Current Affairs 16 October 2024

CONTENTS

1. India Aligns with Global Biodiversity Goals
2. The Critical Role of the Haber-Bosch Process in Global Agriculture
3. Nobel Prize in Economics 2024
4. Mount Adams
5. THAAD Missile System
6. Brahmi Inscription

 India Aligns with Global Biodiversity Goals

Context:

India said it plans to present its National Biodiversity Targets before the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) following the guidelines from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The submissions will be done at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the CBD (CBD-COP 16) in Cali, Colombia with 23 specific biodiversity targets to be presented by the country. 

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is India Biodiversity Target Under CBD?
2. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
3. How can India reach the New Biodiversity Targets?

What is India Biodiversity Target Under CBD?

• Sets a goal that at least 30% of the areas shall have excellent capacity to conserve biodiversity.
• Halting the introduction and spread of invasive alien species shall have 50% reduction.
• Power to indigenous peoples, local communities, women, and the youth is equal in taking part in activities aimed at conserving biodiversity.
• Supports consumption patterns that are sustainable, as well as reducing international and national food losses by half.
• Ensuring that benefits related to genetic resources, digital sequence information, and associated traditional knowledge are fairly and equitably shared.
• Addressing pollution, thereby reducing nutrient loss and pesticide risk to half
• All areas must be managed to support the reduction in regions of high biodiversity importance loss.

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)

The Kunming-Montreal GBF was adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.

Objectives:

• Aims to support the achievement of sustainable development goals and build on previous strategic plans.
• Sets a bold path towards global harmony with nature by 2050.

Implementation:

• All parties commit to setting national targets to implement the GBF.
• Consists of 23 targets (set for 2030) and four global goals (set for 2050) to preserve biodiversity for current and future generations.

Content:

• Targets address reducing threats to biodiversity.
• Emphasizes meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing.
• IProvides tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.

Legal Status:

• Non-binding: The GBF is not an international treaty and is therefore not legally binding on Parties.
• No Mandatory System: It also doesn’t require a mandatory system that forces parties to step up their efforts at a specific time.

Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF:

• Objective:
  • 30% Conservation: Ensure that at least 30% of the world’s land, waters, and seas are conserved by 2030.
• Current Status:
  • Protected Areas: At present, protected areas (PAs) cover about 16%.
• Nickname:
  • 30 by 30: This target is also known as the “30 by 30” target.

Controversies:

• Impact on Indigenous Communities:
  • Southeast Asia Examples: In Indonesia’s Ujungkulon National Park and Cambodia’s Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary, indigenous people lack basic rights and face unfair convictions.
• Private Sector Involvement:
  • India’s Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023: Includes zoos, safaris, and ecotourism facilities as forest activities, which some analysts view as detrimental to conservation efforts and indigenous rights.
• Historical Context:
  • Colonial Origins: Protected areas were initially created for leisure and hunting by colonial elites.
  • Modern Issues: Today, ecotourism projects often treat indigenous people as exhibits, showcasing their traditional culture in staged settings.

Implications of Kunming-Montreal GBF for India:

Concerns:

Impact on Indigenous Communities:

• National Parks: About 84% of India’s national parks (89 out of 106) are located in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples. Meeting GBF targets could threaten their existence and way of life.
• Specific Cases: Initiatives like upgrading the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary to a tiger reserve, expanding the Nauradehi Sanctuary, and the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary have raised concerns about displacement of tribal villages.

Legal Issues:

• Gazette Notifications: The Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary gazette notification suggests no rights or concessions for people in the area, despite evidence of indigenous communities residing there since 1914.

How can India reach the New Biodiversity Targets?

• India must pay attention to neglected ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands, and seagrass meadows.
• Linkages in larger landscapes and seascapes can further species movement and biodiversity.
• India has to continue to lobby for support from the developed world in order to fully enact its national biodiversity plans.
• The GBF encourages developed countries to raise at least USD 20 billion per annum by 2025 and USD 30 billion by 2030 to finance biodiversity action programs in developing countries
• Improved and concurrent support of community livelihoods can be achieved through the effective protection of protected areas through the inclusion of indigenous peoples and local communities’ co-management of the conservation process.
• Focus will be placed from traditional protected areas on other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) such that biodiversity conservation in less-restricted sectors of human activity is facilitated.
• It includes aiding traditional agricultural systems and privately owned lands as part of the conservation results.
• The incentives have to shift in India from the detrimental activities such as pesticide application towards healthy alternatives so as to foster ecosystem.
• It is going to give a coherent strategy in conserving the country based on the existing National Biodiversity Action Plan NBAP, alongside the new 23 targets of the GBF.

-Source: Hindustan Times

The Critical Role of the Haber-Bosch Process in Global Agriculture

Context:

Annually, the Haber-Bosch process extracts hundreds of millions of tonnes of nitrogen from the atmosphere to produce fertilizer, contributing 165 million tonnes of reactive nitrogen to the soil. This industrial method vastly surpasses the amount of reactive nitrogen naturally replenished by biological processes, estimated between 100 and 140 million tonnes each year. The synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen through this process is essential, as it provides a crucial mechanism to support the increasing global food demand, which could not be met by natural processes alone.

Relevance:

GS III: Agriculture

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is the nitrogen molecule?
2. How is nitrogen availed in nature?
3. What is the nitrogen cycle?
4. How is ammonia made?
5. Haber-Bosch Process
6. Downsides of Fertilizers

What is the nitrogen molecule?

• Nitrates are molecules of oxygen and nitrogen, abundant in the earth’s atmosphere. Nearly eight metric tonnes of nitrogen lie on every square metre of the earth’s surface, yet it can’t feed a single blade of grass.
• Nitrogen in the air is mostly in the form of N2. When two nitrogen atoms join together, they share three pairs of electrons to form a triple bond, rendering the molecule nearly unbreakable.
• The energy required to break the nitrogen triple bond is so high (946 kJ/mol) that molecular nitrogen is nearly inert.
• But if the bond is broken, atomic nitrogen can form ionic nitrides such as ammonia (NH3), ammonium (NH4+), or nitrates (NO3–).
• Plants need these types of nitrogen, called reactive nitrogen, to synthesise enzymes, proteins, and amino acids. Healthy plants often contain 3-4% nitrogen in their above-ground tissues, significantly more than other nutrients.

How is nitrogen availed in nature?

• Among natural things, only lightning has enough energy to destroy the N2 triple bond.
• In a lightning bolt, nitrogen in the air combines with oxygen to generate nitrogen oxides such as NO and NO2. They can then combine with water vapour to create nitric and nitrous acids (HNO3 and HNO2, respectively).
• Reactive nitrogen-rich droplets fertilize farmlands, woods, and grasslands when it rains. This pathway is estimated to replenish soil by around 10 kg of nitrogen per acre per year.
• Apart from lightning, a gentle metabolic process carried out by Azotobacter bacteria can also create reactive nitrogen.
• Some microorganisms such as Rhizobia have developed symbiotic relationships with legume plants (clover, peas, beans, alfalfa, and acacia) to provide reactive nitrogen in exchange for nutrition.
• Azolla, a species of aquatic fern with a symbiotic association with the cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae, can absorb and convert nitrogen from the air to reactive nitrogen, so dried and decaying Azolla is an effective fertilizer for farmland.

What is the nitrogen cycle?

• Plants usually get their reactive nitrogen from the soil, where they absorb minerals dissolved in water such as ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-).
• Humans and animals need nine pre-made nitrogen-rich amino acids from plants. Nitrogen makes up approximately 2.6% of the human body.
• The nitrogen ingested by plants and animals returns to the soil through excreta and the decomposition of dead bodies. But the cycle is incomplete: some nitrogen is released back into the environment in molecular form. Nitrogen from human waste is also rarely returned to the fields.
• Although legumes can produce nitrogen independently, important food crops such as rice, wheat, corn, and potatoes and less well-known crops like cassava, bananas, and common fruits and vegetables draw nitrogen from the soil.
• As the human population multiplies, nitrogen in agricultural soil depletes faster, needing fertilizers to compensate.
• Farmers understood this early. They cultivated legumes or fertilized their crops with ammonia to increase output where possible.
• They also used ammonium-bearing minerals from volcanic eruptions and naturally occurring nitrates found in caves, walls, and rocks as fertilizer.

How is ammonia made?

• Ammonia (NH4) is made of nitrogen and hydrogen, both of which exist naturally as two-atom molecules. Under extreme heat, the molecules separate and form a compound, but it is short-lived because of the heat.
• The reversible reaction N2 + 3H2 = 2NH3 (the ‘=’ sign has been used here as a stand-in for bidirectional arrows) must be maintained in specific conditions to harvest considerable amounts of ammonia.
• The German chemist Fritz Haber heated the N2-H2 combination to various temperatures in a platinum cylinder and calculated the amount of ammonia created.
• He also used hot ammonia to decompose into nitrogen and hydrogen, attempting to approach the equilibrium point from the opposite direction.
• At 1,000 degrees Celsius, Haber found that harvestable ammonia made up just one-hundredth of 1% of the mixture — too little for commercial production.
• Then Haber wondered if pressure could be the answer. He calculated that hydrogen and nitrogen would only remain united in extreme conditions: temperatures of 200 degrees Celsius and pressures of 200 atm (that is, 200-times the average air pressure at sea level).
• But the ammonia production rate was still too slow, so Haber set about looking for a catalyst. He also realised that if he could cool the ammonia to a liquid state, he could collect most of it.

Haber-Bosch Process

The Haber-Bosch process is a critical chemical method developed in the early 20th century, pivotal in synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases under high pressures and temperatures. This process revolutionized agricultural practices by providing a steady production method for ammonia-based fertilizers, which are essential for modern agriculture.

Key Components and Development

• Initiation and Key Contributors: The process was primarily developed by Fritz Haber with significant contributions from his assistant Robert Le Rossignol, who engineered the necessary high-pressure seals, and Friedrich Kirchenbauer, who constructed the apparatus. Their teamwork laid the foundational work for Haber’s method, which he acknowledged during his Nobel Prize acceptance, sharing the honor and financial rewards with his team.
• Chemical Process: At its core, the Haber-Bosch process involves combining nitrogen (N2) from the air with hydrogen (H2) derived typically from natural gas into ammonia (NH3) under high pressures (around 200 atmospheres) and temperatures (450-500°C). This reaction occurs in the presence of a catalyst, which initially was osmium, as discovered by Haber, but due to its rarity and cost, was later replaced by a more economical iron-based catalyst developed by BASF’s Alwin Mittasch.
• Industrial Scale and Impact: Carl Bosch, an engineer at BASF, was instrumental in scaling up Haber’s laboratory setup to an industrial process. This scale-up involved significant engineering challenges, particularly in designing equipment that could handle the extreme conditions of the ammonia synthesis reaction. The successful industrialization of the process led to the opening of the world’s first large-scale ammonia production plant by BASF in 1913.

Significance and Legacy

The Haber-Bosch process has had a profound impact on the global population and food production. By providing an abundant source of nitrogen fertilizers, it has significantly boosted agricultural yield and thus supported a growing global population. However, the process is also energy-intensive, relying heavily on fossil fuels, which raises environmental concerns in terms of carbon emissions and sustainability.

Cons of Fertilizers

Even though the Haber-Bosch process had amplified the total food production in this earth immensely by offering an avenue for producing synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, it has brought forth severe environmental and social problems arising from the consumption of these fertilizers.

Environmental Effects

• Eutrophication: Nitrous compounds from excessive fertilizer applications can find their way into bodies of water; these eutrophication leads to over-enrichment of the water plants and algae with plenty of nutrients, then consume oxygen in the water, thus killing all aquatic animals, and eventually destroys natural ecosystems.
• Acid Rain: Oxides of nitrogen from fertilizer usage can become atmospheric in form and contribute toward acid rain. Acid rain is harmful to water environment, forests as well as soil and causes corrosion of natural as well as man-made structures.
• Biodiversity Loss: It leads to the imbalance of nutrients in soils as a result of high levels of nitrogen. This consequently enhances the growth of some species over others, thus minimizing biodiversity. This also minimizes ecosystem resilience to pests and diseases.

Social and Economic Concerns

• Increasing inequality in food distribution: Just because the world produces an adequate supply does not reduce hunger worldwide. Increased food production would only mean whatever increase remains is handed out to which particular region of starvation and malnutrition despite increased distribution, access, or equity in food.
• Dependence on Fertilizers Over time, dependence on synthetic fertilizers can cause the soil to degrade. As the health of the soil declines, more fertilizer applications are required, creating a cycle of dependence that may eventually be economically difficult to control for small-scale farmers.

-Source: The Hindu

Nobel Prize in Economics 2024

Context:

To the three American economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson was awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2024 “for their analysis of the subjects of economic and political inequality through insights from development economics, contract theory and mechanisms”. Their study responds to a long-standing question: Why do some countries become rich and others stay poor? Focusing on the role of societal institutions in prosperity in economies, their work is an extensively deep study into how behavioral frameworks within countries lead to great disparities in wealth in understanding structural differences which give meaning to the different aspect of the global economic landscape.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Contributions of the 2024 Nobel Prize Laureates in Economics
2. Historical Events Shaping Institutions and Economies
3. Current Trends of the Democracies Around the World and Need for Reform
4. Why the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics is Important

Contributions of the 2024 Nobel Prize Laureates in Economics

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics highlighted the critical distinction between two types of institutional frameworks and their profound impact on economic development and individual prosperity. Below is an overview of the key contributions made by the laureates:

Classifying Institutions

• Inclusive Institutions:
  • Characteristics: These institutions are marked by democratic governance, strong rule of law, and the protection of property rights.
  • Impact: Such environments enable individuals to feel secure in their investments and social contributions. This security fosters a stable economic environment conducive to growth and innovation.
• Extractive Institutions:
  • Characteristics: These systems centralize power among a few, often under autocratic governance without robust legal protections.
  • Impact: In these environments, individuals face high risks such as the potential confiscation of assets. This risk hampers their motivation for long-term investments and discourages innovation.

Significance of the Classification

• Economic Incentives and Growth:
  • In countries governed by inclusive institutions, there is a natural tendency among the population to invest in their futures, which stimulates widespread economic growth and innovation.
  • Conversely, extractive systems tend to stifle economic potential and innovation, as the lack of security and personal opportunity can lead to economic stagnation or decline.

Historical Events Shaping Institutions and Economies:

• The Nobel laureates studied the impacts of certain historical events, such as European colonisation, on contemporary economic outcomes. The laureates argued that those political and economic systems created by the colonizers become lifetime obstacles to making the nations prosperous.
• The authors discovered that, in line with their hypothesis, the kinds of institutions colonisers established were highly correlated with the mortality rates they faced in different regions.
• Areas in which colonisers experienced high mortality-death from disease or conflict-encouraged the installation of more extractive institutions, such as taking resources as directly as possible.
• Whereas in other regions where colonizers can settle securely, more open institutions have been more likely to gain ground, hence to the benefit of both the colonizers and the native population.

Comparative Case Studies of India and China

Case studies of India and China:

• Divergent pathways – How political systems are linked with economic performance
• Economic history and institutions of India and China trace a complex, intertwined relationship between institutions and prosperity.
• India, with a democratic framework of relatively slow economic growth compared to China, which has done well in an authoritarian regime, was developed by inclusive institutions.

The prospects for the future:

• Despite this, others argue that India will still be able to realize its economic potential in the next decades because their institutions continue strengthening.
• For instance, the lack of inclusive frameworks going to undo the prosperity of growth in China’s future; this is one sign that may actually change the dynamics within the world economy.

Current Trends of the Democracies Around the World and Need for Reform

• There is a general trend of a loss of health of democracies, which can devastate governance that benefits a wide range of people.
• While weak institutions and growing support for authoritarianism are concerns around the world, this is indeed the disturbing trend.
• ○ Secure or inclusive governance, accountability, and broad-based participation would help advance economic growth and social stability.
• For all these reasons, inclusive institutions are not given enough importance.

Why the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics is Important:

• The debate on how institutions relate to economic development is still as current for policymakers and scholars.
• Lessons from this research will be very instrumental in equalization efforts and, thus pave the way for sustainable future growth.

-Source: Indian Express

Mount Adams

Context:

Mount Adams, Washington’s largest volcano, has recently shown a surge in seismic activity after remaining largely dormant for thousands of years.

Relevance:

GS I: Geography

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Mount Adams
2. Stratovolcano
3. About the Ring of Fire

About Mount Adams:

• Mount Adams is a stratovolcano in the state of Washington, United States. Mount Adams is a giant active volcano in the State of Washington. Standing at 12,277 feet (3,742 meters) in elevation, it has a diameter of 18 miles (29 kilometers). It is bigger in volume than Rainier, which stands as the highest peak in the state.
• Mount Adams is situated in the Mount Adams volcanic field, a 1,250 sq. km area which has at least 120, mainly basaltic volcanoes that are composed of spatter and scoria cones, shield volcanoes, and some large lava flows.
• There are over 10 active glaciers covering Mount Adams that provide water to the forests, streams, and meadows below.
• The last eruption at the site occurred between 3,800 and 7,600 years ago when mankind was still living in the Stone Age.

Stratovolcano

• A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra.
• Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and periodic intervals of explosive eruptions and effusive eruptions, although some have collapsed summit craters called calderas.
• The lava flowing from stratovolcanoes typically cools and hardens before spreading far, due to high viscosity.
• The magma forming this lava is often felsic, having high-to-intermediate levels of silica (as in rhyolite, dacite, or andesite), with lesser amounts of less-viscous mafic magma.
• Stratovolcanoes are sometimes called “composite volcanoes” because of their composite stratified structure built up from sequential outpourings of erupted materials.
• They are among the most common types of volcanoes, in contrast to the less common shield volcanoes.
• Two famous examples of stratovolcanoes are Krakatoa in Indonesia, known for its catastrophic eruption in 1883, and Vesuvius in Italy, whose catastrophic eruption in AD 79 buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
• In modern times, Mount St. Helens in Washington State, USA and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines have erupted catastrophically, but with fewer deaths.

About the Ring of Fire

• Many volcanoes in the Ring of Fire were created through a process of subduction. And most of the planet’s subduction zones happen to be located in the Ring of Fire
• It is a string of at least 450 active and dormant volcanoes that form a semi-circle, or horse shoe, around the Philippine Sea plate, the Pacific Plate, Juan de Fuca and Cocos plates, and the Nazca Plate.
• There is a lot of seismic activity in the area.
• 90 per cent of all earthquakes strike within the Ring of Fire

Why are there so many volcanoes in the Ring of Fire?

• The tectonic plates move non-stop over a layer of partly solid and partly molten rock which is called the Earth’s mantle.
• When the plates collide or move apart, for instance, the Earth moves, literally.
• Mountains, like the Andes in South America and the Rockies in North America, as well as volcanoes have formed through the collision of tectonic plates.
• Many volcanoes in the Ring of Fire were created through a process of subduction. And most of the planet’s subduction zones happen to be located in the Ring of Fire

-Source: Indian Express

THAAD Missile System

Context:

In response to Israel intensifying its military operations against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, the United States has announced plans to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel. This deployment is aimed at bolstering Israel’s defensive capabilities against potential aerial threats during the ongoing conflict.

Relevance:

GS III: Defence

THAAD Missile System

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a sophisticated missile defense technology developed by the United States. It’s designed to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase of flight. Here’s a detailed look at its key features and development:

Key Features of THAAD

• Hit to Kill Approach: THAAD uses a direct impact or “hit to kill” approach to intercept incoming missiles. This method focuses on colliding with the target directly, using kinetic energy to eliminate the threat of nuclear warheads without detonating them, which minimizes the risk of radioactive fallout.
• Kinetic Energy Destruction: The system utilizes the kinetic energy from the impact with the target to destroy incoming warheads effectively, ensuring the destruction of the missile’s warhead without the use of explosives.
• Target Range: THAAD is capable of engaging enemy targets at distances between 150 to 200 kilometers (approximately 93 to 124 miles). This extensive range allows for a broad area of defense, enhancing the protective capabilities against missile threats.

Development of THAAD

• Origins and Development: The development of the THAAD system was initiated by the United States in response to the threat posed by Iraq’s Scud missiles during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. The experience highlighted the need for an effective defense against ballistic missiles.
• Deployment in Israel: In 2008, the U.S. deployed an early warning radar system in Israel, which is a component of the THAAD system. This deployment was part of a broader strategy to bolster Israel’s defense capabilities against regional threats. Further deployments in 2012 and 2019 have reinforced Israel’s defensive infrastructure and its stature as a significant military power in the region.

Strategic and Defensive Role

The THAAD system plays a crucial role in the strategic defense architectures of the United States and its allies. By providing a reliable defense against a variety of missile threats, THAAD enhances national security and contributes to regional stability. Its development and deployment underscore the ongoing efforts to maintain a technological edge in missile defense in response to evolving global threats.

-Source: Indian Express

Brahmi Inscription

Context:

Recently, a Brahmi inscription was found in Dharanikota village at Amaravathi mandal in Palnadu district. The script on the inscription is written in Prakrit language and Brahmi characters of 2nd century C.E.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

About Brahmi Inscription:

• Brahmi script is the oldest writing system developed in India after the Indus script.
• It’s one of the most influential writing systems; all modern Indian scripts and several hundreds of scripts found in Southeast and East Asia are originated from Brahmi.
• The majority of Brahmi inscriptions discovered in North and Central India represent the Prakrit language.
• The oldest known Brahmi inscriptions: from the edicts of Ashoka, the third Mauryan emperor of Magadha who ruled most of the sub-continent between 268 and 232 BCE.
• The only finds of the script are in short broken pieces throughout the Gangetic plains but also elsewhere on excavated sites in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Sri Lanka, mostly on pieces of pottery.
• Including all these are descendant scripts of Brahmi-the-scripts-of-the-Indo-Gangetic Plain, such as Devanagari and the Bengali and Gujarati scripts; the-scripts-of-Deccan, including scripts for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada.

-Source: The Hindu