1. Namibia
Syllabus: GS 1/Places
Source: Indian Express
Places in News
- Namibia is facing its worst drought in a century, worsened by El Niño.
Status
- Food availability is critically low.
- Staple crops and livestock have perished.
- Approximately 1.2 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity.
- The government plans to cull 723 wild animals (including elephants, hippos, buffaloes, impalas, blue wildebeests, zebras, and elands) to provide meat.
About Namibia
- Location: The Republic of Namibia is situated on the southwestern coast of Africa.
- Borders:
- North: Angola and Zambia.
- South: Republic of South Africa.
- East: Botswana.
- Geographical Areas: The Namibian landscape consists of five geographical areas:
- Central Plateau
- Namib Desert
- Escarpment
- Bushveld
- Kalahari Desert
- Mountains:
- Brandberg (2,573 m)
- Spitzkoppe
- Molteblick
- Gamsberg
- Rivers:
- Orange
- Kunene
- Okavango
- Zambezi
2. Vadhvan Port
Syllabus: GS 3/Economy
Source: The Hindu
In News
- Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Vadhvan Port project in Palghar, Maharashtra.
About the Port
- Development: Proposed by JNPA in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra Maritime Board.
- Project Cost: Estimated around ₹76,000 crore.
- Port Model:
- Developed based on the Landlord Port model.
- In this model, private players manage operational aspects, while the port authority acts as a regulator and landlord.
- Capacity: Expected to be among the top 10 ports globally, with a handling capacity of 23.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
- Functionality:
- Designed to handle large container vessels.
- Offers deeper drafts.
- Can accommodate ultra-large cargo ships.
Significance
- Connectivity:
- The port will provide direct connectivity to international shipping routes like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
- Economic Impact:
- Expected to generate significant employment opportunities.
- Will stimulate local businesses and contribute to the overall economic development of the region.
3. India Post Payments Bank
Syllabus: GS 3/Economy; Financial Inclusion
Source: Press Information Bureau
Context
- India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has established many new dimensions in its journey of 6 years, promoting the initiative ‘Aapka Bank, Aapke Dwar’.
About the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)
- Establishment: Undertaking of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication & Technology, launched nationwide in 2018.
- Mission: To promote financial inclusion and contribute to Digital India, playing a vital role in rural areas.
Empowering the Last Mile
- Target Audience: Focus on financially excluded and vulnerable sections of society.
- Services Offered:
- Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks act as mobile banks, delivering services such as:
- Aadhaar enrollment for children up to 5 years old.
- Mobile updates through CELC service.
- Digital life certificates.
- Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT).
- Aadhaar-enabled payment system.
- Bill payments.
- Insurance services (vehicle, health, accident, and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana).
- Online deposits in Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, RD, PPF, and Postal Life Insurance.
- Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks act as mobile banks, delivering services such as:
Women Empowerment
- Impact: 44% of IPPB customers are women, highlighting its crucial role in empowering women through financial services.
4. EU’s 2030 Emission Targets
Syllabus: GS 3/Climate Change; Conservation; International Treaty
Source: Various
Context
- Non-profit groups in Europe have taken legal action against the European Commission, arguing that the European Union’s (EU) 2030 emission targets fall short of the ambitious goals set by the Paris Agreement.
About the Paris Agreement (2015)
- Adoption: During the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, 2015.
- Parties Involved: 196 Parties working to address global warming challenges.
Temperature Goals
- Main Goal: Limit the global average temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
- Ambitious Target: Efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Importance of the 1.5°C Target
- Scientific Evidence: IPCC suggests that crossing the 1.5°C threshold could lead to severe climate impacts like frequent and intense droughts, heatwaves, and extreme rainfall events.
Emission Reductions
- Commitment: Countries commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
- Targets: Emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline by 43% by 2030 to stay on track for the 1.5°C target.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
- Role: Each country communicates its climate action plan through its NDC.
- Content: NDCs outline both mitigation (emission reduction) and adaptation measures.
- Ambition: Countries are encouraged to progressively enhance their NDCs over time.
Long-Term Strategies
- Invitation: The Paris Agreement invites countries to formulate and submit long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS).
- Purpose: LT-LEDS provide a vision for future development and align with NDCs.
Global Cooperation and Support
- Framework: The Agreement establishes a framework for financial, technical, and capacity-building support to countries.
- Pledge: Developed nations pledge to assist developing countries in their climate efforts.
Five-Year Review Cycle
- Process: The Paris Agreement operates on a five-year cycle.
- NDC Update: Countries periodically update their NDCs, aiming for increased ambition with each iteration.
Challenges Faced by the EU
- Inadequate Targets: CAN-Europe and GLAN argue that the EU’s emission reduction goals are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C objective.
- Legal Scrutiny: First time EU courts will scrutinize the adequacy of the bloc’s climate targets.
- Science-Based Approach:
- The European Court of Human Rights emphasized that states must adopt science-based emissions targets consistent with the 1.5°C goal.
- The EU’s 2030 targets were not derived from the best available climate science.
- Request for Internal Review:
- In August 2023, GLAN and CAN-Europe submitted a Request for Internal Review (RIR) regarding the Annual Emissions Allocations (AEA) set by the European Commission for individual member states.
- The Commission denied the request, leading to the legal case filed on February 27, 2024.