Page 11 - Climate Change

President Trump creates uncertainty for world's most cited climate report

US government scientists participating in the IPCC's global assessments were issued a stop-work order from the Trump administration, according to media reports late last week

Bad news for the earth: Climate action scepticism rises among policymaker

Germany less committed to climate action would swing Europe in a very different direction from the one it has been going for some time

India needs $700 bn in power sector to meet net-zero target: Moody's

India's power sector - the biggest carbon emitter - will need massive USD 700 billion investment over the next 10 years to help the country achieve its 2070 net-zero pledge, Moody's Ratings said on Wednesday. Stating that the power sector accounts for around 37 per cent of carbon emissions in the country, the rating agency said the investments required by the power sector during fiscal 2026-51 to be of the order of 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent of GDP (around 2 per cent for the next 10 years), which is manageable for India. The sector, which currently is highly dependent on coal-fired generation, has to make significant decarbonization investments for the country to meet its emission cut goals. "Our expectation of strong economic growth over the next 10 years implies an expansion of India's coal-based power generation capacity in that period, hindering carbon transition," it said. In a note, Moody's pegged power sector's annual investment requirement between Rs 4.5 lakh crore to Rs 6.

India surpassing key climate goals, can grow faster with clean energy: UN

India is already meeting and exceeding key climate targets and has a real opportunity to grow even faster, using clean energy and industry, UN climate change chief Simon Stiell has said. In an email interview with PTI, Stiell emphasised that India's unique geography and huge population means huge numbers of people are vulnerable to climate impacts. And therefore, he said, the need to invest in ensuring people, communities, infrastructure and businesses are resilient is clear. "India is already meeting and exceeding key targets. For example, by installing 100 GW (gigawatt) of solar in record time or providing electricity in every village. "I see a real opportunity for India to grow even faster, using clean energy and industry, which will be a huge benefit to India's economic prosperity, with millions more jobs, better health outcomes, more affordable and secure energy accessible to all, and faster-rising living standards for the Indian people," the executive secretary of the United .

World looks to India as global adaptation leader: UNFCCC's Simon Stiell

Says adaptation will be the focus area for all nations, urges India to accelerate its clean energy efforts, lauded LiFE mission and says India could be an example for the world on climate action

Green cover in India absorbed more carbon than it emitted annually: Study

The green cover in India has absorbed more carbon than it emitted annually in the last decade, but the rate of sequestration declines during extreme climate events such as drought, a study has revealed. The study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, also stressed the critical role of vegetation in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Green vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and releases it back into the air through respiration. "The overall balance between this uptake and release of CO2 is known as the net ecosystem exchange (NEE). When the NEE is positive, it means vegetation is releasing more carbon than it absorbs, and when it's negative, it indicates that the vegetation is effectively storing carbon," said Dhanyalekshmi Pillai, associate professor, head of the Max Planck Partner Group Germany, and of the Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Bhopal. "For the last decade,

India among most affected countries by climate change from 1993-2022: CRI

The report notes that more than 400 extreme events in India during this period have resulted in significant fatalities and injuries, alongside the economic toll

Best of BS Opinion: Creative policymaking needed to resolve knotty issues

Policymaking must find simpler ways of resolving seemingly complex problems: such an approach frees up economic agents for productive activity

Warmer days, fewer cold spells: Why Delhi's winter felt hotter this time

Cold waves, a defining characteristic of Delhi's winters, were almost entirely absent this season. December recorded just one cold wave day

Extreme weather events claim 80K lives, cause $180 bn loss in India

Over the long term, the ranking shows that extreme weather events particularly affect Global South countries

India flags failure to meet financial pledges for climate adaptation

India expresses concern over failure of developed countries to meet financial commitments for Just Transition, climate adaptation

Shriram Finance eyes 20-fold growth over next 3 years in green portfolio

Green finance, which is financing of businesses that support environmentally friendly and sustainable projects, has struggled to pick up in India due to limited awareness, high transaction costs

India likely to miss Feb 10 deadline for NDC submission under Paris pact

These climate plans detail actions that countries intend to undertake every 5 years

India has received $ 1.16 billion in climate finance so far: Govt

India has so far received USD 1.16 billion for climate projects through the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. This amount includes USD 803.9 million from the Green Climate Fund, USD 346.52 million from the Global Environment Facility (for climate change focal area), and USD 16.86 million from the Adaptation Fund, according to a written reply in the Rajya Sabha by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. However, the majority of India's climate actions have been financed through domestic resources, he said. The minister added India had been diligently working towards adaptation and resilience on a mission mode. "Several policies and measures have been put in place across key economic sectors, keeping in mind the wide scope of adaptation activities," he said. On the impact of climate change on farmers, Yadav said it was projected that crop yields might be adversely impacted in the abse

2025 begins with warmest January on record, leaves scientists baffled: Know why

If you haven't realised it yet then let us tell you that January this year was the hottest on record. And this is a conundrum for climate experts too. Watch the video to know why.

Govt announces plans to strengthen climate resilience, energy transition

The government on Saturday announced new initiatives to strengthen climate resilience and energy transition in the Union Budget 2025-26, including National Manufacturing Mission, High Yielding Seeds Mission and Nuclear Energy Mission. However, some experts felt the Budget fell short of delivering the bold and comprehensive climate action India urgently needs. Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will support domestic industries in making solar panels, EV batteries, wind turbines and electrolyzers while working towards producing 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047. It will also invest in small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and develop better seeds to help farmers deal with droughts, pests and changing weather patterns. Sitharaman announced a National Manufacturing Mission to help small, medium and large industries grow under the 'Make in India' initiative. "Given our commitment to climate-friendly development, the mission will also support c

It's time to adapt: Climate action key to Viksit Bharat and economic growth

Increased global temperatures will exacerbate the frequency and severity of climate change impacts and the consequent losses

Why do your vegetables cost more? Economic Survey blames climate change

Extreme weather events are disrupting vegetable production, driving inflation as heatwaves, unseasonal rains, and supply chain issues continue to push prices higher

US Senate confirms Lee Zeldin to lead Environmental Protection Agency

The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Donald Trump fulfil his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations, including those aimed at slowing climate change and encouraging use of electric vehicles. The vote was 56-42 in Zeldin's favour. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York, is a longtime Trump ally and served on Trump's defense team during his first impeachment. He voted against certifying Trump's 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. Zeldin, 44, said during his confirmation hearing that he has a moral responsibility to be a good steward of the environment and pledged to support career staff who have dedicated themselves to the agency's mission to protect human health and the environment. Zeldin repeatedly declined to commit to specific policies, however, promising instead not to prejudge outcomes before arriving at EPA. When asked by Republican Sen.

China's rising power demand hinders climate goals as coal usage increases

But that hasn't happened so far, in large part because the nation's energy demand is growing unprecedentedly fast, requiring ever more coal to be burned. Electricity use grew 6.8 per cent last year