What’s in today’s article?

• About Diabetes
• Study by the Lancet on Diabetes
• Key Issues & Discrepancies Mentioned in the Study
• Major Concerns
• Strategies for Action
• Role of Individuals
• Govt. Initiatives
• Conclusion

About Diabetes

• Diabetes is a chronic medical condition where the body is unable to properly regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels due to insufficient insulin production or ineffective insulin usage. It is primarily classified into two types:
  • Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin. It often occurs in childhood or adolescence and requires lifelong insulin therapy.
  • Type 2 Diabetes: The more common type, associated with insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. It is influenced by factors like poor diet, obesity, and physical inactivity.
• Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, slow wound healing, and blurred vision. If untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, vision loss, and nerve damage.

Study by the Lancet on Diabetes

• A global study published in The Lancet highlights that over 800 million adults globally live with diabetes, including 212 million in India.
• The numbers are significantly higher than the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) estimate of 100 million, primarily due to differing testing methodologies.

Key Issues & Discrepancies Mentioned in the Study

• Testing Differences:
  • The Lancet study used HbA1C (glycated haemoglobin) values, a global standard.
  • The ICMR study followed fasting and post-prandial glucose levels, which provide lower diabetes estimates.
  • HbA1C values may overestimate diabetes prevalence due to factors like age and anaemia, leading to higher numbers.
• Data Sources:
  • Variability arises from multiple data sources and methods across studies.

Major Concerns

• Rising Diabetes Prevalence:
  • India is witnessing increasing diabetes cases due to urbanization, lifestyle changes, and obesity.
  • The disease significantly increases risks of heart disease, kidney failure, vision loss, and other complications.
• Inequity in Treatment:
  • Access to diabetes care is limited, especially in low- and middle-income regions.
  • Without effective prevention and early treatment, the healthcare burden could become unsustainable.

Strategies for Action

• Urgent Prevention Measures:
  • Mass awareness campaigns to promote healthy eating and exercise.
  • Legal restrictions on sugar-sweetened beverages and high-carb diets.
  • Policies to tackle abdominal obesity, a leading cause of diabetes in Indians.
• Focus on Vulnerable Groups:
  • Prioritize education for women, especially post-pregnancy and during menopause.
  • Enhance healthcare access in semi-urban and rural areas.

Role of Individuals

• Lifestyle Changes:
  • Adopting mindful eating habits and regular physical activity.
  • Reducing obesity through balanced diets and portion control.
• Dietary Awareness:
  • Recognizing the impact of poor diets on rising diabetes rates.

Govt. Initiatives

• Policy Measures:
  • Restrict unhealthy food options and make nutritious foods more affordable.
  • Provide subsidies for healthy foods and ensure free, nutritious school meals.
• Creating Infrastructure:
  • Establish public parks, fitness centres, and safe spaces for physical activity.
  • Encourage urban planning that promotes walkability and active lifestyles.

Conclusion

• India faces a critical challenge in managing its growing diabetes burden. Collaborative efforts from individuals, policymakers, and healthcare providers are essential to implement sustainable preventive measures and improve access to treatment.
• As experts emphasize, the focus must remain on prevention at every level.

Q1. What is the role of Pancreas?

 The pancreas has dual roles - it is an organ of the digestive system and of the endocrine system. The exocrine pancreas produces enzymes that help to digest food, particularly protein. The endocrine pancreas makes the hormone insulin, which helps to control blood sugar levels.

Q2. What is the role of Insulin in our body?

The major purpose of insulin is to regulate the body's energy supply by balancing micronutrient levels during the fed state. Insulin is critical for transporting intracellular glucose to insulin-dependent cells/tissues, such as liver, muscle, and adipose tissue.

Source: How should India tackle diabetes load?

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Key Objectives of COP29
• Demands of Developing Countries at COP29
• Position of Developed Nations at COP29
• Major Developments at COP29
• Conclusion

Why in News?

• The 29th edition of the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, was anticipated to conclude on November 22, but negotiations extended due to unresolved key issues.
• The conference aimed to make significant strides in addressing carbon emissions and climate finance.

Key Objectives of COP29:

• Setting climate finance goals:
  • Developing countries demanded at least $1 trillion annually from 2025-2035 to meet emission targets, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Current contributions stand at $115 billion (2021-22).
  • NCQG refers to money that will be given to developing countries by developed countries to help the former meet their goals to transition away from the continued use of fossil fuels and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Developed countries were expected to agree on a higher target above $100 billion as per the Paris Agreement.
• Addressing carbon emissions: Scientific assessments indicated an expected 0.8% increase in emissions for 2023. Efforts to achieve the voluntary Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) could result in only a 2% global emissions reduction.

Demands of Developing Countries at COP29:

• Financial responsibility of developed nations:
  • Developing nations, including China, India, and the Group of 77, emphasised that developed countries, being historically responsible for higher emissions, should bear the bulk of climate finance.
  • Funding should cover mitigation, adaptation, and compensation for climate damage.
  • Contributions should be proportional to historical emissions and per capita GDP.
• Grants and low-cost loans: They stressed the need for climate finance to be primarily in grants or concessional loans rather than complex financial mechanisms.

Position of Developed Nations at COP29:

• Developed countries, led by the EU, proposed a lower target of $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, with contributions from "various sources" (public, private, bilateral, and multilateral).
• Disagreement persists over the proportion of grants and loans, with developed nations resisting demands for a predominantly grant-based model.

Major Developments at COP29:

• Carbon market agreement:
  • A supervised UN carbon market was established based on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, enabling countries to trade carbon credits to meet emission caps.
  • Sub- sections within the Article spell out how countries can bilaterally trade carbon among themselves (Article 6.2) and participate in a global carbon market (6.4).
  • Though challenges include ensuring the authenticity and transparency of carbon credits, India plans to leverage this agreement to activate its own carbon-trading market.
• Trade and climate discussion:
  • China, as part of the BASIC group, raised concerns over the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a tax on non-compliant imports, set to be fully implemented in 2026.
  • This issue, though typically discussed in trade forums, highlights the intersection of trade and climate policies.

Conclusion:

• While COP29 made progress in areas like carbon markets, significant gaps remain, particularly in finalising climate finance targets.
• Bridging the divide between developed and developing nations is crucial to achieving the conference’s objectives and fostering global climate cooperation.

Q.1. What is the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?

The CBAM is a carbon tariff on carbon intensive products, such as steel, cement and some electricity, imported to the European Union (EU).

Q.2.What is the Green Climate Fund (GCF)?

The GCF is a fund for climate finance that was established within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its objective is to assist developing countries with climate change adaptation and mitigation activities.

Source: Why is there a row over climate finance?

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)?
• Why did the SC criticize the CAQM?
• Assessing CAQM's Role in Delhi's Pollution Crisis

Why in News?

• Over the past 10 days, Delhi's air quality has remained predominantly in the 'severe' and 'severe plus' categories, highlighting a worsening pollution crisis.
• The Supreme Court has criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for its insufficient measures to address the issue, urging the agency to adopt a more robust and effective pollution control strategy.

What is Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)?

• Formation and Mandate of CAQM
  • The CAQM in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas was established through an ordinance in 2020, which became an Act of Parliament in 2021.
    • CAQM is a statutory body formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.
  • It was created to improve coordination, conduct research, and address air quality and related issues effectively.
  • Initially comprising 15 members, the CAQM now has 27 members and is chaired by Rajesh Verma.
• Transition from EPCA to CAQM
  • The CAQM replaced the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), which was set up in 1998 by the Supreme Court.
  • Unlike the CAQM, the EPCA lacked statutory backing, limiting its authority to enforce compliance.
  • However, it introduced key measures like the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which the CAQM continues to implement.
• Powers of CAQM
  • CAQM can take necessary measures, issue directives, and address complaints to ensure the protection and improvement of air quality.
  • Under Section 14 of the Act, the CAQM can initiate stringent actions against officers who fail to comply with its orders, reinforcing its mandate to tackle air pollution effectively.

Why did the SC criticize the CAQM?

• SC has consistently criticized various governments and agencies, including the CAQM, for their ineffective response to Delhi's air pollution crisis.
• On September 27, SC remarked that CAQM's directions were largely ignored, pointing to non-compliance with the 2021 Act and a lack of effective enforcement.
• The court urged the CAQM to adopt more proactive measures and ensure its orders result in tangible pollution reduction.
• On November 18, the Supreme Court reprimanded the CAQM for delayed action, particularly regarding Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
  • GRAP a set of emergency measures implemented to combat air pollution in a region, particularly in Delhi-NCR, where different levels of restrictions are triggered based on the severity of air quality.
• Instead of implementing stringent curbs preemptively, the CAQM waited for air quality to improve, despite AQI levels breaching the ‘severe plus’ category.
• The court emphasized the need for prompt and decisive action to address the escalating air quality crisis.

Assessing CAQM's Role in Delhi's Pollution Crisis

• Implementation Challenges and Focus Areas of CAQM
  • While the CAQM formulates plans and coordinates with agencies, the responsibility for ground-level implementation lies with these agencies.
  • There is need for improved coordination and planning efforts, such as engaging with state officials early in the year to address stubble burning and updating action plans annually for Punjab and Haryana.
• Expanding Focus Beyond Stubble Burning
  • The commission acknowledges that its primary focus has been on stubble burning.
  • Moving forward, it plans to target multiple pollution sources, including dust and vehicular emissions, allocating more resources and time to these areas.
• Expert Recommendations and Proactive Measures
  • Experts emphasized the need for the CAQM to impose the GRAP proactively and improve pollution forecasting methods.
  • They suggested that the CAQM should collaborate with state governments to establish time-bound targets, identify gaps, and ensure strategies and resources are in place before enforcing compliance.
  • This approach would strengthen ground-level actions rather than solely focusing on penalizing non-compliance.

Q.1. What is the role of CAQM in tackling Delhi's pollution crisis?

CAQM formulates plans, coordinates efforts, and implements measures to control pollution in Delhi-NCR. However, ground-level implementation relies on other agencies. It focuses on stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and dust but needs more proactive action to address pollution effectively.

Q.2. Why did the Supreme Court criticize the CAQM?

The Supreme Court criticized the CAQM for delayed actions and lack of enforcement, particularly regarding Stage IV of the GRAP. The Court emphasized the need for proactive, timely measures to curb Delhi’s severe air pollution rather than waiting for air quality to improve.

Source: What can Commission for Air Quality Management do to improve Delhi air?

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Laws governing the conflict
• Need for a treaty dealing with Crimes Against Humanity Treaty
• Step towards a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty

Why in News?

• The UN General Assembly's legal committee approved a landmark resolution on November 22, 2024, initiating negotiations for the first-ever treaty to prevent and punish crimes against humanity.
• This step followed intense negotiations, culminating in Russia withdrawing amendments that could have derailed the process.

Laws governing the conflict

• 1949 Geneva Conventions
  • The 1949 Geneva Conventions are a set of four international treaties establishing humanitarian protections during armed conflicts.
  • They safeguard wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians, emphasizing humane treatment and non-combatant rights.
  • Ratified by 196 countries, these conventions form the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, ensuring accountability and limiting the horrors of war.
• Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions (1977)
  • Two protocols that expand protections to cover civil wars and non-international conflicts, reinforcing humanitarian principles.
• International Humanitarian Law
  • The Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), also known as International Humanitarian Law (IHL), governs the conduct of warfare.
  • It aims to protect those who are not actively participating in hostilities, such as civilians, medical personnel, and prisoners of war.
  • It sets out rules to limit the methods and means of warfare, ensuring humanitarian protections and minimizing suffering.
  • Key instruments include the Geneva Conventions and Hague Regulations, focusing on humane treatment during conflicts.
• Hague Conventions (1899, 1907)
  • These address the laws of war and war crimes, focusing on the conduct of hostilities, treatment of prisoners, and protection of civilians and cultural property.
• International Criminal Court (ICC) Statute (1998)
  • Established to prosecute individuals for crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, ensuring accountability for violations of IHL.
• United Nations Charter (1945)
  • Governs the use of force in international relations, emphasizing the prohibition of aggressive war and the right of self-defense.

Why a Separate Treaty for Crimes Against Humanity is Necessary?

• Existing Legal Gaps
  • While global treaties address war crimes, genocide, and torture, there is no comprehensive international treaty specifically targeting crimes against humanity.
  • This creates a legal vacuum, leaving many atrocities unaddressed and perpetrators unpunished.
• Limitations of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
  • The ICC can prosecute crimes against humanity but lacks jurisdiction over nearly 70 countries, including major nations like the United States, China, and India.
  • A treaty would strengthen the international legal framework by ensuring a universal mechanism for prosecution and accountability.
• Broad Scope of Crimes Against Humanity
  • Crimes against humanity include murder, rape, sexual slavery, enforced disappearances, torture, and deportation, often committed as part of widespread attacks on civilians.
  • A dedicated treaty would comprehensively define these crimes and establish uniform standards for prosecution.
• Addressing Global Proliferation of Atrocities
  • The rise of conflicts and state-sponsored atrocities in regions like Ethiopia, Myanmar, Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan highlights the urgent need for a binding international instrument to combat impunity and protect civilians.
• Universal Accountability
  • By criminalizing such acts globally, a treaty would eliminate safe havens for perpetrators, ensuring that no region or individual is beyond the reach of justice.

Step towards a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty

• About the news
  • A key United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly committee adopted a resolution paving way for negotiations on a first-ever treaty on preventing and punishing crimes against humanity.
  • Sponsors of the resolution, led by Mexico and Gambia with the backing of 96 countries, emphasized the need to close legal gap in dealing with such crimes.
    • Existing treaties cover war crimes, genocide, and torture, but no treaty specifically addresses crimes against humanity, such as murder, rape, sexual slavery, torture, and enforced disappearances.
• Timeline for Treaty Negotiations
  • The resolution outlines a structured timeline, with preparatory sessions in 2026 and 2027 and formal negotiating sessions in 2028 and 2029.
  • While some expressed disappointment at the extended timeline, the move is hailed as a significant step toward addressing impunity for grave human rights violations.

Q.1. Why is a separate treaty needed for crimes against humanity?

There is no existing treaty specifically addressing crimes against humanity, leaving a legal gap. A dedicated treaty would ensure global accountability for atrocities like murder, torture, and sexual slavery, providing a mechanism for prosecution even in countries outside ICC jurisdiction.

Q.2. What is the timeline for the negotiations of the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty?

Negotiations for the treaty will begin with preparatory sessions in 2026 and 2027, followed by formal negotiations in 2028 and 2029. This timeline, while extended, is a crucial step toward addressing impunity for serious human rights violations globally.

Source: Crimes against humanity: Key U.N. committee adopts resolution paving way for first-ever treaty