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Zero-zero, net zero

There was furious activity on climate change in the first weeks of April in Delhi. No, I am not talking about action to fight climate change. I am talking about words and more words — much has been written about the position that India must take or not take when it comes to declaring a net-zero goal. Much has been discussed in closed-door meetings on this. John Kerry, the US climate envoy, was in town in the lead up to President Joe Biden’s climate leaders’ summit on April 22-23. He wanted to cajole and push us to act — say something big when the leaders meet. The good news is that climate change is back on the agenda. The bad news is that we are discussing the wrong things; we are in danger of once again losing the opportunity to drive home the need for ambition and equity in climate change action. Just consider the narrative in Delhi. It was not about the need to take stock of what has been done or not done to meet the Paris commitments — the voluntary targets countries have taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this decade; it was not about how minuscule, completely off track and inequitable the Paris targets are. It was not about the emission pathways countries are choosing to make drastic reductions as needed to avoid the climate change catastrophe. It was not about anything that matters. Instead, the entire discourse was distracted by the completely meaningless discussion on net-zero. The question was: Should and could India follow its net-zero date? Why do I say this is meaningless? First, let’s be clear that there is no substance in the net-zero target that countries have declared. It is but an aspirational idea — something that they will work towards. Practically all the countries that have made the grandstanding declaration have no plans on how they will get to net-zero by 2050, or, in the case of China, by 2060. So, it means nothing. It’s about the idea of getting there and the hope that some so-called disruptive technologies will get scaled up and be ready for delivery when the date comes. Secondly, net-zero as an idea itself is flawed. It means that countries will emit more; but they will mop up these emissions to say “net-net”. How will they soak up the emissions? Two methods: One, plant trees that will sequester carbon dioxide that we will continue to emit and, two, take the carbon dioxide and pump it back into the ground — carbon capture and storage technologies. But there are still many unanswered questions about this approach; there are huge challenges in estimating the “tree-soak” and there are issues to sort with the set of technologies, fancifully called negative emission. So, it’s a scam — at least today — to talk about these as the real options. You can argue that these so-called disruptive technologies will come and so we should not be rejecting this idea today. I would say yes, but our dependence on these still experimental technologies to save us will distract attention from what can and must be done today. That needs to be our conversation. Not net-zero. Thirdly, net-zero is intrinsically inequitable. It was the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that had said global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide would need to fall by 45 per cent from the 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net-zero by 2050. Given the fact that there is a huge and completely disproportionate difference in the emissions of the old-developed world and now newly developed China and the rest of the world, it would be logical to say that if the world needs to be net-zero by 2050, then these countries needed to have already turned net-zero or do so by 2030. No later. Then it would provide space for countries like India — way below in historical emissions and current emissions — to declare a net-zero goal by 2050. In today’s scenario, what could or should India do? Declare a net-zero goal by 2070? Twenty years after the US and Europe and 10 years after China. What does it even mean? So, it is good that Mr Biden did not fall into the trap of net-zero targets. At the Summit he announced targets for his country — 50-52 per cent reduction below its 2005 emission levels in 2030. This is a game-changer, because the target is drastic and will take the country a massive rework of its economy to achieve this. US greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were higher than that at the end of 2016 and it is only because of the horrific Covid-19 pandemic year that emissions came down by 10 per cent in 2020. But with normalcy returning to the economy, emissions will be on the up-swing. So, it will be tough, no doubt, but for once, the US stand on its emission reduction is ambitious and to an extent even fair. The US 2030 target will put pressure on the rest of the world — including India — to act. Let’s then continue to discuss how we need to engage with the world on what is clearly an existential threat of climate change.

Multigrain Bread Mix Market witnessing impressive growth owing to nutritional benefits, projected Fact.MR

Multigrain Bread Mix Market Overview With the increase in demand for different varieties of whole-meal bread, the multigrain bread mix market is expected to flourish. Baked goods, such as bread and biscuit, continue to hold a major position as household staple and with more number of people becoming health conscious, the demand and supply chain of multigrain bread mix is to get robust. Multigrain bread mix is a type of bread prepared with two or more types of grain including barley, flax, millets, oats, wheat and whole wheat flour. Several bread manufacturers are open to multigrain bread mix to create value added products in order to expand their assortments. For detailed insights on enhancing your product footprint, request for a sample here- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=3957 Clean labeled and fortified multigrain bread mix is being preferred more than whole grain bread all over the world, which is helping the global multigrain bread mix market to grow. Multigrain Bread Mix Market Dynamics The demand for multigrain bread mix is growing owing to its nutritional benefits. Bread being a staple food constituting a major part of daily diet has catered to more demand for multigrain bread mix. The low carb, high in fiber qualities in multigrain bread mix have appealed to several health conscious consumers that have triggered growth for the global multigrain bread mix market. In addition to this, incorporating natural ingredients, natural preservatives, antioxidants to multigrain bread mix have made it a must for all. These factors are expected to hype the multigrain bread mix market through the forecast period of 2019 to 2029. However, a recent study from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claimed that many brands of packaged multigrain bread mix and ready to eat burger and pizza multigrain bread mix contains toxic chemicals (potassium, iodate) that could lead to cancer. Such reckless negligence from multigrain bread mix producers could cost the overall market. To receive extensive list of important regions, ask for TOC here- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3957 Multigrain Bread Mix Market Segmentation The multigrain bread mix market can be segmented on the basis of type, grain mix, distribution channel and end use. On the basis of type, the multigrain bread mix market can be segmented into: • Loaves • Baguettes • Rolls • Burger Buns • Ciabatta • Others On the basis of grain mix, the multigrain bread mix market can be segmented into: • < 5 grains • 5 grains • 7 grains • 9 grains • > 9 grains On the basis of distribution channel, the multigrain bread mix market can be segmented into: • Supermarkets / Hypermarkets • Convenience Stores • Specialist Retailers • Variety Stores • Online Retail • Others On the basis of end use, the multigrain bread mix market can be segmented into: • HORECA • Household For critical insights on this market, request for methodology here- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=3957 Multigrain Bread Mix Market Regional Overview Europe currently holds a major share in the multigrain bread mix market owing to the presence of large bread consuming countries such as France, Germany, Ukraine, Belgium, Russia and Italy. North America holds the second highest market share in the multigrain bread market. Asia Pacific recorded the highest growth in the bread consuming population from 2007 to 2016 with a 15.3% growth rate and this region is expected to hold a major share in the multigrain bread mix market during the forecast period of 2019 to 2029. Multigrain Bread Mix Market Key Players The multigrain bread mix market is characterized by the presence of a small number of regional companies offering a variety of products. These companies device various strategies, such as offering economical and valuable multigrain bread mix to suit their every need. Pre-Book Right Now for Exclusive Analyst Support – https://www.factmr.com/checkout/3957/S Some of the key players in the multigrain bread mix market are: Swiss Bake Ingredients Pvt. Ltd, AB Mauri India Pvt. Lt, Orowheat, Wibs, Lluvia Bakery, Muffets and Tuffets, English Oven, Bakels Worldwide and Bonn Nutrients Pvt. Ltd. Read More Trending Reports of Fact.MR – http://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2020/03/24/2005575/0/en/Sales-of-Food-Thickening-Agents-Soar-Steadily-in-Line-with-Upsurge-in-Demand-from-Bakery-Confectionary-Industry-Says-Fact-MR-in-a-New-Study.html About Fact.MR Market research and consulting agency with a difference! That’s why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. We have offices in US and Dublin, whereas our global headquarter is in Dubai. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range – from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Reach out to us with your goals, and we’ll be an able research partner. 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The silent pandemic that is antimicrobial resistance

The challenge of getting to grips with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been likened to the challenge of confronting a ‘silent pandemic’. This was the main thrust of the presentation given by Sunita Narain, Director-General, of India’s Centre for Science and Environment to this week’s high-level interactive dialogue on AMR, hosted by the United Nations (UN). She went on to draw close parallels to the way in which the world has tackled the Covid-19 crisis and the means by which the AMR problem can be resolved. Narain said: “Global cooperation is at the heart of the AMR solution. But the response that is generated will only be as strong as the weakest link in the chain.” Affordable antimicrobial treatment Narain went on to point out that the world needs continuing access to affordable antimicrobials. “But they must be used on a sustainable basis. And this must happen now,” she said. “The days are over when growth and development can be achieved at any cost, leaving the pollution that is created to be cleaned up afterwards.” According to Narain, Covid-19 has taught us that global inter-dependence is the way forward. And this must the principle followed when it comes to tackling AMR. Antimicrobial resistance AMR is now universally regarded by the world’s leading aid agencies as a rising pandemic, one which challenges the effective delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, at least an estimated 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases. If no action is taken, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and damage to the economy as catastrophic as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. By 2030, AMR could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty. “AMR is arguably one of the most complex threats to global health security, food safety and food security,” stated Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director-General, QU Dongyu. “FAO expects a 45% rise in the demand for animal proteins by 2050 and in many regions, antimicrobial resistance in animal parasites is adding new challenges to animal production,” he added. “We must face the double challenge of meeting demands for animal proteins while reducing the risks of AMR.” The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Director-General Dr. Monique Eloit explained: “The promotion of good animal health practices is essential to contribute to the global effort to tackle AMR. “The OIE global database on antimicrobial agents intended for use in animals, indicates an encouraging trend towards reduced quantity of antimicrobials used in food producing animals. “To have a sustainable ‘One Health’ impact, we need to invest and strengthen capacity equally in all sectors, and support the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in the animal health sector, to maintain the efficacy of these important medicines,” she concluded.

Terra Madre Salone del Gusto closes its doors

An extraordinary edition that has reached a total of over 10 million digital profiles in 202 countries around the world The curtain falls tomorrow, April 30, 2021 on the thirteenth edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, the international event organized by Slow Food, the City of Turin and the Piedmont Region that did not give up in the face of the imperative dictated by Covid-19 and with great spirit of resilience has revolutionized its format, offering 205 days of physical and digital events, organized by the Slow Food network and its partners in 75 countries around the world. "Faced with the health, social and economic crisis caused by the pandemic, we wanted to bring attention to the causes that triggered it: agricultural biodiversity compromised by human action, the climate crisis that threatens ecosystems, the inequities of the production model and food distribution. All problems that we were familiar with even before this pandemic, but which the dominant development model continues to ignore or does not want to face", declared Carlo Petrini, president of Slow Food. "In this situation we have decided to focus the spotlight on solutions, small but revolutionary for their effectiveness of action at the local level, which are already in the hands of the communities of farmers, fishermen, artisans, cooks, but also of individual citizens who every day they act for change with their conscious choices. We have long supported the need for a change of paradigm, and we are not the only ones to say it: here, these seven months of Terra Madre have allowed us to listen to the voice of scholars, academics, philosophers, scientists, economists, together with that of farmers, artisans, shepherds, fishermen, educators who are the fundamental backbone of the Terra Madre and Slow Food network in every corner of the planet 'event, through the thousands of hours of activities carried out in the five continents, is a clear vision of these new paradigms, which represents that true ecological transition from several parts i invoked and can no longer be postponed". Seven months of events that have brought Terra Madre Salone del Gusto all over the world, making Turin and Piedmont the reference point for reflection on the future of food. "The great success of this edition, even in the ways that the health emergency has imposed, is the demonstration of the extraordinary strength of the community that Slow Food has created over the years and of which Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, Italy and Piedmont are the beating heart - emphasizes the president of the Piedmont Region, Alberto Cirio, and d is proof that in this unique human heritage, made up of skills, history and ideas that look to the future, there is the key to restart vital to feed our tomorrow with awareness and conscience". "Even in a context of great difficulty caused by a pandemic which - underlines the mayor of Turin Chiara Appendino - has done and is still making its heavy health, economic and social effects felt in every part of the planet, the event overcame every obstacle, managing to make realities even belonging to distant and different worlds communicate with each other, and confirming the event as an unmissable opportunity to raise awareness on the issues of food, food education, the protection of biodiversity. It should be noted that the format chosen for the thirteenth edition, through its numerous events organized also digitally and proposed in seven months, involving 75 countries - has made it possible to transform the limits set by the need to adopt restrictive measures to contain the spread of Covid 19, allowing at the same time, to keep Turin and Piedmont at the center of the event and to expand the horizons of the event". And precisely in this great opportunity to know and learn lies the uniqueness of this edition of Terra Madre which has virtually united the Slow Food network as no physical edition could ever have done. "Mind you, no virtual appointment can ever replace the sense of fraternity and the strength of the multitude that meets in Turin every two years, but in recent months every Slow Food community, every member or activist, every single lover of the proposed themes - everywhere in the world, whatever its language - had the opportunity to find the most suitable format in Terra Madre - according to a note-. According to a first estimate, the 1160 events, organized in 75 countries - from Azerbaijan to Brazil, from Philippines to the island of Antigua - which the www.terramadresalonedelgusto.com platform hosted and promoted with an average of about six a day, have reached over 10 million digital profiles worldwide. In particular, the appointments transmitted on the platform and on the social media of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto totaled over 1,300,000 views with an audience distributed in 202 countries, while the events organized directly by the Slow Food network around the world involved 250,000 participants. The data relating to training activities and meetings that required participation after registration is significant: a total of 97 appointments marks the total enrollment of 10,300 people while over 1 million users have followed those same appointments through social networks. In addition, 3300 young people from all over the world for a month joined the challenge organized on Instagram in collaboration with the activists of the Slow Food Youth Network to promote good, clean and fair food. Another important data emerges from a first statistical survey carried out near the end of the event, according to which over 45% of the subjects who actively participated in the events of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto had never had an involvement in Slow activities. Food: a solid base of interlocutors from which to start again for the next challenges that await us. And a rich parterre of people that we will be able to meet for the first time, physically, at Terra Madre 2022". "These numbers are impossible to compare with any other data relating to previous editions and to any other Slow Food initiative - emphasizes Petrini -, but we can certainly say that they are results we are very satisfied with, because they exceed the objectives we set ourselves on the eve of 'opening". A more complete and detailed picture of the numbers will be presented in June, after the necessary analysis and in-depth work that will begin as early as next week. Conferences, trainings, forums, in addition to the most innovative and most successful formats, the Food Talks and How is it done?, represent a unique heritage of knowledge, a real "library of good, clean and fair" that remains available to those who still want to know, learn, acquire new awareness, essential to understand in which direction we must direct our actions. "Fishing in this extraordinary online library, accessible for free to all, we want to mention some of the many names that have accompanied us on this long journey: Franco Farinelli, Virginie Raisson and Paul Collier, with whom we opened on October 8, on the theme of new geographies to read the world; Jonathan Franzen, who confirmed the thesis that the battle to save biodiversity, unlike that against the climate crisis, is within everyone's reach; Heribert Hirt and David Quammen, who spoke on the report between food and health and the relationship between biodiversity loss and zoonosis; Elena Granata, with the model of the city of the future, based on resilience rather than productive monoculture, echoed by Carolyn Steel, according to which the imperative is to reconnect cities and the surrounding countryside; Sunita Narain who reported us on the tragedy of social injustices caused by the climate crisis; Célia Xakriabá, with her pun view of a young indigenous woman about the role of food, the biodiversity of knowledge and cultures, the right to land; Paul Ariès and Eric Schlosser, on the food of the future and on the (non) solutions proposed by technology; Alice Waters on the role of taste education for children (and schools) in changing the food system", continues the press release. Terra Madre 2020 has combined, as always, the main themes of the 630 exhibitors and the promotion, especially in this dramatic moment they are experiencing, through the marketplace and e-commerce, but also thanks to the numerous chefs and producers who are protagonists of our How you do it? worldwide. "Tomorrow we will close Terra Madre Salone del Gusto but we are already at work for the next edition and the new imperative that will accompany us in rethinking it: do not forget the teachings and opportunities that new technologies have allowed us, returning to being a multitude, in Turin".

“Terra Madre Salone del Gusto” by Slow Food, cala il sipario sull’edizione più lunga

“Di fronte alla crisi sanitaria, sociale, economica causata dalla pandemia abbiamo voluto riportare l’attenzione sulle cause che l’hanno scatenata: la biodiversità agricola compromessa dall’agire umano, la crisi climatica che minaccia gli ecosistemi, le iniquità del modello di produzione e distribuzione del cibo. Tutti problemi che conoscevamo bene già prima di questa pandemia, ma che il modello di sviluppo dominante continua a ignorare o non voler affrontare”: Carlo Petrini, presidente di Slow Food, commenta così la fine di “Terra Madre Salone del Gusto”, edizione n. 13 della manifestazione internazionale organizzata da Slow Food (con Città di Torino e Regione Piemonte) che non si è arresa di fronte all’imperativo dettato dal Covid-19, e con grande spirito di resilienza ha rivoluzionato il proprio format, proponendo 205 giorni di eventi fisici e digitali, organizzati dalla rete di Slow Food e dai suoi partner in 75 Paesi del mondo. “In questa situazione noi abbiamo deciso di puntare i riflettori sulle soluzioni, piccole ma rivoluzionarie per la loro efficacia di azione a livello locale, che già oggi sono nelle mani delle comunità di contadini, pescatori, artigiani, cuochi, ma anche dei singoli cittadini che ogni giorno agiscono per il cambiamento con le loro scelte consapevoli. Da tempo sosteniamo la necessità di un cambio di paradigma, e non siamo i soli a dirlo: ecco, questi sette mesi di Terra Madre ci hanno permesso di ascoltare la voce di studiosi, accademici, filosofi, scienziati, economisti, insieme a quella dei contadini, artigiani, pastori, pescatori, educatori che sono l’ossatura fondamentale della rete di Terra Madre e di Slow Food in ogni angolo del pianeta. Il quadro finale che ci consegna questa edizione dell’evento, attraverso le migliaia di ore di attività realizzate nei cinque continenti, è una lucida visione di questi nuovi paradigmi, che rappresenta quella vera transizione ecologica da più parti invocata e non più rimandabile”, aggiunge Petrini. Nella grande opportunità di conoscere e imparare risiede l’unicità di questa edizione di Terra Madre, che ha unito virtualmente la rete Slow Food come mai nessuna edizione fisica avrebbe potuto fare. Ovviamente, nessun appuntamento virtuale potrà mai sostituire il senso di fraternità e la forza della moltitudine che si incontra a Torino ogni due anni, ma in questi mesi ogni comunità Slow Food, ogni socio, attivista o appassionato - ovunque nel mondo, qualsiasi fosse la sua lingua - ha avuto la possibilità di trovare in Terra Madre il format più adatto. Di Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2020, rimane una straordinaria biblioteca online, con gli interventi, tra gli altri, di Franco Farinelli, Virginie Raisson e Paul Collier, che ha aperto i lavori l’8 ottobre, sul tema delle nuove geografie per leggere il mondo; Jonathan Franzen, che ha confermato la tesi secondo cui la battaglia per salvare la biodiversità, a differenza di quella contro la crisi climatica, è alla portata di tutti; Heribert Hirt e David Quammen, che sono intervenuti sul rapporto tra cibo e salute e il rapporto tra perdita di biodiversità e zoonosi; Elena Granata, con il modello di città del futuro, improntato sulla resilienza anziché sulla monocultura produttiva, a cui ha fatto eco Carolyn Steel, secondo cui l’imperativo è ricollegare le città alla campagna circostante; Sunita Narain che ci ha riportati sulla tragedia delle ingiustizie sociali causate dalla crisi climatica; Célia Xakriabá, con il suo punto di vista di giovane donna indigena a proposito del ruolo del cibo, della biodiversità dei saperi e delle culture, del diritto alla terra; Paul Ariès e Eric Schlosser, sul cibo del futuro e sulle (non) soluzioni proposte dalla tecnologia; Alice Waters sul ruolo dell’educazione al gusto per i più piccoli (e delle scuole) nel cambiare il sistema alimentare. Focus -Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2020 ... ecco i numeri Secondo una prima stima, i 1.160 eventi, organizzati in 75 Paesi - dall’Azerbaijan al Brasile, dalle Filippine all’isola di Antigua - che la piattaforma online di Terra Madre Salone del Gusto ha ospitato e promosso con una media di sei al giorno, hanno raggiunto oltre 10 milioni di profili digitali in tutto il mondo. In particolare, gli appuntamenti trasmessi sulla piattaforma e sui social di Terra Madre Salone del Gusto hanno totalizzato oltre 1,3 milioni di visualizzazioni, con un pubblico distribuito in 202 Paesi, mentre gli eventi organizzati direttamente dalla rete Slow Food in giro per il mondo hanno coinvolto 250.000 partecipanti. Significativo il dato relativo alle attività di formazione e agli incontri che prevedevano la partecipazione previa registrazione: un totale di 97 appuntamenti segna complessivamente l’iscrizione di 10.300 persone, mentre sono oltre 1 milione gli utenti che hanno seguito quegli stessi appuntamenti attraverso i social. Inoltre, 3.300 giovani da tutto il mondo per un mese hanno aderito alla challenge organizzata su Instagram in collaborazione con gli attivisti dello Slow Food Youth Network per promuovere il cibo buono, pulito e giusto. Un altro dato importante emerge da una prima rilevazione statistica effettuata in prossimità della conclusione dell’evento, secondo la quale oltre il 45% dei soggetti che hanno partecipato attivamente agli appuntamenti di Terra Madre Salone del Gusto non aveva mai avuto un coinvolgimento nelle attività di Slow Food: una solida base di interlocutori da cui ripartire per le prossime sfide pensando già a quando ci si potrà tornare a incontrare, fisicamente, a Terra Madre 2022.

Using ACs to Cool Our Houses—and the Planet Too

As summer temperatures soar, millions of Indians depend upon air conditioners (ACs). This is not an exaggeration: the number of AC owners in India went up from 2 million in 2006, to 5 million by 2011. By 2030, a staggering 200 million Indians may own an AC. After all, India’s increasingly affluent middle class ranks first amongst lower-middle income countries in the world; this means that more Indians can now afford to buy air conditioners. Fanning the flames of an increasing AC demand are the rising temperatures across the subcontinent. Since 2004, India has recorded 11 of its warmest years. This may worsen. Before the end of the century, India’s average summer temperature is expected to increase by 4.4℃, while the intensity of heat waves is set to increase by 3 to 4 times. Then, in this scorching country, an inevitable pattern emerges—more people can now afford to buy cheap ACs, which are unfortunately, also the least energy efficient amongst available air conditioners. Why does energy efficiency matter? Let’s put this into perspective. According to a 2018 report by the International Energy Association, “the global stock of air conditioners in buildings will grow to 5.6 billion by 2050, up from 1.6 billion today.” For this projection to come true, 10 new ACs will have be sold every second around the world for the next 30 years. That’s a lot of ACs—which means that their energy requirements are huge too. For example, between 2017-18 India utilised 130 million tonnes of refrigeration for cooling purposes. Over the next 16 years, this figure is expected to grow by 8 times—which would result in a colossal emission of greenhouse gases. Add to this the danger of ozone depleting hydrofluorocarbons that refrigerants in ACs contain. Together, this is a deadly combination and a grave threat to climate change mitigation efforts. “Most of those people who are now buying ACs in developing countries like India are first-time buyers. So, they do not yet have the experience to see the long-term economic benefits of [buying] more energy efficient but expensive ACs,” says Manjeet Singh, Associate Fellow at The Energy Resources Institute (TERI). So, if more and more Indians are set to buy ACs, how can the more energy efficient variants become popular? The answers lie in first understanding Indian consumer behaviour. Inside the AC Shopper’s Mind For a consumer, the easiest and clearest indication of their appliance’s energy efficiency is the star rating system developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The system gives appliances a rating between 1 to 5 stars, where a 5-star rating refers to the highest energy efficiency for that appliance. Despite this information, the most popular AC choice, according to a 2021 study based on Delhi’s AC usage, was a mid-efficiency 3-star rating unit. Unsurprisingly, the higher costs of more energy efficient ACs were a deterrent for consumers. “India is currently importing about 30% of its ACs. Imports of components like compressors and electronic sensors which are then assembled domestically is even higher. Most of the imported units [which are also more expensive] are the more efficient ACs,” says Singh. This year, an increase in import costs is also reflecting in the prices of major AC manufacturers such as Voltas, Daikin, LG, and Blue Star, who have raised their prices by 5 to 8 percent. This has a direct repercussion on what type of ACs get sold more: a higher price means that the demand for low-end, affordable products, like 3 or 4-star ACs, will go up instead of for 5-star ones. While high costs act as a deterrent, efficiency is still not the next top factor that consumers base their decisions on. Less than 5% of the households in the 2021 study reported energy efficiency as a determining reason for what kind of AC to buy. Other features like having a remote, or a heating mode, is what seems to excite consumers more. Apart from insights into what consumers buy, understanding how the AC gets used after being bought is equally important in the energy efficiency conversation. A 2016 Centre for Science and Environment study noted that if consumers lower a 5-star rated AC’s internal temperature to 20℃ or lower, its performance becomes equivalent to a 2 or 3-star rated AC. That’s not all. Its performance is also impacted by outside temperatures: if it is 40℃ to 50℃ outside, the 5-star rated AC will perform worse than a 2 or even a 1-star rated AC. For a country like India with hot summers, this is almost inevitable with the current technology available. Take for instance, New Delhi, which has already witnessed a 40-degree day in March this year, with the end of April also seeing soaring temperatures. So, since the current AC consumer market is plagued with high costs and gaps in consumer awareness, what can be done to move consumers towards more sustainable air conditioning decisions? Addressing the Cost Factor The best solution would be to have a low-cost, highly energy efficient air conditioner on the market, which sustains its performance even in high outside temperatures. In 2019, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL)—a joint venture under the Ministry of Power—did just that with Voltas. They began selling a 7-star rated AC at a relatively affordable ₹41,300—cheaper than many 5-star models—which maintains its efficiency even when the outside temperature hovers at 52℃. This was made possible through bulk procurement of units—EESL floated a tender to procure 1,00,000 super-efficient ACs, resulting in a steep fall in market prices. The winning bidder was required to extend support right from designing and manufacturing the AC to supplying it, installing it, and providing post-sales operation and monitoring. This was not EESL’s first such experiment; in 2016, it conducted a similar bulk procurement with energy saving 9-watt LED bulbs, which brought the retail price of each bulb down from ₹550 per piece in 2015 to ₹65 in 2016. “Bringing affordability to the customer has to be a priority for India, where we will see a very high demand for ACs in the coming years. Maybe attracting foreign investment to develop more such technologies would accelerate this process,” says Singh. As of 2019, China and Thailand are the leading exporters of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) components in the world. Now that efficient ACs are making their way into the market, what is the best way to inform consumers about the technicalities of energy efficiency? Letting the Customers Know If the BEE’s star-rating is your first guess to how customers understand energy efficiency, then the 2020 CAG report might make you take another guess. According to the audit, almost 4 lakh units of nine models of room air conditioners had been marketed until December 2015, yet had failed label verification tests for energy efficiency. In 2017-18, over 23,000 ACs had been marketed without really being as efficient as their labels suggested. “If the energy efficiency that the product vouches for is actually not being met, then it would lead to a loss of consumer trust,” explains Sumedha Malaviya, Manager of the Energy Program at the World Resource Institute-India. “To prevent that from happening, standards-setting bodies like the BEE need to ensure that mislabelled or unlabelled products do not enter local markets’’. Some experts even recommend that the BEE carry out its efficiency tests in multiple higher temperature ranges and declare the results on their product label—all in a bid to improve transparency for the consumer. Additionally, Sumedha gives an example of nudging consumers towards energy efficient decisions. In Bengaluru, TIDE, a grassroots NGO has experimented with home energy reports under a program called VidyutRakshaka, which are usually delivered by email or post to the consumer. “This report splits the household’s electricity usage appliance wise, compares their usage with their neighbours’ to initiate a sense of competition of usage reduction, and even sets goals of managing demand for the upcoming months,” she explains. If by 2030 India does manage to improve the average efficiency of its AC stock by 30% of 2015 levels, it would be a big deal—our CO2 emissions could reduce by as much as 10% of what is expected from India’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement. In fact, such reductions would also be in line with the targets of the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), a 2019 Central government plan that provides a 20 year outline towards sustainable cooling. India is the first country in the world to develop such a plan. But, some aspects are still missing from this conversation. “We are currently focusing a lot on increasing the sale of energy efficient ACs. But a crucial aspect is still lacking—that is, reducing the demand for cooling through affordable retrofits in houses,” says Sumedha. Design Solutions for Heating Problems From construction material to design elements, architecture can make a huge difference in thermal comforts. For instance, in a high temperature city, while large, glass windows may look aesthetically pleasing, they can also trap more heat. Under such circumstances, double-glazed windows can retain the house’s coolness. Integrating these passive cooling techniques into upcoming buildings can tap into a large potential of energy efficiency in India, where 75% of buildings expected to exist by 2030 have not been built yet. “Under the ICAP, coordination with other ministries and departments can be advantageous, especially for low-income housing projects under the government which can integrate passive cooling as well,” says Sumedha. Already constructed buildings can still benefit from cooling techniques. Cool roofs, for example, is a simple and cost-effective solution that involves applying white limewash to rooftops—this reflects sunlight and absorbs less heat. Gujarat’s capital Ahmedabad witnessed such a pilot project in 2018, wherein the Municipal Corporation painted the rooftops of about 2% of the city’s lower income households. It was found that cool roofs could help lower temperatures by 2-5 degrees, as compared to traditional roofs. An exciting new invention of the “whitest white” paint that reflects 98.1% of sunlight also presents a similar opportunity that can work “similar to air conditioner, but without the use of electricity.”

Fly ash utilisation deadline extended for thermal power plants

The new draft notification also gives 10 years to thermal power plants to utilise fly ash or legacy ash which is stored. For the first time, the notification has a provision of imposing fines on thermal power plants that don’t comply with the new timeline The Union environment ministry has extended the deadline for thermal power plants to ensure 100% utilisation of fly ash by 3 to 5 years, according to a new draft notification issued by the ministry on April 22. It also gives 10 years to thermal power plants to utilise the unutilised fly ash, or legacy ash which is stored. For the first time, the notification has a provision of imposing fines on thermal power plants that don’t comply with the new timelines. The previous deadline for 100% fly ash utilisation was December 31, 2017, as per a notification issued by the ministry on January 25, 2016. As per the new draft notification, thermal power plants (TPP) with fly ash utilisation of 60% to 80% will get 4 years while those with fly ash utilisation of less than 60% will get 5 years’ time to ensure 100% fly ash utilisation. Non-compliant power plants will be slapped a fine of ₹1,000 per tonne on unutilised ash during the end of the deadline. Coal or lignite plants which are not able to utilise 100% of ash in the third year of the next three-year cycle, would be liable to pay a fine of ₹1,000 per tonne on the unutilised quantity. The environment ministry had last month issued new norms which give an extension of 1 to 3 years to all thermal power plants to comply with the emission norms. A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysis had found that the penalty charged to companies for not complying with the extended deadline is lower than the cost of complying. CSE’s analysis showed that while installing the equipment for pollution control would cost between ₹40-100 lakh/MW, the penalty that thermal power plants would have to pay to keep running without installing the equipment is only ₹5-11 lakh/MW as per the new amendment.

Odisha: 4 journalists succumbed to Covid in April so far

Last year, four journalists, including a Bhubaneswar TV channel reporter, succumbed to Covid-19 in Odisha. At least four journalists in Odisha succumbed this month to Covid-19, amid the second wave of the disease. Amjad Badshah, 45, died on Sunday afternoon after battling the virus for 18 days after testing positive on April 7. He worked for several TV channels and also wrote for fortnightly news magazine Down to Earth. He was also consulting editor for NFTV Media, a firm established in July last year. Two days earlier on Friday, two journalists from Ganjam district succumbed to the disease. One of them, 25-years old Govinda Behera, a resident of Kukudakhandi block, was employed with news portal News 6; while the second victim, Manoj Sahoo, a resident of Chikiti block, was a reporter for Odia daily ‘Nitidin’. Behera was first quarantined after showing Covid symptoms and then admitted to the Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur town after testing positive. He died later in the day after his oxygen level dropped. Fifteen minutes after his death, his uncle too succumbed to the virus. Manoj Sahoo also died while being treated at the MKCG Covid Hospital. The same day, 46-year-old Jatish Khamari, reporter of Odia daily Sambad in Balangir district, too succumbed to Covid in a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. Last year, four journalists, including a Bhubaneswar TV channel reporter, succumbed to Covid. The Naveen Patnaik government later gave ₹15 lakh ex-gratia to the families of three deceased journalists. According to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), since the beginning of March last year, 585 journalists have died in 57 countries due to Covid. India is the second-most affected with 53 deaths, preceded only by Peru with 93 deaths. On Sunday, Vivek Bendre, The Hindu’s senior Mumbai-based photojournalist, succumbed to Covid. Early this week, Chanchal Pal Chauhan of Economic Times too fell to the disease. In Puducherry, K Dharmaraj alias Bharath (34), a video journalist with Polymer TV died due to Covid-19 on Thursday.

Supreme Court Sends Notice to the Indian Government About 5 Honey Brands

Honey has long become a staple in our daily indulgences, from enhancing the flavor of our morning beverages to teas and sweets, but what if we told you that the honey you're drinking isn't up to snuff and may be tainted? Is Honey safe to consume? In an unexpected turn of events, the Supreme Court of India requested a response from the Centre and states on a petition seeking a permanent ban on all unlicensed honey processing, as well as companies and individuals engaged in illegal adulterated honey industry. The Anti-Corruption Council of India Trust, through advocate Manju Jetley, cited a study from researchers at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), claiming that major Indian honey brands "are mixing honey with a tweaked sugar from China, bypassing certain simple tests used to detect adulteration in honey." After a short hearing, a bench led by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and including Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian gave notice on the plea. "The majority of honey sold in India is adulterated with sugar syrup. As a result, instead of butter, people are consuming more sugar, which is extremely concerning since it would exacerbate health problems during Covid-19 "The plea continued. Analysis and assertions The plea argued that according to the news released, only three samples out of 70 passed the globally approved NMR spectroscopy inspection, and that spokespersons from Dabur, Patanjali, and Zandu declared that their honey brands met the regulatory specifications laid down by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) and denied that their honey products were adulterated. "This is a food hoax more sinister and complex than CSE discovered in its soft drink investigation in 2003 and 2006, more harmful to our health than maybe anything they have discovered to date, particularly given the fact that we are still facing a killer Covid-19 pandemic with our backs against the wall," the plea said. The Case Against the Most Famous Honey Brands The firms were also ordered to send investigative or evaluation reports of various honey brands or goods to the top court, according to the petition. "Research from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has claimed that major brands Dabur, Patanjali, and Zandu are selling honey adulterated with modified sugar from China that can circumvent some of the simple tests used to detect adulterated honey," the petition continued.

Climate change: 490 million Children in Africa most Vulnerable

Chad, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea and Democratic Republic of the Congo are the least capable of adapting to the impact of climate change. Somalilandsun: Around 490 million children under the age of 18 in 35 African countries are at the highest risk of suffering the impact of climate change, warned Save the Children International, a child rights non-profit. Sub-Saharan Africa has 35 of the 45 countries globally at highest climate risk, found the global NGO in an analysis. Chad, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea and Democratic Republic of the Congo are the least capable of adapting to the impact of climate change. Of the 750 million children in 45 countries likely to be most affected by climate risk, 210 million are in three South Asian nations — Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. In an analysis based on the most recent Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN) index.the countries have been ranked by their vulnerability to climate disruptions and their readiness or capacity to adapt to climate chang HERE https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa/climate-change-490-million-children-in-africa-most-vulnerable-76595

Raise your domestic ambition: CSE asks US President as global climate summit begins

As the world gears up for the global leaders’ summit on climate change, called by US president Joe Biden, it is heartening that climate change is back on the agenda. But the world is back to discussing all the wrong things; as we are in danger of once again losing the opportunity to drive home the need for ambition and equity in climate change action,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), at an online webinar and media briefing ahead of climate summit. ‘What’s new in Climate Change’, the online event was organised by CSE to demystify all the current, relevant and key concerns and issues of climate change, as well as to understand what would be on the table for discussions during Biden’s summit. CSE released its latest publication – Climate Change: Science and Politics – during the webinar. “There is no question that climate change is real. With the Covid-19 pandemic showing no signs of abating, climate change and its impacts could not have happened at a worse time. Human actions and mismanagement is compounding the problem – floods and the recent dam-burst in the Himalayas was the result of mismanagement of fragile ecology, exacerbated by climate change. In all this, our poor are the most vulnerable and the most severely hit,” said Sunita Narain. “Biden’s global summit is a welcome step but will it yield any meaningful results, or will it simply degenerate into another meaningless discussion on net zero, is to be seen, said Narain. CSE has interpreted net zero as nothing but “zero zero”. Says Narain: “It is nothing but a grand distraction, a so-called badge of honor – an example of science misinterpreted by the biggest polluters.” CSE’s interpretation bases itself on the argument that net-zero is merely aspirational. Almost all the countries that have made declarations, have no plans on how they will achieve net zero status by 2050. Moreover, as an idea, it is intrinsically flawed, claims CSE. “Net zero will allow countries to emit, with the presumption that the emissions will get mopped up, either by planting more trees in the hope that they will sequester the carbon that is emitted, or by using carbon capture and storage technologies. The problem is, none of this is proven yet. These technologies are not yet in existence, and the science of carbon sequestration by trees is still uncertain and unproven," Samrat Sengupta, programme director of CSE’s climate change unit said. Says Narain: “It would be logical then to say that if the world needs to be net zero by 2050, the developed countries needed to have already turned net zero or do so by 2030. Only then would it provide the space for countries like India -- way below in the historical emissions and current emissions rankings -- to declare a net zero goal by 2050.” CSE points out that real action is possible -- the US can walk the talk today if it wants. While its GHG emissions had dipped during the pandemic-induced lockdowns, they are on the upswing once again. Says Sengupta: “As per 2019 estimates, the US will not be able to meet its Paris commitments (a 25-26 per cent cut in emissions below the 2005 level by 2025).” CSE ask Biden to raise domestic ambition. Set a domestic target for 2030 which is ambitious and equitable, proportional to the US’s contribution to the stock of emissions in the atmosphere. According to Climate Action Tracker estimates, to be ambitious and fair, the US needs a humungous 57-63 per cent cut below the 2005 level by 2030. CSE researchers say that the US must accept that countries need their right to development. “Climate justice is a pre-requisite for ambition and action,” Narain said. It asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi Call for real action by 2030 from the big and historical polluters, including China. Ask for actions that will set the reduction targets – including net zero – to be based on climate justice. The country needs to cut its GHG emissions for its own benefit. “We must be climate-smart and do development differently,” Narain said. CSE says the big nations must make every effort to meet the 450 GW renewable energy target by 2030. Do not derail implementation of the coal thermal power emission standards. Do not stall the move towards cleaner coal.

Environment concerns increasingly becoming a development agenda

Global leaders are getting together on World Earth Day, April 22 for the two-day Global Leadership Summit. While leaders brainstorm to way to reduce emission in this decade while also getting the public and private sector involvement, the need to show how climate action can have economic and social benefits is gaining prominence. As the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is increasingly veering towards ways to protect lives and livelihoods while adapting to climate change and net-zero emissions by 2050. Automobiles are no doubt one of the biggest sources of pollution. Ground vehicles together contribute to more than 75 percent of transport emission and that in itself contributes nearly 17 percent of the world’s energy-related greenhouse gas emission. In this context, it is interesting to understand what are the top priorities for the automotive industry to make mobility solutions greener. Top priorities for automobile industry Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director - Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment considers, “this is emerging as a challenge for India and globally as well- We are currently at a crossroad- 2021 and the new decade. The whole environment issue is no longer a soft, fringe issue, it is a serious, global development and market issue today. The moment you start setting target for net zero and completely phasing out IC engine, it will surely have a transformative impact.” She considers that it is important for Indian industry to realise and understand the opportunity there in the new generation regulations. She feels it is important to take a proactive view and be a strong partner in the rapidly changing competition scenario globally. According to her, “The focus therefore has to be on- Real world performance of the IC engines a key priority agenda. There is need for lot more transparency in vehicle performance and more consumer information. Understand the value of combining emission and fuel economy standards. Need to look at emission management and carbon management and agree to focus on maximising fuel efficiency gains across all vehicle segments. Need ambition and policy vision in the overall electrification exercise. All of it has to be part of a central industrial policy. Zero emission transition and trajectory for electrification- needs to be part of a focussed industrial policy. Government needs to be a prime mover in terms of enabling the mechanism.” She surmised the need for proactive all-inclusive and comprehensive policies that combine market requirements with developmental agenda as she signed off, “an Industrial agenda can no longer be delinked from the broad agenda for the future.”

India, US announce clean energy initiative

According to a White House statement, Biden’s move to upgrade the country’s NDCs on Thursday will steer the world towards achieving the Paris agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the launch of a joint climate and clean energy initiative with the United States to “mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies and enable green collaborations” in India that could also “create templates of sustainable development” for other developing countries. PM Modi, speaking at the Leaders Summit on Climate convened by US President Joe Biden on Thursday, did not announce any changes or upgrades to commitments under the Paris Agreement but underlined that India was already doing its part and that the country’s per capita carbon emissions are 60% lower than the global average. President Biden opened the summit with an ambitious pledge to cut the US’s greenhouse gases in half by the year 2030 and called upon other nations to “set higher climate ambitions” that will create jobs at home, advance innovative technologies and help countries vulnerable to the impact of climate change”. “We in India are doing our part. Our ambitious renewable energy target of 450 GW by 2030 shows our commitment. Despite our development challenges, we have taken many bold steps on clean energy, energy efficiency, afforestation and biodiversity. We are among few countries whose NDCs (nationally determined contribution, under the Paris climate deal) are 2 degree C compatible,” PM Modi said in an address to over 40 other world leaders who participated in the two-day summit called by Biden. President Biden and I are launching the India-US Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership. We will help mobilise investment, demonstrate clean technologies and enable green collaborations,” Modi added. No details were available yet on the India-US initiative, but on a visit to India last month, Biden’s special envoy on climate, John Kerry, said that “huge investments” will be forthcoming in India by the US and other countries in return for “some changes by India”. Earlier this month, Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar underscored India’s prerogative to balance development goals with obligations on climate change, saying that the country will attempt to keep its climate commitments but will not act at the behest or under pressure from developed countries. According to a White House statement, Biden’s move to upgrade the country’s NDCs on Thursday will steer the world towards achieving the Paris agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Climate Action Tracker, however, said that the US will need to do even more. Instead of the revised aim to to cut 50-52% in national emissions, it will need to shave off at least 57-63% emissions below 2005 levels by 2030 and provide support to other countries to meet the Paris climate goals. Following the US’s announcement, independent experts said it is time for all countries, including India, to scale up action against climate crisis. “President Biden’s upgraded NDC is a game changer. For too long the US has not put out an aggressive emissions reduction target. All countries could benchmark their lack of progress against the US... We think its time for all countries including India to upgrade action. As per the Climate Action Tracker, India’s NDC is 2 degree C compliant but not 1.5 degree C target compliant. We should ramp up action for our own good,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment. “The new US climate target is a step in the right direction: all major economies should be shifting towards cutting their emissions at least 50% by 2030,” tweeted Laurence Tubiana, CEO European Climate Foundation and one of the architects of the Paris agreement. “The new NDC target that the US submitted today aims to reduce its GHG emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels. Since the US’ emissions grew between 1990 and 2005, this new target roughly amounts to a 43-45% reduction below its 1990 emissions or its 2020 emissions. This is a step in the right direction, particularly when combined with its commitment to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Unlike the UK and EU, however, the US's pledge is not yet enshrined in law. But it has the potential to spur technological innovation,” said Ulka Kelkar, director, climate programme, World Resources Institute. In its Biennial Update Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) submitted in February, India said it has progressively decoupled economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions and it was on track to meet its voluntary declaration to reduce emission intensity of GDP by 20-25% from 2005 levels by 2020. The report, however, also noted that India’s reliance on coal will continue to meet the country’s energy needs. On Thursday, President Xi Jinping reiterated that China’s carbon emissions will peak before 2030 and the country will achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Xi also emphasised on “the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities”, which argues for long-time polluters such as developed countries to do more to fight climate crisis. Some experts agree. "Biden administration's new climate target goes further than its previous commitment yet remains far from its 'fair share' of action. As the world’s biggest historical emitter, the US has a huge responsibility to the communities most affected by a crisis they did the least to cause," said Harjeet Singh, ActionAid’s global lead on climate. Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga too announced that Japan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and that it will cut its emissions by 46% over 2013 levels by 2030. The United Kingdom too led with a target of cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. At the summit meant to signal the US’s return to the high chair after the Trump administration pulled out of the Paris agreement, Prime Minister Modi cited India as an example and called for more attention to “lifestyle changes” as a way to combat global warming. “India’s per capita carbon footprint is 60% lower than the global average. It is because our lifestyle is still rooted in sustainable traditional practices,” he said, adding that “back-to-basics” must be an important pillar of economic strategy for the post-Covid era. The summit, termed by Biden as a milestone leading up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 in Glasgow this November, was also attended by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, Germany’s Angela Merkel, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

India's 'Solar Man' lights path out of poverty with clean power

Santipada Gon Chaudhuri began pioneering solar power after visiting a Himalayan village in the 1980s. Since then, he has dedicated his career to bringing energy to people in impoverished, remote communities. His work has propelled India's push for clean energy from the sun, earning him the title of of India's "Solar Man". India has about 40GW of solar capacity and is aiming for 100GW by 2022. Since he was a child, Santipada Gon Chaudhuri had sought ways to help India's rural poor, so when the electrical engineer was invited to visit a co-worker's home in the Himalayan village of Herma in the early 1980s, he saw his chance. "I was appalled to see how local communities were living in darkness after sunset," remembered Chaudhuri, 71, who then worked for the government in the northeastern state of Tripura. Some used kerosene lamps, but even kerosene was not always easy to get. Since I had both the skill and position to try and provide power to them, it made me act," he said. The villages of Tripura are located on tough, hilly terrain, where Chaudhuri realised it would be hard to put up power lines. "But they had solar energy in abundance," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview. In 1983, he used government funding to install solar panels for 70 homes, as well as running a community television and water pump - the first time anyone in the hamlet had seen electric light. That small project sparked a career dedicated to bringing energy to people in impoverished, remote communities, a mission that earned Chaudhuri the moniker of India's "Solar Man". Today, more than 100 homes and businesses in Herma are lit by an updated solar energy system, allowing villagers to be more productive while reducing their use of expensive, polluting fuels like kerosene. "Life in the village would come to a complete standstill after sunset. But with light in our homes now, our children are studying until night," said villager Sumoti Riyang, 33. "Shops and business establishments remain open in the evening. We can work more. All this is generating more income for us," she said. In his Kolkata office, adorned with awards he has won since his first project nearly 40 years ago, Chaudhuri said he gets "great satisfaction" from seeing how solar power has changed lives in Herma, connecting residents to the modern world. Career of firsts Herma was the first tribal village in the country to gain access to solar power, and by 1989 Chaudhuri had led the installation of solar technology in nearly 40 villages across India's northeastern states. Four years later, he developed India's first centralised solar power station with a distribution network on Sagar Island in the Sundarbans, home to one of the world's largest mangrove forests, supplying 100 households through power lines. The project was considered a breakthrough at a time when solar technology "was largely confined to laboratories and prototypes", said Samrat Sengupta of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a nonprofit think-tank. By 2000, more than 400,000 people in villages around the Sundarbans national park were using solar power, through a mix of mini-grids and domestic solar-power systems. At the time, the area had the highest per-capita consumption of solar power in the world, Chaudhuri noted. The project earned him an Ashden Award, known as the "Green Oscars", and the Euro Solar Award from Germany. In 2006, it also inspired India's then-President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to invite Chaudhuri to design a captive solar unit for the presidential palace. "Chaudhuri's work is a classic example of empowerment of indigenous communities through solar power," said Arun Tripathi, director general of the National Institute of Solar Energy, an autonomous body under the renewable energy ministry. In 2009, Chaudhuri installed the country's first grid-connected solar plant in West Bengal's Jamuria village, a 2-megawatt (MW) project serving 5,000 families. This was lauded as an "environmental breakthrough" because, until then, solar power had been limited to remote areas without access to electricity, said CSE's Sengupta. Jamuria was the first location to use solar to replace coal power in the grid, bringing clean energy into the mainstream, he said, noting it cut the amount of coal burned locally by 2,000 kg (4,400 pounds) per hour and decreased carbon emissions. Floating solar Sengupta and others said Chaudhuri's work helped pave the way for India's National Solar Mission, launched in 2010. The initiative, on which Chaudhuri consulted, had an initial target of producing 20 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2022. Having already nearly doubled that ahead of time, India has set a new goal of 100GW. But as its solar power expansion has gained pace, a growing population and increasing urbanisation have made finding enough land for big projects more difficult. In response, Chaudhuri came up with India's first floating solar power station. In 2014, after joining the nonprofit NB Institute for Rural Technology, which he now heads, he led construction of an experimental 10-kilowatt government-funded floating solar panel on a lake in Kolkata's New Town. "Designing the floating structure of the panel and anchoring it in the water body were major challenges," he said. That project grew into a national programme that now generates more than 1,700MW of solar power from floating panels in various coastal states around the country. Despite its progress, India's solar push has some limitations including high capital costs, scarcity of land and the need for sunny weather, said Partha S. Bhattacharyya, former chairman of Coal India Limited, the world's largest coal producer which is also investing in solar energy projects. "Thermal (coal) power is reliable and consistent, due to greater grid stability," he added. Chaudhuri and his team are currently experimenting with solar-powered pumps that push water up to a higher storage reservoir that can then generate hydro-electricity using micro turbines, supplying villages when needed. "The very concept of solar power has changed from simply providing lights to controlling carbon emissions," Chaudhuri said. "It is time that we seriously think about how to leave behind a more livable world for future generations."