paris climate agreement

US must slash emissions by at least 57% to meet Paris climate target: Report

Climate Action Tracker (CAT) analyzed President Joe Biden's plans to decarbonize the electricity sector, commercial buildings and new vehicle fleet.

Biden's climate team is working with all government agencies and holding meetings with utilities and car companies.(AP / File)

Published on Mar 11, 2021 05:59 PM IST

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Reuters | , Washington

US' re-entry into Paris Climate Agreement a 'day of hope', says UN chief

On Friday, the US officially returned to the Paris climate accord, 107 days after it left at the behest of former president Donald Trump.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks while addressing the virtual Munich Security Conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. Biden re-introduced himself and the U.S. to world leaders at a pair of international conferences today, calling on industrialized democracies to partner in confronting the pandemic and climate change in a sharp departure from his predecessor's foreign policy. Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times/Bloomberg(Bloomberg)

Published on Feb 20, 2021 11:16 AM IST

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PTI | , United Nations

US officially rejoins Paris climate agreement, 30 days after Biden ordered move

Despite the excitement over the US return to global negotiations, climate negotiators say the path forward will not be easy.

US President Joe Biden has also signed more than a dozen executive orders related to climate change.(AP)

Published on Feb 19, 2021 07:01 PM IST

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Reuters | , Washington

India not historically responsible for climate change: Javadekar

Historically the USA has 25% of all emissions, Europe has 22% whereas China has 13% and India, only 3%, the minister said.

Prakash Javadekar on Friday said US, Europe, China are historically responsible for climate change.(ANI)

Updated on Dec 11, 2020 01:07 PM IST

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Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Byhindustantimes.com | Edited by Poulomi Ghosh

UK PM sets ‘ambitious’ new emissions cut target for 2030

This is the first target set by the UK following its exit from the European Union (EU) and Johnson said it demonstrated Britain’s leadership in tackling climate change, having already cut carbon emissions more than any similar developed country and being the first major economy to legislate for net zero emissions by 2050.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson.(REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 04, 2020 05:16 PM IST

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London | ByPress Trust of India | Posted by Shivani Kumar

Warmer world in 2020 busted weather records, hurt people: UN Body

The UN is ramping up its efforts for a Dec. 12 climate summit in France on the 5th anniversary of the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

FILE - This Dec. 11, 2016 file photo shows the Virunga National Park, taken from the rim of the crater of the Nyiragongo volcano and looking over the crater of another, extinct volcano, taken in North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.(AP)

Updated on Dec 02, 2020 08:20 PM IST

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ByAssociated Press | Posted by Arpan Rai

What a Biden tenure means for climate

The election of Joe Biden as the president of the United States is good news for the environment

In a speech on Saturday, Joe Biden identified the climate crisis as one of his top priorities, saying Americans must marshal the “forces of science” in the “battle to save our planet.”(AFP)

Updated on Nov 10, 2020 11:32 AM IST

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ByHT Correspondent

Australia says US return to Paris Agreement, WHO under Biden would be welcome

The United States formally withdrew from the Paris climate agreement last week, but Biden has promised to rejoin the Paris pact, and also commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

Morrison said Australia would welcome the US back to the WHO, and potentially the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.(AP)

Published on Nov 09, 2020 12:10 PM IST

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Sydney | ByReuters | Posted by Srivatsan K C

China’s carbon target moves big economies into radical climate consensus

In China’s case, sweeping reforms will have to be carried out across dozens of regions run by local governments that may not share the zeal for reaching the 2060 goal.

Smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in central China's Shanxi Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping says his country will aim to stop pumping additional carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas, into the atmosphere by 2060.(AP)

Published on Sep 26, 2020 03:58 PM IST

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ByBloomberg | Posted by Arpan Rai

Kamala Harris says thought immediately of her mother when Joe Biden made the VP call

Harris recounted how she and her team got a call that Biden wanted to talk and then got another call where she was told Biden wanted to do a zoom call.

After referring to her mother, Kamala Harris also described how husband Doug Emhoff’s ear was on the door outside the room listening in on the call.(AP)

Updated on Sep 15, 2020 07:24 AM IST

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Washington | ByPress Trust of India| Posted by Susmita Pakrasi

science

Sea-levels could rise up to 4 ft by end of century due to global warming, warn scientists

If the new estimates of rise in sea-level were to come true, it could affect around 770 million people or about 10% of the world’s population that lives less than 16 feet or five metres above sea level.

The rise in sea-level could be avoided if countries fulfilled their 2015 Paris Climate agreement promises to cut emissions of the gases that are heating the planet.(AP File / Representational Photo)

Updated on May 14, 2020 01:36 AM IST

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New Delhi | Byhindustantimes.com| Edited by Anubha Rohatgi

Forest cover increases, but questions remain

Instead of focusing only on data, take into the qualitative aspects of the resource too

The country has a target of bringing 33% of its geographical area under forest cover(Gurminder Singh/Hindustan Times)

Updated on Dec 31, 2019 08:20 PM IST

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Hindustan Times | ByHT Correspondent

Trump’s decision to exit the Paris deal will not just hurt the world, but US also

By moving out of the Paris deal, the US is not only jeopardising the US and the rest of the world’s future, but is also leaving the field wide open for China to corner the growing renewable energy market.

Demonstrators protest President Donald Trump's decision to exit the Paris climate change accord, Chicago, Illinois, June 2, 2017(AFP)

Updated on Nov 07, 2019 05:56 PM IST

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Hindustan Times | ByHT Correspondent

business

Markets face major risks over lax climate forecasts, top investors warn

The report by the U.N.-backed Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI), representing investors with $86 trillion of assets under management, joins a growing chorus of warnings that forecasts and investments by oil and gas companies are out of sync with the pace needed to meet energy transition targets.

Scientists view a rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius in the Earth’s average temperature as a tipping point where climate impacts such as sea-level rise, natural disasters, forced migration, failed harvests and deadly heatwaves will rapidly start to intensify.

Updated on Sep 23, 2019 07:25 AM IST

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London | ByReuters

UN asks India to update plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions

The goal of the UN summit is to call on world leaders to enhance their NDCs in line with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% over the next decade and to net zero emissions by 2050.

Environment minister Prakash Javadekar tweeted on Wednesday that India is taking leadership position in achieving the NDCs.(Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

Updated on Jul 24, 2019 03:20 PM IST

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Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJayashree Nandi

India can’t afford to have Bandipur-type forest fires

In India, forest fires peak during the dry months of March or April before the arrival of the monsoon. To minimise the risk of such fires, the forest departments must improve their management protocols by addressing certain challenges, says a 2018 World Bank Report

On February 21, a major fire broke out in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka, which is home to not just tigers but also elephants, spotted deer, bisons and antelopes(PTI)

Updated on Mar 01, 2019 08:39 AM IST

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Hindustan Times | ByHT Correspondent

Paris climate agreement non-negotiable, no compromise on basic principles: India

India and the other developing countries strongly resisted their move, citing the historical responsibility of the developed nations in emitting carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming.

Published on Dec 13, 2018 09:10 AM IST

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Poland | ByPress Trust of India

We need better reporting of household air pollution

It is vital to institutionalise effective mechanisms for reporting of air pollution-related disease burden at last mile locations

To realise India’s voluntary commitment as part of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, the Bharatiya Janata Party government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which aims at provisioning cleaner liquefied petroleum gas cylinders to poor households(Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times)

Updated on Dec 12, 2018 04:35 PM IST

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ByMartand Shardul

To protect our future, new infrastructure must be low-carbon

Governments and international institutions must help companies and cities accelerate this green transition

Our cities face serious infrastructure and health challenges but they are also places of great hope for economic opportunity and development. By 2030, India’s urban population is projected to grow to 590 million, double the 285 million city residents counted in the 2001 census(Burhaan Kinu / Hindustan Times)

Updated on Dec 04, 2018 06:38 PM IST

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ByNaina Lal Kidwai

India eyes farm forestry to reduce carbon footprint

India plans to partner with the private sector in scaling up its agro-forestry efforts. This is, however, a controversial subject because environmental activists are against India allowing any private or corporate forestry projects on forest land.

Agro-forestry or farm forestry will be India’s key strategy to reduce its carbon footprint.(HT File Photo)

Published on Dec 04, 2018 07:54 AM IST

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New Delhi | ByJayashree Nandi

How the cement industry is helping India meet its climate goals

Given the cement industry’s achievements in energy efficiency and use of fly ash and steel industry slag, taking alternative fuel usage, including the existing commitment to use plastic waste, to the European level of 40% by 2025 should be worth attempting. This is an ambitious target though not unrealistic.

As India urbanises, progresses towards housing for all, and develops its expressways, the cement industry would keep growing. Its ability to absorb waste would keep rising as waste, in turn, continues to increase with higher incomes. This would be a breakthrough towards a circular economy and a template for similar ambition in other industry segments.(Yogendra Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Updated on Nov 16, 2018 03:11 PM IST

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ByAjay Shankar

If the WWF Living Planet Report 2018 doesn’t push the world to act, nothing will

One reason why the destruction in the name of “development” happens is that nature’s economic worth is invisible. Today, many economists are trying to point out that a nation’s progress should include its natural capital base and so there should be the valuation of the services that the world’s natural wealth provide.

Seven elephants died of electrocution in Dhenkanal district, Odisha, October. 27, 2018. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Report 2018, a science-based assessment of the health of the planet, says that global wildlife populations have fallen by 60% in just over four decades, thanks to accelerating pollution, deforestation, climate change, and other man-made factors(Arabinda Mahapatra)

Updated on Oct 30, 2018 05:08 PM IST

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Hindustan Times | ByHT Correspondent

Climate change can adversely impact India’s living standards

These climate effects are likely to be less damaging if countries meet their commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. Given the uncertainty about the path that countries will take, it needs to be remembered that decisions taken today will not only make a difference to the quality of life of this generation, but will leave an indelible mark on generations to come.

On the whole, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh - which already have higher rates of poverty and large tribal populations - are likely to face the greatest declines in living standards, with drops of more than 9 percent. They are followed by Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.(Rajanish Kakade/AP)

Updated on Aug 11, 2018 05:50 PM IST

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ByMuthukumara Mani

Donald Trump’s US becomes first member to pull out of UN human rights council

Washington’s withdrawal is the latest US rejection of multilateral engagement after it pulled out of the Paris climate agreement and the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the National Federation of Independent Businesses 75th Anniversary Celebration at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington.(AFP File Photo)

Updated on Jun 20, 2018 07:09 AM IST

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Reuters, Washington | ByHT Correspondent

health

Limiting global warming levels can reduce dengue fever cases

If global warming levels can be limited, it can reduce cases of dengue and stop it from spreading to areas where incidence is currently low.

A global warming trajectory of 3.7 degree Celsius could lead to an increase of up to 7.5 million additional dengue cases per year by the middle of this century.(Shutterstock)

Updated on May 29, 2018 12:29 PM IST

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Hindustan Times | BySoma Das

Michael Bloomberg to give $4.5 million to cover US’ Paris climate deal commitment

Bloomberg will continue to provide money for the pact if the United States does not rejoin the Paris climate agreement.

Special envoy to the United Nations for climate change, Michael Bloomberg, speaks during a discussion panel on the side of the IMF-World Bank spring meeting in Washington.(Reuters File Photo)

Updated on Apr 23, 2018 09:06 AM IST

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Reuters, Washington | ByReuters

We need to watch who controls science and technology

Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) will not only accelerate development, but will also change the distribution of resources depending on who can control and access technology

3D printer creating white plastic gear. The international science community is increasingly engaging with both the science and technology industry and government leaders.(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Updated on Mar 27, 2018 01:55 PM IST

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ByClément Gévaudan