Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the 7th issue of “EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts.” EnviStats covers information on natural resources, environmental degradation, and government efforts for management. It follows the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework for compiling environmental accounts. Coverage of mangroves increased by about 8% from 2013 to 2021. There has been a 72% increase in the number and a 16% increase in the area of protected lands from 2000 to 2023. This edition introduces Ocean Accounts for environmental reporting. The report also updates the Soil Nutrient Index using Soil Health Card data for 2023-24.

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India is aligning its state business readiness rankings with the new World Bank B-READY index. The B-READY (Business-Ready Index) replaces the discontinued Ease of Doing Business rankings. It assesses the business environment of global economies based on regulatory framework, public services, and efficiency. Key areas include digitalization, environmental sustainability, and gender equality. The index evaluates ten parameters across a business’s lifecycle, from starting to closing. It will expand from 54 economies initially to 180 countries by 2026. Global institutions and companies will use it to assess a country’s regulatory and policy environment.

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The State of Global Water Resources report 2023 reveals that it was the driest year for global rivers in over three decades. This annual report has been published by the World Meteorological Organization since 2021. It provides a detailed overview of water resources, drawing from various national and international sources. The last five years have seen widespread below-normal river flows and reservoir inflows. All glacier regions reported ice loss in 2023, marking the largest mass loss in 50 years. Over 600 gigatons of water were lost globally, and 3.6 billion people lack adequate water access. This figure is projected to rise to over 5 billion by 2050, indicating a failure to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6.

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India is expected to see the highest increase in energy demand globally over the next decade, as per the World Energy Outlook 2024. The report is published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and provides key energy trends and projections. Low-emission energy sources are projected to generate over half of the world’s electricity by 2030. India is set to add 12,000 cars daily until 2035, with built-up space growing by over 1 billion square meters annually. India’s total energy demand will rise by 35% by 2035, with coal use in industry increasing by 50%. Coal-based electricity generation will grow by 15%.

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The Fraser Institute released the 2024 Economic Freedom of the World Report, ranking 165 countries based on economic choice. The top five most-economically free countries were Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the United States. India ranked 84th in the report. The report uses 42 variables, including government size, property rights, monetary policy, and trade freedom.

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India ranks 176th in the 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index with a score of 45.5, placing it among the five worst performers. The Nature Conservation Index (NCI), developed by Ben-Gurion University and BioDB.com, assesses land management, biodiversity threats, governance, and future conservation trends. India’s high pesticide use and soil pollution impact soil health, with a nitrogen sustainability index of 0.77. Marine conservation needs improvement, as only 0.2% of national waterways are protected, and no areas in India’s EEZ. Significant biodiversity risks include habitat loss, climate change, deforestation, and illegal wildlife trade. Strong political action and conservation laws are essential for sustainable development.

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United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released the Review of Maritime Transport 2024 report, highlighting trends in global maritime trade. Global maritime trade grew by 2.4% in 2023, rebounding from a contraction in 2022, but the recovery is still fragile. Key chokepoints like the Suez and Panama Canals experienced significant disruptions. Chokepoints are narrow geographical features that are strategically important for trade. They enhance connectivity, such as the Suez Canal connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Chokepoints also play a vital role in energy security, like the Strait of Hormuz for global petroleum transport.

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World Health Organization (WHO) released the “Global TB Report 2024”. India has significantly improved treatment coverage for tuberculosis (TB), achieving 85% coverage among diagnosed individuals. The World Health Organization’s Global TB Report highlights an increase in preventive therapy for high-risk groups, such as household contacts of TB patients and people living with HIV. In 2023, 12.2 lakh people received preventive therapy, up from 10.2 lakh in 2022 and 4.2 lakh in 2021. The government provides free TB medications to alleviate financial burdens, as treatments can be costly and last up to two years. Treatment success rates are 89% for drug-susceptible TB, 73% for drug-resistant TB, and 69% for extremely drug-resistant TB. Challenges include the long duration of treatment, leading to poor compliance, prompting the government to introduce innovative solutions like pill boxes and shorter treatment courses.

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The Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) is a crucial report being drafted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It aims to offer policymakers a comprehensive assessment of environmental changes and effective solutions to combat pressing ecological issues. Scheduled for launch at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in December 2025, GEO-7 will cover a broad spectrum of environmental topics, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental health with economic and social stability, thereby influencing decisions across various sectors for sustainable development.

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The State of the Climate 2024 report, released by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) at COP29 in Baku. It issues a Red Alert on climate change. 2024 is set to be the warmest year on record, with temperatures 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels. The past decade (2015-2024) is the warmest on record, with ocean temperatures rising rapidly. Greenhouse gas emissions reached their highest levels in 2023 and continue to rise in 2024. Glaciers are melting faster than ever, losing five times the water volume of the Dead Sea in 2023. Rising sea levels are accelerating, with a significant increase in the past two decades.