The Hindu Editorial (Climate pledge) – Nov 03, 2021

In a surprise move at COP26 in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will commit to ambitious, enhanced climate targets and cuts in carbon emissions in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Climate pledge) – Nov 03, 2021.

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The Hindu Editorial (Climate pledge) – Nov 03, 2021:

pledge (noun) – promise, undertaking, vow, word, commitment, assurance, oath, agreement, guarantee.
26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) (noun) – The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is expected to take place from 01-12 November 2021, in Glasgow, UK. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
summit (noun) – meeting, conference, conclave.
outrun (verb) – exceed, go beyond, surpass; outstrip, outpace, outdistance, beat, defeat, run faster than.
the clock (phrase) – time taken as a factor in an activity.
ambitious (adjective) – formidable, challenging, demanding; determined, purposeful.
enhanced (adjective) – intensified, strengthened, upgraded.
Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) (noun) – NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of these long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
fossil fuel (noun) – non renewable resources (or fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are formed from the buried/deposited organic materials).
non-fossil fuel energy (noun) – renewable energy.
renewable energy (noun) – clean energy, green energy; energy generated from natural resources (such as water, wind & solar energy).
bring down (phrasal verb) – decrease, reduce, lower.
carbon intensity (noun) – also known as emission intensity; the volume of emissions per unit of GDP.
much-awaited (adjective) – eagerly anticipated, expected, long-awaited.
net zero emissions/carbon neutrality (noun) – it means annual zero net CO2 emissions; Carbon neutrality means every ton of anthropogenic (human-caused or influenced) CO2 emitted is compensated with an equivalent amount of CO2 removed (e.g. via carbon sink or carbon sequestration).
come as a surprise (phrase) – to make someone feel surprised.
given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
G-20 (noun) – The G20, formed in 1999, is a group of twenty of the world’s largest economies that meets regularly to coordinate global policy on trade, health, climate, and other issues. It brings together the world’s major advanced and emerging economies. The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK and USA. The G20 Countries together represent around 90% of global GDP, 80% of global trade, and two thirds of the world’s population.
climate change (noun) – a long-term change in the Earth’s climate, or of a region on Earth (Courtesy: NASA).
Sherpa (noun) – an expert (a civil servant or diplomat) accompanying the leader of a member country to an international summit meeting; The term is derived from local people employed as porters/guides for mountaineers in the Himalayas. In Tibetan, shar means East; pa is a suffix meaning ‘people’.
energy transition (noun) – the shift from an energy mix based on fossil fuels to one that produces very limited, if not zero, carbon emissions, based on renewable energy sources.
enable (verb) – allow, permit, empower, facilitate.
green technology (noun) – it is also known as clean technology/sustainable technology; it is the application of one or more environmental technologies to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement.
switch (verb) – change, convert, shift.
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) (noun) – a group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports.
block (verb) – obstruct, impede, inhibit, stop.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) (noun) – Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi. CSE researches into, lobbies for and communicates the urgency of development that is both sustainable and equitable.
decade (noun) – a period of ten years.
ramp up (phrasal verb) – increase (in amount or number).
tall (adjective) – demanding, exacting, difficult.
beacon (noun) – guiding light; a source of inspiration.
sustainable (adjective) – reasonable, sensible, well-founded (without disturbing the balance of nature and then without exhausting all of the natural resources).
keep one’s word (phrase) – to do as one has promised.
lag behind (verb) – trail, straggle, fall behind, move slowly.
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (noun) – Least developed countries (LDCs) are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development. They are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and have low levels of human assets. There are currently 46 countries on the list of LDCs which is reviewed every three years by the Committee for Development (CDP).
vulnerable (adjective) – endangered, unsafe, unprotected, unguarded, ill-protected; easily affected by, prone to, at risk of.
The Global South (noun) – the poor developing countries (of Asia, Africa, South America, amongst others).
The (Global) North (noun) – the economically developed countries (of Europe, North America, Australia, amongst others).