Stocktaking calamityContext-The United Nations’ Global Stocktake, a report was released just ahead of the G-20 meet. Purpose of Global Stocktake Report<ul><li> It set out the scope of challenges that awaited the major economies of the world.</li><li> This stocktake is to serve as a template to guide discussion ahead of the 28th Conference of</li></ul> Parties scheduled in Dubai this November and is meant to be an official reckoning of the work actually done by countries since 2015, in stemming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.<ul><li> That year, signatories to the UN convention on climate change agreed in Paris to keep global</li></ul> emissions from rising beyond 2°C and, as far as possible, limit it to 1.5°C.Major takeaways from the global stocktake <ul><li>The report states that “much more ambition in action and support” is necessary for</li></ul> implementing domestic mitigation measures to reduce global GHG emissions by 43% by 2030, 60% by 2035 and reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 globally.<ul><li>Based on current information submitted by countries, the emissions gap consistent with 1.5°C</li></ul> in 2030 is estimated to be 20.3 billion tonnes–23.9 billion tonnes of CO2.<ul><li>These are gaps unlikely to be filled without a rapid upscaling of renewable energy resources and an eschewal of fossil fuel sources such as coal, oil and natural gas.</li></ul> G-20 Summit on Climate Change <ul><li>Little has been achieved in terms of energy transition.</li><li>G-20 countries account for 93% of global operating coal power plants and 88% of prospective</li></ul> ones.<ul><li>The G-20 Leader’s Declaration formally recognized the need for USD 5.8-5.9 trillion in the pre-</li></ul> 2030 period required for developing countries as well as USD 4 trillion per year for clean energy technologies by 2030 to reach net zero by 2050. The report also dwells on the need to reverse deforestation and the adoption of electric vehicles as vital prongs to a clean energy economy; however, it does not single out individual countries or provide a more granular analysis of where the existing shortcomings are in the approach adopted by countries to curtail emissions. African Union in G20Context-<ul><li> The African Union (AU) was admitted as a new member of the G20 barely three months after</li></ul> India floated the idea of including the organisation.<ul><li> The development took place at the ongoing 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit</li></ul> in New Delhi. What is the African Union?<ul><li>The AU is an intergovernmental organisation, which consists of the 55 member states that make</li></ul> up the countries of the African Continent.<ul><li>The grouping is guided by its vision of “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.</li><li>The AU’s secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa. Collectively the</li></ul> group has a gross domestic product (gdp) of $3 trillion with some 1.4 billion people. Why was the African Union formed?<ul><li>The AU’s predecessor, OAU, was also an intergovernmental organisation and it aimed to bring</li></ul> African nations together and resolve common issues through collective action.<ul><li> OAU’s efforts helped numerous African nations gain independence from their European</li></ul> colonists in the following years. But the organisation suffered from major shortcomings.<ul><li> It failed to fillip political and economic integration among its member countries. Therefore, it</li></ul> was decided to reform the OAU during the mid-1990s, which ultimately led to the formation of the AU. Objectives of the African Union<ul><li> AU concentrates its energy and resources on achieving greater unity and solidarity between</li></ul> African countries and their people.<ul><li> It seeks to accelerate the process of the political and socio-economic integration of the</li></ul> continent.<ul><li> Moreover, the AU addresses the multifaceted social, economic and political problems that the</li></ul> African nations have been facing. Its key objectives also include promoting peace, stability, and security across the region.<ul><li> Protecting and promoting human rights are also part of the agenda.</li></ul> Achievements of the African Union<ul><li> Many of the AU’s peacekeeping missions have helped governments tackle terrorism across</li></ul> Africa, from the Sahel to northern Mozambique.<ul><li> Over the years, the organisation’s interventions have prevented violence in countries like</li></ul> Burundi, the Central African Republic, Comoros, Darfur, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Mali.<ul><li> AU’s diplomatic efforts have also resulted in resolving conflicts in Africa. Last year, it brokered a peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in South Africa, almost two years after the two entities began fighting.</li><li> The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which came into</li></ul> force in 2021, is yet another achievement of the organisation. With 54 member countries as signatories, AfCFTA is the world’s largest new free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994.<ul><li> It seeks to increase intra-African trade through deeper levels of trade</li></ul> liberalisation and enhanced regulatory harmonisation and coordination. The AfCFTA will increase Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035 and increase intra- African exports by more than 81%. Shortcomings of the African Union<ul><li> One failure of the AU has been its inability to thwart coups in Africa. Since the 1960s, the</li></ul> continent has witnessed more than 200 coups – the most recent ones took place in Gabon and Niger.<ul><li> The obvious reason is that the continental body never sends a military intervention to suppress</li></ul> the putschists, to capture them and bring them to trial for treason.<ul><li> It limits itself to diplomatic pressures against them, such as suspending their membership.</li><li> The organisation has also been unable to get its member countries to pay their annual dues,</li></ul> leaving it starved of funds.<ul><li> As a result, it has to depend on external funding, which impacts its autonomy.</li></ul> Upshot of AU’s inclusion in G20 The AU now has an opportunity to use its G20 permanent seat to craft a win-win pathway forthe entire world with an uncompromising demand to redesign the global trade, finance, andinvestment architecture.

Lithium Discovery Why in News? Lithium Reserve has been found for the first time in the country. What is Lithium: Referred to as “white gold” – Lithium metal is soft, white, and lustrous—and several of its alloys and compounds are produced on an industrial scale. Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries. Countries with Largest Reserves: Chile&gt; Australia&gt; Argentina How it is extracted: Lithium can be extracted in different ways, depending on the type of the deposit — generally either through solar evaporation of large brine pools, or from hard-rock extraction of the ore. Uses:Electronics: The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.Glass and Grease: Lithium-ion batteries are also used in ceramics and glass, lubricating greases, polymer production, and air treatment.Medical: Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks. It is also used in psychiatric medications and in dental imprints. Lithium carbonate is used in drugs to treat manic depression.Nuclear Weapons: The lighter of the two lithium isotopes is used in the production of Tritium, a key component of nuclear weapons.Infrastructure: Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminum and magnesium, improving their strength and making them lighter. Aluminum-lithium alloys are used in aircraft, bicycle frames and high-speed trains.Fuel: Lithium hydride is used as a means of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel.Other: A magnesium-lithium alloy is used for armor plating. Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic materials known and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems (as is lithium bromide). Lithium stearate is used as an all-purpose and high-temperature lubricant. What is Geological Survey of India?Presently, GSI is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines. It was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways.Over the years, it has grown into a repository of geo-science information and also has attained the status of a geo-scientific organization of international repute.It is headquartered in Kolkata and has six regional offices located at Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong, and Kolkata. Every state has a state unit.Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) is an important platform of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to facilitate discussion for synergy and to avoid duplication of work. Other Potential Sites in India: Mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh.Pegmatite(igneous rocks) belts in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.Brines of Sambhar and Pachpadrain Rajasthan, and Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat.Status of India with respect to these critical mineral resources India imports almost all its need for rare earth metals and of lithium, Cobalt (mostly from China)India’s demand for these critical resources has risen 6-fold in the last five years as it tries to be the electronic and solar manufacturing hubRecently, India’s first-ever Lithium deposit site was found in the igneous rocks located in the Marlagalla-Allapatna region of Southern Karnataka’s Mandya district.The thermonuclear application makes Lithium a “Prescribed substance” under the Atomic Energy Act, of 1962 which permits AMD to the exploration of Lithium in various geological domains of the country What is UNFC-1997?UNFC-1997 is a system for the classification and reporting of reserves and resources of solid fuels and mineral commodities and provides a standardized, internationally recognized system for the reporting of reserves and resources.It has been developed by the UN Economic Commission for Europe. Associated Risks with the Finding: Environmental Degradation-With the high potential of Lithium extraction, the challenges come withExtreme deep mining in hilly region, contamination to Groundwater, Diminishing Biodiversity, and Air pollution. India’s Safeguarding for Mining:District Mineral Foundation (DMF) it works for the Interest and benefit of persons. DMF in Non-statutory body. Sources: The India Express published on 15-feb-23

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Rural
and Archeological Tourism
 


Why
in News? Promotion
of Rural and Archeological tourism for Community Empowerment and
Poverty Alleviation.

 


 


Rural
tourism
possesses high potential to stimulate Social Change and local
Economic Growth, because of its complementarity with other economic
activities, its contribution to GDP and job creation, and its
capacity to promote the dispersal of demand in time and along a wider
territory.
 


UNWTO
understands
Rural Tourism as "a type of tourism activity in which the
visitor’s experience is related to a wide range of products
generally linked to nature-based activities, agriculture, rural
lifestyle / culture, angling and sightseeing.
Rural
Tourism activities take place in non-urban (rural) areas with the
following characteristics: 

<ol type="i">
	<li>landscape
	and land-use dominated by agriculture and forestry
	</li><li>low
	population density
	</li><li>traditional
	social structure and lifestyle".
</li></ol>
 


Under
the leadership of the 2020
G20 Saudi
Presidency, the World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
and the G20 Tourism Working Group have developed the AlUla
Framework for
Inclusive Community Development through Tourism to help fulfil the
sector’s potential to contribute to and achieve inclusive community
development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
 


 


Archaeological
Tourism:
Archaeological
Tourism hold a large scale group of Tourist who are eager to know the
historical sites, Heritage spots and it mostly satisfy the curiosity
of Students and Scholars.
 


Advantages
of Archaeological Tourism:
it
is the government of the region where the antiquities are located to
promote archaeological tourism as a means of educating people about
their rich cultural heritage, or simply as a means to make some money
from the tourists who visit
 


Heritage
sites are places of archaeological or historical significance that
have been preserved. Many are open to the public for visitation. They
often include museum The government also gains from the taxes imposed
on the expenditure by such tourists.
 


Drawbacks
of archaeological tourism is the danger that may be posed to truly
historical sites by hordes of tourists who descend on these places in
large numbers. Even with strict restrictions, there is always the
danger of some form of damage to such places, possibly affecting the
pristineness of historical sites. For example, when tourists visit
caves with ancient paintings on the walls, the constant traffic of
human beings may lead to an erosion of the properly preserved status
of the place.
 


Sites
standing with success stories:
 


<ol>
	<li>Ladpur
	khas Village- Madhya Pradesh:
</li></ol>

Best
Tourism Village known for Temples built in 16th
and 17th
centuries.

 


<ol start="2">
	<li>Kongthong
	village-Meghalaya
</li></ol>

Also
known as Singing village, because mother calls their kid in a unique
Singing way – These Musical Names are called “Jingrwai lawbei”

 


<ol start="3">
	<li>Bhoodan
	Pochampally village-Telangana
</li></ol>

The
place is famous for its Weaves- Handwoven ‘Ikkat’ Saree.

 


<ol start="4">
	<li>Khonoma
	Village-Nagaland
</li></ol>

Khonoma
is known for its Initiatives in Wildlife Conservation,Khonoma
Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS) was set up to
protect the endangered Blyth’s Tragopan and other wildlife and rare
plant species in their natural habitat. The serene place holds its
beauty with Lush Forest and Paddy Fields.

 


<ol start="5">
	<li>Dholavira-Gujarat
	
	
</li></ol>

It
bears evidence of a multi-cultural and stratified society during the
3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. 


Ramappa
Temple were included in the list during the 44th session of the
UNESCO’s World Heritage.

It
is the first site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in
India to get the tag.

 



 



 


 


India’s
Agenda in G20 :
Members:&nbsp;An
intergovernmental organization, UNWTO has 160 Member States, 6
Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members.
 


<ul>
	<li>Promoting
	Sustainable Development in Tourism: by
	promoting the socio-cultural authenticity and optimizing the use of
	Environmental Resources.
	</li><li>Emphasizing
	Global Agenda: To
	outgrow the Socio-economic growth and development
	</li><li>Tourism
	Competitiveness: To
	improve tourist count steps like-implementing the Policies, planning
	, statistics, sustainable development and Risk management and
	Exchanging Human Resources should be made in action.
	</li><li>knowledge
	and capacity building:&nbsp;Supporting
	countries to assess and address their needs in education and
	training, as well as providing networks for knowledge creation and
	exchange.
</li></ul>
 


Sources:
The
Hindu, The Indian Express published on 4th
February 2023.

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Red
Sanders Smuggling
 



Why
in News? The
CITES trade database includes 28 instances of Red Sanders
Confiscations highlighted by the Fact sheet created by TRAFFIC.

&nbsp;

What
is CITES?
<ul>
	<li>
	The
	convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
	Flora and Fauna is an International agreement between Governments,
	it is a brainchild of IUCN.
	</li><li>
	It
	was signed in Washington
	DC
	on 3
	March 1973
	and entered into force on 1 January 1975. All EU Member States are
	Parties to the Convention
	</li><li>
	It
	is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field
	projects, advocacy, and education.
	</li><li>
	The
	purpose of CITES is to ensure that no species of wild fauna and
	flora becomes or remains subject to unsustainable exploitation
	because of international trade.
	</li><li>
	IUCN’s
	mission is to “influence, encourage and assist societies
	throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use
	of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable”.
</li></ul>

 



CITES
Regulations:

The
animal and plant species subject to different degrees of regulation
are listed in one of three Appendices:

Appendix
I
includes species threatened with extinction and for which trade must
be subject to particularly strict regulation and only authorised in
exceptional circumstances.

Appendix
II
species are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but may
become so unless trade is strictly regulated. Appendix II further
contains so-called look-alike species, which are controlled because
of their similarity in appearance to the other regulated species,
thereby facilitating a more effective control thereof.

Appendix
III
contains species that are subject to regulation within the
jurisdiction of a Party and for which the cooperation of other
Parties is needed to prevent or restrict their exploitation.

The
listing of species in Appendices
I and II
requires a two-thirds majority decision by the Conference
of the Parties (CoP).
Parties can, however, list native species in Appendix III on their
own initiative.

 
 



 
 



What
is TRAFFIC?

It
is a joint program of World
Wildlife Fund (WWF)
and the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The
TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, is a leading
non-governmental organisation working on wildlife trade in the
context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable
development. It aims to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals
is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

About
Red Sandel wood?
<ul>
	<li>
	The
	species, Pterocarpus
	santalinus,
	is an Indian endemic tree species, with a restricted geographical
	range in the Eastern Ghats.
	</li><li>
	The
	species is endemic to a distinct tract of forests in Andhra Pradesh.
	</li><li>
	Red
	Sanders usually grow in the rocky, degraded and fallow lands with
	Red Soil and hot and dry climate.
</li></ul>

Threats
to Red Sandel wood-
<ul>
	<li>
	Illicit
	felling for smuggling, forest fires, cattle grazing and other
	anthropogenic threats.
	</li><li>
	Red
	Sanders, known for their rich hue and therapeutic properties, are
	high in demand across Asia, psarticularly
	in China and Japan, for use in cosmetics and medicinal products as
	well as for making furniture, wood craft and musical instruments
</li></ul>
 


Efforts
needed for Conservation:
<ul>
	<li>Forest
	departments, customs, railways, police , coast guards must
	coordinate efforts to curb the red sanders trafficking
	</li><li>The
	forest should be kept in High Conservation areas, to provide
	adequate legal framework for protection.
</li></ul>
 


Source:
“CITES database reveals red sander
smuggling” published in The Hindu – 3 February 2023.

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To
make India Global hub of Millets
 
 


 
 


Why
in News?
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has
declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. India declared
2018 as the National Year of Millets.


India's
goal to promote millets both domestically and abroad while presenting
the first Amrut Kaal
budget.
 
 


What
are Millets?
Millets
are widely found in Africa and Asia. These are cereal crops and small
seed grasses. Majorly cultivated in the semiarid tropical regions of
Africa and Asia, around 97 percent of world’s overall millet
production happens in these regions. These are used in Human
Consumption and Animal Fodder.
<ul>
	<li>The
	evidence of these grains has been found in Indus Civilization and
	was one of the first plants domesticated for food.
	</li><li>Some
	of the common millets available in India are Ragi (Finger millet),
	Jowar (Sorghum), Sama (Little millet), Bajra (Pearl millet), and
	Variga (Pros millet).
	</li><li>Every
	millet’s variety contains nutrients, including calcium,
	carbohydrates, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
</li></ul>
Importance
of Millets:
<ul>
	<li>
	Adaptable:
	Millets are adaptable to a variety
	of soils and climates, they can grow making them a versatile crop
	option for farmers.
	</li><li>Climate
	Resilient Staple Food Crops: It
	is drought-resistant, generally requires less water and can grow in
	poor soil conditions.
	</li><li>Rich
	in nutrients: Millets
	are a good source of fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
	</li><li>Sustainable:
	Millets
	are often grown using traditional farming methods, which are more
	sustainable and environmentally friendly than modern, industrial
	farming practices.
	</li><li>Gluten-free:
	Millets
	are naturally gluten-free, making them suitable for people with
	celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
</li></ul>
 
 


Government
Measures to Increase Millets Production &amp; Initiatives
Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
commented on India's goal to promote millets both domestically and
abroad while presenting the first Amrut
Kaal budget.
The
budget termed as “Shree
anna”, the
institutional impetus will be given to make India a global hub for
these Nutritious grains emphasising that millets have number of
Benefits.
Finance
Minister announced that the Indian
Institute of Millet Research- Hyderabad,
will be supported as Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices,
research and technologies at the International level.
<ul>
	<li>
	Price Support
	Scheme: Provides
	financial assistance to farmers for the cultivation of millets.
	</li><li>
	Promoting
	Millets-The
	government has introduced millets in the Public Distribution System
	to make it accessible and affordable to the masses.
	</li><li>
	Development of
	Value-Added Products:
	Encourages the production of value-added millet-based products to
	increase the demand and consumption of millets.
	</li><li>
	National Millets
	Mission (NMM):
	It was launched in 2007 to promote the production and consumption of
	millets.
	</li><li>
	Millets have been
	acknowledged as an important part of the food chain by the
	government. The NFSM’s
	first projections for increasing food grain production by 25 million
	tonnes include a 2 million-ton share for millets or 8 percent of the
	increased food grain output.
</li></ul>

What
is the way forward to increase millet cultivation in India?

There
is a need to pay attention to the economics of millet cultivation.
Increasing the production of millets requires multiple interventions
including scientific inputs, institutional mechanisms, and financial
support. Small farmers in hilly regions and dryland plains are going
to cultivate millets only if it gives them good returns. Adequate
public support can make millet cultivation profitable.

Source:
-“Institutional
impetus to make India Global millet hub” published in Indian
Express on 2 Feb 2023.
 
 


­

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