THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 9, 2016- Topic 2
The ratification of the
Paris Agreement on climate change by
the United States and China, which together account for 38 per cent of global
greenhouse gas emissions, provides much-needed MOMENTUM for the global compact to be in force
beyond 2020. As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has emphasised, 26 countries
have already ACCEDED to the accord; to reach the target of
55 per cent emissions, 29 more must come on board. For the U.S., this is a
landmark departure from its long-held position of not accepting a binding
treaty like the Kyoto Protocol, where emerging economies heavily RELIANT on fossil fuels have no firm
commitments. The Paris Agreement addressed this issue by STIPULATING voluntary but verifiable emissions
reduction goals for all parties, within the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities that UNDERPIN the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change. Contrary to the belief that a requirement to cut GHGs will
make economies less competitive, a major section of global industry and
business has REAFFIRMED the potential for trillions of dollars
in green investments flowing from the ratification of the Paris Agreement by
the U.S. and China. This is a clear pointer for India, which is estimated to
have the third highest individual country emissions as of 2014.
There are distinct low-carbon pathways
that India has outlined in its national plan submitted to the UNFCCC. Among
these, the scaling up of renewable energy and non-fossil fuel sources to 40 per
cent of installed power production capacity by 2030 is PREDICATED on technology transfer and the
availability of Green Climate Fund resources. Not much progress has been made
in this area, and Minister of State for Environment Anil Madhav Dave confirmed
recently that no contribution had been received from the Fund. Helping India
lock in the right technologies in its growth TRAJECTORY is important for a global reduction in
greenhouse gases. It is important for the U.S. to help accelerate this process
in the area of power generation, following up on the assurances given by
Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit on clean energy finance,
technology, solar CATALYTIC funding and help for power grid
upgradation. New Delhi can, in parallel, do much more on domestic policy to
achieve green and low energy intensive growth — such as taxing fossil fuels,
managing emissions from waste better and making low-carbon buildings mandatory.
India joined other G20 countries at Hangzhou to commit itself to addressing
climate change through domestic policy measures. For that to happen, the Centre
must initiate a serious discussion with the States on the national IMPERATIVES.
::::::::::::::::::::::Meanings with example
and Synonyms::::::::::::::::::::::
Momentum: the impetus gained by a moving object.
Example: the vehicle gained momentum as the road dipped
Acceded: assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty.
Example: the authorities did not accede to the strikers' demands
Synonyms: agree to, consent to, accept, assent to, acquiesce
in, comply with
Reliant: reliant on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others.
Example: a self-reliant little girl
Synonyms: self-sufficient, self-supporting, self-sustaining
Stipulating: demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of a bargain or
agreement.
Example: he stipulated certain conditions before their marriage
Synonyms: specify, set down, set out, lay down, demand, require, insist
on
Reaffirmed: state again as a fact; assert again strongly.
Example: the prime minister reaffirmed his commitment to the agreement
Predicated: found or base something on.
Example: the theory of structure on which later chemistry was predicated
Synonyms: base, be dependent, found, establish, rest, ground, premise
Trajectory: the path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the
action of given forces.
Example: the missile's trajectory was preset
Synonyms: course, path, route, track, line, orbit
Catalytic: relating to or involving the action of a catalyst.
Example: Traces of metal ions (which could act as catalytic redox centres) were
similarly ruled out.
Imperatives: an essential or urgent thing.
Example: free movement of labor was an economic imperative
