discovered species of cascade-dwelling frog recorded by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on May 30, 2026. The species was found in the Kiphire district near Singrep village, located in Nagaland close to the India–Myanmar border. It belongs to the Amolops indoburmanensis species complex and the Amolops marmoratus species group. Molecular phylogenetic studies confirmed it as a distinct evolutionary lineage. The frog was named in honour of Kamal Choudhury, a mentor at B. Barooah College, Guwahati, and is commonly known as the Nagaland cascade frog.