Takeaways from COP29, Proba-3 mission, and EVMs or ballot papers
Nov 27, 2024
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Amitabh Sinha, a reporter from The Indian Express, shares insights from his experience at COP29 in Baku, focusing on the disappointing financial pledges and the divide between developed and developing nations. Anjali Marar, also from The Indian Express, discusses the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission, set to study the solar corona with groundbreaking techniques and collaborative efforts with ISRO. The conversation wraps up with an analysis of the Supreme Court's stance on replacing Electronic Voting Machines with ballot papers.
The COP29 conference concluded with developing countries expressing deep discontent over insufficient financial commitments from developed nations, highlighting a gap between pledged and requested climate finance.
The Proba-3 mission, facilitated by ISRO and the European Space Agency, aims to advance solar research through precision satellites, showcasing India's growing prowess in space technology collaboration.
Deep dives
Disappointment at COP29 for Developing Nations
The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference, COP29, ended with developing countries expressing significant disappointment over the financial commitments made by developed nations. Although the developed countries pledged $300 billion annually starting in 2035, this amount fell far short of the $1.3 trillion requested by developing countries for climate finance. Delegates highlighted that this figure was crucial to support their efforts in combating climate change and addressing its adverse impacts. The final agreement has led to a sense of discontent, particularly as it ignores prior assessments done to estimate the financial needs for effective climate action.
Concerns Over COP29 Decision-Making Process
India's negotiator raised major concerns regarding the decision-making process at COP29, arguing that the approach taken to finalize the $300 billion annual commitment was flawed and somewhat rushed. The president of the conference allegedly bypassed objections from participating countries, causing India to label the process as 'stage managed.' This lack of transparency in the negotiations triggered strong reactions from various countries, including India, Bolivia, and Nigeria, which expressed disapproval over how the decisions were pushed through without proper deliberation. Such procedural issues not only undermine trust among negotiating parties but may also create further divisions in future climate negotiations.
Proba-3 Mission: Advancements in Space Exploration
The upcoming Proba-3 mission, set to be launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the European Space Agency, aims to study the solar corona, an essential yet challenging layer of the sun's atmosphere. Utilizing two satellites that will engage in precision formation flying, this mission is designed to create an artificial solar eclipse, allowing for detailed observation of the corona. With significant collaboration among various European countries, including Spain and Belgium, Proba-3 is poised to offer new insights into the sun's behavior, which is critical for understanding space weather and its effects on Earth. This project illustrates India's growing capabilities in space technology and its role in international scientific collaboration.
First, Flora Swain speaks to The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha who shares his experience of the COP29 conference that was held in Baku, Azerbaijan. He talks about the agreements that were made and the main takeaways from the conference.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Anjali Marar about the European Space Agency's upcoming mission Proba-3. The mission is being conducted to study the sun and will be made possible with the help of ISRO. (13:40)
Finally, we talk about the Supreme Court's response to a PIL regarding replacing Electronic Voting Machines with ballot papers. (22:06)
Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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