Vishwa Mohan Archive
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Floriculture moves from dormancy to infancy in India
Flower fascination: India set to be floriculture trade leader
Vishwa Mohan\TNN
NEW DELHI: India's share in global floriculture trade may not be significant but the country has, of late, shown enough potential to eventually turn itself as a favourite destination of flower importers in near future.
Surprisingly, the small land-holding pattern, considered a handicap for the country's agricultural production, comes as an advantage in floriculture due to its 'low volume high value' character. Since the sector has huge export potential, a number of small and marginal farmers have started turning towards flower production.
Increasing domestic demand for both cut and loose flowers has also attracted farmers, mainly in leading flower producing states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, towards floriculture.
The northeastern states, especially Mizoram, have also turned towards cultivating flowers of export varieties in a big way.
Though the country had during 2014-15 exported floriculture products worth over Rs 460 crore, its overall share is quite low in the global trade of nearly USD 40 billion or nearly Rs 2,72,000 crore.
"There is a great demand for Indian flowers in Gulf countries. Besides the major cut flowers, the export of traditional flowers such as jasmine and marigold is also gaining momentum in recent times," said A K Singh, managing director of the agriculture ministry's National Horticulture Board (NHB).
Explaining how floriculture in the country moved from "dormancy to infancy", backed by growing domestic demand and policy support from the government, Singh said, "The country is bestowed with ideal temperature conditions for commercial floriculture throughout the year in some or other part. This has helped entrepreneurs and growers in recognising diversification into floriculture as of a commercial value."
Floriculture in India is viewed as a high growth industry and the government has already identified this sector as a sunrise industry, according it 100% export-oriented status.
Though major export destination of Indian cut flowers (flowers harvested in clusters or in single along with their stems) were the USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands and UAE during 2014-15, loose flowers (flowers harvested without stalk) like jasmines and marigold are generally exported to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and West Asian countries. China, India and Peru are leading producers and exporters of marigold.
The annual world trade in marigold is currently estimated to be around Rs 500 crore.
Singh said, "In recent times, flower importers have been shifting their focus to India and Ethiopia for cheaper flowers in the wake of rising cost of production in Kenya - the world's largest exporter."
Quoting reports from the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), he said, "India could overtake Kenya in floriculture in the near future."
The NHB managing director has reasons to believe the KenInvest reports as he enlisted a number of factors which are conducive for the floriculture sector to grow substantially in future.
"The traditional disadvantage associated with the 'small farm holding' is an advantage in floriculture ventures. Even non-arable land can be put to agricultural use since protected floriculture involves specific growing media or amendment of the existing soil," said Singh.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Road to Paris: Most of the rich nations submitted their INDCs by March 31 deadline .... World is now waiting for climate action plans of Japan, Canada, Australia, China and India
USA, Russia announce emission cuts ahead of Paris meet
Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Apr 2, 2015, 03.51AM IST
USA, the biggest historical polluter of the world, on Tuesday committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 levels by 2025 while Russia promised to reduce its emissions by 25-30% from 1990 levels by 2030.Text resize:
NEW DELHI: USA and Russia have joined the league of countries who have declared their commitments to a climate action plan to cut post-2020 greenhouse gas emissions. Though the duo's promises do not hold any surprises, the move will now turn world's attention towards big emerging economies like China and India.
USA, the biggest historical polluter of the world, on Tuesday committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 levels by 2025 while Russia promised to reduce its emissions by 25-30% from 1990 levels by 2030.
By submitting their plans (known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions in climate change parlance), the US and Russia have joined 32 other countries including Switzerland, European Union (EU), Norway, Mexico and Gabon who have, so far, submitted their post-2020 climate action plans to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
These INDCs will form the basis of the climate negotiations in Paris in December when the world is expected to come out with a global climate deal.
Although the US met the deadline of March 31 for submitting its INDC, its promises drew a lot of criticism here for not being ambitious as environmentalists pointed out that the country merely repeated what it had promised in November last year.
Experts of the Delhi-based think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the US target was "neither fair nor ambitious, and way short of what is needed to keep global warming under 2 degree centigrade".
They noted that the GHG emissions of the US, under its present promise, will be 5 billion tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2025. Its per capita emissions would be 14 tonne CO2e in 2025. In comparison, India's total emissions will be about 4 billion tonne and its per capita emissions will be less than even three tonne in 2025.
"All estimates show that to meet the 2°C target, the US emissions should be at least 50-60% below 1990 levels considering its historical responsibility of causing climate change and its present capability of solving it", said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the CSE.
The US, however, considers its action as a real momentum on the road to reaching a successful climate agreement in Paris. An official statement of the country said the US target would "roughly double the pace of carbon pollution reduction in the United States from 1.2% per year on average during the 2005-2020 period to 2.3-2.8% per year on average between 2020 and 2025".
Though China too had indicated its broader plan in November last year when it talked about peaking its greenhouse gas emission around 2030, India had made it clear that the country - which has very low per-capita emission - would not announce its peaking year and rather lay greater emphasis on its adaptation measures and increasing share of renewable energy in the country's total energy mix.
India is, meanwhile, preparing its INDC. Though the country was initially expected to submit its plan in June, officials here are not willing to commit on any time-frame. Even the environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar did not prefer to commit on any timeline when he was asked by TOI a few days ago about India's plan. He had said that India was preparing its INDCs and it would submit it "well in time".
It is expected that all the countries will submit their 'climate action plans' before October 1 so that a final synthesis report can be prepared by the UNFCCC before the beginning of the Paris climate talks.
USA, the biggest historical polluter of the world, on Tuesday committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 levels by 2025 while Russia promised to reduce its emissions by 25-30% from 1990 levels by 2030.
By submitting their plans (known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions in climate change parlance), the US and Russia have joined 32 other countries including Switzerland, European Union (EU), Norway, Mexico and Gabon who have, so far, submitted their post-2020 climate action plans to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
These INDCs will form the basis of the climate negotiations in Paris in December when the world is expected to come out with a global climate deal.
Although the US met the deadline of March 31 for submitting its INDC, its promises drew a lot of criticism here for not being ambitious as environmentalists pointed out that the country merely repeated what it had promised in November last year.
Experts of the Delhi-based think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the US target was "neither fair nor ambitious, and way short of what is needed to keep global warming under 2 degree centigrade".
They noted that the GHG emissions of the US, under its present promise, will be 5 billion tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2025. Its per capita emissions would be 14 tonne CO2e in 2025. In comparison, India's total emissions will be about 4 billion tonne and its per capita emissions will be less than even three tonne in 2025.
"All estimates show that to meet the 2°C target, the US emissions should be at least 50-60% below 1990 levels considering its historical responsibility of causing climate change and its present capability of solving it", said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the CSE.
The US, however, considers its action as a real momentum on the road to reaching a successful climate agreement in Paris. An official statement of the country said the US target would "roughly double the pace of carbon pollution reduction in the United States from 1.2% per year on average during the 2005-2020 period to 2.3-2.8% per year on average between 2020 and 2025".
Though China too had indicated its broader plan in November last year when it talked about peaking its greenhouse gas emission around 2030, India had made it clear that the country - which has very low per-capita emission - would not announce its peaking year and rather lay greater emphasis on its adaptation measures and increasing share of renewable energy in the country's total energy mix.
India is, meanwhile, preparing its INDC. Though the country was initially expected to submit its plan in June, officials here are not willing to commit on any time-frame. Even the environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar did not prefer to commit on any timeline when he was asked by TOI a few days ago about India's plan. He had said that India was preparing its INDCs and it would submit it "well in time".
It is expected that all the countries will submit their 'climate action plans' before October 1 so that a final synthesis report can be prepared by the UNFCCC before the beginning of the Paris climate talks.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Efforts to clean Ganga are much needed, but other rivers too need care and attention
CPCB report sounds SOS on river pollution
No. of polluted river stretches increased from 150 to 302 in five years
Vishwa Mohan | TNN , March 26, 2015
Vishwa Mohan |
New Delhi: |
At a time when the country's national river Ganga has caught the attention of policymakers, a new report of India's key pollution watchdog -Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) -has noted that the number of polluted river stretches in the country increased from 150 to 302 in the past over five years, indicating how other rivers too are victims of constant neglect.
A total of 532 townscities fall along the polluted stretches of different rivers across the country . In comparison, the Ganga river basin states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal have 118 such stretches.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review the Centre's action plan to rejuvenate the river Ganga in a highlevel meeting on Thursday , he and his Cabinet colleagues including water resources minister Uma Bharti can hardly afford to ignore the crisis facing other rivers.
It is expected that Modi, exofficio chairman of the Nation al Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), would try to de iver a message across the nation about other rivers as well. Although the meeting on Thursday is meant to review the `Namami Gange' schemes of the government, the Centre is keen to replicate the best practices of Ganga rejuvenation plan to clean up other rivers of the country in due course.
Chief ministers of Uttarakhand, UP , Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal are expected to attend the meeting in their capacities as members of the NGRBA that has been monitoring planning and execution of all schemes relating to Ganga rejuvenation.
The CPCB report, submitted to the environment ministry last month, shows that Maharashtra continues to have the dubious distinction of having the maximum number of polluted river stretches. The polluted river stretches in the state has increased from 28 in 2009 to 49 in 2015. Maharashtra also has the maximum number of townscities located along polluted river stretches.
The polluted stretches are dentified by the CPCB through constant monitoring of water quality in rivers across the coun ry. It is based on the BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) levels n water that shows the extent of organic and bacterial contamination.
Recent findings which high ighted how more than two hirds of the sewage generated n 118 towns -located in the Ganga river basin -get discharged into the country's na ional river `untreated' have caused widespread concern.The Centre has asked five states o furnish their action plans to set up and modernize sewage reatment plants (STPs) within 15 days or face legal action for non-compliance.
“The National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG) has directed 118 municipalitiesurban local bodies in UP , Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West-Bengal and 687 industrial units in these states to furnish action plans directly to the concerned State Program Management Group (SPMGs) in the respective state,“ said an official statement of the water resources ministry .
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
37,000 MLD of untreated water flows into different rivers of India ...... Water Pollution
37,000 million litres of sewage flows into rivers daily
Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Mar 23, 2015, 05.22AM IST
The water pollution scenario in India can be mapped by the findings of the country's key pollution watchdog - Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - which in its recent report noted that nearly 37,000 million liters per day (MLD) of 'untreated' sewage water flows into rivers across the country.
The report, submitted to the environment ministry last month, said that though the sewage treatment capacity in the country was augmented over the years, the wide gap between sewage generation (57,000 MLD) and treatment capacity (20,358 MLD) kept polluting water resources - be it river water or groundwater.
While municipal waste water is the prime cause of increasing water pollution, flow of untreated industrial waste water into rivers is not far behind.
As many as 302 river stretches on 275 rivers across the country have got polluted due to discharge of both municipal and industrial waste water over the years.
At a time when the government is focusing more on Ganga and Yamuna, the issue of polluted river stretches on other rivers appear to have been pushed to the backburner. Though the government has time and again said that it was equally serious about pollution in other rivers, nothing much has been done on the ground beyond the two northern rivers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to focus on this 'gap' when he chairs a meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) on March 26. Though the agenda of the meeting will revolve around Modi's pet project of 'Namami Gange' that is aimed to rejuvenate the Ganga in a time-bound manner, he may ask officials of water resources and environment ministries to focus on other rivers as well in a coordinated manner.
"Obviously, the model of Ganga rejuvenation will be replicated elsewhere in due course, keeping in mind the topographical factors. The Ganga has caught attention of policymakers because 45% of the country's population depends on this river for livelihood and well-being", said an official, defending the current focus.
It is noted that more that than two-third of the sewage generated in 118 towns, located along Ganga, get discharged into the river untreated. The CPCB report pointed out that these towns collectively generate over 3,636 MLD of sewage as against the treatment capacity of approximately 1,027 MLD of the existing 55 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in these towns/cities spread over five states.
Nationwide, there are 606 STPs having a cumulative treatment capacity of around 20,358 MLD. Analyzing the water quality data of all the rivers across the country, the CPCB report highlighted that the country has as many as 302 polluted river stretches on 275 small and big rivers. It also noted that there are 650 towns located along those stretches.
Incidentally, majority of those polluted river stretches are in non-Ganga river basin states. There are 48 polluted river stretches in Ganga river basin in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as against 254 in non-Ganga river basins in rest of the country.
As far as number of town/cities in those basins along polluted river stretches is concerned, 118 towns are located in the Ganga river basin as against 532 towns in other parts of the country. However population-wise, it is the river Ganga basin which alone supports 45% of the people living in the country.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Interview of Prakash Javadekar on Climate Change and India's action path
Al Gore showed climate’s ‘Inconvenient Truth’ – PM Modi offers convenient path: Prakash Javadekar
Prakash Javadekar is India’s environment, forests and climate change minister. With momentum for Paris’s climate negotiations building and India facing heat over pollution, Javadekar spoke with Vishwa Mohan about India’s comparative emissions, its leadership role, what developed countries must commit to – and PM Modi’s suggested methods to tackle climate change:
Won’t India’s poor track record in urban air pollution weaken its wicket in negotiating a fair climate deal in Paris?
No. India is certainly not on a weak wicket. We are only contributing 4% to the world’s current level of emissions. Carbon stocked in the atmosphere is 150 years old – our contribution is nothing. Even our per capita emission is quite low, at nearly 1.9 tons.
Though USA’s emission is declining, China’s continues to rise. Per capita emissions of China and USA will converge at around 12 tons in 2030 – we will never reach that stage.
The world’s already warmed since the pre-industrialisation phase. We are not responsible for this. We were never a player there.
Now, we are growing. We need to grow to eradicate poverty – however, we will never cross the world average.
What actions is India taking to move onto a low carbon growth path?
We have planned for 1,75,000 MW of renewable energy by 2022 – it is the biggest contribution from an emerging economy.
In fact, developed countries need to act and take ambitious targets for 2015-20. They have not done anything for the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol. They must submit their ambitious plans. They must prepare for the pre-2020 period.
Our plan will also be reflected in our Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) – but before the world discusses our INDCs, we will discuss their pre-2020 action plan.
Will India present its INDCs by June as expected?
We’ll give these in time. Our commitment is real. We’ll take our own action and network with other countries. We are sure that in the Paris accord, we will play a pivotal role in bringing the world together for a fair climate deal.
But isn’t there pressure on India to produce substantial action plans ahead of Paris?
You must remember what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said about climate change when he was asked about any such pressure – he said we were not in a habit of taking pressure.
But, he said, the pressure is of future generations. I think that sums it up. If Al Gore is known for presenting the world an ‘Inconvenient Truth’, here is a prime minister who’s put before the world, based on his hands-on experience in Gujarat, the convenient action path.
Is it possible to follow Narendra Modi’s ‘Zero defect, zero effect’ model when India lacks strict anti-pollution measures?
Taking action to deal with climate change is the prime minister’s top priority. It’s an article of faith.
Therefore, he’s come out with ‘Zero defect, zero effect’ – he wants to make products in India with zero defects, so these can be sold all over and be competitive.
But this will be done through ‘zero effect’ on the environment, so we can care for our mother earth.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Interview of Union minister of environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javadekar on air pollution
Fresh air calls for polio-like drive, says Prakash Javadekar
March 21, 2015
You say "fresh air is the birth right" of every individual. What is your ministry actually doing to provide clean air to citizens?
I have not announced 'fresh air is my birth right' on the spur of moment. It is my commitment. It will be a campaign which I want to launch to make people aware and realize the importance of fresh air. It will act as a pressure from people on the policy-makers and implementers. We can make laws as the central government but implementation rests with the state governments and the municipal corporations. We want to change life of people. But it cannot happen in a day. We want to go ahead to make 'fresh air' in cities a benchmark. That is the principle on which we want to build the whole edifice of pollution control.
There has hardly been any visible concrete action on the ground to reduce air pollution. What's the hope for Delhi and other Indian cities?
Our country has hundreds of laws which have not been implemented. In western countries, lawmaking is a difficult process. But once it's made, the job is done—there will be compliance. We are missing compliance in India.
We have five laws on environment, including on water, air, forests and wildlife. But these are hardly followed. I have been told that my ministry can issue directions, but it cannot do anything if those orders are not followed. The Centre can only close the polluting units. But this is not the real starting point. You must have more powers. We want to change the law to give more teeth to all those enabling provisions. We will build capacities of civic bodies so that we can mitigate the challenges presented by worsening air.
What specific actions have you planned for Delhi to deal with air pollution?
We have had three meetings with the Delhi government. It has presented us short-term and longterm plans. Under the short-term plan, there are vehicle management, vehicle maintenance, pollution under control (PUC) norms, stringent source-specific emission standards for air polluting industries and thermal power plants, and their compliance.
Vehicular pollution needs to be tackled seriously. Though Delhi has CNG vehicle norms, more than 10,000 buses still don't run on CNG. Besides, other vehicles also enter Delhi. As a long-term measure, there is also an issue whether India must leapfrog to Euro VI fuel norms to improve air quality (Delhi and 12 other cities now adhere to Euro IV norms while the rest of India is on Euro III). Strengthening of public transport system also comes under the longterm measures.
What's your opinion on leapfrogging to Euro VI?
It is not about my opinion. There are different ministries (petroleum and transport) which need to look into it. There is an issue of technical possibility. But, every action has a cost and we need to calibrate it.
What are the other issues which need to be tackled in Delhi?
There is an issue of post-harvest burning of stubble in villages in neighbouring Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh that leads to air pollution. Other cities too face the similar problem after harvest of Rabi (April) and Kharif crops (October or November). Earlier, farmers used to cut crops by hand and give or use the leftovers as fodder. But now they use mechanical harvesters which leave long stubbles in the field. These stubbles are disposed of by burning and it pollutes the air. We need to use an alternative technology like using it for power generation. Besides, we also need to tell people about the health hazards of such activities.
There is also an issue of dust coming from Rajasthan. Mechanized road cleaning system is being used. Besides, construction dust is a big problem. Construction work will continue as we are growing. Delhi Metro has handled the issue quite effectively. We need to implement similar standards for constructions in all sectors, including housing and roads.
Who all are implementing these measures in Delhi or in other state capitals and million-plus cities?
The state governments and the municipal corporations have to work. The Centre will make them work. We are partners. We will help them build capacities. We are working with other departments like science and technology to map out problems and come out with solutions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on April 6 launch air quality index for all 66 cities (Delhi, state capitals and million-plus cities). It will be based on the constant monitoring of air quality. This will give a description of air quality in any city for any particular station or location. This 'one number-one code-one colour' description of air quality will map out more than five parameters (PM 2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, Ozone, ammonia and lead).
A sustained campaign like 'Poliofree India' is needed. We have to tell people about the importance of fresh air. It will be a public-private partnership campaign to create awareness. We will also ask public sector companies to support such a campaign in a particular state or city.
Coal-based power plants are also polluting the air. Will the inefficient plants be allowed to run? Is it not desirable to shut down such plants which pollute both air and water?
We need to ensure that the coal-based plants work efficiently. There are many plants which emit less. But, many others pollute much more. The power ministry is in the process of phasing out some old plants. Issues of coal transportation and mining of coal in a scientific manner using the best technology are also being looked into. We will have a comprehensive meeting with the ministries of coal and power after the Budget session. We want to arrive at a solution.
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Interview of Robert C Orr, principal policy adviser to the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon
'Paris is not the end point. It's a launching pad'
Vishwa Mohan, TNN | March 8, 2015
Orr, who was in India to take part in a series of deliberations on New Delhi's renewable energy goals, also said he was very encouraged by the effort of all stakeholders, including government, private and civil society in the country to work towards a climate deal.
Amid apprehensions whether Paris pact would be strong enough to save the world from disastrous consequences of climate change, Orr, in an interview to TOI, said it won't be a deal which will be signed and then implemented once and for all.
"It will have to be re-tuned and fine-tuned every single year. Countries will meet every year and explain what all they are doing to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases and this is the genius of the new regime that is taking shape", said the UN assistant secretary-general.
Orr, who has been advising Ban Ki-moon on energy, food security and global health for years, during his conversations also appeared to be quite optimistic of countries' commitments in the form of their Intended National Determined Contributions(INDCs). The INDCs will form the basis of the negotiations in run up to the final climate deal.
"We don't need to look at this negotiation as a zero sum game. In fact, we can't. It is not that one part gains and another loses. In fact, we'll all gain if we get a good deal and we'll all lose if we get a bad deal", said Orr.
Asked what if INDCs taken together failed to keep temperature rise below 2 degree celsius by 2100 from pre-industrialization levels, the UN assistant secretary-general said, "Once the countries provide their INDCs, the negotiators will see whether it's adequate or not.
"We should keep in mind that these (INDCs) will be for period beyond 2020. So, there will be nearly five years from now and 2020. It would be the most important five years in the future of our planet".
His remarks were made just days before countries started submitting their INDCs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which expects all rich countries to submit their respective 'climate action plans' by month end.
So far, Switzerland and European Union (group of 28 countries) have submitted their plans to the UNFCCC, detailing their emission-cut goals.
Though India is expected to come out with its action plan in June, officials here felt that there are still many issues which need to be clarified before the country would submit its INDC.
Articulating India's stand, country's environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar during his speech at African Ministerial Conference on Environment at Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday said, "As we formulate INDCs, certain issues need immediate attention. One of those is technology transfer along with knowhow at an affordable cost, so that we are able to move expeditiously towards lowering of the energy intensity of our economic growth and improving energy efficiency in various sectors".
He also said, "As we all prepare ourselves for the Paris meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP21), we need to recognize that both adaptation and mitigation must be accorded equal importance".
Interview of French minister of ecology, sustainable development and energy Segolene Royal
There is but one planet and we must work together to save it: Segolene Royal
Vishwa Mohan, TNN | February 6, 2015
Q. Do you think a strong climate deal is possible when developing countries insist on giving more emphasis to adaptation than on mitigation (emission cuts)?
A. You have to act on both fronts. India has already made significant efforts in this area. The goals set by the new government are ambitious. Prime Minister Modi announced the target of 100 gw from solar energy by 2020. Clean transport and electricity are also needed for cleansing air pollution in cities.
Q. What is France, as host country of the next climate conference (COP21), planning to offer in the form of its INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) to strike a global climate deal in Paris in December?
A. France is acting to lead by example, first through the law on energy transition towards green growth, which I drafted and got voted in the National Assembly and which concerns all the challenges of climate change, and the preparation for a post-oil era. France has opted for an energy mix of energy saving measures, nuclear energy and renewable energy. Europe has set itself the ambition of achieving the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels, increasing energy efficiency by 27%, and a renewable energy share of 27%. This is also a way of generating jobs. A major drive is on for waste treatment and converting waste into energy.
Q. Rich nations including France have so far contributed very little to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Will France increase its contribution?
A. France was actually one of the first countries to contribute to the fund with $1 billion. This is really a major contribution as this enabled the fund to attain the $10 billion mark right since the Lima Conference in December last year. The issue today is to swiftly decide how these resources will be used, because we must help the least developed countries to protect themselves from climate disruption and adapt to the changes of energy transition. This fund is to be supplemented with contributions from the private sector to reach the $100 billion mark. France has also committed bilaterally to increasing its financing support to climate-related projects.
Q. What will France's stand be as far as ex-ante review of country goals is concerned in view of strong opposition to it by most of the developing countries, including India and China?
A. I don't think that a country's attachment to its sovereignty and the necessity of reaching an agreement to face the dangers of climate disruption are mutually exclusive. This is what should guide us: there is but one planet and we must work together to save it. Being true to yourself and working with others go hand in hand. Often, during our climate debates, I think of these lovely words of Tagore, "I have had my invitation to this world's festival... and I have done all I could." We have also met the Chinese negotiator, who was quite constructive.
Q. What is the solution for countries that need to grow at the cost of carbon emissions as they want to improve the living conditions of their citizens through economic growth and energy access?
A. The more we wait, the more it will cost, and the worse the impact. Solutions are within reach and that's a good thing for our countries. India is a great country with engineers, scientists and talented people who can contribute to the new energy model, which reconciles the aspirations for growth and access to carbon-free energy. If nothing is done, climate disruption will lead to many disasters. So, we must act and we must consider this as a chance to think and act differently.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Obama-Modi stress enhancing bilateral cooperation to deal with climate change
Obama-Modi climate deal: Unlike China, no emission target for India
Vishwa Mohan\TNN January 26, 2015
NEW DELHI: India and the US on Sunday stressed enhancing bilateral cooperation to deal with climate change but did not have a China-like bilateral deal where both Washington and Beijing last November set their respective emission cut goals. Despite international pressure, India walked its own path keeping economic development in mind and insisted on tackling climate change by moving firmly on the clean, renewable energy path, adopting improved energy efficient technology and through various adaptation measures.
Both countries concluded negotiations on a five-year MoU on "energy security, clean energy and climate change". An agreement to this effect is expected "as early as possible" at a mutually agreed date. The US will help India achieve its goals, including 100GW of solar power by 2022, by extending finance and technology.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST: US rules out China-like climate deal with India in near future
India, on its part, moved forward to accommodate Obama's demand to discuss the contentious issue of hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs) and find ways to phase-down this climate-damaging refrigerant. Articulating India's stand on climate change, the PM Modi dismissed the assertion that India was under pressure of the recent US-China climate change deal and said the country feels the pressure of climate change for it cares for its future generations.
In his opening remark at a joint media interaction with Obama, Modi insisted on adaptation measures and moving on the clean, renewable energy path to tackle climate change and asked US to "lead international efforts in making renewable energy accessible and affordable".
READ ALSO: India trying to build climate for energy talks with US
Modi said, "For Obama and me, clean and renewable energy is a personal and national priority. We discussed our ambitious national efforts and goals to increase the use of clean and renewable energy. We agreed to enhance our excellent and innovative partnership in this".
Both leaders reaffirmed their prior understanding to deepen India-US collaboration in other fields, including science, technology, innovation and agriculture. As far as the controversial HFCs is concerned, India reaffirmed its September, 2014 understanding with the US and agreed to "cooperate on making concrete progress in the Montreal Protocol this year".
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
IPCC chief's take on future of the UN body on climate change ....Post-COP20 interview
Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 30, 2014, 04.43AM IST
Text resize:
NEW DELHI: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading UN body for the assessment of climate change, will continue its work, no matter whether countries arrive at a global climate deal next year in Paris or not. Its successive science-based reports had always been key inputs for negotiators in the past over two decades.
The IPCC had come out with its last (fifth) assessment report in November ahead of the Lima climate talks. It is also most likely to come out with its sixth assessment report in future, bringing more scientific information to the table for policy-makers and general public on causes and impact of climate-damaging greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
Amid speculation over the future of the IPCC once it submitted its 'synthesis' report, its chairman R K Pachauri said his expectation was that the body would also come out with the sixth assessment report (AR6) and a decision in this regard would hopefully be taken by member countries in February, 2015.
"Whether it is going to be structurally identical to the fifth assessment report (AR5) or whether it would be different would be clearer by the end of February when the next plenary of the IPCC takes place", he told the TOI.
Asked about future of this Nobel Prize winning UN body, Pachauri said, "I think the work of the IPCC will continue as there is also growing desire on the part of the scientific community across the world to contribute to the work".
The IPCC is a scientific body which reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It was established in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.
The body has since then come out with five successive assessment reports, telling the global community how human activities are playing havoc with environment and how it led to extreme weather events, melting of glaciers and acidification of oceans due to global warming.
Pachauri said, "It seems to me that the result of the fifth assessment report would perhaps only strengthen the need for carrying out updated assessment. Given the fact that we have a lot more information and knowledge in this report (AR5) than what we had in AR4 and similarly the AR4 had much more as compared to the AR3. This only strengthens the need for coming out with successive assessment".
It was the IPCC second assessment report (AR2) of 1995 that had provided important material and key inputs to negotiators in the run-up to adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.
On its present task, the IPCC chief said, "We, in the immediate future, are going to ensure that the findings of the synthesis report are spread and made known to communities all over the world. This is going to be something which I personally will be focusing on in the next six to eight months".
---- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Pachauri-IPCC-future-not-tied-to-Paris-climate-30122014014032#
The IPCC had come out with its last (fifth) assessment report in November ahead of the Lima climate talks. It is also most likely to come out with its sixth assessment report in future, bringing more scientific information to the table for policy-makers and general public on causes and impact of climate-damaging greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
Amid speculation over the future of the IPCC once it submitted its 'synthesis' report, its chairman R K Pachauri said his expectation was that the body would also come out with the sixth assessment report (AR6) and a decision in this regard would hopefully be taken by member countries in February, 2015.
"Whether it is going to be structurally identical to the fifth assessment report (AR5) or whether it would be different would be clearer by the end of February when the next plenary of the IPCC takes place", he told the TOI.
Asked about future of this Nobel Prize winning UN body, Pachauri said, "I think the work of the IPCC will continue as there is also growing desire on the part of the scientific community across the world to contribute to the work".
The IPCC is a scientific body which reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It was established in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.
The body has since then come out with five successive assessment reports, telling the global community how human activities are playing havoc with environment and how it led to extreme weather events, melting of glaciers and acidification of oceans due to global warming.
Pachauri said, "It seems to me that the result of the fifth assessment report would perhaps only strengthen the need for carrying out updated assessment. Given the fact that we have a lot more information and knowledge in this report (AR5) than what we had in AR4 and similarly the AR4 had much more as compared to the AR3. This only strengthens the need for coming out with successive assessment".
It was the IPCC second assessment report (AR2) of 1995 that had provided important material and key inputs to negotiators in the run-up to adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.
On its present task, the IPCC chief said, "We, in the immediate future, are going to ensure that the findings of the synthesis report are spread and made known to communities all over the world. This is going to be something which I personally will be focusing on in the next six to eight months".
---- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Pachauri-IPCC-future-not-tied-to-Paris-climate-30122014014032#
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
COP20: Interview of IPCC chairman R K Pachauri on outcome of the Lima climate talks, fate of GCF and future of the UN body on climate change
http://t.co/KeTlJDEkOG
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Rich nations would contribute to the Green Climate Fund once all the countries provide their INDCs: R K Pachauri
Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 23, 2014, 10.09PM IST
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NEW DELHI: At the time when developing world is worried about the rich nations' reluctance for contributing to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R K Pachauri believes that the developed world would come forward substantially with the finance once all the countries provide their 'Intended Nationally Determined Contributions' (INDCs) - a clear roadmap of their voluntary actions to fight the threat of climate change.
Pachauri, who is also member of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Council on Climate Change, in an interview to TOI spoke on a range of issues including the course of action India should take to go on low- carbon growth path, outcome of the Lima climate talks, future of the IPCC and the GCF that is meant for helping out developing countries for their mitigation and adaptation actions.
He said the countries in Lima had, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that the world would get in Paris in December next year in the form of a global climate deal. He said the rich nations would, hopefully, contribute to the GCF once all the countries provide their INDCs next year. The IPCC chairman also opened up on the future of the UN body on climate change, saying it will continue to work and there is a possibility of sixth assessment report.
Excerpts:
Q. How you see the outcome of the Lima climate conference?
A. Lima outcome has, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that we would get in Paris. I don't know whether this is enough or not, but now we have at least a concrete basis on which we will carry out our negotiations. Every country will provide their INDCs on certain basis (elements) and will see whether it would be enough to meet the goal of keeping the temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius this century. So, Lima to that extent is a beginning but we have to build on that.
I am glad, at least now we have an agreement or a sort of building blocks of any agreement with the INDCs. What these INDCs will turn out to be country by country is left to be seen and of course will also be left open to scrutiny because all of this is now going to be transparent.
Q. There has been reluctance on the part of rich nations to contribute to the GCF. Do you see any change of stand in future? Will more money come to the fund, beyond the existing sum of over 10 billion US dollars in the kitty?
A. It seems to me that once you get the INDCs from all the countries and if they find that these INDCs don't add up to what is required then the next step would be to see how you can make it happen. In the developing countries, you have to provide resources to make it happen. I hope that will convince the developed countries that we are all in it together and if we have to stabilize the earth climate, this money has to be provided. Otherwise, we won't reach the kind of result which we want.
Finance would be required to take mitigation and adaptation measures. It is to be found out how those finances can be made available for enhancing the GCF. So, I think there lots need to be looked at and there is lot more attention that needs to be provided to it. I hope it happens once the INDCs come together and see the gap in terms of funding and the gap in terms of reducing emission.
Q. What would you like to suggest the PM council on climate change in India in view of rising demand to cut emission at the time when the country needs to develop to fulfill its obligation to poor citizens?
A. India has to do much more on adaptation to face the impact of climate change. We have not paid enough attention on it. We have many regulations but we are not sure whether these are being properly observed at local level. Therefore, local government has to be strengthened if we want to carry out adaptation measures.
There is a whole range of things. Even in agriculture, the impacts of climate change are going to be serious and therefore we have to start preparing for that and possibly to bring about shift not only in agriculture practices but even in crop patterns.
On the mitigation front, I would say that the India has a very serious challenge of energy security. We need to use energy more efficiently. That would require a major restructuring in many sectors specifically transport, industry and building. We should also start looking at the mix of energy supply that we need for the future.
Q. How can country meet its growing energy need?
A. India has abundance of renewable energy sources. We should go for it in a big way. It will also give us lower emission of greenhouse gases. It is time we should start shaping our policy in a way that renewable sources of energy, at least where it is economically viable, get utilized. Once the country moves on this path with clear policy, finance will, hopefully, not be a problem.
Q. What is the future of the IPCC as it has already submitted its report\findings? Will this UN body continue? If yes, then in what form?
A. As far as the IPCC is concerned, we in the immediate future are going to ensure that the findings of the synthesis report are spread and made known to communities all over the world. This is going to be something which I personally will be focusing on in the next six to eight months. But over a longer period of time, the governments are now in a state of decision making discussion on what the next cycle of the IPCC should be.
My expectation is that there will be a sixth assessment report (AR6). Whether it is going to be structurally identical to the fifth assessment report (AR5) or whether it would be different would be clearer by the end of February when the plenary of the IPCC takes place.
It seems to me that the result of the fifth assessment report would perhaps only strengthen the need for carrying out updated assessment. Given the fact that we have a lot more information and knowledge in this report (AR5) than what we had in AR4 and similarly the AR4 had much more as compared to the AR3. This only strengthens the need for coming out with successive assessment.
In essence, I think the work of the IPCC will continue as there is also growing desire on the part of the scientific community to contribute.
Pachauri, who is also member of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Council on Climate Change, in an interview to TOI spoke on a range of issues including the course of action India should take to go on low- carbon growth path, outcome of the Lima climate talks, future of the IPCC and the GCF that is meant for helping out developing countries for their mitigation and adaptation actions.
He said the countries in Lima had, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that the world would get in Paris in December next year in the form of a global climate deal. He said the rich nations would, hopefully, contribute to the GCF once all the countries provide their INDCs next year. The IPCC chairman also opened up on the future of the UN body on climate change, saying it will continue to work and there is a possibility of sixth assessment report.
Excerpts:
Q. How you see the outcome of the Lima climate conference?
A. Lima outcome has, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that we would get in Paris. I don't know whether this is enough or not, but now we have at least a concrete basis on which we will carry out our negotiations. Every country will provide their INDCs on certain basis (elements) and will see whether it would be enough to meet the goal of keeping the temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius this century. So, Lima to that extent is a beginning but we have to build on that.
I am glad, at least now we have an agreement or a sort of building blocks of any agreement with the INDCs. What these INDCs will turn out to be country by country is left to be seen and of course will also be left open to scrutiny because all of this is now going to be transparent.
Q. There has been reluctance on the part of rich nations to contribute to the GCF. Do you see any change of stand in future? Will more money come to the fund, beyond the existing sum of over 10 billion US dollars in the kitty?
A. It seems to me that once you get the INDCs from all the countries and if they find that these INDCs don't add up to what is required then the next step would be to see how you can make it happen. In the developing countries, you have to provide resources to make it happen. I hope that will convince the developed countries that we are all in it together and if we have to stabilize the earth climate, this money has to be provided. Otherwise, we won't reach the kind of result which we want.
Finance would be required to take mitigation and adaptation measures. It is to be found out how those finances can be made available for enhancing the GCF. So, I think there lots need to be looked at and there is lot more attention that needs to be provided to it. I hope it happens once the INDCs come together and see the gap in terms of funding and the gap in terms of reducing emission.
Q. What would you like to suggest the PM council on climate change in India in view of rising demand to cut emission at the time when the country needs to develop to fulfill its obligation to poor citizens?
A. India has to do much more on adaptation to face the impact of climate change. We have not paid enough attention on it. We have many regulations but we are not sure whether these are being properly observed at local level. Therefore, local government has to be strengthened if we want to carry out adaptation measures.
There is a whole range of things. Even in agriculture, the impacts of climate change are going to be serious and therefore we have to start preparing for that and possibly to bring about shift not only in agriculture practices but even in crop patterns.
On the mitigation front, I would say that the India has a very serious challenge of energy security. We need to use energy more efficiently. That would require a major restructuring in many sectors specifically transport, industry and building. We should also start looking at the mix of energy supply that we need for the future.
Q. How can country meet its growing energy need?
A. India has abundance of renewable energy sources. We should go for it in a big way. It will also give us lower emission of greenhouse gases. It is time we should start shaping our policy in a way that renewable sources of energy, at least where it is economically viable, get utilized. Once the country moves on this path with clear policy, finance will, hopefully, not be a problem.
Q. What is the future of the IPCC as it has already submitted its report\findings? Will this UN body continue? If yes, then in what form?
A. As far as the IPCC is concerned, we in the immediate future are going to ensure that the findings of the synthesis report are spread and made known to communities all over the world. This is going to be something which I personally will be focusing on in the next six to eight months. But over a longer period of time, the governments are now in a state of decision making discussion on what the next cycle of the IPCC should be.
My expectation is that there will be a sixth assessment report (AR6). Whether it is going to be structurally identical to the fifth assessment report (AR5) or whether it would be different would be clearer by the end of February when the plenary of the IPCC takes place.
It seems to me that the result of the fifth assessment report would perhaps only strengthen the need for carrying out updated assessment. Given the fact that we have a lot more information and knowledge in this report (AR5) than what we had in AR4 and similarly the AR4 had much more as compared to the AR3. This only strengthens the need for coming out with successive assessment.
In essence, I think the work of the IPCC will continue as there is also growing desire on the part of the scientific community to contribute.
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