Climate Change & Environment

Meghna Agarwal (Earth Institute for Environmental Sustainability, Columbia University), under the guidance of Ruth DeFries and others, conducted a research study on the impact of Biogas interventions on forest biomass and regeneration. Programs to provide alternative energy sources such as Biogas improve indoor air quality and potentially reduce pressure on forests from fuel wood collection. This study tests concludes that Biogas intervention results in higher forest biomass and forest regeneration in degraded forests in the ADATS/Coolie Sangha working area at Chickballapur, Karnataka, India. Results indicate the potential for alternative energy sources that reduce dependence on fuel wood to promote regeneration of degraded forests.

"Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions. Our society is in the grip of a dangerous greenhouse gas habit. The message of this book is that we are all part of the solution. Whether you are an individual, a business, an organization or a government, there are many steps you can take to reduce your climate footprint." Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) examines how economic value can be placed on biodiversity, in an effort to preserve it.  The release of the report was welcomed by Jairam Ramesh, who said immediately that India would be conducting its own TEEB study, with a view towards having a system in place as early as 2015.