Category: International Relations

• The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS-4) is now happening in Antigua and Barbuda.

What are the Small Island Developing States (SIDS)?

• SIDS are 39 states and 18 Associate Members of the United Nations Regional Commissions that face particular social, economic, and environmental challenges. 
• SIDS are situated across three regions:

1. the Caribbean,
2. the Pacific
3. the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIS).

• Their unique concerns were recognised in the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Challenges Faced by SIDS:

• SIDS have challenges such as high import/export costs owing to their remote location and limited resources.
• The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is much bigger than landmasses, supplies critical resources but also presents issues such as high transportation costs and sensitivity to economic shocks.

Biodiversity and Economic Significance:

• Biodiversity maintains essential businesses such as tourism and fishing, which frequently account for more than half of SIDS’ GDP.
• Beyond economic advantages, biodiversity has aesthetic and spiritual significance, as it provides critical functions such as food supply, erosion prevention, and natural catastrophe protection. 

Source: https://www.un.org/ohrlls/content/list-sids

• The Zero Debris Charter was signed by twelve countries and the European Space Agency (ESA) during the ESA/EU Space Council.

Zero-Debris Charter

• The Zero Debris Charter was announced during the ESA Space Summit in Seville, Spain, in November 2023.
• The Charter was assisted by ESA’s “Protection of Space Assets” Accelerator and produced in close collaboration with diverse space actors.

Objectives:

• To achieve debris neutrality in space by 2030.
• Long-term viability of human operations in Earth orbit.

Members:

• The signatories are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
• The ESA signed as an international organisation. 

Community Support and Leadership

• More than 100 organisations are anticipated to join the Charter in the coming months.
• This comprises governmental space agencies, satellite makers, space start-ups, and astronomical society. 

Source: https://www.space.com/space-junk-zero-debris-charter-esa#:~:text=ESA%20and%20some%20of%20its,tackle%20the%20orbital%20debris%20problem.&text=Earth%20orbit%20is%20becoming%20increasingly%20polluted.

• Global AI governance is growing more complex, with governments taking various methods. This demonstrates that global accords may encounter substantial obstacles despite overwhelming support.

About the Council of Europe (CoE)

• The COE is an international organisation founded in 1949. It presently includes 46 member nations, including the Holy See, Japan, and the United nations, as well as EU members.
• Aim: To protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe. 

Law guarantees that 

• AI systems comply with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law throughout their existence.
• According to the EU AI Act and the OECD’s definition, an AI system is a machine-based system that creates outputs based on input and influences real or virtual surroundings.

Coverage:

• Application by Parties: The agreement applies to AI-related actions carried out by both public bodies and private actors acting on their behalf.
• Addressing Risks: Parties must handle the risks and repercussions of AI system activities by private actors that are not covered by (a) in a way that is compatible with the convention’s goals. 

What is the difference between a Framework Convention and a Protocol? 

• A legally enforceable treaty that establishes broad promises and objectives.Allows parties to choose how to achieve their goals, taking into account their capacities and priorities.For example, consider the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Protocol: Specific agreements are established inside the framework convention. Specific targets or particular measurements are established to meet the framework convention’s wider objectives.Consider the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which is part of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

Addressing National Security in AI. Convention

• Exclusions for National Security: Articles 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4 grant extensive exclusions for national security interests, research, development, testing, and national defence, eliminating military AI applications from the convention’s purview.
• Balancing Flexibility and Regulation: Article 3(b) gives parties some leeway in applying the convention to the private sector, prohibiting absolute exemption while meeting national security requirements.
• General Obligations: Articles 4 and 5 guarantee the preservation of human rights, democratic integrity, and the rule of law, and require parties to confront misinformation and deep fakes as part of their national security strategies.
• Scope for Further Action: Article 22 empowers parties to exceed defined obligations, allowing for extra actions to address national security concerns about AI. 

Conclusion: 

The AI convention is critical because it supports existing human and basic rights in the context of AI applications rather than establishing new ones. It emphasises the need of governments upholding fundamental rights while also implementing effective remedies and procedural protections.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/how-europes-ai-convention-balances-innovation-and-human-rights-explained/article68219354.ece#:~:text=The%20AI%20convention%20doesn't,of%20AI%20systems%20as%20well.

• On May 20, 2024, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested arrest warrants for Hamas leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the events of October 7, 2023 and the Palestinian conflict.

For whom has the Prosecutor requested arrest warrants?

• Arrest warrants have been issued for key Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, as well as Netanyahu and Israel’s Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant.

The method of ICC decision-making and the scope of the current case:

• ICC judgements are legally binding, but they rely on the cooperation of member nations for support.
  • A panel of judges at the ICC must rule on the Prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants.
  • If authorised, all State Parties must comply, including arresting and extraditing suspected persons to The Hague.
  • This might limit Netanyahu and Gallant’s overseas travel, including visits to Rome Statute-compliant nations. 
• Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute. The International Criminal Court (ICC) does, however, have jurisdiction over crimes committed by citizens of both State Parties (such as Palestine) and Non-state Parties (such as Israel) on the territory of a State Party. 

Way forward:

• Need Enhanced Cooperation: Encouraging increased collaboration between the ICC and the UN to improve their efficacy in combating international crimes.
• Need Wider Membership: Calling for additional nations to join the Rome Statute as State Parties in order to expand the ICC’s authority and scope. 

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/expert-explains-icc-prosecutor-netanyahu-arrest-9343254/#:~:text=The%20charges%20emphasise%20the%20brutality,2023%2C%20according%20to%20the%20Prosecutor.

• The World Bank study, “Water for Shared Prosperity,” was presented during the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia.
• It highlights the growing disparity in access to water resources and services, worsened by causes such as population expansion, urbanisation, and climate change.

About the World Water Forum:

• It is a large-scale worldwide gathering centred on the discussion and development of solutions to global water concerns.
• It’s held every three years. The inaugural forum was held in Marrakech, Morocco, in March 1997.
• It is organised by the World Water Council, an international organisation.
• It brings together stakeholders from a variety of sectors, including governments, organisations, corporations, and academics, to raise awareness, create political commitment, and spur action on vital water challenges at every level. 

What is the World Water Council?

• The World Water Council was created in 1996.
• The WWC concept arose from talks during the 1994 International Water and Sanitation Congress & Exhibition, as well as the 1996 Ministerial Conference on Drinking Water and Environmental Sanitation.
• WWC’s operations are focused on SDG 6 goals, among others. 
• The Council was founded by famous water professionals and worldwide organisations such as academic institutions, commercial enterprises, governments, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
• The Council’s principal goal is to promote awareness of essential water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making levels, in order to support effective conservation, protection, development, planning, management, and use of water resources across the world.
• Membership: The WWC has a broad membership base of about 300 organisations from around 50 countries. 

Key Functions and Contributions:

• World Water Forums: This is the world’s largest gathering on water, bringing together people from all sectors to discuss and collaborate on water concerns.
• Policy Influence: The WWC attempts to shape policy by enabling interactions among political and economic leaders.
• Research and Advocacy: The WWC promotes better knowledge and awareness of water concerns through its publications, policy papers, and strategic initiatives. 

Source: https://worldwaterforum.org/

An Indian inter-ministerial delegation visited the UAE to explore the operational elements of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a significant step forward since the agreement was signed.

About IMEC Project

• IMEC is a component of the larger Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), which focuses on infrastructure development in economically developing countries.
• The IMEC MoU was formally approved on September 10, 2023, at the 2023 G20 New Delhi summit.
• Signatories to this pact include India, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union.
• Aim: To strengthen economic cooperation between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. 
• Objectives:
  • Increase transportation efficiency, reduce costs, and foster economic cooperation among member countries.
  • Create job opportunities and minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • Facilitate commerce and connectivity, altering regional integration throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. 

Significance:

• IMEC will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network, complementing current marine and road transport networks.
• The IMEC Project has great promise for rethinking regional trade dynamics and creating long-term economic growth and collaboration among participating nations. 

Source: https://ecfr.eu/publication/the-infinite-connection-how-to-make-the-india-middle-east-europe-economic-corridor-happen/#:~:text=IMEC%20would%20help%20reinforce%20European,connectivity%20with%20a%20central%20energy

Venezuela is likely the first country to lose all of its glaciers, with the Humboldt glacier melting quicker than expected. While experts predicted it would endure another decade, its fast melting surpassed expectations. 

Background:

• In the Andes highlands of Venezuela, there were six glaciers located around 5,000 metres above sea level.
• By 2011, five of them were disappeared. Scientists predicted the Humboldt glacier would endure another decade.

What are glaciers?

• Glaciers are enormous volumes of ice formed on land over time when snow accumulates and compacts. They run like sluggish rivers and generally form in areas with near-freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and little summer melting.
• According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), they typically exist and form in areas where mean annual temperatures are near freezing; winter precipitation results in significant snow accumulations; and temperatures throughout the rest of the year do not completely remove the previous winter’s snow accumulation.

Why are glaciers disappearing?

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Since the Industrial Revolution, the combustion of fossil fuels has released significant volumes of GHGs into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide and methane.
• Heat Trapping: Greenhouse gases operate like a blanket, trapping heat in the atmosphere. While they let sunlight to flow through, they prevent heat from escaping into space, resulting in an increase in global temperatures.
  • Since 1880, the global average temperature has risen by at least 1.1 degrees Celsius as a result of the current surge in GHG emissions.
• Temperature increase has had severe repercussions, including more frequent and extreme heatwaves, floods, droughts, and sea level rise.
• Glaciers, like ice cubes exposed to heat, are melting at an accelerated rate as temperatures rise due to global warming.
• Natural Climate Phenomena: Natural climate phenomena such as El Nino can increase glacier melting by producing anomalous warming of surface waters, as seen with the Humboldt glacier in Venezuela. 

What are the effects of glacier loss?

• Glaciers are important sources of freshwater, particularly during hot and dry spells, giving water to nearby inhabitants, plants, and animals. Their removal would increase the reliance on erratic rainfall for freshwater supplies.
• Temperature Regulation: Glacial discharge serves to manage downstream water temperatures, notably by keeping them colder. This is critical for many aquatic species that require frigid water temperatures to thrive, affecting the entire ecosystem. 
• Ecosystem Impact: Glacier loss has a direct impact on aquatic species, interrupting the food chain and perhaps causing biodiversity reductions.
• Melting glaciers contribute to increasing sea levels, while smaller glaciers, such as Venezuela’s Humboldt glacier, may have less of an influence.
• Cultural Impact: The disappearance of glaciers has far-reaching cultural consequences, particularly for people who rely on glaciers for cultural identity. Mountaineering and tourism are two activities that rely on glaciers.
• Tourism and Recreation: Glaciers are frequently popular tourist destinations, bringing tourists for activities such as mountaineering and sightseeing. The retreat of glaciers would have an influence on tourism and recreation in the impacted areas. 

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/venezuela-glaciers-9337469/#:~:text=The%20Andes%20%E2%80%94%20a%20mountain%20range,lost%20all%20of%20its%20glaciers.

What is the Indian Ocean Dipole?

• The IOD is often referred to as the Indian Nino. It is distinguished by the difference in temperature of ocean waters in the basin’s eastern and western regions.
• The IOD, like the Pacific’s El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), consists of phases of ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions that influence weather patterns throughout the area and beyond.
• There are two main phases of the IOD:
  • Positive Phase: During this phase, the western Indian Ocean warms above normal, while the eastern half cools below average. This causes increased convection and rainfall over the western Indian Ocean and surrounding land areas such as East Africa, whereas rainfall decreases over the eastern Indian Ocean and countries such as Indonesia and Australia.
  • During the negative phase, the waters in the western Indian Ocean are colder than those in the east. This causes more rainfall in the eastern Indian Ocean areas and drier weather in the west and East Africa.

Impact on the Indian Monsoon:

The Indian Ocean Dipole significantly affects the Indian Monsoon:

1. Positive IOD frequently corresponds with a greater Southwest Monsoon, which brings more rain to India. This is due to the movement of warm water and associated convection towards India, which increases monsoon rainfall.
2. Negative IOD can reduce the Southwest Monsoon, resulting in lower rainfall and probable drought in India. The movement of warm water away from India diminishes the essential heat and moisture to trigger monsoon rains.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/positive-iod-may-re-emerge-this-year-likely-to-boost-south-west-monsoon/article68149347.ece#:~:text=A%20positive%20IOD%20can%20boost,deficit%20in%20June%2C%20experts%20said.

According to Reporters Without Borders, India’s World Press Freedom Index score dropped from 36.62 to 31.28 during the last year. In South Asia, India is placed 159th, with Pakistan somewhat higher at 152.

India’s initiative of “Index Monitoring Cell”:

• Purpose of the Cell: The Index Monitoring Cell has been established to strive towards improving India’s press freedom rating. It would be made up of members from various government departments and trustworthy journalists recommended by the Press Council of India.
• Ranking Parameters: The cell will consult with institutions that produce the World Press Freedom Index, such as Reporters Without Borders, to gain a better understanding of the parameters and methodology used in the rankings. This will assist in developing an action plan to solve the concerns reported.
• Coordination with State Governments: The cell will work with state governments to select nodal officials who can offer frequent reports on the situation of press freedom and any challenges that journalists experience on a local level.
• Engagement with Stakeholders: The goal is to increase communication and visibility of efforts taken to protect press freedom and address issues identified by global media watchdogs.
• Reporting methods: Establishing effective reporting methods is critical to ensuring that the data and information supplied to ranking authorities are current and correct. This will assist to paint a more accurate picture of India’s press freedom environment. 

Conclusion: 

India must implement and tighten legislation to preserve press freedom and journalist safety. This includes legislation to protect journalists from harassment, assaults, and threats, as well as measures for prompt and effective legal action in situations of censorship or intimidation.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-press-freedom-score-falls-says-reporters-sans-frontieres/article68136062.ece#:~:text=India's%20score%20in%20the%20World,by%20journalists%20in%20180%20jurisdictions.