Context:
United Nations Environment Programme has released the 2023 Adaptation Gap Report recently.
Key Points:
- Adaptation is a process of reducing countries and communities’ vulnerability to climate change by increasing their impact absorption ability.
- Adaptation gap is the difference between implemented adaptation and societally set goals.
- Adaptation gap – Determined by preferences related to –
- Climate change impacts
- Resource limitations
- Competing priorities
Key highlights:
- Adaptation finance needs are 10-18 times higher than current public flows.
- Adaptation finance gap is expanding, now at US$194- 366 billion annually.
- Action plan on loss and damage has overlooked non-economic losses like cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge.
- Only 2% of gender-tagged international adaptation finance is gender-responsive.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
- It is leading environmental authority in United Nations system.
- Genesis – Founded in 1972 following UN Conference on the Human Environment
- Objectives – To contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication, and information.
- Mandate – To find solutions to triple planetary crisis i.e., climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
- Members – 193 (including India)
- Other Reports – Emission Gap report, The Global Environment Outlook, Frontiers, Invest into Healthy Planet.
- Headquarters – Nairobi, Kenya.
Source: Down to Earth
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: According to the United Nations’ World Water Development Report, 2022, India extracts more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement-II: India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world’s population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-ll is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-ll is correct
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
About 89% of this groundwater is used in India for irrigation. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
