22 Nov 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Climate Change Performance Index CCPI, 2023
2. India - Australia ECTA
3. Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2022 (IPRD 2022)

1. Climate Change Performance Index CCPI, 2023

Syllabus – GS3, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Prelims – CCPI report released at COP27, India ranked at number 8.

Context – India is at position 8 as per CCPI, 2023 published by German Watch, New Climate Institute & Climate Action Network International based in Germany.

Details –

• CCPI has been published annually since 2005. It is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection of 59 countries and the EU.
• The CCPI is assessed in four categories –
  • GHG, Green House Gas Emissions (40% of overall score),
  • Renewable Energy (20% of overall score), 
  • Energy Use (20% of overall score) and
  • Climate Policy (20% of overall score).
• India has earned a high rating in GHG emissions and energy use categories, while earning a medium rating in renewable energy and climate policy.
• As per the report, India is on track to meet its 2030 emission targets.
• India is the only G20 country in the top 10 ranks.
• None of the countries managed to secure first, second and third place. Denmark, Sweden, Chile and Morocco are the only four small countries that are ranked above India as 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th respectively. This makes India the best-performing among all large economies.

Read more about CCPI in the link – Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)

2. India – Australia ECTA

Syllabus – GS2, Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Prelims – Ind-Aus Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).

Context – Australian Parliament ratifies Ind-Aus ECTA.

Details –

• The Ind-Aus ECTA was signed on April 2, 2022. The Ind-Aus ECTA Bill and the DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement) Amendment Bill have been passed by the Australian parliament. The agreement will enter into force on a mutually convenient date once both countries complete their domestic processes.
• ECTA is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade. (India last signed such an agreement with Japan in 2011).
• The Agreement encompasses cooperation across the entire gamut of bilateral economic and commercial relations between the two friendly countries. This will also connect with more than seven lakhs of Australia’s Indian diaspora, the second highest tax-paying diaspora, which makes a significant contribution to Australia’s society and economy. 
• The deal is expected to boost the total bilateral trade to $45-50 billion in five years from the existing $31 billion and India’s merchandise exports to Australia, to $10 billion by 2026-27 from the current $7 billion.
• Both democracies are part of the four-nation QUAD, Trilateral Supply Chain Initiative and the Indo-Pacific Economic Forum, IPEF.
• Under the Ind-Aus ECTA, 100% of tariff lines would be eliminated by Australia. This agreement would hugely benefit several sectors of the economy particularly gems and jewellery, textiles, and pharma. An annual visa quota of 1800 is to be instituted for India Yoga teachers and chefs.

3. Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2022 (IPRD 2022)

Syllabus – GS2, Groupings and Agreements involving India or affecting India’s interests.

Prelims – Fourth edition of IPRD, 2022.

Context – The theme of IPRD, 2022 is operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Details –

• IPRD is an apex-level international annual conference of the Indian Navy. It aims to foster the exchange of ideas and promote deliberations on regionally relevant maritime issues. The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the chief organiser of each edition of the event.
• Geographically, the Indo-Pacific refers to the Indian and the Pacific Oceans between the east coast of Africa and the American west coast and their several littoral countries.
• Its first edition was held in 2018, the second in 2019, and the third edition in 2021 in an online mode. IPRD provides a platform for discussion related to geopolitical developments affecting the maritime domain of the Indo-Pacific. 
• The theme, operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) was articulated by Shri Narendra Modi at the 14th EAS (East Asia Summit) in November 2019. The IPOI 2022, is focussed on seven interconnected pillars –
  • Maritime Security, Maritime Resources, Maritime Ecology, Disaster Risk-reduction and Management, Trade-Connectivity and Maritime Transport, Capacity-building and Resource sharing, and Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation.
• The IPRD 2022 will be conducted through six sessions spread over a three-day period. The six thematically arranged sessions are –

1. Weaving the Fabric of Holistic Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific: Multilateral Options.
2. Constructing Holistic-Security Bridges across the Western and Eastern Maritime Expanse of the Indo-Pacific.
3. Building Maritime Connectivity: Ports, Trade, and Transport.
4. Capacity-building and Capability Enhancement Leveraging the Physical and Social Sciences.
5. Practical approaches to a Regional Blue Economy.
6.  Disaster Risk-reduction and Management; Solutions for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Vulnerable Littoral States.

Read more about IPRD in the link – Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

November 22nd, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here