Environment & Ecology - 4 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Groundwater Extraction and Land Subsidence

Context

The issue of land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater extraction in various parts of India, both in urban and rural areas.

Details

• Land subsidence as a consequence of excessive groundwater extraction has become a pressing issue in India.

• Several cities and rural areas are experiencing land deformation, cracks in buildings, and declining groundwater levels.
• Researchers have identified the Indo-Gangetic plain as highly prone to subsidence due to its stratified layers of sand and clay.

Urban Areas Facing Land Subsidence

• Example of Kapashera, southwest Delhi, where excessive groundwater extraction caused cracks in buildings and land subsidence.
• Monitoring by researchers showed land subsidence occurring at a rate of 17 cm per year in Kapashera.
• Other urban areas like Chandigarh, Ambala, Gandhinagar, and Kolkata have also reported land subsidence issues.

Rural Areas Dealing with Groundwater Depletion

• Punjab and Haryana are experiencing groundwater depletion due to high agricultural reliance on irrigation.
• Land deformation and cracked houses are prevalent in villages across these states.
• Precipitation in the monsoon months is insufficient to recharge aquifers to previous levels.

Challenges in Recording Subsidence

• Many areas with subsidence may not have been recorded yet.
• Studying localized satellite images and groundwater extraction rates, along with ground verification, is complex and time-consuming.

State-Wise Changes in Groundwater Levels

• DTE analysis reveals worsening groundwater levels in 10 states and Union Territories.
• Punjab witnessed the most significant drop of 150 m between 2000 and 2022, followed by Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh.

Global Crisis of Land Subsidence

• The first case of land subsidence due to groundwater extraction was reported in California, USA.
• Southeast Asian megacities like Jakarta, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City are facing severe subsidence issues.

Causes and Impacts of Land Subsidence

• Human activities, particularly groundwater extraction, account for 60% of land subsidence cases worldwide.
• Subsidence leads to damages to critical infrastructure, changes in drainage patterns, and increased flood risks.

Solutions to Address Land Subsidence

• Groundwater recharge cannot reverse land subsidence, so the focus should be on arresting over extraction.
• Implement water budgeting for high-risk regions to monitor and manage water use effectively.
• Revive water bodies to aid groundwater recharge and mitigate subsidence effects.

The International Day for Biological Diversity 2023

Context

The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), celebrated on 22^nd May 2023, raises awareness about the importance of biodiversity for sustaining life on Earth.

• The Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services highlights the risk of extinction for around one million species.
• To address the biodiversity crisis, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at the 15^th Conference of Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity
  • This framework sets ambitious targets for 2030 and provides a roadmap for conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity.

What is International Day for Biological Diversity?

• About:
  • The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993 proclaimed 22^nd May as IDB to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
    • The UNGA also declared the period 2011-2020 as the United Nations (UN) Decade on Biodiversity to promote the implementation of a strategic plan on biodiversity and its overall vision of living in harmony with nature.
    • It also declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
• Theme:
  • The theme for 2023 is “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity”, which signifies the pressing requirement to go beyond mere commitments and transform them into concrete actions aimed at revitalizing and safeguarding biodiversity.

What is Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?

• About:
  • It calls for urgent and integrated action to reflect biodiversity considerations in all sectors of the global economy but crucial issues - like funding conservation in poorer countries and committing to biodiversity-friendly supply chains have been left to discuss later.
    • It is not a binding international agreement.
  • It calls upon the parties to mainstream biodiversity protection in decision-making and recognise the importance of conservation in protecting human health.
    • The theme of the declaration is Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth.
  • By adopting this, the nations have committed themselves to support the development, adoption and implementation of an effective post-2020 implementation plan, a capacity building action plan for the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety.
    • The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
  • As per the declaration the signatory nations will ensure that the post-pandemic recovery policies, programmes and plans contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, promoting sustainable and inclusive development.
• 30 by 30 Target:
  • The declaration made a reference to the '30 by 30' target which is a key proposal being debated at the COP15, that would afford 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030.
• Main targets:
  • The framework consists of four goals and 23 targets for 2030.
  • The four goals are:
    • Conserve and restore biodiversity.
    • Ensure sustainable use of biodiversity.
    • Share benefits fairly and equitably.
    • Enable transformative change.
• Challenges with Implementation:
  • Limited Timeframe and Urgency:
    • With just seven years remaining to meet the GBF targets, immediate action is imperative due to the critical state of around one million animal and plant species threatened with extinction.
      • The urgent need to address biodiversity loss requires accelerated efforts and comprehensive implementation strategies.
  • Funding Gap:
    • The Signatories aim to ensure 200 billion USD per year is channelled to conservation initiatives, from public and private sources. Raising international financial flows from developed to developing countries to at least USD 30 billion per year by 2025, and at least 30 billion USD a year by 2030. But this funding has yet to be fulfilled.
      • Lack of specific funding commitments for biodiversity, as seen in recent statements from the G7, hinders the financial support required for effective implementation.
  • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP):
    • Member states agreed to realign their NBSAPs to the GBF, but progress in submitting the revised plans has been slow.
      • Spain is the only country that has submitted its realigned NBSAP so far, highlighting the need for more countries to develop and submit their plans to the CBD secretariat before COP16 in 2024.
  • Balancing Conservation and Indigenous Rights:
    • The target of protecting 30% of land and water has raised concerns regarding potential infringements on the rights of indigenous communities.
    • Striking a balance between conservation efforts and respecting the rights and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples is essential for successful implementation.

Paris Global Climate Financing Summit 

Context

The Summit for a ‘New Global Financing Pact’ was held in Paris, France to discuss the repercussions of the climate, energy, health and economic crises, particularly in the most vulnerable countries and its finanacing.

What is the Pact Summit about?

• Genesis - The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact was announced at the 27^th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact is also known as ‘Pact Summit’ in short.
• The summit was spearheaded by the French President Emmanuel Macron highlighting the need for a new financial pact with the most vulnerable countries.
• The summit was precipitated as a follow-up to the Bridgetown Initiative tabled by Barbados.
• Pact Summit - It is an attempt to collectively rethink the global financial architecture of international solidarity and climate action by proposing concrete solutions to create a fairer, more effective and more responsive global financial system.

What is the need for such summit?

• Poor and vulnerable countries battle ‘a cocktail of interconnected crises’ such as poverty, debt, inflation triggered due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and increasing climate impacts.
• Countries of Global South are in a debt crisis.
• Developing countries are facing pressure to decarbonise their economies without adequate climate finance flowing in.
• African countries are facing an unprecedented funding squeeze.

What happened at the Summit?

• Several leaders from the developing world, as well as European nations attended the Summit.
• The Summit took on the monumental task of addressing the lack of money flowing to poor and vulnerable countries.
• Working Groups - The Summit convened 4 Working Groups on the following topics prior to the summit:
  1. Ensuring more fiscal space for the most-affected countries.
  2. Financing the private sector in low-income economies.
  3. Increasing investment in green infrastructures in emerging and developing markets.
  4. Developing innovative solutions to provide additional resources in support of countries vulnerable to climate change.
• Some announcements were unveiled at the summit to address the trust erosion issue between the Global North and South.

What was announced at the summit?

• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) - A contentious MDB Vision Statement document did not get full consensus.
• An additional lending capacity of $200 billion would be unlocked by MDBs for emerging economies.
• World Bank - It announced disaster clauses for debt deals to suspend debt payment in the case of extreme weather events as advocated by Bridgetown Agenda.
• It also unveiled a ‘Private Sector Investment Lab’ with the aim to develop and rapidly scale solutions that address the barriers in private sector investments.
• Special Drawing Rights - The ‘recycling’ of SDRs from rich countries to poor countries or MDBs, has been proposed as means to expand the amount of concessional finance to developing countries.
• A new JETP - A new 2.5 billion Euro JETP deal was announced for Senegal, with a consortium of countries comprising of Germany, France, Canada, the EU and the U.K.
• It aims to increase the share of renewable energy in installed capacity to 40% of Senegal’s electricity mix by 2030.
• Polluter taxes - Many groups supported a tax on shipping emissions accelerating the momentum on polluter taxes.
• Carbon markets - The EU unveiled a call to action on ‘Paris Aligned Carbon Markets’ with
• It has the goal of covering at least 60% of global emissions with carbon pricing mechanisms (4% now) and allocating a proportion of the revenues to climate finance.

What are the challenges ahead?

• Proven solutions - European leaders to pitched Carbon pricing as a serious suggestion, which is one of the tool in a package of many.
• Developed countries should acknowledge the urgency and scale of financial need and come up with scalable solutions.
• Responsibility - There is also a fundamental refusal to own who should be responsible between developed country governments and multilateral institutions.
• MDBs - Developed countries focused on MDB reform which will increase the pressure on MDBs’ resources manifold.
• Developed countries want to squeeze more out of existing MDB resources while simultaneously adding on climate as a part of their mandate.
• Private capital - The Global North showed an overwhelming emphasis on derisking private capital, shifting the onus of finance to the private sector.
• The private sector money even though can be unlocked, cannot replace long-term development money.
• Debt - Debt cancellation, concessional financing and grants, polluter taxes and the consideration that poverty eradication efforts cannot be side lined for climate goals

Bald Eagle

Context

• The American bald eagle was removed from the United States’ list of endangered species in June 2007.Since then, the population of the bird has steadily risen.
• A 2021 report by the US Fish and Wildlife Service said that the number of bald eagles in the wild has quadrupled since 2009.
• Once endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and the pesticide DDT, bald eagles have made a remarkable recovery in recent decades.

What’s in today’s article?

• American bald eagle

American bald eagle

• About
  • Bald eagle, the only eagle solely native to North America.
  • It has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that.
    • In 1782, it was first placed with outspread wings on the country’s Great Seal as a sign of strength.
• Features
• 
  
  • Bald eagles are large, predatory raptors that are recognizable for their brown body and wings, white head and tail, and hooked yellow beak.
  • Their feet, which are also yellow, are equipped with sharp black talons.
  • Juvenile bald eagles look very different from adults—they are almost entirely brown, with occasional white markings on the undersides of their wings and chest.
  • Bald eagles grow to about 2.5 to 3 feet (0.7 to 0.9 meters) in height, and they have an impressive wingspan of 6.5 feet (two meters).
  • Female bald eagles are larger than the males, but share the same coloration.
• Habitat range
  • Bald eagles are North American birds. Their range extends from the Mexico border through the United States and Canada.
  • The birds are extremely populous in Alaska.
    • They can be seen year-round in Alaska, along the East and West coasts, the Rocky Mountains, and the Mississippi River.
    • The rest of the United States only sees bald eagles during the winter and their migration.
• Food
  • Bald eagles love fish. These birds are opportunistic predators.
    • When fish are not available, they will eat whatever they can catch, including small birds and rodents.
  • Bald eagles are also scavengers that will feed on carrion. If they see an opportunity, bald eagles may even steal food from other birds such as osprey.
• Life history
  • Bald eagles are solitary, but monogamous animals. Although they spend winters and migrations alone, bald eagles maintain the same breeding pair year after year.
• Conservation status
  • The bald eagle was previously listed under the Endangered Species Act, but was delisted in 2007 due to recovery efforts.
  • IUCN Status - Least Concern

Population decline since the 1800s

• Statistics
  • Once upon a time, bald eagles were abundant across the United States.
  • When they were adopted as the country’s national symbol in 1782, there were as many as 100,000 nesting birds in the continental United States (including Alaska).
  • However, their populations began to decline in the early 1800s.
• Reasons for the decline
  • Hunting
    • Bald eagles began to be seen as a threat to livestock, especially domestic chicken, and started to be hunted.
    • Hunting intensified in the latter half of the century, when feather hats became a fashion staple.
  • Appearance of DDT
    • DDT or dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane was first synthesised in 1874.
    • However, in 1939, it was first promoted as an insecticide and began to be used to kill malaria carrying mosquitos and agricultural pests.
    • While extremely effective as an insecticide, DDT had a catastrophic impact on the bald eagle population.

Steps taken to protect the bird

• Role of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring
  • This book, for the first time, documented the detrimental effects of chemical pesticides on the environment.
  • It meticulously described how DDT was the prime cause behind the decline in bald eagle populations.
• Ban on the use of DDT for agricultural use
  • A nationwide ban on the use of DDT for agricultural use was introduced in 1972.
• Introduction of Endangered Species Act in 1973
  • This act broadened protections already in place for endangered species, particularly focussing on protection of animal habitats.
  • The bald eagle was one of the original species listed for protection under this act.
• Captive breeding programmes and strict habitat protections
  • Captive breeding programmes were launched in the 1970s and proved to be crucial in helping the resurgence of bald eagles.
  • A practice known as hacking was commonly used by conservationists.
    • Hacking is a controlled way to raise and release bald eagles into a wild viable environment from artificial nesting towers.
    • This method simulates a wild eagle nesting site and aids in recovery in an area where re-population is desirable.
  • Strict restrictions were brought in with regards to human activity around eagle nests or known nesting areas.

Airlines’ Greenwashing and Contributing to Carbon Pollution

Context

A lawsuit has been filed against Delta Air Lines in the US, accusing the company of engaging in Greenwashing by making false and misleading claims about its Sustainability Efforts and being a "Green" and carbon-neutral airline.

• The airline claimed to be carbon neutral from March 2020 and offered to offset the carbon emissions from customers' flights.
• However, media reports and investigations have highlighted loopholes and inaccuracies in Delta's carbon offsetting process.

What is Greenwashing?

• The term greenwashing was first used in 1986 by Jay Westerveld, an American environmentalist and researcher.
• Greenwashing is the practice in which firms and governments mark all kinds of activities as climate-friendly, as something that would lead to emissions reduction, or avoidance of emissions.
  • Many of these claims are unverifiable, misleading, or dubious.
  • While it helps in boosting the image of the entity, they do nothing in the fight against climate change.
  • Several multinational corporations, including oil giants like Shell and BP, and Coca Cola have faced accusations of greenwashing.
• Greenwashing is prevalent across a whole range of environmental activities.
  • Developed countries are often accused of greenwashing their normal business investments in developing countries by highlighting climate co-benefits of the financial flows, sometimes with very little justification.
• Greenwashing is considered an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 in India, which prohibits misleading claims, but implementation of these regulations remains a challenge.

What are the Concerns Related to Airlines in Carbon Pollution?

• Major Airlines Indulge in Greenwashing:
  • Investigations and studies in (Guardian investigation and Greenpeace report) have revealed flaws and deceptiveness in the carbon offset systems of major airlines, casting doubt on the industry's carbon neutrality assertions.
    • Other airlines, including KLM (Netherlands-based airline) and Ryanair (Europe), Air Canada and Swiss Airlines have faced similar allegations of greenwashing and misleading customers with claims of being environmentally friendly.
  • These findings raise concerns about the credibility of the International Air Transport Association's net zero pledge by 2050, which experts criticized as an act of greenwashing.
• Airlines Significant Contributors to Carbon Pollution:
  • Flying is a significant contributor to carbon pollution, in 2021 aviation accounted for over 2% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions according to International Energy Agency (IEA).
  • Aviation emissions could grow by 300-700% by 2050, per estimates.
    • A single round trip from Mumbai to L.A. generates 4.8 tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to charging 6,00,000 smartphones).
• Blind Spots in Offset System:
  • There is a lack of universally recognized standards and tracking mechanisms for counting carbon offsets, making it difficult to ensure additionality—the reduction of emissions that would not have occurred otherwise.
  • Certification organizations play a role in connecting buyers and sellers of carbon credits, but the oversight and verification processes have been criticized for allowing misleading projects and phantom credits.

What are Carbon Credits?

• Carbon Credits (Carbon offsets) are received by the companies when they invest in offset projects such as environmental conservation, energy efficiency or renewable energy which reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.
• These credits represent the amount of carbon dioxide that would have been removed from the atmosphere through these initiatives.
• Each credit is equivalent to one metric ton of CO₂, which contributes to global warming.
• Companies use these credits to offset their carbon emissions in one area, like airplane travel, by claiming that they are reducing emissions somewhere else, such as in distant rainforests.
  • The voluntary carbon-offset market is expected to grow significantly, from USD 2 billion in 2020 to approximately USD 250 billion by 2050, according to a report by Morgan Stanley in 2023.

How does Greenwashing Affect Carbon Credits?

• Informal Markets:
  • There are credits available for all kinds of activities such as for growing trees, for planting a certain kind of crop, for installing energy-efficient equipment in office buildings.
    • The credits for such activities are often certified by unofficial third-party companies and sold to others.
    • Such transactions have been flagged for lack of integrity and double counting.
• Credibility:
  • Countries like India or Brazil had accumulated huge carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol and wanted these to be transitioned to the new market being set up under the Paris Agreement.
    • But many developed countries resisted this, questioning the integrity of the credits and claiming they did not accurately represent reductions in emissions.
• Lead to Lack of Transparency:
  • Greenwashing can lead to a lack of transparency in the carbon offset market.
  • Companies may provide limited information about the projects they support, making it difficult to verify their claims and assess the actual environmental impact.
  • This lack of transparency undermines the credibility and trustworthiness of the carbon credit system.
• Diversion from Real Emission Reductions:
  • Greenwashing practices may divert attention and resources away from genuine efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Companies may rely on carbon credits as a way to offset their emissions without making significant changes to their operations or adopting more sustainable practices.
  • This can impede progress toward meaningful emission reductions and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Way Forward

• The complex nature of carbon offsetting and the lack of consensus on effective standards present challenges in implementing and enforcing regulations. Therefore, there is a need for better regulation, transparency, and understanding of carbon offset programs.
• The focus should shift towards decarbonizing commercial aviation through Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), hydrogen, and full-electric propulsion techniques, despite the obstacles faced by these alternatives.
• As the push for environmental sustainability grows, there is a need for better regulation, scrutiny, and development of more impactful strategies to reduce aviation's carbon footprint.

Bonn Climate Meet

What is the Bonn Climate Change Conference?

The Bonn Climate Change Conference is an annual international conference. It is held to discuss and advance global efforts in addressing climate change. The conference is organized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It brings together representatives from governments, organizations, and civil society worldwide. The conference aims to negotiate and implement climate agreements and frameworks like the Paris Agreement.

• Participants discuss climate-related issues, including mitigation, adaptation, financing, and technology transfer.
• The conference provides a platform for sharing knowledge, exchanging best practices, and promoting collaboration among nations.
• It plays a crucial role in shaping global climate policy and driving international action to combat climate change.

Developments So far in Bonn Climate Change Conference

• From June 6–16, 2022, Bonn, Germany, hosted the second set of the Bonn Climate Change Conference, which also featured the 56th meetings of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA).
• The Bonn Climate Change Conference 2022 marked the first chance for all UNFCCC Parties to come together after the Glasgow Climate Pact was adopted at COP26 in 2021.
• Before this, the Bonn conference was convened in 2017 from November 6 to November 17. This gathering took place at Germany’s Bonn. The Marrakech Conference, Morocco (COP22 UNFCCC) in 2016 and the Katowice Conference, Poland (COP24 UNFCCC) in 2018 occurred before and after the Bonn Climate Change Conference, respectively.
• The conference included the thirteenth meeting of parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP13), the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP23), and the second session of the first meeting of parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1.2).
• The primary goal of COP23 was to explore and implement strategies for combating climate change, providing details on how the Paris Agreement will function after taking effect in 2020.
• For the first time, a developing small island state, Fiji, represented by its prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, hosted COP23.
• The German government lavishly funded the conference amenities to more than €117 million.
• The main topic of discussion at COP23 was the technical details of the Paris Agreement. Still, it was also the initial gathering of the parties since President Donald Trump announced that the United States would step out of the agreement.
• The “Fiji Momentum for Implementation” set forth the actions needed in 2018 to put the Paris Agreement into effect.

Highlights of Bonn Climate Change Conference Report 2023

The Bonn Climate Change Conference occurred from June 6-16, 2023. It was a significant event in the global effort to address climate change. Representatives from over 190 countries attended the conference. It allowed delegates to discuss and negotiate various issues related to climate change, including mitigation, adaptation, finance, and technology transfer.

Some of the highlights of the Bonn Climate Change Conference are listed below.

• The Subsidiary Bodies of the UNFCCC agreed on their agendas for the upcoming COP 28. This was a significant achievement, as reaching an agreement on the agendas in previous years had been challenging.
• Delegates discussed the work program on just transition pathways. This work program is intended to help countries transition to a low-carbon economy in a fair and equitable way.
• There was a focus on the need to increase climate finance. Many countries called for developed countries to fulfill their commitments to provide climate finance to developing countries.
• There was also a focus on the need to improve the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Delegates discussed ways to strengthen the agreement's implementation, including developing new rules and procedures.

Here are some of the key challenges that need to be addressed in the coming years:

• The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more quickly. The world needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. It should reach net-zero emissions by mid-century to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
• The need to increase climate finance. Developed countries must fulfill their commitments to provide climate finance to developing countries. It will help them to transition to a low-carbon economy.
• The need to improve the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Countries need to strengthen the implementation of the agreement. It includes the development of new rules and procedures.

Which Country Hosted the Bonn Climate Change Conference?

Frank Bainimarama, the prime minister of Fiji, presided over the 2017 Bonn Climate Change Conference held in Bonn, Germany, and hosted by Fiji islands. It is noteworthy because this is the first time a small island developing country has assumed the conference's leadership. Tiny island nations like Fiji, the Maldives, and numerous other small island countries bear a disproportionate share of the severe effects of climate change.

Bonn Climate Change Conference 2022 – Key Points

• The Bonn Climate Change Conference, which included the 56th meetings of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), convened from June 6–16, 2022, in Bonn, Germany, following a three-year extended break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh in November 2022 will result from the hard work put forth during the Bonn Climate Change Conference to advance key technical concerns.
• The Bonn Climate Change Conference in 2022 placed a strong emphasis on science.
• Discussions on a variety of crucial issues, such as the requirement for more ambitious climate action, significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, improved resilience to adjust to the impacts of climate change, and economic assistance for developing nations, building on the extensive mandates that arose from COP26 that took place in Glasgow.
• The necessity to adapt buildings to climate change’s unavoidable effects, which include increasingly frequent and severe heat waves, floods, storms, loss and damage, and the required economic assistance, was one of the major concerns that remained unresolved.
• The first technical dialogue of the Global Stocktake, intended to assess joint efforts toward attaining the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, was held by delegates during the Bonn Climate Change Conference.

Outcomes Of the Bonn Climate Change Conference

• Introduced during COP23 in Bonn, the Powering Past Coal Alliance was established under the leadership of the UK and Canada.
• With over 20 members, its primary objective is to accelerate the phasing out of conventional coal power and promote sustainable growth.
• According to the Alliance, coal phase-out should be achieved by 2030 in the OECD and EU28 countries and no later than 2050 globally, in alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• However, the Alliance does not impose a specific deadline for signatories to adhere to for the phase-out.
• Furthermore, it focuses on restricting financial support for coal power plants rather than mandating a complete halt.

Fiji’s COP

The UNFCCC climate negotiations have made history in Fiji, a small island nation. The outcomes of the negotiations include:

• Gender Action Plan: This plan aims to promote gender equality and recognize the valuawomen's valuable role in the action.
• Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform: This platform seeks to facilitate the exchange of best practices in mitigation and adaptation among local communities and indigenous peoples.
• Ocean Pathway Partnership: This partnership adopts a two-track approach in 2020 to align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 
  • It focuses on significantly enhancing action in regions highly affected by climate change and the ocean while emphasizing the importance of considering ocean-related factors within the UNFCCC process.

Talanoa Dialogue

"Talanoa" is a customary term widely used in Fiji and the Pacific region to represent a process of inclusive and transparent dialogue. The Talanoa Dialogue was established to assist nations in implementing and enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020. Using storytelling, Talanoa encourages the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experiences among participants.

Why Should We Focus on Climate Change?

• According to estimates, the average worldwide temperature is now 1.1°C warmer than before industrialization. According to present trends, global warming might reach 1.5°C during the next two decades and 2°C at the start of the century's second half.
• India’s cities are rapidly experiencing rapid urbanization and bearing the brunt of the climate crisis; thus, creating sustainable cities and creating jobs in wholesome neighborhoods should be a major priority.
• India, which has a population of around 1.3 billion, is currently the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases worldwide.
• A warmer environment exacerbates problems with public health, such as illnesses aggravated by the heat, a surge in vector-borne infections, and limited availability of food and safe drinking water. Reducing climate pollutants can reduce threats to public health and slow the planet's heating rate.
• The International Organization on Migration estimates that up to 200 million people may have to relocate by 2050 due to climate change.
• By 2050, global efforts to cut short-lived climate pollutants can stop global warming by 0.6°C. Carbon dioxide concentrations and other climate pollutants must be drastically reduced to reduce global temperature rise and hit the 2°C target established by the Paris Agreement.
• According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), all climate influencing pollutants, including short-lived ones, must be drastically reduced to limit global warming to 1.5°C.