# 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. #### πŸ“œ Historical Background * **1980 AD**: The term β€œSustainable 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 | Year | Event | | ---- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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** – β€œThe 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**. | Goal | Description | | ---- | ------------------------------------- | | 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 | *** ### πŸ“œ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) **8 Goals** (2000–2015), replaced by SDGs in 2016. 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development *** ### 🌐 Global Initiatives on Sustainable Development | Year | Event | | ---- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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. | *** ### πŸ‡³πŸ‡΅ 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**: $$ \text{Environment} = \text{Interaction among natural, cultural, social, economic, and human systems.} $$ #### 🏠 Habitat * **Habitat** = Physical environment where an organism lives (β€œaddress” 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. #### πŸ”¬ Difference * **Ecology**: Study of interactions within an ecosystem. * **Ecosystem**: Functional unit of the environment. * **Environment**: Group of ecosystems. * **Habitat**: Part of an ecosystem. *** ### πŸ›οΈ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) * Established: **June 5, 1972**. * Headquarters: **Nairobi, Kenya**. * Role: Sets global environmental agenda, promotes sustainable development. #### πŸ“ˆ Major Reports 1. **Emission Gap Report** 2. **Adaptation Gap Report** 3. **Global Environment Outlook** 4. **Frontiers** 5. **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** *** ### πŸ“Š Emissions Gap Report 2021 – Key Points * Global COβ‚‚ 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. #### πŸ“ˆ Nepal’s Climate Data * Maximum temperature increasing by **0.056Β°C per year**. * Nepal contributes **0.027%** of global GHG emissions. * **COP26 Commitments**: 1. Remain net-zero carbon from **2022–2045**, then carbon negative. 2. Halt deforestation, increase forest cover to **45% by 2030**. 3. Protect all vulnerable people from climate change by **2030**. #### πŸ“Š Climate Budget in Nepal | Code | Indicator | FY 2078/79 | FY 2079/80 | FY 2080/81\* | | ---- | ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | ------------ | | 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) | Rank | Country | Emissions (Million Metric Tons) | | ---- | --------- | ------------------------------- | | 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) | Gas | GWP (100-year) | | ---- | -------------- | | COβ‚‚ | 1 | | CHβ‚„ | 21 | | Nβ‚‚O | 310 | | HFCs | 140–11,700 | | PFCs | 6,500–9,200 | | SF₆ | 23,900 | **GWP** = Heat absorbed by a GHG relative to COβ‚‚. *** ### πŸ“œ 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**: COβ‚‚, CHβ‚„, Nβ‚‚O, HFCs, PFCs, SF₆. #### πŸ”„ Kyoto Mechanisms 1. **Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)** 2. **Emission Trading** 3. **Joint Implementation (JI)** *** ### πŸ’Ό Carbon Trading * **Carbon Credit** = Permit to emit **1 ton of COβ‚‚**. * **Types**: 1. **Emission Trading (Cap-and-Trade)** 2. **Offset Trading (Baseline-and-Credit)** * **Nepal**: Can sell carbon credits under **REDD+**. *** ### 🌱 Biodiversity **Biodiversity** = Variety of life on Earth in all forms and interactions. #### πŸ“Š Nepal’s Biodiversity * **World rank**: 25th * **Asia rank**: 11th * **Ecosystems**: 118 types * **Vegetation**: 75 types * **Forests**: 35 types #### πŸ“… Key Dates * **International Day for Biological Diversity**: May 22 * **UN Decade on Biodiversity**: 2011–2020 #### 🌍 Top 10 Biodiversity-Rich Countries (2023) 1. Brazil 2. Indonesia 3. China 4. Colombia 5. Peru 6. Mexico 7. Australia 8. India 9. Ecuador 10. USA *** ### 🧬 Types of Biodiversity 1. **Genetic Diversity**: Variety of genes within a species. 2. **Species Diversity**: Variety of species in an area. 3. **Ecosystem Diversity**: Variety of ecosystems in a region. *** ### 🌿 Pollution **Pollution** = Presence of pollutants in the environment. #### 🌫️ Air Pollution **Types**: 1. **Natural Pollutants**: Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, pollen. 2. **Primary Pollutants**: Directly emitted (CO, SOβ‚‚, NOβ‚“). 3. **Secondary Pollutants**: Formed by chemical reactions (O₃, Hβ‚‚SOβ‚„). **Sources**: * **Point**: Industries, power plants. * **Areal**: Crop burning, forest fires. * **Line**: Traffic, airplanes. #### πŸ’§ Water Pollution Addition of substances that degrade water quality. #### πŸ”₯ Thermal Pollution Change in water temperature due to human activity (e.g., power plant discharge). #### πŸ”Š 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 COβ‚‚ emissions. * **Target**: Cut emissions by **45% by 2030**, net zero by **2050**. * **Achieved by**: Bhutan, Suriname. *** ### πŸ—“οΈ World Environment Day * **Date**: June 5 * **First celebrated**: 1973 * **Theme 2024**: β€œOur Land, Our Future” (Host: Saudi Arabia) * **Theme 2023**: β€œBeat 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):** 1. Brazil 2. Indonesia 3. China 4. Colombia 5. Peru 6. Mexico 7. Australia 8. India 9. Ecuador 10. USA *** #### 🧬 Types of Biodiversity 1. **Genetic Diversity** 2. **Species Diversity** 3. **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**. *** #### πŸ“… World Biodiversity Day Themes | Year | Theme | | ---- | --------------------------------------------------- | | 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. #### πŸ” 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**. *** ### πŸ† Earth Awards #### πŸ… 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:** | Category | Awardee(s) | | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | 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:** | Category | Awardee(s) | | ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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:** | Category | Awardee(s) | | ---------------------- | ---------------------- | | 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:** | Year | Awardees | | ---- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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**. | Year | Winner(s) | | ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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) | *** #### πŸ₯‡ 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:** | Year | Awardees | | ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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) | *** #### πŸ† 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:** | Category | Awardee | Contribution | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | 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:** | Category | Awardee | Contribution | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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:** | Category | Awardee | Contribution | | ----------------------- | --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | 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 #### πŸ›οΈ 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**. #### πŸ”οΈ 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: 1. Promote conservation of flora and fauna. 2. Sustainable land use and development. 3. Improve livelihoods of local people. 4. 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"*. *** #### πŸ‡³πŸ‡΅ 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**. *** #### πŸ“• 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"* **πŸ‡³πŸ‡΅ Wetlands of Nepal Listed as Ramsar Sites:** | S.N. | Name | Area (ha) | Date of Enlistment | Managing Agency | | ---- | ------------------------------ | --------- | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | 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 | *** ### πŸ“œ International Protocols and Treaties | S.N. | Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) | Issues Covered | | ---- | ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 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** $$2^{\circ}C$$**, preferably to** $$1.5^{\circ}C$$. 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. | *** ### πŸ“… Important Environmental Days | Day | Date | | ----------------------------------- | ------------ | | 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 | *** ### πŸ‘¨πŸ”¬ Pioneers/Researchers/Inventors in Environment & Ecology | Field | Year (AD) | Researcher/Pioneer | | ---------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------- | | 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 | HΓ©ctor 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 | *** ### πŸ“Š Standards & Indicators in Environment/Biodiversity/Climate Change | Standard/Indicator | Full Form/Description | | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | | 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 | *** ### πŸ”¬ 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"* *** #### πŸ‘¨πŸ”¬ Famous Scientists and Their Contributions | Scientist | Major Discoveries/Contributions | | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Albert Einstein** | Photon, General & Special Theory of Relativity, $$E=mc^2$$ | | **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 RΓΆntgen** | 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 RamΓ³n 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* | *** #### πŸ‘¨πŸ”¬ Fathers of Different Branches | Field | Father(s) | | ----------------------------- | ------------------ | | Father of Antibiotics | Alexander Fleming | | Father of Ayurveda | Charak/Dhanwantari | | Father of Biology and Zoology | Aristotle | | Father of Biotechnology | Karoly Ereky | *** ### πŸ’» Leading Social Networking Services | Service | Founder(s) | CEO | Year Founded | Headquarters | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------ | | Facebook | 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 | | WhatsApp | Brian Acton, Jan Koum | Will Cathcart | 2009 | Mountain View, California, USA | | Instagram | Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger | Kevin Systrom | 2010 | Menlo Park, California, USA | | Facebook Messenger | Mark Zuckerberg | Mark Zuckerberg | 2011 | Menlo Park, California, USA | | WeChat | Zhang Xiaolong (Tencent) | Ma Huateng | 2010 | Shenzhen, China | | Skype | Niklas ZennstrΓΆm, Janus Friis | Tony Bates | 2003 | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | | LinkedIn | 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 | *** ### πŸš€ Space Exploration Two ways of exploration: 1. Through Earth-based instruments (e.g., telescopes). 2. Through space travel (manned or unmanned). #### πŸ•°οΈ Timeline of Space Exploration | Mission | Year | Key Event | Country | | ----------------------- | ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------- | | 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) | *** #### πŸš€ Space Tourism Companies (2021) | Company | Country | Founder | Founded | Notable Facts | | --------------- | ------- | --------------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | 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 | *** ### πŸ›°οΈ Nepal in Space #### πŸ‡³πŸ‡΅ 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**. #### πŸ‡³πŸ‡΅ 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**. ***