Daily Current Affairs 19 September 2023 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 19 September 2023 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
HungerMapLIVE: Global insights and key trends
Source: Hungemapdata
GS II: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
Overview
- About HungerMapLIVE: Global insights and key trends
Why in the News?
The World Food Programme has released HungerMap LIVE: Global insights and key trends.
About HungerMapLIVE: Global insights and key trends
- The HungerMapLIVE tracks core indicators of acute hunger in near real-time.
- Acute hunger means that people are not able to meet food consumption requirements in the short term, often due to sporadic crises.
- It primarily tracks trends in household food consumption.
- This is only one dimension of acute food insecurity, household food consumption can provide an indication of how overall trends are likely to shift.
- Acute hunger is measured by key indicators such as household food consumption, livelihoods, child nutritional status, mortality, access to clean water and other contextual factors.
- It divides countries into various tiers of risk based on: the prevalence of insufficient food consumption and the prevalence of households utilizing crisis or above crisis-level food-based coping strategies, and the change in these prevalences from 90 days till the present.
- Country classifications are derived from tiers defined at the sub-national level.
2023 Report
- 2023 scenario as per the report
- 705 million people do not have sufficient food consumption across 88 countries including:
- 370 million ‘ACTUAL’ in 35 countries
- 335 million ‘PREDICTED’ in 53 countries
- There are 22 countries considered High Risk or Moderate Risk and Deteriorating.
- 12 countries account for 33% of the total number of people with insufficient food consumption
- High Prevalence of Insufficient Food includes: Somalia, Afghanistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Niger, Mali, Haiti, and more.
- Prevalence of Crisis or Above Crisis Level Coping: Haiti, the Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan, Yemen, and more.
- Prevalence of Challenges Accessing Markets includes: Central African Republic, the Syrian Arab Republic, Namibia, and others.
World Ozone Day
Source: PIB
GS III: Environment
Overview
- News in Brief
- World Ozone Day
Why in the News?
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), celebrated the 29th World Ozone Day.
News in Brief
- World Ozone Day is celebrated every year to spread awareness among people about the depletion of the Ozone Layer and the measures taken/ to be taken to preserve it.
- The Ozone Cell, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has been celebrating World Ozone Day since 1995 at the National and State levels.
- India has been proactive in the Montreal Protocol implementation and highlighted the achievements of the country and the new initiatives being taken for preparing for the implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
- Other initiatives of the MOEFCC including the LIFE mission and the synergies amongst various activities for the protection of the environment seen as a positive movement in this regard.
World Ozone Day
- World Ozone Day, observed annually on September 16th, is a reminder of both the environmental challenges we face and the remarkable progress humanity can achieve when united in purpose.
- World Ozone Day is celebrated on 16th September each year.
- Purpose: Commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol, an international environmental treaty for phasing out of production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances, that came into force on this day in 1987.
World Ozone Day and its significance
- The Ozone Layer:
- The Earth’s ozone layer, primarily found in the stratosphere, plays a crucial role in protecting life on our planet by absorbing most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
- The Ozone Hole Discovery
- In the 1980s, scientists discovered a significant depletion of the ozone layer over Antarctica, often referred to as the “ozone hole.”
- This alarming revelation led to global concern.
- Montreal Protocol
- In response to the ozone depletion crisis, the international community came together to create the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.
- It’s considered one of the most successful environmental treaties in history.
- The success of the Montreal Protocol serves as a model for addressing other global environmental issues.
- It highlights the power of international cooperation, scientific research, and collective action.
- Phasing Out Ozone-Depleting Substances
- The Montreal Protocol aimed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.
- Nations worked collaboratively to find alternatives and reduce emissions.
- Remarkable Progress
- Since the adoption of the Montreal Protocol, there have been significant reductions in the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.
- As a result, the ozone layer is showing signs of recovery.
- Environmental Significance
- Protecting the ozone layer is not only crucial for preventing harmful UV radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface but also for preserving ecosystems, safeguarding human health, and mitigating climate change.
- Celebrating Success
- World Ozone Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of the Montreal Protocol and to raise awareness about the ongoing efforts to protect and heal the ozone layer
- The Kigali Amendment
- In 2016, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was adopted to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning.
- This further links ozone protection to climate action.
- Individual Action
- World Ozone Day reminds us that individuals, communities, and nations can make a difference in addressing global environmental challenges.
- Responsible consumption and disposal of products containing ozone-depleting substances remain essential.
Conclusion: World Ozone Day is a testament to our ability to come together as a global community to tackle environmental crises. It underscores the importance of continued vigilance and cooperation to protect the ozone layer, heal our planet, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
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