Japan's refusal to commit to a second period of commitment to the Kyoto Protocol calls into question the very existence of the Protocol, ironically named after a city in that country.Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh met his Japanese counterpart on Wednesday and was categorically informed that there was no question of a second commitment under the Kyoto Protocol for Japan.This was not a negotiating tactic at all, it...
More »SEARCH RESULT
Tribal activists see REDD in Cancun
India has agreed to allow a market mechanism in a forestry scheme, Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), though critics claim this may weaken the traditional forest rights of tribals.However, environment minister Jairam Ramesh insisted REDD schemes would have no impact on India as most of the money will go to Brazil and Indonesia. “We will receive a negligible amount,” he said, while noting India didnot oppose the market...
More »High Court stays polls to Gulbarga Zilla Panchayat
Over 50 per cent quota for women challengedThe Gulbarga Circuit Bench of the Karnataka High Court has stayed elections to the Gulbarga Zilla Panchayat till further hearing on a petition filed by three persons from Aland taluk challenging the reservation of seats for women exceeding 50 per cent of the total number of seats.The reservation of seats announced for the Jidga and Chinchansur zilla panchayat constituencies has also been challenged.Interim...
More »TN rains claim 30 more lives, toll rises to 181
Heavy rains lashed the southern Tamil Nadu and Chennai claiming 30 more lives in the last three days. The death toll went up to 181 since October. Officials said most of the deaths were caused by wall collapses, floods, lightning and electrocution. Standing crops on more than 58,000 hectares have been spoilt and the damage to buildings, bridges and roads is to the tune of Rs 800 crore. Tamil Nadu...
More »Chief players at Cancun climate summit by Darryl Fears
Chief playersThe United States came to Cancun without its commanding influence as a world leader against global warming. It has failed to pass a climate change bill - again - making other countries more skeptical of President Obama's pledge to dramatically reduce the nation's carbon emissions 17 percent compared with 2005 levels. So the U.S. goal to increase transparency by persuading other nations to let outside reviewers measure their emissions...
More »