Page 65 - Climate Change

Climate talks should have done more on pollution cuts: US climate envoy

US climate envoy John Kerry said last month's international global warming talks didn't do enough to speed up cuts in emissions of heat-trapping gases. Kerry told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that there was progress on some aspects of reducing carbon pollution during the United Nations summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. But he said there could and should have been much more and that what was done on the issue was overshadowed by a historic, but what he called potentially pyrrhic, agreement to establish a compensation fund for poor nations victimized by a warming world. We needed to significantly accelerate the reduction of emissions," Kerry said. "I would have liked to have seen greater outcome from Sharm with respect to mitigation, which is what climate negotiators call cutting carbon pollution. But we're just going to have to keep pushing, he added. We have to increase the mitigation and that's the one thing that I thought should have been highlighted even more,

'India could experience heatwaves that break human survivability limit'

Severe heat waves, responsible for thousands of deaths across India over the last few decades, are increasing with alarming frequency and soon the country could become one of the first places in the world to experience heat waves that break the human survivability limit, according to a new report. The World Bank report titled "Climate Investment Opportunities in India's Cooling Sector" said the country is experiencing higher temperatures that arrive earlier and stay far longer. "In April 2022, India was plunged into the grip of a punishing early spring heat wave that brought the country to a standstill, with temperatures in the capital, New Delhi, topping 46 degrees Celsius (oC) (114 degrees Fahrenheit). The month of March, which witnessed extraordinary spikes in temperatures, was the hottest ever recorded", it said. The report will be released during the two-day "India Climate and Development Partners' Meet" being organised by World Bank in partnership with the Kerala government ..

COP15: Recycled installation calls to secure nature-positive world by 2030

A giant jenga tower is on display at The Palais des congres de Montreal where the UN biodiversity conference is taking place for COP15 from December 7-19

COP15: Crucial for 196 nations to halt, reverse nature loss by 2030

As delegates of 196 nations gather in Montreal -- a crucial moment as the world needs set of goals and targets that will guide action on nature through 2030

UN summit: Scientists warn nations not to repeat past mistakes on nature

Scientists around the world are warning governments who will be gathering in Montreal this week for the United Nations biodiversity summit to not repeat past mistakes and are urging officials to avoid trade-offs between people and conservation needs in a report Monday. The study published in the One Earth Journal found that even though there has been an increase in investment in conservation over the last three decades governments have not succeeded in bending the curve on biodiversity decline. The conference known as COP15, which begins Tuesday, hopes to set the goals for the world for the next decade to help conserve the planet's biodiversity and stem the loss of nature. So far the world has failed to meet goals set at previous meetings. The scientists proposed six areas for action for delegates working toward what's known as the global biodiversity framework. They include greater involvement of local communities and addressing both direct causes of nature decline such as the ...

Karnataka to become climate resilient in 5 years: World Bank official

The delegation headed by Auguste Tano Kouame, Country Director, India, World Bank met Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday and discussed ways to make the state climate resilient

Rooting for mangroves: Many reasons to expand these carbon sinks in India

The mangrove ecosystem offers economic benefits besides safeguarding the country's vast coastline

Climate issues, economic growth solutions sought from India G20 presidency

Supporting India's G20 Presidency, Indonesia, which passed on the baton to India, said that with this, the interest of developing countries will continue to prosper

Indonesia plans to build nuclear power plant by 2039, seeks investors

The plant aims to provide new and renewable energy for the Southeast Asian country so that it can reach its zero emissions target

India's Greenhouse-in-a-Box startup Kheyti wins 2022 Earthshot Prize

A Greenhouse-in-a-Box sustainable solution for small farmers devised by Telangana startup Kheyti has won the 1 million pounds Earthshot Prize, founded by Britain's Prince William and dubbed the Eco Oscars'. Kheyti, one of the five winners at a gala green carpet awards ceremony in Boston on Friday night, won the prize in the Protect and Restore Nature category from hundreds of entries worldwide. The pioneering solution for local smallholder farmers is designed to reduce costs, increase yields and protect livelihoods in a region on the frontlines of climate change. I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet's greatest challenges, and by supporting and scaling them we can change our future, said William, the Prince of Wales. Alongside tonight's winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come, it's my hope the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive, he ...

US-European disagreement over climate law persist as Biden meets Macron

President Joe Biden on Thursday tried to allay concerns raised by French President Emmanuel Macron about a clean energy law that benefits electric vehicles and other products made in North America. But the US and Europe remain divided over the landmark law. Hours before hosting Macron at a state dinner, Biden acknowledged that the law contains glitches, but said there are tweaks we can make to satisfy France and other European allies. The United States makes no apology. And I make no apologies," Biden said, but changes may be needed to the four-month-old law "to make it easier for European countries to participate.'' Macron has made clear that he and other European leaders are concerned about incentives in the law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act which favour clean energy technology made in North America, including electric vehicles. The US subsidies would be an enormous setback for European companies, the French leader said, but he added that he is hopeful the dispute can be

Biden says climate law has 'glitches' after criticism by France's Macron

President Joe Biden on Thursday acknowledged glitches in America's clean energy law that have raised concerns in Europe, but said there's tweaks we can make to satisfy allies. Biden made the comments during a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron. Biden, who is honouring Macron with the first state dinner of his presidency on Thursday evening, said he and the French president spoke a a good deal about European concerns over his signature climate change law during an Oval Office meeting. Macron has made clear that he and other European leaders are concerned about incentives in the new law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, that favor American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles. Macron said that while the Biden administration's efforts to curb climate change should be applauded, the subsidies would be an enormous setback for European companies.

Biden, Macron celebrate bilateral relationship amid friction on climate law

Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron are celebrating the long-standing US-French relationship, but these are friends with differences. The French leader is using his visit to Washington to sharply criticize aspects of his ally's signature climate law as a bad deal for Europe. Biden was set to honour Macron with the first state dinner of his presidency on Thursday evening. First, the presidents will hold talks in the Oval Office that officials from both sides said were expected to largely center on efforts to stay united in their response to Russia's war in Ukraine and to coordinate their approach to an increasingly assertive China. Hundreds of people gathered on the South Lawn on a sunny but chilly morning for a pomp-filled official arrival ceremony to include a 21-gun salute and review of troops. Ushers distributed small French and American flags to the guests. Macron has made clear that he and other European leaders are concerned about the incentives in a new climate-related l

Biden hosts his french counterpart Macron amid friction over US climate law

Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron are celebrating the longstanding US-French relationship but these are friends with differences. The French president is using his visit to Washington to sharply criticize aspects of the US president's signature climate law as a bad deal for Europe. Biden is set to honour Macron with the first state dinner of his presidency on Thursday evening. First, the two leaders will sit down in the Oval Office for morning talks that officials from both sides said were expected to largely center on the leaders' efforts to stay united in their response to Russia's war in Ukraine and to coordinate their approach to an increasingly assertive China. But ahead of Thursday's meeting, Macron made clear that he and other European leaders remain deeply concerned about the incentives in a sweeping new climate-related law that favour American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles. Macron on Wednesday criticised the legislation, known as the Inflatio

COP15 goals to halt biodiversity decline but can downgrade ocean action

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) or COP15 is the long-awaited conference to finally set the new post-Aichi goals to halt and reverse global biodiversity decline

EU climate chief defends including 'carbon farming' to climate plans

The European Union's top climate official on Wednesday dismissed criticism from environmental groups over its proposal to incorporate carbon removal methods into its climate plans, insisting the plan won't undermine the bloc's efforts to tackle global warming. Dozens of organisations issued a joint call on Monday slamming the EU's plans to certify so-called offsets carbon absorbed through nature or with technological means which could then be bought by polluters to reduce their emissions balance. The groups, including Friends of the Earth, Corporate Accountability and the Centre for International Environmental Law, argue that subtracting carbon captured in this way from the 27-nation bloc's emissions total amounts to greenwashing. Frans Timmermans, vice-president of the EU's executive Commission, insisted the plans for carbon removal certificates were consistent with the bloc's legally binding climate targets. It's additional to what we're doing, and it's not instead of what we'r

Green pathways present a $1.6-trn investment window: World Bank report

The report also suggests adopting climate-responsive cooling techniques in both private- and government-funded constructions

Airbus developing hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine for zero emission plain

European aerospace major Airbus on Wednesday said it is developing a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine for its zero-emission aircraft that will enter service by 2035. The company will start ground and flight testing this fuel cell engine architecture onboard its ZEROe demonstrator aircraft towards the middle of the decade. The A380 MSN001 flight test aircraft is currently being modified to carry liquid hydrogen tanks and associated equipment. "Fuel cells are a potential solution to help us achieve our zero-emission ambition and we are focused on developing and testing this technology to understand if it is feasible and viable for a 2035 entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft," Glenn Llewellyn, VP Zero-Emission Aircraft at Airbus, said. He was speaking at the Airbus Summit 2022 here. "At scale, and if the technology targets were achieved, fuel cell engines may be able to power a one hundred passenger aircraft with a range of approximately 1,000 nautical miles," Llewellyn ..

TMS Ep314: Adani expansion, job creation, Indian equities, climate

Is Adani Group emerging as the next Tatas? What explains rural-urban divide despite more job creation? Will Indian equities be able to tide over emerging risks? What is climate finance? Answers here

US, allies announce plans for second democracy summit on March 2023

The Biden administration on Tuesday announced plans for a second Summit for Democracy next year, this time to be co-hosted by the governments of Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea and Zambia. The summit will be held March 29 to March 30 in a virtual format and will be followed by hybrid gatherings in each of the host countries with representatives from government, civil society and the private sector participating. We are living through an era defined by challenges to accountable and transparent governance, the five countries said in a joint statement. "From wars of aggression to changes in climate, societal mistrust and technological transformation, it could not be clearer that all around the world, democracy needs champions at all levels. Together with other invitees to the second Summit, we look forward to taking up this call, and demonstrating how transparent, accountable governance remains the best way to deliver lasting prosperity, peace, and justice. The March summit i