EQ: Shenzhen Landslide Could be First of Many, UP Bans Plastic

EQ: Build your environment quotient with The Quint’s weekly environment newsletter.

Uttar Pradesh has banned plastic across the state to reduce pollution in the river Ganga. (Photo: Reuters)

E-India

• Strict rules for thermal plants: In a bid to clean up polluting power plants, the government has announced several norms for coal-based power plants in the country.
• Uttar Pradesh bans plastic across the state: Following an Allahabad High Court order, the government has banned the use of polythene in the state. The ban is expected to reduce pollution in the river Ganga.

The polluted Sangam, the confluence of the river Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in Allahabad. (Photo: Reuters)

• Indian lion listed as endangered in the US: A steep decline in lion numbers has caused the US to add the Indian lion sub-species to its endangered species list.

E-Stat

• 523: The number of lions in India
  

A lion at Lucknow zoo. (Photo: Reuters)

E-Law

• The Supreme Court gets tough on air pollution: In an effort to clean up Delhi’s air, the apex Court has passed a series of orders – these include a temporary bar on the registration of SUVs and diesel vehicles with high engine capacity, an increase in the environmental cess, a switch to CNG taxis and restrictions on burning solid waste.
  

A glimpse of traffic on the roads of New Delhi. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-International

• Deadly Shenzhen landslide could be the first of many: Last week’s landslide in China’s Shenzhen could be the first one caused by construction waste. As the world rapidly urbanizes, it’s a good time to ensure that we prevent more such manmade disasters in time.
  

Rescue workers in China’s Shenzhen. 7 are confirmed dead in the landslide, while over 70 continue to be missing. (Photo: AP)

E-Renewables

• Solar energy for climate change: Emphasising the importance of solar energy, the Indian prime minister recently highlighted two new initiatives launched at the Paris climate talks – the “Mission Innovation” and the International Solar Alliance.
  

E-Nature

• Tropical forests versus Global Warming: New research has shown that tropical forests could be critical in the fight against climate change. As the world looks at changing over from fossil fuels to a renewable fuelled world, forests are expected to soak up atmospheric carbon during this transition.
  

Tropical rainforests could be critical in the fight against climate change. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-Video

• Ever wondered what the Earth looks like from space? Check out this NASA video here:
  

E-Quiz

Where in India would you find the Harike wetlands?

• Kerala
  
• Assam
  
• Punjab
  
• Uttar Pradesh

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