TOPIC: GS 2 Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
A green partnership
What is the news?
The U.S.­India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership raises expectations that the coming decade will see sustained financial and technological cooperation between the two countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
At the Leaders’ Summit on Climate organised by U.S. President Joe Biden, the world’s attention was focused on countries responsible for the highest carbon emissions
India ranks third, behind the U.S. and China, although its per capita CO2 emissions are less than 60% of the global average.
There is little confidence in a pandemic stricken world, however, that future growth pathways will be aligned away from fossil fuels
The International Energy Agency, infact, expects a dramatic rise in emissions as countries race to shake off the impact of the coronavirus, as they did after the 2008 financial crisis.
The years to 2030, as American government put it, are part of a “decisive decade”, and action to scale up funding and innovation can help all countries move closer to keeping global warming well below 2°C or even 1.5°C, as the Paris Agreement envisages
There are many aspects to the bilateral pact that could be transformative for energy intensive sectors in India, starting with renewable power expansion to 450 GW
With open source technologies, India could incorporate innovative materials and processes to decarbonize industry, transport and buildings, the biggest emitters, apart from power
Many developed countries tend to view India’s reluctance to commit to a net zero emissions target as uncooperative.
The climate change crisis originated not here but in the industrialized world, which has used up much of the world’s carbon space

Future Policy
A forward policy should, therefore, envision green development a new, providing funding and green technologies as compensation for the emissions space lost by poorer countries.
It would aid sustainable development, boost employment clean up the environment and crucially help all countries emerge healthier from the pandemic.
Advanced the agenda by calling for climate funding by rich nations to exceed the decade­old goal of $100 billion
Way Forward
For the India­U.S. agreement to yield results, America would have to persuade industry and research institutions at home to share knowledge .
Subsidise transfer of technologies and cuts in emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030 over 2005 levels.
There are much of his climate effort will rely on executive authority, rather than bipartisan support. With political will on both sides, the engagement with India can become a model
Mains question
The U.S.-India climate pact has the potential to aid sustainable post-pandemic development. Explain
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-green-partnership-the-hindu-editorial-on-us-india-climate-pact/article34408913.ece

TOPIC : GS 2 Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
What Israel wants in Syria
The Syrian crisis unfolded in 2011­12, Israel took a ‘wait and watch’ approach
Primarily because it preferred a stable regime in Damascus to the post-revolutionary chaos
Despite the absence of a formal peace treaty, the Israeli Syrian border has been largely uneventful since the 1970s.
Iran deployed militias and military assets in Syria in defence of Mr. Assad, it changed Israel’s calculus.
Across Israel’s northern border, the Hezbollah has already established a formidable presence
Both Israel’s 1982­2000 occupation of southern Lebanon and the 2006 war on Lebanon were resisted by Hezbollah.
Israel would not like to have more Iran­backed Shia militias across the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War and which has been the de facto border between the two countries ever since
It first started helping anti­Assad rebels in the Golan region by reportedly providing cash and medical aid.
The plan was to create a buffer between the Golan Heights and the rest of Syria so that the pro­Iran militias could be stopped from coming face­to­face with Israeli troops.
Later, after the tides turned in the civil war and Iran deepened its presence in Syria, Israel started bombing Iranian positions inside Syria.
Since September 2015, the Syrian air space has practically been controlled by the Russians
Russia looked away when Israel stepped up its bombings and Israel has been careful not to hit Russian positions in the overcrowded Syrian battlefield.
Three goals
Israel had three key goals: disrupt Iranian supplies for Hezbollah and other Shia militias
Stop the militias advancing towards the de facto border;
Continuously targeting them, weaken Iran’s presence in Syria
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/what-israel-wants-in-syria/article34408536.ece

PRELIMS PUNCHERS
1. Marine protected areas
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) involve the protective management of natural areas according to pre-defined management objectives. MPAs can be conserved for a number of reasons including economic resources, biodiversity conservation, and species protection. They are created by delineating zones with permitted and non-permitted uses within that zone.
It is vital to have in depth knowledge of the area so as to define ecological boundaries and set objectives for the MPA. It is also important to have the support of the public and established techniques for surveillance and monitoring of compliance. IUCN engages in advocating for the expansion of the MPA network through reliable science and by engaging with local stakeholders.
Sources: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indias-blue-revolution-needs-more-marine-protected-areas-says-new-research/article34093967.ece

2.Swamitva Scheme
SVAMITVA (Survey of villages and mapping with improvised technology in village areas) scheme is a new initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It aims to provide rural people with the right to document their residential properties so that they can use their property for economic purposes.
The scheme is for surveying the land parcels in rural inhabited area using Drone technology. The survey shall be done across the country in a phase wise manner over the period of four years (2020 -2024) . The outcome from the scheme would include updating the ‘record-of-rights’ in the revenue/property registers and issuance of property cards to the property owners. This would facilitate monetization of rural residential assets for credit and other financial services. Further, this would also pave the way for clear determination of property tax, which would accrue to the GPs leading to better civic amenities.
Sources : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1663022
3. Coal Gasification
Coal gasification is the process of producing syngas—a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), natural gas (CH4), and water vapour (H2O)—from coal and water, air and/or oxygen.
Large-scale coal gasification installations are primarily for electricity generation, or for production of chemical feedstocks. The hydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be used for various purposes such as making ammonia, powering a hydrogen economy, or upgrading fossil fuels.

Alternatively, coal-derived syngas can be converted into transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel through additional treatment, or into methanol which itself can be used as transportation fuel or fuel additive, or which can be converted into gasoline.

Sources: https://www.thehindu.com/business/govt-approves-subsidy-policy-for-urea-produced-through-coal-gasification/article34367006.ece

4. Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan
The Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan (KKA) is being implemented in 112 Aspirational districts of the country. So far two phases of Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan have been completed in which 11.05 lakh farmers were trained by KVKs and over 5000 frontline demonstrations at farmer’s field were conducted. In the third phase of KKA training of about 17 lakh farmers on diversified farming practices for doubling farmers’ income is planned.
It emphasised to strengthen the research and extension system to reach to the maximum number of farmers and solving the problems in farming. It stated to concentrate on diverse commodities, undertake intensive research on water science and technology, development of processable and export oriented varieties in potato, organise a conference on agri-startup to select the best and promote them and popularization of KVK-SHG model through print and social media to create awareness and scale out the model.
Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/pm-kisan-mandi-reforms-steal-the-show-in-2019/article30451186.ece

Prelims question
1. Consider the following statement with regarding coal gasification
1. The hydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be used for various purposes such as making ammonia and upgrading fossil fuels
2. coal-derived syngas can be converted into transportation fuels such as gasoline and petrol through additional treatment
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c). Both of them (d). None of the above
Answer :B
Coal gasification is the process of producing syngas—a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), natural gas (CH4), and water vapour (H2O)—from coal and water, air and/or oxygen.
Large-scale coal gasification installations are primarily for electricity generation, or for production of chemical feedstocks. The hydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be used for various purposes such as making ammonia, powering a hydrogen economy, or upgrading fossil fuels.
Alternatively, coal-derived syngas can be converted into transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel through additional treatment, or into methanol which itself can be used as transportation fuel or fuel additive, or which can be converted into gasoline.

2. Marine protected areas is the programme by which of the following organization
a. UNEP
b. Green climate Fund
c. International Geosphere – Biosphere Programme
d. IUCN
Answer : D
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) involve the protective management of natural areas according to pre-defined management objectives. MPAs can be conserved for a number of reasons including economic resources, biodiversity conservation, and species protection. They are created by delineating zones with permitted and non-permitted uses within that zone.
It is vital to have in depth knowledge of the area so as to define ecological boundaries and set objectives for the MPA. It is also important to have the support of the public and established techniques for surveillance and monitoring of compliance. IUCN engages in advocating for the expansion of the MPA network through reliable science and by engaging with local stakeholders.