India doing enough to combat global warming : PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rubbished criticism from developed nations that India was not doing enough to combat global warming, saying it fully recognised the importance of the issue.

He also said that domestic capacity should be strengthened to meet the challenges arising out of growing energy needs.

“We fully recognise not just how important this issue is to India but also our own obligation to address it,” he said apparently referring to criticism from developed nations on the issue.

The Prime Minister was addressing a national conference of state ministers of environment and forests in New Delhi.

“Our energy needs will increase sharply in the decades to come. We can and must walk a different road, an environment-friendly road,” he said.

For this, Singh said, access to new technologies available with developed countries was required.

“We must also make own investments in environment-friendly technologies.”

For strengthening scientific foundations of environment policies and capacity to deal with the challenges, he said, “We must involve more stakeholders particularly youth to lead the movement for environmental protection.”

As a step towards this direction, he asked States to create their own action plans consistent with the National Action Plan on Climate Change unveiled last year.

RMLD fights against global warming

Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) announced Monday that it continues to support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR” campaign to encourage customers to reduce energy use in their homes.

RMLD participates, along with millions of Americans, in the fight against global warming by encouraging individual actions that can make a big difference in reducing energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. 

The ENERGY STAR pledge at RMLD website encourages Americans to:

· Change light bulbs to those that have earned the ENERGY STAR label.

· Use a programmable thermostat to save energy while asleep or away from home.

· Enable power management settings on computers and monitors so they go into “sleep mode” when away or not in use.

· Make their next purchase an ENERGY STAR qualified product, such as home electronics, office products, and/or appliances.

· Make sure their homes are well sealed and insulated.

“We want to do our part to reduce our country’s greenhouse gas emissions and help fight global warming,” said RMLD General Manager Vinnie Cameron. “We are proud to spread the word about the difference that individuals in our community can make by taking energy-saving steps in the workplace and at home. If every American household took the actions in the pledge, it is estimated that we would save more than 110 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, more than $18 billion in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 18 million cars.”

“Becoming part of the solution to global warming takes less time and effort than you might think. You can start by taking simple steps like changing a light or looking for the ENERGY STAR label when you purchase new products,” said Kathleen Hogan, director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at EPA. “We are delighted to work with RMLD and others across the country who are helping in the fight against global warming. Together, we can all make a difference and protect our environment through simple everyday actions.”

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, as well as new homes and buildings. Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.