Leaders from across the world gathered in Durban in December last year to find common ground on what is currently the most important challenge facing humanity: climate change. With virtually no headway made since the Kyoto Protocol, there is precious little time left for all nations to act before we reach the point of no return. Governments across the world must give a clear signal that they are committed to a legal deal on climate change that puts the world on track to a low-carbon economy.

 

Companies must fight climate change 

With India ranked 132 in a World Bank report on business environment, it is in the country’s interest to improve the business climate to attract more Foreign Direct Investment,a senior US official said Monday.

Brikesh Singh and James North, activists at Greenpeace India, an environment NGO, spoke about their experiences as environmental activists on the third day of Article-19, the national media fest of Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC) on Saturday. 

 

Activists debate internet’s role in green movements 

The first ever meeting of G20 foreign ministers would discuss pressing global issues including governance, trans-national crime, green growth, climate change and food security, US officials have said.Organised by Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa in the Mexican resort town of Los Cabos, the meeting is to be attended by among others US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Contrary to the heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, the snow desert of the state — Lahaul-Spiti — has received negligible snow this year, triggering global warming fears in the Himalayan regions. Minimum 15 feet of snowfall is normal in the district every year but it did not snow beyond 5 feet this time.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told chief climate negotiators of South Africa, Brazil and China that ‘equity’ and the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ will remain central to India’s stance at the UN talks as the world negotiates a post-2020 climate regime.

 

The phase-out of inefficient lighting is one of the quickest, easiest and most cost-efficient ways to combat climate change and save energy globally. Electricity for lighting accounts for almost 20% of electricity consumption and 6% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) en.lighten initiative is a globally-coordinated effort to accelerate the transition to efficient lighting to mitigate climate change.

The Mumbai centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Colaba has opened its doors to students pursuing a career in atmospheric and climate sciences. With state-of-the art technology for weather forecasting and high performance computing systems for meteorological models, undergraduate and post graduate students across India studying subjects such as meteorology, environmental science, engineering and computer science can opt for short term projects and assignments at the Mumbai centre.

 

Projects at IMD FOR climate studies students 

It is no secret that developing countries like India are finding it difficult to balance economic growth and its development and environment agendas. But at the same time, they have also begun to realise that the impact of unsustainable growth will be a costly affair. For example, to tackle the impact of climate change on its coastline, India is installing a gird of weather radars and early warning systems – and these instruments definitely don’t come cheap.

Delegations from Pakistan and India have stressed the need to work together to address challenges to climate change to achieve food and energy security, sustainable livelihoods, conservation of biodiversity, enhanced water use efficiency, promotion of low carbon sustainable development and building resilient communities and networks.

 

Pakistan, India adopt unanimous resolution on challenges to climate change