CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION (C-SPAC)
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An
electronic newsletter to promote sustainable consumption as depicted in the Chapter 4 of Agenda 21 of Rio Earth Summit, 1992
Issue4, December, 2002 |
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C
O N T E N T S EDITOR’S
NOTE EDITOR’S
NOTE
The
eighth Conference of Parties (COP8) under the United Nations Framework
Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) was hosted by India at New Delhi from
October 23 to November 1, 2002. Over 4000 delegates observers, and NGOs
participated in COP8. The Conference ended with the Delhi Declaration. The
declaration is available at the URLs http: www.unfccc.int
or www.envfor.nic.in The
Kyoto Protocol establishes a "double trigger" for entry into force.
The first trigger is ratification by 55 governments. This was met in 2002. The
second trigger is that the ratifying governments must include developed
countries representing at least 55 percent of that group's 1990 carbon dioxide
emissions. This means the success of the Protocol currently hinges on
ratification by Russia. India
has acceded the Kyoto Protocol in August 2002 immediately before the
commencement of the World Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg.
Although India does not have any binding commitment till 2012 but it is
crucial for India to look beyond Kyoto and to take a long-term and more
holistic view on climate change. Only then India would be in a position to
reap the benefits out the climate change treaty. Arjun
Dutta NEWS
ROUND UP
Instead
of releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, efforts are being made to
turn the greenhouse gas into petrol. If this is done, then power plants could
cut their emissions by recycling a large proportion of carbon dioxide they
produce. A researcher of Tokushima Industrial Technology Centre at Japan has
said that heavier hydrocarbon such as propane and butane can now be produced
at relatively low temperatures and pressures. It might also be possible to
make petrol. (TH,
2002.10.03) The
students of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras with the help of their
professors, recently constructed the world’s longest paper footbridge. The
bridge with a total length of 11m and a height of 5m was made entirely out of
1800 newspapers and 250m of manila rope. A cable-shaped bridge system was
adopted where the ropes take the load on the bridge. These ropes are supported
on top of the towers made of paper and hence transfer the load from the deck
to the towers. The final test was when more than 10 people (average weight of
65 kg) walked over the bridge one at a time with no single unit falling to
prove the strength of this ecofriendly paper bridge. (The
Hindu, 2002.12.26) Green
Bike launched in Shanghai At
a time when China is plagued by choking air pollution, the first environment
friendly, non-polluting, battery driven, electric bike launched in Shanghai is
ready for mass production. The bike equipped with zinc-air battery emits no
fuel waste even after being disposed. The zinc battery can provide power upto
0.2 kwh per kilogram meaning the bike would about four to five times that of
lead-acid battery ones. (The
Economic Times, 2002.12.26) Drought-resistant
rice could be a boon
A
team of scientists, led by researchers of Cornell University USA has created
genetically modified rice that is drought and salinity resistant. Ray J. Wu's
laboratory at Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has been
looking at the beneficial effects of trehalose, a sugar-like substance shown
to stabilise dehydrated enzymes, proteins and cell membranes. If the trehalose-enhancement
proves beneficial then the genetically modified pusa basmati rice can be used
as a "bridge parent" to transfer the necessary genes. More:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/11/26/stories/2002112600320900.htm
EVENT
REPORT
CoP8
Side Event
During
the 8th Conference of Parties (COP8) on Climate Change the CUTS-Centre for
Sustainable Production and Consumption organised a workshop titled “Impact
Of Unsustainable Production And Consumption Patterns On Climate Change: The
Role Of Consumer Groups” at the Indian Habitat Centre on October 24, 2002.
The workshop highlighted the impact of unsustainable production and
consumption patterns on climate change and the possible role consumer
organisations and consumers can play to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At
the workshop a South Asian partnership initiative titled "Network of
People and their representatives on atmospheric issues" was discussed. The
event attracted experts on climate change and other atmospheric issues,
representatives from government bodies, policy makers handling climate change
issues, consumer groups of India, other civil society representatives,
Business, Media, Academicians, and students. It was covered in three leading
dailies. More:
http://cuts-international.org/cspac-event.htm
PUBLICATIONS
Climate
Change And Kyoto Protocol:
Options Before South Asian
Countries Global
climate is becoming warmer. In the last century the average temperature had
increased by 0.6° C. In 1992, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
in its First Assessment Report indicated that emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs)
causing global warming would have devastating consequences for the entire
human race. In 1995, the Second Assessment Report IPCC had estimated the
temperature to increase by 1º
to 3.5º
C by 2100. In the Third Assessment Report
published in 2001, IPCC estimates the temperature rise between 1.4º
C and 5.8º
C by 2100. Hence, the situation is serious. New
evidences indicate that this global warming, especially in the last five
decades, is mainly attributable to anthropogenic activities. The warming
effect would make the warm areas even warmer and wet areas wetter. Heavy
storms and cyclones are anticipated to be more frequent. The most affected due
to this unwarranted increase in temperature will be the poor people in
developing countries and the small islands. The
briefing paper tries to elucidate the climate change phenomenon and the Kyoto
Protocol. It tries to show how unsustainable production and consumption are
responsible for climate change and its impacts. It also explains the features
of South Asian countries viz. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the impact of climate change on these countries and
the desired adaptation and mitigation options for these countries. FORTHCOMING
PUBLICATIONS
This
quarterly newsletter is published by CUTS to report and discuss developments
in relation to sustainable production and consumption globally. It covers
issues such as sustainable
production, climate watch, basic needs, affluence, energy issues, ozone watch,
environment, Adwatch, CSPAC Watch and Book watch. Annual
subscription: US$20/Rs. 150 Payments
will be accepted in demand drafts only drawn in favour of Consumer Unity
& Trust Society payable at Calcutta. CUTS
Centre for Sustainable Production & Consumption (CUTS-CSPAC) Materials
from this e-newsletter may be freely cited subject to proper attribution |
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