Current Affairs - Environment

NITI Aayog organized a workshop on Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS) focusing on the Indian cement sector, which contributes 5.8% of the nation’s CO₂ emissions. The workshop emphasized decarbonization strategies and technologies crucial to achieving India's net-zero target by 2070. The cement sector plays a significant role in this goal, as CCUS can potentially reduce its emissions by 35%-45%.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of pangolin, named the Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indoburmanica), in Arunachal Pradesh. This species is genetically distinct from the Chinese and Indian pangolins and highlights the rich biodiversity of the region. The discovery, led by ZSI researcher Lenrik Konchok, reveals that the pangolin species dates back approximately 3.4 million years and displays a 3.8% genetic difference, further emphasizing its uniqueness within the pangolin family.

In 2024, global temperatures exceeded the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time, averaging 1.6°C, as reported by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. This marked a significant milestone in the ongoing climate crisis, with devastating impacts like wildfires, floods, and heatwaves affecting regions worldwide, including the U.S., Bolivia, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the urgent need for global climate action.

The crisis stems from unregulated soapstone mining in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district, which has led to land subsidence, landslides, and erosion. These issues threaten the stability of traditional Kumaoni structures, cultural landmarks like Kanda's Kalika Temple, and the regional ecosystem. The Uttarakhand High Court has intervened to investigate the matter, underscoring the severity of the issue.

Mount Ibu, located in North Maluku, Indonesia, erupted, sending a column of ash up to three kilometres into the atmosphere. Positioned in the West Halmahera regency, it is one of the country's most active volcanoes, recording 21,100 eruptions in 2023. This places Mount Ibu as the second most active volcano in Indonesia after Mount Merapi, emphasizing the region's significant volcanic activity.