Current Affair Category: Environment & Ecology

The Renewables 2025 Global Status Report (GSR 2025) is the 20th edition of the world’s most comprehensive annual overview of the renewable energy sector. Published by REN21 (a global multi-stakeholder network), it serves as the benchmark for measuring global progress in the transition to a renewables-based economy. Key Findings & Statistics Top Performers: Brazil, China, […]

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach where the producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of its life cycle. It shifts the physical and financial burden of waste management from the government and taxpayers to the producers. The Triple Foundation of EPR: Polluter Pays Principle: […]

The Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) has been in the news recently primarily due to its status as one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world and ongoing legal and regulatory battles regarding its habitat protection. Why is it in the News? Discovery & Taxonomy: Until 2021, it was thought to be a subspecies […]

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere compared to CO2 (reference = 1) over a specific time period. What is GWP? Definition: It is a standardized scale used to compare the warming impact of different gases. Reference Point: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as […]

Microplastic Pollution: The Chennai Coast Case Study and Beyond Why in News? Recent research by V.O. Chidambaram College (Thoothukudi) on the Chennai coastline has highlighted a paradigm shift in environmental monitoring. The study warns that low abundance does not equate to low risk, specifically identifying nylon fibres as a high-risk pollutant even when found in […]

WHY IN NEWS? Official Submission: India officially submitted its First National Report (NR1) to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on February 27, 2026. Compliance: This fulfills India’s obligation under Article 29 of the Nagoya Protocol, which requires member nations to monitor and report on their progress. Strategic Alignment: The report documents […]

Why in the News? Record Arctic Winter: The Arctic is currently experiencing one of its worst winters on record in terms of ice stability and thickness. Accelerated Melting: New data from 2023–2025 (ESSD & IMBIE) reveals that the rate of ice loss in Greenland is 5 times higher and in Antarctica 25% higher than in […]

Why in the news? In early March 2026, a series of air strikes targeted major oil storage facilities and refineries in and around Tehran (including the Shahran and Aghdasieh depots). Beyond Military Damage: The strikes have been termed “environmental warfare” due to the massive release of toxic substances. The Smog Blanket: Burning crude oil and […]

Why in News ? The Air India group recently  announced a phased increase in fuel surcharges across its domestic and international network, citing a sharp rise in jet fuel prices driven by the conflict in West Asia. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF): ATF is a specialized petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft gas turbine engines (jet […]

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)  Why in News ? The government may expand the definition of “Electric Vehicles” to include HEVs and PHEVs.  Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): Also known as a Strong Hybrid, this is likely what the article is referring to when discussing “expanding the definition.” How it works: It uses both a petrol engine […]