March 3, 2021

India’s percentage of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions higher than world average

Environment: India’s percentage of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during 2016-19 was higher than the world average of 0.7 percent, even though it rose slower than in 2011-15, according to an analysis published in Nature Climate Change.

China posted a 0.4 percent increase in 2016-19 and the United States registered a decline in emissions of 0.7 percent, though in absolute numbers they dwarf India’s emissions. In 2018, China emitted about 10 billion tonnes and the United States 5.41 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. India emitted 2.65 tonnes over the same time.

“India’s percentage emissions must be seen in the context of the development trajectories of different countries. The absolute emissions of both China and the U.S. are huge,” said Ajay Mathur, former director general, The Energy Resources Institute. “Our reductions are primarily driven by energy efficiency gains in electricity production and use and it’s likely that we would post improved gains in the next assessment.”

During 2016-2019 emissions grew by 0.21 billion tonnes of CO2 per year compared to 2011-2015 globally. Emissions increased in 150 countries and decreased in 64 countries. However, research showed that in the 64 countries that cut their fossil CO2 emissions, the rate of reduction should have increased tenfold to meet the UN Paris Agreement. Countries that signed the agreement in 2015 have committed to reduce emissions to the extent that would stop the earth from warming below 0.5-1 degree Celsius by the end of the century.

In 2020, lockdowns around the globe helped cut global emissions by 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2, about seven percent below 2019 levels. The researchers say 2020 acted like a ‘pause button’ that is unlikely to continue especially since the world relies overwhelmingly on fossil fuels, and lockdowns are ‘neither a sustainable nor desirable solution’ to the climate crisis. During this year, India’s emissions fell 9.7 percent—slightly more than the world average of 9.6 percent.

“What will it take to prioritise climate change?” Read this article to know more.


May 20, 2021

Home Ministry extends validity period of FCRA registration certificates

Fundraising & Communications: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a circular extending the validity of FCRA registration certificates to September 30th, 2021. This applies to all FCRA licences that have expired or will expire between September 29th, 2020 and May 31st, 2021. The decision to extend the deadline has been driven by the exigencies arising from the COVID-19 situation.

FCRA refers to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, which permits charitable organisations based in India to raise funds from foreign sources.

The order also clarified that nonprofits that have already opened an account and have the requisite permission to receive foreign aid, can henceforth receive it only in these newly-opened accounts.

The FCRA law was amended in September 2020 to include a clause that mandated that all nonprofits receiving foreign aid must necessarily open an account in State Bank of India’s New Delhi Main Branch. The government had initially set the deadline for this account opening as March 31st, 2021; it later extended it to June 30th, 2021 after several nonprofits argued in court that there had been delays because necessary approvals from MHA had not been received.

Several organisations have not been able to receive foreign funds during the crisis caused by the second wave, and this has impacted their COVID-19 relief efforts. Relaxing the foreign funding rules could significantly help organisations ramp up their operations to help individuals, supply critical healthcare equipment, and respond to communities in rural areas.

Read this article to know how amending the FCRA can have unforeseen implications.


May 20, 2021

Corporate spending on oxygen support and medical equipment now counts as CSR

Philanthropy & CSR: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued a circular that allows corporate spending on health infrastructure for COVID-19 care to qualify as corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure.

This includes setting up medical oxygen generation and storage plants, manufacturing and supply of oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cylinders, and other medical equipment to counter COVID-19.  

The announcement comes at a time when all efforts are being directed towards expediting efforts to support the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

According to the circular, companies can now undertake projects and activities in collaboration with other companies using CSR funds. Additionally, they can contribute to specified research and development projects, as well as publicly funded universities and certain organisations that conduct research in science, technology, engineering, and medicine.

The government had earlier clarified that setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID-19 care facilities would also be considered a CSR activity. Rajesh Verma, the Corporate Affairs Secretary, has requested businesses to consider converting vacant office buildings into COVID-19 facilities to cater to the rapidly increasing caseload.

Read this article to understand why media attention on COVID-19 deaths due to lack of oxygen in big cities has skewed donor priorities.