Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 12 June 2023

Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 12 June 2023

Contents

1. A Soft Power tool: Buddhism
2. Why is the 1.5 °C objective so important?

A Soft Power tool: Buddhism

Context:

• The Dalai Lama and other prominent members of the world’s Buddhist community attended the recent global Buddhist summit held in New Delhi by India.
• The Panchamrit principles were accepted by the government to direct its foreign policy and aggressively advance India’s standing as a rising global power.
• Sanskriti evam sabhyata, or ties between cultures and civilizations, is its sixth tenet.

Relevance: 

GS Paper 2: Intrernatinal relations-Soft Diplomacy

Mains Question

Analyse the importance of Buddhist tourism in India and its potential to strengthen the soft power of the nation. Talk about the steps that can be taken to advance and publicise the Buddhist Circuit Project. (250 Words)

What is diplomatic soft power?

• The capacity to influence others without using force or money is known as soft power. Soft power diplomacy, as opposed to depending primarily on military or economic coercion, refers to the use of cultural, social, and economic tools to influence the attitudes and actions of other countries.
• Joseph Nye first used the term “soft power” in the 1990s.Cultural exchanges, educational initiatives, humanitarian aid, and public diplomacy campaigns are a few examples of soft power diplomacy.

Utilization of Buddha by India

• Indian Prime Ministers, including Jawaharlal Nehru and more recent leaders, have emphasised the shared Buddhist heritage in official international speeches, promoting cultural connections.
• India is home to seven of the eight most significant Buddhist sites in the world. Buddhism has given India an identity of peace and tranquilly, particularly during the formation of the Republic amid religious violence between Hinduism and Islam.

Convening worldwide conferences and councils:

• India has facilitated communication between Buddhist adherents across sectarian and governmental barriers by convening international conferences and councils. The “5th International Buddhist Conclave” in Varanasi (2016) and the “Buddhism in the 21st Century” conference in Rajgir (2017) are notable occasions that promoted communication and cooperation.
• Nalanda University: The institution seeks to revive Nalanda as a centre of learning and to foster intellectual interactions among Buddhist countries.

Utilization of Buddha by India

• The state religious system under Xi Jinping has incorporated religious aspects into China’s cultural and linguistic diplomacy to support its political and economic influence abroad. China utilises Buddhism:
• With 245 million Buddhists and numerous monasteries, temples, monks, and nuns, China considers Buddhism to be an important element of its soft power strategy.

Geopolitical Implications:

• China effectively uses Buddhist diplomacy to engage neighbours and gain support for its Belt and Road Initiative, while India focuses on restoring and promoting its own Buddhist sites.
• China’s influence in the film industry, particularly in Hollywood, has allowed it to dominate the narrative around Buddhism through cinema, whereas India has not effectively used this domain.

Conclusion

• In order to strengthen its soft power diplomacy through Buddhism, India should emphasise the successful execution of initiatives like Nalanda University as well as ties with other Buddhist schools of thought, such as Nagarjuna Buddhism.
• For the Buddhist Circuit Project to be successful, tourism attractions must be managed properly. India may improve its standing in the world and its connections with nations that have a Buddhist majority by taking use of its cultural influence, which will also contribute to peace and stability in the area.

Why is the 1.5 °C Objective So Important?

Context

• The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has published two important papers, “Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update 2023-2027” and “State of Global Climate 2022,” which offer insight on the future of climate change. These papers present a sobering picture of the difficulties we face and highlight the immediate need for global action to address the worsening climate disaster.
• The WMO projects that between 2023 and 2027, the average global surface temperature would increase by 1.1–1.8 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels (1850–1900). Alarming predictions show that by 2027, the average global temperature would be higher than the 1.5 degree Celsius barrier, beyond which the consequences might be catastrophic and irreversible.

Relevance: 

GS Paper 3: Climate Change

Mains question

What are the main obstacles to meeting the 1.5 degree Celsius objective and potential solutions that have been mentioned in recent World Meteorological Organisation publications that emphasise the urgency of global action on climate change? (250 Words)

Why is the 1.5 Celsius objective so important?

• The results of the IPCC’s special report from 2018 highlight how crucial the 1.5 degree Celsius objective is. It demonstrated the glaring differences between the effects of 1.5 and 2 degrees global warming. Droughts, excessive precipitation, an additional 10 centimetre rise in sea levels, irreparable harm to ecosystems, and other severe repercussions would all come from even a 2-degree increase.The worldwide climate goal of keeping the rise in average global temperature to this level by the year 2100 is known as the 1.5 degree Celsius target. The acceptable objective had been established at 2 degrees Celsius for a very long time. Small island countries, whose very survival is endangered by increasing sea levels, advocated for a more aggressive goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• Countries agreed to restrict global warming to far below 2 degrees Celsius while aiming for a 1.5-degree increase in 2015 during the Paris Agreement negotiations, recognising the seriousness of the situation. This objective was approved by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018, making it a universal requirement in all climate conversations.
• Regional variations and vulnerabilities heighten the urgency of taking action on climate change. Notably, the Arctic warms more rapidly than the rest of the world on average, a phenomenon known as “polar amplification.” These geographical differences emphasise the need to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to lessen the worst effects.

Present Development and Challenges

• Despite the fact that climate change needs to be addressed on a global scale, the aims have not been sufficiently advanced. It is anticipated that developed nations, which traditionally account for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, will lead the way in enacting climate change measures. Even those with considerable emissions, like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, fare poorly in terms of climate performance, including Australia, the United States, Japan, Russia, and Canada, which have made only little progress towards fulfilling their promises.
• The COVID-19 pandemic made things worse by deflecting attention and resources from long-term recovery initiatives. Many countries’ post-pandemic recovery plans neglected to take sustainability into account, which slowed the world’s progress towards its climate goals.
• Achieving climate goals has become more difficult as a result of the recent energy crisis brought on by the conflict in Ukraine. A comprehensive and coordinated approach including national commitments, international cooperation, and sustainable recovery measures is required to combat climate change.
• The Relationship Between Extreme Weather Events and Global Temperature Rise Recent forecasts suggest a rise in maritime heat waves and anomalous precipitation, as well as a larger likelihood of seeing temperatures higher than those seen in 2016 during the El Nio cycle. The diminishing cryosphere, which includes mass glacier loss in High-mountain Asia, Western North America, and South America, is a clear indicator of climate change’s effects. Rising sea levels are also a result of the Greenlandic ice sheet’s accelerating melting.
• Storms, floods, and other extreme weather conditions have a detrimental effect on ecosystems and human populations. The most recent example is the 2022 heatwaves in Pakistan and India.
• Food insecurity and displacement have resulted from decreased crop yields, as evidenced in nations like Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and Afghanistan.In addition, both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are being disrupted, with migratory species on the decline and coral reefs becoming more susceptible to bleaching.

India’s Efforts and Vulnerability

• Climate change has had a huge influence, especially on India. The nation achieved the warmest February since records have been kept beginning in 1901 in February 2023.
• Despite being a developing country with development demands, India has taken steps to reconcile its development ambitions with climate action. Last year, extreme weather events struck India for roughly 80% of the days, causing deadly wildfires in Uttarakhand and severe food shortages.
• The nation does well in terms of its internal programmes, such as the Green Hydrogen Mission and the introduction of green bonds, and is ranked eighth on the Climate Change Performance Index 2023.
• Additionally demonstrating its dedication to international climate initiatives is India’s strong engagement in groups like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

Conclusion: Time for Urgent Action

• The World Meteorological Organization’s most recent assessments serve as a harsh reminder of the necessity for immediate action to address the climate issue.
• The predictions show that we are getting close to a tipping point, with the average global temperature predicted to rise above the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2027. Failure to keep global warming below this point would have disastrous and lasting effects on both the environment and human populations.
• According to the existing trend, nations must satisfy their obligations under the Paris Agreement and quicken their transition to a low-carbon economy. To cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve resilience, and advance sustainable development, bold and all-encompassing actions are needed. To ensure a sustainable and safe future for future generations, the global community must cooperate.