UN Science report about Climate change, Operation Barkhane, India removed from Currency Monitoring list

UN science report about climate change

At the COP27 conference in Egypt, delegates have at their disposal decades of research into warming trajectories published by the UN climate science agency to inform their decisions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produces reports roughly every five years that represent a global scientific consensus on climate change, its causes and its impact. Last year’s report tackled the main drivers of global warming and the core elements of climate science.

Some of the takeaways from those reports:

1. Last year’s report on the physical basis for climate change unequivocally blamed humans for rising temperatures.
2. It also said climate change was dangerously close to spinning out of control.
3. Previously rare weather extremes are becoming more common, and some regions are more vulnerable than others.
4. For the first time, the report’s authors called for urgent action to curb methane. Until now, the IPCC had focused on carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas.
5. With time running out to prevent runaway climate change, the authors said it was worth looking into the benefits and drawbacks of geoengineering, or large-scale interventions, such as injecting particles into the atmosphere to block out solar radiation.
6. The report said the world’s nations, including the wealthiest, needed to start preparing for climate impacts and adapting to a warmer world.

‘Now or never’, individual action matters

1. It’s “now or never,” one report co-chair said in releasing findings that show that only drastic emissions cuts in the next few decades would prevent warming from spiralling out of control.
2. The report explored how various emissions scenarios would translate into future temperature rises.
3. Cities are a big part of the emissions problem, it said, but also a source of hope and positive solutions.
4. The energy transition to renewable sources and clean-burning fuels is moving too slowly.
5. The report went beyond focusing on fossil fuels and manufacturing to urge strong climate action in agriculture, where farming methods and better forest protection could curb emissions.

Operation Barkhane

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of the decade-long Operation Barkhane in Africa. Mr. Macron said that, “Our military support for African countries will continue, but according to new principles that we have defined with them.”

Operation Barkhane:

• Operation Barkhane is an anti-insurgent operation started on August 1, 2014 and ended on 9th November 2022 and was led by the French military against Islamist groups in Africa’s Sahel region.
• Operation Barkhane could be traced back to Operation Serval which began in 2013 targeting Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda who took control of northern Mali.
• This mission which was successful was expanded in 2014 to encompass the entire Sahel region in 2014.
• The operation was permanently headquartered in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad.
• The operation was led in co-operation with five countries, all of which are former French colonies that span the Sahel: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali Mauritania and Niger.
• These countries are collectively referred to as the “G5 Sahel”.
• Mali withdrew from the operation on August 2022.

G5 Sahel:

• The Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) was founded in 2014 as a regional, intergovernmental organization.
• It provides an institutional framework to promote development and security within its five the Sahel region.
• It was formed on 16 February 2014 in Nouakchott, Mauritania, at a summit of five Sahel countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
• As part of its security mandate, the G5 Sahel created the Joint Task Force in 2017 to strengthen the fight against threats to peace and security and bolster development.
• Its main objectives are to collect, process, exploit and share relevant criminal information among a diverse range of actors in a complex environment.

Sahel Region:

• The Sahel acts as a transition realm between Sahara in the north and Sudanian savanna to the south.
• There are frequent shortages of food and water due to the dry harsh climate.
• This is exacerbated by the population increasing rapidly due to very high birthrates across the region.

The Sahel part of Africa from west to east:

• The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

India removed from Currency Monitoring List

India is among the few countries removed from the United States’ Currency Monitoring List, released by the Department of Treasury. In its biannual report to Congress, the US’ Treasury Department announced that it had also removed Italy, Mexico, Vietnam and Thailand from the list. The ninth India-US economic and financial partnership meeting came just ahead of India assuming the G20 Presidency.

What is the US’ Currency Monitoring List?

1. The US Department of Treasury on 10 November 2022 delivered its semiannual Report to Congress on ‘Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States’.
2. The report reviews the policies of the US’ trading partners during the last four quarters ending in June 2022.
3. The report also includes a review of the Treasury’s ‘Monitoring List’. As its name suggests, the list closely monitors the currency practices and policies of some of the US’ major trade partners.
4. The report states that economies that meet two or three criteria in the 2015 Act are placed on the list.
5. India and four other countries were removed from the Monitoring List as they now only met one of the three criteria for two consecutive reports. India has been on the list for about two years.

The US’ trading partners for three specific criteria:

1. A significant bilateral trade surplus with the United States is a goods and services trade surplus that is at least $15 billion
2. A material current account surplus is one that is at least 3% of GDP, or a surplus for which Treasury estimates there is a material current account “gap” using Treasury’s Global Exchange Rate Assessment Framework (GERAF).
3. Persistent, one-sided intervention occurs when net purchases of foreign currency are conducted repeatedly, in at least 8 out of 12 months, and these net purchases total at least 2% of an economy’s GDP over a 12-month period.

Which countries are on the US’ currency monitoring list?

1. China
2. Japan
3. Korea
4. Germany
5. Malaysia
6. Singapore
7. Taiwan

India’s GM crop revolution and the controversy over GM mustard

As soon as the government took the decision to release India’s first genetically-modified (GM) food crop Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11) for “environment release”, some activists approached the Supreme Court to ban it for various reasons. The Supreme Court has ordered the status quo to be maintained till the next hearing on the matter on November 17.

What are Genetically modified organisms (GMO)?

• Changes in genetic material: GMOs can be defined as organisms (i.e., plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination
• Transfers of genes: It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between nonrelated species.
• GM foods: Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods

What is the ironic case of opposition to the GM crops?

• Opposition to GM is not new: The opposition to GM food crops is not new. There has been a global campaign in this regard by many activists. GM crops have spread around the world since 1996.
• of countries accepted the use of GM crops: More than 70 countries have accepted the use of GM crops. For instance, by 2019, roughly 190 million hectares were under GM crops, led by corn and soyabean in the US, Brazil, Argentina, and canola (rapeseed/mustard) in Canada, even Bangladesh has marched ahead with Bt brinjal.
• No concrete evidence of harmful impact: There is ample evidence in support of that with no harmful impact on human or animal health or the environment per se.

India’s journey towards GM crops, specifically “Bt cotton”

• First GM crop released under Vajpayee government with the slogan of Jai Vigyan:
• Atal Bihar Vajpayee envisioned that science could transform agriculture
• India had its first GM crop, Bt cotton, released in 2002 by the Vajpayee government. He extended the original slogan of “jai jawan, jai kisan” (salutation to the soldier and the farmer), given by Lal Bahadur Shastri, to include “jai vigyan” (salutation to science).

The case of Historic success of Bt cotton:

1. Cotton production Increased: With the Bt cotton, Cotton production increased remarkably from a mere 13.6 million bales (1 bale = 170 kg) in 2002-03 to 39.8 million bales in 2013-14. Registered an increase of 192 per cent in just 12 years, ushering the famous “gene revolution”.
2. Area under Cotton cultivation expanded: The area under cotton cultivation expanded by 56 per cent, of which about 95 per cent is under Bt cotton.
3. Cotton productivity per hectare increased significantly: Cotton productivity increased from 302 kg per hectare in 2002-03 to 566 kg per hectare in 2013-14, an increase of 76 per cent,
4. More productivity more income to farmers lead to increase in agri- GDP: The gains to cotton farmers whose incomes increased significantly. For instance, Bt cotton led Gujarat’s “agrarian miracle” of very high (above 8 per cent) annual growth rate in agri-GDP during 2002-03 to 2013-14.
5. Revived the glory to The Indian cotton in the world market: It made India the second-largest producer after China, and the second-largest exporter after the US, of cotton in the world today.

What are the concerns associated with the cultivation of GM crops?

• Emergence of Increased pest resistance: Enhanced sucking pest damage in Bt cotton; increase in secondary pests such as mired bugs and Spodoptera; and the emergence of pest resistance.
• Impact on environment of human health: Environmental and health implications in terms of toxicity and allergenicity that can cause hematotoxin reactions in the human body.
• Fear of increased mono cropping: Farmers’ exposure to a greater risk of monopoly in the seed business.

What is the controversy and debate associated with GM Mustard?

• Debate on advantages and impacts: There is a raging debate going on advantages and disadvantages of GMOs. For a long time, further study was requested by farmers, environmentalist on GMO crops.
• Denial goes against the principle of basic rights of farmers: By not allowing GM mustard or for that matter even Bt brinjal for so long, one is denying the basic rights of farmers who want to increase their incomes.
• Allow with the sustainable practice with the use of science and technology: The best way to do so is by raising productivity in a sustainable manner. The field trials of GM mustard at different locations showed 25-28 per cent higher yield and better disease resistance compared to indigenous varieties. This can go a long way in augmenting domestic mustard oil supplies and farmers’ incomes.
• Unnecessary debate after the approval by the scientific body: Dissent is a good sign in any democratic society and forms an essential part of checks and balances. But once the safety tests are done and the scientific body (GEAC) has given the green signal, what is needed is political leadership to keep the decision-making science-based.

Why GM Mustard is important for India?

• India’s heavy dependence on Imported edible oils: India heavily depends on imported edible oils (55-60 per cent of India’s domestic requirement is imported). A large portion of this about three-four million tonnes every year comes from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the US, etc, which is all from GM technology (in soybean and canola).
• Import and GM crops are already in our food chain: We eat plenty of our own cotton seed (binola) oil, and about 95 per cent of our cotton is now GM. Cotton seed is also fed to cattle which gives the milk its fat content. Even poultry feed, such as soya and corn, is being imported. So, one thing is clear GM food is already in our food chain, and has been there for quite some time.
• A chance to emerge as a major export hub: It was expected that India would be at the forefront of the gene revolution and emerge as a major export hub to other Asian and African countries. What the IT revolution has done in computer science, the Bt revolution could have done in agriculture.

Conclusion

• The agriculture of tomorrow is going to be science-based, and the winners will be those who adopt it and develop it further today. Innovation is the name of the game, and “Jai Anusandhan” is a good slogan given by PM Modi. But it will have meaning only when the government goes ahead with not just GM mustard but also fast-tracks Ht Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and even GM soya and corn.

Supreme Court Collegium

The Supreme Court has lambasted the Centre for withholding names recommended or reiterated by the collegium for judicial appointments, even saying that the government is using silence and inaction as “some sort of a device” to force worthy candidates and prominent lawyers to withdraw their consent.

Why in news?

• The Union Law Minister since few months has launched a relentless attack on the collegium system for lack of transparency.

What exactly is the Collegium System?

• The collegium system was born out of years of friction between the judiciary and the executive.
• The hostility was further accentuated by instances of court-packing (the practice of changing the composition of judges in a court), mass transfer of HC judges and two supersessions to the office of the CJI in the 1970s.
• The Three Judges cases saw the evolution of the collegium system.

Evolution: The Judges Cases

• First Judges Case (1981) ruled that the “consultation” with the CJI in the matter of appointments must be full and effective.
• However, it rejected the idea that the CJI’s opinion, albeit carrying great weight, should have primacy.
• Second Judges Case (1993) introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant “concurrence”.
• It added that it was not the CJI’s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in consultation with the two senior-most judges in the Supreme Court.
• Third Judges Case (1998): On a Presidential Reference for its opinion, the Supreme Court, in the Third Judges Case (1998) expanded the Collegium to a five-member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.

How does the collegium system work?

• The collegium of the CJI and four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court make recommendations for appointments to the apex court and High Courts.
• The collegium can veto the government if the names are sent back by the latter for reconsideration.
• The basic tenet behind the collegium system is that the judiciary should have primacy over the government in matters of appointments and transfers in order to remain independent.

The procedure followed by the Collegium

Appointment of CJI

• The President of India appoints the CJI and the other SC judges.
• As far as the CJI is concerned, the outgoing CJI recommends his successor.
• In practice, it has been strictly by seniority ever since the supersession controversy of the 1970s.
• The Union Law Minister forwards the recommendation to the PM who, in turn, advises the President.

Other SC Judges

• For other judges of the top court, the proposal is initiated by the CJI.
• The CJI consults the rest of the Collegium members, as well as the senior-most judge of the court hailing from the High Court to which the recommended person belongs.
• The consultees must record their opinions in writing and it should form part of the file.
• The Collegium sends the recommendation to the Law Minister, who forwards it to the Prime Minister to advise the President.

For High Courts

• The CJs of High Courts are appointed as per the policy of having Chief Justices from outside the respective States. The Collegium takes the call on the elevation.
• High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most judges.
• The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in consultation with two senior-most colleagues.
• The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister.

Does the Collegium recommend transfers too?

• Yes, the Collegium also recommends the transfer of Chief Justices and other judges.
• Article 222 of the Constitution provides for the transfer of a judge from one High Court to another.
• When a CJ is transferred, a replacement must also be simultaneously found for the High Court concerned. There can be an acting CJ in a High Court for not more than a month.
• In matters of transfers, the opinion of the CJI “is determinative”, and the consent of the judge concerned is not required.
• However, the CJI should take into account the views of the CJ of the High Court concerned and the views of one or more SC judges who are in a position to do so.
• All transfers must be made in the public interest, that is, “for the betterment of the administration of justice”.

Loopholes in the Collegium system

• Lack of Transparency: Opaqueness and a lack of transparency, and the scope for nepotism are cited often.
• Judges appointing Judge: The attempt made to replace it with a ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission was struck down by the court in 2015 on the ground that it posed a threat to the independence of the judiciary.
• Criteria: Some do not believe in full disclosure of reasons for transfers, as it may make lawyers in the destination court chary of the transferred judge. It has even been accused of nepotism.

Way ahead

• In respect of appointments, there has been an acknowledgment that the “zone of consideration” must be expanded to avoid criticism that many appointees hail from families of retired judges.
• The status of a proposed new memorandum of procedure, to infuse greater accountability, is also unclear.
• Even the majority of opinions admitted the need for transparency, now Collegiums’ resolutions are now posted online, but reasons are not given.