22 May 2024

• Environment: International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May). Theme: "Be Part of the Plan," centred on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Polar: ATCM 46, hosted by India in Kochi, completed its second day of deliberations with discussions on Antarctic tourism regulation and emperor penguin protection.
• International: Spain became the 99th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), founded by India and France at COP21 in 2015.
• IP: A WIPO diplomatic conference adopted the world's first treaty on genetic resources and traditional knowledge, requiring patent applicants to disclose origins.

GS area: Environment (Biodiversity, International Law)

22 May is observed as the International Day for Biological Diversity, a UN observance established in 2000.

• Theme 2024: "Be Part of the Plan." The theme calls on governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted at CBD COP15 in December 2022.
• CBD: The Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. India is a Party. Three objectives: conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of components, and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
• Kunming-Montreal GBF: Adopted at COP15 in Montreal, Canada in December 2022. Contains 23 targets for 2030, including the "30x30" target (protect 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030) and Target 4 (recovery of wild species).
• India's obligations: India enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to implement CBD obligations domestically. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is the implementing body.
• Biodiversity day chosen: 22 May commemorates the date the CBD was adopted in 1992 at the Earth Summit.

Static linkage: CBD, Kunming-Montreal GBF, Biological Diversity Act 2002, NBA.

GS area: International Relations (Environment, Polar)

The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, hosted by India in Kochi, made progress on key governance issues.

• Antarctic tourism framework: Over 100,000 tourists visit Antarctica annually. Discussions advanced toward a binding regulatory framework for tourism, a gap in the current Antarctic Treaty system.
• Emperor penguin protection: Parties discussed enhanced protection for emperor penguin colonies given declining sea-ice habitats. The species was moved to IUCN Vulnerable status due to climate change impacts.
• Maitri-II announcement: India formally announced the construction of its third Antarctic research station, Maitri-II, to replace the aging Maitri station (operational since 1989).
• Participants: 56 Consultative Parties participate; the 2024 meeting had 328 in-person delegates and 76 virtual participants.
• Committee on Environmental Protection (CEP): The companion body to the ATCM, established under the Madrid Protocol (Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, 1991). The CEP provides scientific and policy advice on environmental protection.

Static linkage: Antarctic Treaty, India's polar science, environmental protection.

GS area: International Relations (Clean Energy)

Spain ratified its membership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA), becoming the 99th member country.

• ISA: Launched at COP21 in Paris in 2015 by India and France. The formal signing of the ISA Framework Agreement took place at the first ISA Assembly in 2017.
• Objective: Mobilise over USD 1 trillion in investments for solar energy by 2030. Aggregate solar deployment of 1,000 GW by 2030.
• Membership: 99 countries as of May 2024. ISA membership was originally restricted to "sun-belt" countries (between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn), but the ISA Framework Agreement was amended in 2020 to open membership to all UN member states.
• HQ: International Solar Alliance headquarters is at Gurugram (Gurgaon), Haryana, India.
• One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): An ISA initiative to build a global solar electricity grid connecting countries across time zones so solar power is always available somewhere.

Static linkage: ISA, renewable energy diplomacy, India-France cooperation.

GS area: International Relations (IP, Biodiversity)

A WIPO Diplomatic Conference (13-24 May 2024) concluded with the adoption of a new treaty requiring patent applicants to disclose the country of origin of genetic resources.

• WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organisation, a UN specialised agency based in Geneva. Administers 26 international IP treaties, plus this new one.
• The 27th WIPO treaty: This is the 27th treaty administered by WIPO and the first in 10 years. It is also the first WIPO treaty with explicit provisions protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
• Key obligation: Patent applicants must disclose the country of origin or source of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge used in the invention. Non-disclosure can lead to patent challenges.
• Biopiracy prevention: The treaty addresses cases where traditional knowledge from developing countries is patented in developed countries without acknowledgment or benefit-sharing. India has faced such cases with neem and turmeric.
• Nagoya Protocol comparison: The Nagoya Protocol (2010, under CBD) focuses on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) for biological resources. The WIPO treaty focuses on IP disclosure in patent applications, targeting the patent system rather than the resource access system.
• TKDL: India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library is a database of traditional medicinal knowledge that can be cited as prior art against biopiracy patent claims. It is India's existing defence tool.

Static linkage: WIPO, biopiracy, Nagoya Protocol, India's Biological Diversity Act.

GS area: Economy (Energy, Science)

India's Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood chaired a meeting on green biohydrogen production from biomass grown on degraded land.

• Green biohydrogen: Hydrogen produced from biological feedstocks (plant material, algae) rather than from water electrolysis. The process involves growing biomass on degraded (non-agricultural) land, then converting it to hydrogen through gasification or biological processes.
• Distinction from green hydrogen: Conventional green hydrogen uses water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity. Biohydrogen uses biological material as the hydrogen carrier. Both can be zero or near-zero carbon.
• Degraded land: India has approximately 120-170 million hectares of degraded and wastelands. Using these for energy crops does not compete with food production.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission: This biohydrogen initiative fits within the broader National Green Hydrogen Mission (MNRE). The PSA's office coordinated an inter-ministerial approach.
• PSA's role: The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India coordinates science and technology advice across ministries. The PSA is not a Cabinet minister but advises the PM directly.

Static linkage: Green hydrogen, energy policy, PSA's role, land use.

• Arab League Summit: Manama Declaration: The 33rd Arab League Summit in Manama, Bahrain issued the Manama Declaration calling for UN peacekeeping forces in Palestinian territories and endorsing the two-state solution. The Arab League was established on 22 March 1945 and has 22 member states. Its HQ is in Cairo, Egypt.
• Malaysia's orangutan diplomacy: Malaysia's plan to gift Bornean orangutans to major palm oil importers generated international discussion. Conservation groups noted that CITES Appendix I listing prohibits any international trade in orangutans, even framed as a diplomatic gift.
• Lok Sabha Phase 5 turnout: Phase 5 (20 May) recorded approximately 60 per cent voter turnout across 49 constituencies, a dip from Phase 4's 69.16 per cent.