WHAT IS THE ROLE OF UNFCCC?

UNFCCC stands for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It came into force in 1994, and almost all countries of the world are its members. The convention aims to prevent "dangerous" human interference with the climate system. By bringing together almost all countries of the world, it places the onus on them to ensure a better planet for all of us. In fact, the members are bound "to act in the interests of human safety even in the face of scientific uncertainty".

First steps to a safer future: the Convention in summary

The Convention:

Recognized that there was a problem.

This was remarkable for its time. Remember, in 1994, when the UNFCCC took effect, there was less scientific evidence than there is now. The UNFCCC borrowed a very important line from one of the most successful multilateral environmental treaties in history (the Montreal Protocol, in 1987): it bound member states to act in the interests of human safety even in the face of scientific uncertainty.

Sets a lofty but specific goal.

The ultimate objective of the Convention is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations "at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human induced) interference with the climate system." It states that "such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner."

Puts the onus on developed countries to lead the way.

The idea is that, as they are the source of most past and current greenhouse gas emissions, industrialized countries are expected to do the most to cut emissions on home ground. They are called Annex I countries and belong to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). They include 12 countries with "economies in transition" from Central and Eastern Europe. Annex I countries were expected by the year 2000 to reduce emissions to 1990 levels. Many of them have taken strong action to do so, and some have already succeeded.

Directs new funds to climate change activities in developing countries.

Industrialized nations agree under the Convention to support climate change activities in developing countries by providing financial support for action on climate change-- above and beyond any financial assistance they already provide to these countries. A system of grants and loans has been set up through the Convention and is managed by the Global Environment Facility. Industrialized countries also agree to share technology with less-advanced nations.

Keeps tabs on the problem and what's being done about it.

Industrialized countries (Annex I) have to report regularly on their climate change policies and measures, including issues governed by the Kyoto Protocol (for countries which have ratified it).
They must also submit an annual inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions, including data for their base year (1990)and all the years since.
Developing countries (Non-Annex I Parties) report in more general terms on their actions both to address climate change and to adapt to its impacts - but less regularly than Annex I Parties do, and their reporting is contingent on their getting funding for the preparation of the reports, particularly in the case of the Least Developed Countries.

Charts the beginnings of a path to strike a delicate balance.

Economic development is particularly vital to the world's poorer countries. Such progress is difficult to achieve even without the complications added by climate change. The Convention takes this into consideration by accepting that the share of greenhouse gas emissions produced by developing nations will grow in the coming years. Nonetheless, in the interests of fulfilling its ultimate goal, it seeks to help such countries limit emissions in ways that will not hinder their economic progress. One such win-win solution was to emerge later, when the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention was conceived.

Kicks off formal consideration of adaptation to climate change.

The Convention acknowledges the vulnerability of all countries to the effects of climate change and calls for special efforts to ease the consequences, especially in developing countries which lack the resources to do so on their own. In the early years of the Convention, adaptation received less attention than mitigation, as Parties wanted more certainty on impacts of and vulnerability to climate change. When IPCC's Third Assessment Report was released, adaptation gained traction, and Parties agreed on a process to address adverse effects and to establish funding arrangements for adaptation. Currently, work on adaptation takes place under different Convention bodies. The Adaptation Committee, which Parties agreed to set up under the Cancun Adaptation Framework as part of the Cancun Agreements, is a major step towards a cohesive, Convention-based approach to adaptation.

UNFCCC and the Rio Convention

The UNFCCC is a “Rio Convention”, one of two opened for signature at the “Rio Earth Summit” in 1992. Its sister Rio Conventions are the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification. The three are intrinsically linked. It is in this context that the Joint Liaison Group was set up to boost cooperation among the three Conventions, with the ultimate aim of developing synergies in their activities on issues of mutual concern.

Credit : United nations climate change 

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WHAT ARE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS?

Also known as Global Goals, these are 17 interconnected goals that aim for a better and sustainable future for everyone in the world. The goals were created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, and are hoped to be achieved by 2030. They cover a wide range of areas such as gender equality, hunger, education, innovation, green energy, good health, sustainable development, economic growth, peace, justice, etc. The goals also reflect how positive action in one area can impact others.

The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:

GOAL 1: No Poverty

GOAL 2: Zero Hunger

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being

GOAL 4: Quality Education

GOAL 5: Gender Equality

GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

GOAL 13: Climate Action

GOAL 14: Life Below Water

GOAL 15: Life on Land

GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs:

  • In June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 178 countries adopted Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to build a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment.
  • Member States unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York. The Summit led to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.
  • The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in 2002, reaffirmed the global community's commitments to poverty eradication and the environment, and built on Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration by including more emphasis on multilateral partnerships.
  • At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, Member States adopted the outcome document "The Future We Want" in which they decided, inter alia, to launch a process to develop a set of SDGs to build upon the MDGs and to establish the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The Rio +20 outcome also contained other measures for implementing sustainable development, including mandates for future programmes of work in development financing, small island developing states and more.
  • In 2013, the General Assembly set up a 30-member Open Working Group to develop a proposal on the SDGs.
  • In January 2015, the General Assembly began the negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda. The process culminated in the subsequent adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 SDGs at its core, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015.
  • 2015 was a landmark year for multilateralism and international policy shaping, with the adoption of several major agreements:
  • Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (March 2015)
  • Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (July 2015)
  • Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 SDGs was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York in September 2015.
  • Paris Agreement on Climate Change (December 2015)
  • Now, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.

Today, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN system wide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.

Credit : United nations 

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What is the UNSC?



India began its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on January 1, 2021. What is the UNSC? If India is a non permanent member, who are its permanent members? Why has India been stepping up efforts for the reform of the Council? Let's see.



One of the organs of the UN



The UNSC is one of the six main organs of the United Nations. Its objective is to maintain international peace and security. The UNSC has 15 members, of which, five, China, France, Russia, U.K. and the U.S., are permanent members with veto power (power to withhold assent or reject any resolution). The rest are non-permanent members who are elected to serve a two-year term on the Council. The non-permanent members at present are Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam. As these members do not have veto rights, they are considered powerless. In other words, they cannot assert their view on any issue of international concern.



Empowered to make decisions



Unlike other organs of the UN which can only make recommendations, the Security Council has the power to make decisions, called resolutions, and impose them on member countries. Each member of the Council has one vote. The UNSC may meet whenever there is a threat to peace and security. It first met in January 1946, three months after the United Nations came into existence. Responsible for diplomatically resolving crises and conflicts around the world, the Council can also resort to imposing economic sanctions, travel bans, financial restrictions or authorise the use of force. It seeks to resolve disputes through mediation, special envoys or by sending a UN Mission. It supervises the work of the UN peacekeeping operations.



Criticism against the Council



Although it has been successful in addressing several global issues, it has been criticised for its lack of credibility. It has long been felt that the Security Council in its present form lacks legitimacy, is outdated (reflecting the power centres of 1945) and does not correspond with the changed global realities. It is often said that the Council requires comprehensive reforms to address contemporary challenges, better representation and a strong multilateralism that gives voice to all stakeholders. The exclusive right of the five permanent members of the Council to veto any proposed decision has long been a subject of controversy. Perceived as an undemocratic arrangement, this has been cited as the main reason for UN's inaction on crimes against humanity.



Quick facts




  • India is serving its term as a non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the eighth time. It won 184 of the 192 votes cast in the elections in June 2020 for the five non-permanent seats of the UNSC. A member country requires a two-thirds majority of votes in the General Assembly to become a non permanent member. Besides India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico were elected non permanent members in June.

  • Counter-terrorism is stated to be India's priority during its membership. Besides, getting permanent membership is high on the country's agenda. India will chair the three crucial committees - Taliban and Libya sanctions committees and the Counter Terrorism Committee - of the UNSC during its tenure as a non-permanent member.

  • India will be UNSC President in August 2021 and will preside over the Council again for a month in 2022. The presidency of the Council is held for a month by each of the members in turn, as per the alphabetical order of the names of the member countries.



 



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How many countries are members of the UN now?



The United Nations member states are the 193 sovereign states that are members of the United Nations (UN) and have equal representation in the UN General Assembly. The UN is the world's largest intergovernmental organization.



In principle, only sovereign states can become UN members, and currently, all UN members are sovereign states. Although five members were not sovereign when they joined the UN, they all subsequently became fully independent between 1946 and 1991. Because a state can only be admitted to membership in the UN by the approval of the Security Council and the General Assembly, a number of states that are considered sovereign according to the Montevideo Convention are not members of the UN. This is because the UN does not consider them to possess sovereignty, mainly due to the lack of international recognition or due to opposition from one of the permanent members.



In addition to the member states, the UN also invites non-member states to become observers at the UN General Assembly, allowing them to participate and speak in General Assembly meetings, but not vote. Observers are generally intergovernmental organizations and international organizations and entities whose statehood or sovereignty is not precisely defined.



 



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Can you name the permanent members of the UN Security Council?



The permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (also known as the Permanent Five, Big Five, or P5) are the five sovereign states to whom the UN Charter of 1945 grants a permanent seat on the UN Security Council: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.



The permanent members were all allies in World War II (and the victors of that war), and are also all states with nuclear weapons (though not all five had developed nuclear weapons prior to the formation of the United Nations). The remaining 10 members of the council are elected by the General Assembly, giving a total of 15 UN member states. All five permanent members have the power of veto, which enables any one of them to prevent the adoption of any "substantive" draft Council resolution, regardless of its level of international support.



The "power of veto" refers to the veto power wielded solely by the permanent members, enabling them to prevent the adoption of any "substantive" draft Council resolution, regardless of the level of international support for the draft. The veto does not apply to procedural votes, which is significant in that the Security Council's permanent membership can vote against a "procedural" draft resolution, without necessarily blocking its adoption by the council.



The veto is exercised when any permanent member—the so-called "P5"—casts a "negative" vote on a "substantive" draft resolution. Abstention or absence from the vote by a permanent member does not prevent a draft resolution from being adopted.



 



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Which is the judicial organ of the UN?



The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal organs of the United Nations not located in New York (United States of America). The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.



The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of international UN staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General Assembly and the Organization's other principal organs.  The Secretary-General is chief administrative officer of the Organization, appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year, renewable term. UN staff members are recruited internationally and locally, and work in duty stations and on peacekeeping missions all around the world.  But serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, hundreds of brave men and women have given their lives in its service.



 



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What is UN Day and when is it observed?



UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.



There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. Today, the urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfil the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater.



24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.



The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and its founding Charter. This anniversary comes in a time of great disruption for the world, compounded by an unprecedented global health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with severe economic and social impacts. But it is also a reminder that times of struggle can become an opportunity for positive change and transformation.



To commemorate the 75 years of the United Nations, Member States hold a high-level event on 21 September 2020, where they reaffirmed and recognized that our challenges are interconnected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism.



 



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Which Organisation has completed 75 years in 2020?



The United Nations marked its 7th anniversary recently. It was founded in 1945 after the Second World War, with the aim of maintaining peace in the post war world. Headquartered in Manhattan, New York, the UN is currently made up of 193 member states.



Role of the UN



Thanks to the powers vested in its Charter which came into force on October 24, 1945, the UN can take action on issues such as peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, human rights, disarmament terrorism. food production and gender equality among others.



The big six



The UN fulfils its responsibilities through its six main organs: the UN General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat The UN General Assembly is the deliberative body of the UN. Every September, the entire UN membership meets at the UN Headquarters to discuss issues affecting world peace and security. However, UNGA cannot make binding decisions or enforce them, the authority for which rests with the Security Council.



Security Council members



There are five permanent members: China, Russia, the US the U.K. and France (the victors of WWII). The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent Seats that rotate between other countries every two years. It is responsible for peacefully resolving conflicts and preventing the outbreak of war.



Time for reforms?



Although the UN system has been successful in a number of peacekeeping operations and in addressing several global issues, it has also been criticised for its inefficiency and lack of transparency. Amidst allegations of mismanagement and corruption, there have been many calls for its reform. It has long been felt that the current Security Council lacks legitimacy, is outdated (reflecting the power centres of 1945) and out of sync with the changed global realities and that it requires comprehensive reforms to address contemporary challenges and a strong multilateralism that gives voice to all stakeholders. The exclusive right of the five permanent members of the Council to veto any decision of the UN has long been a subject of controversy. Perceived as an undemocratic arrangement this has been cited as the main reason for UN's inaction on crimes against humanity.



India's demand



India has been demanding for a permanent seat on the Council. It expects to use its eighth two year term as a non permanent member which starts in Jan 2021. To further build its case for a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council, something that it has been pushing for years now along with other claimants such as Japan Germany and Brazil -the G-4.



 



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Which institution in India works with the UNESCO to achieve its educational goals?



UNESCO has always strived to refine and redefine education. The Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) was set up for the same purpose.



MGIEP is an educational research institute that was established in 2012 in Delhi. The institute works to implement education for building up a peaceful and sustainable society.



Various research programmes are carried out by the institute. For instance, it recently conducted a study to find out the effect of peace education. It also uses the help of the internet to conduct online campaigns.



The work of MGIEP is done in collaboration with the United Nations University in Japan. Dr. Anantha Kumar Duraiapparh, an experienced environmental development economist is the director of the institute.



 



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How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in India?



UNESCO has marked the important places with cultural and natural heritage as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 38 World Heritage Sites are located in India. Taj Mahal, the Sun Temple at Konark, Khajuraho monuments, Hampi and Ajanta caves are some of the most famous among them.



India comes sixth in the list of countries with the maximum number of World Heritage Sites. Out of the 38, 30 are cultural sites. India has six natural world heritage sites too.



India has also got one mixed-criteria site which has both natural and cultural elements- the Khangchendzonga National Park. This national park is home to many endemic plants and animals. It also contains an important Buddhist monastery.



 



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Who addressed the UN General Assembly in Hindi?



While most of the Indian leaders chose to deliver speeches at the UN General Assembly in English, Atal Bihari Vajpayee chose to do something else.



Though Vajpayee was fluent in English, he spoke to the General Assembly in Hindi! Imagine delivering a speech in Hindi at the UN General Assembly, where there are representatives from across the world and English is the dominant mode of communication.



It was the first time an Indian leader addressed the UN in Hindi, or any other language other than English. Vajpayee was making clear India’s stand on various issues like nuclear disarmament, state-sponsored terrorism and reforms. Between 1977 and 2003, Vajpayee had addressed the General Assembly seven times.



 



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Why is Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit famous?



Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit made her way into the history of the United Nations when she went on to become the first ever female president of the UN General Assembly.



Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit became the president for a year from September, 1953 after Lester B Pearson, the famous Canadian diplomat. Before representing India in the United Nations, she worked as India’s ambassador to the Soviet Union, the United States, Mexico, Ireland and Spain. She began working for the UN in 1946 and in 1979, she was appointed as the Indian representative of the UN Human Rights Commission.



India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was her brother.



 



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Who heads the activities of UNICEF India?



Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque joined as India’s UNICEF Representative in July 2017. She is responsible to make sure that the rights of the underprivileged children are taken care of. She coordinates the efforts of the UN to transform the lives of children by ensuring quality education, and sufficient nutrition.



Before coming to India, Yasmin worked as the Deputy Director of the UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Operations. She played a major role in formulating the policies for effective response to children during times of crisis. She is also noted for being the first UNICEF representative in South Sudan. She had also worked in Bangladesh, Ghana and Sri Lanka.



 



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How is Shashi Tharoor connected to the UN?



Many of us know Shashi Tharoor as a leading politician who uses complex English words like floxinoxinihiliphication. Shashi Tharoor had worked with the United Nations for almost thirty years.



Before rising to being an administrator at highest levels, Shashi Tharoor worked as a peacekeeper and a refugee worker. Peacekeeping after the Cold War was one of his major responsibilities. He then served as a senior advisor to the Secretary-General.



In 2001, he was appointed as the Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information under Kofi Annan. Tharoor was nominated by the government of India in the Secretary-General election.



However, he retired from the UN in 2007 after finishing second in the selection of UN Secretary-General. He then returned to India to become a leading figure in Indian politics.



 



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How many UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors are from India?



We all remember some advertisements because celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar or Alia Bhatt featured in them. When a notable person advertises a product, we are more likely to remember it. The UN too makes use of this idea. The UN takes help of many notable people to advocate a specific course and they are known as Goodwill Ambassadors.



UNICEF, the UN wing that works for the upliftment of children around the world has a long list of Goodwill Ambassadors. These ambassadors use their fame to draw the attention of people towards important issues.



So far, there have been five UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors from India-Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Sharmila Tagore, Shahrukh Khan and Hima Das. Hima das, who holds the national record for 400 metres, is the first Youth Ambassador of UNICEF India.



 



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