Page 13 - Environment

SC notice to govt on plea alleging violation in Polavaram project clearance

The Supreme Court has sought the response of the Centre and others on a plea alleging violations in environmental clearance granted to the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh issued notices to the Centre, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha while seeking their replies. "Issue notice, returnable in the month of February, 2023," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by economist Pentapati Pullarao against an order of the National Green Tribunal which directed him to approach the apex court with his plea. The petition filed through advocate Sravan Kumar alleged that the NGT, without considering the report of the Joint Committee of the Ministry of Environment and forests, Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the Polavaram Project Authority (Project Proponent), has abruptly closed the case. "It is the submission of the appellant that the allegations pertaining to violations

JK Tyre best in 'ESG' rating in industry, targets carbon net zero by 2050

The company is working on being more environmentally responsible by producing more from less and reducing energy intensity, greenhouse gas emissions

India takes on the task of reversing climate change, 2022 a crucial year

India set ambitious climate goals in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promises made in Glasgow and took crucial steps for environment protection and wildlife conservation in 2022, including the launch of Mission LiFE and the reintroduction of Cheetah 70 years after the species became extinct in the country. The country established Asia's largest Ramsar Sites network in the 75th year of Independence, introduced a ban on harmful single-use plastic items, and passed the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2022 to strengthen the protection of endangered species and enhance punishment for illegal wildlife trade. The government strengthened air pollution reduction targets under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and implemented a comprehensive policy to fight winter pollution in Delhi-NCR. Calling on people to adopt an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on mindful and deliberate utilisation instead of mindless and wasteful consumption, Prime Minister Narendra

India plans $2 billion incentive for green hydrogen industry, says report

The 180-billion-rupee ($2.2 billion) incentive aims to reduce the production cost of green hydrogen by a fifth over the next five years, said a senior government official

Green hydrogen will not be limited by borders: ReNew Power Founder & CEO

'People are looking to get into the manufacturing supply chain, governments are looking at expanding transmission infrastructure,' said ReNew Power founder & CEO, Sumant Sinha

VP urges joint global action on climate change, environmental destruction

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar praised makers of Indian Constitution for including protection of forests in directive principles of state policy

Pollution levels remain high in northern India due to rain deficit: Experts

Bad air quality days continue to haunt the Indo-Gangetic Plains with the air quality Index (AQI) oscillating between 'poor' and 'severe' categories

Climatic change doesn't necessarily bring evolution in species: Study

A recent study calls into question a long-held theory that periodic fluctuations in climate were important drivers of evolutionary change in mammals

COP-15: India to mobilise domestic finance for biodiversity conservation

The 15th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ended on a high note with nearly 200 countries adopting a historic deal to preserve nature and reverse damage to ecosystems after four years of fraught negotiations. India, which is one of the Parties to the convention, pushed for Digital Sequence Information (DSI) to be considered under the CBD's access and benefit sharing mechanism, among many other targets during the run-up to the conference and through the anxious final moments until the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) became a reality. The Indian delegation was led by Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change along with a team of officers from the government. India negotiated strongly and held discussions with the COP Presidency and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity before the final Global Biodiversity Framework was put up for adoption, Yadav said. "The suggestions from Ind

WRI, GEF to form Secretariat for preservation of 30% land, ocean by 2030

The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People has announced the formation of a new permanent Secretariat to be co-hosted by World Resources Institute and the Global Environment Facility

President Murmu calls for sustainable management of forest resources

Highlighting the need for the conservation of nature and wildlife, President called for sustainable management of forest resources saying forests are the anchors for all life on earth

India to bolster carbon trading market with stabilisation fund: Sources

Money in the fund would be used by a market regulator to buy carbon credits if prices fell too low, an officials said

IRM India Affiliate, Ultratech to bolster risk-readiness in cement sector

The two will be organising webinars, roundtables, industry meetings, and thought leadership articles towards knowledge building for the sector

Asian bourses join billion-dollar race to launch new carbon exchanges

Trading and prices have slumped, while concerns mount about how much offsets actually contribute to fighting climate change

COP15 Montreal: India urges dedicated fund for biodiversity conservation

Says developing countries bear most of the burden of implementing targets; call comes as 196 parties to Convention on Biological Diversity finalise talks for a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

COP15: Japan commits 1 billion yen to make sustainable use of nature

At biological diversity meeting, Japan, Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation, UNDP, others have announced 4th phase of community development and knowledge management for Satoyama Initiative

NGT directs NTPC to comply with environmental norms at its Bilaspur plant

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed NTPC Limited to take steps such as developing avenue plantation, preparing a time-bound plan for disposal of ash and identifying land for afforestation to comply with environmental norms at its plant in Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. The requisite steps to be taken by NTPC were recommended by an oversight committee comprising the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which was earlier constituted by the tribunal to verify the facts. The committee filed a compliance status report on August 16. "In view of the report, the only further direction of the tribunal required is that NTPC may take necessary steps in the light of observations in the report, including developing avenue plantation, obtaining further direction from MoEF&CC regarding EC conditions, preparing time-bound plan for disposal of ash and identifying land outside the project for afforestation, a ..

Parliament passes bill to mandate use of renewable energy, carbon trading

The Bill is expected to be a step for India toward fulfilling its goals of cutting emissions and the use of renewable energy

G-20 Summit: Delhi will be decorated with over 1 mn exotic potted plants

Over 10 lakh exotic potted plants will add to the beauty of the national capital as it gets ready to host the G20 Summit in September next year, forest department officials said on Wednesday. The horticulture wings of the central and Delhi government departments, including the Delhi Development Department, New Delhi Municipal Council, Public Works Department and Municipal Corporation of Delhi, have been asked to decorate public spaces, roundabouts, major intersections, flyovers and vertical greens in the city with exotic flowering plants, an official said. "Different species of exotic plants will be used for this purpose across Delhi. The locations and targets for each department will be finalised by April next year," the official said. Another official said special attention will be given to the stretch between the Indira Gandhi International Airport and Lutyens Delhi, India Gate area and Pragati Maidan, the main venue of the G20 Summit in Delhi. "Departments concerned have alread

To fight deadly smog, farmers are being encouraged to sell crop waste

Smoke from the burning of crop stubble lingers over most of north India for weeks during the cold months of November and December, with air quality deteriorating to hazardous levels in several areas