Current Affairs 13&14.10.2022

 

1. International E-Waste Day 14.10.2022:

The International E-Waste Day is observed every year on October 14, an opportunity to reflect on the impacts of e-waste and the actions needed to increase circularity for e-products. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling (WEEE) Forum developed International E-Waste Day in 2018 to raise the public profile of waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling and encourage consumers to recycle.

 

This year, the main focus of International E-Waste Day is on small electrical devices that we no longer use, but keep in drawers and cupboards or often put in the regular waste bin. That's why International E-Waste Day (Waste Day) 2022 focuses on small items of e-waste, with the slogan: Recycle it all no matter how small it is!

 

According to the United Nations, every person on the planet will produce an average of 7.6 kg of e-waste in 2021. That means a massive production of 57.4 million tons worldwide. Only 17.4% of this e-waste, which contains a mixture of harmful materials and valuable materials, is properly collected, treated or recycled. Several initiatives have been taken to address this growing concern. None of them can be fully effective without proper education and active role of users.

 

The International Telecommunication Union also indicates that e-waste is one of the largest and most complex waste streams in the world. According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2020, the world generated 53.6 metric tons of e-waste in 2019. Of that, only 9.3 metric tons (17%) is recorded as being collected and recycled. E-waste contains valuable materials. Also contain dangerous toxins. These include efficient material recovery and safe recycling of e-waste, which are of great economic value as well as environmental and human health. The disparity between the amount of e-waste generated and the amount of e-waste properly recycled reflects the urgent need for all stakeholders, including the youth, to address this issue.

 

2. The World Bank has provided an unconditional loan of $250 million to the Supporting Andhra Learning Transformation (SALT) project in appreciation of the guided reforms being implemented by the state government. Special Principal Secretary (School Education) B. Rajasekhar said the reforms initiated under the SALT project have brought about a paradigm shift in the way education is imparted and the results are encouraging.

 

The SALT project is the first project in the school education sector to be funded by the World Bank without any preconditions.

About ₹53,000 crore was spent on school education in the last three years. In the academic year 2022-2023, 40,31,239 children are studying in government schools.

 

3. Adani Group operated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Mumbai Airport has been converted to green energy sources. 95 percent of its needs are met by hydro and wind and the remaining 5 percent by solar power. The facility grew from 57 percent of green consumption to 98 percent of natural fuel procurement in April. In August, Mumbai Airport finally achieved 100 percent use of renewable energy sources.

 

With this green transition to renewable energy, Mumbai Airport has ensured a reduction of about 1.20 lakh tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year. This has brought the airport closer to its goal of becoming net zero by 2029.

 

CSMIA will be the first in India to launch hybrid technology powered entirely by green energy from April 2022. This sustainable initiative by CSMIA is part of the airport's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and further its journey towards net zero.

 

CSMIA has prepared a road map to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2029. In April 2022, CSMIA improved its green energy efficiency utilization and deployed 10 Kwp Hybrid Solar Mill with 2 Kwp Turbo Mill (3 Savonious type VAWT). and 8 Kwp solar PV modules with an estimated minimum power output of 36 Kwh/day.

This first-of-its-kind fully integrated hybrid renewable energy generator combines solar and wind power to produce electricity. This green transition to renewable energy will ensure a reduction of about 1 lakh 20 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year. thereby bringing CSMIA closer to its net zero target by 2029.

CSMIA has implemented a Carbon Accounting and Management System (CAMS) based on ISO 14064-1:2018 to identify, measure and manage Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. CSMIA was the first Indian airport to participate in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program of the Airports Council International (ACI) in 2012.