2nd Gen BIO-FUELS + CLIMATE CHANGE - Yvo de Boer, Indian PM, EU Parliamentarians

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NEWS Bulletin from Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture And Rural Development ************************************ 1. BIO-FUELS - Second generation bio-fuels can address food & energy security, says experts On CLIMATE CHANGE----- 2. Identify problems for climate funding, India urged (UNFCCC exe secy Yvo de Boer) 3. Bring down per capita emissions, India to West 4. Europe for new India-EU climate co-operation --- (Also see EU Parliamentarians on BIO-FUELS) 5. UN body hails trade rise at climate exchanges 6. UN systems to gear up to save farm sector from climate impact ------------------------------- Second generation bio-fuels can address food & energy security, says experts http://www.financialexpress .com/news/Second-generation -biofuels-can-address-food- & -energy-security-says-experts /271495/ ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Monday , February 11, 2008 at 0011 hrs IST New Delhi, Feb 11 Experts are of the view that the second generation bio-fuels extracted from micro-algae and other microbial sources, lingo-cellulosic biomass, rice straw and bio-ethers can be a better option for addressing both food and energy security and environmental concerns than largescale plantation of bio-fuel crops like Jatropha and Pongamia. Vijayanand S Moholkar of the Guwahati-based Indian Institute of Technology said, "Pre-liminary experiments show

tremendous potential for micro-algae derived oil feedstock for economic synthesis of bio-diesel. Proper cultivation of micro-algae can produce 10 times more oil than Jatropha in the same piece of land. Jatropha and Karanja yield not more than 1 to 1.5 tonne of oil per hectare of cultivation —a major limitation, which adversely affects the bio-diesel economy." Moholkar was in Delhi last week to participate in the 5th International Bio-fuels Conference organised by Winrock International-India. He said largescale production of micro-algae can be done in raceway ponds (closed loop recirculation channels) and photobioreactors. The prices of micro-algal oil and crude fossil oil must differ by two orders of magnitude, so as to make microalgal bio-diesel a cost-effective alternative, he said. K Subramaniam from the biotechnology department of Sathyamangalam-based Bannari Amman Institute

of Technology favoured biochemical conversion of rice straw and other biomass into bio-ethanol. He said that the bio-ethanol production from cheaply available rice straw by separate enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation can be economically viable. According to Mritunjay Kumar Shukla of the Dehradun-based Indian Institute of Petroleum bio-ethers, particularly Dimethyl ether (DME), Diethyl ether (DEE) and methylal seem to be promising among all the bio-fuels due to their oxygenated molecular structure, better combustion characteristics, superior well-to-wheel efficiency, low GHG emissions and higher production efficiency. The director-general of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), William D Dar said that his institute has found out the way for production bio-ethanol without comprising food security. The stalks of the varieties of sweet sorghum developed by the institute

can produce bio-ethanol and increase livelihood options for farmers in dryland areas. However, Winrock claims that it has successfully launched rural electrification programme in village Ranidehra in Chhattisgarh by use of Jatropha oil.----- Identify problems for climate funding, India urged - (UNFCCC exe secy Yvo de Boer) http://www.financialexpress .com/news/Identify-problems -for-climate-funding-India -urged/269834/0 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 at 2008 hrs IST New Delhi, February 6: India and other developing countries should first identify their own problems caused due to the impact of global climate change and formulate suitable strategies to combat the challenge and then ask for international assistance, said the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Yvo de Boer. He urged for identifying the specific sectors and said that in February 11 and 12 the UN body would initiate thematic discussions on the ways for tackling climate change. Addressing the mediapersons in Delhi on Wednesday, De Boer said : "We are aware that India and other developing countries have said that they would not accept any measure that would constrain economic growth. Therefore a balanced path of sustainable growth with regard to environmental concerns is

necessary." He said that the national governments need to act within two years with appropriate policy measures or else the matter would turn worse. "Climate experts have cautioned that emissions are likely to increase by 50%. We, therefore, face the challenge of cutting down the emissions by 50% by the middle of this century." de Boer mentioned a couple of concerns relating to rising energy prices eroding industrial competitiveness, energy security, use of coal and maintenance of air quality, need for economic growth and poverty eradication. He said that it was essential to actively involve India, Brazil, South Africa and China in the process of climate negotiations. When asked whether the industrialised countries were doing enough to cut their emissions, he said, "I do not think enough is being done." He said that the European Union was ready to

cut its emissions by 30% by 2020 if US agrees to bring down its level of emission. Otherwise the EU on its own would cut their emissions by 20%, he said. de Boer, however said : "Bush Administration is increasingly engaging itself on the issue. It has launched $ 3 billion technology facility fund." He said that nuclear energy has a role to play, but its application can differ from country to country. He said that the Adaptation Fund agreed upon at the recent Bali conference was not enough, but an unique instrument and the fund can increase if more CDM projects were taken up. Germany has initiated auctioning of emission rights, out of which they are going to fund CDM projects in developing countries. He said that the UNFCCC was examining the proposal for funding countries which conserve their natural forests. Meanwhile,the non-governmental organisation, Navdanya headed by Vandana

Shiva along with her colleagues today announced the launch of the World Future Council in India represent by Herbert Girardet as director of research for rooting out the causes of climate change by promoting sustainable development as an alternative.... ---------- CLIMATE CHANGE Bring down per capita emissions, India to West http://www.financialexpress .com/news/Bring-down-per -capita-emissions-India-to -West/270304/0 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Thursday , February 07, 2008 at 2012 hrs IST New Delhi, February 7: India has made clear that if industrialised countries take initiatives to bring down their per capita carbon emissions, it would reduce its threshold for carbon emissions. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurating the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit organised by The Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) on Thursday urged for global support and said, "We need technology innovations for reduction of energy use by industry and other user sectors. We need massive action for afforestation, drought proofing and flood protection. We need to act to protect our coastal areas. We need action to protect the glaciers that feed our river systems. A whole gamut of development

action needs to be planned and funded." He informed that in the 11th Five Year Plan, which has been launched this year, has articulated strategies in many of these areas. A National Plan of Action on Climate Change would be released by June end, this year. Manmohan Singh urged the summit to endorse India's stand to strengthen global initiatives in the area of climate change. He repeated his commitment made at the last G-8 Summit at Heiligendamm that India was prepared to commit that its per capita emission would not exceed the average per capita emissions of developed industrial countries. The emission reduction commitments by countries should be on per capita basis. The three-day Delhi Sustainable Development Summit is being participated by delegates from several countries including the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen,

President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen and President of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Singh reminded the participants of India's approach to the global problems being based on ancient Sanskrit saying 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' – the whole world is one large family. The issue of tackling global climate change needed efforts by all countries, he said and emphasized the need to "ensure an acceptable standard of living for all our people following sustainable path for that development, " he said and added 'climate justice must, therefore, inform all efforts at international collaboration in act of human solidarity'. The Prime Minister said that even if India engages global community in combating climate change, it would work at local, sub-national and national levels to meet the challenges. He called for knowledge partnership across countries and said

that India has decided to link all academic institutions that work on climate change on a national knowledge net. Key knowledge institutions would be identified as centres of excellence on climate change research. "We are also considering setting up of a venture capital fund to promote green technologies," he said. He said India was concerned about poverty eradication and reducing global disparities in income and wealth. "We cannot continue with a global model in which some countries continue to maintain high carbon emissions, while the development options available for developing countries get constrained," he said. The Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, who is leading a large business delegation to India, said that his country had developed a technology by which carbon dioxide from a gas field of the Norwegian coast was captured, reinjected into the ground and stored in a geological formation 1000

metres below the seabed and no leakages have occurred so far. He suggested application of this technology to coal-fired power plants in India. He said that Norway had developed some of the most environment friendly technologies in the world and now Norwegian companies were developing them in cooperation with Indian partners. "The Clean Development Mechanism is an instrument for transfer of technology and has the potential of providing billions of tonne of emission reductions in developing countries. Norway welcomes the opportunities offered by India as an important supplier of CDM projects," he said. Denmark also launched a new partnership with India in areas of political cooperation on global issues like combating climate change and terrorism, trade and investment, researches in science and technology, energy security and education and culture -------- Please also see in the news story about BIO-FUELS in Green Bold and yellow ---- (Towards the end) Europe for new India-EU climate co-operation http://www.financialexpress .com/news/Europe-for-new -IndiaEU-climate-cooperation /269379/0 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Tuesday , February 05, 2008 at 2013 hrs IST New Delhi, February 5: Europe has invited India to collaborate in its 54 billion euro project on environment and climate change. The leaders of the European Parliament are now lobbying with the Indian leaders for a new bilateral cooperation in energy and environment, following the recent global climate change conference in Bali in Indonesia. "In view of the crucial role India can play in the context of a future international climate agreement, we would like to learn about climate change challenges it faces on and to better understand its position and plans – both at the domestic and international level," said the leader of the delegation of the European

Parliament's temporary committee on climate change, Guido Sacconi at a press conference here on Tuesday. He said that the European Union has set up a 54 billion euro project to meet the challenges of climate change "Among other countries we need the cooperation of India and China, particularly for the project," he said and added that the Bali Action Plan can be a good basis for the negotiation process. The energy component of the project is 2.30 billion euros, while the transport component is around 4.18 billion eoros. "We welcome the constructive approach to the negotiations taken by the majority of the developing countries and their commitments to engage in nationally appropriate mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development," he said. Sacconi is leading a nine-member delegation to India and Bangladesh which consists of socialists (PSE), Christian

Democrats (EPP-ED) and a one liberal (ALDE). The European Parliament has called for an urgent review of EU's bio-fuel policy, with particular emphasis on life cycle sustainability of each type of bio-fuel in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, said Romana Jordan. She said: "bio-fuel is one of the alternate fuels for transport. But we now realize some problems associated with like its pricing and its impact of food prices, efficiency of the fuel, sustainable land use and food security. Food should be given priority over fuel. The EU is working on research for second generation bio-fuels." On the issue of the recent US-EU proposal for introducing trade in green goods and services in the WTO agenda, Sacconi said: "We are aware of the reservations of India and other developing countries to bring in environment agenda in trade. The European Parliament will debate on the issue in its trade and environment committees." He said "if a new global agreement on containing climate is not possible by 2012, replacing the Kyoto Protocol, then we have to look towards WTO to settle the issue." "In our cooperation with India we are looking for quantitative goals in the area of combating climate

change like the green package approved by the Council of European Union, energy mix, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, 10% doping by bio-fuels, development funds and R & D." said Jordan. Sacconi said that the 15 countries of the EU would be able to reduce their emissions by 7% in 2008 against the target of 8% "We are now looking where is the problem in the emission cut. Any way 7% reduction in EU is better than 30% increase in US." He said that the expanded EU with its 27 members were prepared to cut their emissions by 20% by 2020. "If US is willing to cut its emission, we are even prepared for 30% cut in our emissions by 2020. We call upon the industrialized countries to cut their emissions by at least 30% by 2020 and by 60% to 80% by 2050 compared to the 1990 level." He hoped that the new global climate agreement would be different from the Kyoto

Protocol in which every country will have different roles to play depending upon their ability, resources and needs.... ------------- UN body hails trade rise at climate exchanges http://www.financialexpress .com/news/UN-body-hails-trade -rise-at-climate-exchanges /271413/0 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Sunday , February 10, 2008 at 2324 hrs IST New Delhi, Feb 10 The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has expressed

satisfaction over the increase in trading volumes on major climate exchanges across the world. But much remains to be done, it said. Underlining the need to make emissions trading more vibrant, the UNFCCC executive secretary, Yvo de Boer told FE, "The Kyoto Protocol, with its binding emission target, created the carbon market. Now, countries need to launch negotiations that would lead to a new treaty after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. The new treaty needed to have a firm downward pressure on emission. In this intermittent period, the business leaders are calling for clarity in binding commitments and a regulatory level playing field. Therefore, the future of emissions trading would much depend upon how the new climate treaty is designed." Yvo de Boer who was in India last week, however, expressed satisfaction at the growth of the climate exchanges. He said, "Look at the fully functioning trading market

in the European Union and interest in setting up cap-and-trade Markets in the US, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere. One can easily envisage a linking and standardisation of Markets to create an efficient global market for carbon." The European Climate Exchange (ECX) traded over 908,000 ECX CFI futures contracts (908 million tonne) in January-November 2007, out of which 493,136 ECX CFI futures contracts were traded between July and November, representing a year-over-year increase of 133%. Over 34,860 ECX CFI options were traded in August-November, 2007. More than 80 leading businesses signed membership to trade ECX products. The Chicago Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE) increased its product line to further cover the growing market for environmental futures. Trading volume for Sulfur Financial Instrument futures contracts for sulfur dioxide emission allowances increased by 1,112% on a year-over-year basis.

The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) has offered basic contract specification for GHG emissions offsets from renewable energy systems projects in India as well as for such systems activated on or after January 1, 1999. CCX traded 21.2 million tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent in January-November, 2007, an increase of 97% on year-over-year basis. With new membership growth, CCX expects the trade volume to increase to 540 million tonne of CO2 equivalent. Prices fluctuated in 2007 in all the three exchanges. The December 2007 futures contract price fell from 5.60 euro per EUA at the beginning of2007 to 0.01 euro per EUA by November 30, 2007, while ECX futures prices for December 2008 delivery climbed from 17.50 per EUA in January 2007 to 22.35 euro in November 30, 2007. In CCX, the year 2007 opened at $3.75 a tonne and reached a peak of $ 4.20 a tonne in January itself. It thereafter began declining to reach a low of $

1.80 a tonne on October 26, 2007, before settling down to $ 2.10 on November 30, 2007.... ------------------------------ -------------------- UN systems to gear up to save farm sector from climate impact http://www.financialexpress .com/news/UN-systems-to-gear -up-to-save-farm-sector-from -climate-impact/271494/0 ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Monday , February 11, 2008 at 0009 hrs IST New Delhi, Feb 11 The

United Nations, apprehending that climate change can take a toll on agriculture, water resources, fisheries, forestry, public health and may increase the frequency of natural disasters. It has geared up to formulate appropriate support systems for the countries facing these challenges. "The UN systems would work in coordination with the national governments and other inter-governmental bodies. We are preparing a work plan in consultation with all these agencies. It will be deliberated in the UN Chief Executive Board, which will determine a coordination structure with key clusters of activity and specific lead agencies," said the executive secretary of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Yvo de Boer, who was recently in India. He said global investments to the tune of $ 15 to 20 trillion was needed over the next 25 years to meet the challenges of climate change. In

a draft document prepared after the Bali conference on climate change, the UN has noted that agriculture was both a source and a sink for greenhouse gases, as well as both a source and a user of energy. Water, land, bio-diversity and terrestrial ecosystem services would become stressed. This would impact food security and the ability to feed a population approaching 9 billion by 2050." Also, climate change impact on marine, coastal, estuaries and freshwater ecosystems is likely to affect many of the 200 million people directly or indirectly dependent on fisheries for their livelihoods, through changes in nature, distribution and productivity of aquatic resources," the draft document said. It noted that transport consumes a quarter of the world's energy and accounts for some 25% of total carbon dioxide emissions, 80% of which can be attributed to road transport. Maritime transport carries over 90% of the world

trade in volume, which is vital for the world Economy and remains the most environment friendly and energy-efficient mode of transport in specific terms. Though maritime transport may be a small contribution to climate change, legislation and mitigation measures should be taken at the global level on account of its international nature. Regarding aviation, the draft UN document said it was a critically important transport mode moving more than 2.2 billion passengers and 40% of global exports by value. Air traffic demand was growing at the rate of 5% to 6% a year. This would cause aviation share in emission to grow beyond its current level estimated at 2% of the global total. The draft document suggested that UN systems would extend support in developing alternative eco-friendly fuels and engines for its use. Keeping in view, the competition

between fuel crops and food crops for land and water use, it said "It would promote research on second generation bio-fuels generated from cellulose, waste and other materials." It would also deepen the understanding of the links among bio-fuels, food security, land, water use and biodiversity. Also, the UN systems would support increased carbon sequestration through restoration of degraded lands and through improved agricultural land management. It would develop financial instruments to compensate poor farmers for environmental services they provide by adopting land-use and forestry practices that reduce carbon emissions. It would increase technical support to farmers in developing and implementing alternative document suggested that UN systems would extend support in developing alternative eco-friendly fuels and engines for its use. Keeping in view, the competition between fuel crops and food crops for land

and water use, it said "It would promote research on second generation bio-fuels generated from cellulose, waste and other materials." It would also deepen the understanding of the links among bio-fuels, food security, land, water use and biodiversity. Also, the UN systems would support increased carbon sequestration through restoration of degraded lands and through improved agricultural land management. It would develop financial instruments to compensate poor farmers for environmental services they provide by adopting land-use and forestry practices that reduce carbon emissions. It would increase technical support to farmers in developing and implementing alternative agricultural practices..

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