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As floods hit western Europe, scientists say climate change hikes heavy rain
In general the rising average global temperature – now about 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average – makes heavy rainfall more likely, according to scientists.
The floods follow just weeks after a record-breaking heatwave killed hundreds of people in Canada and the United States. Scientists have since said that extreme heat would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, which had made such an event 150 times more likely to occur.
Ola got 100,000 bookings for electric scooter in one day
“I am thrilled by the tremendous response from customers across India for our first electric vehicle. The unprecedented demand is a clear indicator of shifting consumer preferences to EVs. This is a huge step forward in our mission to transition the world to sustainable mobility,” Ola Chairman and Group CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said in a statement.
How the world’s first carbon border tax may play out
The measure, which will affect producers of steel, cement and aluminum in countries with looser environmental rules, would boost commodity costs and reroute trade flows. But it will take years to implement and have a limited impact on global emissions.
The new levy is likely to do very little to curb greenhouse gas emissions. With a carbon border adjustment of $44 a metric ton, a United Nations body estimates emissions would only fall by 27 million tons, a meager 0.1% of the total. At $88, it would drop by 45 million tons. The price of carbon in the EU is currently about 53 euros ($62) a ton.
Vice prez stresses on importance of enforcing ”polluter pays” principle
“From panchayat to Parliament, all stakeholders must act proactively in protecting the environment,” Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said.
Highlighting recent disasters such as the flash floods in Himachal Pradesh, landslides in Uttarakhand and heat waves in Canada and the United States, he said these are instances of increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to global warming and climate change.
He stressed on the need to act stringently with violators of pollution laws and consider strict enforcement of the ”polluter pays” principle, the statement said.
Govt plans to shift public transport, logistics to clean energy source: Gadkari
”Over the last decade, India has made significant progress towards improving green energy access while increasing the integration of renewable energy…We have planned to shift public transport and logistics on 100 per cent green and clean source of energy,” he said.
India will reduce more than targeted 33 pc carbon emission by 2030: Power Minister
He further said that as per the Paris agreement, India has to produce 40 per cent electricity of its total capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
”We are already at 39 per cent and if you add the capacities under installation it’s already 48 per cent. We are way beyond our NDC (nationally determined contributions) pledges,” the minister said.
EU urged to consider impact of new climate mechanism on developing countries
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) comes into force in 2023 as part of new measures to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, including taxes on imports such as oil, coal and gas.
“Climate and environmental considerations are at the forefront of policy concerns, and trade cannot be the exception. CBAM is one of these options, but its impact on developing countries also needs to be considered,” said Isabelle Durant, the UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General.
Flooding affects parts of Europe after heavy rainfall
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert described the images from regions hardest hit by flooding as “terrible”.
“Even though not every event, not every flooding or local incident, is related to climate change, many scientists tell us that the frequency, the intensity and the regularity with which this happens is a consequence of climate change,” Seibert said.
‘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.
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.