Latest news with #NationallyDetermined
Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India has seen 90% increase in electricity capacity over past decade, reaching 475 GW in 2025
Ministry of Power has highlighted Indias rapid progress in clean energy in recent years. It noted 90% increase in electricity capacity over the past decade, reaching 475 GW in 2025 and targeting 900 GW by 2032. India has now become the worlds third-largest producer of solar and wind energy and is marching fast towards achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The country has achieved a 20% ethanol blending milestone, advancing biofuel adoption and emissions reduction. Investing in smart grids, advanced metering infrastructure, and an expanded transmission network, including the Green Energy Corridor. India has set ambitious goals for green hydrogen and nuclear energy, including a 100 GW nuclear capacity target by 2047.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Sustainable farming practices can drive higher incomes and climate resilience
This transformation in Vallapuram emphasises the potential of innovative farming techniques to align agricultural productivity with climate action. As water availability dwindles and natural resources grow increasingly constrained, the need for sustainable agricultural practices becomes more urgent. For water-intensive crops like rice, innovative techniques such as DSR and advanced water management methods like AWD provide a sustainable pathway to conserve resources, enhance yields, optimise soil organic carbon management, and ensure long-term economic viability for farmers. Smallholder farmers are integral to sustainable agriculture, contributing to climate mitigation through soil carbon sequestration, methane reduction, and agroforestry. Techniques like AWD and DSR further enhance emission reductions while generating higher rice yields and incentives. Equipping these farmers with the necessary tools, knowledge, and market access is crucial to turning challenges into opportunities. As of 2022, Global agrifood systems emitted 16.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gt CO₂eq), marking a 10% increase since 2000, with rice farming being a significant source of methane. However, emerging technologies and sustainable farming methods offer pathways for emission reduction and farmer empowerment. Voluntary carbon markets, valued at $2.4 billion in 2023, highlight the growing recognition of nature-based solutions like sustainable agriculture as a key component in combating the climate crisis. Advanced farming resources, digital platforms, and market access initiatives are driving this shift by empowering farmers to adopt climate-smart practices. Additionally, deployment of advanced technologies like remote sensing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML), ensures transparent validation of carbon credits, enhancing market trust. Such innovations enable smallholder farmers to participate effectively in carbon markets, creating credible, high-quality credits that contribute to global climate goals. Carbon markets allow trading of carbon credits, each representing one tonne of CO₂ or equivalent reduced, sequestered, or avoided. Despite some progress, the world faces a formidable challenge. Developing countries like India will require up to $6 trillion by 2030 to finance less than half of their climate action goals (as listed in their Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs). To drive and finance the transformation needed to address the climate crisis, many countries are looking to carbon markets as part of the answer. India's leadership in the voluntary carbon market, with over 1,400 projects worth $1.2 billion, underscores the potential for scaling sustainable practices. However, challenges like fraudulent or low-quality credits threaten the integrity of these markets. Establishing robust certification standards and transparent verification mechanisms is essential to maintaining credibility and attracting both buyers and investors. Simplifying processes for farmers to register and participate in carbon credit programmes is critical. Aligning these initiatives with existing agricultural support schemes and providing financial and technical resources can further enhance their reach. Capacity-building efforts through training programs and awareness campaigns will also play a key role in educating farmers about sustainable practices that qualify for carbon credits. Unlocking the full potential of carbon markets for smallholder farmers requires a comprehensive policy framework. Simplifying registration processes, aligning programmes with agricultural support schemes, and introducing financial incentives are vital steps. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) can aggregate carbon credit projects, enhancing their scalability and market appeal. Policies that encourage the formation of cooperatives and provide technical assistance for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) processes are equally important. Leveraging digital platforms to connect farmers with carbon credit buyers can ensure transparency and ease of transactions. Mobile advisory services offering real-time guidance on sustainable practices, weather updates, and market conditions can further support farmers in their transition to eco-friendly methods. This article is authored by MV Ashok, former chief general manager, National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) and Suhas Joshi, head, The Good Rice Alliance, Bayer.
Daily News Egypt
10-04-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, Sweden explore enhanced cooperation on green transition, climate action
Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, met with Swedish Ambassador to Cairo, Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation on green transition efforts and climate change mitigation. The meeting was attended by Raouf Saad, Advisor to the Minister on Multilateral Agreements; Soha Taher, Head of the Central Department for International Cooperation and Climate Change; and Environmental Affairs Counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taghreed El-Gohary. Fouad praised the longstanding environmental partnership between Egypt and Sweden, expressing her ambition to deepen this cooperation in light of growing global challenges to sustainability. She reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to achieving a green transition despite economic and structural hurdles, highlighting that environmental policy now holds a key place in Egypt's national security and development agenda. This strategic shift, she noted, is embedded in the government's new program, which links environmental protection with sustainable economic growth. Fouad pointed to Egypt's achievements over the past decade in balancing development with environmental stewardship. She underscored the country's active role in global environmental governance, particularly through its leadership at major multilateral forums, including hosting the 2018 Biodiversity COP14—where the post-2030 global biodiversity roadmap was launched—and COP27 in 2022, which produced landmark outcomes for developing countries, especially in Africa. Egypt is also set to host the upcoming Barcelona Convention Conference, further demonstrating its continued commitment to international environmental collaboration. Fouad commended Sweden as a longstanding development partner and a key player in advancing global environmental efforts. The Minister emphasized the importance of technology in solving environmental challenges, calling for more affordable access to green technologies for developing nations. She identified technology transfer, private-sector involvement, and investment as essential to fast-tracking sustainable and scalable solutions. The two sides discussed areas of potential cooperation, including green investment opportunities in waste management—municipal, agricultural, medical, and electronic—supported by Egypt's legal and infrastructure frameworks. Other areas include carbon capture in the petroleum sector and industrial by-product reuse, with feasibility studies already completed. Ambassador Juhlin-Dannfelt lauded Egypt's progress in climate and environmental leadership, both domestically and globally. He highlighted Sweden's pioneering role in sustainability, noting that 99% of its waste is recycled or reused, and the country has made significant strides in electric vehicles and climate finance—including contributions to the Green Climate Fund. The ambassador also praised Egypt's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) developed in collaboration with the European Union. He expressed interest in introducing Swedish green technologies and private-sector expertise to the Egyptian market and cited Sweden's use of artificial intelligence and 5G networks to monitor mangrove health as examples of innovation in environmental monitoring. The meeting also included a discussion on supporting the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. Minister Fouad stressed the need to advance climate finance, activate the Loss and Damage Fund, and restore trust in multilateral climate negotiations. The meeting concluded with an agreement to organize a series of engagements between Swedish private-sector representatives and Egyptian stakeholders to identify promising green investment opportunities and promote innovation in climate and environmental solutions.
Voice of America
18-02-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
Japan approves new climate, energy and industry policies through 2040
Japan's government approved on Tuesday new targets to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions through 2040, alongside a revised energy plan and an updated industrial policy for the same period. The measures, which seek to bolster long-term policy stability for businesses, focus on promoting decarbonization, ensuring a stable energy supply and strengthening industrial capacity to drive economic growth. Under the new climate policy, Japan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035 and by 73% by 2040, extending its 2030 goal of a 46% cut. The emissions-cutting target sparked calls for deeper reductions from experts and ruling coalition members when it was first proposed, as the world's fifth-biggest carbon emitter struggles to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Despite more than 80% of 3,000 public comments supporting a more ambitious target, the environment and industry ministries finalized the goal without changes, citing prior deliberations by climate experts. As part of global efforts to combat climate change, Japan plans to submit its new target, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, to the United Nations this month. The revised energy policy aims for renewables to account for up to 50% of Japan's electricity mix by fiscal year 2040, with nuclear power contributing another 20% as the country pushes for clean energy while meeting rising power demand. Japanese utilities have struggled to restart nuclear reactors since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, limiting nuclear power to just 8.5% of Japan's electricity supply in 2023. The new energy plan removes the previous goal of minimizing reliance on nuclear and calls for building next-generation reactors. A new national strategy integrating decarbonization and industrial policy through 2040, aligned with the emission target and energy plan, was also approved by the cabinet. It aims to develop industrial clusters in areas rich in renewable energy, nuclear power, and other low-carbon power sources. However, uncertainties are emerging around Japan's policies, as the domestic offshore wind market, a key driver of renewable energy growth, faces headwinds from inflation and high costs, recently prompting Mitsubishi Corp to review three domestic projects.
Arab News
11-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Global policymakers, innovators gather in New Delhi for India Energy Week
New Delhi: Thousands of top industry executives, innovators and policymakers gathered in New Delhi on Tuesday for the India Energy Week 2025, where they will be discussing energy access and sustainability. More than 70,000 delegates, officials and visitors are expected to take part in the Indian government's flagship annual energy event, which over the next four days will feature 500 speakers, 700 exhibitors, and 10 national pavilions from countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia displaying their newest technology. Held at the Yashobhoomi convention center in New Delhi, the India Energy Week 2025 aims to spotlight energy access, security, and new global energy systems, in line with the South Asian giant's vision of energy transition. 'India's energy ambitions stand on five pillars: We have resources, which we are harnessing. Secondly, we are encouraging our brilliant minds to innovate. Thirdly, we have economic strength, political stability. Fourthly, India has strategic geography, which makes energy trade more attractive and easier. And fifthly, India is committed to global sustainability. This is creating new possibilities in India's energy sector,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a virtual address to the event's participants. 'The next two decades are very important for India's development. And in the next five years, we are going to cross many big milestones. Many of our energy goals are aligned with the 2030 deadline. We want to add 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Indian Railways has set a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Our goal is to produce 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen every year by 2030 ... What India has achieved in the last 10 years has given us the confidence that we will definitely achieve these targets.' India aims to generate 500 GW of electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, under its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement. Solar energy is the dominant contributor to its renewable energy growth, accounting for 47 percent of the total installed renewable energy capacity. The solar power sector has observed a 3,450 percent increase in capacity over the past decade, rising from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100 GW in January 2025, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The growth is fueled by local solar module production, which in 2014 had a capacity of only 2 GW. 'There is a lot of potential in India for manufacturing various types of hardware including PV modules. We are supporting local manufacturing,' Modi said. 'India's major focus is on Make in India and local supply chains.' Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who opened the India Energy Week, urged the participants to help chart a roadmap to stabilize energy markets and strengthen international cooperation. 'I am pleased that the event will see participation from more than 20 energy and other ministers, including deputies, from important stakeholders such as Qatar, UK, Russia, Brazil, Tanzania, and Venezuela,' he said. 'It is our fervent hope that the India Energy Week becomes the definitive platform for shaping the energy agenda of the future. This is where transformative partnerships shall take shape, where game-changing technologies are unveiled, and the future of energy is written.'
