Save Earth

World over, almost 50 million tons of electronic waste or e-waste is generated annually and if we recycle this entire quantity in a systematic manner, we may avoid burden on our ecology to a great extent and save our environment from further damages. These considerations have led to an intense debate about how E-waste can be best managed. To facilitate a discussion on the issue, ET ThinkTurf has organized a panel discussion, E-waste–“A Global Challenge”. In the opening remarks, Mr. Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, MAIT said that e-waste is one of the rapidly growing environmental problems of the World. With extensive use of computers and other electronic equipments coupled with increasing discarding habits, rapid technological change, there is a significant increase in e-waste generation. On one hand, these end-of-life electronics items contain valuable commodities and on the other hand potentially harmful substances such as lead, cadmium, mercury etc. These toxic wastes can have dre...

Japan waits on US for CO2 targets By Roger Harrabin Environment analyst, BBC News Japan will wait for the next president before negotiating Japan says that it will not negotiate new targets on CO2 emissions until it sees what the new US President has to offer on climate change. A senior Japanese official also told the BBC his country would continue to try to re-negotiate the baseline date against which CO2 targets are measured. Japan’s emissions are more than 6% above the 1990 Kyoto Protocol baseline. World leaders are starting the three-day G8 summit in Toyako, on Japan's northern Hokkaido island. Mr Jun Arima, chief negotiator for the powerful industry ministry METI, promised that Japan would meet its promised 6% CO2 cut by purchasing pollution credits from developing countries. He also said Japan was hopeful of gathering support at the G8 for its plan for sectoral efficiency targets for industry. He said the UK had been supportive of the idea, which would oblige the major indust...

Buildings, residential and commercial, account for 10 to 15 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions, including 70% carbon dioxide and 25% methane. Take a train rather than a car for daily commuting of 8 km. It saves 1.7 kg CO2 a day. Shift to a higher gear at the right time. A vehicle travelling at 37 mph in third gear uses 25 per cent more fuel than it would at the same speed in fifth gear. Heat bread rolls in a toaster rather than in the oven for 15 minutes. It saves 170 grams of CO2 each time.

Economic Times - Earth/Pollution

Good Earth

Carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas produced by combustion of fuels, has become a cause of global panic as its concentration in the Earth's atmosphere has been rising alarmingly. This devil, however, is now turning into a product that helps people, countries, consultants, traders, corporations and even farmers earn billions of rupees. This was an unimaginable trading opportunity not more than a decade ago. Carbon credits are a part of international emission trading norms. They incentivise companies or countries that emit less carbon. The total annual emissions are capped and the market allocates a monetary value to any shortfall through trading. Businesses can exchange, buy or sell carbon credits in international markets at the prevailing market price. India and China are likely to emerge as the biggest sellers and Europe is going to be the biggest buyers of carbon credits. Last year global carbon credit trading was estimated at $5 billion, with India's contributi...