What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: How Bill Gates Is Reshaping the Global Discourse on Climate Action

Context:

The global conversation on climate change has long been dominated by the urgency of mitigation reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global temperature rise. However, in recent years, Bill Gates has emerged as an influential voice reshaping this discourse, emphasizing climate adaptation, technological innovation, and practical strategies that address immediate vulnerabilities, particularly in developing countries.

From Mitigation to Adaptation:

• Traditional climate discourse, led by international organizations and multilateral agreementssuch as the Paris Accord, has primarily focused on mitigation cutting emissions through renewable energy adoption, carbon pricing, and industrial transitions.
• While essential, these measures are often long-term and capital-intensive, posing difficulties for low-income nations still grappling with basic developmental challenges.
• Gates, through his “Gates Memo” and public interventions, has argued that focusing solely on mitigation overlooks the immediate threats of climate change, such as floods, droughts, rising temperatures, and declining agricultural productivity.
• He advocates that adaptation building resilience through better infrastructure, drought-resistant crops, and healthcare preparednessshould receive equal, if not greater, attention.
• His position aligns with the needs of developing nationsthat bear the brunt of climate impacts despite contributing minimally to global emissions.

Innovation as a Solution:

• Gates emphasizes technological innovationas the cornerstone of effective climate action.
• He argues that breakthroughs in clean energy, storage, and industrial decarbonizationare essential to make climate solutions both scalable and affordable.
• Through his organization Breakthrough Energy, he has invested in climate tech startups focusing on carbon capture, advanced nuclear energy, green hydrogen, and sustainable agriculture.
• This approach seeks to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and practical implementation.
• According to Gates, climate change cannot be addressedsolely through moral persuasion or policy goals; it requires a market-compatible, innovation-driven pathway that can attract private investment and sustain long-term change.
• Gates underscores that innovation should not be confined to rich nations.
• Developing economies should be empowered to leapfrog to cleaner technologies, avoiding the carbon-intensive pathways followed by industrialized countries in the past.

The China Factor and Global Climate Politics:

• Gates has drawn attention to China’s pivotal role in the global climate equation.
• China is both the largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the world’s largest investor in renewable energy.
• Constructive engagement with China is essential for any realistic progress on climate goals.
• Rather than isolating or politicizing climate cooperation, he advocates for pragmatic collaborationfocused on shared technological advancement.
• This stance contrasts with the increasingly polarized global politics of climate action, where Western nations often frame China and India as laggards.
• Gates’ position seeks to build a bridge of shared responsibility, recognizing that climate change is a collective challenge transcending geopolitical rivalries.

Equity, Realism, and Pragmatism in Climate Action:

• One of the central themes of Gates’ intervention is realism.
• He acknowledges that a zero-emission worldis a long-term aspiration that will take decades to achieve.
• Hence, policies must be designed not only to reduce emissions but also to minimize human suffering in the interim. Adaptation, in this sense, becomes a moral imperative as much as an economic one.
• Ensuring that poorer nations receive adequate financial and technological support to deal with the crisis.

Way Forward:

Bill Gates’ evolving perspective on climate change represents a pragmatic shift in global climate discourse one that complements the moral urgency of mitigation with the practical necessity of adaptation. His emphasis on innovation, equity, and realistic timelines brings fresh energy to a debate often mired in ideological divides and political posturing. By focusing on solutions that save lives today while investing in technologies for tomorrow, Gates bridges the gap between aspiration and action.

 

 Editorial 2: US sanctions on Russian oil are not about Ukraine, but its own shale industry

Context:

The United States’ sanctions on Russian oil exports, officially justified as a response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, reveal a deeper layer of strategic economic interest the protection and promotion of its own shale oil industry. While sanctions are typically tools of geopolitical coercion, in this case they also serve as a mechanism to influence global energy markets, stabilize domestic production, and secure long-term economic advantages for the US.

The Context of the Sanctions:

• Since 2022, the US and its allies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s energy exports, the backbone of Moscow’s economyin response to the Ukraine conflict.
• These sanctions aimed to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its warand pressure it into diplomatic compromise.
• However, the sanctions have also significantly disrupted the global oil market, with ripple effects across both developed and developing economies.
• In the short term, global crude oil prices spiked following the announcement of these sanctions.
• While Western nations claimed the moral high ground, the economic beneficiaries of the ensuing market disruptions were largely within the United States itself.
• The sanctions not only weakened a global competitor in the energy sector but also created favorable conditions for the US shale oil industry, which has long struggled to remain profitable in a low-price environment.

The Shale-Oil Dimension:

• The United States is one of the world’s largest producers of shale oil extracted through hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
• Unlike conventional oil production, shale extraction is costlierand becomes viable only when crude prices are high, typically above $60–70 per barrel.
• For much of the 2010s, shale producers faced financial stress due to low global oil prices, leading to bankruptcies and reduced investment.
• By constraining global supply, they pushed up prices, making shale extraction profitable again.
• As European countries reduced dependence on Russian crude, the US emerged as an alternative supplier, exporting both crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets.
• American energy companies recorded record profits, and US energy exports hit historic highs.

Global Economic Implications:

• The sanctions also reshaped global energy flows.
• Countries in Asia notably India and Chinabegan purchasing discounted Russian oil, while Europe turned increasingly toward American and Middle Eastern suppliers.
• This realignment fragmented global energy markets and reinforced US influence in global trade dynamics.
• However, the policy had unintended consequences. Developing economies, already burdened by inflation and energy insecurity, faced steep import bills.
• Higher fuel prices contributed to global inflationary pressures, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries.
• The geopolitical divide between the “energy-rich North” and the “energy-dependent South” deepened further.

Strategic Motives and Broader Implications:

• Historically, US foreign policy has often intertwined with its economic interests. From the Middle East interventions to the current sanctions regime, Washington’s strategic posture has aimed to preserve its global energy dominance.
• The sanctions on Russia align with this long-standing pattern they not only constrain a geopolitical rival but also reinforce American leverage over the global energy supply chain.
• Moreover, these sanctions illustrate how energy security and national interest continue to shape global diplomacy.
• In an era where fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix, control over production and supply routes translates directly into geopolitical power.

Way Forward:

While the United States frames its sanctions on Russian oil as a defense of democratic values and international law, the economic subtext reveals a pragmatic pursuit of national interest. The revival of its shale oil industry, increased energy exports, and renewed influence over global markets highlight the economic calculus underlying the sanctions.