On January 29, 2020, Shri Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has inaugurated a 3-day long World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2020 based on the theme “Towards 2030 Goals: Making the Decade Count” at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.
The summit organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a research institute specializes in the fields of energy was focused on Energy Future Road Map. It is to be noted that India is the third largest energy consumer after the US and China.
Initiated in 2001, WSDS is the annual flagship event of TERI.
Key Points:
i.The Summit saw the participation of senior political representatives & leading policy makers, researchers and business leaders around the world to deliberate and create solutions towards a sustainable future.
ii.The Summit, become a key point for global leaders to convene on a single platform to discuss the climatic issues,will address the broad themes of- circular economy, water, energy, industry transitions, and e-mobility.
iii.Felicitation: During the summit Prof. Jeffrey David Sachs, University Professor and Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University was honoured with the Sustainable Development Leadership Award 2020 for his work on sustainable development at the global, national, and local levels.
iv.The summit also hosted the SEED India Hub, a cooperation of TERI with UN(United Nations) Environment, UN Development and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) to help support eco-inclusive entrepreneurship in India.
v.To reduce vehicular pollution, BS VI quality fuel, equivalent to Euro 6 standard, will be supplied in the entire country from 1 April, 2020.
Petroleum minister Dhamendra pradhan releases a report ‘Towards a low carbon steel sector
The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Shri Dhamendra Pradhan has released the TERI’s report ‘Towards a Low Carbon Steel Sector : Overview of the Changing Market, Technology, and Policy Context for Indian Steel’.
i.The report was prepared by the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) India, which is a research platform based in TERI in New Delhi.
India’s growing steel demand to increase carbon emissions by 600 MT: TERI’s report
i.As per the TERI’s report released by Dhamendra Pradhan ,carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from India’s steel sector may increased to 837 million tonnes (Mt) by the year 2050 due to the hike in steel demand.
ii.The steel demand will increase from about 111 MT to 489 MT, in the next 30 years, resulting in rise in carbon dioxide emissions by around 600 million tonnes.
iii.It may cause a serious implication for the environment through its contribution to climate change. This is paralleled to around 35% of India’s total current CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industry, which would be incompatible with limiting the worst effects of climate change.
iv.The summit also saw the launch of various reports including a roadmap for zero-carbon steel sector and tapping the potential for floating solar plants in India.
Clean Air Project (CAP) launched in 4 Indian cities to curtail air pollution
In order to improve air quality, TERI along with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have launched Clean Air Project (CAP) in 4 Indian cities namely, Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Lucknow and Kanpur and Maharashtra’s Pune and Nashik.
i.This move will support the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) which aims to reduce the PM (particulate matter ) 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations by 20-30 % by 2024. NCAP was launched by Environment Ministry in January 2019.
ii.The CAP project aimed to promote the data measurement & analysis on clean air; enhanced capacities of city and state authorities to implement clean air policies and action plans; increased public awareness for clean air action.
About The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI):
Established– 1974
Founder– Darbari S Seth
Headquarters– New Delhi
Director General– Dr. Ajay Mathur
