SEVENTY-five per cent of the Himalayan glaciers are thinning, states a recent analysis of satellite pictures taken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). But before the alarm button is pressed, more detailed studies must be conducted, say scientists. Of the 10,000 glaciers present in the Himalayan ecosystem, ISRO studied …
The WHO has launched a report on health co-benefits of climate change mitigation in the housing sector, the first of a new series of reports on health in the green economy. The series undertakes a systematic analysis of climate change mitigation and green growth strategies in five economic sectors: housing, …
GROUNDWATER is becoming important to sustain agriculture, industry and drinking water. But as we exploit aquifers, more water becomes part of the hydrological cycle. A recent study shows evaporation and precipitation of groundwater is responsible for a fourth of the annual sea level rise of 3.1 mm. The study, to …
IN ALL probability, the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s 32nd plenary between October 11 and 14 in Busan, South Korea, will be overshadowed by a 100-page report on its workings. The InterAcademy Council (IAC), a multinational organisation of science academies that reviewed the workings, has asked IPCC to bring …
Significant changes in physical and biological systems are occurring on all continents and in most oceans, with a concentration of available data in Europe and North America. Most of these changes are in the direction expected with warming temperature. Here the authors show that these changes in natural systems since …
Environmental policymaking has been equated with the art of making the right decisions based on an insufficient understanding of the underlying problems. Given the tremendous complexities of the earth system, effective global environmental governance must rely on scientific information on both the kind of problem at stake and the options …
Soot from biomass burning, diesel exhaust has 60 percent of the effect of carbon dioxide on warming but mitigation offers immediate benefits Black carbon, a form of particulate air pollution most often produced from biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust, has a warming effect in the atmosphere …
Expanding the number of carbon credit projects under the United Nations clean development mechanism and streamlining its regulation are key priorities for the coming year, said Rajesh Kumar Sethi, the new chairman of the CDM Executive Board of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Executive Board is the de …
Extending the support of the environmentalists to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, which is in a limbo because of opposition from the Left parties, Nobel Laureate RK Pachauri today said not going ahead with the deal would be a mistake. Pachauri, whose UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change received the …
The report on climate change by the council appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to be announced in June, which will pave the way for a national policy on climate change. "Work is in progress and there is no reason why it should be delayed beyond June,' chairman …
India could lead the world in renewable energy technologies as part of a solution to the climate change crisis, said the former United States Vice-President, Al Gore. India had proven its capability in information technology, pharma and other sophisticated sectors, and could be a leader in developing new energy technologies …
A rise in sea levels and other changes fueled by global warming threaten roads, rail lines, ports, airports and other important infrastructure, and policy makers and planners should be acting now to avoid or mitigate their effects, according to new government reports. Backstory With Cornelia Dean (mp3)While increased heat and …
Scientific evidence on climate change leading to drying up of rivers in Gujarat is overwhelming, as it points to significant risks of water scarcity. Experts say, Gujarat needs judicious investments in infrastructures that conserve, enhance and utilize water optimally with a long-term view. When huge investments for water projects like …
Gujarat is a waterstressed state going by the definition of such areas as those having water availability below 1700 cum/ca/annum (cubic meter per capita per year). According to Priyadarshi Shukla, member of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and IIM-A faculty, the Sabarmati river basin has an annual per capita …
When R K Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) received the Nobel Peace Prize in December last year on behalf of the IPCC, which bagged the award jointly with Al Gore, he had clearly mentioned that he would first want to pay tribute to the thousands …
For promoting usage of energy saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in the country, leading lamp manufacturer Osram will distribute more than 2 million CFL units to poor families in Mahrashtra, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. A unit of CFL will cost around Rs 10- 15 while actual cost of the unit …
Studies show that soil fertilized with organic materials, such as compost, could increase the amount of stored carbon and potentially help slow down greenhouse emissions. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, and Singapore (25 February, 2008)
The 18-hole golf course close to Nal Sarovar, that is driving an unfettered property development near the bird sanctuary, threatens to upset the delicate ecology there. Environmentalists say that the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals required to maintain this vast, artificially created, landscape is a threat to …
The UN climate advisory body Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that global environmental change will entail increasing climate variability and increased occurrence of extreme weather events. Since 1750s onwards overall accelerated human-societal development led to activities like burning of fossil fuel, land use change and extensive agricultural …
Hosted and organized by the Hong Kong Climate Change Forum (HKCCF), this conference will be an important platform focusing on urban climate impacts, adaptation and resilience options. It will bring together distinguished scientists, policy makers, business leaders, climate experts and their Asian counterparts to share approaches, best practice methods and …
