Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Carbon trade sector drops from HSBC climate index

The carbon trading sector has dropped out of an HSBC index of 385 listed companies making money from tackling climate change, after lower expectation of global cap and trade expansion saw sharp share price falls.

Previously, two carbon trading companies were listed in the index, Trading Emissions and Climate Exchange, but neither now met the $400 million index threshold market capitalization after big drops in their share prices.

The HSBC index tracking the share price of those two firms fell 37 percent between September 1 2009 and March 19 2010.

A U.N.... Read more..

Date : Mar 30

Source: Reuters

NTPC, an energizer to Indian solar dreams

The government is hovering to incorporate financial incentives for stimulating growth in renewable energy technologies in India. NTPC Ltd. (BOM: 532555) is amongst the first willing to tap-in the nascent solar opportunities, as it has announced developing a 500MW wind and solar energy project in the south-eastern state of Orissa.

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Renewable energy projects in India are exempt from taxes. NTPC aspires to double its present installed power capacity of 31,134 MW to 75,000 MW with coal and gas accounting for about 53,000 and 10,... Read more..

Date : Mar 30

Source: Commodity Online

Indian Survey Of 1,300 Himalayan Glaciers Shows 16% Loss Of Area In Past 50 Years

Himalayan glaciers retreated by 16% in the last nearly five decades due to climate change, investigations by India’s scientists in selected basins in four states has revealed. The retreat of Himalayan glaciers and loss in a real extent were monitored in selected basins in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Sikkim, under a programme on space-based global climate change observation by Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

“Investigations on glacial retreat were estimated for 1,317 glaciers in 10 sub-basins from 1962. This has shown an overall reduction in glacial area... Read more..

Date : Mar 30

Source: Democratic Underground.com

Australia Ranks 14th For G-20 Clean Energy Investment

According to data released last week by the Pew Environment Group, clean energy investment globally has experienced growth of 230 percent since 2005, but Australia is lagging behind other G-20 nations.

Last year, China invested USD $34.6 billion in the clean energy economy, nearly double the United States' investment and making it the world leader of G-20 countries. Rebounding from a sharp downturn in the last quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009, clean energy investments in the G-20 averaged a robust USD$32 billion in each of the last three quarters of 2009. Clean energy... Read more..

Date : Mar 29

Source: Energy Matters

India threatens to move WTO on carbon tax issue

India has warned that it could exercise the option of moving the WTO Dispute Settlement Body if the European Union and the US impose carbon tax on Indian exports.

“If they impose such a tax, we will take them to the WTO dispute settlement forum,” the Environment Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, told Business Line.

Indicating that there is every possibility of imposition of such an import barrier by the developed countries, Mr Ramesh said, “We will deal (with this) through hard negotiations. Such barriers are not going to be WTO-compatible and we will fight it”.

Stating that... Read more..

Date : Mar 29

Source: Hindu Business Line

Bangladesh, India to launch joint programme to save Sunderbans

Bangladesh and India will launch a joint programme in Kolkata next week, the first such in South Asia, to save the world's largest mangrove forest Sundarbans from the onslaught of climate change.

“There will be a joint forum between India and Bangladesh for protection of the Sundarbans ecosystem that spreads from India to Bangladesh,” Indian Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh was quoted by the Indian media as saying.

Jairam Ramesh and his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Hasan Mahmud will launch the joint programme in Kolkata next week, during which officials from the two... Read more..

Date : Mar 29

Source: The Daily Star

Trillion-dollar question: Who leads climate battle?

Political and business leaders gather this week in an attempt to revive the world's faltering challenge to global warming. But they face a battle to lift the cloud of scepticism that has descended over climate science and chart a new way forward.

Some of the planet's most powerful paymasters will gather in London on Wednesday to discuss a nagging financial problem: how to raise a trillion dollars for the developing world. Those charged with achieving this daunting goal will include Gordon Brown, directors of several central banks, the billionaire philanthropist George Soros, the... Read more..

Date : Mar 29

Source: New Nation

CM thanks Delhiites for Earth Hour's resounding success

The capital plunged into darkness to show support for the campaign by switching off non-essential lights and inspire individual action on climate change.

Ms Dikshit and Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO of WWF-India, carried out India Gate's ceremonial switch off at 2030 hrs yesterday.

Thanking the people of the city on the success of the initiative, Ms Dikshit said, ''Delhi has been the pioneer of Earth Hour India and joined world cities where this campaign has brought a change in mindsets of its citizens regarding the global issue of climate change.'' Mr Singh said, ''... Read more..

Date : Mar 29

Source: New Kerala

Fossil fuel lobby funding climate change denial campaign: Greenpeace

The report says that the oil lobbies not only funded anti-science but also lead a systematic attack on United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Not only that, personal attacks trying to discredit climate scientists have become a method with the climate sceptics.

Corporations poured in millions of dollars to fund studies and research and promote climate science antagonists, it said.

The fossil fuel industry started selling doubt in 1990 when the IPCC's First Assessment Report came out saying that it was certain that GHG emissions will lead to... Read more..

Date : Mar 29

Source: New Kerala

CSE launches e-course on climate change

New Delhi-based research and advocacy organisation, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has announced an e-course on climate change, titled 'Global Warming in a Still Unequal World', along with a month-long course on environment management in India.

The course will be conducted by CSE's education and training unit - the Anil Agarwal Green College or AAGC - and has been titled 'Agenda for survival: A certificate course on the policies and practices of environmental management in India'.

It will be conducted at the AAGC's New Delhi campus from June 1-30, 2010.

The... Read more..

Date : Mar 28

Source: New Kerala

Delhi goes dark to show the way

The capital joined cities across the world to celebrate Earth Hour, beginning 8.30 p.m. on Saturday, pledging its support to work against the ill-effects of climate change and preserving the environment.

The event organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature is the largest global campaign on climate change, and this year over one billion people around the globe joined the campaign, involving more than 6,000 cities and towns, to turn off lights in show of support for action on climate change.

In the capital, for the first time, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit switched off the... Read more..

Date : Mar 28

Source: Hindu

Himalayan glaciers shrank 16% in 50 yrs: Isro

Himalayan glaciers retreated by 16% in the last nearly five decades due to climate change, investigations by India’s scientists in selected basins in four states has revealed. The retreat
of Himalayan glaciers and loss in a real extent were monitored in selected basins in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Sikkim, under a programme on space-based global climate change observation by Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

“Investigations on glacial retreat were estimated for 1,317 glaciers in 10 sub-basins from 1962. This has shown an overall reduction in glacial... Read more..

Date : Mar 28

Source: IndiaTimes

No ministerial panel for green clearance: Jairam Ramesh

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh denied Friday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had set up a ministerial panel to give environment clearances and said his ministry would continue to give approvals to infrastructure projects.

No Group of Ministers (GoM) has been formed to decide on environmental clearances as claimed by a section of the media, Ramesh told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu here.

The minister’s comment followed reports that Manmohan Singh had asked the Planning Commission for suggestions for fast track clearances... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: The Gaea Times

Bajaj vehicles BS III complaint, says company

Bajaj Auto, a leading two wheeler manufacturer, has confirmed that every single vehicle of the company has already become Bharat Stage III (BS III) compliant in early March, much ahead of the April 1 deadline.

The BS III norms will be followed and implemented on recommendation by Dr RA Mashelkar Committee for control of pollution in the country, a company release here today said.

Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. As per the BS III norms for two wheelers, the Carbon Monoxide (CO)... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Economic Times

Power crisis looms as Kumbh dips into Tehri water level

The Tehri hydel station in Uttarakhand appears to be headed for a holy mess. The reservoir at one of north India's major sources of electricity is running low and may have to shut down next month. All because the power plant has been asked to release additional water to ensure thousands of pilgrims thronging Haridwar and ... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: IndiaTimes

IndianOil to invest Rs2,000 cr in solar, wind power

India’s largest oil refiner, the state-owned Indian Oil Corp. Ltd, or IOC, will invest around Rs2,000 crore to develop a wind power generation capacity of 200MW and a solar power generation capacity of 50 MW, said a top company official.

“Renewables will be a major area of focus for us. We are looking at a 10-year horizon,” said IOC chairman B.M. Bansal. “The reason why we are looking at renewables, petro chemicals or biodiesel is because we do not know for how long the subsidy issue will take to be resolved. Renewable is the way forward.”

Oil-marketing companies such as IOC... Read more..

Date : Mar 26

Source: Livemint.com

Govt lines up hydro projects worth Rs 84k cr in NE

The government has firmed up an investment of over Rs 84,000 crore for setting up hydel projects in the north-eastern region of the country by 2020, which will produce 14,000 MW of electricity.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the techno-economic clearance body, is likely to give its approval to about 3,000-MW projects in the region in next two months.

CEA concurrence has already been given to projects with about 8,000 MW capacity and the detailed project reports (DPRs) of those that can produce 3,000 MW are under examination, a senior CEA official told PTI.

Date : Mar 25

Source: Economic Times

China takes lead in clean-power investment

China overtook the United States for the first time last year in the race to invest in wind, solar and other sources of clean energy, according to a comprehensive new report that raises questions about American competitiveness in a booming global market.

U.S. clean energy investments hit $18.6 billion last year, a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts said, a little more than half the Chinese total of $34.6 billion. Five years ago, China's investments in clean energy totaled just $2.5 billion.

The United States also slipped behind 10 other countries, including Canada and... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: Los Angeles Times

Island claimed by India and Bangladesh sinks below sea level

For nearly 30 years, India and Bangladesh have argued over control of a tiny rock island in the Bay of Bengal. Now rising sea levels have resolved the dispute for them: the island has gone.

New Moore island in the Sunderbans has been completely submerged, said oceanographer Sugata Hazra, a professor at Jadavpur University in Kolkata. Its disappearance has been confirmed by satellite imagery and sea patrols, he said.

"What these two countries could not achieve from years of talking has been resolved by global warming," said Hazra.

Scientists at the school of... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: The Guardian

Solar Power Cell Towers in India to Cut Emissions, Save $1.4 Billion Annually

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Indian government is likely to come out with a mandate that would require telecom operators to transform their cellphone towers from being powered by diesel generators to solar panels.

The ministry had earlier invited proposals for establishing power supply technologies based on renewable energy sources other than solar and wind. However, now it seems that the ministry would go ahead with solar-based power systems and is looking to incorporate this project into India's National Solar Mission which aims at setting up 20,000MW of solar... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: Reuters

Scientist: Don't blame cows for climate change

A scientist in the United States has questioned the impact meat and diary production has on climate change, and accused the United Nations of exaggerating the link.

In 2006, a report published by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled "Livestock's Long Shadow," claimed meat production was responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, which it added was greater than the impact of transport.

Livestock farming already occupies 30 percent of the world's surface and its environmental impact will double by 2050 unless drastic action is taken, the U.N.... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: CNN

100% Renewable Energy for Cities Is Possible

Climate change is to a large degree caused by the fossil fuel consumption by cities and is a huge threat to urban areas at the same time. It is alarming that neither industrialised nor developing countries have coherent strategies for efficient, renewable energy supply for their cities. And there is little sign of appropriate, practical measures being taken.

A Seven-Point-Plan, which encourages cities to set their own goal at 100% renewable energy supply, is the core element of the report "100% Renewable Energy - and Beyond - for Cities". This was presented by the World Future... Read more..

Date : Mar 25

Source: Common Dreams

Infosys to observe Earth Hour

Infosys Technologies on Wednesday said it will observe Earth Hour on March 27 by switching off lights at its campuses worldwide.

The Earth Hour at Infosys marks a week-long campaign to support the world's largest global climate change initiative, a statement issued by the company said.

Various departments of the company including security, facilities and IT Department will be supporting this initiative by ensuring that the maximum number of power points are switched off.

Infosys' facilities team will monitor energy savings to gauge the power consumption before and... Read more..

Date : Mar 24

Source: Hindustan Times

U.S. EPA asks oil, natgas sectors for carbon data

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it wants the oil and natural gas sector as well as other new sectors to track and report emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Taking another step toward regulating pollutants that spur climate change, the EPA said it wants the industries to start collecting the data in January 2011 and reporting to the EPA in March 2012.

"Gathering this information is the first step toward reducing greenhouse emissions and fostering innovative technologies," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement.

Date : Mar 24

Source: Edmonton Journal

Australian scientists team up with ISRO to study oceans

Scientists from India and Australia have joined hands to carry out research on climate change and its effects on the oceans.

A team of researchers from eight Australian institutions and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are using data from remote sensing satellites for the study.

"The effects of climate change and the pressures of human population growth are having significant impacts on oceans. Ocean colour helps us understand the interactions between aquatic ecosystems, climatic factors and human impacts," said Arnold Dekker of the Commonwealth Scientific and... Read more..

Date : Mar 23

Source: Press Trust of India