GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

A recent study has unveiled the influence of external factors like El Nino, La Nina, and climate change on air pollution levels in Indian cities, marking a significant revelation in understanding air quality dynamics.

Impact of External Factors on Air Quality:

• Direct influence: External phenomena such as El Nino and La Nina, alongside climate change, are observed to influence air pollution distribution over cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
• Affecting dispersion of pollutants: These factors do not introduce new sources of pollution but alter meteorological conditions, including wind patterns and temperatures, thereby affecting the dispersion of pollutants.
• Role of external events: The study highlights the role of the record-breaking La Nina event in the Pacific Ocean in the winter of 2022, contributing to cleaner air in Delhi and dirtier air in Mumbai.

Implications for Air Pollution Management:

• Challenges to management efforts: While the current influences are relatively weak, climate change scenarios predict potential amplification of El Nino and La Nina events, posing challenges to air quality management efforts.
• Reducing emissions: Efforts to clean up air pollution must focus on reducing emissions at the source, as baseload emissions remain the primary cause of air pollution in Indian cities.
• Long-term strategies: Quick-fix solutions like artificial rain or odd-even schemes are deemed ineffective, emphasizing the need for long-term strategies addressing emissions directly.

Emphasizing Long-Term Solutions:

• Long-term plan to reduce emission: The study underscores the importance of prioritizing long-term emission reduction strategies over short-term interventions.
• Treatment at source: Government policies should aim at addressing emissions from the sources themselves to achieve simultaneous improvements in air quality and climate change mitigation.
• Holistic approach: Adopting a holistic approach focusing on emission reduction would yield sustainable benefits, ensuring both cleaner air and resilience against climate-induced pollution impacts.

Context:

The announcement by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding the government's plan to encourage cervical cancer vaccination for girls aged nine to 14 has sparked discussions on comprehensive health policy strategies.

Holistic Health Policy Approach:

• Multidimensional approach: Government policies must adopt a multidimensional approach to address health issues, considering various aspects and integrating them into a comprehensive field strategy.
• Level of effectiveness: While the vaccination initiative against cervical cancer is commendable, it raises questions about the necessity of including screening components in the program to ensure its effectiveness.
• Urgency of solution: Cervical cancer, primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Indian women, underscoring the urgency of a comprehensive approach.

Importance of Screening and Early Detection:

• Low screening: Despite the availability of simple screening tools like VIA and VILI tests, cervical cancer screening prevalence remains low in India, with significant implications for disease outcomes.
• Integration (at primary health centers): Integrating screening services into primary health centers alongside vaccination programs can facilitate early detection and treatment, reducing cervical cancer mortality rates.
• Role of screening in early detection: Early detection through screening enables the identification of precancerous lesions and allows for timely intervention, preventing the progression to advanced stages of the disease.

Need for Comprehensive Control Programme:

• Ideal plan: A national cervical cancer control program should encompass vaccination, screening, and treatment services accessible to all women, regardless of age, education, or socioeconomic status.
• Comprehensive approach: While vaccination initiatives target young girls, the effectiveness of cervical cancer prevention requires the deployment of comprehensive tools and services.
• Cryotherapy: Mandating screening and offering timely interventions like cryotherapy at primary health centers are crucial steps in preventing cervical cancer-related deaths and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.

Context:

In developing countries, the government face challenges between economic development and environmental protection, particularly in light of recent amendments to environmental regulations in India.

Environmental Regulations and Development Dilemma:

• Economy vs Environment: Developing countries grapple with the challenge of balancing economic development with environmental protection, particularly evident in the need for regulation amidst climate change concerns.
• Tilted interest: Environmental Clearance (EC) under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) rules, aimed at striking this balance, has faced criticism for leaning too heavily towards industry interests.
• Loopholes: Loopholes introduced in EIA regulations, such as the indefinite moratorium on compliance and ex post facto clearances, have raised concerns about the dilution of environmental safeguards.

Friction in Environmental Governance:

• Contentious clearance rules: Environmental clearances for business and infrastructure projects have long been contentious, with shifting perceptions of government policies on environment and development.
• Declining ranking at global level: The weakening of environmental regulations, including the EIA and the National Green Tribunal, poses significant challenges and has led to India's low ranking in global environmental indices.
• Required attention: Urgent attention is needed to address the erosion of environmental safeguards and the need for a balanced approach that integrates environmental concerns into development agendas.

Moving Towards Sustainable Development:

• Addressing the need: Embracing environmentalism as integral to development and vice versa is essential for sustainable progress.
• Opportunity: India has the opportunity to lead in integrating climate change and sustainability into the business landscape.
• Framework: Achieving this requires a robust policy framework that fosters business growth while ensuring rigorous assessment of project impacts and closing regulatory loopholes.