The outcome of Doha Climate Change Conference 8 th dec 2012

The Doha Climate
Change Conference
that concluded on 8th
December, 2012 has
resulted in three
decisions (clubbed
together as ‘Doha
Climate Gateway’)
aimed at advancing
the implementation of
the UN Framework
Convention on
Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and its
Kyoto Protocol (KP).
The key questions for
the Doha conference
were: amending the
Kyoto Protocol to
implement the second
commitment under
the Protocol;
successfully
concluding the work
of the Bali Action Plan
(BAP); and planning
the work under the
Durban Platform (DP)
for Enhanced Action
which was agreed to
at Durban last
year.The Conference
addressed all the
three issues and came
out with a package
which balanced the
interests and
obligations of various
countries.
The Doha Conference
has succeeded in
carrying out
amendmentsto the KP
making the second
commitment period
(CP2) of emission
reduction by KP
parties effective
immediately
beginning January 1,
2013. Although the
emission reduction
obligations
undertaken by the
Annex I parties are
not as ambitious as
required by
science,the KP parties
have agreed to
implement the targets
over an 8 years
period (2013-2020),
thusproviding relative
degree of certainty to
the carbon markets.
EU, the major KP
Party will reduce its
emissions by 20% by
2020 compared to
1990. It has been
agreed that the KP
parties will revisit
their targets in 2014
with a view to
increasing their
ambition; this will be
unconditional and
will have no linkage
with the work of the
Durban Platform.
Thisdecision,along-
with provisional
application of the
amendments on an
‘opt-in’ basis has
ensured that there
will be no gap
between the first
commitment period
under the KP ending
on December 31, 2012
and the second one
commencing on
January 1, 2013.
The decision permits
the parties to carry
over their
accumulated surplus
Assigned Amount
Units (AAUs) from the
first commitment
period to the second.
However, the
carryover of the
Certified Emission
Reduction (CER) units
or Emission Reduction
Units (ERUs) from the
first period will be
limited to the extent
of 2.5%. The use of
these units will be
permitted only for
meeting the shortfall
in domestic emissions
reduction target.
Moreover, the trading
between two parties
in the AAUs will be
limited to 2% only of
the reserve.
As per the agreement,
only those KP parties
that have agreed to
take mandatory
targets under the KP
in the CP2 will be
able to use the
flexibility mechanisms
such as Clean
development
Mechanism (CDM),
and Joint
Implementation (JI).
While the facility of
trading in CERs and
ERUs will be available
only to such KP
parties, the rules
allow all Annex-I KP
Parties to continue to
participate in ongoing
and new project
activities under CDM.
This has created a
possibility for the
Annex-I parties other
than those having
targets under the KP
to trade in units from
projects as and when
modalities for
operation of new
market mechanisms
covering such
projects are
developed by the SBI.
At the Doha
Conference, India
protected its interests
fully and succeeded in
bringing the three
issues of Equity,
Technology-related
IPRs and the
Unilateral Measures
firmly back on the
table. These
outstanding or
unresolved issues
under the Bali Action
Plan (BAP) are now
part of the planned or
continuing work of
various bodies of the
Convention. At Doha,
India also ensured
that agriculture, being
a sensitive sector of
our economy, was
prevented from being
included in the
mitigation work
programmeproposed
to be launched at the
global level.
The reassertion of the
principle of Equity
and CBDR which have
remained muted since
Copenhagen was the
single biggest gain
from Doha.The
Conference
hasexplicitly
recognized that the
action of parties will
be based on equity
and CBDR including
the need forequitable
access to sustainable
development. The
decisionshave also
avoided quantitative
target for global
emissions reduction
or global peaking that
could place a cap on
emissions of
developing countries
and restrict their
development space.
Amongst the key
concerns which the
Conference could not
address are those
relating to financing
commitments of
developed countries,
sectoral actions and
the issue of
compensation for loss
and damage arising
from climate
change.While the
Conference stopped
short of giving a
mandate to the ICAO
or IMO to initiate
steps for curtailing
emissions in the
respective sectors, the
absence of a decision
on sectoral
framework for such
actions has left the
open the possibility of
such actions being
initiated in such
sectors by the
respective
international
organisations on their
own.
The Conference could
not take ambitious or
meaningful decisions
on financing
commitments of
developed countries.
No specific targets for
mid-term financing
(2013-2020) were
adopted resentment
amongst developing
countries.The work
programme on long
term finance has been
extended with a view
to continue discussion
on sources of likely
finance in the long
term. The Standing
Committee (on
Finance) of the
Convention has been
entrusted with the
task of recommending
suitable arrangements
for accountability of
and reporting on its
functions by the
Green Climate Fund
to the Conference of
Parties. Despite
pitched demand from
vulnerable countries,
there could beno
satisfactory
agreement on
compensation
mechanism for loss
and damage resulting
from climate change.
At Doha, the work of
the Durban Platform
(DP) set up last year
for devising the
post-2020
arrangements
progressed
satisfactorily. In a
significant and
positive advance, it
has been agreed that
the work of the
Durban Platform will
be based on the
principles of the
Convention. A Plan of
Work has been agreed
for 2013. The ADP will
call for parties’
submissions to be
presented by March
2013 on ‘vision’ of the
post-2020
arrangements as well
as ‘ambition’for
raising the global
efforts aimed at
reducing emissions in
the pre-2020 period.
The ADP will organize
a series of workshops
as part of its work
next year with a view
to finalize a text for
2015 Agreement by
the end of 2014. As
announced by the UN
Secretary General, the
decision recognizes
the possibility of
holding a meeting of
Heads of
Governments and
States in 2015 to
finalize the
Agreement

The outcome of Doha Climate Change Conference 8 th dec 2012

The Doha Climate
Change Conference
that concluded on 8th
December, 2012 has
resulted in three
decisions (clubbed
together as ‘Doha
Climate Gateway’)
aimed at advancing
the implementation of
the UN Framework
Convention on
Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and its
Kyoto Protocol (KP).
The key questions for
the Doha conference
were: amending the
Kyoto Protocol to
implement the second
commitment under
the Protocol;
successfully
concluding the work
of the Bali Action Plan
(BAP); and planning
the work under the
Durban Platform (DP)
for Enhanced Action
which was agreed to
at Durban last
year.The Conference
addressed all the
three issues and came
out with a package
which balanced the
interests and
obligations of various
countries.
The Doha Conference
has succeeded in
carrying out
amendmentsto the KP
making the second
commitment period
(CP2) of emission
reduction by KP
parties effective
immediately
beginning January 1,
2013. Although the
emission reduction
obligations
undertaken by the
Annex I parties are
not as ambitious as
required by
science,the KP parties
have agreed to
implement the targets
over an 8 years
period (2013-2020),
thusproviding relative
degree of certainty to
the carbon markets.
EU, the major KP
Party will reduce its
emissions by 20% by
2020 compared to
1990. It has been
agreed that the KP
parties will revisit
their targets in 2014
with a view to
increasing their
ambition; this will be
unconditional and
will have no linkage
with the work of the
Durban Platform.
Thisdecision,along-
with provisional
application of the
amendments on an
‘opt-in’ basis has
ensured that there
will be no gap
between the first
commitment period
under the KP ending
on December 31, 2012
and the second one
commencing on
January 1, 2013.
The decision permits
the parties to carry
over their
accumulated surplus
Assigned Amount
Units (AAUs) from the
first commitment
period to the second.
However, the
carryover of the
Certified Emission
Reduction (CER) units
or Emission Reduction
Units (ERUs) from the
first period will be
limited to the extent
of 2.5%. The use of
these units will be
permitted only for
meeting the shortfall
in domestic emissions
reduction target.
Moreover, the trading
between two parties
in the AAUs will be
limited to 2% only of
the reserve.
As per the agreement,
only those KP parties
that have agreed to
take mandatory
targets under the KP
in the CP2 will be
able to use the
flexibility mechanisms
such as Clean
development
Mechanism (CDM),
and Joint
Implementation (JI).
While the facility of
trading in CERs and
ERUs will be available
only to such KP
parties, the rules
allow all Annex-I KP
Parties to continue to
participate in ongoing
and new project
activities under CDM.
This has created a
possibility for the
Annex-I parties other
than those having
targets under the KP
to trade in units from
projects as and when
modalities for
operation of new
market mechanisms
covering such
projects are
developed by the SBI.
At the Doha
Conference, India
protected its interests
fully and succeeded in
bringing the three
issues of Equity,
Technology-related
IPRs and the
Unilateral Measures
firmly back on the
table. These
outstanding or
unresolved issues
under the Bali Action
Plan (BAP) are now
part of the planned or
continuing work of
various bodies of the
Convention. At Doha,
India also ensured
that agriculture, being
a sensitive sector of
our economy, was
prevented from being
included in the
mitigation work
programmeproposed
to be launched at the
global level.
The reassertion of the
principle of Equity
and CBDR which have
remained muted since
Copenhagen was the
single biggest gain
from Doha.The
Conference
hasexplicitly
recognized that the
action of parties will
be based on equity
and CBDR including
the need forequitable
access to sustainable
development. The
decisionshave also
avoided quantitative
target for global
emissions reduction
or global peaking that
could place a cap on
emissions of
developing countries
and restrict their
development space.
Amongst the key
concerns which the
Conference could not
address are those
relating to financing
commitments of
developed countries,
sectoral actions and
the issue of
compensation for loss
and damage arising
from climate
change.While the
Conference stopped
short of giving a
mandate to the ICAO
or IMO to initiate
steps for curtailing
emissions in the
respective sectors, the
absence of a decision
on sectoral
framework for such
actions has left the
open the possibility of
such actions being
initiated in such
sectors by the
respective
international
organisations on their
own.
The Conference could
not take ambitious or
meaningful decisions
on financing
commitments of
developed countries.
No specific targets for
mid-term financing
(2013-2020) were
adopted resentment
amongst developing
countries.The work
programme on long
term finance has been
extended with a view
to continue discussion
on sources of likely
finance in the long
term. The Standing
Committee (on
Finance) of the
Convention has been
entrusted with the
task of recommending
suitable arrangements
for accountability of
and reporting on its
functions by the
Green Climate Fund
to the Conference of
Parties. Despite
pitched demand from
vulnerable countries,
there could beno
satisfactory
agreement on
compensation
mechanism for loss
and damage resulting
from climate change.
At Doha, the work of
the Durban Platform
(DP) set up last year
for devising the
post-2020
arrangements
progressed
satisfactorily. In a
significant and
positive advance, it
has been agreed that
the work of the
Durban Platform will
be based on the
principles of the
Convention. A Plan of
Work has been agreed
for 2013. The ADP will
call for parties’
submissions to be
presented by March
2013 on ‘vision’ of the
post-2020
arrangements as well
as ‘ambition’for
raising the global
efforts aimed at
reducing emissions in
the pre-2020 period.
The ADP will organize
a series of workshops
as part of its work
next year with a view
to finalize a text for
2015 Agreement by
the end of 2014. As
announced by the UN
Secretary General, the
decision recognizes
the possibility of
holding a meeting of
Heads of
Governments and
States in 2015 to
finalize the
Agreement

Life of Pi’ Bags National Tourism Awards

Recently released feature film ‘Life of Pi’ has been given two National Tourism Awards by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India recognizing the impact it has had in promoting India as a tourism destination, especially Puducherry and Munnar (Kerala). Making this announcement in Delhi today, Union Tourism Minister Shri Chiranjeevi said these Awards would be given to Mr. Ang Lee, Director of the film ‘Life of Pi’ and Mr. Yann Martel, writer of the book of the same name. The Minister expressed the hope that this will go a long way in encouraging more and more Film producers from abroad to shoot their films in India. Every year, the Ministry of Tourism recognizes various stakeholders, including film makers and writers for their contribution in promoting India Tourism by conferring National Tourism Awards. The Ministry of Tourism has identified ‘Film Tourism’ as a Niche Tourism product. It has requested the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to recognize the potential of Film Tourism and constitute special bodies/cells to facilitate filming in their respective States/Union Territories. It may be recalled that in February this year the Ministry of Tourism signed a MoU with Ministry of Information & Broadcasting as a major initiative to promote the ‘Incredible India’ campaign and Cinemas of India as a sub brand of ‘Incredible India’ at various international film festivals and markets abroad. The MoU is expected to enhance the reach of ‘Incredible India’ through the Medium of Cinema, develop synergy between tourism and film industry and provide a platform for enabling partnerships between the Indian and global film industry. The MoU also provided an impetus to frame policies and guidelines for facilitating shooting of International films in India and promote India as a filming destination, both for international and domestic film producers. Another key objective of the MoU is to initiate dialogue with State Governments and UTs for development of locations for film shootings. As per the MoU, the Ministry of Tourism would provide budgetary support for identified film festivals, markets and events. The Ministry would facilitate publicity through the available content based on existing audio visual material and print designs. The joint participation of the two Ministries would cover the Cannes Film Festival and Market, IFFI Goa including the Film Festival and Film Bazaar and European Film Market at Berlin. It is expected that this innovative partnership will facilitate the promotion of India as a filming destination for foreign producers. 21 and 20 permissions for shooting in India were granted during 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Why their is gap between wpi and cpi of india and steps taken to contain inflation

Ministry of Finance

GAP between WPI and CPI; Government and RBI takes Several Measures to Contain Inflation

Variation in the level of index and inflation in these two indices is due to difference in base year, commodity composition and weights.

Inflation measured in terms of both these indices currently is above the comfort level of Government and Reserve Bank of India. Government and Reserve Bank of India have been conscious of the need

Measures taken in this regard

Measures taken to contain inflation

Fiscal and Administrative measures

Reduced import duties to zero-for wheat, onion, pulses, crude palmolein and to 7.5% for refined and hydrogenated oils and vegetable oils.

Duty-free import of white and raw sugar was extended upto 30/6/2012; presently the import duty has been kept at 10%.

Ban on export of onion was imposed for short period of time whenever

of onion were calibrated through

Minimum Export Prices (MEP).

Maintained the Central Issue Price (CIP) for rice (at Rs. 5.65/kg for BPL and Rs. 3/kg for AAY) and wheat (at Rs. 4.15/kg for BPL and Rs. 2/kg for AAY) since 2002. Effective prices for BPL families in 2012-13 are 23.4% and 22.8% of the economic cost of rice and wheat respectively.

Suspended futures trading in rice, urad, tur, guar gum and guar seed.

Banned export of edible oils (except coconut oil and forest based oil) and edible oils in blended consumer packs upto 5 kg with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per annum and pulses (except Kabuli chana and organic pulses and lentils upto a maximum of 10,000 tonnes per annum)

Imposed stock limits from time to time in the case of select essential commodities such as pulses, edible oil, and edible oilseed and in the case of paddy and rice for specific seven states upto 30.11.2012.

To ensure adequate availability of sugar for the households covered under TPDS, the levy obligation on sugar factories was resorted to 10% for sugar

Government allocated rice and wheat under OMSS scheme.

Off take of wheat and rice continued to be maintained to ensure adequate availability of food grains. Overall off-take of wheat and rice was 53.0 million tonnes in 2010-11 and 56.4 million tonnes in 2011-12. In first five months of the current fiscal year 24.0 million tonnes has already been distributed.

Resumed the scheme for subsidized imported pulses through PDS in a varied form with the nomenclature “Scheme for Supply of Imported Pulses at Subsidized rates to States/UTs for Distribution under PDS to BPL card holders” with a subsidy element of Rs. 20/- per kg to be paid to the designated importing agencies upto a maximum number of BPL card holders for the residual part of the current year and extended the scheme for subsidized imported edible oils w.e.f. 1.10.2012 to 30.9.2013 with subsidy of Rs. 15/- per kg for import of upto 10 lakh tonnes of edible oils for this period.

Budgetary and other measures

A number of measures have been announced in Unino Budget 2012-13 to augment supply and improve storage and warehousing facilities. Government had launched a National Mission for Protein supplements in 2011-12 with allocation of Rs. 300 crore. To broaden the scope of production of fish to coastal aquaculture, apart from fresh water aquaculture, the outlay 2012-13 is being stepped up to Rs. 500 crore. Recently, Government has permitted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trading. This will help consumers and farmers by improving the sell and purchase facilities.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had also taken suitable steps to contain inflation with 13 consecutive increase by 375 bps in policy rates from March

However, to increase liquidity, it reduced CRR (from 6% to 4.25%) and SLR (from 25% to 23%). With moderation in inflation, repo rate was also reduced by 50 basis points in April 2012 to bring it to 8.00 per cent.

Steps taken by government to attract Foreign Investment

Government takes Several Initiatives to attract Foreign Investment

Government has been making concerted efforts to

greater foreign investment into India. Some of the important steps taken in this direction are as under:

i) The Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) scheme was introduced in the Budget 2011-12 by allowing foreign investors to invest in Mutual Funds, subject to certain conditions. On 1st January, 2012, the Government expanded this scheme to allow QFIs to directly invest in Indian Equity Market. As announced in Budget 2012-13, QFI can now also invest in corporate bonds.

ii) The limits for FII investment in various categories of debt securities have progressively been enhanced. Further, the debt limit allocation mechanism for FIIs have been rationalised by allowing reinvestment facility to FIIs; Reduction in utilization period of debt limits and adoption of First Come First Serve (FCFS) method of allocating limits in case of the long term infra bonds.

iii) The terms and conditions for the FII investment scheme in

investment

non-resident

and

dept

infrastructure

Infrastructure debt funds (IDFs) have been rationalised in terms of reduction in lock-in period and residual maturity criterion.

iv) The policy pertaining to the Foreign Direct Investment is being periodically reviewed and the latest liberalisations measures taken are in the sectors of multi-brand retail trading, single brand retail trading, permitting investments in the civil aviation sector, enhancing limits in the Broadcasting sector, permitting FDI in power exchanges. These measures have been notified vide Press Notes No. 4 to 8 2012, issued by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

The aforesaid reform measures taken by the Government were conveyed to the representatives of FIIs in recent

discussions. These steps have been welcomed by FIIs.

Health Warning on Tobacco Product

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Health Warnings on Tobacco Products The WHO-Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to which India is a party, recommends under Article 11 to adopt effective legal measures to ensure that each unit or package of tobacco product carry health warnings describing the harmful effects of tobacco use.

report provides

implementation of pictorial health warnings by ranking 198 countries based on warning size (average of front and back

current specification

warnings (40% of the principal display area of the front panel) is as per the directions of the Group of Ministers (GoM), which was constituted on the issue.

The FCTC recommends that pack warnings should (i) be approved by competent authority (ii) shall be rotating (iii) shall be large, clear, visible and legible(iv) should be 50% or more of the principal display areas but shall be no less than 30% of the principal display areas, (v) may be in the form of or include pictures or pictograms.

Tobacco product packaging and labelling shall be in such a manner that it does not promote a tobacco product by any means that are false, misleading, deceptive or likely to

erroneous

health effects, hazards or emissions. It prohibits the use of terms like “low tar”, “light”, “ultra-light”, or “mild”.

The current Rules relating

health warnings on tobacco product packages is compliant

of the

(Packaging and labeling of tobacco products) of WHO FCTC and the guidelines framed thereunder.

The Government has not taken any decision so far on the issue of changing the ratio of specification of the pictorial health warning vis-a-vis the principal display area of the tobacco product packs.

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana

Mahatma Gandhi
Pravasi Suraksha Yojana
The Government
has launched Mahatma
Gandhi Pravasi
Suraksha Yojana
(MGPSY) on 1 st May
2012 on a pilot basis.
The objective of MGPSY
is to encourage and
enable overseas Indian
workers having
Emigration Check
Required (ECR)
passports going to ECR
countries, to (a) save
for their return and
resettlement and (b)
save for their pension.
They are also provided
Life Insurance cover
against natural death,
during the period of
coverage, without any
additional payment