Prelim Bits 08-12-2023 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Article 99 of the UN Charter

Amid Israel’s ongoing military attacks on the Gaza Strip, United Nations (UN) has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter in a bid to establish a ceasefire.

• It has been invoked for the 1^st time in decades as Israel attacks Gaza.
• Article 99 - “The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
• It is seen as a discretionary power of the Secretary-General.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) comprises 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members appointed for specific periods. On a rotational basis, each of these 15 countries holds the presidency for a month. The South American country of Ecuador is the President for December 2023.

• Impact – The President of the UNSC is under the obligation to call a meeting of the Council.
• Earlier Invocations
  • During the upheaval in the Republic of the Congo in 1960 following the end of Belgium’s colonial rule.
  • During a complaint by Tunisia in 1961 against France’s naval and air forces launching an attack.

For a UN resolution to be adopted, it needs at least 9 votes in favour and no vetoes by the 5 permanent members (US, UK, France, China and Russia).

References

1. The Indian Express| UN Secretary General invoked Article 99
2. UN.ORG| United Nations Charter

Essequibo region

Recently, the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency closed meeting at the request of Guyana following Venezuela’s weekend referendum claiming Essequibo region.

• Geography – It a 61,600-square-mile area located in the heart of the Guiana Shield, a geographical region in the northeast of South America.
• It accounts for two-thirds of Guyana.
• The area is one of the 4 last pristine tropical forests in the world.
• Economical value – It has vast oil and mineral resources.
  • With these resources, Guyana is set to surpass the oil production of Venezuela, and by 2025, it would become the world’s largest per-capita crude producer.

Currently, Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

• History of contention – It is a disputed territory between Guyana and Venezuela.
• 1899 arbitration demarcated their boundaries which was formally accepted in 1905 agreement.
• While Venezuela challenged the 1899 arbitration in 1962, the 1966 Geneva Agreement aimed at maintaining the status quo.
• Recent contention – Through referendum, Venezuelans approved the claim of sovereignty over Essequibo and were about to immediately begin exploration in the disputed region.
• International response – Guyana approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which refused to ban the referendum but urged Venezuela not to alter the status quo.

Under Article 94 of the U.N. Charter, if any party to a case fails to perform its required obligations, the other party (in this case Guyana) may take the issue to the Security Council.

References

1. The Hindu| Dispute over Essequibo region
2. Aljazeera | Guyana’s territorial dispute with Venezuela

Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Acceleration

According to a report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the decade from 2011-2020 was the warmest ever in history.

• The report provides a longer-term perspective and transcends year-to-year variability in our climate.
• It reports how extreme events undermines sustainable development and how improvements in early warnings and disaster management reduced the number of casualties.
• Released by – World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), COP28.
• It complements WMO’s annual State of the Global Climate report.
• Data source – Physical data analyses and impact assessments from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, Regional Climate Centres, National Statistics Offices and UN partners.
• Key messages of the report
  • 2011-2020 was warmest decade on record
  • It recorded the lowest number of deaths from extreme events
  • Heatwaves caused the highest number of human casualties
  • Tropical cyclones caused the most economic damage
  • Glaciers around the world thinned by approximately 1 metre per year on average between 2011 and 2020
  • Ocean heat and acidification damaged marine ecosystems
  • This was the 1^st decade that the depleted ozone hole visibly showed recovery
  • Public and private climate finance almost doubled
• Recommendations – It emphasizes the need to try to limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era.
• Climate finance needs to increase at least 7 times by the end of this decade to achieve climate objectives.

References

1. The Hindu| Warmest decade in the history
2. WMO.INT| The Global Climate 2011-2020: A decade of acceleration

Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education

After COVID break, Centre approves 4^th phase roll-out of GIAN scheme as recommended by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA).

• It was launched in 2015-16 by Ministry of Education (MoE).
• Objectives –
  • To increase the footfalls of international faculty in the Indian academic institutes and to create avenue for possible collaborative research.
  • To develop high quality course material in niche areas, both through video and print mediums.
• GIAN Implementation Committee – It is headed by Secretary (HE), MoE to finalize and approve courses and also decide on budget allocation.
• Coverage – Initially, it will include all IITs, IIMs, Central Universities, IISc Bangalore, IISERs, NITs and IIITs subsequently cover good State Universities.
  • So far 39% of courses were delivered in IIT campuses followed by NITs (24.6%).
• Activities – Initially, foreign faculty be involved in delivering Short or Semester-long Courses.
  • In total 1,612 faculties visited, 41.4% were from U.S. and up to 72,000 Indian students directly benefitted.
• Future prospects – Experts allowing video recording and optional web-casting of their course will be given preference.
• There is a plan to make the repository of GIAN lectures available to universities across India through an online consortium.

References

1. The Hindu| Rollout of 4^th phase of GIAN
2. GIAN| Global Initiatives for Academic Networks

Almora Fault

Data indicates an increase in earthquake activity in 2023 was mainly attributed to the activation of the Almora fault.

• Almora Fault – It is located in Western Nepal.
• It is a high angle west-northwest-east-southeast to northwest-southeast trending tectonic plane.
• It separates the inner lesser Himalayas in the north from outer lesser Himalayas in the south.

• Activation of Almora fault- 3 significant earthquakes above 5.8 magnitude occurred in 2023 leading to an increased frequency of earthquakes in 2023.

There have been 97 earthquakes in 2023 of magnitude 3.0 to 3,9 compared to 41 in 2022.

• Agency responsible - The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is responsible for taking precautionary measures and response to earthquake related incidents.

Nepal and the adjoining northern part of India, located near the active faults of the Himalayan region, are highly seismically active areas prone to frequent earthquakes due to collision tectonics, where the Indian plate subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate.

References

1. Down To Earth| Activation of Almora Fault
2. Live Mint| Almora Fault