European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

• Mechanism and Purpose:

  • CBAM taxes imported goods based on the carbon emissions generated during their production.
  • Designed specifically to prevent 'carbon leakage,' where companies relocate production outside the EU to avoid stringent EU climate laws.

• Implementation Timeline:

  Phase	Start Date	Requirement
  Transitional Phase	October 1, 2023	Importers must report emissions data (no financial penalties incurred).
  Full Implementation	January 1, 2026	Duties will be charged based on reported emissions.

• Initial Covered Sectors (High-Emission):

  • Cement
  • Iron and steel
  • Aluminium
  • Fertilizers
  • Electricity
  • Hydrogen

• Global Impact:

  • Significantly impacts major EU trading partners, including China and India.

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Geopolitical Challenges in Antarctic Marine Conservation

• Governing Body:

  • The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), operating under the Antarctic Treaty System.

• Recent Outcome:

  • CCAMLR failed to designate three key proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) at its recent annual meeting.
  • The failure was primarily attributed to resistance and lack of consensus from member states, specifically Russia and China.

• Proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs):

  • East Antarctica MPA (1 million sq. km)
  • Weddell Sea MPA (2.2 million sq. km)
  • Antarctic Peninsula MPA

• Conservation Significance:

  • The proposed areas are critical biodiversity hotspots.
  • They face increasing threats from climate change and unregulated fishing activity.
  • The lack of designation underscores the significant geopolitical challenges involved in managing global commons regarding resource exploitation versus conservation.