Sustainability Outlook Headlines

No noises ahead of Cancun

Around this time last year, there was frenetic activity in the climate change circuits in the lead up to the widely anticipated summit meeting in Copenhagen, even though it had become sufficiently clear that a comprehensive and global agreement — that was the stated objective of the conference — was not going to be realised in the Danish capital. Negotiators around the world were regularly huddling together in meetings, working hard to draw the contours of an honourable deal, nations had begun making those big announcements that, they hoped, would be taken as evidence of their willingness... Read more..

First high-resolution maps of carbon trapped in tropical forests revealed

Using satellite mapping, airborne-laser technology, and ground-based plot surveys, scientists have come out with the first high-resolution maps of carbon locked up in tropical forest vegetation and emitted by land-use practices.

The project by researchers at Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology, with colleagues from the World Wildlife Fund and in coordination with the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), has paved the way for accurate monitoring of carbon storage and emissions for the proposed United Nations initiative on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation... Read more..

Carbon Mapping Breakthrough

By integrating satellite mapping, airborne-laser technology, and ground-based plot surveys, scientists from the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology, with colleagues from the World Wildlife Fund and in coordination with the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), have revealed the first high-resolution maps of carbon locked up in tropical forest vegetation and emitted by land-use practices. 

These new maps pave the way for accurate monitoring of carbon storage and emissions for the proposed United Nations initiative on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and... Read more..

JBIC to Lend $2.5 Billion for Environmental Projects Overseas

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation plans to offer $2.5 billion in loans this fiscal year for clean-energy and water-supply projects abroad to help Japanese companies market their environmental technologies.

The state-controlled lender known as JBIC will seek to ally with local commercial banks to provide syndicated loans totaling about $5 billion for such projects in the 12 months through March 2011, Takashi Hongo, head of the bank’s environment finance engineering section, said yesterday.

Japan is counting on exports of technologies such as smart electricity grids... Read more..

Asia-Europe Meeting on Climate Change opens in Vietnam

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) on Climate Change opened on Monday in Vietnam's northern province of Quang Ninh, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The two-day meeting, hosted by Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, drew more than 150 representatives from Vietnam, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Britain, Spain, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and Indonesia among others.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said at the meeting that Vietnam is one of the countries that are hardest hit by climate change.

Climate... Read more..

This Ganpati, stress on idols without toxic dyes

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked Ganpati mandals to return to the festival's Vedic roots and avoid use of lead- and zinc-based paints, thermocol, plaster of Paris ( POP) and toxic colours while making idols.  

With this new move towards an eco-friendly festival, CPCB hopes to reduce the damage to seas and lakes during visarjan. The rule also applies to idols of Goddess Durga. The CPCB guidelines, issued to all state pollution control boards, stated that the painting of idols with toxic dyes should be discouraged. 

In case idols have to painted, water soluble... Read more..

India To Ban E-Waste Import sTo Save Environment

The government of India is planning to ban the importation of used computers and other forms of electronic waste after reports that weak domestic rules are allowing the potentially dangerous garbage to be dumped into the country.

This e-waste, usually procured from developed countries like the US, Australia, Canada and parts of Europe, is also manifested in the form of smuggling, incidents of which have come to light recently.

The Economic Intelligence Council of the government will soon hold a meeting to discuss the issue. It's also been a topic on the agendas of several... Read more..

Firms take back used items to check e-waste

Manufacturers of electric and electronic products have started the recycling and disposal of e-waste as part of their environment-friendly initiatives.

Samsung, Nokia and HCL Infosystems are among those to join the green bandwagon.

“As a responsible corporate citizen, environmental protection is one of our key priorities. This initiative reaffirms our commitment towards building awareness for responsible consumption, waste management practices and ensuring proper end-of-life treatment to reduce the burden on the planet,” said J.S. Shin, president and CEO of Samsung (Southwest... Read more..

Diverse water sources key to food security: report

Increasingly erratic rainfall patterns related to climate change pose a major threat to food security and economic growth, water experts said on Monday, arguing for greater investment in water storage. 

In a report by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), experts said Africa and Asia were likely to be hardest hit by unpredictable rainfall, and urged policymakers and farmers to try to find ways of diversifying sources of water.

The IWMI research estimates that up to 499 million people in Africa and India could benefit from improved agricultural water management... Read more..

Indian toilet model to be used in Afghanistan

Low-cost lavatory technique, developed by an Indian NGO, will be adopted by the US Army to build public toilets in Afghanistan, a senior US military official said.

The US troops will build at least 40 toilet complexes linked with biogas generation plants in Kandahar as a part of the reconstruction process in the country.  The technical know-how of the model designed by Sulabh International would also be shared with the Afghan government so that it can be used in other parts of the country, said Maj. Edward T. Mears at the engineering wing of the US Army in Afghanistan.

"I... Read more..

India needs investment of $4.5 trillion in energy sector to cut carbon emissions

In order to curb carbon emissions resulting in global warming, India will have to invest handsomely in the energy sector to help the cause.  According to a statement of the International Energy Agency Executive Director, Nobuo Tanaka, on Friday, India will need an investment of $4.5 trillion in the energy sector to cut carbon emissions as part of a global initiative to reduce global warming by 2050. 

The United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change has said global emissions of carbon dioxide have to come down by 50 percent to limit the increase in average temperate to... Read more..

National River Conservation Plan- PIB

The centrally sponsored National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) presently covers 38 rivers in 178 towns spread over 20 States. Sewage treatment capacity of about 4064 million litres per day (mld.) has been created and an expenditure of Rs.4085 crore has been incurred so far under this Plan. River conservation activities such as creation of civic infrastructure for sewage management and disposal are also being implemented under other central schemes, such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, as well as under... Read more..