DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:58:35 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/first-urban-flood-mitigation-project-of-rs-56129-cr-for-chennai-basin-project-approved-by-pm-says-shah-494180.html New Delhi Dec 7 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs 56129 crore for Integrated Urban Flood Management activities for Chennai Basin Project under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund NDMF which also includes Central assistance of Rs 500 crore Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to X and said Chennai is facing major floods the third such occurring in the last eight years We are witnessing more instances of metropolitan cities receiving excessive rainfall leading to sudden flooding Guided by a proactive approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs 56129 crore for Integrated Urban Flood Management activities for Chennai Basin Project under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund NDMF which also includes Central assistance of Rs 500 crore This mitigation project will help make Chennai floodresilient This is the first in a series of urban flood mitigation efforts and will help develop a broader framework for urban flood management he said He also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA would release in advance the central share of the second installment of the SDRF of Rs 49360 to Andhra Pradesh and Rs 450 crore to Tamil Nadu The Centre had already released the first installment of the same amount to both states Shah said Severe cyclonic storm Michaung has affected Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Though the extent of the damage is varied many areas of these states are inundated thus affecting standing crops To help the state governments with the management of relief necessitated by the cyclonic storm Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to release in advance the central share of the second installment of SDRF of Rs 49360 crore to Andhra Pradesh and Rs 450 crore to Tamil Nadu he said I pray for the safety and wellbeing of all those affected We stand with them in this crucial hour and will ensure the situation normalizes at the earliest Shah added The Cyclone Michaung has caused severe destruction in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and many people have died It has also led to inundation of arterial roads and subways in Chennai and other major cities of the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/first-urban-flood-mitigation-project-of-rs-56129-cr-for-chennai-basin-project-approved-by-pm-says-shah-494180.html Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/climate-change-impacting-migratory-animals-un-report-at-cop28-summit-494298.html Dubai Dec 7 Climate change is already having catastrophic impacts on many migratory animals and their ability to provide vital ecosystem services to humanity a major new report of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals CMS a UN biodiversity treaty said on Thursday Released at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai UNFCCC COP28 the report finds the direct effects of climate change on many migratory species are already being seen including poleward range shifts changes in the timing of migration and reduced breeding success and survival Integral to the ecosystems they live in migratory species support vital ecosystem services that both mitigate the impacts of climate change and increase the resilience to climatic hazards The study also emphasises the urgent need to act now to help vulnerable migratory species adapt to a changing climate Actions such as the establishment of comprehensive and wellconnected networks of protected areas and other effective areabased conservation measures are crucial to support species movement in response to climate change whilst direct human interventions such as the translocation of vulnerable populations of species will be needed in some cases Some of the key findings of the report include Strong evidence that global increases in temperature have affected most migratory species groups and these impacts are mostly negative For instance rising temperatures are causing changes in the reproduction and survival of krill and are having a negative impact on marine mammals and seabirds that rely on krill as a key food source In particular temperature increases are driving poleward range shifts and earlier migration and breeding In some species such as wading birds there is a risk this will cause a mismatch between the timing of breeding and the time when prey species are most abundant Changes in water availability are causing the loss of wetlands and reduced river flows which are likely to particularly impact the migration of fish and water birds Extreme climaterelated events such as landslides are causing severe habitat destruction and have already been observed at some seabird breeding sites And there is strong evidence that migratory seabirds and marine mammals will be impacted by the changes in oceanic currents which are likely to alter the nature and functioning of many marine and terrestrial ecosystems The study Climate change and migratory species a review of impacts conservation actions indicators and ecosystem services was commissioned by the British government and Northern Ireland through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee JNCC as a major contribution to the work of CMS on climate change and prepared by the British Trust for Ornithology BTO Nature underpins the very fabric of our lives the ecosystems food and water security upon which we all depend as well as the health of our economies The challenges that these migratory species face as a result of climate change are a powerful demonstration of the need for coordinated global action to protect our environment which is why the UK is taking a leading role in efforts to restore nature halt biodiversity loss and achieve our stretching targets to protect 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030 said Steve Barclay Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiiansgmailcom IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/climate-change-impacting-migratory-animals-un-report-at-cop28-summit-494298.html Thu, 07 Dec 2023 17:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/cop28-mobilises-over-57-billion-in-first-four-days-493113.html Dubai Dec 4 In a powerful demonstration of global solidarity governments businesses investors and philanthropies have announced over 57 billion across the climate agenda in just the first four days of the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 After an historic agreement to operationalise a fund for climate impact response on day one announcements have poured in across the entire climate agenda including on finance health food nature and energy Responding to climate pledges Sultan Al Jaber COP28 President told the media here I really think something special is happening here The positivity the optimism the hope the momentum the determination is growing And I will stay laserfocused on delivery and maintaining this point until we land the most ambitious response to the Global Stocktake The COP28 energy package is a giant step in the right direction and it is only the beginning I have repeatedly said that this is still not enough he added Among the pledges the UAE has launched a 30 billion catalytic fund ALTRRA on climate finance with an emphasis on unlocking private finance across the Global South The country has also announced 200 million for SDRs and 150 million for water security In addition the World Bank has announced an increase of 9 billion annually to finance climaterelated projects And in the first 48 hours of COP28 after an historic response to loss and damage was operationalised 725 million has already been pledged In addition 35 billion has been announced to replenish the Green Climate Fund 27 billion has been pledged for health 26 billion has been committed for food systems transformation 26 billion has been pledged to protect nature 467 million has been announced for urban climate action and 12 billion has been committed for relief recovery and peace On energy 25 billion was mobilized for renewables and 12 billion for methane emission reduction In addition 568 million was pledged to drive investments in clean energy manufacturing In total over 57 billion has so far been announced in the first four days In addition new pledges and declarations made at COP28 have received historic support Eight new declarations have been announced that will help transform every major system of the global economy These include the firstever declarations on food systems transformation and health plus declarations on renewable energy and efficiency as well as initiatives to decarbonise heavy emitting industries Three additional declarations will be announced in the coming days on hydrogen cooling and gender The number of countries supporting these declarations and pledges is growing and demonstrates an unprecedented level of inclusivity at this COP IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/cop28-mobilises-over-57-billion-in-first-four-days-493113.html Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/cop28-70-nations-endorse-declaration-for-climate-hit-communities-492591.html Dubai Dec 3 The COP28 Presidency on Sunday formally unveiled endorsements of its COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate Relief Recovery and Peace as part of its focus on accelerating global efforts to make fragile and conflictaffected countries and communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change The declaration which has already been endorsed by 70 governments and 39 organisations enshrines a collective commitment to increase investment and actions to drive resilience in countries and communities affected by conflict fragility or a humanitarian crisis Commenting on the declaration Ambassador Al Suwaidi COP28 DirectorGeneral said Climate change impacts everybody but we are not all being affected equally In fragile and conflictaffected settings extreme weather events affect three times as many people annually compared to other countries Despite this people living in extremely fragile states receive a fraction up to 80 times less of climate finance compared to those in nonfragile states The COP28 Presidency is committed to driving action and consensus to change this The day also saw the launch of a Getting Ahead of Disasters Charter which sets out principles for collaborative action to manage climaterelated risks and protect vulnerable populations Both the declaration and the charter are among a series of initiatives being taken at the UN Climate Change Conference to accelerate global resilience efforts The COP28 Presidency UAE IGAD and the UN also hosted presidents of countries in the Horn of Africa to introduce their regional climate security strategy and the COP28 Presidency partnered with the UN SecretaryGeneral to mobilise new support for Early Warnings for All the initiative to cover 100 per cent of the globe with early warning systems by 2027 In keeping with this December 3 was also dedicated to health as part of efforts by the COP28 Presidency to focus global audiences on protecting communities from the threats of climate change As such the day also featured the firstever Climate and Health Ministerial to be held at a COP bringing together Ministers of Health and senior health delegates from over 100 countries The ministerial mobilised support for the COP28 Climate and Health Agenda and the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health that was unveiled on December 2 at the World Climate Action Summit It was endorsed by over 120 countries and over 1 billion of climate health financing was galvanised by partners Speaking on the day Ambassador Al Suwaidi noted While we build the energy system of tomorrow we cannot ignore the needs of people today We must rapidly protect and promote their health and wellbeing while improving the climateresilience of healthcare systems and reduce climatehealth risks Protecting Lives and Livelihoods is one of four central pillars in the COP28 Presidencys Action Agenda which focuses on people nature lives and livelihoods IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/cop28-70-nations-endorse-declaration-for-climate-hit-communities-492591.html Sun, 03 Dec 2023 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/2023-has-shattered-climate-records-wmo-491492.html Dubai Nov 30 The year 2023 has shattered climate records accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation and despair the World Meteorological Organisation WMO said on Thursday The WMO provisional State of the Global Climate report confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record Data until the end of October shows that the year was about 140 degrees Celsius with a margin of uncertainty of plusminus 012 degrees C above the preindustrial 18501900 baseline The difference between 2023 and 2016 and 2020 which were previously ranked as the warmest years is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking The past nine years 2015 to 2023 were the warmest on record The warming El Niño event which emerged during the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2023 and developed rapidly during summer is likely to further fuel the heat in 2024 because El Niño typically has the greatest impact on global temperatures after it peaks Greenhouse gas levels are record high Global temperatures are record high Sea level rise is record high Antarctic sea ice is at a record low Its a deafening cacophony of broken records said WMO SecretaryGeneral Prof Petteri Taalas These are more than just statistics We risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to reinin sea level rise We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries he said Extreme weather is destroying lives and livelihoods on a daily basis underlining the imperative need to ensure that everyone is protected by early warning services said Prof Taalas Carbon dioxide levels are 50 per cent higher than the preindustrial era trapping heat in the atmosphere The long lifetime of CO2 means that temperatures will continue to rise for many years to come The rate of sea level rise from 20132022 is more than twice the rate of the first decade of the satellite record 19932002 because of continued ocean warming and melting of glaciers and ice sheets The maximum Antarctic seaice extent for the year was the lowest on record a full one million km2 more than the size of France and Germany combined less than the previous record low at the end of southern hemisphere winter Glaciers in North America and Europe once again suffered an extreme melt season Swiss glaciers have lost about 10 per cent of their remaining volume in the past two years according to the WMO report The report shows the global reach of climate change It provides a snapshot of socioeconomic impacts including on food security and population displacement This year we have seen communities around the world pounded by fires floods and searing temperatures Record global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders said United Nations SecretaryGeneral António Guterres In a video message accompanying WMOs climate report Guterres urged leaders to commit to urgent action at the UN Climate Change negotiations COP28 There is still hope he said We have the roadmap to limit the rise in global temperature to 15 degrees C and avoid the worst of climate chaos But we need leaders to fire the starting gun at COP28 on a race to keep the 15degree C limit alive By setting clear expectations for the next round of climate action plans and committing to the partnerships and finance to make them possible By committing to triple renewables and double energy efficiency And committing to phase out fossil fuels with a clear time frame aligned to the 15degree limit he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/2023-has-shattered-climate-records-wmo-491492.html Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/up-teen-takes-his-passion-for-climate-correction-to-global-platforms-489783.html Lucknow Nov 26 At a time when others of his age are either busy playing cricket or spending time on social media this teenager from Bhadohi District is busy understanding climate change The boy Kartik Verma has grown into a global voice on the issue Founder of the Knowledge for Nature movement Kartik took up the cause of child rights visàvis environmental issues So far his impactful work has reached over 4000 children and youths across 130 plus schools of India Kartik was in Lucknow last week to interact with students at Lucknow University with the help of UNICEF Kartik said that he started with a simple understanding of the role of an individual in community health hygiene and cleanliness Very soon he realised that visible impact and sustainable change would remain a far cry until motivated individuals embraced the cause I formed a group to hold a dialogue with elders and children said Kartik who canvassed his cause in roadways buses The campaign dipped during the pandemic period and restarted under the banner which he currently represents Appointed as a member of the steering committee for the Children and Youth Major Group to the UN Environment Programme he currently serves as a child advisor to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for General Comment He has also voiced the cause on many international platforms including the 94th Session Committee on the Rights of Child in UN Geneva IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/up-teen-takes-his-passion-for-climate-correction-to-global-platforms-489783.html Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/western-ghats-land-erosion-highest-in-tn-gujarat-in-last-30-years-iit-b-study-489784.html Mumbai Nov 26 The picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site the 1600 kmlong Western Ghats Region WGR one of the 35 Biodiversity Hotspots on the planet is plagued by heavy and rapid soil erosion owing to multiple factors warns a new study by IITBombay The study by the Centre for Technology for Rural Areas CTARA led by Prof Pennan Chinnasamy along with Vaishavi Honap of the College of Engineering Pune has shown a net average increase of 94 percent in soil degradation in the WGR between 19902020 detrimental to the regions globally important biodiversity Using the available data from the 1990s and later we have quantified the soil loss from 1990 to 2020 It shows the average soil loss for WGR was 323 tonnes per hectare per annum 1990 shooting to 462 tphpa 2000 climbing to 502 tphpa 2010 and again jumping to 627 tphpa 2020 Given the scale of the WGR spread over 140000 sqkm across Gujarat Maharashtra Goa Karnataka Kerala and Tamil Nadu the researchers had to process large datasets with advanced technology and break down the task into multiple parallel jobs he added The analyses revealed that Tamil Nadu recorded the highest soil loss rate of 121 per cent in the three decades followed by Gujarat with 119 per cent Below them are Maharashtra with a soil erosion surge of 97 per cent Kerala at 90 per cent Goa with 80 percent and Karnataka the lowest at 56 per cent during the same period These drastic and unsustainable rates of soil erosion pose a significant threat to the ecosystem biological diversity and the communities that depend on the WGR for survival said Chinnasamy The firstofitskind study covering the entire WGR deployed remote sensing data from satellites to quantify the longterm soil degradation across the huge area spanning halfadozen states and not only confirmed the progressive increase in soil erosion rates but also an alarming statewise spike owing to various factors The WGR is a biodiversity hotspot that harnesses multiple lifeforms and is a very unique spot in the world However the management of this ecosystem needs more focus Water and soil form the core for life here and since soil erosion is not monitored we have quantified the soil losses said Chinnasamy This was achieved using the Universal Soil Loss Equation USLE method which provides a convenient framework for assessing erosion and its factors like rainfall topography soil credibility land cover and prevailing conservation practices In the present study the use of USLE for the WGR was novel and perhaps the first time such an assessment has been carried out at this scale temporal and spatial said Chinnasamy Among the multiple factors leading to the largescale soil erosion the study points out that the escalating impact of climate change coupled with land management are the main culprits besides the pressures of unsustainable and unplanned activities heavy tourism and other local challenges in all states The impact of this has been seen in the form of heavy floods witnessed in the past few years in Gujarat Maharashtra Kerala and Tamil Nadu and to a lesser extent even in Goa and Karnataka The floods have drastically hit agricultural productivity reduced water quality affected fresh water sources posed major ecological and socioeconomic challenges and affected the unique biodiversity of the WGR raising some tough questions for the policymakers to address Chinnasamy feels that state agencies could work on the region of influence or administration and conserve soil by taking measures to prevent its erosion through local or regional zones and IITB experts can assist them in the endeavour and strategic focus on reducing human disturbance in the WGR There is also a need for physical monitoring of soil loss and erosion at multiple locations across WGR to scientifically validate the remote sensing data used in the study increase soil conservation efforts and reduce anthropogenic disturbances These in turn can not only help mitigate climate change impacts but also avert the imminent erosioninduced damage to the fragile ecosystem of the WGR here he urged Quaid Najmi can be contacted at qnajmiiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/western-ghats-land-erosion-highest-in-tn-gujarat-in-last-30-years-iit-b-study-489784.html Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/indias-solar-energy-development-push-starts-at-un-stretches-globally-489785.html United Nations Nov 26 While nations discuss global warming in the world bodys conference complex at its headquarters the Gandhi Solar Park on the roof powers their meetings A symbol of Indias commitment to fighting global warming the 50 kilowatt set up was a gift from the nation in 2019 the 193 solar panels in the park represent each of the UN members Taking its dedication to clean energy globally India has taken initiatives to help spread the use of solar energy a key source of alternate energy to polluting power generated with fossil fuels from the UN headquarters to the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu India launched the International Solar Alliance ISA in cooperation with France in 2018 with the ambitious Towards 1000 plan to generate 1000 billion of investments by 2030 while delivering clean energy access to 1000 million people and installing 1000 gigawatts of solar energy capacity by 2030 From the US to Fiji and Botswana to Norway 116 countries have signed on to the Alliance with 95 of them ratifying the agreement to become full members The ISA works with international development banks and the private and public sectors to attain its goals One of its goals is One World One Sun One Grid transmitting electricity produced by countries with lots of sunshine to other countries It provides assistance to several Global South countries especially in Africa in training planning and helping find finance and implementing projects ISA holds consultations with member countries to ascertain their needs and to find ways to meet them One of the outcomes of consultations was finding there was a need for 27 million solarpowered water pumps which it is helping fulfill ISAs activities range from setting up solar parks and rooftop generators to finding finance and managing waste from batteries Another initiative though the IndiaUN Development Fund has projects with an outlay of 3 million covering four clean energy projects and three climate action projects with a 32 million budget The projects under the Fund go beyond clean energy generation to meeting the challenges of climate change One project with seven tiny Pacific island nations vulnerable to weatherrelated disasters recurring cyclones droughts and floods helps them deal with these crises by training people and providing material assistance like automatic weather stations An unusual project of the Fund was to install solar panels on the official residences of heads of state of 11 Pacific island nations as a way to highlight the importance of solar power and demonstrate its use In Cameroon the Fund participated in a Solar Mamas project bringing women to India to be trained in setting up and maintaining solar power equipment that were installed in villages as part of clean energy programmes The clean energy projects in that country also included providing efficient stoves for cooking made with local materials and biodigesters for producing biogas briquettes In Mali the Fund set up borewells with solar pumps and a water distribution system Arul Louis can be contacted at arulliansin and followed at arulouis IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/indias-solar-energy-development-push-starts-at-un-stretches-globally-489785.html Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/goa-doctor-rejuvenates-springs-lakes-to-combat-climate-change-489787.html Panaji Nov 26 Goa which is facing coastline erosion change in rainfall and fruiting patterns and flower blossoming seasons has forced environmentalists professionals and individuals to work towards combating the impact of climate change and bringing solutions to protect the environment Dr Dattaram Desai a general practitioner had started his journey of conserving water by rejuvenating lakes springs wells and ponds in 1991 which kindled hope and potable water for many families of the rural areas Speaking to IANS Dattaram Desai from the village SavoiVerem in South Goa said that his initial work was a success story which fostered to create a group of like minded people and work towards achieving the goal of water conservation Climate change is inevitable as pollution is ever on rise as we are using cars which emit carbon dioxide and other globalwarming gases It is going to change But this is impacting seasonal patterns and hence we can witness unseasonal rain and other things even cloudburst All around the year there is rain and due to pollution earths temperature is rising he said adding that cities are getting flooded due to climate change Human kind has to face it But to combat it we have to plant trees conserve water and avoid using plastic Dr Desai added Basically being from a remote area as I used to move and visit patients at their homes I found there was water scarcity problem in some areas where there used to be plenty of water Desai said He said that after liberation of Goa village people discontinued engaging in community work for conserving water and hence the problems arose The locals had a notion that the government should do it They neglected it and hence the issues There are many lakes wells and springs around and the water from which cannot be used for drinking purpose as the sources are contaminated he said In 1991 on the hill at Pali area of Savoi Verem I saw a pond which was destroyed and people were walking through it as there was no water Later along with my team out of sheer curiosity I started working on it and we desilted it This offered a new lease of life to springs and the socalled pond was rejuvenated once again Later we could provide water to families living in the vicinity using pipes he said It was a success story then This encouraged me and I started to find more avenues and created a group called Jalyatra where many professionals joined voluntarily We started visiting other villages to learn about traditional water sources and started working on it he said adding during Corona period they had to stop this work He said that in 2015 there was less rain and hence shortage of water was witnessed This forced us to work for water conservation on hills and other places he said According to noted environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar the impact of climate change can easily be seen in the Western Ghats from where the rivers Zuari and Mandovi originate The flow of rivers has become less and it is not as vigorous as it was earlier These things are occuring due to the destruction of forests In the last two years there has been rampant cutting of trees and forest fires have been taking place frequently due to extreme weather conditions Kerkar said The blossoming of Karvi has been impacted due to climate change he rued adding that there was no mass flowering of Karvi in recent times in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghat areas of Sattari Karvi also known as Strobilanthes Callosus are green shrubs that bloom once in eight years and the flowers vary in colour from purplishblue to pink Rich in pollen and nectar Karvi flowers attract a wide range of species of butterflies birds and insects including honey bees Kerkar said that the Karvi honey is relished by sloth bears and other wild animals that are now missing out on this vital source of nutrition for them Kerkar said that climate change has impacted Western Ghats coastal areas and biodiversity in the state Noted researcher Dr Nitin Borkar while working towards combating climate change started to eradicate menace of plastic waste and with help of fellow villager Sanjay Bhat Borkar started a programme to collect plastic waste from people We started it in 2009 and we got support from people who used to keep this plastic waste at designated places and then our workforces used to collect it and send it for recycling he said Then Governor of Goa Dr Mridula Sinha donated Rs 50000 to our Borim Development Trust in appreciation of the good work Later the Panchayat took over that work and started collecting plastic waste he said National Fish Workers Forum NFF General Secretary Olencio Simoes said that there is a need to protect coastal area from eroding and hence government should start taking measures Wherever possible we started growing mangroves and screwpines to protect coast he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/goa-doctor-rejuvenates-springs-lakes-to-combat-climate-change-489787.html Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/agariyas-shine-a-light-on-solar-powered-salt-making-at-little-rann-of-kutch-489456.html Ahmedabad Nov 25 In the arid expanse of the Little Rann of Kutch LRK in Gujarat a quiet revolution is taking place among the Agariyas the traditional salt farmers contributing 30 per cent to Indias inland salt production This region renowned for its underground brine reserves vital for salt production is witnessing a transformative shift from traditional fuelbased methods to sustainable solar energy A decade ago the Agariyas relied heavily on diesel pumps operating day and night to extract the brine from beneath the earth This not only resulted in high fuel costs consuming 70 of their input expenses but also meant living amidst the relentless noise and toxic fumes of the pumps Despite their hard work the farmers received a mere fraction of the retail price for their salt leading to a cycle of meager profits and heavy debts The intervention of nonprofits in the region marked a turning point In 2008 trials with solar pumps tailored to the unique needs of the LRK began These solar pumps have been a gamechanger Today an estimated 80 of the 7000 Agariya families in LRK have adopted solar technology reducing their reliance on costly and environmentally harmful diesel The impact of this switch to solar energy is palpable in the stories of the Agariyas Sixtyyearold Bhanuben who has witnessed the evolution of brine extraction methods over her lifetime shares how the switch to solar pumps drastically reduced her familys fuel consumption and costs thereby increasing their savings The benefits extend beyond economics Families have been able to alter their migratory patterns with the men travelling to the salt pans daily allowing their children to continue their education in a stable environment The solar pumps have also alleviated some of the harsh living conditions in the Rann a wildlife sanctuary known for its extreme temperatures The lack of potable water and basic facilities particularly challenging for women is now partially mitigated as families like Kanubens can afford more frequent visits to their villages The transition to solar energy is not just about economic gains its about altering the social dynamics within the community The Agariyas once resigned to the dictates of the local traders are now empowered to negotiate better prices for their salt This newfound confidence stems from reduced operational costs and increased savings enabling them to look beyond mere survival The Agariyas journey towards solar energy adoption is a beacon of hope It exemplifies how embracing sustainable practices can lead to profound socioeconomic changes fostering a sense of empowerment and community cohesion IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/agariyas-shine-a-light-on-solar-powered-salt-making-at-little-rann-of-kutch-489456.html Sat, 25 Nov 2023 10:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/retiree-turns-waste-quarry-land-into-a-mini-forest-in-karnataka-489457.html Bengaluru Nov 25 Dasabettu Mathayes DSa popularly known as Desa has accomplished what many could not even contemplate He spent his entire retirement savings to purchase a wasteland a red stone quarry and planted a variety of wild trees that are on the verge of extinction Desas determination to transform the wasteland into a mini forest is inspiring especially on the eve of the COP28 Summit in Dubai focused on the climate challenge The flourishing mini forest now stands in place of the scarred land once marked by deep trenches covering threefourths of an acre in Satwadi a small village near Kundapura town in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka The 63yearold Desa after retiring from a humble job in Mumbai moved to Satwadi in 2017 leaving his wife and son behind to pursue his dream of cultivating a forest and dedicating the rest of his life to nature in his native region Residing in Moodlakatte near Kundapura merely a kilometre away from his dream forest Desa relies on a bicycle as his primary mode of transport He also owns a small boat with a tiny petrol engine allowing him to explore the mangrove forest near his house In Kundapura he actively spreads awareness about the importance of mangrove forests among nature lovers students and journalists Additionally he contributes to making the area a tourist hub by taking people on boat rides to explore the beauty of the small trees growing in coastal saline or brackish water providing selfemployment opportunities to locals Desa also contributes to greening his village roads by planting and watering plants In an interview with IANS Desa explained that his inspiration came from the novel Swapnada Hole by wellknown Kannada author K Shivaram Karanth I belong to the Christian community Despite community members curses for not attending church masses I had dedicated my weekends to nature trips Desa says He is a longtime member of the Bombay Natural History Society BNHS has attended various nature camps nationwide for wildlife studies with BNHS and is a lifetime member of the Youth Hostels Association of India YHAI participating in numerous trekking programmes at both state and national levels Desa has volunteered for wildlife studies in the Nallamala forest with the Government of Telangana Wildlife Department and has led countless students and professionals in various trekking programs Describing the challenges of growing a forest on quarry land Desa highlighted the difficulty of dealing with trenches up to 15 feet deep where the land below that depth is infertile Despite the financial constraints for levelling the land Desa has managed to grow tree saplings in the existing trenches Reflecting on his decision to retire in Satwadi instead of pursuing a watchmans job in Mumbai Desa emphasized the joy of reliving childhood days through reading wandering in forests and fishing Desa passionately believes that the survival of the land depends on the existence of forests He criticizes politicians for their soft stance on forest destruction and points out the encroachment of forests by politicians and elites particularly in the birthplace of the Cauvery river where vast acres of coffee plantations have replaced natural forests Desa emphasizes that people will only realize the importance of forests during water shortages in big cities calling attention to the collective responsibility to protect these crucial ecosystems IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/retiree-turns-waste-quarry-land-into-a-mini-forest-in-karnataka-489457.html Sat, 25 Nov 2023 10:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/odishas-eroded-coastline-exposes-villages-to-storm-surges-inundation-487177.html Bhubaneswar Nov 19 Owing to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal Odisha has been bearing the brunt of climate change with the regular occurrence of devastating tropical cyclones increasing volume of lightning irregular rainfall and coastal erosion With over 480 km of coastline Odisha is in a precarious position when it comes to the impact of climate change says the Odisha State Action Plan on Climate Change PhaseII The document also mentions that Odishas coast is vulnerable to cyclones as well as chronic problems associated with shore erosion coastal flooding storm surge and inundation Studies conducted by several other reputed government and nongovernment organisations have also echoed the same warning that large parts of coastal Odisha under Ganjam Puri Jagatsinghpur Kendrapara Bhadrak and Balasore districts are at greater risk of deluge and inundation due to erosion of coastal lands Many coastal villages in Kendrapara Ganjam and Puri districts are experiencing increased levels of inundation and storm flooding accelerated coastal erosion seawater intrusion into freshwater including groundwater and encroachment of tidal waters into river systems All these lead to multiple displacements and the poor living on the margins of subsistence are forced into greater poverty said popular environmentalist and researcher Ranjan Panda Those living in the sea coast have been facing acute shortage of drinking water the loss of their livelihoods as huge patches of arable lands were eaten away by the rising sea waves While sharing her ordeal an elderly Bengalata Rout of Tandahar village in Astaranga block of Puri district said In my younger days the villagers had to cover a long distance to go to the sea for fishing or any other work But now the sea has come so close to our village that we are staring at displacement Around 20 to 30 acre of agricultural land where we used to grow rice and other crops have been submerged in sea during the last couple of years On the other hand the Tandahar village with a population of around 1000 persons has only one handpump for drinking water The situation is more precarious in Udayakani village of the same block as the residents have been buying drinking water from a place around four to five km far Piped drinking water supply is a distant dream for the residents of these two villages We are living a miserable life after the destructive super cyclone in 1999 Since then the sea waves continue to expand inundating our land with every passing year We have already been displaced twice due to the shore erosion All our agricultural lands are either submerged or filled with salt water and sand forcing us to work as daily labourers in nearby villages said Siba Pradhan of Udayakani The forest department officials have been planting casuarinas and mangrove trees to create artificial jungles at regular intervals but their efforts are not yielding satisfactory results due to the lack of proper care Pradhan alleged The womenfolk of the area and some local activists are taking up the task of creating jungles in the area The women residents of Tandahar led by Swain have been planting mangroves and casuarinas trees in the area to check erosion Swain also said that unless the government starts massive plantations of the mangroves and casuarinas or Jhaun trees along the coast it is difficult to check soil erosion Such situations are already forcing many people to migrate out to miserable conditions We urgently need rehabilitation policies for supporting these climate migrants and displaced people so that their right to life with dignity is protected said Panda IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/odishas-eroded-coastline-exposes-villages-to-storm-surges-inundation-487177.html Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/gujarats-climate-paradox-unseasonal-rains-and-agricultural-turmoil-487178.html Ahmedabad Nov 19 As the world turns its attention to COP28 that is set to begin in Dubai UAE on November 30 the stark reality of climate changes impact on Gujarat becomes increasingly evident The state known for its vibrant culture and thriving industries is now facing an environmental conundrum that threatens both its economy and ecosystem Climate change made its presence felt through unexpected rains this summer a stark contrast to the anticipated scorching heat averaging 42 degrees Celsius While citydwellers marveled at the unseasonal showers the rural heartlands of Gujarat painted a grim picture Here farmers and fruit growers are grappling with the harsh reality of climate change as they witness crippling losses to their livelihoods A recent survey by the Gujarat Government reveals that a staggering 42210 hectares of farmland suffered over 33 per cent damage which translates into potential losses running into thousands of crores In response the Gujarat Government announced a significant relief package on May 4 offering Rs 23000 per hectare for heavilyaffected farmlands This move supplementing the State Disaster Relief Fund provides muchneeded support to farmers facing uncertain futures due to erratic weather patterns With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on the horizon this relief effort is as much a boon for the farmers as it is for the BJP workers preparing for the elections The signs of climate change are evident in Gujarats altered weather patterns as the Indian Meteorological Department IMD recorded belowaverage temperatures in March and April This unusual cooling is juxtaposed with the third spell of unseasonal rain in May further complicating the agricultural scenario in the state A significant rainfall ranging from 1 mm to 47 mm was recorded across 198 talukas in 30 districts during the last unseasonal downpour in March Despite these challenges the state governments response has been proactive A detailed survey in March 2023 across 15 of the states 32 districts highlighted extensive damage to both agricultural and horticultural crops Amidst these environmental and agricultural crises a unique perspective emerged from a Gujarat district court in January 2023 Principal District Judge Samir Vinodchandra Vyas of Tapi district court while sentencing a man for cow slaughter linked the practice to climate change He suggested that stopping cow slaughter could be a solution to climate change reflecting a blend of cultural beliefs and environmental concerns As Gujarat and the world prepare for the pivotal discussions at COP28 the states experience serves as a reminder of the multifaceted impact of climate change IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/gujarats-climate-paradox-unseasonal-rains-and-agricultural-turmoil-487178.html Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/copping-out-despite-cop-summits-global-inaction-spurs-climate-extremes-487181.html New Delhi Nov 19 The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP28 hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai will take place between November 30 and December 12 in the backdrop of recent unprecedented heatwaves droughts floods and wildfires that have wreaked havoc especially in climatevulnerable countries The scientific community says these extreme weather events reinforce just how urgent it is for the world to tackle the climate crisis improve peoples lives and livelihoods and to keep 15 degrees Celsius alive through netzero economy transition COP28 brings together world leaders policymakers scientists and stakeholders from across the globe for coursecorrect by deliberating on strategies and commitments that will shape the future of our planet Forests are an integral part of the climate solution as they contain 662 billion tonnes of carbon which is more than half of the global carbon stock in soils and vegetation Greenhouse gas levels have hit a record high again According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation WMO carbon dioxide CO2 concentrations were a full 50 per cent above the preindustrial era for the first time in 2022 and there is no end in sight to the rising trend Methane concentrations also grew and levels of nitrous oxide the third main gas saw the highest yearonyear increase on record from 2021 to 2022 according to the Greenhouse Bulletin which is published to inform people about the COP28 negotiations Despite decades of warnings from the scientific community thousands of pages of reports and dozens of climate conferences we are still heading in the wrong direction WMO SecretaryGeneral Professor Petteri Taalas said A latest report from UN Climate Change finds national climate action plans remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 15 degrees Celsius and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement the landmark climate treaty concluded in 2015 Even with increased efforts by some countries the report shows much more action is needed now to bend the worlds emissions trajectory further downward and avoid the worst impacts of climate change Todays November 14 report shows that governments combined are taking baby steps to avert the climate crisis And it shows why governments must make bold strides forward at COP28 in Dubai to get on track said the ExecutiveSecretary of UN Climate Change Simon Stiell This means COP28 must be a clear turning point Governments must not only agree what stronger climate actions will be taken but also start showing exactly how to deliver them The latest science from the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43 per cent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels This is critical to limit temperature rise to 15 degrees by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change including more frequent and severe droughts heatwaves and rainfall The world is failing to get a grip on the climate crisis warned UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres Global ambition stagnated over the past year and national plans are strikingly misaligned with science he said COP28 must be the place to urgently close the climate ambition gap From the base of Mt Everest on October 30 the UN chief issued a strong call The world cannot wait We cannot address climate catastrophe without tackling its root cause fossil fuel dependence he said in response to a report showing increasing fossil fuel production The UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits called COPs which stands for Conference of the Parties This process led to the landmark Paris Agreement Climate extremes whether multiyear droughts or extreme floods are affecting every major foodproducing region and are threatening agricultural productivity reducing food security disrupting food supply chains and eroding the livelihoods of billions of people A report from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations NOAA National Center for Environmental Information states after the warmest October last month the 174year global climate record there is a 99 per cent chance that 2023 will set a new annual record The current hottest year on record is 2016 Seven of the past 10 years are on the list of warmest years on record Over the past year Canadas unprecedented forest blaze is perhaps the most severe Wildfires release methane which accelerates climate change Another warning comes in the runup to COP28 by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD is that sand and dust storms are an underappreciated problem now dramatically more frequent in some places worldwide with at least 25 per cent of the phenomenon attributed to human activities With impacts far beyond the source regions an estimated 2 billion tonnes of sand and dust now enters the atmosphere every year an amount equal in weight to 350 Great Pyramids of Giza In some areas desert dust doubled in the last century With the ongoing severe floods in the Horn of Africa worsened by El Niño at least 700000 people have been displaced A new study from McGill University researchers in collaboration with researchers in Spain Mexico Portugal Denmark Australia South Africa and other universities in Canada investigates the importance of temperature in determining where animal species are currently found to better understand how a warming climate might impact where they might live in the future To find out the researchers tested the role of temperature as a factor that could limit a species potential habitat range They compared the temperatures and areas where 460 coldblooded animal species currently live to the temperatures and areas where they could live based on their tolerance to temperatures They found that unlike species living in the ocean land animals such as reptiles amphibians and insects have habitat ranges that are less directly impacted by temperature The higher a species is in latitude the lower its tendency to live in areas near the equator with temperatures they could tolerate the researchers say This means that instead of tolerance to temperature negative interactions with other species like with competitors or parasites could be what keep these species away from this potential habitat Lets work together to make COP28 the turning point to coursecorrect not too late to bring the world back on the 15degree path Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiiansgmailcom IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/copping-out-despite-cop-summits-global-inaction-spurs-climate-extremes-487181.html Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/powered-by-govt-corporate-sector-indias-green-energy-drive-in-top-gear-487139.html New Delhi Nov 19 Power and New Renewable Energy Minister RK Singh said this week that India needs to develop but will do so responsibly which is reflected in the country being nine years ahead in achieving the nationally determined contributions NDC target set under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change of having 40 per cent of installed power capacity from nonfossil fuel sources by 2030 We pledged at COP21 in 2015 that we will reduce our emissions intensity by 33 per cent by 2030 we did this by 2019 In COP 26 in Glasgow we have said that by 2030 we will have 50 per cent of our capacity coming from renewables and that we will reduce our emission intensity by 45 per cent We will achieve it So we are on target Singh told journalists in Delhi while explaining Indias position in the runup to COP28 He also said that the success is based on the fact that India is adding renewable energy capacity at the fastest rate in the world Switching to renewable energy holds the key to reducing the carbon footprint and achieving netzero goals In order to achieve its ambitious goal of 500 Gigawatt GW of renewable capacity by 2030 the government has also been vigorously promoting the adoption of electric vehicles the production of green hydrogen the manufacturing of solar equipment and the development of energy storage Singhs overview is backed by a lot of action on the part of corporates in the country with the largest amongst them taking a plunge into green energy with massive investment plans Reliance Industries is accelerating its green energy initiatives with the aim to make India a world leader in energy transition The company has set the ambitious target of installing at least 100GW of renewable energy generation by 2030 We remain focused on fasttrack execution of our Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Manufacturing Complex at Jamnagar said RIL CMD Mukesh Ambani at the companys 46th AGM this year The richest Asian said the company will invest in its own production capabilities and new technologies and also collaborate with global technology and product companies The priority would be to deliver a fully integrated endtoend solar PV manufacturing ecosystem which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 Similarly Adani Green Energy has drawn up plans investing 3 billion in the next 57 years and are backward integrating their operations through the electronic manufacturing cluster at the Mundra seaport Adani Green Energy MD and Director Vneet Jaain said that they are currently at 4GW and plan to increase capacity to 10GW by 2027 Among the older players Suzlon is a market leader with 111 wind farms and an installed capacity of over 143 GW The company has developed some of Asias largest operational onshore wind farms in nine states including Gujarat Rajasthan Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu Clean energy company ReNew which has a 13 GW solar and wind capacity claims to have managed to avoid over 14 million tonnes of carbon emissions during the fiscal year ended March 31 2023 According to its Third Sustainability Report Driving Decarbonisation the company also saved 318 lakh kilolitres of water during FY23 ReNews netzero targets by 2040 were validated by SBTi As part of the fight against climate change auto majors such as Tata Motors and Mahindra amp Mahindra have started producing electric cars while the government is also pushing for foreign vehicle makers such as US giant Tesla to set up production facilities in India A new policy to offer them more incentives is on the anvil Indian Railways has electrified its network with the aim of becoming a net zero carbon emitter by 2030 Rapid electrification of the railway network has enabled the switch from diesel locomotives and the last portion of electrification of over 6000 route kilometres is being completed in a record six months till Decemberend To reach its 500 GW goal by 2030 India would have to continuously add at least 25 GW of renewable energy capacity every year for eight years India currently has about 173 GW of clean energy capacity based on nonfossil fuels including 62 GW of solar 42 GW of wind 10 GW of biomass 5 GW of small hydro 47 GW of large hydro and 7 GW of nuclear power However while India pushes ahead in the fight against climate change there is also a feeling that the western countries are trying to armtwist the developing countries on the issue Power minister Singh is also of the view that it is the developed countries who need to cut down their emissions first Explaining Indias position the minister said The developed countries used fossil fuels for developing their economies but they want to tell us that we should not use coal Around 85 per cent of the carbon dioxide load in the atmosphere is due to the path of industrialization followed by developed countries Indias population is 17 per cent of world population while our contribution to carbon dioxide load is only 35 per cent Even now our per capita emissions are one third of world average while that of developed countries is three times the world average Singh told journalists IANS https://dailyworld.in/climate-challenge/powered-by-govt-corporate-sector-indias-green-energy-drive-in-top-gear-487139.html Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:07:00 +0530