EQ: Space Wine, Eucalyptus Jet Fuel, Sugarcane Batteries & More

EQ: Your weekly environment quotient.

Scientists are taking wine-making to a whole new atmospheric level. (Photo: iStock)

E-India

• Ken-Betwa link gets wildlife board approval: The National Wildlife Board has cleared the proposed Ken-Betwa river linking project. Worryingly, this project will submerge 100 sq km of the Panna Tiger Reserve including 10 percent of its critical tiger habitat.
  
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Also Read: Sorry Tigers, Govt Prioritises River-Linking Over Conservation

Tiger population has gone up by 30 percent in last 4 years. (Photo: iStock)

• Mahanadi barrages could affect tigers: Environmentalists have expressed concern over the proposed barrages on the Mahanadi — the river flows through a biodiverse ecosystem that the proposed project could adversely affect.
  

Mahanadi is a biodiversity sanctuary. (Photo: Flickr)

• BRICS Environmental MoU: The 6 BRICS nations have signed an MoU and set up a Working Group to formalise their cooperation on environmental matters including waste management and climate change.
  

Waste management would address pollution issues in rivers and cities. (Photo: iStock)

E-Renewables

• Jet Fuel from Eucalyptus Trees? A new study suggests that biofuel from eucalyptus trees could play a role in producing aviation fuel. The researches noted that this fuel might be initially more expensive but would slash greenhouse gas emissions.
  

Eucalyptus biofuel could replace the more polluting fuels. (Photo: iStock)

E-Waste

• From sugarcane to batteries: Indian scientists have devised a way to use sugarcane waste as a source for carbon in batteries. In contrast to existing methods, this is both simple and cost-effective.
  

Sugarcane based energy could be one sustainable way of making power. (Photo: iStock)

E-Law

• Eco-restoration plan for Meghalaya coal mines: An NGT committee has ordered the Meghalaya government to prepare a comprehensive plan to restore the ecology in coal mining areas.
  

Coal mines destroy crucial natural spaces around the country. (Photo: iStock)

E-Stat

• 50 percent: The percentage of wildlife lost in the last 40 years
  

The world depends on wildlife to keep its most necessary resources intact. (Photo: iStock)

E-International

• Paris Agreement could come into force in 2016: With 60 countries representing over 47 percent of global emissions ratifying the Paris Agreement, many believe that it is only a matter of months before the agreement comes into force.
  

Last year, more than 160 countries agreed to take action on climate change. (Photo: iStock)

E- Nature

• Tackle corruption to counter illegal wildlife trade:  Experts have called for an increased effort against corruption in order to tackle the menace of wildlife trade which threatens over 7,000 plant and animal species worldwide.
  

A wild elephant that strayed into Guwahati city.(Photo: AP)

E-Science

• Space wine — yes, that might actually be a thing: China has sent vines into outer space in order to develop hardier varieties which can withstand the harsh conditions in some of China’s wine regions.
  

What would wine made in zero gravity taste like? (Photo: iStock)

E-Video

• Watch an incredibly cute video of baby pandas trying to climb a tree here:
  

E-Quiz

• Where in India would you find the Kharai saltwater camels? (a) Gujarat (b) West Bengal (c) Odisha (d) Tamil Nadu
  

(Shalini Iyengar is an environmental lawyer and Faculty at Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology.)