‘Countries should avoid using environment concerns to further their economic interests. One should not pass on green protectionism in the name of green economy,’ said Minister of State for Environment Jayanthi Natarajan while addressing Delhi Ministerial Dialogue on Green Economy and Inclusive Growth. The minister called for a ‘global consensus’ on a sustainable environment policy….
In probably the first significant policy decision under the new minister Jayanthi Natarajan, the ministry of environment and forests has sought to ‘simplify’ the processes that are followed for obtaining environmental and forest clearances. The move is aimed at removing roadblocks in major development projects including several national highways and industrial or mining projects that…
In a bid to fast-track highways projects, the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH) has asked the government to de-link environment and forest clearances for such projects. According to the ministry, it takes about 12-15 months to seek environment clearance, another 1 year to 2 years to get forest clearance, and over three years…
The Supreme Court has slammed the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) for outsourcing of the green report of an area to a project promoter seeking green clearances for the same area. The report creation is the job of the special officials of the ministry itself. The ministry had asked Nirma Ltd to prepare a…
Extensive mineral extraction, farming and deforestation, and unscientific construction of highways and railways by the Chinese have left the ecological balance of the Tibetan plateau vulnerable, the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala has stated in a report titled ‘A synthesis of recent science and Tibetan research on climate change’. According to the report, the temperature increase…
India will receive a loan of 200 million euros from the European Union to finance multiple private sector projects for the development of renewable energy resources. The loan will be made available by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to ICICI Bank, India’s largest private bank. It is intended to provide long-term funding for investments in…
Indian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to tap into the potential of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in locomotives, workshops, and factories. This will help Indian Railways to reduce diesel consumption, cut down on CO2, and make significant operational savings. According to a railway official, Indian Railways is…
Speaking at the inaugural session of InfraGreen’11 conference, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan stressed the need for creation of green infrastructure and focusing on sustainable development. ‘India has managed a good growth rate despite our various initiatives to combat climate change. While we focus on mitigation measures, poverty eradication and equity need to take centre stage. There…
‘The regulatory framework for environmental clearance of development projects needs urgent streamlining and reform. The environment cannot be protected by perpetuating poverty,’ said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Singh added that the central government will soon set up an independent regulatory body, the National Environment Appraisal and Monitoring Authority. It is expected that the authority’s work will…
A report published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington-based advocacy organization, provides a comprehensive assessment of 20 popular protein-packed foods and points to lamb, beef, pork, cheese, and farmed salmon as the protein-packed foods that take the largest toll on the environment. The group took into account the environmental impact of production, processing, transportation, cooking,…
