UN Spotlight Initiative
The UN Spotlight Initiative finds that climate change is intensifying the social and economic stresses that are fuelling increased levels of violence against women and girls.
- A global initiative by the UN and EU to eliminate violence against women and girls (VAWG).
- 6 Pillars: Focuses on laws & policies, institutional strengthening, prevention, essential services, data management, and women’s movements.
- Funding: Receives international funding but indigenous communities get less than 1% of climate finance.
- Operates in 25+ countries, prioritizing grassroots civil society engagement
Temperature Flip
Over 60% of the global land area has experienced temperature flips since 1961 as per study.
- Sudden extreme temperature shifts within five days, disrupting ecosystems and human activities.
- Global Trends: Increasing frequency since 1961, with South America, Africa, and Asia most affected.
- Impact: Causes health issues, agricultural damage, and infrastructure strain, especially in low-income countries
Dr. K. Kasturirangan
Distinguished space scientist Dr. K. Kasturirangan passed away.
- Former ISRO Chairman, led India’s space and education reforms.
- Spearheaded PSLV, GSLV, Chandrayaan-1, and INSAT satellite programs.
- Chaired the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasizing multidisciplinary learning
- Led a High-Level Working Group for preparing a report on the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats
Phonon
A breakthrough method discovered of controlling properties of phonons.
- A quantum of vibrational mechanical energy, similar to how photons are quanta of light.
- Determines thermal conductivity, sound speed, and electrical properties in solids.
- Quantum Computing: Research suggests phonons could be used as qubits in quantum computers.
- Comparison: Phonons = sound energy packets, Photons = light energy packets
State of World’s Indigenous Peoples Report
State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Report highlights that Indigenous People receive less than 1% percent of international climate funding & are often excluded from climate solutions.
- Published by: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA).
- Key Finding: Indigenous communities safeguard 80% of global biodiversity but receive less than 1% of climate funding.
- Challenges: Face land dispossession, cultural erosion, and exclusion from climate solutions.
- Role in Conservation: Indigenous knowledge preserves ecosystems, e.g., Comcaac people of Mexico encode ecological knowledge in their language