Comprehensive News Analysis 23-10-2021

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

1. 43 countries call on China at UN to respect Uighur rights

Context:

Forty-three countries have called on China to “ensure full respect for the rule of law” for the Muslim Uighur community in Xinjiang.

Who are Uighurs?

• The Uighurs are a minority Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia.

• The Uighurs are recognized as native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.

• They are considered to be one of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities.

• The Uighurs have traditionally inhabited a series of oases scattered across the Taklamakan Desert comprising the Tarim Basin, a territory that has historically been controlled by many civilizations including China, the Mongols, the Tibetans and the Turkic world.

• An estimated 80% of Xinjiang’s Uyghurs still live in the Tarim Basin. The rest of Xinjiang’s Uyghurs mostly live in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (UAR), which is located in the historical region of Dzungaria.

Details:

• The declaration, signed by the United States as well as several European and Asian member states and others, accused China of a litany of human rights violations against the Uighurs, including torture, forced sterilisation and forced disappearances.

• In a joint statement, the countries called on China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

• The countries argued that credible reports indicate the existence of a large network of ‘political re-education’ camps where over a million people have been arbitrarily detained.

China’s Stand:

• While experts have estimated that more than one million people are incarcerated in camps, China has for long denied accusations of ethnic cleansing against Uighurs and other Muslim Turkic people in Xinjiang.

• It has said that while it is willing to host a friendly visit to the region, it would not agree to an inquiry by the UN human rights commissioner.

C. GS 3 Related

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 

1. India weighs ‘net zero’ target ahead of CoP

Context:

The 26th meeting of the United Nations Conference of Parties (CoP) will begin in Glasgow on November 1, 2021.

Net Zero Target:

• The major focus of COP26 is to have all nations commit to “net zero”.

• Net zero means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out.

• Achieving net-zero emissions does not mean eliminating all emissions. It means ensuring any human-produced carbon dioxide or other planet-warming gases that can’t be avoided or locked up are removed from the atmosphere some other way.

• According to the scientists, if all countries do this by 2050, there would be a chance of restricting the average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, provided emissions fall to around 45% of the 2010 levels by 2030.

• This, however, would require deep and significant cuts to fossil fuel use that can affect the development trajectory of India and other developing countries.

Source: The Hindu

India and “Net Zero” target:

• A study by the think tank Council for Energy Environment and Water said that for India to achieve the net zero target even by 2070, usage of coal, especially for power generation, will need to peak by 2040 and drop by 99% between 2040 and 2060.

• The consumption of crude oil across sectors will need to peak by 2050 and fall substantially by 90% between 2050 and 2070.

• India’s long-term position in climate talks has always been that it will forego the use of fossil fuels but only gradually because it cannot compromise on development, which is now primarily reliant on coal.

• Also because it goes against the core principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” that requires developed countries, which are responsible for the climate crisis, to take on deeper cuts and pay developing countries for the environmental damage from rising temperature as well as finance their transition to clean energy sources.

• However, the U.S, and EU delegations, in recent months, had several meetings with the Indian officials to chart out a more ambitious pathway to cut emissions.

• Most recently, India and the United Kingdom have agreed to strengthen climate initiatives and further their green partnership.

Category: ECONOMY 

1. A Clean energy transition plan for India

Context:

A clean energy transition plan is proposed that is expected to ensure energy security and also contribute towards climate change. 

Background:

• Energy security ensures uninterrupted supply of energy sources at affordable prices. 

• India has twin challenges in terms of energy. 

  • On one hand, India has to ensure the availability and affordability of energy to 1.3 billion population, and 

  • on the other hand, it has to make noticeable contributions towards climate change.

• The Electricity Act of 2003 has helped to transform the power sector of India and the thermal power plant (TPP) generation capacity in India has increased from 94GW in 2011 to 192 GW in 2017, which is more than double the number in 2011. 

• This, in turn, has made it possible for the government to increase per capita electricity consumption by 37% and the energy demand deficit has also declined from 9.8 percent in 2010-11 to 1.6 percent in 2016-17.

• India still has to work on providing energy security to the whole population as it stands third at the international level in terms of per capita energy consumption.

Caol as the major contributor to electricity:

• India is a coal abundant country and the contribution of the Thermal Power Plant (TPP) out of 1382 billion units of electricity generation by utilities, stood at 71 percent, and in terms of total installed capacity (382 GW as of March), the contribution was 55 percent.

• It implies that coal is the major source of electricity generation in India as piped gas is not easily accessible because of geopolitical reasons.

Renewable energy:

• Variable Renewable Energy Sources (VRE), mainly wind and solar, contribute 24 percent of the total installed capacity and in terms of electricity generation by utilities, their share was 10.7 percent in FY 2020-21.

VREs and costs to the consumer:

Given below are the key points with regards to VREs and the costs to the consumers:

• The increase in electricity generation through VRE without a proportionate increase in demand for electricity has led to lower capacity utilization of the TPPs.

• The distribution companies (DISCOMS) have to pay the fixed costs of these TPPs despite the low capacity utilization and the burden is ultimately shifted to the final consumers.

• The government of India is focusing on the rapid growth of VREs through various policy measures as well as financial incentives whose ultimate cost is borne by the consumers.

• The current level of VRE in the national power grid has increased the cost of procurement for DISCOMS which in turn is increasing the rates of tariffs for the consumers.

• Hence, India has to implement the plan for increasing energy efficiency and reducing the emission of carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants from TPPs without making electricity unaffordable to the industries that require low-cost power 24×7 to compete in the international market.

Structure of a plan:

A time-bound plan for India’s power sector has been developed which includes:

• Retirement of certain TPPs:

  • Progressive retirement of 211 Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) that contribute to 36GW of total installed capacity. This retirement will be based on the following key performance indicators:

    • Efficiency,

    • Specific Coal Consumption,

    • Technological Obsolescence, and

    • Age.

  • The shortfall in baseload electricity generation will be compensated by increasing the utilization of the High-Efficiency-Low-Emission (HELE) TPPs that are currently underutilized. 

  • This should be done in order to promote VRE and accomplishment of 47 government-owned TPPs that are under construction in which the investment of Rs. 1,77,742 has been already done by the government.

  • The power purchase agreement has already been signed between the DISCOMS and these TPPs and under the two-part tariff policy program, its cost will be borne by the power consumers irrespective of their usage.

• Nuclear Power Plants:

• • The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is developing 11 nuclear power plants. Features of these plants will be:

    • The total generation capacity of these plants will be 8,700 MW,

    • 24×7 power supply, and 

    • No carbon dioxide emission.

Benefits of the plan:

The estimated benefits of the plan are as follows:

• Capacity increase:

  • The total installed capacity of TPPs by utilities will increase from the current 209 GW to 220GW by 2029-30.

  • The combined thermal (220 GW) and nuclear (15 GW) capacity of 235 GW is expected to match the baseload requirement (80 percent of the peak demand) during the evening peak in FY 2029-30.

  • The optimum utilization of the existing and under construction HELE TPPs with efficient capabilities and a low level of technical minimus will also help in the integration of VRE.

  • The electricity generation from TPPs is likely to be reduced from the 2020-21 level of 71 percent to 57 percent of the total electricity generation by 2029-30.

  • The contribution of HELE TPPs will shoot up from 25 percent (as in 2018-19) to 44 percent in 2029-30.

  • The contribution of inefficient TPPs will decline from 46 percent (as in 2018-19) to 4 percent in 2029-30.

  • As a result, the emission of carbon dioxide will decline by 57Mt in 2029-30 and even the electricity generation from coal is expected to be increased by 21 percent to 1,234 Billion Units (BU) in 2029-30.

• Economic and Environmental benefits:

• • The promotion of HELE TPPs will reduce the emissions of particulate matter SO2 and NO2. 

  • Avoidance of sustenance Capital Expenditure and desulphurization plants (FGDs) costs in the 211 inefficient TPPs that are proposed to be retired. Besides, there will be savings in terms of specific coal consumption and water consumption by these TPPs. This will, in turn, reduce the electricity tariffs and PM pollution.

  • The implementation of this plan will enable India to safeguard its energy security and ensure efficient grid operations with lower water consumption, PM pollution, and CO2 emissions.

  • Ultimately, this plan demonstrates India’s commitment to climate change mitigation by optimizing the use of our land, coal, water, and financial resources with indigenous technology.

Conclusion:

India is working continuously to become energy efficient and it should implement the transition plan as soon as possible to meet its energy requirements and mitigate climate change.

2. Amur falcons in Manipur for annual migration

What’s in News?

The arrival of the migratory Amur Falcons to Tamenglong district of Manipur for the annual stopover.

• Amur falcons visit the district every year from breeding grounds in China and Russia before beginning their onward voyage to Africa for the winter.

• They are the world’s longest travelling raptors that start travelling with the onset of winters.

• They get their name from the Amur River that forms the border between Russia and China.

• Doyang Lake in Nagaland is a famous roosting site for the species during its migration.

• Nagaland is called the falcon capital of the world.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List Status – Least Concerned.

• It is protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Convention on Migratory Species, to which India is a signatory.

• Also, the hunting of the bird is punishable under the Manipur Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and could lead to three years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000.

3. Winter session likely from November-end

What’s in News?

The month-long winter session of Parliament is likely to commence from the fourth week of November 2021 following all COVID-19 protocols.

Read more on Sessions of Indian Parliament (Monsoon, Winter, Budget).

Sessions of the Parliament:

A session of the Indian Parliament is the period during which a House meets almost every day uninterruptedly to manage the business. There are typically three sessions in a year.

• Budget session (February to May)

• Monsoon session (July to September)

• Winter session (November to December)