FINANCING AGROCHEMICAL REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (FARM) PROGRAMME | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    • March 2024

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    Posted 15 Apr 2024

    22 min read

    FINANCING AGROCHEMICAL REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (FARM) PROGRAMME
    • Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) Programme launched. 
    • Key highlights of FARM
      • About: One of the first such concerted efforts on a global scale, is a $379 million initiative that will realign financial incentives to: 
        • Prevent the use of harmful inputs in food production.
        • Encourage the adoption of low and non-chemical alternatives.
      • Tenure: 5 Years 
      • It will support:
        • Government regulation to phase out Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) -containing agrochemicals and agri-plastics and adopt better management standards.
        • Strengthening banking, insurance and investment criteria to improve the availability of effective pest control, production alternatives and trade in sustainable produce.
      • Members: India, Ecuador, Kenya, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Uruguay and Vietnam.
      • Implementing Agencies: Led by UNEP and implemented by the ADB, UNDP, and UNIDO with execution carried out in-country by FAO.
    • Significance of FARM Initiative: 
      • Nearly 4 billion tons of pesticides and 12 billion kg of agricultural plastics are used every year which has a harmful impact on health and environment.
      • Highly hazardous pesticides and mismanaged agricultural plastics release toxic POPs (chemicals which do not break down in the environment and contaminate air, water, and food).
        • However, currently farmers have little incentive to adopt better practices as these chemicals are generally cheaper than sustainable alternatives.
    • Tags :
    • GEF
    • FARM initiative
    • pesticides

    CITY-SPECIFIC ZERO CARBON BUILDINGS ACTION PLAN (ZCBAP)
    • India's First City-Specific Zero Carbon Buildings Action Plan (ZCBAP) launched in Nagpur.
      • Zero carbon buildings are buildings that improve their lifecycle environmental performance through measures that reduce embodied, operational and end-of-life GHG emissions without compromising visual and thermal comforts.
    • Nagpur’s ZCBAP aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in all buildings by 2050, contributing to India's 'net zero by 2070' target.
      • ZCBAP in Nagpur has been developed jointly with implementing partners of Zero Carbon Building Accelerator (ZCBA) project. 
      • ZCBA project was launched by World Resources Institute (WRI) in 2021 along with its global partners. 
      • Nagpur is one of six global cities (other in Kenya, Costa Rica, Turkey, and Colombia) where ZCBA project is being implemented. 
    • Need for ZCBAP:
      • India’s building related Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions have more than doubled from 2000 to 2017. 
      • Over next 20-30 years, GHG emissions from India’s steel and cement industry are estimated to increase by nearly three and six times respectively. 
      • Brick kilns are another major source of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, Nitrous Oxide (NOx), and other particulate emissions.
    • Nagpur’s ZCBAP builds upon national policy frameworks and initiatives supporting building decarbonization, which include:
      • India’s Nationally Determined Contributions 
      • India’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy
      • Energy Conservation Building Code, 2017
      • Green Building Rating Systems such as Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) and 
      • Eco-Niwas Samhita 2018
    • Tags :
    • ZCBAP
    • ZCBA project
    • building decarbonization

    ETHANOL 100
    • Ethanol 100 fuel was launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
    • About Ethanol 100:
      • A cleaner and greener alternative to gasoline
      • It is a blend of 92 to 94 percent ethanol, 4 to 5 percent motor spirit to provide colour to flame and 1.5 percent Co-solvent higher saturated alcohol.
      • Significance: 
        • It produces lower emissions of greenhouse gases, a reduction by around 63% on well to wheel basis. 
        • Its high-octane rating makes it suitable for high-performance engines, ensuring enhanced efficiency and power output.
        • Significant reductions in foreign exchange savings.
    • Tags :
    • Green Fuels
    • Ethanol 100
    • Ethanol blending

    PLANETARY BOUNDARIES FRAMEWORK
    • The 2024 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement will be awarded to Johan Rockstrom for his work on the Planetary Boundaries framework. 
    • About Planetary Boundaries framework
      • First published in 2009, the Planetary Boundaries integrate nine systems that determine the functioning and the state of the planet. 
      • Nine planetary boundaries include Climate Change, Biosphere Integrity, Land-System Change, Freshwater Change, Biogeochemical Flows, Novel Entities, Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, Atmospheric Aerosol Loading, and Ocean Acidification. 
      • They provide life-support to humans and humanity is well outside of safe operating space on first six planetary boundaries. 
    • Tags :
    • Planetary Boundaries framework
    • Tyler Prize
    • Nine planetary boundaries

    REPRESENTATIVE CONCENTRATION PATHWAYS (RCPS)
    • RCPs have emerged as one of the latest approach to determine emission scenario.
    • About RCPs
      • RCPs describe four different 21st century pathways of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and atmospheric concentrations, air pollutant emissions, and land use.
      • Developed using Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) as input to a wide range of climate model simulations to project their consequences for climate system.
      • These climate projections, in turn, are used for impacts and adaptation assessment.
    • Tags :
    • RCPS
    • climate model simulations

    NATURE RESTORATION LAW (NRL)
    • European Parliament adopted NRL to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea.
    • NRL will restore degraded ecosystems in all member states, help achieve the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives, and enhance food security.
    • It is a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which calls for binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems.
    • Objective: Enable long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature.
    • Implementation: EU countries are expected to submit National Restoration Plans to the Commission within 2 years of the Regulation coming into force.
    • Tags :
    • Biodiversity
    • NRL
    • RESTORATION

    PYROLYSIS
    • Researchers finds that Bioenergy Trigeneration (BioTRIG) becomes technically feasible for pyrolysis.
    • Pyrolysis is a process of thermal decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. (“Pyro-“ means “fire” and “lysis-“ means “loosening” in Greek, roughly translating to loosening with fire.)
    • Pyrolysis can convert carbonaceous materials like waste biomass (crop residues, food waste and animal manure) into biochar and bio-oil and generate syngas. 
    • These pyrolysis products (bioenergy trigeneration) can help overcome three major challenges of rural communities in India - 
      • Biochar can improve soil quality.
      • Bio-oil can be used for electricity generation.
      • Syngas can be used as a clean efficient cooking fuel.
    • Tags :
    • PYROLYSIS
    • decomposition
    • bioenergy

    EARTH HOUR
    • Earth Hour” is set to be observed on March 23 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm (IST).
    • Earth Hour
      • Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-out event in Sydney, Australia in 2007.
      • It is a global event observed annually on the last Saturday of March. 
      • It is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
      • It is symbolic to raise awareness about climate change and promote energy conservation.
      • Beyond the hour, Earth Hour inspires people to take further action for a sustainable future.
    • Tags :
    • EARTH HOUR
    • WWF
    • sustainable

    ECOCIDE
    • Belgium has become the first country in Europe to recognize ‘ecocide’ as a national as well as an international crime.
    • Ecocide: 
      • It means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts. Ex: Deforestation, Ocean damage etc.
      • Term was invented by American Biologist Arthur Galston in 1970.
    • India is yet to make it an offense.
    • Tags :
    • ECOCIDE
    • Belgium
    • unlawful

    ORAN LAND
    • Communities, particularly those in western Rajasthan, are concerned about the state’s proposal to classify orans (sacred groves) as deemed forests.
      • As per the directives of Supreme Court, Oran, Dev-vans and Rundhs as forest lands will be given the status of deemed forest.
    • A sacred grove comprises patches of natural vegetation ranging from a few trees to several acres that are dedicated to local deities or tree spirits.
    • About Deemed Forest
      • The concept of deemed forests has not been clearly defined in any forest law.
      • In the Godavarman Thirumalpad (1996) case, SC brought in the concept of ‘deemed forests,’.
    • It means an area that wasn’t officially classified as forest by the government but looked like it.
    • Tags :
    • ORAN
    • Rundhs
    • ORAN LAND

    LIVING ANIMAL SPECIES (REPORTING AND REGISTRATION) RULES, 2024
    • Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024.
    • Rules were notified under Section 63 of Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972 for the purpose of Section 49M of the WPA, 1972.
      • Section 49 M provides for registration of possession, transfer, and birth and reporting of death of living scheduled animal species which are listed in Appendices of CITES or Schedule IV of WPA, 1972.
      • Section 49M was added through Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022.
    • Key highlights of Rules
      • Application for registration of possession: Mandatory electronic registration for any possession of any animal species within 6 months.
      • Reporting and registration of birth: Report birth of an offspring of animal species and apply for registration within a period of 7 days.
      • Reporting and registration of transfer within 15 days.
      • Maintenance of stock for people involved in captive breeding through regular health check-up of animals, inform any escape of the animal species, etc.
    • Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 and CITES
      • 2022 Amendment sought to implement CITES.
        • Schedule IV of the WPA includes specimen of Flora and Fauna listed under CITES.
      • It also provides for management authority to grants export or import permits for trade of species.
    • Tags :
    • WPA
    • CITES
    • Living Animal

    GOLDEN LANGUR
    • According to latest survey, there are around 7,396 Golden langurs in India.
    • About Golden langur
      • Protection Status: 
        • IUCN: Endangered
        • CITES: Appendix I
        • Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule-I
      • Characteristics:
        • Belong to a large group of Old World monkeys called the colobines (leaf-eating primates having a ruminant-like multi-chambered stomach).
        • Coat colour varies seasonally becoming cream colored in summer and dark golden in winter.
        • They are diurnal and arboreal in nature and live in troops (3-15).
      • Habitat: Endemic to subtropical and temperate broadleaf forests in Assam (Brahmaputra River Valley) and Bhutan.
    A close-up of a monkey Description automatically generated
    • Tags :
    • Endangered
    • langur

    MELANOCHLAMYS DROUPADI (M. DROUPADI)
    • Named after President of India, by Zoological Survey of India M. droupadi is a new marine species of head-shield sea slug discovered from West Bengal and Odisha coast. 
    • It shares habitat with Melanochlamys bengalensis which discovered in 2022, but differs morphologically. 
      • M. droupadi is smaller and has mottled brown to black colouration with a ruby red spot on the posterior shield. 
    • The sea slugs are rapid hunters. 
      • They feed upon mobile prey such as other shelled and unshelled sea slugs, roundworms, marine worms and small fishes.
    • Tags :
    • DROUPADI
    • MELANOCHLAMYS
    • slug

    STAR DUNES
    • Scientists unveiled the first in-depth study of Earth’s magnificent desert star dunes revealing the internal structure. 
      • The study focused on a star dune in Erg Chebbi (eastern Morocco) called Lala Lallia, meaning “highest sacred point”.
    • About Star Dunes
      • Formed in areas with complex wind regimes, which means winds blowing from different directions.
      • They make up just under 10% of the dunes in Earth’s deserts and are the tallest ones.
      • Earth's largest star dunes are found in the Badain Jaran desert (China).
      • They also have been spotted on Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan.
    • Tags :
    • STAR DUNES
    • desert

    RED MUD
    • Researchers from IIT Madras developed a method for treating bauxite residue (known as Red Mud) using phosphoric acid to extract valuable materials from it.
      • Some such materials like ceramic have dielectric and optical properties, with potential applications in electronic components and energy storage. 
    • Red Mud is a byproduct of aluminium production. 
      • It contains heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, vanadium and mercury. 
      • Its high alkalinity makes it extremely corrosive and damaging to soil and life forms.
    • Tags :
    • redmud
    • bauxite

    SEAMOUNTS
    • Researchers discovered four gigantic seamounts in the deep sea off the coast of Peru and Chile.
    • About Seamounts
      • A seamount is an underwater mountain with steep sides rising from the seafloor.
      • Most seamounts are remnants of extinct volcanoes and are typically cone shaped. 
        • Seamounts with large flat summits are called guyots.
      • Seamounts are found in every world ocean basin.
      • Seamounts function as oases of life or biological hotspots with higher species diversity and biomass on and around it. 
      • World’s highest seamount is Hawaii's dormant volcano Mauna Kea.
    • Tags :
    • SEAMOUNTS
    • underwater
    • mountain

    ANTHROPOCENE EPOCH (HUMAN EPOCH)
    • International Commission on Stratigraphy rejected proposal to declare the start of the Anthropocene Epoch in geologic time.
    • Anthropocene Epoch is an unofficial unit of geologic time. 
      • It describes the most recent period in Earth’s history when human activity started to have a significant impact on Earth’s climate and ecosystems, particularly since industrialization.
    • Current epoch is called the Holocene which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age.
      • Currently, on geological time scale, we are living in the Phanerozoic Eon, Cenozoic Era, Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch, and the Meghalayan Age.
    • Tags :
    • ANTHROPOCENE
    • HUMAN EPOCH
    • epoch

    SHINKUN LA PASS
    • Border Road Organisation has connected strategically important road from Manali (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) through Darcha and Nimmu on Kargil–Leh Highway.
    • Road is not only shorter, but crosses only one pass—Shinkun La (approx. 16,500 feet).
      • Shinku La Pass connects Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh with Zanskar Valley in Kargil, Ladakh.
    • This will result in road having all weather connectivity to Ladakh region.
    • Tags :
    • Shinku La tunnel
    • Lahaul
    • Spiti

    GREAT LAKES
    • North America’s Great Lakes have recorded significantly below-average ice cover for the second consecutive year in a row.
    • Great Lakes
      • Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario — form the largest fresh surface water system on Earth. 
      • Except for Lake Michigan, the lakes provide a natural border between Canada and United States.
      • Water in the Great Lakes flows from Lake Superior, via Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, into Lake Ontario, and into the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River. 
    A map of great lakes Description automatically generated
    • Tags :
    • GREAT LAKES
    • Huron
    • Michigan
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