Current Affairs - Environment

The first major Atlantic hurricane of 2025 was named Erin. It reached peak intensity as a Category-5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h before being downgraded to Category-4 by the US National Hurricane Center. Positioned just north of the Caribbean Islands, Erin posed significant threats of heavy rainfall and severe weather across the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. As the initial major storm of the hurricane season, Erin underscores the critical importance of preparedness, monitoring, and early warnings in minimizing risks to human life and infrastructure in vulnerable coastal regions.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has partnered with IIT Guwahati to pioneer biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics. As part of this initiative, eco-friendly compostable bed-roll bags have been introduced on trains, replacing traditional plastic bags used for distributing linen. The material, developed at IIT Guwahati’s R&D facility, is fully biodegradable, compostable, and designed to meet operational standards while ensuring environmental safety. This collaboration demonstrates how academic research can provide practical solutions to environmental challenges, particularly in sensitive ecosystems like the Northeast. By reducing plastic waste, this initiative supports India’s mission to phase out single-use plastics and promote sustainable practices.

The United States has directed NASA to prepare for the early termination of OCO-2 and OCO-3, satellites designed to monitor atmospheric carbon dioxide and crop health. These satellites provide critical data on CO2 sources and sinks, seasonal and regional variations, and plant growth worldwide. By operating in polar and ISS orbits, OCO-2 and OCO-3 help track the impact of forests and other carbon sinks on climate systems, providing information essential for climate policy and mitigation strategies. The decision reflects the US’s role in leading Earth observation and climate research initiatives.

The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is a premier research institute dedicated to the study of plant fossils, earth history, and climate change. The recent MoU signed between BSIP and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) aims to combine scientific and cultural insights for broader public engagement. By integrating these two domains, the collaboration intends to showcase India’s diverse achievements globally. Lucknow’s role as the home of BSIP emphasises the city’s contribution to both scientific research and academic excellence in India.

The Equator Prize 2025, presented by the United Nations Development Programme through its Equator Initiative, recognised 10 community-led nature-based solutions by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The central theme for this year’s awards was “Nature for Climate Action,” emphasising the vital role that ecosystems and biodiversity play in mitigating climate change. Winners came from diverse countries including Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Tanzania. Each recipient was awarded USD 10,000 and will receive global recognition during significant international events such as the UN General Assembly and COP30 in Belém, Brazil.