New Draft At Copenhagen Conference
A new draft proposal released Friday at the Copenhagen climate summit calls for developed countries to make deeper cuts to greenhouse gas emissions than current commitments.
The six-page draft document, authored by Michael Zammit Cutajar, the chair of the UN's ad-hoc working group on long-term cooperative action, doesn't specify a solid emission reduction target for developed countries such as Canada, but instead offers a range of options.
For example, the draft calls for emission reductions of 25 to 45 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 for developed countries, and reductions of 15 and 30 per cent by 2020 for developing countries.
Both these targets are more ambitious than the current climate targets outlined by both industrialized and emerging economies.
The European Union has pledged a 20 per cent cut in emissions from 1990 levels with a pledge to raise the cuts to 30 per cent of 1990 levels if the United States and Canada provide better commitments.
Canada's federal government has proposed a 20 per cent cut in emissions from 2006 levels, which falls short of the baseline European offer and well short of the working group's draft.
The document provides a starting point for world leaders scheduled to meet next week to try and hammer out an agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is one of over 100 heads of state scheduled to take part in the leaders conference.
A group of small island states also issued their own draft plan on Friday, calling for even more stringent emission reductions they say are needed to keep average global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels.
The Alliance of Small Island States have been pushing for more aggressive emission reductions because they fear rising global temperatures will in turn lead to dangerous increases in sea levels that might threaten their populations. Most draft plans call for trying to keep rises in average global temperatures below 2 C.
Govt decides to carve Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh
The government will carve a new state called Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, home to several major international companies, a move that could fuel social unrest and separatist demands in other states.
The government's decision came after more than a week of violent protests shut down business in Hyderabad, home to firms like Microsoft, Google and Mahindra Satyam.
No decision has yet been made on whether Hyderabad, one of the faces of economic success, will stay in Andhra Pradesh or move to the new state.
"The process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated," Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told reporters, without giving further details.
Congress leaders say the government wanted to respect the sentiments of the people of Telangana who have been demanding statehood for a long time.
The creation of another state not only raises concerns it may push movements in other states to use violent protests to press their demands but also worries about whether Hyderabad will be locked in a power-struggle, affecting the growing IT sector.
"The creation of Telangana will act as a spur for Vidarbha, Kamtapur, Gorkhaland, possibly for agitations in certain regions of north India," political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan said, referring to areas in the states of Maharashtra and West Bengal.
“It is very, very significant. It has got the potential of changing the way the map of India runs inside," said Rangarajan.
A new draft proposal released Friday at the Copenhagen climate summit calls for developed countries to make deeper cuts to greenhouse gas emissions than current commitments.
The six-page draft document, authored by Michael Zammit Cutajar, the chair of the UN's ad-hoc working group on long-term cooperative action, doesn't specify a solid emission reduction target for developed countries such as Canada, but instead offers a range of options.
For example, the draft calls for emission reductions of 25 to 45 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 for developed countries, and reductions of 15 and 30 per cent by 2020 for developing countries.
Both these targets are more ambitious than the current climate targets outlined by both industrialized and emerging economies.
The European Union has pledged a 20 per cent cut in emissions from 1990 levels with a pledge to raise the cuts to 30 per cent of 1990 levels if the United States and Canada provide better commitments.
Canada's federal government has proposed a 20 per cent cut in emissions from 2006 levels, which falls short of the baseline European offer and well short of the working group's draft.
The document provides a starting point for world leaders scheduled to meet next week to try and hammer out an agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is one of over 100 heads of state scheduled to take part in the leaders conference.
A group of small island states also issued their own draft plan on Friday, calling for even more stringent emission reductions they say are needed to keep average global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels.
The Alliance of Small Island States have been pushing for more aggressive emission reductions because they fear rising global temperatures will in turn lead to dangerous increases in sea levels that might threaten their populations. Most draft plans call for trying to keep rises in average global temperatures below 2 C.
Govt decides to carve Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh
The government will carve a new state called Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, home to several major international companies, a move that could fuel social unrest and separatist demands in other states.
The government's decision came after more than a week of violent protests shut down business in Hyderabad, home to firms like Microsoft, Google and Mahindra Satyam.
No decision has yet been made on whether Hyderabad, one of the faces of economic success, will stay in Andhra Pradesh or move to the new state.
"The process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated," Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told reporters, without giving further details.
Congress leaders say the government wanted to respect the sentiments of the people of Telangana who have been demanding statehood for a long time.
The creation of another state not only raises concerns it may push movements in other states to use violent protests to press their demands but also worries about whether Hyderabad will be locked in a power-struggle, affecting the growing IT sector.
"The creation of Telangana will act as a spur for Vidarbha, Kamtapur, Gorkhaland, possibly for agitations in certain regions of north India," political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan said, referring to areas in the states of Maharashtra and West Bengal.
“It is very, very significant. It has got the potential of changing the way the map of India runs inside," said Rangarajan.
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