Energy Efficiency & Environment including Circular Economy
Relevant, Faster and Better-Quality Standards Key for Achieving SDGs
On World Standards Day, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) organized a day-long event on the theme of ‘Shared Vision for a Better World’ Standards for Sustainable Development Goals. Minister of State (MoS) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, pressed on the significance of environmental sustainability through standardization. He emphasized on the importance of MSME sector in India and how the implementation of standards facilitate access to national and international markets. He spoke on the critical role that standards play in ensuring the integration of diverse technologies and interoperability of innovations required for propelling smart cities of the future.
Fiscal sops, stricter rules in the works to back circular economy
It has been reported that India is eyeing a slew of measures, including fiscal incentives and stricter regulations, as part of the framework being firmed up to encourage a circular economy. Extended producer liability in 11 sectors or products and a refund option for products after use besides some other fiscal sops could be introduced to aid the switch to circular economy from a linear one. The 11 sectors include scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous), lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, tyre and rubber recycling, gypsum, end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), electronic waste, toxic and hazardous industrial waste, municipal solid waste and liquid waste, agriculture waste, used oil waste (generated from tools and machines) and solar panels, the company said.
India to impose minimum level of green energy use by industries
India is proposing tweaks in its laws to make it mandatory for industrial units to use a minimum share of green energy in overall electricity consumption as the country seeks to move away from fossil fuels and fight climate change. Proposed amendments will facilitate the development of a carbon market in India besides prescribing a minimum consumption of renewable energy for industrial units, the government said in a statement Saturday. “The objective will be to enhance demand for renewable energy at the end-use sectors such as industry, buildings, transport,” and others, India’s ministry of power said in the statement, add adding that this may also facilitate the use of “green hydrogen” as an alternate to the existing fossil fuels. Carbon saving certificates will also be given to spur companies toward clean energy sources. The statement did not specify the minimum use percentage that the government is planning to mandate.
India targets net zero emissions by 2070
India's prime minister on Monday used the COP26 climate talks to announce 2070 as the target for his country to reach net zero carbon emissions, two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. Prime Minister defended India, however, as having stuck to its climate pledges "in spirit and "in spirit and letter" and noted that his country contained 17% of the world's population but was responsible for only 5% of global emissions.
India, Italy to collaborate on green hydrogen, gas sector
India and Italy have agreed to explore development of green hydrogen, setting up renewable energy corridors, and joint projects in the natural gas sector as the two nations sought to strengthen partnership in energy transition. They agreed to "initiate a dialogue to support the development and deployment of green hydrogen and related technologies in India" as well as to "consider working together to support a large size green corridor project in India to capitalize on India's target to produce and integrate 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
Ministry of Environment, forest and Climate Change released following notifications:
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Disposal of e-waste – defunct/obsolete computer hardware, peripherals and office equipment
Regulation on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.