Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Deakin University researchers develop 'circular denim'

Deakin University researchers have come up with 'circular denim' to reduce the huge environmental impact of denim production. As part of their entry into the Global Change Award, they developed a unique process that produces ultrafine particles from used denim, and then coats or prints the colour particles to create typical denim appearance.

The Global Change Award, an initiative of the H&M Foundation... Read more..

Date : May 9

Source: FIBRE2FASHION.COM

U.S. vows commitment to Arctic climate change research

The United States will participate in advancing climate change research in the Arctic, a State Department official said on Monday, ahead of a summit of Arctic nations later this week where Washington's commitment to tackling climate change will likely be questioned.

The administration of President Donald Trump, who has taking steps to bolster the U.S. oil and coal industries, is reviewing former President... Read more..

Date : May 9

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/u-s-vows-commitment-to-arctic-climate-change-research/articleshow/58584679.cms

India asks ADB to reduce time for processing loans, focus more on health, education, green energy

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has asked the Asian Development Bank to speed up the process of approving and disbursing loans to stay ahead of its peers. He also insisted that the bank should fund projects other than those in the infrastructure space, especially health and education.

“For instance, time required to approve a proposal as well as the time lag between approval and disbursement of loans can be... Read more..

Date : May 8

Source: ET Energyworld

State run EESL to invest 100 million pounds in UK over next three years

State-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) will invest 100 million pounds in the UK over the next 3 years with an aim to create space in the country's 6.4-billion pounds energy efficiency services market.

EESL entered into a joint venture with EnergyPro Ltd, an advisory company in energy efficiency, and invested in EPAL, earlier a wholly-owned arm of the EnergyPro. EESL would route its investments... Read more..

Date : May 8

Source: The New Indian Express

Manipur’s last 85 villages to be electrified

Manipur’s 85 un-electrified villages out of the country’s 4141 un-electrified villages whose residents reportedly do not have the opportunity to charge their mobile phones in the village, will be electrified by December next year.

This was disclosed by Manipur power minister Thongam Bishwajit after attending two-day State Power Ministers’ Conference in New Delhi from May 4-5.

Date : May 8

Source: Eastern Mirror

UK proposes clean-air zones, scrappage scheme for polluting cars

Britain said on Friday it could introduce a scrappage scheme to get the most polluting cars and vans off its roads and charge some drivers of old vehicles to enter parts of the country, as it strives to improve air quality.

The government had sought to delay publication of its plan until after the June 8 election, but a court ordered it to release proposals to comply with European Union legislation on... Read more..

Date : May 8

Source: The Economic Times

Step up wind power capacity to be auctioned, says industry

The wind industry has welcomed the launch of the second round of auction of wind power capacity for 1,000 MW, but has unequivocally said “not enough”.

Ramesh Kymal, Chairman and Managing Director of Gamesa India, the country’s biggest wind turbine company, wants 3,000 MW of capacity auctioned now and another 3,000 MW by October, and another 3,000 MW in the last quarter of the year. “Only then will the market... Read more..

Date : May 8

Source: Business Line

Noida and Greater Noida to get wind power soon

Noida and Greater Noida will soon get a share of windmill energy generated in the state following an agreement signed by PVVNL and the central government in the presence of Union power minister Piyush Goyal. Under the agreement, Uttar Pradesh has been allocated 450 MW of windmill energy for 25 years at the rate of Rs 3.46 per unit through an agreement signed by Abhishek Prakash, MD, PVVNL. on behalf of UPPCL, at the energy ministers' meeting in New Delhi.

Date : May 8

Source: ET Energyworld

De Beers Prepares for South African Carbon Tax w/Carbon Capture Pilot Project

De Beers, the diamond unit of Anglo American, will attempt to capture carbon within the rock from which diamonds are extracted in order to offset its harmful emissions and reduce a tax it might have to pay on carbon emissions at its South Africa mines. De Beers plans to pilot the carbon capture project at an as-yet-unselected mine beginning in 2019.

De Beers says it will store carbon dioxide in the... Read more..

Date : May 8

Source: Environmental Leader

Bengaluru's Bellandur catches fire again, smog engulfs adjacent areas

Even as the civic authorities have been carrying out clean-up operations at Bellandur lake after a rap from the NGT, the Bellandur lake caught fire yet again on Sunday.

The fire had been caused accidentally by people who cut dry grass at the spot. A thick smog surrounded the heavily-polluted lake after the fire broke out, making it difficult for the passers-by to breathe.

Date : May 8

Source: Times Now

Government signs MoAs to purchase 1,000 MW wind power

The government today announced signing of Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) for purchase of 1,000 MW wind power under its first wind auction scheme.

"MoAs for purchase of 1000 MW wind power under MNRE's first wind auction scheme were signed here today between PTC India, the trading company, and discoms of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha and Assam," Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)... Read more..

Date : May 5

Source: The Economic Times

State discoms lower losses in FY16, improve cost coverage

Operational performance of state power distribution companies has improved with a decline in commercial losses of electricity and marginally better coverage of costs in fiscal 2016, a report by the Power Finance Corp (PFC) said.

As many as 26 of the 41 power distribution entities posted improvement in their aggregate technical and commercial loss (AT&C) levels in 2015-2016 over the previous year, the... Read more..

Date : May 5

Source: The Economic Times

Kerala to be fully-electrified by end of May; solar, wind energy to be promoted

Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani announced on Thursday that the state is set to become the third Indian state to be fully-electrified. Speaking in the Assembly, Mani stated that each and every household in Kerala will have electricity by the end of May. He also announced a special facility under the aegis of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), for the promotion and popularization of solar energy. Till now, out of the 29 states, only two-Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh- enjoy the status of fully-electrified... Read more..

Date : May 5

Source: India.com

Centre questions BS-III ban, EPCA’s authority

The Union environment ministry has listed its reservations on the NCR air pollution control action plan in an affidavit to Supreme Court.

The plan, which had short medium and long-term actions to be undertaken to meet the clean air standards in Delhi, was drafted by EPCA and CPCB on SC's behest.

The... Read more..

Date : May 5

Source: The Times of India

Odisha govt shuts down two IMFA mines over flouting of pollution norms

The Odisha government has shut down two chromite mines of India Metals and Ferroalloys, a leading ferroalloys producer of the country, on the ground of non-compliance of pollution control norms.

While consent to operate (CTO) granted to the mines by the OSPCB was set to expire in March 2021, the sudden move to revoke it, based on an inspection of a pollution watchdog team, has obviously led to speculations... Read more..

Date : May 5

Source: Business Standard

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board issues notice for closure of pollution-causing industries

A notice was issued by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) regarding issuance of directions of closure of certain industries, slaughterhouses and a few industries located in the state.

The notice has been issue for the closure of the industries in Bellandur Lake Catchment Area under Section 33 (1) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974.

Date : May 5

Source: WEB INDIA 123

Xiaomi India Offers Discounts in Exchange for Recycling Your Old Electronics

Xiaomi has announced an e-waste management programme called Mi India Product Take-Back & Recycling Program for the country. As the name of the programme suggests, the company will be taking non-operational electronic products, irrespective of their brand, for recycling purposes and, in exchange, provide them with Rs. 100 discount coupons, which can be used at company's online store at a minimum purchase of Rs. 1,000.

Date : May 5

Source: NDTV

Swachh survey 2017: Chandigarh cleanest city in North India, Muktsar dirtiest

Chandigarh is the cleanest city in North India and Muktsar in Punjab the dirtiest, according to the Swachh Survekshan-2017, announced by the government in New Delhi on Thursday.

North Indian cities continued to fare poorly on all sanitation parameters. Two of the bottom 10 cities are from Punjab. Cities in the South and West fared better than those in the North.

Date : May 5

Source: Hindustan Times

Beijing removes 180,000 old, polluting cars from roads from Jan-Apr

Beijing removed 180,000 old and polluting vehicles from its roads in the first four months of 2017, the Chinese capital's environmental bureau has said, as part of its efforts to tackle congestion and cut smog.

An action plan published in 2015 committed Beijing to removing a total of 1 million ageing vehicles over the 2013-2017 period. Beijing needs to take 300,000 off the road this year to meet the target... Read more..

Date : May 5

Source: Daily News & Analysis

Delhi Jal Board introduces 'Water ATMs' in Capital

To take on packaged bottled water, the Delhi Jal Board has initiated an aggressive campaign on social networking websites about the facility of 'Water ATMs' across the national capital where people can avail of chilled filtered water at a token rate of Rs 1 for 300 ml.

These Water ATMs will be seen at every bus stands, railway stations and market places across the city, claims DJB on its online campaign. The... Read more..

Date : May 5

Source: Daily News & Analysis

500 MW solar plant to come up in Chhattisgarh soon

A 500 megawatt (MW) power plant will come up in Chhattisgarh under the state's solar power project said the Purander Mishra, chairman of Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) on Wednesday.

The first phase of the project - a 250 MW capacity solar plant - will be installed in Rajnandgaon. The initial formalities for the same have already been completed, added Mishra.

Date : May 4

Source: ET Energyworld

NGT announces Rs. 1 lakh fine for dumping e-waste around Ramganga

With an aim to save river Ganga and its tributaries from e-waste dumping by several illegal industries mostly around Moradabad, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday announced Rs. one lakh fine on violators.

The bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said the hazardous e-waste containing heavy metal was polluting the river Ramganga -- a tributary of the Ganga.

Date : May 4

Source: Business Standard

Piyush Goyal calls for more efficiency in energy consumption

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday called for bringing in more efficiency in energy consumption and said power consumption in the country is bound to increase in case of inefficiency.

"My job, as a responsible stakeholder in the market through the government, is to improve India's energy efficiency, to reduce consumption wherever it is wasteful. We are working towards the goal of power to all... Read more..

Date : May 4

Source: ET Energyworld

EU pushes Trump to stick to Paris climate deal

EU officials are scrambling to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump not pull out of the Paris climate accord after his advisers warned of legal problems if Washington stayed in but lowered its commitments.

European Union sources said European ministers and EU officials have been lobbying senior White House staff after hearing Trump was leaning heavily towards exiting the global pact because of the legal... Read more..

Date : May 4

Source: Reuters

Push for electricity to the last 4,141 villages by 2018: Piyush Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said that "a final push" is needed to provide electricity to the 4,141 un-electrified villages in the country by 2018.

According to the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, in the next 3-4 months, "a final push is needed to electrify the remaining 4,141 un-electrified villages in the country."

Date : May 4

Source: The Economic Times