COP29, Climate Finance, and India’s Pathway to Sustainable Development

Introduction The 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has placed climate finance at the forefront of global climate action. The Raising Ambition and Accelerating Delivery of Climate Finance report presented at COP29 underscores the financial investments required globally, with a specific focus on supporting emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs). This article explores the critical aspects…

India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC): Transforming Global Trade Dynamics

General Studies Paper-II, the topic on Bilateral, Regional, and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Introduction The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), launched during the G20 Summit (September 2023), aims to establish a transcontinental connectivity route between India, the Middle East, and Europe. Designed as an alternative to traditional maritime routes such as the Suez Canal, IMEC promises…

Major challenges faced by Indian cities

CONTEXT: October 31 is observed every year as World Cities Day. The world’s urban population has reached an estimated 4.7 billion, or 57.5% of the world’s total population, with projections to double by 2050. The theme for this year’s World Cities Day is ‘Youth Climate Change makers: Catalysing Local Action for Urban Sustainability’. What are…

Lightning Strikes

Context: Climate change is making lightning strikes around the world more common and deadlier. Every year, around 24,000 people around the world are killed by such strikes; in India, lightning strikes killed 2,887 people in 2022. There have been petitions to declare this phenomenon a natural disaster in India so that its survivors can access…