Current Affair 1:

Government notifies Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022

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Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India published the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 on 24th August, 2022 to ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries.

New rules will replace Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001.

1. The rules cover all types of batteries, viz. Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries.
2. The rules’ function based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producers (including importers) of batteries are responsible for collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries and use of recovered materials from wastes into new batteries.
3. EPR mandates that all waste batteries to be collected and sent for recycling/refurbishment, and it prohibits disposal in landfills and incineration. To meet the EPR obligations, producers may engage themselves or authorise any other entity for collection, recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries.
4. The rules will enable setting up a mechanism and centralized online portal for exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers to fulfil the obligations of producers.
5. The rules promote setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries.
6. Mandating the minimum percentage of recovery of materials from waste batteries under the rules will bring new technologies and investment in recycling and refurbishment industry and create new business opportunities.
7. Prescribing the use of certain number of recycled materials in making of new batteries will reduce the dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources.
8. Online registration & reporting, auditing, and committee for monitoring the implementation of rules and to take measures required for removal of difficulties are salient features of rules for ensuring effective implementation and compliance.
9. On the principle of Polluter Pays Principle, environmental compensation will be imposed for non-fulfilment of Extended Producer Responsibility targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in the rules. The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilised in collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.

Current Affair 2:

What are Community Forest Resource Rights?

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, commonly known as the FRA, is a landmark legislation in the history of independent India, as it attempts to undo the multiple historical injustices imposed on forest-dwelling communities in India.

In particular, the Community Forest Resource (CFR) Rights (or CFRR) provisions in sec 3(1)(i) recognise the rights of forest-dwelling communities to access, collectively manage, protect, and conserve forests that they have been traditionally using.

Instead of allowing the government to impose its felling oriented or exclusion oriented working plans on the forest landscape, the CFRR provisions enable a statutory process of decentralised forest management by the gram Sabha. The gram Sabhas would then develop and implement  their own CFR management plans.

Furthermore, once CFRR are recognised, the forest cannot be ‘diverted’ for development projects without an NOC (No-Objection Certificate) from the CFR Gram Sabha, nor can any evictions take place in the name of wildlife conservation without implementing the Critical Wildlife Habitat provisions of the FRA. 

The Niyamgiri hills is one such example in which forest clearance given to a mining firm was scrapped. Thus, these provisions have the potential to radically democratise forest governance in India. Despite its immense potential, however, (or because of it), even 13 years after the FRA was notified, the recognition of CFR rights has been quite poor.

Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 entails that the rights are same in the case of protected areas. However, according to Section 4 (2) in the Act, the forest rights in critical wildlife habitats of national parks and sanctuaries may subsequently be modified or resettled. This is provided that no forest rights holders shall be resettled or have their rights in any manner affected for the purposes of creating inviolate areas for wildlife conservation except in case of conditions being satisfied.

Current Affair 3:

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is a landmark United States law which aims to curb inflation by reducing the deficit, lowering prescription drug prices, and investing into domestic energy production while promoting clean energy. It was passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 16, 2022.

The Inflation Reduction Act authorizes billions of dollars in sorely-needed investments for renewable energy projects and technologies like electric vehicle infrastructure, heat pumps, and advanced grid technologies.

It would fund a down payment on the good-paying, union jobs necessary for actualizing a just transition off of fossil fuels to a renewable energy economy.

The IRA provides billions in funding for environmental justice communities, but we need to continue advocating for higher levels of funding extended for use over the next decade that’s more accessible to the communities that need it most.

Current Affair 4:

Different forms of Nitrogen

Just read the image given below:

 

 

 

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