Friday, June 15, 2012
अखिल भारत हिन्दू महासभा: भारत के राष्ट्रपति के चुनाव में पाकिस्तान की परोक्...
अखिल भारत हिन्दू महासभा: भारत के राष्ट्रपति के चुनाव में पाकिस्तान की परोक्...: डॉ0 संतोष राय वर्तमान राष्ट्रपति के चुनाव को जब दूरदर्शिता के परिप्रेक्ष्य में देखा जाता है तो हमें पता चलता है कि हम...
Monday, June 11, 2012
Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?Biodiversity Links for more Information
This
part of the global issues web site attempts to highlight some of the
environmental issues and concerns that have an affect on all of us — from what
we do, to what we don’t do.
46
articles on “Environmental Issues” and 7 related issues:
Last
updated Sunday, March 04, 2012.
The variety of life on Earth, its
biological diversity, is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of
species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes
in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts,
rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.
Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to
recognize this as being integral to any approach. In some way or form, almost
all cultures have recognized the importance of nature and its biological
diversity for their societies and have therefore understood the need to
maintain it. Yet, power, greed and politics have affected the precarious
balance.
Fast-developing countries such as
India should offer up their domestic action plans as part of global efforts
when the world gathers for the UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December,
says Rajendra K. Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change.
India's priority is not simply reducing global emissions as quickly as possible but also accessing adaptation technologies to cope with the inevitable impacts of climate change, which will likely include rising sea levels, more frequent and intense cyclones and water scarcity.
Access will depend on partnerships between developing and developed countries, built on well-defined intellectual property rights.
And, under the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibility' as supported by India, the developed world must support technology transfer regardless of whether rapidly developing economies such as China or India themselves commit to reducing emissions.
India is unlikely to commit to emissions limits before 2020 but it can, and should, offer up its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) as part of a global package of commitments, suggests Pachauri. India will firmly reject having the NAPCC subjected to verification measures but might agree to annual international reporting, he adds.
In either case, unprecedented changes in Indian institutions will be needed to actually achieve the plan's ambitious goal of achieving sustainable development while dealing with climate change.
Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?
India's priority is not simply reducing global emissions as quickly as possible but also accessing adaptation technologies to cope with the inevitable impacts of climate change, which will likely include rising sea levels, more frequent and intense cyclones and water scarcity.
Access will depend on partnerships between developing and developed countries, built on well-defined intellectual property rights.
And, under the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibility' as supported by India, the developed world must support technology transfer regardless of whether rapidly developing economies such as China or India themselves commit to reducing emissions.
India is unlikely to commit to emissions limits before 2020 but it can, and should, offer up its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) as part of a global package of commitments, suggests Pachauri. India will firmly reject having the NAPCC subjected to verification measures but might agree to annual international reporting, he adds.
In either case, unprecedented changes in Indian institutions will be needed to actually achieve the plan's ambitious goal of achieving sustainable development while dealing with climate change.
Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?
Last
updated Wednesday, April 06, 2011.
Why is Biodiversity important? Does
it really matter if there aren’t so many species?
Biodiversity
boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have
an important role to play.
For
example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops;
greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms;
and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of
disasters.
And
so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in
wildlife.
Last
updated Wednesday, April 06, 2011.
It has long been feared that human
activity is causing massive extinctions. Despite increased efforts at
conservation, it has not been enough and biodiversity losses continue. The
costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high.
However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological
problems.
Last
updated Thursday, November 10, 2011.
Preserving species and their
habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves.
Yet,
the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other
challenges are making conservation a struggle.
Last
updated Sunday, March 04, 2012.
Rapid global warming can affect an
ecosystems chances to adapt naturally.
The
Arctic is very sensitive to climate change and already seeing lots of changes.
Ocean biodiversity is already being affected as are other parts of the
ecosystem.
Last
updated Sunday, January 16, 2011.
One type of ecosystem that perhaps
is neglected more than any other is perhaps also the richest in
biodiversity—the coral reefs.
Coral
reefs are useful to the environment and to people in a number of ways. However,
all around the world, much of the world’s marine biodiversity face threats from
human and activities as well as natural. It is feared that very soon, many
reefs could die off.
Last
updated Wednesday, April 06, 2011.
At the 1992 UN Conference on
Environment and Development (the Earth Summit), the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) was born. 192 countries, plus the EU, are now Parties to that
convention. In April 2002, the Parties to the Convention committed to
significantly reduce the loss of biodiversity loss by 2010.
Perhaps
predictably, that did not happen. Despite numerous successful conservations
measures supporting biodiversity, the 2010 biodiversity target has not been met
at the global level. This page provides an overview on how the attempts to
prevent biodiversity loss is progressing.
Last
updated Monday, March 19, 2001.
The
February 1999 Biodiversity Protocol meeting in Colombia broke down because USA,
not even a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to which the
protocol is meant to be part of, and five other countries of the "Miami
Group" felt that their business interests were threatened. The safety
concerns were unfortunately overridden by trade concerns. Some technological
advances, especially in genetically engineered food, have been very fast paced
and products are being pushed into the market place without having been proven
safe. All over the world, concerned citizens and governments have been trying to
take precautionary measures. However, 1999 was not a successful year in that
respect.
Last
updated Sunday, July 01, 2001.
A
Biosafety Protocol meeting was hosted in Montreal, Canada January 24 to January
28. Compared to the fiasco of the previous year, this time, there had been a somewhat
successful treaty to regulate the international transport and release of
genetically modified organisms to protect natural biological diversity.
However, there were a number of important and serious weaknesses too.
Last
updated Monday, October 04, 2010.
Vellore Citizen Welfare Forum v. Union of India & others the polluter principle as interpreted by the Supreme Court
PROTECION OF COAST LINE OF INDIA In Indian Council for
Enviro-Legal Action v Union of India the Supreme Court in regard to the 600 kms
long coast line emphasised that that it would be the duty and responsibility of
the coastal states and Union Territories in which the stretch exists, to see
that the notifications issued, declaring the coastal stretches should be
properly and duly implemented. Further the various restrictions on the setting
up and expansion of industries, operation or process, etc. in the regulation
Zone should be strictly enforced. In the same case the court enunciated the
principle further that the polluter pays. Once the activity carried on is
hazardous or inherently dangerous, the person carrying on such activity is
liable to make good the loss caused to any other person irrespective of the
fact whether he took reasonable care while carrying on his activity. Under this
principle it is not the role of the Government to meet the costs involved in
either prevention of such damage or in carrying out remedial action, because
the effect of this would be to shift the financial burden of the pollution
incident on the taxpayer. The responsibility of repairing the damage is that of
the offending industry. In Vellore Citizen Welfare Forum v. Union of India
& others the polluter principle as interpreted by the Supreme Court means
that the absolute liability for harm to the environment extends not only to
compensate the victims of pollution but also the cost of restoring the environmental
degradation. Remediation of the damaged environment is part of the process of
"Sustainable Development" and as such polluter is liable to pay the
cost to the individual sufferer as well as the cost of reversing the damaged
ecology. In Goa Foundation v Diksha Holdings Pvt. Ltd the court observed that
with a view to protect the ecological balance in the coastal areas,
notifications having been issued by the Central Government, there ought not to
be any violation and prohibited activities should not be allowed to come up
within the area declared as CRZ notification. The court also emphasised that no
activities which would ultimately lead to unscientific and unsustainable
development and ecological destruction should be allowed. POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
TO TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT • The Central Government,
shall have the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or
expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the
environment and preventing controlling and abating environmental pollution. •
Such measures may include measures with respect to all or any of the following
matters, namely: i. co-ordination of actions by the State Governments, officers
and other authorities- (a) under this Act, or the rules made thereunder, or (b)
under any other law for the time being in force which is relatable to the
objects of this Act; ii. planning and execution of a nation-wide programme for
the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution; iii. laying
down standards for the quality of environment in its various aspects; iv.
laying down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants
from various sources whatsoever: Provided that different standards for emission
or discharge may be laid down under this clause from different sources having
regard to the quality or composition of the emission or discharge of
environmental pollutants from such sources; v. restriction of areas in which
any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or
processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain
safeguards; vi. laying down procedures and safeguards for the prevention of
accidents which may cause environmental pollution and remedial measures for
such accidents; vii. laying down procedures and safeguards for the handling of
hazardous substances; viii. examination of such manufacturing processes,
materials and substances as are likely to cause environmental pollution; ix.
carrying out and sponsoring investigations and research relating to problems of
environmental pollution; x. inspection of any premises, plant, equipment,
machinery, manufacturing or other processes, materials or substances and
giving, by order, of such directions to such authorities, officers or persons
as it may consider necessary to take steps for the prevention, control and
abatement of environmental pollution; xi. establishment or recognition of
environmental laboratories and institutes to carry out the functions entrusted to
such environmental laboratories and institutes under this Act; xii. collection
and dissemination of information in respect of matters relating to
environmental pollution; xiii. preparation of manuals, codes or guides relating
to the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution; xiv. such
other matters as the Central Government deems necessary or expedient for the
purpose of securing the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
• The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to
do for the purpose of this Act, by order, published in the Official Gazette,
constitute an authority or authorities by such name or names as may be
specified in the order for the purpose of exercising and performing such of the
powers and functions (including the power to issue directions under section (5)
of the Central Government under this Act and for taking measures with respect
to such of the matters referred to in sub-section (2) as may be mentioned in
the order and subject to the supervision and control of the Central Government
and the provisions of such order, such authority or authorities may exercise
and powers or perform the functions or take the measures so mentioned in the
order as if such authority or authorities had been empowered by this Act to
exercise those powers or perform those functions or take such measures. As
considerable adverse environment impact has been caused due to degradation of
the environment with excessive soil erosion and water and air pollution due to
certain development activities therefore it is necessary to protect the
environment. This can be achieved only by careful assessment of a project
proposed to be located in any area, on the basis of an environment impact
assessment and environment management plan for the prevention, elimination or
mitigation of the adverse impacts, right from the inception stage of the
project The Central Government has passed certain notifications laying that the
expansion or modernisation of any existing industry or new projects listed
shall not be undertaken in any part of India, unless it gets environmental
clearance by the Central Government, or the State Government. PREVENTION
CONTROL AND ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION • No person carrying on any
industry, operation or process shall discharge or emit or permit to be
discharged or emitted any environmental pollutant in excess of such standards
as may be prescribed. • No person shall handle or cause to be handled any
hazardous substance except in accordance with such procedure and after
complying with such safe guards as may be prescribed. • Where the discharge of
any environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed standards occurs or is
apprehended to occur due to any accident or other unforeseen act or event, the
person responsible for such discharge and the person in charge of the place at
which the discharge occurs shall be bound to prevent or mitigate the
environmental pollution and shall also (a) intimate the fact of such occurrence
or apprehension of such occurrence; and (b) be bound, if called upon, to render
all assistance. • On receipt of such information, the authorities or agencies
shall cause such remedial measures to be taken as are necessary to prevent or
mitigate the environmental pollution. The expenses incurred by any authority or
agency may be recovered from the person concerned as arrears of land revenue or
of public demand. COGNIZANCE OF OFFENCES & BAR OF JURISDICTION OF CIVIL
COURTS • No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on
a complaint made by (a) the central Government or any authority or officer
authorised in this behalf by that Government; or (b) any person who has given
notice of not less that 60 days, of the alleged offence and his intention to
make a complaint, to the Central Government or the authority or officer
authorised. • No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or
proceeding in respect of anything done, action taken or order or direction
issued by the Central Government or any other authority or officer in pursuance
of the Act.
"Hazardous Substance" means any substance or preparation which, by reasons of its chemical
.
"Hazardous Substance" means any substance or preparation which, by
reasons of its chemical or physico-chemical properties or handling, is liable
to cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism,
property or environment. Environmental pollution means imbalance in
environment. The materials or substances when after mixing in air, water or
land alters their properties in such manner, that the very use of all or any of
the air water and land by man and any other living organism becomes lethal and
dangerous for health. POWERS OF THE SUPREME COURT The Act does not curtail the
powers of the Supreme Court. It has from time to time in various matters issued
directions and orders to control pollution. DIRECTIONS ISSUED TO CONTROL
VEHICULAR POLLUTION In Mehta v Union of India 1999 in order to control the
chaotic traffic conditions and vehicular pollution, the Supreme Court issued
the following directions. (a) All commercial/transport vehicles which are more
than 20 years old should be phased out and not permitted to ply in Delhi after
October 1998 (b) All such commercial /transport vehicles which are 17 to 19
years old (3200) shall not be permitted to ply in the National Capital
Territory, Delhi after 1998; (c) Such of the commercial /transport vehicles
which are 15 and 16 years old (4962) shall not be permitted to ply after December
31, 1998 The Supreme Court made this order applicable to all
commercial/transport vehicles whether registered in the National Capital
Territory of Delhi or outside (but ply in Delhi) which are of more than
stipulated age and which do not have any authority to ply in Delhi.
Man is both creator and molder of his environment, which gives him physical sustenance and affords him
The
Environment Protection Act provides for protection and improvement of
environment and for matters connected therewith. The United Nations conference
on human environment, held in Stockholm in June 1972, proclaimed that "
Man is both creator and molder of his environment, which gives him physical
sustenance and affords him the opportunity for intellectual, moral, social and
spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this
planet a stage has reached when through the rapid acceleration of science and
technology man has acquired the power to transform his environment in countless
ways and on unprecedented scale. Both aspects of man's environment, the natural
and man made are essential to his well being and to the enjoyment of basic
human rights even the right to life itself. "Environment" includes
water, air, and land and the interrelationship that exists among and between
water, air and land and human beings, other living creatures, plants,
micro-organism and property. "Environmental Pollutant" means any
solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such concentration as may be, or
tend to be injurious to environment
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