India, the largest economy of South Asia, has recently announced its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). This is of special significance given the mounting pressure on fast growing economies like India, China and Brazil from the developed countries for a commitment with legally binding obligations.
CSE releases its report on mining, people and environment. CSE
Developing community-based forest enterprises (CBFEs) is an ideal development intervention in poor forest communities as they have the potential to generate income and employment for the poor while supporting sustainable management of forest resources. This potential is limited by various constraints, many of which are unique to forest-based enterprises.
Climate change and an ageing population bring together two key policy challenges which need to be addressed to ensure a safe, secure, equitable and sustainable future. Growing old in the twenty-first century will bring with it the unique challenge of
Tomato, cabbage, and garden egg are important crops for small-scale farmers and migrants in the rural and peri-urban areas of Ghana. Genetic modification has the potential to alleviate poverty through combating yield losses from pests and diseases in these crops, while reducing health risks from application of hazardous chemicals. This study uses farm survey data to gauge the potential for adoption of genetically modified varieties, estimate the potential impact of adoption on farm profits, and highlight economic differences among the three crops.
Nepal introduced various community based forest management (CBFM) programmes that aim to improve forest management while improving the livelihoods of the forest dependent poor. One of these programmes is the Leasehold Forestry and Livestock Programme (LFLP). Various studies have demonstrated its positive impacts but several studies also pointed out its unintentional negative impacts.
World Resources 2008 explores what is necessary to allow such nature-based enterprises to scale up so as to have greater impact
This publication lists and briefly details the regulatory instruments comprising laws/acts/decrees/regulations/rules related to biosafety of products of biotechnology for agriculture and food existing in 39 countries of Asia and the Pacific.
With around half of its land area still forested, Meghalaya
This brief presents the key facts and recommendations drawn from chapters of The White House and the World: A Global Development Agenda for the Next U.S. President. The next president can secure a place in history by mobilizing America to confront climate change, while starting a clean energy revolution that will strengthen American security and create the next wave of economic growth.
Data Against Natural Disasters seeks to provide the analytical tools needed to enhance national capacity for disaster response. The editors and authors begin with an overview that summarizes key lessons learned from the six country case studies in the volume. Next, they outline the data needs that arise at different stages in the disaster response and explore the humanitarian
Research at the World Bank on climate change and agriculture has gained momentum in recent years, recognizing both the important role agriculture plays in the economies and the livelihoods of the poor in developing countries, as well as the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climate change. Major research efforts have been focusing on the agricultural sectors of India, Africa, Latin America, and China. This article focuses on recent research dealing with the impact of climate change on African agriculture.
This report takes stock of past experience and demonstrates that there are many opportunities to invest in non-timber forest products in support of rural livelihoods and to promote better methods of enabling poor rural people, and especially women, to benefit from the sector.
This paper explores the potential and challenges that would face trade-policy-makers in trying to contribute to climate change objectives by liberalizing trade in low-carbon goods. It draws heavily on the existing talks under the Doha Development Agenda for liberalizing trade in environmental goods and services.
There is a global sanitation and water crisis and governments are failing to act. This report looks at the current international response to this crisis and highlights the low political and financing priority given to sanitation and water. It shows that: overall, aid is rising but the share given to sanitation and water is in decline; sanitation and water are vital to health and education yet are given a low priority by both donors and aid recipient governments; aid is not going to the poorest regions or countries.
Technological solutions are imperative in meeting the challenges of climate change. A critical factor in greenhouse gas emissions, technology is also fundamental to enhancing existing abilities and lowering the costs of reducing these emissions.
The effluent and emission standards for oil refineries were notified under Environment (Protection) Act in the years 1986 and 1990, respectively. These standards were same for old & new refineries and considered only few parameters. There was need to include additional parameters viz. Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), etc.
The Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada
Greater energy efficiency is key for shifting country development paths toward lower-carbon economic growth. Especially in developing countries and transition economies, vast potential for energy savings opportunities remain unrealized even though current financial returns are strong. "Financing Energy Efficiency: Lessons from Brazil, China, India, and Beyond" examines the nature of this dilemma and how it may be overcome in practical and operational terms.
The NEC Shillong has assigned the National Institute of Rural Development, North Eastern Regional Centre (NIRD-NERC), Guwahati to prepare a report on
