PIB Summary- 27th April, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

ASEAN Future Forum

Context

Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister participated in the First ‘ASEAN Future Forum’.

Overview of ASEAN Future Forum

• Serves as a platform for ASEAN and its partners to exchange new ideas and policy recommendations.
• Aims to establish a shared platform for ASEAN member states, partner countries, and ASEAN citizens to contribute to shaping the bloc’s development trajectory.

Initiation

• Proposed by Vietnam during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023.

First Forum Theme

• “Toward fast and sustainable growth of a people-centered ASEAN Community.”

Location

• Held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Brunei
• Vietnam
• Laos
• Myanmar
• Cambodia

ASEAN’s Objectives:

• To promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other countries in Asia.
• To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations.
• To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
• To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations.

A major partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN maintains a global network of alliances and dialogue partners and is considered by many as the central union for cooperation in Asia-Pacific.

• The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
• ASEAN is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• 8th August is observed as ASEAN Day.
• In 1967 ASEAN was established with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding fathers: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States.

India’s biggest Climate Clock

Context

Recently, the Council of Scientific &Industrial Research (CSIR), installed and activated India’s biggest Climate Clock at the CSIR Headquarters in New Delhi as a part of the Earth Day Celebrations.

CSIR Installs India’s Largest Climate Clock

Event Significance

• CSIR installed and activated India’s largest Climate Clock at its Headquarters in New Delhi during Earth Day Celebrations.
• Reflects CSIR’s commitment to raising awareness about climate change and promoting energy literacy among the public.

Purpose and Background

• The Climate Clock was launched in 2015 to serve as a tool for tracking climate change mitigation progress.
• Provides a visual representation of how quickly the planet is approaching 1.5°C of global warming based on current emissions trends.

Functionality

• Graphically demonstrates the amount of CO2 emitted and the global warming experienced to date.
• The date indicating when humanity will reach 1.5°C of global warming adjusts based on changes in emissions levels.

Current Climate Temperature

• As of April 4, 2024, the current climate temperature stands at 1.295°C.