Page 6 - Sustainable Development

World Bank keen on Rs 2,500-cr green resilient programme for Himachal: CM

Most departments will switch over to EVs by next year in the first phase, says CM Sukhu

G20's sustainable finance group to work on capacity building in segment

With sustainable finance being a niche sector and most still in the learning process, the Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) of G20 under India's presidency will work towards capacity building in the segment by identifying requirements, efforts already in place and existing gaps, an official said. It will then come up with recommendations on what needs to be done in specific areas and how organisations can contribute towards it, she added. Capacity building of the ecosystem for financing sustainable development was among the priority areas taken up for discussion in the 1st SFWG meet, Geetu Joshi, adviser, Ministry of Finance (MoF), said at the end of the two-day meeting here on Friday. She said it had been taken up because in many countries there is a lack of adequate knowledge and a scarcity of skilled professionals and workforce in sustainable finance. There is a lack of adequate knowledge. One member country said during a session that they thought only developing countrie

Sustainable development only way to durable peace: Deputy UN chief

'There is only one route to durable peace, to the peace that withstands the crises of our times. It is the route of sustainable development'

Davos 2023: Over 50 high-impact initiatives at WEF for sustainable world

With more than 50 high-impact initiatives were launched or profiled, world leaders gathered at the WEF 2023 in the first major international gathering

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 ...

German Chancellor likely to visit India twice next year: Ambassador

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is likely to visit India twice next year as the two countries look to strengthen bilateral relations with an emphasis on green and sustainable development. "The Chancellor is planning a bilateral visit to India next year.... I am very confident he will come for a bilateral visit before the G-20 Summit, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann told reporters here. Ackermann said Germany and India have finalised 22 projects covering transition to renewable energy, climate resilient urban development and sustainable use of natural resources totalling one billion euros for the next year under the green and sustainable development partnership (GSDP). The German Chancellor, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Germany in May, had announced support of at least 10 billion euros by 2030 under GSDP. A large part of the support will be in the form of credit lines from KfW Development Bank with interest rates ranging from 2.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent

Indian firms say sustainability is a critical differentiator: Survey

Despite FFTF firms being in the global minority, companies in the APAC countries generally led their European counterparts in the survey

UP CM reviews plan for Ayodhya City-2031, bats for sustainable development

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday reviewed the master plan for Ayodhya City-2031 and directed officials to develop it as a model city of urban development with ease of living as its basis. Envisioning Ayodhya as a climate friendly city, the chief minister directed officials to plan the project in such a way that all boats and steamers operating in Saryu river run on green fuel and vehicles on road are powered by electricity. During the meeting, the chief minister laid emphasis on a "common building code" in areas surrounding the Ram temple, saying similar shaped buildings and identical paints on them will add to the project's beauty. "As envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the overall development of 'Dharmanagari' is the government's top priority, and the people of the country and the world are eager to see a 'Divya, Bhavya, Navya Ayodhya' (grand new Ayodhya)," he said. Asking the officials to focus on sustainability, he said the current urban populatio

Research suggests plant fibers can be used for sustainable devices

Thermal insulation is a characteristic of several materials generated from plants, including cellulose

India, Sweden collaborate for sustainable future via innovation projects

The 9th annual India Sweden Innovation Day 2022 concluded successfully on October 27. The day-long event was organised in association with the Embassy of India to Sweden & Latvia, Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Centre lays down 75-point climate-friendly agenda under Mission LiFE

Initiatives cover actions under seven categories--energy, water saving, single-use plastic, sustainable food systems, waste reduction (Swachhata actions), healthy lifestyle, and e-waste

Carbon credits imperative for climate positive plans: EKI Energy Services

EKI Energy Services on Monday welcomed the government's stance on carbon credits and said that carbon credits and its trade is an imperative for climate positive plans. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy R K Singh on October 6, said that the government is taking measures to make India a market for carbon credit which will be utilised to meet the country's NDC goals. India has submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasising that it is a step forward towards its long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2070. "We are happy to hear that this matter finally has greater clarity by the Minister himself. Carbon credits and its trade is an imperative and integral part of any climate positive plans given its capabilities to control GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions," said Manish Dabkara, CMD & CEO of EKI Energy Services Ltd. This clarification will enable the entire industry ecosystem .

JSW Cement secures Rs 400 cr as sustainability-linked loan from MUFG Bank

JSW Cement on Monday said it has raised Rs 400 crore from MUFG Bank India as its first sustainability-linked loan. The Sajjan Jindal-led company plans to deploy the fund for capital expenditure to achieve its annual capacity target of 25 million tonne by FY25, it said in a statement. While this credit line is the first sustainability-linked loan for the company, it is also MUFG Bank India's first transaction undertaken out of its new IFSC unit branch launched in August 2022 in the Gift City, it said. Parth Jindal, Managing Director of JSW Cement, said the funding will enable the company to meet its goal of 25 million tonne per annum capacity by FY25 and also forms part of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. JSW Cement has installed capacity of 17 million tonne across its units at Vijayanagar in Karnataka, Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, Salboni in West Bengal, Jajpur in Odisha and Dolvi in Maharashtra. Its subsidiary Shiva Cement is investing Rs 1,500 crore in a

Must not let current developments jeopardise 2030 Agenda: S Jaishankar

India and the United States must not let the current global developments jeopardize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Tuesday. At a joint media appearance with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Jaishankar said he shared with his American counterpart his experience of interactions during the UN General Assembly about the deep anxieties in the Global South on fuel, food and fertilizers. "The increasing salience of green growth, digital development, and affordable health is today very, very evident," he said. "We must not let current developments jeopardize Agenda 2030 on SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) or to deflect us from climate action and climate justice commitments," Jaishankar said. Blinken said both the countries are working in the field of climate change. "Catastrophe and adapt to the changes to come because the future of our people and people everywhere depends in no small part on hitting the ambitious targets tha

Green mobility to play key role in India's decarbonisation: NITI CEO Iyer

Green mobility is going to play a major role in decarbonisation of India's transport sector, NITI Aayog CEO Parameswaran Iyer said on Wednesday. Iyer, while addressing an event organised by the 'Shoonya Forum', noted that the role of financing is critical for scaling of electric mobility in India. He also stressed on the need of finding ways to reduce risks associated with financing of electric vehicles. Pointing out that the rural India is urbanising rapidly, the NITI Aayog CEO said there is a need to push electric vehicles in smaller cities also. According to a recent report prepared by NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) India, banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) have the potential to achieve electric vehicle financing market size of Rs 40,000 crore by 2025 and Rs 3.7 lakh crore by 2030. The report had also stressed that lending by banks and NBFCs for buying EVs should be included in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) priority-sector lending (PSL) ...

Jammu will emerge as new model of sustainable development, says LG

Jammu will emerge as a new model of sustainable development in the next few years, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Thursday. As many as 3,506 development projects were completed in the winter capital Jammu in the last financial year, while 4,115 projects will be completed during the current financial year, he said. Inaugurating the recommencement of balance work of Tawi Barrage here, he said the ambitious project, which was delayed for more than a decade, will enhance scenic beauty, increase tourism potential of the city of temples and ensure creation of recreational spots for people. Today's initiative is a part of the government's endeavour to develop urban centres as engines of economic growth and make the cities ecologically and economically sustainable. "The new and robust infrastructure will cater to tourists as well as the local population, making citizens partners in the conservation and development of water bodies, he said. Under the leadership of Prime

UNGA President calls for action to return world to sustainable development

UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid has proposed action in five areas to bring the world back on track toward sustainable development

India needs to promote and form Green Hydrogen Corridors, says NITI Aayog

India needs to form Green Hydrogen Corridors and governments can look at providing grants to startups as well as support entrepreneurs to promote green hydrogen, NITI Aayog said on Wednesday. In a report titled 'Harnessing Green Hydrogen - Opportunities for Deep Decarbonisation in India', the Aayog also suggested that there is a need to facilitate investment through demand aggregation and dollar-based bidding for green hydrogen. "Three hydrogen corridors should be developed across the country based on state grand challenges ... The governments can provide grants and loans to startups and projects, support entrepreneurs through incubators and investor networks, and put in place regulations that manage first-mover risks, " the report said. The government can also use public procurement and purchase incentives (for green hydrogen) to create demand in niche markets and crowd in private investment, it added. The report suggested that the government should promote export of green hydrog

India witnessing early signs of sustainable economic revival: Deepak Parekh

The country's economy is seeing early signs of sustainable revival amid a volatile global environment, veteran banker Deepak Parekh said on Monday. Addressing the shareholders of HDFC Life at the 22nd Annual General Meeting, he said there is a pick-up in domestic economic activity due to an increase in private consumption. "We remain optimistic about the resilience of India's economy despite the high volatility in the global environment. We are now witnessing early signs of a sustainable economic revival, Parekh, who is the Chairman of the private life insurer, said. He said high growth in non-oil and non-gold imports reflects the pick-up in domestic demand and the domestic economic activity is fueled by private consumption and rising discretionary spending. According to him, the expected normal south-west monsoon this year is likely to support rural consumption. "We remain vigilant of the implications of the current geopolitical tensions, elevated commodity prices, growing extern

Stockholm+50 calls for just transition to sustainable economies

Hundreds of speakers attending Stockholm+50 have called for "real" commitment to urgently address global environmental concerns and for a just transition to sustainable economies that work for all