COP26: Roadmap to avert cooling-generated climate crisis

Home

International

by Argus News

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The world is also off-track to meet the UN's SDGs and adapt to rapidly increasing temperatures due to climate change.

Glasgow, Nov 5: A team of experts comprising researchers from the World Bank Group and University of Birmingham has developed a roadmap to drive the cooling innovations that could help to avoid climate catastrophe, as increasing heat threatens human health and productivity and rising global demand for cooling further raise the planet's temperatures.

Their plan, dubbed the "Cold Road to Paris", calls on governments, industry and the international community to organize and implement a coordinated strategy to drive out greenhouse gas emissions from cooling by 2050 while at the same time providing the cooling services that are needed to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The world is off-track to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting the rise in global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius while more than 13 new cooling devices are being deployed every second -- making cooling and refrigeration the world's fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The world is also off-track to meet the UN's SDGs and adapt to rapidly increasing temperatures due to climate change.

The report, published in time for COP26, calls for radical change. It provides insights into the relationship between cooling and already-agreed upon climate and development goals; presents the barriers, critical step-changes, and solutions needed to accelerate innovation and transformation; proposes aspirational targets and actions for each decade with the aim of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cooling applications by 2050; considers financing solutions; and suggest a framework for governments and the global cooling community to take action.

Report co-author Toby Peters, Professor of Cold Economy at the University of Birmingham, commented: "This report is a very timely and important document for COP 26 to consider. Conventional cooling technologies, such as refrigeration and air conditioning, account for more than seven per cent of GHG emissions and their use is growing rapidly."

"The rapid surge in demand for cooling will create a vicious cycle of rising temperatures that increases demand for cooling -- thus boosting GHG emissions and further increasing temperatures. We need radical change in order to provide affordable access to clean cooling for all with minimal climate impact. Piecemeal improvements will not be good enough."

Making decarbonisation policy work in practice will depend on deployment of effective novel technologies, such as those developed at the Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage (BCES).

These focus on cost-effective, energy-and-resource-efficient thermal energy storage technologies, which fall into three broad categories: sensible heat storage, thermochemical energy storage, and phase change material (PCM)-based latent heat storage.

Another contributor to the report, climate finance and policy specialist Alan Miller,

added: "The roadmap and work of the Centre highlight the multiple benefits attainable through sustainable cooling. Replacing Hydrofluorocarbons as called for in an international agreement, the Kigali Amendment, will avoid as much as 0.5C of warming, with additional warming avoided by reductions in power demand."
(IANS)

Argus News is hiring!

Seeking highly motivated professionals.

APPLY NOW

IPL 2024: Sanjay Bangar Appointed Punjab Kings' Head of Cricket Development

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Dec 8: Former India allrounder Sanjay Bangar has been appointed the head of cricket development at Punjab Kings (PBKS), the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise said on Friday.

The appointment marks Bangar's return to PBKS, having previously been the franchise's assistant coach in 2014 before assuming the role of head coach in 2015 and 2016.

"We are delighted to announce the return of our sher, Sanjay Bangar as the new Head of Cricket Development at Punjab Kings. Bangar brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, and we are confident that under his leadership, our cricket development programs will reach new heights," PBKS said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

Under Bangar in 2014, PBKS (then Kings XI Punjab) finished runners-up which remains their best performance to date. However, they have not managed to reach the playoffs since that season.

Following his previous stint with the PBKS, Bangar went on to serve as the batting coach for the Indian team, contributing to their journey to the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Read more Sports News

He subsequently took on the role of batting consultant for Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of IPL 2021 before being appointed as their head coach for the succeeding two years. (IANS)

PM Modi Targets Opposition After Rs 200 Crore Seized In IT Raids On Liquor Traders In Odisha

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Dec 8: As the Income Tax (IT) sleuths seized over Rs 220 crore in cash during raids on Odisha-based distillery group till Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at those involved in corruption saying every penny looted will have to be returned.

The Prime Minister was apparently referring to Opposition leaders who allegedly have links with the liquor firm.

"The countrymen should look at the pile of these notes and then listen to the honest 'speeches' of their leaders…..Whatever has been looted from the public, every penny will have to be returned, this is Modi’s guarantee," PM Modi said in a Hindi post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Prime Minister also attached a photo of a Hindi newspaper in which the cash recovered by the IT department was shown stacked.

देशवासी इन नोटों के ढेर को देखें और फिर इनके नेताओं के ईमानदारी के 'भाषणों' को सुनें... 😂😂😂

जनता से जो लूटा है, उसकी पाई-पाई लौटानी पड़ेगी, यह मोदी की गारंटी है।

❌❌❌💵 💵 💵❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/O2pEA4QTOj — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2023

IT officials first raided BDPL on December 6 on allegations of tax evasion, and later searched the premises of Baldeo Sahu and Group of Companies, from where they claim to have recovered 156 bags of cash. Subsequently, simultaneous raids were conducted in Titlagarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Bhubaneswar in Odisha and in a few places in Jharkhand, said official sources.

Also Read: BJP Demands CBI Inquiry Into Seizure Of Rs 500-Cr From Liquor Trader

The IT department has so far seized over Rs 220 crore in simultaneous raids conducted at around 25 premises in Odisha and Jharkhand linked to Baldeo Sahu and Group of Companies Ltd, a country-liquor manufacturing and selling firm with operations across Odisha’s western districts.

The total seized amount is likely to go up as the counting process is still on, sources in the IT department said.

According to IT sources, the group is allegedly linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand Dhiraj Sahu, whose family members run the business. It’s a partnership firm of Boudh Distilleries Private Limited (BDPL) and a leading country-liquor manufacturing firm, IT sources said.

Read More Odisha News

Free Travel For Women In Telangana RTC Buses From Dec 9

by Hemanta Pande

Hyderabad, Dec 8: Women in Telangana will be able to travel free in state-owned TSRTC buses from Saturday as the new Congress government in the state has decided to implement two of the six guarantees.

Day after assuming office, the Congress government issued an order to roll out the facility under the Mahalakshmi scheme promised during the elections for empowerment of women.

From Saturday (December 9) afternoon, girls and women of all age groups and transgender persons who are domicile of Telangana, can travel free in Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses within the state borders.

Also Read: Once A Gun-Wielding Maoist, Seethakka Is Now A Telangana Minister

The state government issued modalities for implementation of the scheme, which is being launched on the birthday of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

Women, girls and transgenders can travel in Palle Velugu, Express, city ordinary and city Metro buses, announced TSRTC Managing Director, V. C. Sajjanar.

Travel in inter-state Express and Palle Velugu buses will be free up to the borders of Telangana State.

“They can travel by showing any of the identity cards like Adhaar, voter ID, driving licence, PAN card or passport. There will be no restriction. They can travel any distance within the state,” he said, adding that they will be issued zero tickets after 5-6 days.

The scheme will be launched at 1.30 p.m. from Assembly premises in the presence of ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari and boxing champion Nikhat Zareen.

The TSRTC MD said a total of 7,292 buses can be used by beneficiaries under the scheme.

He said the travel pattern of TSRTC shows that 40 per cent of its passengers are women. This number is expected to go up to 50-55 per cent with the implementation of the scheme.

Sajjanar said based on the number of beneficiaries of the scheme, TSRTC will seek reimbursement from the government.

TSRTC’s current daily revenues are Rs 14 crore. “With the implementation of this scheme, it will automatically come down by 50 per cent. We will request the government to fill the gap,” he said.