China’s Role in Emissions and Global Climate Goals

GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity: China’s Emission cuts

Why is it in the news?

• China, the world’s second-largest economy, is classified as a “developing” country by the United Nations and is not required to implement short-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emission cuts under international climate agreements.
• However, as the world’s largest emitter for over 15 years, contributing more than 30% of global annual emissions, China plays a pivotal role in achieving global climate targets.
• Without significant emission reductions from China, these targets are unlikely to be met. Current projections estimate global emissions in 2030 to be only 2% lower than 2019 levels, far short of the 43% reduction needed.

An Analysis

The Need for Deep Emission Cuts

• A Climate Action Tracker (CAT) study underscores the necessity for China to reduce emissions by 66% by 2030 and 78% by 2035 to comply with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal.
• The Paris Agreement, effective since 2016, seeks to limit global warming to well below 2°C, aiming for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, the framework provides developing nations like China with flexibility for energy transitions.
• China is not expected to make deep emission cuts soon and is projected to see emissions grow by 0.2% in 2024, as per the Global Carbon Project.

The Dilemma of Immediate Cuts

• Ironically, rapid emission cuts in China could undermine global renewable energy efforts. Despite adding over 300 GW of renewable energy in 2023, China remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with coal generating over half its electricity. Renewable energy contributes only a small portion to its overall energy mix.
• Moving away from coal would likely disrupt industrial production and global renewable energy supply chains. Moreover, manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines, and other clean energy technologies is energy-intensive and relies heavily on fossil fuels.
• With China dominating over 80% of global solar panel production and 60% of wind turbine manufacturing, its role is indispensable.

Risks of Supply Chain Overdependence

• Deep emission cuts in China could slow the global renewable energy transition by disrupting the supply of clean energy technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in centralized supply chains, sparking discussions about diversifying solar photovoltaic and other clean energy production.
• However, competing with China’s cost advantage remains challenging. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar PV manufacturing costs in China are 10% lower than in India, 20% lower than in the U.S., and 35% lower than in Europe.

China’s Climate Advantage

• China has leveraged international climate frameworks to fuel its economic growth without stringent emission mandates. When the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established in the 1990s, China contributed over 10% of global emissions but avoided strict controls due to its developing nation status.
• Since then, its emissions have quadrupled, now accounting for 11.5% of historical emissions, matching the European Union. This leniency has allowed China to focus on economic growth, unlike developed countries like the U.S. and Germany, which faced tougher standards.

Contributions and Challenges

• China is leading the global renewable energy transition and is set to meet its 1,200 GW renewable energy target six years ahead of schedule. It has also driven down the costs of solar and wind energy, making them accessible worldwide.
• However, China’s emissions remain nearly triple those of the U.S., and its climate actions are relatively unconstrained. Given this reality, achieving near-term emission reduction targets, such as those for 2030 or 2035, seems unrealistic.

Food Labelling: A Step Towards Healthier Choices

GS 2: Society: Healthiness of food products

Why is it in the news?

• A recent report by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), a global non-profit, highlights disparities in the healthiness of food and beverage (F&B) products sold in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs).
• The report, the fifth edition of the Global Access to Nutrition Index, evaluated 30 of the world’s largest F&B manufacturers, representing 23% of the global market, on their commitment to improving access to nutritious foods.

Findings of the Report

• The report assessed 52,414 products, including those from brands like Nestle, Pepsico, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Hershey, using a health star rating system. This system ranks products out of five, with a score above 3.5 indicating healthier choices.
• It considers risk-increasing components such as saturated fat, sugars, and sodium, alongside risk-reducing elements like protein, fibre, and fruits.
• The findings revealed a disparity in product healthiness: in LMICs, the health star rating averaged 1.8, significantly lower than 2.3 in HICs. Only 30% of companies had strategies to make healthier products affordable for lower-income consumers.
• Additionally, micronutrient data were less available for products in LMICs compared to those in HICs, exposing inequities in product composition and transparency across markets.

Similar Past Findings

• This is not the first report to reveal such issues. A study by Swiss NGO Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) in April 2024 found that Nestle’s baby food products sold in India, Africa, and Latin America contained higher sugar levels than those sold in Europe.
• While Nestle denied the allegations, the Indian government directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to investigate.

Relevance to India

• India faces a dual burden of malnutrition and a rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Over 10.13 crore Indians have diabetes, and obesity rates are 24% among women and 23% among men, as per National Family Health Survey 5. Simultaneously, undernutrition, anaemia, and micronutrient deficiencies persist.
• Experts attribute much of the NCD burden to dietary shifts over the decades. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) dietary guidelines published in 2024 revealed that 56.4% of India’s disease burden stems from unhealthy diets.
• The consumption of processed foods high in sugars and fats, reduced physical activity, and limited access to diverse, nutritious foods exacerbate these issues. Affordability compounds the problem, as over 50% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet, even as household spending on processed foods has increased.

Food Package Labelling

• India is a signatory to World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions, including one addressing the harmful marketing of junk food to children. The country’s National Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Common NCDs, 2017-22 (NMAP) highlighted the importance of front-of-pack labelling, but little progress has been made.
• Activists have long advocated for regulations requiring clear labels on food packages to indicate high levels of sugar, fat, and sodium. In 2022, a draft notification on labelling amendments was introduced but has yet to advance. Countries like Chile and Mexico have shown that mandatory labelling can significantly reduce the consumption of sugary beverages.
• An analysis by Nutrition Advocacy for Public Interest (NAPi) of 43 packaged food advertisements in India found that these products often contained high levels of saturated fat, sugar, or sodium.
• Hence, the ATNi report underscores the ineffectiveness of voluntary measures by companies and stresses the need for mandatory regulations to ensure stronger nutritional standards.

PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme: Financial Support for Meritorious Students

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Schemes

Why is it in the news?

• On November 6, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme to provide financial assistance to meritorious students pursuing higher education.
• The scheme offers collateral-free, guarantor-free loans from banks to cover tuition fees and other course-related expenses, making quality education more accessible.

Coverage and Benefits

• The scheme targets students who gain admission to 860 higher education institutions listed under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). It is estimated that 22 lakh students will benefit from the initiative.
• For students from families earning up to ₹8 lakh annually, and not eligible for other government scholarships, a 3% interest subvention will be provided on loans up to ₹10 lakh during the moratorium period.
• The total outlay of ₹3,600 crore from 2024-25 to 2030-31 is expected to support 7 lakh students over this period, with preference given to government institution students enrolled in technical or professional courses.

Differences from Previous Schemes

PM Vidyalaxmi differs from past schemes in several key aspects:

• Firstly, it simplifies the loan application process through the Vidyalaxmi portal, which links students to both public and private sector banks.
• Unlike previous schemes that mainly catered to low-income families, this one also includes middle-income students.
• Another notable difference is the shift from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and NBA (National Board of Accreditation) accreditation to NIRF rankings for eligibility. Only institutions ranked in the top 100 overall and in specific categories are eligible under the new criteria.

Eligibility Criteria and Institutional Rankings

• Under PM Vidyalaxmi, eligibility is tied to NIRF rankings, reducing the number of eligible institutions.
• While the scheme mentions 860 institutions, some appear in multiple NIRF categories, meaning the actual number of unique eligible institutions is lower.
• Institutions must also register for the NIRF ranking, leaving out many that have not participated, further limiting eligibility.

Implications

• By linking financial support to NIRF rankings, the scheme increases competition for admission to top-ranked institutions. However, students from non-ranked institutions may face higher interest rates or loan rejections.
• This focus on institutional performance could widen the gap between well-ranked and lesser-ranked institutions, making it harder for students without top marks to access financial aid.

PM Modi Proposes Seven Pillars to Strengthen India-CARICOM Ties

GS 2: International Relations: India-Caribbean Community

Why is it in the news?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Guyana for the second India-CARICOM Summit, marking the first visit by an Indian head of state to the Caribbean in over 50 years.

More about the news

• During the summit, Modi proposed seven key pillars to bolster ties between India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), focusing on trade, technology, tourism, economic cooperation, agriculture, food security, health, pharmaceuticals, and science.
• Modi emphasized promoting five Ts—trade, technology, tourism, talent, and tradition—through an online portal to connect the private sector across all countries.
• He also highlighted India’s progress in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector and reiterated the commitment made at last year’s India-CARICOM meeting to implement a $1 million grant for SMEs.
• The Prime Minister’s visit follows India’s earlier engagement with CARICOM leaders at the UNGA in 2019, where they discussed renewable energy cooperation through a $150 million credit line from India.

UNICEF Report: Planetary Crisis Threatens Children’s Future

GS 2: Society: Escalating Global threats for children

Why is it in the news?

• The UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report, highlights a planetary crisis that is putting nearly half of the world’s children—about one billion—at risk. These children live in countries facing high risks from climate and environmental hazards.
• The report delves into the impact of three long-term global forces: demographic shifts, climate and environmental crises, and frontier technologies, which are expected to profoundly affect children’s lives by 2050.

Key findings of the Report

• The UNICEF Report highlights escalating global threats, including climate destabilization, biodiversity loss, and pollution, which are creating a more hazardous environment for children than any previous generation.
• Children’s developing bodies are particularly vulnerable, with their brains, lungs, and immune systems exposed to pollution and extreme weather from before birth. Air pollution, in particular, poses lasting risks to respiratory health.
• Rising global temperatures are intensifying health risks by increasing mosquito populations that spread diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika. Floods are contaminating water supplies, leading to waterborne diseases, which are a major cause of death for children under five.
• Extreme weather events are also threatening food production, increasing food insecurity, and making children more susceptible to malnutrition. Additionally, climate-related disasters are contributing to trauma, anxiety, and helplessness in children.
• The report also emphasizes the disruption caused by extreme weather, noting that since 2022, 400 million students worldwide have faced school closures. These closures violate children’s rights, hinder their education, and stifle economic growth. Furthermore, climate hazards are displacing children, compounding their challenges.
• By the 2050s, the global child population is expected to stabilize at 2.3 billion, with significant regional shifts. South Asia will remain a major hub for child populations, joined by eastern, southern, and central Africa.
• These regions already face difficulties in meeting children’s basic needs and lack adequate digital infrastructure, while also grappling with climate risks.
• In the realm of frontier technologies, the report points to artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, next-generation renewable energy, and vaccine breakthroughs as potential solutions for improving childhood outcomes.
• However, it also highlights the digital divide, noting that while 95% of people in high-income countries have internet access, only 26% in low-income countries do. This digital exclusion, worsened by high costs and infrastructure barriers, threatens to widen inequalities, especially in rapidly growing child populations.
• Further, the report warns that while digitalization can empower children, it also exposes them to online risks such as sexual exploitation and abuse.