·       Meanwhile, weather extremes were the main driver for 18 countries, with over 72 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity because of such extreme weather events.

·       The 10 countries with the world’s largest food crisis in 2023 were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Yemen, the Syrian Arab Republic, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar.

·       On a positive note, the situation improved in 17 countries in 2023, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.

·       The report analyzed a population of 1.3 billion in 2023 across 59 countries.

·       2023 was the fifth consecutive year of rises in the number of people suffering acute food insecurity, defined as when populations face food deprivation that threatens lives or livelihoods, regardless of the causes or length of time.

·       Nearly 282 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 59 countries in 2023.

·       The report identifies conflicts, extreme weather events, and economic shocks as the three main drivers behind the exacerbation of food crises in the world.

·       With food crisis escalating alarmingly in conflict hotspots in 2023, notably Palestine (Gaza Strip) and Sudan, conflict / insecurity became the primary driver in 20 countries, directly affecting 135 million people.

·       The Gaza Strip became the area with the most severe food crisis in the last eight years of GRFC reporting.

·       The Council has withstood many changes, from geopolitical and economic upheavals to a complete shift in the way people understand and use energy.

·       Today, The World Energy Council has almost 100 national member committees. Its member list includes governments, businesses and expert organizations.

·       The World Energy Congress, held over 20 times since the organization’s founding, is the world’s premier energy gathering. The World Energy Council continues to build on its long, stable history as a key player on the global energy scene.

·       WEC India functions under the patronage of Ministry of Power, Government of India and with the support of the Ministries of Coal, New & Renewable Energy, Petroleum & Natural Gas and External Affairs.

·       The World Energy Council has developed an interactive tool – The World Energy Issues Monitor. The Monitor is an annual reality check of 2,000+ leaders worldwide focusing on the challenges of energy transition.

Need to focus on Green Financing

·       Green finance, which aligns financial investments with sustainable and eco-friendly projects, has emerged as a pivotal force in fostering the advancement of renewable energy in India.

·       India’s commitment to renewable energy, aiming to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, requires green funding.

·       While facilitating the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, green finance contributes to a reduction in the carbon footprint.

NABARD’s Climate Strategy 2030

·       NABARD’s Climate Strategy 2030 is a comprehensive blueprint designed to tackle India’s growing demand for green financing.

·       It is structured around four key pillars.

·       Accelerating green lending across sectors

·       Playing a broader market-making role

·       Internal green transformation of NABARD

·       Strategic resource mobilisation

·       Family – The new beetle belonged to the subgenus Afromorgus of the Trogidae family, which now had 10 species from India.

·       The new species of beetles is extremely rare and can be found only during monsoon.

·       Prey – The beetle is necrophagous (fed on dead bodies) in the last stages of decomposition and also called keratin beetle.

·       The beetle is important for forensic science as it helps detect the time of death of an animal or human.

·       Characteristics – The beetles of this group are sometimes called ‘hide beetles’ as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide.

·       They are not photogenic, beetles are usually black or grey and encrusted in dirt.

·       Appearance – Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.

·       After an organism died, blowflies were amongst the first to arrive in the early stages of decomposition.

·       The final stage saw the arrival of the newly discovered beetle which fed on the corpse.