1.7 Information on Sustainable Development, Environment, Pollution, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Sc
1.7 Information on Sustainable Development, Environment, Pollution, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Science and Technology 🌍
🌱 Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
📜 Historical Background
1980 AD: The term “Sustainable Development” was first coined by Barbada Ward.
1983 AD: The UN General Assembly formed the Bruntland Commission, chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway.
1987 AD: The Brundtland Report (Our Common Future) was released.
Three core elements: Economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.
1992 AD: UN Conference on Environment and Development published the Earth Charter.
Agenda 21 was introduced as an action plan for sustainable development.
🌐 Evolution of the Concept
1972
Stockholm Conference – First UN conference on the human environment.
1980
IUCN published the World Conservation Strategy, first reference to sustainable development.
1982
UN World Charter for Nature – five principles of conservation.
1992
Rio Earth Summit – Agenda 21 adopted.
1997
Kyoto Protocol adopted.
2000
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established.
2002
Rio+10 (Johannesburg) – reaffirmed Agenda 21.
2012
Rio+20 – “The Future We Want” document.
2015
Agenda 2030 – 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted.
🎯 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
17 Goals, 169 Targets – to be achieved by 2030.
1
No Poverty
2
Zero Hunger
3
Good Health & Well-being
4
Quality Education
5
Gender Equality
6
Clean Water & Sanitation
7
Affordable & Clean Energy
8
Decent Work & Economic Growth
9
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
10
Reduced Inequalities
11
Sustainable Cities & Communities
12
Responsible Consumption & Production
13
Climate Action
14
Life Below Water
15
Life on Land
16
Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
17
Partnerships for the Goals
📜 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
8 Goals (2000–2015), replaced by SDGs in 2016.
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development
🌐 Global Initiatives on Sustainable Development
1971
Helsinki Conference (Finland) on the future of the environment
1972
Stockholm Conference – First UN environment conference. World Environment Day started (June 5).
1972
UNEP established (Nairobi, Kenya) on Dec 15.
1992
Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro) – UNFCCC, Agenda 21, Biodiversity Convention.
1997
Kyoto Protocol adopted.
2000
MDGs declared.
2002
Rio+10 (Johannesburg) – World Summit on Sustainable Development.
2007
Green Growth Strategy (Bali).
2009
Copenhagen Climate Summit.
2012
Rio+20 (Brazil) – Future plans for sustainable development.
🇳🇵 Provisions of Sustainable Development in Nepal
Constitution of Nepal: Right to a clean environment as a fundamental right.
Sixth Five-Year Plan: Policies on conservation of natural resources.
Eighth Five-Year Plan: Concept of sustainable development introduced.
2059 BS: Sustainable Development Agenda introduced.
1998: National Conservation Policy – first strategy on sustainable development.
1998: ICIMOD launched Nepal Net program.
2050 BS: Environment Conservation Council formed.
Environment Conservation Act, 2076 & Rules, 2077: Emphasized IEE and EIA.
2056 BS: Vehicle pollution standards implemented.
Nepal is a party to Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.
President Chure Conservation Program.
2071–80 BS: Declared as Forest Decade.
13th Three-Year Plan: Adapted to climate change.
🌳 Environment
Environment = Natural component where biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors interact.
As per Environment Protection Act (EPA), 2076:
🏠 Habitat
Habitat = Physical environment where an organism lives (“address” of an organism).
Example: Forest, river, lake.
🌍 Ecosystem
Ecosystem = Functional unit of nature where living organisms interact with each other and the physical environment.
Examples: Forest, grassland, pond, lake.
Human-made ecosystems: Crop fields, aquarium.
🔬 Difference
Ecology: Study of interactions within an ecosystem.
Ecosystem: Functional unit of the environment.
Environment: Group of ecosystems.
Habitat: Part of an ecosystem.
🏛️ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Established: June 5, 1972.
Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
Role: Sets global environmental agenda, promotes sustainable development.
📈 Major Reports
Emission Gap Report
Adaptation Gap Report
Global Environment Outlook
Frontiers
Invest into Healthy Planet
🌿 Major Campaigns
Beat Pollution
UN75
World Environment Day
Wild for Life
🌐 Organizations Under UNEP
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) – established 1988.
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Montreal Protocol Secretariat
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Minamata Convention on Mercury (MCM)
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
CITES
📊 Emissions Gap Report 2021 – Key Points
Global CO₂ emissions bounced back post-COVID.
G20 members not on track to meet 2030 pledges.
Net-zero pledges by 50 countries are ambiguous.
Methane reduction can help close the emissions gap.
Carbon markets need clear rules.
🌡️ Global Warming & Climate Change
Climate Change = Long-term change in weather patterns due to human activity.
📈 Nepal’s Climate Data
Maximum temperature increasing by 0.056°C per year.
Nepal contributes 0.027% of global GHG emissions.
COP26 Commitments:
Remain net-zero carbon from 2022–2045, then carbon negative.
Halt deforestation, increase forest cover to 45% by 2030.
Protect all vulnerable people from climate change by 2030.
📊 Climate Budget in Nepal
1
Directly
5.71%
5.90%
5.96%
2
Indirectly
27.66%
28.08%
29.90%
3
Neutral
66.64%
66.02%
64.14%
*Up to mid-March 2024
🌍 Top 10 GHG Emitting Countries (2020)
1
China
12,295.62
2
USA
5,289.13
3
India
3,166.95
4
EU (27)
2,957.36
5
Indonesia
1,474.83
6
Russia
1,799.98
7
Brazil
1,469.64
8
Japan
1,062.78
9
Iran
844.91
10
Canada
731.54
🌿 Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) & Global Warming Potential (GWP)
CO₂
1
CH₄
21
N₂O
310
HFCs
140–11,700
PFCs
6,500–9,200
SF₆
23,900
GWP = Heat absorbed by a GHG relative to CO₂.
📜 UNFCCC & Kyoto Protocol
🌐 UNFCCC (1992)
Objective: Stabilize GHG concentrations.
Parties: 197 (as of July 2021).
COP = Decision-making body.
🌿 Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Adopted: Dec 11, 1997 (Kyoto, Japan).
Entered force: Feb 16, 2005.
Nepal ratified: Sept 16, 2005.
Target: Reduce GHG emissions by 5% below 1990 levels by 2012.
Gases covered: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, HFCs, PFCs, SF₆.
🔄 Kyoto Mechanisms
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Emission Trading
Joint Implementation (JI)
💼 Carbon Trading
Carbon Credit = Permit to emit 1 ton of CO₂.
Types:
Emission Trading (Cap-and-Trade)
Offset Trading (Baseline-and-Credit)
Nepal: Can sell carbon credits under REDD+.
🌱 Biodiversity
Biodiversity = Variety of life on Earth in all forms and interactions.
📊 Nepal’s Biodiversity
World rank: 25th
Asia rank: 11th
Ecosystems: 118 types
Vegetation: 75 types
Forests: 35 types
📅 Key Dates
International Day for Biological Diversity: May 22
UN Decade on Biodiversity: 2011–2020
🌍 Top 10 Biodiversity-Rich Countries (2023)
Brazil
Indonesia
China
Colombia
Peru
Mexico
Australia
India
Ecuador
USA
🧬 Types of Biodiversity
Genetic Diversity: Variety of genes within a species.
Species Diversity: Variety of species in an area.
Ecosystem Diversity: Variety of ecosystems in a region.
🌿 Pollution
Pollution = Presence of pollutants in the environment.
🌫️ Air Pollution
Types:
Natural Pollutants: Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, pollen.
Primary Pollutants: Directly emitted (CO, SO₂, NOₓ).
Secondary Pollutants: Formed by chemical reactions (O₃, H₂SO₄).
Sources:
Point: Industries, power plants.
Areal: Crop burning, forest fires.
Line: Traffic, airplanes.
💧 Water Pollution
Addition of substances that degrade water quality.
🔥 Thermal Pollution
Change in water temperature due to human activity (e.g., power plant discharge).
🔊 Noise Pollution
Unwanted sound > 75 dB can damage hearing. WHO recommends < 30 dB indoors.
☢️ Radioactive Pollution
Emission of alpha, beta, gamma rays from radioactive materials.
🌡️ Net Zero & Carbon Neutrality
Net Zero: GHG emitted = GHG removed.
Carbon Neutrality: Net zero CO₂ emissions.
Target: Cut emissions by 45% by 2030, net zero by 2050.
Achieved by: Bhutan, Suriname.
🗓️ World Environment Day
Date: June 5
First celebrated: 1973
Theme 2024: “Our Land, Our Future” (Host: Saudi Arabia)
Theme 2023: “Beat Plastic Pollution” (Host: Ivory Coast)
🌿 Biodiversity
Biodiversity or "biological diversity," is defined as the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms and all its interactions. The number and variety of plants, animals, and other organisms that exist is known as biodiversity.
According to the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit, biological diversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are a part.
As per the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 2076, "Biological Diversity" means ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.
Therefore, Biodiversity is regarded as the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region. This includes diversity within species, between species, and ecosystems.
United Nations Decade on Biodiversity: 2011–2020
International Day for Biological Diversity: May 22
Nepal's rank: 25th richest in biodiversity worldwide, 11th in Asia.
Nepal has: 118 types of ecosystem, 75 types of vegetation, 35 types of forests.
E.O. Wilson first used the term "biodiversity" in 1980.
Earth Summit 1992 endorsed the agenda of biodiversity; 152 countries signed the Convention on Biodiversity in 1992.
Nepal ratified it in 1993 and implemented it from May 22, 1994.
According to mongabay.com (Dec 23, 2023), Nepal is the 49th richest country in the world and 12th in Asia in terms of biodiversity.
Top 10 richest countries in biodiversity (mongabay.com):
Brazil
Indonesia
China
Colombia
Peru
Mexico
Australia
India
Ecuador
USA
🧬 Types of Biodiversity
Genetic Diversity
Species Diversity
Ecosystem Diversity
🧬 Genetic Diversity
Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes contained within species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. New genetic variation occurs through gene and chromosomal mutation and, in sexually reproducing organisms, spreads via recombination.
🐾 Species Diversity
Species diversity refers to the variety of species within a specific ecological area. A species is defined as groups of similar organisms that reproduce by interbreeding within the group. Example: Nepal has 100 species of reptiles, 811 species of birds, 43 species of amphibians, etc.
🌍 Ecosystem Diversity
This refers to the different types of habitats. A habitat is the cumulative factor of climate, vegetation, and geography of a region. Examples: corals, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, mangroves, tropical rainforests.
Change in climate changes vegetation.
Species adapt to specific environments.
Nepal has 118 types of ecosystems, including 75 types of vegetation and 35 types of forest ecosystems.
Common ecosystems: river, land, pond, mountain, streams, wetland.
📅 World Biodiversity Day Themes
2021
"We're part of the solution"
2022
"Building a shared future for all life"
2023
"From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity"
2024
"Be Part of the Plan"
🌱 Green Movements/Initiatives
🌿 Green Belt Movement
Founded in 1977 by Professor Wangari Maathai.
Planted over 51 million trees in Kenya.
Wangari Maathai awarded Nobel Peace Prize (2004) and Indira Gandhi Peace Prize.
🌳 Chipko Movement
Forest conservation movement in India.
Originated in 1973 in Uttarakhand (then Uttar Pradesh).
Became a rallying point for global environmental movements.
🌍 Green Peace
Established in 1971 in Canada by Irving and Dorothy Stowe.
Goal: "Ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity."
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
"Rainbow Warrior" is a symbol of environmental delegation by Greenpeace.
🔍 Earth Watch
Founded as Educational Expeditions International in 1971 near Boston, USA by Bob Citron and Clarence Truesdale.
NGO involved in environmental research and conservation.
🏆 Earth Awards
🏅 Champions of the Earth Award
United Nation's highest environmental honor, established in 2005.
Recognizes outstanding leaders from government, civil society, and private sector.
2021 Winners:
Inspiration and Action
Sea Women of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands)
Lifetime Achievement
Sir David Attenborough
Entrepreneurial Vision
Maria Kolesnikova (Kyrgyz Republic)
Science and Innovation
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka (Uganda)
Policy Leadership
Prime Minister Mia Mottley (Barbados)
2022 Winners:
Inspiration and Action
Arcenciel (Lebanon), Cecile Babiane Ddjebet (Cameroon), Constantino Aucca Chutas (Peru)
Entrepreneurial Vision
Dr. Pumima Barman (India)
Science and Innovation
Sir Partha Das Gupta (UK)
2023 Winners:
Inspiration and Action
Ellen MacArthur
Lifetime Achievement
Sir David Attenborough
Entrepreneurial Vision
Blue Circle
Science and Innovation
CSIR
Policy Leadership
Josefina Belmonte
🟦 Blue Planet Prize
Established in 1992 by Asahi Glass Foundation, Japan.
Awarded for outstanding achievements in scientific research addressing global environmental problems.
Inspired by Yuri Gagarin's remark: "the Earth is blue."
Prize: 5 crore Japanese yen.
Winners:
2020
Prof. David Tillman (USA), Dr. Simon Stuart (UK)
2021
Prof. Veerabhadran Ramanathan (USA), Prof. Mohan Munasinghe (Sri Lanka)
2022
His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck (4th King of Bhutan), Prof. Stephen Carpenter (USA)
2023
Prof. Richard Thompson (UK), Prof. Tamara Galloway (UK), Prof. Penelope Lindeque (UK), Prof. Debarati Guha-Sapir (Belgium)
🌐 Global 500 Roll of Honour
Established by UNEP in 1987.
Recognized environmental achievements worldwide.
Last awards in 2003; succeeded by Champions of the Earth in 2005.
Only Nepalese winner: Dr. Krishna Kumar Pandey.
♻️ VOLVO Environment Prize
Instituted in 1988.
Rewards scientific discoveries/innovations in environmental sphere.
First awarded in 1990.
2020
Claire Kremen (USA)
2021
Paul Anastas (USA)
2022
Tamara Galloway, Richard Thompson, Penelope Lindeque (UK) – for work on ocean microplastics
2023
Eduardo Brondizio (Brazilian-born anthropologist, USA)
🥇 Goldman Environmental Prize
Established by Richard and Rhoda Goldman in 1989.
First awarded in 1990.
Considered the "Green Nobel Prize" for grassroots activists.
Prize: $200,000 USD.
Winners:
2021
Sharon Lavigne (USA), Gloria Majiga-Kamoto (Malawi), Thai Van Nguyen (Vietnam), Maida Bilal (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Kimiko Hirata (Japan), Liz Chicaje Churay (Peru)
2022
Chima Williams (Nigeria), Niwat Roykaew (Thailand), Marjan Minnesma (Netherlands), Julien Vincent (Australia), Nalleli Cobo (USA), Alex Lucitante & Alexandra Narvaez (Ecuador)
2023
Alessandra Korap Munduruku (Brazil), Chilekwa Mumba (Zambia), Delima Silalahi (Indonesia), Diane Wilson (USA), Tero Mustonen (Finland), Zafer Kizilkaya (Turkey)
🏆 Galante Conservation Award
Only Nepalese winner: Dr. Mukesh Kumar Chalise (1998) for his study on monkeys.
🐘 WWF Nepal Conservation Awards
Originally Abraham Conservation Awards (established 1995 by Nancy Abraham).
Re-instituted as WWF Nepal Conservation Awards in 2018.
WWF Media in Conservation Award established in 2007.
2021 Winners:
Individual (50,000 NPR)
Hemant Raj Kafle
Tree plantation across Nepal
Individual
Karma Tarke Gurung
Community-based conservation
Individual
Sanjeevani Yonzon Shrestha
20+ years in conservation, authored 20+ books
Organization (100,000 NPR)
Amaltari Community Homestay, Nawalpur
Wildlife conservation & sustainable tourism
2022 Winners:
Individual (50,000 NPR)
Basant Pratap Singh (Journalist)
Coverage of environment, sustainable development, social affairs, governance
Individual
Pumal Basnet (Gene Conservationist Farmer)
Beekeeping promotion, conservation educator
Organization
Nepal Knotcraft Centre
Promotes natural raw materials, women's upliftment
2023 Winners:
Individual (50,000 NPR)
Bhoj Raj Shrestha (farmer)
Over 30 years in conservation
Individual
Shanker Chettri (Scientist)
Pioneer of co-existence, electric fences
Individual
Tirtha Lama (Technician)
Wildlife conservation, rescue, research since 2000
🌐 National and International Organizations
🏛️ IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Established: October 5, 1948.
Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
Nepal became a state member in 1973 (represented by DNPWC).
Publishes Red Data Book of Endangered Species.
Categories: Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, Rare, Threatened.
🏔️ ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)
Established: December 5, 1983, Kathmandu.
Objective: Promote economically & environmentally sound mountain ecosystems, improve living standards in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH).
Member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.
Slogan: "For Mountains and People".
Nepal Net established: September 17, 1998.
🐼 WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
Established: April 29, 1961.
Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
Objectives:
Promote conservation of flora and fauna.
Sustainable land use and development.
Improve livelihoods of local people.
Train people in natural resource management.
Logo: Panda.
🌍 Earth Hour
Organized by WWF.
Started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as a lights-out event.
Engages millions in 185+ countries.
Motto: "For living planet"; Campaign: "Gift to Earth".
🇳🇵 NTNC (National Trust for Nature Conservation)
Established: 1982 AD.
Autonomous, non-profit organization.
Works in nature conservation, biodiversity, clean energy, climate change, cultural heritage, ecotourism, sustainable development.
📕 Red List
Established: 1964 AD, London, UK.
Parent organization: IUCN.
Evaluates extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies.
🌡️ IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
Created by UNEP in 1988.
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
195 Member countries.
🌎 Earth Day
Annual event: April 22.
First held: April 22, 1970.
Proposed by US Senator Gaylord Nelson.
Theme 2023: "Invest in Our Planet".
Theme 2024: "Planet Vs Plastics".
🦏 CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
Text agreed: March 3, 1973, Washington D.C., USA.
Entered into force: July 1, 1975.
Nepal signed: June 18, 1975; implemented: September 16, 1975.
🌊 Ramsar Convention
Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
Convention held in Ramsar, Iran (1971).
Also known as Convention on Wetlands.
Signed: February 2, 1971; implemented: December 21, 1975.
Nepal attained membership: December 17, 1987.
Founder members: 18; Total members: 172 (as of March 2022).
First Ramsar site: Coborg Peninsula, Australia (1974).
World Wetland Day: February 2.
Themes:
2020: "Wetlands & Biodiversity"
2021: "Wetlands & Water"
2022: "Wetland Actions for People and Nature"
2023: "It's Time for Wetlands Restoration"
2024: "Wetlands and Human Wellbeing"
🇳🇵 Wetlands of Nepal Listed as Ramsar Sites:
1
Koshi Tappu
17,500
Dec 12, 1987
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
2
Bishajari & surrounding lakes
3,200
Aug 13, 2003
Chitwan National Park
3
Ghodaghodi Lake
2,563
Aug 13, 2003
District Forest Office, Kailali
4
Jagadishpur Pond
225
Aug 13, 2003
District Forest Office, Kapilvastu
5
Rara Lake
1,583
Sep 23, 2007
Rara National Park
6
Shey-Phoksundo
494
Sep 23, 2007
She-Phoksundo National Park
7
Gosaikunda & surrounding lakes
1,030
Sep 23, 2007
Langtang National Park
8
Gokyo & surrounding lakes
7,770
Sep 23, 2007
Sagarmatha National Park
9
Maipokhari
90
Oct 28, 2008
District Forest Office, Ilam
10
Pokhara Valley Lakes Cluster
26,106
Feb 2, 2016
District Forest Office, Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City
📜 International Protocols and Treaties
1
Ramsar Convention (1971)
Conservation and wise use of wetlands, habitats for water birds. Implemented Dec 21, 1975. Founder members: 18, Total: 171.
2
Biodiversity Conservation (1972)
Protection and conservation of natural resources.
3
CITES (1973, Geneva)
Regulates international trade in endangered species. Signed March 3, 1973; enforced July 1, 1975. Nepal implemented July 1, 1975.
4
Bonn Convention (1979, Bonn)
Conservation of migratory species and habitats. Signed 1979, enforced 1983. 131 member states (Sept 2020).
5
Vienna Convention (1985, Austria)
Protection of the ozone layer. Signed March 22, 1985; effective 1988. Ratified by 197 countries.
6
Montreal Protocol (1987, Canada)
Phasing out ozone-depleting substances. Signed March 22, 1987; effective Jan 1, 1989. Signatories: 46; Ratifiers: 197.
7
Sofia Protocol (1988, Bulgaria)
Control of nitrogen oxide emissions. Adopted 1988; enforced Feb 14, 1991. Signatories: 25; Parties: 35.
8
Basel Convention (1989, Switzerland)
Control of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. Signed March 22, 1989; effective May 5, 1992. Signatories: 53; Members: 186.
9
Convention on Biological Diversity (1992, Brazil)
Biodiversity protection. Effective Dec 29, 1993. Members: 196. UN Decade on Biodiversity: 2011–2020.
10
Kyoto Protocol (1997, Japan)
Emission limitation and reduction commitments for Annex parties.
11
Rotterdam Convention (1998, Netherlands)
Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for hazardous chemicals/pesticides in international trade. Signed Sep 10, 1998; effective Feb 24, 2004. Signatories: 72; Parties: 158.
12
Stockholm Convention (2001, Sweden)
Protect human health/environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Effective May 17, 2004. Signatories: 152; Parties: 182.
13
Nagoya Protocol (2010, Japan)
Access to genetic resources and fair/equitable sharing of benefits.
14
Minamata Convention (2013, Japan)
Protection from mercury. Signed Oct 11, 2013; effective Aug 16, 2017. Signatories: 128; Parties: 92.
15
Paris Agreement (2015, France)
Legally binding treaty on climate change. Adopted by 196 countries at COP21. Goal: Limit global warming to well below 2∘C, preferably to 1.5∘C. Nepal signed: April 22, 2016; ratified: Oct 5, 2016; enforced: Nov 4, 2016.
16
Marrakesh Agreement (2016, Morocco)
Move forward on Paris Agreement rulebook; launched Marrakech Partnership for Climate Action.
📅 Important Environmental Days
World Wetland Day
February 2
World Forestry Day
March 21
World Water Day
March 22
Earth Day
April 22
International Biodiversity Day
May 22
World Environment Day
June 5
World Combat Day on Desertification
June 17
World Population Day
July 11
World Nature Conservation Day
July 28
World Ozone Preservation Day
September 16
Wildlife Week
October 1–7
International Mountain Day
December 11
👨🔬 Pioneers/Researchers/Inventors in Environment & Ecology
Ecology
1866
Ernst Haeckel
Ecosystem
1953
A.G. Tansley
Greenhouse Gas
1896
Svante Arrhenius
Concept of Greenhouse Effect
1827
Joseph Fourier
Study of Greenhouse Effect
1859
John Tyndall
CFCs
1928
Thomas Midgley (American)
Concept of Acid Rain
1852
Robert Angus Smith
Eco-Tourism
1983
Héctor Ceballos-Lascurain
Depletion of Ozone Layer
1913
J.C. Farman
Sustainable Development Word
1980
Barbara Ward
Biodiversity
1980
E.O. Wilson
Climate Change
1896
Svante Arrhenius
Global Warming
1975
Wallace Broecker
📊 Standards & Indicators in Environment/Biodiversity/Climate Change
ISO-14000
Environmental Management
ISO-14001
Criteria for an Environmental Management System
Euro-IV
Vehicle Pollution Standard
Euro-III
Vehicle Emission Standard
OK Tex-100
Indication for Environmental Quality
10-10-10
Climate Change Initiative
TX2
Doubling the Number of Tigers
COP
Conference of the Parties (Climate Change)
B.O.D.
Biological Oxygen Demand
C.O.D.
Chemical Oxygen Demand
Agenda-21
Related to Environment and Development
Global-500
Environmental Prize
🔬 Science and Technology
Science: A systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of explanations and predictions about nature and the universe. Technology: The collection of techniques and processes used in production or scientific investigation.
National Science Day (Nepal): Ashwin 1
World Science Day: November 10
2021 Theme: "Building Climate-Ready Communities"
2022 Theme: "Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development"
👨🔬 Famous Scientists and Their Contributions
Albert Einstein
Photon, General & Special Theory of Relativity, E=mc2
J.J. Thomson
Discovery of the Electron
Ernest Rutherford
Discovery of the Proton; "Father of Nuclear Physics"
James Chadwick
Discovery of the Neutron (Nobel 1935)
Isaac Newton
Laws of Motion, Universal Gravitation
Charles-Augustin de Coulomb
Coulomb's Law (Electrostatics)
Georg Simon Ohm
Ohm's Law (Electricity)
Michael Faraday
Electromagnetic Induction, Benzene, Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis; "Father of Electricity"
Thomas Edison
Electric Bulb, Telegraph, Phonograph, Carbon Transmitter; "Father of Invention"
Henri Becquerel
Radioactivity (Nobel Prize)
Marie Curie
Discovery of Radium; First woman Nobel laureate
Max Planck
Quantum Theory (Nobel Prize)
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz
Photoelectric Effect
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
Discovery of X-Rays (Nobel 1901)
Neils Bohr
Atomic Structure
Enrico Fermi
Nuclear Reactor, Induced Radioactivity (Nobel)
Ferdinand Verbiest
World's first automobile (steam-powered)
Charles Babbage
"Father of Computers"; first mechanical computer
Emile Berliner
Disc record gramophone (phonograph)
Alexander Graham Bell
Telephone, Metal Detector, Photophone
Rudolf Diesel
Diesel Engine
Alexander Fleming
Penicillin
Guglielmo Marconi
Radio (Nobel 1909)
John Logie Baird
Television, first electronic color TV tube
Wright Brothers
First powered airplane
C.V. Raman
Raman Effect (Nobel 1930)
Archimedes
Mechanics, Hydrostatics, Pi, Law of Exponents
Daniel Bernoulli
Bernoulli Effect
Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Founder of Modern Neuroscience
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
Chandrasekhar Limit (Black Holes)
Erwin Chargaff
DNA Base Pairing Rules
John Dalton
Atomic Theory, Law of Partial Pressures
Charles Darwin
Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection
Galileo Galilei
Father of Modern Science; discovered Jupiter's moons
Hippocrates
Father of Western Medicine
Grace Hopper
Pioneer of Electronic Computers
Johannes Kepler
Laws of Planetary Motion
Karl Landsteiner
Human Blood Group System
Antoine Lavoisier
Father of Modern Chemistry
Gregor Mendel
Founder of Genetics
Dmitri Mendeleev
Periodic Table
Alfred Nobel
Invented Dynamite
Louis Pasteur
Father of Microbiology, Pasteurization
Linus Pauling
Valence Bond Theory, Electronegativity
Pythagoras
Pythagorean Theorem
Ernest Rutherford
Father of Nuclear Chemistry/Physics
Thales of Miletus
First Scientist in History
Alessandro Volta
Electric Battery
Alfred R. Wallace
Co-discoverer of Natural Selection
James Watt
Improved Steam Engine
Stephen Hawking
Black Holes, Cosmology, Relativity; authored A Brief History of Time
👨🔬 Fathers of Different Branches
Father of Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming
Father of Ayurveda
Charak/Dhanwantari
Father of Biology and Zoology
Aristotle
Father of Biotechnology
Karoly Ereky
💻 Leading Social Networking Services
Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Hughes, Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin
Mark Zuckerberg
2004
Menlo Park, California, USA
YouTube
Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, Jawed Karim
Susan Wojcicki
2005
San Bruno, California, USA
Google+
Vic Gundotra, Bradley Horowitz
Sundar Pichai
2011
Mountain View, California, USA
Brian Acton, Jan Koum
Will Cathcart
2009
Mountain View, California, USA
Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger
Kevin Systrom
2010
Menlo Park, California, USA
Facebook Messenger
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg
2011
Menlo Park, California, USA
Zhang Xiaolong (Tencent)
Ma Huateng
2010
Shenzhen, China
Skype
Niklas Zennström, Janus Friis
Tony Bates
2003
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Reid Hoffman, Konstantin Guericke, Jean-Luc Valliant, Allen Blue, Eric Ly
Jeff Weiner
2002
Mountain View, California, USA
Flickr
Stewart Butterfield, Caterina Fake
N/A
2004
Mountain View, California, USA
🚀 Space Exploration
Two ways of exploration:
Through Earth-based instruments (e.g., telescopes).
Through space travel (manned or unmanned).
🕰️ Timeline of Space Exploration
WAC Corporal
1946
First US rocket to reach edge of space
USA
V-2
1946
First pictures of Earth from 105 km altitude
USA
R-1
1951
First dogs sent to space
USSR
R-7
1957
First Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
USSR
Sputnik 1
1957
First artificial satellite
USSR
Sputnik 2
1957
First animal in orbit (dog Laika)
USSR
Explorer 6
1959
First photograph of Earth from orbit (NASA)
USA
Vostok 1
1961
First manned flight (Yuri Gagarin)
USSR
Freedom 7
1961
First human-piloted space flight (Alan Shepard)
USA
OSO-1
1962
First orbital solar observatory (NASA)
USA
Vostok 6
1963
First woman in space (Valentina Tereshkova)
USSR
Luna 10
1966
First artificial satellite around the Moon
USSR
Apollo 8
1968
First piloted orbital mission of the Moon (NASA)
USA
Apollo 11
1969
First humans on the Moon (Armstrong & Aldrin)
USA
Luna 16
1970
First automatic sample return from the Moon
USSR
Salyut 1
1971
First space station
USSR
Pioneer 10
1972
First human-made object on escape trajectory from Sun
USA
Mariner 10
1974
First photograph of Venus from space
USA
Venera 13
1982
First Venus soil samples & sound recording
USSR
STS-41-B
1984
First untethered spacewalk (Bruce McCandless II)
USA
Voyager 1
1990
First photograph of the whole Solar System
USA
Mir
1995
Longest duration spaceflight (437.7 days, Valeri Polyakov)
Russia
HALCA
1997
First orbital radio observatory
Japan
NEAR Shoemaker
2000
First orbiting of an asteroid (433 Eros)
USA
NEAR
2001
First landing on an asteroid (433 Eros)
USA
Genesis
2004
First sample return beyond lunar orbit (solar wind)
USA
Cassini-Huygens
2005
First soft landing on Titan (moon of Saturn)
USA/Europe
Hayabusa
2005
First interplanetary escape without undercarriage cutoff
Japan
Stardust
2006
First sample return from a comet (81P/Wild)
USA
Kepler Mission
2009
First space telescope for Earth-like exoplanets
USA
MESSENGER
2011
First orbit of Mercury
USA
Voyager 1
2012
First manmade probe in interstellar space
USA
Rosetta
2014
First soft landing on a comet
European Space Agency
New Shepard 2
2015
First propulsive landing of a rocket after spaceflight
USA (Blue Origin)
Chang'e 4
2019
First soft landing on far side of the Moon; first germination of seeds on another celestial body
China (CNSA)
Event Horizon Telescope
2019
First direct photograph of a black hole
USA (NASA)
SpaceX Demo-2
2020
First orbital human spaceflight by a private company
USA (SpaceX)
Ingenuity
2021
First powered flight on another celestial body (Mars)
USA (NASA)
🚀 Space Tourism Companies (2021)
Blue Origin
USA
Jeff Bezos
2000
Jeff Bezos & crew flew on New Shepherd (July 2021)
Virgin Galactic
USA
Richard Branson
2004
Richard Branson & crew on VSS Unity (sub-orbital flight)
SpaceX
USA
Elon Musk
2002
Falcon 9 launched 143 satellites (Jan 2021 record)
Zero 2 Infinity
Spain
Jose Mariano Lopez-Urdiales
2009
High-altitude balloons for near-space access
🛰️ Nepal in Space
🇳🇵 NepaliSat-1 (Bird NPL)
First satellite of Nepal.
Launched: April 17, 2019 (Cygnus NG-11, USA).
Reached ISS: April 19, 2019.
Mass: 1.3 kg.
Funded by: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
Constructed under: BIRDS-3 project, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan.
Contained: Nepal's flag, NAST logo, developers' names.
Orbital life: ~6 months.
🇳🇵 SanoSat-1 (Nepal-PQ1)
First made-in-Nepal satellite.
Launched: January 13, 2022 (Falcon 9, SpaceX).
Developed by: ORION Space, AMSAT-Nepal, AMSAT-EA.
Type: Pocket Qube (1P size).
Mass: 250 grams.
Purpose: Measure space radiation and transmit data to Earth.