Page 66 - Climate Change

Best of BS Opinion: ED's expansion, Geo-engineering & climate control, more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

What is climate finance?

Every year, leaders from over 200 nations come under one roof and debate to find out how much the developed nations will contribute towards the climate fund. But what exactly is this fund?

Geo-engineering and climate control

The idea of engineering the atmosphere to stave off global warming is increasingly gaining popularity, but it raises several issues

Climate change: Buried in ice for 48,500 yrs, 'zombie virus' resurrects

European researchers examined ancient samples and characterized 13 new pathogens, what they termed "zombie viruses"

Environmental groups ask EU to drop carbon removal from climate plans

Scores of environmental groups issued a joint appeal on Monday for the European Union to drop carbon removal methods from its climate plans, arguing that some of them rely on untested technology while others may not absorb as many greenhouse gas emissions as claimed. The EU's executive Commission has proposed creating a system for certifying so-called offsets carbon absorbed through nature or with technological means which could then be bought by polluters to reduce their emissions balance. But some 170 groups including Friends of the Earth, Corporate Accountability and the Centre for International Environmental Law argue that plans to use fields, forests or machines for future large-scale removal of carbon from the atmosphere are a greenwashing fantasy. They have instead called for the Commission to commit to real, or gross, cuts in emissions, instead of net cuts that many countries and companies are currently touting in their climate plans. The 27-nation EU aims to achieve net .

WTO calls for free trade in goods to cope with climate change

The WTO report argues that trade is part of the solution for achieving a low carbon, resilient, and just transition

Work to combat climate change, boost millet production: FM urges startups

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday appealed to startups to touch upon less glamorous areas including climate change, millet production and improving the condition of farmers. Addressing a national level summit to promote startups, Sitharaman emphasised more on climate change and asked the startups to find a solution to combat it as that will have a bearing on the agriculture pattern in the country. "Of course defence production, renewable energy, nuclear, satellites, space technologies, they are all there. You have already touched upon those areas. I am asking you to touch upon some of those less glamorous areas as well," Sitharaman told the gathering here. "My appeal is, more and more innovations coming from the startups for dealing with climate and climate change is going to be absolutely precious," the Finance Minister said. She asked the startups to work towards improving conditions of farmers, urban dwellers and give a solution through millets for healthy ..

Greta Thunberg, Swedish activists sue state over its climate policies

Hundreds of activists, among them Greta Thunberg, marched through the Swedish capital to a court on Friday to file a lawsuit against the Swedish state for what they say is insufficient climate action. More than 600 young people under the age of 26 signed the 87-page document that is the basis for the lawsuit which was filed in the Stockholm District Court. They want the court to determine that the country has violated its citizen's human rights with its climate policies. Sweden has never treated the climate crisis like a crisis, said Anton Foley, spokesman of the youth-led initiative Aurora, which prepared and filed the lawsuit. Sweden is failing in its responsibility and breaking the law. The action comes as scientists warn that chances are slipping away to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. At a recent UN climate conference in Egypt earlier this month, leaders tried to keep that goal alive but did not ratchet up calls

Carbon reduction hinges on share of renewables in energy: TKM's V Kirloskar

The share of renewable energy as a percentage of total generation is only 30 per cent. Unless this goes up I don't see carbon emission coming down, Kirloskar said

China may not pay for climate change despite being 'biggest annual emitter'

Chinese policymakers do not agree with the suggestion that China should be considered a developed nation; according to Chinese policymakers, China continues to have extreme poverty in the country

Cash-strapped states pulled out of flagship PMFBY, says Centre

Centre willing to make additional pro-farmer changes in response to climate change

Need to promote circular economy to deal with climate change: Amitabh Kant

State chief secys' meet to address challenges faced in implementation of circular economy, says India's G20 Sherpa

Need global push for millets amid conflict, climate change: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said a concentrated global push for millets is needed as the three Cs of climate change, Covid-19 and conflict are impacting food security in some way or the other. Millets are grown in 130 countries, including India, and a concentrated push by these countries for millets would enhance food security, increase self-reliance and global availability, the minister said. Speaking at a pre-launch celebration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the minister shared how each of the 3Cs has impacted food security putting the global economy at risk due to the concentration of production centres and trade disruption. He said de-risking the global economy requires more decentralised production and more self-reliance as well as "willingness" on part of the country not only to grow for themselves but to help each other. Against this backdrop, the minister asked High Commissioners and Ambassadors to India to give much greater attention t

Need to promote circular economy to deal with climate change issues: Kant

There is a need to promote a circular economy to deal with the issues related to climate change, India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Thursday said. Addressing an event virtually, Kant noted different ministries and states are taking initiatives to promote a circular economy. He said in COP 27, India underlined its long-term low carbon emission strategy. India's Presidency for the G20 from December 1 provides an opportunity to the country for an accelerated transition towards the circular economy, he added. Noting that there is a need to create a business environment for the circular economy, he said," We need to ensure that regulations do not become burdensome". The G20 comprises 19 countries -- Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA and the European Union (EU). Together, they account for over 80 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of internat

Climate change to drastically cut Indonesia's rice, coffee produce: Study

Continued carbon emissions would significantly reduce rice and coffee production in Indonesia -- one of the world's top producers of both crops -- according to a study

Explained: What is 'loss and damage' fund, what is India's take on it

Agreement on financing one of the most significant steps in UN climate talks in 30 years

Indian railways far from 'carbon neutral 2030' goal; lags in clean energy

The organization had installed renewable capacity of 142 megawatts of rooftop solar and 103.4 megawatts of wind energy as of August

Over 80k delegates, 140 heads of state to attend COP28 in Dubai: Minister

Over 80,000 delegates, including over 140 heads of state and government leaders, would participate in COP28 which is scheduled to be held next year in the UAE, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, one of the country's ministers and special envoy for climate change, has said. Al Jaber, who is the minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the UAE's special envoy for climate change, highlighted the importance of the UAE hosting the Conference of the Parties and said COP28 will be an important global event coinciding with the country's national day and will be held at Expo City Dubai. "COP2, which will be hosted in the UAE in 2023, will welcome high-level participation including over 140 heads of state and government leaders, over 80,000 delegates, and more than 5,000 media professionals," Al Jaber said on Tuesday, He said the determination of the UAE, its strong diplomatic relations with global nations and its pragmatic position on climate action, underpinned by proven experience in the energ

Andhra Pradesh focuses on climate change governance, sets up special cell

The Andhra Pradesh government has created an exclusive Climate Change Cell (CCC) in its Environment, Forests, Science and Technology Department to implement a state action plan and make it climate resilient through improved climate change governance'. AP will soon come out with a Climate Change State Action plan, on the lines of the National Action Plan for Climate Change, and the new CCC will be tasked with its implementation. Building capacities for climate change actions (mitigation and adaptation) and addressing issues through an Ecosystem-based Approach will be the key, according to Special Chief Secretary (EFST Department) Neerabh Kumar Prasad. Mitigation of climate change and protection of vulnerable sections of society through an inclusive and sustainable development strategy, which also enhances ecological sustainability, will be the CCC's main focus area. As climate change poses a challenge to sustainability of social and economic development, livelihoods of communities a

India among top 5 countries in global climate change performance index

India is ranked among the top five countries, and the best among the G-20 nations, under the global Climate Change Performance Index, an official statement said. The index is published by German Watch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network International based in Germany. The CCPI aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries. "India has been ranked amongst top 5 countries in the world, and the best among the G20 countries, based on its Climate Change performance," a power ministry statement said. India jumped two spots, and is now ranked 8th as per the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, 2023), it stated. The latest report of CCPI, released at COP27 in November 2022, shows Denmark, Sweden, Chile and Morocco as the only four small countries that were ranked above India at fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. The first, second and third ranks wer