Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Set climate finance in order for action on climate change: India at COP24

International public finance flows from developed to developing countries critical for urgent action on climate change, says India at the 24thConference of Parties (CoP) on climate change at Katowice in Poland.

In a discussion paper, ‘3 Essential ‘S’ of Climate Finance - Scope, Scale and Speed: A Reflection’ released on sidelines of the ongoing conference, the Ministry of Finance called for more credible,... Read more..

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to seek cabinet nod soon for rooftop solar scheme SRISTI

The Ministry of New and RenewableEnergy (MNRE) will approach the Union cabinet in the next 30-45 days seeking approval for the solar rooftop scheme Sristi or Sustainable Rooftop Implementation for Solar Transfiguration of India.

"We have just finalized the SRISTI scheme. It is going to the cabinet for approval and would take around a month to 45 days," MNRE Secretary Anand Kumar said.

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India could gain $8 trillion with climate battle: Special WHO report

India can get massive health benefits worth $3- $8 trillion by making efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end this century, says a special report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) released at the UN climate conference in Poland.

The assessment shows over 1 million lives can be saved every year worldwide from air pollution alone by 2050 by meeting the goals of the 2015 Paris agreement. The... Read more..

India, Sweden sign deal for a sustainable energy future

Sweden and India Monday signed two MoUs in the Renewable Energy sector to enhance the technology and bring in power efficiency.

The first MoU was signed between Swedish firm Spowdi and EMVEE for setting up local manufacturing and assembly unit in Bangalore.

The second MoU was inked between Swedish Neutral and Tata Power DDL for setting up pilot for earth fault protection in Delhi, Embassy of Sweden said in a statement.

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of inauguration of the 'Sustainability by Sweden Showroom India' by Swedish Energy, Agency Business Sweden and... Read more..

Domestic players feel crushed by soaring waste paper imports

The domestic paper industry is in a quandary over the surge in import of waste paper. .

It wants the government to discourage import of contaminated paper and come out with policy framework and regulations.
Regulatory changes in China, which limit use of imported waste paper, are behind the rise in imports, harming various sector players that have created a healthy circular economy.

NGT slaps 25 crore fine on Delhi government

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday asked the Delhi government to deposit Rs 25 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for their failure to curb the problem of pollution in the city.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also asked the AAP government to furnish a performance guarantee of Rs 25 crore with the apex pollution monitoring body to ensure that there is... Read more..

India likely to attain one of its climate targets a decade in advance: new research

As India prepares to reveal, this evening, the latest information on the amount of greenhouse gases it has been emitting for the last few years, a new analysis by an international energy research body shows New Delhi was in line for achieving at least one of its emission-reducing targets a decade earlier than planned.

The Institute for Energy Economic and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a US-based organisation... Read more..

At Climate Change Summit, Germany to Seek Private Funds for Projects in India, Africa

Expectations are muted for this week's meetings given divisions within Europe, and tension between the United States and China.

Delegates from about 195 nations will seek to produce a "rule book" to flesh out details of the Paris Agreement of 2015, which the United States, at the behest of President Donald Trump, has announced it will quit.

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To cut cost, railways to set up solar plants on its vacant land

In a bid to lower its operating ratio (the amount it spends as a proportion of the amount it earns) , which is currently at its highest level at 111%, the Indian Railways plans to utilise its vacant land to set up solar power plants of 30 gigawatt (GW) capacity.

At present, for every Rs 100 the railways earns, it spends Rs 111.

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Centre to revive 23GW solar and transmission projects in Leh region

The Centre is reviving mega solar power projects in Leh and Ladakh, with a plan to set up 23GW of grid-connected projects. Private developers would be invited to submit tenders for these. 

Their transmission network would be extended till Punjab, a distance of about 850 km. 

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had tried to set up a 7.5GW solar project, but the plan never saw the light of day. The current government listed 5GW project in Leh in its list of ultra-mega solar project across county. The tender process has not begun for it yet.

In the phase 1 of... Read more..

Gujarat: Textile mills tie up with Gujarat Energy Development Agency to reduce energy consumption

City-based textile processors have tied up with state government-owned Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) and Man-Made Textiles Research Association (MANTRA) for reducing energy consumption in textile mills in south Gujarat, including Surat. 

At present, energy cost-water, coal and electricity- is about 40 per cent in the overall cost of production of finished polyester fabrics in the textile mills. A... Read more..

IKEA targets big cut in greenhouse gas emissions from production

IKEA, the world's biggest furniture group, pledged on Friday to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its production by 80 percent in absolute terms by 2030 from their levels two years ago.

The commitment applies to IKEA's own factories and most of its direct suppliers, brand owner Inter IKEA said in a statement.

... Read more..