Important topics for Environment for UPSC 2023
Topics for Environment
Types of Biodiversity
Conservation
> India added 10 Ramsar sites
- India has added 10 more Ramsar sites, or wetlands of international importance (taking the total number of such sites to 64)
- Many of the sites are already notified under the Union government’s Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 meaning development activities within the waterbody as well as within its zone of influence are regulated.
- Read more : Click Here
> NEW FOREST (CONSERVATION) RULES VS FOREST RIGHTS ACT
- The conflict between the government and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) over the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, seems to be escalating.
- The Gram Sabha’s approval
had significant persuasive power and could influence decisions to proceed with the diversion process.
However, the new Rules eroded Gram Sabha’s role. - Read More: Click Here
- The Union Environment Ministry notified the
Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, under the
Forest Conservation Act, 1980, thus replacing
the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2003. - NCST had raised concerns about the provision
in the new rules that proposes to do away with
the consent clause for the diversion of forest
land for other purposes and recommended putting
these rules on hold. - However, the government insisted that the rules
were framed under the Forest (Conservation)
Act, 1980 and that the NCST’s apprehension
of these rules being in violation of the Forest
Rights Act, 2006, is not legally admissible
> Stockholm Conference, 1972
- “Stockholm+50: A healthy planet for the prosperity of all — our responsibility, our opportunity” was held in the year 2022 to mark the 50 years of the Stockholm Conference (Report of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment).
- Read More: Click Here
- This was the first global convergence on the
planetary environment and natural resources. - Also termed the “Swedish Initiative”, the idea
of the Stockholm Conference was first proposed
by Sweden. - The theme was ‘Only One Earth’.
- Stockholm Declaration: To build the “interconnections
between development, poverty and
the environment”. - Action Plan for the Human Environment
- Global Environmental Assessment Programme
(watch plan) - Environmental management activities
- International measures to support assessment
and management activities
carried out at the national and international
levels.
- Countries agreed to not “harm each other’s environment
or the areas beyond national jurisdiction”. - An action plan to study the threat to Earth’s environment.
- Establishment of an international body called
the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to bring cooperation among countries.
- The Stockholm Conference of 1972 put environmental
issues on the global agenda for the first
time. - No country had an environment ministry until
1972. - Today, over 176 countries have environmental
framework laws; 150 countries
have enshrined environmental protection
or the right to a healthy environment
in their constitutions; and 164
countries have created cabinet-level
bodies responsible for environmental
protection. - After 1972, the environment started making
headlines and public consciousness increased. - Many of today’s conventions on environmental
crises trace their origin to the Stockholm Declaration.
> Carbon Neutrality
- Switzerland has supported a new climate bill aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050
- The text promises financial support $2.2 billion over a decade
- Promote the replacement of gas or oil heating systems with climate-friendly alternatives
- Push businesses towards green innovation.
> Conservation
Environmental Pollution, and degradation
> Methane mitigation policies
- According to a new study, only 13% of methane emissions are covered by global methane mitigation policies.
- Read More: Click Here
* EIA
> Amendment to the EIA Rules
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has notified amendment to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Rules
- Read more : Click Here
- Exempted highway projects of strategic and defence importance: Any project which is 100 km from the Line of Control, among other locations, will be exempted.
- Exemption to the thermal power plant: Thermal power plants up to 15 MW based on biomass or non-hazardous municipal solid waste exempted.
- Ports which exclusively deal in fish handling, exempted
- EIA is a tool use to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision making.
- Evolution of EIA
- 1970: EIA introduced by NEPA in USA
- 1976-77: In India, Planning commission asks for river valley project to be examined from environmental angle
- 1994: EIA notification promulgated under Environment(protection) Act, 1986.
- 2006: Onus of clearing projects now on state governments.
- 2020: EIA notification which gives More Discretionary power to Government
- Make all the stakeholders aware of the environmental and socio-economic impact of the project
- Facilitates a basis for policy decisions: EIA provides the impact assessment well before the project is implemented.
- Helps to eliminate or minimize the adverse impact of developmental projects
- EIA encourages the adaptation of mitigation strategies in the developmental plan
- Protects the biodiversity of the environment by suggesting alternative safe project designs and methods.
- Simplifies the technical issues: EIA produces an environmental management plan and summary for the non-tech general public.
> EIA notification 2020 and its impact
- Public Consultation: Reduced to max 40 days and only 20 days (from 30days) for submitting a response
- This will help speed up the process of EIA. However, it may give very little time for Tribal and forest dwellers
- More Discretionary power for Government: Power to declare ‘economically sensitive areas’ without a public hearing as well as give any project ‘strategic tag’ (so no EIA obligation)
- This is important for the clearance of strategic projects related to defence and national security as well as projects deemed too important for the nation.
- However, there is fear of misuse of this clause for political or economic reasons to circumvent EIA
- Post-Facto-project clearance:
- This will enable ease of doing business and reduce bureaucratic delays. But it is a violation of the fundamental principles of environmental jurisprudence and is contrary to both the precautionary principle as well as the need for sustainable development.
- An extended period of Environmental clearance: From 30years to 50 years
- However, it raises the risk of irreversible environmental, health, and social consequence.
- Baseline data: No need to cover all the seasons in a year.
- This may make EIA less reliable and not reveal the full impact of EIA
- Report Issues: reduced from once every six months to once every year.
- This will dilute the scrutiny and it may be late before any mitigation measures could be taken for highlighted project impact.
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Topics for Indian Constitution
- Basic Structure
- The Doctrine
- Provision
Basic Structure
> 50 years for Basic Structure Doctrine
- The landmark Kesavananda Bharati judgement, 1973 which propounded the
basic structure doctrine completed 50 years.
- The case dealt with a petition against the Kerala Government challenging the compulsory acquisition of his land by the government under the Kerala Land Reforms Act 1963, as a violation of Fundamental Rights
Tags: Indian Constitution, Basic Strcuture
State Legislature
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Tag:Environment, UPSC
