A three-day-long investors summit organised by the Uttar Pradesh government from February 10-12 saw participation from both national and international investors who are keen to tap into the potential of various sectors in the state. The state government has been putting forth an ‘ease of doing business’ model, assuring entrepreneurs of ground support for being part of Uttar Pradesh’s growth.

Several states in north India are in the grip of an intense heatwave, which is likely to stay for the next 2-3 days. Heat-related deaths have been reported from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Adoption of simple and cost-effective ‘Cool Roofs’ can save lives.

A modest 10% reduction in energy consumption from wealthier urban households, which can be achieved from energy conservation and the adoption of efficient power sources, can reduce particulate pollution by 7.1 %, 8.4 %, and 6.2 % in Delhi, Coimbatore, and Rajkot respectively.

Limiting global warming will require major transitions in the energy sector, the third instalment of the IPCC’s sixth assessment report noted. It also added that accelerated and equitable climate action in mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts is critical to sustainable development. Details here.

By acknowledging its disparate historical roles in climate change, India highlights the significance of climate finance. Lower-middle-income countries like India confront financial obstacles in their efforts to shift to a low-carbon economy.

Adoption of solar-run portable reeling machines has increased the earnings of silk reelers and weavers manifold. Unnati, a solar-powered reeling machine offered by the social enterprise Resham Sutra, costs Rs 35,000. Almost 70% of its beneficiaries are tribal women.

In order to address the rising demand for electricity in the next five years, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the officials to focus on solar energy and reduce the dependence on conventional sources of energy such as thermal and hydro. He has stated that the switch to solar energy will contribute in achieving the objective of developing the state into a ‘trillion dollar economy’ and rural areas will benefit on priority. Details here.

The research shows that at the cost of about 1 per cent of the world GDP, the global water challenges can be solved at 29 cents per person, per day from 2015 to 2030. “What’s missing is the political will and financial backing to make these cost-effective solutions a reality,” it noted.

Under the Centre's KUSUM scheme, farmers are provided huge subsidy to adopt off-grid solar-powered agricultural pumps to meet the irrigation needs. But, in drought-hit parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada, about four months a year these solar pumps are of no use as water sources dry up. Experts call for reinventing the scheme

Farmers in India incur nearly USD 12,520 million in post-harvest losses annually due to inadequate cold storage facilities. BASE and Empa's 'Your Virtual Cold Chain Assistant' project is making sustainable cooling accessible, affordable, and an indispensable part of post-harvest management for the Indian farmers.