Opinion
Where did the 'green' go?
07 Jul 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| DNA
The Budget dashes the hopes generated in the run-up. The key issues concerning energy and environmental challenges were given a rather lukewarm treatment.
One of the burning issues that should have been resolved when oil prices slumped is petroleum pricing. Despite all the hype, recognition of India\'s import dependence and, in turn, sensitivity to international price fluctuations, the only big promise in the Budget was yet another expert group on the subject. The focus is only on petrol and diesel. It\'s time the government addressed LPG and kerosene subsidy as well. Even if we have to wait for a smart card system, before moving to an effective subsidy delivery system, the groundwork for these changes is needed.
Budget for low-carbon economy
06 Jul 2009 |
Dr Divya Datt
| The Financial Express
The Budget of any government makes a powerful statement of its priorities and signals the political will for reform. World over, fiscal policy is addressing itself to environmental concerns through the introduction of eco-taxes, but more importantly by internalising the environmental consequences of expenditure budgets, taxes, subsidies and pricing policies across sectors.
US cleans up its energy act
30 Jun 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle
The US House of Representatives on Friday passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act by a narrow margin of 17 votes. It still has one more test to pass, which would be when it is presented to the Senate for final approval. Everyone realises that this will not be a cakewalk and may result in further dilution of the Bill, which would obviously impact its contribution to climate change mitigation efforts.
The nowhere people
29 Jun 2009 |
Mr Sakarama Somayaji
| Financial Chronicle
In Singur, West Bengal, when several villagers protested against the takeover of their land by the state government, to be handed over to the Tatas, what they were afraid of was not that they would not get the compensation money, but that they would not benefit otherwise from the development. Their children would not get employment; they would have to move away from the area; and politicians would make money from the industrialists.
Action on warming is imperative
25 Jun 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Taipei Times and Gulf Times
Today, international action on climate change is urgent and essential. Indeed, there can no longer be any debate about the need to act, because the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), of which I am chairman, has established climate change as an unequivocal reality beyond scientific doubt.
For instance, changes are taking place in precipitation patterns, with a trend toward higher precipitation levels in the world\'s upper latitudes and lower precipitation in some subtropical and tropical regions, as well as in the Mediterranean area.
How the media is creating a climate for change
24 Jun 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| SciDev.net
The media has played a central role in spreading awareness on climate change over the past two years. I find this particularly satisfying because when I was elected vice-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1997, I highlighted the importance of outreach for disseminating IPCC reports as rich sources of scientific knowledge on climate change.
The agenda for environment
16 Jun 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle
The ministry of environment and forests got a new minister, Jairam Ramesh, who took charge just a few days before World Environment Day on June 5. Recognised for his penchant for infrastructure growth and the role of industry, it came as little surprise that most TV media channels on June 5 focused their debates on the prospects for India’s environment and forests under such a proponent of economic growth — especially when he was widely interpreted as having stated that the environment would not be an impediment to economic growth!
Growth for all
05 Jun 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
The first and most important change that the new government at the Centre ought to address is shifting the pattern of development itself. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is aware of recent trends that distort the very concept of sustainable development, essentially through blind aping of everything that defines lifestyles in the developed countries. The unregulated growth of shopping malls, each guzzling several megawatts of electricity; the unsustainable exploitation of our groundwater resources, driven essentially by heavy subsidies on the price of electricity for farmers; and incursions into tribal areas and agricultural or forest lands for setting up industrial projects all of these violate the very fundamentals of sustainable development.
New approach to infrastructure
02 Jun 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle
Sure, it was a long process, but the cabinet that finally emerged and the ministers occupying the key posts, which could have a significant impact on development, give us a reason to cheer. They make us believe that when the government says that the focus in their second term will be on inclusive growth, strengthening the infrastructure sector and boosting livelihood opportunities for the poor, it will happen. For the sake of the future of India’s millions, it must happen.
This silent suffering
29 May 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Guardian
Science is now unequivocal as to the reality of climate change. However, one facet - its human face - has been dangerously neglected. Until now. Given what the science tells us about global warming, how many people around the world will be affected, in what way, and at what cost?
These are the questions that a major new report attempts to answer for the first time. Its findings indicate that hundreds of millions of people are already permanently or temporarily affected, and half a billion are at extreme risk now. Because of climate change, each year hundreds of thousands lose their lives. All these figures are set to increase rapidly in as little as 10-20 years.