Environment

Ghaziabad, Nov 16 (PTI) Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday said farmers or stubble burning should not be blamed for air pollution, citing a Supreme Court observation.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson, who has been one of the most prominent faces of the protests at Delhi borders against the Centre's farm laws, also demanded an apology from those holding the farming community responsible for pollution woes.

12 Nov 2021; MEMO: The ruler of Dubai said in a tweet yesterday the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected to host the COP28 international climate conference in 2023, Reuters reports.

"We will put all our capabilities to make the conference a success. The UAE will remain committed to global climate action to protect the planet," said Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who also serves as prime minister of the UAE.

New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI) Delhi's air quality slipped to the "severe" category again on Tuesday with stubble burning accounting for 27 per cent of its PM2.5 pollution, authorities said.

Low temperature -- Delhi recorded a minimum of 13.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the season's lowest so far -- allowed accumulation of pollutants, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet Weather.

The minimum temperature is expected to dip to 10 degrees by November 15, the India Meteorological Department said.

GLASGOW, Nov 9 (Reuters) - New national pledges to tackle climate change this decade would lead to around 2.4 degrees Celsius of global warming this century, far above safe levels, analysts predict.

Climate Action Tracker (CAT) said on Tuesday that the promises by countries attending the U.N. summit in Glasgow to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 would still allow the Earth to heat up far beyond the United Nations target by 2100.

New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) instigated people to flout the ban on firecrackers on Diwali by linking it to religion.

The minister said Delhi's air quality deteriorated due to a surge in farm fires and some people bursting firecrackers on purpose.

"A large number of people did not burst firecrackers. I thank them all. But some people burst firecrackers on purpose. I categorically say the BJP instigated them to do it," he told reporters here.

New Delhi, Nov 4 (PTI) With the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution rising to 25 per cent on Diwali, the highest this season so far, authorities have said that the air quality in the city may turn "severe" by midnight and shoot up rapidly by Friday morning if firecrackers are burnt.

The PM2.5 pollution in the capital may enter the "severe" zone by midnight even if there is 50 per cent of firecrackers emissions as compared to last year, said Gufran Beig, the founder project director of SAFAR.

Kanpur: The shops selling firecrackers in the city areas Kanpur are fewer compared to previous years.

A shopkeeper selling firecrackers on the festive occasion said that restrictions were quite confusing as it becomes hard to distinguish between a genuine green cracker and a sham one.

The demand and supply have gone down. The spectre of lockdown also looms large on the business. Some traditional sellers have opted out to other kinds of business.

Ayodhya, Nov 1 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government will light 12 lakh earthen lamps, nine lakh of which will be lit on the banks of the Saryu, bettering the previous Diwali record.

Last year, over six lakh earthen lamps were lit during the "Deepotsav" to celebrate the festival, creating a world record.

According to government statement, the staging of Ram Lilas, a 3D holographic display, laser show and fireworks will be part of the five-day-long celebrations, beginning Monday.

28 Oct 2021; MEMO: Turkey is getting nearly $3.16 billion from abroad to spearhead its climate-friendly projects, the nation's president said on Thursday, and reported by Anadolu News Agency.

"We will use $3.157 billion of resources that were brought to Turkey through the World Bank and developed countries for green climate-friendly projects," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the inauguration ceremony for the Nation's Garden in the capital Ankara.

29 Oct 2021; MEMO: Saudi Arabia is in talks with several carmakers about manufacturing in the country, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih told Reuters, with an announcement expected this year.

The discussions are part of plans to attract foreign investment to support the transformation of Saudi Arabia's economy and diversify it away from oil.

"A car manufacturer will be announced before year-end, and following that there will be another one or two car manufacturers, and they will be cars of the future," Falih said.