The changes in the marine domains of India and Australia are affecting the circulation patterns, distribution and abundance of marine species in the two countries, said Stewart Frusher, Associate Professor, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia.

 

Climate change impacting marine domains 

The complexities and technicalities of climate change issues put off many news professionals. For this reason, even important global events such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which was held in Durban from 28 November to 9 December, do not get sufficient media attention.

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, in collaboration with the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia, is organising an international workshop on ‘Preparing for Climate Change on Marine Systems in Australia and India’ from Tuesday to March 10. Michael Carter, Consul Commercial and Trade Commissioner of Australia in Chennai, will inaugurate the workshop at the Conference Auditorium, CMFRI, on Tuesday.

 

 

The entire Western Ghats must be considered as ecologically sensitive, especially to ensure the sustainability of the rivers of the Indian Peninsula, the Madhav Gadgil Committee report has said. Peninsular rivers such as the Krishna, Godavari and Cauvery that drain the Deccan Plateau and flow eastwards originate in the Western Ghats.

India has attempted to re-introduce differentiation between developed and developing countries, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, in the discussions on emission reduction under the Durban Platform. 

In the runup to June’s Rio+20 Earth Summit, sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a hot topic. First proposed by the Columbian government, SDGs are now regarded by many as possible concrete outcomes from a conference whose prospects for delivering change otherwise seem gloomy at best. SDGs feature prominently in Rio’s zero draft document and the recommendations of the UN High-level Panel on Global Sustainability.

 

Why Rio+20 must not leave the politics out of sustainable development 

The better management of population and improvement in formal education system in the country are essential to ensure sustainable development of environment, said S P Singh, advisor, Planning Commission, Uttarakhand, on the concluding day of three-day national seminar on ‘environmental concerns and sustainable development : issues and challenges in India’, organised by the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development (IESD), Banaras Hindu University, on Sunday.

 

Ahead of the Rio+20 Conference on climate change later this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has urged the African and Asian nations to close their ranks to get the “best outcomes” for the developing and poor countries in the climate change negotiations.

 

The government has decided to throw its might behind private purchases of farm land overseas to ensure food security for India. The agriculture ministry has sought views from other ministries on an institutional mechanism to extend sovereign support to India Inc’s acquisition of farm land abroad that could include guaranteed buyback of harvest from the cultivation overseas.

 

Food Security: Government mulls private purchase of farm land abroad 

 

 

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in collaboration with the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, will conduct an international workshop on ‘Preparing for climate change on marine systems in Australia and India’ from March 6-10 in the city.