EQ: Deadly Air Pollution, Killer Mosquitoes, Green Campuses

EQ: Read About All Things Green, Build Your Environment Quotient

A young woman wears a mask for protection from pollution. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-India

• 1.4 million die from air pollution in India in 2013:
A new study has ranked air pollution among the four major reasons for deaths globally. Half of these deaths take place in India and China.

E-Mage

The Digital India Plan aims to implement e-governance and improve digital services. (Photo: iStockphoto)

• India launches a website and app for environmental education:
The new initiative will integrate the existing environmental information centres. It is expected to support the government’s Digital India programme.

E-Video

• If you’ve ever wondered what the earth looks like from space, watch this amazing time-lapse video here:

E-Nature

Deadly mosquito. (Photo: iStockphoto)

• Should we try to make mosquitoes extinct?
At a time when we’re dealing with Zika virus and all the other diseases mosquitoes carry (dengue and malaria, for example), a new report asks whether we should be considering killing all the mosquitoes on the planet.

250,000

The number of people killed by mosquito carried diseases each month.

E-Law

The polluted banks and waters of the river Ganga at Varanasi. (Photo: Reuters)

• “Can’t have people carry weapons, play loud music and pollute Ganga”:
The NGT has noted that while beach camping in Rishikesh is permissible, the other activities named above will not be allowed.

E-Renewables

A green campus. (Photo: iStockphoto)

• Make our campuses green:
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has called for proposals from organisations to develop 100 “green campuses”. The Ministry is offering financial assistance for preparing the project plans.

E-International

Antarctica (Photo: iStockphoto)

• Antarctica impacting tropical weather:
In yet another sign of how interconnected the global ecosystem is, a new study has found links between the polar continent of Antarctica and the weather in the world’s tropical regions.

E-Technology

States are studying groundwater situation.(Photo: iStockphoto)

• Haryana maps its groundwater resources:
Haryana has become the first state in the country to map its underground aquifers. The initiative will be done in other states as well and will help in understanding our groundwater situation.

E-Quiz

• What is the national bird of India?
(a) Crow
(b) Peacock
(c) Stork
(d) Flamingo

(Shalini Iyengar is a lawyer and Research Associate at the International University College of Turin)