SaGAA

The Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty was passed on March 4, 2023. This Treaty aims to protect 30 per cent of the ungoverned sea areas that fall under the High Seas. The Treaty is expected to become the biggest conservatory footprint in the world and can support India’s efforts to protect its marine ecology, regulate fishing, monitor the movement of illegal fishing vessels, increase marine exports as well as build international partnerships for promoting the blue economy, especially with its maritime neighbours.  On December 24, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly decided to convene an Intergovernmental Conference to discuss the possibility of an internationally binding instrument that would protect marine biodiversity of seas and oceans beyond the national jurisdictions of countries. Image Source: Earth Negotiations Bulletin After two decades of efforts and five rounds of meetings from 2018 to 2023, the legally binding International Tre...

Norway has been elected as the Chair of the Arctic Council for the 2023-2025 term, and the release of the ‘Norway's Chairmanship Arctic Council 2023-2025’ report offers hope for stability and constructive cooperation within the Council. The report outlines a plan of action with a focus on four key priority areas: Oceans, Climate and Environment, Sustainable Economic Development, and People in the North, with a long-term approach aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the Arctic region. This heralds headway in key areas of research, an activity that has slowed down considerably in the past two years. The Arctic Council is a governing body that has been established to promote cooperation among States lying in the Arctic Region and indigenous communities.The importance of the platform has gained greater significance lately due to the increasing threats to the Arctic environment. A recent IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC), states that...

  The Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) was held in Vienna, Australia in February in 2023. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) participated in the event displaying its commitment to advancing scientific research in the polar and ocean sciences, and its contribution to better understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change. The session led by NCPOR in ASSW focused on the causes and effects of changes in Arctic sea ice on weather and climate in lower latitudes was much appreciated. It  provided valuable insights into the current state of knowledge on this topic and highlighted the need for further research. Image Source: International Arctic Science Committee The Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) is an annual event organised by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to foster collaboration and coordination among scientific organisations involved in Arctic research. In odd number years, the ASSW includes a Science Symposium. These sympos...

  Lithium extraction in the Indian Himalaya has gained significant attention in recent years due to the increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries in the automotive and electronics industry. The Indian Himalayan region is known to have vast reserves of lithium, making it an attractive location for lithium mining and extraction. While the potential for lithium extraction in the Indian Himalaya is significant, there are also concerns regarding the environmental impact of the mining and extraction process. The extraction of lithium in the Indian Himalaya has the potential to provide significant economic benefits to the region and the country. However, it is essential to balance these benefits with responsible and sustainable mining practices to ensure the protection of the environment and the well-being of the local communities.              Image Source: theglobalpanorama | Flickr   I ntroduction Lithium is a key component in modern-day t...

There have been various key advances in permafrost monitoring including new remote sensing techniques, ground-based measurements, and modelling approaches in recent years. These advances have greatly improved our ability to collect high-quality data on permafrost properties and predict permafrost changes under different climate scenarios. These monitoring efforts are critical for understanding and predicting the impacts of climate change on permafrost and the Earth's climate. Permafrost, a subsurface layer of soil, rock, and ice that remains frozen (0°C) for at least two years (National Geographic, 2022), covers about a quarter of the Earth's landmass. It can be found on land and below the ocean floor. It is often found in Arctic regions such as Greenland, U.S (Alaska), Russia, China, and Eastern Europe but unlike sea ice or snow cover, permafrost is not visible on the ground surface. It is estimated to extend 12.9-17.8 million sq km in the northern-high-latitude and it accoun...

Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) regulates international relations with respect to Antarctica. The ATS includes ‘The Antarctic Treaty’, the Madrid Protocol and other mechanisms that are devised to be reviewed after a period of 50 years, as requisitioned by a Consultative Party. In 2048, the ATS will undergo a review that could have significant implications on territorial claims, resources and the environment of the continent. Antarctica, the fifth-largest continent on the planet, has nearly 98 per cent of its vast 14 million sq km covered by thick ice sheets that hold 75 per cent of the world's freshwater. The Antarctic's latitudinal range spans from the Antarctic Circle (66° 33′ 39″ south of the equator) to the South Pole, encircled by the Southern Ocean, also referred to as the Antarctic Ocean. It is the sole continent that remains untainted by the march of human civilisation (with the exception of over 50 research stations strewn across the continent). The two per cent of ice-f...