DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

Karnataka has stepped up surveillance after a mosquito pool in Chickballapur was found to be positive for Zika virus. It is a vector-borne flavivirus.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus 1^st identified in Uganda in 1947 in a Rhesus macaque monkey followed by evidence of infection and disease in humans in other African countries in the 1950s.

• Transmission – Primarily by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes Albopictus.
• It is also transmitted from mother to foetus during pregnancy, as well as through sexual contact, blood transfusion and possibly through organ transplantation.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes also transmit dengue, chikungunya and urban yellow fever which mostly bite in the day.

• Incubation period – 3 to 14 days.
• Symptoms – Most people do not develop symptoms and who develops may have rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache that last for 2–7 days.
• Complications – It is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis in adults and children.
• Infected pregnant mothers can cause microcephaly in infants and other congenital malformations with preterm birth and miscarriage.

In 2016, WHO declared Zika-related microcephaly a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and later declared the end of the PHEIC in same year.

• Treatment – There is no specific treatment available but symptoms can be treated with antipyretics and/or analgesics.
• Prevention – Vector control by using larvicides and protection against mosquito bite is a key measure to prevent it.

According to UN Report, the money available to developing countries for adaptation measures to increasing climate change has been declining, and nowhere close to the scale of requirement.

• Adaptation Gap Report – It is an annual publication by United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) since 2014.
• It is a science based independent assessment of the global situation of adaptation to climate change.
• It is co-produced by UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) and the World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP).
• Objectives – To inform the climate negotiations among UN member states and explores options for enhancing national and global adaptation efforts.
• Their objective is closely aligned with UNFCCC global stocktake.

Findings of Adaptation Gap Report, 2023

• The adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10-18 times as great as international public finance flows
• In 2021, funding to developing countries for adaptation projects was 15% lower than the previous years.
• The current adaptation finance gap is now estimated to be USD 194-366 billion per year.

Adaptation finance gap is the difference between estimated adaptation financing needs and existing finance flows.

• 55 most climate-vulnerable economies have experienced losses and damages of more than USD 500 billion in the last 2 decades.
• Every billion invested in adaptation against coastal flooding leads to a USD 14 billion reduction in economic damages.
• USD 16 billion per year invested in agriculture would prevent approximately 78 million people from starving or chronic hunger because of climate impacts.
• While 5 out of 6 countries now have at least one national adaptation planning instrument but progress to reach full global coverage is slowing.
• It identifies 7 ways to increasing financing, including through domestic expenditure and international and private sector finance.

Recently, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of public sector undertakings (PSU) under Ministry of Power have launched NCEP and EEFP.

National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) – A subset of the Clean Cooking Scheme

• It focuses on Non-Solar/Electricity-based Induction Cook stoves, aligning with the Go- electric initiative by the Ministry of Power.

Goal – EESL will deploy 20 Lakh energy-efficient induction cook stoves nationwide to accelerate the acceptance and adoption.

Objectives – To reduce the environmental impact of cooking methods, ensuring cleaner air and improved health for citizens.

• To reduce dependence on imported sources for energy and saving costs for users.

Partnership - EESL has partnered with Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) for the large-scale deployment.

Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP)

Existing ceiling fans contribute approximately 40% of total residential electricity consumption and over 25% of India's overall electricity usage. Nearly 20% of total residential electricity consumption can be reduced by replacing existing fans with energy efficient ones.

Goal - EESL will distribute 1 crore efficient BLDC fans which was initiated during the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group, 2023.

Objectives

• To reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
• To enhance consumer comfort while lowering electricity bills, creating a win-win situation for all.

In 2023, about 44% of our capacity is non-fossil-fuel sources and about 25% in energy terms. By 2030, around 65% of our capacity will be from non-fossil-fuel sources, and in energy terms, it will be around 40% - 45%.

The strength of the gravitational force depends on the gravitational constant.Any mass warps the fabric of space-time around itself and more the mass, the more the warping.

• Gravity – It is the force that an object feels when travelling along the warped path which tends to move the object towards the mass.
• Gravitational constant – It is denoted by a ‘G’, a fundamental physical constant.

Gravitation constant was 1^st accurately determined by Henry Cavendish in 1797 and it is an essential component of both Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation and Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

Newton’s theory – The gravitational force between 2 objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

• G is the proportionality constant whose value is 6.673 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2.

Einstein’s theory of general relativity – It states that space and time are relative, and all motion must be relative to a frame of reference.

• It provides a more accurate description of gravitation, particularly in extreme conditions like massive celestial objects.
• G describe the curvature (or the ‘warping’) of space-time in the presence of mass and energy.

Importance of G – The precise value of G is crucial to understand celestial mechanics and to determine the mass of celestial bodies.

• Yet its value has been determined only with an uncertainty of about 22 parts per million.

It is important to reflect on the progress made in conserving and sustainably using the biosphere reserves.

What is a Biosphere Reserve?

• It is an international designation for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.
• BRs are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s needs.
• Designated by- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• Supported by - Other UN agencies and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Function
  • Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity
  • Economic development that is socio culturally and environmentally sustainable
  • Logistic support underpinning development through research, monitoring education and training

World Biosphere Reserve Day is celebrated on November 3 to raise awareness on the importance of biosphere reserves and to promote their conservation and sustainable use.

What is the criteria for designating biosphere reserves?

• The site must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
• The core area should be typical of a bio-geographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic levels in the ecosystem.
• The management authority to ensure the cooperation of local communities while managing and containing the conflicts.
• Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of environment.

World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)?

According to UNESCO, there are currently 748 biosphere reserves across 134 countries, including 22 transboundary sites.

• The WNBR of the MAB Programme consists of a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence.
• Launch year-1971

Aim- To establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.

Role - It proposes interdisciplinary research, demonstration and training in natural resources management.It helps national governments with the planning and implementation of research and training programmes with technical assistance and scientific advice.

Picture of WNBR

• • Leading WNBR country - Spain, with 53 properties
  • 1^st biosphere reserve in South Asia - Hurulu Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka.
  • No Biosphere Reserves - Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal

India- Signatory to the landscape approach supported by UNESCO's MAB programme

What is the status of biosphere reserves in India?

Status- There are 18 biosphere reserves in India, out of which 12 are recognized internationally under the MAB programme.

UNESCO Michel Batisse Award 2023- It is won by Gulf of Mannar for introducing the concept of ‘plastic checkpoints’.

• 1^st biosphere reserve - Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve , Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka
• Largest Biosphere reserve - Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
• Smallest biosphere reserve - Dibru- Saikhowa, Assam

How significant are biosphere reserves?

• Testing sites- They are sites for testing the approaches to manage changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
• Restoration- Any damaged ecosystems and habitats are repaired properly through the establishment of biosphere reserves.
• Land use planning- Various groups of people work together to find comprehensive land management solutions.
• Community engagement- In the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve in India, local communities are working together to manage mangrove forests and protect the biodiversity of the region.
• Conservation- Preservation of species, ecosystems, genetic diversity, and landscapes without affecting the living beings that inhabit them.
• Healthy Ecosystems- Natural problems such as soil erosion, water springs, and soil quality should be monitored and protected on a regular basis.
• Education and Research- Information about conserving, restoring, and developing ecosystems is provided, as well as steps to recreate landscapes affected by human activities.
• Provides habitat- They are home to a wide variety of ecosystems from tropical rainforests to alpine deserts, and provide home to countless unique and endangered plants and animals species.
• Carbon sink- They have become crucial in our fight against climate change, as these areas are home to many of the world’s carbon sinks helping to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

• After Pakistan’s deadline expired for undocumented foreigners, about 1.7 million people were forced to leave Pakistan across the Torkham border.

The Torkham border crossing is a major border connecting Nangarhar province of Afghanistan with Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

• Dholes, also known as Asiatic wild dogs, are wild dogs native to Asia and genetically similar to African wild dogs.
• In India, they are found in 3 clusters (Western and Eastern Ghats, central Indian landscape and North East India).
• Conservation Status
  • CITES – Appendix II
  • IUCN - Endangered.

A pair of elusive wild dogs, often referred to as Dholes, have made a rare appearance in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary of Odisha recently.

• Japanese scientists have said that Mouse embryos were grown in space (International Space Station) for first time.
• The embryos cultured under microgravity conditions developed normally into blastocysts, cells that develop into the foetus and placenta and demonstrates that gravity had no significant effect.

This is the world's first experiment that cultured early-stage mammalian embryos under complete microgravity of ISS.

• It was formed as a trilateral maritime security grouping between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives operating in the Indian Ocean region.
• It focuses on Maritime security, Countering terrorism and Cybersecurity.
• In 2020, Mauritius was added as a member of the grouping, with Bangladesh and the Seychelles as observers.

Bangladesh and Seychelles are observers and have been invited to join the group and are likely to join as full members.

• 2 women navy officers trained to undertake the first women solo-circumnavigation as part of the Navy’s ‘Sagar Parikrama’.
• The Golden Globe Race (GGR) is a solo sailing race around the globe in a yacht.
• It started off on 2018, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race when Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to make a non-stop solo circumnavigation trip.

The GGR is modeled on the race that took place in 1968. This means that no kind of modern technology like GPS, electronic watches, electronic compass and the like can be used during the trip.