1.

Global Warming
Global Warming Definition
“Global warming is a gradual increase in the earth’s temperature generally
due to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide,
CFCs, and other pollutants.

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the temperature near
the Earth’s surface. This phenomenon has been observed over the past one or two
centuries. This change has disturbed the climatic pattern of the earth. However, the
concept of global warming is quite controversial but the scientists have provided
relevant data in support of the fact that the temperature of the Earth is rising
constantly.
There are several causes of global warming, which have a negative effect on
humans, plants and animals. These causes may be natural or might be the outcome
of human activities. In order to curb the issues, it is very important to understand
the negative impacts of global warming.
Let us have a detailed study of global warming, its causes, and its effects.

Causes of Global Warming

Following are the major causes of global warming:

Man-made Causes of Global Warming

Deforestation
Plants are the main source of oxygen. They take in carbon dioxide and release
oxygen thereby maintaining environmental balance. The forests are being depleted
for many domestic and commercial purposes. This has led to an environmental
imbalance, thereby giving rise to global warming.
Use of Vehicles
The use of vehicles even for a very short distance results into various gaseous
emissions. Vehicles burn fossil fuels which emit a large amount of carbon dioxide
and other toxins into the atmosphere resulting in a temperature increase.
Chlorofluorocarbon
With the excessive use of air conditioners and refrigerators, humans have been
adding CFCs into the environment which affects the atmospheric ozone layer. The
ozone layer protects the earth surface from the harmful ultraviolet rays emitted by
the sun. The CFCs has led to ozone layer depletion making way for the ultraviolet
rays, thereby increasing the temperature of the earth.
Industrial Development
With the advent of industrialization, the temperature of the earth has been
increasing rapidly. The harmful emissions from the factories add to the increasing
temperature of the earth.
In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change reported that the increase
in the global temperature between 1880 and 2012 has been 0.9 degrees Celsius.
The increase is 1.1 degrees Celsius when compared to the pre-industrial mean
temperature.
Agriculture
Various farming activities produce carbon dioxide and methane gas. These add to
the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increase the temperature of the earth.
Overpopulation
Increase in population means more people breathing. This leads to an increase in
the level of carbon dioxide, the primary gas causing global warming, in the
atmosphere.

Natural Causes of Global Warming

Volcanoes
Volcanoes are one of the largest natural contributors to global warming. The ash
and smoke emitted during volcanic eruptions goes out into the atmosphere and
affects the climate.
Water Vapour
Water vapour is a kind of greenhouse gas. Due to the increase in earth’s
temperature more water gets evaporated from the water bodies and stays in the
atmosphere adding to global warming.
Melting Permafrost
Permafrost is there where glaciers are present. It is a frozen soil that has
environmental gases trapped in it for several years. As the permafrost melts, it
releases the gases back into the atmosphere increasing the earth’s temperature.
Forest Blazes
Forest blazes or forest fires emit a large amount of carbon-containing smoke.
These gases are released into the atmosphere and increase the earth’s temperature
resulting in global warming.

Effects of Global Warming

Following are the major effects of global warming:

Rise in Temperature
Global warming has led to an incredible increase in earth’s temperature. Since
1880, the earth’s temperature has increased by ~ 1 degree. This has resulted in an
increase in the melting of glaciers, which have led to an increase in the sea level.
This could have devastating effects on coastal regions.

Threat to the Ecosystem

Global warming has affected the coral reefs that can lead to a loss of plant and
animal lives. Increase in global temperatures has made the fragility of coral reefs
even worse.

Climate Change
Global warming has led to a change in climatic conditions. There are droughts at
some places and floods at some. This climatic imbalance is the result of global
warming.

Spread of Diseases
Global warming leads to a change in the patterns of heat and humidity. This has
led to the movement of mosquitoes that carry and spread diseases.

Decrease in the Human Population

Due to an increase in floods, tsunamis and other natural calamities, the population
of humans tends to decrease. Also, the spread of diseases leads to a decrease in the
human population.

Loss of Natural Habitat

A global shift in the climate leads to the loss of habitats of several plants and
animals. In this case, the animals need to migrate from their natural habitat and
many of them even get extinct. This is yet another major impact of global warming
on biodiversity.

2. Costal Regulation Zone

Introduction
 The coastal areas of seas, bays, creeks, rivers, and backwaters which get
influenced by tides up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and the land
between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line have been declared
as coastal regulation zone (CRZ) in 1991.
 The coastal regulation zones have been declared by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate change under the Environment Protection
Act 1986.
 While the CRZ Rules are made by the Union environment ministry,
implementation is to be ensured by state governments through their Coastal
Zone Management Authorities.
HTL and LTL

 High Tide Line: HTL means the line on the land up to which the highest
water line reaches during the spring tide.
 Low Tide Line: Similarly, it means the line on the land up to which the
lowest water line reaches during the spring tide.
 Spring tides: The position of both the sun and the moon in relation to the
earth has direct bearing on tide height. When the sun, the moon and the earth
are in a straight line, the height of the tide will be higher. These are called
spring tides and they occur twice a month, one on full moon period and
another during new moon period.
Importance of Regulation of Coastal Zones
 Protection of ecologically Sensitive Areas like mangroves, coral reefs
which act as a shield against tsunami and cyclone
 Improving the lives of coastal communities like fishing communities
 Resilient measures for mitigating impacts of Climate Change and high-
intensity Cyclones
 To balance development with conservation of the coastal environment
Timeline of CRZ regulations
 In India, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules govern human and
industrial activity close to the coastline, in order to protect the fragile
ecosystems near the sea.
 They restrict certain kinds of activities — like large constructions, setting
up of new industries, storage or disposal of hazardous material, mining,
reclamation and bunding — within a certain distance from the coastline.
 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was first issued in 1991 by
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 with the mandate to take
measures to protect and conserve our coastal environment.

o Shortcomings of CRZ 1991:

 Uniform regulations for the entire Indian coastline without

taking into account the diversity in terms of biodiversity,
demographic patterns, natural resources, etc.
 Laid no clear procedure for obtaining CRZ clearance.
 Post clearance monitoring and enforcement mechanism was
not laid out.
 Measures/rules to check pollution emanating from land-
based activities were not included.
 Caused hardships to traditional communities living in
ecologically sensitive coastal stretches (fishermen, slum dwellers,
etc.).
 Several amendments were made in the CRZ 1991 notification which was
consolidated and issued in the CRZ 2011 notification. The CRZ 2011
notification took into account the issues of CRZ 1991.

o Objectives of CRZ 2011:

  To conserve and protect coastal stretches;
 To ensure livelihood security to the fishing & local
communities living in the coastal areas;
 To promote development in a sustainable manner based on
scientific principles, taking into account natural hazards and sea-
level rise.
 In December 2018, Union cabinet approved the Coastal Regulation Zone
(CRZ) Notification, 2018.

o CRZ 2018 notification is based on recommendation of Shailesh

Nayak committee constituted by the MoEFCC in June 2014 for
comprehensive evaluation of provisions under CRZ 2011 notification as
demanded by various coastal States/UTs along with other stakeholders
Procedure for Clearances under CRZ 2011
A specific procedure has been provided in the 2011 Notification for obtaining
project clearance.

 Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report;

 Disaster Management Report and Risk Management Report;
 CRZ map indicating HTL and LTL demarcated;
 No Objection Certificate from the concerned Pollution Control Boards;
 The clearance accorded to the projects shall be valid for a period of five
years.
Ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) given Special Dispensations under CRZ 2011
 Sunderbans, Gulf of Khambat and Gulf of Kutch, Malvan, Achra-Ratnagiri
in Maharashtra, Karwar and Coondapur in Karnataka, Vembanad in Kerala,
Bhaitarkanika in Orissa, Coringa in East Godavari and Krishna in Andhra
Pradesh would be declared as Critical Vulnerable Coastal Areas
(CVCA) and the integrated management plan would be prepared for each of
these areas in consultation with the local communities.
 Beaches such as Mandrem, Morjim, Galgiba and Agonda in Goa have been
designated as turtle nesting sites and protected under the Wildlife Protection
Act, 1972.
 No developmental activities shall be permitted in these areas.
Shailesh Nayak Committee Report on Coastal Regulation Zone
 Shailesh Nayak committee was constituted in June 2014, and it submitted
its report in January 2015.
 The committee recommended relaxation on the terms set up by the CRZ
2011 notification. The major objective behind the recommendations was to
boost tourism, port construction and real estate.
 The committee suggested diluting the regulatory powers of the Central
Government in the coastal areas. Except for those activities which require
environmental clearances all other activity should fall under the ambit of state
and local planning bodies.
 Based on the recommendations of Shailesh Nayak committee, the
suggestions were given by the coastal states and union territories, and the CRZ
2018 notifications were issued.

3. Acid Rain
What is Acid Rain?

Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of
precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the
ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms.  This can include rain, snow, fog,
hail or even dust that is acidic.  

What Causes Acid Rain?

This image illustrates the pathway for acid rain in our environment: (1) Emissions
of SO2 and NOx are released into the air, where (2) the pollutants are transformed
into acid particles that may be transported long distances. (3) These acid particles
then fall to the earth as wet and dry deposition (dust, rain, snow, etc.) and (4) may
cause harmful effects on soil, forests, streams, and lakes.

Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted
into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The
SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and
nitric acids.  These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the
ground.

While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid rain is from natural
sources such as volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels.  The
major sources of SO2 and NOX in the atmosphere are:

 Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.  Two thirds of SO2 and one

fourth of NOX in the atmosphere come from electric power generators.
 Vehicles and heavy equipment.
 Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.

Winds can blow SO2 and NOX over long distances and across borders making acid
rain a problem for everyone and not just those who live close to these sources. 

Forms of Acid Deposition

Wet Deposition

Wet deposition is what we most commonly think of as acid rain.  The sulfuric and
nitric acids formed in the atmosphere fall to the ground mixed with rain, snow, fog,
or hail.  

Dry Deposition

Acidic particles and gases can also deposit from the atmosphere in the absence of
moisture as dry deposition.  The acidic particles and gases may deposit to surfaces
(water bodies, vegetation, buildings) quickly or may react during atmospheric
transport to form larger particles that can be harmful to human health. When the
accumulated acids are washed off a surface by the next rain, this acidic water flows
over and through the ground, and can harm plants and wildlife, such as insects and
fish.

The amount of acidity in the atmosphere that deposits to earth through dry
deposition depends on the amount of rainfall an area receives.  For example, in
desert areas the ratio of dry to wet deposition is higher than an area that receives
several inches of rain each year.
When acid deposition is washed into lakes and streams, it can cause some to turn
acidic. The Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) Network measures and monitors
surface water chemistry at over 280 sites to provide valuable information on
aquatic ecosystem health and how water bodies respond to changes in acid-causing
emissions and acid deposition.

4. Eco Mark
The Bureau of Indian Standards issues a certification mark for ecologically safe
products which conform to the standards given by the BIS. The scheme was
launched in 1991 through Gazette Notification No. 71 by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests. It helps in recognizing eco-friendly products present in
the market. The mark includes as much as 16 categories like food, electronic
goods, medicines, chemicals, etc. This scheme is known as ‘ECOMARK’ and it is
a nationwide scheme which gives recognition for certain household products that
satisfy the specific environmental norms along with the quality of products. It is a
voluntary nationwide scheme for the betterment of the environment as common
citizens and concerned industrial sectors actively participate in it. The Earthen Pot
is selected as a logo for the Ecomark scheme in India since the pot uses a
renewable resource like earth, it is because it does not produce any dangerous
waste and it consumes little energy in making. Its solid and graceful form
represents both strength and fragility, which also characterizes the eco-system. As
a symbol, it puts across its environmental message. Its image has the ability to
reach people and can help to promote a greater awareness of the need to be kind to
the environment. The logo for the Ecomark Scheme signifies that the product
which carries it does the least damage to the environment

Objective behind introducing this scheme

The objective of this scheme is manifold but the main rationale behind it is to make
the consumers think about the improvement of the environment by using or buying
environment-friendly products. For instance, to reduce the adverse environmental
impact, the manufacturers and importers are provided with certain incentive. The
companies are also rewarded for their genuine initiatives which reduce the
product’s adverse impact on the Environment. Another objective is to motivate the
consumers to be more responsible towards the environment in their daily lives
which happens when the consumers take the environmental factors into
consideration in their decisions. This in turns encourages the citizens to be more
environment-friendly by purchasing less harmful environmental products. The
Ultimate objective is to sustainably manage the resources to improve the quality of
the environment

Mechanism

To identify the categories of product and to develop criteria, the Ministry of

Environment and Forests3 has established two committees which are, Steering
Committee and Technical Committee. The BIS allows the use of the label after
evaluating and certifying the products and making a contract with the
manufacturer, on payment of a fee. The tenure of the committee is for three years
or until the next committee is reconstituted. The CPCB5 is a registered member of
the Global Ecolabelling Network.

Steering Committee determines the categories of product which are to be covered

under this scheme and they also devise the strategies for promotion,
implementation and the development of the scheme over the years. Steering
Committee Selects the logo for the “ECOMARK”. It organizes activities which
create mass awareness for promotion and acceptance of the scheme. It also
determines which product categories are to be included in the scheme. If in case
the committee feels that a requirement of some experts is required, it can invite
special invitees. The interests of industry, consumer groups or other are
represented by five non-officials which are to be appointed by the Central
Government.

Technical Committee is constituted to identify and classify the individual products

and to determine the basis for giving the ECOMARK, the Central Government of
India constitute the Technical Committee. The Technical Committee functions in
the CPCB, Delhi. The Technical Committee also looks upon the environmental
criteria followed in other countries. They also review the technologies which are
available to determine the criteria.

The product for ECOMARK is evaluated by the Bureau of Indian Standards which
certify the product for award; it has the power to review, suspend or cancel a
license; It can analyze any material which might be relevant to check if any
product which has been given the ECOMARK comply to the contracts or not,
whether the license of ECOMARK has been taken or not.
a.  Certification and Licensing:  In this scheme, the manufacturers have to
register for the products which come under the notified categories in terms of
compliance with the environmental norms which are then tested and certified.
Bureau of Indian Standards carries out this process. ECOMARK is given for a
specified time period after the certification and after that, the product is reevaluated
again.

b.   Criteria for Ecomark:  The criteria for Ecomark are based on the initiation to
termination approach. The elementary criteria consider the broad environmental
aspects but are particular at the product level. The basic criteria cover broad
environmental levels and aspects but are specific at the product level. The prime
environmental concerns are: That, the production or usage of products carry less
potential for pollution compared to another; That, the products are recyclable and
reusable than its counterparts; That the products contribute significantly to save
non-renewable resources.

c. General Requirements:  The product should comply with the pollution

control acts and it should raise environmental awareness among consumers.

d.   Specific Requirements: The product-specific requirements are to take into

consideration the process of production including the source of raw materials etc.
The Earthen Pot is selected as a logo for the Ecomark scheme in India since the pot
uses a renewable resource like earth, it is because it does not produce any
dangerous waste and it consumes little energy in making. Its solid and graceful
form represents both strength and fragility, which also characterizes the eco-
system. As a symbol, it puts across its environmental message. Its image has the
ability to reach people and can help to promote a greater awareness of the need to
be kind to the environment. The logo for the Ecomark Scheme signifies that the
product which carries it does the least damage to the environment.

f. Incentives: The incentives are given to the Ecomark awarded industries include

50% fee concession under Water and Air act. This notification was issued by the
Government of MP.

Conclusion
The lack of information and failed regulation has resulted in industries making
bogus claims about the benefits of their items. These misleading claims make the
consumers suspicious of the product. Eco-labeling programs are optional, a
market-based scheme that has been applied in some countries, with varying
degrees of success. The Government of India in 1991 has established the Ecomark
scheme to assist the consumers to identify products that have a reduced
environmental degradation Even after 28 years, only substantial numbers of
consumers are aware of the existence of any such scheme, sadly even today, no
products have the Ecomark label on it.

In our country, it’s very difficult to reach the consumers in because of our vast
population which is largely rural, marginalized and neglected by our mainstream
media Less NEWS reach to their television sets, so most of them remain unaware
of the advancement of these schemes and as well as the product. As they are
illiterate, ignorant and poor they use products that are very hazardous and are of
very low quality. They just have to fulfill their needs without thinking about the
plight of our environments. Further, the industries nature to develop, manage and
promote environmentally friendly items are linked to both internal firm feature and
external factors.

5. Carbon credits
A carbon credit is a tradable permit or certificate that provides the holder
of the credit the right to emit one ton of carbon dioxide or an equivalent
of another greenhouse gas – it’s essentially an offset for producers of such
gases. The main goal for the creation of carbon credits is the reduction of
emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from industrial
activities to reduce the effects of global warming.

Carbon credits are market mechanisms for the minimization of

greenhouse gases emission. Governments or regulatory authorities set
the caps on greenhouse gas emissions. For some companies, the
immediate reduction of the emission is not economically viable.
Therefore, they can purchase carbon credits to comply with the emission
cap. Companies that achieve the carbon offsets (reducing the emissions of
greenhouse gases) are usually rewarded with additional carbon credits.
The sale of credit surpluses may be used to subsidize future projects for
the reduction of emissions.

The introduction of such credits was ratified in the Kyoto Protocol. The Paris
Agreement validates the application of carbon credits and sets the
provisions for the further facilitation of the carbon credits markets.

Types of Carbon Credits

There are two types of credits:

 Voluntary emissions reduction (VER):  A carbon offset that is

exchanged in the over-the-counter or voluntary market for credits.
 Certified emissions reduction (CER): Emission units (or credits)
created through a regulatory framework with the purpose of
offsetting a project’s emissions. The main difference between the
two is that there is a third party certifying body that regulates the
CER as opposed to the VER.

Trading Credits

Carbon credits can be traded on both private and public markets. Current
rules of trading allow the international transfer of credits.

The prices of credits are primarily driven by the levels of supply and
demand in the markets. Due to the differences in the supply and demand
in different countries, the prices of the credits fluctuate.

Although carbon credits are beneficial to society, it is not easy for an

average investor to start using them as investment vehicles. The certified
emissions reductions (CERs) are the only product that can be used as
investments in the credits. However, CERs are sold by special carbon
funds established by large financial institutions. The carbon funds provide
small investors with the opportunity to enter the market.

There are special exchanges that specialize in the trading of the credits,
including the European Climate Exchange, the NASDAQ OMX
Commodities Europe exchange, and the European Energy Exchange.