Current events of national and international importance
India, UK
announce 'Newton-Bhabha Fund' to boost research and innovation
1.
India and the United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday agreed to
scale-up their bilateral research and innovation relationship to a greater level.
2.
This new initiative was decided upon during a
meeting between Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan and
the UK Minister for Universities, Science and Cities Greg
Clark, who co-chaired the fourth UK-India Science and Innovation Council (SIC) .
3.
Harsh Vardhan and Clark also noted that the
UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) have been successful in
building new scientific partnerships through joint research projects and
networking.
Economy -
Bio –
Diversity & Climate Change
Report
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Introduction
1.
It was released in Copenhagen on November 2, and
was recognized as the most important assessment of climate change and global
warming.
2.
It will play crucial role in run – up to the 20th
annual session of the conference of parties (COP)
3.
This would be held in Lim, Peru, in December,
under 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
4.
This report gives us a comprehensive look at all
aspects of dealing with climate change.
Key findings
of report –
1.
It addresses the fear that solutions will be
unaffordable and says categorically that the answers are doable and affordable.
2.
Report is firm in stating that carbon emissions
are rising rapidly and that they are mainly from burning oil, coal and gas.
3.
Climate change will wreak “severe, widespread,
and irreversible impacts” on the world unless carbon emissions are cut
severely.
4.
It links global poverty with global warming.
5.
It clearly states that anthropogenic greenhouse
gas emissions are the highest in known history.
6.
Total carbon emissions from fossil fuels and
cement production have tripled since 1970.
7.
Emissions from land use and forestry have risen
by 40 per cent since 1970.
8.
Two-thirds of all emissions allowed have already
been released into the atmosphere; extreme weather events have increased and
hydrological cycles have altered.
9.
The report lists the threats, including mass
die-off of forests, melting of land ice, rapid rise in sea levels and
subsequent coastal flooding and heat waves that will destroy crops and people.
10.
Global temperatures have gone up by 0.8 °C;
oceans are warming and acidifying; and species of plant and animal life are
being adversely affected by the changes.
11.
It also predicts that stresses on global food
production will result in violent conflicts that will accompany food, water and
fuel shortages.
12.
The report says that 80 per cent of the world’s
fuel needs will have to be from low-carbon sources by 2050 and that fossil
fuels will have to be phased out by 2100 if global temperature levels are to be
contained within a 2 °C rise.
What they say –
Ban Ki – moon (U.N.
Secretary-General) –
1.
“There is a myth which is shared
unscientifically and uneconomically that climate action will cost heavily, but
I am telling you that inaction of climate action will cost much, much more, Climate
action and economic growth are two sides of just one coin.”
2.
Ban urged investors to “reduce investments in
coal- and fossil fuel-based economies and [invest] in renewable energy”.
3.
“Even if emissions stopped tomorrow, we will be
living with climate change for some time to come.”
Dr Rajendra Pachauri (IPCC Chairman) –
1.
“To avoid the chaos of runaway climate change, we know that we
need to dramatically reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases.”
What they
are doing –
2.
China
and the United States have agreed on a timetable to limit emission of
greenhouse gases.
3.
A
decision that will impose fresh pressure
on India not to obstruct a binding treaty on climate change next year.
4.
India’s per capita emissions are estimated at one-tenth of the
United States and one-fourth of China, but, without a significant shift towards
non-fossil fuels, its carbon footprint could rise substantially between
2020-2040.
5.
The
U.S. agreed to reduce by 2025 its emission of greenhouse gases by 26 per cent
to 28 per cent below its 2005 level.
6.
China
stated its intent to peak emissions of carbon dioxide in 2030; it also agreed to raise the share of
non-fossil fuels to 20 per cent, in its primary energy mix, in the next 16
years.
7.
This
would entail China shifting towards clean energy generated by nuclear, wind,
solar and such zero-emitting resources.
8.
The
surprise agreement has brightened
prospects for a climate deal in Paris next year.
Conclusion
-
1.
Despite all this being known, very little
climate change mitigation is being followed.
2.
Developed countries have failed to take the lead
in resolving this evolving crisis.
3.
Instead of reducing emissions, developed
countries have, in fact, increased their consumption-based emissions over the
past 20 years.
4.
Analysts point out that the U.S.-China deal is
in tune with the target of avoiding a dangerous 2 degree rise in temperatures
across the globe.
5.
Crucially, this report shows a shift in the
attitude of scientists and the authorities towards climate change.
6.
The 2007 report said that human influence (that
is, burning fossil fuels), was “very
likely” a primary cause of global warming.
7.
This report says “extremely likely” as it places the blame on fossil fuels being
responsible for climate change.
8.
With this report, climate change campaigners can
breathe easy. It says that global warming is “unequivocal” and that humanity’s
role in it is “clear.
Upcoming events –
1.
The 21st COP to the 1992 UNFCCC will be held in
Paris to work out a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change.
Science
& Technology
Role of El Nino in
heat build-up in Indian Ocean
1.
The
Indian Ocean has been warming at a rate faster than thought before (1.2 deg C
during the past century).
2. It is also the largest consistent contributor to the global ocean warming
trends.
3. Recent studies show that a warm Indian Ocean can in turn modulate the
Pacific conditions including the El Nino events.
4. The western Indian Ocean traditionally thought to have cooler sea surface
temperatures (SSTs) than the central and eastern Indian Ocean.
5. But it is showing an even stronger summer warming trend over the whole of
the 20th century than the central and eastern Indian Ocean.
6. The warming is significantly so large that it may alter the monsoon
circulation, monsoon rainfall over the ocean and land, marine food webs and
fisheries (western Indian Ocean is one of the most productive oceans) and
global climate including the El Nino.
7. The study found that the ocean atmospheric phenomenon — the El Nino, and
its influence on the Walker Circulation were responsible for periodic weakening
of monsoon westerlies .
8. Led to abnormally high summer sea surface temperatures in the western
Indian Ocean.
9. Walker Circulation represents the zonal (east-west) circulation over the
tropics.
10. In the Pacific, the trade winds blow from east to west.
11. This is because of the low pressure in the west and high pressure in the
east, which drives these winds.
12. This is linked to the warm waters over the west Pacific and cool waters
over the east Pacific.
13. In the upper atmosphere, this trade wind circulation is completed by
winds blowing from west to east.
14. During summer, this Pacific cell is linked to the monsoon westerlies in
the Indian Ocean.
15. During an El Nino, due to warm waters in the east and cool waters in the
west, the pressure systems also change, reversing (shifting) the Walker
circulation.
16. The wind direction reverses and the whole circulatory system shifts
eastward leaving only weak surface westerlies in the western Indian Ocean.
17. This results in ocean warming in the Western Indian Ocean.
Public
health
WHO sets benchmarks to reduce health
damage from indoor air pollution
Background -
1.
WHO recommendations highlight the dangers of burning fuels like unprocessed coal
and kerosene in the home.
2.
Set targets for reducing emissions of
health-damaging pollutants from domestic cook stoves, space heaters and
fuel-based lamps.
3.
Stress the need to improve access to cleaner
home energy sources such as liquefied petroleum gas, biogas, natural gas and
ethanol, or electricity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
4.
WHO findings earlier this year revealed that
more than 7 million people – one in eight of total global deaths – are due to
indoor or outdoor air pollution exposure, 4% are due to stroke, 26% to
ischaemic heart disease, 22% to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 12% to
childhood pneumonia and 6% to lung cancer.
New emissions
targets –
Avoid unprocessed coal and kerosene –
1.
Coal
contains toxic elements such as arsenic, lead and mercury. The incomplete
combustion of coal in inefficient stoves and space heaters can lead to severe
illness and premature death.
Health consequences –
1.
In homes with open-burning and
unvented coal or biomass stoves, emissions of particulate matter and other
pollutants can be 100 times higher than WHO-recommended levels.
2.
Such pollutants are carcinogenic and cause heart
and lung disease through impairing immune response, reducing the
oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, causing systemic inflammation and
ischemia, among other physiological disturbances.
The way forward –
1.
There
needs to be rapid scale-up in access to cleaner and more modern cooking and
heating appliances, as well as lamps, in developing country homes.
2.
use of
clean fuels such as biogas, ethanol, or natural or liquefied petroleum gas with
appropriate venting, as well as solar electricity solutions for lighting.
Pneumonia & Diarrhoea in India
1.
India’s case burden of pneumonia and diarrhoea
continues to be high.
2.
As per the 2014 Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress
Report, released on Wednesday by the International Vaccine Access Center, India
has a mixed report card.
3.
With a score of 32, India ranks third lowest
compared to the 15 other high burden countries for its Global Action Plan for
Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) score.
4.
The score is a calculated average of coverage
levels for pneumonia and diarrhoea interventions such as vaccination, exclusive
breastfeeding, access to care, use of antibiotics, oral rehydration solution
(ORS), and zinc.
5.
In an analysis of 27 States, high levels of
inequities in access to interventions between urban and rural regions were
revealed.
6.
Globally, pneumonia and diarrhoea continue to be
the leading causes of death in children under five years, and together, account
for over 1.5 million child deaths in a single year.
7.
Of this, about 71 per cent occurred in just 15
countries, including India.
8.
Several vaccines are available to prevent
pneumonia including the HiB, pertussis, measles, and pneumococcal vaccines.
9.
For diarrhoea, rotavirus vaccine is said to
provide the best protection.
10.
The report however, makes a case for a better
future, considering the commitments India has made on access to health care
interventions.
11.
India has not introduced the Pneumococcal
Conjugate Vaccine, and the rota virus vaccine, but reportedly has plans to
introduce the latter in the next few years.
12.
In September 2014, Health Ministry officials met
representatives from high-incidence States, WHO and UNICEF to develop the
Integrated Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea.
Events/Anniversary/New
release
Postal
stamp on UTI released
1. The Minister for Communications
& IT Ravi Shankar Prasad has released a Commemorative Postage Stamp to mark
the Golden Jubilee of UTI (Unit Trust of India).
2.
The commemorative stamp is recognition of historical achievement
of UTI and the peoples’ trust on that organization.
3. Digital
India is the topmost priority of the government which wants to digitally
connect all the villages of the country in order to make public services
available online.
Dr K. Radhakrishanan Launch’s Book “Reaching for the Stars:
India’s Journey to Mars and beyond”
1.
The book is based on
India’s recent successful Mars Mission and peeps into the new vista’s of future.
2.
It is Co-authored by one of India’s most
respected science journalists, Shri Pallava Bagla.
Editorial-
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