India Environmental News Compilation October 14th - 20th
Posted November 2, 2011 in Curbing Pollution, Living Sustainably, Moving Beyond Oil, Solving Global Warming
Climate
India, SA and Brazil demand pact on second phase of Kyoto Protocol
“The statement, agreed to by the heads of three of the four BASIC countries, including Indian PM Manmohan Singh, demanded an agreement on second phase of Kyoto Protocol, put the principles of equity and differentiated responsibilities on the agenda, linked their actions to financial support from the developed countries and reminded that the Bali Action Plan remained the template for UN negotiations. In the past two years, India had played a central role in letting most of these concerns slip off the agenda.”
(The Times of India, 10/20/11)
Carbon tax cannot be source of climate finance: Pranab Mukherjee
“India Saturday strongly opposed imposition of carbon tax as an additional source of funding to fight climate change. “India believes that some of the measures like carbon export optimisation tax and levy on CDM/offsets violate the principles of the Convention (UNFCCC) as their incidence falls entirely on developing countries and these cannot be recognised as a source of new and additional finance for climate change,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Paris.”
(DNA India, 10/15/2011)
Consul general wants more Indian investments in US
“Stating that US and India share an indispensable relationship, Peter Haas, US consul general, felt there are asso many different areas where the US cannot do without Indian cooperation. Haas was delivering a talk on US-India trade relations at the Goa chamber of commerce and industry, Panaji, on Thursday. "We need to cooperate in energy or climate change," Haas said, adding that the civil nuclear partnership between the two countries would help tackle Indiaas energy needs.”
(The Times of India, 10/14/11)
Energy
Moser Baer's next target? Establishing 300MW of solar power
“'Cheaper power' that’s the mantra of Moser Baer here! Gunthawada, Gujarat, is the perfect place for Asia’s largest solar farm. CNBC-TV18’s Mehak Kasbekar spoke to Chairman of Moser Baer Projects Limited, Ratul Puri about the company’s 30 megawatt solar project.
Q: Moser Baer has been an early player in solar and most of your work has been done abroad. Are you looking at expanding in India? Why would you say this is the right time for solar in India to really expand?
A: There are a number of reasons for that. Our focus always was India. You need a confluence of things to come together for India to take off. The central government has put together an exceptional policy with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. Multiple states recognizing the potential that the Centre saw put in place very forward-looking policies around solar. This is the era for solar in India. Starting next year onwards, we are going to see substantial solar capacity being added in India. We are one of the earliest people to enter into solar five years ago.”
(CNBC, 10/19/11)
Subsidy on solar and clean energy sought
“The Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) has urged the central government to provide subsidy on solar and clean energy. “Based on the discussions and outcome of the three-day International Conclave and Exhibition on Climate Change (ICCC-2011), we have come up with various recommendations and one of them is to ask the government to provide subsidy on solar energy and clean energy," Shalini Sharma, head, Centre for Climate Change at ESCI said giving her concluding speech on the last day of ICCC.”
(Business Standard, 10/17/11)
Top Indian scientists to launch nation-wide protest for ban on nuclear plants”
“The statement, agreed to by the heads of three of the four BASIC countries, including Indian PM Manmohan Singh, demanded an agreement on second phase of Kyoto Protocol, put the principles of equity and differentiated responsibilities on the agenda, linked their actions to financial support from the developed countries and reminded that the Bali Action Plan remained the template for UN negotiations. In the past two years, India had played a central role in letting most of these concerns slip off the agenda.”
(DNA India, 10/20/11)
Environmental Governance and Compliance
Forest destruction for industrial use doubled in 5 years: CSE
“Quoting hard facts, Sunita Narain has questioned the contention expressed by some industrial leaders that environment protection is being promoted at the cost of development. On the contrary, she pointed out, the rate of destruction of India’s forests has accelerated in the last two years. She pointed out that since 2007 alone, more than 2 lakh hectares of forest land has been handed over to industries such as mines and steel plants. India’s total forest area is around 65 lakh hectares.”
(Real Time News, India, 10/14/11)
