Aviation emissions, a sectoral approach.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had its environmental vision chalked out for a post-2012 scenario. It had set ambitious targets for the aviation industry by aiming to build a zero-emissions commercial aircraft within 50 years and capping aviation CO2 emissions starting 2020. The association expected to improve fuel efficiency of the industry by 1.5% per year from 2009 to 2020 and further reduce 50% of its emissions by 2050. Regional airline associations from around the world urged the member states of the International Civil Aviation organization (ICAO) to agree on a global framework for the industry and adopt a sectoral approach to mitigate its carbon emissions.

The industry sought to bring international aviation under a post-Kyoto framework that did not distort competition amongst airline companies. It sought help from the governments to fund its research in fuel standards, incentives to replace existing fleet with fuel efficient aircrafts and modernize air traffic management technologies. It considered many options including sustainability of biofuels as a substitute for aviation fuel since the use of biofuels (from sources such as algae, jatropha, camelina biomass) as ‘drop-in’ fuels, was tested successfully. These fuels, considered environmentally sound, did not require major adaptation of aircrafts and by blending biofuels with existing jet fuel, emissions were expected to reduced by an additional 5%.

The implementation of advanced systems in air traffic management (ATM) was targeted to provide 4% emission reductions by 2020. The working ATM systems include Single European Sky (SESAR), which was likely to produce a 70% cut in route extension, while the Next Generation Air Traffic Management system in the USA was expected to reduce delays to 57%.

Some of the other options included airport domain improvements for the purpose of annual fuel savings which was based on Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) and Continuous Descent Arrival (CDA. CDA is expected to save up to 630 kg of carbon dioxide per landing. In all, seamless global treatment of the aviation industry as one sector would ensure a huge reduction in its emissions. On a global basis, cutting flight times by one minute per flight expected to save 4.8 million tons of Carbon dioxide every year on a global basis. Boeing’s Tailored Arrival concept, that enables aircrafts to descend uninterrupted on low engine power at constrained air space, maximized fuel efficiency and minimized any environmental impact of aviation. This concept established a predictable continuous descent rather than fuel intensive step-down descent by integrating air and ground automation through digital datalink.

On an overview, all stakeholders including manufacturers, research centers, airport authorities and airline operators in the industry are to develop synergies to create a global system alongside technological improvements to achieve optimum results in reducing aviation emissions.




(With Inputs from www.euractive.com and www.iata.org)

Adoption of a different kind....

Endearing cubs and a concept to keep them near. For those who can afford, an effort worth the money. Watch this for the cubs...awesome!

Green buildings and greener jobs...

Construction industry alters the landscape of this planet making a serious impact on our environment and sustainability. The industry has a huge share in the economic, social and environmental responsibility in our fight against global warming. The increasing population and surging urbanization renders all construction and post-construction activities accountable for a third of world’s energy consumption. Sustainable development encompasses construction of durable green buildings which limit depletion of resources and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on natural habitats and bio-diversity.


Prospering the Green way.

The science of construction extends to the assembly of building materials that promotes adaptability and minimizes transportation costs. Buildings that are either rebuilt or retrofitted to reduce energy consumption and pollution are referred to ‘green buildings’ in the technical sense of the term. These energy efficient buildings conserve space and natural resources, generate lesser amount of waste and can be rearranged to be used for diverse activities. The building plan modules for green buildings provide for either a photovoltaic, wind or solar power unit to generate electricity optimizing energy usage.

Retrofitting your homes with green roofing

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Protocol assists developing countries in sustainable development and meeting their quantified emission reduction commitments. ITC Hotel Sonar Bangla, Kolkata and Technopolis, Kolkata, two of the few green buildings in India, were refused registration as CDM projects despite paving way for sustainable development through energy efficiency, thereby reiterating the need for CDM reforms in a post-2012 framework.

A good corporate governance framework for the construction industry is a prerequisite to promote collaborative partnerships with communities, achieve sustainability and gain access to financial markets. It includes a company's business practices that reflect its social and environmental performances that are governed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and principles established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The United Nations Conference on Trade and Environment (UNCTAD) has drawn out the guidelines on eco-efficiency of such corporations involved in construction and allied works. Construction industry needs to adhere to global characteristics of corporate governance involving its consumers, clients, developers, investors, contractors and other players in the construction industry.

Rainwater conservation and harvesting

Recorded evidence of rainwater harvesting in India dates back to pre-Harappan and Harappan periods of civilizations that existed 6000 years ago and today we are seen reinventing the wheel, struggling to optimize usage of water resources and conserve rainwater. Archeological excavations in the Northern and Western India revealed rainwater harvesting structures, some of which were constructed during the Mughal era. These ancient structures of bunds, water channels and air shafts continue to serve the purpose till date and steps have been taken to augment and preserve them.

A standing example of such ancient systems can be seen at the Humayun's tomb, Delhi, where one finds water wells and water channels constructed around the main structure. UNESCO declared this monument a world heritage site, which was restored using private funds, a project that was completed in March 2003 under the aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India. It revitalized the existing water channels by desilting the wells at the site to recreate one of the largest rainwater harvesting systems in India.


The Water Channel: Resource on water management

In the year 2001, the State of Tamilnadu declared as mandatory the incorporation of rainwater harvesting system in all the construction and development plans submitted to the relevant statutory authority for sanction and approval. Successive governments did not fail in their efforts to implement this requirement without making it a political casualty.


Sand dam technique to harvest water in semi-arid countries

Coffee as a witness to Climate Change....

To the political question whether climate change is real or surreal, the inevitable answer that emerges is that "it as real as can be". Climate change is seen manifested in every activity that is aligned with agriculture and forestry, affecting even the coffee and tea drinking habits of those who reach out for their everyday dose of caffeine.



The decline in coffee harvests comes as a direct result of changing precipitation patterns, its timing, dry spells, pollution and increase in temperatures. Countries like Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Nicaragua – that grow coffee and tea for the world market are reeling under a direct impact of climate change even as their exports dwindle. It is not just the quantity but the quality of the coffee beans that took a beating under climate change as coffee growers witnessed their annual incomes dwindling to about 90%.

Coffee has an upper temperature limit, beyond which the yields decline considerably while increase in temperatures have forced growers to seek higher altitudes. Coffee growers tend to diversify into other crops as they look to adaptation strategies and not just long-term mitigation to counter global warming. Some of the efforts include testing heat-resistant coffee varieties and planting shade trees alongside coffee plantations to reduce the temperatures for better yield.

Coffee drinkers need to shun coffee grown on cleared forests land and instead seek environmentally friendly coffee beans that are organic and shade-grown.

Brazil's Global Warming Agenda | World Resources Institute

Brazil's Global Warming Agenda | World Resources Institute


Brazil took the first step forward by setting a national agenda to meet its commitment on emissions reductions.