Page 4 - Emissions

Biden rule aims to reduce methane emissions, targeting oil and gas industry

The Biden administration on Saturday issued a final rule aimed at reducing methane emissions, targeting the US oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as President Joe Biden seeks to advance his climate legacy. The Environmental Protection Agency said the new rule will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants generated by the oil and gas industry, promote use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies and deliver significant public health benefits in the form of reduced hospital visits, lost school days and even deaths. Air pollution from oil and gas operations can cause cancer, harm the nervous and respiratory systems and contribute to birth defects. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House Climate adviser Ali Zaidi announced the final rule at the United Nations climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane, the main component in natural gas and far more potent th

Carbon capture, storage tech is crucial to curb emissions: CCS Institute

The Global CCS Institute is an international think tank whose mission is to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS), a vital technology to tackle climate change

India among few big economies on track to meet climate pledges: Yadav

India has set an example with its robust domestic climate action and stands among the few major economies on track to meet their national plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Friday. In his opening address at the environment ministers' session at the second Voice of Global South Summit, Yadav highlighted India's active role in the fight against climate change, despite its historically minimal contribution to global warming. The minister said India's current per capita greenhouse gas emissions are less than one-third of the global average. He emphasised that developed countries are yet to fulfil their commitments to providing sufficient climate finance to developing nations to address climate-change impacts. Yadav reminded the developed countries of their commitment to mobilising USD 100 billion annually by 2020 for climate finance and doubling their contribution to adaptation finance from the 2019 level by 2025. H

Lowest emission nations hit hardest by heat in June-Aug period: Analysis

Countries with the lowest historical emissions experienced three to four times higher than seasonal temperatures this June-August days than G20 countries, according to an analysis conducted by an independent US-based group of scientists using a metric called the Climate Shift Index (CSI). The three-month June-August 2023 season was the warmest on record globally and the analysis by Climate Central indicates that human-caused climate change made the unprecedented heat far more likely across the globe. CSI measures how often and how much temperatures have shifted from the historical average. A higher index indicates more dramatic changes compared to the past. The CSI levels above 1 indicate climate change, while levels between 2 and 5 mean that climate change made those temperatures between two to five times more likely. During the June-August period, nearly half (48 per cent) of the world's population experienced at least 30 days with a CSI level 3 or higher, Climate Central said in

Amazon loses key backer 4 years into plan to eliminate carbon emissions

The Science Based Targets initiative, a United Nations-backed entity that validates net zero plans, has removed Amazon from its list of companies taking action on climate goals

G20 bloc fails to reach agreement on cutting fossil fuels after objections

The G20 member countries together account for over three-quarters of global emissions and gross domestic product, and a cumulative effort by the group to decarbonise is crucial

IMO adopts interim guidance on biofuels' use in shipping to cut emissions

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted interim guidance on the use of biofuels and biofuel blends, a resolution vehemently pushed by India at a maritime environment protection conference here. The London-based IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships. The interim guidance adopted on Thursday at the 80th Session of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO stressed that biofuels that have been certified by an international certification scheme, meeting its sustainability criteria and provide a well-to-wake GHG emissions reduction of at least 65 per cent compared to the fossil fuels can be used in the shipping industry. With this guidance coming into effect, India has great potential to be developed as a biofuel hub of the world. "We, with our highly sustainable second-generation biofuel, are the leaders i

Will not reach emissions goal with current technologies, says Tata Steel

India's second-largest steel producer is seeking to trim emissions from the current 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of the alloy produced to 1.8 tons in 2030

E-commerce sector to grow 1000%, emissions 8mn tonnes by 2030: Report

This heightened activity will contribute to a total emission of 16 crore tons of CO2 in the next 8 years, or equal to 400 gas-fired power plants

Delhi to get more EVs as PFC sanctions Rs 633 cr loan for cabs, 3-wheelers

The 5,000 passenger e4Ws (Electric Four-Wheelers) being launched in Delhi are expected to result in emission savings of over 1,00,000 tons of Carbon dioxide

Global goal of reaching net zero requires descaling of emissions: Minister

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday said the global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 requires enhanced descaling of emissions by developed countries

Wealthy nations can lead global emissions cuts by example: US energy secy

Wealthy nations can lead by example in cutting carbon emissions, though much faster action is needed to stem global warming, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press. Granholm and other senior energy and environment officials from the Group of Seven advanced economies are in Hokkaido in northern Japan this week for meetings on climate change, energy security and related issues. That's what we hope to do is lead by example, Granholm said after touring the world's first and only liquefied hydrogen carrier, a ship that showcases Japanese efforts to transform heavily polluting coal into emissions-free hydrogen power. At the G-7 summit in May last year, member nations set a common goal of achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonized electricity supply by 2035. The fact that carbon emissions are continuing to rise despite massive investments in cleaner energy is very disappointing, Granholm said. But she noted that 90% of the new ..

Battery vs hydrogen trucks: Race to clean up emissions is just starting

While hydrogen trucks offer long driving range and quick refueling, only a few very expensive models are on the market. Battery-electric rigs are relatively cheaper and more widely available

Global emissions from banned chemicals destroying ozone layer: Study

The study noted these emissions might be reduced or avoided by reducing leakages associated with HFC production and by properly destroying any co-produced CFCs

An old solution to the emission problem

A more than seven-decade-old technology is coming in the limelight on the journey to net zero

Australia takes major steps toward making big polluters reduce emissions

The Australian government took a major step toward implementing a key climate policy that would force chief greenhouse gas polluters to reduce emissions, with the minor Greens party pledging their support on Monday. The center-left Labour Party administration said the so-called Safeguard Mechanism reforms are essential to Australia reaching its target of reducing its emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. The reforms would create a ceiling on the nation's emissions and force Australia's 215 biggest polluting facilities to reduce their emissions over time. The Climate Council, a leading climate communicator, described the reforms as the first Australian legislation in a decade that would regulate greenhouse gas pollution. With the support of the Greens' 11 senators, the government only needs the backing of two unaligned or minor party senators to get the reforms through the upper chamber. Greens leader Adam Bandt said a hard cap on emissions would mean

Trade fuelled faster rise in India's production-based emissions

India's production-based estimates of CO2 emissions rose 63 per cent, from 1.6 billion tonnes in 2009 to 2.6 billion tonnes in 2019, reveals an analysis of numbers from tracker Our World in Data

At a crossroads: India's per capita emission increases 36% since 2011

The latest figure is nearly 8 times the level of 1960

A sugar rush for emissions: Is ethanol-spiked fuel a sweet solution?

Rising compliance with ethanol-spiked fuels in vehicle could be a win-win situation all round

Corporate sector can cut emission intensity of GDP by further 5.6% in 2030

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency will administer India's carbon trading framework, which is getting ready for its rollout