Sustainability Outlook Headlines

India to push for Kyoto Protocol’s extension

India along with other developing countries will push for a second commitment period for Kyoto Protocol - the only legally binding framework on reducing emissions - at the forthcoming climate change conference in Durban, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said Thursday.

Sharing details of informal ministerial consultation on climate change held in South Africa, Natarajan said all developing countries are looking forward for operationalisation of decisions taken at the climate change conference in Mexico last year.

“One of the important principles enshrined in the UN... Read more..

India has planning commission,but needs implementation commission

Speaking at inaugural function of Seminar on Renewable Energy:Present Scenario and Future Focus, Denmark ambassador to India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives Mr. Freddy Svane today said that India has planning commission, but it also needs implementation commission to see that whatever planned is also implemented on ground. Freddy said that there’s one place in India where things planned are also implemented and that is Gujarat.

Freddy said this in presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who inaugurated this seminar jointly organized by the Government of Gujarat in... Read more..

Green rating assessment scheme for Goa demanded

Green architects in Goa are lobbying with the state government to come up with a green rating assessment scheme for infrastructure projects in the state to give a fillip to environment-friendly architecture.
 
The green rating assessment would spur builders and real estate developers to move to green building concepts with gusto, Amar Britto, chairman of the Goa chapter of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), said.

"The government should also have its own green ratings assessment and accordingly offer rebate after completion of projects," Britto told IANS on the... Read more..

Pressure on India's climate stand ahead of UN-sponsored climate summit in Durban

India's unequivocal opposition to a legally binding climate agreement for all countries could push it into a corner ahead of the UN-sponsored climate summit in Durban. Developed countries demand an agreement, offering in return the continuation of emission reduction targets after 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol. Vulnerable developing countries too have made the second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol linked with a legally binding agreement an element of their Durban expectations.

In a submission to the UNFCCC, Australia and Norway proposed a four-year timetable, beginning in... Read more..

Plan panel pushes for emission curbs

The environment and external affairs ministry mandarins might be fighting a prolonged battle to prevent emission reduction targets at international climate meets but they have been stumped back home. The Planning Commission has asked that even the states have emission reduction targets. The panel wants any funds for climate change under the 12th five-year Plan provided to states be linked to hard emission reduction targets.

The move is bound to raise the costs of development for the poorest states which are anyway bound to suffer the most from impacts of climate change. Additionally... Read more..

Kerala ready to manage its garbage

Kerala will set up waste processing plants as part of its year-long campaign to manage garbage generated in the state, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Saturday.

'In several parts, waste is a wealth for many but for us it has become a serious issue. We just cannot ignore this problem anymore and hence we will launch one of the biggest drives to see that our state is kept spick and span,' said Chandy.
 
'We are inaugurating a one-year-long action plan to see that we effectively manage waste. Tomorrow at Kottayam I am inaugurating the state-level campaign while similar... Read more..

India submits 'international assessment and review' plan related to emission reduction targets to UNFCCC

As the possibility of continuing with emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol for developed countries grows dim, India has stepped up its efforts to ensure a rigorous and robust system of international assessment and review for developed countries.

This system, agreed to at the Cancun meet last December, would allow for a review made by developed countries on their commitments to emission reduction and providing support, financial and technical, to developing countries.

India has submitted a proposal to the UNFCCC providing a framework for "international... Read more..

US agency to give USD 150 mn for solar powered towers to India

A US agency has announced to provide a financial assistance of USD 150 million to India to expand use of solar powered telecommunication towers. The decision by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is expected to reduce CO2 emissions and create jobs in both the US and India.

"This project brings OPIC''s financing for renewable energy in India to more than USD 400 million approved in just the past year," said OPIC President and CEO Elizabeth Littlefield. "OPIC is proud to be supporting India''s impressive ambitions to shift to a less carbon-intensive economy,"... Read more..

'CFLs sold in India pose health risk'

Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or green lamp popular for being energy efficient is not as environment and health-friendly as the government claims owing to its higher mercury content, revealed a study. The average mercury content in CFLs sold in Indian market is 21 mg per lamp as compared to global best of three to four mg, the study released on Thursday by NGO Toxic Link said.

Higher mercury content poses greater risk to vital organs such as liver and it can cause neurological problems to pregnant women and children. This happens only if a lamp is damaged and comes in direct... Read more..

Polluting Indian firms awarded hundreds of millions in carbon credits

 The allegation comes according to an American diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks.

The cable, from July 2008, raised serious questions about the UN-backed carbon trading scheme to cut global warming, under which companies in wealthy countries can buy emission reduction "credits" from firms in the developing world instead of improving their operations.

To qualify for saleable credits the companies in the developing world must demonstrate their emission reductions go beyond their "business as usual" plans.

India has become the world's second largest source of carbon... Read more..

India is right to insist the developed countries peak their emissions

 India has called upon developed nations to walk the talk on climate change and peak their emissions that cause global warming. In parallel, we need to rev up thermal efficiency in our power plants, boost renewable sources of energy and incentivise greater energy efficiency right across the board, all of which would reduce emissions going forward. 

In a recent precursor to the next round of negotiations to mitigate climate change - the 17th Conference of Parties (COP-17) is to be held in Durban - environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan did, rightly, differentiate between the stock... Read more..

High energy prices limit India monetary policy: RBI

Global energy prices that have remained steadily high restrict the elbow room for monetary policy response, a deputy governor of India’s central bank said, highlighting the uphill task the bank faces in its fight against stubbornly high inflation.

Subir Gokarn also said inadequate supply response to rising demand for food articles such as milk and fishery products have led to high food inflation.

Near double-digit inflation, far exceeding official forecasts, has forced the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to continue raising rates even as growth slows and developed... Read more..