Category Science

Why is avoiding plastic essential?

                  Plastic has become an indispensable commodity in Man’s life. Plastic is everywhere. We encounter it wherever we go. Are our lunch boxes made of plastic? We eat our take-away food in plastic plates with plastic forks. The list of plastic materials is  endless.

                  Do you know that according to EDN, an electronics industry website, over 100,000 marine animals and one million birds die from ingesting and choking on plastic each year? Let us all take the pledge today to eliminate unnecessary plastic from our life. Let us start using reusable water bottles, travel mugs, and grocery bags.

                 Let us avoid disposable water bottles. The best options are stainless steel water bottles, which contain no dangerous toxic material, which you find in plastic bottles. Say no to plastic straws. Store your food in glass or stainless steel containers. Though it may be easy to store leftovers in plastic containers, if we try to heat these plastic containers, they become toxic.

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Why should we plant trees?

              Do you know that looking intently at the lush green of trees when your eyes are sore will soothe them? Green is the colour of life, renewal, growth, harmony and freshness. Trees and plants are essential for life on earth. We should make a combined effort to grow more and more trees on earth.

              Trees are the best supporters of life. They form the primary component of all food chains. All living organisms depend on plants in one way or the other. Their destruction affects food chains and ecological balance. Trees are the natural habitat of many living things. Hence, it is our duty to protect trees and plants.

              Cutting trees is often done for timber, paper and clearing land for construction. However, cutting of trees robs wildlife off their natural habitats. Hence, we should stop cutting trees and plants as far as possible.

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Why is prohibition of hunting essential to prevent destruction of habitats?

               In the olden times, hunting was the favourite pastime of kings and noblemen. They hunted wild animals to show off their valour and bravery. However, indiscriminate hunting has resulted in the extinction of animals and  the destruction of food chains.

              Hunting has drastically reduced the number of grazing animals and their predators on grasslands. While hunting is banned in most countries, people still poach or hunt them illegally. Many of the rare species of animals are hunted and collected to fill zoos. This practice is unethical and evil; and therefore, it must stop at all costs.

               Nowadays, governments of all countries have become more watchful about poaching. Poachers, if caught, are severely punished. All over the world, certain areas where wildlife thrives are identified as wildlife reserves. Here, various kinds of plants and animals are protected from hunters and collectors of species.

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How did the Paris Agreement prove to be a great step towards protecting our environment?

               Much of the effort of the world forums is directed towards holding governments accountable for their actions that add to the misery of our planet. Therefore, the international bodies try to persuade, convince and at times pressurize countries to follow certain rules and regulations. The Paris Agreement was an attempt to make the nations across the world aware of the increasing need for constructive and practical solutions to environmental problems.

               The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the future. The agreement dealt with the reduction of greenhouse-gas-emissions. As of July 2018, 195 UNFCCC members have signed the agreement, and 179 have become party to it. The agreement has planned for the evaluation of the implementation of the agreement by all member countries for every 5 years. The first evaluation takes place in 2023.

               Under the Paris Agreement, all countries are required to determine, plan, and regularly report on the contribution that they undertake to make in order to reduce global warming.

               Our country too has signed the agreement. India’s involvement marks a significant step that brings together developing and developed nations for beginning work on cutting down greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming.

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Why is the Kyoto Protocol an important step against global warming?

                         Nations across the globe have made efforts to bring our earth back to its past glory. In 1992, an international environmental treaty called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Kyoto Protocol is an extension to this global agreement. The protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997. A significant step in conserving nature, the treaty came into force on 16 February 2005.

                       While human quest for development and growth has contributed to significant climate changes, most of the damage was done due to the rapid industrialization that happened in the developed countries. The Kyoto Protocol recognized the fact that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere because of their long years of industrial activity. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries, and the European community, for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Why is the Montreal Protocol an important step in conserving our environment?

            Man, the most intelligent being on Earth, should make meaningful and creative interventions in conserving nature. While some events in nature are beyond his control, there are many areas where he can contribute as an agent of change. The Montreal Protocol is an attempt to bring about a change in Man’s perception of the changing climatic conditions of our planet.

            The Montreal protocol is a global agreement on substances that deplete the ozone layer. It focuses on the protection of the Ozone Layer. It is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. The Montreal Protocol was proposed on 26 August 1987 and came into force on 26 January 1989.  Its first meeting was held in Helsinki in May 1989.

            As result of the interndtion31 agreement, so much of carbon emission has been reduced across the globe and the ozone hole in Antarctica is slowly recovering. Climate projections indicate that the ozone layer will return to perfect health between 2050 and 2070. Due to the widespread adoption and implementation of the Protocol, it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international co-operation.

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