[1] Green Credit Programme (GCP) * Rules Notified in Oct 2023 by MoEF&CC Gol under EPA 1986 * allows individuals & organizations to voluntarily earn tradable green credits by activities like 🌱planting, 💧conservation, waste management, pollution📉 * Implemented by ICFRE

[2] In 2024, Govt approved a dedicated fund of ₹56 Cr (under CAMPA) for saving the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard & Lesser Florican * It supports habitat management, captive breeding, community involvement to protect these grassland birds * Presently only ~140 GIBs

Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement 2023/ High Seas Treaty *legally binding *under UNCLOS *for conservation & sustainable use of marine biodiversity in high seas * 4 pillars: 🧬, marine PAs, EIA, technology transfer * India signed in 2024, but not ratified

[4] Draft Greenhouse gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025 * to set mandatory GEI reduction targets for energy-intensive industries in India * linked to Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) 2023 * aim to reduce GEI in key sectors * ➡️India's Paris Deal commitments

[5] Project Cheetah updates: * In April 2025, 2 male cheetahs were translocated from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in MP * In 2022, Cheetahs from South Africa & Namibia were introduced in Kuno * Kenya wants to collaborate * Flagship species of grasslands

[6] CoP-29 * in Baku, Azerbaijan, in Nov 2024 * Theme: Investing in a Livable Planet * New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance: developed countries to mobilize $300B/year for developing countries, $1.3T by 2035 * Baku Climate Unity Pact * India pushed CBDR-RC

[7] Global Plastics Treaty negotiations: In 2024, UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) negotiated on legally-binding treaty to end plastic pollution. It aims to curb single-use plastics, promote recycling & eliminate hazardous additives.

[8] Biological Diversity (Access & Benefits Sharing) Regulations 2025: * Turnover-Based Benefit Sharing; exempt below ₹5Cr * Exemption for cultivated medicinal plants * 5% Benefit-sharing for high-value species like red sanders * Digital Sequence Information DSI BD Rules 2024

[9] UN CBD CoP16: UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16, held in 2024-25) focused on implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022. Nations reviewed progress on targets like protecting 30% of Earth’s land & oceans by 2030 (30x30 goal).

[10] UN designated 2024 as International Year of Camelids to highlight the importance of camelid species (camels, llamas, alpacas) to ecosystems & indigenous cultures. Camelids are vital for communities in arid & high-altitude regions, providing transport, food, & fiber.

[11] UNCCD CoP16 16th CoP to UN Convention to Combat Desertification (in Riyadh, Dec 2024) ramped up global commitments to restore land, fight drought & achieve land degradation neutrality. New funding of $10-12B was pledged for land restoration & climate-resilient agriculture.

[12] Nuclear Waste Reduction: Swiss start-up demonstrated Nuclear Transmutation technology to reduce volume & toxicity of nuclear waste by 80%. It uses advanced reactors/accelerators to convert long-lived radioactive waste isotopes into shorter-lived ones.

[13] New Tiger Reserves under Project Tiger: * Guru Ghasidas - Tamor Pingla, Chhattisgarh * Ratapani, MP * Madhav, MP Total: 58 TRs Tiger Population (as per All India Tiger Estimation 2022)= 3682, highest in Central India (landscape), Madhya Pradesh (state) & Corbett (TR)

[14] In Dec 2024, India conducted satellite tagging of Ganges River Dolphin in Kulsi River (tributary of Brahmaputra) in Assam, 1st in world for the species. * To understand its migration, range, distribution & habitat in fragmented river systems * under Project Dolphin * by WII

[15] India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 * 18th biennial report since 1987 * Published in Dec 2024, by FSI * Forest Cover 21.76% + Tree Cover 3.41%, ⬆️1445km2 since 2021 * Mangrove🔻 * Northeast forest🔻 * Carbon stock⬆️ * Bamboo area⬆️, max in MP * Forest Fire: Uttarakhand

[16] MoEFCC has notified Circular Economy & Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules/framework for plastic waste, tyre waste, battery waste, used oil waste and e-waste. Producers, Importers & Brand-Owners (PIBOs) have been mandated to get the end-of-life wastes recycled.

[17] Eco-mark Rules 2024: * Notified in Sept 2024, by MoEFCC, replacing the 1991 Ecomark Scheme * Objective: Promotes environment-friendly products under Mission LiFE, encouraging sustainable consumption, resource efficiency, circular economy * Implementation: by CPCB & BIS

[18] UNEA adopted resolution on "Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles" in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2024 * Based on India’s Mission LiFE, emphasizing individual behavioral changes for sustainability * Resolution was submitted by India, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka & Bolivia

[19a] Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI): Launched on June 5, 2024 to restore & expand mangroves along India’s coastline, enhancing climate resilience, preventing coastal erosion, & supporting local livelihoods ... By ...

[19b] * ... By mangrove reforestation/afforestation * Funding: via Convergence of MGNREGS, CAMPA, etc (80% Centre, 20% State contribution); Initial outlay of ₹100 crore through CAMPA * Target & Scope: Aims to restore 540 km2 (54,000 Ha) across 13 States & UTs in 5 years

[20] 3rd Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) * India hosted 3rd VOGSS in Aug 2024, in virtual format; 1st was in Jan 2023, 2nd in Nov 2023 * Theme: Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future * 123 countries from Global South attended; China & Pakistan were not invited

[21] Blue Flag: Certification by Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to beach/ marina/ sustainable boating tour operator meeting 33 criteria in 4 categories: water quality, envt management, envt education, safety India: 13 🔵Beach Latest: Kappad (Kerala), Chal (Kerala)

[22] Ramsar Wetland Sites: Recently, many wetlands of India* have been designated as Ramsar Sites, taking the total count to 89. *Including: Khecheopalri (Sikkim’s 1st Ramsar Site, high-altitude lake), Tawa Reservoir (MP), etc

Misc: * Manipur Bush Quail: Rediscovered in Assam in 2024 after 1932 * Red-crown Roofed Turtle: Returned to Ganga River after ~30 years * India Cooling Action Plan: India achieved 50%🔻 of HCFCs in consumption sector, by 2024 * Surat ETS * India's 1st seed germination database 🔚