Environment and ecology
Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary
- The Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh has been declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
- Eco-Sensitive Zones are declared around protected areas by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Environmentally sensitive zones
- In India, conservation planning follows an ecosystem-based approach to protect representative habitats.
- Eco-sensitive zones extend up to 10 km from protected areas, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.
- While in India, until 2014, there were only 23 Eco-Sensitive Zones covering 25 protected areas, currently, 353 Eco-Sensitive Zone notifications have been issued covering 496 protected areas.
- Tamil Nadu has 69 Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).
Secondary Pollutants
- Context: A recent analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that secondary pollutants contribute nearly one-third of Delhi’s annual PM2.5 load.
- Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly.
- They form in the atmosphere when primary pollutants (gases) react under the influence of sunlight, humidity, temperature, and stagnant air.
- Major Secondary Pollutants are Ammonium sulphate, Ammonium nitrate, Sulphuric acid, Nitric acid.
India’s Clean Energy Achievements
- Global Ranking: India ranks 4th globally in total installed renewable capacity at 253.96 GW, with 23% year-on-year growth.
- Solar Capacity Growth: Increased by 34.98 GW to 132.85 GW (41% YoY growth).
- Wind Capacity Growth: Increased by 5.82 GW to 53.99 GW (12.5% YoY growth).
- Solar Capacity Growth: Increased by 34.98 GW to 132.85 GW (41% YoY growth).
- Wind Capacity Growth: Increased by 5.82 GW to 53.99 GW (12.5% YoY growth).
- China Dependence Reducing: Historically reliant on Chinese solar imports, India is now expanding domestic capacity.
