CII and IGBC Collaborate to Launch 'IGBC Nest'

In a joint effort, on 15^th Nov, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) have introduced 'IGBC Nest' for individual housing units.

The initiative is strategically aligned to control and curtail carbon emissions, contributing to India's ambitious net-zero target by 2070.

Key Points

Tailored Framework: IGBC has unveiled a specialized framework designed for residential units, focusing on constructing environmentally conscious homes that effectively manage and restrict carbon emissions.
'IGBC Nest': This pioneering framework and certification, termed 'IGBC Nest,' are crafted to generate awareness and motivate individual homeowners to construct sustainable residences without incurring significant additional costs.
Green Measures: The initiative encourages homeowners to adopt simple yet impactful green measures that contribute to resource efficiency and enhance occupant health and well-being.
Sustainable Objectives: The mission behind 'IGBC Nest' is to transform every building in India into a green structure, elevating homeowners' economic status while simultaneously enhancing life expectancy through improved health benefits.
Energy and Water Efficiency: The framework highlights key aspects of water and energy efficiency, along with the integration of solar energy solutions.
Homeowners are expected to reduce energy costs by 20-30% and decrease water requirements by 30-50%.
Future Impact: IGBC anticipates the 'IGBC Nest' initiative to play a pivotal role in establishing a sustainable and green India, not just for the current generation but also for future generations.
Upcoming Event: IGBC announced the 'IGBC Green Building Congress 2023,' supported by the World Green Building Council.
The event, scheduled from November 23, will revolve around the theme, "Advancing Net Zero through Decarbonization."
It aims to bring industry leaders, policymakers, and technology providers together to discuss sustainable building practices.

India Set for Second Consecutive Year of Largest Carbon Emission Growth

According to the recent annual study by the Global Carbon Project, India is poised to witness the most substantial increase in carbon dioxide emissions among major economies for the second consecutive year.

Key Points

Alarming Projection: The study indicates an 8.2% rise in India's annual CO2 emissions for 2023, more than double the expected increase in China, which is projected to see a 4% growth.
Global Impact: The report highlights a 50% chance of consistent breaches of the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit in the next seven years if current emission trends persist, emphasizing that daily or weekly breaches are already occurring.
China-India Disparity: While India's percentage increase is higher, China's absolute emissions, accounting for 31% of global CO2 emissions, far exceed India's.
India's growth is primarily driven by surging power demand, outpacing renewable capacity.
Coal-Fired Impact: India's CO2 emissions are expected to be 233 million tonnes higher than the previous year, with 176 million tonnes attributed to coal-fired power plants.
Global Record: The study forecasts global CO2 emissions reaching 36.8 billion tonnes, a new record, with an overall increase of 1.1% compared to the previous year.
Fossil Fuel Impact: Emissions from all fossil fuels—oil, gas, and coal—are expected to rise, with oil registering the highest growth at 1.5%. Declines in emissions are predicted in 26 countries, covering approximately 28% of global emissions.
Urgent Action Needed: The study warns that exceeding the carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius could occur in seven years if current emission levels persist, necessitating a massive scale-up of carbon dioxide removal after achieving global net-zero emissions.

UAE Sets Historic $30 Billion Commitment to ALTÉRRA at COP28

Recently, during COP28 summit, the United Arab Emirates, holding the COP28 Presidency, made a ground-breaking commitment of $30 billion to ALTÉRRA, a climate-focused investment initiative, aiming to reshape international climate finance with a focus on equitable access for the Global South.

Key Points

Purpose: ALTÉRRA, now the world's largest private investment vehicle for climate action, plans to mobilize $250 billion globally by 2030.
Its primary objective is to steer private markets towards climate investments, fostering transformative changes in emerging markets and developing economies facing higher risks.
Private Sector Focus: With a $30 billion injection, ALTÉRRA aims to guide private markets, bringing about significant shifts in climate-focused investments.
The initiative targets areas where traditional investments encounter greater challenges.

India and China Refrain from Global Pledge at COP28 for Renewable Energy Goals

Recently, India and China, both major economies and leading coal consumers, abstained from a commitment made by 118 nations during the annual UN climate summit (COP28) to triple global renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency rates by 2030.

Key Points

Global Pledge at COP28: 118 nations pledged to triple the global renewable energy generation capacity to 11,000 GW and double the annual energy efficiency rate. However, India and China chose not to participate.
India's Stance on Coal: Despite progress in non-fossil fuel energy, India refrained from committing to substantial reductions in reliance on coal-fired power plants, a crucial component of its electricity generation.
Leeway Until 2030: India maintains flexibility for continued coal use until 2030, aligning with the G-20 Declaration's emphasis on gradual coal de-addiction.
Economic Growth Priority: India asserts that it won't be pressured into reducing coal usage, emphasizing the need for power availability to fuel economic growth.
The stand aligns with China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran, setting them apart from the global shift toward renewable energy.
Paris Agreement Commitment: While committed to increasing non-fossil power capacity by 2030 under the Paris Agreement, India prioritizes lifting millions out of poverty through development, a consideration that influences its global commitments.
Divergence from Fossil Fuel Consensus: India's position puts it at odds with the global consensus on moving away from fossil fuels.

Indian PM Launches Green Credit Initiative at COP28 Summit

Recently, India’s Prime Minister introduced the Green Credit Initiative at the COP28 summit in Dubai, garnering support from various world leaders.

Key Points

World Climate Action Summit: Indian PM, Mozambique, and the European Council, inaugurates the web portal of the Green Credits Programme during the COP28 World Climate Action Summit.
Global South Impact: Indian PM emphasized the impact of climate change on the Global South during his participation in the high-level segment of the COP28 climate conference.
Earth's Health Card Analogy: The Prime Minister drew an analogy between the significance of a Health Card in life and the need to prioritize positive actions for Earth's Health Card through initiatives like Green Credit.
Initiation Date: The Green Credit Initiative was first introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change on October 13, 2023.
Dual Priorities: The initiative focuses on water conservation and afforestation as its main priorities.
Market-Based Mechanism: Described as a market-based mechanism, the initiative incentivizes voluntary environmental actions across sectors involving individuals, communities, private sector industries, and companies.
Tradable Green Credits: Specific environmental activities will earn green credits, treated as tradable commodities, and can be sold on domestic market platforms.
Boosting Environmental Activities: The primary aim is to boost voluntary environmental activities such as tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, and waste management.
Incentivizing Corporations: The scheme encourages big corporations and private companies to participate by offering incentives, contributing to positive changes in the country's climate issues.

India Announces Mandatory Blending of Compressed Biogas with Natural Gas

Recently, the government announced that India will begin blending compressed biogas with natural gas to enhance domestic demand and reduce reliance on natural gas imports.

Key Points

Phased Introduction: The mandatory blending will commence at 1% for use in automobiles and households from April 2025, with plans to increase the mandatory blending to around 5% by 2028.
Import Reduction Strategy: As one of the world's major importers of oil and gas, India aims to decrease its reliance on imports by implementing measures to enhance domestic usage of blended biogas.
Cost Reduction Objective: By blending compressed biogas, India seeks to reduce the cost associated with importing natural gas, aligning with its economic and energy sustainability goals.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Targets: The government also targets having 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in aircraft turbine fuel by 2027, with a subsequent increase to 2% in 2028. Initially, these targets will apply to international flights.
Net Zero Emissions Goals: The announced steps are part of India's broader strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2070, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.

UAE Unveils World's Largest Single-Site Solar Power Plant

Recently, the United Arab Emirates inaugurated the 2-gigawatt Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project, securing its position as the world's largest single-site solar power plant just in time for COP28.

Key Points

Capacity and Impact: Al Dhafra is set to generate electricity for nearly 200,000 homes, contributing significantly to the reduction of carbon emissions by displacing 2.4 million tonnes annually.
COP28 and Climate Commitment: With COP28 on the horizon, the UAE emphasizes its dedication to clean energy and global climate action, showcasing Al Dhafra as a testament to its commitment.
UAE's Clean Energy Transition: The project aligns with the UAE's goal to triple renewables capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030, serving as a global model for ambitious clean energy initiatives.
Net Zero 2050 and COP28 Hosting: Al Dhafra contributes to the UAE's Net Zero 2050 objective, solidifying its leadership in per capita solar energy production.
The project reflects the country's commitment to hosting a successful COP28 from November 30th to December 12 this year.

UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2023: Urgent Call for Climate Action

The latest Emissions Gap Report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) unveils alarming statistics, indicating record-breaking global temperatures this year.

The report warns that the world is veering off track, with current commitments under the Paris Agreement likely leading to a significant rise in temperatures beyond recommended limits.

Key Points

Paris Agreement Goals at Risk: The report highlights the urgency for intensified climate action, indicating that current pledges place the globe on a trajectory toward a 2.5-2.9°C temperature increase, far exceeding the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 or 2°C limit.
Crucial Discussions at COP2: Released just before the UN climate change summit in Dubai, the report underscores the pivotal discussions on reframing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) crucial to curbing global warming.
Record-Breaking Emission: The report emphasizes the critical gap between pledged emissions reductions and the necessary reductions outlined by the Paris Agreement.
In 2022, global greenhouse gas emissions soared to a record high of 57.4 gigatonnes, primarily propelled by CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes.
Inequality and Historic Emissions: The report notes inequality in emissions across nations and historic contributions to global warming.
It highlights that a small percentage of the global population contributes significantly to emissions, with disproportionate impacts from high-income countries.
Challenges and Aspirations: The report warns that without robust implementation of NDCs, the globe is poised for a 3°C temperature rise.
It emphasizes the need for a 28% emissions cut by 2030 to achieve the 2°C goal and a 42% reduction for the 1.5°C goal.
Activists’ Concerns and COP28 Anticipation: Climate activists express urgency, calling the current situation a “chilling reality” and underscoring the imperative for transformative and equitable climate action.

Scientists Unveil Ancient Equatorial Rainforest Survival Strategies

In a ground-breaking study, scientists unravelled the mystery of how equatorial rainforests thrived approximately 50 million years ago, a time marked by global warmth and atmospheric carbon dioxide exceeding 1000 ppmv.

Key Points

Resilience Under Extreme Conditions: Despite Earth being 13°C warmer than the present day, equatorial rainforests demonstrated resilience during an era of heightened atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
The key factor contributing to their survival was identified as significantly high rainfall.
Innovative Techniques: The scientists employed innovative techniques, utilizing plant proxies to quantify terrestrial equatorial climate data from the ancient era.
This groundbreaking approach sheds light on the mechanisms that enabled the survival and prosperity of equatorial rainforests.
Challenges Faced by Other Forests: While mid- and high-latitude forests faced challenges during this period due to shifts in the hydrological cycle caused by elevated temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations, equatorial rainforests exhibited remarkable resilience.
Crucial Role of Elevated Rainfall: The study suggests that elevated rainfall played a crucial role in enhancing plant water use efficiency.
This adaptation allowed equatorial flora to remain functional in the face of extreme warmth and high carbon dioxide levels.
Enriching Understanding of Earth's Climatic History: The research enriches our understanding of Earth's climatic history, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of present and future climatic and biotic changes.
Contribution to Calibration File: The study contributes to developing a calibration file for low-latitude regions, serving as a valuable tool for quantifying seasonal deep-time terrestrial climate. This calibration file is expected to play a pivotal role in understanding the survival strategies of rainforests.
Implications for Future Climate Studies: Unveiling the past survival strategies of equatorial rainforests enhances our understanding of the intricate relationship between climate and biodiversity.
The research not only highlights historical resilience but also emphasizes the importance of unravelling such mysteries for the planet's future.

Union Minister Highlights Success at CITES Standing Committee Meeting

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Labour and Employment expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the recently concluded CITES Standing Committee meeting (from November 6th to 10th, 2023), emphasizing its significant positive impact on India's wildlife and ecosystem conservation efforts.

Key Points

CITES Legislation Elevated in India: The minster announced that, following the Wildlife Act amendment, India's CITES legislation has been placed in Category 1 of the National Legislation Project of CITES.
Red Sanders Review of Significant Trade (RST) Process Resolved: India, under the RST process for Red Sanders since 2004, has been removed from the Review of Significant Trade. This development is particularly beneficial for farmers engaged in Red Sanders cultivation.
Red Sanders Species Context: Red sanders, a high-value tree species native to Andhra Pradesh, faces threats from illegal harvesting and smuggling. While wild depletion is a concern, legal export from plantations contributes significantly.
Removal of Red Sanders from RST Process: Continuous engagement with the CITES Secretariat, Standing Committee, and Plants Committee led to the removal of Red Sanders from the RST process in the 77th meeting.
This unconditional action supports farmers, promoting sustainable income through Red Sanders cultivation.
India's Compliance with CITES National Legislation: India amended the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, in 2022 to align with CITES provisions.
The CITES Standing Committee, in its 77th meeting, acknowledged India's full compliance, upgrading its status to Category 1 in the CITES National Legislation program.
Conservation Efforts for Big Cats: India advocated stringent measures for Big Cat conservation at the CITES meeting, emphasizing the importance of the Asian Big Cats.
The appeal to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in April 2023, was also made during India's interventions.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Overview

International agreement between governments.
Aims to prevent international trade from threatening the survival of wild animal and plant species.

Origins and Establishment

Drafted in 1963 after a resolution at a meeting of IUCN (The World Conservation Union).
Came into force in 1975.
Administered by UNEP, the CITES Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
India hosted COP-3 in 1981.

Parties and Adherence

States and regional economic integration organizations adhere voluntarily.
Parties are the states that have agreed to be bound by the Convention.
Legally binding on Parties, requiring them to implement the Convention without replacing national laws.

Functioning of CITES

Controls international trade through a licensing system for selected species.
Requires authorization for import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention.
Each Party designates Management Authorities and Scientific Authorities to administer the licensing system and provide advice on the effects of trade on species.

Appendices and Species Protection

Appendices categorize species based on the degree of protection they need.
- Appendix I: Includes species threatened with extinction. Trade is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
- Appendix II: Includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade must be controlled to avoid threats to their survival.
- Appendix III: Contains species protected in at least one country, seeking assistance from other CITES Parties in controlling the trade.
Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, allowing each Party to make unilateral amendments.

Greenland's Polar Bear Numbers Declining

An international study, examining genetic material, food preferences, habitat, and historical climate data, reveals a substantial decline in polar bear numbers in Greenland over the past 20,000 years.

Key Points

Sea Temperature Rise and Decline in Polar Bear Population: The study emphasizes the connection between rising sea temperatures and the declining polar bear population in Greenland.
Impact of Sea Ice Reduction on Seal Population: As sea temperatures rise, there is a reduction in sea ice, leading to fewer seals—the primary food source for polar bears.
Non-Linear Relationship between Environmental Changes and Population Decline: Small environmental changes, such as a modest increase in water temperature and a slight reduction in sea ice, result in a dramatic decline in the polar bear population.
Temperature Changes over the Last 20,000 Years: The study reveals that the sea temperature around Greenland has increased by 0.2 to 0.5 degrees Celsius over the last 20,000 years, contributing to a 20 to 40 per cent reduction in the polar bear population.
Unprecedented Global Warming Impact on Polar Bears: The researchers attribute the temperature rise to ongoing global warming, stating that the current situation is unprecedented compared to the polar bear's experiences over the last 20,000 years.
Drastic Projections for Polar Bear Thriving: Drastic projections suggest that, given the current trends, the polar bear species is not expected to thrive.
Ecosystem Impact and Dietary Changes: The polar bear, as the top of the food chain, reflects broader ecosystem changes, indicating pressure on marine ecosystems in the Arctic.