In news

The ninth edition of International Renewable Energy Agency'S (IRENA) series, 'Renewable energy and jobs: Annual review 2022', has been released recently.

• The report is produced in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and provides the latest estimates of renewable energy employment

Key Highlights of the Report:

The Report noted that:

• The renewable energy sector employed 7 million people across the world in 2021, up from 12 million in 2020.
• Further, the employment in the sector could jump to 38.2 million in 2030 under an ambitious energy transition scenario with front-loaded investments.
• According to the report, close to two-thirds of all such jobs are in Asia, with China alone accounting for 42%of the global total.
• Solar energy was found to be the fastest-growing sector, and it provided jobs for more than a third of the total renewable energy workforce.
• The share of women in the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) workforce is still low, particularly for skilled jobs.
• Developed economies received the largest share of investment in the renewable energy field, which are on their way to achieve a 60% growth in the clean energy sector by 2022.

Renewable energy in India

• India has set an ambitious target to achieve a capacity of 175 GW worth of renewable energy by the end of 2022, which expands to 500 GW by 2030.
• Currently, India is the world's third largest producer of renewable energy, with 40% of its installed electricity capacity coming from non-fossil fuel sources.
• The targets of the Indian Government in this perspective include:
  • to reduce India’s total projected carbon emission by 1 billion tonnes by 2030
  • reduce the carbon intensity of the nation’s economy by less than 45% by the end of the decade
  • achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070
• With these targets, India can create 4 million new clean energy jobs, providing employment to over a million people.

Measures to increase share of Renewable energy in India

• India spearheaded the International Solar Alliance (ISA) which is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies.

• • This was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilise efforts against climate change, at the COP21 in 2015.
• Permitting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% under the automatic route.
• Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) has been launched for farmers for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.
• Solar Rooftop phase II, has been launched under which 4000 MW rooftop solar (RTS) capacity addition is targeted through Central Financial Assistance (CFA) in the residential sector including for households in rural areas.

Source:

• Renewable Energy
• Greening economy: 700,000 new jobs in renewable energy sector in just a year

Image source:

• https://www.ibef.org/industry/renewable-energy/infographic 

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In News:

There has been a gas leak at the Nord Stream 2 pipeline recently. 

About the News:

• The inauguration of a long-awaited pipeline in Poland that will bring Norwegian gas to Europe in an effort to strengthen energy independence from Moscow was overshadowed by a series of unusual leaks on two natural gas pipelines running from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany.
• This raised concerns about potential sabotage.

About Nord Stream Pipeline

• Two pipelines, each with two lines, make up the NordStream system.
• Nord Stream 1 is an underwater pipelinethrough the Baltic Sea that carries natural gas from Russia to Germany.

• Its twin, Nord Stream 2, whose commissioning got cancelled after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,had been filled with gas, in anticipation of exports commencing from the fully built pipeline.
• Nord Stream 1was finished in 2011 and connects Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany, to Vyborg in Leningrad, Russia.
• The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which connects Ust-Luga in Leningrad with Lubmin, was finished in September 2021 and, when fully operational, has the potential to transport 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually.
• Together, the twin pipelines can provide 110 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to Europe per year for at least 50 years.
• The Nord Stream crosses numerous nations' Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), including those of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, as well as through territorial waters of Russia, Denmark and Germany.
• The pipeline connects the OPAL(Baltic Sea Pipeline) and NEL (North European Pipeline) in Germany, which connects to the European grid as well.

Significance

• For Russia
  • Gas and oil sales make up over 40% of the nation's budget in Russia, which has the greatest natural gas reserves in the world.
  • Because Nord Stream 2 gives direct access to Germany, its most important European customer, it eliminates the risks associated with transporting gas through transit nations, lowers operational costs by doing away with transit fees.
  • By giving Russia a reliable customer, it increases Europe's reliance on that country.
• For Europe
  • Russia supplies more than 40% of the more than 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas that Europe needs each year.
  • Europe has recently relied more on gas imports due to a decline in local gas output. There are no simple alternatives, making it challenging to decrease dependency on Russian gas.

Impacts

Impact on Europe

• Average gas prices will soar: The expected rise is: about 140 per cent in Spain, about 160 per cent in Germany, nearly 300 per cent in Greece and more than 400 per cent in Latvia.
• Push up electricity Prices: Natural gas is used both as a feedstock for fertilisers and some petrochemicals, and for heating homes and running power generators. The rising price of gas pushes up electricity prices.
• France: Due to maintenance and repairs, half of France's nuclear power capacity is experiencing shutdown, which adds to the continent's already acute energy shortage. However, France has limited consumer power costs at the expense of nationalizing its primary electricity producer and forgoing energy efficiency.
• Germany and Britain: Announced generous energy subsidies that would raise taxes in Germany and borrowings in Britain.
• Depreciating Currency: The British pound has declined by 20% against the dollar, briefly touching parity for the first time.
• Impact on Economy: Higher energy prices are pushing up inflation across the EU, forcing central banks to raise rates.
  • Energy subsidies will force European governments to borrow more from the market at higher costs, pushing up yields.
  • This contributes to the likelihood of a global recession in 2023, forecast by the World Bank.
• Impacting Political Arrangement in Italy & Sweden: More than 100% increase in the price of gas, among other things, was a salient factor in the popular discontent with mainstream parties that has persuaded Italians to vote to power a right-wing coalition.

Impact on Rest of the World

• Effect of high gas prices is not restricted to Europe: As energy prices go up, this benefits the producers of oil, gas, and coal around the world, including Russia and Iran.
  • The United States is a major beneficiary, as a major supplier of LNG and coal to the world.
• Gain for the petro-states of the Middle East: Places that send migrant workers to the Middle East are expected to see a rise in migrant remittances, including Kerala in India, although the skill profile of workers in demand would change.
• Impact on Trade: Rising oil and gas prices and an appreciating dollar translate into higher inflation, pressure on central banks to raise rates, resulting in slower growth. Recession in the US and Europe would hurt exports to these markets from emerging economies such as India and China.
• Spike up Crude Oil Prices: Europe will try to buy up all the available LNG in the spot market, pushing up those prices for all consumers of spot LNG across the world, including in India. Higher crude prices will push up even the price of supplies under contract.

Impact on Environment

• The leak would only affect the environment in the area in which the gas plume in the water column is located, and the escape of the greenhouse gas methane would have a damaging impact on the climate.
• Marine vessels can lose buoyancyif they enter the area and the gas could also ignite in the air over the water.
• But the overall impact is negative for climate change.

Content Source Link:

• https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nord-stream-gas-leaks-russia-ukraine-war-nord-stream-gas-leaks-a-terrorist-attack-by-russia-ukraine-3382869,
• https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/leaks-on-russian-gas-pipelines-raise-concerns-about-sabotage-2005505-2022-09-27,

Image Source Link:

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.sky.com%2Fstory%2Fdamage-to-nord-stream-undersea-pipelines-was-sabotage-top-eu-diplomat-says-and-warns-of-retaliation-12706748&psig=AOvVaw3SJrSr9LR6DcbwmSZVQDFn&ust=1664612988551000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA4QjhxqFwoTCKidz-OMvPoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAT,

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In news

The Global Clean Energy Action Forum-2022 was recently held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States.

About Global Clean Energy Forum-2022

The US, for the first time, hosted Global Clean Energy Action Forum, a joint convening of the 13th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM 13) and the 7th Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-7), from 21st to 23rd September 2022.

Theme

• Rapid Innovation and Deployment is the CEM13/MI-7's theme.
• By working together and adopting common deployment techniques for clean energy technology, we can quicken the pace and scope of innovation.

Goal

• Organize an engaging, motivational, and significant event in 2022 that will highlight how leaders from around the world are implementing their climate commitments.
• Concentrate on taking steps that will lead to a low-cost, emissions-free energy future that offers possibilities for everyone, especially well-paying jobs.
• In order to accomplish climate targets and innovate with a purpose, demonstrate progress in moving along the innovation-to-deployment continuum at an unprecedented pace and scale.

India’s Stand

• In accordance with reports, India has established 5 Bioenergy Centers with interdisciplinary teams working on improved sustainable biofuels employing cutting-edge biotechnology methods.
• India hosted the Mission Innovation Annual Gathering in April 2022, and Netherlands and India served as co-leads in launching the Mission Integrated Biorefineries, which brought together important players to speed up innovation for renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials for a low-carbon future.
• India, one of the founding members of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), will organize CEM-14 in Bengaluru in 2023 in conjunction with its G-20 Presidency.
• India is one of the select few nations in the world that has designed a Cooling Action Plan (CAP) with a long-term vision (covering a 20-year timeframe from 2017–2018 to 2037–2018) that addresses cooling requirements across sectors.
• India has made the bold Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) commitment to reduce emission intensity by 33–35% from 2005 levels by the year 2030.
• The greatest renewable energy (RE) growth program in the world is being implemented in India, with plans to boost the nation's total RE capacity by a factor of five, from 32 GW in 2014 to 175 GW by 2022, and then to 500 GW by 2030.

Content Source Link:

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1861944,
• https://irena.org/events/2022/Sep/IRENA-at-the-Global-Clean-Energy-Action-Forum,
• https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/speech-commissioner-schmit-global-clean-energy-action-forum-event-social-climate-justice-cem-challenging-times-moving-next-level-2022-sep-23_en,
• https://www.livemint.com/news/jitendra-singh-to-invite-re-investments-at-global-clean-energy-action-forum-11663506120122.html,

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• Context: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recently announced that the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 will be accorded to legendary actress Ms Asha Parekh.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is part of the National Film Awards, a highly coveted collection of honours in the film industry. The Award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the pioneering filmmaker who gave India its first film– ‘Raja Harishchandra’, in 1913.

• The award is considered the highest honour in the Indian film fraternity. It is awarded for “its outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
• The award was instituted by the government in 1969, and consists of a ‘Swarna Kamal’, a cash prize of INR 10 lakh, a certificate, a silk roll, and a shawl.
• The award is presented by the President of Indiain the presence of the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, the Chairpersons of the juries, the representatives of the Film Federation of India, and the Confederation of All India Cine Employees among senior officials.
• The first recipient of the award was Devika Rani Roerich in 1969.
• Previous recipients of the awards were Rajnikant (2019) and Amitabh Bachhan (2018).

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/veteran-star-asha-parekh-to-be-conferred-with-dada-saheb-phalke-award/article65941249.ece

Image Source:

• https://www.telugubulletin.com/winners-receive-dadasaheb-phalke-awards-at-home-139932

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• Context: World Rabies Dayis observed every year on 28^th September to raise awareness about the world’s deadliest infectious disease and bring together partners to enhance prevention and control efforts worldwide.
• Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease.
• It is caused by a Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)virus that is present in the saliva of a rabid animal (dog, cat, monkey, etc).

• It is invariably transmittedfollowing a bite of an infected animal that leads to deposition of the saliva and the virus in the wound.
• Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal. The death invariably occurs in four days to two weeksdue to cardio-respiratory failure.
  • In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans.
• It isimportant to remove the virus from the wound as early as possible by immediately washing the wound with water and soap followed by application of antiseptics that reduce/eliminate chances of nerve infection.
• Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical careafter potential exposures before symptoms start.
• Thesymptoms of rabies includes: Fever, Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Anxiety, Confusion, Hyperactivity, Difficulty swallowing, Excessive salivation, Hallucinations, Insomnia
• National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 is the initiative taken by the government to treat Rabies.

Source:

• https://www.news18.com/news/lifestyle/why-is-september-28-celebrated-as-world-rabies-day-theme-history-and-significance-6045793.html

Image source:

• https://www.news18.com/news/lifestyle/why-is-september-28-celebrated-as-world-rabies-day-theme-history-and-significance-6045793.html

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• Context: The DRDO has recently conducted two successful test flight of Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missilefrom a ground based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

• VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’sResearch Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
• The missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS)and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests.
• The missile, meant for neutralizing low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges, is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor.
• The design of the missile including launcher has been highly optimized to ensure easy portability.
• This new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces.

Source:

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1862617

Image source:

• https://mobile.twitter.com/hashtag/VSHORADS?src=hashtag_click

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• Context: The Archaeological Survey of India has recently discovered Buddhist caves and stupas at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
• Recent Findings:

1. Buddhist Caves: 26 Buddhist Caves were discovered dating back to the 2nd and 5th centuries, pertaining to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. The caves and some of their remains had ‘Chaitya’ (rounded) doors and stone beds typical of Mahayana Buddhism sites.
2. Inscriptions in Brahmi text: 24 inscriptions in Brahmi text dating back to the 2^nd-5^thcenturies were found. The inscriptions mention sites such as Mathura and Kaushambi, and Pavata, Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa. The kings they mention include Bhimsena, Pothasiri and Bhattadeva.
3. Remains of Temples: The remains of 26 temples dating to the Kalachuri period between 9^th-11^thcenturies and the possibly world’s largest Varaha sculpture also dating to the same period were found. The Kalachuri dynasty, which spread over parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, is also associated with the earliest Ellora and Elephanta cave monuments.
4. Remains of the Gupta Period: Some remains of the Gupta period, such as door jambs and carvings in caves, have been found.

• The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located on the extreme north eastern border of Madhya Pradesh and the northern edges of the Satpuramountain ranges.

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/asi-finds-temples-buddhist-caves-in-bandhavgarh-tiger-reserve/article65947562.ece

Image source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/asi-finds-temples-buddhist-caves-in-bandhavgarh-tiger-reserve/article65947562.ece

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Essence - The article calls for better and holistic urban planning for Indian cities with the definitive purpose to promote sustainable living, accommodating migrating populations, and being resilient to climate change. Recently Delhi and Bangalore were flooded after heavy rainfall for a few hours and the pattern seems to be common for all major Indian cities.

The article suggests that all Indian cities have a master plan that’s updated every few decades and all construction activities are done with the plan to develop cities in pockets that are built around community centers. This would mean that the traffic can be reduced and people’s needs are met in local areas, to which they can commute easily. The planning should focus on including more green spaces in the city and decongesting roads by minimizing the need to travel long distances for job or other day-to-day facilities.

The article further highlights the lack of town-planning education in the country. More schools and institutes with planning departments need to be created both in order to create awareness and cater to the planning needs of more than 8,000 towns and cities in the country.

Why should you read this Editorial?

• The article rightly underlines the key bottlenecks that are hindering proper urban planning in India.
• To understand the steps that should be taken to improve and create a better urban infrastructure that is climate change resilient, eco-friendly, and have the capabilities to handle rapid urbanization.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-our-urban-spaces-need-to-be-reimagined-8169310/

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Essence - The article highlights that in the light of the upcoming presidency of G20 for India, India needs to push its reinvigorated stand for the Global South. While India traditionally used to be a voice of the Global South and underdeveloped and developing economies, its stance changed during the late 1990s when India started projecting itself as a rising superpower.

The article argues that much of India’s stance during the last decade was influenced by western thoughts. This has however started changing recently in the wake of the rising divide between the east and the west. India on the other hand has resorted to highlighting its needs and clear stance, and while doing so it has been proactive in also emphasizing the case of underdeveloped economies.

While India’s efforts on being the voice of the Global South is a great move, its time that India also uses the G20 presidency to showcase its unique initiatives and soft powers including those on the lines of projecting India as the world’s most desired tourist hotspot – like Incredible India, and God’s own country.

Why should you read this Editorial?

• To understand India’s changing stance as the voice of the Global South.
• To understand the importance and opportunity related to India’s presidency of the G20.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/g-20-presidency-is-an-opportunity-to-position-india-as-the-voice-of-the-global-south-8179114/lite/

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Background

Just war theory is an ethical framework used to determine when it is permissible to go to war, which originated with Catholic moral theologians like Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas.

About the theory

• The just war theory is a largely Christian philosophy that attempts to reconcile three things:
  • Taking human life is seriously wrong
  • States have a duty to defend their citizens, and defend justice
  • Protecting innocent human life and defending important moral values sometimes requires willingness to use force and violence
• The theory only applies to states, and not to individuals.
• The elements of the theory include:
• Jus ad bellum: the conditions under which the use of military force is justified.
  • This tests decision by applying principles related to just cause, right intention, legitimate authority, proportionality.
• Jus in bello: how to conduct a war in an ethical manner.
  • The ethical principles here are related to Discrimination, Proportionality,
• Purpose of the theory include:
  • To provide a guide to the right way for states to act in potential conflict situations.
  • To provide a useful framework for individuals and political groups to use for their discussions of possible wars.
  • Theory is not intended to justify wars but to prevent them, by showing that going to war except in certain limited circumstances is
  • It motivates states to find other ways of resolving conflicts.

Source:

• Just War - introduction
• Ethics Explainer: Just War Theory

Image source:

• https://sites.duke.edu/lawfire/2020/02/25/guest-post-the-just-war-tradition-has-much-wisdom-to-offer-in-this-moment-of-heightened-tension-between-the-united-states-and-iran/

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