SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) — The Shikaras, the local name for boats, on the placid waters of Dal Lake here Saturday formed a shape of 350 as part of the campaign dedicated to environment protection and dealing with climate change.

The exercise was organized by Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) in collaboration with the Lakes and Water Ways Development here to mark Oct. 24 as the International Day for Climate Action around the globe.

It was aimed at urging world leaders to support a clear solution to the climate change by reducing the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million.

The 350 figure is the maximum level that is considered a safe upper limit.

“The exercise was aimed to making people aware of the climate crisis and need to protect environment. The present rate of CO2 in the atmosphere is 387 parts per million that we want to bring down below 350,” said Owaise Raheem, regional project director of IYCN.

More than 4227 simultaneous events are being organized across 170 countries in this regard.

The activities have been planned in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) starting from Dec. 7 in Copenhagen.

October 2nd is the International Day of Non-violence. 140 years ago on the same day was born a man who showed the world a new path, a path for creating a change, a path that involved the masses, in short a revolutionary path that challenged the most powerful countries of the time.

October is a month filled with campaigns that see some of the largest mobilisations that our planet has ever seen. With 6 years to reach the targets mutually agreed by all the nations of the world in the form of Millenium Development Goals, we still have to go a long way. October 16-18 is the Stand Up and Take Action campaign against poverty and for the Millenium Development goals. Last year, more than 116 million ‘Stood Up and Took Action’ to end poverty and in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals . This year, IYCN is joining the growing movement. (http://www.iycn.in/suta). As a part of the Stand Up and Take Action Campaign, we are doing a lot of activities right from afforestation of mangroves to take the tools like RTI to the masses. For those who may not be able to join the actions physically, we are going to run an online pledge as well. This Diwali, come join us in making a difference.

Another large mobilisation is going to happen for the International Day of Climate action, unofficially the largest grass roots mobilisation the world has ever seen. So far the 350.Org movement is present in 136 countries and the list is growing. As a part of the Campaign, IYCN is organizing various events across the nation. From launching a joint campaign with Green Commandos to launch green report cards in 350 schools to installing CFLs to plantation drives, cycle rallies etc, we would send a strong message to our political leaders.

For more information mail Surendran at suren@iycn.in or visit www.iycn.in to know what is happening in your region.

Visions are not created in a day, and movements take even longer. We started with a few and have come so far in helping inspire leadership in thousands. Come be a part of something new, something bold: the Indian Youth Climate Network, as we build on the momentum for the global change this month!

A year after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the country’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, India appears poised to reject a proposed coal mine that brings together two of the country’s most pressing environmental issues: tiger conservation and climate change.

The Adani mine in Maharashtra State is located in a sensitive wildlife corridor connecting the nearby Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to tiger habitat located outside the sanctuary.

Although it is not clear when a final decision will be handed down, it is increasingly unlikely that the mine will go ahead, following comments by Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh that he will not approve any mining near the Tadoba Reserve. In all, about 80 tigers live in the Chandrapur district where TATR is located, about half of them inside the reserve, according to the Bombay Natural History Society.

Recent reports also indicate that, in the future, the ministry will only allow mining in degraded forest areas, with moderately and densely forested areas off-limits.

If confirmed, the cancellation of the Adani mine would represent a positive indicator of the government’s intention to implement the National Action Plan, which specifically mentions the importance of preserving wildlife corridors to prevent habitat from becoming fragmented.

With India being particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and also a growing contributor to CO2 emissions through its increasing use of coal, the National Action Plan represents an ambitious and comprehensive approach. It consists of eight “National Missions” to move India towards increased use of solar power while also promoting energy efficiency, attempting to mitigate the effects of global warming, and also preserving forest cover and biodiversity.

Greenpeace India’s Climate Campaigner Vinuta Gopal says her organization welcomes the fact that a plan is in place but is concerned about details.

“While the intention seems to be for sustainable inclusive development, exactly how they will achieve that and what that means for reducing the number of coal plants they plan to build is not quite clear,” she said.

“However, now they’ve gone public with a Solar Mission and with an Energy Efficiency Mission. Now on these two missions we believe that the ambition is in place, but are again concerned about the details.” (more…)

This is a film made by Samarjit Khanna, Coordinator of Climate Leadership Programme at IYCN.  He recently attended a three-week climate organizing camp in Turkey hosted by 350.org.

A recent event organised by Sanctuary’s Kid’s for Tigers, 350.org, Indian Youth Climate Network and Delhi Greens held at the historic Teen Murti Bhavan in Delhi, featured this giant tiger aerial art, formed by 2000 school children from various schools across Delhi.

Image and video credit: Spectral Q / Shiv Ahuja

The tiger is inextricably linked to the global climate challenge.  The home of the tiger, the forests, are threatened. These forests provide an innumberable amount of ecological services including a source of fresh water, pollinators for our crops, a bank of biodiversity to rely on for scientific research, and in today’s warming world–a ready sink for carbon emissions. To protect the tiger is to stop climate change.  To stop climate change is to secure a safe future.

Time lapse video of the formation and the picture:

Cross-Posted from Worldwatch Institute, Eye on Earth, www.worldwatch.org.

Written by Ben Block

Advocates of the International Renewable Energy Agency, the first multi-government body to focus exclusively on the global development of renewable energy sources, worry that competition among member countries to host the agency may detract from its core mission.

The agency, known commonly as IRENA, has quickly gained recognition since its launch in January, with the endorsement of more than 100 countries. The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have yet to officially sign on but are expected to announce their support at a summit next week in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The meeting will decide where IRENA will be headquartered and who will serve as its first director-general – issues that have already sparked controversy.

Competing host countries are facing accusations of attracting votes with political favors such as military support or investments in non-renewable energy sources. These concerns are prompting clean energy advocates to mobilize their supporters to demand that international politics not interfere with IRENA’s agenda.

“The reason we want IRENA is because the existing organizations are too much involved in the interests of the fossil fuel or nuclear sector…. We need an independent authority,” said Stefan Gsänger, secretary general of the World Wind Energy Association. “If there is a chance from the beginning that IRENA is bound to these interests, [the agency] might be at the end useless or even detrimental.”

(more…)

Cross-Posted from Worldwatch Institute, Eye on Earth, www.worldwatch.org.

After a month-long election in India, the ruling Congress Party expanded its power with an influx of politicians who appear more likely to address climate change and the broader environmental agenda.

The re-election of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), lead by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Congress Party, is likely to bring no immediate shifts in India’s approach to climate change. But several young candidates may influence Congress’s stance.

Among the new government’s expected early actions, detailed strategy documents will outline national plans to address climate change. The documents were delayed due to the elections.

The UPA placed significant emphasis on the National Action Plan on Climate Change during its pre-election campaign. The plan includes a goal to increase production of photovoltaic solar panels to 1,000 megawatts per year. It also turns to efficiency, reforestation, and adaptation measures.

“This is a start, but we need a lot more,” said Malini Mehra, founder and chief executive of the Centre for Social Markets, a nongovernmental organization that specializes in corporate responsibility, sustainability, and climate change.

“Congress must show vision and leadership to get a deal at COP15 that is good for India and good for the world,” she said, referring to upcoming international climate talks in Cophenhagen, Denmark, this December.

(more…)

Original post can be found at here.

Now the last place in the universe you’d expect to hear Timbaland was making a splash would be Dharavi, Mumbai right? But I suppose stranger things have happened. Yesterday Timbaland Productions presented “Respect Recycle” The Dharavi Project to highlight the key contribution Dharavi is making to “change climate change.”

Amar, Jim Beanz, Apache Indian and Rebel

Sout Dandy Squad

slum dancers

Several artists of Timbaland Productions  headed into Dharavi to show RESPECT to Bombay’s rag pickers and the entire recycling industry that is based out of Dharavi, by celebrating music, graffiti art and sculpture at Shri Guru Dutt Gym, Dharavi Kolivada. There were performances by Dharavi based Tamil rappers, Sout Dandy Squad, Apache Indian, Amar (UK), Jim Beanz (US), Rebel (US) from Timbaland Productions, DJ Ashrafi, DJ Kedar as well as many more inspired dancers and artists, This first of its kind event was supported by, the Indian Youth Climate Network.

The Dharavi Project (even the title has a cool ring to it na? I just figured out why it feels so familiar, does anyone else watch Lost and is totally intrigued by The Dharma Project?!) works with musicians, photographers, film-makers, writers and other artists so The Sout Dandy Squad performed with several international artistes. The purpose being to showcase local artistes and give the youth of Dharavi a chance to witness international artistes up close.

Spotted bopping: Sapna Bhavnani and Apnavi Thacker

NAPCC lacks urgency, democracy and equity perspective

By: Himanshu Thakkar

The South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People has just published a critique of the India’s National Action Plan on Climate change (NAPCC), titled: “There is little Hope here”. India is more vulnerable to the climate change impacts than the US, the Europe or even China. And the poor within India, whose contribution to the climate change is the least, are the most vulnerable, considering their dependence on natural resources. The report, which includes recommendations of several civil society consultations, concludes that the NAPCC has been formulated through a most non transparent process; it will help neither the poor, nor the climate. The climate change provides a unique opportunity to make India’s development path people and environment friendly, but the NAPCC completely misses that opportunity.

There is little doubt that the responsibility of having created this specter that threatens our very survival, lies with the policies and practices of the counties of the Global North. It is also true that the western world, the UN and all the various multilateral agencies, including the UNFCCC have not managed to come up with anything more than feeble, cosmetic efforts towards addressing this challenge. Given these circumstances, the western world has forfeited the right to lecture on this issue. (more…)

There are several events taking place across India to coincide with the Global Day of Action. The Climate Action in India Coalition are planning a range of activities across India.

Delhi: Indian Protest against Climate Change are planning a mass demonstration in Delhi.

The march will start at 9.30 am. Youth from different universities and people from other organisations will congregate in a prearranged area before the march. At 10.30 there will be a street play on climate change. There will be speeches on climate change and justice from some important players on climate change. Some colleges and societies will arrange something with a climate change theme. There will also be an exhibition of paintings about climate change. This event on Global Day of action is supported by Oxfam, SANSAD and IYCN.

For further information on Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Ahmadabad, as well as on the Global Day of Action itself, read on….

Also, see the following link: www.globalclimatecampaign.org

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