The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 10th December 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

In energy-dependent world, the issue of food security

Why in News?

The combined problems of food insecurity and energy poverty pose risks to global stability. Climate change and geopolitical tensions make these issues worse. Agriculture uses a lot of energy and produces a significant amount of greenhouse gases.

• This creates challenges in meeting both food production and energy needs.
• It is essential to find inclusive and sustainable solutions.
• Such solutions are necessary to guarantee food and energy security for those who are most vulnerable.

Interconnected Crises of Food and Energy Security

• The World Bank points out that the linked problems of food and energy security are major issues in the 21st century. 
• Food systems are under pressure due to climate change, an increasing population, and inequality. 
• Energy systems are challenged by geopolitical tensions, old infrastructure, and slow progress towards renewable energy. 
• Agriculture uses a lot of energy and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting how these issues are connected. 

Agriculture’s Dependency on Carbon-Intensive Energy

• Agriculture uses about 70% of the world's freshwater supply.
• It is responsible for more than 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions.
• The sector depends on fossil fuels for tasks like irrigation, machinery operation, and making fertilizers.
• This dependence creates a cycle that leads to environmental harm and makes it sensitive to changes in energy prices.
• From 2020 to 2023, severe food insecurity affected 11.8% of people around the world.
• By the year 2028, it is expected that around 956 million people could be affected by food insecurity.

Energy Inequities and Challenges

• In 2022, despite a massive investment of $500 billion in renewable energy, the use of fossil fuels continues due to geopolitical and economic pressures.
• Energy poverty affects low-income countries the most, making it hard for them to increase agricultural productivity and causing food prices to rise.
• In Sub-Saharan Africa, the low use of fertilizers and high costs of imports worsen food insecurity. This is despite spending $1.9 billion on fertilizers in 2021.

Geopolitical and Economic Risks in Agriculture

• Natural gas is essential for producing fertilizers. It serves both as a raw material and an energy source.
• This dual role makes agriculture sensitive to changes in natural gas prices.
• In 2021, China implemented a ban on phosphate fertilizer exports, which caused major disruptions in global supply chains.
• This ban had a significant effect on countries like India, which relies on imports for 60% of its diammonium phosphate fertilizers.

Renewable Energy and Its Limitations

• In 2022, 83% of new renewable energy capacity was added in high-income countries.
• Solutions like solar irrigation and biomass energycan greatly improve conditions, but their use is restricted by:
  • High costs that make them hard to implement.
  • Poor infrastructure in low-income areas, which limits their effectiveness.

Competing Demands on Agriculture

• Agricultureis facing two main challenges:
  • Providing enough food for a rising population
  • Supporting the shift to renewable energy through biofuel production
• The production of biofuels can create issues for food security because it needs a lot of land and water.
• To meet the basic caloric needs of vulnerable groups globally, there is a requirement of $90 billion each year until 2030.
• Additionally, an extra $300 to $400 billion is necessary to change and improve food systems.

Implications of Inaction

• Inaction on food and energy insecurity may lead to losses in productivity and health that could amount to trillions of dollars.
• Disruptions in energy caused by climate change could destabilize different regions, resulting in unrest and migration of people.
• The exploitation of Africa's mineral resources for renewable energy projects often does not benefit the local economies, which continues to keep people in poverty.

Call for Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions

• Clean energy solutions need to tackle structural barriers to ensure that vulnerable communities are included and not left behind.
• Agriculture must be reimagined to play a key role in sustainable development, finding a balance between food security and environmental as well as energy goals.
• It is crucial to take immediate and inclusive action to prevent worsening hunger and to support global climate objectives.

Indians Need the Right to Disconnect

Why in News?

Workplace stress and long working hours in India negatively affect both mental and physical health, especially in job sectors.  Many countries recognize the right to disconnect from work, but India does not have specific laws about it. This is despite the fact that the Indian Constitution highlights the importance of worker welfare. 

• It is very important to tackle this problem. Doing so will help to boost productivity and ensure the well-being of employees. 

Workplace Stress and the Need for Change

• Workplace stress is becoming a serious issue in India, affecting the mental health of about 49% of employees, according to a study by the ADP Research Institute.
• Many workers find it hard to disconnect from their jobs, as they stay connected through electronic communication even after working hours. This constant connection can harm their personal lives and overall mental well-being.
• Studies show that Indian women in professional jobs often work more than 55 hours per week, indicating a significant imbalance between work and personal life.

 The Right to Disconnect: Global Practices

• The right to disconnect allows workers to stop engaging with work messages outside of their scheduled hours, helping to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.
• In France, courts have decided that employees do not have to reply to work messages after hours, ensuring that their personal time is honored.
• Portugal has laws that make it illegal for employers to contact their workers outside of working hours, except in cases of emergency.
• Spain and Australia offer similar protections, ensuring that employees’ personal and family lives, as well as their work-life balance, are respected.
• Ireland also acknowledges the right to disconnect to support the well-being of its workers.

India’s Legal Framework and Gaps

• While India does not have specific laws regarding the right to disconnect, its Constitution and Directive Principles of State Policy highlight the importance of working in a healthy environment.
• Article 38 requires the government to support the well-being of its people.
• Article 39(e) instructs that policies should aim to protect the health and well-being of workers.
• Judicial decisions have reinforced the idea of dignity in the workplace and stressed the importance of considering employees’ mental health and unique needs.
• Despite these important principles, long working hours and disrespectful treatment at work are still common issues in many workplaces in India.

Legislative Efforts and Health Concern

• In 2018, a private member bill was introduced that aimed to impose penalties for failing to follow a rule about the right to disconnect, but it did not gain much support.
• Research shows that working long hours can result in stress, heart disease, and a decrease in overall health.
• A study from Oxford University found a significant connection between happiness and productivity, highlighting how important it is for employees to be well.

Way Forward

• Recognizing the right to disconnect is essential for India's progress towards economic growth.
• Employers need to pay attention to psychological factors and focus on employee well-being to enhance productivity and ensure lasting growth.
• It is important to put in place legal frameworks to support these efforts.