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Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Won’t revise official climate pledge till financing clear, says Indian delegate

India will not update its NDCs, or nationally determined contributions, to reflect the pledges made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Climate Leader’s Summit at Glasgow on November 1 and 2, which was part of the ongoing climate conference (COP 26), until there is clarity on climate finance, a senior member of the Indian delegation said on condition of anonymity. The delegate’s comment comes even as developed countries continue to quibble about the size and timing of their climate funding commitment ($100 billion a year by 2020 was promised back in 2009), including deferring a decision... Read more..

Source: Hindustan Times

India exhorts companies worldwide to join low-carbon transition initiative

On the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow, the LeadIT (Leadership Group for Industry transition) Summit 2021 was held in hybrid mode presided by India and Sweden. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, delivering the opening remarks,highlighted that industry sectors together contribute about 30% of the total CO2 emissions, and thus, efforts to drive low carbon development pathways in industry sector are critical for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. LeadIT is a voluntary initiative for promoting low-carbon transition especially in the hard-to... Read more..

Source: PIB

India to achieve 50% clean energy share, 500 GW RE capacity targets before 2030 deadline: RK Singh

India will easily achieve the target of 50 per cent share of energy from non-fossil fuels and also the 500-gigawatt (GW) renewable energy capacity before the deadline of 2030 set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh. It assumes significance in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pledge at the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow that India will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070. Modi also raised the nationally determined contribution (NDC) target of non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030, from 450 gigawatts earlier.... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

India says not signed up to COP26 Action Agenda on Sustainable Agriculture

India on Tuesday dismissed reports that it had signed up to the Action Agenda on Sustainable Agriculture at the ongoing COP26 climate summit in Glasgow as "baseless" and "factually incorrect". The 'Sustainable Agriculture Policy Action Agenda for the Transition to Sustainable Agriculture and Global Action Agenda for Innovation in Agriculture' was pegged as a highlight over the weekend at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). "All continents were represented, with countries including India, Colombia, Vietnam, Germany,... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Maharashtra joins UN Race to Resilience Campaign at COP26

Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday announced state's entry to the United Nations Race to Resilience campaign. Last year, the state government had incurred losses worth $2 billion paid as compensation for those impacted by extreme weather events. "As India's most industrialised state, Maharashtra is a crucial voice in building climate resilience in the Global South. By joining the Race to Resilience, Maharashtra aims to be a leading example for regional governments, inspire climate action and sustainable development," Thackeray told the media at the ongoing 26th... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

European Union and Bengaluru to work together on Solid Waste Management project

The European Union and the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) funded Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) Support Project titled ‘Waste Solutions for a Circular Economy in India’ will support Bengaluru in transition to low-carbon Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management technologies in line with circular economy principles which are based on design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems. The project aims to provide technical and financial support to BBMP for setting up new... Read more..

Source: Indian Express

Lack of a serious approach to climate finance will jeopardize the enhanced mitigation and adaptation ambition as well as Net Zero pledges of parties: BASIC countries at COP26

India takes the floor on behalf of BASIC, comprising of Brazil, South Africa, India and China. We align ourselves with the Statement made by Guinea on behalf of G77 and China. The BASIC nations thank you and the secretariat for convening this stocktake and the work done so far. We convey assurances of our constructive support for the remaining part of the work in this coming week. We want to flag a continuing challenge that requires your attention. Access to the venue remains challenging, and we feel that the SEC is the least accessible COP venues in recent memory. We request you and the... Read more..

Source: PIB

India needs to tap hydro resources to achieve 500 GW RE capacity target: R K Singh

In a bid to achieve the target of installing 500 GW (giga watt) renewable energy capacity by 2030, India needs to tap its hydro resources, Union Minister R K Singh has said. The Minister made the remarks at an event organised to mark the 47th Raising Day of power PSU NHPC on Sunday. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of installing 500 GW (giga watt) renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2030. We will do that instead we will exceed the target. "But to install such an amount of RE capacity we need a balancing source and that balancing source is hydro, this is where the role of NHPC... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Cost of electric vehicles will be on a par with petrol variants in 2 years: Nitin Gadkari

Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said that the cost of electric vehicles (EV) in India will drop to the level of petrol vehicles in the next two years. “Within two years, the cost of EVs will come down to a level that will be at par with their petrol variants. Already GST is only 5% on EVs and the cost of lithium ion batteries is also declining. Besides, the government has already framed a policy allowing petrol pumps to set up EV charging stations. In two years there will be a lot charging points across India as well,” Gadkari said at a webinar, organised by The Sustainability... Read more..

Source: Hindustan Times

Glasgow COP26: Govts working to make agriculture less polluting

As India has become one of the 27 countries to sign the action agenda on sustainable agriculture at the conclusion of the first week of COP26 on Saturday, officials said the Centre and states were working on multiple options to fulfil the country’s commitment on making farming in the country more sustainable and less polluting. Farming contributes around 14 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the country. In that, almost 55 per cent comes from the livestock sector. In 2019, studies show carbon dioxide emission in India was 2,597.4 million tonnes. Over the past 50 years,... Read more..

Source: Business Standard

The International Solar Alliance and Elsevier launch Solar Compass, with Ambassador Stephane Crouzat at COP26

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) an inter-governmental treaty-based international organization and Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, are pleased to announce the launch of a new journal, Solar Compass. The launch event was held during the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference COP26, in Glasgow, with H.E Mr. Stephane Crouzat, Ambassador for Climate, Government of France, and H.E. Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance in attendance, releasing the first official call for papers to authors around the world. ISA’s... Read more..

Source: ISA

India speaks on climate change from a position of strength and responsibility at the Facilitative Sharing of Views (FSV) of India’s Third Biennial Update Report (BUR) at COP26

During the 11th Facilitative Sharing of Views (FSV) at the ongoing COP26, India made a presentation on its third Biennial Update Report (BUR) that was submitted to UNFCCC in February 2021. Making a statement on behalf of India, Dr. J R Bhatt,Scientist G(Adviser) in the Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change,highlighted the fact that India represents 17% of the global population, its historical cumulative emissions are only 4%, while current annual GHG emissions are only about 5%. Welcoming the FSV as an opportunity to interact with the Parties and complementing the multilateral... Read more..

Source: PIB

US backs India and UK-led solar Green Grids Initiative at COP26

At a meeting earlier this week, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said that the US is excited to be back in the climate conversation and to partner with the new initiative. LONDON: The US has partnered with the UK and India-led Green Grids Initiative of a global energy grid launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. At a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Green Grids Initiative – ‘One Sun One World One Grid' (GGI-OSOWOG) earlier this week, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said that the US is excited to be back in the climate... Read more..

Source: Times of India

India can guide the world in dealing with climate change: Envt Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed India in a position where it can guide the world in dealing with the crisis of climate change, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said here on Friday. Yadav, who is in Glasgow for the 26th international climate conference COP 26, said he was privileged to represent India in the negotiations and also overwhelmed to see the impact the Prime Minister's initiatives and ideas have created on world leaders. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed India in a position where the country has come to guide the world in dealing with the crisis of... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

UP govt starts interest waiver scheme for electricity consumers on bill arrears

The Uttar Pradesh government has started an interest waiver scheme for electricity consumers on their bill arrears, the state's Energy Minister for Srikant Sharma has said. "Under the scheme, interest on arrears would be waived off for certain category of consumers," Sharma, UP Minister for Energy and Additional Source of Energy, told reporters. He said the money realised will pave the way for improvement as the department is already running at a deficit of Rs 90,000 crore. The loan waiver scheme has been introduced as roughly 70 per cent of rural consumers are not able to deposit their... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

State will purchase 7,000 MW solar power from SECI: AP Energy Secretary

‘At ₹2.49 per unit, it is a better and cost-effective option’ Energy Secretary N. Srikant announced the government’s decision to buy 7,000 MW solar power in three phases from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) from the year 2024 at ₹2.49 per unit upon considering it as a better, cost-effective option when compared to various factors, mainly including the investment entailed by the projects planned to be set up by the A.P. Green Energy Corporation Limited (APGECL) within the State. Accordingly, the APGECL has been instructed not to go ahead with the first phase of infrastructure... Read more..

Source: The Hindu

Automakers reveal plans to go all-electric in 2021, COP26 a booster

The success of Tesla has pushed nearly all automakers to go all-electric in 2021, and the COP26 climate conference has provided a booster dose to initiate strategies for the supply of batteries, electric motors, power electronics and other components for a green future. With Renault in June, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis in July, to name a few, 2021 has become the year when mainstream automakers solidified their intent to become "all-electric" and transition further towards electrification. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, there will be a step-change in the supply of... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

OMCs plan mega Electric Vehicle charging infra push at pumps

Oil marketing companies, IndianOil and BPCL, have planned to give a mega push to set-up e-vehicle charging infrastructure at existing fuel pumps. Both the OMCs have bet big on EVs becoming a major segment of the country's automobile sector. The BPCL has planned to offer charging stations at around 7,000 petrol pumps over next few years. At present, the company has a distribution network involving over 19,000 retail outlets (fuel stations) across the country. The company said that EV charging infrastructure will provide it with a new business opportunity as well as a hedge against the risk... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

UN Secretary-General issues new global roadmap to secure clean energy access for all by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050

As pressure mounts for urgent climate action, UN Secretary-General António Guterres today issued a global roadmap to achieve a radical transformation of energy access and transition by 2030, while also contributing to net zero emissions by 2050. The roadmap sets an aggressive timeline to ensure that 500 million more people gain access to electricity in a mere four years’ time, by 2025, and 1 billion more people gain access to clean cooking solutions. This would require that annual investment in access to electricity and clean cooking increase to US$ 35 billion and US$ 25 billion,... Read more..

Source: UN

Industrial companies boost target for green hydrogen in climate fight

A global coalition of industrial companies said on Thursday it has boosted a target for emissions-cutting hydrogen generated with renewable power such as wind and solar energy. Companies and governments have touted green hydrogen, derived from water using electrolyzers powered by renewable energy, as a way to cut carbon emissions. But it now costs about four times more to make green hydrogen than it does to make "grey hydrogen" using electrolyzers powered by natural gas or other fossil fuels. The Green Hydrogen Catapult (GHC) set a goal of 45 gigawatts (GW) of electrolyzers, powered with... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

What is ISRO's 'Solar Power Calculator' that is to be offered to the world?

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has demonstrated the method of identifying the best suited locations for installing upcoming solar power generation farms, across the globe. India's state-run space agency has done so using data obtained from it's own earth observation satellites that are continuously monitoring the planet, from Geostationary orbit (36,000 kms above the earth's equator). WION spoke to Dr. K. Sivan, Chairman, ISRO for more on this project. Earlier this week, addressing his counterparts at the COP26 Global Climate Summit at Glasgow, Indian Prime Minister Narendra... Read more..

Source: WION

Clean energy technologies need a major boost to keep net zero by 2050 within reach

The International Energy Agency’s latest and most comprehensive assessment of clean energy technology progress worldwide shows that a step change in action and ambition is needed across all energy technologies and sectors to keep the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 within reach. Of the 46 energy technologies and sectors assessed in the IEA’s latest edition of Tracking Clean Energy Progress (TCEP), only two are on track with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario. These latest findings follow IEA analysis showing that global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are set... Read more..

Source: IEA

Prime Minister’s remarks at the session on ‘Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment’ at COP26 Summit in Glasgow: Launch of 'One Sun, One World, One Grid'

Excellencies
Namaskar!

Today, you are all welcome at the launch of 'One Sun, One World, One Grid'. With the initiatives from the International Solar Alliance and the UK's Green Grid Initiative, my many-year-old vision of 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' got a concrete shape today. Excellencies, the industrial revolution was fuelled by fossil fuels. Many countries have prospered by the use of fossil fuels, but our earth, our environment have become poor. The race for fossil fuels also created... Read more..

Source: PIB

Manufacture alternative fuels to counter rising prices: Gadkari

The only way to counter rising fuel prices was to end the country's dependency on imported fuel and to manufacture alternative fuels in India, Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday. "The only solution is stop depending on imported fuel and manufacture alternative fuel in our country," he told a press conference in Panaji. "We import 80 per cent fuel. I am introducing flex engines. Flex engine bikes and scooters. That means, you can use 100 per cent petrol or 100 per cent ethanol. Ethanol is Rs 65 per litre," he said. Gadkari said this in... Read more..

Source: Economic Times

Climate finance cannot continue at the levels decided in 2009;should be at least USD 1 trillion : Shri Bhupender Yadav

Calling upon the LMDC countries to work closely to protect the interests of developing countries, Union Minister for Environment,Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav urged that climate finance cannot continue at the levels decided in 2009. It should be at least USD 1 trillion to meet with the goals of addressing climate change. The Environment Minister was speaking at the Ministerial meeting of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) held on 2nd November 2021 on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow. The meeting was presided by the Bolivian President Mr. Luis Alberto Arce... Read more..

Source: PIB
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