Category:

Climate, Environment, Renewable Energy

‘Tremendously off track’ to meet 2030 SDGs: UN chief

Despite a 300 per cent increase in global food production since the mid-1960s, according to the Secretary-General, “malnutrition is a leading factor contributing to reduced life expectancy”.

He cited climate change as both “a driver and a consequence of hunger”, adding that “our war with nature” includes a food system that generates one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions and is also responsible for up to 80 per cent of biodiversity loss.

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Clean Energy:Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries plans foraying into solar power manufacturing

India, the world’s third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, plans to expand its renewable power capacity nearly five-fold to 450 gigawatts by the end of the decade, aiming to reduce dependence on fossil fuels that currently drive its economy. Solar power will account for around 62% of the 2030 target, meaning the country will need to add about 26 gigawatts of capacity annually for the next nine years. The country’s own factories can currently meet less than half the demand for modules.

The government is giving 45 billion rupees ($603 million) to companies setting up solar manufacturing facilities.

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India wants rich countries to pay more for green energy shift

“Every policy decision has a cost to the economy. Going net-zero or using less carbon also has a cost,” Environment Secretary Rameshwar Prasad Gupta said in an interview at his New Delhi office. “We are not anti-net-zero. But without adequate climate finance being definitively available, we can’t commit on that part.”

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Canada orders rail safety measures to reduce risk of wildfires

The order will require both Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. to take precautions against wildfires, including reducing train speeds, according to a Transport Ministry statement.On Friday, Nationally, trains will have to run at reduced speeds when there is extreme fire risk and when the outdoor temperature is high. CN and CP will also be required to come up with a fire risk mitigation plan and consult with indigenous communities about fire hazards.

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G20 recognizes carbon pricing as climate change tool for first time

“It is the first time in a G20 communique you could have these two words ‘carbon pricing’ being introduced as a solution for the fight against climate change,” French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters. “We have been pushing very hard to have these two words … introduced into a G20 communique.”

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NGT imposes Rs 10 crore fine on pharma company Teva API

“Having regard to the nature of violations in the present case and the financial capacity of the unit in question, we determine the compensation amount at Rs 10 crore which amount may be deposited with the District Magistrate within one month.The District Magistrate may keep the amount in a separate account to be spent for restoration of the environment by preparing an action plan for augmentation of the groundwater, afforestation, landscaping, restoration of the drain and offsite emergency plans,” the bench said.

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Time running out for countries on climate crisis front line

The Secretary-General reminded that the climate impacts we are seeing today – currently at 1.2 degrees above pre-industrial levels – give the world a glimpse of what lies ahead: prolonged droughts, extreme and intensified weather events and ‘horrific flooding’.

“Science has long warned that we need to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. Beyond that, we risk calamity… Limiting global temperature rise is a matter of survival for climate vulnerable countries”, he emphasized.

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Asia-Pacific Climate week 2021 sends strong signal to COP26

The Asia-Pacific regions emits more than half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and is one of the most rapidly developing regions of the world, with a significant proportion of the global population. And it is home to most of the world’s low-lying cities and vulnerable small island states.

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Paris climate targets not possible without a carbon removal industry the size of oil & gas: Swiss Re study

Christoph Nabholz, Chief Research Officer at Swiss Re Institute, “Carbon removal will need to evolve into a multi-trillion-dollar industry akin to the value of the oil and gas industry today if we are to hit the climate targets set out by the 2015 Paris Agreement. Serious investment in this nascent industry must start now. Failing to tackle climate change could result in global GDP loss of 18%, which we showed earlier this year. No action is not an option.”

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