Category:

Climate, Environment, Renewable Energy

APAC not on track to achieve SDG goals by 2030; may realize 10 pc of target: UN report

There are 17 goals under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP), targeted to be achieved by 2030.

These include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, bio-diversity, innovation and infrastructure, and reduced inequalities, among others.

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Climate finance still not on table for developing countries: Javadekar

To a query on progress made under the Paris agreement, the minister said besides renewable energy targets, 35 per cent reduction in emission was one of the targets under the Paris pact. ”So far, we have achieved 26 per cent. We will be over achieving our targets. Along with the government, corporates have taken steps to reduce carbon emission,” he added. Responding to another query on any plans to review CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funds guidelines to ensure it is not used for other than activities for afforestation, the minister said a directive has been issued to states to use 80 per cent funds for afforestation and water/fodder augmentation alone.

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India only G-20 country implementing Paris accord commitments: Javadekar

”Five states — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Nagaland — have shown significant decreasing trends in southwest monsoon rainfall during the recent 30 years period (1989-2018), as per the IMD report,” he said.

The annual rainfall over these five states along with the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh also shows significant decreasing trends, the minister added.

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Delhi govt directs malls, hotels, offices, restaurants to make space for electric vehicles with EV chargers

“Our vision is that by 2024, 25 per cent of new vehicles must be electric. Approximately Rs 30,000 subsidies are to be given for 2/3-wheelers while Rs 1.5 lakh for 4-wheelers. We are starting the ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign today to make people aware of clean vehicles,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Kejriwal.

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France’s biggest insurer dumps German power giant over coal

“By turning away one of Europe’s biggest utilities because they are too dependent on coal, AXA has set an important precedent for itself and other insurers,” said Peter Bosshard, finance program director at environmental nonprofit the Sunrise Project, adding that RWE must be an account worth millions of dollars a year in insurance.

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Harsh Vardhan inaugurates ‘green crematoria’ to mitigate air pollution

”Air Pollution has become a grave problem in India with more than 120+ cities falling under non-attainment category as per the National Green Tribunal. In the recently announced General Budget 2021, a lot of emphasis has been given to allocate resource to mitigate the growing ambient air pollution related problem in India,” Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

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Europe’s sustainable assets surge in 2020, more to come – EFAMA

The surge in ESG assets has been driven by stimulus-driven market recovery and investors increasingly looking for resilient investments, as well as a push from governments to encourage environmentally-friendly investments.

The first part of the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) was rolled out on Wednesday, aiming to make the ESG market more standardised and transparent. read more

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India’s EV financing industry projected to be worth Rs 3.7 trillion in 2030:NITI Aayog Report

The 10 solutions recommended in the report include financial instruments such as priority-sector lending and interest-rate subvention. Others are related to creating better partnerships between OEMs and financial institutions by providing product guarantees and warranties. Furthermore, a developed and formal secondary market can improve the resale value of EVs and improve their bankability. “The identified barriers within EV finance need to be tackled in structured manner with innovative financing models,” said Randheer Singh, Senior Specialist at NITI Aayog.

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