Japan aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050:
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has declared the country`s target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Highlights:
♦ Yoshihide Suga - Responding to climate change is no longer a constraint on economic growth.
♦ Yoshihide Suga - Need to change our thinking to the view that taking assertive measures against climate change will lead to changes in industrial structure and the economy that will bring about great growth.
♦ In addition to boosting research and development in these fields, the country will foster a digital society that will make daily life more dependent on smart technologies.
♦ Japan, the fifth largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, has set admirable targets, some of which are uncertain of the country`s ability to meet its target by 2050, given that the nation`s heavy dependence on coal after the 2011 Fukushima disaster led to the closure of many nuclear reactors.
♦ The country`s current target of no greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is consistent with the EU, which has already set a 30-year carbon-neutral target.
♦ In the second half of the century, instead of setting an explicit deadline, Japan had previously promised carbon neutrality "as soon as possible," as its long-term climate policy was to slash emissions by 80 percent from 2010 levels by 2050.
♦ According to the 2016 Japan Executive Summary, the gross greenhouse gas emissions of the country were 1,322 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the fiscal year, which represented a 0.2 percent decrease in total emissions compared to FY2015.
###MoC between India and Japan:
Cabinet approves Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan on cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Highlights:
♦ The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) is expected to contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding in the field of communications
♦ Moc will serve as a strategic initiative for India as Japan is an important partner with “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” status.
♦ The MoC will further enhance opportunities for India to get into the global standardization process.
♦ The MoC will help in cooperation between both countries in various fields like 5G network, telecom security, submarine cable, standard certification of communication equipment, utilization of latest wireless technologies and ICTs, ♦ ICTs capacity building, public protection and disaster relief, artificial intelligence (AI)/block chain, spectrum chain, spectrum management, cooperation on multilateral platforms, etc.
###Electricity Access In India And Benchmarking Distribution Utilities Report:
NITI Aayog, Ministry of Power, Rockefeller Foundation, and Smart Power India launched the ‘Electricity Access in India and Benchmarking Distribution Utilities’ report on October 28, 2020.
Highlights:
♦ According to the report, 92% of customers reported the overall availability of electricity infrastructure within 50 metres of their premises.
♦ And 87 per cent of the surveyed customers have access to grid-based electricity. The remaining 13 per cent can use non-grid sources or do not use any electricity at all.
♦ The hours of supply have improved significantly across the customer categories to nearly 17 hrs/day.
♦ The report is based on a primary survey conducted across ten states, representing about 65 per cent of the total rural population of India and with a sample size of more than 25 thousand, including households, commercial enterprises and institutions.
♦ The report highlights the benefits of government-led schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana.
♦ The key recommendations provided in the report in the areas of policy and regulation, process improvement and infrastructure will be utilized for improving the power distribution sector.
♦ The report underlines some best practices adopted by the better-performing electricity distribution utilities in India and provides key recommendations to enhance sustainable electricity access.