Latest news with #TheClimateEconomy
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
The changing economies of cocoa
In this episode of The Climate Economy, Kunal Shankar explores how climate change is disrupting the $15.2 billion cocoa industry. From West Africa's declining crop yields to price spikes and labour shortages, cocoa has become one of the most volatile global commodities. With increasing droughts, exploitation of farmers, and the rise of synthetic substitutes, the future of chocolate is uncertain. Tune in to understand why cocoa is a climate crisis bellwether — and what it means for the global economy. Presentation: Kunal Shankar Script: P. Jaisakthi Jothi Camera: Thamodharan B Editing: Aniket Singh Chauhan
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
How ceiling fans could aid in mitigating climate change?
Ceiling fans are a staple in almost every Indian home, but most of them are shockingly inefficient. In this episode of The Climate Economy, host Kunal Shankar uncovers how replacing conventional fans with energy-efficient BLDC (Brushless Direct Current) models could save up to 15% on individual electricity bills and slash India's national power demand by nearly 5%. To understand the issue better, we speak with Vishal Kapoor, CEO of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), about the massive untapped potential of fan replacement, the behavioural and market barriers holding consumers back, and how smarter policies, subsidies, and innovations like IoT-enabled fans could change the game. This episode dives into the intersection of everyday appliances, climate goals, and economic opportunity. Host: Kunal Shankar Editing: Aniket SIngh Chauhan Camera: Johan Sathyadas, Sabika Syed and Vishnoo Jotshi
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Revisiting Passive Cooling
As Indian cities battle intensifying heatwaves, can we cool our homes and buildings without ramping up electricity use? In this episode of The Climate Economy from The Hindu, host Kunal Shankar explores the science and solutions behind passive cooling—an age-old yet futuristic way to keep spaces comfortable using design, materials, and nature itself. From the Urban Heat Island Effect to innovative architectural solutions like double-skin facades, desiccant cooling, PDRC, and thermal mass materials, we look at how buildings can be part of the climate solution rather than the problem. Featuring global and Indian case studies—from Zimbabwe's termite-inspired EastGate Centre to Delhi's CoolAnt Beehive and Milan's Bosco Verticale—this episode showcases the power of climate-adaptive architecture. Presentation: Kunal Shankar Editing: Aniket Singh Chauhan Script: P Jaisakthi Jothi Video: Johan Sathya Das
