SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre (STAC), Kathmandu
🔶This center was established in 1992 with the mandate to prevent and control Tuberculosis in the region by coordinating efforts of the National TB Programmes of Member States; exchange of information, research, capacity building and implement activities; collects, collates, analyses and disseminates information on the latest developments and findings in the field of tuberculosis in the region and elsewhere.
SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), Delhi, India
🔶This Centre was re-established in November 2016 for expanded role by merging four erstwhile SAARC Centres viz.
(1) SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC – New Delhi, India);
(2) SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC – Dhaka, Bangladesh);
(3) SAARC Forestry Centre (SFC – Thimphu, Bhutan);
(4) SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC – Male, Maldives) with the mandate to support Member States in their Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives through application of Science & Technology, knowledge from multiple disciplines, exchange of best practices, capacity development, collaborative research and networking in line with the Global Priorities /Goals and other relevant frameworks adopted by Member States.
■ DEMAND FOR A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
#Constituentassembly
◇ It was in 1934 that the idea of a Constituent Assembly for India was put forward for the first time by M.N. Roy, a pioneer of communist movement in India.
◇ In 1935, the Indian National Congress (INC), for the first time, officially demanded a Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution of India.
◇ In 1938, Jawaharlal Nehru, on behalf the INC declared that ‘the Constitution of free India must be framed, without outside interference, by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise’.
◇ The demand was finally accepted in principle by the British Government in what is known as the ‘August Offer’ of 1940.
Impact of climate change
A rise in atmospheric temperature:
✅The greenhouse gases released due to human activities are increasing the temperature of the Earth.
✅The last 6 years topped the list of hottest years ever recorded.
✅The increase in temperature is the major cause of the current increase in heat-related deaths and illnesses, rise in sea levels and an increase in the intensity of natural disasters.
✅The 20th century saw an increase in the Earth’s average temperature by 1°F. This is believed to be the fastest rise in a thousand years.
✅Research estimates predict that if the GHGs are not reduced, the average surface temperature could increase to 3-5°F by the end of this century.
Impact of climate change [2]
Change in landscapes:
✅Increasing temperature and changing climate and weather patterns across the globe led to the shift of trees and plants towards Polar Regions and mountains.
✅As the vegetation tries to adapt to climate change by moving towards colder regions, the animals that are dependent on them will be forced to follow them for survival. While some survive, many perish in the attempt.
✅Other species like polar bears dependent on cold terrains will not have any habitat due to the melting of ice, causing a risk to their survival.
✅Thus, the current hasty change in the landscape causes a considerable risk to the survival of many species, including the human population.
Impact of climate change[3]
A risk to the ecosystem:
✅An increase in the temperature across the globe is changing the weather and vegetation patterns, causing the species to migrate to cooler areas for survival.
✅This poses a threat to the survival of numerous species. It is projected that by 2050, one-fourth of the Earth’s species may become extinct if the current trend continues.
Ocean Acidification:
✅The increase in the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has increased the CO2 absorption in the ocean. This makes the ocean acidic.
✅The increase in the acidification of the ocean can be harmful to many marine species like plankton, molluscs, etc. The corals are especially susceptible to this as they find it difficult to create and maintain the skeletal structures needed for their survival.
Air pollution
✅Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials.
✅There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases (such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules.
