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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Obama sticks with clean-energy goals

There is so much demand for the clean-energy tax credits that the program is oversubscribed. The White House is asking Congress for an additional $5 billion.

"There's solar facilities that will mean 1,000 jobs here. Another plant there, that's another 300 jobs. These ultimately add up," said senior White House adviser David Axelrod. "And that's how you rebuild the economy and that's how you build the future."

Axelrod, who shapes the president's message, said countries such as China and India are betting big on clean-energy technology, making it imperative that the United... Read more..

Source: Washington Post

India climate meet ahead of Mexico to push tech deal

India will try to push climate talks forward at a two-day ministerial meeting in November by focusing on winning agreement on sharing clean technologies, a sticky issue that divides rich and poor countries.

The Nov 8-9 talks are aimed at clarifying rules on sharing future innovations and existing technologies involving contentious intellectual property rights (IPR) issues.

The talks will come just weeks before a major U.N. climate meeting in Mexico and are an attempt to breathe new life into global climate negotiations after last December's Copenhagen summit fell short of... Read more..

Source: International Business Times

Meet to discuss impact of climate change on rubber production

The Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) and the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) are jointly organising an international workshop on “Climate change and natural rubber cultivation: Research and Development Priorities” at the RRII, Kottayam.

The IRRDB is an international organisation for natural rubber research, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur.

The international workshop, which is scheduled during July 28-30, will be inaugurated by Mr Sajen Peter, Chairman of the Rubber Board. Dr Abdul Aziz Kadir, Secretary-General, IRRDB; Dr Stephen Evans,... Read more..

Source: Hindu Business Line

PCMC to shift electricity poles for laying water pipeline

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will conduct a survey to identify the electricity poles, along the Pune-Mumbai expressway, which need to be shifted for laying a water pipeline from the Pavana dam to Ravet. Speaking to TOI, Pravin Tupe, joint city engineer, PCMC, said, "We will be spending Rs two crore on shifting the electricity poles lying along the three-km stretch of the expressway from Somatne Phata to Kamshet, which is outside the municipal limits."

Tupe said the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) will do the actual survey of... Read more..

Source: Times of India

EU carbon plummets to 3-month low near 14 euros

European carbon permits tumbled by over four percent on Monday, breaking through a key technical support level and triggering stop-loss orders which sent prices down to a 3-month low near 14 euros a tonne.

Emissions traders said weaker German power prices kicked-off carbon's late afternoon fall, which sent EU Allowances prices to their lowest level since April 16.

Dec-10 EUA futures tumbled by over 20 cents in around 10 minutes after breaking below 14.30 euros at 1456 GMT. Prices then fell as low as 14.01 by 1539 GMT, down 64 cents or 4.4 percent, before closing at 14.07... Read more..

Source: Reuters India

NSG's 'clean waiver' questioned

As India grapples with the possibility of NSG approving fresh restrictions on transfer of ENR technology, the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), which was formed two years ago by the Australian and Japanese governments, has again raked up the issue of "clean waiver'' to India, suggesting that NSG allowed New Delhi to get away lightly.

After the conclusion of its final meeting in Vienna last week, the commission issued a statement in which it expressed concern over the manner in which NSG approved the waiver to India, a non signatory to NPT... Read more..

Source: Times of India

Maharashtra association will help draft e-waste policy

With the rise in use of electronic goods, the amount of e-waste produced has also risen to alarming levels. To address the issue, the Maharashtra E-Waste Association (Mewa) has been invited by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to get suggestions on the draft of the E-Waste (Handling and Management) Rules, 2010.

The initiative is being taken by Clean Sweep Forum (CSF), an NGO which has been advocating proper waste management for the last eight years.

The NGO, along with MEWA, is now organising a seminar with all the stakeholders to come up with an agreed set of... Read more..

Source: Daily News and Analysis

Let Dow dispose of the toxic waste at own cost

So now, finally, we are talking about handling Bhopal's toxic waste. How can this be solved? Previously, the Ministry of Forests and Environment shamelessly and secretly took away a small amount of the waste to Pithampur, for incineration. Now it wants to pay to clean up by itself. But the problem is, India's disposal facilities are not a patch on the best ones, and we have a poor record in hazardous waste management.
What shall we do?

I can think of one idea- for the waste to be taken away by Dow at its own cost, and under transparent supervision, to one of its own best... Read more..

Source: Hindustan Times

Researchers aim to stem deaths from arsenic-contaimnated water in the developing world

One in five of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by drinking water contaminated with arsenic, according to a study published recently in the medical journal The Lancet by an international team of researchers. Some 70 million people are drinking arsenic-contaminated water. The study's publication has generated renewed public interest in finding a quick, cost-effective solution to a problem that is turning into a human catastrophe.

Arsenic occurs naturally and contaminates many shallow groundwater aquifers. Bangladeshis began a massive shift from biologically contaminated surface... Read more..

Source: PhysOrg

Indians switch to high-priced, power-efficient air conditioners

 Indian consumers have started upgrading to higher priced, but less power consuming airconditioners to snip mounting electricity bills after the government made it mandatory for appliances to be rated on energy efficiency.

While some companies had introduced star rated products in India in 2007 based on their energy efficiency, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency made it mandatory for all ACs to be star rated only in January this year.

Five star rated ACs or products with lowest power consumption accounted for a third of the total sales of brands such as LG, Samsung, Voltas,... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

LED village inaugurated in Tinsukia

The nation’s first ‘LED village’ was inaugurated at Makumpathar No.4 village in the Margherita subdivision of Tinsukia district in Assam recently.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Govt of India, launched the LED Village campaign to convert existing incandescent bulbs in the households and streetlights of one village with LEDs with an objective to showcase the new technology for lighting using LED (Light Emitting Diode) so that a comparison can be demonstrated between LED and incandescent lamps.

Makumpathar No.4 village was selected under the project in Assam and 100 LED... Read more..

Source: Assam Tribune

JNNURM funds going down the drain

Several development works, including laying pipelines, roads and construction of drains, taken up under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) were found to be of inferior quality. This startling revelation came to light during a third party quality check.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 12,525 crore worth works to the state in the last five years under JNNURM. While about Rs 4,000 crore was sanctioned to Hyderabad, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) was granted Rs 2,027 crore under JNNURM. Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS... Read more..

Source: Times of India

What Others Are Saying | 'Climategate' derails science of global warming; run, don't walk, away from cap and trade

Eight months after a trove of e-mails from climate researchers appeared on the Internet, two inquiries into “climategate” reported their findings. Neither report does anything to weaken the case for acting to limit carbon emissions.

Greenhouse gases still warm planets, carbon dioxide is still a greenhouse gas and the amount of it in the Earth’s atmosphere is still shooting up. This makes moving away from fossil fuels a global priority. Yet the science of climate change has seemed to be derailed by climategate and the discovery of some errors in IPCC reports, even the gravest of... Read more..

Source: Kansas City Star

Climate deal needs equity in carbon space - star.com.my

The atmosphere has little space left to absorb more carbon dioxide, and developing countries are now claiming their fair share to what remains.

A GLOBAL deal on climate change must put fairness and equity at the centre of its design, taking into account that much of the carbon dioxide and other dangerous gases in the atmosphere has been placed there by developed countries.

The deal must ensure that developing countries be given “carbon space” and “development space” to survive as well as to achieve their development goals. Without such a design, developing countries will... Read more..

Source: star.com.my - http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/12/columnists/globaltrends/6646890&sec=globaltrends

CWG: Games village to go sound proof

The ball has finally set rolling for erection of a sound-proof steel barrier covering the rail tracks close to Commonwealth Games Village near Akshardham temple.

The work on the Rs two crore project, which got delayed for more than a year due to various reasons, will start on monday.

The sound-proof barrier will cover the tracks for half a km. The stretch is considered one of the busiest in the country emanating noise levels touching 65 decibel.

Since the tracks are near to the Games Village, the sound of passing trains may pose a problem for athletes, especially in... Read more..

Source: Espnstar

Solar-powered bulb may light poor nations

When he was 7, Stephen Katsaros took apart the box fan in his bedroom and reassembled it using a bigger, stronger motor.

"It sounded like a B-52, but I was cool," says the Denver inventor. "I was always breaking stuff open and never really fixing it."

Three decades later, the perpetual tinkerer snaps apart his latest invention: the world's first solar light bulb.

In his spartan Capitol Hill office, Katsaros explains how Nokero, the affordable, durable, sun-fueled light, can help the 1.6 billion people worldwide without electricity and wean them from burning dangerous... Read more..

Source: Times-Argus

Tariff for green power announced by DERC

In a rush to meet the July 15 deadline set by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), Delhi's power regulator DERC on Friday announced solar tariff regulations for the city wherein Delhiites will have to pay just Rs 5.50/unit for renewable power that would be purchased by discoms, be it solar or wind power.

Had the regulator missed the crucial cut-off date, Delhi would have lost out on the generation-based incentives (GBI) being offered by MNRE to promote green power in the country.

The order is in line with the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Power mission and as per the... Read more..

Source: TOI

Tariff for green power announced by DERC

In a rush to meet the July 15 deadline set by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), Delhi's power regulator DERC on Friday announced solar tariff regulations for the city wherein Delhiites will have to pay just Rs 5.50/unit for renewable power that would be purchased by discoms, be it solar or wind power.

Had the regulator missed the crucial cut-off date, Delhi would have lost out on the generation-based incentives (GBI) being offered by MNRE to promote green power in the country.

The order is in line with the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Power mission and as per the... Read more..

Source: TOI

'Reduce tourist vehicles to Corbett'

India best tiger reserve Corbett National Park has caused another face-off between Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and Uttaranchal Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal. For better conservation of tigers, Jairam Ramesh wants Pokhriyal to reduce the inflow of tourist vehicles into the Corbett National Park, which has highest tiger density er square km of forest area. More than two lakh tourists visited the National Park in the past year with a daily average of 400 through four tourist gates.

The high inflow of tourists, according to Ramesh, has caused higher air and noise pollution... Read more..

Source: Hindustan Times

Major Asia Pacific Photovoltaic Markets Expected to Grow 85% in 2010

Asia Pacific photovoltaic markets are poised to make a significant contribution to global photovoltaic (PV) market growth in 2010 following improvements in the policy environment in most of the key countries in this region.

According to the Solarbuzz® Asia and Pacific Major PV Markets 2010 report, the key emerging country markets of China, India, South Korea and Australia, together with the long established Japanese market, contributed 0.9 GW of installations in 2009, or 12% of world demand. After a policy-led reduction in demand in South Korea last year, all five of these country... Read more..

Source: PRWeb

Indian IT firms seek greener pastures in low carbon market

Leading Indian IT companies are planning to tap the $380-million low-carbon IT market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 40% to $4.2 billion by 2017, according to US-based Pike Research, a clean technology market research and consulting firm.

In 2009, the market included a carbon management software pie worth $132 million, and consulting, implementation and outsourcing services chunk of $248 million. The carbon management software market is expected to grow to $1.2 billion and the consulting, implementation and outsourcing services market is slated to touch $3 billion by 2017... Read more..

Source: Financial Express

Centre to bear escalated cost of Bangalore Metro

Speaking after inaugurating the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) constructed Traffic and Transit Management Centre (TTMC) at Kengeri here, Reddy said: “From an estimated Rs 10,000 crore, the cost of the project has escalated to Rs 11,609 crore after revised estimates. The Ministry of Urban Development, a stake holder in the project, has accorded clearance to bear the additional cost.”

He added that the Centre has also sanctioned Rs 58,000 crore of its own funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) scheme during the last four and half... Read more..

Source: Deccan Herald

Rooftops as power houses

... Read more..

Source: Hindu Business Line

Climate Change Means More Heatwaves, Premature Deaths, Scientists Warn

Climate change is a serious health hazard that the United States must prepare for, according to government and university scientists from across the country.

Dust storm in Queensland, Australia, September 2009. (Photo by Tom Fletcher) They advised Thursday that climate models show that global warming will increase air pollution and trigger more heat waves, floods and droughts, all of which will threaten human health.

"Climate change is a quintessential public health problem," said Michael McGeehin, director of the Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects at the... Read more..

Source: Common Dreams

EU smart grid initiative for total renewable energy conversion

The European Union (EU) could meet an initiative of effectively utilizing 90 percent renewable energy, only, by 2050 via adding intelligence to its existing grids and building a cross-border infrastructure, also known as a smart grid, according to a study by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), an industry group. The report published last week states that with the appropriate policy, Europe’s grid infrastructure could be improved to incorporate clean, renewables on a much wider scale. Previously, the EU's Renewables Directive approved a binding goal requiring 20... Read more..

Source: Examiner
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