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Aligning RE with development goals can lift 193 mn from poverty: UNDP Study
The study, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), University of Denver's Pardee Institute and Octopus Energy, was set up to explore how time-bound renewable energy targets, backed by coherent policies and financing mechanisms, could unlock triple wins: cutting emissions, boosting economies and delivering real social benefits.
The report simulated three scenarios to assess outcomes for emissions, economic growth, and social progress.
In a business-as-usual scenario, the global energy system remains dependent on fossil fuels, accounting for over 50 per cent of primary energy by 2060.
This trajectory would push global warming to 2.6C, exacerbating poverty, malnutrition and lack of access to essential services like electricity, safe water and sanitation.
The second scenario considers accelerated renewable energy deployment aligned with the first Global Stocktake's call to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency.
In this future, fossil fuels would make up just 12 per cent of the energy mix by 2060, helping to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.
But it is the third and most ambitious scenario - where renewables are accelerated alongside investments in health, education, water and food systems - that yields the most transformative outcomes.
In this pathway, universal access to electricity and clean cooking is achieved, 142 million people are saved from malnutrition, and 550 million more people gain access to clean water and sanitation.
This study shows us that a clean energy future is possible - but we must choose to embed renewable ambition into climate plans linked to inclusive development policies, said Cassie Flynn, UNDP's Global Director of Climate Change.
In addition to its social impact, the study estimates the third scenario would generate $8.9 trillion in energy efficiency savings and $11.5 trillion from declining renewable costs, while boosting global GDP by 21 per cent and raising per capita income by $6,000 by 2060.
Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson highlighted the growth potential that clean energy can unlock.
Renewables can offer the chance to bring electricity to hundreds of millions of people, improving lives and driving growth, he said.
With renewable power capacity reaching 4,448 GW in 2025, accounting for over 90 per cent of new power additions and clean energy investments projected to hit a record $2.2 trillion, the momentum is strong.
Yet, fossil fuels still dominate, comprising over 70 per cent of the global supply.
In 2024 alone, fossil fuels accounted for more than half of the 2.2 per cent rise in energy demand, and energy efficiency growth halved from previous decades.
The imperative now falls to global leaders to embrace these strategies and act, said Jonathan Moyer, Director of the Pardee Institute.
This research shows it is possible to balance global development with environmental protection while managing the inherent trade-offs, Moyer said.
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Business Standard
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- Business Standard
Brain-eating amoeba in Kerala: How it spreads, early signs and prevention
In Kerala's Kozhikode district, a nine-year-old girl died recently, while a three-month-old baby and a 40-year-old man are currently battling for their lives. The reason - Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but nearly fatal brain infection. District Medical Officer KK Rajaram clarified on Monday that though the mortality of this rare infection is extremely high, it does not spread from person to person. However, with no single effective treatment available, awareness and prevention remain the key to avoid further infection. What is PAM and how does it occur? PAM, or primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, is a swift and deadly brain infection caused by the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri, often dubbed the 'brain-eating amoeba'. "Naegleria fowleri exists naturally in warm freshwater environments like lakes, rivers, ponds, and inadequately chlorinated or untreated swimming pools. It develops best in water temperatures ranging from 25 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, hence making tropical and subtropical areas more susceptible," said Dr Girishkumar Soni, who works with the Department of Neurology at Lilavati Hospital Mumbai. "The amoeba infects a person when infected water enters the nostrils, commonly while swimming, diving, or nasally rinsing with unsterilized water. It travels from the nasal cavity along the olfactory nerve to the brain, causing intense brain tissue inflammation. Infection is not through ingestion of infected water but is purely associated with nasal exposure," he added. What are the symptoms? "Since its discovery, only a few hundred cases of the disease have been documented, making it incredibly rare. Treatment is very challenging and it has a very high mortality rate, with over 90% of infected people dying. The younger population, including children and young adults, are more prone to this illness," said Dr Charudatt Vaity, director-critical care, Fortis Hospital Mulund. Symptoms of PAM include - Intense headache High fever Nausea, and vomiting Nasal discharge "These may then develop into more serious neurological symptoms like seizures, increased drowsiness, and altered behaviour. The individual may eventually go into a deep coma, which could result in death," added Dr Vaity. Challenges in treating PAM According to Dr Vaity, the main challenge in the treatment of PAM is that amoeba causes severe destruction of brain tissue and the majority of parasite medications are unable to effectively enter the brain. "The primary treatment tried is the antifungal Amphotericin B, which is occasionally taken with Rifampicin, a medication mainly used to treat tuberculosis. Although they are not proven treatments, they can be tried as a last resort. The absence of a single effective medication is the cause of the high death rate," he explained. "A variety of drugs, including amphotericin B, miltefosine, azithromycin, rifampicin, and fluconazole, have been administered in combination. Intravenous and intrathecal administration of amphotericin B is the treatment of choice," said Dr Soni. Diagnosis is frequently delayed due to the unfamiliarity of the disease. "The other big challenge is the time for diagnosis—when the disease is rare and has similar early symptoms to viral meningitis, there can be a significant delay in the start of specific therapy for the infection," said Dr Subhajit Pal, neurologist at the Calcutta Medical Research Institute. Role of climate change "Increased temperature and erratically timed rainfall have raised the incidence of Naegleria fowleri in freshwater. Stagnant warm water with inadequate chlorination is a favourable setting for the amoeba," said Dr Soni. Adding to the point, Dr Vaity said, "Warm, tropical climates like India's are favourable for the amoeba, increasing the risk of infection. Proper water management is very important in such an environment. Public or municipal swimming pools must be cleaned and maintained regularly, as this is where the illness can originate." "Good water treatment, sanitation, and safe recreational water practices are important to prevent risks of PAM," added Dr Pal. How are health authorities responding? The Kerala health department has escalated preventive measures: Chlorinating local wells and water bodies Issuing public advisories to avoid swimming or bathing in untreated freshwater Encouraging use of nose clips for swimming Implementing fever surveillance in affected areas Conducting water testing to prevent further exposure How can individuals and families stay safe? To reduce the risk of infection: Avoid swimming or bathing in warm, stagnant freshwater such as ponds or unchlorinated pools. Use well-maintained and properly chlorinated pools or water features, and nose clips. For nasal rinsing or ablutions, use only boiled (and cooled), distilled, or sterile water.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Planting trees in tropics may provide strongest returns in cooling planet: Study
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Business Standard
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Best of BS Opinion: India's journey through farms, courts, and climate
Like a sailboat on an open sea, it is the wind that gives both speed and direction. Without it, even the strongest vessel drifts. Sometimes the gusts are steady, filling the sails with promise, while sometimes forcing a constant hand on the ropes. Watching the play of winds is a reminder of how societies move, always adjusting to crosscurrents. Today's writeups capture that rhythm. Some show India catching favourable winds, others reveal how headwinds slow its journey, and a few remind us of the unseen currents that steer us whether we notice or not. Let's dive in. India's farm sector, once tethered to diesel pumps and erratic electricity, is beginning to find new wind in its sails through solar energy. Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, demand has surged, with loan sanctions rising 27 per cent to nearly Rs 47,453 crore in FY25. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy now plans Phase 2, with stronger financial support. Yet, the gust is uneven, notes our first editorial. Land aggregation hurdles and free state electricity blunt incentives. As with a sailboat adjusting ropes, India must align policies to harness solar power fully. But in the courts, the wind has stalled. Fast Track Special Courts, meant to deliver swift justice in rape and child sexual abuse cases, are themselves slowed by systemic drag. Delhi's FTSCs have cleared less than half their caseload, with POCSO trials stretching to five years. With 50 million cases pending nationwide, the judiciary struggles against headwinds of staff shortages, weak infrastructure, and overburdened forensic labs, highlights our second editorial. Without structural reform, these courts risk sailing without any breeze. Meanwhile, global climate negotiations, writes Nitin Desai, are another arena where the winds are shifting. At COP30 in Brazil, emerging economies like India face pressure despite their low per capita emissions. Meanwhile, developed nations sail on historical carbon debt yet demand others to row harder. With the world on track for a 2.6-2.8 degree Celsius rise, only stronger commitments from the wealthiest emitters can stop the climate boat from capsizing. Trade winds, too, are turbulent. Rajeswari Sengupta notes how US tariffs of 50 per cent on Indian goods risk undercutting investor confidence and supply chains. The answer lies not in retreat but in bold reforms and deeper global integration. Handled wisely, this shock could be the gale that redefines India's economic course. And then, a reminder from culture. In Meet the Savarnas: Indian Millennials Whose Mediocrity Broke Everything, reviewed by Amritesh Mukherjee, Ravikant Kisana unmasks caste privilege as the invisible wind shaping opportunity in India. Through institutions, marriages, and cinema, the breeze lifts some while holding others down. His 'glass floor' metaphor shows how exclusion is not just about ceilings but about who even gets to step on deck. Stay tuned!
