Climate & Energy
A spiral-type integrated compact fluorescent lamp. Photo: Piccolo Namek. - Some rights reserved.
Traffic Jam in Delhi, a common site in Urban Indian Cities: Public Transport still miniscule as private vehicles take precedence. Photo by: Centre for Science and Environment.
Introducation
Climate Change and Energy
Climate change was pitchforked on the national policy agenda only in 2007. Since then the Climate Change policies at country level and its position internationally have evolved on issues such as urgency to act, sectoral approaches and equity as the base of national and international policies.

The India programme on ‘Climate and Energy’ focuses on strengthening climate justice approach in national and international climate policy making by offering platforms for dialogue and debate; commissioning studies on analysis/evaluation of national level policies; supporting various progressively voice at different fora and linking the discourse between the North and South sustainable energy solutions. The programme aims to strengthen research inputs as well as advocacy on renewable energy options and economic arguments in its favour while acknowledging the role of NGOs, academics, and business along with Government Stakeholders. In addition to its focus on promoting sustainable energy solutions, it also aims to build awareness on impacts of climate change and potential solutions at all levels of governance.
Climate Change
Background Paper
Conference on "Global Carbon Budgets and Equity in Climate Change"
July 2, 2010 -

The crucial global climate policy issue today is the current unequal occupation of carbon space with the developed nations having occupied far more than their fair share of carbon space. Without these nations sharply reducing their emissions, it is evident that other nations cannot get their fair share. From the carbon space perspective, it is also clear that no nation can lay claim to more than its fair share, and that the burden of mitigation will fall progressively on all nations as they approach their fair share of global carbon space.

more»
Study
Climate Change and Democratisation – July 30, 2010 - The paper examines whether democracy at the country level and global climate change matter for another. It raises the question of how to support democracy’s advance in the face of multiple challenges that include the adverse effects of global warming and extreme weather events merits much more attention than it has received so far. Peter Burnell more»
Article
A Green New Deal in India? – May 28, 2010 - Although India can be perceived as a low-carbon economy, with only 1.3 tons CO2 emissions annually per person, it is already the fourth biggest CO2 polluter worldwide. Therefore a green change within India’s development framework is badly needed. Dr. Michael Köberlein more»
Magazine
Böll.Thema Number 1/2010 - Going Green – May 28, 2010 - No doubt, Copenhagen was a major setback. Although much remains to be done, the great transformation is on its way: within the energy sector, in construction, in industry – and in Europe, the US, and China alike. To be sure, political decisions will be a major factor in how swiftly and powerfully change will occur. Yet, the future is not the exclusive domain of governments. All of us can be and will have to become actors in an ecological turnaround. more»
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
The Great Transformation – Greening the Economy – May 27, 2010 - The international conference deals with the political framework, regulatory instruments, as well as leading technologies, key projects and new alliances for the economic-ecologic turnaround. On May, 28-29 a live-stream will be available. more»
Interview
Threat to Himalayan glaciers is real. – April 15, 2010 - Dr. Jürgen Kropp from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) about the errors of the last IPCC report and the direct impact of melting of Himalayan glacier on water resources and agriculture in India. more»
Report
Future of International Climate Regime. – January 20, 2010 - Climate change is on top of the international and national political and strategic agendas. Dr. Michael Köberlein, Director, Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF), India gave a 30-minute presentation on "Future of International Climate Regime" on 15th March. The session was chaired by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Lal Bahadur Shastri Chair at IDSA. more»
Research Study
An India That Can Say Yes: a Climate-Responsible Development Agenda for Copenhagen and Beyond – March 1, 2010 - The book analysis at environmental policy framing approaches within India, its priorities, challenges and opportunities. The climate change as an issue have been looked through in detail from all aspects like equity, poverty, diplomacy, policy framework, etc… The COP in Copenhagen was an important milestone in International climate Negotiations and weighing all the aspects of taking a decision, the author has proposed a way forward more»
Blog-Symbol
  Further Readings on Climate Change»
International Climate Politics
Conference Summary: The Great Transformation - Greening the Economy
July 9, 2010 - This conference report summarizes the key debates of the two-day conference "The Great Transformation - Greening the Economy". Additionally audio recordings of all sessions are available as well as video recordings of several key notes. more»
Can Economic Growth and Climate Protection be Reconciled? – We have almost used up our emissions budget. Should we continue to emit at the current rate, our budget will be used up within ten years. Thus, we have to ask ourselves: Is continuous growth the right approach? Can we afford more economic growth? Is our present economic system able to increase and sustain wealth on a worldwide scale? The Böll.Thema essay by Claudia Kemfert tries to give answers to these questions. more»
Where’s the Money? The Status of Climate Finance Post-Copenhagen – May 28, 2010 - When the dust settled after the near failure of the UNFCCC climate talks in Copenhagen, the issue of climate finance seemed strangely to have been one of the few areas, where despite all procedural and political misgivings, real progress was made. By Liane Schalatek, Neil Bird and Jessica Brown more»
The Great Betrayal at Copenhagen, India caves in to a bad deal: – January 27, 2010 - India along with other countries forming together BASIC group supported developed countries move to clinch a deal leaving vulnerable and poor countries aside. The outcome was ‘Copenhagen Accord’ that were criticised widely in terms of low ambition. Praful shares his analysis on role of India in such move. By Praful Bidwai more»
Copenhagen cop out –

It is apparent to everyone that the Copenhagen Accord is a travesty of what the world needs to avert climate change. Instead of an ambitious, effective, equitable and binding treaty with stringent emissions-cut targets for developed nations, we have a hollow Accord without legal status. The North has offered a 16 per cent emissions-cut when 40-45 per cent is needed. Years of talks have been set at nought by a dirty collusive deal between the United States and Basic (Brazil, South Africa, India and China), extended to cover only 26 of the 193 countries represented in Copenhagen.

By Praful Bidwai more»
Further Readings on International Climate Politics »
Energy Issues
Publication
Distributed Renewable Energy Projects in Rural Areas of India - A guide to Implementation.

The need for renewable energy resources is real and pressing today simply because our current dependence on conventional petro -based fuels and energy sources cannot be sustained. Electrification Scheme over the past two decades there remains a lot of work that needs to be done. The numbers of villages which still don’t have access to electricity continue to be very high and in a number of these village the grid reaching them may still be some years away.

more»
Publication
HALF LIFE: Radioactive Waste in India – Nuclear Energy generation is slated to rise in the coming decades from the present 3 percent to upto 20 percent in the energy mix of India. With climate change concerns, nuclear energy is now being brought back and reconsidered as 'clean' and 'zero cost' energy. The amount of waste created will increase manifold. more»
Further Readings on Energy Issues»