Sustainable Development

Mekong River Commission urges effective cooperation amid challenges

A top executive of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) has called for more effective cooperation and urgent action to ensure sustainable development of the mighty river

Notes on urban prosperity

Cities need a newer vision of urban prosperity - one that goes beyond GDP - and addresses the pillars of sustainable development

Centre sets 2030 as target to become global hub for green shipping

New policy launched to convert tugboats at major ports into green tugs

In US, the climate briefly turns on ESG

ESG is a framework that investors - $8 trillion by some reckoning - have adopted for making investment decisions

To save the planet, consumption patterns need to change: Bhupender Yadav

Unsustainable production and consumption need urgent attention, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said at a joint India-Denmark forum on Tuesday, adding that the two countries can set an example for the world in achieving climate goals. Speaking at the 'India Denmark: Partners for Green and Sustainable Progress Conference' here, the minister noted that the Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership is an appropriate forum to exchange ideas, best practices, knowledge, technology, and capacity building for promoting sustainable lifestyles, not only in Denmark and India, but in Europe and the whole world. Danish Crown Prince Frederik Andr Henrik Christian and Princess Mary Elizabeth were also present at the event. "Unsustainable production and consumption need urgent attention if we are to confront the global environmental and climate change-related challenges facing us today. We need to act fast before it is too late," Yadav said. He said India and Denmark have set very ambit

World needs new institutions to drive climate action, SDGs: Amitabh Kant

The world needs new institutions to drive climate action and sustainable development goals (SDGs) as organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are not designed to address these challenges, India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said on Friday. Participating in a discussion on "India's G20 Presidency - Forging Actionable Agenda for Global South" at the Vivekananda International Foundation, Kant talked about the challenges as India holds the presidency of G20 -- an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union (EU). He said the challenges are "external" and referred to the Ukraine war and the prevailing situation in the West. "We have seen the war going on for one year, we don't know how it will shape up in the coming days. G20 is essentially a consensus building platform," he said. He said geopolitics in Europe is not improving as the Ukraine-Russia war has been going on for a year and is worsening. Kant said G20 is important a

Tata Steel signs MoU with CBRI for sustainable mining solutions on Tuesday

Tata Steel and Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), signed an MoU to collaborate on research, academic growth, and sustainable solutions in mining. The MoU was signed by D B Sundara Ramam, vice president Raw Materials, Tata Steel, and Prof. R. Pradeep Kumar, director CBRI, here on Tuesday, a company press release said. Under the agreement, CBRI will provide scientific inputs to Tata Steel on slope stability analysis and control measures in mining areas and affordable and sustainable green housing technologies for the rehabilitation and resettlement of families in mining areas. The partnership will also include technical training and workshops on geotechnical understanding and other scientific areas related to mining, the release said. Speaking on the development, Sundara Ramam said, "The collaboration with CBRI is a significant step towards our commitment to sustainable mining practices. We are excite

G20 an opportunity to shape agenda for sustainable growth: Amitabh Kant

India has taken over the G-20 presidency at a crucial time when the world is facing several challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine war, economic slowdown and the climate crisis, G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said on Wednesday, adding it is an opportunity for the country to shape the agenda for an inclusive and sustainable development. Speaking at an event at Hindu College here, Kant noted this is the first time that India is getting an opportunity to shape the agenda for the world instead of responding to the agenda set by other countries. Noting the importance of the G-20 forum, he said, "G-20 countries account for 85 per cent of the global GDP and 78 per cent of global trade.... They account for two-third population of the world." India assumed the yearlong presidency of G-20 on December 1. More than 200 meetings will be held in India across 55 locations. Many of them will be hosted in Delhi. The G-20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, ...

World Bank keen on Rs 2,500-cr green resilient programme for Himachal: CM

Most departments will switch over to EVs by next year in the first phase, says CM Sukhu

G20's sustainable finance group to work on capacity building in segment

With sustainable finance being a niche sector and most still in the learning process, the Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) of G20 under India's presidency will work towards capacity building in the segment by identifying requirements, efforts already in place and existing gaps, an official said. It will then come up with recommendations on what needs to be done in specific areas and how organisations can contribute towards it, she added. Capacity building of the ecosystem for financing sustainable development was among the priority areas taken up for discussion in the 1st SFWG meet, Geetu Joshi, adviser, Ministry of Finance (MoF), said at the end of the two-day meeting here on Friday. She said it had been taken up because in many countries there is a lack of adequate knowledge and a scarcity of skilled professionals and workforce in sustainable finance. There is a lack of adequate knowledge. One member country said during a session that they thought only developing countrie

Sustainable development only way to durable peace: Deputy UN chief

'There is only one route to durable peace, to the peace that withstands the crises of our times. It is the route of sustainable development'

Davos 2023: Over 50 high-impact initiatives at WEF for sustainable world

With more than 50 high-impact initiatives were launched or profiled, world leaders gathered at the WEF 2023 in the first major international gathering

India's Greenhouse-in-a-Box startup Kheyti wins 2022 Earthshot Prize

A Greenhouse-in-a-Box sustainable solution for small farmers devised by Telangana startup Kheyti has won the 1 million pounds Earthshot Prize, founded by Britain's Prince William and dubbed the Eco Oscars'. Kheyti, one of the five winners at a gala green carpet awards ceremony in Boston on Friday night, won the prize in the Protect and Restore Nature category from hundreds of entries worldwide. The pioneering solution for local smallholder farmers is designed to reduce costs, increase yields and protect livelihoods in a region on the frontlines of climate change. I believe that the Earthshot solutions you have seen this evening prove we can overcome our planet's greatest challenges, and by supporting and scaling them we can change our future, said William, the Prince of Wales. Alongside tonight's winners and finalists, and those to be discovered over the years to come, it's my hope the Earthshot legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet to thrive, he ...

German Chancellor likely to visit India twice next year: Ambassador

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is likely to visit India twice next year as the two countries look to strengthen bilateral relations with an emphasis on green and sustainable development. "The Chancellor is planning a bilateral visit to India next year.... I am very confident he will come for a bilateral visit before the G-20 Summit, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann told reporters here. Ackermann said Germany and India have finalised 22 projects covering transition to renewable energy, climate resilient urban development and sustainable use of natural resources totalling one billion euros for the next year under the green and sustainable development partnership (GSDP). The German Chancellor, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Germany in May, had announced support of at least 10 billion euros by 2030 under GSDP. A large part of the support will be in the form of credit lines from KfW Development Bank with interest rates ranging from 2.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent

Indian firms say sustainability is a critical differentiator: Survey

Despite FFTF firms being in the global minority, companies in the APAC countries generally led their European counterparts in the survey

UP CM reviews plan for Ayodhya City-2031, bats for sustainable development

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday reviewed the master plan for Ayodhya City-2031 and directed officials to develop it as a model city of urban development with ease of living as its basis. Envisioning Ayodhya as a climate friendly city, the chief minister directed officials to plan the project in such a way that all boats and steamers operating in Saryu river run on green fuel and vehicles on road are powered by electricity. During the meeting, the chief minister laid emphasis on a "common building code" in areas surrounding the Ram temple, saying similar shaped buildings and identical paints on them will add to the project's beauty. "As envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the overall development of 'Dharmanagari' is the government's top priority, and the people of the country and the world are eager to see a 'Divya, Bhavya, Navya Ayodhya' (grand new Ayodhya)," he said. Asking the officials to focus on sustainability, he said the current urban populatio

Research suggests plant fibers can be used for sustainable devices

Thermal insulation is a characteristic of several materials generated from plants, including cellulose

India, Sweden collaborate for sustainable future via innovation projects

The 9th annual India Sweden Innovation Day 2022 concluded successfully on October 27. The day-long event was organised in association with the Embassy of India to Sweden & Latvia, Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Centre lays down 75-point climate-friendly agenda under Mission LiFE

Initiatives cover actions under seven categories--energy, water saving, single-use plastic, sustainable food systems, waste reduction (Swachhata actions), healthy lifestyle, and e-waste

Carbon credits imperative for climate positive plans: EKI Energy Services

EKI Energy Services on Monday welcomed the government's stance on carbon credits and said that carbon credits and its trade is an imperative for climate positive plans. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy R K Singh on October 6, said that the government is taking measures to make India a market for carbon credit which will be utilised to meet the country's NDC goals. India has submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasising that it is a step forward towards its long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2070. "We are happy to hear that this matter finally has greater clarity by the Minister himself. Carbon credits and its trade is an imperative and integral part of any climate positive plans given its capabilities to control GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions," said Manish Dabkara, CMD & CEO of EKI Energy Services Ltd. This clarification will enable the entire industry ecosystem .