Page 201 - Environment
INSA pushes for ratification of the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling by India
Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA) reiterated the need for the ratification of Hong Kong Convention. At a meeting held at Mumbai, The Japanese Shipowners' Association, represented by the chairman of the Ship Recycling Committee, Mr. Keijo Tomoda and Indian National Shipowners' Association, represented by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Anil Devli jointly pushed for the need for expeditious ratification of the Hong Kong Convention on Ship Recycling.The Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships or HKC is a multilateral convention adopted in 2009 which has not entered into force as it is awaiting ratification by the large ship recycling countries like China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Countries such as Turkey, Germany, and Japan have already ratified the convention.Mr. Anil Devli, CEO, INSA, said, "Early ratification of the HKC will ensure that the Indian ship recycling yards would substantially benefit. This is ...
Impact of climate change more in developing countries; all nations must collaborate: Venkaiah Naidu
Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu Monday expressed concern over the impact of climate change on developing countries and called upon all nations to collaborate and cooperate in an equally unparalleled manner to ensure sustainable development. Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day World Sustainable Development Summit 2019 here, he said, "The immediate impact of climate change was felt more by developing countries because of higher dependence on climatic variables, especially when it comes to agriculture, and their limited capacities to adapt." "With the realisation that the impacts of climate change are borderless and that our fates are deeply inter-linked, we must explore an equally unprecedented degree of collaboration and cooperation," Naidu said. "Climate change and global warming threaten lives and livelihoods of billions and upsets the delicate balance of nature. It is in its recognition that India is trying its best to include the paradigm of sustainability and environmental
Punjab govt inks MoU with Virgo Corp for biofuel project
The Punjab government Monday signed an MoU with a Delhi-based company for a Rs 630-crore project which will produce biofuel from rice husk. The technology for the project will be provided by the US giant Honeywell. The company, Virgo Corporation, will use the technology to produce biofuel from rice husk to set up a rapid thermal processing plant, which will provide over 150 direct and 500 indirect jobs, an official spokesperson said. The project would pave way for potential future collaborations in terms of investments, technology transfer between Punjab and the US, the spokesperson added. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster. The project would go a long way in containing environmental pollution due to stubble burning, besides supplementing the income of farmers by helping turn the unmanageable agro-waste into raw material for producing biofuel, Singh said. He pointed out that ...
Ker's Responsible Tourism can make it score high on SDGs:
Kerala's successes with Responsible Tourism (RT) can catapult the state to a high rank in the attainment of the globally accepted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, internationally accredited tourism expert Harold Goodwin has said. "The most important thing for me is the success of the Responsible Tourism Mission and the way in which local communities have been enabled to earn from tourism as an additional livelihood. Local communities don't stop what they were doing before but have an additional source of income," Goodwin, who is the Founder and Managing Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism noted. During a recent visit to Kerala in connection with an international symposium on People's Participation for Participatory Planning & Empowerment through Responsible Tourism (PEPPER), he said the state can also favourably score in the aspects of alternative technologies, soil and water management. On partnerships for the SDGs, Kerala can .
Punjab signs MoU to check stubble burning
In a bid to check stubble burning and boost the renewable energy sector in the state, the Punjab government on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Virgo Corporation for a Rs 630-crore bio-fuel project.
Need to move to responsible pricing in crude, balance interests: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world has seen crude prices on a roller-coaster ride for too long and there was a need to move to responsible pricing which balances the interests of both the producer and consumer.
3-year-old boy mauled to death by leopard in Gujarat
A three-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district, a forest official said on Monday. Mohit Ratadiya was sleeping inside a tent in Jambuda village under Mahuva forest range, located around 260 km from here, when a leopard sneaked in and took him away on Sunday night, assistant conservator of forests Vijay Rathod said. The child belonged to a family of shepherds from Pipaliya village in Rajkot district who had migrated to Bhanvagar sometime back, Rathod said. "On Sunday night, the leopard entered the tent set up in an open field where the child and his family members were staying. Their sheep and goats panicked at the sight of the leopard and started bleating," he said. When the child's parents and other adult members went towards their animals to see what had happened, the leopard caught hold of the sleeping boy and fled into the forest, Rathod said. The child's body, with some parts eaten by the feline, was found in bushes near the ...
Energy supply and consumption patterns are changing to tackle climate change: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that patterns of energy supply and consumption are changing globally and countries are coming together to tackle climate change.There are signs of convergence between cheaper renewable energy, technologies and digital applications, he said while addressing the inaugural session of 13th international oil and gas conference Petrotech 2019."At the macro level, the energy sector is a pivot and a key enabler of growth. Natural gas is fast becoming one of the largest fuels in global energy mix. We are entering an era of greater energy availability," he said."Energy supply, energy sources, and energy consumption patterns are changing. Perhaps, this could be a historic transition," said the Prime Minister. "This may expedite the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nations are coming together to tackle climate change."The Prime Minister said India has the potential to emerge as the world's second largest economy by 2030. In an ...
Yogi Government sanctions two biofuel projects worth Rs. 800 crore
ShivOm Dayal Energies (P) Ltd., is setting up two biofuel projects worth Rs 800 Crore. The two biofuel plants will be set up in the districts of Saharanpur and Bijnor.The UP government in its cabinet meeting held on 7th February 2019, approved the two second-generation ethanol plants which will incur an investment of INR 400 crore each. The state government will also offer the company with facilities including stamp duty waiver, capital subsidy as well as SGST rebate.Each of the sanctioned biofuel facility is expected to utilise about 200 tonnes of agro-waste per day for the production of 50,000 litres of second-generation ethanol. The plants will be set up under technical collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER), Taiwan.The facilities will be utilizing agro-waste including rice straw, wheat straw and bagasse as raw materials to produce second-generation ethanol. The benefits of the project include additional income for farmers, reduction in stubble burning, .
Sustainable agriculture, 'more crop per drop' should be mantra: Vice President
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu Monday emphasised on the importance of sustainable agriculture as a part of sustainable development and said more efficient systems of irrigation with "more crop per drop" mantra should be used . Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day World Sustainable Development Summit 2019 here, he said, "There is a need to make use of the endless possibilities of biotechnology and nanotechnology to develop a range of green products, including nano-fertilisers." "We should move towards more efficient systems of irrigation with 'more crop per drop' as our mantra. Greater thrust has to be placed on organic farming and on the use of natural means of pest control," he said. Naidu, while kickstarting the summit, said that sustainable development is inclusive development which includes sustainable agriculture, sustainable mobility solutions, urbanization, energy security and clean energy, waste management and efforts in wildlife conservation. The summit themed ...
Dreyfus expects faster switching between sugar, ethanol in Brazil
DUBAI (Reuters) - Commodities trading firm Louis Dreyfus expects faster switching between sugar and ethanol production in Brazil, with more flexible mills leading to "dramatic" price-driven shifts.
Presidential hopeful Klobuchar slams Trump's jeer
The US Senator from Minnesota and Presidential candidate, Amy Klobuchar, slammed US President Donald Trump's statement where he mused that she looked like a "snowman" by the end of her campaign announcement."Well, it happened again. Amy Klobuchar announced that she is running for President, talking proudly of fighting global warming while standing in a virtual blizzard of snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Bad timing. By the end of her speech, she looked like a Snowman (woman)," Trump tweeted on Sunday.To this, Klobuchar replied, "Science is on my side, @realDonaldTrump. Looking forward to debating you about climate change (and many other issues). And I wonder how your hair would fare in a blizzard?".
Need common rules globally for tech regulation: Google executive
With data protection legislations being different in different parts of the world, a top Google executive has called for "common rules of the road" globally for regulation of technology companies.
Louis Dreyfus expects faster switching between Brazilian sugar, ethanol output
DUBAI (Reuters) - Louis Dreyfus said on Monday it expects an acceleration in switching between sugar and ethanol production in Brazil with shifts becoming more "dramatic".
TN govt announces spl assistance of Rs 2,000 to BPL families
: The Tamil Nadu government Monday announced a special assistance of Rs 2,000 each to about 60 lakh below poverty line families across the state, keeping in mind the impact of Gaja cyclone as well as the prevailing drought. Making a statement under Rule 110 in the assembly, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the proposal was part of the state government's efforts to ensure inclusive growth. "Considering the impact of Gaja cyclone in many districts as well as the drought, the special assistance was being provided," he said. The beneficiaries would include urban and rural poor, including farm labourers, workers in the fireworks industry, powerloom and handloom sector, salt pans and construction workers among others, he added. A total of 60 lakh BPL families will benefit from the move, for which a sum of Rs 1,200 crore will be allocated, the chief minister said. Gaja cyclone had hit the coast near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district in November last year, leaving a trail of
Tech Mahindra commits to 22 pc reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
IT firm Tech Mahindra Monday said it is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 22 per cent by the year 2030, from a 2016 base-year. The company aims to further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by the year 2050. The same has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Tech Mahindra said in a statement. "The SBTi approval confirms that Tech Mahindra's long-term targets are in line with the level of decarbonisation required to keep global temperature increase below 2C, as compared to pre-industrial temperatures, as set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change," it added. Tech Mahindra Chief Sustainability Officer Sandeep Chandna said the company is consciously adopting a strategy that will deliver innovative solutions without adversely affecting the environment. "SBTi gives us a clear roadmap to optimise our carbon footprint and is enabling us to move towards a low carbon economy that will reduce future climate change risks," he ...
US warships sail near South Chia Sea islands
The US on Monday sailed two warships close to disputed islands in the South China Sea, a move that is bound to draw the ire of Beijing.
Global energy arena changing: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said globally the perception of energy consumption and supply is changing and nations are coming together to tackle climate change.
Can 'Big Brother' technology clean up palm oil's image?
LONDON (Reuters) - Some of the world's major palm oil users, including Nestle, Unilever, and Mondelez, are trying out new satellite technology to track deforestation, as pressure grows on them to source the ingredient responsibly.
Factbox: New systems pinpoint palm oil deforestation in real time, almost
(Reuters) - Satellite imaging has been used to spot deforestation in areas of palm oil cultivation for years, but obtaining the images was expensive and they often took months to arrive to end users.