CEE Jul-Sep-2012

- J will lead to social stress. A diversion of mere 2% of present generation of electricity is sufficient to meet the life line consumption of the 30kWh per month per household of the 30 crore-odd unelectrified households in the country. The reduction in welfare of the rich by cutting their consumption by 2% or even 4% would be minimal while the increase in welfare of 30 crore households would be phenomenal. The way to go is to push the services sector which consumes about one-tenth of the electricity in comparison to manufacturing. This often countered by arguing that services such as transport are predicted of manufacturing. It is contended that growth in the services sector implies growth in manufacturing sector. This is not wholly correct. The services sector should be separated between the stand-alone services such as education, movies, and music; and supportive services such as transport. Focus on stand-alone services would enable us to increase our overall standard of living without requiring much increase in manufacturing. The Central Electricity Authority is currently engaged in the exercise of making National Electricity Plan as mandated under Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Authority feels constrained to take this aspect into account because it is required to make the plan in accordance with the National Electricity Policy which follows the one– sided supply-side approach of increasing generation. However, the Section 3(1) of the Act requires the Government to make the Electricity Policy in consultation with the Central Electricity Authority. Therefore, there is a two-exchange between the Government and Authority is envisaged . The Authority will do a great service to the nation by bringing demand-side solution into focus in making the National Electricity Plan. Courtesy: TERRAGEEN, August 2012, Pp38-40. Environment Protection &Resource Management CEMENT MAJORS SIGN GLOBAL PACT TO CUT CARBON EMISSION Indian cement majors- ACC Ltd, Shree Cement Ltd and Ultratech- have signed a co-operation pact to support low-carbon investments in India. The pact was signed in Geneva with member companies of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's (WBCSD) Cement Sustainability Initiative and International Finance Corporation (IFC). Under the pact, a Low Carbon Technology Roadmap for the Indian cement industry is to be launched this year-end. "This will be the first road map to focus on one specific industrial sector in a single country," a WEC release said. The road map will outline a possible transition path for the cement industry to reduce its direct emissions by 18 per cent by 2050. Ramesh Ramanathan, Manager, (Manufacturing, Agri Business and Services), IFC South Asia said: "While public policy responses are critical in addressing climate change, the private sector also plays a leading role in providing innovative business solutions. We view the roadmap project as a unique initiative to share best practices in sustainability." Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line, NewDelhi, 08.08. 2012 GREEN ECONOMY COULD MEAN MILLIONS OF JOBS: UN REPORT According to a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Working towards sustainable development: opportunities for decent work and social inclusion in a green economy - tens of millions of new jobs can be created around the world in the next two decades if green policies are put in place to switch the high– carbon economy to low-carbon. Achim Steiner, executive director of UNEP, said , "The findings underline that (the green economy) can include million more people in terms of overcoming poverty and delivering improved livelihood for this and future generations." Apart from generating net new gains in the number of jobs, the switch to a green economy could help to lift millions of people out of poverty. In the US, there are now about three million "green jobs", in sectors such as wind power and energy efficiency, the study found. Women could also benefit it could provide them with better access to jobs and higher incomes. Courtesy: TERRAGREEN, JULY 2012, P6. 24