Contraction & convergence: GCI briefing
"Contraction and Convergence' (C&C) is the science-based, global climate-policy framework, proposed to the United Nations since 1990 by the Global Commons Institute (GCI).
"Contraction and Convergence' (C&C) is the science-based, global climate-policy framework, proposed to the United Nations since 1990 by the Global Commons Institute (GCI).
Kalahandi is one of the most economically backward districts of Orissa. However, it has rich deposits of bauxite over its hill ranges. Recently the State Government and its corporation have entered into agreement with certain industrial houses for creating infrastructure to extract bauxite and process it.
This report addresses the interrelated challenges of development and environmental sustainability. It assesses progress and priorities in the agenda to achieve the MDGs. It assesses the challenge of environmental sustainability and its implications for developing countries, and monitors progress at national and global levels to address the challenge. Based on its assessment, the report sets out an integrated agenda for development that is inclusive and sustainable.
This report shows that climate change is indeed already affecting Japan, for example its agriculture and fishing industry, its ecosystems and biodiversity, and its cultural heritage and identity. Changes range from symbolic examples like the early flowering of the iconic cherry trees to the life-threatening and cost-intensive impacts of sea-level rise and extreme weather events. An altering climate forces irreversible change on the residents of Japan, today and increasingly in the future according to the science synthesized for this report
The historic development pathway of Europe and the US is clearly not sustainable in developing Asia, with its larger population, constrained by resource limitations, and now facing the global challenges of climate change. So far, however, Asia has not framed an alternative future that simultaneously provides for an escape from poverty, improves standards of living, and responds to the need for a low carbon, climate resilient sustainable development pathway.
Land degradation is a global environment and development issue. Up-to-date, quantitative information is needed to support policy and action for food and water security, economic development, environmental integrity and resource conservation. To meet this need, the Global Assessment of Land Degradation and Improvement (GLADA) uses remote sensing to identify degrading areas and areas where degradation has been arrested or reversed. Within the parent LADA program, this screening will be followed up by field investigations to establish the situation on the ground.
This document deals specifically with essential environmental health standards required for health-care settings in medium- and low-resource countries to: assess prevailing situations and plan the improvements that are required; develop and reach essential safety standards as a first goal; and support the development and application of national policies. It contains guidelines for setting standards of safety conditions to provide adequate health care.
Vedanta Resources plc is a London listed FTSE 100 diversified metals and mining group. Its principal operations are located throughout India, with further operations in Zambia and Australia. Vedanta produces aluminium, copper, zinc and lead and iron ore. It also has interests in commercial energy and is in the process of setting up a 2,400MW independent power plant.
This book reviews recent experiences in participatory monitoring in tropical forest management and summarizes the concepts and lessons learned. It discusses impacts, challenges, and shortcomings of participatory monitoring and presents a matrix of case studies, methods and tools as a quick reference guide. Finally it provides recommendations for future directions in participatory monitoring.
This study analyses the determinants of competitiveness in the Indian auto industry. It is based on a field survey and a quantitative analysis of secondary data. The field survey covers 45 firms all over India, of which 31 are auto-component firms and 14 are Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Access to safe drinking water is crucial for a country's socio-economic development. This paper examines the problems affecting water quality in India's villages and advocates a holistic and people-centred approach of water management.
Impacts of climate change include increasing water scarcity and flood risk, along with decline in water quality. This study explores which ecosystems will be most impacted and analyses how the effects of climate change act as causes of additional emissions, thereby reinforcing global warming in a positive feedback loop. In the study, ecologic contributed an assessment of potential changes in the water regime and their associated impact on land and soil resources. Furthermore, it provided insight into the interaction between deforestation, climate change and water availability.
The World Trade Indicators (WTI) database and ranking tool cover country level indicators of trade performance and policies and institutions that affect trade. This publication summarizes patterns in world trade policy and trade outcomes revealed by the WTI database, focusing mainly on regional and income level variations and providing the context to help evaluate individual country progress. It is hoped that this initiative, by benchmarking country performance in various policy and outcome areas, will enhance the ability of policy makers to design and implement needed trade-related reforms.
This report aims to evaluate CCS in the context of climate stabilization wedges and the challenges and opportunities linked to its wide scale deployment. This report first examines the technologies that comprise CCS, exploring the state of development of each component technology and how mature the technology is, as well as who the early adopters in the market place are.
This handbook is based on the results an EU Asia Pro Eco co-funded project "CURB-AIR: CDM and urban air pollution: partnerships enhancing synergies in urban air and health in Kyoto mechanisms'. The CURB-AIR project intends to pave the way for projects that both improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases emissions. The handbook aims to be a guide for policymakers, civil servants and anyone who is interested in the issue of CDM, urban air pollution and climate change.
This book shows how various levels of society can work towards climate neutrality. Written and reviewed by experts from many disciplines and various countries, the book is aimed at a broad audience, with solutions for individuals, small and large businesses, NGOs, international organizations, cities and countries.
This highly illustrated guide helps health promoters, development workers, environmental activists, and community leaders take charge of their environmental health. In small villages and large cities, A Community Guide to Environmental Health can provide the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to begin transforming the crisis in environmental health. This book contains activities to stimulate critical thinking and discussion, inspirational stories, and instructions for simple health technologies such as water purification methods, safe toilets, and non-toxic cleaning products.
This report warns that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow under the business-as-usual scenario as projected, leading to global temperature rise by 4-5
The objective of this report is to monitor global progress in the health sector as it scales up HIV prevention, treatment and care interventions towards universal access . The current report is the second in a series of annual progress reports developed by the WHO, the joint UNAIDS and the UNICEF in partnership with other international monitoring and reporting mechanisms to monitor the response of the health sector to HIV. This report includes a focus on women and children.
Energy efficiency improvement is a basic, yet significant, way of addressing both energy security and environment concerns. There are various measures of industrial energy efficiency performance, with different purposes and applications. This paper explores different measures of energy efficiency performance: absolute energy consumption, energy intensity, diffusion of specific energy-saving technology and thermal efficiency. It discusses their advantages and disadvantages and their roles within policy frameworks.