ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Environmental Pollution       Air pollution - Courtesy Nasa   The environmental problems in India are growing rapidly. The increasing economic development and a rapidly growing population that has taken the country from 300 million people in 1947 to more than one billion people today is putting a strain on the environment, infrastructure, and the country’s natural resources. Industrial pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, rapid industrialization,  urbanization, and land degradation are all worsening problems. Overexploitation of the country's resources be it land or water and the industrialization process has resulted environmental degradation of  resources.  Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity and other life forms on our planet today.    India's per capita carbon dioxide emissions were roughly 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) in 2007, according to the study. That's small compared to China and the U.S., with 10,500 pounds (4,763 kilograms) and 42,500 pounds (19,278 kilograms) respectively that year. The study said that the European Union and Russia also have more emissions than India.

Environmental Pollution News           Copenhagen climate summit    The skies over North India are seasonally filled with a thick soup of aerosol particles all along the southern  edge of the Himalayas,  Bangladesh  and the Bay of Bengal.- NASA research findings.    Pollution can lead to brain damage      Long term exposure to air pollution could damage the brain and lead to learning and memory problems and even depression, new research has revealed. on July 5, 2011           Space Shuttle view of haze and   pollution over Northern India swept   in from Tibet. Credit: NASA

  India has been ranked as seventh most environmentally hazardous country in the world by a new ranking released recently. The study is based on evaluation of “absolute” environment impact of 179 countries, whose data was available and has been done by researchers in Harvard, Princeton, Adelaide University and University of Singapore 0n January 12, 2011.
  Brazil was found to be worst on environmental indicators whereas Singapore was the best. United States was rated second worst and China was ranked third.
  India and US clean energy pact:  India and the U.S. on November 8, 2010 inked an agreement to establish a bilateral energy cooperation programme to promote clean and energy-efficient businesses, Indian and U.S. companies inked joint venture deals worth $175 million in the renewable energy sector.
 The US President Barack Obama  and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the setting up of Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre. The proposed centre is part of the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE), which forms the core of the “green partnership”. Funding for the centre is expected from national budgets and the private sector. Each government proposes to commit $25 million over the next five years..
  "Now the Indian consumer is increasingly conscious of the benefits of environmentally friendly and sustainable practices... 86% Indian consumers surveyed, place faith in energy efficient products and appliances, followed by recyclable packaging (79%)," Global Online
Environment and Sustainability Survey by Nielsen said on August 29, 2011.. .