The Hindu Editorial Topic : FLATTENING THE CLIMATE CURVE
GS-1 Mains
QUESTION: How climate change and refugee crisis are interlinked. Discuss collective efforts to reduce global warming by global leaders.
WHAT ?
Climate Change
WHY IN NEWS?
The atmospheric concentration of CO2 and other Green House Gases(GHGs) and the average global temperatures have shown an upward trend with the advent of the industrial age.
TWO INTER-RELATED CURVES ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE:
(1). CO2 CURVE-
This curve began its upward march about 18000 years ago when it was a little under 200 ppm and earth was much colder
However with the beginning of the mid-19th century, they began to rise again as humans burnt coal and oil to fuel the Industrial Revolution, and burnt forests to expand agriculture and settlements.
Ultimately, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere reached 407 ppm in 2018, a level last experienced by earth some million years ago.
(2). GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE CURVE-
From 1850 onwards, for over a century, the global temp. showed a slight warming trend.
But from 1975 onwards, the temp. graph has shown a distinct , upward trend.
By 2015, the globe has heated by a full degree Celsius relative to a 100 years previously. Under the current trends of emissions the globe will heat up by 4 degree Celsius by the end of the century.
CHALLENGES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE:
The Global Warming has led to reducing sea ice cover and melting of glaciers. This led to rising sea levels and water security challenges. The higher temp. will also have an effect on agricultural production.
Climate Change scenario involves not just a change in temp. but every other component of weather, including rainfall, humidity and wind speed.
RECENT TEMPERATURE TRENDS:
The 2003 European heatwaves killed over 70000 people. The years 2015-19 have globally been the warmest years on record.
The current estimates note that the world is far away from fulfilling their commitments under Paris Agreement, 2015 , that would keep average global temp. rise below 2 degree Celsius compare to pre -industrial levels.
COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE CURVES:
COVID-19 has unintentionally given humanity a brief respite from climate change curve. Carbon emissions from fossil fuels have reduced.
This is also a make-or-break moment for the climate trajectory.
Experts are already talking about a paradigm shift in structure and functioning of societies once the Covid-19 pandemic subsides.
GLOBAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
SDG-13 (Climate Action) : Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 aims to strengthen the global response to threat of CC by keeping global temp. rise below 2 degree Celsius.
Climate Action Summit 2019 , COP-25,Madrid 2019.
INDIA’S EFFORTS:
India has set an ambitious goal of setting 20 GW of solar power online by 2022.
India is an active participant in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
A carbon offset plan set up under Kyoto Protocol .
CONCLUSION:
It needs to be realised that there is no substitute for reducing Green House Gases emissions.
Technologists, economists, and social scientists must plan for a sustainable planet based on the principles of equity and climate justice.
It is the responsibility of leaders to alter the mindset and act on the looming climate crisis with the same alacrity they have shown on covide-19 .
Short Notes
WHAT ?
Climate Change
WHY IN NEWS?
Atmospheric concentration of CO2 and other Green House Gases(GHGs) = upward trend.
TWO INTER-RELATED CURVES ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE:
(1). CO2 CURVE-
18000 years ago earth = much colder
Beginning of the mid-19th century = temp. rise due to oil&fossil fuels + agri.expansion
2019 = warmest due to Co2 high concentration.
(2). GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE CURVE-
From 1850 onwards = a slight warming trend + 1975 onwards, the temp. graph= upward trend.
By 2015, the globe has heated by a full degree Celsius relative to a 100 years previously + current trend says = rise in temp. = 4 degree Celsius.
CHALLENGES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE:
The Global Warming , melting of glaciers = rising sea levels + effect on agriculture.
RECENT TEMPERATURE TRENDS:
The 2003 European heatwaves killed over 70000 people.
Doubt in fulfilling the Paris Agreement commitments.
COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE CURVES:
COVID-19 = controlled carbon emissions
A make-or-break moment for the climate trajectory.
Once covid-19 subsides = paradigm shift.
GLOBAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
SDG-13 of UN.
Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 aims to strengthen the global response .
Climate Action Summit 2019 , COP-25,Madrid 2019.
INDIA’S EFFORTS:
Goal setting 20 GW of solar power online by 2022.
Active participant in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
A carbon offset plan set up under Kyoto Protocol .
CONCLUSION:
No substitute for reducing Green House Gases emissions + Technologists, economists, and social scientists must plan for a sustainable planet based on the principles of equity and climate justice.
Collective responsibility to tackle this climatic issue.
The Hindu Editorial Topic- PRINCER PROVOCATIONS?
GS-2 Mains
QUESTION: “The policy of Panchsheel should remain the pivot of India-China relations”. Analyse the statement in light of recent stand-offs b/w India and China in the Ladakh region.
WHAT?
Security threat in the Kashmir-Ladakh region.
WHY IN NEWS?
China and Pak. are making coordinated efforts to challenge India’s presence in the Kashmir’s Ladakh region.
Pak. has intensified its efforts to infiltrate terrorists into the Kashmir valley and China has undertaken provocative measures on the Ladakh front to control around LAC(Line of Actual Control).
OVERLAPPING INTERESTS:
China seems to have calculated that the division of Ladakh from J&K delinks Ladakh from the Kashmir problem.
In Pakistan’s case the intensification in its terrorist activities is related to part to the dilution of Art.370 that it perceives as undercutting its claims on Kashmir with finality.
Increasing road -building activity on India’s part close to the LAC augments this perception.
Ladakh also borders on China’s most restive provinces of Xinjiang and Tibet.
Ladakh is contiguous to PoK , Gilgit and Baltistan , where the Chinese have invested hugely under the CPEC (China Pakistan Eco. Corrridor) project.
DIFFERING OBJECTIVES:
There are major differences in Pakistani and Chinese objectives regarding India that are related to their divergent perceptions of their disputes, and their different force equations with India.
Pak. , realising that is the weaker power in conventional terms, has resorted to using conventional means, primarily terrorist infiltration.
China also believes it is superior to the Indian military and , therefore , can afford to push India around within limits as it has been attempting to do in the recent confrontation.
WAY FORWARD:
India should, therefore , distinguish the different objectives on the part of Beijing and Islamabad and tailor its responses accordingly without threatening its security.
It is possible to negotiate the territorial dispute with China on a give-and-take basis.
Short Notes
WHAT?
Security threat in the Kashmir-Ladakh region.
WHY IN NEWS?
China and Pak. = efforts to challenge India’s presence in the Kashmir’s Ladakh region.
Pak. intensified efforts to infiltrate terrorists into the Kashmir valley + China’s in Ladakh.
OVERLAPPING INTERESTS:
China- calculated that the division of Ladakh from J&K delinks Ladakh from the Kashmir problem.
In Pakistan’s case the intensification in its terrorist activities is related to part to the dilution of Art.370.
Increasing road -building activity on India’s part close to the LAC .
Ladakh is contiguous to PoK , Gilgit and Baltistan , where the Chinese have invested hugely under the CPEC.
DIFFERING OBJECTIVES:
Major differences in Pakistani and Chinese objectives regarding India.
Pak. terrorist infiltration + China also believes it is superior to the Indian military.
WAY FORWARD:
India should distinguish different objectives on the part of Beijing & Islamabad and without threatening its security + negotiation = no territorial dispute.
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