Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 22.01.22

Q1. Ocean fertilisation, which some scientists refer to as bio-geoengineering, would involve dissolving iron or nitrates into the surface waters of specific ocean regions. Which of the following may be the impact of this process?

1. Increased primary productivity of ocean
2. Removal of CO2 from the atmosphere
3. Reduction in ocean acidification

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

The carbon-removal approach would extract CO2 from other gases in the atmosphere by changing it into other forms of carbon (such as carbonate) through photosynthesis or artificial “scrubbing.” This separated carbon would then be either sequestered in biomass at the surface or transported away for storage in the ocean or underground. Several carbon-removal geoengineering schemes have been considered. These include carbon burial, ocean fertilisation, biochar production, and scrubbing towers or “artificial trees.”

Carbon burial
Carbon burial, more commonly known as “carbon capture and storage,” involves the pumping of pressurised CO2 into suitable geological structures (that is, with gas-tight upper layers to cap the buried carbon) deep underground or in the deep ocean and stored for extended periods of time.
All the statements are correct:
Ocean fertilisation, which some scientists refer to as biogeoengineering, would involve dissolving iron or nitrates into the surface waters of specific ocean regions to promote the growth of phytoplankton where primary productivity is low. Ocean fertilisation would increase the uptake of CO2 from the air by phytoplankton, microscopic plants that reside at or near the surface of the ocean. The phytoplankton, after blooming, would die and sink to the ocean floor, taking with them the CO2 and become stored as sedimentary rock. In the long term, this may also reduce ocean acidification.
Biochar production
The production of biochar, a type of charcoal made from animal wastes and plant residues (such as wood chips, leaves, and husks), can sequester carbon by circumventing the normal decomposition process and acting as a fertiliser to enhance the sequestration rate of growing biomass. Normally, as organic material decomposes, the microbes breaking it down use oxygen and release CO2. If, however, the material were “cooked” in the absence of oxygen, it would decompose rapidly through pyrolysis. Little or no CO2 would be released, and the bulk of the organic material would harden into a kind of porous charcoal, essentially sequestering the carbon as a solid. Biochar mixed with soils might serve as a fertiliser, thus further increasing the carbon sequestration potential of plants growing in the soil.

Q2. Which of the following can be considered as Zero or low carbon sustainable energy?

1. Nuclear energy
2. Hydrogen energy
3. Solar energy

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

Sustainable energy is energy produced and used in such a way that it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It is similar to the concepts of green energy and clean energy in its consideration of environmental impacts, however formal definitions of sustainable energy also include economic and social impacts.
In general, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy are widely considered to be sustainable. Moderate amounts of wind and solar energy, which are intermittent energy sources, can be integrated into the electrical grid without additional infrastructures such as grid energy storage and demand-response measures. These sources generated 8.5% of worldwide electricity in 2019, a share that has grown rapidly. Costs of wind, solar, and batteries are projected to continue falling due to innovation and economies of scale from increased investment.
Proposed pathways for limiting global warming to 1.5 °C describe a rapid implementation of low-emission methods of producing electricity and heat, and a shift towards more use of electricity in sectors such as transport. The pathways also include measures to reduce energy consumption; and the use of low-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen produced by renewable electricity or with carbon capture and storage. Achieving these goals will require government policies including carbon pricing, energy-specific policies, and phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies.

Types of sustainable energy
1. Renewable energy
2. Zero-carbon or low-carbon energy
Renewable energy
A renewable energy source means energy that is sustainable - something that can't run out, or is endless, like the sun. When you hear the term 'alternative energy' it's usually referring to renewable energy sources too. It means sources of energy that are alternatives to the most commonly used non-sustainable sources - like coal.
Zero-carbon or low-carbon energy
Nuclear-generated electricity isn't renewable but it's zero-carbon, which means its generation emits low levels or almost no CO2, just like renewable energy sources. Nuclear energy has a stable source. Hydrogen fuel is also a Zero-carbon or low-carbon energy source.

The most popular renewable energy sources currently are:
1. Solar energy
2. Wind energy
3. Hydro energy
4. Tidal energy
5. Geothermal energy
6. Biomass energy

Q3. Which of the following can be considered as Sustainable transport policy?

1. Preference for public transport
2. Promotion of waterways
3. Nudging people for non-motorized transport
4. Incentivizing air travel
5. Transit-oriented development in urban areas

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 1, 2, 3 and 4
c. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
d. 1, 2, 3 and 5

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

What makes transport unsustainable or sustainable:
1. A mode like air, water, trains, road etc. with air travel being the most polluting, waterways being the least polluting.
2. Motorised or non-motorized like walking, cycling, boats

3. Energy used: Statistics learn that over 90% of all road transportation relies on oil. The aim should be the decarbonization of transport.
4. Public transport vs personal (carpooling)
5. Development of cities (large distance between work and home or TOD)
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is an exciting fast-growing trend in creating vibrant, livable, sustainable communities. Also known as TOD, it's the creation of compact, walkable, pedestrianoriented, mixed-use communities centred around high-quality train systems. This makes it possible to live a lower-stress life without complete dependence on a car for mobility and survival.

Transit-oriented development is regional planning, city revitalization, suburban renewal, and walkable neighbourhoods combined. TOD is rapidly sweeping the nation with the creation of exciting places in city after city. The public has embraced the concept across the nation as the most desirable places to live, work, and play. Real estate developers have quickly followed to meet the high demand for quality urban places served by rail systems.
Transit-oriented development is also a major solution to the serious and growing problems of climate change and global energy security by creating dense, walkable communities that greatly reduce the need for driving and energy consumption. This type of living arrangement can reduce driving by up to 85%. 

Q4. The United Nations says we could have just 11 years left to limit a climate change catastrophe. It’s not just about reducing carbon emissions on a local scale, but also raising awareness about climate change. As noted in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming, there is a need for “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes” even to limit the global rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In this context, the declaration of a climate emergency could prove to be a much-needed first step in catalysing government and private action. Consider the following statements in this regard

1. The Declaration of climate emergency and carbon-neutrality timeline is part of the Paris climate deal of 2015
2. The UK is the first national government to declare such an emergency
3. Recently India declared a climate emergency

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : b

Why is the Question ?

Climate Emergency declaration and Carbon neutrality goals are not part of the Paris Deal.
The United Nations says we could have just 11 years left to limit a climate change catastrophe. It’s not just about reducing carbon emissions on a local scale, but also raising awareness about climate change. As noted in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming, there is a need for “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes” even to limit the global rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In this context, the declaration of a climate emergency could prove to be a muchneeded first step in catalysing government and private action. The first such measure was taken at the local government level, in Darebin city in December 2016. Since then, there have been hundreds of such declarations on various levels of government, to the extent that ‘climate emergency’ was declared as the Oxford Word of 2019.

A climate emergency declaration or declaring a climate emergency is an action taken by governments and scientists to acknowledge humanity is in a climate emergency. Once a government makes a declaration, the next step for the declaring government is to set priorities to mitigate climate change, prior to ultimately entering a state of emergency or equivalent.

In declaring a climate emergency, a government admits that climate change (or global warming) exists and that the measures taken up to this point are not enough to limit the changes brought by it. The decision stresses the need for the government and administration to devise measures that try and stop humancaused global warming.
The declarations can be made on different levels, for example, at a national or local government level, and they can differ in depth and detail in their guidelines. The term climate emergency does not only describe formal decisions but also includes actions to avert climate breakdown. This is supposed to justify and focus the governing body towards climate action. The specific term "emergency" is used to assign priority to the topic, and to generate a mindset of urgency.

The term “climate emergency” has been promoted by climate activists and pro-climate action politicians to add a sense of urgency for responding to a long-term problem.
Missing Indian Climate Emergency Declaration
As one of the top five emitters of greenhouse gases (in absolute terms), India needs to take a much more proactive role in climate change mitigation. Declaration of climate emergency could be a better starting point to induce public and much needed private action against climate change.
Highlights:
1. The UK is the first national government to declare such an emergency.
2. New Zealand declares climate emergency, promises carbonneutral govt by 2025
3. New York City became the world’s largest city to declare a climate emergency
4. The European Union (EU) has become the first multilateral bloc to declare a climate emergency. A resolution in this regard was recently passed.

Q5. Bonn Challenge, recently seen in the news, is related to

a. Reducing increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
b. 50 % reduction in road traffic accidents by 2030
c. Restoration of degraded and deforested landscapes

d. Eliminating non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases by 2030

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

A global goal to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030, the Bonn Challenge was launched in 2011 by the Government of Germany and IUCN. With 74 per cent of the world’s poor impacted by land degradation, the reversal and restoration of deforested and degraded land have been embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Aichi Biodiversity Targets, Paris Climate Change Agreement and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) goal that, together, provide a roadmap for a sustainable planet.

The forest landscape restoration (FLR) approach that aims to reduce and reverse land degradation in order to restore ecological integrity and enhance human well-being is the solution to land degradation. FLR is a powerful nature-based solution (NBS) that is transforming the lives of people worldwide.
India and Bonn Challenge
At the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (CoP) 2015 in Paris, the government of India made a Bonn Challenge pledge to bring 13 million hectares of degraded land into restoration by 2020 and an additional 8 million hectares by 2030.

According to the Bonn Challenge and India: Progress on restoration efforts across states and landscapes report, India has brought an area of 9.8 million hectares under restoration since 2011, meaning that work to restore these landscapes is already underway. Of the 9.8 million hectares, 94.4% was contributed by government agencies, while the surveyed NGOs and private companies contributed 3.6% and 2% respectively.