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This
is the second issue of Chapter 4, a newsletter of the CUTS Centre for
Sustainable Production and Consumption. As the name suggests this e-newsletter
is dedicated to changing consumption patterns. This issue has been slightly
modified. We have divided the e-newsletter into four different sections,
namely- Atmospheric issues, Environmentally Sound Technologies, Recent events
and Forthcoming publications of CSPAC. We are carrying two stories on
atmospheric issues, three stories related to environmentally sound
technologies, information on two of our recent events and three forthcoming
publications.
On
a different note, preparations for the next World Sustainable Development
Summit (WSDS) to be held at Johannesburg in September 2002 have begun. We
would like to inform readers that the first meeting of the Preparatory
Committee (Prep Comm) for the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held
at New York from 30 April to 2 May 2001.
At
the Organisational Session of the first Prep Comm five decisions were
discussed:
Decision1:
Progress in the preparatory activities at the national, regional and
international levels as well as major groups
Decision2:
Decision on specific modalities of future sessions of the Preparatory
Committee
Decision3:
Tentative organisation of work during the World Summit on Sustainable
Development
Decision4:
Provisional Rules of Procedure of the World Summit for Sustainable Development
Decision5:
Arrangements for accreditation and participation in the preparatory process
and in the Summit of relevant non-governmental organisations and other major
groups
We
would certainly appreciate if readers could find out and keep us updated with
information they have on the preparatory activities at their local and
national level.
For
information on WSDS visit: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org
Happy
reading and comments are most welcome!
Editor
ATMOSPHERIC
ISSUES
The
World’s oceans are considered as the “memory” of the Earth’s climate
system. Two new modeling studies based on deep ocean temperature measurements
show that global warming has extended to the world’s oceans. The temperature
measurements were compiled for the period between 1948 and 1995.
According
to Tim Barnett of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and lead author of one
of the studies made by the US Energy Department and the National Science
Foundation, warming in the oceans is bad news and good news. It is bad news
because it adds strength to the claim that global warming is reality. It is
good news because warming of the oceans will dampen the predicted increase of
air temperature. Some studies had predicted that air temperature would
increase at a higher rate than they actually have and this difference is
attributable to rise is ocean temperature.
Sydney
Levitus of National Oceanography Data Centre and lead author of the second
study said that their results represents the strongest evidence to date that
Earth’s climate is changing to human induced changes.
An
earlier “Science” study postulates that the Pacific, Atlantic, Artic,
Antarctic oceans, which cover 72 per cent of the Earth’s surface have
collectively warmed at an average of 0.06 degrees Celsius since 1995.
(Source:
Times of India April 14, 2001)
(Source:
Robert Cooke, Times of India March 8, 2001)
ENVIRONMENTALLY
SOUND TECHNOLOGIES
Eco-friendly
technology transfer sought by India
(Source:
Press Trust of India, April 20, 2001)
Eco-friendly
cycle rickshaw
Institute
of Transport Development, New York, Asian Institute of Transport Development,
Delhi and the instrument design department of IIT, Delhi has literally changed
the life of 800 rickshaw pullers in Agra, 400 in Vrindavan and Mathura and 200
in Delhi, all places in India. They have developed an eco-friendly cycle
rickshaw, which weighs only 55 kg.
The
new rickshaw is a good 40 kg less than the conventional one. It has a gear
system, it is easy to pedal, comfortable to ride and guaranteed to reduce
fatigue meaning it will reduce the rickshaw pullers strain to almost half and
allow him to carry more passengers. The modern cycle rickshaw costs around
Rs4000 and is available on installments.
Today
when the world is facing severe oil shortages and the pollution level has
risen to hazardous levels, it is indeed a modest yet applaudable beginning to
modify and promote a truly eco-friendly vehicle like the cycle rickshaw.
(Source:
Times of India, April 9, 2001)
Clean
diesel better for buses
Tata
Energy Research Institute (TERI) has proposed that the government need to tap
other fuel sources like ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD) as an alternative to
the much-brandised CNG to resolve rising vehicular pollution. ULSD has 0.005
per cent sulphur and gasohol (mixture of alcohol and petrol).
According
to R K Pachauri, of TERI, ULSD is a better option. Although ULSD would have to
be imported it still works out cheaper than a total switch over to CNG. TERI
estimated about INR 375 crore to put 10000 CNG buses and another INR 150 crore
to set up a network to distribute CNG at 100 dispensing units. Even this
network becomes operational CNG buses would continue to run up higher fuel
bills at INR 4.40 per km compared to INR 2.88 for ULSD.
(Source:
The Financial Express, March 27, 2001)
INFORMATION
ON RECENT EVENTS
CUTS
have been promoting 'good' advertising and condemning bad advertising in
India. CUTS has been identifying and documenting bad (misleading/dud)
advertising which promotes over-consumption or unsustainable consumption or
misleads the consumer in other ways and also testing environmental claims made
through advertising against the ISO 14021 guidelines.
CUTS
organised the above side event on 26th April 2001 during the 9th
session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.
Discussions took place on advertising and its linkage with sustainable
production and consumption, ISO 14000 standards and Ecolabels, Green ads and
whether they are telling the truth with cases from India and the role of
information technology to contribute to 'good' advertising practices.
After
discussions it was felt that many organisations are maintaining double
standards, deliberately misinterpreting the ISO 14000 standards and taking
consumers for a ride in the name of environment friendliness. Increase
consumer awareness on this issue was recommended.
South
Asian Consultation on Atmospheric issues
The
objective of the South Asian Consultation organised by
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Consumer Unity & Trust
Society (CUTS) and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment
(SAWTEE) at New Delhi on 10-11 May 2001 was to
find out how five South Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have responded to atmospheric issues like ozone
depletion and climate change.
Each
of these countries have made certain commitments to phase out ODS (Ozone
Depleting Substance) under the Montreal Protocol in several sectors like the
refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. The Consultation also took stock of
how much these commitments have been fulfilled till date and the initiatives
taken by each these countries in reduction of emission of greenhouse gas under
the Kyoto Protocol.
The
South Asian Consultation drew several representatives including Members of
Parliament, National Ozone Unit officials, academicia and environmental groups
from five South Asian countries Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka. All the participating Parliamentarians unanimously agreed to form
caucus to address atmospheric issues.
FORTHCOMING
PUBLICATIONS
Monograph:
Quest
for a Better Environment-
CUTS has been
actively involved with information dissemination, awareness building and
lobbying with industry and government to bring in environment friendly
refrigerator technology in India, better known as ‘Ecofrig’. In course of
work, CUTS found that four multinational companies were practicing double
standards when it came to manufacture and sale of refrigerators in India.
These companies while manufacturing and selling environment friendly Ecofrigs
in Europe and certain parts of South America were supplying
environment-unfriendly hydro-fluoro-carbon (HFC) refrigerators to India. In an
effort to hit these double standards, CUTS organised a series of campaigns in
2000 in several parts of India. The monograph carries information about these
events and also suggests what is still required.
Newsletters:
EcoConsumer,
Issue 1, 2001-This
quarterly newsletter is published by CUTS to report and discuss developments
in relation to sustainable consumption globally. It covers issues such as
global warming, environment friendly technologies and products, eco-labeling
and a host of related topics, including Ecofrig i.e. environmentally friendly
refrigerator and also reports initiatives taken by various countries to meet
the objectives of the Montreal Protocol on the Protection of Ozone Layer, 1987
and the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, 1998.
Annual
subscription: US$15/Rs.50.
For
additional information please contact: Rajat
Chaudhuri/Arjun
Dutta
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