Daily Prelims Notes 1 November 2024
Daily Prelims Notes
1 November 2024
Table Of Contents
- LiDAR Technology: Uncovering Lost Civilizations and Hidden Landscapes
- Electronic, aircraft parts: Most Indian firms on list supplied dual-use goods
- Row over ‘island of garbage’ comment: Puerto Rico’s unique relationship with US, influence in polls
- Aligning Financial Investments with Global Biodiversity Goals: Insights and Urgent Reforms Needed for COP16
1. LiDAR Technology: Uncovering Lost Civilizations and Hidden Landscapes
Sub : Sci and Tech
Sec : Awareness in IT
Why in News
Scientists recently uncovered a lost Mayan city, obscured for centuries by dense Mexican jungles, using LiDAR technology. This discovery highlights LiDAR’s transformative role in archaeology, enabling researchers to reveal hidden settlements without disturbing natural landscapes.
What is LiDAR?
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a remote sensing system that employs light in the form of pulsed lasers to measure variable distances from the sensor to Earth’s surface. Mounted on aircraft, it enables the mapping of detailed topographies and is highly effective in creating high-resolution, 3D models.
How LiDAR Works: LiDAR systems consist of three main components:
- Laser: Emits rapid laser pulses towards the ground.
- Scanner: Directs the laser and gathers reflected pulses.
- GPS Receiver: Assists in locating the precise position of the sensor.
Data Collection Process:The laser pulses strike various features on the ground, including vegetation and structures.
Reflected light is captured by the sensor, and the time taken for each pulse to return is calculated.
Using GPS and Inertial Measurement System (IMS) data, the elevation and coordinates of each point are mapped.
This process generates a point cloud representing the surface features, which can be filtered to produce a “bare earth” Digital Elevation Model (DEM), isolating the natural ground surface from vegetation and structures.
Applications of LiDAR:LiDAR provides precise 3D information about Earth’s surface, benefiting multiple fields:
Geography: Produces high-resolution topographic maps.
Urban Planning: Assists in infrastructure planning and hazard analysis.
Conservation: Aids in forest monitoring and ecosystem mapping.
Engineering: Supports detailed construction planning and geological surveys.
Discovery of the Lost Mayan City, Valeriana:
Archaeologist Luke Auld-Thomas utilized LiDAR data, initially collected for forest monitoring, to reveal a lost Mayan city named Valeriana in the Campeche region of Mexico.
Key features of Valeriana include:
Multiple Plazas: Enclosed areas likely used for gatherings.
Causeways: Wide, ancient roadways connecting parts of the city.
Temple Pyramids: Sacred structures indicating religious importance.
Ballcourt: A facility for the Mesoamerican ballgame, a ritualistic sport.
Reservoirs: Dams created to manage seasonal water flows.
2. Electronic, aircraft parts: Most Indian firms on list supplied dual-use goods
Sub: Eco
Sec: External sector
Context:
- Recently, the United States sanctioned 19 Indian companies and two Indian nationals for allegedly aiding Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine.
- Earlier this year, US officials had warned Indian companies about the risks of supplying dual-use goods to Russia, emphasizing the potential for sanctions.
Details:
- The sanctions primarily target suppliers of electronic components, aircraft parts, and machine tools.
- The sanctions relate to the export of dual-use goods, items that can be used for both civil and military applications to Russia.
- The items fall under the Common High Priority List (CHPL) created by the US, EU, Japan, and the UK, which includes critical components sought by Russia for its military programs.
Nature of Sanctions:
- As a result of the sanctions, US assets and companies owned by the sanctioned entities and individuals are blocked, and American entities are prohibited from transacting with them.
- Additionally, global entities that engage with the sanctioned parties may also risk facing sanctions.
Increase in India-Russia Trade:
- In 2023, India’s exports to Russia surged by 40%, exceeding $4 billion, largely driven by engineering goods, which nearly doubled to $1.32 billion in 2023 from $680 million in 2022.
- This increase aligns with Russia’s rising military expenditure, which grew by 24% in 2023, amounting to an estimated $109 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Sub: IR
Sec: Places in news
Context:
- In a recent election rally in the US, a comedian remarked about Puerto Rico, which he referred to as a “floating island of garbage”. The comment has sparked controversy.
About Puerto Rico:
- Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and an unincorporated US territory, approximately 1,600 km off the coast of Florida.
- Population: Approximately 3.3 million residents (as of the latest estimates). Notable population of Puerto Ricans in the mainland US: around 5.8 million.
- It shares maritime boundaries with Dominican Republic to the west and the US Virgin Islands to the East.
Unique relationship with US:
- Puerto Rico was ceded to the US by Spain during the Spanish-American War (1898).
- In 1917, US Citizenship was granted to Puerto Ricans.
- Puerto Rico has a complex relationship with the mainland. Though Puerto Ricans enjoy US citizenship, they lack full voting rights in presidential elections.
- Residents can vote in primaries and caucuses but not in the general election.
Sub :Env
Sec :Int conventions
Why in News
At a recent press conference involving major coalitions like the Forests and Finance Coalition and the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), experts emphasized the need to align global financial flows with biodiversity goals. They highlighted critical issues addressed in two new reports, “Banking on Biodiversity Collapse” and “Regulating Finance for Biodiversity.” This discussion underscores the necessity for financial regulations to support the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) ahead of the upcoming COP16 summit.
Financial Investments and Biodiversity:
In 2023, investments in environmentally harmful sectors amounted to $7 trillion, starkly contrasting with only $200 billion directed toward biodiversity conservation and restoration.This disparity highlights a critical gap in financial sector accountability and underscores the need for more stringent regulatory oversight.
Reports analysed activities of major financial institutions across key regions, including Brazil, Indonesia, China, the EU, and the U.S.Since the Paris Agreement, financial institutions have invested nearly $400 billion in companies that threaten tropical forests, emphasizing the failure of voluntary industry policies to prevent deforestation and human rights violations.
About Double Materiality: A Holistic Approach to Financial Accountability
Double Materiality is a critical concept for integrating biodiversity into financial regulations. It mandates that financial entities assess not only the environmental and social impacts of their operations but also how these factors can influence financial outcomes.
By adopting this approach, financial institutions can better manage risks associated with biodiversity loss and improve overall accountability.
The EU has adopted the double materiality principle, requiring disclosure of both environmental impacts of investments and potential risks posed by environmental factors on financial stability. This dual approach enhances transparency and risk assessment in financial reporting.
Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF):
The GBF was adopted during the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) following a four-year negotiation process.
The framework aims to achieve a world living in harmony with nature by 2050, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building on the CBD’s previous Strategic Plans.
30 by 30 Target; Protect 30% of Earth’s land and marine areas by 2030 to safeguard biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services.
Main Targets for 2030: The GBF outlines four goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030 to reverse biodiversity loss and promote sustainable practices.
Four Key Goals by 2050:
- Protect biodiversity and restore degraded ecosystems to maintain essential ecosystem services.Emphasize critical habitats and biodiversity hotspots.
- Ensure biodiversity is used sustainably, maintaining ecosystems’ ability to regenerate and support diverse life forms.
- Promote the fair distribution of benefits from genetic resources, especially to Indigenous and local communities.
- Foster change across sectors (e.g., agriculture, forestry, fisheries) for sustainable development.Integrate biodiversity into policy-making, planning, and economic decisions.
COP16 Biodiversity Summit:
Host City: Cali, Colombia
COP16 will be organized under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an international agreement first opened for signatures in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit and ratified by 196 countries, making it one of the most globally embraced environmental treaties.
The United States remains the only UN member state that has not ratified the convention.
Primary Objectives of COP16
Accelerating 30×30 Targets: A central objective is to advance the “30 by 30” goal, which aims to protect at least 30% of global land and ocean areas by 2030, with a focus on biodiversity-rich regions. The plan also includes restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems on land and in marine areas by 2030, emphasizing urgent conservation action.
Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: COP16 will evaluate the implementation progress of the Global Biodiversity Framework established in 2022, which sets out 23 ambitious global biodiversity targets for 2030 across themes like habitat protection, sustainable use of resources, and genetic resource benefit-sharing.
About The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):
The CBD officially entered into force on December 29, 1993, with the first COP session held in 1994 in the Bahamas.
Secretariat Location: Based in Montreal, Canada.
Main Objectives:
- Conservation of biodiversity
- Sustainable use of biodiversity components
- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources
Supplementary Protocols:
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2003): Addresses the safe handling, transfer, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) from biotechnology, ensuring risk management for biodiversity and human health.
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (2014): Focuses on fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resource use, enhancing conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity while benefiting source countries.
Key Biodiversity-related reports highlighting the role of financial institutions:
Banking on Biodiversity Collapse: Released by the Forests & Finance Coalition in collaboration with organizations like the Rainforest Action Network (RAN), this report addresses the impact of financial institutions on deforestation and biodiversity loss.
It details how banks and investors continue to fund industries linked to high-risk commodities (e.g., beef, palm oil) that drive deforestation, particularly in tropical regions. The report calls for stronger regulatory measures to mitigate biodiversity threats linked to financial activities.
State of Finance for Nature 2023: Published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this annual report examines investment trends in nature-based solutions.
It reveals significant funding gaps and stresses the need for increased private and public funding to protect ecosystems, especially to combat biodiversity loss and climate change. The report urges global coordination to achieve meaningful biodiversity and environmental goals.
Global Biodiversity Outlook: Issued periodically by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), this report assesses global progress toward biodiversity targets, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
It highlights ongoing biodiversity decline and underscores the urgency for global action to protect ecosystems and species.