09 NOVEMBER 2023

Topic 1 : Northern lights

Why in news: For the first time, the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, graced the skies across a broad expanse of Bulgaria.
 

About the Northern lights:

• The northern lights are one of several astronomical phenomena called polar lights (aurora polaris).
• These are shafts or curtains of colored light visible on occasion in the night sky.
• Polar lights (aurora polaris) are a natural phenomenon found in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
• Northern lights are also called by their scientific name, aurora borealis, and southern lights are called aurora australis.
• Earlier this year, the aurora borealis was seen for the very first time in India and was captured in Ladakh.
• How they are created?

• The origin of the aurora begins on the surface of the sun when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas called coronal mass ejection (CME).
• If one of these reaches earth, it collides with the Earth’s magnetic field.
• ejection collides with the magnetic field, it causes complex changes to happen to the magnetic tail region.
• These changes generate currents of charged particles, which then flow along lines of magnetic force into the Polar Regions.
• These particles are boosted in energy in Earth’s upper atmosphere, and when they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, they produce dazzling auroral light.
• The unique colors of the auroras depend on the specific gas molecules that these particles encounter in the atmosphere and where these interactions occur.
• Oxygen emissions create the characteristic green light, while encounters with nitrogen result in a striking red glow illuminating the sky.

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Topic 2 : Invasive species could reap benefits from extreme weather

Why in news: Extreme weather might be wreaking havoc across the globe, but some non-native plants and animals could be benefiting from the disasters, adding risk to already threatened local species, according to a new study.

Key details:

• Findings of the study:
  • Invasive species, often transported by human activity, are thought to be playing a major role in global extinction rates and the catastrophic declines of biodiversity threatening the well-being of people and planet.
  • Heatwaves, droughts, floods and other extremes accelerated by global warming might be giving the often destructive invasive species an undesirable advantage.
  • The harmful invaders experienced positive impacts from extreme weather almost a quarter of the time, nearly double that of natives.
  • Local species were also more likely to suffer negative consequences from the weather disasters.
  • Only in the case of marine animals were both natives and non-natives relatively immune to extreme weather
    • Although native molluscs and corals are vulnerable to heat waves.
• How extreme weather benefit invasive species:
  • EWEs (extreme weather events) might facilitate the establishment and/or spread of non-native species.
  • These two processes may combine together to pose high threats to biodiversity under continuing global change.
  • Invasive species were only vulnerable to heatwaves and storms.
• Effect on native species:
  • But native animals on land and in fresh water were negatively impacted across several factors including:
    • survival rates,
    • reproduction and
    • body size
  • The natives were negatively impacted from all extreme weather except cold spells in freshwater.
• Why the difference in responses of invasive and local species?
  • Death of natives:
    • Differences in responses to unusual weather in species could be due to the death of native species during weather extremes, leaving a gap for invasive species to exploit.
    • Severe droughts, for example, increase the salt content of water, killing local invertebrates and fish while providing an opportunity for more salt-tolerant species to move in.
  • High growth rates of invasive species:
    • Invasive species are also known for rapid growth rates and a greater competitive edge that might allow them to recolonise faster.Topic 3 : Energy Conservation Building Code, 2017

Why in news: Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), in its World Energy Outlook 2023, report has highlighted that India’s Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), 2017 for commercial buildings sets it apart from other developing economies where energy efficiency in buildings stands out as a laggard.

Key details:

• The ECBC was first released by the Ministry of Power’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in 2007, followed by an update in 2017.
• Currently, 23 states have notified rules to enforce ECBC compliance, while large states like Maharashtra and Gujarat are still in the process of drafting rules.
• Implementation of energy efficiency building codes like ECBC is important as buildings in India account for 30 per cent of total electricity consumption, which is expected to touch 50 per cent by 2042.
• BEE notes that 40 per cent of buildings that will exist in the next twenty years are yet to be built, which gives policymakers and builders a unique opportunity to ensure that they are built in a sustainable manner.

What is ECBC?

• ECBC sets minimum energy standards for commercial buildings.
• Aim:
  • Enabling energy savings of between 25 and 50 per cent in compliant buildings.
• The code is applicable to commercial buildings which have a connected load of 100 kW or more, or contract demand of 120 kVA or more like:
  • hospitals,
  • hotels,
  • schools,
  • shopping complexes, and
  • multiplexes.
• It primarily looks at six components of building design including:
  • envelope (walls, roofs, windows)
  • lighting systems
  • HVAC systems (HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
  • electrical power system.
• The requirements under each of these components are split between mandatory and prescriptive.
• ECBC is for both new buildings and retrofitting existing buildings.
• Compliant buildings are assigned one of three tags in ascending order ofefficiency, namely
  • ECBC,
  • ECBC Plus, and
  • Super ECBC.
• Compared to ECBC, 2007, the updated 2017code has additional priorities of:
  • renewable energy integration,
  • ease of compliance,
  • inclusion of passive building design strategies, and
  • flexibility for the designers.
• While ECBC acts as a national standard, states across India have the flexibility to modify the code depending on unique regional needs.
• To enforce the code, states have to draft rules and notify them as state laws.

Where do states stand in ECBC implementation?

• Although 23 out of 28 states have notified ECBC rules, only 15 states have notified rules based on the latest ECBC, 2017. These include:
  • Uttar Pradesh,
  • Punjab,
  • Karnataka,
  • Andhra Pradesh,
  • Telangana, and
  • Kerala.
• Five states are yet to notify ECBC rules:
  • Gujarat,
  • Maharashtra,
  • J&K,
  • Ladakh,
  • Manipur
• By delaying the notification of ECBC rules, these states stand to lose out from the benefits of ensuring energy efficiency in commercial buildings.
  • For instance, Gujarat can save nearly 83 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy by 2030 with effective ECBC compliance, where around 90% of newly constructed commercial buildings would be compliant with some level of the ECBC.
  • The potential savings are fairly high given Gujarat’s total electricity consumption of 106 TWh in 2022.
• State Energy Efficiency Index:
  • BEE published the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) in 2022, which rated states on various parameters of energy efficiency.
  • As per the index, Karnataka was the top state in SEEI’s ratings for energy efficiency in buildings receiving 22.5 points out of a total of 25.
  • It was followed by Telangana, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab as the top five large states with the best scores.
  • Bihar was given the lowest score of 0.5 points.
  • Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand were the five worst rated states for energy efficiency in buildings.

Way forward:

• The IEA recognises India is among the few developing countries that have building codes for commercial and residential buildings.
• Uniform enforcement of it can lead to significant energy savings in the sector.
• India also passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act in 2022, which further expands the ambit of building codes in the country.
  • Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 provides for the transitioning of ECBC into Energy Conservation and Sustainability Building Code by incorporating measures relating to:
    • embedded carbon,
    • net zero emissions,
    • materials and resource efficiency,
    • deployment of clean energy, and
    • circularity.
  • Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 also makes ECO Niwas Samhita, the residential building energy code, mandatory.
  • This is crucial as residential buildings use 75 per cent of total electricity consumed in the building sector.About IEA
  • The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation, established in 1974.
  • The IEA was set up under the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis
  • Aims:
    • provides policy recommendations,
    • analysis and data on the entire global energy sector,
    • analysis and data on curbing carbon emissions and reaching global climate targets, including the Paris Agreement.
  • Members:
    • There are 31 member countries and 11 association countries which represent 75% of global energy demand.
    • Only OECD member states may join the IEA.
    • India is not a member country but an association country.
  • Structure
    • The Governing Board constitutes the main decision-making body of the organisation.
      • It is composed of member country representatives and meets three to four times a year.
    • The Ministerial Meeting is the biennial gathering of energy ministers who determine the broad direction of the IEA.
    • Standing Groups meet multiple times a year and are made up of officials from member states.

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Topic 4 : Ban on firecrackers in India

Why in news: The Supreme Court clarified that its order banning the use of barium and other banned chemicals in firecrackers applies to the entire country, and not just the National Capital Region.

What are the SC orders on firecrackers?

• In 2018, the apex court had banned the production and sale of all crackers except ‘green crackers’ and those with reduced emissions (improved crackers).
• It also banned the manufacture and sale of ‘joined crackers’ (long rows of crackers joined together), prohibited the use of barium salts in fireworks and said their noise levels should be within permissible limits.
• In 2020, the National Green Tribunal had banned the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in NCR, and said that green crackers would be permitted only in cities and towns where air quality was moderate or poor.

What is a firecracker made of?

• Firecrackers typically consist of four primary ingredients:
  • Oxidizer:
    • An oxidiser is required for the cracker to catch fire
  • Fuel:
    • the fuel sustains the fire
  • Colouring agents:
    • Colouring agents give it the colours and sparkles
    • The white colour in a cracker is emitted through aluminium, magnesium and titanium,
    • Orange colour is carbon or iron.
    • Yellow agents are sodium compounds
    • Blue and red are copper compounds and strontium carbonates.
    • The green agent is barium mono chloride salts or barium nitrate or barium chlorate.
  • Binder:
    • binder holds this mixture in place till the cracker has spent itself
• Chemicals like barium are colouring agents, and were banned because of their harmful impact on human health, such as irritation in the respiratory tract, skin allergies, breathing difficulties, and even cancer.

What are green crackers?

• Green crackers are so named because they do not contain harmful chemicals that would cause air pollution.
• Components in firecrackers are replaced with others that are “less dangerous” and “less harmful” to the atmosphere.
• These crackers emit less-harmful chemicals, and also release water vapour, which acts as dust suppressant.
• The three broad categories of such crackers are:
  • SWAS:
    • SWAS stands for “safe water releaser”, and has a small water pocket that is released in the form of vapour when the cracker is burst.
    • This suppresses dust.
  • SAFAL:
    • SAFAL is safe minimal aluminium, which has minimum usage of aluminium, and used magnesium instead.
    • This emits less noise than traditional crackers.
  • STAR:
    • STAR, or safe thermite cracker, does not comprise potassium nitrate and sulphur, and emits reduced particulate matter at reduced sound intensity.Topic 5 : INDUS-X initiative

Why in news: Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) organised the maiden INDUS-X Investors Meet recently.
 

About the initiative:

• The India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) is a defense innovation bridge envisioned to bolster defense industrial cooperation between both nations.
• While the two countries have not specified which defense technologies to collaborate on under INDUS-X, they did release a roadmap which identifies potential areas of defense cooperation. These include:
  • intelligence,
  • surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, and
  • undersea domain awareness.
• A joint innovation fund could be used to aid startups working in these areas, thereby furthering defense industrial cooperation.
• At its core, INDUS-X is truly a mutually beneficial initiative.
  • For India, it serves to catalyze its military modernization efforts and boost indigenous defense capacity.
  • For the United States, it helps shore up its defense industrial arsenal.
  • The co-development and, eventually, co-production of defense systems with countries such as India could be a way to replenish these capabilities over the long term.

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Topic 6 : Importance of ‘loss and damage’ funds

Why in news: As the climate crisis intensifies, two terms are in sharp focus — adaptation and ‘loss and damage’ (L&D).

About Adaptation and Loss and damage:

• Adaptation is the proactive response to climate change, the art of survival by which communities and countries make deliberate choices to prepare for and cope with climate-related challenges.
• In contrast, L&D represents the irreversible consequences of climate change: impacts that can’t be avoided or mitigated through adaptation efforts.
  • They encompass the real losses that extend beyond monetary value and cut to the core of human rights and well-being.
  • L&D includes:
    • economic losses,
    • human casualties, and
    • the degradation of ecosystems and cultural heritage.

What is the Loss and Damage fund?

• Historic pollution:
  • The call for affluent nations to acknowledge their accountability for historic pollution is more than 30 years old.
  • Historic pollution has elevated the world’s average surface temperature by more than 1 degree Celsius and is currently inflicting damage worldwide, but especially in the poorest nations.
• Creation of L&D fund:
  • At the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Warsaw, Poland, in 2013, representatives of member countries formally agreed to establish the L&D fund.
  • It was being created to provide financial and technical assistance to economically developing nations that were incurring L&D due to climate change.
• Subsequent COPs and status of L&D fund:
  • At COP 25, the Santiago Network for L&D was set up, but countries didn’t commit any funds.
  • At COP 26, the Glasgow Dialogue on finance for L&D was established to continue discussions over the next three years on the fund.
  • Finally, at COP 27 in 2022, after intense negotiations, representatives of the UNFCCC’s member states agreed to set up the L&D fund and a Transitional Committee (TC) to figure out how the new funding mechanisms under the fund would operate.
  • The TC was also to prepare recommendations that countries would consider, deliberate on, and potentially adopt by COP 28.
  • So far, four meetings of the TC have concluded with no clear recommendations.

TC5 meeting and aftereffects:

• In the TC5 meeting, in Abu Dhabi set of recommendations have been drafted and forwarded to COP 28.
• At the TC5 meeting, developing nations conceded to the fund being hosted by the World Bank Financial Intermediary Fund for an interim period of four years, serviced by a new dedicated and independent secretariat.
• While the World Bank is yet to confirm that it is willing, it is important to note that it charges an exorbitant overhead fee.
• The developed nations, particularly the U.S., have remained non-committal about being primary donors to the fund and have rejected references to the CBDR, equity, and liability in the draft.
• The result is that their support is voluntary.
• There is currently no indication of the size of the fund because such a statement was quashed under pressure from the U.K. and Australia.
• The current draft simply urges and invites developed nations to provide money.

Implications of this outcome:

• Beyond the immediate diplomatic and trust-related repercussions, the watering down of the L&D fund has wide-reaching implications.
• Threatens climate justice:
  • It threatens climate justice and exacerbates the suffering of vulnerable communities in developing nations.
  • These communities have contributed minimally to global emissions but today bear the brunt of climate change.
• Humanitarian crisis:
  • The watering down can also increase the number of humanitarian crises, including via food shortage, people displacement, and conflict, and force communities to cope independently with a worsening climate and its consequences.
• Economic crisis:
  • The absence of support has economic consequences for both developing and developed nations.
  • Financial crises and economic downturns in one region can have extensive repercussions due to the interconnectedness of the global economy.
  • Without adequate L&D funds, there will also be limited capacity to address environmental degradation and the loss of vital ecosystems, which will further worsen environmental crises, causing irreversible harm to the earth.
• Security issues:
  • Climate-change-induced instability can have security implications as well, as conflicts and tensions emerge in vulnerable nations and threaten to spill across borders.

Way forward:

• Adaptation and L&D are not mutually exclusive concepts.
• They exist on a continuum of climate resilience, and both have a place in our collective efforts to combat climate change.
• A successful response to climate change requires us to balance the proactive measures of adaptation with the moral and financial responsibility of addressing the losses and damages that are an inescapable part of a climate-altered world.
• The L&D fund was conceived as a critical component of global climate action, recognising that some of the consequences of climate change are irreversible and beyond the capacity of vulnerable nations to handle.
• So to achieve climate justice, rich countries must meet their obligations to reduce emissions and deliver finance in line with what is fair, and thus uphold the principles of equity, justice, and solidarity in the face of a changing climate.
• Otherwise, global climate action will get derailed, putting more pressure on the already beleaguered COP 28 talks.

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Topic 7 : Leap Ahead Initiative

 Why in news: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the LEAP AHEAD initiative.

Key details:

• It is a joint collaboration of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Delhi-NCR.
  • STPI is an organization under Ministry of Electronics andInformation Technology engaged in promotingsoftware exports, nurturing tech startup ecosystem.
    • STPI has been actively involved in strengthening the startup ecosystem in India through its Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS).
• This initiative will be a  game-changer for tech Startups that are in the scaling stage, growth stage, product diversification or planning expansion into new geographical locations.
• They can benefit through funding support of up to ₹ 1 Crore and a comprehensive three-month mentorship program that combines virtual and in-person sessions for a well-rounded learning experience.
• The initiative will provide start-ups with access to an extensive network and personalized guidance through one-on-one mentorship sessions with seasoned investors and industry experts.
• This initiative will enable the startups to:
  • establish a product market fit,
  • identify customer segments,
  • grow hacking strategies,
  • business compliance,
  • leadership recruitment and
  • fundraising.Topic 8 : Production gap report

Why in news: A new report says that many governments plan to produce twice as much fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and 69% more than that would be consistent with 2 degrees Celsius.

Key details:

• The Production Gap Report was first launched in 2019.
• It tracks the discrepancy between governments’ planned fossil fuel production and global production levels consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C or 2°C.
• According to the report, top fossil fuel producers plan even more extraction despite climate promises against global levels consistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal.
• The Production Gap Report is prepared by:
  • the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI),
  • Climate Analytics,
  • E3G,
  • International Institute for Sustainable Development and
  • the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Aim:
  • The report aims to assess governments’ planned and projected production of coal, oil, and gas against global levels consistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal.
• The report analysesemissions trends for 20 major fossil-fuel-producing countries:
  • Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE, the U.K., and the U.S.
• Key findings:
  • The latest forecasts suggest that despite promises by governments made as part of the 2015 Paris Agreement that global coal, oil, and gas demand will peak this decade.
  • Even without new policies, their forecasts would lead to an increase in global coal production until 2030, and in global oil and gas production until at least 2050, creating an ever-widening fossil fuel production gap over time.
• COP Summit in Dubai
  • At least 190 countries are expected to convene in Dubai, for the annual Conference of the Parties, to thrash out timelines to:
    • abate fossil fuel emissions,
    • accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and