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Notes from TheJoker
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Let’s call it: 30 years of above average temperatures means the climate has
changed
temperature observations make it clear the new normal will be systematically rising temperatures, not the
stability of the last 100 years. The traditional definition of climate [5] is the 30-year average of weather. The
fact that – once the official records are in for February 2015 – it will have been 30 years since a month was
below average is an important measure that the climate has changed.
ocean temperature doesn’t vary as much as land temperature. This fact is intuitive to many people
because they understand that coastal regions don’t experience as extreme highs and lows as the interiors
of continents. Since oceans cover the majority of the Earth’s surface, the combined land and ocean graph
strongly resembles the graph just for the ocean. Looking at only the ocean plots, you have to go all the way
back to February 1976 to find a month below average.
. There are four years from 1976 onwards when the land was below average; the last time the land
temperature was cool enough for the globe to be at or below average was February 1985. The flirtation
with below-average temps was tiny – primarily worth noting in the spirit of accurate record keeping.
Some of the most convincing evidence that the Earth is warming is actually found in measures [8] of the
heat stored in the oceans [9] and the melting of ice. However, we often focus on the surface air
temperature. One reason for that is that we feel the surface air temperature; therefore, we have intuition
about the importance of hot and cold surface temperatures.
environment, Climate Change, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs,
Mon, Mar 30, 2015
Channelling of Green Climate Fund begins; fund board identifies seven entities
environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, Green Climate Fund,

2. The Green Climate Fund (GCF), an international fund dedicated to achieving low-emission and climate
resilient growth in developing countries, will soon begin allocating funds for projects. Its board has
identified the first seven entities which will serve as channels for fund disbursement.
The entities accredited by the board include:
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) Centre de suivi écologique (CSE) in Senegal Fondo de Promoción de las Áreas
Naturales Protegidas del Péru (PROFONANPE) The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment
Programme (SPREP) based in Samoa Acumen Fund, Inc. (Acumen)
GCF officials expect to receive the first set of funding proposals “very soon”. Of the US $10.2 billion pledged
to GCF, only $104 million have been received so far. The GCF aims to accumulate $100 billion by 2020. In
that sense, the pledged amount is only 10 per cent of the targeted amount.
Mon, Mar 30, 2015
When will India wake up to freedom—from air pollution?
interesting to note is that what is alarming pollution level for London, which prompted the Mayor to
caution the city residents, is treated as the safe limit for PM2.5 limit in India—60 µg/cum. This not only
highlights the weaker standards in India as compared to European Union (which follows WHO norm) but
also calls for strict action from the Indian government in cases of violation of air pollution standards.
Even Beijing has woken up In the past, Beijing was tagged the most polluted city in the world. However, the
city’s authorities have started implementing a strict air quality index and release regular air quality
warnings with its implications on health. Not only have they acknowledged their problem of air pollution
but have also made it an important topic of political discussion.
Beijing has implemented an emergency response plan wherein authorities inform the public about bad air
quality days. They suggest measures on how public can protect themselves, ask schools to shut down and
80 per cent of government-owned cars are to be taken off the road on red alert days. On orange alert days
when Beijing is slightly polluted (AQI 101-150, class 3), they shut down polluting factories. Even barbecues
and fireworks are banned on heavy pollution days.
Air pollution is the fifth largest killer in India.
Air pollution, environment, Down to Earth, pollution, CurrentAffairs,
Fri, Mar 27, 2015

3. While the peaks of their real time exposure to PM2.5 crossed 1,000 µg/cum, the 24-hourly averages were
4-5 times higher than India’s safe standards (60µg/cum) for ambient air quality. The worst-affected people
were those using public transport, including buses and autos. Why is it that London issues air quality alerts
on reaching 66 µg/cum when Delhi does not have any warning on crossing 500 µg/cum? The most
impacted are children and the elderly. Recent studies have also reported that air pollution is reducing
India’s life expectancy by 3.2 years. How many lives would it take for our government to wake up? On days
when China would shut down its schools and factories and Paris would remove cars from the road, India
sleeps unaware.
Indian government needs to acknowledge this problem wholeheartedly and implement our proposed
national air quality index to inform people on the impacts of air pollution on particularly bad days and also
take stringent measures to reduce it. It also needs to expand the real time air quality monitoring
throughout India, starting with the worst polluted cities. We demand clean air. Let us not make respiratory
diseases a part of our culture.
Dark future for coal
India’s coal-based power plants have doubled in capacity over the past two Plan periods between 2002 and
2012 and currently stands at 160 gigawatt or GW (60 per cent of total). We rank third in the world behind
China and the US in terms of coal-based power generation. Large reserves coupled with favorable
economics have spurred capacity addition in coal power over the past decade.
In 2011, a study by Prayas Energy Group found that more than 200 GW of coal-based capacity had been
approved by the Union environment ministry for the 12th Five Year Plan period (till 2017) alone against a
requirement of 70 GW. Another 500 GW was awaiting approval. The study noted that this combined
capacity was three times the capacity additions required till 2032. a large number of these projects have
either been stalled or shelved. Construction began on just 9 GW of the proposed 500 GW between up to
mid-2014. Between 2010 and 2012, the ratio of completed to cancelled projects was about 2:1
Worsening air quality, displacement due to land acquisition, forest destruction, impacts of fly ash disposal
and conflicts over water use have triggered protests from local communities against setting up of plants.
The Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Green Rating Project (GRP) notes that the environmental
impacts of this expansion have been severe.
Even existing new plants are suffering from poor capacity utilisation (PLF). In 2013-14, PLF for thermal
power plants dipped to 65 per cent, which is the lowest level in 14 years and has stagnated at the same
level in 2014-15 as well.
power generation, environment, Down to Earth, Coal, CurrentAffairs,
Fri, Mar 27, 2015

4. Global financial institutions like World Bank have also committed to not finance “dirty” coal projects [5] .
This means project developers have to seek out domestic sources of funding. However, domestic financial
institutions are already facing massive accumulation of non-performing assets (NPAs) on account of the
power sector, and are unlikely to lend given the uncertainties involved.
Uncertain coal supply is an added constraint for plants. Coal India Limited (CIL) is notoriously inefficient in
coal production and has a monopoly over coal supply in India. Its average productivity per-man-per-shift is
three times below the global average.
Price of renewable energy is set to reach parity with coal-based generation and even surpass it. Combined
with the government’s revised targets for renewable energy capacity of 100 GW by 2022, coal-based
generation is likely to face strong headwinds.
The Himalayan waters: complex challenges and regional solutions
It is difficult to think of a resource more essential to the wellbeing of people and their economies than
water, yet managing water resources is a complex and challenging task. The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH)
region heavily depends on water resources for irrigation, food, hydropower, sanitation, and industry, as
well as for the functioning of many important ecosystem services. Water thus directly contributes to the
national GDP and to livelihoods and income generation at the local level. Although water is the foundation
of sustainable development, water management in the HKH region remains fragmented and
uncoordinated, and does not take relevant regional issues into account.
mountain people living on the ridges and hill slopes have limited access to water for drinking and
agriculture. Throughout the mountain region, springs are reported to be drying, and mountain agriculture
has suffered from drought. The shortage of water has placed an increasing burden on mountain
communities, particularly on women. Furthermore, the communities face loss of property and lives due to
water-induced natural hazards. Climate change has exacerbated the situation by creating uncertainty
about the future water availability and water security.
Energy is one of the most important pillars of sustainable development. In the HKH region, hydropower is
one of the most promising environmentally friendly sources of energy. With a potential estimated to be
500,000 MW, the region has abundant opportunities for hydropower development. Energy security can
open up opportunities for development and employment and contribute to the national GDP. Moreover,
innovative solutions such as electric transportation and a clean source of domestic and industrial energy
supply would significantly improve the deteriorating environmental condition of the region. However,
environment, Down to Earth, indus river, CurrentAffairs, Himalayan region, Nepal,
Fri, Mar 27, 2015

5. many countries in the region have been able to tap only a small fraction of their available potential. Out of
the 42,000 MW potential reported in Nepal, only about 2 per cent is harnessed so far, whereas Pakistan
has harnessed 11 per cent of its total potential.
Water plays a vital role in maintaining different ecosystem services in riparian areas. Freshwater
ecosystems in particular largely depend on the specific flow regime of rivers passing through them.
However, due to intervention of infrastructure development, the flow regime changes in the downstream
areas, where, in many cases, communities depend on water resources for livelihoods such as fishing.
Water and food share a strong nexus, both being essential ingredients for human survival and
development. Agriculture is a major contributor to the GDP of countries in HKH. In Nepal, it contributes to
35 per cent of the national GDP. The Indus river system is a source of irrigation for about 144,900 hectares
of land, whereas the Ganges basin provides irrigation for 156,300 hectares of agricultural land. Access to
water resources for food production and their sustainable management is a concern from the local to
national level. Amid rapid environmental and socio-economic changes, the growing population will require
more water and food, and equitable access to vital resources has become a major question
Due to its physical setting, the HKH region is prone to various water-induced hazards (landslides, floods,
glacial lake outburst floods, and droughts). Every year, during the monsoon season, floods wreak havoc on
the mountains and the plains downstream. These floods are often trans-boundary. Globally, 10 per cent of
all floods are trans-boundary, and they cause over 30 per cent of all flood casualties and account for close
to 60 per cent of all those displaced by floods.
In the recent 18th SAARC summit in Kathmandu, the SAARC member countries signed a Framework
Agreement on Energy Cooperation. This agreement has opened up the energy market in South Asia, and
thereby possibilities for cooperation in the energy sector. However, it remains to be seen to what extent
the collaboration would play a role in energy security.
There are strong indications the HKH region is going to be warmer in the coming years. Precipitation is
likely to increase in different places and have more inter-annual and intra-annual variability. What does the
change in temperature and precipitation mean to water availability in the HKH region? What complexities
do the cryosphere dynamics add to this equation? Should these changes be of concern to water resources
development in the region? These questions cannot be answered without concerted efforts of the regional
countries. The regional nature of the natural hazards requires a regional approach to the solution.
Effective flood management requires sharing data and information between the upstream and
downstream areas, not only within the country, but also at the trans-boundary level. Technological
innovations based on satellite information, in combination with ground-based data, can be transformed
into information that can prove vital in saving lives and properties.

6. What Mr Narendra Modi needs to do for Ganga
Narendra Modi is all set to preside over the fifth meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority
(NGRBA), which was set up in 2009. With prime minister as its chief, NGRBA was set up as the apex body
for the revival of the River Ganga following public and protests and agitation wherein activists claimed that
Ganga Action Plan (GAP) had failed to clean up the river.
In August 2009, GAP was re-launched with a river basin authority in charge. The objective of the NGBRA is
to ensure that there an effective pollution control and there is conservation of the river. The functions of
the authority include planning and execution of the programmes to keep the river clean and flowing.
According to July 2013 estimates of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the faecal coliform levels in
the mainstream of the river remain above the acceptable level in all stretches, other than its upper
reaches. But even in these reaches, there are worrying signs as faecal coliform levels are increasing in
places like Rudraprayag and Devprayag, suggesting that there is inadequate flow for dilution even in these
highly oxygenated stretches. The upper stretches, which showed lower coliform count before launch of
GAP, have started to show higher faecal coliform levels now.
As the river reaches the plains, the amount of water extracted from the river increases to meet irrigation
and drinking water needs. In this stretch of the river, from Rishikesh to Allahabad, there is almost no water
during winter and summer months. In other words, the river stops flowing. But the waste water flow does
not ebb. The river at these times receives only waste and turns into a sewer drain. But what is worrying is
that in all the stretches, pollution is getting worse day by day At Varanasi, for example, the biological
oxygen demand (BOD) values never reduced below 7 mg/l between 1986 and 2011.
This is not surprising given that all along this heavily populated stretch, freshwater intake from the river is
increasing. In this way, water is drawn for agriculture, industry and cities but what is returned is only
waste.
The government talked about corrective measures and pointed out the failure of GAP. The BJP-led National
Democratic Alliance said NGRBA was ineffective, toothless and a non-starter under previous UPA regime.
BJP also criticised the fact that the members of NGBRA met only three times under the previous
government to discuss the impact of GAP.
However, Modi’s dream of cleaning the holy river does not seem to be happening in the near future. This is
in spite of the fact that an integrated Ganga Conservation Mission, Namami Ganga, was established.
environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, BOD, coliform, Ganga,
Fri, Mar 27, 2015

7. WHO says Monsanto weed-killer is ‘probably carcinogenic’; company rejects claim
WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an inter-governmental agency, has assessed
the carcinogenicity of five organophosphate pesticides in its report. The agency says that the herbicide,
glyphosate, was probably carcinogenic to humans.
What is glyphosate?
Glyphosate, the chief ingredient of Roundup, is widely used in agriculture to control weeds. It is also used
in forestry, urban and home applications. glyphosate use has increased sharply since the development of
genetically modified crops. It has been detected in the air during spraying, in water and in food, according
to the report.
Monsanto’s website says that all labelled uses of glyphosate are “safe” for human health and “supported by
one of the most extensive worldwide human health databases ever compiled on an agricultural product”.
Farmers have been using glyphosate in increasing quantities since Monsanto introduced crops genetically
engineered to withstand being sprayed with the herbicide in the mid-1990s. “Roundup Ready” corn,
soybeans and other crops are popular because of the ease with which farmers have been able to kill
weeds. But weeds have developed resistance to glyphosate, leading farmers to use more and more
herbicides.
environment, Down to Earth, Monsanto, CurrentAffairs, carcinogenic, WHO,
Fri, Mar 27, 2015
Carbon emissions from forests drop by 25 per cent: FAO
Fresh estimates by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) suggest carbon emissions from
global forests reduced by 25 per cent between 2001 and 2015.
Global emissions from deforestation dropped from 3.9 to 2.9 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide (CO2) per
year over the period of 2001-2015. Deforestation is defined as a landuse change, from forest to other land
uses.
despite the overall reduction in carbon emissions from forests linked to less deforestation, emissions from
forest degradation have significantly increased between 1990 and 2015, from 0.4 to 1.0 Gt CO2 per year.
Forest degradation is a reduction in tree biomass density from human or natural causes such as logging,
fire and other events.
environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, carbon emissions, carbon dioxide,
Wed, Mar 25, 2015

8. Deforestation and forest degradation increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,
but forest and tree growth absorbs carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas emissions,” da Silva said.
African countries to discuss INDCs, low-carbon development
The 7th Africa Carbon Forum will take place in Morocco to discuss and consult the African countries’
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Ministers from these countries will meet from April
13-15 to also explore opportunities for low-carbon development. INDCs are voluntary country-specific
climate actions required to be submitted well in advance before the Paris summit.
The forum, which supports Africa’s access to green investment, will discuss trends in the international
carbon market and look for strategies and models that can fast track the finance and mechanisms needed
to realise these aims. Other items for discussion include finance and project opportunities from the Green
Climate Fund (GCF) and opportunities in result-based financing.
environment, Down to Earth, Green Climate fund, INDC, CurrentAffairs, Low carbon,
Tue, Mar 24, 2015
Raining troubles
Little-understood western disturbances have been blamed for most of the freak weather events in India in
the past decade. With 50 per cent of its foodgrain production at risk, can India afford to ignore the
phenomenon?
Western disturbances are low-pressure areas embedded in the Westerlies, the planetary winds that flow
from west to east between 30°-60° latitude. They usually bring mild rain during January-February, which is
beneficial to the rabi crop. But in the past few years western disturbances have been linked to disasters.
The cloud burst in Leh in 2010, the floods and landslide in Uttarakhand in 2013 and the excessive rain in
Jammu and Kashmir in 2014 were all linked to these disturbances.
Scientists agree that western disturbances are formed naturally. They originate in the Mediterranean
region and travel over Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enter India loaded with moisture, where the
Himalayas obstruct them, causing rain and snow in western Himalayas. The snow adds to the glaciers
which provide water to India’s major perennial rivers. But what is it that is making this beneficial weather
phenomenon increasingly disastrous?
Easterly wave: According to imd, the severe rain this year is the result of the confluence of western
environment, Down to Earth, western distubrances, CurrentAffairs,
Tue, Mar 24, 2015

9. disturbance and easterly wave from the Bay of Bengal. Easterly wave, or Easterlies, blow throughout the
year from east to west. The confluence of the two winds happens throughout the year, but the results vary.
They generally bring rain only to the northern part of the country but this year states in central and south
India also received rain,
Pacific Decadal Oscillation: Jason Nicholls, senior meteorologist and manager of international forecasting
at AccuWeather Inc, a global leader in weather information services, offers a more complicated reason. He
says a phenomenon called Pacific Decadal Oscillation (pdo) contributed to the severity of this year’s
rainfall. pdo is the name given to long-term fluctuations in the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean. In
areas above 20° north off the western coast of North America, cooling is observed during the negative
phase of pdo while warming is observed during the positive phase. This shift from one phase to another
happens every 10 years or in multiples of 10 years and is yet to be understood properly. pdo influences
the placement and intensity of ridges (high-pressure areas) and troughs (low-pressure areas) over the
northern hemisphere. Nicholls says that the wet winter seen this year and in 2013-14 was caused due to
the impact of a “very strong positive pdo”. The warm waters in the west coast of North America led to a
strong ridge over the Gulf of Alaska and western Canada. Another ridge prevailed over the central Atlantic
Ocean which allowed storm systems to move through Europe into southeast Europe and the Middle East.
A weakness between a couple of such ridges allowed storm systems to move into Afghanistan, Pakistan
and northern India over the past couple of winters/springs, he explains.
Jet streams: Akshay Deoras, an independent weather expert based in Maharashtra, says that widely used
weather models, such as the Global Forecast System, are consistently showing the movement of new
upper air troughs into India. Such troughs in the jet streams (narrow bands of strong winds flowing in the
upper troposphere) could be affecting the western disturbances which, imd says, are present in the lower
and middle troposphere. One such trough started forming in the upper troposphere over Iran, Afghanistan
and Pakistan on February 26 and intensified and moved towards north-western parts of India on February
28. This led to the formation of a low-pressure region in the lower troposphere over northwest India,
causing an incursion of moisture from Arabian Sea, and produced heavy rains.
Heating of the Tibetan plateau: A study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (iitm), Pune, has
directly linked western disturbances to global warming. In a paper published in Climate Dynamics in
February 2015, the researchers say global warming is impacting air currents and causing freak weather
events. Pronounced warming over the Tibetan plateau in recent decades has increased the instability of
the Westerlies and this has increased the variability of the western disturbances. According to the study,
the western Himalayan region has seen a significant rise in surface temperatures since the 1950s.
Observations from the area show a significant increase in precipitation in recent decades. The researchers
looked at a variety of climate data to understand the increasing frequency of heavy precipitation. They say
temperatures have risen in the middle- and upper-tropospheric levels over the sub-tropics (area between
the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) and the middle latitudes.

10. Arctic warming: Another study which blames global warming is by Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University,
New Jersey, and S J Vavrus of University of Wisconsin- Madison, both in the US. The study, published in the
January issue of Environment Research Letters, suggests that heating up of the Arctic has weakened the jet
streams in the northern hemisphere. The west to east flow of jet streams in the northern hemisphere is
maintained by the “gradient of heat” between the cool Arctic and warmer areas near the equator. But the
Arctic has been warming since the past 20 years due to which the jet streams have become weaker.
Can Sendai Framework ensure a climate-resilient future?
Governments of 187 UN member states have adopted a 15-year plan with targets to substantially reduce
deaths and economic losses from disasters [2] . Called the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction,
it is the first major UN agreement on the post-2015 development agenda consisting of four major aims and
seven targets to be met by 2030. The Sendai plan, adopted last week at the UN Conference on Disaster
Risk Resduction, will replace the existing Hyogo Framework for Action (2005) that ends this year.
This first major UN agreement on the post-2015 development agenda will drive the future for a sustainable
and disaster-resilient world along with the sustainable development goals and the Paris climate agreement
to be decided in September and December respectively this year.
The Hyogo Framework for Action [3] has been an important instrument for raising public and institutional
awareness, generating political commitment and focusing and catalysing actions by a wide range of
stakeholders at all levels but much more is still left to be done even as the 10-year blueprint expires this
year.
Over these 10 years, disasters continued to take a heavy toll on lives and property. Over 700,000 people
lost their lives, over 1.4 million were injured and approximately 23 million were made homeless as a result
of disasters. The total economic loss was more than $1.3 trillion. Besides, around 144 million people were
displaced by disasters between 2008 and 2012.
But the world is still far from prepared. Several gaps remain in addressing the underlying disaster risk
factors to formulate goals and priorities for action and ensuring adequate resources for implementation.
What the new framework says Disaster-resilient 2030: seven targets under Sendai agreement The
framework outlines seven global targets to be achieved over the next 15 years A substantial reduction in
global disaster mortality by 2030 A substantial reduction in number of affected people by 2030 A reduction
in economic losses in relation to global GDP A substantial reduction in disaster damage to critical
infrastructure and disruption of basic services, including health and education facilities An increase in the
Sendai Framework, Hyogo Framework, environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, climate change,
Mon, Mar 23, 2015

11. number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020 Enhance
international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to
complement their national actions for implementation of this framework Increased access to multi-hazard
early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments
Connecting dots between new Sendai agreement, Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals and Paris
climate agreement All three agreements share a common aim of making development sustainable A
synergy is clearly visible between the sustainable development goal (SDG 11) for safe and resilient cities
with this disaster risk declaration which aims to reduce loss and damage of disasters on urban
infrastructure and the community Linkage between SDG3, focusing on health outcomes and disasters risk,
also cannot be ignored. It may be noted that the target 3d of SDG 3 focuses specifically on disaster risk
reduction [8] The IPCC special report, “Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance
Climate Change” (SREX), [9] shows the linkages between disaster risk reduction in sustainable
development and climate change adaptation. It details the role and opportunities involving a wide variety
of stakeholders and communities in managing disaster risks due to the climate change.
Not investing in disaster risk management is a missed opportunity for social, economic and environmental
progress, says a report released at the conference, titled Unlocking the ‘Triple Dividend’ of Resilience [10] .
Although the insurance sector has pledged to double its investments to US $84 billion by COP 21 (Paris
Conference of Parties) and then increase it 10 times to US $420 billion by 2020, commitments by the rich
nations at this UN conference were disappointing.
The polluted air we breathe
According to the World Health Organization, 25-30 cities in the top 100 most polluted cities in the world are
from India. The Global Burden of Disease assessments for 2010 estimated that 6,27,000 premature deaths
in India can be attributed to outdoor air pollution. Of the pollution-related risks, a substantial increase was
observed in the cases of ischemic heart disease (which can lead to heart attacks), cerebro-vascular disease
(which can lead to strokes), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, lower respiratory infections, and
cancers (in trachea, lungs, and bronchitis). These estimates do not include acute impacts such as asthma
attacks, eye irritations and other respiratory ailments. The pollutant with the most impact on health is
Particulate Matter. Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micron-meter is
especially harmful as they are small enough to settle inside our lungs and cause long-term health
problems. Other pollutants are Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Carbon monoxide, and ozone.
Air pollution, environment, The Hindu, CurrentAffairs,
Sat, Mar 21, 2015

12. According to the 2011 census, by 2030, with a majority of the population classified as urban, the expected
growth and demand in industrial, transportation, and domestic sectors will consequently result in an
increase in problems of air pollution, which will spread from the big cities to secondary and tertiary cities.
Air pollution is a complicated issue and is most often a symptom of inadequate urban planning. Lack of
power supply leads to the use of diesel generator sets; lack of buses to support the public transport
demand leads to higher use of personal vehicles; lack of infrastructure to promote walking and cycling
leads to more motorised transport; lack of road maintenance and traffic management by allowing on-road
parking leads to congestion; lack of a sufficient waste management system leads to garbage being left
behind and often burnt in residential areas; and lack of paved or covered roads leads to re-suspension of
dust when vehicles are passing by.
As citizens, it is our right to know the quality of air that we breathe, the severity of pollution in the air, and
where this pollution is coming from. There are multiple sources and there is little that one can do as an
individual that would make an impact on reducing emissions.
Where has all the water gone?
Indiscriminate use in agriculture needs to be addressed through different pricing and irrigation techniques
Water resources are under severe stress today. About one-fifth of the world’s aquifers have almost dried
up and large number of traditional water bodies such as tanks, ponds and lakes are depleting at a
frightening pace.
The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report on Climate Change (2014) warned that
about 80 per cent of the world’s population already suffers a severe threat to its water security.
Vast acreage of crops has withered away due to paucity of water. The Consortium of Farmers’
Organisations have reported that more than 20 per cent of the farmers in the Cauvery Delta Region alone
have stopped farming due to water shortage; while a few of them either have committed suicide or have
migrated to cities as daily wage earners. Are there any steps that can be taken to mitigate or prevent such
a bleak scenario?
Water in agriculture
national water policy, environment, agriculture, CurrentAffairs, drinking water, Businessline,
Fri, Mar 20, 2015

13. As per the estimates of the Central Water Commission (CWC), the average annual utilisable water (surface
and groundwater) of the country is only about 1,121 billion cubic meters (BCM).
Due to continuous use, the total and per capita availability of water has also been declining sharply.
For instance, the per capita availability of water was 1,816 cubic metres in 2001, but declined to 1,544 cubic
metres in 2011.
Increased population pressure along with competing demand for water from different sectors (drinking,
agriculture, industry and energy) are reported to be the main reasons for declining water availability. The
data published by the Central Water Commission indicates that agriculture alone accounts for about 85
percent of all water use, mostly drawn from groundwater.
Among the various options available readily, micro-irrigation (includes drip and sprinkler) is an effective
method.
Water pricing
Canal irrigates about 18 million hectares in India, but its water use efficiency is only 35-40 per cent.
Volumetric pricing of irrigation water as advocated by the Vaidyanathan Committee Report on Pricing of
Irrigation Water (1992) if implemented on a full scale in canal areas can lead to efficient use. The National
Water Policy (2012) too has outlined the need for volumetric pricing of water.
The cropped area of water guzzling crops such as paddy, wheat, sugarcane, banana has been increasing in
India. Appropriate output pricing policies need to be announced to control the expansion of water guzzling
crops.
Efforts also need to be taken to institutionalise and strengthen community based water management.
The age-old technique of collecting and storing of rainwater should be made mandatory.
UN communicates negotiating text for Paris climate agreement to all nations
The Governments will come together to agree upon a global climate change agreement at the 21st
Conference of Parties (COP 21) in Paris in December, which will come into effect in 2020. As part of the
agreement, every country is expected to make contributions now and in future (based on their national
Sendai Framework, disaster management, Paris climate deal, environment, Down to Earth, Climate change, CurrentAffairs,
Fri, Mar 20, 2015

14. circumstances) to prevent increase in global temperatures beyond 2°Celsius and to help societies adapt to
existing and future climate change.
The negotiating text [3] covers the substantive content of the new agreement, including mitigation,
adaptation, finance, technology, capacity building, and transparency of action and support.
The global disaster risk plan, known as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 [4] ,
adopted by UN member states this week and Cyclone Pam [5] that hit the small island state of Vanuatu
last week brought into focus impact of climate change and how disaster risk resilience planning is essential
and must be considered by the negotiators.
After agreeing upon the 15-year plan to reduce damages from natural disasters [6] , the UN meet in
September will decide upon the post-2015 sustainable development goals.
The long road to growth
Linear infrastructure projects — roads, trains and power lines that make long intrusions into forests and
stretch ribbonlike over thousands of kilometres — are the new threat to our forests, in addition to
submergence by dams or clearing for mining and agriculture.
Roads and power lines support economic growth and other needs such as mobility and delivery of
services, and are vital in a developing country. But they also bring a host of associated problems that affect
natural ecosystems and rural and tribal communities. They cause habitat fragmentation. Wildlife species
avoid roads, as they become wider and busier, and the roads effectively form barriers separating forest
areas. Expansion projects and the four-laning of highways affect wildlife corridors — for instance, National
Highway 7 slices crucial corridor forests between Pench and Kanha Tiger Reserves in Central India.
In mountains, roads may lead to severe forest destruction, landslides, and erosion, as seen everyday
during road construction in many parts of the Himalayas and the Western Ghats. A 2006 study noted that
on steep hillsides, roads may increase landslides and surface erosion fluxes by ten to over hundred times
as compared to undisturbed forests.
Millions of animals, too, are killed along roads due to collisions with vehicles. Indian field research studies
have documented that the spectrum of wildlife killed or injured ranges from small invertebrates, frogs, and
reptile species — many found nowhere else in the world — to birds and large mammals such as deer,
leopard, tiger, and elephant.
environment, The Hindu, CurrentAffairs, national board for wildlife,
Thu, Mar 19, 2015

15. Power lines also kill unknown numbers of wildlife everyday. Poachers draw live wires to kill animals such
as rhino and deer, while accidental electrocution kills many species from birds such as Sarus cranes and
flamingos to elephants and bison.
With multiple linear intrusions — roads, canals, power lines and railways — together slicing up the
landscape, the cumulative impact on wildlife and habitat is deadly.
Linear infrastructure projects are needed for the economy but so are forests. They are not mere fungible
assets to be compensated by artificial plantations, but unique living systems of plants, animals, and
dependent human communities.
Besides espousing economic benefits, linear projects must measure and mitigate long-term costs and
ecological effects in a credible and transparent manner. The pursuit of mega-projects, often associated
with lucrative contracts and corruption, spurs an undue emphasis on quantity and size (such as road
width), which detracts from other priorities such as quality, efficiency, and safety.
The guidelines accord primacy to the ‘Principle of Avoidance’, whereby wildlife protected areas and
valuable natural ecosystems are not unnecessarily disrupted by linear intrusions; and where alternative
alignments, routed around wildlife corridors, can provide or enhance connectivity to peripheral villages
and towns. Site-specific inputs from wildlife scientists can help design overpasses, culverts, and
underpasses to facilitate animal crossings, while speed and traffic regulation can reduce animal-vehicle
collisions. Infra-red animal detection systems coupled to mobile messaging technology can alert train
drivers and help prevent track deaths. Structural modification of power line heights and visibility in risk-
prone areas can save elephants and birds from electrocution.
CSE deposes before Rajya Sabha panel, seeks people- and environment-friendly
amendments
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill (MMDR) 2015 [2] will not resolve
outstanding issues of the mining sector It will instead increase the marginalisation of local people, mainly
tribals, and also harm the environment.
But MMDR 2015 is one-sided, it said, as the Bill protects the interests of miners; increases revenue for
states; but does little to protect the interests of people and environment.
environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs,
Thu, Mar 19, 2015

16. CSE also said that the MMDR Amendment Bill, 2015, must be considered along with other ongoing
regulatory reforms—the proposed changes in Land Bill, 2015
While, the MMDR Bill, 2015, discourages consultation, excludes affected people and reduces the benefit
that local communities can get from the mining sector, the Land Bill removes the clause requiring
community consent, and the Subramanian Committee report recommends fast-tracking of environment
and forest clearances for mining projects,” the deposition said. “
Amazon’s ability to absorb carbon is declining, says study
A 30-year survey of the Amazon rainforest has revealed that the Amazon is losing its ability to absorb
carbon from the atmosphere. The uptake by the forest now is only half of what it was in the 1990s,
Forests and oceans absorb almost half of the CO2 emissions from human activity, slowing climate change.
A substantial portion of this carbon sink is located in the tropics, especially in the Amazon. found a long-
term decreasing trend of carbon accumulation. It attributes this decrease to mortality and shortened
longevity of trees.
"Tree mortality rates have increased by more than a third since the mid-1980s, and this is affecting the
Amazon's capacity to store carbon," l
amazon rainforest, environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, carbon dioxide,
Thu, Mar 19, 2015
Renewable Energy Manufacturing Sector
To make India a hub for renewable energy manufacturing, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
has been promoting private investment in renewable energy through an attractive mix of fiscal and
financial incentives.
his includes capital subsidy through Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) and excise and
custom duty exemption. The Government is encouraging participation from other countries by allowing
100% Foreign Direct Investment in Renewable Energy.
manufacturing, environment, PIB, CurrentAffairs, Renewable Energy,
Thu, Mar 19, 2015

17. The Minister further stated that the an estimated potential of 897 GW has been identified from various
renewable energy sources in the country which includes 749 GW from solar, 103 GW from wind, 25 GW
from bio-energy and 20 GW from small hydro power. MNRE has proposed grid power of 175 GW from
various renewable energy sources by the year 2022. This includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10
GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro power.
The geothermal program of the Ministry is presently in research and development stage. The cost of
generation of electricity from geothermal energy is presently very high, hence, the promotion of
geothermal energy production of power will not be possible in short and medium terms, the Minister
added.
Plastic Peril
The ocean is the final receptacle of a substantial amount of waste generated on land. Plastic pollution in
the ocean was first reported in the scientific literature of the early 1970s. In just four decades, it has
become a pressing environmental problem and has been found even in the most remote corners of the
earth. The amount of plastic entering the oceans is up to 2,000 times more than earlier estimates.
anything between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes (MT) of plastic enters the oceans each year
The team found that the top 20 countries accounted for 83 per cent of the mismanaged plastic waste
entering the ocean. China tops the list and throws 1.32 MT to 3.53 MT of plastic waste in the sea. India is
12th, contributing 0.09 MT to 0.24 MT plastic waste to oceans every year. America is 20th, throwing 0.04
MT to 0.11 MT of plastic trash into the sea every year. However, the amount of waste generated by a
person in India is very low compared to that produced by a person in the US. In India, 0.34 kg of waste is
produced per day by a person compared to as much as 2.58 kg by a person in the US. In India, only 3 per
cent of the waste produced per day by a person is plastic compared to 13 per cent in the US.
If things continue unchecked, in 10 years we could see one pound of plastic for every three pounds of
finfish, adds Mallos. The concerns are justified considering that global plastic resin production is growing at
a fast pace. It registered a 620 per cent increase between 1975 and 2012. Most of this plastic resin is used
for packaging, is quickly disposed of and could end up in the sea. In December, 2014, a study published in
PLoS ONE revealed that there are 5.25 trillion plastic particles floating around in the sea.
As it would be difficult and expensive to remove plastic from the sea, researchers suggest it would be
better to start managing waste. They suggest reduction of waste, expanded recovery systems and
extended producer responsibility. The researchers also suggest that while infrastructure is being built in
plastic, environment, Down to Earth, pollution, CurrentAffairs,
Wed, Mar 18, 2015

18. developing nations, industrialised countries can take immediate action by reducing waste and curbing the
growth of disposable plastic. If per capita waste generation were reduced to the 2010 average (1.7 kg/day)
in the 91 coastal countries that exceed it, and the per cent plastic in the waste streams were capped at 11
per cent (the 192-country average in 2010), a 26 per cent decrease could be achieved by 2025.
The study underscores the need to shift the ocean conservation dialogue from beach cleanup to waste
management to ultimately preventing plastics from entering our oceans. There is evidence that this waste
is detrimental to ocean wildlife. In lab studies, we have seen that plastic has negative impacts on animals
that ingest it, and scientists have seen plastic’s impact on more than 660 species of ocean wildlife,
including every type of sea turtle, as well as the majority of other marine species like whales, dolphins,
seals, and seabirds
CO2 emissions stalled in 2014, but challenges remain
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the energy sector ‘stalled’ in 2014 even though the economy
expanded by 3 per cent during the same period, according to latest data put out by the International
Energy Agency (IEA).
It showed that the CO2 level did not increase for the first time in 40 years, marking a halt in the increase in
emissions of the greenhouse gas during a period of robust economic activity. The worldwide bust in coal
projects is being seen as a major reason.
Global emissions of CO2 stood at 32.3 billion tonnes in 2014, unchanged from the preceding year. IEA data
suggest that efforts to mitigate climate change may be having a more pronounced effect on emissions
than previously thought.
The energy agency has attributed the halt in carbon dioxide emissions to changing patterns of energy
consumption in China and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
countries.
Another factor is the coal plant construction boom that tripled globally after 2005 now turning to bust.
since 2010 hundreds of coal plant projects have been shelved or cancelled worldwide. After a period of
extraordinary growth, worldwide coal plant construction has slowed rapidly due to increasingly effective
citizen opposition, competition from renewables and economic restructuring, the study says.
environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, carbon dioxide,
Wed, Mar 18, 2015

19. When it comes to China, 2014 witnessed more and more electricity generation from renewable energy
sources such as hydropower, solar and wind. Less burning of coal was also a major contributing factor
towards lower emission level. In 2014, the country recorded a 1.6 per cent decline in power generation
from coal and the overall utilisation rate for thermal plants declined to 54 per cent, the lowest in over three
decades, according to the study.
In India, grassroots citizen opposition, coal supply issues and other problems have caused financing for
new coal plants to dry up, the study points out.
From 2003 to 2014, the amount of coal-fired generating capacity retired in the US and the EU exceeded the
new capacity by 22 per cent, the study says. However, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, Poland and the Balkans,
are still using coal.
In 40 years during which the IEA has been collecting data on carbon dioxide emission, only thrice has it
stood still or fallen compared to the previous year. However, all the three cases in early 1980s, 1992 and
2009, were related to global economic weakness.
The report will provide decision-makers an analysis of national climate pledges in the context of the recent
downturn in fossil fuel prices and suggest measures to advance climate goals without compromising on
economic growth.
‘Climate change responsible for destruction caused by cyclone Pam’
Manmade global warming is responsible for Pam, the most powerful cyclone to ever hit the South Pacific,
the cyclone has destroyed 90 per cent of the buildings in the capital city Port Vila last weekend.
The human contribution to sea level rise over the past 100 years is well documented and makes island
nations more vulnerable to storms and particularly storm surge. “When cyclones and other storms occur,
there is already a greater risk of coastal flooding because the background sea level has risen, largely due to
human-induced global warming. How much more flooding has occurred due to human action is unclear,
but ongoing sea level rise can be expected to further increase this risk unless coastal protection can be
improved, The cyclone is one of the most intense tropical storms with wind speeds of over 300 km/h.
Vanuatu is one of the world’s poorest nations. Pam had already caused major damage on other Pacific
islands, including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. Tuvalu declared a state of emergency after the cyclone
caused flash floods there.
cyclone Pam, environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, climate change,
Wed, Mar 18, 2015

20. FAO quantifies impact of natural disasters on agriculture
Nearly a quarter of damages caused by natural disasters in the developing world are borne by the
agriculture sector, according to preliminary findings of a new study of the Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO). The findings, released at the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, say
more than 22 per cent of the damages caused by natural hazards—such as drought, floods, storms or
tsunamis—are accounted for by the agriculture sector.
agriculture absorbs up to 84 percent of all economic impacts. Within the agricultural sector, 42 per cent of
assessed losses were that of crops.
These damages and losses are often incurred by poor rural and semi-rural communities without insurance
and lacking the financial resources needed to regain lost livelihoods. Yet only 4.5 percent of post-disaster
humanitarian aid in the 2003-2013 period targeted agriculture, the findings point out.
Livestock is the second most affected subsector after crops, accounting for 36 per cent of all damage and
losses, at a total of $11 billion between 2003 and 2013.
According to the study, within the agricultural sector, 42 per cent of assessed losses were to crops ($13
billion) - with floods being the main culprit, responsible for 60 per cent of crop damages, followed by
storms (23 per cent of crop damages).
But then FAO's 22 per cent figure represents only damages reported via post-disaster risk assessments, so
while indicative of scale, the actual impact is likely to be even higher, says FAO. To arrive at a closer
estimate of the true financial cost of disasters to developing world agriculture, FAO compared decreases in
yields during and after disasters with yield trends in 67 countries affected by (at least one) medium- to
larger-scale events between 2003 and 2013.
The final tally was $70 billion in damages to crops and livestock over that 10 year period, says FAO’s press
release.
disaster management, natural disasters, environment, Down to Earth, FAO, agriculture, CurrentAffairs,
Tue, Mar 17, 2015
National body to formulate standards for forest certification
After years of disagreement between the government and non-government stakeholders, the country is a
environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, forest certification,
Tue, Mar 17, 2015

21. step closer to having its own national forest certification system in place. On March 16, representatives of
forest-based industries, non-profits, forest auditors and government forest departments launched a body
called Network for Certification & Conservation of Forests (NCCF). The body will now set standards for
certifying India’s forests and their products, with an aim to ensure their sustainable management.
Forest certification is a market-based mechanism which ensures that domestic forest produce commands
better price in the global market, while encouraging sustainable harvesting of forests in the country.
Urgency to protect forests missing India, however, has made little progress in forest certification. Of the
total 78.92 million ha forest and tree cover in the country, only 0.8 million ha of forests has been certified
so far. The total supply of certified wood in India is less than 10 per cent of the total demand. The major
reason for little progress has been the government’s reluctance to subject the forests managed by it to an
independent and third party scrutiny.
To overcome this problem, the non-government actors in forestry have come together to establish India’s
own certification standards. The standards will be evaluated and endorsed by the global forest certification
body Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). PEFC, instead of prescribing a single
set of standards for sustainable forest management, helps countries build their own specific standards
and provides its certification endorsement to the forests based on these standards. For certification, the
forests will be evaluated by independent accredited forest auditors. Based on the audit report, the NCCF
and PEFC will provide the certification together.
Al Gore's ‘sunny’ proposal to India
Pollution in India is not just due to fossil fuels burnt to produce electricity— fumes from vehicles, many of
which are global brands, add to it too. There is also pollution due to disposal of e-waste dumped in India
by developed countries like the US. Why should the urgency to address climate change push renewable
energy, particularly solar, as the primary solution then?
In 2014, the US had filed a complaint against India at the World Trade Organization. The US alleged that
India's National Solar Mission discriminated against US solar equipment manufacturers as it required solar
energy producers to use locally manufactured cells, and offered subsidies to those who used domestic
(Indian-made) equipment. The country also alleged that forced requirements for localisation was a hurdle
for US-made equipment coming to India, denying US companies a greater access to the vast Indian market
of 1.2 billion people. This explains US’ interest in India’s solar journey and offers context to Gore’s
appreciation of PM’s solar mission. It could well be a political-diplomatic move through generating mass
consent.
environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs, Solar Energy, climate change,
Mon, Mar 16, 2015

22. How power can be cleaned
The use of coal to generate energy is the key reason the world is looking at a catastrophic future because
of climate change. Recognising this, global civil society has given a rousing call for coal divestment, asking
companies, universities and individuals to stop investment in coal thermal power plants.
We have a huge energy deficit, with millions of households without power for basic lighting or cooking. We
have to address access to energy as much as the environmental problems of unclean power. We need to
push for renewable—not because we can afford to do without coal, but because this source of energy
provides us the option to leapfrog to decentralised and off-grid power.
Green rating of coal-based thermal power plants, concludes that our plants are way behind the global best
in terms of performance.
More importantly, it speaks of the dire crisis in the power sector in the country, where the obsession is to
build more plants and not fix what is clearly so completely broken—supply of affordable power to all. Of
the 47 plants surveyed—accounting for roughly half the installed capacity in India in 2012—only 12 had
efficiency higher than 36 per cent, which touches China’s average.
Worse, the plant load factor has been declining in the past few years, going down to a low of 65 per cent in
2013-14, as compared to 79 per cent in 2007-08. This clearly speaks of the mismatch between demand and
supply, as state electricity companies struggle to buy power, even cheap power. This then affects the CO2
emissions from the plants.
This is not the only challenge. The fact is that power plants pollute air, consume water and dump huge
quantities of waste, namely fly ash. Indian plants have a long way to go to clean up this mess. This is not a
small matter. My colleagues have estimated that this sector alone is responsible for 70 per cent of the total
freshwater withdrawal by all industries; over 60 per cent of the particulate matter emissions; 50 per cent of
sulphur dioxide emissions and more than 80 per cent of mercury emissions.
The biggest issue is gainful use of fly ash since India’s coal is of poor quality. For every tonne of coal burnt,
35-40 per cent is generated as waste. Just consider the scale of this problem: over 40 per cent land area of
power plants is used to dump ash. Over 1 billion tonnes of ash is lying unused today and to this over 160
million tonnes are added each year. Everything we have done till date, including specifying the use of ash
in cement manufacturing and bricks, is not making a dent in the gargantuan pile of muck.
fly ash, environment, Down to Earth, coal, greenhouse gas, CurrentAffairs,
Mon, Mar 16, 2015

23. Plans for Massive Solar Power Push
The Government has a proposal to Scale up Grid Connected Solar Power Projects from 20,000 MW to
1,00,000 MW by 2022 under National Solar Mission (NSM).
massive solar power, environment, PIB, solar power, CurrentAffairs, national solar mission,
Mon, Mar 16, 2015
Why we celebrate rivers
Scientists confirm what our ancestors knew from experience. Rivers connect land, freshwater and marine
ecosystems. They host some of the world’s most diverse plant and animal communities. Rivers sustain
much of our agriculture, and their fisheries nourish millions. Their sediments protect our coastlines against
erosion by the sea, and pull carbon out of the atmosphere. Healthy rivers act as natural buffers that
balance ever more serious floods and droughts.
We often ignore that we depend on rivers for our long-term prosperity. We are damming them, polluting
them and sucking them dry. Some rivers don’t even reach the sea anymore. Between 10,000 and 20,000
freshwater species are at risk of extinction o [4] r have already died out.
Rivers and other wetlands are more strongly affected by the loss of species than any other major
ecosystem. Even so, they are currently faced by a dam-building boom of unprecedented proportions. No
less than 3,700 hydropower dams are under construction or in the pipeline right now around the world.
environment, Down to Earth, river pollution, CurrentAffairs, rivers,
Sun, Mar 15, 2015
Vice president inaugurates international conference on ‘global environment issues’
Environmental degradation and climate change are amongst the foremost challenges confronting human
civilization in our times. The protection and preservation of environment and its sustainable management
are essential for the survival of humanity and our planet, as we know it
Human activities result in significant environmental changes that cause damage to species, ecosystems
and ecological processes. Preservation of the integrity of these ecological components is critical,
considering they provide the bio-physical base necessary for human life, such as water, land, air, forests,
biodiversity.
National Green Tribunal, environment, PIB, NGT, CurrentAffairs, CBDR,
Sat, Mar 14, 2015

24. There is near consensus among scientists that climate change is unequivocal. Increase in anthropogenic
activities has built up concentration of Greenhouse Gases in our atmosphere, leading to global warming.
This in turn, could lead to changes in rainfall patterns, disruption in hydrological cycles, melting of ice caps
and glaciers, rise in sea levels, and increase in frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heavy
precipitation or cyclones. These developments can have a serious impact on sustainability of water
resources, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, affecting the well-being of billions of people.
Sustainability of economic development crucially hinges on the protection of environment. For us in India,
challenges of arresting the pace of degradation of environment are formidable due to the imperatives of
maintaining high economic growth, increasing trends of urbanisation, population growth, industrialisation,
unmet basic needs, life style changes and biotic pressures.
India’s policy goal of achieving sustainable development and addressing emerging global environmental
concerns, such as, climate change, ozone depletion and bio-dieversity loss, is guided by the principle of
‘common but differentiated responsibility’. India prefers an ‘aspirational’ rather than a mandatory or
‘prescriptive’ approach. We believe that the issue of sustainable development should be approached with a
sense of equity; and the development aspirations of the developing countries should be built into the
green economy principles being evolved at the international level.
Green Energy Corridor Project
A Green Energy Corridor project for evacuation of renewable energy from generation points to the load
centres by creating intra-state and inter-state transmission infrastructure is under implementation in
renewable resource rich states for the likely renewable power capacity addition during 12thFive Year Plan
period, i.e., by March 2017.
The intra-state transmission component of the project is being implemented by the respective states and
the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) is implementing inter-state transmission component.
environment, PIB, green energy corridor, CurrentAffairs,
Thu, Mar 12, 2015
Potential of Renewable Energy in Desert Areas
The Minister further stated that in December 2013, the PGCIL had submitted a study report titled “Desert
Power India- 2050” assessing renewable power potential, transmission infrastructure requirement,
balancing reserve etc in the identified desert regions. The report has assessed the total available potential
Desert, environment, Renewable energy, PIB, CurrentAffairs, Solar Energy,
Thu, Mar 12, 2015

25. of 315.7 GW of solar and wind power in these regions. The report has further estimated that the
investment requirement for harnessing the available potential upto 2050 would be Rs 43,74,550 crore.
The investments in renewable energy power projects are mainly by private sector. Government provides
some incentives in the forms of generation based incentives, viability gap funding. Besides, fiscal incentives
such as accelerated depreciation, concessional customs duty, excise duty exemption, income tax holiday
for 10 years and preferential tariff are provided for renewable energy power projects, the Minister added.
Short-lived pollutants: the other part of climate agenda
The world is clearly slipping on its targets to reign in heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Action
on cutting carbon dioxide emissions is not easy as the world has to re-invent growth as it knows it today to
reduce emissions, and it has to share that growth between nations.
In the past few years, attention has turned to the basket of gases known as ‘short-lived climate pollutants’ –
which unlike carbon dioxide have a much shorter life in the atmosphere. Out of these, the UN’s
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had long recognised methane, nitrous oxide and
hydrofluorocarbons as greenhouse gases. In the mid-2000s, another candidate emerged, black carbon –
the dark core of particulate matter, which is a product of incomplete combustion and already a deadly
local pollutant, contributing to high health burden.
Each of these pollutants has their own story and underlying politics to tell. Black carbon is the recipe of
toxic smog and haze that kills. This comes from vehicle emissions as well as from the cookstoves of the
poor; methane is the warming agent from wet rice cultivation but also from oil and gas production and
municipal waste of the rich. Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) is a substitute chemical that the world found to avert
the danger of thinning of ozone layer, but it is also a super-greenhouse gas.
Science: Complex but more certain
Science makes a distinction between CO2 that lives long in the atmosphere – more than 100 to 500 years –
and those pollutants that have much shorter life span – a few hours to 20 years. But the short-lived
pollutants cause significant warming for the period they are in the atmosphere.
It can be problematic to estimate the relative contribution of CO2 and short-lived climate pollutants to
global temperature change. Some available estimates show that while CO2 is responsible for about 75 per
cent of the warming so far, short-lived climate pollutants contribute to the rest. However, in the long term,
Air pollution, HFCs, methane, environment, black carbon, Montreal Protocol, Climate Change, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs,
Short lived pollutants,
Wed, Mar 11, 2015

26. it is the contribution of CO2 that will decide the peak temperature rise in the world. We also know that
CO2, already emitted, has committed the world to long-term warming. In the short term, however, it is
short-lived climate pollutants that will determine the frequency and intensity of temperature spurts for as
long as they are in the air.
If both CO2 and short-lived climate pollutants continue to rise then it will be much harder to meet the 2°C
temperature rise stabilisation target – which is accepted as the guardrail to avoid catastrophic impacts of
climate change. If annual emissions of CO2 continue to remain at today’s level, the greenhouse gas levels
would be close to 550 ppm by 2050. This would mean temperature increase of 3-5°C. It is now accepted
that stabilising CO2 will not be enough to keep the world below 2°C rise. This is because CO2 has a long life
and once emitted it continues to heat the planet for years to come. It is therefore, now recommended that
only if CO2 mitigation is conjoined with methane and black carbon mitigation the temperature rise can be
kept below 2°C temperature rise (see Graph: Contribution of CO2 and short term forcers to global
warming).
Co-benefit agenda: Needs the world to act differently There is another difference between CO2 and many
of the short-lived climate pollutants. In most cases, these pollutants not only have global and regional
impacts but also have highly adverse impacts on human health and the environment at the local level.
Therefore, there is good reason to abate and mitigate these pollutants for local, not just global benefits.
For instance, black carbon is clearly indicted for local air pollution across the cities of the world; it adds to
the health burden of poor women who have no option but to cook food, using biomass on inefficient
stoves. Then there is the fact that cutting these emissions is good for the local environment – methane, for
instance, can be captured from landfills and so improve waste management. This is the opportunity.
But there is also a threat. Action on this agenda of cobenefits requires a new compact between nations
built on the following principles:
Action must not take away from the agenda to cut CO2 emissions. It cannot become a proxy for action on
climate change so that it shifts the blame and burden to developing countries. The world must commit
itself to drastic, urgent and equitable CO2 reduction targets. Action must differentiate between luxury and
survival emissions – those that are emitted by the rich must be aggressively targeted and those that are
emitted by the poor needs supportive policies to incentivize action. Action on black carbon – which is not
part of the Kyoto six package of greenhouse gases – must be accounted for differently so that countries
that take action to leapfrog to cleaner fuel and cleaner technology can claim advantage but not be worried
that it takes away from climate change agreements key target – reduction of CO2 emissions. Methane
mitigation Methane is emitted largely from coal mining, oil and gas production, municipal solid waste and
wet rice fields. Methane is not only warming in itself it also contributes towards formation of regional
ozone that is also warming and harmful for health. North America and Europe can contribute enormously
to climate mitigation from methane emissions with stringent action on coal mining, oil and gas production,
and better management of municipal waste. These are also the luxury emissions. Methane from waste is a
resource and there is significant scope of capturing this from municipal waste in the energy starved

27. developing world. On the other hand methane emissions from the wet rice cultivation is linked with the
livelihood of the poor. If global support can be mobilized to promote sustainable wet rice cultivation
practices it will not only help to reduce methane emissions but also push towards more water prudent
agricultural practices. Phasing out HFCs Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) is a halogenated gas, which replaced
the chemical that the world found was destroying its ozone layer. HFC was the substitute for
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). But this ozone-savior chemical has a
very high global warming potential. The current contribution to climate forcing of HFCs is less than 1.0 per
cent of the total forcing from all other greenhouse gases combined. As HFC is being phased in across the
world, because of the need to substitute HCFC, their contribution to climate forcing is set to grow
significantly. But the world has the opportunity not to first phase in a chemical, which is destructive for
climate change and then to phase it out. But this is where the commerce of chemicals and its politics
begins. There has been a growing demand to put in place an international mechanism to reduce the
emissions of HFCs. But a major dispute has emerged between countries on where HFCs reduction should
be addressed. Many developing countries (India being the most vocal), want HFCs reduction to be
discussed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Developed
countries (with the US taking the lead in the discussions), supported by many developing countries, want
to address HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. As HFCs use has increased due to CFCs and HCFCs phase-
out pushed by the Montreal Protocol, referring to Article 2.1 of the Vienna Convention, in 2009, the US,
Canada and Mexico submitted a joint proposal to include HFCs under its jurisdiction. Micronesia along with
Mauritius (which has been subsequently co-sponsored by Maldives and Morocco) also submitted a
proposal to amend the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs. These countries argue that the Montreal
Protocol has the institutional capacity and the Multilateral Fund to pay for HFCs reduction in developing
countries. They also cite the track record of action under Montreal as evidence of a global agreement that
can deliver fast results. What also goes against UNFCCC is that it is not designed for a phase down/out of
specific gases. But the counter argument is that HFCs are not the only fluorinated gas (Fgas) in the UNFCCC
basket that needs to be phased out. Other F-gases, who are also replacement of ODS’, are likely to increase
rapidly in the future as well. For many developing countries, there are unanswered questions regarding
the HFCs phase-down under the Montreal Protocol. What is the best technology to move to? Who will pay
for the transition if the costs are high? What will be impact of the phase-down on the industry and the
economy? Then there is the politics of gases and patents. Some developed countries are pushing patented
low-GWP products as a substitute for high-GWP HFCs. US companies are pushing for hydrofluoroolefins
(HFOs); DuPont is promoting HFOs as the “fourth generation” refrigerant following in the footsteps of CFCs,
HCFCs and HFCs. Japanese companies are pushing for HFC-32, a medium-GWP HFC, as most energy
efficient drop-in substitute for highest consuming HCFC-22. But there are also non-patented gases and
substitutes that are fast emerging: In domestic refrigerators and freezers, use of hydrocarbons is rapidly
increasing. Globally, close to 50% of all new productions use hydrocarbons. In India, close to 10 million
hydrocarbon-based refrigerators have been sold in the market so far. In domestic air conditioners,
propane and CO2 are slowly catching-up. In both India and China, companies have started commercial
production of propane based air conditioners which are much more energy efficient than HCFC or HFC
based air conditioners. In Polyurethane foams sector, HCFCs is being directly substituted with
hydrocarbons in developing countries. China and Brazil, for instance, intend to use methyl formate and
other hydrocarbons instead of high-GWP HFCs. India plans to switch to cyclopentane in its first stage of

28. HCFC phase-out management plan for the foam sector. The assertion that developing countries are going
to move to HFCs in all sectors to phase-out HCFCs is not true. For instance, in the Polyurethane foams
sector most are moving to hydrocarbons. In fact some developing countries have made demands to move
to non-HFCs low-GWP alternative directly from HCFCs. It is quite clear that commercial alternatives exist to
HFCs. It is also clear that it would be economically efficient, apart from the fact that most non-HFC
alternatives are energy efficient as well, for the developing countries to make a one-time transition from
HCFCs to non-HFCs alternatives like hydrocarbons. The key issue is how best to make this transition
without disrupting the growth in these sectors. Most developing countries are not averse to phasing down
HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. What they want is clarity and certainty on technology and the means of
implementation. For example, if HFCs were added to the Montreal Protocol, the Multilateral Fund would
require significant additional resources. There is no clarity on how these resources would be mobilized. To
get clarity on such issues, developing countries should agree to setup a contact group under the Montreal
Protocol to discuss the means of implementation. Such a contact group would ensure discussions go
beyond just the US’s proposed amendments and include the larger issue of management of HFCs and the
finance and technology aspects of the transition. As HFCs are currently covered under UNFCCC, moving
HFCs to the Montreal Protocol should also be agreed by all parties to the UNFCCC. This would give
confidence to the developing countries that the principles of equity and the Common but Differentiated
Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities of the UNFCCC are secured. Most importantly, this will ensure
that the differentiation between developed and developing countries under Montreal Protocol remain.
Also, to complement each other, the phase down of production and consumption of HFCs should be
addressed under the Montreal Protocol and the reporting on HFCs emissions should be done under the
UNFCCC, as has been agreed at the G20 Summit in St Petersburg. As developed countries are largest
consumers and emitters of HFCs, they should quickly phase-out HFCs. This will open up the market for
alternatives and new environment-friendly technologies for developing countries to leapfrog to.
Can polluting brick kilns be cleaned up?
Countries of the South have a massive “under-construction” agenda – as much as 70 per cent of India, for
instance, is yet to be built. Vast quantities of material are going to be needed to build homes, offices and
factories. The chief building material thus far has been bricks. The standard practice is to dig clay and mud
from fields, make it into bricks, and then fire them in inefficient furnaces using a variety of fuels. Brick kilns
operate across the world – from China to Peru – and burn anything that is cheap and available to fire.
brick kilns are estimated to consume 110 million tonne of coal in Asia – with China using 50 million tonne.
Kilns have huge variations in efficiency and it could take anything between 11 to 70 tonne of coal to fire
100,000 bricks.
environment, Down to Earth, Brick Kilns, CurrentAffairs,
Wed, Mar 11, 2015

29. It is also estimated that globally, the brick industry produces 1.5 trillion bricks every year, of which 87 per
cent are produced in Asia, with China leading with 67 per cent of the global production.
India is the world’s second largest producer, with over 200 billion bricks manufactured each year – the
fertile alluvial regions of the Indo-Gangetic plains produce over 65 per cent of the country’s bricks.
There is a huge environmental cost of the manufacture of this building material – from emission of black
carbon and local air pollution to the loss of valuable top-soil. The estimations of black carbon emissions
from this sector vary but studies have pointed out that these could be as high as 9 per cent of the total
black carbon emissions in India.
Technology: Varied and outdated
It would be wrong to think that the age-old tradition of making bricks has not innovated in terms of
technology. In fact, many technologies with varying designs, methods and efficiencies are in use in
different countries (see Table: The global brick kiln industry–countries and production).
Brick kilns are of two types – traditional intermittent technology-based and the relatively newer continuous
technology-based. Intermittent kilns can further be classified on the basis of the direction of flow of hot
gases into up-draught and down-draught ones. Continuous technology is more energy-efficient as it allows
for heat recovery from flue gas as well as hot bricks. The most important examples of continuous
technology are fixed chimney bull trench kiln (FCBTK), zigzag kilns, and vertical shaft brick kilns (VSBK) (see
Figure: Classification of brick kilns based on firing technology).
China, for instance, the only country where the brickmaking sector is organised, uses the relatively more
advanced Hoffman kiln. India uses clamps (intermittent) and fixed chimney bull trench (FCBTK).
The technology employed determines the fuel usage and the nature and amount of emissions from a brick
kiln. The FCBTK – which produces more than 65 per cent of the bricks made in India – is highly resource-
intensive and polluting. Clamp technology is equally polluting but because it does not have any fixed
structures, the initial cost of setting up the kiln is very little. It is also difficult to enforce regulations on
these kilns which can literally be moved from place to place.
A tunnel kiln is much more expensive to set up and requires much less humanpower in comparison to an
FCBTK or a zigzag. It is considered to be the best technology available till date for large-scale production of
bricks and is widely used in industrialised countries. The advantages of tunnel kiln technology lie in its
ability to fire a variety of products; good control over the firing process; ease of mechanisation, thus
reducing the labour requirement; and large production volume.

30. The way ahead: Improve technology or change the material?
It is clear that while brick making has environmental impacts and huge social costs because of poor
working conditions, it provides the most readily available and cost-effective building material. It is also a
fact that countries of the South will need these materials – at affordable costs – to meet the expanding
housing challenge. One option continues to be improvement in technology, ban on inefficient kilns, and
enforcement of stringent emission standards to contain pollution. The other option is to look beyond the
mud-clay brick and find building materials which are environmentally suitable and less polluting.
Part of the challenge – and opportunity – is to explore the possibility of sourcing building material from
industrial and mining waste. This will usher in a new era of recycling and reuse and improve material
efficiency. For instance, India has a growing “waste” of construction and demolition material that is
currently being dumped and ends up clogging and destroying water bodies.
Similarly, India has a massive problem of disposal of fly ash – the ash content is as much as 35-40 per cent
in the coal used in thermal power plants. The more coal the country burns for generating power the more
ash there is to dispose. CSE’s rating of thermal power plants estimates that thermal plants “waste” as much
as 40 per cent of their land to dump ash. Alhough MoEF&CC has notified that fly ash must be used in
cement manufacturing and brick making, there is still a long way to go before the country can utilise this
growing heap of waste. A 2003 notification stipulates the use of 25 per cent fly ash in brick and block
making within a 100 km radius of a coal-based thermal power plant.
Pastoralism beneficial to humanity, says UN study
A recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report says that pastoralism—traditional way of
livestock rearing on rangelands—is beneficial to humanity.
The paper was released at the third scientific conference of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) in Cancun, Mexico, recently. The study, Pastoralism and the Green Economy-a
Natural Nexus?, shows that sustainable pastoralism on desert grasslands, woodlands and steppes
maintains soil fertility, contributes to water regulation and promotes biodiversity.
Pastoralism is practised by up to half a billion people across the world. The report calls for the
establishment of a global development framework to endorse this traditional method of livestock rearing.
environment, Down to Earth, UNEP, CurrentAffairs, pastoral community,
Wed, Mar 11, 2015

31. Though pastoralism has several benefits, underinvestment over the decades has deteriorated the lifestyle
in many developing countries.
Highlighting the benefit of pastoralism, Steiner added, “As developing economies grow and middle classes
flourish, the demand for animal protein is only set to expand. With smart, targeted policies, a revitalized
attention to pastoralism can play a significant role in fulfilling this demand whilst protecting rangeland
biodiversity and ecosystem services and reducing greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere.”
Carbon sequestration (capture and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide) provides an example of how
pastoralism can support green economy. Grazing lands cover five billion hectares globally. Sequestration
between 200-500 kg of carbon per hectare per year plays a vital role in climate change mitigation. Up to 70
per cent of dryland soil carbon can be lost through conversion to agricultural use, says the UNEP report.
Effective animal grazing promotes biodiversity and biomass production needed to maintain these carbon
stores, the report adds.
Coordinator of International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Global Drylands Initiative Jonathan
Davies said, “When pastoralism is practised efficiently, it conserves biodiversity and rangeland
environments, providing a wide range of benefits to humanity.”
There are several instances from across the world that uphold the benefits of pastoralism. In Spain, the
seasonal movement of pastoralists and their herds along migration corridors supports habitat connectivity
and biodiversity. This happens through the transportation of seeds and insects by sheep.
In Australia, livestock grazing by pastoralists on invasive grass species has conserved the Bridled Nailtail
Wallaby—a species endemic to Australia and listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species.
The India story
According to the report, livestock has sustained the rural people of Rajasthan during times of drought.
State government data suggests that 80 per cent of rural families in Rajasthan keep livestock and 35 per
cent of the total income of small and marginal farmers comes from dairy and animal husbandry.
However, this back-up economy, is witnessing a slow death becau
Brick kilns major source of air pollution in South Asia

32. A study claims that brick kilns near south Delhi contribute around 10 per cent of the total air pollution in
the area. The fuels used in the brick kilns—agri-wastes, powder coals and used tyres—can also be linked to
15 per cent of the total premature deaths due to air pollution in the area.
kilns are behind 30 per cent of the total air pollution in Dhaka and 11 per cent of the total air pollution in
Patna.
The study cites Global Burden of Disease report that says outdoor air pollution was the reason for 627,000
premature deaths in India in 2010 [2] . “The share of brick kilns in national emissions can be 5 per cent to
15 per cent,
Traditional brick kiln technologies like FCBTK (fixed chimney bull trench kiln) emit high amounts of black
carbon. There is need to transition from traditional kiln technologies to modern ones such as VSBK
(vertical shaft brick kilns) or tunnel kilns
Air pollution, environment, Down to Earth, Brick Kilns, CurrentAffairs, South Asia,
Wed, Mar 11, 2015
Brick kilns destroying fertile top soil
India is the second largest producer of bricks in the world and manufactures nearly 200 billion bricks a
year. The paper states that 65 per cent of these bricks are produced in the Indo-Gangetic plains, which
have one of the world’s most fertile alluvial plains.
the study found that farmers who leased their lands to brick kilns not just suffered monetary losses, their
land also lost fertility.
The land was leased at Rs 60,000 per acre (one acre equals 0.4 hectare) for three years. But the monetary
returns received from crops were found to be far more, says Kathuria. Besides, farming also provided
livelihood and food security, he adds.
The farmers not only lost their top soil, but even natural manure. It took them more than three years to
bring back the levels of natural manure in the soil. The fertility, however, is still not the same.
Kathuria says it high time for India to encourage the use of fly ash and construction and demolition waste
for making bricks. “We do not have enough policies related to these issues
environment, Down to Earth, Fertile top soil, Brick Kilns, CurrentAffairs,
Wed, Mar 11, 2015

33. Switzerland, EU are the first to submit ‘Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions’
Switzerland has become the first among nations to submit its Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDCs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations, with the EU closely
following suit
Switzerland has witnessed a temperature rise of 1.75°c due to global warming since 1864 when record-
keeping began. It intends to set up new policy frameworks and build on existing strategies “to cut
emissions by 50 per cent by 2030”. This includes “elaborating a draft for consultation at national level of its
national climate policy for the period 2021-2030.” The country shall also partly use carbon credits from
international mechanisms to offset emissions. Switzerland also “supports the inclusion of international
aviation and shipping on the basis of future internationally agreed rules”. Currently, though, aviation and
shipping do not form part of its INDCs.
The rich European country’s long-term goal is to reduce its emissions by 70 to 85 per cent by 2050
compared to 1990 emission levels. This includes reducing its per capita emissions to 1-1.5 tCO2 eq in the
longer term. Currently, Switzerland’s per capita emissions are 6 tCO2 eq. In comparison, India’s per capita
emissions currently stand at a paltry 1.93 tCO2 eq. In 2025, Switzerland anticipates the reduction of its
greenhouse gases by 35 per cent compared to 1990 levels. ‘EU keeps ambition low’
Closely following Switzerland in leading efforts to formulate INDCs, the European Union (EU), too, has
submitted its climate action plan in the form of quantifiable INDCs. In line with its objective of cutting its
emissions by 40 per cent by 2030, the EU, like Switzerland, has chosen the year 1990 as the baseline and
covers almost all sectors, including waste and agriculture. The aviation sector is, however, not explicitly
mentioned. The EU, though, has been criticised by the civil society for its 40 per cent emission reduction
target which it is believed is not ambitious enough.
The EU, in its INDC, focuses on including land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) in its 2030
mitigation framework before 2020. EU, which is now a 28-member group, will submit its legislative
proposals to implement the 2030 climate and energy framework, “both in the emissions trading sector and
in the non-traded sector to the Council and European Parliament in 2015-2016”.
However, as opposed to the Switzerland’s climate action plan, there is no contribution of international
credits to EU’s emission reduction plans. EU considers its INDC as fair and ambitious as it is progressive in
comparison to 20 per cent by 2020, which it had proposed earlier. According to the EU, this target is also in
line with 80-95 per cent cuts by 2050 against 1990 emissions levels.
Paris climate deal, European Union, environment, Climate Change, Down to Earth, EU, CurrentAffairs, Switzerland, INDCs,
Tue, Mar 10, 2015

34. As a part of the agreed process at the Lima climate summit, a synthesis report, in October 2015, would
compile the aggregate result of INDCs to determine whether they will limit temperature rise the 2°C target,
required for preventing dangerous anthropogenic effects of climate change. It is to be noted that India
would submit its INDC by June 2015.
INDCs would form key element of the Paris 2015 agreement where countries are scheduled to sign a new
climate agreement which would come into force by 2020.
Natural disasters will soon cost the world $314 billion annually: UN
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), in a report [2] , has said as much as US $314 billion will
have to be spent every year to meet annual average losses from just earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical
cyclones and river flooding.
With over 8,000 expected delegates, this event will see the launch of a new global Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction that will replace the 10-year Hyogo Framework for Action adopted at a 2005 UN conference
in Kobe. At Sendai, countries are expected to announce their commitments on reducing the impact of
disasters, which have claimed over 1.3 million lives and cost the global economy at least $2 trillion in the
past 20 years.
The report, Making Development Sustainable: The Future of Disaster Risk Management, provides a sober
review of the 10 years which have passed since the last world conference on disaster risk reduction at
Kobe in Japan when nations adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action, the global guide for disaster risk
management.
According to the report estimates, an investment of US $6 billion annually in disaster risk management
would result in avoided losses of US $360 billion over the next 15 years (till 2030). It states that this US $6
billion is just 0.1 per cent of total forecast expenditure of US $6 trillion annually on new infrastructure.
Unequally shared burden
Relating the loss of human life years to the global disasters (that were reported), the report reveals that
between 1980 and 2012, more than 1.3 billion life years were lost worldwide in internationally reported
disasters, making for an annual average of 42 million life years. It is almost equivalent to loss of life years
Sendai Framework, disaster management, Hyogo Framework, environment, Down to Earth, CurrentAffairs,
Tue, Mar 10, 2015

35. due to TB or malaria. Over 90 per cent of the total life years lost in disasters are spread across low and
middle-income countries. The risk is unevenly spread and concentrated in low-income households within
the countries. Disaster risk is, therefore, a challenge that is unevenly spread,
India’s GDP most at risk due to floods
The socio-economic development is expected to concentrate more people, buildings, infrastructure and
other assets in vulnerable regions and such regions are more prone to risks. Top 15 countries in this
ranking account for nearly 80 per cent of the total population affected every year and all of these nations
fall in the category of least developed or developing.
Three South Asian nations—India, Bangladesh and Pakistan—are most at risk from river floods, with an
increasing number of people threatened because of extensive urbanisation and the climate challenges in
low-lying regions, says the study. India, with 4.84 million people at risk due to floods, has by far the most
GDP exposed to risks, at $14.3 billion.
According to the report, more than 50 per cent of cities in the world which are most at risk of natural
disasters are located in just four countries—the Philippines, China, Japan and Bangladesh—and three out
of these are developing.
Censure for nations
The UNISDR has expressed disappointment over the lack of political will and determination in promoting
and integrating disaster risk reduction into development programming, as per the Hyogo Framework of
Action, and demands more action from the countries as this framework on disaster risk reduction comes
to a close. At the Sendai conference, the member states are like to adopt a new framework that will
succeed the Hyogo framework [12] . This new framework will guide how the countries should achieve the
policy goal of disaster risk reduction in the coming years.
Eight reasons to act now Future losses (expected annual losses) from disasters such as earthquakes,
tsunamis, cyclones and flooding are now reaching an average of US $250 billion to US$300 billion. Future
losses (expected annual losses) are now estimated at US $314 billion in the built environment alone.
Annual investments of US $6 billion only in appropriate disaster risk management strategies could
generate benefits in terms of risk reduction of US $360 billion. Low and middle-income countries are more
prone to disaster risks. In the last decade, losses due to extensive risk in 85 countries and territories were
equivalent to a total of US $94 billion. Between 1980 and 2012, 42 million life years were lost in
internationally reported disasters each year and around 80 per cent of the total life years lost in disasters
are spread across low- and middle-income countries. Climate change is and would magnify risks and
increase the cost of disasters. Developing world is expected to see more GDP exposed to flood risks in
2030, driven largely by socio-economic change. Whether developed or developing nations, climate change

36. will affect all. By 2030, river floods could affect 2 million more people and climate change is expected to
drive 70 percent of this. The governments must now be serious about tackling the underlying drivers of
disaster risk—poverty, climate change, poor urban planning and land use, and lack of building codes,
which contribute significantly to the creation of risk.
Investing in disaster risk reduction makes a good business sense and demands serious, collaborative
action and commitment from government and the private sector.
Blending of Ethanol
The quantity of ethanol supplied by the ethanol producers has been blended with petrol by the OMCs
during the said period.
Moreover, in order to improve the availability of ethanol, the Government, on December 10, 2014, fixed
the price of Ethanol in the Range of Rs. 48.50 to Rs. 49.50, depending upon the distance of distillery from
the depot/installation of the OMCs. The rates are inclusive of all central and statutory levies,
transportation cost etc, which would be borne by the Ethanol suppliers.
Further, ethanol produced from other non-food feedstocks besides molasses, like cellulosic and ligno
cellulosic materials including petrochemical route, has also been allowed to be procured subject to
meeting the relevant Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.
environment, PIB, CurrentAffairs, current affairs, Ethanol,
Mon, Mar 9, 2015
Share of Solar Energy
With an installed capacity of about 3000 MW solar power, the share of solar energy is about 2% in the
power sector of the country. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed to scale up Grid
Connected Solar Power targets from 20,000 MW to 1,00,000 MW by 2022. The target includes 40,000 MW
roof-top solar photovoltaics, 57,000 MW large solar projects and 3,000 MW already installed.
India already has installed capacity of over 34 GW from various renewable energy sources which is 13% of
the total installed capacity of power generation in the country. As per Global Status Report, REN 21, India’s
global position in renewable energy capacity installation is 5th in the world.
environment, Renewable energy, PIB, CurrentAffairs, solar energy,
Mon, Mar 9, 2015

37. Subsidy on Rooftop Solar Power Plants
The Minister further stated that several steps are being taken by the Government which are as follows:
(i) The Ministry is implementing a ‘Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme’ that
encourages the installation of solar rooftop systems across the country.
( ii) There are provisions of concessional import duty/excise duty exemption, accelerated depreciation and
tax holiday for setting up of grid connected rooftop power plants.
(iii) Department of Financial services has instructed to all Public Sector Banks to encourage home loan/
home improvement loan seekers to install rooftop solar PV plants and include cost of system in their home
loan proposals.
(iv) With constant effort of the Ministry, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions of seventeen States have
notified regulatory framework on net-metering/feed-in-tariff to encourage rooftop solar plants.
(v) Public awareness is being created through electronic & print media, workshops, seminars and
capacity building programmes.
(vi) Subsidy is being provided to make the scheme more attractive and online submission of proposals is
being encouraged.
(vii) Implementation is being done through State Nodal Agencies, Multi Government Agencies, Solar
Energy Corporation of India, Distribution Companies etc. to ensure better reach across the country.
rooftop solar, environment, PIB, solar power, CurrentAffairs,
Mon, Mar 9, 2015
‘Renewable energy targets not unrealistic’
Asked how it was possible to achieve the goal of 100,000 MW of solar capacity by 2022, he said the Centre
was banking on innovative ways of financing the capacity addition and drawing up bankable power
purchase agreements in this sector.
If this is achieved, the sheer economies of scale will bring the price of solar power down even further
environment, CurrentAffairs, Solar Energy, Businessline, Renewable Energy,
Sun, Mar 8, 2015