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Showing posts with label Current Affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Current Affairs. Show all posts

The bone of contention


HindustanTimes.com
October 23, 2009
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Though a post-Kyoto agreement may not be reached at the COP15 meeting, it is to be seen whether the developed Annex I countries, which have emitted the major portion of the human-induced carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere, agree to cuts on greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Union, part of the Annex I countries, has displayed more willingness to take action to control climate change. However, the Umbrella Group nations, such as, the United States, Canada and Australia, have not played very cooperating role.

Particularly, the United States has refused to make binding commitments. They need major developing economies, such as India and China, to be included in an agreement.

The developing nations most actively represent the G-77 block and have indicated a willingness to cut omissions. Their demand is that the developed countries should take a leadership role.

They contend that early action only by developed countries will not be enough to prevent climate change.

Green bonus for saving forests

The Centre will give Himalayan states — from Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Sikkim in the Northeast — a “green bonus” from next fiscal for conserving forests that act as carbon sinks.

The environment ministry in August estimated that forests, which cover 25 per cent of the country’s area, could absorb up to 11 per cent of India’s green house gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

The “green bonus”, announced by Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday, will strengthen India’s proposal of seeking funds from the rich countries for conserving forests under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) at the Copenhagen climate change conference in December.

Till now, the mechanism enables developing countries to get fund for offsetting green house gas emissions through use of cleaner technologies.

“We may start with a small amount to begin with,” the minister said at end of a conclave of the Himalayan states.

“My concept is that the states which are conserving ecology... should be compensated.’’

The 13th Finance Commission will decide the amount of the bonus. It is expected to submit its report by December. It would be left to the states to distribute the “green bonus” to the stakeholders.