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CLIMATE CHANGE INDIA: CSE

July 26, 2008 at 1:00 am | In Asia, Development, Earth, Financial, Research, Third World, World-system | Leave a Comment

The mean world of climate change –

CSE News Bulletin [July 25, 2008]‏

CSE’s Fortnightly News Bulletin

July 25, 2008

cse@lists.csenews.org

feedback@cseindia.org

Fri 7/25/08

An e-bulletin from CSE, India, to our network of friends and professionals interested in environmental issues. .

CSE is an independent, public interest organisation that was established in 1982 by Anil Agarwal, a pioneer of India’s environmental movement.
CSE’s mandate is to research, communicate and promote sustainable development with equity, participation and democracy.

INSIDE:

Climate Change coverage
- Editorial – The mean world of climate change (By Sunita Narain)
- News: Action begins – India unveils strategy to counter climate change
- Science & Technology: Indian scientists seek clarity on nitrogen emissions
- Photo Essay – Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
- Factsheet: GHG inventory
- Interview: Fergus Auld (British High Commission, India)

Right to Clean Air campaign
- Press release: Fuel economy standards for cars a step in the right
direction

In Down To Earth magazine
- Extreme trespass (Cover story)
- Dangerous and illegal (News)
- Surrogate salesmen (Opinion)
- Who dares trash them? (Feature)
- Elite schools lend campuses to poor children (Feature)
- Court orders illegal mines in MP to shut shop (News)
- Active threat: Radioactive waste spills over into fields in Jharkhand
(News)
- All cracked up (News)
- Engulfing apathy: Mine subsides in West Bengal (News)
- Saving the papaya: Specific aphid identified as predominant virus
vector (Science & Technology News)
- No identity crisis: Indian red jungle fowl are genetically pure
(Science & Technology News)

CSE events, short courses
- Green Schools Teachers’ Training Programme (Aug 21-22)
- Wastewater treatment and reuse for engineers, architects, builders
(Aug. 25-29)
- Managing information resources in the digital age (Sept. 2-5, 2008)

Book Release event in Bangalore [August 4,2008]
6th State of India’s Environment – a citizens’ report
Rich lands, poor people: Is sustainable mining possible?
* Mine No More: A tabloid

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Editorial: The mean world of climate change
(By Sunita Narain)

=============================

The Prime Minister has released India’s national action plan on climate
change. For those engaged in the business of environment and climate,
the plan may offer nothing new or radical. But, as I see it, the plan
asserts India can grow differently, because “it is in an early stage of
development”. In other words, it can leapfrog to a low carbon economy,
using high-end and emerging technologies and by being different. Also,
it prioritizes national action by setting out eight missions — ranging
from solar to climate research — which will be detailed and then
monitored by the PM’s council for climate change.

But the plan is weak on how India sees the rest of the world in this
extraordinary crisis. Climate change is a global challenge. We did not
create it and, till date, we contribute little to global emissions. We
are, in fact, climate-victims.

Let us also be clear that international negotiations on climate change
stink. The mood is downright belligerent and selfish. The club of rich
countries, that once agreed to ‘common but differentiated
responsibilities’ (meaning countries would act based on their
responsibility in creating the problem), are learning hard lessons. In
the past 15 years, their emissions have increased, not decreased. Now,
they want to find any which way to please their green constituency, but
also balance their economic growth imperatives and ensure their industry
remains competitive.

Their strategy has many parts and players. First, the most
climate-renegade nation, the US, is allowed to point a finger at China,
India and other emerging countries. The US is constantly allowed to get
away by saying if these countries do not take action, it will not. Even
if this means ignoring that US emissions, already one-fourth of the
global total, have increased, and accepting what the US says: that its
emissions will peak after 2025, or 10 years after what scientists say is
the least risky target for global emissions to peak and then decline.
Second, this strategy lets the guru of energy efficiency, Japan, provide
an alternative road-map that is merely a win-win solution for its
industry. Third, the green-czar, the European Union (EU) can use tough
words, then cave in at strategic moments, for the sake of pragmatism in
global action’s.

The stage is now set for the last act of this deadly climate-play. Let’s
catch up with current events.

At the G8 summit in Germany last year, leaders of the rich world agreed
to “seriously consider a goal to halve world greenhouse gas emissions by
2050″. At the December 2007 climate change CoP in Bali, Indonesia, the
EU huffed and puffed about a proposal to cut industrialized country
emissions by 25-40 per cent over 1990 levels by 2020. At this meeting
there was a complete turnaround. Targets disappeared; what emerged in
its place was a twin-track approach allowing rich countries to set
voluntary targets or just reduction objectives.

Now rewind to February, 2008. Japan — the current G-8 president –
proposed to set targets for 2050, not for total emissions but for
emission intensity cuts in different sectors. This proposal provides for
technology benchmarking of ‘polluting sectors’ by all ‘major emitters’
and the ‘transfer’ of high quality technology to reduce emissions in
these industries. It includes countries like India in taking on
commitments; it then identifies sector-specific best technologies and
practices — which, naturally, countries like Japan possess, so becoming
a big business opportunity. The proposal goes on to demand tariff
reductions on these environmentally sound technologies. Now, pain can
become gain and countries like Japan can sell expensive stuff to all the
poor polluting sods. Brilliant.

In all this, the US has fast-tracked its own climate attack. It had
already scored a coup, bringing all major emitters — China and India
included — into one group, so blurring, indeed removing, the difference
between rich countries legally required to take action and others. It
cajoled countries like India by offering amnesty: join my club and I
will protect you from taking commitments. Now, with the domestic mood
changing, the US has changed tack. Instead of no commitments, it wants
China and India to take on voluntary targets — ‘aspirational’ in its
language. The two are brought in, and the US ends up protecting itself,
for the targets for action are set not for the interim (2020), but for
2050. Long enough for it to agree to do nothing, increase its emissions
and grow. Climate-murder. But who cares?

Japan and the US (and all rich countries hiding behind their petticoats)
are hell-bent on sweetening the deal further. They have proposed a
change in the base-year from when emissions will be measured. Currently,
rich countries have to reduce over what they emitted in 1990. Since
then, their emissions have increased: the US by 20 per cent; Japan by 7
per cent; Australia by over 35 per cent. Even EU’s emissions have
increased. So, Japan has proposed the base year be ‘shifted’ to 2008 so
that its growth is ‘forgiven’. How convenient.

Last month, negotiators meeting in Seoul, South Korea confronted this
agenda. The US and Japan resisted interim targets for 2020 and made
China and India the scapegoats. And at the Hokkaido, Japan G8+5 meet,
our PM will be given the same treatment.

PS: The G-8 met and agreed on 50 per cent cuts by 2050, but did not set
the baseline. They did not set interim targets, but did harp on the fact
that nothing could be done without China and India coming on board.

Pathetic. Criminal. It is time we suggested the way ahead—not just for
US, but for the world.

Read this editorial online >>
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=1
To comment, write to >> feedback@cseindia.org

=============================

Climate Change coverage in Down To Earth

=============================

News: Action begins: India unveils strategy to counter climate change
India released its much-anticipated action plan to mitigate and adapt to
climate change on June 30, almost a year after it was announced. Coming
a week ahead of the G-8 summit, the plan was welcomed by both industry
and environment groups, though not without some reservations.

Read the complete article online
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=2

——————————————————–
Science & Technology: Indian scientists seek clarity on nitrogen emissions
Read the complete article online
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=3

——————————————————–
Photo essay: Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
See more
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=4

——————————————————–
Factsheet: GHG inventory: Of 27 EU countries, 15 continue remain major
emitters
Download the factsheet (.pdf)
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=5

——————————————————–
Interview: “Renewables are a complement”

Fergus Auld, first secretary, Climate Change and Energy, in the British
High Commission, India, speaks about UK’s national policy on climate
change, and carbon capture and storage.

Read the complete interview
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=6

=============================

CSE’s Right to Clean Air campaign

=============================

Press Release
Fuel economy standards for cars a step in the right direction: CSE
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s (BEE) latest initiative to set fuel
economy standards and a labeling programme for cars has received strong
support from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). CSE has been
demanding the standards and a labeling policy for a long time.

Full press release
http://www.cseindia.org/AboutUs/press_releases/press_20080721.htm

=============================

In Down To Earth magazine

=============================

Cover story: Extreme trespass

SEZs and sit-ins. Mega projects and marches. Public-private partnerships
and pitched battles. State governments, rushing to industrialize, are
falling over themselves to hand land, forest and water to industry. But
local people have begun to use all available means to contest the
usually coercive intrusion of the state into their lives, and livelihoods.

Read the complete cover story
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=7

——————————————————–

News: Dangerous and illegal
Rajasthan farmers lured into an agricultural input package that includes
pesticides not recommended for the crops they grow.
Read the complete article online >>
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=8

See also:
Surrogate salesmen: Pesticides thrust on unsuspecting farmers
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=9

————————————–
Feature: Who dares trash them?
Waste-pickers worldwide gathered in Colombia to highlight how central
they are to urban existence
Read the complete article online
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=10

————————————–
Feature: Elite schools lend campuses to poor children
Read the complete article online
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=11

————————————–
News: Court orders illegal mines in MP to shut shop
Read the complete article online
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=12

————————————–
News: Active threat: Radioactive waste spills over into fields in Jharkhand
Read the complete article online
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=13

————————————–
News: All cracked up: The Uttar Pradesh government is hard at
investigating widespread land subsidence in several districts during the
second week of June this year
Read the complete article online
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=14

See also
Engulfing apathy: Mine subsides in West Bengal
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=15

——————————————————–
Science & Technology: Saving the papaya
Read the complete article online>>
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=16

————————————–
Science & Technology: Indian red jungle fowl are genetically pure
Read the complete article online>>
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=17

=============================

CSE short courses, events

=============================

CSE’s Anil Agarwal Green Centre (AAGC) seeks to make knowledge
investments in society through education and training programmes.
Courses help participants better understand issues that lie at the
interface of environment and development policy, science, technology,
poverty, democracy and equity.

——————————————————–

Green Schools Teachers’ Training Programme (New Delhi, August 21-22)

To take environment education beyond books, this course is designed to
help teachers and students learn how to audit the use of resources
within the school premises. The audit process also tells them how to
plug the gaps that are bound to appear in their current practices. With
interactive sessions, case studies and films, the training offers a new
perspective in environment education. Teachers and educationists ready
to push the conventional barriers and teach ‘real lessons’ are the most
suitable candidates for this workshop.

The workshop includes the following:
- Water conservation
- Rainwater harvesting
- Water recycle/reuse
- Air pollution
- Global Warming
- Pesticide use
- Energy conservation

——————————————————–

Domestic Wastewater Treatment and Reuse (New Delhi, Aug. 25-29)
A course for engineers, architects, builders…

The explosive, haphazard, and thirsty growth of urban India generates
tonnes of mostly untreated waste in its wake. A problem compounded by
poor management, inefficiencies and inequities. The course includes
hands-on sessions on designing localised wastewater treatment systems,
interactive seminars, detailed case studies, and field trips that help
explore alternatives — from the current capital, water and
material-intensive processes of urban water management to a more cost
effective, non-sewerage paradigm.

Course content
- Status of water and excreta management in Indian cities
- Alternate sewage and pollution management strategies
- Fundamentals of wastewater treatment
- Planning, designing, implementation and monitoring of localised
wastewater treatment systems
- Wastewater reuse: Issues
- Policies, legislation on water pollution and wastewater treatment

Register online >>
http://www.cseindia.org/aagc/citywater-workshop.asp

Course Contact:
RK Srinivasan: rksri@cseindia.org
Tel: +91-11-29955124/125, Extension: 236, Fax: +91-11-29955879

See also >> Clean your act
CSE’s latest publication, a do-it-yourself manual on wastewater
recycling and a training film is now available online.
CSE Store >> http://csestore.cse.org.in
(secure payment gateway)

——————————————————–

Managing information resources in the digital age (New Delhi, Sept. 2-5,
2008)
Training on Information management, documentation & web-based outreach

Course Content:
- Planning and managing resource centres in the digital age
- Sourcing information (information acquisition & research)
- Organising information: classification & indexing (including digitised
resources)
- A primer on managing audio-visual resources (films, photos, CDs, etc.)
- Electronic documentation of news clippings, articles, reports and
documents [hands on workshops using open source tools]
- Building contact databases
- Information Services & Products
- Online presence: Reaching out through the Web

Last date for registration: August 14, 2008

Register online >>
http://www.cseindia.org/aagc/managinginformation.asp
For more information contact:
Kiran Pandey < kiran@cseindia.org >

=============================

Rich lands, poor people: Is sustainable mining possible?
6th State of India’s Environment – a citizens’ report

=============================

Book Release Invitation:
The Governor of Karnataka, Shri Rameshwar Thakur, will release the report.
* [Monday, August 4, 2008] in Bangalore, Karnataka
* Venue: Orchid Room, Hotel Royal Orchid Harsha 11, Park Road,
Shivajinagar, Bangalore-560051
* Inviting citizens’ participation on the release of the report
* For registration to the event click >>
http://www.cseindia.org/programme/industry/mining/invite_book_bangalore.htm

For media contacts
Souparno Banerjee: (+91-9910864339)
Monali Zeya Hazra: (+91-9811808883)
Phone: 91-11-2995 5124/5125/6110 Fax: 91-11-29955879;
E-mail: monali@cseindia.org; Website: www.cseindia.org
—————————————————-

* India’s mining hotspots (clickable maps with data) >>
http://www.cseindia.org/programme/industry/mining/home.htm
—————————————————-

* Mine No More (Tabloid with CSEs 6th citizens’ report on mining)
‘Rich lands, poor people: Is sustainable mining possible?’

This tabloid (24 p.) has been culled from ‘Rich lands, poor people’,
CSEs 6th State of India’s Environment – a citizens’ report. A must read
for those who want a concise introduction to the bare facts and
consequences of the mining sector. Printed on chlorine – free paper.

Online store (secure payment gateway) >
http://csestore.cse.org.in/store1.asp?sec_id=1&subsec_id=1

==============================

About this e-mail

===============================

Contact CSE: http://www.cseindia.org/aboutus/feedback.htm
Address: 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110062
E-mail: cse@cseindia.org

Privacy policy: http://www.cseindia.org/misc/privacy.htm

The mean world of climate change –

CSE News Bulletin [July 25, 2008]‏

CSE’s Fortnightly News Bulletin

[July 25, 2008]

cse@lists.csenews.org

feedback@cseindia.org