BrainBuzz Academy

Why in the news?
On January 17, 2025, Nigeria officially became a partner country of BRICS, the economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This move signifies Nigeria’s intention to strengthen its global economic and diplomatic engagement, particularly with emerging economies.
Key Takeaways:
BRICS Expansion:
Nigeria's inclusion brings the total number of BRICS partner countries to nine, alongside Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
This reflects the bloc’s growing efforts to involve more countries from the Global South and bolster South-South cooperation.
Economic Significance:
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and the world’s sixth-most populous nation.
Partnership with BRICS is expected to drive investments in infrastructure, energy, and trade, unlocking new opportunities for economic growth.
Strategic Objectives:
Nigeria aims to address key challenges like energy security, climate change, and sustainable development through the BRICS platform.
The partnership aligns with BRICS’s focus on fostering economic growth and creating alternatives to Western-dominated global institutions.
Geopolitical Relevance:
By joining BRICS, Nigeria gains access to a platform for advocating global governance reforms and participating actively in shaping international economic policies.
The move enhances Nigeria's position as a leader in Africa and a key player in global diplomacy.
Historical Context:
Formation of BRICS:
Initially formed as BRIC in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.
The bloc has since grown to include new partner countries such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE.
BRICS Summits:
Annual summits are held to discuss economic cooperation, climate change, and global governance reforms.
BRICS also promotes reducing reliance on the US dollar for international trade, encouraging a shift toward local currencies.
Implications for Nigeria:
Economic Growth:
As a BRICS partner, Nigeria stands to benefit from increased trade, investments, and development funding, particularly in infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
Access to the New Development Bank (NDB) may enable Nigeria to secure funding for critical development projects.
Global Collaboration:
The partnership strengthens Nigeria’s role in global economic discussions, offering a platform to address shared challenges like food security, climate resilience, and energy transition.
It also reinforces Nigeria’s leadership in advancing South-South cooperation.
Key Points about BRICS:
Economic Influence:
BRICS countries collectively represent over 40% of the global population and account for approximately 25% of global GDP.
Global Governance Reforms:
BRICS actively advocates for reforms in institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the IMF to better reflect the interests of emerging economies.
Trade and Investment:
The bloc promotes intra-BRICS trade and aims to reduce dependency on the US dollar in international transactions.
Challenges:
Internal differences on political, economic, and strategic issues among BRICS members may limit deeper integration and cooperation.
Nigeria’s successful integration into BRICS depends on addressing its domestic challenges, including political instability and infrastructure deficits.

Why in the news?
The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump will once again withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement. He has repeatedly referred to climate change as a “hoax” and seeks to free US oil and gas industries from environmental regulations. Interestingly, Trump had previously pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement during his first term, but his successor, Joe Biden, had rejoined four years later.
Key Takeaways :
Trump did not mention the Paris Agreement in his inauguration speech on Monday. However, he committed to reversing some climate-friendly energy policies implemented in last few years and reiterated his promise to increase oil and gas extraction to meet America’s energy needs.
Trump’s decisions threaten to jeopardise global climate action even further. Notably, the US is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. Its decision to extract, use, and export more fossil fuels could negate actions towards achieving the Paris Agreement targets.
Currently, it appears that the world is almost sure to miss its 2030 emission reduction targets by a substantial margin. While the science says that global emissions need to be cut by at least 43 per cent by 2030 from 2019 levels to keep alive hopes of arresting global warming within the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold, however, recent assessments indicate that current actions and policies may only lead to a reduction of about 2 percent.
Paris Agreement:
The Paris Agreement is an international accord that was adopted by nearly every country in 2015 to address climate change and its adverse effects.
Its primary goal is to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a bid to limit global warming in this century to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels while pursuing the means to curb warming to 1.5 degrees.
The agreement mentions the safer limit of 1.5 degrees based on a fact-finding report which found that breaching the threshold could lead to “some regions and vulnerable ecosystems” facing high risks, over an extended, decades-long period.
The treaty also requires all Parties (countries which have joined the agreement) to state every five years what they are doing to tackle climate change — what is known as their nationally determined contribution (NDC). Each successive NDC is meant to reflect an increasingly higher degree of ambition compared to the previous version, according to the website of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
What is the process for a country to withdraw from the Paris Agreement?
Article 28 of the Paris Agreement outlines the process and timeline for a country to withdraw from the treaty. It says, “[a]t any time after three years from the date on which this Agreement has entered into force (this happened in 2016) for a Party, that Party may withdraw from this Agreement by giving written notification to the Depositary”.
The Article also states, “any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.”
If a member state wants to withdraw from the treaty, it has to submit the notification of a withdrawal to the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN, based at UN Headquarters in New York.
Once the withdrawal notification has been received, it only becomes effective after one year (or later if the member state so says in the notification). Until the withdrawal comes into force, the member state remains in the Paris Agreement and has to fully participate in all activities under it, according to the UNFCCC website.
COP and IPCC:
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the annual meeting of the members of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international agreement established in 1992 that serves as the foundation for climate negotiations. Currently, there are 198 parties to the UNFCCC, which includes 197 countries and the European Union, representing almost universal membership.
Key Milestones from Previous COPs
COP3 in Kyoto, 1997: The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in this COP. It placed obligations on the set of rich and industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by assigned amounts. It did not last long as the rich and powerful countries were not happy with its provisions.
COP21 in Paris, 2015: It led to the landmark Paris Agreement — a legally binding international treaty to limit global temperatures to below 2 degree Celsius, and preferably below 1.5 degree Celsius.
COP26 in Glasgow, 2021: The Glasgow pact made a commitment to “phase down” the use of coal (this language was weakened from “phase out” late in the negotiations) and to phase out “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”. This was the first time that a UN climate agreement explicitly mentioned coal.
COP28 in Dubai, 2023:  A Loss and Damage fund was officially launched in Dubai. The fund is meant to provide financial help to countries struck by climate disasters.
IPCC:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
The main objectives of IPCC are to produce assessment reports, special reports, and methodology reports that assess scientific knowledge on climate change and provide potential response strategies.
Greenhouse Gases:
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are those gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat. They allow sunlight to pass through the atmosphere but prevent the heat that sunlight brings from returning into space. Essentially, GHGs act like a blanket that envelopes our planet and insulates Earth from the cold of space. This process of maintaining a warmer temperature is called the greenhouse effect. The most notable GHGs are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide. These gases occur naturally and are a boon for the planet — in their absence, there wouldn’t be the greenhouse effect without which there wouldn’t be liquid water and any form of life.

Why in the News?
Sarla Aviation, a Bengaluru-based aerospace startup, has launched ‘Shunya,’ India’s first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi prototype. The innovation aims to revolutionize urban air mobility by addressing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable transportation.
Key Takeaways:
About ‘Shunya’
Design and Capacity: Built for short trips of 20-30 kilometers, it can carry up to six passengers and has a maximum payload of 680 kg, making it the highest payload eVTOL globally.
Speed and Efficiency: Can achieve speeds of up to 250 km/h, offering a fast alternative to traditional transportation.
Environmental Benefits: As an electric vehicle, it promotes sustainable urban transport, aligning with India’s green initiatives and smart city goals.
Launch Plans and Expansion
Initial Launch: Targeted for Bengaluru by 2028, focusing on mitigating the city's notorious traffic congestion.
Future Expansion: Plans to extend services to major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune.
Strategic Partnerships
Collaboration with Sona SPEED, a precision manufacturing firm, to design and produce motors, landing gear, and other critical components.
Sona SPEED brings expertise from its previous projects with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Future Services
Air Ambulance Initiative: Beyond passenger transport, Sarla Aviation plans to launch free air ambulance services to provide emergency medical response in urban areas, enhancing critical healthcare access.
Significance for Urban India
Traffic Decongestion: Offers a cutting-edge solution to urban traffic issues by utilizing vertical take-off and landing capabilities.
Sustainability Focus: Supports India’s efforts in reducing pollution and adopting sustainable mobility solutions.
Technological Innovation: Represents a leap forward in urban air mobility, positioning India as a key player in the global eVTOL market.