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GS Paper 2 & 3: Global Warming and Climate Change, Government Plan and Policies
Context-:
Sixty-three countries, including the US, Canada, and Kenya, signed up to the world’s first-ever pledge to drastically cut cooling emissions at the ongoing COP28 climate summit.
Details-:
Cooling emissions are essentially emissions generated from refrigerants, used in appliances like ACs and refrigerators, and the energy used for cooling.
The Global Cooling Pledge commits the countries to reduce their cooling emissions by at least 68% by 2050 and outlines several strategies to tackle them.
The cooling emissions now account for 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are expected to triple by 2050.
The situation is set to get worse as rising global temperatures will lead to a large-scale cooling demand — the use of more ACs and refrigerators would cause more cooling emissions.
How refrigerants work-:
Refrigerants, also known as coolants allow the refrigeration process to work due to their ability to quickly change their state.
As they readily absorb heat from the environment, refrigerants turn from being a cool liquid into a gas.
When they release that heat into the outside — it could be outside a building (in case of ACs) or outside a fridge — they transform back into liquid form and then are cycled back to start the cooling process again.
CFC to HFC-:
For the longest time, most of the cooling appliances used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants.
However, in 1985, scientists published a research paper, suggesting that increased levels of CFCs in the atmosphere were responsible for abnormally low ozone concentrations in Antarctica.
This led to the 1987 Montreal Protocol — an agreement signed by nearly 200 countries to freeze the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs, at then current rates.
In the following years, CFCs were largely replaced by two groups of chemicals, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), but they presented a new problem.
HFCs and Global Warming-:
Although HFCs and HCFCs don’t damage the ozone layer, they are powerful greenhouse gases.
Both of them can absorb infrared radiation, trapping heat inside the atmosphere rather than letting it escape back into space, generating a greenhouse effect that warms Earth.
Even in relatively small amounts, they (HFCs) contribute significantly to near-term warming as greenhouse gases which are hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) per unit of mass.
For instance, HFC-134a, a form of HFC and most commonly used in domestic fridges, has a global warming potential of 3,400 times that of CO2.
HFCs and HCFCs leaked into the atmosphere-:
They are released from damaged appliances or car air conditioning systems.
Ninety percent of the refrigerant emissions occur at the equipment’s end of life and are disposed of improperly.
A typical fridge can contain between 0.05 kg and 0.25 kg of refrigerant, which if it leaks into the environment, the resulting emissions would be equivalent to driving 675km-3,427km (420-2,130 miles) in an average family-sized car.
A vicious cycle-:
Currently, cooling emissions aren’t a huge proportion of global greenhouse gases.
This would change soon due to soaring temperatures across the world.
In October, scientists said they expect Earth is on track for global average temperatures to rise by up to nearly 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
As global warming worsens, the demand for cooling will increase dramatically, which will create more warming in a destructive feedback loop.
The greatest cooling demand will arise in Africa and Asia, where more than 1 billion people are at high risk from extreme heat due to a lack of cooling access.
Way Forward-:
Countries are already cognizant of the harmful impact of HCFs.
In 2016, over 150 countries signed the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, agreeing to reduce HFC consumption by 80% by 2047.
If achieved, this could avoid more than 0.4 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2100.
The phasing-out of HFCs involves promoting the use of climate-friendly chemicals, also called natural refrigerants, such as ammonia, certain hydrocarbons, and CO2 in cooling devices.
These chemicals have lower or zero global warming potential.
Proper management and reuse of potent refrigerant gases could slash 100 billion gigatons of global CO2 emissions between 2020 and 2050.
There is also a need to focus on ways to cool buildings without air conditioners.
Improving insulation materials and constructing buildings with large openings for better ventilation can help reduce heat inside.
Related Search-:
Global Warming
Global Warming Potential
Sustainable cooling.
Prelims Specific-:
About Cooling Emission
CFCs and HFCs
How refrigerants work
Kigali Agreement
GS Paper 2: Polity and constitution, Citizenship, India and its Neighbours.
Context-:
A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, on December 5, began hearing pleas challenging Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which was introduced in the statute following the signing of the Assam Accord.
Details-:
The Bench is hearing a series of petitions by indigenous Assamese groups challenging Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The groups have argued that the special provision, brought in shortly after the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985, became a “beacon” for illegals entering India to settle in Assam.
These illegal migrants gain Indian citizenship, deprive the locals of their political and economic rights, and destroy the Assamese cultural identity.
Court Order-:
The court asked the Centre why Section 6A, which gave illegal migrants the benefit of Indian citizenship, was made applicable only in Assam and not in West Bengal, which shared a larger portion of the border with Bangladesh.
The Supreme Court ordered the Home Secretary to file an affidavit before Monday on the “estimated inflow of illegal migrants into India, including but not confined to Assam, after March 25, 1971.
Steps taken by the Centre to deal with illegal immigration and details on the extent of and timelines for the border-fencing.
Challenge Before the Supreme Court-:
The plea before the Constitutional bench challenges one of the core elements of the Accord — which determines who is a foreigner in the state.
This was also the basis of the final National Register of Citizens in Assam, published in 2019.
Clause 5 of the Assam Accord states that January 1, 1966 shall serve as the base cut-off date for the detection and deletion of “foreigners” but it also contains provisions for the regularisation of those who arrived in the state after that date and up till March 24, 1971.
Section 6A of the Citizenship Act was inserted as an amendment to accommodate this.
It effectively establishes March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for entry into the state, meaning that those entering the state after that would be considered “illegal immigrants”.
The plea before the bench, while questioning the constitutional validity of Section 6A, wants 1951 to be established as the cut-off date for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens instead of 1971.
Assam Accord-:
It was a tripartite accord signed between the Government of India, the State Government of Assam, and the leaders of the Assam Movement in 1985.
The signing of the Accord led to the conclusion of a six-year agitation that was launched by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) in 1979, demanding the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants from Assam.
It sets a cut-off of midnight of 24th March 1971, for the detection of illegal foreigners in Assam.
Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955-:
Section 6A was enacted as part of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 1985, following the Assam Accord of 1985.
Section 6A divided immigration from Bangladesh to India into three time periods.
Those who entered India before January 1, 1966, were deemed Indian citizens.
Those who came in between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, were registered as Indians provided they fulfilled certain conditions.
People who crossed over to India after March 25, 1971, were illegals and were to be deported as per the law.
Related Search-:
Citizenship (Polity)
National Register of Citizens
Prelims Specific-:
About Assam Accord
Clause 6 of Assam Accord.
Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Context-:
India’s River Cities Alliance Goes Global as NMCG Forges Alliance with Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), USA at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai.
Global River Cities Alliance with 267 river cities including India, USA, and Denmark to be launched on December 10, 2023
Details-:
The MoCP seeks to establish an efficient framework for collaboration between the River Cities Alliance (RCA) and MRCTI.
It focuses on capacity building and knowledge exchange in integrated river management to address climate change impacts on the ecosystem.
The collaboration includes a comprehensive water monitoring program, sharing best practices for renaturing urban areas, and restoring aquatic ecosystems for sustainable urban development.
About River Cities Alliance-:
The River Cities Alliance was launched in 2021, by the Ministry of Jal Shakti along with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
It is a dedicated platform for river cities in India to ideate, discuss, and exchange information for sustainable management of urban rivers.
The Alliance focuses on three broad themes- Networking, Capacity Building, and Technical Support.
Initially, the Alliance was opened with river Ganga but now open to all river cities of India.
Any river city can join the Alliance at any time.
The Secretariat of the Alliance is set up at the National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA).
Context-:
India has been selected as the pioneer lead country for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Green Voyage2050 Project, to assist developing countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships.
Details-:
Due to the global nature of international shipping having a diversity of stakeholders of all nationalities involved, emission from the maritime transport sector is addressed by the IMO through the International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). India is a signatory to this Convention.
The Government of India has implemented all MARPOL regulations of carbon emissions on Indian Ships.
At present, the regulations mainly pertain to the reduction of carbon emissions through enhanced energy efficiency and achieving a progressively enhanced (yearly) carbon intensity reduction.
About Green Voyage Project-:
The GreenVoyage2050 Project is a partnership project between the Government of Norway and IMO launched in May 2019 aiming to transform the shipping industry towards a lower carbon future.
It provides support to developing countries in their efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions from ships.
The Initial IMO Strategy sets out a clear vision and levels of ambition, one of which is to reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.
Context-:
The Lok Sabha has passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023-:
It seeks to amend the 2019 Act and provide representation in the Legislative Assembly to the Kashmiri Migrants and displaced persons from the PoK.
The Reorganisation Bill increases the total number of seats in J&K Assembly from 107 to 114, with a reservation of nine seats for Scheduled Tribes for the first time.
The increase is based on the report of the Delimitation Commission.
It also empowers the Lieutenant-Governor to nominate three members in the Assembly - two members from the Kashmiri migrant community including one woman, and the third member being a representative of people from PoK who took refuge in India following the wars with Pakistan in 1947, 1965 and 1971.
Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023-:
The J&K Reservation Bill seeks to replace the term “weak and underprivileged classes (social castes)“ in the J&K Reservation Act, 2004 with “other backward classes” as declared by the Union Territory.
The 2004 Act pertains to the reservation in appointment and admission in professional institutions for the members of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and other socially and educationally backward classes.
Context-:
Koya tribe rides the eco-friendly wave to help conserve the Indian Bison of Eastern Ghats
Details-:
The indigenous Koya tribe inhabiting the Papikonda hill range along the rivers Godavari and Sabari in Andhra Pradesh have decided to do away with millennia-old traditions in an attempt to conserve the Indian Bison (Bos gaurus).
The Koyas have moved on from using traditional Indian Bison horns to palm leaves to craft their traditional flute, Permakore, as a gesture of conservation of the Indian Bison in the Papikonda hill range in the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh.
In the Koya language, ‘Permam’ stands for Indian Bison or Guar, and ‘Kore’ stands for ‘horn’, and thus, the flute made of Bison horn is called Permakore
About Koya Tribe-:
Koya is an Indian tribal community found in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
Koyas call themselves Koitur in their dialect.
The Koyas speak the Koya language, also known as Koya basha, which is a Dravidian language related to Gondi.
Bison hill range-:
Another name for the Papikondalu Hill range is the’ Bison Hill range,’ which is derived from the fact that it is home to the Indian Bison.
In 1978, a portion of the hill range was declared a sanctuary, with Indian Bison as its megafauna species.
The Papikonda National Park’s old records also called the Papikonda Hill Range the ‘Bison Division’ until the declaration of the sanctuary as a national park was made in 2008.