Are we headed towards CDM endorsements for nuclear energy?
Will the Indo-US defence deal pave the way for India to get Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) endorsement for its nuclear programme? So far, nuclear energy has not been formally included in CDM credits. If it is, CDM credits will give nuclear energy the Kyoto stamp of approval, encouraging developing countries to go down the nuclear road
'India has no choice but to increase emissions'
Given India's limited energy options, its dependence on fossil fuels and the reality of global warming, nuclear energy and hydropower are serious options for India in future, says R K Pachauri, director-general of TERI and chairperson of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. They just need the right policy back-up
Commoditising power
Power generation is the primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in India. But government policy, as stated in the Electricity Act 2003, fails to address the environmental concerns arising from the unbridled burning of fossil fuels. Instead, it puts the premium on financial sustainability of power utilities, completely neglecting environmental sustainability
The power plant in your backyard
In the not-too-distant future, power plants will shift from large, remote centralised stations to rooftops, basements, backyards, or nearby hill ranges. Experts predict that half the world's energy supply by 2050 will be from renewables. But there are several obstacles to the integration and effective market penetration of renewables
Waste-to-energy or waste-to-pollution?
Waste incineration poses serious risks to human health and the environment. It also violates international environmental norms. But the government continues to experiment with burn-technologies and waste-to-energy programmes, ignoring cheaper and safer alternatives
Biofuels: A reality check
President Kalam envisions millions of hectares of wastelands greened with oil-bearing jatropha. All the sugarcane-growing states are excited about bio-ethanol. Mercedes Benzes have been run on bio-diesel blends. But is the hype around biofuels to be believed?
Is natural gas the fuel of the 21st century?
Natural gas is an efficient fuel, emits 60% less carbon dioxide than coal and 42% less than oil, and is available in abundance. But there are geopolitical, economic and infrastructural challenges in India's transition to a gas-fuelled economy
Falling off the map: Orissa's submerged villages
In 1930, land records show an area of 320 sq km for the Satabhaya cluster of seven villages near Paradip in Orissa. Land records for 2000 indicate that this area has been reduced to 155 sq km. Five of the seven villages have been swallowed by the sea. Several other villages in Orissa are likely to suffer the same fate. Is Orissa paying the price of climate change? This special series by Richard Mahapatra investigates
