Arctic’s whistle-blower

ENVIRONMENTAL group Greenpeace has launched a website seeking to attract whistle-blowers from within oil companies to reveal risks with drilling in the Arctic. Greenpeace wants governments to ban oil and gas firms from the fragile Arctic environment. It urged employees of oil firms and sub-contractors to submit information to the website if they knew about risks that were in the public interest.

To bring back bees, European commission to impose temporary ban on neonicotinoid pesticide use in farms

Amid growing alarm at the collapse of bee populations in Europe, the European Commission will be implementing temporary restrictions on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. The temporary restrictions are based on the identification of the risks these pesticides pose to bee health in a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

India to double renewable energy capacity in 5 yrs: PM

India plans to double its renewable energy capacity in the next five years, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his inaugural address at the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Delhi on April 17. The two-day event is being held for the first time in India.  

Adani’s coal mine acquisition in Australia under scanner

US $50 million to protect biodiversity in India

India has committed US $50 million towards strengthening the institutional mechanism for biodiversity conservation in the country during its presidency of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD).

Mahan coal block gets clearance

Submission to parliamentary committee on agriculture regarding GM crops

The issue of genetically modified food crops, must be considered in terms of India’s ability to regulate new technologies, the credibility of the scientific system that allows the use of these new technologies and most importantly, the issues of price and control of new technologies that take agricultural decisions out of the hands of farmers.   Sunita Narain dealt with the following key concerns in her submission: 

Down To Earth Editor Sunita Narain's submission to parliamentary committee on agriculture regarding GM crops

The parliamentary committee report on the crucial matter of genetically modified (GM) crops is out and needs to be carefully read and not summarily thrashed. It is clear that GM technologies need a robust and credible regulatory framework to ensure that they work in the interests of people and the environment.

Parliament panel report on GM food highlights rift within government

Maharashtra diverting water from Vidarbha farmers to power plants: Greenpeace report

The Maharashtra government has been diverting water meant for irrigating farmlands in drought-prone Vidarbha region and supplying it to coal-based power plants set up by private companies, alleges a report by non-profit Greenpeace. It said at least 398.87 million cubic metre (mcm) water was diverted each year between 2003 and 2011. This water could have helped irrigate approximately 79,774 hectares (ha) of farmland.