Vishwa Mohan ................ The Alter Ego

Vishwa Mohan

2016-07-07T10:57:00.001+05:30

Floriculture moves from dormancy to infancy in India

2016-02-14T08:27:00.001+05:30

Flower fascination: India set to be floriculture trade leader

Vishwa Mohan\TNN

NEW DELHI: India's share in global floriculture trade may not be significant but the country has, of late, shown enough potential to eventually turn itself as a favourite destination of flower importers in near future.

Surprisingly, the small land-holding pattern, considered a handicap for the country's agricultural production, comes as an advantage in floriculture due to its 'low volume high value' character. Since the sector has huge export potential, a number of small and marginal farmers have started turning towards flower production.

Increasing domestic demand for both cut and loose flowers has also attracted farmers, mainly in leading flower producing states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, towards floriculture.

The northeastern states, especially Mizoram, have also turned towards cultivating flowers of export varieties in a big way.

Though the country had during 2014-15 exported floriculture products worth over Rs 460 crore, its overall share is quite low in the global trade of nearly USD 40 billion or nearly Rs 2,72,000 crore.

"There is a great demand for Indian flowers in Gulf countries. Besides the major cut flowers, the export of traditional flowers such as jasmine and marigold is also gaining momentum in recent times," said A K Singh, managing director of the agriculture ministry's National Horticulture Board (NHB).

Explaining how floriculture in the country moved from "dormancy to infancy", backed by growing domestic demand and policy support from the government, Singh said, "The country is bestowed with ideal temperature conditions for commercial floriculture throughout the year in some or other part. This has helped entrepreneurs and growers in recognising diversification into floriculture as of a commercial value."

Floriculture in India is viewed as a high growth industry and the government has already identified this sector as a sunrise industry, according it 100% export-oriented status.

Though major export destination of Indian cut flowers (flowers harvested in clusters or in single along with their stems) were the USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands and UAE during 2014-15, loose flowers (flowers harvested without stalk) like jasmines and marigold are generally exported to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and West Asian countries. China, India and Peru are leading producers and exporters of marigold.

The annual world trade in marigold is currently estimated to be around Rs 500 crore.

Singh said, "In recent times, flower importers have been shifting their focus to India and Ethiopia for cheaper flowers in the wake of rising cost of production in Kenya - the world's largest exporter."

Quoting reports from the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), he said, "India could overtake Kenya in floriculture in the near future."

The NHB managing director has reasons to believe the KenInvest reports as he enlisted a number of factors which are conducive for the floriculture sector to grow substantially in future.

"The traditional disadvantage associated with the 'small farm holding' is an advantage in floriculture ventures. Even non-arable land can be put to agricultural use since protected floriculture involves specific growing media or amendment of the existing soil," said Singh.

http://m.timesofindia.com/india/Flower-fascination-India-set-to-be-floriculture-trade-leader/articleshow/50979808.cms

Road to Paris: Most of the rich nations submitted their INDCs by March 31 deadline .... World is now waiting for climate action plans of Japan, Canada, Australia, China and India

2015-04-02T08:29:00.001+05:30

USA, Russia announce emission cuts ahead of Paris meet

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Apr 2, 2015, 03.51AM IST

USA, the biggest historical polluter of the world, on Tuesday committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 levels by 2025 while Russia promised to reduce its emissions by 25-30% from 1990 levels by 2030.

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NEW DELHI: USA and Russia have joined the league of countries who have declared their commitments to a climate action plan to cut post-2020 greenhouse gas emissions. Though the duo's promises do not hold any surprises, the move will now turn world's attention towards big emerging economies like China and India.

USA, the biggest historical polluter of the world, on Tuesday committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below its 2005 levels by 2025 while Russia promised to reduce its emissions by 25-30% from 1990 levels by 2030.

By submitting their plans (known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions in climate change parlance), the US and Russia have joined 32 other countries including Switzerland, European Union (EU), Norway, Mexico and Gabon who have, so far, submitted their post-2020 climate action plans to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

These INDCs will form the basis of the climate negotiations in Paris in December when the world is expected to come out with a global climate deal.

Although the US met the deadline of March 31 for submitting its INDC, its promises drew a lot of criticism here for not being ambitious as environmentalists pointed out that the country merely repeated what it had promised in November last year.

Experts of the Delhi-based think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the US target was "neither fair nor ambitious, and way short of what is needed to keep global warming under 2 degree centigrade".

They noted that the GHG emissions of the US, under its present promise, will be 5 billion tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2025. Its per capita emissions would be 14 tonne CO2e in 2025. In comparison, India's total emissions will be about 4 billion tonne and its per capita emissions will be less than even three tonne in 2025.

"All estimates show that to meet the 2°C target, the US emissions should be at least 50-60% below 1990 levels considering its historical responsibility of causing climate change and its present capability of solving it", said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the CSE.

The US, however, considers its action as a real momentum on the road to reaching a successful climate agreement in Paris. An official statement of the country said the US target would "roughly double the pace of carbon pollution reduction in the United States from 1.2% per year on average during the 2005-2020 period to 2.3-2.8% per year on average between 2020 and 2025".

Though China too had indicated its broader plan in November last year when it talked about peaking its greenhouse gas emission around 2030, India had made it clear that the country - which has very low per-capita emission - would not announce its peaking year and rather lay greater emphasis on its adaptation measures and increasing share of renewable energy in the country's total energy mix.

India is, meanwhile, preparing its INDC. Though the country was initially expected to submit its plan in June, officials here are not willing to commit on any time-frame. Even the environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar did not prefer to commit on any timeline when he was asked by TOI a few days ago about India's plan. He had said that India was preparing its INDCs and it would submit it "well in time".

It is expected that all the countries will submit their 'climate action plans' before October 1 so that a final synthesis report can be prepared by the UNFCCC before the beginning of the Paris climate talks.

Efforts to clean Ganga are much needed, but other rivers too need care and attention

2015-03-26T09:49:00.001+05:30

CPCB report sounds SOS on river pollution

No. of polluted river stretches increased from 150 to 302 in five years

Vishwa Mohan | TNN , March 26, 2015

Vishwa Mohan

New Delhi:

At a time when the country's national river Ganga has caught the attention of policymakers, a new report of India's key pollution watchdog -Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) -has noted that the number of polluted river stretches in the country increased from 150 to 302 in the past over five years, indicating how other rivers too are victims of constant neglect.

A total of 532 townscities fall along the polluted stretches of different rivers across the country . In comparison, the Ganga river basin states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal have 118 such stretches.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review the Centre's action plan to rejuvenate the river Ganga in a highlevel meeting on Thursday , he and his Cabinet colleagues including water resources minister Uma Bharti can hardly afford to ignore the crisis facing other rivers.

It is expected that Modi, exofficio chairman of the Nation al Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), would try to de iver a message across the nation about other rivers as well. Although the meeting on Thursday is meant to review the `Namami Gange' schemes of the government, the Centre is keen to replicate the best practices of Ganga rejuvenation plan to clean up other rivers of the country in due course.

Chief ministers of Uttarakhand, UP , Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal are expected to attend the meeting in their capacities as members of the NGRBA that has been monitoring planning and execution of all schemes relating to Ganga rejuvenation.

The CPCB report, submitted to the environment ministry last month, shows that Maharashtra continues to have the dubious distinction of having the maximum number of polluted river stretches. The polluted river stretches in the state has increased from 28 in 2009 to 49 in 2015. Maharashtra also has the maximum number of townscities located along polluted river stretches.

The polluted stretches are dentified by the CPCB through constant monitoring of water quality in rivers across the coun ry. It is based on the BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) levels n water that shows the extent of organic and bacterial contamination.

Recent findings which high ighted how more than two hirds of the sewage generated n 118 towns -located in the Ganga river basin -get discharged into the country's na ional river `untreated' have caused widespread concern.The Centre has asked five states o furnish their action plans to set up and modernize sewage reatment plants (STPs) within 15 days or face legal action for non-compliance.

“The National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG) has directed 118 municipalitiesurban local bodies in UP , Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West-Bengal and 687 industrial units in these states to furnish action plans directly to the concerned State Program Management Group (SPMGs) in the respective state,“ said an official statement of the water resources ministry .

37,000 MLD of untreated water flows into different rivers of India ...... Water Pollution

2015-03-25T00:39:00.001+05:30

37,000 million litres of sewage flows into rivers daily

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Mar 23, 2015, 05.22AM IST

NEW DELHI: Events around World Water Day, which is marked every year on March 22, may remind everyone about the implications of dwindling water reserves due to population pressure and pollution but the message is, somehow, lost in absence of adequate action on the ground by stakeholders, including the government.

The water pollution scenario in India can be mapped by the findings of the country's key pollution watchdog - Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - which in its recent report noted that nearly 37,000 million liters per day (MLD) of 'untreated' sewage water flows into rivers across the country.

The report, submitted to the environment ministry last month, said that though the sewage treatment capacity in the country was augmented over the years, the wide gap between sewage generation (57,000 MLD) and treatment capacity (20,358 MLD) kept polluting water resources - be it river water or groundwater.

While municipal waste water is the prime cause of increasing water pollution, flow of untreated industrial waste water into rivers is not far behind.

As many as 302 river stretches on 275 rivers across the country have got polluted due to discharge of both municipal and industrial waste water over the years.

At a time when the government is focusing more on Ganga and Yamuna, the issue of polluted river stretches on other rivers appear to have been pushed to the backburner. Though the government has time and again said that it was equally serious about pollution in other rivers, nothing much has been done on the ground beyond the two northern rivers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to focus on this 'gap' when he chairs a meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) on March 26. Though the agenda of the meeting will revolve around Modi's pet project of 'Namami Gange' that is aimed to rejuvenate the Ganga in a time-bound manner, he may ask officials of water resources and environment ministries to focus on other rivers as well in a coordinated manner.

"Obviously, the model of Ganga rejuvenation will be replicated elsewhere in due course, keeping in mind the topographical factors. The Ganga has caught attention of policymakers because 45% of the country's population depends on this river for livelihood and well-being", said an official, defending the current focus.

It is noted that more that than two-third of the sewage generated in 118 towns, located along Ganga, get discharged into the river untreated. The CPCB report pointed out that these towns collectively generate over 3,636 MLD of sewage as against the treatment capacity of approximately 1,027 MLD of the existing 55 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in these towns/cities spread over five states.

Nationwide, there are 606 STPs having a cumulative treatment capacity of around 20,358 MLD. Analyzing the water quality data of all the rivers across the country, the CPCB report highlighted that the country has as many as 302 polluted river stretches on 275 small and big rivers. It also noted that there are 650 towns located along those stretches.

Incidentally, majority of those polluted river stretches are in non-Ganga river basin states. There are 48 polluted river stretches in Ganga river basin in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as against 254 in non-Ganga river basins in rest of the country.

As far as number of town/cities in those basins along polluted river stretches is concerned, 118 towns are located in the Ganga river basin as against 532 towns in other parts of the country. However population-wise, it is the river Ganga basin which alone supports 45% of the people living in the country.

Interview of Prakash Javadekar on Climate Change and India's action path

2015-03-23T14:03:00.001+05:30

Al Gore showed climate’s ‘Inconvenient Truth’ – PM Modi offers convenient path: Prakash Javadekar

Prakash Javadekar is India’s environment, forests and climate change minister. With momentum for Paris’s climate negotiations building and India facing heat over pollution, Javadekar spoke with Vishwa Mohan about India’s comparative emissions, its leadership role, what developed countries must commit to – and PM Modi’s suggested methods to tackle climate change:

Won’t India’s poor track record in urban air pollution weaken its wicket in negotiating a fair climate deal in Paris?

No. India is certainly not on a weak wicket. We are only contributing 4% to the world’s current level of emissions. Carbon stocked in the atmosphere is 150 years old – our contribution is nothing. Even our per capita emission is quite low, at nearly 1.9 tons.

Though USA’s emission is declining, China’s continues to rise. Per capita emissions of China and USA will converge at around 12 tons in 2030 – we will never reach that stage.

The world’s already warmed since the pre-industrialisation phase. We are not responsible for this. We were never a player there.

Now, we are growing. We need to grow to eradicate poverty – however, we will never cross the world average.

What actions is India taking to move onto a low carbon growth path?

We have planned for 1,75,000 MW of renewable energy by 2022 – it is the biggest contribution from an emerging economy.

In fact, developed countries need to act and take ambitious targets for 2015-20. They have not done anything for the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol. They must submit their ambitious plans. They must prepare for the pre-2020 period.

Our plan will also be reflected in our Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) – but before the world discusses our INDCs, we will discuss their pre-2020 action plan.

Will India present its INDCs by June as expected?

We’ll give these in time. Our commitment is real. We’ll take our own action and network with other countries. We are sure that in the Paris accord, we will play a pivotal role in bringing the world together for a fair climate deal.

But isn’t there pressure on India to produce substantial action plans ahead of Paris?

You must remember what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said about climate change when he was asked about any such pressure – he said we were not in a habit of taking pressure.

But, he said, the pressure is of future generations. I think that sums it up. If Al Gore is known for presenting the world an ‘Inconvenient Truth’, here is a prime minister who’s put before the world, based on his hands-on experience in Gujarat, the convenient action path.

Is it possible to follow Narendra Modi’s ‘Zero defect, zero effect’ model when India lacks strict anti-pollution measures?

Taking action to deal with climate change is the prime minister’s top priority. It’s an article of faith.

Therefore, he’s come out with ‘Zero defect, zero effect’ – he wants to make products in India with zero defects, so these can be sold all over and be competitive.

But this will be done through ‘zero effect’ on the environment, so we can care for our mother earth.

Interview of Union minister of environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javadekar on air pollution

2015-03-22T00:25:00.001+05:30

Fresh air calls for polio-like drive, says Prakash Javadekar

March 21, 2015

As air pollution continues to choke city-dwellers across the country, including Delhiites, the central government appears to have sensed an urgency to deal with the chaotic situation on the ground. In an interview to Vishwa Mohan, Union environment minister Prakash Javadekarexplains existing problems, his plan of action and ground realities. Excerpts:

You say "fresh air is the birth right" of every individual. What is your ministry actually doing to provide clean air to citizens?

I have not announced 'fresh air is my birth right' on the spur of moment. It is my commitment. It will be a campaign which I want to launch to make people aware and realize the importance of fresh air. It will act as a pressure from people on the policy-makers and implementers. We can make laws as the central government but implementation rests with the state governments and the municipal corporations. We want to change life of people. But it cannot happen in a day. We want to go ahead to make 'fresh air' in cities a benchmark. That is the principle on which we want to build the whole edifice of pollution control.

There has hardly been any visible concrete action on the ground to reduce air pollution. What's the hope for Delhi and other Indian cities?

Our country has hundreds of laws which have not been implemented. In western countries, lawmaking is a difficult process. But once it's made, the job is done—there will be compliance. We are missing compliance in India.

We have five laws on environment, including on water, air, forests and wildlife. But these are hardly followed. I have been told that my ministry can issue directions, but it cannot do anything if those orders are not followed. The Centre can only close the polluting units. But this is not the real starting point. You must have more powers. We want to change the law to give more teeth to all those enabling provisions. We will build capacities of civic bodies so that we can mitigate the challenges presented by worsening air.

What specific actions have you planned for Delhi to deal with air pollution?

We have had three meetings with the Delhi government. It has presented us short-term and longterm plans. Under the short-term plan, there are vehicle management, vehicle maintenance, pollution under control (PUC) norms, stringent source-specific emission standards for air polluting industries and thermal power plants, and their compliance.

Vehicular pollution needs to be tackled seriously. Though Delhi has CNG vehicle norms, more than 10,000 buses still don't run on CNG. Besides, other vehicles also enter Delhi. As a long-term measure, there is also an issue whether India must leapfrog to Euro VI fuel norms to improve air quality (Delhi and 12 other cities now adhere to Euro IV norms while the rest of India is on Euro III). Strengthening of public transport system also comes under the longterm measures.

What's your opinion on leapfrogging to Euro VI?

It is not about my opinion. There are different ministries (petroleum and transport) which need to look into it. There is an issue of technical possibility. But, every action has a cost and we need to calibrate it.

What are the other issues which need to be tackled in Delhi?

There is an issue of post-harvest burning of stubble in villages in neighbouring Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh that leads to air pollution. Other cities too face the similar problem after harvest of Rabi (April) and Kharif crops (October or November). Earlier, farmers used to cut crops by hand and give or use the leftovers as fodder. But now they use mechanical harvesters which leave long stubbles in the field. These stubbles are disposed of by burning and it pollutes the air. We need to use an alternative technology like using it for power generation. Besides, we also need to tell people about the health hazards of such activities.

There is also an issue of dust coming from Rajasthan. Mechanized road cleaning system is being used. Besides, construction dust is a big problem. Construction work will continue as we are growing. Delhi Metro has handled the issue quite effectively. We need to implement similar standards for constructions in all sectors, including housing and roads.

Who all are implementing these measures in Delhi or in other state capitals and million-plus cities?

The state governments and the municipal corporations have to work. The Centre will make them work. We are partners. We will help them build capacities. We are working with other departments like science and technology to map out problems and come out with solutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on April 6 launch air quality index for all 66 cities (Delhi, state capitals and million-plus cities). It will be based on the constant monitoring of air quality. This will give a description of air quality in any city for any particular station or location. This 'one number-one code-one colour' description of air quality will map out more than five parameters (PM 2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, Ozone, ammonia and lead).

A sustained campaign like 'Poliofree India' is needed. We have to tell people about the importance of fresh air. It will be a public-private partnership campaign to create awareness. We will also ask public sector companies to support such a campaign in a particular state or city.

Coal-based power plants are also polluting the air. Will the inefficient plants be allowed to run? Is it not desirable to shut down such plants which pollute both air and water?

We need to ensure that the coal-based plants work efficiently. There are many plants which emit less. But, many others pollute much more. The power ministry is in the process of phasing out some old plants. Issues of coal transportation and mining of coal in a scientific manner using the best technology are also being looked into. We will have a comprehensive meeting with the ministries of coal and power after the Budget session. We want to arrive at a solution.

READ ALSO: Let Delhi Breathe: Sign up to save Delhi from choking

Interview of Robert C Orr, principal policy adviser to the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon

2015-03-22T00:19:00.001+05:30

'Paris is not the end point. It's a launching pad'

Vishwa Mohan, TNN | March 8, 2015

NEW DELHI: "Paris is not the end point. It's a launching pad", said Robert C Orr, principal policy adviser to the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, while expressing his confidence in the commitment given by countries across the world to sign a climate deal in the French capital later this year.

Orr, who was in India to take part in a series of deliberations on New Delhi's renewable energy goals, also said he was very encouraged by the effort of all stakeholders, including government, private and civil society in the country to work towards a climate deal.

Amid apprehensions whether Paris pact would be strong enough to save the world from disastrous consequences of climate change, Orr, in an interview to TOI, said it won't be a deal which will be signed and then implemented once and for all.

"It will have to be re-tuned and fine-tuned every single year. Countries will meet every year and explain what all they are doing to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases and this is the genius of the new regime that is taking shape", said the UN assistant secretary-general.

Orr, who has been advising Ban Ki-moon on energy, food security and global health for years, during his conversations also appeared to be quite optimistic of countries' commitments in the form of their Intended National Determined Contributions(INDCs). The INDCs will form the basis of the negotiations in run up to the final climate deal.

"We don't need to look at this negotiation as a zero sum game. In fact, we can't. It is not that one part gains and another loses. In fact, we'll all gain if we get a good deal and we'll all lose if we get a bad deal", said Orr.

Asked what if INDCs taken together failed to keep temperature rise below 2 degree celsius by 2100 from pre-industrialization levels, the UN assistant secretary-general said, "Once the countries provide their INDCs, the negotiators will see whether it's adequate or not.

"We should keep in mind that these (INDCs) will be for period beyond 2020. So, there will be nearly five years from now and 2020. It would be the most important five years in the future of our planet".

His remarks were made just days before countries started submitting their INDCs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which expects all rich countries to submit their respective 'climate action plans' by month end.

So far, Switzerland and European Union (group of 28 countries) have submitted their plans to the UNFCCC, detailing their emission-cut goals.

Though India is expected to come out with its action plan in June, officials here felt that there are still many issues which need to be clarified before the country would submit its INDC.

Articulating India's stand, country's environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar during his speech at African Ministerial Conference on Environment at Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday said, "As we formulate INDCs, certain issues need immediate attention. One of those is technology transfer along with knowhow at an affordable cost, so that we are able to move expeditiously towards lowering of the energy intensity of our economic growth and improving energy efficiency in various sectors".

He also said, "As we all prepare ourselves for the Paris meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP21), we need to recognize that both adaptation and mitigation must be accorded equal importance".

Interview of former US vice president Al Gore

2015-03-22T00:14:00.001+05:30

Differences between Democrats and Republicans in the US will not cloud prospects of a strong climate deal in Paris later this year. Al Gore

Vishwa Mohan, TNN | February 24, 2015

NEW DELHI: Climate change crusader and former US vice-president  Al Gore does not think differences between Democrats and Republicans in his home country will cloud prospects of a strong climate deal that is expected to be inked in  Paris later this year. In an interview to TOI, the academy award winning star of the documentary , 'The Inconvenient Truth', spoke on a range of issues. They included the global response to India's clean energy market and the benefits of Deep Space Climate Observatory , which emerged from an idea proposed by him in 1998. Excerpts:

Q. Will differences between Democrats and Republicans over climate change issues cast its shadow over the prospect of a strong climate deal?

No. It will not. The concerns are certainly understandable because the extreme partisan division in my country have interfered with the development of some policies. Climate is, however, an exception. Because the  Supreme Court has issued a ruling that a previously passed law known as the Clean Air Act actually applies to the reduction of green house gases.

The issue before the court was whether or not the phrase harmful air pollutants applies to global warming pollution and the Supreme Court issued an opinion stating that the law does apply. Now the significance of this is that President  Obama has the existing authority without any subsequent action by the Congress to mandate the reduction of pollution which causes global warming.

Now, the second basis for the concern you described has to do with the Senate's constitutional role in approving treaties. But the Paris agreement is being designed in a way that it does not fit that description and it does not require  Senate approval.

Q. Only nine months are left to Paris, but many differences exist between developed and developing countries over extent of INDC, mitigation versus adaptation issues or ex-ante review. Do you think the negotiations in run-up to Paris would end those differences?

Yes, I think a deal is virtually certain. And, one reason for my confidence is that this new process designed for the Paris negotiations allows significant flexibility depending upon national circumstances.

The old rigid differentiation between the developed and developing countries no longer applies the way it once did.

The agreement between the US and China is just the latest evidence of this fact.

Q. What do you mean by those great many changes that may drive the world to have an equi table climate deal in Paris without affecting their economies?

The stunning developments and improvements to renewable energy technology and the sharp reduction in the cost of electricity from solar and wind and realization of the enormous opportunity available in enhanced energy efficiency have changed the de bate in a fairly dramatic way.

I believe that this is a new chapter in the same story the world had witnessed with the telecom communication where mobile phones have almost replaced the old landline technologies.

Distributed energy resources mainly by rooftop solar along with solar fields and wind mills are now not only competitive with the electricity made from the burning of coal but actually is cheaper in many regions and even as the cost of coal goes up, the cost of solar and wind continues to go down year after year after year.

Page 2 of 2

NEW DELHI: Climate change crusader and former US vice-president Al Gore does not think differences between Democrats and Republicans in his home country will cloud prospects of a strong climate deal that is expected to be inked in Paris later this year. In an interview to TOI, the academy award winning star of the documentary , 'The Inconvenient Truth', spoke on a range of issues. They included the global response to India's clean energy market and the benefits of Deep Space Climate Observatory , which emerged from an idea proposed by him in 1998. Excerpts:

Q. Will differences between Democrats and Republicans over climate change issues cast its shadow over the prospect of a strong climate deal?

No. It will not. The concerns are certainly understandable because the extreme partisan division in my country have interfered with the development of some policies. Climate is, however, an exception. Because the Supreme Court has issued a ruling that a previously passed law known as the Clean Air Act actually applies to the reduction of green house gases.

The issue before the court was whether or not the phrase harmful air pollutants applies to global warming pollution and the Supreme Court issued an opinion stating that the law does apply. Now the significance of this is that President Obama has the existing authority without any subsequent action by the Congress to mandate the reduction of pollution which causes global warming.

Now, the second basis for the concern you described has to do with the Senate's constitutional role in approving treaties. But the Paris agreement is being designed in a way that it does not fit that description and it does not require Senate approval.

Q. Only nine months are left to Paris, but many differences exist between developed and developing countries over extent of INDC, mitigation versus adaptation issues or ex-ante review. Do you think the negotiations in run-up to Paris would end those differences?

Yes, I think a deal is virtually certain. And, one reason for my confidence is that this new process designed for the Paris negotiations allows significant flexibility depending upon national circumstances.

The old rigid differentiation between the developed and developing countries no longer applies the way it once did.

The agreement between the US and China is just the latest evidence of this fact.

Q. What do you mean by those great many changes that may drive the world to have an equi table climate deal in Paris without affecting their economies?

The stunning developments and improvements to renewable energy technology and the sharp reduction in the cost of electricity from solar and wind and realization of the enormous opportunity available in enhanced energy efficiency have changed the de bate in a fairly dramatic way.

I believe that this is a new chapter in the same story the world had witnessed with the telecom communication where mobile phones have almost replaced the old landline technologies.

Distributed energy resources mainly by rooftop solar along with solar fields and wind mills are now not only competitive with the electricity made from the burning of coal but actually is cheaper in many regions and even as the cost of coal goes up, the cost of solar and wind continues to go down year after year after year.

Q. India wants to move on the renewable energy path. But, costs and technology drawbacks are big issues. Do you think it would make good business sense for investors to invest in India?

I think the size and attractiveness of the renewable energy market and energy efficiency market in India is looming as one of biggest business opportunities in the entire history of the world. Everyone knows that India's growth rate will soon be faster than China's. India will be the largest market in the world in this century . So, the kind of rush that you saw the business around the world were trying to get into China in the last decade, you are going to see that for India.

Q. Will the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) help the scientific community solve some climatic mystery? What can the world achieve from this ambitious launch?

Yes. The satellite placed in deep space will orbit the sun in tandem with the earth. It will always stay in between the earth and the sun and from that vantage point, the instruments on this satellite will be able to give us for the very first time an accurate energy budget for the entire earth and the entire planetary system. Secondly , we will able to get for the first time an accurate assessment of vegetative cover on the earth.

Interview of French minister of ecology, sustainable development and energy Segolene Royal

2015-03-22T00:04:00.001+05:30

There is but one planet and we must work together to save it: Segolene Royal

Vishwa Mohan, TNN | February 6, 2015

NEW DELHI: French minister of ecology, sustainable development and energy Segolene Royalinvokes Rabindranath Tagore as she urges nations to work together to save the planet from disastrous consequences of climate change. In an interview to TOI, Royal pitches for "clean transport and electricity" to wipe out air pollution. Excerpts:

Q. Do you think a strong climate deal is possible when developing countries insist on giving more emphasis to adaptation than on mitigation (emission cuts)?

A. You have to act on both fronts. India has already made significant efforts in this area. The goals set by the new government are ambitious. Prime Minister Modi announced the target of 100 gw from solar energy by 2020. Clean transport and electricity are also needed for cleansing air pollution in cities.

Q. What is France, as host country of the next climate conference (COP21), planning to offer in the form of its INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) to strike a global climate deal in Paris in December?

A. France is acting to lead by example, first through the law on energy transition towards green growth, which I drafted and got voted in the National Assembly and which concerns all the challenges of climate change, and the preparation for a post-oil era. France has opted for an energy mix of energy saving measures, nuclear energy and renewable energy. Europe has set itself the ambition of achieving the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels, increasing energy efficiency by 27%, and a renewable energy share of 27%. This is also a way of generating jobs. A major drive is on for waste treatment and converting waste into energy.

Q. Rich nations including France have so far contributed very little to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Will France increase its contribution?

A. France was actually one of the first countries to contribute to the fund with $1 billion. This is really a major contribution as this enabled the fund to attain the $10 billion mark right since the Lima Conference in December last year. The issue today is to swiftly decide how these resources will be used, because we must help the least developed countries to protect themselves from climate disruption and adapt to the changes of energy transition. This fund is to be supplemented with contributions from the private sector to reach the $100 billion mark. France has also committed bilaterally to increasing its financing support to climate-related projects.

Q. What will France's stand be as far as ex-ante review of country goals is concerned in view of strong opposition to it by most of the developing countries, including India and China?

A. I don't think that a country's attachment to its sovereignty and the necessity of reaching an agreement to face the dangers of climate disruption are mutually exclusive. This is what should guide us: there is but one planet and we must work together to save it. Being true to yourself and working with others go hand in hand. Often, during our climate debates, I think of these lovely words of Tagore, "I have had my invitation to this world's festival... and I have done all I could." We have also met the Chinese negotiator, who was quite constructive.

Q. What is the solution for countries that need to grow at the cost of carbon emissions as they want to improve the living conditions of their citizens through economic growth and energy access?

A. The more we wait, the more it will cost, and the worse the impact. Solutions are within reach and that's a good thing for our countries. India is a great country with engineers, scientists and talented people who can contribute to the new energy model, which reconciles the aspirations for growth and access to carbon-free energy. If nothing is done, climate disruption will lead to many disasters. So, we must act and we must consider this as a chance to think and act differently.

Obama-Modi stress enhancing bilateral cooperation to deal with climate change

2015-03-21T23:58:00.001+05:30

Obama-Modi climate deal: Unlike China, no emission target for India

Vishwa Mohan\TNN January 26, 2015

NEW DELHI: India and the US on Sunday stressed enhancing bilateral cooperation to deal with climate change but did not have a China-like bilateral deal where both Washington and Beijing last November set their respective emission cut goals.

Despite international pressure, India walked its own path keeping economic development in mind and insisted on tackling climate change by moving firmly on the clean, renewable energy path, adopting improved energy efficient technology and through various adaptation measures.

Both countries concluded negotiations on a five-year MoU on "energy security, clean energy and climate change". An agreement to this effect is expected "as early as possible" at a mutually agreed date. The US will help India achieve its goals, including 100GW of solar power by 2022, by extending finance and technology.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST: US rules out China-like climate deal with India in near future

India, on its part, moved forward to accommodate Obama's demand to discuss the contentious issue of hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs) and find ways to phase-down this climate-damaging refrigerant. Articulating India's stand on climate change, the PM Modi dismissed the assertion that India was under pressure of the recent US-China climate change deal and said the country feels the pressure of climate change for it cares for its future generations.

In his opening remark at a joint media interaction with Obama, Modi insisted on adaptation measures and moving on the clean, renewable energy path to tackle climate change and asked US to "lead international efforts in making renewable energy accessible and affordable".

READ ALSO: India trying to build climate for energy talks with US

Modi said, "For Obama and me, clean and renewable energy is a personal and national priority. We discussed our ambitious national efforts and goals to increase the use of clean and renewable energy. We agreed to enhance our excellent and innovative partnership in this".

Both leaders reaffirmed their prior understanding to deepen India-US collaboration in other fields, including science, technology, innovation and agriculture. As far as the controversial HFCs is concerned, India reaffirmed its September, 2014 understanding with the US and agreed to "cooperate on making concrete progress in the Montreal Protocol this year".

IPCC chief's take on future of the UN body on climate change ....Post-COP20 interview

2014-12-30T12:52:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/2ZbbwxzhxC

Pachauri: IPCC future not tied to Paris climate deal

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 30, 2014, 04.43AM IST

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NEW DELHI: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading UN body for the assessment of climate change, will continue its work, no matter whether countries arrive at a global climate deal next year in Paris or not. Its successive science-based reports had always been key inputs for negotiators in the past over two decades.

The IPCC had come out with its last (fifth) assessment report in November ahead of the Lima climate talks. It is also most likely to come out with its sixth assessment report in future, bringing more scientific information to the table for policy-makers and general public on causes and impact of climate-damaging greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

Amid speculation over the future of the IPCC once it submitted its 'synthesis' report, its chairman R K Pachauri said his expectation was that the body would also come out with the sixth assessment report (AR6) and a decision in this regard would hopefully be taken by member countries in February, 2015.

"Whether it is going to be structurally identical to the fifth assessment report (AR5) or whether it would be different would be clearer by the end of February when the next plenary of the IPCC takes place", he told the TOI.

Asked about future of this Nobel Prize winning UN body, Pachauri said, "I think the work of the IPCC will continue as there is also growing desire on the part of the scientific community across the world to contribute to the work".

The IPCC is a scientific body which reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It was established in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.

The body has since then come out with five successive assessment reports, telling the global community how human activities are playing havoc with environment and how it led to extreme weather events, melting of glaciers and acidification of oceans due to global warming.

Pachauri said, "It seems to me that the result of the fifth assessment report would perhaps only strengthen the need for carrying out updated assessment. Given the fact that we have a lot more information and knowledge in this report (AR5) than what we had in AR4 and similarly the AR4 had much more as compared to the AR3. This only strengthens the need for coming out with successive assessment".

It was the IPCC second assessment report (AR2) of 1995 that had provided important material and key inputs to negotiators in the run-up to adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

On its present task, the IPCC chief said, "We, in the immediate future, are going to ensure that the findings of the synthesis report are spread and made known to communities all over the world. This is going to be something which I personally will be focusing on in the next six to eight months".

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COP20: Interview of IPCC chairman R K Pachauri on outcome of the Lima climate talks, fate of GCF and future of the UN body on climate change

2014-12-24T11:01:00.001+05:30

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Rich nations would contribute to the Green Climate Fund once all the countries provide their INDCs: R K Pachauri

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 23, 2014, 10.09PM IST

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NEW DELHI: At the time when developing world is worried about the rich nations' reluctance for contributing to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R K Pachauri believes that the developed world would come forward substantially with the finance once all the countries provide their 'Intended Nationally Determined Contributions' (INDCs) - a clear roadmap of their voluntary actions to fight the threat of climate change.

Pachauri, who is also member of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Council on Climate Change, in an interview to TOI spoke on a range of issues including the course of action India should take to go on low- carbon growth path, outcome of the Lima climate talks, future of the IPCC and the GCF that is meant for helping out developing countries for their mitigation and adaptation actions.

He said the countries in Lima had, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that the world would get in Paris in December next year in the form of a global climate deal. He said the rich nations would, hopefully, contribute to the GCF once all the countries provide their INDCs next year. The IPCC chairman also opened up on the future of the UN body on climate change, saying it will continue to work and there is a possibility of sixth assessment report.

Excerpts:

Q. How you see the outcome of the Lima climate conference?

A. Lima outcome has, at least, come up with a framework for a kind of agreement that we would get in Paris. I don't know whether this is enough or not, but now we have at least a concrete basis on which we will carry out our negotiations. Every country will provide their INDCs on certain basis (elements) and will see whether it would be enough to meet the goal of keeping the temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius this century. So, Lima to that extent is a beginning but we have to build on that.

I am glad, at least now we have an agreement or a sort of building blocks of any agreement with the INDCs. What these INDCs will turn out to be country by country is left to be seen and of course will also be left open to scrutiny because all of this is now going to be transparent.

Q. There has been reluctance on the part of rich nations to contribute to the GCF. Do you see any change of stand in future? Will more money come to the fund, beyond the existing sum of over 10 billion US dollars in the kitty?

A. It seems to me that once you get the INDCs from all the countries and if they find that these INDCs don't add up to what is required then the next step would be to see how you can make it happen. In the developing countries, you have to provide resources to make it happen. I hope that will convince the developed countries that we are all in it together and if we have to stabilize the earth climate, this money has to be provided. Otherwise, we won't reach the kind of result which we want.

Finance would be required to take mitigation and adaptation measures. It is to be found out how those finances can be made available for enhancing the GCF. So, I think there lots need to be looked at and there is lot more attention that needs to be provided to it. I hope it happens once the INDCs come together and see the gap in terms of funding and the gap in terms of reducing emission.

Q. What would you like to suggest the PM council on climate change in India in view of rising demand to cut emission at the time when the country needs to develop to fulfill its obligation to poor citizens?

A. India has to do much more on adaptation to face the impact of climate change. We have not paid enough attention on it. We have many regulations but we are not sure whether these are being properly observed at local level. Therefore, local government has to be strengthened if we want to carry out adaptation measures.

There is a whole range of things. Even in agriculture, the impacts of climate change are going to be serious and therefore we have to start preparing for that and possibly to bring about shift not only in agriculture practices but even in crop patterns.

On the mitigation front, I would say that the India has a very serious challenge of energy security. We need to use energy more efficiently. That would require a major restructuring in many sectors specifically transport, industry and building. We should also start looking at the mix of energy supply that we need for the future.

Q. How can country meet its growing energy need?

A. India has abundance of renewable energy sources. We should go for it in a big way. It will also give us lower emission of greenhouse gases. It is time we should start shaping our policy in a way that renewable sources of energy, at least where it is economically viable, get utilized. Once the country moves on this path with clear policy, finance will, hopefully, not be a problem.

Q. What is the future of the IPCC as it has already submitted its report\findings? Will this UN body continue? If yes, then in what form?

A. As far as the IPCC is concerned, we in the immediate future are going to ensure that the findings of the synthesis report are spread and made known to communities all over the world. This is going to be something which I personally will be focusing on in the next six to eight months. But over a longer period of time, the governments are now in a state of decision making discussion on what the next cycle of the IPCC should be.

My expectation is that there will be a sixth assessment report (AR6). Whether it is going to be structurally identical to the fifth assessment report (AR5) or whether it would be different would be clearer by the end of February when the plenary of the IPCC takes place.

It seems to me that the result of the fifth assessment report would perhaps only strengthen the need for carrying out updated assessment. Given the fact that we have a lot more information and knowledge in this report (AR5) than what we had in AR4 and similarly the AR4 had much more as compared to the AR3. This only strengthens the need for coming out with successive assessment.

In essence, I think the work of the IPCC will continue as there is also growing desire on the part of the scientific community to contribute.

COP20: 'Goal of mobilizing 100 billion US dollars per year by 2020 is still a far cry'

2014-12-23T07:24:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/zSUld5NNpB

Rich nations are penny-pinching: Prakash Javadekar

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 23, 2014, 12.45AM IST

“This is especially relevant in view of the action of some countries, which had gone back on their Kyoto Protocol commitments. The Lima conference agreed that the contribution of countries has to be more than their current commitments”, said Javadekar.

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NEW DELHI: A week after conclusion of the Lima climate talks, India on Monday lamented that rich nations have failed to deliver adequately on the issue of finance and said the "goal of mobilizing 100 billion US dollars per year by 2020 is still a far cry".

READ ALSO: Lima deal saves climate talks, India satisfied

The concern was expressed by the Union environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar in his suo moto statement in Parliament on the Lima climate talks and India's position during the crucial negotiating rounds in the Peruvian capital.

Though Javadekar, who had led the Indian delegation at talks, expressed his satisfaction over the broad outcome of the Lima climate conference, he underlined the difficulties involved on the issue of finance where rich nations did not come up to expectation of the developing countries.

READ ALSO: Govt shares outcome of Lima climate talks with Parliament

Referring to the pledge of only over $10 billion, made by rich nations, against the actual target of $100 billion per year by 2020, Javadekar said it was decided at Lima to "urge" contributors to confirm pledges in the form of "fully executed contribution agreements" so that at least 50% of promises made till November this year should be fully executed by April 30, 2015.

The minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, Prakash Javadekar speaks at a high-level segment of UNFCCC conference of parties in Lima. (PTI photo)
The finance issue had come up during the talks in the context of capitalization of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that was created as a financial instrument to help developing countries for their ambitious mitigation (emission cut) and adaptation actions. The rich nations are supposed to contribute to the GCF for the purpose.

It was agreed in Lima that the new agreement will address all elements that are mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and transparency of action and support in a balanced manner.

READ ALSO: Paris climate talks may have to pay for Lima compromise

Referring to the outcome, Javadekar in Lok Sabha said, "The recognition that all elements need to be addressed in a balanced manner is a key outcome of the Conference as there were efforts by some developed countries to undermine the basic tenets of the Convention".

Besides recognizing all elements as key ingredients of the future climate deal, it was decided that the countries should not backslide from current pledges.

"This is especially relevant in view of the action of some countries, which had gone back on their Kyoto Protocol commitments. The Lima conference agreed that the contribution of countries has to be more than their current commitments", said Javadekar.

Speaking about India's position, the minister said, "Our main task was to protect India's long term interests and emphasize the need for growth and development space to tackle the problem of eradicating poverty, providing energy access to all and address other developmental priorities.

"In this endeavour, we were guided by the vision of the government and Cabinet mandate. Our stand in the negotiations was also guided by the principle of 'Equity' and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDRs), which is the bedrock principle of the UNFCCC".

READ ALSO: Saarc nations come as separate group at Lima climate talks

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COP20: A tightrope walk to Paris

2014-12-21T15:49:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/3SvIjrICtY

Paris climate talks may have to pay for Lima compromise

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 21, 2014, 01.12AM IST

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NEW DELHI: Is the outcome at Lima a recipe for a weak climate deal in Paris? Compromises on many key issues in the draft negotiating text that will serve as the basis for the next round of negotiations, beginning in February in Geneva, hint at such a possibility.

Countries from both sides - developed and developing - accommodated each-other's concerns in the agreed text, but it still left many loopholes in the draft that may allow rich nations to maneuver their positions in the run up to Paris.

The concerns are articulated by NGOs across the globe who found that the Lima outcome fell short of expectation as it was guided more by "political expediency" than the scientific urgency and need of vulnerable countries.

The views of NGOs' representatives, who attended the conference last week as observers, seem significant if one goes through the fine-print of the text.

The agreed text - Lima Call for Climate Action - shows that all countries will by October 1 provide the UNFCCC secretariat their INDCs (mitigation targets and adaptation measures) to achieve the goal of keeping the global temperature rise below 2 degree celsius this century. But a careful reading of the agreement belies the promises it sets out to make.

The text prefers to use "may" instead of "shall" while asking countries to provide their INDCs using various parameters and reference points like base year, time frame or periods for implementation. It, at the same time, remains silent on specifics of those references. Obviously, this was glossed over to save the talks from collapsing.

The agreement "urges" developed countries to enhance their ambition in the pre-2020 period. The developing countries, in fact, gave the rich nations enough concession by allowing them to escape without making any commitments. The rich group, on the other hand, agreed to have references of adaptation, financial support, technology transfer and 'loss and damage' mentioned in the text without providing a definite roadmap.

"Developed countries have not pledged to reduce their emissions from now till 2020. They have also not given any concrete assurances to provide finance and technology to the developing countries. Every country can now decide what they want to do to reduce their emissions", said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

He said, "The countries will not be asked to explain how their efforts are fair and ambitious. They will also not face any rigorous assessment process ahead of the Paris summit".

The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) reacted the same way saying, "Political expediency won over scientific urgency...Governments at the UN climate talks in Lima opted for a half-baked plan to cut emissions."

Samantha Smith of the WWF Global Climate and Energy Initiative said, "Governments crucially failed to agree on specific plans to cut emissions before 2020 that would have laid the ground for ending the fossil fuel era and accelerated the move toward renewable energy and increased energy efficiency".

Though the developing countries including India expressed their satisfaction over clear mentions of "Under Convention" and "CBDR" in the text, NGOs pointed out how the caveat in the form of "different national circumstances" will spare the rich nations from fulfilling their responsibilities despite being big historical emitters.

Referring to the finance issue in the agreed text, the Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) director Sanjay Vashist said, "On finance, the momentum provided by pledges to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) got lost. Ten billion USD in the GCF - over four years - is too little....The Lima outcome did not provide further clarity about the pathway to the USD 100 billion a year promised to support developing countries to take climate action. Finance was essentially kicked down the road to Paris".

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Paris-climate-talks-may-have-to-pay-for-21122014015011#

COP20: Lima keeps the Paris hope alive

2014-12-21T15:44:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/O15lK2Q7V7

Lima deal saves climate talks, India satisfied

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 15, 2014, 05.18AM IST

COP20 president and Peruvian minister of environment Manuel Pulgar slams his mallet on December 14, 2014, to approve and close the discussion on a proposed compromise document handed out during the marathon UN talks in Lima. (AFP photo)

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LIMA: A compromise draft on national pledges to cut global carbon emissions saved the UN climate talks from a collapse and kept hopes alive for a global deal in Paris next year to combat climate change. After a marathon 13-day conference of parties (COP), negotiators on Sunday adopted the draft that addressed India's concerns and set the roadmap for a new binding deal.

Though the outcome is not on expected lines, it somehow managed to keep red lines for all countries- developed and developing. The agreement — Lima Call for Climate Action — paves the way for all nations to submit their 'nationally determined' pledge for emission cuts and adaptation measures by October next year — not by June, 2015 that was expected after last year's Warsaw talks.

Though it doesn't give an ambitious roadmap for climate finance, it addresses the concerns of developing countries by keeping 'adaptation' clause intact and not diluting the basic principles — CBDRs — of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol. The contentious issues will, however, come up again during the Paris talks ahead of the final agreement.

READ ALSO: Poor countries gear up to battle the rich at Lima climate talks

Commenting on the draft, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said, "All of India's concerns have been addressed." "We have achieved targets and we got what we wanted," he said after the delegates approved a broad blueprint for talks leading up to a deal in 2015 that is to come into effect after 2020.

The minister of state for environment, forest and climate change, Prakash Javadekar speaks at a high-level segment of UNFCCC conference of parties in Lima. (PTI photo)

Nations concluded by elaborating the elements of the new agreement, scheduled to be stamped in Paris in late 2015, while also agreeing to the ground rules on how all countries can submit contributions to the new agreement during the first quarter of next year.

These intended nationally-determined contributions (INDCs) will form the foundation for climate action post 2020 when the new agreement is set to come into effect.

READ ALSO: US rules out China-like climate deal with India in near future

During the two-week 20th COP, countries also made significant progress in elevating adaptation onto the same level as action to cut and curb emissions.
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, minister of environment of Peru and COP president, said: "Lima has given new urgency towards fast-tracking adaptation and building resilience across the developing world — not least by strengthening the link to finance and development of national adaptation plans. Meanwhile here in Lima, governments have left with a far clearer vision of what the draft Paris agreement will look like as we head into 2015 and the next round of negotiations in Geneva."

Activists wearing masks depicting (left to tight) Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, China's President Xi Jinping, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia's President Vladimir Putin are seen before they demonstrate to demand cuts in global emissions during the UN Climate Change Conference COP 20 in Lima December 12, 2014. (Reuters photo)

The Lima climate conference achieved a range of other important outcomes, decisions and "firsts" in the history of international climate process. Pledges were made by both developed and developing countries prior to and during the COP that took the capitalization of the new Green Climate Fund (GCF) past an initial $10 billion target.

Levels of transparency and confidence-building reached new heights as several industrialized countries submitted themselves to questioning about their emission targets under a new process called a "multilateral assessment".

READ ALSO: Saarc nations come as separate group at Lima climate talks

The Lima Ministerial Declaration on Education and Awareness-raising calls on governments to put climate change into school curricula and climate awareness into national development plans.

The discussions though had at times got heated as developed and developing countries bickered over who should bear responsibility for reducing carbon emissions and whether rich nations should reduce emissions faster and over the quantum of aid they should give to poor countries to check global warming.

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COP20: The heat is on as climate talks reach final round

2014-12-21T15:39:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/ra3lxO4De1

UN climate convention: Poor countries gear up to battle the rich

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 12, 2014, 05.37AM IST

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LIMA: The battle lines are being drawn at the climate negotiations with developing countries, including India, snubbing rich nations on Wednesday for their attempt to dilute the basic principles of the UN convention and its Kyoto Protocol.

Making a strong intervention during a key meeting, Indian environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar said, "We are here to enhance the implementation of the convention, certainly not to re-write it".

He referred to the attempt of EU and non-EU rich countries including the US (called Umbrella Group) to bring out a new phrase of "evolving CBDR" where they pitch for changing the "historical responsibility" clause and categorization of countries in terms of their wealth that actually make them accountable for emission cuts and burden sharing.

The CBDR (common but differentiated responsibility) clause makes it mandatory for rich nations (annex countries) to cut emissions because developing countries (non-annexe countries) are not the "historical polluters" nor they have the capacity to pay for the past sins of the developed world.

Javadekar said, "The decision on Durban Platform mandated that the new agreement shall be 'under the convention'. Therefore, the new agreement has to be in full accordance with all the principles and provisions of the Framework Convention. It cannot be in contravention with and cannot undermine the Convention.

"We believe that the developing country parties will put forth their best efforts in accordance with their resources and capacity. Fulfillment of commitments and promises to provide enhanced financial and technological support for developing countries is crucial and will enable them to scale up their efforts and help in realizing our global goal".

Emphasizing the role of rich nations, the minister in his intervention said, "It is important to ensure that there is no slackening of the mitigation ambition of the developed country parties in the pre- and post-2020 period".

India and other developing countries have, in fact, been asking the rich countries to fulfill their pre-2020 promise so that the rest of the world can trust them about their post-2020 commitment which would be reflected in the global climate deal in Paris late next year.

He said, "My negotiators have told me about a new phrase of 'evolving CBDR' that seems to have surfaced in their negotiations from certain quarters. There are other ideas floating as well. We also have our own ideas. But this is neither the right time nor the process to discuss these issues".

He said, "The need at this stage is to ensure that we have an ambitious, comprehensive, equitable and balanced agreement in 2015 that takes into account the huge development needs including access to financial resources and low carbon technological options for developing countries".

Referring to the suspicion among developing nations that the rich and influential groups may try to push their points through co-chairs of the meeting at the last moment, Javadekar made it clear that the countries would only be able to successfully negotiate a text that is "party driven and inclusive" (means the countries would not agree to something which will be imposed on them from the chairs of the negotiations).

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=TOI-at-Lima-The-heat-is-on-as-13122014014041#

COP20: US rules out China-like climate deal with India

2014-12-21T15:34:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/OOzrq0uW8T

US rules out China-like climate deal with India in near future

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 11, 2014, 01.44PM IST

It is expected that India and US during Obama visit would announce some agreement in the field of clean energy financing.

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LIMA: A day before meeting Indian environment minister Prakash Javadekar for yet another round of bilateral meeting here on sideline of the climate conference, the US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of a wide-ranging deal to cut greenhouse gas emission with India on the line of the recent US-China deal.

Responding to a specific question on the possibility of such deal during the US president Barack Obama's visit to New Delhi in January next year, Stern said, "We don't have that kind of process going on with India".

Stern, who had met Javadekar on Sunday, however said India was an important player and he expected it to be a constructive one in the ongoing climate talks.

READ ALSO: Saarc nations come as a separate group at Lima climate talks

India tells rich nations not to use disasters as tools to make profit

Won't allow progress review, India tells UN climate meet

Lima COP20: Deep divides on key issues

He also mentioned that the US had a lot of bilateral works with India on clean energy and will continue doing so.

Under the US-China bilateral deal that was signed in Beijing last month, the US will reduce emissions by 26-28% below the 2005 levels by 2025 while China intends to achieve the peaking of carbon emissions around 2030. Under the deal, Beijing also intends to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20% by 2030.

Going into the background of the US-China deal, Stern said he was with Secretary of State John Kerry when he visited China last February. The idea for a deal was conceived of in his office and it was discussed with China's top leadership during the visit. The official deal was announced nine months later, he said, adding it was not something that was decided in two weeks.

Stern, who will meet Javadekar for another round of bilateral on Thursday said, "We don't have that kind of process with India but we have a substantial desire to work in a constructive and ramped up way with India on climate change and clean energy."

He said that Kerry would arrive in Lima on Thursday for a few hours since he was visiting the region and he would make some remarks on the US commitments on climate.

It is expected that India and US during Obama visit would announce some agreement in the field of clean energy financing. It would take froward the cooperation which both the countries had agreed upon during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in September.

The US had then promised to help India build nuclear power plants through civil nuclear cooperation agreement, increase support for renewable energy through sharing cost-effective technology and boost capacity for adapting to climate change.

The India-US joint statement had then enlisted many such measures. It included providing for up to $1 billion in helping India's transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient energy economy, launching a new US-India 'Partnership for Climate Resilience' to advance capacity for climate adaptation planning and a new programme of work on air quality aimed at delivering benefits for climate change and human health.

Both the countries had also agreed for a new US-India 'Climate Fellowship Program' to build long-term capacity to address climate change-related issues in both countries and to "explore opportunities for collaboration on national parks and wildlife conservation".

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=TOI-at-Lima-No-China-like-deal-with-12122014014045#

COP20: A joint statement from SAARC at Lima climate talks .... common interest of South Asia

2014-12-21T15:31:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/NpCa3Ch2ZS

Saarc nations come as a separate group at Lima climate talks

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 11, 2014, 11.01AM IST

South Asia is particularly prone to climate change and related disasters.

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LIMA: The SAARC group has finally come as a joint force at the ongoing climate talks with ministers and key representatives of all eight member countries formally sealing the existence of the South Asia as a common entity here as far as putting across their united stand at the UN forum is concerned.

Nepal has made a joint statement on behalf of the SAARC, bringing out the South Asia's common position which strictly adhere to the basic principles of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol.

The countries - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Afghanistan - jointly asked the rich nation to fulfil their promise of emission cuts during pre-2020 phase (second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol) as this move only would convince the rest of the world about their intention and commitment post-2020 based on the next year's global climate deal.

As reported by the TOI last week about this move, all the member countries formally agreed to make a joint statement on behalf of the SAARC during a dinner meeting of ministers\representatives of eight countries on Monday. Indian side was led by the country's environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar who came here with a pre-planned move to revive the group after heads of all the countries had agreed for it during the November SAARC conference in Kathmandu.

Subsequently, Nepalese head of delegation for climate talks - the country's planning commission vice chairman Govinda Pokharel - made his joint statement on the first day of the high-level segment on Tuesday, revising the group that has been in hibernation for the last three years.

Not only that, all the eight countries also agreed to send their key representatives to New Delhi for a joint conference on climate change issues for South Asian countries for four days, beginning December 16.

Making the joint statement Pokharel noted that the SAARC leaders underlined the urgency for the global community to arrive at a Protocol, another legal instrument, or an "agreed outcome with legal force applicable to all by the end of 2015, based on the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR), Respective Capabilities and Equity under the UNFCCC".

Reflecting the group's common position, he said, "Any delay in action on climate change will only add to our costs and the requirement of Adaptation. Therefore, Pre‐2020 ambition and ratification of Kyoto Protocol 2nd Commitment Period is the urgent need of the hour".

He also emphasised, "We must work out a post‐2020 framework that is based on equity, CBDR‐RC and protects the poor and vulnerable people in South Asia from the disastrous impacts of climate change".

Though whatever he said has been a consistent position of all eight countries, the revival of SAARC is significant as it would not be easy for the rich and influential nations to ignore a united voice under the UNFCCC.

"Even if it is not the negotiating group, it may act as a strong pressure group in the run up to the Paris talks where the global deal is expected in late next year", said an Indian delegation member.

He said the group would always take a position keeping in mind concerns of each of the eight member countries.

Though all the eight SAARC countries are currently part of one or more groups for negotiations under the UNFCCC, the move is quite significant in view of pitching their joint stand at the time when China is no longer seen as the country which may be very forceful to put across common interests on board in the wake of its bilateral deal with the US.

The SAARC as a group had existed and represented these countries during three Conference of the Parties (COP) between 2010-12, but it went into cold storage specifically when India had become more active within another group - BASIC - along with Brazil, South Africa and China virtually at the cost of South Asian group.

Other countries of the SAARC including Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan too found themselves too comfortable in the group of 48-member least developed countries (LDCs). Similarly, Pakistan found it more suitable to be part of the like minded developing countries (LMDCs) group which also has India and China as members.

---- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Saarc-stands-up-to-be-counted-as-one-12122014014054#

COP20: India and many developing countries, incliding China, don't want ex-ante review

2014-12-21T15:26:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/28km3HUoU1

Won’t allow progress review, India tells UN climate meet

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 11, 2014, 06.34AM IST

Prakash Javadekar (centre) at UN climate summit in Lima, Peru, on December 5, 2014. (AFP photo)

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LIMA: Opposing one of the key components of the negotiations which is being strongly pushed by all European Union (EU) countries and civil society, India on Tuesday categorically told the climate conference that the country will not allow any outside body to review progress of its "intended" targets/measures as these will be "nationally determined" contributions.

Making India's stand amply clear on the issue of "progress review", Indian environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar said, "We do not see any role for any ex-ante review in this process".

READ ALSO: India tells rich nations not to use disasters as tools to make profit

China and most of the developing countries have the same view on the issue.

Interestingly, the EU and US are not on the same page on this issue. While EU wants review of countries' actions, the US takes a middle path, saying the important issue is to encourage countries to be ambitious with their targets.

Referring to the contentious issue of adding the "progress review" Javadekar,however, said, "We firmly believe that the INDCs are to be 'nationally determined'. We do not see any role for any ex-ante review in this process. The INDCs should include all elements including mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity building".

Civil societies and research groups have, however, opposed India's stand. The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has termed the Javadekar's statement that India would not support ex-ante review of the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDCs) — as 'regressive'.

"Review of INDCs is one of ways in which the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibility and respective capability can be brought back into the climate change negotiations. But India is neither supporting the review nor proposing any alternative mechanism", said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of CSE.

Bhushan, who is attending the climate conference here in Lima as observer, cited an example. He said, "Presently, there is no provision to hold countries like the US accountable, which is proposing just 12-14% emissions reduction by 2025 from 1990 levels"

Calling Lima negotiations as "COP of Hope", the minister, however, added the conditions which may guide India on the path to an "ambitious, comprehensive and equitable agreement at Paris next year".

Enlisting those conditions as his country's position during the negotiations, the minister said, "It should be able to address the genuine requirements of the developing countries by providing them equitable carbon space to achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty.

"The new agreement is under the convention (UNFCCC). Let us be clear, it is the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that is ending in 2020, not the convention. Adherence to the principles and provisions of the Convention is the key".

He emphasized that the "beautiful balance of collective action — the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDRs) — should form the basis of continued action. It is equally evident that developing countries could do more if finance, technology support and capacity building is ensured. This must be a key focus of the new agreement".

The remarks come at a time when the rich nations are trying to dilute the provisions of the CBDRs which are ingrained in the principles of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol.

Showing a mirror to developed countries by bringing the pre-2020 period to the fore, he said, "Our ambition in the post-2020 period is directly linked with ambitious actions in the pre-2020 period by the developed countries, otherwise the poor people in developing countries will not get the carbon space to achieve sustainable development.

"If we believe that the global warming threat is real, then we must deliver on the agreed commitments as a matter of priority. It is important therefore for developed country parties to urgently fulfill their legal obligations in the pre-2020 period. They must scale up their mitigation ambition now and urgently fulfill their promises for providing financial and technological support to developing countries".

On other contentious issue of including adaptation goal in the treaty, he said, "Adaptation is a central and critical priority for developing countries to address Climate Change. The new post-2020 agreement should ensure a balance between mitigation and adaptation. The urgent need for adaptation must be fully reflected in the new agreement."

In his intervention on Green Climate Fund during the talks, Javadekar also pitched for bigger kitty of climate finance from the developed world.

He said developing countries need for mitigation and adaptation was being estimated in the range of $600 billion to $1500 billion per year (by 2050). He enlisted India's ongoing adaptation measures and emphasized on making "adaptation" goal as part of the future global treaty.

He also focused on the reluctance of the rich nations to contribute to the Green Climate Fund. "Some announcements have been made by some countries to contribute to the Green Climate Fund. However, the scale of these announcements remains far from what has been pledged", he said in reference to the goal of 100 billion dollars in the GCF.

So far, the rich nations have collectively contributed slightly over 10 billion dollars as against the overall goal of 100 billion dollars till 2020 and 100 billion dollars per year beyond 2020. Belgium on Tuesday pledged to contribute more than 50 million Euros (around $62 million US) to the Green Climate Fund, edging the fund past its 10 billion dollars goal for 2014. Australia, which has been the most reluctant contributor, also pledged $166 million to the GCF.

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Wont-allow-progress-review-India-tells-UN-climate-11122014011005#

COP20: India tells rich nations not to use climate change as a tool to make profit

2014-12-21T15:21:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/6DNksIIQj8

Lima climate talks: India tells rich nations not to use disasters as tools to make profit

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 10, 2014, 04.51AM IST

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LIMA: Urging rich nations not to use disasters as tools to make business profit, India on the first day of the high-level segment of the UN climate talks on Tuesday sought them to cooperate to solve the "global problems" of climate change without getting into the "price-tag" of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime.

Bringing the sentiments of people of most of the developing countries at the UN platform, Indian environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar cited past examples where rich nations selflessly collaborated to pull out their poor counterparts from crisis and asked them to follow that path to save the world.

He said, "There are practical examples of how in the past we have managed to secure successful global cooperation to solve global problems. Joint collaborative research without IPR price-tag ensured 'Green Revolution' through hybrids, helped in making available drugs against HIV/AIDS and finding God Particle".

"Why can't this spirit of joint collaboration be summoned to address climate change? Why do we want to profit from disasters"? asked Javadekar while presenting his country's national statement which clearly shows India's position in the run up to the global deal in Paris next year.

Addressing the gathering of ministers and key representatives of many countries, the Indian environment minister also sought not to clear only his country's priority and development paradigm but also of most of the developing countries which need to grow economically to deal with the problem of abject poverty.

He said, "While there is often a talk about changed reality, one in every seven persons in the world today still lives in abject poverty. The number of poor people in the world is more than twice the combined population of Europe. All of them are in developing countries.

"We are determined to ensure development to all these people and provide them with basic services of energy, water, sanitation, healthcare, education and employment.

"We in India are committed to protecting the interests of the poor. We did in it the WTO for ensuring food security of our people".

Javadekar, however, hasten to add that the success of India's endeavors in all these issues will also be critical for the success of the global efforts for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As far as Lima negotiations are concerned, the minister said, "COP 20 in Lima, I believe, is the COP of Hope" but added the conditions which may guide India on the path to an "ambitious, comprehensive and equitable agreement at Paris next year".

Enlisting those conditions as his country's position during the negotiations, the minister said, "It should be able to address the genuine requirements of the developing countries by providing them equitable carbon space to achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty.

"The new agreement is under the Convention (UNFCCC). Let us be clear, it is the 2nd commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that is ending in 2020, not the Convention. Adherence to the principles and provisions of the Convention is the key".

He emphasized that the "beautiful balance of collective action - the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDRs) - should form the basis of continued action. It is equally evident that developing countries could do more if finance, technology support and capacity building is ensured. This must be a key focus of the new agreement".

The remarks come at a time when the rich nations are trying to dilute the provisions of the CBDRs which are ingrained the principles of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocal.

Showing mirror to the developed countries by bringing the pre-2020 period at the fore, he said, "Our ambition in the post-2020 period is directly linked with ambitious actions in the pre-2020 period by the developed countries, otherwise the poor people in developing countries will not get the carbon space to achieve sustainable development.

"If we believe that the global warming threat is real, then we must deliver on the agreed commitments as a matter of priority. It is important therefore for developed country parties to urgently fulfill their legal obligations in the pre-2020 period. They must scale up their mitigation ambition now and urgently fulfill their promises for providing financial and technological support to developing countries".

He also mentioned about the reluctance of the rich nations to contribute to the Green Climate Fund — a financial mechanism where the developed countries contribute to help their developing counterparts in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

"Some announcements have been made by some countries to contribute to the Green Climate Fund. However, the scale of these announcements remains far from what has been pledged", he said in reference to the goal of 100 billion dollars in the GCF.

So far, the rich nations have collectively contributed slightly over 10 billion dollars as against the overall goal of 100 billion dollars till 2020 and 100 billion dollars per year beyond 2020. Belgium on Tuesday pledged to contribute more than 50 million Euros (around $62 million US) to the Green Climate Fund, edging the fund past its 10 billion dollars goal for 2014.

Referring to other contentious issue of adding the "progress review" of emission cut and adaptation targets clause in the future deal which is being forcefully demanded by the EU countries, Javadekar said, "We firmly believe that the INDCs are to be 'nationally determined'. We do not see any role for any ex-ante review in this process. The INDCs should include all elements including mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity building".

On adaptation, he said, "Adaptation is a central and critical priority for developing countries to address Climate Change. The new post-2020 agreement should ensure a balance between mitigation and adaptation. The urgent need for adaptation must be fully reflected in the new agreement.

In his speech, the minister also enlisted all the measures which are being taken by India to move on to the low carbon growth path to fight challenges of climate change.

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Wont-allow-progress-review-India-tells-UN-climate-11122014011005#

COP20: Deep divides on ex-ante review and adaptation

2014-12-21T15:16:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/QTa1w4tvO5

Lima COP20: Deep divides on key issues

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 9, 2014, 07.38PM IST

The division doesn't restrict itself at usual rich-poor (nations) divide but also sees a rich-rich divide where EU and US-led non-EU umbrella group appear to be on different pages. (AFP photo/Getty Images)

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LIMA: As Lima climate talks entered high-level segment on Tuesday with beginning intensive discussions over two draft texts, released here a day before, to finalise the elements of next year's global climate deal, countries found themselves deeply divided over the issues of 'review of national pledges' and treating 'adaptation' goal at par with 'mitigation' target.

Interestingly, the division doesn't restrict itself at usual rich-poor (nations) divide on the issue of adaptation and taking responsibility under the principle of CBDRs (common but differentiated responsibilities), but also sees a rich-rich divide where European Union (EU) and US-led non-EU umbrella group appear to be on different pages on matter of 'review of national pledge' by any outside body.

These two draft texts, released on Monday, are meant for finalising a negotiating outline for the Paris deal and reaching agreement on the format for carbon-curbing pledges -- known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) -- that nations are to submit from the first quarter of next year.

The developing countries including India and China are on the same page on both the key issues of adaptation and review. They have sought inclusion of adaptation in the final deal and strongly opposed to review of their actions arguing that these will be the "nationally determined" contributions where there should not be any role of second party from outside.

Indian environment minister Prakash Javadekar and Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman, NDRC, China met on Monday and pledged to take common stand on these issues during the remaining four days of negotiation process.

Without going into the finer points of the meeting, Javadekar said both of them discussed "common positions" and also elements of the recent US-China bilateral climate deal.

Though both India and China had last week demanded that all references to any formal review of emission targets should be deleted, the new draft text for a UN decision in Lima retained the idea of a formal review, requiring for countries to answer within four weeks questions about their climate pledges. Certainly, both these countries, backed by almost all developing countries, will oppose it vehemently.

The BASIC nations (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) too held a meeting separately where ministers resolved to move unitedly on key issues of adaptation, technology transfer and climate finance to achieve an ambitious and positive outcome of the talks in Lima, while preserving and strengthening the unity of developing countries to protect their common interests.

Before moving into the high-level segment, many countries on Monday similarly indicated their country or group's position. While the EU wanted nations to agree for periodic review of their national pledges, the US and some other non-EU rich nations rather wanted countries to increase their ambition of emission cuts and clean energy.

"There should be a process of assessment. That's absolutely imperative," said Miguel Arias Canete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, while addressing a press conference.

The EU pointed out that the informal deadline of emission cuts or other pledges made no sense unless it allowed nations to review each others' plans for averting extreme weather events like heat-waves, floods and rising sea levels due to climate change.

The US has, however, taken a different stand, saying the key issue was to encourage ambition of each and every country. It doesn't emphasise on review.

"The United States is perfectly happy to have a consultative process," said Todd Stern, special climate envoy and head of the US delegation.

He said, "We had a concern from the beginning that we didn't want to scare countries off ... The most important part of this idea is sunshine. You encourage countries to be ambitious because they don't want to look bad".

If a country receives criticisms, "it's certainly possible that x, y, z country may modify its contribution in some way. It's not fundamental," he said while addressing a separate press conference.

However on the matter of CBDRs, both EU and non-EU rich nations have a common stand. All these nations want to dilute the provision of differentiation under the Kyoto Protocol which deals with developed and developing countries separately in terms of sharing responsibilities for emission cuts and others measures like extending support for adaptation and capacity building.

Developing countries are, however, united on their demand for including 'global goal for adaptation' in the final climate deal. They are also in favour of including the provision of 'loss and damage' (support for those nations who have already faced losses due to pollution of environment by the rich nation due to their historical carbon emissions).

Though the EU has a bit liberal approach towards 'loss and damage', the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand among other rich nations do not want this provision to be dealt with under the global climate deal which is to be applicable for the countries beyond 2020.

Nevertheless, all these elements are there in the draft texts which the ministers and negotiators would discuss for four days before finally agreeing for template of the global deal.

These draft decision texts will form the basis for political negotiations, with ministers and key representatives of 194 countries and UN chief Ban Ki-moon joining the dialogue during the high-level segment.

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=TOI-at-Lima-Nations-split-on-green-pledge-10122014024016#

COP20: It's a bilateral round before high-level segment ... Javadekar begins it with US special envoy on climate change Todd Stern

2014-12-21T15:09:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/N0wzNzLkPl

Javadekar begins his bilateral round at Lima climate conference

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 8, 2014, 01.33PM IST

Prakash Javadekar had a bilateral meeting with the US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern where both the countries exchanged their views on issues concerning adaption, climate finance and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

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LIMA: With countries fine-tuning their positions for the high-level segment of the climate conference, environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday had a bilateral meeting with the US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern where both the countries exchanged their views on issues concerning adaption, climate finance and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

During an hour-long discussion, Javadekar is learnt to have told Stern that India would not announce its peaking year on the line of China as it was not ready to do so at this stage of its economic development.

Besides, Javadekar also told Stern about the unease within the developing countries' camp about non-adherence of rich nations on their pre-2020 commitment and their low response to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

There are other bilateral meetings lined up for Javadekar before the beginning of the high-level segment on Tuesday. It includes his meeting with ministers of other SAARC countries and BASIC nations including Brazil, South Africa and China.

Though the climate conference is a multilateral forum, countries invariably tend to discuss issues bilaterally before entering into the key negotiation stage during the high-level segment. Idea behind such meetings are to look for a way out in case of stalemate, taking into view each camp's concerns.

It is learnt that the Indian minister in the next couple of days will also try to reach out to member country of various groups including Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) and send out message to other nations about its own ongoing action back home to face the challenge of climate change.

In his effort to bring clarity on India's action, Javadekar on Sunday announced that his government was planning to bring out climate legislations in the next Parliament session so that the law can strengthen its hand in protecting environment.

"I am happy to announce here that in next budget session (early next year), we are going to have comprehensive climate legislation which will ensure a better environment", said Javadekar while addressing a session on 'Barriers to National Climate Action: Lessons from developing countries', organised by the Global Legislators Organisation (GLOBE India) on sideline of the ongoing climate conference on Sunday.

The proposed climate legislations will have provisions of keeping air clean through constant monitoring, strict anti-pollution norms for industries and transport sector and increasing forest cover.

Referring to negotiations, the minister said that there was a real issue of Climate Finance.

"The Climate Fund must become a reality. From 2012, we were expecting to start with 10 billion dollars every year to reach 100 billion dollars by 2020 and then continue with 100 Billion dollars per year. So, that's why we wanted to go ahead. But today its just 9.95 billion dollars. So, that will be main points of decisions in Lima", said Javadekar, a former president of the GLOBE India.

He further said, "There are issues of INDCs. It is major departure from and way forward from 1992, when world decided in Kyoto of which the 2nd commitment period began in 2012. Then, we divided the world into two, annexe and non-annexe. But now things have changed. Everybody realise the danger of Climate Change and therefore now the INDC concept suggest that every country will take actions and they will declare it".

Seeking to highlights India's action, he said, " Our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has announced increased targets for solar power — from 20 GW to 100 GW by 2022".

It is learnt that the minister will list all such actions - including setting up National Adaptation Fund, move to bring climate legislations and decision to increase cess on coal to fund its renewable energy goal - in his formal statement during the high-level segment.

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=TOI-at-Lima-Javadekar-vows-green-bills-in-09122014013023#

COP20: Five pillars of strength ... mitigation, adaption, climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building

2014-12-21T14:53:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/MKme0GGTH2

India says 'five pillars of strength' key to clinch climate deal

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 6, 2014, 05.12AM IST

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LIMA: India — driven by domestic obligation of poverty eradication and food security — has sought to bring out in the open its expectations from the global climate agreement and insisted that the country would like to have a deal that has five pillars of strength which would help it and other developing countries meet basic needs of their population.

"We don't want a mitigation centric deal that is being pushed by developed countries as we want to grow to end poverty", said head of the Indian delegation Susheel Kumar while seeking to end any confusion over India's stand in run up to the Paris summit where a global climate deal is expected to be sealed in December next year.

He said, "India will not budge from its stand as it strongly believes that mitigation will alone not solve the problem".

The remarks came at a time when countries are preparing themselves for the crucial negotiation phase during the high-level segment, beginning next week when ministers of many countries would be here for the talks.

The main issues that are dividing countries here during the negotiations are centred on the excessive focus on mitigation (emission cut) by rich nations, which is opposed by the developing countries as they want focus on adaptation (preparing themselves to reduce the vulnerability and risk due to impact of climate change).

Emphasizing on a global adaptation goal in the climate deal, Kumar said, "It's a global problem so there should be a global solution. The manifestation of it may be local but the goal should be global".

Kumar, a senior environment and climate change ministry officer, also heads India's pollution watchdog. "We want all five key elements — Adaptation, Mitigation, Finance, Technology Transfer and Capacity Building — must be there in the global climate deal," he said.

As reported by the TOI, Kumar also formally stated that India would not announce its peaking year.

"We won't announce the peaking year only because other countries have done that or in the process of doing that", he said in a clear reference to China's recent announcement of its peaking year.

He said India was in no hurry to announce its targets and would do so when it was ready.

Without mincing words, Kumar made it clear that India was at a different stage of economic development and it was not in a position to tell the world about its peaking year at this juncture.

He, at the same time, emphasized that India was quite sensitive to the problem of climate change and therefore would voluntarily do its best to reduce its emission through a low-carbon growth path where role of clean energy would gradually increase.

Asked about the announcement of the country's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) as countries will now start finalizing its elements, the delegation head said, "There is no hurry to do that. We have been working on it. We will come out with our comprehensive and well worked out plan at an appropriate time".

Indicating that India would, hopefully, announce its INDCs in June next year, Kumar said, "We would know the template after conclusion of the ongoing Lima talks and we would work on it accordingly".

He also said India would be opposed to any review of its national contributions and asked if developed countries would mind an assessment of their financial commitments.

On the question whether India would follow Beijing's which favours a 10-year commitment period for the climate agreement in Paris, Kumar said, "We too may go for 10 years but certainly not five years as demanded by many rich nations".

Articulating the country's development needs, the Indian environment and climate change minister Prakash Javadekar in Delhi said, "India's stand at the Conference is be based on its domestic obligations of addressing the basic development needs of poverty eradication, food security and nutrition, universal access to education and health, gender equality and women empowerment, water and sanitation, clean energy, employment, sustainable cities and human settlement and its commitment to fight climate change".

He was addressing the media in New Delhi on the eve of his departure for Lima to take part in the high-level segment.

On INDCs, the minister said, "Intended Nationally Determined Contributions as part of 2015 agreement would be addressed in the context of enhanced actions and would include all issues - mitigation, adaptation, capacity building and transparency of action and support. The comprehensive INDC would also project the requirement of support in terms of finance and technology transfer. It would cover all the national missions and other initiatives under national action plan on climate change as well as state action plans on climate change".

--- http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=TOI-at-Lima-Five-pillars-of-strength-key-06122014020028#

COP20: Adaptation Gap report of the UNEP dropped a kind of bomb whenrich nations were reluctant to hear the word ADAPTATION

2014-12-21T14:26:00.001+05:30

http://t.co/5dRADHUgBz

Climate adaptation costs soaring: UNEP report

Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Dec 6, 2014, 02.21AM IST

The UNEP report said, "The cost of adapting to climate change in developing countries is likely to reach two to three times the previous estimates of $70-100 billion per year by 2050".

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LIMA: At the time when developing countries including India are pitching to have a global climate deal with "adaptation" goal as its key component, a UN body on Friday dropped a bombshell for rich nations, saying the cost of adapting to climate change is likely to reach up to $210-300 billion per year by 2050 even if the global greenhouse gas emissions are cut to keep the temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius this century.

This concern is expressed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its first Adaptation Gap Report, which clearly indicates that the rich countries need to give more to plug huge funding gap so that poor countries can adapt to drought, floods and heat waves caused by climate change.

The report also referred to one additional recent study that said "the annual average adaptation costs for South Asia alone were estimated at up to $40 billion".

It also clearly indicated that the only mitigation is not enough to save the world. The emission cut should be backed by adaptation measures which need substantial amount of money.

The UNEP report said, "The cost of adapting to climate change in developing countries is likely to reach two to three times the previous estimates of $70-100 billion per year by 2050".

Released during a crucial round of climate talks here, the Adaptation Gap Report serves as a preliminary assessment of global adaptation gaps in finance, technology and knowledge, and lays out a framework for future work on better defining and bridging these gaps.

The report finds that, despite adaptation funding by public sources reaching $23-26 billion in 2012-2013, there will be a significant funding gap after 2020 unless new and additional finance for adaptation is made available.

The remarks assume significance at the time when many reach countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Portugal and Ireland have, so far, shown reluctance to spare any money for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) — a financial mechanism which is meant for helping out developing\poor countries to adapt themselves to the adverse impact of the climate change.

Instead of a target of $100 billion per year to the GCF by 2020, the rich nations have, so far, pledged only $9.95 billion by Friday with the Norway announcing to provide additional $258 million to the Fund over the next four years.

"As world leaders meet in Lima to take the critical next step in realizing a global agreement on climate change, this report underlines the importance of including comprehensive adaptation plans in the agreement," said Achim Steiner, executive director of UNEP and under secretary-general of the United Nations.

"National authorities and the international community should take the necessary steps to ensure the funding, technology and knowledge gaps are addressed in future planning and budgeting," he said.

He emphasized that the report provides a powerful reminder that the potential cost of inaction carries a real price tag.

"Debating the economics of our response to climate change must become more honest," he added.

The Adaptation Gap Report, produced in collaboration with 19 leading institutions and research centres from across the globe, expands upon the earlier estimates ($70-100 billion per year by 2050) by including new national and sector studies in its analyses and modelling.

The report finds that the earlier figures are likely to be a significant underestimate.

While the Adaptation Gap Report finds that the likely increase in adaptation costs with emissions reductions in place is two to three times higher, it points to the possibility of even greater expense.

"Extending the analysis to all developing countries indicates a chance that adaptation costs could climb as high as $150 billion by 2025/2030 and $250-500 billion per year by 2050", said a UNEP statement.

These costs are based on the assumption that further wide-ranging action is taken to cut emissions to the level required to meet the target of limiting global temperature rise this century to 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.

The Adaptation Gap Report also highlights that least developed countries and small island developing states are likely to have far greater adaptation needs; without early efforts to implement adaptation in these countries, the existing adaptation gap will widen as greater financial resources will need to be committed later on.

The report noted that there is evidence that financial commitments to adaptation objectives have increased in recent years, and that adaptation is being increasingly integrated into development policies, but scaling up financial flows to adaptation remains a priority.

The report looks at the additional revenue that could be raised between 2015-2050 from a selected set of sources, such as: the international auctioning of emissions allowances and the auctioning of allowances in domestic emissions trading schemes, a carbon levy, revenues from international transportation, a wires charge, and financial transaction taxes.

"The report also highlights that there is a need to accelerate the propagation and international transfer of technologies for adaptation, many of which already exist. This, the report notes, requires governments to remove barriers to technology uptake, for example through incentives, regulations and the strengthening of institutions", said the UNEP statement.

As an example of successful technologies, the report looks at scientifically developed seeds, which can be used to sustain agriculture within the context of a changing climate — critical for most African countries given the dependence of large proportions of the population on farming.

The report also points to considerable scope for using existing knowledge on climate change and adaptation more effectively.

"For many regions and countries, there is a lack of systematic identification and analysis of adaptation knowledge gaps. Integrating and interpreting scientific evidence from different sources, and making it available to decision makers at all levels, is one of the most important knowledge needs today," said the statement.

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