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

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

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.

• 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
  

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.
  

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.
  

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.
  

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.)