Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Asia's insatiable demand for coal plays havoc with climate goals

“Coal met nearly half the rise in global energy demand during the first decade of the 21st Century,” said the International Energy Agency (IEA). Wind, solar, and gas have yet to change the overall picture.

The IEA said “insatiable demand” from Asia’s rising powers will gobble up a further 1bn tonnes each year by 2017, equal to the entire consumption of the US and Russia today. “If no changes are made to current policies, coal will catch oil within a decade,” it said.

By a rough rule of thumb, coal produces 238 tonnes of carbon per gigawatt hour (GWh), compared with 207 for... Read more..

IIT students make systems out of e-waste

Only a few years ago, the desktop computer owned a pride of place in Akhil Sai's house. No sooner did he get a brand new laptop for 40,000, Akhil was asking around for buyers for the desktop. To his dismay, he found that the computer his parents got for 80,000 had a resale value of less than 3% its cost now.

"Instead of selling it for peanuts, I thought it would be better if it were used by someone who valued it," said Akhil, an IIT-Madras student. That's when he got the idea of collecting old computers and donating them to people who could get some use out of it while preventing... Read more..

Pollution control body for ban on diesel vehicles in Delhi

Government today informed the Lok Sabha that Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has recommended that there is need to ban diesel vehicles in Delhi to prevent emission of high smoke particles. 

"The EPCA in a report in 2012 has stated that benefits of CNG transition are not visible due to growth in diesel vehicles, because diesel vehicles are known to emit higher smoke particles and Nitrogen Oxides than petrol cars," Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said during Question Hour.

Earlier in 2007, the EPCA had expressed this concern in a detailed... Read more..

Dell launches 16 electronics recycling collection points across India

Technology major Dell today said it had launched 16 electronics recycling collection points for consumers across 13 cities in the country as part of its commitment to encourage and enable free and responsible ways of disposing of old equipment.

"These collection points will be located at the existing Dell Carry-In Service (CIS) centres to encourage the responsible disposal and recycling of any brand, through a Dell-approved environmental partner. Each centre will house electronics collection bins that consumers can use to drop-off their non-working electronics," a press release from... Read more..

Hooda seals hydel power project deal with Bhutan, hopes to secure 2,000 MW

Faced with severe power shortage, the Haryana government on Monday announced forging alliance with Bhutan for setting up a 1,500-2,000 MW hydel power project in the neighbouring country. The power from the joint venture would be available over the next 4-5 years, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here.

Bhutan has agreed in-principle to partner with the State of Haryana in harnessing its hydro power potential, he added. Hooda, who led a delegation to Bhutan on a two-day visit from December 14, said the nation had a potential of 14,000 MW more which can be exploited, out of... Read more..

Water treatment plant of North Western Railways inaugurated

The North Western Railways' (NWR) first Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for washing of coaches was inaugurated in Jodhpur on Saturday by its general manager. This ETP will not only save on the huge expenses of the railways incurred on water but also will address the shortage of water in summer.

"We have a current requirement of 1,13,332 kilo liter per year, which costs us a whopping Rs 15,34,522. Now with this plant, we will be able to bring this expenditure down by approximately 80% which would mean a saving of Rs 12,27,618," NWR general manager R C Agarwal said.

So far,... Read more..

Remote monitoring of solar power plant at MANIT a reality

MANIT authorities can now actually keep a real time tab about the efficiency and power generation from the solar power plant set up in the campus. With an objective of making better use of solar power plants on the campus, the energy department of MANIT recently launched 'remote monitoring' of the newly installed solar power plant.

"This is for the first time that monitoring of solar power plant has been started on the campus. The objective is to understand the power generation and consumption," head of the energy department, said professor Saroj Rangnekar, who can now monitor the... Read more..

Apex pollution watchdog says Delhi made no efforts to check industrial pollution defiling Yamuna

Delhi has turned out to be the biggest culprit in the country when it comes to taking measures to clean up the pollution in its industrial areas.

The Central Pollution Control Board, the apex pollution watchdog, has said Delhi has made no efforts to check pollution in the Najafgarh drain basin, which stretches across Anand Parvat, Naraina, Okhla, and Wazirpur - while other states have made efforts to improve their industrial pollution standards.

The basin is a major source of pollution in the Yamuna and is blamed for the worsening quality of ground water in a large... Read more..

Haryana to set up JV hydel project in Bhutan

Aiming to become the first Indian state government to set up power project beyond borders, Haryana government is setting up joint venture hydel power project in Bhutan in partnership with the Royal Government of the independent state. Haryana chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that the State would get 1500 to 2000 MW power from Bhutan in next four to five years at rates economical than thermal power.

The Chief Minister, who came back after two day delegation to Bhutan said that Haryana and the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan have reached an understanding on pursuing a mutually... Read more..

Emissions cuts start at home

After focussing on the international climate change negotiations in Doha earlier this month, the spotlight is shifting back to the domestic scene. India can point the finger at the failure of rich countries to check the growth of their greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s not a rosy picture back home either.

Over the last decade or so, India’s emissions — which now make up five per cent of global emissions, the third highest in the world — have displayed a clear shift from agriculture, where rice cultivation and livestock contribute to methane... Read more..

Space-based solar energy may solve energy crisis: Kalam

The two-day Southern Regional Science Congress marking the centenary year of Indian Science Congress Association began at Kongunadu Arts and Science College here on Saturday with the theme of `Science for shaping future of India.' Over 300 scientists from leading institutions in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry will present papers at the congress, which is a prelude to the Centenary year National Science Congress slated to be held in New Delhi next year.

Inaugurating the seminar, former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam said science can soon resolve the... Read more..

'Electric grid will accelerate climate change in Sundarbans'

The ongoing extension of the electric grid to the remote islands of Sundarbans will not only adversely affect the viability of existing renewable energy projects, but will also accelerate the process of climate change, experts say.

"In view of the growing threat of climate change and contribution of the electricity sector to the overall green house gas emission, there is need for adopting appropriate strategies to rationalise use of coal and fossil fuel in the electricity sector," according to a latest report by research body CUTS International.

India's fossil fuel-driven... Read more..