Junior Digest

Sept 25,2026: Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has appealed for action to combat the rising threat of climate change, calling the flood that devastated his country last month “a warning to the world”.

Shah made the comments during his address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday night. He told the gathering that the August disaster “was not just a local tragedy”, asking them the question, “Have you really heard that warning?”
Political leaders “have been negligent to translate those warnings in action at the speed and scale that the vulnerable people require,” he said.
At least 1,453 people died when a torrent of mud, rock and water struck northern Nepal and the China-Tibet border on August 26, triggered by a glacial collapse.

According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 5,500 people were still missing and 13,795 had been rescued.

Researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group said in a report released last week that the disaster was not caused by a single extreme weather event, but rather a “compound crisis” shaped by long-term warming, glacier retreat, permafrost thaw and geological instability.

Shah said climate change was hurting people not responsible for the crisis but who “are paying a colossal price for it”.

He said Nepal contributed less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the heat-trapping gases behind climate change. About 99 percent of the country’s electricity comes from hydropower, and many workers were trapped in tunnels by the flooding.

“Our glaciers are retreating, our mountain slopes are becoming unstable, our rivers are becoming less predictable, and every major disaster threatens to erase years of development,” Shah said.
Shah urged the international community to help bear the cost of helping Nepal adapt to climate change.

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He proposed to create a ‘Himalaya Climate Resilience Mechanism’ which would include Nepal and neighbours India and China, and would allow them to share satellite data and expertise, monitor glacial lakes and strengthen joint early warning systems.

Nepal has asked the UN’s loss and damage fund for $20m in aid, the maximum allowed, but a tiny fraction of what it needs. A preliminary assessment by the government has placed the cost of the disaster at $5bn.

The fund, established in 2022 in the aftermath of catastrophic floods in Pakistan, has yet to make even its first disbursement, and observers see Nepal as a key test of its credibility.

Earlier this week, the United States pledged an additional $31m in new flood recovery support.

Los Angeles, Jan 14,2024: About 92,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders due to the Los Angeles wildfires in the western United States, and another 89,000 are under evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters on Monday.

At least 25 people have died and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across the Los Angeles area.

The fierce wildfires in Los Angeles County, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, scorched over 40,500 acres, and destroyed more than 12,300 structures as of Monday.

The Palisades Fire, the largest one, was 14 percent contained, and the Eaton Fire, the second largest, was 33 percent contained as of Monday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

More than 80,000 customers in California are without power as Southern California Edison starts shutting off power in parts of Southern California ahead of the next wind event, which begins Tuesday.

New Delhi, February 10,2026: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding a deadly explosion at an illegally operated rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district that claimed 18 lives. The Tribunal registered an original application based on a news item published on February 6, 2026, which highlighted the incident and potential environmental law violations. The Tribunal noted that the blast, reportedly caused by dynamite, occurred at an illegal mine in the Mynsyngat area around 11 a.m., resulting in multiple deaths and several people being trapped underground. It also noted that hazardous mining had previously been banned and that the incident raised concerns about ongoing illegal operations despite restrictions. A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said the matter indicated violations and non-compliance with the Tribunal’s earlier orders, along with possible breaches of environmental laws, including the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, the Indian Forest Act, and the Environment (Protection) Act. The Tribunal observed that the issue raised substantial questions regarding environmental norms and the implementation of statutory provisions. Referring to a Supreme Court judgement recognising its power to take up matters suo motu, the NGT registered the case. The NGT impleaded key authorities as respondents, including the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Integrated Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Shillong, and the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills district. Notices have been issued directing them to file replies in affidavit form at least one week before the next hearing. The matter has been listed for further hearing on May 19, 2026.

Jan 23,2025: Five elderly African elephants at a Colorado zoo will stay there, after the state’s highest court said the animals have no legal right to demand their release because they are not human.
Tuesday’s 6-0 decision by Colorado’s Supreme Court means Jambo, Kimba, LouLou, Lucky and Missy will remain at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs.
It followed a similar decision in 2022 by New York state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, that another aged elephant, Happy, had to remain at New York City’s Bronx Zoo.
An animal rights non-profit, Nonhuman Rights Project, brought both cases on the elephants’ behalf under a legal doctrine known as “habeas corpus,” saying the animals should live in sanctuaries.
Citing affidavits from seven animal biologists, the group told the Colorado court that elephants are highly social and mobile, share many cognitive abilities with humans including empathy and self-awareness, and when confined in zoos can experience boredom and stress that could lead to brain damage.
But the court said Colorado’s habeas statute applies to persons, not to nonhuman animals “no matter how cognitively, psychologically, or socially sophisticated” they might be.
It also said Nonhuman Rights Project’s concession during oral argument that it was seeking only different confinement, not complete freedom, for the elephants was another reason to treat them and humans differently.
The case “does not turn on our regard for these majestic animals generally or these five elephants specifically,” Justice Maria Berkenkotter wrote. “Because an elephant is not a person, the elephants here do not have standing to bring a habeas corpus claim.”
In a statement, Nonhuman Rights Project said the decision “perpetuates a clear injustice” that consigns the five elephants to “a lifetime of mental and physical suffering.” It has not determined its next legal steps.
The zoo welcomed the outcome in a separate statement, but expressed disappointment at having spent 19 months defending against a “frivolous” case that the animal rights group has pursued unsuccessfully against several other reputable zoos.
“We’ve wasted valuable time and money responding to them in courts and in the court of public opinion,” the zoo said.
In Tuesday’s decision, Berkenkotter also emphasized that legislators, not judges, were best positioned to expand legal rights of nonhuman animals.
She said counting those animals as persons would be a “monumental change” that one would expect legislators to make explicit if they really meant it.

Dec 13,2023: Delegates at the United Nations COP28 climate talks in Dubai have agreed to a deal that would, for the first time, push nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change.

COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber hailed the deal, approved by almost 200 countries on Wednesday, as an “historic package” of measures that offers a “robust plan” to keep the target of capping global temperatures at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, within reach.

“We have language on fossil fuel in our final agreement for the first time ever,” said al-Jaber, CEO of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oil company Adnoc.

Officials from around the globe suggested the deal is an important step towards ending the use of fossil fuels.

US climate envoy John Kerry said that both the United States and China intend to update their long-term climate strategies, hailing the agreement as one which “sends very strong messages to the world”.

However, the deal doesn’t go so far as to seek a “phase-out” of fossil fuels, for which more than 100 nations had pleaded. Rather, it calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade”.

That transition would be in a way that gets the world to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 and follows the dictates of climate science.

Earlier on Wednesday, the latest draft of the document calling on the world to wean itself off planet-warming fossil fuels was discussed by delegates after an outcry over a previous proposal forced the summit, which was meant to end on Tuesday, to be extended.

The previous draft offered a list of options that “could” be taken to combat the dangerous heating of the planet, while the final version explicitly “calls on” all nations to contribute through a series of actions.

After the deal was approved on Wednesday, French Minister for Energy Agnes Pannier-Runacher called it “a victory for multilateralism and climate diplomacy”. “Now we need to put in place a plan to exit fossil fuels and we will be attentive to this,” she added.

New Delhi, Nov 30,2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the climate summit COP28 will provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future course on climate action.

In a departure statement, ahead of his visit to UAE for the World Climate Action Summit, PM Modi said “I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, which has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action”

PM Modi will visit Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit of the COP-28 at the invitation of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE.

“In keeping with our civilisational ethos, India has always emphasised climate action even as we pursue social and economic development,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister further said, “During our G20 Presidency, the climate was high on our priority”.

“The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP-28 taking forward the consensus on these issues” he said.

Modi also called upon the developed nations to support developing countries with adequate climate financing and technology transfer.

“They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development” he said.

Modi said, “India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action”

“Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards mother Earth” he added.

“I look forward to joining special events including on climate finance, Green Credit initiative and LeadIT,” he said.

The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference which kicked off on Friday will continue till December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to discuss the effects of climate change, and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Baku, Nov 21,2024: Reminding the developed nations of their emission history, India has iterated its demand for sanction of at least 1.3 Trillion US dollars including 600 billion US dollars as climate finance aid to developing countries who have been suffering from the impacts of climate change.

The statement reads, “For the developing countries, our people’s lives – their very survival – and their livelihoods are at stake due to climate change. The accessibility to credible Climate Finance to the

Global South, CoP28 Global stock take decision emphasized the need to bridge the gap in adaptation, gaps in implementation that arise from the lack of sufficient attention and resources, which has not yet been made available.”

“The parties to the Paris Agreement adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience acknowledging the urgent need for enhanced support and resources from developed countries to help developing nations meet adaptation targets. The mobilisation should go beyond previous efforts, supporting country-driven strategies while respecting the unique needs of developing countries.”

The statement asserted, “The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for the period post-2025 needs to be an ambitious mobilisation target at grant/concessional term. An important aspect that needs to be addressed is the slow disbursements, lack of flexibility to adapt to changing requirements, and long complex approval procedures withst ringent eligibility criteria that make it difficult to access climate finance.”

The Initial Adaptation Communication of developing countries was submitted to the UNFCCC last year, which outlined that the requirements for building adaptation capital could rise to about USD 854.16 billion. Clearly, a significant boost in adaptation finance flows is essential, it underlined

India called upon the developed countries to fulfil the agreed commitments, concerning the adaptation finance needs of developing countries. Meeting the commitments would enable the world to travel through a pathway towards strides in creating a greener, more sustainable and prosperous planet for future generations.

BONN, June 13,2024: With just five months to go before this year’s U.N. climate summit, countries cannot agree on the size of a global funding bill to help the developing world fight climate change – let alone how to split it.

The decision is set to dominate the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan in November, where nearly 200 countries need to agree on a new annual financing target for helping poorer countries cut their emissions and protect their societies in a harsher, hotter world.

The new target will replace the yearly $100 billion that rich countries had pledged in climate finance from 2020. That goal was met two years late.

But preliminary talks this week in Bonn, Germany, have yielded no major breakthroughs. Instead, the talks ending on Thursday have again exposed the unyielding rifts among the world’s biggest economies over who should be paying most to fight climate change – and how much.

Representatives from climate-vulnerable nations said it was hard watching wealthy nations fall late with past payments of climate finance while quickly approving new funds for military responses to war or spending billions subsidising CO2-emitting energy sources.

“It seems like money is always there when it’s a more ‘real’ national priority for the country,” Michai Robertson, negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States, told Reuters.

“It’s really tough to see that,” he said.
GETTING THE NUMBER RIGHT

The new financing target is the core tool that global climate talks can deliver to fund projects that reduce planet-warming emissions – such as renewable energy or low-carbon transport.

With all countries due to update their national climate targets next year, negotiators fear failure could lead to weaker efforts.

“How are you going to move forward if there’s no financing?” said South African climate negotiator Pemy Gasela. Her country is among many developing nations warning they cannot afford to cut emissions faster without more financial support – in South Africa’s case, to swap a heavy reliance on CO2-emitting coal for clean energy.

Yet wealthy countries are wary of setting a target too high and risking it going unmet. The missed $100 billion target became politically symbolic in recent U.N. climate talks, stoking mistrust between nations as developing countries argued the world’s economic powers were abandoning them.

Diplomats in Bonn have circled the issue of how much money to put on the table.

While countries agree $100 billion is too low, there is little chance they would agree to summon the $2.4 trillion per year that the U.N. climate chief in February said was needed to keep the world’s climate goals within reach.

Neither the European Union or the U.S. have suggested a number for the goal, although both acknowledged this week that it must exceed $100 billion. The 27-country EU is currently the biggest provider of climate finance.

The elephant in the negotiation rooms, some diplomats told Reuters, was the upcoming U.S. presidential election, in which Donald Trump is seeking to return to office.

The previous Trump administration pulled the world’s biggest economy out of the Paris climate agreement. Negotiators said they worry a future Trump administration could halt U.S. climate finance payments, leaving it to other wealthy nations to meet the annual pledge.

But some countries in Bonn have made suggestions.

India, and a group of Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, have said the overall financing target should exceed $1 trillion per year, to reflect the spiralling needs of poorer countries as climate change worsens.

The Arab countries propose that rich nations provide $441 billion in public funding per year in grants, to leverage a total $1.1 trillion per year from broader sources.

Small island countries vulnerable to climate change have also pushed for stricter rules on what counts toward the target, suggesting preventing loans with interest rates above 1%, to avoid adding to poor nations’ already-high debts.

Most public climate funds provided by developed nations are loans, according to the OECD.
DECIDING WHO SHOULD PAY

Countries are also at odds over who should contribute.

There are about two dozen, long-industrialized countries currently obliged to contribute to U.N. climate finance. That list was decided during U.N. climate talks in 1992, when China’s economy was still smaller than Italy’s.

The EU wants China – now the world’s biggest CO2 emitter and second biggest economy – and high wealth-per-capita Middle Eastern countries to contribute for the new goal. The U.S. has also argued for adding more countries in the donor base.

However, the Arab countries and China firmly opposed this idea, with Beijing reiterating China’s status as a “developing country” under the U.N. climate convention.

“We, the developing countries, have no intention to make your number look good or be part of your responsibility, as we are doing all we can do to save the world,” China’s negotiator told other diplomats during negotiations on the finance target in Bonn on Tuesday.

Neither camp of countries has compromised on who should pay, said Joe Thwaites, who tracks climate finance negotiations for the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council.

“Negotiations were difficult and things are moving slowly,” he said.

As talks continue beyond Bonn, some negotiators said government ministers could raise the issue at higher level meetings such as G20 ministers’ gatherings in Brazil ahead of COP29.

New Delhi, Feb 29,2024: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant permission to Vedanta, to reopen its Sterlite copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin saying the company has committed ‘repeated breaches’ and ‘serious violations.’
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra dismissed the special leave petition filed by Vedanta Limited against the Madras High Court order which dismissed a batch of pleas by the company against the closure of its copper plant in Tuticorin and the orders of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).
The Supreme Court said, “. Although the unit has been contributing to the productive assets of the nation and providing employment and revenue in the area, the well-settled principles of environmental jurisprudence must be remembered.” Reminding the company of the principles of sustainable development, The apex court held that the health and welfare of the residents of the area are of utmost concern, and in the ultimate analysis, the state government is responsible for preserving and protecting their concerns.

The Supreme Court held that “After capable evaluation, we have concluded that the special leave petition by the industrial unit does not warrant interference under Article 136. The special leave petition stands dismissed.”

The court was hearing the Vedanta’s plea where it challenged the Madras High Court orders which had refused to grant renewal permissions for their plant at Tuticorin.

The Tamil Nadu Government had ordered the closure of the unit because the company was violating environmental norms. The Madras High Court had agreed to look into all aspects of the matter to decide on both the closure and renewal of the plant. The petitioner consented to this. If the orders were set aside, the government and board could ask the high court to send the case back for a fresh decision, but the petitioner agreed to let the high court decide everything.

The High Court after long deliberations rejected Vedanta’s plea challenging the Tamil Nadu government decision which had refused.to renew the Sterlite copper plant’s permission to operate.

On the Pollution Board’s behalf, Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan emphatically argued that the facility had been closed due to extensive pollution in the surrounding area. Despite recommendations from several committees urging the company to take corrective actions, these measures were not implemented, he alleged.

The High Court ultimately ruled against the Indian multinational mining company, holding that the company had committed many violations.

New Delhi, Feb 29,2024: Acknowledging India’s leading role in conserving tigers, other big cats and many of its endangered species, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the establishment of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with headquarters in India with a one-time budgetary support of Rs.150 crore for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28.

On the occasion of Global Tiger Day, 2019 the Prime Minister had called for an Alliance of Global Leaders to curb poaching in Asia. He reiterated this on the occasion of Commemorating 50 years of India’s Project Tiger on April 9, 2023 and formally announced launch of an International Big Cat Alliance aiming at securing the future of big cats and landscapes they thrive.

The pioneering and long standing tiger and other big cat conservation good practices evolved in India may-be replicated in many other range countries.

Seven big cats include Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and the Cheetah out of these five big cats viz. Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Cheetah are found in India.

The IBCA has been conceived as a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 96 big cat range countries, non-range countries interested in big cat conservation, conservation partners and scientific organizations working in the field of big cat conservation besides business groups and corporates willing to contribute to the cause of big cats.

This is to establish networks and develop synergies in a focused manner so as to bring to a common platform a centralized repository of successful practices and personnel, backed by financial support which can be leveraged to strengthen the conservation agenda in the field to arrest decline in big cat population and reverse the trend.

This will be a demonstrative step in leadership position on big cat agenda, to bring range countries and others on a common platform.

IBCA has secured Government of India’s initial support of Rs. 150 crore for five years (2023-24 to 2027-28). For augmented corpus, contributions from bilateral and multilateral agencies; other appropriate institutions and mobilizing financial support from public sector organizations, national and international financial institutions and donor agencies will further be explored.

The Alliance ensures sustainable use of natural resources and mitigates challenges emanating from climate change. By safeguarding big cats and their habitats, the IBCA contributes to natural climate adaptation, water and food security and well-being of thousands of communities reliant on these ecosystems.

IBCA would instil cooperation among countries for mutual benefit and immensely contribute in furthering long term conservation agenda.

Hyderabad/Davos, Jan 23,2025: Telangana Chief Minister Ac Revanth Reddy has pledged Telangana’s commitment to the global ‘Trillion Tree Campaign’, an ambitious initiative to plant one trillion trees and foster a greener planet.

This pledge underscores the state’s dedication to environmental protection and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

As part of the ongoing World Economic Forum Summit in Davos, representatives of the One Trillion Tree Organisation (1t.org) visited the Telangana Pavilion and met with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu to take the environmental pledge.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy highlighted that environmental conservation is a cornerstone of Telangana’s ‘Rising Policy.’ He emphasised the state government’s efforts to implement net-zero policies across various sectors to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.

Nicole Schwab, a member of the Executive Committee of the World Economic Forum and co-founder of the Nature Positive Pillar, along with Florian Vernaz, an organiser of 1t.org, participated in the program.

The Trillion Tree Campaign, supported by 1t.org, aims to restore degraded ecosystems, combat deforestation, and enhance biodiversity worldwide.

Telangana’s participation further strengthens its commitment to aligning with global sustainability goals and making meaningful contributions to the fight against climate change.

This initiative marks another step in Telangana’s journey toward becoming a leader in environmental stewardship and sustainable growth, according to an official statement here late on Wednesday night.

New Delhi, Aug 3,2024: Climate crisis and its impacts are not ‘gender-neutral’, the Child and Development Minister Annapurna Devi said on Friday emphasising that women from lower economic backgrounds face some of the most severe effects of climate change.

Replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, the Minister informed that the Government has not conducted audit regarding the impact of climate change on women and children.

“However, a report submitted by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change revealed that women, especially those from lower economic backgrounds, face some of the most severe effects of climate change,” she said.

“Globally, it is now accepted that the climate crisis and its impacts are not ‘gender-neutral’,” She added.

“UNICEF has recognized that Children are more prone to dehydration due to their lower ability to regulate body temperature, making them more vulnerable to heatwaves and high temperatures,” the Minister informed.

She further mentioned, “Climate change may cause crop failures and rising prices, which in turn may lead to increased rates of malnutrition among children.”

Citing a recent study done by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in 2024 that examines the implications of climate change on women and children across various agro-ecological zones in India, the Minister informed, “This study reveals that women and children in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Telangana are especially vulnerable to climate-related disasters.”

Children exposed to climate hazards are more likely to experience stunting, underweight conditions, and increased susceptibility to early pregnancies,” She said.

“According to the study, exposure to drought events raises the likelihood of underweight women by 35 percent, child marriage by 37 percent, teenage pregnancy by 17 percent, and intimate partner violence by up to 50 percent,” the Minister added.

Highlighting that the Government recognizes the adverse impact of climate change on women and children, Annapurna Devi said, “It has taken several steps to mitigate the vulnerabilities.

A National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has been launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2019 with the goal to reduce morbidity, mortality, injuries and health vulnerabilities to climate variability and extreme weather events especially among vulnerable groups like women, children and marginalized communities.”

“Various activities for increasing general awareness, capacity building of health care professionals and healthcare workers, strengthening health sector preparedness, collaborative partnership and steering research on climate sensitive health issues are the key objectives of the programme,” she added.

The Government implements the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which is the overarching policy framework and comprises of National Missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, health, green India and strategic knowledge on climate change, the Minister said.

Further, schemes like Ujwala Yojana, which provides for clean cooking gas connections, Har Ghar Nal se Jal under Jal Jeevan Mission, which provides for tapped drinking water at the doorstep, Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan under which crores of household toilets have been constructed, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the flagship scheme of Government for housing, have not only reduced the drudgery on women but also help improving their health status and empowerment, she added.

New Delhi, June 20,2024: In a move that would give boost to wind energy, the Government on Wednesday approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy projects at a total outlay of Rs 7,453 crore.

This includes an outlay of Rs 6,853 crore for installation and commissioning of 1 GW of offshore wind energy projects (500 MW each off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu), and grant of Rs 600 crore for upgradation of two ports to meet logistics requirements for offshore wind energy projects, an official statement after Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The VGF scheme is a major step towards implementation of the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy notified in 2015 with an aim to exploit the vast offshore wind energy potential that exists within the exclusive economic zone of India.

The VGF support from the Government will reduce the cost of power from offshore wind projects and make them viable for purchase by DISCOMs. While the projects will be established by private developers selected though a transparent bidding process, the power excavation infrastructure, including the offshore substations, will be constructed by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, as the nodal ministry, will coordinate with various Ministries/Departments to ensure successful implementation of the scheme.

Construction of offshore wind energy projects and its operations also require specific port infrastructure, which can handle storage and movement of heavy and large dimension equipment. Under the scheme, two ports in the country will be supported by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to meet the requirements of offshore wind development.

Offshore wind is a source of renewable energy which offers several advantages over onshore wind and solar projects, such as higher adequacy and reliability, lower storage requirement and higher employment potential.

Development of offshore wind sector will lead to economy-wide benefits by attracting investments, development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities, creation of employment opportunities across the value chain and technology development for offshore wind in the country. This will also contribute towards achieving India’s energy transition targets.

The successful commissioning of 1 GW offshore wind projects will produce renewable electricity of about 3.72 billion units annually, which will result in annual reduction of 2.98 million ton of CO2 equivalent emission for a period of 25 years.

Further, this scheme will not only kick start the offshore wind energy development in India but also lead to creation of required ecosystem in the country to supplement its ocean based economic activities. This ecosystem will support the development of initial 37 GW of offshore wind energy at an investment of about Rs 4,50,000 crore.

Italy,May 03,2024: G7 energy and climate ministers agreed a timeframe Tuesday for phasing out coal-fired power plants, setting a goal in the mid-2030s, in a move hailed as significant by some environmentalists but described as “too late” by others.

The Group of Seven two-day meeting in Turin is the first big political session since the world pledged at the UN’s COP28 annual climate summit in Dubai in December to transition away from coal, oil and gas.

The G7 commits to “phase out existing unabated coal power generation in our energy systems during the first half of 2030s,” the final statement read.

However it left some wiggle room, saying nations could follow “a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5-degrees-Celsius temperature rise within reach, in line with countries’ net zero pathways”.

It also preserves a place for coal power if it is “abated”, meaning its emissions are captured or limited by technology — something criticised by many as unproven and a distraction from cutting fossil fuel use.

The G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Negotiations over a fixed date were reportedly tricky. Some countries, and many environmentalists, had been pushing for a 2030 limit, but Japan — which relies heavily on coal — was reluctant to set a date at all.

The leaders of the G7 countries will produce their own statement after a summit in southern Italy in June.

‘What about gas?’

The 2015 Paris Agreement saw countries agree to cap global warming at “well below” 2C above preindustrial times — with a safer limit of 1.5C if possible.

To keep the 1.5C limit in play, the UN’s climate expert panel has said emissions need to be slashed almost in half this decade, but they continue to rise.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said that to reach net zero emissions by 2050 — a key milestone to limit global warming — advanced economies should end all power generation by unabated coal-fired power plants by 2030.

Franck Riester, the minister representing France on climate issues, said the coal phase-out date was “a strong commitment, a strong signal from the G7”.

But Andreas Sieber from environmental campaign group 350.org said it was “important yet insufficient progress”, while the Climate Analytics policy institute said “2035 is too late”.

“Many of these countries have already publicly committed to phase out dates ahead of 2030, and only have a small amount of coal capacity anyway,” Jane Ellis from Climate Analytics said in a statement.

She also pointed out it was “notable that gas has not been mentioned”, despite it being the largest source of the global increase in CO2 emissions in the last decade.

Germany — Europe’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases — is unwilling to wean off gas, as is G7 host Italy, which is investing in new domestic gas facilities.

‘Capable of contributing’

The G7 ministers also tackled the thorny issue of plastic pollution amid a heated debate over how to best design a treaty addressing the scourge.

Plastic waste is now found everywhere from the summits of mountains to the ocean floor and in human blood and breast milk.

Broadly, the debate is between whether to focus on reducing production, or boosting recycling.

The ministers said they “aspired” to reduce and if necessary restrain the global production of plastic, and renewed their commitments to end plastic pollution by 2040.

That came as a penultimate round of UN-led negotiations to solve plastic pollution wrapped up in Canada with a world-first pact said to be within reach by year’s end — but without a cap on production.

Climate watchers are pushing for more funds for adaptation to climate change and energy systems for developing countries, and all eyes will be on the G7 finance minister’s meeting in at the end of May.

The ministers in Turin stressed Tuesday that efforts to raise money to help poorer countries deal with climate change should include “those countries that are capable of contributing”.

Under a UN climate treaty signed in 1992, only a small handful of high-income countries that dominated the global economy at the time were required to pay climate finance — not including China, which has since become wealthier, and is now the world’s largest polluter.

“By making it clear that we were calling on other countries to contribute, we want China to join us in this direction,” Riester told AFP

Washington DC [US], June 22,2024: The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that applications are open for USD 850 million in federal funding for projects that will help monitor, measure, quantify, and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
Oil and natural gas facilities are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for approximately one-third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today.
The funding opportunity announced today is a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to reduce harmful methane emissions across economic sectors, as outlined in the US Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan.

Kochi, May 22,2024: India is set to play a pivotal role in facilitating the first-ever focused discussions on regulating tourism in Antarctica at the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP).

The ATCM and CEP are high-level global annual meetings conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty, a multilateral agreement of 56 Contracting Parties signed in 1959.

During these meetings, member countries of the Antarctic Treaty discuss issues pertaining to science, policy, governance, management, preservation and protection of Antarctica.

The CEP was established under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol) in 1991. The CEP advises the ATCM on environmental protection and conservation in Antarctica.

India has been a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty since 1983. With the other 28 Consultative Parties, India has a crucial role in governing Antarctica’s scientific exploration and environmental protection.

It has the right to propose and vote on decisions and resolutions made during the ATCM in matters of administration, scientific research, environmental protection, and logistical cooperation​.

Further, it can establish research stations, conduct scientific programs and logistic operations, enforce environmental regulations and access scientific data and research findings shared by Antarctic Treaty members.

The Contracting and Consultative Parties are responsible for compliance with the Antarctic Treaty, environment stewardship, promoting scientific research, and maintaining Antarctica as a zone of peace, free from military activity and territorial claims. The ATCM is administered through the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquartered in Argentina.

Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and Head of the Indian delegation, while addressing the session on Tuesday, said, “Antarctica represents one of the last frontiers of wilderness and scientific discovery. As stewards of this extraordinary region, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that all activities, including research and tourism, are conducted in a manner that preserves its ecological integrity for future generations.”

“India is honoured to lead this crucial initiative at the 46th ATCM, which is expected to bring a series of actionable recommendations to be incorporated into the broader framework of the Antarctic Treaty System.”

“India, being a committed member of the Antarctic Treaty System, recognises the pressing need to address the growing tourism activities in Antarctica and their potential impact on the continent’s fragile environment.”

“With the number of tourists visiting Antarctica increasing significantly over the past few years, tourism has become a front-burner issue, making it crucial that comprehensive regulations be framed to ensure the sustainable and responsible exploration of this unique and pristine region.”

He further highlighted that India has advocated for a comprehensive, proactive, and effective tourism policy anchored in precautionary principles. Discussions around regulating tourism have been ongoing in ATCMs since 1966, but these have been agenda items, sessions, papers, or resolutions.

A dedicated working group for regulating tourism in Antarctica has been formulated for the first time at the 46th ATCM, hosted by India.

Dr. Thamban Meloth, Director of NCPOR, informed that India has a legal framework to regulate India’s activities in Antarctica, including tourism, through the Indian Antarctic Act enacted in 2022.

He said, “The Indian Antarctic Act aligns India’s tourism regulations with international standards and collaborates with other Antarctic Treaty nations to achieve common conservation goals.

India hosted the 10th SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) conference themed ‘Antarctica in a Changing World’ for the first time in 2022 and contributed to the International Polar Year celebrations.

There have been 11 Indian expeditions to the Southern Ocean, and one each in the Wedell Sea and South Pole. In 2007, India hosted the 30th ATCM in New Delhi, underscoring its commitment to the Antarctic Treaty System. India also collaborated with Norway and the UK to study the Antarctic ice shelf and ice rise, and drill ice cores for climate studies.

Dr. Vijay Kumar, Adviser, MoES and Head of the Host Country Secretariat, said, “Over the past four decades, India has established itself as a significant player in Antarctic research, environmental stewardship, and international cooperation within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty System.”

“India will also provide a platform to discuss the possible induction of Canada and Belarus as consultative parties to the Antarctic Treaty System. Canada and Belarus have been signatories to the Antarctic Treaty System since 1988 and 2006, respectively.”

“India’s involvement in facilitating discussions for the induction of new consultative parties aligns with its broader objectives of promoting scientific research and international cooperation in Antarctica.’

“The collaborative efforts of nations within the Antarctic Treaty System are crucial in preserving the pristine environment and advancing scientific research in Antarctica. Through its leadership and commitment, India continues to play a key role in shaping the future of Antarctic governance,” said Ambassador Pankaj Saran, who was elected as the Chairperson of the 46th ATCM and 26th CEP.

The 46th ATCM plenary session included an invited talk by Padma Bhushan Dr. Shailesh Nayak, former Secretary of MoES, entitled ‘Antarctica and Climate Change’. Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, was also graced at the event.

The occasion was attended by the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa under Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat are the organisers of these meeting here from May 20 to May 30, 2024. The gathering has over 350 participants from nearly 40 nations.

Sept 28,2023: Researchers in Japan have confirmed that microplastics are present in clouds, where they are likely affecting the climate in ways that are not yet fully understood.

In a study published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters, Japanese scientists climbed Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama in order to collect water from the mists that shroud the peaks, then applied advanced imaging techniques to the samples to determine their physical and chemical properties.

The team identified nine different types of polymers and one type of rubber in the airborne microplastics, which ranged in size from 7.1 to 94.6 micrometres.

Each litre (0.26 gallon) of cloud water tested contained between 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of the plastics.

“If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not addressed proactively, climate change and ecological risks may become a reality, causing irreversible and serious environmental damage in the future,” lead author of the research, Hiroshi Okochi of Waseda University, warned in a statement on Wednesday.

When microplastics reach the upper atmosphere and are exposed to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, they degrade, contributing to greenhouse gasses, Okochi said.

In a new study led by Hiroshi Okochi, Professor at Waseda University, a group of Japanese researchers has explored the path of airborne microplastics (AMPs) as they circulate in the biosphere.　#waseda #research #microplasticshttps://t.co/DWEbWctFZu

— 早稲田大学 Waseda University (@waseda_univ) September 28, 2023

Microplastics – which are defined as plastic particles under 5 millimetres that come from industrial effluent, textiles, synthetic car tires, personal care products and other sources – have already been discovered inside fish, peppering Arctic sea ice, and in the snows on the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain.