Current Affairs 16th December 2017

Current Affairs 16th December 2017 - Important Points

• World's space agencies proposed creation of a space climate observatory on - 11th December 2017
• NGT bans plastic items in Haridwar on - 15th December 2017

Current Affairs 16th December 2017 - Details

World's space agencies proposed creation of a space climate observatory on - 11th December 2017

According to a declaration that was adopted, the heads of world space agencies have proposed
the creation of a climate observatory to combine acquired data and share it with scientists around the globe on 11th December 2017.

The space agency heads met on the eve of the ‘One Planet Summit' in Paris, to discuss climate monitoring from space, including  areas such as water resource management, greenhouse gases and the use of satellites during natural disasters.

The host of the talks –France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) stated that satellites are very important tools to study and gain new  insights into climate change in order to mitigate its effects and help societies to devise coping strategies. It added saying that more than half of the 50 important climate variables could be measured only from space.

Elaborating further on the topic, CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall said that the ‘Paris Declaration’ which they have just adopted proposes to set up a Space Climate Observatory that will going to be acting as a hub between the international scientific community and space agencies.

He further added that most countries currently do not share the climate data gathered by satellites. The countries that adopted the declaration started by France including India, China, Japan, Britain, Israel, UAE, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, Ukraine, Austria and Italy.

NGT bans plastic items in Haridwar on - 15th December 2017

The National Green Tribunal on 15th December 2017 imposed a total restriction on plastic goods like carry bags, plates and cutlery in towns located on the River Ganga banks at Haridwar and Rishikesh.
A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also restricted the sale, production and storage of these plastic items in the towns expanded till Uttarkashi. The bench was hearing a plea of an environmentalist MC Mehta.
The Tribunal also declared a fine of Rs 5000 for the people violating the order and same action will be taken against officials too, if they disobey the order.
This blanket restriction on plastic items came after the tribunal observed that despite its earlier orders, plastic was still being utilised in these areas causing pollution to the river Ganga.
Did you know?

• The tribunal restricted the use of plastic in Delhi and NCR starting from 1st January 2017 and instructed the Delhi government to take measures to curb dumped waste. 
• On 31st July 2017, the tribunal slammed the Delhi government for rampant usage of plastic in the Delhi-NCR despite its restriction. 
• In August 2017, NGT imposed an interim restriction on use of non-biodegradable plastic bags which are less than 50 microns in Delhi. The tribunal has also ordered the Delhi government to capture the complete stock of plastic.