Cement Energy and Environment

recognized the progress made by India in respect to implementation of Article 6 of the Convention, through wide range of educational and outreach activities and a significant number of projects developed by intergovernmental, non governmental and community based organizations, and private and public sectors. Speaking on actions taken by India since Copenhagen, Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh stated that, India has announced to reduce emissions by 25 per cent by the year 2020 on a 2005 reference level, through proactive policies. He also added that 20,000 MW of solar power generating capacity will be set up by 2022, to diversify India's energy fuel mix, along with doubling the nuclear power in energy mix from 3 to 6 per cent in the next 10 years. This reinstated the commitment and focus on up scaling energy from renewable sources as highlighted in the DIREC (Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference) 2010. The next COP is scheduled to take place in South Africa , from 28 November to 9 December 2011. Courtesy: Renewable Energy Akshay Urja, December 2010, Vol.4, Pp 46-47 NETHERLANDS DROPS C0 2 STORAGE PLAN The Dutch government has dumped controversial plans of storing C0 2 underground in empty gas fields in northern parts of the Netherlands. Residents say the storage could raise health risks. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a process of removing C0 2 from fossil fuel power plants and storing it in underground reservoirs. It is a means of mitigating global warming. Scientists have raised doubts on the usefulness of the storage, citing dangers of leaks. Last year the Netherlands had axed plans to inject C0 2 under Barendrecht town following public anger. The authorities are now planning to store the C0 2 under the North Sea. Courtesy: Down to Earth, March 1-15, 2011 , P12. GLOBAL WARMING MAY ROB BASMATI OF ITS FRAGRANCE An experiment by Indian agrrculture scientists points to the enormous effect global warming could have on the fragrant basmati rice. Basmati ('the fragrant one' in Sanskrit), may lose not just its aroma, the famous long grains may get shorter, say scientists. Dr. H Pathak, principal investigator of Indian Agricultural Research Institute's Climate Change Challenge Programme, said that the Tarawari basmati grown in research fields in Delhi did not grow long enough and was not as fragrant as it should have been when cooked. He said global warming may be to blame for the disappointing basmati produced in the 2006/07 experiment. Temperatures that year crossed 26°C in September when the basmati flowers and , 15 to 20 days later, when the grain begins to fill out, because of which a shrivelling of the grain was seen. The extra heat, he said, prevented the food stored by the plant from travelling to the grain. Consequently, it failed to grow to the right length. The heat also destroyed fatty acids stored in the grain which give the basmati its distinct fragrance when cooked. Courtesy: TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) Newswire, 16-31 January2011, P16. PLANTS TURN WATER HOARDERS The rising atmospheri c carbon dioxide has forced the plants to change their structure. Comparing a variety of contemporary plants growing in Florida with museum samples and peat bogs dating back 150 years , ecologists found that as the amount of carbon dioxide increased, the number of pores called stomata on plants' leaves Plants in Florida now have fewer stomata than their ancestors decreased. They see the change as a response to tackle dry times ahead. Plants breathe in air and breathe out moisture through stomata. Fewer stomata means less water released. They predict further increase in carbon dioxide will halve the water loss. Courtesy: Down to Earth, 1-15April 2011, P38 14