Mar 28, 2024: A derailed orbit in a heterodox market

 The High Cost of Progress: Biodiversity Loss and the Threat to Human Health in the Anthropocene

Nature cannot be thought of as composed of inert, dead matter. Instead, all life forms share the element of qi or material force- this shared psycho-physical entity becomes the basis for establishing reciprocity between the human and nonhuman worlds.- Confusious.

In recent decades, human activity has left such a profound mark on the environment that it's ushered in a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. Popularized by Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen, the Anthropocene signifies a shift where human actions have become the primary driver of environmental change. Anthropogenic pressures, demographic change, and resulting changes in production and consumption patterns are also among the factors that contribute to biodiversity loss, ill health, and disease emergence. These pressures have shown a "great acceleration," especially in the past 50 years.

However, these advancements have often come at a cost to the environment, ecosystems, and human health. The loss of biodiversity jeopardizes vital ecosystem services such as clean water provision, food security, and natural resource availability, and the need to address them is pressing if our planet is to provide clean water, food, energy, timber, medicines, shelter, and other benefits to an ever-increasing population. The rise in demographic pressures and consumption levels will translate into unprecedented demands on the planet's productive capacity and jeopardize ecosystems' ability to provide life-sustaining services.

Consequently, social change and development biases like urbanization, poverty, and inequity further exacerbate biodiversity loss and ill health drivers, often compounded by macroeconomic policies that provide perverse incentives or fail to value biodiversity. The poorest and most vulnerable populations bear the brunt of these issues, as they often rely most heavily on natural resources for survival and lack access to substitutes when ecosystems deteriorate. We should not overlook the intrinsic value of nature, its cultural and spiritual contributions, and the right of future generations to inherit a healthy planet.

Factors eroding biodiversity, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change, also threaten the health of humans, animals, and plants.

Since most human infectious diseases (zoonotic diseases) originate in animals, including HIV/AIDS (from chimpanzees), the links between animal health, environmental well-being, and human infectious diseases are crucial. Biodiversity loss also has significant implications for non-communicable diseases like malnutrition (due to reduced food security) and respiratory illnesses (due to increased air pollution). For instance, experts have linked biodiversity loss to the rise of malnutrition due to the disruption of food chains and the vital role pollinators play in agriculture.

Multilateral agreements increasingly recognize the need to tackle social and environmental factors affecting health. However, the critical role of biodiversity in human health, through the loss of vital ecosystem services, is not yet systematically addressed. National policymakers urgently need to develop more structured, cross-cutting policies that translate the link between biodiversity and health into concrete targets- this is essential as we move forward with new global commitments to sustainable development.

Nov 20, 2023: A derailed orbit in a heterodox market

 

Dear friends,

The world grapples with a dynamic mix of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties post-pandemic, and paradoxical urgent environmental challenges amid a growing awareness of climate change and sustainability. In this context, our most challenging task is to comprehend.

I recently delved into an article published in National Geographic on Jan 19, 2023. The environmental message from this piece revolves around the impact of construction materials on climate change and the potential of traditional mud construction as a sustainable alternative. The article highlights the environmental drawbacks of concrete, particularly concerning carbon emissions from cement production and its contribution to global warming. It emphasizes that the manufacture of cement, a key component of concrete, accounts for around 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

In contrast, the article suggests that mud construction offers a more eco-friendly option. When constructed correctly, mud buildings absorb and store heat, providing natural cooling without energy-intensive air conditioning. Using locally available materials, such as mud, is presented as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach, especially in regions grappling with the challenges of climate change.

Furthermore, the article advocates for a reevaluation of the perception of traditional building techniques, asserting that embracing mud construction can contribute to reducing carbon emissions and provide a sustainable solution to housing needs in the face of a changing climate. The message promotes environmentally conscious choices in construction to address both the immediate needs of communities and the broader global challenge of climate change.

On Sept 14, 2023, The Economist presented a heartwarming report. Hornbills, otters, and even the elusive tapir: Singapore is experiencing a renaissance of nature. Once-lost species are reemerging in this densely built city-state, where the concrete jungle gives way to a lush tapestry of life.

The smooth-coated otter, a threatened species native to South and Southeast Asia, had vanished from Singapore's landscape by the 1970s as the pursuit of rapid economic growth took precedence, and waste choked the city's waterways.

In a metropolis teeming with 5.6 million souls, the clarion call has become the conservation and resurrection of natural havens. The vision entails connecting these sanctuaries with verdant corridors, allowing species to roam freely, like verses in a song. It's a symphony of renaturalization, particularly along the riverbanks once entombed in concrete, which has offered a lifeline to the otters.

The diligent efforts to cleanse the waterways bore fruit. Fish, like forgotten characters in an ancient story, returned to their stage, and, in 1998, so did the otters. Initially, they lingered by the shores of Singapore's less-touched northern expanse, but their wanderlust knew no bounds as they embarked on a poetic journey of rediscovery.

On Jul 26, 2023, Scientific American reported a seemingly absurd research outcome contrary to contemporary inference; nevertheless, I shared it to update my friends. Forests need to regain their ability to sequester carbon. A new USDA report suggests that by 2070, forests could become principal carbon emitters. US forests could worsen global warming instead of mitigating it because natural disasters destroy their ability to absorb planet-warming gases, and trees are aging.

Naturally, the forest reaches a saturation point in how quickly it sequesters atmospheric carbon. More aggressive forest management can help by cutting down a small portion of aging forests to make way for younger trees that absorb more carbon. We should study each forest thoroughly before removing older trees, comparing forest management to prescribing the proper drugs to a patient.

Sept 25, 2022: A derailed orbit in a heterodox market

 

There is a debate about which came first- the chicken or the eggs.

 
Does need provoke scientific inventions, or does a new apparatus create necessity?

 
Historians argue whether advancement in civilization is the outcome of war or war is the fruit of human progress. 
 
Natural disasters and pandemics damage and kill but teach lessons about a better life for humans. However, the better life of humans paws nature, and nature's revenge rewards calamities to humans. 
 
I think all the examples work both ways.  
 
Somedays before, some of my classmates got together at the university, where we did our MSc. in Environmental Sciences. One environmentalist friend showed me a poor woman collecting plastic bottles from the roadside garbage and commented- you know what significant work she is doing to our environment? I stared at the poor lady and replied- she was earning her livelihood. My environmentalist friend digressed. After a while, tesla came to our discussion, and we all said in unison that it is business. I question myself- what is the difference between Elon Musk and the poor lady? Both were contributing to our environment. Based on their capability- the work size is different. The poor lady is doing it merely for her livelihood- on the other side, Elon Musk is doing it for his trillion-dollar business. The poor lady does not understand what contribution she contributed by collecting plastic bottles; Elon Musk has crystal knowledge- of how much carbon a tesla car will emit in the environment compared to a gasoline car. So, why do we call livelihood when we point to the poor lady and a business when considering Elon Musk? Because a poor lady searches for food to live, Elon Musk is an industry. 
 
I do not want to be judgemental- who is good or not good. Elon Musk runs his business according to business ethics, following laws and regulations. However, I have a fancy sympathy for the poor lady. I think- if Elon Musk would suspend his one space project (I do not know how and when a space project will do good for humanity) and spend the money on poor people by launching a project where these poor people can gain some skills and get some work- millions of poor people would get a better life.

Elon Musk's space projects may bring tremendous happiness to humankind- I do not understand when & how it will happen. But I see the poor lady searching for the plastic bottle in the roadside garbage. Maybe for the future human developed civilization, we have to sacrifice. We may be the chicken or the eggs.

Sep 12, 2022: A derailed orbit in a heterodox market

I used to write poems, short stories, etc., intermittently. However, after completing my master's in environmental sciences, I started sharing contemporary environmental phenomena monthly from renowned magazines and presenting them to people who might be interested. I had little scope to interpret or give my opinions in the process- as if I was an extra mike after a microphone. I did not get any meaning in continuing it- I was yearning to liberate myself.  

I had mixed feelings when I quit the monthly publication's aggressiveness. My friends may think- oh, eventually, I surrender. Yes, I gave away- my submission is to my inner call. Now I will write whatever I want to write. 

Indeed, I will no longer be with the mainstream environmental genre. Hopefully, I will enjoy it. As- I was in the habit of this scenario from my childhood. I grew simultaneously with my friends, but I always was on the other rail- in the curve market.

I write hundreds of words for my livelihood- business letters, reports, agreements, training modules, policy procedures, etc. But I will write for myself- if I write- without any meaning. 

The cost of living is surging, interest rates are creeping up, recession threatens many countries, and an energy crunch is roaring. In most developed countries, the pandemic created the biggest fall in life expectancy since the second world war. A deadly conflict in Ukraine is pushing the cost of everything from energy to a loaf of bread. Climate change is a growing threat, as record droughts, heatwaves, and floods in various parts of the world. Climate change and conflict could make things even worse. 

In such circumstances, I learned one more shocking news- James Lovelock has passed away. He has had a tremendous impact on me, although I did not read a single book by him. But Lovelock touched me with his Gaia hypothesis, which I learned in my Environmental Sciences classroom. From childhood- I learned and worshiped our earth as 'Dharitri mata'- the mother earth. And, for the first time, Lovelock argued- he scientifically tried to prove that earth is a self-regulating living organism- life on earth behaves like a mega-organism. All live organisms combine through their interactions with each other and the physical systems around them.  

Due to poverty, Lovelock's student life was not smooth. He had to struggle and compromise his desire with financial ability unless he flourished by the mid-1960s- he became an independent scientist, consulting for organizations such as Shell and NASA. Despite stumbling in life, Lovelock was an example of compassion. After graduating in 1941, he was offered a job as a technician at the National Institute for Medical Research in London. They told him to study the effect of heat on the skin by exposing shaved rabbits to heat radiation, but he preferred to burn himself. He found that after a week or so of repeated exposure, the pain became merely a sensation of pressure. But the area of his arm he used in the study remained insensitive for the rest of his life. 

Lovelock died at age 103. He died on July 26, his 103rd birthday. 

Everybody called James Lovelock- Jim.
 
Rest in Gaia, Jim.

Jul 2022: 3 Significant environmental news I want to share-

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added one more insect to its red list for the first time. The migrating monarch butterfly is now listed as endangered. 

Finnish researchers have installed the world's first fully working sand battery, which can store green power for months. They made the device with the heat from cheap electricity from solar or wind.

Wealthy nations were responsible for generating nearly half of international food-transport emissions, despite being home to only 12% of the global population.

Here is the news in detail-

On Jul 22, 2022, AP News- The migrating monarch butterfly, which each year undertakes an epic journey from central Mexico to southern Canada, is now listed as endangered. It is one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world. In North America, millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration of any insect species known to science. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has added Danaus plexippus to its red list for the first time: estimates suggest that its population in North America has declined by up to 72% in the past ten years. By planting native milkweed and reducing pesticide use, Americans may play a role in making sure this iconic insect makes a full recovery.

BBC News published on Jul 5, 2022- Finnish researchers have installed the world's first fully working sand battery, which can store green power for months. They made the device with the heat from cheap electricity from solar or wind.

Right now, lithium is the main ingredient of most batteries, and they are expensive with a large- physical footprint and can only cope with a limited amount of excess power. But a young team of Finnish engineers has completed the first commercial installation of a battery made from sand that they believe can solve the storage problem in a low-cost, low-impact way. They named the battery- Polar Night Energy. They installed the device in a power plant, which runs the district heating system for the area.

Low-cost electricity warms the sand up to 500C by resistive heating (the same process that makes electric fires work). It generates hot air and circulates in the sand using a heat exchanger. Sand is a very effective medium for storing heat and loses little over time. The developers say- that by using low-grade sand, their device could keep sand at 500C for several months.

On Jul 1, 2022, nature.com published- Food transport accounts for nearly one-fifth of carbon emissions in the food system- more than seven times the amount previously estimated. In 2017, the domestic and international movement of food added emissions equivalent to 3 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Wealthy nations were responsible for generating nearly half of international food-transport emissions, despite being home to only 12% of the global population. The inequality is driven partly by carbon-intensive refrigeration: moving fruit and vegetables generated twice the amount of CO2 produced by growing them.

June 2022: 3 Significant environmental news I want to share-

From the 3rd week of May- Bangladesh, India, and China have seen devastating floods, while intense heatwaves struck- swathes of Europe and the US. News coverage links climate change with unprecedented events expected in a warming world. These temperatures are occurring with only 1.1 degrees Celsius of global warming, and we are on track for 2.2 degrees Celsius more warming over this century. We literally cannot imagine how bad that will be.

There is a surge in saltiness across all inhabited continents today. Climate change is far from the only cause. Deltas are open to dams upstream, pumps that remove fresh water from underground for faucets and irrigation, and sand mining that lower river beds. And in dry regions, irrigation systems delivering water to crops bring salt onto fields, which is left behind in soils as the crops absorb the water.

A voracious appetite for frogs' legs among the French and Belgians is driving species in Indonesia, Turkey, and Albania to extinction. Where frogs disappear, the use of toxic pesticides is increasing. Hence, the frogs' legs trade has direct consequences not only for the frogs themselves but for biodiversity and ecosystem health. 

Here is the news in detail-

AP News published on Jun 24, 2022- On Friday, China's northern Henan province, Xuchang, hit 107.8 degrees (42.1 degrees Celsius), and Dengfeng hit 106.9 degrees (41.6 degrees Celsius) for their hottest days on record. And in Japan, Friday, Tokamachi and Tsunan set all-time heat records while several cities broke monthly marks.

The Russian city of Norilsk, above the Arctic circle, hit 89.6 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) Thursday for its hottest June day on record and tied for its hottest day in any month. In Turkmenistan rose to 114.6 degrees (45.9 degrees Celsius).

In the United States, a heat dome of triple-digit temperatures in many places combined with high humidity oscillated from west to east. On Thursday, at least 15 states hit 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius), and at least 21 high-temperature marks were set or broken, according to the National Weather Service, which held 30 million Americans under a heat advisory.

Scientists say this early baking has all the hallmarks of climate change. These temperatures are occurring with only 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) of global warming, and we are on track for 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 degrees Celsius) more warming over this century. They literally cannot imagine how bad that will be.

On May 10, 2022, Yale School of the Environment Published, Saltwater intruded into paddies and forced farmer Abdul Majed to switch from growing rice to raising shrimp in Khulna, Bangladesh. Salty drinking water in coastal Bangladesh causes up to 10,000 deaths a year, according to a 2015 study. In the giant delta of the rivers the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna, which occupy much of Bangladesh, salinization is already a more important cause of migration than the much more heavily publicized exoduses from floods and other natural disasters.

As rising seas increase saltwater intrusion and soaring temperatures cause greater evaporation, scientists say that the mounting salt in waters and soils poses a principal danger- related to climate and could become a leading cause of climate migration globally.

As sea levels rise, salty ocean water is further into the delta, one of Southeast Asia's most densely populated and productive rice-growing regions. During this year's spring-dry season, the salinity boundary- where salt levels exceed 4 grams per liter - reached up to 40 miles upstream, more than 10 miles further than it has historically.

There is a surge in saltiness across all inhabited continents today. Climate change is far from the only cause. Deltas are open to dams upstream, pumps that remove fresh water from underground for faucets and irrigation, and sand mining that lower river beds. And in dry regions, irrigation systems delivering water to crops bring salt onto fields, which is left behind in soils as the crops absorb the water.

Around a third of the world's food is grown in irrigated fields, and scientists reckoned a fifth of those fields to be salt-contaminated. Climate change will dramatically worsen this- because- in a hotter, drier world- more crops will need more irrigation water.

The Guardian reported on Jun 23, 2022- A voracious appetite for frogs' legs among the French and Belgians is driving species in Indonesia, Turkey, and Albania to extinction. Europe imports as many as 200 million wild frogs a year, contributing to a principal depletion of native species abroad. If the plundering of the European market continues, we will likely see more declines in wild frog populations and, potentially, extinctions in the next decade.

Frogs play a central role in the ecosystem as insect killers – and where frogs disappear, the use of toxic pesticides is increasing. Hence, the frogs' legs trade has direct consequences not only for the frogs themselves but for biodiversity and ecosystem health. 

May 2022: 3 Significant environmental news I want to share-

On Nov 28, 2021, I wrote- The way China and the USA polarize the world, I am pessimistic about the COP26 outcome. And I am a skeptic that shortly, we will forget the climate change, global warming, ecocide, etc., issues and find a remote location to hide from the war genocides. Being a student of history- I know- History cyclically repeats itself. China and USA are polarizing the world, but Russia has invaded Ukraine- what a surprise!

For now, I share the three pieces of news my readers liked on my social and professional platforms these months.

Graphene will help decarbonize industry, produce greener concrete, and make hydrogen. The 5-bn tonnes of cement produced each year thus account for some 8% of the world's anthropogenic CO2. Yet if we add less than 0.1% by weight of graphene to the mixture, concrete ends up 30% stronger. And stronger concrete means less of it is needed, with a consequent reduction in CO2.

ESI Energy admitted to killing at least 150 bald or golden eagles in the US, being struck by a turbine blade since 2012. And the Department of Justice (DOJ) fined $8 million. One question raised is- what is my value compared to a US eagle? If I die in a road accident or under a construction site in my country?

We believe- harmful algal blooms in oceans and lakes are the phenomenon of the industrial age. Interestingly, chemical signatures of the algal blossoms in Mayan times show concentrations and toxicity similar to present-day sprouts in the same lake. Maybe there is another reason than we think of algal blooming.

On May 18, 2021, The Economist published-Graphene will help decarbonize industry, produce greener concrete, and make hydrogen. For a start, it is 200 times stronger than steel. Yet it is magnificently lightweight and flexible. It is also an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and exhibits impressive light-absorbing abilities.

The 5-bn tonnes of cement produced each year thus account for some 8% of the world's anthropogenic CO2. Yet if we add less than 0.1% by weight of graphene to the mixture, concrete ends up 30% stronger. And stronger concrete means less of it is needed, with a consequent reduction in CO2.

Graphene is made from an increasing range of materials, including waste and discarded mixed plastics, which otherwise might end up in a landfill. It avoids exfoliating mined graphite, which at present is the dominant manufacturing process.

One mixture in which scientists are particularly interested in concrete, some 30bn tonnes of which we pour every year. The addition of a small amount of graphene to concrete provides an anchor for the cement to grab onto, resulting in a powerful interaction as the concrete cures. It means- not only- that less concrete is needed to achieve the same level of strength but also that structures made of it are likely to last longer. Graphene enhancement would also protect rebar- the steel rods used to reinforce concrete- from moisture.

Other potential markets include adding small amounts of graphene to the bitumen used to make asphalt roads. It would highly prolong their durability- by preventing creeping and rutting in hot weather and cracking during cold spells, which leads to potholes. Graphene can also increase the abrasion resistance of car tires, making them last longer.

On Apr 7, 2022, Business Insider printed that ESI Energy- a renewable energy company, has admitted to killing at least 150 bald or golden eagles in the US being struck by a turbine blade since 2012. And the Department of Justice (DOJ) fined $8 million. Per the DOJ, ESI failed to apply for the necessary permits after the death of the birds. In its plea agreement, ESI agreed to spend up to $27 million during its probationary period on an "eagle management plan" to minimize future eagle deaths and injuries. It also committed to paying $29,623 per future injury or death of a bald or golden eagle.

I started reading the news from the perspective of an environmentalist, but in the end, the environment evaporated from my mind and the questions raised are-

What is the value of me compared to a US eagle? If I die in a road accident or under a construction site in my country?

On Dec 23, 2021, science.org published, We believe harmful algal blooms in oceans and lakes are a frequent consequence of anthropogenic pollution. Sewage discharge or nutrient runoff from farms can lead to anoxic conditions toxic to eukaryotic life. Waters et al. show that this is not just a phenomenon of the industrial age. Sediment cores from Lake Amatitlán, Guatemala, indicate the presence of cyanobacteria characteristic of harmful blooms during the pre-Columbian Mayan occupation of the watershed, with algal spikes coinciding with periods of the maximum human population. At their peak, chemical signatures of the algal blooms in Mayan times show concentrations and toxicity similar to present-day sprouts in the same lake.

November 2021: 3 Significant environmental news I want to share-

The way China and the USA polarize the world, I am pessimistic about the COp26 outcome. And I am a skeptic that shortly, we will forget the climate change, global warming, ecocide, etc., issues and find a remote location to hide from the war genocides. Besides, the new variant of COVID-19- Omicron is already classed 'of concern' by WHO. And Moderna already announced the combination of mutations Omicron does represents a significant potential risk to accelerating natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Again lockdown is knocking at the doors. 

Research published in nature.com upend all the calculations of global warming computations. It claims- global warming started 300-years earlier than the industrial revolution, as we thought. So, the scientists raised the big question- what is the principal reason for climate change? And if we cannot identify it, can we fight it? Another question in my mind- how much influence do human activities have on nature?

For now, I share the three pieces of news my readers liked on my social and professional platforms this month.  

On Nov 22, 2021, undp.org posted, Direct or indirect results of unsustainable human activity threatened 1 million species extinction. Under current policies, one in six species will be at risk of elimination due to the impacts of climate change.

Global biodiversity loss is linked inextricably to climate change. Under all emission scenarios, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report finds that global surface temperature will continue increasing until at least mid-century, with a warming of 1.5–2°C exceeded during this century, unless there is a rapid and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Transformative change is urgently needed; if we are to combat both biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.

On Oct 21, 2021, phys.org published- We found microplastics in the most remote places on the land, ocean, and our food. Several studies have confirmed they are also present in the air we breathe. Microplastics do not stay in soils, rivers, oceans, or the atmosphere; but move between different parts of the Earth system.

An estimated 5 billion tons of plastic waste has already accumulated in landfills or the environment. Scientists projects this figure to double over the next three decades. The current concentration of microplastics in the atmosphere is low, and they have little influence on the global climate. But given projections for a doubling of plastic waste over the coming decades, we expect microplastics could have a tremendous impact on the earth's climate system.

On Nov 22, 2021, nature.com printed- China, the world's top carbon emitter, has for the first time published plans broadly outlining how it might achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 and a peak of emissions before 2030.

Researchers say the documents, released ahead of the COP26 climate talks, send a strong message to the industry, government agencies, and universities in China to ramp up their efforts to help the country meet its climate goals.

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 is a big challenge for China. From emitting more than 11 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide in 2020, China has to drop to net zero within four decades. China's current emissions are more than double the United States and three times as big as those of India, which made a similar pledge to reach net-zero by 2070 during COP26.

There will be a lot of areas needing contribution from researchers. These include low-carbon energy technologies, from hydrogen fuel cells to batteries; market-based mechanisms to control emissions, such as carbon taxes and trading schemes; and modeling to help local governments and industries set realistic targets for cuts.

But many research institutes have a long way to go in aligning their research departments with the carbon-neutrality goals. They will need to drop traditional engineering subjects that focus, for example, on coal-fired boiler technology and internal combustion engines. Carbon capture and sequestration technologies will also be significant to achieving China's goals and could be another focus for researchers. There is also a plan for electric and hybrid vehicles to make up 40% of those sold by 2030.

China has not set any absolute limits on emissions nor targets for emissions of other greenhouse gases besides carbon, such as methane, but has committed to doing both. Researchers say these measures will be crucial for the world to have a chance at limiting global warming to below 1.5 °C.

China's size means its pledges have global ramifications. When China moves a little to the left or the right, up or down, the whole world feels it. Although China's goals are not as ambitious as some would like, they are realistic. What China should do is sometimes not what China can deliver.

October 2021: 3 Significant environmental news I want to share-

This month, facing the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, international magazines were full of significant environmental articles. I got baffled in eliminating them to find out the most vital 3-issues to make my cover page. Well, that I could make it. Hopefully, it will be worth reading.  

On Oct 5, 2021, nature.com printed, two Climate modelers and one theorist of complex systems share Nobel in physics for their work on complex systems- including modeling earth's climate and global warming. They have modeled it solidly based on physical theory and solid physics by which Global warming is resting on solid science. That is the message. We can predict what is happening with the climate in the future if we know how to code the chaotic weather.

On Oct 8, 2021, reuters.com published- the UN Human Rights Council has recognized access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. The text, proposed by Costa Rica, the Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia, and Switzerland, was passed with 43 votes in favor and 4-abstentions from Russia, India, China, and Japan, prompting a rare burst of applause in the Geneva forum.

The World Health Organization estimates that some 13.7 million deaths a year, or around 24.3% of the global total, are due to environmental risks such as air pollution and chemical exposure.

Costa Rica's ambassador, Catalina Devandas Aguilar, said the decision would send a powerful message to communities struggling with climate hardship that they are not alone.

On Sep 25, 2021, The Economist- across the world, an energy shortage drags on. Crude oil is up by a fifth, coal has jumped by half, and liquefied natural gas rose by four-fifths. Most analysts think the energy crunch will not resolve until after winter. And if that is particularly cold, prices could soar higher still.

The energy shortage has many factors. Analysts cannot help but describe it as a perfect storm. Its causes include supply disruptions, such as fires at natural gas plants in Russia and outages because of covid-delayed maintenance. At the same time, energy demand has increased over the past year thanks to a rapid economic recovery, an uncommonly warm summer in Asia, and an unusually cool winter in Europe. In some places, regulation aimed at slowing global warming has compounded the problem.

The shortage also highlights how ill-prepared the world is for the energy transition. In northern Europe, unusually calm conditions in September meant a decline in wind generation, which provides about a fifth of power used in Germany and Britain. More investment in power storage, such as utility-scale batteries, would have eased such intermittency problems. The energy transition is likely to lead to volatile power prices and, if we manage it poorly, that could make environmentalism unpopular.

The timing of the shortfall is unfortunate. COP26, the UN's climate conference, kicks off at the end of October. The summit is particularly significant because it is the deadline for countries to announce their updated climate plans. The hope is that these plans are more ambitious than those declared after the Paris agreement in 2015 and that the sum of the emissions cuts helps to slow global warming. Some analysts fear that the energy shortage will cast a shadow over negotiations. It may, for instance, discourage countries, such as China and India, from making substantial commitments to reduce their future coal consumption.

September 2021: 3 Significant environmental news I want to share-

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

- An English idiom.

Choosing news to represent to the readers that can meet their test is head itching work. And I believe- sometimes accidentally, the representer gets success. Good that nobody asked me to do it. I do it from my passion.

The most significant issue in September 2021, leaders gathered in New York for a UN general assembly where the climate crisis has been a vital concern. I choose the news as the principal one. Then comes the news- natural fiber-based textile, especially Jute geotextile (JGT), is becoming popular day by day. And Bangladesh can earn billions of dollars from the domestic market only by ensuring proper use of jute geotextile (JGT) in preventing soil, river, and embankment erosion and landslide in hilly areas. And then, scientists discovered a new species of frog called "Chattgai ar gata bang" in Chittagong.

On Sep 24, 2021, The Independent printed, The most significant issue in September 2021, leaders gathered in New York for a UN general assembly where the climate crisis has been a vital concern. Boris Johnson told countries to grow up and face the need to address rapidly rising emissions. Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced that they would no longer build coal power plants overseas. President Joe Biden oath a vital pledge to double the US spends on helping developing world countries tackle and adapt to rising emissions. UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomed both commitments but warned the world was still light years away from being on track to meeting its climate targets ahead of Cop26. US Senior Climate Correspondent Louise Boyle spoke- China has taken a step in the right direction, but this only involves international coal projects. We need to see what China does domestically.

On Sep 14, 2021, The Textile Today published- Natural fiber-based textile, especially Jute geotextile (JGT), which is becoming popular. Even though jute is a seasonal agricultural crop, it still widely grows in the South Asian subcontinent, particularly in Bangladesh. The demand for jute geotextile in developed economies is increasing because of its eco-friendly features and competitive costings.

Instead of exporting raw jute, Bangladesh can earn billions of dollars from the domestic market by ensuring proper use of jute geotextile (JGT) in preventing soil, river, and embankment erosion and landslide in hilly areas.

Encouragingly, every year Bangladesh Government allocates a big budget to build or renew roads in rural-urban areas. If we use geotextiles, then the life span of those roads will increase manifold.

Another potential avenue is the effective management of the sludge generated by Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) installed around Bangladesh.

At present, seven local companies meet over 95% of the country's demand for nonwoven geotextiles. And, we use woven geotextiles in some projects, including railways. But domestic companies are yet to manufacture woven geotextiles. DIRD Felt Ltd. was the first to start marketing geotextiles in the country. Presently, the company employs about 1,000 people and has a daily production capacity of about 75 tons. According to a new study- the global market for geotextiles is anticipated to grasp USD8.24 billion by 2020.

On Aug 30, 2021, Dhaka Tribune wrote, A new species of frog called "Chattgai ar gata bang" has been discovered in Chittagong. A combined group of researchers from Sweden and Bangladesh have identified the organism, whose name means puddle frog. This frog is currently in the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary of Chittagong and Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary at Cox's Bazar.

August 2021: 3 Significant environmental news I want to share-

What if Prometheus did not give us the torch?

We would not prepare the incineration of ourselves.

Many years ago, I read some novels by Rabindranath Tagor at a stretch. It built an opinion in me about him that his tremendous strength is- he makes his readers obliged in his current judgment and tied to the opposite wisdom in the following sentence. This time I saw environmental science as if Rabindranath. When the science avowed global warming is the principal problem yet, extreme cooling may cause our extinction. I know- for the environmental scientists, it is simply the cause and effect, but for the people of other fields, it is a puzzle, a mystery, a paradox, etc. Another story- billions are pouring into the business of decarbonization. Wall Street giants and corporate titans are betting on climate innovation. Is it fair to believe that venture capitalists would make it happen? Or, eventually, humans will see a different, worse scenario? The last tale is about our space. Space gets more crowded, a single SpaceX satellite internet venture – Starlink – wants to put 12,000 satellites in orbit over the next five years. A UN report from 2013 projected that catastrophic collisions might occur once every five to nine years over the next two centuries. My question is- are we going to develop our information gathering capability, or within some days, there will be no information about us in this universe?

On Aug 19, 2021, sciencemag.org printed, Massive volcanoes could cool earth more in a warming world. Here I summarize the article with my interpretation. In a combined computer simulation of idealized volcanic eruptions with a global climate model, the scientists simulated the response to plumes released from midsize and large volcanoes in historical conditions and by 2100, in a scenario when we predict the earth to warm very rapidly. It suggests increased greenhouse gases will help the plumes from gigantic eruptions reach higher, spread faster, and reflect more sunlight, causing more abrupt and extreme cooling.
There are few forces on earth more powerful than a large volcanic eruption. At their most potent, volcanoes inject millions of tons of Sun-blocking particles high into the atmosphere that can cool the earth for nearly 5- years, endangering crops and leading to years without summer. The most recent, the Philippines Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, caused a temporary 0.5°C drop in global temperatures.
Yet its become increasingly clear that even human-driven climate change alters these grand forces. Declining ice cover can trigger more frequent eruptions near the poles in Iceland elsewhere. And an increasingly layered ocean will allow more volcano-induced cooling to linger at the earth's surface. Increased greenhouse gases will help the plumes from tremendous eruptions reach higher, spread faster, and reflect more sunlight, causing more abrupt and extreme cooling.
But the question is- will we ever warm the climate enough to influence volcanoes?

 
On Aug 21, 2021, The Economist published, "billions are pouring into the business of decarbonization. Wall Street giants and corporate titans are betting on climate innovation.' I do not want to go into the detail of the article. Instead, choose to lit the candle of hope. But fear is there. The entire world wants to back to preindustrial temperature. Is it fair to believe that venture capitalists would make it happen? Or, eventually, humans will see a different, worse scenario?

On Aug 9, 2021, SCIENCEFOCUS.COM wrote, Space Junk: Is it a disaster waiting to happen? The writing says- We forget that seven decades ago, the moon was the only thing orbiting the earth. On Jan 1, 2021, there were 6,542 satellites in orbit. Tellingly, only just over half of them were active. That's a lot of useless metal careering around the planet at 28,000 kph – ten times faster than a bullet. Estimates suggest half a million pieces of debris the size of a marble or bigger and 100 million pieces of debris above one millimeter across. Yet only 27,000 pieces are actively tracked by the US Department of Defence.
Space gets more crowded, with the number of satellite launches set to quintuple in the next decade. In January 2021, a single SpaceX Falcon rocket launched 143 satellites into space alone. SpaceX satellite internet venture – Starlink – wants to put 12,000 satellites in orbit over the next five years. All this additional hardware significantly ramps up the chances of collisions and the dreaded Kessler syndrome. A UN report from 2013 projected that catastrophic collisions might occur once every five to nine years over the next two centuries.
My question is- are we going to develop our information gathering capability, or within some days, there will be no information about us in this universe?