Climate Change Community

CCoommmmuunniittyy UUppddaattee No. 35: 1st November, 2012 In this Issue |From the Resource Person | Development in the Sector | Member Postings |Special Event |Job Vacancies | Selected

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FROM THE RESOURCE PERSON Dear Members, Greetings from the Climate Change Community!! I hope you are thoroughly enjoying the festive season that commenced about a week ago and will last

for another two weeks. However, during this festive season, please look after the surrounding environment as it is the only planet that supports life in the entire solar system. At all cost we need to

protect this ecosystem so that all species can co-exist in harmony with nature. I know, during the festive

season there is a temptation to visit relatives. However, in order to conserve fuel and save the environment from further global warming, please try to restrict driving your cars around to the maximum

extent possible. I think if we all try, we can make a difference. You are all making I significant contributions n the development sector, particularly in the area of climate change and it is our

responsibility to ensure sustainable development not only in our country but throughout the world by doing our bit. It was indeed a matter of national pride that the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in India in the city of Hyderabad , India, from 8 to 19

October 2012. COP 11 included a high-level ministerial segment organized by India in consultation with the Secretariat and the Bureau. The high-level segment took place from 17 to 19 October 2012. This

meeting took place during the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) as declared by the United

Nations General Assembly which will serve to support and promote implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Its goal is to mainstream biodiversity

at different levels. Throughout the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, governments are encouraged to develop, implement and communicate the results of national strategies for implementation of the

Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. We shared with you the highlights of CoP-11 of the Convention on

Biological Diversity (CBD) from time to time. The summary is given below:

Much of the COP 11 negotiations revolved around practical and financial support for countries in

implementing national biodiversity plans to meet the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the 2020

Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

Reviewing the global progress in implementing such measures, the COP which concluded on 19th

October, 2012 night , reaffirmed the need for enhanced technical and scientific cooperation

among countries, while underlining the potential for enhanced cooperation among developing

countries.

To support such efforts, a new National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans Forum (NBSAP

Forum) was launch at COP11 by UNEP, CBD, The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the UN

Development Programme (UNDP).

The online forum provides easy-to-access, targeted information such as best practices, guidelines

and learning tools for countries.

UNEP's Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Initiative also presented a series of

practical guides for governments at COP 11 for integrating the economic, social and cultural

value of ecosystems into national biodiversity plans

We would be eager to know from each of you, whether, the climate change information and knowledge

sharing resources currently available through the climate change community of practice is actually

helping you to take better decisions. What challenges do you face in accessing and applying these knowledge resources and what needs do you have that aren‟t being met? Based on your response, we will undertake a study, “From Knowledge to Action: Understanding

the Needs of Climate Change Practitioners,” to answer some of these questions. Thanks & best regards, Ramesh Kumar Jalan Resource Person & Moderator Climate Change Community, Solution Exchange-India

Ramesh K. Jalan, Resource Person and Moderator, Climate Change Community, Solution

Exchange, UNDP

DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT IINN TTHHEE SSEECCTTOORR

Are we in for a global catastrophe?

Going by the series of pictures that

follow it sadly seems so.

An aerial view shows a single tree seen on land that was previously jungle in Mato Grosso state, one of the Brazilian states suffering from deforestation.

(http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/green/global-

warming#image=1 )

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, in the midst of their ICESCAPE mission, retrieves supplies for some mid-mission fixes dropped by parachute from a C-130 in the Arctic Ocean in this July 12, 2011 NASA handout photo obtained by Reuters June 11, 2011. Scientists punched through the sea ice to find waters richer in phytoplankton than any other region on earth. Phytoplankton, the base component of the marine food chain, were thought to grow in the Arctic Ocean only after sea ice had retreated for the summer. Scientists

now think that the thinning Arctic ice is allowing sunlight to reach the waters under the sea ice, catalyzing the plant blooms where they had never been observed. (http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/green/global-warming#image=2 )

A male polar bear carries the head of a

polar bear cub it killed and cannibalized in an area about 300

km (186 miles) north of the Canadian town of Churchill in this November 2009 photo. Climate change has turned some polar bears into cannibals as global warming melts their Arctic ice hunting grounds, reducing the polar bear population, according to a U.S.-led global scientific study on the impacts of climate change.

(http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/green/global-warming#image=6 )

Smoke bellows from the chimneys of Belchatow Power Station, Europe's largest biggest coal-fired power plant, in this May 2009 file photo. The lignite-fired power plant in Belchatow, European Union's biggest polluter, will need to buy up to 20 million tonnes of CO2 emission permits by 2013, its chief Jacek Kaczorowski told Reuters on August 2009. The plant released the equivalent of nearly 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere last year, topping by 4 million tonnes its EU-set ceiling as part of the bloc's attempts to curb global warming. (http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/green/global-

warming#image=7 )

A home is seen protected from

encroaching floodwaters by a levee near Yazoo City, Mississippi in this May 2011 photo. Floodwater released from a key Mississippi River spillway had surged through the Louisiana bayou some days back,

and levees protecting the state's two biggest cities held as river flows neared their peak. Weeks of heavy rains and runoff from an unusually snowy winter caused the Mississippi River to rise, flooding thousands of homes and 3 million acres (1.2

million hectares) of farmland in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas and evoking comparisons to historic floods in 1927 and 1937.

(http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/green/global-warming#image=8 )

A general view shows a coal-burning power station at night in Xiangfan, Hubei province in this September 2009 photo. China needs huge flows of clean technology investment to maintain hope of keeping greenhouse gas emissions below levels that could help push the planet deep into dangerous global warming, according to energy experts in Beijing. (http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/green/global-

warming#image=10 )

Dead fish float on the waters of Nageen Lake in Srinagar in this August 2012 photo. Thousands of dead fish were found floating on the lake due to depletion of oxygen and the fluctuation of water temperature, according to local media. (http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/green/global-

warming#image=14 )

MEMBER POSTINGS

Workshops and Conferences Upcoming:

3 Days workshop based on ISO 22301, 4th day (Fundamentals of ISO 22301 – Societal Security –

Business Continuity Management Systems) is free

(conditionally), is being held in Gurgaon from 5th-8th November 2012. Full details available from : info@continuityandresilience.com or directly from

Daman: d.sood@continuityandresilience.com . Daman

himself will be the trainer. The scope of the standard is more than BCM (Business Continuity Management)

and actually helps one to „protect all assets‟ –hence the relevance to this community. MANAGEMENT CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs,

which has been awarded the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund by the US Government. The

programme is funded by U.S. Government through Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund and hosted by

BNHS. The project entails engagement of 10

Fulbright fellows with expertise and experience & spread across the country. The year- long programme intends to train 250

employees from 125 environmental NGOs across the

country. The programme includes three-day management workshops followed mentoring phase

and concluding with a two-day follow up workshop. All participating eNGOs will be enrolled on a network

that will provide continued technical support to the

participants by the regional Fulbright Alumni. The Workshops are being planned in the 4 regions of the country so as to cover the number

of environmental NGOs. The workshop in Mumbai & Shillong has already been held. The Delhi workshop is being scheduled for the 6-8 November 2012 at the American Centre, New

SPECIAL EVENT

India Development Coalition of America

(www.idc-america.org, info@idc-

america.org)

Inform, Inspire, Impact India! Working Together for

Poverty Eradication and Climate Change Mitigation in India

IDCA aims to help eradicate poverty, by improving and promoting education,

healthcare, livelihoods, social harmony, environmental protection, and renewable energy

to mitigate climate change in India. We do this by promoting networking, collaboration, learning, giving, and volunteering both in the US and India to support our member and partner organizations.

IDCA is a not-for-profit organization registered in

the state of Illinois since 2004. We obtained our 501 (c) (3) tax exemption status in 2005 from

the U. S. Internal service. We have been

Delhi. Swayamprabha Das (earthnsoul@gmail.com ) is

the Regional Coordinator- North for this project and

will be facilitating the Delhi workshop (6-8 Nov) along

with Dr. Vandana Tyagi (Humphrey Fellow- 2007-08). Your support and encouragement is solicited to

spread the message to environment NGOs in the

region covering the states of Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu

& Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh. Request you to please share this widely within your

networks and with organisations that you think will

be able to benefit. The last date for receiving application forms has been extended to 01 November, 2012. Please Click here for Project Blog/ Facebook

Page/ Project Website. Concluded:

Coordinated Climate Proofing Efforts In Indian Himalayan Region: Workshop Concludes A two days stakeholders workshop that was attended by over 130 stakeholders from 37 different institutes of 12 Indian Himalayan states, representatives of 7 State Governments, 27 Experts from various national and State level institutions, members of DST‟s Expert and Steering committees, representatives of NGOs/Civil Society organizations, Senior officers of Central Ministries concluded at CSIR- Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology, Palampur on 6-7 October, 2012.The workshop concluded with the decision to establish a live portal for NMSHE (National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem) with nodal points in states in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), set up about 100-120 doctoral fellowships and studentships for work on programmes of direct interest to state action plans and NMSHE, convene a meeting of 10-12

engaged since 2004 in promoting sustainable

development in India to eradicate poverty and minimize damage to our environment. Date: October 6-7, 2012; 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM (Oct. 6); 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Oct. 7) at

the Illinois Institute of Technology, Rice

Campus, Wheaton, IL, USA Inaugural Session

Mr. Jay Sehgal Executive Vice President,

The Sehgal Family Foundation, Des

Moines, Iowa Professor Ashok Malhotra, Founder/

President Ninash Foundation, Onenta,

NY Panel on Water and Livelihoods:

Mr. Ram Krishnan, President, Akash

Ganga Trust, St. Paul, MN Professor Sree N. Sreenath, President,

Sewa International, USA, Cleveland, OH Ms. Rajasvini Bhansali, Executive

Director, International Development Exchange (IDEX), San Francisco, CA

Mr. Manoj Bhargaw, Director, Adarsh

Mahila Grah Udyog, Latur, Maharashtra/ Gurnee, IL

Panel on Education:

Dr. Molly Smith, Executive Director,

Pratham, USA, Houston, Texas Ms. Parul Seth, Founder, Executive

Director and Managing Trustee, Shaishav

Child Rights, Bhavnagar, Gujarat Mr. Jayant Hardikar: Founder/president,

Himalayan Education Foundation, NH Dr. Terry Papneja, president, AIM fo

Seva, Toronto, Canada Panel on Healthcare:

Dr. Madan Roy, president, Canadian

Association of Physicians of Indian

Heritage, Toronto, Canada Dr. Abul Sharah, International Village

Clinic, Minneapolis, MN, Dr. Kushroo

Patel, Director, Gram Seva Foundation, North Brook, IL

Dr. Munish Raizada, President, Mother

and Infant Foundation, Chicago Panel on Climate Change:

Dr. Ramesh Jalan, Resource Person

knowledge institutions in the region and develop 10-year programme with defined and time bound actions and deliverables, work on some standalone projects based on the recommendations of the expert group, establish a mechanism for supporting state climate cells for core staff, observations and data generation with a reporting system, coordinated actions with enrolled knowledge institutions and community based organizations. Link:

http://chimalaya.org/2012/10/08/coordinated-

climate-proofing-efforts-in-indian-himalayan-

region-workshop-concludes/

The Cities for Life summit brought to Hyderabad more than 500 participants, from 45 different countries across the globe, representing over 150 cities and sub-national governments who, together with experts and delegates from UN agencies, NGOs and business had the opportunity to network and learn during the 9 sessions and 2 study visits on 15 and 16 October. Conference outcomes Ending on a high note, the Cities for Life Summit concluded with the Hyderabad

Declaration, a pledge by the mayors and

governors of local and sub-national

and Moderator, Climate Change

Community, UNDP, New Delhi (Keynote speaker)

Dr. George P. Nassos, President, George

P. Nassos Associates, Chicago Dr. Sailesh Rao, Executive Director,

Climate Healers, CA/AZ Mr. Chaitanya Kalevar, President, Just 1

World, Toronto, Canada

My presentation at the International

Conference on the Importance of

Knowledge Sharing and Documenting Traditional / Indigenous Knowledge for

Mitigating the Adverse Impact of Climate Change in India highlighted the following

issues: •Climate Change Community has been a

platform for exchange of tacit knowledge

on climate change mitigation and adaptation since July 2009. •Through its query response service it has

solicited responses to 77 queries and

captured the knowledge in the form of Consolidated Replies (CRs). •The presentation highlights information

regarding innovative initiatives by practitioners and organizations for climate

change mitigation in India shared through

the platform. •Details of Solar Field Mate, Chakra Pedal Generator that utilizes the pedal dynamo

technology for meeting lighting needs,

small scale hydro, biomass, wind power plants for meeting energy requirement of

local communities, efficient cookstoves etc. was shared. •Innovative interventions by NGOs and CBOs contributing to climate change

mitigation for example the trees for credit program that promoted afforestation

through incentives for microfinance, the setting up of small scale renewable energy

power plants were shared. •Measures through which indigenous

communities have utilized traditional knowledge to assess their vulnerability and

adapt to climate change were highlighted.

authorities to develop and implement local strategies towards the Plan of Action on Sub national Governments, Cities and Local Authorities for Biodiversity; and to achieve the twenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The Declaration was presented during the High Level Segment Closing Plenary by an ICLEI representative on behalf of Local Governments and Subnational Authorities. Signifying another breakthrough for local governments, the Parties adopted on 19 October Decision XI/8 on “Engagement of other stakeholders, major groups and subnational authorities: A. Subnational governments, cities and other local authorities for biodiversity” that, among other things, “Takes note of the Cities for Life summit…”, “Invites Parties and other Governments to develop, with their local and subnational governments, guidelines and capacity-building initiatives to develop, enhance or adapt local and subnational biodiversity strategies and action plans…” and “ Invites Parties, development organizations and other donors to support initiatives by networks of local and subnational governments that complement the Plan of Action and contribute directly to Parties‟ achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets…”. To read the full text, see page 59 of this document: COP

11 (draft) decisions.

To cement a long history of working together, ICLEI and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) signed a MoU to

work towards mobilising local governments to take action on biodiversity. Two landmark initiatives launched at the summit were the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook: the first global assessment of the links between urbanization, biodiversity and

•In addition traditional practices that contribute to climate change mitigation as

well were mentioned. •The members of the community have

shared inputs for improving the policies of government to promote renewable energy,

energy efficiency, managing impact of extreme weather events, natural disasters

through involvement of all stakeholders were highlighted in the presentation. •In conclusion an approach for utilization of the tacit knowledge for climate change

mitigation in India was shared through the presentation.

ecosystem services; and the Cities in Biodiversity Hotspots programme, a ten-year global initiative seeking to provide over 250 cities located in and around the 35 biodiversity hotspots of the world with a platform to take action on biodiversity. Ten cities, from Indian and the region, signed up for the newly inaugurated LAB

India programme, which seeks to gear Indian cities towards the better conservation and management of biodiversity. Finally, the Hyderabad City Biodiversity Index, also launched at the summit, makes Hyderabad the first Indian city to have assessed the level of biodiversity in their city on the CBD-endorsed City Biodiversity Index (Singapore Biodiversity Index).

Announcements

Study- Community Adaption Practices In Uttarakhand Himalayas Of India: Case Study The Hindu-Kush Himalayas (HKH) is one of the most diverse ecological regions in the

world. Stretching from Afghanistan to Myanmar, the mountainous region encompasses

the world‟s highest peaks, 30% of the world‟s glaciers[1], and provides between 1.3-1.8

billion[2] people with water and other natural resources. The Western Indian Himalayas

are the segment of the Hindu Kush Mountains located in western India. They

encompass three states, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu Kashmir.

Uttarakhand, the newest of the three, was formed in 2000 when it split with Uttar

Pradesh in a quest for autonomy and political independence. In all three states,

somewhere between 70-80% of the population is involved in agriculture.[3] The under -

development of mountain communities translates to insufficient infrastructure to help

farmers adapt to the rapidly changing climate scenarios. As a result, climate change

poses a huge threat to both the livelihoods of millions of people, but also to the

economies of the western Indian Himalayan states.Complete Article:

http://chimalaya.org/2012/10/01/community-adaption-practices-in-uttarakhand-himalayas-of-

india-case-study/

Video- Connecting Dots: Communicating Climate Science In Himalayas

Mountain Voice: In the series of Mountain Voice project the Climate Himalaya team interviewed Dr. David J Molden, Director General of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD, Nepal) and discussed about the climate related issues in Himalayan region and about scientific communications and policy making processes. Video link and writeup: http://chimalaya.org/2012/10/12/connecting-dots-communicating-

climate-science-in-himalayas/

WOTR announces its

International Training Program on Participatory

Watershed Development in a

Changing Climate - Building Resilience and Reducing Vulnerability from 18 – 28th February, 2013; 11 days

(inclusive of dates of arrival and departure). The above International Training Program is meant for Senior officials from government agencies, development practitioners, academic institutions, Not-for-Profit & Non-Governmental Organization,

especially those involved in community-based ecosystems and natural resources management, watershed development, climate change adaptation, and development-focused action research. Number of seats: 15 participants Venue: Darewadi Learning Centre, Village Darewadi, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India Language: English: Classroom deliberations will be in English. A good understanding of English will be

helpful. If required, translation and inputs in Spanish will also be provided. Course Objectives: Understand the process and strategy involved in stabilizing the natural resource base (land and

water) through participatory watershed particularly in a climate changing context. See the impacts of successful micro-watershed development and management on the lives of

villagers. Initiate a dialogue on how “best practices” of community-driven watershed development can be

adapted to their own country contexts. Increase knowledge and skills to deal with climate-induced uncertainty and vulnerability while

building the adaptive capacities of rural communities. Introduce and mainstream vulnerability reduction and risk management strategies for climate change

adaptation, especially in regard to agriculture and natural resources management. Course Description: Drylands cover about 40 percent of global land area and are home to over two billion people. These

areas are already vulnerable due to desertification, which affects about 70 percent of drylands, but now climate change is bringing higher temperatures, drier conditions.

Meanwhile, most dryland communities depend on dwindling supplies of ground water, extracting it much

more quickly than it can replenish itself. Typical responses to water scarcity involve digging more wells and/or bringing in water tankers. Both are unsustainable, short-term answers. The problem is particularly

acute in regions where large populations rely almost entirely on rain-fed agriculture for sustenance, income, and livelihoods. Insufficient or erratic rainfall and drought periods can lead to severe social and

economic stresses resulting in hunger, migration and increased poverty.

WOTR‟s Participatory Watershed Development (PWSD) a community based) approach specifically aims at mobilizing and enabling rural communities to collectively regenerate the watersheds they live in along

watershed lines. This community-based approach not only catalyses the local social dynamics but also results in the revitalization of the local natural resource base and the local economy. PWSD is also an

ecosystem-based approach that captures rain that falls in-situ across the natural catchments

(watersheds), recharges and augments water sources, stabilizes the local flora and fauna (bio-diversity), mitigates the impacts of erratic rain, droughts and flash floods, increases agricultural productivity, and

enables diversification of livelihood opportunities. Such an integrated, collaboration-based watershed approach builds the adaptive capacities of rural communities, enhances resilience to climate-induced

risks, and reduces their overall vulnerability to climate change.

Benefits of undertaking PWSD have been widely recognized. All state governments in India are promoting watershed development in a big way. Bilateral and private funding organizations are sponsoring

numerous watershed development programs in India and in many developing countries, some of which are Bangladesh, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Niger, Peru, Thailand and Uganda

and on a large scale. Today all governments are also concerned about climate change. The Government

of India has its National Action Plan on Climate Change with specific thrusts that include addressing agriculture, greening India, water sustainability, energy efficiency and imparting knowledge on climate

change.

Exposure to ground realities existing in the villages and an understanding of how policies and

developmental interventions impact the lives of rural inhabitants in the context of local climate variability would go a long way in ensuring effective policies and better implementation of development projects.

This Exposure-cum-Orientation program is designed to expose the participants conceptually and

practically, to the various aspects of community-centred watershed development with climate change adaptation in focus.

Topics addressed: Assessing Vulnerability of rural communities to climate change and targeted adaptive responses. Undertaking Watershed Development in the context of climate change – the social, technical,

organisational, adaptation and sustainability aspects. Effective Water Management for domestic, livestock, agriculture and livelihoods – using Water

Budgeting techniques to match water availability with demand. Sustainable Climate-smart Agriculture in varying weather conditions, including use of Agro-

meteorology and Crop Advisories for risk management. Mainstreaming Women, Gender and Empowerment in a scenario of climate variability. Community-led Watershed Development and Eco-systems Management – principles, practices,

experiences and learnings. Course activities: These modules will be explained and demonstrated through interactive classroom sessions; intensive field

visits to four villages and interaction with local communities and other stakeholders; meeting with government officials and a visit to the State Agriculture University. Participants will have the opportunity

to share and learn from one another throughout the program.

A day‟s outing to the historical city of Aurangabad and the Ellora Caves is also included.

Course Fees: Registration Fee: US $ 100 per participant. Registration fee is to be paid by ALL candidates, once the participant receives a letter confirming selection. Course Fee: US$ 1155 This includes Boarding, Lodging, Tuition fees, Field visits, Training material, pick-

up from & to the Mumbai or Pune airports) for the 11 days of the program. A few Partial and Full Scholarships are available. International Travel costs to India (Mumbai or Pune) and back, including visa, accident and medical insurance and any other requirements for international travel will be borne by the participant. Contingencies, including medical expenses arising during the training course will be borne by the participant. Method of Instruction/Pedagogy: Interactive classroom sessions involving lectures, presentations, case studies and discussions, mutual sharing and learning, interactions with local communities, farmers, and various stakeholders. Extensive

use of audio-visual tools will provide a learning-rich and lively experience.

Registration deadline: 15th November 2012 (Application Form) Selection & Confirmation: A Confirmation letter and an invitation letter will be sent to the selected participants once the selection process is complete (by mid January 2013).

Course Co-ordinator/Contact: Mr. Kiran Shelke, +91-9423 7915 27 or kiran.shelke@wotr.org.in / trainings@wotr.org This training program is supported by Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation.

The compendium entitled “emPOWERing rural India the RE way – inspiring success stories” was released by His Excellency Prime Minister of Gayana on 9th Oct

2012. The soft copy is available at: ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/clmt/resource/res_info_19101201.pdf The book emphasizes that India is home to several innovations and successful examples

of providing energy access to the remotest areas of the country. However, the challenge

is to ensure that access to modern energy is rapidly scaled up, even while ensuring that access is environmentally, institutionally and financially sustainable. This compendium

titled Empowering rural India the RE way: inspiring success stories contains live examples from different parts of the country of the zeal to bring about change, a

determination to surpass barriers in access to energy, and a drive to adopt and promote renewable

energy technologies to suit local requirements. The 28 success stories presented in this publication illustrate best practices in expanding access to modern energy. It thereby collates knowledge on low-emission technologies, innovative business and

delivery models, entrepreneurship, institutional strengthening, and financing. We hope this publication will inform and inspire other organizations, in India as well as other developing

countries, to attempt to provide sustainable energy solutions to millions of rural households for meeting their energy requirements, for domestic and productive uses. At the same time, this would also be useful for the entrepreneurs exploring business opportunities in the

area of energy services for rural communities.

VACANCIES

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) conducts interdisciplinary policy research to support sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. From April 2013, IGES will begin its Sixth

Phase Strategic Research Programme and seeks a number of dynamic individuals with extensive knowledge and experience to carry out the research activities. Positions: Research Staff (multiple positions) Research Areas: Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services (incl. water issues) / Climate and Energy /

Sustainable Consumption and Production / Green Growth and Green Economy / Integrated Policies for Sustainable Societies / Business and the Environment / Sustainable Cities Work Places: IGES Headquarters; Kansai Research Centre; Kitakyushu Urban Centre (Japan) / Regional

Centre (Bangkok, Thailand) Contract Terms: 3 years or 1 year Contract Start: from July 2013 Application Deadline: Monday, 12 November 2012 For details: please visit http://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/saiyo/6phase/ or contact: Recruitment, Research

Supporting Section, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) 2108-11, Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0115 JAPAN; http://www.iges.or.jp; email: recruit-

iges6phaseresearcher@iges.or.jp SELECTED READING BASED ON FOR INFOs OF THE MONTH and SELECTED ARTICLES / REPORTS SHARED WITH E&E Unit, UNDP

“Technology Transfer and Climate

Change” Published in SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER - A GUIDE TO GLOBAL AID AND TRADE

DEVELOPMENT (Lidgard, Atik & Nguyen, eds., Kluwer 2011). The abstract is available at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2149114 . From the above link you can download the

complete paper.

Widespread agreement exists that „environmentally sound technologies‟1 should be transferred

from developed to developing countries as part of a strategy for addressing climate change.

This transfer, in theory, allows developing countries to focus on economic growth and

poverty eradication goals, but in a more environmentally sound fashion that prevents their

emissions trajectories from being as greenhouse gas intensive as developed country ones have

been.

This concept is included in general terms in core international environmental law documents,

such as Agenda 21,2 and with respect to climate change, in the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the agreements negotiated under it.

The Copenhagen Accord, for example, addresses technology transfer as a goal with respect to

both mitigation and adaptation and establishes a Technology Transfer mechanism.

The more recent Cancun Agreements develop that technology mechanism further by establishing

a Technology Executive Committee and a Climate Technology Centre and Network as its

component parts.

Although many efforts have been made to interpret and implement the language on technology

transfer in the UNFCCC, disagreement continues to take place over crucial details of how such

technology transfer should take place and the role of law in facilitating those transfers.

For example, under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), developed countries can get

credit for greenhouse gas emissions reductions projects in developing countries, and much

controversy has ensued about whether that mechanism is achieving its goals or allowing

developed countries to avoid emissions reductions.

A 2008 article by Michael Wara examined the nature of CDM projects and found that a

substantial percentage of them were not focused on core sustainable energy technology

development.

Similarly, numerous scholars have examined the interaction between the climate change and

intellectual property treaty regimes, and raised concerns over the ways in which the intellectual

property regime might hinder needed technology transfer.

“Learn more about how insights from the public and expert interviews are beginning to shape our understanding of climate change in each

country” (By: Climate Asia-October, 2012 Bulletin. ) The blog on India is available at: http://climateasiablog.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/climate-asia-qualitative-

research-findings-india-october-20121.pdf Early findings With this bulletin we share some of preliminary findings from its qualitative research with reports from

Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Pakistan. Drawn from in-depth interviews with experts

and opinion-formers and focus groups with the public these reports broadly examine the situation in each country with regards to climate change. They focus on awareness and understanding of climate change as well as the effects people notice and

the impacts they have experienced as a result of variations and changes in climate. In addition, it takes

an initial look at what people have been doing to respond to changes in climate as well as their information needs and media use. Across the region it found that:

Experts, opinion formers and the public are noticing changes in climate and environment

including changes to the timing of seasons, temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events

The changes are impacting people's lives, in particular those who depend on the land or sea for

their livelihoods, as well as those who are more exposed to extreme weather - for

instance people in southern Bangladesh

Response to these changes varies throughout the region. In Nepal people are already doing a lot

to respond, while in Pakistan the level of response is much lower

Across the region people would like to see government take action, although their opinions on

the role government can play varies from country to country

People have identified information that would be useful to them to help them deal with changes

in climate – for instance information on alternative livelihoods. They also had clear preferences

for the type of media they thought would meet their needs - ranging from mass media to in-

person communication

Coming soon This month‟s reports give a little taste of the insights emerging from its qualitative research, but there is

so much more to follow… Over 30,000 interviews across all seven countries have been completed. In the next few weeks all fieldwork for the survey will be complete and it will begin analysis. Following this it will start to share

insights and recommendations later next year. Fieldwork has begun on community assessments. These use participatory approaches to research with

identified as vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These are scheduled to be completed this December.

Summary – India Research participants across all regions and demographics of India recognised and had experienced changes in the weather and seasons. Knock-on impacts of these changes people perceived included

water scarcity and an increase in disease, affecting people‟s everyday lives. As in other Asian countries, focus groups participants from rural areas felt these changes more acutely. Very few focus groups participants linked these developments with climate change, or were even aware of the term climate change. Although most participants believed the Indian Government should take the

lead on climate-related issues, they noted the lack of government action and this deterred individuals from taking action themselves. Focus group participants, experts and opinion-formers across India had little awareness of existing

communications about climate-related issues, but highlighted television as their preferred media channel

and newspapers as their most trusted one. Next Steps Insights from this qualitative research informed the design of a quantitative survey reaching 33,000

respondents across Asia. This will be completed in November 2012. BBC Media Action is also conducting community assessments, which use participatory research methods

with communities that experts believe are vulnerable to climate change. These will be completed in December of 2012. The aim of this research is to inform communication to enable people to respond to changes in climate. A

series of reports, communications strategies and interactive online tools will be available in 2013.

“Finance needed for large and small renewable energy

projects in Africa” (By: IRENA Press Release, 23 October, 2012. ) The press release is available at: http://www.irena.org/News/Description.aspx?NType=A&PriMenuID=

16&mnu=Pri&News_ID=254

Africa needs ambitious financing for renewable energy projects of all sizes in order to stimulate investment, maintain rapid economic growth and provide universal energy access around the

continent, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Africa could achieve widespread prosperity by concentrating on renewable energy projects for

rapid expansion of electrical services.

In order to meet its rapidly growing energy needs within the next two decades, Africa requires

vast investments in new energy projects, from large investments to feed national power systems, to innovative, localised off-grid solutions to bring power to people and areas that are currently

not served. Renewables offer great business opportunities to meet these energy needs.

Of the nearly 1.4 billion people in the world today who still lack access to electricity, the majority live on the African continent.

IRENA will start receiving applications in November for renewable energy financing through a

new US$350 million facility for the Abu Dhabi Development Fund (ADFD). Each project proposal

must be government-backed. The funding consists of US$50 million per year for seven years.

The ADFD-IRENA facility was created as part of the UAE‟s bid in 2009 to host the new inter-

governmental agency, which promotes the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy

worldwide.

IRENA is keen to ensure that funds reach projects in developing countries that, along with being

renewable-based and sustainable, are innovative and replicable, so that good practices will in turn spread to other projects and countries.

The World Energy Forum – held for the first time outside United Nations Headquarters in New

York – is part of a series of high-level international energy and environmental events in the UAE and the Gulf Region in the months ahead.

Qatar will host the UN Climate Change Conference in November-December.

The third session of the Assembly of IRENA on 13-14 January coincides with the opening of Abu

Dhabi Sustainability Week in the UAE capital. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), founded in 2009, held its first Assembly in Abu Dhabi in April 2011, where the Agency is headquartered. With the current participation of 101 Members

(100 Member States and the European Union), plus 58 more signatories or applicants for membership, IRENA has become a nexus of international efforts to accelerate the worldwide deployment of renewable

energy technologies. Further details are available at: www.irena.org .

“Coca-Cola Japan's New Beverage Vending Machine Uses No Power for Daytime Cooling”. The article is available at: http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/032295.html .

As part of a project to develop super energy-efficient vending machines, Coca-Cola Japan Co. has

successfully developed the "peak-shift" vending machine jointly with Fuji Electric Retail Systems

Co., a subsidiary of Fuji Electric Co., a major Japanese manufacturer of electrical machinery and

appliances.

The new machine shifts the consumption of electricity for cooling from daytime, which is usually

the peak-time of electricity use, to night-time, when there is typically a surplus of electricity.

The machine is able to keep products cool without consuming electricity for up to 16 hours.

Conventional vending machines cool only some of the beverage products using electricity in

response to sales in order to limit power consumption, and the temperature in the machine

slowly rises if electricity use for cooling stops for long.

During the night, the newly designed machine cools all beverage products stored in it and has

better thermal performance, which limits the temperature rise in the machine during the daytime.

The machine has a higher insulation performance with more than the conventional vacuum

insulation materials and a door designed to be more airtight.

Prior to a full market launch, the company carried out a field test for about two months starting

on July 2 in the areas around Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture and Tajimi in Gifu Prefecture, both

of which are well known for their fiercely hot summer weather.

“Dinosaur-Era Acoustics: Global

Warming May Give Oceans the 'Sound' of the Cretaceous” (By:

Science News; October 18, 2012) . The article is available at: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2012/10/18/dinosaur.era.acoustics.global.warming.may.give.oceans.sound.cret

aceous .

Global temperatures directly affect the acidity of the ocean, which in turn changes the acoustical

properties of sea water.

New research suggests that global warming may give Earth's oceans the same hi-fi

sound qualities they had more than 100 million years ago, during the Age of the

Dinosaurs.

The reason for this surprising communication upgrade is that whales vocalize in the low-

frequency sound range, typically less than 200 hertz, and the new research predicts that by the

year 2100, global warming will acidify saltwater sufficiently to make low-frequency sound near

the ocean surface travel significantly farther than it currently does -- perhaps twice as far.

Rhode Island acoustician David G. Browning, lead scientist on the research team, will present his

findings at the 164th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), held Oct. 22 -- 26 in

Kansas City, Missouri.

He explains the sea change this way: "We call it the Cretaceous acoustic effect, because ocean

acidification forced by global warming appears to be leading us back to the similar ocean acoustic

conditions as those that existed 110 million years ago, during the Age of Dinosaurs."

Their work builds on the recent investigation by other researchers who analysed historic levels of

boron in seafloor sediments to reconstruct ocean acidity for the past 300 million years.

Using boron's sound absorption traits and impact on low-frequency transmission, Browning and

his colleagues were able to predict the soundscape of ancient oceans to conclude that 300 million

years ago, during the Paleozoic, the low frequency sound transmission in the ocean was similar

to conditions today.

They also found that transmission improved as the ocean became more acidic, reaching its best

transmission value around 110 million years ago -- allowing low frequency sound to travel twice

as far.

"This knowledge is important in many ways," notes Browning. "It impacts the design and

performance prediction of sonar systems. It affects estimation of low frequency ambient noise

levels in the ocean. And it's something we have to consider to improve our understanding of the

sound environment of marine mammals and the effects of human activity on that environment."

If further work validates this model, future SCUBA divers might hear in the oceans with the same

clarity as the dinosaurs.

Cities for Life” brings back Biodiversity on Urban Agenda. The Hyderabad declaration is available at: ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/clmt/resource/res_info_22101201.pdf

The Cities for Life Summit, held in parallel to the CBD COP 11 on 15 and 16 October in

Hyderabad, India, brought together more than 500 participants, including about 150 city

representatives from 45 countries, 60 city and sub-national leaders (governors, mayors, deputy

mayors, and commissioners), as well as delegates from UN agencies, science, business, national,

and international organizations.

With an aim to foster and unite local action for biodiversity,

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Secretariat of

the Convention on Biological Diversity collaborated with the

Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal

Corporation and the Government of India to organise the summit at

the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. N. Kiran Kumar

Reddy, and the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. E. S. L. Narasimhan inaugurated day 1 and day

2 of the Summit respectively.

The Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Ms. Jayanti Natarajan, during her speech at

the opening plenary of the High Level Segment, in the presence of the Prime Minister of India,

Dr.Manmohan Singh, highlighted the crucial role of cities and welcomed the contribution of the

Summit to the CBD goals, saying “…. It is estimated that half of India's population will also be

living in cities by 2045 and I am therefore happy that a parallel summit on cities for Life has been

held on the margins of COP11 bringing together subnational and local authorities. I am very

confident that this will go a long way in bringing Biodiversity back onto the urban agenda."

Ending on a high note, the Cities for Life Summit concluded with the Hyderabad Declaration, a

pledge by the mayors and governors of local and sub-national authorities to develop and

implement local strategies towards the Plan of Action on Sub national Governments, Cities and

Local Authorities for Biodiversity; and to achieve the twenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

The Declaration was presented during the High Level Segment Closing Plenary by an ICLEI

representative on behalf of Local Governments and Subnational Authorities.

To cement a long history of working together, ICLEI and the Convention on Biological Diversity

(CBD) signed a MoU to work towards mobilising local governments to take action on biodiversity.

Two landmark initiatives launched at the summit were the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook: the

first global assessment of the links between urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services;

and the Cities in Biodiversity Hotspots programme, a ten-year global initiative seeking to provide

over 250 cities located in and around the 35 biodiversity hotspots of the world with a platform to

take action on biodiversity.

Ten cities, from Indian and the region, signed up for the newly inaugurated LAB India

programme, which seeks to gear Indian cities towards the better conservation and management

of biodiversity.

Finally, the Hyderabad City Biodiversity Index, also launched at the summit, makes Hyderabad

the first Indian city to have assessed the level of biodiversity in their city on the CBD-endorsed

City Biodiversity Index (Singapore Biodiversity Index).

The summit took stock of progress since the City Biodiversity Summit at the CBD COP 10 in

Nagoya and outlined the latest, most relevant tools, initiatives and networks available to support

local bodies in their efforts to bring nature back into cities.

“Community Adaption Practices In Uttarakhand Himalayas Of India:

Case Study” ( By Climate Himalaya , Oct 26th, 2012. Author: Cassie Denbow, who writes a detailed note of her study during Fall, 2011 in

Uttarakhand, where she explored and interviewed people in the study area of Uttarkashi district. During

this study Cassie was a trainee on Sustainable Development and Social Change Programme at World Learning India/School of International training based in Jaipur.) The article is available at : http://chimalaya.org/2012/10/26/community-adaption-practices-in-uttarakhand-himalayas-of-india-case-

study/?utm_source=Daily+Updates&utm_campaign=5f711e11a4-

RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email .

The under -development of mountain communities translates to insufficient infrastructure to help

farmers adapt to the rapidly changing climate scenarios. As a result, climate change poses a

huge threat to both the livelihoods of millions of people, but also to the economies of the western

Indian Himalayan states.

This study addresses three parts of the climate discussion in Raithal and Nateen, two agricultural

and animal husbandry based communities in the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand. The three

primary components are:

Documenting community reported climate changes and the impact of these changes on cash

crops and community livelihoods;

Gauging and recording the community understanding of what is causing weather changes

specifically, are they caused by human influences or a higher power;

Eliciting community based suggestions on how farmers can adapt to changing environmental

conditions.

It is important to note that the focus of this study are the regional climate change experiences of

community members . The scientific data is an important tool for understanding changing

weather patterns in the Himalayas. However, the experience of those who live and understand

various ecosystem functions in the region is an equally critical tool to develop a complete climate

change picture .

Uttarakhand state in India is often referred to as the land of the gods due to its high mountain

vistas and religious holy sites with a wealth of ecological and cultural diversity. The state is

divided into two primary regions, Garhwal and Kumaon with 13 districts within the two. The

Garhwal region, the location of this study, contains the pilgrimage locations of Haridwar and

Gangotri, as well as Dehradun, the state capital.

When discussing the development of rural communities, it‟s important to take into account the

influence of the surrounding geography. The study villages Nateen and Raithal are located below

the Dayara Bugyals (meadows), a series of high alpine meadows used for various animal

husbandry practices like grazing goats, buffalo, and cows. For generations the villagers have

divided their year between the communities themselves, and the shelters on top of the high

mountains.

In addition to animal husbandry the community members historically grew kitchen gardens to

supply vegetables for personal consumption. These gardens regularly included mixed growing

practices such as Dalhan, a mix of high protein legumes, and Tilhan, a mix of oil producing seeds

such as mustard.

By growing a wide diversity of both oil producing seeds and dal, families have historically ensured

their own food security.

In the past thirty years an economic shift has occurred. With the introduction of potatoes as a

cash crop, famers moved away from a primarily subsistence based farming community to that of

a profit based one, growing kidney beans, amaranths, potatoes, and wheat.

This switch increased incomes and improved access to schools and institutions of higher

education, in addition to technology and automobiles. While cowbells still clang through the

mountains, satellite dishes peak from rooftop after rooftop.

The shift to cash crops, while economically beneficial, has left community members susceptible to

increasingly erratic weather patterns. The villagers reported especially wet growing seasons that

ruined potato crops in the ground and caused landslides, delaying the delivery and transportation

of produce.

During the winter they saw substantially reduced snowfall levels. While village elders told of

winters past where going outside was nearly impossible, recent winters brought little snow. The

lack of snow, and accompanying freezing ground, impacts the storage of seeds, typically buried

in below ground vaults and covered with sheds for protection. While community members were

yet to see a change in potable water flows, they expressed concern that a continuing lack of

snow would impact the glacial melt therefore harming future water access.

The added traffic from transport of people, goods, and building materials, in addition to the

complications surrounding waste management, is creating a complex situation that requires the

benefits of development to be discussed within the context of the environmental cost.

This nexus, in addition to conversations with academics in larger towns, guided the second part

of the study; what role, if any, rural community members saw themselves having in the reported

climate changes. The results were mixed by age and education level. It was the younger

generations, those that benefited from increased access to education that came from higher

income levels when cash crops were adopted, that correlated the changes with human

involvement.The community elders generally viewed the climatic changes as a result of higher

powers beyond their control.

Community Adaptation Suggestions Synthesizing the interviews given, it was important to find out how farmers thought the

community could adapt. Throughout the process, community members expressed a range of

emotions for the climatic changes spiraling around them.

Everything from fear and despair, to hope that tourism moving to the region could provide a

tangible alternative to agriculture. Farmers were asked what they could do to secure a more

stable future.

33% of those interviewed wanted to increase the diversity. Aloe vera and the “chip potato” were

cited as possible income producing crops that could be worked into the communities field

rotation.

The “chip potato” a variety of potato created by the Indian Tobacco Company for the sole

purpose of producing potato chips is durable and works well with wet climates, an increasing

reality of the farmers. While potato crop production was generally dismal during the 2011

growing season, the chip potato thrived. Other suggestions included increasing irrigation

techniques and increasing the use of chemical fertilizers.

Conclusion As with many countries and regions grappling with the benefits of development versus the cost,

there is a need for a serious discussion that incorporates the wants and needs of the community

with that of the environment.

The Van Panchayats, a community supported conservation group developed in the region, could

be a powerful tool for just that sort of dialogue.

While there is an immense and valuable set of knowledge on the land and ecosystems held by

farmers, it is critical to not overlook the wants of the current generations.

The manual, and currently economically un-rewarding, labor entailed in mountain farming is not

an appealing future career and there was little interest in farming. Future jobs most commonly

listed included tourism, government jobs, and teaching.

Recognizing the sensitive ecological needs of the natural environment in addition to the rapidly

shifting wants of the younger generations to leave agriculture, a challenge is presented to

development workers, environmentalists, and the community at large.

Maintaining the rich Garwhali culture is critical, but so is finding a development strategy that

provides the increased income desired by the community while still protecting the environment.

It is up to regional NGO‟s and community groups such as the Van Panchayats to develop these

strategies.

'Greening' India's Growth”. (FEATURE STORY, World Bank, October

18, 2012.) The feature story is available at : http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/2012/10/18/greening-indias-growth . FEATURE STORY HIGHLIGHTS

India is growing rapidly, and growth is essential for

development. But does it have to come at the price of worsened air quality and other environmental impacts?

A new World Bank study finds that targeted policy

interventions can significantly reduce environmental degradation at minimal cost to

GDP. In the scenarios modelled, a tax on PM10 emissions significantly reduces air pollution

with a small impact on GDP. The tax also would provide health benefits. Strong investment, reflecting rising productivity, healthy corporate profits, and robust exports have

fuelled economic growth exceeding 7% a year in India for almost a decade. That growth in turn has increased employment opportunities and allowed millions to emerge from

poverty. But does growth – so essential for development – have to come at the price of worsened air quality and other environmental impacts? A new World Bank study finds that targeted policy interventions can significantly reduce environmental

degradation at minimal cost to GDP. The report, “India’s economic growth and environmental

sustainability: what are the tradeoffs?” focuses on particle pollution from the burning of fossil fuels, which has serious health consequences amounting to up to 3% of India’s GDP.

The study assesses the impacts of policy measures such as a tax on coal or particulate emissions (PM10) on GDP, health indicators, and CO2 emissions. The complete report is available at : http://www-

wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2012/09/24/000158349_20120924145047/Rend

ered/PDF/wps6208.pdf "The study suggests that there are low-cost policy options that could significantly curtail environmental

damage without compromising long-term growth objectives," said Muthukumara S. Mani, a senior environmental economist at the Bank and the lead author of the report. "These would also bring

significant health benefits. On the other hand, failure to act at the current rates of environmental

degradation could constraint long-term productivity and growth prospects." Three Scenarios:

The Business as Usual Scenario is based on economic performance for 2007-10 and recent IMF projections of GDP for 2011-15, with associated projections up to 2030. The model

calculates the required investments to achieve the projected growth, along with the demands for different types of fuel. Some emission reduction happens under business as usual, reflecting

recent policy initiatives to reduce the sulfur content of diesel in the transport sector, the use of compressed natural gas for public transport, emissions-limiting performance standards for

passenger vehicles, and stricter enforcement of existing environmental laws. The Green Growth Scenario targets a reduction in PM10 and other small emissions by 10 %

more than what could be achieved with business as usual by 2030. A tax on coal or PM10 is used

to achieve a targeted emissions reduction, a shift to a greener fuel mix, and energy efficiency gains.

The Green Growth Plus Scenario incorporates a more aggressive 30 % reduction in PM10

and other small particles in the air in 2030 over what could be achieved under business as usual. Here again, emissions reduction is attained through a tax on coal or PM10.

One important difference between the Green Growth and Green Growth Plus scenarios is that the

latter assumes that, as the economy matures, the market realizes the economic benefits of cleaner and

more efficient production. Gradually the environmental command-and-control “push” policies are replaced by market-driven “pull” policies to achieve cleaner and more efficient production. For example, coal

technologies improve over time, with older, less efficient plants getting replaced, and advanced coal technologies become more competitive. Results Under Each Scenario Fossil fuel use, the primary cause of pollution, is expected to decrease under business as usual due to a declining share of coal in the overall energy demand (although coal would still

dominate in 2030); greater emissions capture; and the shift to cleaner coal. Demand for refined oil products and electricity, however, will still increase considerably. As a result, the share of emissions from

productive activities in total PM10 emissions is expected to double along with the impacts of the fast-

increasing economic activities, such as manufacturing and construction, and transportation. The total PM10 emissions under business as usual are estimated to go up from 8.7 million tons in 2010 to 16.8

million tons in 2030. Under the Green Growth Scenario, a 10% particulate emission reduction lowers GDP

modestly. With a PM10 tax, conventional GDP is about $46 billion lower in 2030, representing a loss of 0.3 % compared to business as usual. The impact on GDP is greater with a coal tax. Under the Green Growth Plus Scenario, a 30% particulate emission reduction lowers GDP

about $97 billion, or 0.7%. The scenario suggests that even a substantial reduction in emissions can

be achieved without compromising much on GDP if supported by adequate least-cost policy measures. Again, the coal tax performs worse, with a GDP loss of 1.07%. There are significant health benefits under both scenarios. The health damages from PM10 are

reduced by $105 billion in the 30% case and by $24 billion with a 10% reduction. Under the Green Growth Plus Scenario, this more than compensates for the projected GDP loss.

Another important benefit would be a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. The PM10 tax

makes a bigger reduction in these emissions than the coal tax. Calculations show that even with a value per ton of CO2 of just $10, the reduction in CO2 for the 10% PM10 reduction case is worth $59 billion,

little more than the loss of GDP. For the 30% case, the reduction is worth $83 billion, slightly less than the loss of GDP. Conclusions:

Environmental taxes could yield environmental benefits with minimal economic costs for India. The analysis shows that addressing "public bads" via selected policy instruments need

not translate into large losses on GDP growth. The model developed in this study can be used to evaluate the benefits of similar pollution-

control policies and assist in designing and selecting appropriate targeted intervention policies

(such as an SO2 tax, a CO2 tax, or emission trading schemes). Once the impact on air quality of

a policy to reduce particulate emissions is estimated, the tools used to calculate the health damages associated with particulate emissions can also be used to compute the welfare impacts

of reducing them. The comparisons between the scenarios reveal that a low-carbon, resource-efficient

greening of the economy should be possible at a very low cost in terms of GDP growth. A more aggressive low-carbon strategy (Green Growth Plus) comes at a slightly higher

price tag for the economy while delivering greater benefits. The extent to which GDP growth would be impacted under more severe cuts on polluting

emissions can be determined by further study using the model. The modest GDP impacts

indicated in this study depend on the availability and use of minimal-cost mitigation options

(energy efficiency improvements, embodied technological improvements, improved daily operating practices of boilers). In evaluating the environment-growth tradeoffs, accordingly, a

judgment must be made about the size and availability of such “low-hanging fruit” and appropriate incentives.

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