30 December Affairs: Daily Current Affairs Updates

Canary Islands; GS-1 (Geography) ▪️ Why in the News: Seven human traffickers accused of killing four migrants during a sea

crossing to the Canary Islands have been arrested.

‣ The Canary Islands:

• The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago situated approximately 62 miles west of Morocco.

• They are classified as one of the European Union's outermost regions, showcasing unique geographical and cultural characteristics.

‣ Gateway to Europe:

• The Canary Islands serve as a transit point for migrants attempting to reach mainland Europe.

• The journey to the islands is perilous due to several factors:

• Strong ocean currents.

JIGYASA Program; GS-2 (Governance) ▪️Why in the news: The Scientific Aptitude Assessment Exercise under CSIR's

JIGYASA program was conducted online on 20 December 2024 in which the students gathered in each ofthe 37 constituents' laboratories of CSIR and took part in the big scientific demonstration and experiment.

‣ Launch and Background:

• The JIGYASA program was launched in 2017 by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

• It was introduced during the Platinum Jubilee year of CSIR and is also referred to as the CSIR Jigyasa Program.

• The initiative is part of the Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR), aiming to foster curiosity and a scientific mindset among students.

‣Objective:

• The main aim of the Jigyasa program is to extend classroom learning by incorporating research laboratory-based learning for school students.

• The program focuses on enhancing the quality of education with research-based, value-added knowledge in science.

‣ Collaborations: To achieve its goals, the program partners with various institutions; including:

• Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs)

• Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS)

• Karnataka State S&T Academy (KSTA)

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

• NITI Aayog, among others.

Sea Otters; GS-3 (Environment and Ecology) ▪️Why in the news: Sea otters are devouring thousands of green crabs — an invasive species native to Europe — at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in California, helping save the ecosystem of the West Coast of the United States.

‣ Habitat:

• Found along the Pacific Ocean coasts, including North America (from Alaska to California) and parts of Asia (Russia and Japan).

o While they spend most of their time in the water, they occasionally come ashore to rest or sleep.

‣Diet:

• Carnivorous by nature, they feed on sea urchins, crabs, mollusks, clams, and fish.

• Their significant appetite helps them consume large amounts daily to sustain body heat.

‣ Conservation Status:

• Classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Biodiversity Credit: GS-3 (Environment and Ecology) ▪️Why in the news: The voluntary biodiversity credit market, a mechanism where private companies fund biodiversity conservation and restoration projects, has been touted as a potential game-changer.

‣About:

• Biodiversity credits are financial instruments that can be verified, quantified, and traded.

• They reward efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity, focusing on land or ocean-based ecosystems over a specific timeframe.

. • The World Economic Forum describes them as a mechanism to link financial incentives with biodiversity outcomes.

‣ Objective:

• Biodiversity credits aim to serve as innovative financing tools to attract private sector investments in biodiversity conservation and restoration.

• They aim to generate measurable positive outcomes for nature, aligning with the targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

‣ Mechanism:

• These credits function similarly to carbon markets by selling credits and using the proceeds for biodiversity-related initiatives:

• They are created by various entities, such as non-profits, governments, landowners, or corporations.

• Private companies purchase these credits to fulfill their biodiversity goals and commitments.

‣Market Value: According to the World Economic Forum:

• The biodiversity credit market currently stands at $8 million.

• It is projected to grow to $2 billion by 2030 and reach $69 billion by 2050.