Key Initiatives Under ISA

• One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) – A vision proposed by India to interconnect solar grids globally, enabling solar energy transfer across continents.
• Global Solar Atlas – A tool for mapping solar potential to help nations optimize their solar projects.
• Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative – A financial mechanism to de-risk investments in solar infrastructure.
• STAR-C (Solar Technology and Application Resource Centre) – Provides capacity-building and training for solar energy development.

Genome India Project and Gene Editing

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Science & Technology

Context:

Recently, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has made the genome data of 10,000 individuals publicly accessible, under the Genome India Project (GIP). The sequences of healthy individuals — from 99 ethnic populations of the country — have helped create a baseline map of India’s genetic diversity

Read about:

What is Genome India Project?

DNA Sequencing

Key takeaways:

The Genomic India Project (GIP) was launched by the government in 2020 with the aim of creating a comprehensive catalog of genetic variations within the Indian population. A genetic diversity map is crucial for understanding human evolution, identifying the genetic roots of various diseases, and developing future therapies. Existing international databases are insufficient for this task, as the genetic makeup of Indian populations is likely to differ from that of other groups.

Researchers from 20 scientific institutions are collaborating to sequence the initial 10,000 genomes as part of this project. With a successful partnership in place, along with a dedicated data storage facility, data-sharing platforms, and a structured framework, the Department of Biotechnology plans to expand the initiative and eventually sequence up to 1 million genomes.

In the second phase, the focus will shift to sequencing the genomes of individuals with specific diseases. This will allow researchers to compare the genetic material of diseased individuals with healthy ones, helping to identify genes associated with certain conditions or those that increase susceptibility to particular diseases.

Significance of Creating the Database

• Identification of Genetic Factors: This genetic map can help pinpoint the genetic causes or risk factors for various diseases, which can then be targeted for developing therapies and diagnostic tests. For example, many modern therapies aim to modify, delete, or insert genes, which can only be done with a clear understanding of the genetic basis of diseases.

• Unique Genetic Variants: By analyzing Indian genomes, researchers have identified 135 million genetic variations, of which 7 million are not present in global databases. This demonstrates the importance of having a dataset that reflects India’s unique genetic makeup.

• Population-Level Sequencing: This approach can provide insights into the prevalence of genetic variations linked to diseases, allowing scientists to assess how common or rare certain conditions might be. For instance, a mutation known to cause cardiac arrest (MYBPC3) is found in 4.5% of the Indian population but is much rarer globally. Similarly, the LAMB3 mutation, responsible for a lethal skin condition, is prevalent in nearly 4% of the population near Madurai but does not appear in global data. This illustrates the necessity of an Indian-specific genomic dataset.

• Rare Diseases and Gene Therapies: The data could also assist in identifying rare diseases and contribute to the development of targeted gene therapies.

• Drug Resistance and Population-Specific Variants: The project could uncover genetic variants that affect the effectiveness of certain medications or anesthetics in specific populations. For example, a subgroup from the Vaishya community in South India carries a gene that impairs their ability to process common anesthetics, which can lead to prolonged unconsciousness or even death when administered. This highlights the importance of understanding genetic diversity for medical safety

What is Genome?

• A genome is a set of biological instructions passed down from our parents, essentially serving as a manual for life. It is composed of just four building blocks — A, C, G, and T — which combine in different ways to form the unique genetic code of each individual.
• The human genome consists of approximately 3 billion pairs of these bases. This vast amount of information encodes everything needed to shape your physical characteristics and maintain bodily functions throughout your life, including traits like height, eye color, and the genetic predispositions you may have toward certain diseases.
• To sequence the genome, scientists first extract DNA from a blood sample. Due to the complexity of the full 3 billion base pairs, they break the DNA into smaller fragments, similar to disassembling furniture.
• Each fragment is then tagged, and a DNA sequencer records the A, C, G, and T sequences of these smaller sections. Afterward, the fragments are reassembled to reconstruct the entire genome

Follow Up Question

How ICJ’s opinion could impact global climate governance?

For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Context:

Climate issues and the legal responsibilities of nations to undertake climate action are increasingly being addressed in national courts across the world. For instance, the Supreme Court of India has recognised the right to a clean environment and protection against the adverse impacts of climate change as a fundamental right

Read about:

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Key takeaways:

• Climate-related issues and the legal duties of nations to take climate action are increasingly being addressed by national courts globally. For instance, the Supreme Court of India has recognized the right to a clean environment and protection from climate change impacts as fundamental rights.
• In this context, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as the highest judicial authority, is poised to intervene and clarify the existing body of international law regarding climate obligations for states.
• The ICJ held public hearings from December 2-13, 2024, to examine state obligations regarding climate change and the legal consequences of these obligations. While the advisory opinion that the court will deliver is not legally binding on countries, it is expected to significantly influence the global climate change discourse.
• This opinion could also set a precedent for the many climate lawsuits filed across the world in recent years, demanding greater accountability from governments and corporations.
• Let’s explore how the ICJ’s advisory opinion, despite being non-binding, could shape global climate governance and the evolution of climate lawsuits against governments and corporations.

Climate Change as a Collective-Action Problem

• Since the 1970s, climate change has been viewed as a collective-action issue. International law has evolved through a series of global efforts, with key treaties like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol (which expired in 2020), and the 2015 Paris Agreement.
• These agreements have provided the foundation for international cooperation and coordinated climate action. However, in recent years, climate issues have become more complex, with global events highlighting that climate change is as much a socio-economic and political issue as it is an environmental one.
• It is increasingly argued that effective climate action requires rethinking economic growth models, energy consumption, natural resource usage, and production and consumption patterns, as well as human rights.
• As a result, the scope of climate action now extends beyond the UNFCCC framework to include areas such as international trade, the political economy of fossil fuels, agriculture, and migration.
• This broadens the debate to other areas of international law. Critics of the ICJ proceedings are concerned that expanding the discussion to include trade, energy, and migration could hinder rather than help global climate action, potentially leading to conflicts between different branches of international law.
• One question raised by Justice Cleveland prompted states to consider whether international climate law obliges nations to phase out fossil fuel production, consumption, and supply.
• States provided differing responses — some argued for a mandatory phase-out, while others claimed that nations have the right to use their resources to foster development.

Healthy Environment as a Foundation for Human Rights

• The ICJ proceedings are crucial in bringing international climate law into dialogue with broader international legal principles. During the hearings, Judge Aurescu asked how the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment aligns with other human rights under customary international law.
• In response, Ghana’s representative highlighted that "without a healthy environment, other rights become impossible to enjoy, and the survival of humans and other species is at risk."
• Similarly, the Republic of Vanuatu, a small island nation, sought to extend the right to a clean environment to encompass the right to self-determination and cultural protection. This broad interpretation of environmental rights raises questions about the legal status of non-binding principles under the UNFCCC.
• If customary laws like the "prevention of transboundary harm" and the "polluter pays" principle were applied to climate change, several challenges would arise.
• The "no transboundary harm" principle applies to pollutants with identifiable sources, but attributing specific emissions to a particular source in the case of climate change is nearly impossible, complicating legal accountability. Therefore, these customary laws cannot be applied in a straightforward manner to climate change.

The Climate Change Dilemma

• Climate change is a multifaceted problem that intersects with societies, politics, and economies. A legal inquiry into such a complex issue would primarily result in legal prescriptions, which may not lead to immediate action. The OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) emphasized in its statement that a collaborative, rather than prescriptive, approach is needed to address the climate crisis.
• Furthermore, the current climate action framework under the Paris Agreement is based on voluntary pledges rather than legally binding commitments. This allows countries to use their natural resources for economic development while pursuing climate action according to their capabilities and voluntary pledges.
• The Paris Agreement’s bottom-up structure contrasts with a legal inquiry's top-down approach. Therefore, the ICJ’s potential impact remains uncertain, as it cannot enforce its rulings within national jurisdictions.
• While the proceedings represent a significant victory for nations vulnerable to climate change, particularly in holding high-emitting countries accountable, it remains to be seen whether powerful nations will truly face consequences

 Follow Up Question

 1.How has climate change evolved into a socio-economic and political issue beyond just an environmental concern?