================================================== CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (February 16, 2012) ==================================================
Some time back, CSE had carried out an analysis of the project clearances granted by the ministry of environment and forests over the last five years. Our findings had blasted a hole in industry's contention that green clearances were holding up development projects in the country. On Feb 24-25, CSE's Anil Agarwal Dialogue on Green Clearances will bring together regulators, civil society and industry to discuss and debate this contentious issue. Also on the burner are a number of new training programmes, courses and other activities and events. And of course, we bring you this fortnight's package of news, features and opinions from Down To Earth, as usual... ======================================================================= To subscribe to this newsletter, or any of our other newsletters, please click on http://cseindia.my2.in/cseindia/?p=subscribe To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just click http://www.cseindia.org/content/please-enter-your-email-id-unsubscribe-cse-newsletter If you have any questions or concerns about newsletter subscription, please contact Vikas Khanna at [email protected] ========================================== EDITORIAL: New business for new renewables by Sunita Narain ========================================== It was a trade exhibition abuzz with the restrained chatter of busy suited executives at company stalls making contacts and finalising deals. Nothing out of place except that this trade was about renewable energy technologies, which have unconventional reasons for growth. First, these technologies are seen as the most economical and feasible source of energy for millions of people unconnected to the electricity grid and having no electricity to light their houses or cook their food. This energy poverty is disabling and needs to be eradicated. Introduction of decentralised and improved technologies paves the way to catapult the poorest of the households into the most modern systems. Secondly, these technologies—from wind and solar to biomass—provide cleaner low-carbon energy options to combat climate change. These are future systems critical for survival of all. Strangely enough the gathering knew none of these objectives. For them it was just a business, made lucrative by public investment. It was only business as usual. But this is a fundamental disconnect. The fact is that the business of renewable technologies is based on a different rationale and different and explicit social objectives. The fact also is that this business, because of these objectives, is being supported through public financing and subsidy. Therefore, the business is not about the usual, but the unusual. This unusual business requires different models of growth, which can promote entrepreneurship, innovation and profit, but for common and environmental good. If this does not happen, the public subsidy and public goodwill for this business will be lost. The future will be squandered. We know that the fastest penetration of new energy sources is most likely to happen in regions still growing in provisioning of basic necessities. The already rich have built their energy infrastructure; they are energy reckless. They need to move to clean energy, for their massive carbon footprint is taking the world down. According to the International Energy Agency, the growth of primary energy supply in OECD countries is expected to be 0.3 per cent annually, while in India it will be the highest at 3 per cent annually between 2009 and 2035. The infrastructure is being built now; it is most appropriate not to “lock out” renewable and clean energy. We also know that the countries ahead in building new energy infrastructure also have the largest number of poor people, who do not have access to energy. The same Paris-based energy agency’s global data book also tells us that there is huge energy poverty in the world and that this energy source is still priced higher than conventional energy systems. Here lies the nub of the problem. The poorest need access to what are currently the most expensive systems. This is possible only with massive public-financed programmes that drive down the cost. It is not as if renewable energy is per se a new venture. Currently, 10-12 per cent of the primary energy supply comes from renewable sources (not counting hydroelectricity). But new renewables—technologies of the future —still make up only 1 to 2 per cent of this supply. The rest comes from biomass systems of the poor like the stove that burns wood or cow dung. These are the clients who can now either take the next step on the energy ladder to kerosene or LPG, or can jump to the top of the ladder by moving to modern biomass energy sources. These are the same clients who are in the dark and today have the option of selecting decentralised mini-grids for their energy needs. But if these are the people who are the targets of the new venture, then business is completely out of touch with its customers. The future is becoming dark. The same business with the same wheeling and dealing to make a fast buck is taking over the future. A few years ago, when the Centre for Science and Environment studied the wind energy scenario in India, it found that the business had subverted the purpose for profit. Wind farms set up across the country were generating little energy. It found that the business of wind had the worst characteristics of the market: it was closed, monopolistic and unregulated. The turbine manufacturer was also the energy supplier. Capital incentives given to this crucial sector were used to create investment, not power. The solar scam—where a single company, LANCO, a coal power major, used every dirty tactic in the corporate larder to subvert government guidelines and take over the public subsidy package—is another instance of this business going the wrong way. This is not the business of clean energy. This is the dirty business of dirty energy. The problem also is that nobody wants to talk about this “aberration”. The proponents of clean energy are social and environmental advocates. They do not want to rock the boat. As a result there is no public scrutiny of or research on this new business. The circle of knowledge and influence in this sector is limited to consultants who want the business and industry, which is in the business itself. It is in everybody’s interest to keep a tight lid on the murky side of the operations. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is their motto. It’s time to change. This time, for the better, not worse. Post your comments on this editorial online at http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/new-business-new-renewables ======================= MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH ======================= - Cover Story: In deep water The rivers Krishna and Mahanadi are in crisis, thanks to industrial development along their banks http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/deep-water - Special Report: Aravallis razed Repeated court orders fail to save part of the primitive mountain range in Alwar from mining http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/aravallis-razed - Special Report: Hidden hunger? There is a rush to cash in on micronutrient deficiency in India through fortification of food http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/hidden-hunger - Special Report: TB turns invincible Discovery of a deadly form of TB in a Mumbai hospital underscores mismanagement http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/tb-turns-invincible - Special Report: Cleaning the cotton stain ICAR sets up independent investigation into Bt Bikaneri Narma research scam http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/cleaning-cotton-stain - Features: Born at 44 Odisha village gets pattas after nearly half a century. Land reform programmes get jumpstart http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/born-44 - 20 years of DTE: Edited excerpts of participatory politics built on participatory natural resource management by communities http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/talk-neighbours - Science and Technology: Food for brain Vitamins and omega-3 fatty acid improve cognitive ability http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/food-brain - Science and Technology: Stem cell dilemma How clinics use embryonic therapy not approved by ICMR http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/stem-cell-dilemma - Science and Technology: Locust repellents The insect dislikes crops rich in nitrogen and proteins http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/locust-repellents - News: Burdened with bumper crop Faulty procurement, rising farm inputs force West Bengal farmers to commit suicide http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/burdened-bumper-crop - News: Indian law caught in web Can Information Technology Act deal with the dynamics of the Net? http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/indian-law-caught-web - News: CAPART up for overhaul Funding agency for rural NGOs may be on its last legs http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/capart-overhaul - Crosscurrents: Permitting wildlife science Forest permissions haunt wildlife research http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/permitting-wildlife-science - Factsheet: Species census Total number of known species on Earth are rising... http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/species-census - Column: Patently absurd by Latha Jishnu Medicines pool swirls: drug companies join UN efforts to offer medicines to poor companies, but restrictive terms can stop them in their tracks http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/medicines-pool-swirls Down To Earth is now on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss and stay in constant touch with our reporters on www.facebook.com/down2earthindia and twitter@downtoearthindia. =========================== Web DTE =========================== - Blogs: Solar energy is everybody's business Solar mission is too important to let doubtful dealings hijack it http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/solar-energy-everybodys-business - Analysis: National Water Policy, 2012 silent on priorities Draft document gives industry implicit priority over agriculture in water allocation http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/national-water-policy-2012-silent-priorities =========================== On India Environment Portal =========================== Preparations for the Rio+20 United Nations conference on sustainable development have begun, but the first round of preparatory meetings did not address important issues such as sustainable resource use, production and consumption. Read 'Global Sustainable Development Goals: The Unresolved Questions for Rio+20'a new blog by Mukul Sanwal on the India Environment Portal at http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/blogs/global-sustainable-development-goals Also read his note on the Rio+20 negotiations, 'The first round of negotiations on the outcome of RIO + 20: do we want the WTO as a means of implementation?' at http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/reports-documents/first-round-negotiations-outcome-rio-20-do-we-want-wto-means-implementation - Renewable energy portal CSE has launched its new renewable energy (RE) portal aimed at promoting socially just, environmentally sustainable and independent views on RE policies and practices. Do utilise the E-forum for posting questions and exchanging your views at http://cseindia.org/forum/20323 You are invited to be our partner and contribute to the RE portal. If you come across interesting renewable energy projects, case studies or stories, the RE portal can be a platform to spread the message (through articles, photos, videos, blogs etc.). Do chip in. A selection of photos on environment and development by Anil Agarwal & Sunita Narain http://www.flickr.com/photos/csepictures/sets/72157628728282841/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/csepictures/sets/72157628849514621/ - India Environment Portal is now on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss and stay in constant touch with us on http://www.facebook.com/pages/indiaenvironmentportal/228015872817 and http://www.twitter.com/indiaenvportal For more details or any assistance, contact Kiran Pandey at [email protected], [email protected]. ============================================= LEARNING WITH CSE Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College ============================================= Training Programme: Towards Sustainable Buildings: Policies and Practices For CPWD officers from different technical backgrounds. Date: February 21-23, 2012 Course content: - Understanding of existing policies, their potential and constraints in promoting efficient use of resources and minimizing waste in buildings - Explore the scope of harmonising the policy-driven and market-driven approaches to accelerate the adoption of resource-efficient practices in buildings. Further details: http://cseindia.org/node/3811 Course contact: Sakshi C. Dasgupta Deputy Programme Manager, Sustainable Building Programme Centre for Science and Environment 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi - 62 Phone: +91 (011) 29955124/125 (Ext. 250) Mob: +91 9811910901 Fax: +91 (011) 29955879 Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Managing Urban Air Quality: Focus on Clean Vehicle Technology and Fuels An orientation programme for policy makers Date: March 15 – 17, 2012 Course content: - Pollution challenge of urbanisation - Understanding air quality, trends and monitoring in Indian cities - Why vehicles are a special challenge? - Meeting national ambient air quality standards - Vehicle technology and clean fuel roadmap - Gaseous fuel programme – emissions and safety management - Vehicle technology and fuel economy - Challenges of in-use vehicles and transit traffic - Vehicle inspection system in India and ways to improve it Course details: http://www.cseindia.org/content/orientation-programme-managing-urban-air-quality-focus-clean-vehicle-technology-and-fuels-1 Course contact: Priyanka Chandola Tel: 011 - 29955124 Mob: 9810414938 Fax: 011 - 29955879 Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------ Managing Information in the Digital Age: Training Programme on Library, Information Management and Web-based Outreach Date: March 20-23, 2012 Last Date for applying: March 12, 2012 Course content: - Planning and managing resource centres in the digital age - Sourcing information (print/electronic, internet for research) - Organising Information: Classification & Indexing (including digitized resources) - A primer on managing audio-visual resources (films, photos, Cds, etc.) - Digitisation and e-documentation of news clippings, articles, reports and documents - Building contact databases - Knowledge creation and dissemination (Information Services/Products) - E-mail for outreach (mass mail using open source s/w) - Online presence : reaching out through the web - Potential of social media and web 2.0 for information dissemination and communication Further details: http://www.cseindia.org/node/1653 Register online: http://www.cseindia.org/node/997 NOTE: Few fellowships for participants from South Asia available. Course contact: Kiran Pandey Prgramme Director-Information Management Phone: +91 (011) 29955124/125 (Ext. 287) Mob: 9968767698 Fax: +91 (011) 29955879 Email: [email protected], [email protected] ---------------------------------------------- CSE's short term training on Social Impact Assessment To build capacity and create awareness among regulators, developers, NGOs and academicians to understand SIA process Date: March 26-28, 2012 Late date for applying: March 13, 2012 Course content: - Exposure to aspects of SIA, from theory to applications regarding: - Integrated approach for addressing SIA and EIA process - Knowledge on review of SIA reports and identification of strengths and weaknesses - Post SIA monitoring - Procedure for institutional strengthening and capacity building - Experience sharing on national and international best practices in SIA For details, please visit http://cseindia.org/node/3754 For registration kindly email Sujit at [email protected] Course contact: Sujit Kumar Singh Centre for Science and Environment 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062 Ph: 91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 281); Fax: 91-11-2995 5879 Mobile: 9899676027, 9910496283, 981056423 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Agenda for Survival A Certificate course on the policies, practices & politics of environmental management in India Date: June 1 – 30, 2012 Last date for applying by: April 21, 2012 Course content: - State of India’s environment: An overview - Poverty and the biomass economy - Ecological rights & natural resource management - Conflicts over land use: Agriculture, industry, urbanization - Urban growth challenges: Water & waste management, air pollution & mobility - Sustainable industrialisation & public health concerns - Climate change & global environmental governance - Week long field visit to Himalayas and several with Delhi - Group assignments: Produce a magazine or web documentary, in addition to case study presentations & hands-on workshops Eligibility: The course is open to 25 young professionals and college students from any stream. Further details: http://cseindia.org/node/1701 Course contact: Sharmila Sinha Ph: +91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 270); Mobile: 9818482018 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] ================================ UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS ================================ For regular updates, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cseindia Anil Agarwal Dialogue on Green Clearances The Dialogue aims to bring to the fore the various issues and concerns related to environmental and forest clearances in India. Date: February 24-25, 2012 Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi For details, click on http://cseindia.org/node/3757 For any queries get in touch with Sugandh Juneja at [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Climate Change adaptation report launch CSE, in association with South Asian Forum for Environment, Kolkata, is launching of its climate change adaptation report on Indian Sundarbans Venue: Rotary Sadan, 94/2 Chowringhee Road, Kolkata: 700 020 Date: February 29 Time: 2 pm to 6.30 pm For details, contact Aditya Ghosh at [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Round table Meeting on 'Energising the Energy Efficiency in Buildings Agenda The Green Buildings team of CSE is organising a round table to look into impediments for mandating ECBC, executing ESCO contracts for public buildings, promoting Energy Star labelling for buildings and requiring regular Energy Audits for designated consumers amongst other provisions of the Energy Conservation Act 2001. Date: March 6, 2012. Place: CSE, 4th Floor,Core 6A, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi For details, visit http://cseindia.org/node/3812 or contact Sakshi at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------- South Asian Media Briefing Workshop on Food Safety and Environmental Toxins A two day media briefing to share a range of issues under the broader subject of food safety and environmental toxins -- pesticides, junk food, contaminants, drugs of daily use, industrial contaminants, industrial liability, regulations and regulatory capacity. Date: March 29-30, 2012 Place: New Delhi Register Online: http://cseindia.org/node/2937 For details, visit http://www.cseindia.org/node/3680 or contact Papia at [email protected] -------------------------------------------------------- 13th Media Fellowships: Backs to the wall: tigers, tiger habitats and conservation in India For Indian journalists Date: March - May, 2012 Application deadline extended till: February 20, 2012 For details, visit http://cseindia.org/node/3567 or get in touch with Papia at [email protected] -------------------------------------------------------- Fellowship Media Briefing Workshop on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation Date: April 25-26, 2012 For details, please contact Papia ([email protected]), or check out http://cseindia.org/content/cse-fellowship-media-briefing-workshop-tigers-tiger-habitats-and-their-conservation-india ----------------------------------------------------------- CSE's Green Sense Survey Test your Green Sense here. It takes hardly 2 minutes, only 10 objective questions, and you get your Green Report card immediately. http://www.cseindia.org/content/cses-green-sense-survey ------------------------------------------------------- Churning Still Water CSE has come up with a paper called "Churning still water"- on conservation and management of urban waterbodies in India. The paper discusses the state of urban waterbodies, conservation and management in India and has tried to bring out the threats to the urban waterbodies in India. The paper has also reviewed the existing policies, acts and laws to tackle the loss of these bodies of water. To see the report click on http://www.cseindia.org/content/churning-still-water-briefing-paper-urban-waterbodies For any queries get in touch with Sushmita Sengupta at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Green Building Report CSE's Green Building Team has come out with a report on ‘Buildings: Earthscrapers: Environment Impact Assessment of Buildings’- A critique on the current regulatory instrument available to assess the environmental impact To download the report, please visit http://www.cseindia.org/node/3585 For any queries get in touch with Sakshi C. Dasgupta at [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jaipur Citizen's Survey: Transport and air quality challenges CSE's Clean Air Campaign team is organising a citizens’ survey in Jaipur to understand the challenges of air pollution and transportation that the city faces, and identify the way forward. Would you like to volunteer your participation in the survey? Just fill out a form at http://cseindia.org/node/1190 and send it to us. For details, please get in touch with Vivek at [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------------- RainWater Harvesting Technical Support Every Friday between 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, CSE provides detailed technical guidance to interested individuals, RWAs and institutions to implement rainwater harvesting. The technical assistance will be provided at CSE’s office at 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area. For details, see http://www.cseindia.org/content/catch-rainwater-solve-your-water-problems ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Technical advice: Decentralised wastewater treatment systems Every second and fourth Friday, meet our experts at CSE, 41, Tughlaqabad Institutional Area for guidance on planning and designing these systems. For details, contact Deblina at [email protected] or call her on 9899596661. ================== About this e-mail ================== You are receiving this newsletter because you have asked to be included in our list, attended a CSE event or requested information. CSE is an independent, public interest organization that was established in 1982 by Anil Agarwal, a pioneer of India's environmental movement. CSE's mandate is to research, communicate and promote sustainable development with equity, participation and democracy. -------------- next part -------------- _______________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
