Cii

The government has initiated steps to prepare the State Energy Efficiency Action Plan (SEEAP) with the support of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to achieve the energy savings target of 6.68 million ton of oil equivalent (mtoe) by 2030, as part of efforts to contribute to the country’s objective to achieve zero emissions by 2070. In an online stakeholder consultation meeting on SEEAP with the AP State Energy Conservation Mission (SECM), the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and the nodal officers of the energy conservation cells in the government departments, BEE Secretary R.K. Rai said a target of 45% reduction in energy intensity by 2030 was set, and States would have to prepare action plans to identify the energy saving targets. The BEE has engaged the CII as a technical consultant for preparation of SEEAP. The State is also engaged in a variety of energy conservation and energy efficiency programmes, which can be showcased as a model for other States. Mr. Rai … [Read more...] about Andhra Pradesh: BEE ropes in CII in preparing energy efficiency action plan

The trade group representing the cruise ship industry unsuccessfully pushed international authorities to water down new environmental regulations despite its members’ climate commitments, experts in marine air pollution warn. Late last month, the International Maritime Organization rejected a cruise industry effort that would have improved cruise ships' carbon pollution scores. Environmental groups say it also would have led to more air pollution by allowing cruise liners to continue with business as usual. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has membership that accounts for 95% of global cruise trips. Its four biggest members, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises, tout their climate awareness and have all committed to drastically cutting emissions. Yet according to a filing in April, the cruise ship association lobbied the International Maritime Organization's members to change proposed rules in a manner critics say will lead … [Read more...] about Cruise liners try to rewrite climate rules despite vows

The story so far: The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has said that the Government of India is exploring the possibility of inviting manufacturers of Electric Vertical Take off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft to set up base in India. The Minister had been on a visit to the U.S. and Canada in April and in his interactions with key players in the industry, it was said that several eVTOL players were ‘keen on setting up production centres’ in the country. In late May, while speaking at “[email protected]”, which was part of the seventh edition of the India Ideas Conclave in Bengaluru, the Minister also said that India is in ‘conversation’ with a number of eVTOL producers — the implication being a futuristic vision for India. What is eVTOL? As the acronym suggests, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is one that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically. Most eVTOLs also use what is called as distributed electric propulsion … [Read more...] about The status of eVTOL: a soon to be reality?

The story so far: The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said in a report released last month that India was one of the most challenging major economies as far as IP protection and enforcement is concerned. It has decided to retain India on its Priority Watch List along with six other countries- Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia, Russia and Venezuela. Among the issues raised in the report are concerns about what can be patented, waiting times for obtaining patents, reporting requirements, and data safety. India had undertaken an intellectual property review exercise last year, where a Parliamentary Standing Committee examined the subject taking into account the views of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers; Department of Agriculture Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and … [Read more...] about Explained | The Indian patent regime and its clash with the U.S. norms

“The future of India depends on providing better education to the youth,” said President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday while addressing the fifth annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Management )IIM) Jammu. He said that education is the greatest enabler. “The future of our country depends on good education of our young population. Institutes like IIM Jammu are nurturing our youth. These talented young people are going to build the India of the future. They are going to make the lives of the people, better, and the country, stronger,” said the president. Talking about National Education Policy (NEP) he said, “We know, the National Education Policy seeks to position India as a ‘Knowledge Hub’ in today’s knowledge economy. It seeks to make our youth equipped for the world of 21st century while preserving our ancient values which remain relevant even today. For India to become a global knowledge hub, our institutes of learning have to be globally comparable.” He was happy … [Read more...] about Future of India Depends on Providing Better Education to Youth: President Kovind During IIM Jammu Convocation

Nelson Mandela had once said, ‘there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.’ If this is true, then what does the death of 12-year-old migrant child labourer, Jamlo Makdam, who passed away from dehydration and fatigue, after walking 150 km to return to her home during COVID-19 lockdown say about the ‘soul of our society’? What does it ‘reveal about our society’ when the government's helpline for children (1098) receives 4.6 lakh calls during the first phase of a nationwide lockdown, 30 per cent of which requires COVID-19 related intervention? Majority of such interventions were simply pleas for food. However, 9,385 of these calls were cries for help from children who were being subjected to physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or being trafficked, or abandoned. How does it reflect on us, when amid a health crisis that has killed 2,415, and affected 74,480 people in India, the rate of online child pornography consumption shoots … [Read more...] about No Country For Them? Orphans, Child Labourers ‘Invisible & Uncounted’ Victims of Covid-19 Crisis

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar suggested on Thursday that going forward some kind of understanding would have to be developed among nations over COVID-19 vaccination certificates rather than on particular vaccines for foreign travel, but acknowledged it would be a challenge as some countries will push the viewpoint that their vaccines are a must. Jaishankar also expressed hope that an indication about the World Health Organisation’s approval to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is likely by September. In his remarks at a plenary session of the CII Annual Meeting, Jaishankar asserted that the world stood by India during the second wave of Covid, especially in terms of oxygen supply and medicines as the country had helped others in the first wave of the pandemic. Asked about the need for global vaccine passports and problems being faced by Indians in foreign travel, he said a lot of this travel impediment is speculation and not fact based. “The US does not insist on your being … [Read more...] about EAM Calls for Understanding on Vaccination Certificates Than Covid Vaccines for Foreign Travel

Australian Trade Commissioner Tom Calder has said Visakhapatnam, which has several similarities with Perth, should explore collaborative effort to become sister cities. He said this during an interactive programme with members of Confederation of Indian Industry when a participant pointed out how Hyderabad and Brisbane have signed MoU to become sister cities and now Vizag should become sister city of Sydney due to several common features like golden beaches and mountains. At this, Mr. Calder admitted that Visakhapatnam was also a beautiful city and it should become a sister city of Perth. Technical support Dwelling on improving bilateral trade, he said Australia was ready to offer technical support for value addition and better capturing practices of seafood from Visakhapatnam and other parts of Andhra Pradesh. He said their country was one of the leading seafood exporters. He said they were also looking at collaborative effort in mining, agriculture, processing industry, … [Read more...] about ‘Vizag should become sister city of Perth’