CURRENT AFFAIRS

Recently, the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL) established the National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL), a specialised national facility to test and recalibrate air pollution monitoring instruments and environmental sensors under Indian conditions.

The Flamingo Festival recently drew large numbers of families and nature enthusiasts to the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary near Sullurpeta in Andhra Pradesh, highlighting growing public interest in wetland conservation and avian biodiversity.

Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away in Pune at the age of 83. His contributions to environmental conservation have been profound and long-lasting. Among his achievements, his role as Chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) is considered most significant.

The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) held in Nairobi adopted a resolution submitted by India on "Strengthening Global Management of Forest Fires," reflecting the international community's growing concern about emerging environmental threats.

Eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away at the age of 83 in Pune, reviving national attention on his most influential contribution—the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) report.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has successfully released 15 critically endangered Indian vultures into the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. This marks a significant step in India’s efforts to restore vulture populations, which suffered catastrophic declines due to veterinary drug toxicity and habitat stress.

Recently, the world's second National Environmental Standards Laboratory (NESL) and the world's fifth National Primary Standards Facility for solar cell calibration was inaugurated at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL).

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), completed ten years in November 2025, prompting a global assessment of its effectiveness, ambition, and equity in addressing climate change.

Recently, the deepest gas hydrate–associated “cold seep” discovered so far has been recorded on the seafloor off western Greenland.

From January 1, the European Union has operationalised the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on selected carbon-intensive imports. The move is expected to significantly impact India’s exports of steel, aluminium, and other energy-intensive products, raising concerns over trade competitiveness and climate equity.