Mugger Crocodile

In the recent Cyclone Michaung, the 'Mugger' crocodile was spotted on road near Chennai.

• Mugger Crocodile is an apex predator that is also called as marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris).
•  It is known for being shy and reclusive that have had almost no negative interaction with humans for decades.
• Muggers are highly social and their social behavior includes gregarious behavior, communication, territorial activities and dominance interactions.
• It is listed as “vulnerable” by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• It lives in the Indian subcontinent as well as other countries in southern Asia.
• Muggers are primarily carnivorous, eating mostly fish, frogs, crustaceans, insects, mammals, birds and sometimes monkeys and squirrels.
• They also scavenge on dead animals.
• The Moyar River is home to one of the largest mugger populations in Tamil Nadu.
• The use of dynamite for fishing along parts of the river pose a threat to crocodiles.
• The introduction of invasive species in the river ecosystems also pose threat to the crocodile species.

Diel Vertical Migration (DVM)

• Diel vertical migration (DVM) is the daily, synchronized movement of marine animals between the surface and deep layers of the open ocean.
• It's also known as diurnal vertical migration.
• This type of migration is the largest animal migration on the planet and is undertaken every single day by trillions of animals in every ocean.
• This type of migration is followed by the deep-sea marine animal especially tiny free-floating zooplanktons.
• It is more than a survival strategy that plays a pivotal role in carbon sequestration.
• The core idea behind DVM is a delicate balance between the need to feed and to avoid becoming prey.
• Zooplankton can stay in dangerous waters during the day, looking for food or swim down to the twilight zone and risk starvation.
• The timing of this migration is tuned to the natural rhythms of sunrise and sunset.
• Animals dwelling in the mesopelagic layer (layer that extends from 200 to 1,000 meters below the ocean's surface) actively remove substantial amounts of carbon from the upper ocean as they feed on surface-dwelling plankton.
• When these organisms return to deeper waters, they carry the carbon with them.
• Even within the mesopelagic layer or twilight zone, some migratory animals become part of the food chain, passing on the carbon they have consumed to their predators.
• The carbon-rich waste produced by the predators then sinks to the ocean floor, where it remains trapped for millennia.
• This natural process is an important carbon sink that helps regulate the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Global Cooling Pledge

Recently 63 countries, excluding India signed up the World’s first-ever pledge to drastically cut cooling emissions at the ongoing COP28 climate summit.

• Cooling emissions are essentially emissions generated from refrigerants, used in appliances like ACs and refrigerators and the energy used for cooling.
• The cooling emissions now account for 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are expected to triple by 2050.
• HFC-134a, a form of HFC and most commonly used in domestic fridges, has a global warming potential of 3,400 times that of CO2.
• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, agrees to reduce HFC consumption by 80% by 2047.
• A recent report by International Energy Agency (IEA) indicate that since 1990, the energy consumption for space cooling (the process of cooling indoors) has more than tripled.
• According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and IEA the number of global cooling devices is expected to increase from 3.6 billion to 9.5 billion by 2050.
• The situation is set to get worse as rising global temperatures will lead to a large-scale cooling demand the use of more ACs and refrigerators would cause more cooling emissions.
• Currently, cooling emissions aren’t a huge proportion of global greenhouse gases but it is likely to change soon if not addressed.
• Global Cooling Pledge – It commits countries to reduce their cooling-related emissions by at least 68% compared to 2022 level by 2050.
• The pledge is signed by 63 countries including the US, Canada, and Kenya.
• India has not signed the pledge, which is likely to see the greatest growth in demand for cooling in the coming decades.
• India is not willing to undertake targets above those committed to in 1992 under the multilateral Montreal Protocol to regulate production and consumption of ozone depleting chemicals and hydrofluorocarbons used in cooling.
• The pledge includes a target to establish a minimum energy performance standards by 2030.

Santiago Network Draft

The Santiago Network Draft was recently adopted at the COP 28 to curb methane emissions.

• Santiago Network Draft aims to connect vulnerable developing countries with technical support and resources to effectively address and manage loss and damage caused by climate change.
• The vision of it is to catalyse the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies, networks and experts, for the implementation of loss and damage caused by climate change.
• The features of the Draft – Identifying, prioritizing and communicating technical assistance needs for the relevant organisations.
• Identifying types of relevant technical assistance.
• Actively connecting those seeking technical assistance with best suited organizations, bodies networks and experts.
• Accessing technical assistance available including from such organizations, bodies, networks and experts.

COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health

The COP28 Declaration was not signed by the India which said that greenhouse gas reduction for cooling in the health sector could hinder its ability to meet the growing demands for medical services.

• The declaration aims at promoting a holistic approach to understanding and mitigating the diverse health challenges posed by a changing climate.
• It emphasises the need for swift and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
• One of the central objectives of the declaration is the commitment to combat inequalities within and among countries.
• The objective is to promote sustainable practices within the health sector to contribute to broader climate goals.
• India did not sign the COP28 Declaration.
• India stated that greenhouse gas reduction for cooling in the health sector could hinder its ability to meet the growing demands for medical services, particularly in remote and underserved areas.