Today in History (November 13th, 2015)
In Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris at the national stadium, in a crowded concert hall, in restaurants and on streets, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II.
Let’s Revise
1. Where did COP-29 take place?
a) New York
b) Paris
c) Baku, Azerbaijan
d) Tokyo
Answer: c)
Explanation: The passage mentions that COP-29 began in Baku, Azerbaijan.
2. What is one of the primary topics discussed at COP-29?
a) Renewable energy sources
b) Climate financing
c) Technological innovations
d) Carbon emissions targets
Answer: b)
Explanation: The passage notes that one of the primary topics at COP-29 is climate financing, which includes determining who pays, how much is needed, and how funds will be used for climate adaptation, mitigation, and loss/damage.
3. Who raised alarms about the Paris Agreement goals being in jeopardy?
a) COP-29 President Mukhtar Babayev
b) UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
c) President Biden
d) Donald Trump
Answer: b)
Explanation: The passage states that the United Nations, through the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), raised alarms that the Paris Agreement goals are at risk.
4. When is the period from _______ expected to be the warmest decade?
a) 2024
b) 2015-2024
c) 2030
d) 2040
Answer: b)
Explanation: According to the passage, the period from 2015-2024 is expected to be the warmest decade on record, with 2024 predicted to break temperature records.
5. Why is COP-29 referred to as the “Finance COP”?
a) Because it is focused on the financial aspects of climate change
b) Because of its location in Baku
c) Because of global warming trends
d) Because it is dedicated to solving political conflicts
Answer: a)
Explanation: The passage refers to COP-29 as the “Finance COP” because it focuses on climate financing, including securing increased climate finance and creating clearer rules for its distribution and use.
6. When was the first Conference of the Parties (COP) held?
a) 1990
b) 1992
c) 1995
d) 2000
Answer: c)
Explanation: The first COP meeting was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany. This was the start of the annual meetings that bring together countries to discuss and negotiate climate change policies under the UNFCCC.
7. Which COP meeting marked the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015?
a) COP-21
b) COP-23
c) COP-24
d) COP-25
Answer: a)
Explanation: The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP-21 in 2015 in Paris, France. The agreement set global climate goals to limit global warming to below 2°C, with an aspiration to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
8. The German parliament is known as the _____, which translates to “Federal Diet”.
a) Duma
b) Congress
c) Federal congress
d) Bundestag
Answer: d)
Explanation: The Bundestag is the national parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany and is Germany’s legislative body according to the principle of the separation of powers. The Bundestag is the only directly elected constitutional organ and therefore enjoys a particular degree of democratic legitimacy.
9. Germany has ____
a) Unicameral legislature
b) Bicameral legislature
c) Absolute monarchy
d) Limited Monarch
Answer: b)
Explanation: The Federal Republic of Germany has (bicameral legislature)/two chambers: the German Bundestag and the Bundesrat. The Bundestag is the national parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany and is Germany’s legislative body according to the principle of the separation of powers.
Summary of Today’s News
The State of Food and Agriculture 2024’ (SOFA 2024)
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has recently released its annual report, “The State of Food and Agriculture 2024” (SOFA 2024).
What is SOFA?
SOFA is a yearly report published by the FAO. It provides detailed insights into the major challenges and issues facing global food and agriculture systems.
Focus of SOFA 2024
The 2024 report examines the true cost of food, stressing the need for agriculture and food systems to become more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. It builds upon the findings of the previous year’s report, which introduced the idea of true cost accounting—a method to better understand the economic, social, and environmental impacts of food systems.
Key Findings from SOFA 2024
• True Cost Accounting: The report emphasizes the importance of true cost accounting, a method that reveals the hidden costs and benefits of food production and consumption. This includes factors like environmental damage, health issues, and social inequalities.
• Global Hidden Costs: The hidden costs of global food systems are estimated to reach about $12 trillion annually. The report highlights that the main hidden costs come from unhealthy eating habits, which contribute to diseases and reduced worker productivity.
• India’s Position: India has the third-largest hidden costs in the world, following China and the United States, with hidden costs totaling around $1.4 trillion.
• Health-Related Costs: A significant part of these hidden costs stems from health issues related to poor diets, which are estimated to cost about $846 billion annually. These health costs include lost productivity due to diet-related diseases.
• Impact of Unhealthy Diets: Unhealthy diets are responsible for about 70% of the hidden costs in food systems, which amounts to around $8.1 trillion. The report links poor diets to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and stresses the need to create healthier food environments.
• Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts: While food systems bring many benefits, they also have negative impacts, such as market failures and environmental harm. These hidden costs are significant and need to be considered in policy decisions.
Recommendations for Policy Change
To address these issues, the report offers several key recommendations:
1. Promote Healthier Diets: Encouraging people to eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, while cutting down on processed foods and sugars, can reduce health-related costs.
2. Adopt Sustainable Farming Practices: Encouraging sustainable agricultural practices can help reduce environmental damage, such as greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen runoff.
3. Improve Social Equity: Ensuring better working conditions and fair wages for agricultural workers can reduce the social costs of food systems.
4. Support Systemic Transformation: The report suggests incentivizing sustainable practices, improving institutional capacity, and involving various stakeholders in transforming food systems for the future.
