Category:

Climate, Environment, Renewable Energy

India not only on track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but to exceed them: PM Modi

“We have reduced our emission intensity by 21 per cent over 2005 levels. Our solar capacity has grown from 2.63 gigawatts in 2014 to 36 gigawatts in 2020. Our renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world. It will reach 175 gigawatts before 2022,” the prime minister highlighted.

He said India has an even more ambitious target now, which is 450 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

“We have also succeeded in expanding our forest cover and safeguarding our biodiversity. And, on the world stage, India has pioneered two major initiatives. The International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure,” Modi said.

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Apple CEO calls for stricter corporate, government climate goals at U.N. summit

Cook did not call for specific goals during his remarks but disclosed that Apple is assisting 95 of its suppliers to transition to renewable energy, up from a figure of 70 disclosed in July. The iPhone maker earlier this year said it has become carbon-neutral for its corporate operations and set out plans to make its full supply chain and product lineup carbon-neutral by 2030.

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India seeks cheaper renewable power contracts to spur solar, wind projects

“India’s shift away from fossil fuels is absolutely critical to limiting global climate change,” said Sunil Dahiya, a New Delhi-based analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. “Policies to promote clean energy and its renewable power auctions have given it geopolitical clout, which might diminish if the projects fail to take off. The country has to be more aggressive in making sure projects get built.”

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Emissions hit new record, put world on track for 3C warming – U.N

“The year 2020 is on course to be one of the warmest on record, while wildfires, storms and droughts continue to wreak havoc,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director.

The annual “emissions gap” report measures the gap between anticipated emissions and those consistent with limiting the global temperature rise this century as agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

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Last month was the hottest November ever

“These records are consistent with the long-term warming trend of the global climate,” said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. “All policy-makers who prioritize mitigating climate risks should see these records as alarm bells.” 

“All policymakers who prioritise mitigating climate risks should see these records as alarm bells and consider more seriously than ever how to best comply with the international commitments set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement”.

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EU climate deal unlikely without breakthrough on budget, envoy says

The climate and budget issues are interlinked.The EU has agreed that hundreds of billions of euros from its 1.8-billion-euro budget and attached COVID-19 recovery fund will be spent on helping countries cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Commission wants the EU to commit to cut net emissions at least 55% by 2030, from 1990 levels. The bloc’s current 2030 target is a 40% emissions cut.

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4 of 5 cyclones this year were in severe cyclonic storms category and above

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said since 1990 four cyclones have formed every year in the seas along the eastern and western coasts (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) of the country.

“It is normal to have five cyclones a year,” he said.

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