Archive for India
Huge air pollution: atmospheric brown clouds
Posted by: on November 14, 2008 in Tags: Asia, China, Environment, India, pollution, UN
I already wrote about how air pollution in China is a major issue as it kills thousands of people. Little did I know that this problem is far worse than I previously reported and that it is spreading.
Indeed atmospheric brown clouds are increasing throughout Asia and are also seen in Europe or in the United States, making this issue a global one.
The latest UNEP report tackles the many impacts of the phenomenon on both Mankind and its environment and the least I can say is that the news are most worrying. Continue reading »
In less than two days I came across three exciting news on how both solar thermal and photovoltaïc are moving toward worldwide in many ways.
With today’s article we will go from the United States to Germany and we will conclude with India. We will tackle both markets and technological issues.
These energies are still representing a tiny part of the world energy mix and projections are not enthusiastic on their potential, but I am confident we will overshoot them. Continue reading »
India announces its first climate change mitigation plan
Posted by: on July 2, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, India
The government of the world’s largest democracy announced this week it’s first plan ever to mitigate climate change and to move toward a more sustainable development. This is great news.
However, there are no real targets in any specific subject such as renewable energies - with a specific mention of solar - water, agriculture and energy efficiency.
I personally think that the more defined targets will come once all rich countries will have pledged to reduce their own emissions and proposed help to India. Continue reading »
G8 countries to cut oil consumption
Posted by: on June 9, 2008 in Tags: China, Efficiency, Energy, Europe, India, Oil, USA
Yesterday, the eight leading economies met in Japan, alongside with China, India and South Korea. One of the main topics of discussion was the soaring prices of oil and energy.
To counter this, they pledged to invest massively in energy efficiency and low carbon technologies such as renewable energies, nuclear and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
This is an important event as the eleven countries present at this meeting account for nearly two thirds of the world energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Continue reading »
EU pushes countries to tackle climate change
Posted by: on March 18, 2008 in Tags: China, Climate change, Europe, India, USA
According to the International Herald Tribune, the European Union is willing to involve the most polluting countries in the mitigation of climate change.
To do this, it might implement commercial sanctions to non signatory countries of international agreements. Among these countries are the United States and China.
This might be a serious drive for these countries to move, even if some people fear it could lead to the opposite reaction. Continue reading »
60 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated
Posted by: on January 30, 2008 in Tags: India
On January 30th 1948, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as the Mahatma or Bapu (Father), was assassinated.
60 years later, India is paying homage to the father of the country and some of his ashes are scattered in the Arabian sea near Mumbaï.
I never speak about news events, but as I studied enough the Mahatma to be impressed by his life, I will do so today. Continue reading »
The Nano, a really small and efficient car by Tata
Posted by: on January 10, 2008 in Tags: Asia, Efficiency, India, transport
The Indian conglomerate Tata is launching today the world cheapest car, the Nano. For the equivalent of 1,700 € (or 2,500 USD), Tata proposes a very energy efficient car.
With a mileage of 70 miles per gallon (4 litres for 100 km), this car have a huge market potential as only seven million Indians own a car, out of the billion people in the country.
This car is tailor-made for the Indian market with its small size and has been dubbed by its creators as the People’s car and will be sold afterwards in Asia. Continue reading »
How to grow more rice with less water
Posted by: on November 27, 2007 in Tags: India, Sustainable development, water
Rice is the most consumed cereal in the world and is the base of food for half the world population. It is also very water intensive.
Meanwhile, water scarcity problems are already increasing in India and China, and will increase even more with climate change.
So when the WWF writes a report on a method that decreases the water needs of rice culture, (System of Rice Intensification or SRI), one can be interested by the findings.
The thirty most polluted places in the world
Posted by: on September 19, 2007 in Tags: China, Environment, India, nuclear, pollution
The Blacksmith Institute, an environmental NGO from the United States, released this month a report on the 30 most polluted places on Earth.
Of the top ten, two are located in China, two in India, two in Russia and another two in the former Soviet bloc. Among the locations is Chernobyl in Ukraine.
As we will see, some sites affect the lives of million people.
On July 31st, ten millions of trees were planted in India
Posted by: on August 20, 2007 in Tags: Environment, forests, India, Sustainable development
As I mentioned it there, the Chinese government is planting billion of trees. It seems that similar projects are under way in India and elsewhere.
According to the United Nations Environment Program more than 10 million trees were planted on July 31st by 600,000 people in Uttar Pradesh.
As deforestation accounts for a fifth of current anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions, it is worth talking about such an ambitious plan.
