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[Newsbits] 5.01.2024: Similipal Kai Chutney, GSAT-20, Wetland City Tag & more

Wetland City Tag mind map
  Recent News
    January 2024
    Nominations
      Indore
      Bhopal
      Udaipur
  What
    Ramsar Convention
    Wetland City Accreditation
      Promotes
        Conservation
        Wise use of wetlands
    Urban and peri-urban wetlands
      Benefits
        Economic
        Social
        Cultural
      Functions
        Absorb rainfall
        Reduce flooding
        Improve water quality
  Why
    Urbanization
      Threat to wetlands
      Encroachment and misuse
    Wetlands value
      Flood control
      Water purification
  Where
    Cities
      Near wetlands
      Globally recognized
  Who
    Ramsar Convention
      172 Contracting Parties
    Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change
      Submits proposals
  How
    Voluntary scheme
    International recognition
      Positive publicity
  Significance
    Conservation awareness
    Participation in planning
    Sustainable socio-economic benefits
  Challenges
    Human population pressure
    Rapid urbanization
    Agricultural activities
    Invasive species
    Pollution
    Climate change
    Dams altering water flow
    Weed choking
    Sand and shell removal
    Aquaculture wastes
    Upstream human activities
  Way Forward
    Holistic environmental management
    People's participation
    Consider biota and local community
    Legal and stakeholder involvement
    Sustainable management programs
    Scientific, technical, socio-economic cooperation
    Integrated, collaborative approach

The Wetland City Tag is a part of the Ramsar Convention’s Wetland City Accreditation scheme, aimed at promoting the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands. Recently, in January 2024, three Indian cities – Indore, Bhopal, and Udaipur – were nominated for this accreditation. This scheme is significant as it recognizes cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands and encourages their conservation and sustainable use. Wetlands provide numerous benefits, including flood control, water purification, and contributing to economic, social, and cultural well-being. However, they face threats from urbanization, pollution, climate change, and other human activities. To counter these threats, a holistic approach involving stakeholder participation, legal frameworks, and sustainable management is essential for wetland conservation.

Supreme Court Legal Services Committee mind map
  Recent News
    January 2024
      Justice BR Gavai
        New Head
        Third Senior Judge
        Supreme Court of India
        Replaces Justice Sanjiv Khanna
      Department of Justice Notification
        Dated December 29, 2023
      Five Advocates Nominated
        Senior Advocate Vibha Datta Makhija
        Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave
        Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh
        Advocate Mohammad Shoeb Alam
        Advocate K. Parameshwar Krishnaswamy
  When
    Established in 1987
  Why
    Provide Free Legal Aid
    Help Marginalized and Weaker Sections
  What
    Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
    Section 12
    Administer Legal Services Program
    Supreme Court of India
  Where
    India
  Who
    Composed of 9 Members
    Appointed by Chief Justice of India
  How
    Legal Aid to Eligible Persons
    Promote Rule of Law
  Functions
    Policies and Principles
      Legal Services Act Provisions
    Economic Schemes
      Legal Aid for Poor
    Funds Utilization
      State and District Authorities
    Legal Aid Camps
      Rural and Slum Areas
    Research
      Legal Aid Field
    Fundamental Duties
      Part IV-A of Constitution
    Legal Education Programs
      Bar Council of India Collaboration
    Legal Literacy
      Spreading Awareness
    Support Voluntary Institutions
      Grass-root Level
    Coordination and Monitoring
      Various Legal Services Authorities

The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) in India, established in 1987, primarily focuses on providing free legal aid to marginalized and weaker sections of society. This is in line with the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987. The SCLSC is responsible for administering the legal services program as it relates to the Supreme Court. Composed of nine members appointed by the Chief Justice of India, it recently saw Justice BR Gavai appointed as its new head in January 2024. The committee’s key functions include formulating policies and principles, developing economical schemes for legal aid, and promoting legal literacy and awareness, particularly among the poorer segments of society.

/ Space
GSAT-20 mind map
  Recent News
    NewSpace India Limited
      Undertaking GSAT-20 mission
      Q2 2024 planned launch
      Offering Ka-band HTS capacity
    Partnership with SpaceX
      Using Falcon 9 rocket
      First time ISRO using SpaceX
      Launch site Cape Canaveral
      For heavyweight satellite
  When
    Q2 2024
  Why
    Enhance communication infrastructure
    Support India's Smart Cities Mission
  What
    Weight
      4700 kg
    High throughput capacity
      Ka-Ka band
      70 Gbit/s throughput
      40 beams
      80 polarisations
    Coverage
      Pan-India
      Remote areas included
  Where
    Launch Site
      Cape Canaveral
    Orbital Position
      Geostationary orbit
      55° East longitude
  Who
    ISRO
      Joint development
      With Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
    New Space India Limited
      Operator and owner
      Leasing capacity to Dish TV
    SpaceX
      Launch contractor
  How
    Electric Propulsion
      First Indian satellite with full reliance
      More efficient than chemical-based
  Significance
    Cost-effective broadband services
    Supports IFMC
    Aids cellular backhaul service
  Challenges
    Heavyweight satellite
      Surpasses ISRO's current launch capacity
  Way Forward
    Continued collaboration
      Between ISRO and SpaceX
    Expansion of high-throughput satellite services

The GSAT-20 satellite, scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2024, represents a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities. Operated by NewSpace India Limited and developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, this mission marks the first time ISRO is partnering with SpaceX, using their Falcon 9 rocket. The GSAT-20, weighing 4,700 kg and employing electric propulsion, is designed to enhance India’s communication infrastructure, particularly supporting the Smart Cities Mission. It features a high-throughput Ka-band communications payload, capable of delivering 70 Gbit/s throughput across 40 beams, effectively creating 80 polarizations for extensive coverage, including remote areas of India. This mission underscores India’s commitment to advancing its satellite communication technology while addressing challenges such as the satellite’s heavyweight.

Similipal Kai Chutney mind map
  Recent News
    Received GI Tag
      When
        January 2, 2024
      Where
        Mayurbhanj District, Odisha
  Origin
    Tribal People
      Location
        Mayurbhanj District
      Districts Involved
        Keonjhar, Sundargarh
  Main Ingredient
    Red Weaver Ants
      Known Locally As
        Kai
  Culinary Tradition
    Hundreds of Years
  Nutritional Value
    Medicinal Properties
  Recipe
    Basic Ingredients
      Cleaned Ants
      Ginger
      Garlic
      Chillies
      Salt
    Preservation
      Lasts Six Months
      Room Temperature
  Consumption
    With Meals, Snacks

Similipal Kai Chutney is a traditional delicacy from the tribal regions of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, primarily made from red weaver ants known locally as ‘Kai’. This unique chutney, part of the culinary heritage for hundreds of years, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag on January 2, 2024. The chutney, celebrated for its medicinal properties and nutritional value, typically includes ingredients like ginger, garlic, chillies, and salt. It’s noted for its long shelf life, lasting up to six months at room temperature, and is commonly consumed with meals and snacks.

SEBI Regulation of Short Selling mind map
  Recent News
    Supreme Court Oversight
      Central Government and SEBI
      Post Adani Group Allegations
      January 4, 2024
  What
    Definition
      Selling Unowned Stock
      Profit from Price Fall
    Historical Prohibitions
      2001-2008 Ban
      2020 Temporary Ban
    Current SEBI Guidelines
      Permits All Investor Classes
      Prohibits Naked Short Selling
      Institutional Day Trading Banned
      SLB Scheme Implementation
      Stocks in F&O Eligible
      Disclosure Requirements
  Why
    Market Stability Concerns
    Prevent Manipulation
    Economic Impact
  Who
    SEBI
      Market Regulator
    Institutional Investors
      Subject to Restrictions
    Retail Investors
      Permitted with Disclosures
  How
    Securities Lending
      Borrowing Scheme
    Delivery Obligations
      Deterrent Provisions
  Pros/Significance
    Enhances Market Efficiency
    Safeguards Investor Interests
    Transparent Trading Environment
  Cons and/or Challenges
    Potential for Market Falls
    Risks of Manipulation
    Delivery Failures

The Indian Government, through the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has implemented a comprehensive framework to regulate short selling in the securities market. Short selling involves selling a stock that the seller doesn’t own at the time of the trade, aiming to profit from a price drop. SEBI’s recent guidelines permit all classes of investors to engage in short selling, strictly prohibiting naked short selling. Institutional investors face restrictions like the ban on day trading and are required to declare their short sales. The Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB) scheme supports this practice. These measures aim to enhance market efficiency, protect investor interests, and maintain a transparent and secure trading environment.

ERNET India mind map
  Recent News
    Integrated Web Portal Launched
      Domain Registration
      DNS Services
      For Educational Institutions
    Recruitment 2024
      Positions Available
        Senior Manager
        Jr. Hindi Translator
        Personal Assistant
        Accountant
        Jr. Assistant
  Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
    Autonomous Scientific Society
    Governing Council
  Origin
    Initiated in 1986
    Funded by
      Government of India
      United Nations Development Program
    Participating Agencies
      NCST (Now CDAC) Bombay
      IISc Bangalore
      Five IITs
        Delhi
        Bombay
        Kanpur
        Kharagpur
        Madras
      DoE, New Delhi
  Contributions
    Brought Internet to India
    National Networking Capabilities
      Protocol Software Engineering
  User Base
    1100 Institutes
      Under Different Schemes
  Network
    Terrestrial and Satellite WAN
      VSAT Technology
      International Connectivity
        Gateways in
          New Delhi
          Mumbai
          Bangalore
          Kolkata
      Traffic
        Over 200 GB Daily
  Services
    Access Services
    Application Services
    Hosting Services
    Operations Support Services
    Additional Services
      Consultancy
      Project Management
      Training
      Web Hosting
      E-mail
      Video Conferencing
      Domain Registration
      CUG Services
  Sectors Served
    Health
    Agriculture
    Higher Education
    Schools
    Science and Technology
  Technology Focus Areas
    National Academic and Research Network
    R&D in Data Communication
    Human Resource Development
      High-end Networking
    Educational Content
    Campus-wide High Speed LAN

ERNET India, an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, plays a pivotal role in India’s digital landscape. It was established in 1986 with joint funding from the Government of India and the United Nations Development Program, and it involves top academic institutions like IISc Bangalore and the IITs. ERNET India was instrumental in introducing the Internet to the country and has since developed a sophisticated terrestrial and satellite network to support its vast user base of over 1100 institutes. The organization is not just about providing connectivity; it also offers a range of services like web hosting, e-mail, video conferencing, domain registration, and other IT and ICT services, catering to sectors like health, agriculture, education, and science & technology. Recently, they launched an integrated web portal for educational institutions and announced their 2024 recruitment.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) mind map
  Recent News
    January 2024
      GSAT-20 Mission
        Renamed GSAT-N2
        High-throughput Ka-band Satellite
        Scheduled Q2 2024 Launch
        Partnership with SpaceX
          Falcon-9 Rocket
    Predecessor
      GSAT-24
  Established
    Date
      6 March 2019
    Under
      Department of Space
      Company Act 2013
  Purpose
    Scale Up
      Private Sector Participation
      In Indian Space Programmes
    Commercial Arm
      Of ISRO
  Functions and Activities
    Producing
      Launch Vehicles
      Assembling
      Integrating
    Roles
      Nodal Agency
        PSLV Production
      Development
        Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
      Launch Services
        Customer Satellites
        Since 1999
        297 Satellites from 33 Countries
        Till June 2019
      Satellite Services
        Transponder Capacity
        C, Ku, Ka, S Bands
        Broadcasting
        Telecom Services
          DTH
          TV
          DSNG
          VSAT
        Remote Sensing Services
        Mission Support Services
      Building Satellites
        Various Applications
          Communication
          Earth Observation
          Navigation
          Space Science
          Technology Experiments
        Commercial Applications
      Creating Ecosystem
        Satellite Systems
        Subsystems
        Ground Infrastructure

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), established on March 6, 2019, under India’s Department of Space, serves as the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Its primary role is to enhance private sector involvement in India’s space programs. NSIL is currently preparing for the GSAT-20 mission, scheduled for the second quarter of 2024, in collaboration with SpaceX using the Falcon-9 rocket. The company’s functions encompass producing and assembling launch vehicles, offering satellite services across various spectrums, and contributing to building satellites for diverse applications. NSIL is central to scaling up India’s technological capabilities in the space sector, emphasizing industry participation and global service provision.

Tamil Nadu Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy mind map
  Recent News
    Unveiling
      When
        January 7 and 8
      Where
        Global Investors' Meet
  Why
    Enhance electronics export hub status
  What
    Focus
      Semiconductor design emphasis
      High-value electronics manufacturing
    Incentives and Subsidies
      For investing firms
    Manpower Development
      Programs like Naan Mudhalvan
      Training youth for sector
    Past Investments
      Investments in 2015
        Rs 2.42 trillion
      Investments in 2019
        Rs 2 trillion
    Global Participation
      Nine partner countries
      Over 30 participating countries
  How
    Attracting Global Majors
      China Plus One strategy
      Companies like Apple, Foxconn, Pegatron
    Focus on Design
      Majority value addition in design
      VLSI programs in educational institutes
  Who
    Tamil Nadu Government
    Chief Minister
      M K Stalin
    Key Attendees
      Raghuram Rajan
      Arvind Subramanian
      Chris Miller
      Anand Mahindra
      Mark Widmar
      Jeff Magioncalda
  Goal
    USD 1 trillion economy by 2031
    Investment estimates
      Manufacturing
        USD 598 billion
      Electricity, Gas, Water Supply
        USD 430 billion
      Agriculture
        USD 396 billion
  Significance
    Exports increase
      Goal of USD 8 billion in FY24
    Contribution to India's exports
      31% of India's total exports

Tamil Nadu’s Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy is a strategic initiative set to be unveiled at the Global Investors’ Meet on January 7 and 8. The policy aims to boost Tamil Nadu’s status as a major electronics export hub in India, with a strong emphasis on semiconductor design and high-value electronics manufacturing. The government anticipates record investments and has plans for incentives and subsidies to attract firms. This policy is part of Tamil Nadu’s larger goal to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2031, with substantial investments in various sectors.

Nano Urea mind map
  Recent News
    January 2024
      PAU field study
        Decrease in yields
          Rice and wheat affected
      Finance Ministry aims
        Cut urea import bill
          Reduced to Rs 21,000 crore
      Plants expansion
        Increase to 13 by 2025
          Produce 44 crore bottles
  When
    Production started
      August 1, 2021
    Specifications notified
      Under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985
  Why
    To reduce urea usage
      Up to 50 percent reduction
    Eco-friendly
      Protects soil health
  What
    Nano Urea properties
      Releases nutrients
        Controlled manner
      Higher nutrient efficiency
      Cost-effective for farmers
    Production capacity
      44 Crore bottles
        Equal to 195 LMT conventional urea
    Government initiatives
      Approval for manufacturing
        By Zuari Farmhub and others
  Where
    India
      Focus on domestic production
  Who
    Government of India
      Promotes nano urea
    Punjab Agricultural University
      Conducted field study
    Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative
      Produces nano urea
  How
    Nanotechnology-based fertilizers
      Boost crop yields
      Improve soil health
  Significance
    Cost savings
      For government and farmers
    Reduce foreign exchange
      Save Rs 40,000 crore annually
    Self-sufficiency in urea
      Expected by 2025-26
  Challenges
    Field studies
      Show decreased yields
        Contrary to expectations
  Way Forward
    Address yield concerns
      Modify application methods
      Further research needed

Nano urea, a nanotechnology-based fertilizer, is an innovative product introduced in India to enhance agricultural productivity while being environmentally friendly. It is designed to release nutrients in a controlled manner, offering higher efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional urea. The Indian government has been promoting nano urea to reduce dependence on traditional fertilizers, aiming for self-sufficiency in urea production by 2025-26. Despite its benefits, recent field studies by Punjab Agricultural University have shown a decrease in crop yields (rice and wheat), posing a challenge to its efficacy. The government plans to expand production facilities and further research is needed to address these yield concerns.

/ Elections & Democracy
VVPAT mind map
  Recent News
    January 2024
      EC dismisses concerns
        By Jairam Ramesh
      Assertions
        Full faith in EVMs
      BJP in Power
        Till EVMs in current form used
      Counting VVPAT Slips
        INDIA Bloc demands
  When
    First Introduced
      2014 general elections
  Why
    Voter verification
      Ensures vote accuracy
  What
    Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
    Function
      Prints slip with vote details
    Duration
      Slip visible for 7 seconds
    Slip Storage
      In sealed compartment
    Use Cases
      Corroborate EVM results
      In special cases like vote fraud
  Where
    Used across India
    Manufactured by
      ECIL, BEL
  Who
    Involved Parties
      Election Commission of India
      Supreme Court
        Directed increased VVPAT verification
  How
    Verification Protocol
      Initially
        One polling station per constituency
      After 2019
        Five polling stations per constituency
      ISI Recommendation
        Count slips from 479 EVMs
  Significance
    Ensures electoral integrity
    Enhances voter confidence
  Challenges
    EC's Concerns
      100% verification time-consuming
      Prone to human error
    Political Debate
      Electoral integrity concerns
  Way Forward
    Balancing efficiency and voter confidence

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a system used in Indian elections to enhance the transparency and reliability of the voting process. Introduced in 2014, VVPAT machines print a slip with the voter’s choice, allowing them to verify their vote before the slip is securely stored. This mechanism serves to corroborate results from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), especially in cases of alleged vote fraud. Recently, there have been discussions and proposals for changes in VVPAT use, including a proposal for 100% counting of slips to enhance trust in elections. While the Election Commission of India maintains faith in the current protocol, which involves verifying VVPAT slips from five polling stations per constituency, there is an ongoing debate about electoral integrity and the challenges of balancing efficiency with voter confidence.

/ Women
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 mind map
  Recent News
    Kerala High Court Ruling
      Charges brothel customers
      Expands liability
  When
    Enacted
      December 30, 1956
    Amendments
      1978, 1986
  Why
    Suppress immoral traffic
    Combat human trafficking
    Prevent commercial sexual exploitation
  What
    Definitions
      Brothel
        Various locations
        For sexual exploitation
      Prostitution
        Exploitation or abuse for commercial gain
    Special Police Officer (SPO)
      Appointed by State Government
      Powers
        Arrest without warrant
        Search premises without warrant
        Mandatory medical examination
    Magistrate
      Wide powers
      Rescuing individuals
      Detention in protective homes
    Punishments
      Various offences
        Brothel keeping
        Living off earnings of prostitution
        Procurement for prostitution
        Custodial prostitution
      Range of imprisonment and fines
    Trial Procedures
      Exclusive trial by magistrate
      Speedy trial provisions
    Protective Homes
      Licensed under Section 21
      Care and protection
      Vocational training
  Where
    Extends to whole of India
  Who
    Governed by
      Indian Penal Code
      Constitution of India
      Juvenile Justice Act
  Significance
    Addresses human trafficking
    Focus on rehabilitation
  Challenges
    Emphasis on perpetrator
    Not addressing victim's needs
  Way Forward
    Emphasis on victim protection
    Legislative amendments

The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956, commonly known as ITPA, is an Indian legislation initially enacted to combat the trafficking of women and children for the purpose of prostitution. This act, which aligns with international conventions, doesn’t criminalize prostitution per se but targets activities like brothel keeping, pimping, and procuring individuals for prostitution. With provisions for the rescue and rehabilitation of victims, the Act empowers special police officers and magistrates to enforce its provisions. However, it has faced criticism for focusing more on the perpetrators rather than adequately addressing the needs of the victims. Recent legal interpretations, such as the Kerala High Court’s decision to charge brothel customers, demonstrate evolving judicial attitudes towards this complex issue.

/ Diseases
India’s Alarming Cancer Burden - Lancet Study mind map
  Recent News:
    India's Cancer Statistics 2019:
      12 lakh new cases
      9.3 lakh deaths
      Second-highest in Asia
    Publication:
      The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal
  When:
    Study period:
      1990 to 2019
    Latest data:
      2019
  Why:
    Increasing cancer cases:
      Industrial growth
      Urbanisation
      Migration
      Motor vehicle usage
    Risk Factors:
      Smoking
      Alcohol
      Air pollution
      Smokeless tobacco
  What
    Dominant cancers:
      Tracheal, bronchus, lung
      Cervical cancer in women
    Risk reduction strategies:
      Improved water and sanitation
      Reduce Helicobacter pylori transmission
    Screening and treatment:
      Timely cancer screening
      Treatment availability
      Focus on cost-effectiveness
      Coverage of treatment expenses
  Where:
    Comparison across:
      49 Asian countries
    India's global rank:
      Lip and oral cavity cancer deaths: 32.9%
      Lip and oral cavity new cases: 28.1%
  Who:
    Research Team:
      International researchers
      National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra
      All India Institute of Medical Sciences
    Affected population:
      All age groups
      Higher in older age groups
  How:
    Study methodology:
      Comparative analysis
      Cancer data from 49 countries
  Significance:
    Awareness:
      Highlights urgent need for action
    Policy guidance:
      Provides data for health policies
  Challenges:
    Increasing burden:
      Rising pollution levels
      Lifestyle changes
    Infrastructure challenges:
      Limited oncologic infrastructure in low and medium-income countries
  Way Forward:
    Proposed actions:
      Enhanced focus on prevention
      Strengthen healthcare infrastructure

This mindmap outlines the key aspects of India’s alarming cancer burden as highlighted by a recent Lancet study. The study, which analyzed data from 1990 to 2019, reveals that India recorded approximately 1.2 million new cancer cases and 930,000 deaths in 2019, ranking second in Asia in terms of the cancer burden. The study sheds light on the dominant types of cancer, key risk factors, and the need for timely cancer screening and treatment, especially in low and medium-income countries. It also emphasizes the role of industrial growth, urbanization, migration, and motor vehicle usage in the rising cancer cases, highlighting the importance of addressing these factors to mitigate the increasing cancer burden.

Climate Change: Causes, Impacts on India & World

This topic of “Climate Change: Causes, Impacts on India & World” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.

What is climate change?

  • Climate Change is a periodic modification of Earth’s climate brought about due to the changes in the atmosphere as well as the interactions between the atmosphere and various other geological, chemical, biological and geographical factors within the Earth’s system.
  • Climate change can make weather patterns less predictable. These unforeseen weather patterns can make it difficult to maintain and grow crops, making agriculture-dependent countries like India vulnerable.
  • It is also causing damaging weather events like more frequent and intense hurricanes, floods, cyclones, flooding etc.
  • Due to the rising temperature caused by climate change, the ice in the polar regions is melting at an accelerated rate, causing sea levels to rise. This is damaging the coastlines due to the increased flooding and erosion.
  • The cause of the current rapid climate change is due to human activities and threatening the very survival of humankind.

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What are the factors that cause climate change?

Climate change is caused by natural factors as well as anthropogenic factors. However, anthropogenic factors create a higher impact on contemporary climate change.

Natural Factors:

There are numerous natural factors that cause the Earth’s climate to change. They affect the climate over a period of thousands to millions of years.

Continental Drift:

  • The present-day continents were not the same prior to 200 million years.
  • They have formed millions of years ago when the landmass began to drift apart due to plate displacement.
  • This movement had an impact on climate change due to the change on the landmass’s physical features and position and the change in water bodies’ position like the change in the follow of ocean currents and winds.
  • The drifting of the landmass is continued today. The Himalayan range is rising approximately 1 millimetre every year as the Indian landmass is moving towards the Asian landmass.

Variation of the Earth’s orbit:

  • The Earth’s orbit has an impact on the sunlight’s seasonal distribution that is reaching the Earth’s surface.
  • A slight change in the Earth’s orbit can lead to variation in distribution across the world.
  • There are very few changes to the average sunshine. However, it causes a high impact on the geographical and seasonal distribution.
  • There are three types of orbital variations – variations in Earth’s eccentricity, variations in the tilt angle of the Earth’s axis of rotation and precession of Earth’s axis.
  • These together can cause Milankovitch cycles, which have a huge impact on climate and are well-known for their connection to the glacial and interglacial periods.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finding showed that the Milankovitch cycles had influenced the behaviour of ice formation

Plate tectonics:

  • Due to the change in the temperature in the core of the Earth, the mantle plumes and convection currents forced the Earth’s Plates to adjust leading to the rearrangement of the Earth Plate.
  • This can influence the global and local patterns of climate and atmosphere.
  • The oceans’ geometry is determined by the continents’ position. Therefore, the position of the continents influences the pattern of the ocean.
  • The location of the sea also plays a crucial role in controlling the transfer of heat and moisture across the globe and determines the global climate.
  • The recent example of the tectonic control on ocean circulation is the formation of the Isthmus of Panama about 5 million years ago, leading to the prevention of direct mixing of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Volcanic Activity:

  • When a volcano erupts, it emits gases and dust particles, causing a partial block of the Sunrays. This can lead to the cooling of the weather.
  • Though the volcanic activities last only for a few days, the gases and ashes released by it can last for a long period, leading to it influencing climate patterns.
  • Sulphur oxide emitted by the volcanic activities can combine with water to form tiny droplets of sulphuric acid. These droplets are so small that many of them can stay in the air for several years.

Ocean Currents:

  • Ocean current is one of the major components of the climate system.
  • It is driven by horizontal winds causing the movement of the water against the sea surface.
  • The temperature differences of the water influence the climate of the region.

Anthropogenic Factors:

Scientists, since the beginning of the 20th century, have studied the impact of climate change caused by human activities. Global warming, the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system, is a major aspect of climate change. It is mainly a human-caused increase in global surface temperature. The anthropogenic factors causing climate change are as follows:

Greenhouse Gases:

  • The greenhouse gases absorb heat radiation from the sun. Following the initiation of the Industrial Revolution, the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has increased exponentially.
  • This has led to more absorption and retaining the heat in the atmosphere. This resulted in an increase in Global Temperature.
  • The greenhouse gases mostly do not absorb the solar radiation but absorb most of the infrared emitted by the Earth’s surface.
  • The main greenhouse gases include
    • water vapour (the majority of the GHG in the atmosphere but the impact is less)
  • Carbon dioxide released due to natural and anthropogenic factors spends more time in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in its impact. There has been a 30% increase in the concentration of CO2 since the start of the industrial revolution. Apart from the industrial revolution, deforestation also contributes to the increase in the CO
  • Chlorofluorocarbons, used for industrial purposes, especially in refrigerants and air conditioning, is a man-made compound regulated under the Montreal Protocol due to their adverse effects on the Ozone layers.
  • Methane is released due to decomposition of organic matter. It is stronger than CO2 because of its capacity to absorb more heat.
  • Nitrous oxide is produced by the agricultural sector, especially in the production and use of organic fertilizers and while burning fossil fuels.

Change in the land use pattern:

  • Half of the land-use change is said to have happened during the industrial era.
  • Most of the forests were replaced by agricultural cropping and grazing of lands.
  • The increased albedo (reflectivity of an object in space) in the snow-covered high altitude regions due to deforestation led to the cooling of the planet’s surface. The lower the albedo, the more of the Sun’s radiation gets absorbed by the planet and the temperatures will rise. If the albedo is higher and the Earth is more reflective, the more of the radiation is returned to space, leading to the cooling of the planet.
  • The tropical deforestation changes the evapotranspiration rates (the amount of water vapour put in the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration from trees), causes desertification and affects soil moisture characteristics.
  • From the satellite imagery, it is seen that the clearing of forest cover for agriculture and irrigated farming in arid and semi-arid lands can increase solar energy absorption and the amount of moisture evaporated into the atmosphere.

Atmospheric aerosols:

  • Atmospheric aerosol can:
  • scatter and absorb the solar and infrared radiation
  • change microphysical and chemical properties of the clouds
  • Solar radiation, when scattered, cools the planet. On the other hand, when the aerosols absorb solar radiation, it causes an increase in the temperature of the air instead of allowing the sunlight to be absorbed by the Earth’s surface.
  • Aerosols can directly affect climate change by absorbing or reflecting solar radiation. They can also produce indirect effects by modifying the cloud’s formation and properties.
  • They can even be transported thousands of kilometres away from its source through wind and upper-level circulation in the atmosphere.
  • There are two types of aerosols – Natural aerosols and Anthropogenic aerosols.
  • The sources of natural aerosols include volcanic eruptions (produces sulphate aerosols) and biogenic sources like planktons (can produce dimethyl sulphide).
  • The anthropogenic aerosols include:
  • The ammonia used for fertilizers or released by the burning of plants and other organic materials forms a major source for Nitrate aerosols.
  • Burning of coal and oil produces sulphur dioxide that forms a major source of sulphate aerosols
  • Burning of biomass can release a combination of organic droplets and soot particles.
  • Industrial activities cause the release of wide-ranging aerosols into the atmosphere.
  • Vehicle emissions can produce numerous pollutants that are aerosol from the beginning or becomes one due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
  • It is found that the concentration of aerosols is about three times higher in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere, leading to Northern Hemisphere’s radiation concentration being 50% higher than that of the Southern Hemisphere.

What are the effects of climate change?

Global warming has caused a change in the climatic and weather conditions like change in the rainfall pattern, increased flooding, drought, heatwaves, etc. The planet’s ocean and glaciers have felt some significant changes. Oceans are currently warming and becoming more acidic. The ice caps are melting, causing the sea levels to rise. These changes are predicted to be more prominent in the coming decades, threatening our environment and existence. Some of the current impacts of rapid climate change are as follows:

A rise in atmospheric temperature:

  • The greenhouse gases released due to human activities are increasing the temperature of the Earth.
  • The last 6 years topped the list of hottest years ever recorded.
  • The increase in temperature is the major cause of the current increase in heat-related deaths and illnesses, rise in sea levels and an increase in the intensity of natural disasters.
  • The 20th century saw an increase in the Earth’s average temperature by 1°F. This is believed to be the fastest rise in a thousand years.
  • Research estimates predict that if the GHGs are not reduced, the average surface temperature could increase to 3-5°F by the end of this century.

Change in landscapes:

  • Increasing temperature and changing climate and weather patterns across the globe led to the shift of trees and plants towards Polar Regions and mountains.
  • As the vegetation tries to adapt to climate change by moving towards colder regions, the animals that are dependent on them will be forced to follow them for survival. While some survive, many perish in the attempt.
  • Other species like polar bears dependent on cold terrains will not have any habitat due to the melting of ice, causing a risk to their survival.
  • Thus, the current hasty change in the landscape causes a considerable risk to the survival of many species, including the human population.

A risk to the ecosystem:

  • An increase in the temperature across the globe is changing the weather and vegetation patterns, making the species to migrate to cooler areas for survival.
  • This poses a threat to the survival of numerous species. It is projected that by 2050, one-fourth of the Earth’s species may become extinct if the current trend continues.

Rising sea levels:

  • An increase in the temperature of the Earth leads to a rise in sea level due to the thermal expansion (a condition wherein the warm water takes up more area than cooler water). The melting of glaciers adds to this problem.
  • The population living in under-lying areas, islands and coasts are threatened by the rising sea levels.
  • It erodes shorelines, damage properties and destroys ecosystems like mangroves and wetlands that protect coasts from storms.
  • In the last 100 years, the sea level has risen to 4-8 inches and will continue to rise between 4 and 36 inches in the next 100 years.

Ocean Acidification:

  • The increase in the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has increased the CO2 absorption in the ocean. This makes the ocean acidic.
  • The increase in the acidification of the ocean can be harmful to many marine species like plankton, molluscs, etc. The corals are especially susceptible to this as they find it difficult to create and maintain the skeletal structures needed for their survival.

Increase in the risk of natural and manmade disasters:

  • The moisture from land and water is rapidly evaporating due to the high atmospheric temperature.
  • This causes drought. Those areas that are affected by drought are highly susceptible to the negative effects of flooding.
  • As this current condition, the droughts may become more frequent and more severe. This may lead to distressing consequences for agriculture, water security, and health.
  • Countries in Asia and Africa are already facing this phenomenon, with droughts becoming longer and more intense.
  • The increased temperature is not only causing droughts but also increasing the cases of forest fires across the globe.
  • Climate change is also causing increased and intensified hurricanes and tropical storms, causing a devastating impact on human societies and the environment.
  • The cause of this is the rise in the ocean temperature as warm waters influence the hurricanes and tropical storms energies.
  • The other factors that cause intensified hurricane and tropical storms are raising sea levels, disappearing wetlands and increased coastal development.

Health issues:

  • The high temperature across the globe can pose health risks and deaths.
  • The increased heat waves caused by climate change have led to the deaths of many globally.
  • For instance, in 2003, the extreme heatwaves led to the death of more than 20,000 people in Europe and caused more than 1,500 deaths in India.
  • Climate change increases the spreading of contagious diseases as the long-term warm weather allows disease-carrying insects, animals and microbes to survive longer.
  • Disease and pests that were once confined to the tropics may find it habitable in the colder regions that were previously inhospitable.
  • Currently, there is an increase in death due to extreme heat, natural disasters and diseases due to climate change.
  • World Health Organisation estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change may cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and extreme heat.

Economic impacts:

  • It is estimated that if action is not taken to address the carbon emissions, climate change could cost about 5 to 20% of the annual global GDP.
  • In contrast, the cost to lessen the most damaging effects of climate change is just 1% of the GDP.
  • Climate change can alter shoreline habitats. This may lead to the need for relocation of ports and near-shore infrastructures and habitats, costing about millions of dollars.
  • The increased hurricanes and other related natural disasters can bring forth extreme economic losses caused by damaged properties and infrastructures.
  • Declining crop yields due to the lengthy droughts and high temperatures can lead to a risk of starvation of thousands of people.
  • Coral reefs generate approximately $375 billion each year in goods and services. Their very survival is currently under threat.

Agriculture productivity and food security:

  • The crop cultivation is dependent on solar radiation, favourable temperature and precipitation.
  • Hence, agriculture has always been dependent on climate patterns.
  • The current climate change
  • has affected agricultural productivity, food supply and food security.
  • These effects are biophysical, ecological and economic.
  • They resulted in:
  • Climate and agricultural zones are moving towards poles
  • There is a change in the agricultural production pattern due to increased atmospheric temperature
  • Agricultural productivity has increased due to the rise in CO2 in the atmosphere.
  • Unpredictable precipitation patterns
  • The vulnerability of the landless and the poor has increased.

How is climate change affecting India?

  • One of the major areas that will be extremely vulnerable to climate change in the future is South Asia.
  • India especially will be vulnerable to climate change due to its diverse terrain, rapid use of natural resources due to the current trend of precipitous urbanisation, industrialisation and economic growth.
  • Currently, India, in its effort to protect its fast diminishing natural resources, is facing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
  • Water and air quality are worsening each day due to environmental pollution.
  • Those that are especially susceptible to climate change are the country’s coastal ecosystems, biodiversity and agricultural productivity.
  • The natural disasters’ increasing frequency and intensity are causing negative effects to the already struggling Indian economy.
  • The adverse effects of such disasters range from poverty, vulnerability to diseases, loss of income and livelihoods.
  • According to the World Bank, an increase of 2°C in the world’s average temperature in the next few decades will only make India’s monsoon more unpredictable.
  • The changing rain patterns in India are predicted to leave many areas flooded and others without water scarcity.
  • More than 60% of India’s agriculture is dependent on rain and the majority of the population are dependent on the agriculture sector for survival. This makes India more vulnerable to climate change.
  • It is estimated that by the 2050s, with a temperature increase of 2-2.5°C, water in the river basins of Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra will be reduced. This may threaten the food security of about 63 million people.
  • The poverty reduction rate will also be slowed down due to the rise in the atmospheric temperature.
  • Poor will be more vulnerable to climate change since many of them are dependent on the rain-dependent agriculture.
  • An increase of 2°C by the 2040s is going to affect crop production and will reduce the crop output by 12%, requiring more imports to meet the domestic demands.
  • Furthermore, the decreasing availability of food can give rise to considerable health issues especially among women and children.
  • The melting glaciers and loss of snow can pose a risk to reliable water resources in India.
  • Main rivers like Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra mostly depend on snow and glacial meltwater. This makes them vulnerable to global warming.
  • Climate change can further increase the risk of flooding of low areas and threatens agriculture.
  • Impact on Drainage System: With the Indo-Gangetic Plains as its “breadbasket,” India withdraws 34% of its available water each year. Himalayan glaciers are melting faster and faster as temperatures rise and seasonal variability increases. If the rate rises, glacial lakes will burst their natural boundaries, causing flooding in river valleys fed by these glaciers, followed by reduced flows, resulting in water scarcity.

Government measures’ limitations:

  • From the recent cases of natural disasters like the Chennai Floods, 2015, 2016 drought, 2019 Kerala floods, etc., it is evident that there are no adequate arrangements made to mitigate them.
  • For instance, in the case of Uttarakhand or the Chennai rains, the arrangements weren’t adequate to allow the flow of rainwater due to the illegal constructions.
  • From the 2016 drought, there were increased deaths, most of them were economically poor and the underprivileged.
  • The government failed to ensure long-term mitigation and the big corporate houses that contribute to large-scale pollution of air and water escape with a mere “corporate social liability” clauses. These are some of the major causes of the devastating impact of these natural disasters.
  • India does not have stringent laws to ensure protection against climate change.
  • The authorities will not be prosecuted for their negligence of duty and the cases that manage to reach the Supreme Court through the public interest litigation were only able to bring about small changes in averting the future crisis.
  • Each year, India is facing the negative impact of climate change and the government is taking measures to address it. Yet the measures taken will not be enough to solve the issue due to poor implementation and lack of accountability.

What are the efforts taken at the international level to combat climate change?

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

  • The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) founded the IPCC to provide for a mechanism to study the effects of global warming at a governmental level.
  • IPCC is a UN body that assesses the science related to climate change.
  • It provides the policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks while also providing adaptation and mitigation options.
  • It complements UNFCCC and vice versa.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

  • It came to force on 21st March 1994.
  • The 195 countries that have ratified it are called the Parties to the Convention.
  • The UNFCC is a Rio Convention, one of the three adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The others include the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
  • The Joint Liaison Group was established to ensure cooperation among the three Conventions.
  • Currently, it also consists of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
  • The ultimate aim of the Convention is to stabilize the greenhouse gas concentration “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.
  • It also aims to achieve the said level within a specific period so that the ecosystem is allowed to adapt naturally to climate change while also ensuring food security and sustainable economic development.
  • Following its establishment, the COP1 (first Conference of Parties) was held in Berlin, COP2 was held in Geneva and the COP3 was held in Kyoto to adopt the “Kyoto Protocol” that ensures the implementation of the UNFCCC’s objective.

Kyoto Protocol:

  • Kyoto Protocols was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on 11th December 1997 and came to force on 16th February 2005
  • Its signatories are committed towards the achievement of emission reduction targets.
  • COP 7 held in Morocco in 2001 saw the adoption of the detailed rules for the implementation of the protocol. These are referred to as “Marrakesh Accords”.
  • This protocol holds the developed countries are accountable for the current high levels of GHG emissions into the atmosphere due to their role in the industrial revolution.
  • Kyoto Mechanism, also known as Flexible Mechanism, is defined under the Kyoto Protocol to lower the overall cost of achieving the emission targets. It includes Emission Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation.
  • On December 2012, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol was adopted. The changes made include:
  • New commitments were made by Annex I Parties (developed nations and Economies in Transition) to be implemented between the period of 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2020.
  • A revised list of GHG that is to be reported by the Parties during the second commitment period
  • Amendments were made to update several articles of the Kyoto Protocol to be on par with the second commitment period.
  • The Kyoto Protocol is a significant step towards the reduction of global emission regime that will allow the stabilisation of GHG emissions.

Paris Agreement:

  • Signed in 2016, it is considered to be the world’s first comprehensive climate agreement.
  • It aims to:
  • Keep the global temperature well below 2°C above preindustrial times and endeavour to limit them even more to 1.5°C.
  • Strengthen the nations’ ability to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.
  • The Paris Accord calls for a reduction of the GHGs emitted due to human activities equal to that of the trees, soil and oceans so that they can be absorbed naturally.
  • As per the Agreement, each country’s contribution towards cutting emission must be reviewed every 5 years.
  • It also states that rich countries must help the poorer nations by providing them with “Climate finances” to make them shift towards renewable energy usage.
  • The agreement is binding in some elements like reporting requirements. Other elements of the agreement are non-binding like the emission targets of the individual nations.
  • The Paris Agreement necessitates all Parties to put forth their best efforts through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the future.
  • This also includes the need for regular reporting emissions and implementation by the parties.
  • India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) includes the reduction in the intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level. Additionally, it has pledged to increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity by 40% by 2030. It has also agreed to enhance its forest cover, which will absorb 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030.

REDD+

  • Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism developed by Parties of the UNFCCC.
  • It creates financial value for the carbon stored in forests to offer incentives for the developing nations to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths.
  • The developing nations will receive results-based payments for results-based actions.
  • The REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation by including the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
  • It is estimated that the financial flows for the GHG emission reduction from REDD+ could reach up to $30 billion per year.
  • This improved North-South flow of funds can ensure a significant reduction of carbon emissions and the promotion of inclusive development. It could also improve biodiversity conservation and secure vital ecosystem services.
  • Forests are vital carbon sink and thus, it is vital to increase its resilience to climate change.

What are the measures taken by the Indian government to combat climate change?

  • India is this fifth-largest emitter of GHG, accounting for approximately 5% of global emission.
  • Emissions from India have increased by 65% during 1990-2005 and are estimated to increase by another 70% by 2020.
  • As previously mentioned India is especially vulnerable to climate change because of the increased natural disasters, depleting natural resources and high dependence on agriculture and rain.
  • Regardless of the resource limitations, India is taking numerous measures to adapt and mitigate climate change by increasing energy efficiency, promoting circular economic model, promoting the use of renewable energy
  • India is among the few countries that have increased the Clean Energy Cess on coal.
  • Clean Energy Fund worth approximately $3 billion is used to promote the use of clean technologies.
  • The government is also increasing the investments for afforestation to increase the carbon sink.
  • India has set a target of 33% of its geographical area under forest cover. According to the biennial State of India’s Forest Report 2019 (SoFR 2019), India’s total forest cover is 21.67% of the total geographical area of the country.
  • India has allocated about $200 million for the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).
  • It aims to support adaptation activities that can mitigate the adverse impact of climate change.
  • The scheme’s activities are implemented in the project mode and the projects are related to adaptation in sectors like agriculture, animal husbandry, water, forestry, tourism, etc.
  • Other initiatives include 100 smart cities, National Mission for Clean Ganga, National Air Quality Scheme, etc. Other major government measures are as follows:

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

  • As a part of the NAPCC, the Indian government had launched 8 missions on focused areas. They are:
  • National Solar Mission
  • National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
  • National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
  • National Water Mission
  • National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
  • National Mission for a “Green India” Goals
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
  • National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

National Action Programme to Combat Desertification:

  • India is one of the parties of UNCCD.
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the National Coordination Agency for the implementation of the UNCCD at the national level.
  • India has framed the 20-year comprehensive National Action Programme (NAP) to address the problem of desertification within the nation. The objectives include:
  • Drought management, preparedness, and mitigation
  • Development based on a community approach
  • Promote the improvement of local communities’ quality of life
  • Promote awareness
  • Promote suitable research and development initiatives and interventions.
  • Promoting self-governance to empower local communities so that they can deal with issues pertaining to climate change.

India in the international forums on climate change:

  • India is currently setting up voluntary targets in the international forums to commit itself to the mission to combat climate change. It is also playing a major role in climate change mitigation.
  • India’s proactive role in mitigating climate change is due to the domestic compulsion of tackling issues like the need for poverty eradication, food and nutritional security, universalization of health and education, water security, sustainable energy, employment
  • India is of the opinion that the developing countries’ need for inclusive growth, sustainable development, poverty eradication and universal access to energy must be made the fundamental differentiation between them and the developed nations. Currently, the Conventions recognise that the historical emissions of the developed nations as the basis for differentiation between the developed and developing nations.

What is stopping us from mitigating climate change?

The numerous decision-making barriers that currently exist are preventing the desired level of adaptation. The 5th Assessment Report of the IPCC has comprehensively identified the economic barriers that are preventing government decision on adaption to climate change. They are:

  • Transitional costs: These are broadly divided into information and adjustment costs. The former refers to the costs that occur while acquiring information and the latter are the costs for replacing the long-lived capital.
  • Market failures and missing markets: These include externalities, information asymmetries, and moral hazards. These cases are especially seen when one economic unit harms another unit. It also occurs when there aren’t sufficient incentives for the change.
  • Behaviour obstacles to adaption: Irrational decisions, social norms, and cultural factors also pose as obstacles to adaption decision making.
  • Ethical and distributional issues: These issues connect to the differences in vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Though sometimes a decision could ensure cost-effective and sustainable solutions, ethical constraints hinder these decisions.
  • Coordination, government failures and politics: Though the governments must ensure the removal of the aforementioned barriers, they themselves face similar barriers like limited knowledge or resources. Also, coordination among various departments, though important, is highly difficult to obtain. Politics on whether or not climate change is real is also preventing the governments from undertaking adaption decision-making.
  • Uncertainty is the largest barrier to adaptation as it expands to different dimensions like future developments of demographics, technologies and economics and the future of climate change.

Conclusion

Climate change is happening. This should be accepted and not politicised. International cooperation to address climate change is vital to mitigate the adverse impact. Additionally, mitigation must be complemented with climate change-related adaption since mitigation alone cannot address the adverse effects we are facing right now. An international level comprehensive plan of action is necessary for inclusive and sustainable growth of the global community.

Test yourself

Scientific consensus and public protests are doing little to motivate the governments’ policies towards climate change mitigation. Discuss. (250 Words)

Updates

  • Climate Change Performance Index 2022
    • The seventeenth edition of the Climate Change Performance Index 2022 was published on 10 November 2021. India ranked 10th while Denmark is the highest performing country in the index. The top ten nations in the index are– Denmark (4th position), Sweden (5th position), Norway (6th position), United Kingdom (7th position), Morocco (8th position), Chile (9th position), and India (10th position).
    • About CCPI
      • The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an annual report released by Germanwatch, Climate Action Network (CAN) and New Climate Institute since 2005.
      • CCPI is an independent tool that monitors the climate protection performance of about 60 countries and the European Union. These countries collectively produce around 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
      • It seeks to improve transparency in international climate politics and enables a comparison of climate protection initiatives and progress achieved by individual nations.
      • The report studies countries in 4 categories having 14 indicators – Greenhouse gas emissions (40% of total score), Renewable energy (20%), Energy use (20%) and Climate policy (20%).

  • 2022 was the fifth warmest year on record. Earth’s average surface temperature in 2022 effectively tied with 2015 as the fifth warmest on record, according to an analysis by NASA.
  • Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent in September 2022, shrinking to an area of 4.67 million square kilometers (1.80 million square miles). This extends a long-term downward trend due to global warming.
  • New research on Antarctica doubles the previous estimates of loss from ice shelves. The study, published in the journal Nature, found that ice shelves in Antarctica are losing ice at an alarming rate, with some losing up to 100 meters of ice per year.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report in March 2023 that warned that global warming is already having a significant impact on the planet. The report found that climate change is causing more extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. It also found that climate change is causing sea levels to rise, which is threatening coastal communities around the world.
  • Climate Action Tracker (CAT)
    • The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed aim of holding warming well below 2°C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

    • It is produced by two research organisations, Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute.

    • In its most recent assessment, the CAT found that global emissions are on track to increase by 3.6% in 2022. This is far from the level of ambition needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The CAT also found that many countries are not on track to meet their Paris Agreement pledges.

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