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30 January 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

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1. Broken promises in a warming world

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations, GS3 – Environment
Context
The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under Trump highlights its inconsistent climate commitments – shifting burdens onto developing nations and undermining global climate action.

Impact of U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

  • U.S. President Trump’s decision to pull the country out of the Paris Agreement is a major setback in the fight against global warming.
  • The withdrawal will legally take effect in a year.
  • The U.S. is the world’s richest nation, owning a third of global wealth and having the highest GDP.
  • Historically, the U.S. has contributed over a fifth of total carbon dioxide emissions since the pre-industrial era.
  • As a signatory of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the U.S. was expected to lead in climate action and support developing nations with financial and technological assistance.

The U.S.’s Weak Commitment to Climate Action

  • Regardless of the ruling party, the U.S. has consistently failed to fulfill its global climate responsibilities.
  • From 1992 to 2005, U.S. emissions steadily increased, and the country stayed out of the Kyoto Protocol due to bipartisan opposition in Congress.
  • While emissions have declined since then, the rate of reduction is much slower than needed.
  • The Paris Agreement shifted from legally binding commitments for developed nations (as in the Kyoto Protocol) to voluntary pledges from all countries.
  • This shift was designed to accommodate U.S. domestic politics, which resisted binding emission reduction targets.
  • The approach was first seen in the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit and later formalized in the 2015 Paris Agreement under President Obama.

Biden Administration’s Climate Actions

  • Despite efforts at climate action, the U.S. became the world’s largest crude oil producer under President Biden.
  • The minimal $300 billion annual climate finance target at COP29 (Baku) resulted from resistance by the U.S. and its developed allies.
  • Biden’s updated climate commitment in December 2024 aimed for only a 60% emission reduction from 2005 levels by 2035.
  • This target still allows the U.S. to consume a disproportionate share of the global carbon budget.
  • At climate summits in Dubai and Baku, the U.S. pushed developing nations for higher mitigation targets while making weak commitments itself.

Pattern of U.S. Climate Policy

  • U.S. climate action has followed a frustrating cycle: weak commitments under Democratic administrations followed by withdrawal under Republican governments.
  • This has forced large emerging economies to take on increasing climate burdens.
  • Developing nations now face financial withdrawal and pressure to decarbonize early, worsening global inequalities and food insecurity.

Global Reaction to the U.S. Withdrawal

  • The dominant belief, influenced by the U.S., is that markets can drive climate action through private sector investments.
  • However, over 80% of U.S. and 70% of EU energy still comes from fossil fuels, showing that market-driven solutions have failed.
  • Developed countries have weak accountability for climate commitments compared to developing nations, where public sectors play a greater role.
  • Academics and civil society in developed nations have promoted the false idea that local governments and businesses can fill the gap left by national policies.
  • A 2024 University of Colorado Law School paper highlights that most U.S. states have weak or no emissions reduction policies.

Advice for Developing Nations

  • Developing countries should not attempt to compensate for the U.S.’s withdrawal.
  • Other developed nations are likely to offer only rhetorical support rather than substantive action.
  • During Trump’s first term, the Paris Agreement implementation details were finalized in ways that shifted more responsibility onto the Global South.
  • A second Trump administration may remain in negotiations but insist on increased commitments from developing nations.
  • Despite withdrawing, the U.S. continues to claim global climate leadership.

Maintaining Multilateralism and Development Goals

  • Developing nations must continue engaging in global climate discussions, as climate change is a global challenge.
  • India and other Global South nations should balance climate action with addressing their development needs.
  • There must be greater focus on adaptation strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Conclusion

  • Just and effective climate action requires strong political will from all nations.
  • Other countries must push the U.S. to rejoin meaningful international cooperation on climate change.
PYQ: Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.(150 Words /10 marks) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2022)
Practice Question:  Discuss the impact of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on global climate governance. How should developing nations respond to such policy reversals? (150 Words /10 marks)

2. Bridge the milk divide for a nutritionally secure India

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Health
Context
The article highlights India’s milk consumption disparities, emphasizing the need for equitable access to milk for vulnerable groups to address malnutrition and overnutrition.

India’s Milk Revolution and Current Challenges

  • India’s White Revolution, led by Verghese Kurien, made it the world’s largest milk producer.
  • Milk is a key source of protein and nutrients, especially in plant-heavy Indian diets, and helps reduce stunting and underweight issues in children.
  • Despite this, milk consumption is highly unequal across income groups, regions, and social categories. Addressing these gaps is crucial for better health outcomes.

Inequities in Milk Consumption

According to the latest Household Consumer Expenditure Surveys (HCES) by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO):

  • The top 10% of income groups consume 3-4 times more milk per person than the poorest 10%.
  • The poorest 30% of households consume only 18% of India’s milk.
  • Urban households consume 30% more milk than rural ones, even though most milk is produced in rural areas.
  • Scheduled Tribe households consume 4 litres less milk per person than general category households.
  • States like Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana consume 333-421 grams of milk per person daily, while eastern states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal consume only 75-171 grams.

Affordability and Overconsumption Issues

  • Meeting the recommended 300 grams of milk daily would require 70% of households to spend 10-30% of their monthly income on milk.
  • Affluent urban households often consume more than double the recommended amount, including unhealthy products like ice cream and sweets, leading to overnutrition and obesity.

Focus on Vulnerable Groups

  • Prioritizing milk access for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and the elderly in low-income areas is essential.
  • Strengthen milk provision through schemes like POSHAN and Integrated Child Development Services. States like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka already provide milk, but quantities are insufficient.
  • Explore innovative financing, such as social bonds, corporate social responsibility funds, and taxes on unhealthy foods.
  • Use milk coupons in areas with strong dairy networks to improve access and support local markets.

Awareness and Healthy Consumption

  • Promote the nutritional benefits of milk through campaigns targeting women via Anganwadi centres, self-help groups, and civil society organizations.
  • States like Maharashtra and Bihar are already leading such efforts.
  • Encourage moderation in milk consumption among affluent groups to reduce overnutrition and make milk more affordable for the vulnerable.
  • Learn from the U.K.’s Change4Life Sugar Swaps campaign, which successfully reduced sugar and fat consumption.

Conclusion

  • Milk is vital for India’s nutrition security. Ensuring equitable access for the vulnerable while curbing overconsumption among the affluent will fulfill Verghese Kurien’s vision of a nutritionally secure India.
  • This will make the benefits of the milk revolution accessible to all.
Practice Question:  Analyze the factors contributing to inequitable milk consumption in India. Propose policy interventions to bridge the gap and ensure nutritional security for vulnerable populations.”  (150 Words /10 marks)

For more such UPSC related Current Affairs, Check Out –29 January 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

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