Context

Recently, the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a comprehensive ban on all forms of the deadly carcinogen asbestos. 

US Bans White Asbestos

• Chrysotile asbestos, also known as white asbestos, was the last remaining type still legally used in the US.

About Asbestos

• A Generic Term: It denotes a group of six silicate minerals with similar but distinct properties. 
• Named on Colour: They are commonly known by their colours, as blue asbestos, brown asbestos, white asbestos and green asbestos.
• Classification: Asbestos minerals are subdivided into two classes:
  • The Serpentine Group: Its crystal morphology is snake-like, with a tendency to form bundles. It is softer and more flexible than the other types of fiber. 
    • It consists solely of chrysotile, popularly known as ‘white asbestos’. 
  • The Amphibole Group: It consists of five chemically and morphologically diverse fibers primarily represented by crocidolite and amosite asbestos. 

• • • Crocidolite, sometimes called ‘blue asbestos’, occurs as needle-like fibers that are high in iron content and are more durable than chrysolite in human lungs.
• Source Countries: Asbestos mainly comes from Russia, Kazakhstan and China.
• Characteristics: Sound absorption, average tensile strength, affordability and excellent electrical insulator and is highly fire and heat resistant. 
• Uses and Applications:
• • Manufacturers and builders use asbestos for its desirable physical properties. 
  • Asbestos has been used on ships as both a fire retardant and an insulator to protect sailors from the constant and jarring vibrations of ships’ engines.
  • It is used in insulation and fireproofing materials, automotive brakes, and wallboard materials.
• Concerns: It is known to be a highly toxic material and a carcinogen.
  • According to the World Health Organization, all varieties of asbestos are associated with conditions such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, laryngeal cancer, ovarian cancer and asbestosis, a lung fibrosis.
  • Repeated exposure can cause inflammation and damage the DNA.

Asbestos Use in India

• High Usage: Despite India enacting a ban on asbestos mining enacted in 1993, there is no law in place to restrict its use in construction, import or trade. 
  • Moreover, India is one of the largest consumers and users of asbestos globally, and accounted for 44% of global imports in 2021.
• It is used in housing and construction, especially in roofing. 
• It is also used in piping, vehicles, brake parts, etc.

About Chrysotile White Asbestos

• A Carcinogen: Chrysotile Asbestos is a carcinogen (a substance capable of causing cancer) and has severe impacts on public health. 
• A Common Type: It is the most common type of asbestos, making up 99% of the world’s current asbestos production.
  • It is also the only serpentine form of asbestos, made up of long, curly fibers that weave to make sheets.
  • Chrysotile has a low iron content (∼1.5%) and limited durability in the lung.
• Use: It was primarily used by the chlor-alkali industry, which produces chlorine bleach, caustic soda and other chemicals used in water treatment. 
  • These products are vital for public health, raising concerns about potential disruptions.

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Bihar’s only tiger reserve Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) uses green energy to provide water to wild animals during the hot summer.

Valmiki Tiger Reserve Only Tiger Reserve Using Green Energy to Provide Water to Wildlife During Summer

• Use of Solar-Powered Pumps: It has installed cost-effective and eco-friendly solar-powered pumps for providing water regularly to tigers and other wildlife.
  • Earlier, water tankers were used to fill waterholes for wild animals, which was a costly and time-consuming process.
• Impact: Wild animals will not stray into human habitations in search of water during summer.

About Valmiki Tiger Reserve

• About: Valmiki Tiger Reserve forms the eastern most limit of the Himalayan Terai forests in India.
• Location: It is in the Terai in Bihar’s West Champaran district in the Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary. Nepal borders it to its north and Uttar Pradesh to its west.
• Rivers:  Rivers Gandak, Pandai, Manor, Harha, Masan, and Bhapsa flow through various parts of the reserve.
• Vegetation: The mixed moist deciduous vegetation along the alluvial plains of the Gandak River is dominated by sal (Shorea robusta), Rohini (Mallotus phillipensis) and sihor (Strebulus asper), etc.
• Fauna: Tigers, Leopards and Indian Wild Dogs are the large predators. Other species found here are the leopard cat, fishing cat, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, hog deer, Indian bison (Gaur), Nilgai, wild boar, etc.

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Context

A performance audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the degradation of the Shipra River, threw up a host of significant findings.

Key Findings of the CAG Audit Report On Shipra River

• First Performance Audit:  It was perhaps the first performance audit conducted by the CAG on a river’s degradation in the entire central India. 
• Improper Management of the River Basin:  The natural flow the river reduced due to improper management and over extraction of ground water in the Kshipra sub-basin. 
• Causes of Deteriorating Water Quality of the River: Merging of untreated sewage in the river, inadequate treatment of industrial waste, pollution at riverbanks adversely affecting the water quality of the Kshipra 
• Non Completion of Work in the stipulated time:  The sewerage network and STP related works were not completed as per timelines 
• Lack of Infrastructure: ULBs (Urban Local Bodies) lacked sound systems for disposal of faecal sludge. Some STPs were working on older technologies and the provision of reuse of the treated effluents was also not created by the ULBs.
• Granting of Permission to Industries: The MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) belatedly granted consent to industries adjacent to the river basin
• Absence of Effluent Treatment Plants: Many industries either ran without effluent treatment plants (ETP) or were not equipped with alternative sources of power. 
• Zero Liquid Discharge Compliance: A proper mechanism for ensuring compliance of zero liquid discharge status wasn’t available 
• Groundwater Contamination: Parameters of iron, cadmium, nickel and lead were beyond the permissible limit in the ground water of Dewas industrial area, but action against the defaulting industries wasn’t taken. 
• Non issuance of Guidelines for Flood Plain zones: Guidelines regarding regulations in flood plain zones (FPZ) were not issued by the Nagar Nigams and encroachments were observed in the FPZ of Kahn and Kshipra rivers.
• Non Execution of River front Development: River Front Development work wasn’t executed properly.

About Shipra River: Madhya Pradesh

• About: The Shipra, also known as the Kshipra, is a river in Madhya Pradesh state.
• Type of River: It is a perennial river and is considered as sacred as the Ganga River by the Hindus. 
• Course of River:
  • Origin: It originates in the Vindhya Range from a hill called Kakri-Tekdi, which is in the north of Dhar and situated at a distance of 11km from Ujjain. 
  • It flows across the Malwa Plateau to join the Chambal River.

• Major Tributaries: Khan and Gambhir

• Religious Significance of Shipra River

• • The Puranas, or ancient Hindu texts, put forward that the Shipra originated from the heart of Varaha, Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as a boar.
  • Also on the banks of the Shipra is Sage Sandipani’s ashram or hermitage, where Krishna, Lord Vishnu’s eighth incarnation, had studied.
  • It finds mention not only in ancient Hindu texts but also in Buddhist and Jain scriptures.
  • The holy city of Ujjain is located on the right bank of the Shipra River. 
  • The famous Kumbha Mela takes place in the ghats of this city, once every 12 years, a yearly celebration of the river goddess Kshipra.

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Context

A recent World Bank Group report found that women receive only 77 cents for every $1 paid to males, underscoring the gender pay disparity.

About Gender Pay Gap

• Definition By ILO: The International Labour Organisation defines the gender pay gap as a “measurable indicator” of disparity between men and women.
  • Difference between Wage Levels: The ILO defines the gender pay gap as the difference between the wage levels of all women and men working in the labor market for a monthly, hourly, or daily wage.
  • Average Wage Gap: It refers to the average wage gap between all working women and men, not simply for “equal work.”

How is Gender Pay Gap Calculated?

• Differ from equal pay for equal work: It is distinct from “equal pay for equal work,” which requires equal pay for men and women with the same qualifications performing the same job.
• Variation in Calculation: There is no single way for determining the gap. Different organizations employ different measurements, such as hourly or weekly wages, resulting in disparate conclusions.
• Gender Inequality: Despite methodological differences, a gender pay disparity exists in most countries and industries, demonstrating that inequality remains a problem.

Reasons for Gender Pay Gap

• Low Labour Force Participation: 

  • Women are frequently underrepresented in the workforce relative to men due to cultural expectations and established gender norms.
    • Despite an increase in the number of girls enrolled in Class 10, India’s Female LFPR has fallen from 30% to 25% over two decades.

• Occupational segregation: 

  • Women are more likely to be employed in low-wage positions or industries, whereas men dominate higher-wage areas such as engineering and computer science, resulting in disparities in average salaries.
    • According to research conducted by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), women in technology earn 29% less than men, with the difference widening even further at senior management levels.

• Underrepresentation: 

  • According to the International Labour Organization’s Women in Business and Management report, women are less likely to hold management or leadership positions, particularly at higher levels, which can affect income and contribute to the gender pay gap.

• Care Economy: 

  • Part-time work is more common among women than males, often due to caregiving responsibilities. Part-time work often pays less and provides fewer benefits than full-time positions.
    • When women take time from work to have and care for children, their earnings may suffer, resulting in fewer prospects for progress or workplace discrimination.

• Gender Stereotypes: 

  • Women have been expected to prioritise caregiving and domestic responsibilities, which can influence workplace dynamics and lead to women being undervalued or overlooked for higher-paying jobs.

• Low Educational Investment: 

• • Women may have limited access to excellent education or encounter challenges such as cultural norms or financial restrictions that prevent them from pursuing higher education or specialized training.

• Safety Concerns: 

  • Safety concerns in the workplace and during commutes can disproportionately impact women’s employment choices.

• Discrimination in the Services Sector: 

  • Pay discrimination developed considerably as the service industry grew in the twentieth century.

• Age-Related Patterns: 

  • Age-based analysis of employment data reveals that women’s earnings tend to fall in their mid-30s and 40s compared to men in similar positions and professions. This is frequently attributed to career breaks taken by women to care for children or elderly relatives

• Work-Family Balance: 

  • Claudia Goldin, a well-known economist, contends that males have traditionally been permitted to prioritise their jobs while women have been required to prioritise family duties.

• Slow Improvement: 

  • Policies such as parental leave and work flexibility gradually lower the earnings gap, but progress is slow.

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Context

The scientists have proposed a classification system for metastatic cancers, placing the molecular characteristics of the cancer over the tissue of origin.

Classification of Cancer Origin

• Traditional Approaches to Treating Cancer: It targets the organs in which the tumor is present. This practice formed the basis of classifying cancers after the organ in which they originate, like breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, etc.
  • However, most deaths due to cancer are the result of the disease metastasising beyond the organ of origin.

Need for Change in Metastatic Cancer Classification

• Mutations Not Limited to Single Organ:  All cancers from the same organ don’t always share the same mutations, and these mutations aren’t limited to cancers of a single organ.
  • This requires cancers to be classified based on their molecular and genetic Characteristics rather than the organ in which they originate.
• Treatment Delays due to Clinical Trials: Oncologists spend a lot of time testing new drugs in clinical trials sequentially, leading to “delay in treatment access”.

Significance of the Proposed Metastatic Cancer Classification

• Streamlining Clinical Trials: This will reduce the time needed to run clinical trials. Instead of testing the drug in each disease defined by the organ of origin, only a few randomised trials would be required.
  • A trial for a drug targeting a particular genetic mutation will cover all cancer types with those mutations. This will reduce the time required for the trials.
• Helping patients understand the rationale behind their therapy:  The two people may have same cancer but not the same therapy because the biological mechanisms underlying their tumors are different. 
  • Thus, naming cancers with biological mechanisms would decrease such heterogeneity and will also help the patient better to understand the rationale for his/her therapy.

The Challenge with the Proposed Cancer Classification System

• Without trials that encompass a substantial number of patients representing each type of cancer-based on molecular signatures, there is a risk of generalizing the results across all cancers.

Way Forward

• Approval of Drugs Based on Molecular Target: The regulatory agencies, scientific groups, and insurance companies will need to clarify when a drug should be approved based on its molecular target. 
• Analysing Molecular Profiles: Institutions need to establish teams focusing on analysing patients’ molecular profiles irrespective of the cancer type. 
• Training to Medical Students: Medical students must be trained to understand the molecular basis of cancers instead of memorising the characteristics of primary tumours.

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Context

Pandavula Gutta was recently officially recognised as Telangana’s sole geo-heritage site.

• Recently, the Rajasthan Government also designated Ramgarh Crater at Baran District as a Geoheritage site.

About Pandavula Gutta

• It is a geological marvel older than the Himalayan hills.
• Location: Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, Telangana.
• Discovery: First discovered in  1990.
• Features: 
  • Prehistoric Habitation: It exhibits many sites from mesolithic to medieval periods.
  • Rock Art: Prehistoric man’s rock art was identified on walls and ceilings of caves, rock shelters and isolated boulders.
    • Depictions of Wildlife: The rock art paintings depict wildlife like Bison, Antelope, Tiger, Leopard etc.
    • Unique Blend of Natural Colors: impressions in green, red, yellow and white pigment colors.
    • Geometrical Shapes & Design: Swastika Symbols, circles and squares, weapons depicted such as bows, arrows, swords and lancer etc, are present in these paintings.
• Major Attraction: Paleolithic Rock Art Paintings, Eduru Pandavula Guhalu, Rock Climbing, Rappelling and Hiking.

About Ramgarh Crater

• It is a terrestrial Meteorite Impact Crater
• Location: Ramgarh Village, Mangrol Tehsil, Baran district, Rajasthan 
• Discovery: first discovered by the Geological Survey of India in 1869.
• Formation: It was formed around 165 million years ago due to Meteor impact.

• Features: 

  • Circular Depression: It forms a circular depression surrounded by hills and forests
  • Source of Essential Ecosystem Services & Heritage: It provides essential ecosystem services to preserve the ecological balance, biodiversity and cultural heritage of the region.

• Major Attraction: 

  • Bhand Devra Temple, influenced by Chandela dynasty and their temples at Khajuraho, is an example of such interchange.
  • Ramgarh Conservation Reserve (recognised under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972). 
  • Pushkar Talab complex (wetland, recognised under wetland conservation & Management Rules, 2017) located inside the crater, is a saline and alkaline water source.
• Other Important Recognized Meteorite Craters in India: Lonar in Maharashtra & Dhala in Madhya Pradesh.

What Are Geoheritage Sites?

About Geoheritage Sites:

• Geoheritage sites are sites of rare and unique geological and geomorphological significance having geomorphological, mineralogical, petrological, paleontological, and stratigraphic significance, including caves, natural rock sculptures of national and international interest. 
• Recognized by: Geological Survey of India (GSI) recognizes, declares, and maintains its heritage sites. 
• Features: 
  • Scientific-Educational Value: Geological Features and unique Fossils that are crucial for research.
  • Cultural & Aesthetic Value: Visuals on geological features depict cultural & aesthetic importance.
• Recognized Geo-heritage Site: 
  • Till GSI recognizes more than 90 sites.
  • Out of these, 34 are geo-heritage sites/national geological monuments declared for protection and maintenance after Pandavula Gutta & Ramgarh Crater.
  • Some prominent geo-heritage sites are Mamluh caves in Meghalaya and Barbara Caves in Bihar.

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Context

New study confirms discovery of Dog-killing Flatworms Parasite (Heterobilharzia Americana) in Southern California’s Colorado river. 

About Flatworm Parasite (Heterobilharzia Americana)

• Heterobilharzia Americana: It is  commonly called the liver fluke parasite.
• Host: The parasite enters the dog through the skin when canines wade or swim in freshwater inhabited by infected snails, the intermediate host. 
  • The researchers found that two varieties of snails could transmit the parasite — Galba cubensis and Galba humilis.
• Transmission: The transmission of Heterobilharzia americana occurs when dogs come into contact with contaminated water, leading to the development of schistosomiasis, a potentially fatal condition.
• Symptoms: Lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss etc.
  • In humans, it can cause swimmer’s itch, a red rash where it penetrates human skin.

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Context

According to a report by a European team, Chemicals in plastics are far more numerous than previous estimates.

• The report is  funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

Chemicals in Plastic: Key Highlights of the Study

• Discovery of New Chemicals in Plastics: Over 3,000 new compounds have been discovered in plastics, surpassing earlier estimates by environmental agencies.
  • These compounds are found in a variety of plastic products, including food packaging, toys, and medical devices.
• Danger to Human health and Environment: Of the 16000 chemicals  discovered by scientists in plastic, around one-quarter are thought to pose dangers to both human health and the environment.
• Effects of Plastic chemicals on Human and Environment: Plastic chemicals may seep into water and food.
  • Hundreds of plastic compounds have been found in humans, with some connected to harmful health impacts.
  • Such consequences include reproductive problems and cardiovascular illness.
• Amount of Plastic Waste: Approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated each year, emphasizing the need to address this environmental catastrophe.
• Lack of Information about Chemicals: A considerable proportion (one-quarter) of the discovered chemicals  lack critical information about their basic chemical identification.
• Lack of Incentive for Disclosure: Only 6% of the compounds identified in plastics are regulated internationally, demonstrating that there is no motivation for disclosure in the absence of regulatory pressure.

Recommendations

• Addressing Not Enough: While the plastics industry has stated that any global treaty should promote plastic recycling and reuse, simply addressing plastic waste is insufficient to safeguard people.
• Need of Greater Transparency: Greater transparency is required for the chemicals that are incorporated into plastics, especially those used in recycled items.

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Indian States have been gradually registering a withdrawal of spring season — a period of relatively benign weather between the winter of January and the scorching summers of April. 

• Researchers from the agency Climate Trends calculated the monthly average temperature for 33 States and Union Territories from 1970-present. 

Climate Change Impact on Spring Season: Key Highlights of the Study

• Rising Temperatures during Winter: Climate Trends researchers examined temperature trends from 1970 and found a consistent rising tendency during the winter across all locations.
• Increase in Temperature across India: Manipur had the highest temperature increase (2.3°C) since 1970, while Delhi had the smallest (0.2°C).
• Temperature Variations in India: Southern India witnessed substantial warming in December and January, with Sikkim and Manipur particularly affected.
  • Rajasthan, along with Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, experienced a dramatic warming surge between January and February (2.6°C).
• Lesser Warming and Cooling in North India: Northern India had lesser warming or even cooling in December and January, but a significant rising trend in February, indicating rapid shifts to warmer temperatures.
• Role of Western Disturbance: The disappearance of spring season in many parts of India is related to changes in the pattern of Western Disturbances and the jet stream, which influence winter temperatures and rainfall distribution.

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Context

The recent visit of the Bhutanese Prime Minister to India, followed by the announcements of the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Bhutan, exemplifies India’s commitment to neighbourhood first policy.

About Neighbourhood First Policy

• Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP) was conceived in 2008 wherein the principles of engagement under NFP were 5S (Samman, Samvad, Shanti, Samriddhi and Sanskriti).
• It aims to foster stronger ties, enhance regional cooperation, and address mutual concerns with immediate neighbouring countries.
• The Policy is driven by India’s consultative, nonreciprocal and development-oriented approach.

Evolution of Neighbourhood first Policy

• India’s approach has evolved from anti-colonial solidarity to fostering regional hegemony, and then to becoming a responsible leader aiming for mutual trust and cooperation.
• 2014 onwards: Revamping NFP to strengthen ties through economic cooperation, development assistance, and addressing shared challenges.
• The NFP received a boost from all neighbours except Pakistan. Greater emphasis was also laid on regional and sub-regional initiatives, through SAARC and BIMSTEC.

Significance of Neighbourhood First Policy

• Strategic and Geopolitical Interests:

  • Leadership in the Region: NFP bolsters India’s central role in the strategically competitive Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and positions it as a regional leader.
  • Balancing Regional Powers: NFP focuses on India’s strategic maneuvering to counterbalance expanding Chinese influence and solidify its position as a net security provider in the IOR.
  • Multilateral Collaboration: The policy emphasizes on the importance of neighboring alliances in reinforcing India’s stance in global platforms and fostering regional cohesion.

• National Security Interests:

  • Safeguarding Sovereignty: The NFP underlines the need for cooperative neighbors to deter cross-border insurgencies and uphold India’s territorial sovereignty.
  • Securing Maritime Borders: NFP promotes collaborative maritime security initiatives with proximate countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives etc. to ensure safe and secure Indian waters.

• Economic and Developmental Interests:

  • Securing Energy Resources: The policy explores the hydroelectric potential of Himalayan neighbors and the criticality of maritime routes for energy imports.
  • North-Eastern Development through Regional Integration: It discusses how enhanced connectivity and trade with neighbors can spur development in India’s North-Eastern region.

• Soft Power Diplomacy:

  • Leveraging Historical Ties for Regional Influence: The Policy considers India’s use of its rich cultural heritage to strengthen diplomatic relations and enhance regional influence through soft power.
    • For instance, the prevalence of Buddhism in India and Southeast Asia acts as a tool to strengthen people-to-people ties and diplomatic relations.

Challenges to Neighbourhood First Policy

• Comprehensive Policy Framework:

  • Policy Ambiguity: There’s a perception that India lacks a clearly defined neighbourhood strategy, leading to a reactive rather than a proactive approach in shaping relationships with neighbouring countries.
  • Regional Cooperation Hurdles: Strained relations among regional nations affect the collective implementation of policies, illustrated by the partial success in signing agreements at SAARC summits due to objections from specific countries like Pakistan.

• Security Concerns:

  • Cross-Border Terrorism: Permeable borders and external support for terrorism in countries like Pakistan contribute to security threats in India.
  • Drug Trafficking and Piracy: Proximity to drug-producing regions and piracy risks off the Somali coast exacerbate India’s security and trafficking issues.
  • Illegal Migration: Relations with Bangladesh have been strained due to domestic political rhetoric in India concerning illegal migration.

• Rising Influence of China:

  • China’s Economic Expansion: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR) has significantly increased its trade with South Asian countries, challenging India’s influence.
  • Leveraging China Against India: Neighboring countries occasionally use China as leverage against India, affecting bilateral relationships.

• Building Confidence with Neighbours:

  • Perceived Inequality: Neighbors sometimes feel India does not treat them as equals, impacting regional trust. Historical military involvements are viewed with suspicion and contribute to apprehensions.

• Economic Challenges in the Neighbourhood:

  • Regional Economic Instabilities: Economic crises in countries like Sri Lanka impact India’s exports and reflect broader regional economic vulnerabilities.
  • LOC Project Delays: Significant delays in implementing Line of Credit projects to neighboring countries cause frustration and diminish India’s influence and trust in the region.

• Connectivity and Infrastructure Deficits:

  • Underdeveloped Border Areas: Lack of infrastructure at borders hampers trade and unrestrained movement, with many border districts needing development and connectivity projects delayed.

• Domestic Politics Influencing Foreign Policy:

  • Political and Ethnic Sensitivities: Domestic politics and ethnic considerations sometimes dictate India’s foreign policy towards neighbors, affecting agreements like the Teesta Waters and engagement with ethnic groups in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

• Environmental Challenges:

• • Climate Change and Disasters: The region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change poses additional challenges, potentially leading to climate migration and disrupting development efforts.

Way Forward

• Revitalising and Utilising Regional Forums: There is a need to actively engage and leverage platforms like SAARC, BIMSTEC, and IORA for continuous diplomatic engagement, dispute resolution, and promotion of regional unity.
• Strategic Relations with China and Pakistan
  • Negotiations with China: It is needed to prioritise defining the LAC clearly while firmly resisting any violations, adhering to the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement.
  • Counter-Terrorism Collaboration: There is a need to work with regional and global entities to establish a counter-terrorism platform and consider economic ties with Pakistan, contingent upon its support for broader people-to-people exchanges.
• Strengthen Internal Security: It is needed to bolster India’s internal security mechanisms to effectively counter terrorist activities and ensure a proactive response from neighboring nations.
• International Collaborations: Reorientation of India’s foreign policy to build strategic alliances with major global powers like the US, Russia, and the EU, and actively engage in international forums such as the UN, BRICS, and G20 to address regional challenges.
• Tailored Diplomatic Efforts: It is needed to fine-tune India’s diplomatic initiatives to address the specific concerns and aspirations of smaller neighbouring countries through enhanced domestic coordination.
• Infrastructure Investments: Commit to significant infrastructure enhancements, including transport networks and digital customs, viewing economic connectivity as beneficial rather than a security risk.
• Investment in Tourism: India needs to promote investments in the tourism sector, including medical tourism, to strengthen people-to-people ties, enhance soft power, and support economic integration.
• Environmental Collaboration: India should foster joint efforts in water management and environmental protection through data exchange and scientific research, addressing shared ecological challenges.

Conclusion

India’s Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP) dynamically adapts to the region’s evolving landscape, highlighting India’s commitment to shaping a prosperous South Asian future. This strategic approach is vital for fostering a stable and affluent neighbourhood that aligns with India’s national and foreign policy goals.

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Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of Global Climate Report 2023 (an annual State of the Climate Report).

State of Global Climate Report 2023: WMO Report

• Earlier, the WMO released the provisional State of the Global Climate Report, 2023.
• Key Indicators: Greenhouse gas levels (GHGs), surface temperatures, ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice cover, glacier retreat, etc.

Key Findings of the State of Global Climate Report 2023

• Hottest Year: The State of Global Climate 2023 – WMO report found that 2023 was the hottest year. Numerous records for climate system indicators were broken.
• Witnessed Extreme Events: Extreme weather events hit many parts of the world in 2023, affecting water, food security, and human welfare. These included significant floods, extreme heat drought and associated wildfires.

• On Climate Finance: 

  • In 2021/2022, global climate flows reached almost USD 1.3 trillion, nearly doubling compared to 2019/2020. 
    • Despite this growing momentum in climate finance, tracked flows represent only approximately 1% of global GDP. 
  • A High Financing Gap: Comparing tracked climate finance flows to estimated climate finance needs exposes a significant financing gap. 
    • In an average scenario for a 1.5°C pathway, annual climate finance investments need to grow more than six times, reaching almost USD 9 trillion by 2030 and a further USD 10 trillion through 2050.
  • Cost of Inaction: It is even higher than the financing gap. Aggregating over the period 2025-2100, the total cost of inaction is estimated at USD 1,266 trillion.
    • It is likely to be a dramatic underestimate of the actual cost, as it does not capture losses to nature, biodiversity, and those induced by conflict and migration.

• On Climate Monitoring and Renewable Energy:

• • High Increase: In 2023, renewable capacity additions increased by almost 50% from 2022, for 510 gigawatts, the highest rate observed in the past two decades. 
  • Collective Action: At the recent Copenhagen Climate Ministerial, climate leaders and Ministers worldwide will gather for the first time since COP-28 in Dubai to push for accelerated climate action. 
  • Action Plans: Enhancing countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the February 2025 deadline is expected to be high on the agenda, as well as delivering an ambitious agreement on financing at COP-29 to turn national plans into action.
    • Challenge: Climate Action is being hampered by a lack of capacity to deliver and use climate services to inform national mitigation and adaptation plans, especially in developing countries. 

About Status & Variation in the Key Indicators

• Greenhouse Gases:

  • Causing Global Warming: The unprecedented levels of GHGs in the atmosphere are the main reasons for the planet’s rapid warming. 
    • Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide trap the incoming solar radiation in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
  • Peak Concentration in 2022: The concentration of the aforementioned GHGs reached record-high observed levels in 2022.
    • The rate of increase in nitrous oxide and methane was the highest and second highest, respectively.
    • However, the rate of increase of carbon dioxide was slightly below the 10-year average.

• Surface Temperature:

• • High Rise: The global average near-surface temperature for 2023 raised to 1.45 degrees Celsius, the highest ever on record (above the pre-industrial levels). 
  • Responsible Factors: Rise in GHG concentrations in the atmosphere (primary reason), the shift from La Nina, and the onset of El Niño last year.
    • The year 2023 marked the end of the three-year-long run of La Nina and the beginning of El Nino.

• Ocean Heat Content:

• • Become Warmer: As the oceans have absorbed nearly 90% of the extra heat trapped by GHGs since 1971, they steadily become warmer and their heat content has increased.
  • Highest Level: In 2023, the ocean heat content (OHC), the total amount of heat stored by the oceans, reached its highest level in the 65-year observational record.
    • The global average sea-surface temperatures were also at a record level between late spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the end of the year.
  • Non-Uniformity: The rate of warming is not the same everywhere. The strongest warming was recorded along the Southern, North Atlantic and the South Atlantic Oceans in 2023.
    • Besides the Pacific Ocean warming, the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean remained unusually warm.

• Ocean Salinity:

  • Observed Increase: Increase in acidity of the ocean is also increasing. The ocean absorbs around 25% of the annual anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. 
  • Ocean Acidification: The GHGs react with seawater, resulting in decreased acid levels called “ocean acidification”.
  • Negative Consequences: For organisms and ecosystem services, including food security, by reducing biodiversity, degrading habitats and endangering fisheries and aquaculture.
  • Regional Variations: It is observed in the rate of change in ocean acidification, pattern, and scale. It called for high-resolution, long-term observation.

• Marine Heat Waves:

  • Average Daily Marine Heatwave (MHWs) Experience: Due to warmer temperatures, the global ocean experienced an average daily MHWs coverage of 32%. 
    • Towards the end of 2023, over 90% of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year.
  • Occurrence: MHWs occur when the surface temperature of a particular region of the sea rises to 3 or 4 degrees Celsius above the average temperature for at least five days.

• Arctic & Antarctic Sea-Ice Extent:

• • A Record Low: Antarctic sea-ice extent declined to 1.79 million km2 in February 2023, a new record low since the satellite era began in 1979. 
    • The extent remained at a record low for the time of year from June till early November.
    • The annual maximum in September was 16.96 mn km2 (roughly 1.5 mn km2 below the 1991–2020 average) and one mn km2 below the previous record low maximum.
  • The Arctic Sea-Ice Extent: It stayed below normal in 2023, with the annual maximum and annual minimum extents being the fifth and sixth lowest in the 45-year satellite record, respectively.

• Glaciers:

• • Largest Loss: In the hydrological year 2022-2023, the global set of reference glaciers suffered the largest ice loss on record. 
  • A New Low in the Annual Mass Balance (AMB): AMB, the amount of mass gained or lost by the glacier and expressed in metres of water equivalent (m w.e.) — of the reference glaciers dropped to a new low in 2022-2023, which was –1.2 m w.e.
  • Particularly Impacted: Glaciers in North America and Europe.
    • In Switzerland, glaciers lost around 10% of their remaining volume in the past two years.

Impacts of 2023 Weather and Climate Hazards

• Climate Hazards Witnessed by the World: 

  • These included major floods, extreme heat and drought, and associated wildfires.
    • Droughts: Over 65% of losses due to droughts occurred in the agriculture sector, including crop and livestock production losses.
    • Floods, Storms & Cyclones: Around 20% of losses were traced back to agriculture.
    • Example: The temperature records that coincide with an ongoing El Nino event was associated with below-normal monsoon rainfall in India as well as an absence of Western Disturbances in the winter that contributed to record-breaking heat in southern India during January and February.

• Social Crisis: 

  • Weather and climate hazards have compounded concerns over food security, population displacements and impacts on vulnerable populations in 2023.
    • Example: Libya was already facing a food crisis in July 2023, and was hit by Storm Daniel in September that brought heavy rainfall and flooded nearly 3,000 hectares of cropland, particularly in the Almarj and Derna regions — the main cropland areas in the eastern part of the country and key sources of livelihoods.

• Inequality Crisis: 

  • The climate crisis is humanity’s defining challenge and is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis — as witnessed by growing food insecurity, population displacement and biodiversity loss.

• Challenge Against Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Achievement: 

  • Migration and displacement due to climate-related shocks and stresses affect people’s livelihoods which affect various following sustainable development goals (SDG):
    • SDG1: Poverty, SDG2: Hunger, SDG3: Direct threats to their lives and well-being, SDG4: Limited access to quality education, SDG5: Pre-existing gender and socio-economic inequalities, SDG6: Water and sanitation, SDG7: Clean Energy & SDG 10: Widening inequality gaps 

• Economic Losses: 

  • Globally, the yearly economic losses from climate and weather-related disasters have increased since the dawn of the 21st century.

• Food & Nutrition Crisis: 

  • Globally, acute food insecurity has more than doubled, from 149 million people affected before the COVID-19 pandemic to 333 million in 2023. 
    • The current global food and nutrition crisis is the largest in modern human history.
    • Reason of High Global Food Insecurity: Protracted conflicts, economic downturns and high food prices, further exacerbated by high costs of agricultural inputs driven by ongoing and widespread conflict around the world.
      • Example: Cyclone Mocha, with an intensification of conflict and record-high food prices, also severely aggravated acute food insecurity.

• Wildfires: 

• • It affected parts of Hawaii, Canada and Europe, which led to loss of life, the destruction of homes and large-scale air pollution.

Way Forward

• Support to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS): There is a need to increase the support for NMHS to provide information services to ensure the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions are based on science.
• Effective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): NDCs need to be based on science to effectively cut greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.Adequate Financing: The need of the hour is to secure adequate financing at COP-29 (to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan) to support the implementation of national climate plans, including funding for mitigation and adaptation measures, technology transfer, capacity-building initiatives, and resilience-building efforts, particularly in developing countries.

• Promote Sustainable Practices: Governments, businesses and individuals must promote sustainable practices. This can range from waste management and water conservation to promoting circular economies that reduce waste and overconsumption.  
• Promote Climate Research and Innovation: There is a need to invest and research more on climate science to understand the impacts better and develop innovative solutions. 
  • There is an urgent need to support and promote advancements in clean energy technologies, carbon capture techniques, and other breakthroughs that can mitigate climate change.  
  • There is an urgent need to develop and invest more on early warning systems, better infrastructure and implementing climate-smart agriculture. 
• Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about the impacts of climate change and educating the public about sustainable living practices is desirable and required. 
  • Individuals need to adopt more environmentally friendly practices for climate action.  
• Cooperation and Commitment: Addressing climate change requires global cooperation and commitment to ambitious climate goals such as in line with the Paris Agreement. 
  • Developed nations should support developing nations to enable them to adapt and transition to a low-carbon economy.    

Conclusion

The Earth is experiencing unprecedented changes that are leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, food insecurity, and displacement of vulnerable populations. To mitigate the impacts of climate change and adapt to the new reality, it is crucial to scale up climate finance and close the financing gap. 

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