Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Centre tells PMC to ready water management plans

With the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) phase-II slated to be launched in the coming few months, the central government has sought to know from municipal corporations the status of water supply in cities, implementation of meter billing along with other reforms, including the city's water footprint.

"If the reforms are connected to government funding, politicos don't oppose it. A water footprint will force Pune's politicians to agree on radical reforms such as compulsory water meters, water audit and control on water theft," said a state Urban Development... Read more..

Global carbon dioxide emissions rise 3 per cent in 2011: Report

Global carbon dioxide emissions rose 3 per cent to 34 billion tonnes in 2011, according to a new EU report, undermining a UN goal to limit the rise in global average temperatures to 2C above industrial levels by 2050.

According to the report, published Wednesday by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, nations cannot emit more than 1.500 trillion tonnes of CO2 between 2000 and 2050 to meet the threshold recommended by a UN scientific panel.

"If the current global trend of increasing CO2 emissions continues,... Read more..

PMO to set up project clearance board to fast track energy and infrastructure projects

The policy paralysis in the energy and infrastructure sector is likely to ease soon with the government deciding to set up a Project Clearance Board (PCB) in line with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for speedy implementation of the energy and infrastructure projects in a time bound manner. Exploration work in over 70 oil blocks has slowed down due to lack of various clearances from government agencies.

The board will meet on a monthly basis under the chairmanship of cabinet secretary and will have representatives from the ministries of home, defence, environment... Read more..

Climate ocean tech fix 'can work', research suggests

Fertilising the oceans with iron to combat climate change can lock carbon away for centuries, research suggests.

Tiny marine plants induced to grow by the iron sink to the ocean floor taking carbon with them, a German-led team reports in Nature journal.

Iron fertilisation is one of the oldest ideas for a climate "technical fix".

But much more research is needed before the approach could be put to use, the scientists say, and cutting emissions should be the priority.

There have been about 12 iron fertilisation experiments at sea down the years, stimulated... Read more..

JSPL in talks for acquiring Canada's CIC Energy for Rs 1800 crore

Naveen Jindal-led JSPL is in advanced stages of discussions to acquire the controlling stake in Canada's CIC Energy for about Rs 1,800 crore.

CIC Energy in a filing to Toronto Stock Exchange said talks are on for possible acquisition of the company at an indicative price of CAD (Canadian Dollar) 2 per share but it did not specify how much stake will be bought by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL).

Sources in JSPL said the deal size is estimated to be around Rs 1,800 crore and the steel maker is looking at acquiring more than 30 per cent stake in the Toronto Stock Exchange-... Read more..

IGI gets recognition for efforts to reduce carbon emission

Indira Gandhi International airport here has become the fifth airport in the Asia-Pacific region to receive accreditation for its efforts in managing and reducing carbon emissions.

A global body of airports, Airport Council International (ACI), has accredited the IGI airport at Level 2 - 'Reduction' under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

The IGI airport, operated by GMR-led consortium Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), has become the second airport in India after Bangalore International Airport to be accredited at this level, a statement from ACI (Asia-... Read more..

UBM Live Adds Best Sustainable Packaging Category to 2012 CPhI Pharma Awards

Leading events organiser, UBM Live, today announced that it has expanded its annual CPhI Pharma Awards with the introduction of a Best Sustainable Packaging award category for 2012. The new category will recognise one exhibitor that delivered a specific material, process, or piece of equipment in 2011 that enabled Pharma companies to achieve a more sustainable package or process. Entries for the Best Sustainable Packaging category are open from now until August 10th.  Further information about the categories and submission deadlines for the CPhI Pharma Awards can be found at... Read more..

Rajasthan Energy Minister demands special status for power sector

Rajasthan Energy Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has demanded special status for the state's power sector, as 11 hill-dominant states of the country are already enjoying this benefit.

Addressing a meeting of state energy ministers organised by the Planning Commission at Vigyan Bhawan here, Singh urged the Centre to release a grant of Rs.1350 crore for 32 power projects in Rajasthan.

He claimed that hamlets with a population ranging between 100 to 300 people are still not electrified.

He also revealed that about 10 lakh hamlets called Dhaniies with a population of less than... Read more..

Briefly State: New policy on renewable energy soon

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Monday that Punjab is set to announce a new policy to give a big push to renewable energy sector, especially for generating power from biomass and solar energy. Accompanied by Renewable Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Sukhbir reviewed the ongoing projects of the department and constituted a committee under Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to give final touches to new policy so that Punjab could achieve the target of 500 MW power from the biomass and 100 MW from the solar power sector.

Centre to assist J and K govt depts install solar heaters

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah today said the Centre will provide 90 per cent assistance to government departments in Jammu and Kashmir for installing solar water heating projects.

Addressing the District Development Board meeting for Srinagar here, Abdullah asked the state Government to formulate projects for solar water heating systems in government departments.

"The Central Government will provide 90 per cent assistance for these projects," he said.

Abdullah said individuals willing to install solar water heating systems in their houses... Read more..

Power projects with coal links in focus

In absence of coal linkages for the new power projects, UP government has decided to restart all those projects, which have got coal links, but are pending due to some or the other hurdles. After Karchana, first in the list of such projects is 1,320 MW Jawaharpur Thermal Power Project in Etah.

Like Karchana, this project has got all the clearances, except the environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest for the past one year.

The project has coal link available from Chandipada coal block in Orissa. Fuel supply agreement was signed between Uttar... Read more..

Students to design environment-friendly electric vehicles

The northern section of the Society of Automotive Engineers INDIA (SAEINDIA) organised the “EFFI-CYCLE 2012”, an inter-college event on design and fabrication of an environment friendly human-cum-electric power driven mobility solution. The two-day event, which started on July 14, was conducted at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), Panjab University.

Entering the third season this year, the virtual qualifying rounds for EFFI-CYCLE are being conducted this month in the South, North and Western Regions and the final event will be conducted in the month of... Read more..