IN FOCUS
By Padmashree Anandhan and Ashwin Dhanabalan 

One Planet Summit 2022: Spotlights Blue Carbon Coalition and New Plastic Economy Global Commitment
On 26 June, the UN along with Portugal and Kenya organized the “One Planet Summit,” for the second time after the one ocean summit held in February. The summit was held with an exclusive agenda toward the ocean looking from Brest to Lisbon which is the largest maritime space shared by Portugal and France in the EU. In the first day, representatives from Colombia, Australia, UNEP, Kenya, and the US attended the summit. The discussion will mainly review Blue Carbon Coalition and New Plastic Economy Global Commitment which were the Brest Commitments in the One Ocean Summit. According to Minister of State for Marine Affairs, Portugal, José Maria Costa: “Building new international partnerships is a political priority for Portugal. We are willing to invest in increased relationships with France and combine necessary experience to develop a sustainable blue economy, to develop marine science and technology.”

Focus of the Summit
First, focus on blue carbon. The summit brought out the following key pointers on the need to conserve the marine ecosystem with regard to blue carbon. While decades of action is being taken towards bringing the carbon emission down to the earth's surface, the damage done to the ocean surface also contributes to the release of carbon into the atmosphere. The marine ecosystem includes the mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass, even if they are in one percent proportion in the ocean, they have the capacity to store 50 per cent of the carbon accumulated for millenniums. Therefore, when such ecosystems are disturbed by human activities, they lose their tendency leading to the release of “sequestered” carbons that have remained in for centuries. Such marine systems can be turned around for the benefit of humanity by cultivating them and protecting them which can promote carbon-free oceans, lessen the climate change effects, and avoid the loss of wetlands, and vegetation. The representative from Conservation International, a non-governmental organization highlighted how the marine systems are 35 times better at acting as carbon syncs when compared to tropical forests. Its significance to humanity not just ends with combating carbon but also in protecting against violent storms, promoting marine life, and wave action.

Second, approach towards plastic pollution. The speakers at the summit spoke on how the transformation of plastics must shift from being linear to circular. Emphasis was also laid on banning recyclable plastics and bringing innovation to recycling. It also brought out the effect on marine life such as dolphins, turtles, and saltwater crocodiles due to the dumping of plastics in the oceans and seas. The most important recommendations made toward New Plastic Economy Global Commitment were on installing more recycling units and continuous negotiations with global countries to bring all under a legally binding agreement.

Third, the actors of the summit. The discussion panel present at the summit included all levels. Starting from individual field experts, environment, forestry, and marine affairs ministers and heads from France, Portugal, Colombia, Indonesia, Australia, and Kenya at the state level and UNEP New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, heads at the international level. Apart from this, heads of several investment banks for bringing the financial and funding aspect to such blue carbon and plastic re-cycling initiatives took part in the discussion. The summit also included non-governmental organizations such as Conservation International which work with various governments on ocean protection and marine biodiversity.

Fourth, global commitments and progress in Blue Carbon. With regards to the blue carbon coalition, Executive Director, AFD (French Development Agency), Gilles Kleitz vowed for adopting a higher ambition to protect the “carbon-rich marine ecosystem” and ensure commitment from banks to source in 200 billion under “carbon finance and ecosystem restoration.” Colombia’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development presented the progress of Colombia’s first blue carbon project on the Caribbean coast certified by Verra, a blue carbon group that has targeted sequestering one million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 30 years' time. He said that the project has benefitted more than 400 families living in the area after six years and the Colombian government plans to start similar projects along Indo-Pacific Coast soon. As far as Indonesia, it has implemented a “Blue economy development policy” which aims to protect marine areas, increase effectiveness, and “empowering of local communities.” Apart from this Australia committed to initiating five blue carbon projects at the domestic level to promote carbon sequestration and biodiversity. It also plans to double the indigenous population as it values their traditional care towards the conservation of land and sea. On the same line the NGO, Conservation International head proposed to encourage and promote the living of the Afro-defendant population who are found to be contributing less to climate change effect but support the most in mitigation.

Fifth, global commitments and progress in plastics. New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, UNEP Head spoke on how the UN seeks to bind all countries into the commitment by aligning the vision and including private and government units. The head reported that the UN has achieved 500 signatories now more have stepped forward after the one ocean summit. Kenya which started the plastic ban in 2007, has now progressed in pushing 19 waste management companies to be held responsible for producing and import of plastics. As far as Australia is concerned the plastics in the ocean have affected the marine species vastly and the government proposed to raise USD 800 million to invest in recycling infrastructure and encourage its university to innovate new ways to suck carbon dioxide and make plastics 100 per cent reusable. Apart from the existing countries, Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Federal government of Belgium, the Kingdom of Thailand, the government of Mexico, along with several other Brazilian and Mexican states joined the Global commitment to plastics.

Reference
“One Planet at UN Ocean Conference live event video ,” One Planet Summit, 26 June 2022

Pressurizing Moscow’s transactions in the global financial system: The G7 countries plan to ban gold imports from Russia

The G7 countries plan to ban the import of gold from Russia
On 26 June, US president Joe Biden announced a new ban on importing Russian gold. He added: “The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine.” UK’s prime minister Boris Johnson also mentioned that the ban would directly affect the oligarchs in Russia and cut funding to “Putin’s war machine.” The G7 countries have not officially announced the ban, but are likely to release a joint statement once the summit ends.

Targeting Russia’s global incomes
According to statistics from 2020, Russia exported gold worth USD 19 billion, accounting for five per cent of the global gold exports. Out of which, 90 per cent of Russia’s gold was consigned to G7 countries, with the UK being the largest importer. The ban, once imposed, would cause a significant loss of profits for Russia. On 26 June, The White House released a statement stating that gold was the second important source of revenue for Russia after energy, and its ban would further isolate Russia from the global economy. 

What was Russia’s plan of action in using gold? 
First, an economic defense strategy. Since the economic restrictions of 2014, Russia has prepared economic defense strategies to circumvent sanctions. For example, by 2022 Russia tripled its reserves of gold to USD 140 billion, which makes up about 20 per cent of the country’s central bank’s overall reserves. Russia also has one of the largest proven gold deposits and mined gold reserves. 

Second, pegging ruble to gold. On 29 April, Kremlin suggested pegging the ruble to gold after sanctions against Russia increased. Russia’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned that linking the Russian ruble to gold would cut Moscow’s dependence on the dollar as a global reserve currency. This resulted in strengthening the rouble’s value.

Third, converting rouble to gold. On 25 March, Russia’s central bank announced that it would buy a gram of gold for RUB 5,000 from 08 April until 30 June. The announcement encouraged the stabilization of the rouble against the dollar. This also helped Russia’s inflation rate as the bank converted the roubles received from energy exports to gold. 

In an article, Forbes mentioned this was “Russia’s golden move.” The three-step plan of Russia asking countries to pay in roubles for energy imports, then converting the roubles to gold and pegging the ruble to gold, helped its economy stay afloat amid sanctions from the West.

Russia’s potential strategies to circumvent the gold ban
First, using sanctioned countries. Countries like Venezuela have been helping Russia to circumvent the sanctions on gold since 2017. In 2021, Russia sent chartered planes to pick up gold from Venezuela and then got it refined in Mali, which was resold in UAE. Russia might use similar tactics as it sent a shipment of three tons of gold to Switzerland. 

Second, using cryptocurrency. Using cryptocurrencies backed by gold could also help Russia to continue trading internationally and avoid economic isolation. Since the cryptocurrency would be pegged to gold, it could be used as a medium to settle import and export transactions restricted for international purposes. This is a similar strategy used in Iran to mine cryptocurrencies and circumvents sanctions by the US.  

References
“Background Press Call on President Biden’s First Day in Germany,” The White House, 27 June 2022 
“G7 leaders to announce ban on Russian gold imports in latest sanctions against Kremlin,” Euronews, 27 June 2022 
Phil Rosen, “Russian gold exports to Switzerland point to a stealth buyer as the country's top refiners say they didn't import any,” Business Insider, 23 June 2022 
“Russia’s Move To Gold May Jolt Your Company,” Forbes, 02 May 2022
"Bank of Russia Rejects Ruble-Gold Peg Idea, Differs With Kremlin,” Bloomberg, 29 April 2022
“Russia's central bank says it will stop buying gold at a fixed price,” CGTN, 08 April 2022
Gina Chon, “Russia’s gold reserves buy Putin a few options,” Reuters, 28 March 2022

War in Ukraine: Day 122 & 123
By Rishma Banerjee
 
War on the Ground
On 25 June, Sievierodonetsk’s mayor, Oleksandr Stryuk reported that Russia’s troops have fully occupied the city. They have taken Syrotyne and the towns of Voronove and Borivske. The governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Gaidai, said that Ukraine’s troops in the city have been ordered to retreat to new positions. He also said that 90 per cent of the houses in the city have been shelled and 80 per cent have been critically damaged. Russian forces now control most of the Luhansk and Donestk regions, which make up the Donbas. Reportedly, Russia is moving to Lysychansk, the city facing Sievierodonetsk, on the other side of the Siversky Donets river, but Ukraine’s military command has been successful in repelling the attacks.
 
On the same day, in his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that the war was becoming emotionally tough to handle. However, he vowed that Ukraine will take back territories under Russia’s control, including Sievierodonetsk. He said: “At this stage of the war it's spiritually difficult, emotionally difficult ... we don't have a sense of how long it will last, how many more blows, losses and efforts will be needed before we see victory is on the horizon.”
 
On 25 June, Ukraine’s military reported that cruise missiles were fired by Russia from ships in the Black sea, and they hit military positions in Lviv and Zhytomyr. However, a few missiles were shot down by Ukraine. A heavy rocket strike was also reported in a village near Chernihiv called Desna. Ukraine’s Chief of General Staff, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on the Telegram app that Ukraine has started using US supplied HIMARS rocket systems. He wrote that the rockets have been used to hit Russia’s targets in Ukraine. On 26 June, there were reports of Russia’s missiles striking the Cherkasy and Sumy regions. It resulted in the death of one person and hit a bridge that helps connect the western part of the country to the Donbas region in the east. Also on the same day, at least 14 missiles hit Kyiv, destroying an apartment block among other infrastructure. 
 
The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said that heavy shelling has damaged a nuclear research facility in Kharkiv. However, nuclear fuel storage and radiation levels have not been affected.
 
On 25 June, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke about their support for Moldova following their acceptance of the EU membership candidacy. This comes after Russia issued warnings of negative consequences over the membership. On 26 June, the minister said that the G7 countries must react to further missile strikes in Ukraine and should aim to impose further sanctions on Russia. He also mentioned that they must look toward supplying more arms to Ukraine.

The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 25 June, Russia’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu visited Ukraine, where he awarded medals to Russian soldiers. This is the first time that he visited Ukraine, since Russia’s invasion in February. 
 
On 26 June, Reuters cited Rossiya 1 state television station and reported that president Vladimir Putin will visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the coming week. The president of Tajikistan, Imomali Rakhmon has been a close ally of Russia. In Turkmenistan, he will attend a meeting with leaders from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. This will mark his first international visit since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. His last international trip was to Beijing where China’s president Xi Jinping and Putin signed the "no limits" friendship treaty. He is also scheduled to meet Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo in Moscow. 
 
Additionally, Putin will meet Belarus’s president Alexander Lukashenko on 30 June and 01 July, in Grodno. He said that Russia will supply Iskander-M systems to Belarus. These are short-range missile systems that have a range of 500 kilometers and can fire ballistic and cruise missiles of both conventional and nuclear kinds. Putin also mentioned that they will assist Belarus in modifying their Su-25 warplanes, equipping them to carry nuclear weapons.
 
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, alleged in an interview that the West is unwilling to talk about their mercenaries in Ukraine. She said this when asked about whether the US or the UK had contacted them about their nationals captured from Ukraine by Russia.
 
On the same day, TASS reported that Ukraine’s forces have hit a drilling platform in the black sea, which is owned by the Crimean oil and gas company, Chernomorneftegaz. This is the second such strike in a week.

The West View
Responses from the US and Europe 
On 25 June, Poland held the Warsaw Pride march, with the full backing of the city's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski. This year, the march was in collaboration with Kyiv Pride. The director of Kyiv Pride, Lenny Emson, thanked the LGBTQ community in Warsaw for including Ukraine’s LGBTQ activists in their parade.
 
On 25 June, UK’s prime minister, Boris Johnson spoke to broadcasters in the capital of Rwanda and said that he was apprehensive of Ukraine being coerced into accepting a peace deal that is not favorable to them. He said: "Too many countries are saying this is a European war that is unnecessary... and so the pressure will grow to encourage - coerce, maybe - the Ukrainians to a bad peace.” 
 
On 26 June, at the Group of Seven summit, Johnson spoke about the war in Ukraine and the fallouts of the same. However, he mentioned that while the war efforts may be costly now, the price of letting Russia triumph would be even more so. He also announced that the UK, the US, Japan, and Canada will ban the import of gold from Russia. Last year, the global gold exports from Russia were worth USD 15.45 billion. This ban, which will be to further tighten sanctions against Moscow, will come in force shortly. An official from the US also corroborated this move and said that they will announce the ban on 28 June. The Global Fallouts
Implications of the Ukraine war
On 26 June, the UN Human Rights division in Ukraine reported that they have received “hundreds of allegations of torture and ill-treatment, including conflict-related sexual violence” since Russia’s invasion in February. The UN monitoring mission in Ukraine elaborated on the kind of torture the victims had to face. They said that some people were kept tied and blindfolded for days without food or water. They were even put in closed metal boxes, beaten and subjected to mock executions. 
           
Before leaving for the G7 summit on 27 June, Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, addressed the Ukraine war. He urged Russia and Ukraine’s leaders to aim for dialogue and for Putin to order a ceasefire. He said that this was of utmost importance to reactivate the global food supply chains.
 
References
Maya Yang, “Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 124 of the invasion,” The Guardian, 27 June 2022
Matthew Weaver, “Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 123 of the invasion,” The Guardian, 26 June 2022
“Ukraine’s Sievierodonetsk ‘Fully Occupied’ by Russian Army – Mayor,” The Moscow Times, 26 June 2022
“Ukraine war: Kyiv orders forces to withdraw from Severodonetsk,” BBC, 25 June 2022
“Zelenskiy says Ukraine will win back lost cities, admits war is tough to bear,” Reuters, 26 June 2022
“Ukraine is already using U.S.-supplied rocket systems in conflict, top general says,” Reuters, 26 June 2022
“Shelling damages Kharkiv nuclear facility in Ukraine, regulator says,” Reuters, 25 June 2022
“Russia Strikes Hit Kyiv Residential Building – Mayor,” The Moscow Times, 26 June 2022
“Strikes across Ukraine as world leaders meet at summit,” BBC, 26 June 2022
“Ukraine stands with Moldova against threats from Russia, foreign minister says,” BBC, 25 June 2022
“Ukraine: Multiple missiles hit Kyiv district — live updates,” Deutsche Welle. 26 June, 2022
“G7 must respond to missile strikes with more sanctions on Russia, Ukraine's foreign minister says,” Reuters, 26 June 2022
“Missiles kill one person and hit strategic bridge near Ukraine's Cherkasy – officials,” Reuters, 26 June 2022
“Russia's defense minister visits troops involved in Ukraine operation,” Reuters, 26 June 2022
“West unwilling to answer questions about its mercenaries in Ukraine — Russian diplomat,” TASS, 26 June 2022
“Russia's Putin to make first foreign trips since launching Ukraine war,” Reuters, 27 June 2022
“Russia promises Belarus Iskander-M nuclear-capable missiles,” BBC, 26 June 2022
“Boris Johnson says he fears Ukraine will be coerced to make a 'bad peace',” Reuters, 25 June 2022
“UK's Boris Johnson: cost of Russian victory in Ukraine is too high,” Reuters, 26 June 2022
“UK, U.S., Japan and Canada to ban Russia gold imports,” Reuters, 26 June 2022
Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt “Biden, G7 leaders to agree on import ban on Russian gold,” Reuters, 25 June 2022
“Polish and Ukrainian activists march for LGBTQ rights in Warsaw,” France24, 25 June 2022
“Indonesia president to visit Ukraine, Russia on peace-building mission,” Reuters, 26 June 202

IN BRIEF
By Emmanuel Royan and Sai Pranav

NORWAY
Oslo shooting recognized as an act of terrorism by Norwegian authorities
On 25 June, a Norwegian resident of Iranian origin went on a shooting spree at 1.15 am local time, killing two people and injuring twenty-one others. 10 of them were gravely injured. Norway’s PST intelligence services deemed a 42-year-old radicalized Islamist to be responsible for the act of terrorism. Authorities confiscated two weapons from the shooter before arresting him. Concerns have been raised over his mental health. London Pub, a popular LGBTQ+ gathering location, Herr Nilsen jazz club, and a takeaway food outlet were the places that were targeted by the shooter. The pride parade was suspended after the incident took place hours before its start. But the LGBTQ community stood in solidarity and marched on the streets, stating that they would not let the shooter win. Elsewhere similar emotions were seen in Turkey where around 200 people were detained by the police due to defying the law by marching pride parade which was banned since 2014.  ("Oslo shooting: Norway attack being treated as Islamist terrorism, police say," BBC News, 26 June 2022; Jon Henley, "Norway on highest terror alert after two killed in mass shootings," the Guardian, 25 June 2022; “Turkey: More than 200 arrests in Istanbul as LGBTQ marchers try to defy Pride ban,” Le Monde, 27 June 2022)

THE UK
Probe reveals the number of deaths of asylum seekers more than previously informed
On 25 June, the Observer and Liberty Investigate reported on fatalities of asylum seekers housed by the Home Office of the UK between April 2016 and May 2022. The report revealed that the number was higher than what was previously acknowledged. The Home Office documents reported that at least 17 individuals died by suicide or were thought to have committed suicide. The term "safeguarding element" which indicates people with vulnerabilities or needs like a health condition was used by the department to label in half the deaths since the beginning of 2020. The investigators claimed "systemic failures" are in how some of these incidents were dealt with. This includes possible safeguarding policy gaps and alleged breaches that followed them. (Jessica Purkiss, Aaron Walawalkar, Mirren Gidda, Eleanor Rose & Mark Townsend, “Revealed: dozens of vulnerable asylum seekers have died in Home Office housing since 2020,” the Guardian, 25 June)

REGIONAL
European leaders express resentment over US supreme court decision on the abortion law
On 25 June, the head of states of European countries expressed disbelief and disappointment in the US Supreme Court's decision to revoke the right for women to receive an abortion. The prime minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel stated: “Making abortions illegal isn’t pro-life. It’s anti-choice.” The recent US court decision invalidates the famous Roe versus Wade precedent, which safeguarded a woman's right to have an abortion. The prime minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, tweeted, "Prohibiting abortion merely encourages riskier abortions; it never results in fewer abortions He added that Belgium will continue to collaborate with other nations to improve #SRHR worldwide. Greece’s prime minister,  Kyriakos Mitotakis and  France’s president, Emmanuel Macron also critiqued the decision. (David M. Herszenhorn, “European leaders decry US restriction of abortion rights,” POLITICO, 25 June 2022)

INTERNATIONAL
23 die while trying to cross to the Melilla enclave of Spain
On 24 June, hundreds of asylum-seeking Africans tried to cross into the Melilla enclave of Spain. At least 23 have died due to the mass migration which assumed the form of a stampede. NGOs on the ground said that the number might increase upon further investigation. Morocco’s forces were seen to have attacked the migrants with fully equipped riot gear. Spanish forces aided Morocco in the indiscriminate use of violence by throwing stones and tear gas at the migrants. This was the first attempt at crossing the Spanish enclave of Melilla after Spain and Morocco resumed their diplomatic relations following a year-long dispute. 133 people made it across the fence and were processed at the reception centre. Several NGOs have called for an investigation of the incident. ("Dozens die trying to cross into Spanish enclave of Melilla," BBC News, 26 June 2022; Ashifa Kassam, "Calls for investigation over deaths in Moroccan-Spanish border crossing," the Guardian, 26 June 2022)

Major European firms and banks backing deforestation by a Brazilian meat company 
On 24 June, various banks, UK supermarkets, and an Italian leather supplier were accused of colluding with the Brazilian meat giant JBS. JBS is said to be responsible for deforestation, land-grabbing, and the use of slave labour in the Amazon region. These companies were said to have funded billions of dollars to JBS in their illegal activities. The banks, UK supermarkets, and the Italian leather supplier company have either denied knowing of the deforestation or said that they would clear their mistakes global Witness, the investigating agency revealed that deforestation has reached record levels in the Amazon due to companies like JBS. The government activities have weakened environmental laws and policies which in turn has led to the exploitation of the forest land and local resources by corporates such as JBS. Many from direct and indirect supply chains of JBS had cleared the forest illegally for cattle ranches. JBS has committed to monitoring its supply chains by 2025 to reduce this deforestation (Sophie Kevany, "Banks and UK supermarkets accused of backing deforestation in Brazil," the Guardian, 24 June 2022