Current Affair 1:

Era of leaded petrol over

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Since 1922, the use of tetraethyllead as a petrol additive to improve engine performance has been a catastrophe for the environment and public health. By the 1970s, almost all petrol produced around the world contained lead. When the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) began its campaign to eliminate lead in petrol in 2002, it was one of the most serious environmental threats to human health.

2021 has marked the end of leaded petrol worldwide, after it has contaminated air, dust, soil, drinking water and food crops for the better part of a century. Leaded petrol causes heart disease, stroke and cancer. It also affects the development of the human brain, especially harming children, with studies suggesting it reduced 5-10 IQ points. Banning the use of leaded petrol has been estimated to prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths per year, increase IQ points among children, save USD 2.45 trillion for the global economy, and decrease crime rates.

The end of leaded petrol follows an almost two decades long campaign by the UNEP-led global Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV).

About the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV):   In 2002, the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) was set up at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. UNEP hosted the Secretariat with the aim of eliminating leaded petrol globally and provided support to many countries and regional initiatives. At the time, 117 countries world-wide were still using leaded petrol with 86 countries supported to phase out leaded petrol. In 2006, the first major success was achieved – Sub-Saharan Africa went unleaded. The last country to switch was Algeria in July 2021.

 

Phasing out of leaded petrol in India

Lead was added in petrol to increase the octane number. The octane number of petrol signifies the improved performance of automobile engines. The specification of lead in Indian petrol used to be 0.56 gm / litre (max) in 1994.

India adopted a fuel upgradation programme in the early 1990s. In order to reduce environmental pollution due to emission from petrol vehicles, leaded petrol was phased out. From February 1, 2000, unleaded gasoline was mandated nationwide.

Current Affair 2:

Sand and Dust Storms Risk Assessment in Asia and the Pacific

 

More than 500 million people in India and more than 80 per cent of the populations of Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Iran are exposed to medium and high levels of poor air quality due to sand and dust storms, according to a new report. 

The findings were published in the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) report Sand and Dust Storms Risk Assessment in Asia and the Pacific. APDIM is a regional institution of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

Few important diagrams. Just have a glance. If we mention in paragraph, kuch yaad ni rhega.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Affair 3:

China’s New Sea-Road-Rail Link to Indian Ocean

 

Recently, a new sea-road-rail link providing Chengdu (China) with access to the Indian Ocean via Yangon (Myanmar) was opened. The trade corridor is China's first to link western China with the Indian Ocean.

The new trade corridor passage connects the logistics lines of Singapore, Myanmar and China, and is currently the most convenient land and sea channel linking the Indian Ocean with southwest China.

This trade route is also China’s alternative to the "Malacca Dilemma”. This refers to China’s fear of a maritime blockade at the Straits of Malacca. Since most of China’s oil imports pass through the Straits of Malacca, a maritime blockade here could paralyze China’s economy.

Current Affair 4:

Sri Lanka declares Food Emergency

 

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency over food shortages on August 31, 2021 after private banks in the country ran out of foreign exchange to finance imports.

Sri Lanka is suffering from a hard-hitting economic crisis. Following the crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered emergency regulations to counter the hoarding of sugar, rice and other such essential foods.

 

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