An Overview of the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

A landmark report, released by the United Nations on May 6, 2019, has warned that the global decline in Nature is occurring at unprecedented rates in human history and the rates at which species are becoming extinct are also accelerating, thereby gravely impacting the people and the world. This Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services was compiled by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and is the most comprehensive one ever done.
 
In assessing the changes that have taken place in the last five decades and providing a comprehensive picture of the relationship between the economic development pathways and their impacts on nature, the report draws on local and indigenous knowledge and also provides a range of possible scenarios for the coming decades. The verdict is the same as that of other such reports: the current global response is insufficient and transformative changes are critically required to restore and protect nature. The opposition of vested interests must be overcome for public good.
 
According to the report, around one million animal and plant species are under threat of extinction, possibly within decades. More than 40% of amphibian species, almost 33% of reef-forming corals and more than a third of all marine mammals are threatened. The picture is less clear for insect species, but available evidence supports a tentative estimate of 10% being threatened.
 
In order to boost the policy-relevance of the Report, five direct drivers of change in nature, with the largest relative global impacts so far, have been ranked, in descending order.

1. Changes in land and sea use
2. Direct exploitation of organisms
3. Climate change
4. Pollution
5. Invasive alien species

Within this context, the report examines six policy scenarios i.e. different “baskets” of clustered policy options and approaches. These include “Regional Competition,” “Business as Usual” and “Global Sustainability” to project likely impacts on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people of these pathways by 2050.
 
The achievement of international societal and environment goals, under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development cannot be achieved based on current trajectories, due to the past and ongoing rapid declines in biodiversity and ecosystem functions. These negative trends are bound to continue beyond 2050, given the lack of transformative change and projected impacts of increasing trends amongst the five drivers listed above.
 
However, a glimmer hope, vis-à-vis transformative change exists. There are a multitude of policy actions and societal initiatives in place at various levels, which are raising awareness about the severe impacts of existing consumption patterns, the need to protect local environments, promotion of sustainable local economies and restoration of degraded areas. These have contributed towards the expansion and strengthening of the current network of ecologically representative and well-connected protected area networks and other effective area-based conservation measures, the protection of watersheds and incentives and sanctions to reduce pollution.
 
According to Sir Robert Watson, the Chair ofIPBES, “it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global. “Through ‘transformative change’, nature can still be conserved, restored and used sustainably – this is also key to meeting most other global goals. By transformative change, we mean a fundamental, system-wide reorganization across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values.”
 
India Outbound
May 7, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/an-overview-of-the-ipbes-global-assessment-report-on-biodiversity-and-ecosystem-services/

Belt and Road Initiative: India-China relations

A concern persistently plaguing New Delhi has been Beijing’s growing presence as well as collaboration with India’s neighbours. One quintessential example of this is the Belt and Road Initiative. Envisaged in 2013, the projecthas attracted global ire owing to its attempt at neocolonial debt trap diplomacy. This simply translates into China using unpayable debts to control less powerful states that would ultimately collapse under the weight of financially spurious projects. (The Hambantota port is another recent example).
 
Naturally, India’s position on the BRI has mostly been one of suspicion. More specifically, India’s reservations have increasingly boiled down to a single point, namely, that the BRI project has been subsumed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is being implemented in areas of Pakistan that are considered Indian territories. This entails a violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 
In this context, New Delhi’s decision to boycott the forum in 2017 was expected to leave India isolated and plunge the already complicated relationship with China into outright hostility. However, as membership into the BRI grew along with growing concerns from the international bodies such as the EU, it appears as if Chinais willing to recalibrate some of its objectives surrounding the BRI.
 
This became visible in the latest speech delivered by Mr. Xi Jinping at the 2nd BRI Forum on April 26, where India remained a prominent absentee. The new buzzwords in Xi’s speech such as “quality development,” “innovation,”“multilateralism,” including a stated commitment to “transparency and sustainability of BRI projects” clearly point to the new direction BRI is taking.
 
While it is true that Xi Jinping’s words on transparency and inclusivity will be welcomed in India, this will not ease India’s concerns. Vikram Misri, the Indian ambassador to China in a recent press conference, reiteratedto the Chinese state media, citing India’s concern where he explained that “connectivity initiatives must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of nations.”
 
New Delhiis concerned over the inroads that BRI is making not just in Pakistan, but in other parts of South Asia as well,via the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor and the Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network. These could infringe India’s sovereignty too. Even so, a change in stance was observed in India’s position; despite the fact that it snubbed the forum for the second time,unlike in 2017, it chose to drop its harsh rhetoric against the China.
 
However, given the concerns where India is among the first countries to express displeasure or oppose the project, the Chinese position comes as a surprise. Though one might concede that Jinping’s statement at the second Belt and Road Forum is meant to placate the global consternations expressed by heavyweight countries such as US, Germany, France, UK among others, yet the Chinese have made it visible in their statements that India-China ties will not be looked at solely from the BRI prism.The Indian side has started exhibiting such optimism too.
 
One pertinent example is India narrowing its trade deficit with China where India’s exports to jumped to 31 % in the year to almost $17 billion, in the preceding financial year’. Evidently these instances do portray an increasing intent towards cooperation, a phenomena noticed right after the Wuhan summit, but the onus now lies on the Chinese to maintain that momentum.
 
India Outbound
May 6, 2019

 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/belt-and-road-initiative-india-china-relations/

Blacklisting Masood Azhar: Symbolic win for India

Elections in India are a full contact sport and truly a celebration of democracy with 900 million voters queueing to elect the next Parliament. Amidst the election brouhaha, diplomacy of any sort is an attribute that oftenfades away from the gaze of the media and its audience.
 
However, diplomacy and the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) is at the forefront of the media coverage over the past 48 hours, with the UNSC declaring Masood Azhar, the notorious head of the Pakistan-based and enabled “jihadi” group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) a “globalterrorist.” It is indeed a victory for all Indians.
 
The symbolism of this victory must not be attenuated in any manner, as it is indeed a big win for both the political will of India and its talented and tenacious diplomatic corps.Navigating the minefields of conflicting interests of powerful countries, with veto powers and realpolitik – it would indeed be unfair to not give credit where its due.
 
However, once the euphoria settles, the statement by the UNSC from its East 42nd street iconic headquarters in Manhattan would have little impact on what the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj termed the “terror factory” of Pakistan.
 
Going by the history in this new millennium and the trajectory of Pakistan – this symbolic win is akin to receiving a “big cheque” that cannot be cashed at least in the foreseeable future especially since the guarantor is virtually bankrupt.
 
This pessimism is well-founded.
 
The responsibility to ensure that the UNSC resolution is implemented effectively lies with the state of Pakistan:a duplicitous, lawless and failed state heading into an abyss, while being devoured by the Frankenstein terrorist monsters that it has so diligently created and nurtured, since the days of Zia ulHaq. Despite the veneer of democracy, the army calls the shots in Pakistan.
 
To ensure the supremacy of the Army and its corrupt practices, it has no option but to keep the jihadi and Kashmir flame alive in the psyche of the country. As it has done for decades now, Pakistan will claim it is coming down hard on terrorism but all the while tacitly supporting those groups that especially target India and increasingly Afghanistan and even Iran.
 
The JeM is technically a banned organization in Pakistan since 2002, yet it openly functions, raises funds, trains terrorists and plans and executes terror activities in neighbouring countries at the behest and with the aid of Pakistan’s intelligence agency – the ISI.
 
Successive recent Pakistani heads of government including the all-powerful Army chief and President, Musharraf, pledged to not allow the country’s soil to be used for cross border terrorism. Nothing could be further from the truth as the entire world except for China would testify.
 
The UNSC resolution requires a ban on Azhar’s foreign travel, asset freeze and an arms embargo. Only the ban on foreign travel might be enforced as Pakistan would not want Masood Azhar to get caught and spill the beans. Otherwise,MassodAzhar’s life would not be very different after the “blacklisting,” save for some cosmetic changes.
 
There is reasonable fear that the future of Masood Azhar would be exactly like Hafiz Saeed, the LeT leader. Saeed is a UN listed “global terrorist” and yet, he continues to move freely, give provocative speeches and run the terror outfit.Saeed is even often interviewed by mainstream Pakistani journalists, while he continues to create havoc with his banned organisation.
 
Within this context, for the blacklisting to be truly effective, it is imperative that enforcement of the regulations and Pakistan’s compliance is ensured. Moreover, unless international heavyweights obstruct the flow of resources to the leaders of the terror outlets and their movements, no real impact will be made.In the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, more than Azhar’s blacklisting, what is likely to benefit India in the long-run is the fact that the country succeeded in calling the bluff on Pakistan’s threat of nuclear use.
 
In a similar vein, the global leaders and international community need to collectively challenge the impunity of the Pakistani Army, as in the case of Saddam Hussein. This entails sanctions against finances and travels of the higher echelons of the Pakistani Army, especially the ISI, as well as their families. Terrorists must not be enabled and empowered by the international community via the benefits offered through education, health and other opportunities. For example, Pervez Musharraf freely lives abroad with this children and travels with his key lieutenants in ISI and the army, despite his duplicity in addressing the flourishing terrorism within the auspices of his country. In that sense, he is no better than Hafeez Saeed or Masood Azhar.
 
Thus, in appreciating this diplomatic victory, the reportage across media channels needs to be more nuanced, in cognizance of the multitude of factors still at play, which when considered, are symptomatic of constantly escalating acts of terrorism, both within and beyond international borders.
 
Shamit Ghosh
May 3, 2019
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/blacklisting-masood-azhar-symbolic-win-for-india/

Despite multiple concerns, the time for UBI is now. But, to prevent it from being just a paper tiger, much needs to be done for its effective implementation. #UBI #indiaeconomy https://t.co/oNtzsf4Txl

Despite multiple concerns, the time for UBI is now. But, to prevent it from being just a paper tiger, much needs to be done for its effective implementation.#UBI #indiaeconomy https://t.co/oNtzsf4Txl

— India Outbound (@india_outbound) May 2, 2019

from Twitter : https://twitter.com/india_outbound

The oil market is in ferment once again. The latest US assault in the form of ending Iran oil waivers granted to India and seven other countries comes into full force from May 2nd. #iran #oil https://t.co/H7ZsleIz29

The oil market is in ferment once again. The latest US assault in the form of ending Iran oil waivers granted to India and seven other countries comes into full force from May 2nd.#iran #oilhttps://t.co/H7ZsleIz29

— India Outbound (@india_outbound) May 2, 2019

from Twitter : https://twitter.com/india_outbound

The International Monetary Fund has released the World Economic Outlook 2019 that highlights the tapering economic activity in the latter half of 2018, after strong economic growth in 2017 and early 2018. #IMF #WorldEconomicOutlook https://t.co/btPe6BWpAw

The International Monetary Fund has released the World Economic Outlook 2019 that highlights the tapering economic activity in the latter half of 2018, after strong economic growth in 2017 and early 2018. #IMF #WorldEconomicOutlookhttps://t.co/btPe6BWpAw

— India Outbound (@india_outbound) May 2, 2019

from Twitter : https://twitter.com/india_outbound

Rural transformation in South Asia

The 2019 Global Food Policy Report (GFPR), released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), asserts that 2018 was an unpredictable and dismal year of food and nutrition, due to events and trends impacting global political stability and international development. One of its areas of analysis is the South Asian region.
 
The South Asian region continued to have the fastest economic growth in 2018, albeit with disparities across countries. Thus, economic growth exceeded 7% in in Bangladesh, India, the Maldivesand Nepal, reached 5.8% in Pakistan and only 2.6% in Afghanistan. The primary factors of growth included domestic consumption and limited exports or investments.
 
Structure of South Asian economies
 
Showing dramatic change, these have been marked by a sharp decline in the share of the agricultural sector, which, on an average, now accounts for less than 16% of the regional GDP in South Asia. This has not been accompanied by a commensurate decline in the labour force involved in agriculture. The share of agriculture in employment in South Asia is about 43%. Growth of the rural non-farm sector is also accelerating, as it now provides a sizeable share of rural employment and income, primarily in the form of services. It generates about 60% of rural income in India and Nepal.
 
Demographic transition
 
The demographic transition in South Asia has been slow, despite an acceleration in urbanisation. The region remains predominantly rural, with 67% of the population living in rural areas. In these areas, literacy rates remain low, despite a decline in rural poverty. Only one-fifth of the South Asian rural population remains poor.
 
Malnutrition scenario
 
The issue of malnutrition is an emerging problem demanding multi-sectoral action. Even though countries like Nepal and Bangladesh have made significant progress in reducing malnutrition, South Asia remains the largest contributor to malnutrition globally. The region is subject to multiple burdens that are increasing rapidly. These include inadequate dietary energy and protein, micronutrient deficiencies, and, more recently obesity. These can exist within the same household or the same individual as well.

• In South Asia, more than one-third children under five years of age i.e. about 60 million are stunted, accounting for 35% of global stunting rates, which are also higher in rural areas
• Over 5 million children are overweight, accounting for 14% of the world’s obese and overweight children

Impact of migration and remittances
 
According to the report, this has led to increase in employment, economic growth and development in the countries involved. This is because in 2018, the region accounted for 17% of the international migration (over 39 million people) and received US$132 billion in remittances, making it the second highest worldwide, after East Asia and the Pacific.
 
The welfare benefits are sizable for the countries of origin as remittances reduce poverty and stimulate economic activity. For example, in Nepal, this has led to a reduction in poverty between 33-50%. India receives the largest remittances (US $80 billion in 2018), accounting for 2.8% of the GDP.
 
Challenges posed by changing consumption patterns
 
The staple crops in South Asia are rice and wheat, as they account for about two-thirds of total dietary consumption. But, dietary changes in the past few decades have been drastic and these are most evident across rural areas. The consumption of cereals is being outstripped by that of animal-sourced foods, vegetables, fruits and processed foods. Moreover, the pressures to expand food production to meet increasing demand are weighing down on natural resources (land, water etc.).
 
This has resulted in agricultural expansion and intensification, causing land degradation, deterioration in the soil quality, biodiversity loss and damage to the region’s capacity to meet demands related to food in the future. Also, while rural people in the region have benefitted from the growing use of groundwater, the fact remains that South Asia has the world’s lowest per capita renewable freshwater resources. Particularly in India, the aquifers are depleting, the water table is subsiding and the water quality is deteriorating.
 
Within this context, the changing dynamics of the consumption patterns is being driven by urbanisation, demographic transitions, increasing incomes and growing integration of food supply chains and systems. According to the report, these offer new opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment in rural areas. The concerns related to climate change and sustainability also offer opportunities for the rural communities to generate benefits through the improved management of natural resources.
 
In conclusion
 
The state of rural transformation in South Asia is at a crossroads. Many governments have bolstered their commit towards the provision of basic services in rural areas and revitalizing the rural economies. While the rural sector has been transforming gradually, more than 43% of the employment is still provided by agricultural livelihoods in the informal sector. Moreover, in 2019, the lack of integration in the region and leveraging of cultural affinities and geographical proximity, amidst escalating trade tensions and tighter global liquidity will possibly impede the prospects for growth in South Asia.
 
However, the predominance of smallholder farming communities, their increasing political voice, and national commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals are prompting governments in the region to emphasize inclusive rural development strategies. Thus, the prospects for rural development are encouraging in 2019.
 
The report outlines the possibility of the 2019 General Elections in India leading to a boost in the focus of action across rural areas. The Indian policy decisions often have significant spillover effects on the policy developments of neighbouring countries. For rural transformation in South Asia to be inclusive, it is essential to ensure continued growth in agricultural productivity and strengthening of the agriculture-based rural nonfarm economy.
 
India Outbound
May 1, 2019

 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/rural-transformation-in-south-asia/