New Book: Nuclear Power, Economic Development Discourse and the Environment. The Case of India by Manu Mathai

Nuclear Power, Economic Development Discourse and the Environment

The Case of India

By Manu Mathai

Published 4th January 2013 by Routledge – 230 pages

Series: Routledge Explorations in Environmental Studies

Description:

Nuclear power is often characterized as a "green technology." Technologies are rarely, if ever, socially isolated artefacts. Instead, they materially represent an embodiment of values and priorities. Nuclear power is no different. It is a product of a particular political economy and the question is whether that political economy can helpfully engage with the challenge of addressing the environmental crisis on a finite, inequitable and shared planet. For developing countries like India, who are presently making infrastructure investments which will have long legacies, it is imperative that these investments wrestle with such questions and prove themselves capable of sufficiency, greater equality and inclusiveness.

This book offers a critique of civilian nuclear power as a green energy strategy for India and develops and proposes an alternative "synergy for sustainability." It situates nuclear power as a socio-technical infrastructure embodying a particular development discourse and practice of energy and economic development. The book reveals the political economy of this arrangement and examines the latter’s ability to respond to the environmental crisis.

Manu V. Mathai argues that the existing overwhelmingly growth-focused, highly technology-centric approach for organizing economic activity is unsustainable and needs to be reformed. Within this imperative for change, nuclear power in India is found to be and is characterized as an "authoritarian technology." Based on this political economy critique the book proposes an alternative, a synergy of ideas from the fields of development economics, energy planning and science, technology and society studies.

Contents:

Preface
1. Passions of Power and the "Tryst with Destiny"
2. Modernity, Cornucopianism and the Megamachine
3. The Evolution of India's Economic Development Discourse: Independence to 1985
4. The Embrace of Nuclear Power and The Development-Energy Treadmill In India
5. The Advance of Economic Liberalization in India: 1985 to Present
6. Political Economy of Nuclear Power in India
7. Beyond Cornucopianism and the Megamachine Organization
8. Epilogue

Source: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415629164/

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Publication: Accessing Asia: Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Road Transport and Electricity by CAI-Asia

Accessing Asia: Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Road Transport and Electricity

Posted by kaye on 3 Jan 2013

Document Date: 

Sat, 2012-12-01

Description: 

Asia is urbanizing fast: 50% live in cities and over the next 30 years Asian cities will grow by another 1.1 billion people. Continued strong economic growth in the region also fuels the demand for electricity and transport. As a result, air pollution is getting worse and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rise rapidly. Policy and decision makers need data and emissions indicators to track progress of policies and make investment decisions that steer Asia's societies towards a low emissions development path. Data must be relevant, reliable and accessible but the on the ground reality is very different. This report is supplemented with an online database (www.CitiesACT.org) and guidelines for the development, measurement, and use of the emissions indicators. This data initiative, aimed to improve access to reliable data that are relevant to transport, energy and urban development, was a partnership of Clean Air Asia, World Bank and several other development agencies and research institutes. With a focus on 13 countries that cover 95% of Asia's population and 89% of the region's GDP, benchmark indicators were developed for CO2 as the most important GHG, and for particulate matter (PM) as the main air pollutant from a health perspective. Data and indicators for road transport in 23 Asian cities supplement these because how we develop our cities will largely determine our future emissions footprint.

Document Files: 

Accessing Asia 2012: Executive Summary

Accessing Asia 2012: Main Report

Accessing Asia 2012: Country Profiles

Guidelines for Air Pollution and GHG Emissions Indicators: 2012

Source: http://cleanairinitiative.org/portal/node/11573

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Publication: Toward Reducing the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the Internet and Telecommunications by Chien A. Chan, André F. Gygax, Elaine Wong, Christopher A. Leckie, Ampalavanapillai Nirmalathas, and Daniel C. Kilper

Toward Reducing the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the Internet and Telecommunications

Jan. 2, 2013 — Amid growing concern over the surprisingly large amount of greenhouse gas produced by the Internet and other telecommunications activities, researchers are reporting new models of emissions and energy consumption that could help reduce their carbon footprint.

Their report appears in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Link to the report:
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es303384y?prevSearch=%2528Toward%2BReducing%2Bthe%2BGreenhouse%2BGas%2BEmissions%2Bof%2Bthe%2BInternet%2Band%2BTelecommunications%2529%2Band%2B%255BCollectionKey%253A%2B%252210.1555%252Fcategory.358319304%2522%255D&searchHistoryKey= 

Researchers from the Centre for Energy-Efficient Telecommunications (CEET) and Bell Labs explain that the information communications and technology (ICT) industry, which delivers Internet, video, voice and other cloud services, produces more than 830 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the main greenhouse gas, annually. That's about 2 percent of global CO₂ emissions -- the same proportion as the aviation industry produces. Projections suggest that ICT sector's share is expected to double by 2020. The team notes that controlling those emissions requires more accurate but still feasible models, which take into account the data traffic, energy use and CO₂production in networks and other elements of the ICT industry. Existing assessment models are inaccurate, so they set out to develop new approaches that better account for variations in equipment and other factors in the ICT industry.

They describe development and testing of two new models that better estimate the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of Internet and telecommunications services. They tested the models on a simulated network and on a deployed network that serves the majority of schools in California. Both models delivered better estimates than the current "top-down" models. The researchers suggest, based on their models, that more efficient power usage of facilities, more efficient use of energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy sources are three keys to reducing ICT emissions of CO₂.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130102140452.htm

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HK updates: Tree care ensures a greener Hong Kong (6 Jan 2013)

Tree care ensures a greener Hong Kong

January 06, 2013

There are many trees dotted around Hong Kong, offering a great variety of flora in both rural and urban areas. The Tree Management Office was established in 2010 to assess trees and train staff in different government departments to deal with tree problems.
 
The office hopes that with community surveillance and the work of different departments, Hong Kong can take good care of its trees and develop a greener environment.
 
The office provides about 140 courses for government departments. It has trained about 17,000 people so far.

Tree Management Officer Keith Fan teaches government staff how to conduct tree inspections.
 
On the day of this interview, he was teaching a class of 30 in Kowloon Park, to inspect the condition of a tree on a slope.
 
“If this kind of fungus is found on the surface of the tree, the root of this tree will probably be damaged by infection,” he told his students.
 
"The first step to inspecting a tree is to observe it by eye. If problematic trees are found, more advanced equipment is required for further testing, such as tomography scanners, to gather more data about the heath condition of the trees.”
 
Staff are trained to conduct tree risk assessments, and to learn mitigation measures.
 
Different departments conducted more than 28,000 tree inspections last year, and prescribed mitigation measures for more than 19,000 trees.
 
Tree Management Office Head Lawrence Chau said there are many ways to deal with problematic trees. Some simply need pruning, support or removal, while others must be treated for pests and disease.
 
Striking a balance 
Deciding whether to repair or remove a problematic tree is not an easy decision.
 
“We are trying our best to strike a balance when managing trees. We have to take public safety into account, and consider the feelings of the community for trees. Although the overall policy focuses on public safety, we also communicate with local communities, especially on trees which are highly worthy of protection,” Mr Chau said.

 
A 14-metre candlenut tree on Perkins Road has long branches which have posed problems for vehicles passing by it. Leisure & Cultural Services Department officers examined the situation and decided to cut part of the tree. Tree surgeons had to work quickly and accurately to minimise the operation's impact on traffic.
 
Community care 
Due to the vast number of trees in Hong Kong, the Tree Management Office suggests that one way to improve tree monitoring is to gather support from the public. People can report problematic trees by calling 1823.
 
People can also download the Tell Me@1823 application for smartphones, and simply submit photographs and a description to report a problematic tree. A geospatial function allows the app to capture the tree's location, enabling related departments to conduct follow-up work as quickly as possible.
 
Tree Care Report forms are available online for people to report tree problems to the Tree Management Office.
 
The office has also prepared a pictorial guide to explain how to identify health and structural problems in trees.

Link to Department Bureau Tree Management Office: http://www.trees.gov.hk/en/home/index.html

Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/categories/environment/html/2013/01/20130104_145845.shtml

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Indian Updates: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE HEADED BY SHRI A.K. BANSAL ADDL. DIRECTOR GENERAL (FC) ON THE REGULATORY REGIME REGARDING FELLING AND TRANSIT REGULATIONS FOR TREE SPECIES GROWN ON NON FORESTS/ PRIVATE LANDS

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS, 

GOVERNEMENT OF INDIA

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

HEADED BY SHRI A.K. BANSAL

ADDL. DIRECTOR GENERAL (FC)

ON 

THE REGULATORY REGIME 

REGARDING FELLING AND TRANSIT 

REGULATIONS FOR TREE SPECIES 

GROWN ON NON FORESTS/ PRIVATE 

LANDS

F. No.8-14/2004-FP

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests

Forest Policy Division

Paryavaran Bhawan,

CGO complex,

Lodhi Road,

New Delhi-110003

Dated: 27th December 2012

To

All The State Forest Departments and other Concerned Persons

Sub: Report of the Committee constituted to study the regulatory regime regarding felling and transit regulations for tree species grown on private land-reg.

1. This is informed to all concerned members of the Committee, State Forest  Departments including agro-foresters, local communities and NGOs, that the Ministry of Environment & Forests constituted a Committee in July 2011 to study the regulatory regime felling and transit regulations for tree species grown on non forest/private lands, to evaluate the experience of different States/UTs and to recommend the regulatory regime in the recently initiated Green India Mission, one of the eight Mission under National Action Plan 

for Climate Change.

2. The Committee has brought out the Report on the study on  felling and transit regulations for tree species grown on non forest/private lands, which is the first of its kind at Central Government.  The undersigned, as a Member  Secretary of the Committee  invite suggestions/comments, if any, on the Report to the undersigned to make the report more effective.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(Subhash Chandra)

Dy. Inspector General of Forests (Forest Policy)

and Member Secretary of the Committee

Telefax; 011-24363974

Link to the full report: http://envfor.nic.in/assets/Rep_Committee_Trees_on_Private_land-27122012.pdf

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Indian updates: High air pollution choking Indore

High air pollution choking Indore

Bagish K Jha, TNN Dec 29, 2012, 06.05AM IST

INDORE: Here is a news to worry for Indoreans. The level of air pollution in the city is increasing with every passing year and so is the amount of suspended particulates (PM10).This can be scary for the city residents with the new findings of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) count, a global initiative involving the World Health Organization, revealing that air pollution has emerged as one of the top 10 killers in the world. GBD findings say 65 per cent of the air pollution deaths occur in Asia and close to quarter of this in India. Indore ranks among 20 most polluted cities of India.

Chief chemist of Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) Aparna Bapat said the on-going construction activities, increasing traffic and population are the main reasons behind increasing pollution in the city. The level of PM 10 (dust particulates) is more than double the normal level here.

According to statistics of MPPCB, yearly average of PM 10 in Indore is in the range of 125 to 140 in year 2012 against 101 to 128 in year 2010. The standard level of PM 10 is 60. The level of PM 10 is constantly increasing in different parts of the city.

Bapat said high level of dust particulate in the air causes lung problems and respiratory-related problems. It easily goes inside our body during respiration process and damages body functioning.

Executive director of research and advocacy and head of air pollution unit, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said air pollution has emerged as one of the major health risks for the country.

Elaborating about the alarming threat to human health due to air pollution, he said according to air pollution around 3.2 million deaths have occurred world wide. In Asia, air pollution has emerged among the top 10 'killers.' The new GBD estimates over 2.1 million premature deaths and 52 million years of healthy lives lost in 2010 due to fine particle air pollution in Asia, out of this 7,12,000 deaths occurred in South Asia (including India).

Environment expert, Suresh Surana said every year nearly one lakh vehicles are added on Indore road. As of now, Indore has a population of around 25 lakh and nearly 13 lakh vehicles ply on roads. Construction of houses, malls and road is in progress across the city and it is contributing to increase in air pollution.

"Fog of dust particles can be seen on AB Road even in the night which is not good for health," Surana said adding no one can escape toxic air. It is a risky affair for all particularly the children, elderly, and poor. Long latency period can even lead to serious consequences.

Source: 

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-29/indore/36050810_1_air-pollution-premature-deaths-aparna-bapat

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Indian updates: No north Indian river fit for bathing: Study Yamuna One Of The Most Polluted Rivers

No north Indian river fit for bathing: Study

Yamuna One Of The Most Polluted Rivers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Publication Date: 

25/12/2012

New Delhi: The famed rivers of India’s Gangetic plains are turning into “sewage”, threatening the life and health of millions of people dependent on them, warned a team of 11 environmental activists who cycled through the region covering around 1,800km in 27 days. 

    In the capital last week on way to their final stop, Dehradun, team members they crossed 24 rivers while cycling through north Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. 

    “Not one river was fit to bathe in. The water at many places resembled sewage water. Among the most polluted rivers we came across was the Yamuna in western UP, Varuna and Gandak,” said team leader Anil P Joshi, a Padma Shri-awardee who heads a Dehradun-based environmental NGO, HESCO. 

    “The growing pollution of rivers is a stark sign of wider ecological imbalance in the region,” he added. 
    The yatra aims to raise awareness about the need for keeping an account of India’s natural resources. The group is demanding that the government introduce an annual green measure called the ‘gross environmental product’. “Like the GDP for the economy, the GEP would monitor the health of India’s natural assets, showing whether these were being overexploited or not,” said Joshi. 

    It wasn’t just the rivers that the activists were worried about. They said none of the states they travelled through had achieved even half of India’s target of 33% area under forests. Bengal had 14.64%, Bihar 7.23%, UP 3.61% and Delhi 11.94%. 

    “Forests are vanishing in these states. And even the ones that survive are grade C forests, consisting of bushes rather than broad-leaved trees,” Joshi said. The team travelled through 31 districts, held 300 meetings and reached out to around 10,000 people. They interacted with 1,200 village youth through the yatra and found the 80% of them had not seen a forest. 

    The cyclists also made extensive notes on falling water table, polluted underground water and degradation of agricultural lands in various districts. 

    “We will compile a report of our observations, which will be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office and to all chief ministers,” Joshi said.

GREEN WARRIORS: A team of 11 environmental activists who cycled through the region covering around 1,800km in 27 days

Source: 
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=CAP%2F2012%2F12%2F25&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=17&EntityId=Ar01701&AppName=1

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