30/04/09

Mining – India 1
1. Mining continues amid confusion 1
2. ‘Execute Ministry order on mining’ 3
3. Dept of mines recce team gets memo from tribals 4
4. Insurer moves apex court against Bhushan Steel & Strips 4
5. Illegal sand-mining still rampant in Selangor 5
Mining – International 7
6. Nippon Steel joins POSCO steel mill project in Vietnam 7
7. Ratu expands into gold, coal 7
8. US seeks limits on mountaintop coal mining waste 8
9. Visclosky fears impact of climate change law on steel 10
10. Officials: Mountain top land useful after mining 11
Other News – India 12
11. Cabinet approves forest policy 12
12. "Global warming threat to Himalayas” 13
13. World 'unlikely to stop global warming reaching critical levels' 14

Mining – India

Mining continues amid confusion

B. Chandrashekhar
‘No letter from Centre has reached Secretariat’
A file photo

In eye of storm: OMC iron ore mines in Anantapur district –
ANANTAPUR: Iron ore mining continues in Obulapuram and H. Siddapuram villages amid confusion prevailing over the letter written by the Forest Conservation Division of Union Ministry of Environment directing the State government to suspend five mining leases till clear demarcation of boundaries is finalised.
A week after the letter kicked up a political row as one of these leases was held by two Karnataka Ministers, District Forest and Mines department here expressed doubts over such a letter being received by top officials in Hyderabad, leave alone them.
“I am in constant touch with the government, but the reported letter has not even reached the Secretariat. As such, I can’t comment on the contents of the reported letter as we have to act as per the directions of the (State) government,” District Forest Officer Kallol Biswas told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Neither the State government nor the officials like the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Nodal Officer in the office of the PCCF, to whom copies were marked, received the letter so far.
This being the case, the district officials could not have received the communication, sources in these two departments here have contended, explaining why the leases were not suspended.
At the same time, questions are being raised over the version of these officials as two key district officers of Forest and Mining department have just returned after camping in Hyderabad for two days reportedly to discuss the issue with higher authorities.
Owing to the confusion, mining leases continue to be in operation including that of Obulapuram Mining Compnay owned by the two Karnataka Ministers and brothers, Gali Janardhan Reddy and Gali Karunakar Reddy.
Both are close to the powers that be in Andhra Pradesh with their mega steel plant Brahmani Steel coming up in Kadapa distrct. Its joint managing director, K. Ramachandra Reddy, is the Congress candidate from Rayadurg Assembly constituency in the district.
‘Wrong report’
“Why should we stop our legal activity, based on media reports?” General Manager of the OMC B.V. Srinivasa Reddy sought to know, when contacted by The Hindu on Wednesday.
In the same vein, he said some sections have misguided the regional officer of forests and got a wrong report sent to the Union Ministry leading to the reported letter.
“However, the State has already replied to that letter,” he said, indicating that a letter had indeed been received by the government.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/30/stories/2009043054370400.htm

‘Execute Ministry order on mining’
Staff Correspondent
Rajasekhara Reddy asked to enforce directive
________________________________________
Centre had ordered suspension of mining activities
Stricture passed against five firms
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BELLARY: M. Diwakar Babu, former Minister and president of the Bellary District Congress Committee, holds Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy responsible for the large-scale illegal mining being carried out allegedly by the Reddy brothers who own the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).
Mr. Babu expressed surprise over Mr. Rajasekhara Reddy’s inability to get executed an order issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests directing suspension of mining activities by five companies, including OMC, in Obulapuram village of Anantapur district.
Speaking to The Hindu here on Wednesday, Mr. Babu said it was the responsibility of the Chief Minister to act immediately on the directions of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and he should have ordered the suspension of mining leases granted to the five companies until the mining areas were demarcated and proper boundaries fixed by the Survey of India.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (Forest Conservation Division), New Delhi, had directed the Principal Secretary (Forests), Government of Andhra Pradesh, to suspend the mining leases of five mining companies in Anantapur district, including the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by Karnataka Minister for Tourism G. Janardhan Reddy, in connection with the violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. The Forest Advisory committee had said that it would be appropriate that the demarcation was done through the Survey of India before which mining should not be permitted in the area. The letter said the State Government should also request the Survey of India to undertake a survey of the mining areas.
The failure of Mr. Rajasekhara Reddy to take action against the violators had now given room for doubt as to whether he too was hand in glove with the Reddy brothers of Karnataka.
Reconnaissance
“Mr. Rajasekhara Reddy should immediately suspend the mining leases, stop illegal mining activities and request the Survey of India to begin a reconnaissance of the area,” Mr. Babu added.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/30/stories/2009043051150300.htm


Dept of mines recce team gets memo from tribals
StatesmanNews Service
KORAPUT, April 29: The Orissa Adivasi Forum, an outfit formed by people living in the periphery of the Nalco mines at Damanjodi here, presented a memorandum to a central team from the department of mines and the CMD Nalco who were here to visit the site of the ghastly Maoist attack recently.
Nalco authorities, as well as the ministry, were upset over the Maoist attack of 12th April. Ten CISF jawans were killed in the attack. It was the first ever strike by radicals on the PSU here.
There have been reports of grave lapses on the part of intelligence and security. It was also alleged that very little resistance was put up at the mines office area and many security personnel had surrendered meekly to the radicals. On the other hand, villagers living in the vicinity had panicked.
Many villagers have subsequently reported police excesses since the Maoist attack.
Today, people from Goudguda, Bhejaput, Dengajaniguda, Putra Ghati, Ambaguda and other areas staged a demonstration and even burnt the Nalco CMD Mr CR Pradhan in effigy. They were protesting against the lack of periphery area development activity and wanted funds to be placed at the disposal of affected villages or gram panchayats. The villagers also complained that local youth were not being prioritised for work allotted by Nalco.
Villagers have sought compensation for the family of Katru Huika who was shot dead by jawans claiming to have mistaken Huika for a Naxal.
Mr Damodar Jani, president of the Koraput unit of the Orissa Adivasi Forum, warned of intensifying the agitation if the demands of the villagers were not met within a reasonable timeframe.
The central team which was here to make an on-the-spot assessment of the post-Maoist attack scenario included the secretary and director of the department of mines - Mr Shantishila Nayar and Mr G Srinivas respectively.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=252784


Insurer moves apex court against Bhushan Steel & Strips

Press Trust of India / New Delhi April 29, 2009, 14:47 IST

Public sector insurer New India Assurance Company Ltd has approached the Supreme Court challenging a consumer court's order that asked it (insurer) to pay compensation of Rs 13.15 crore to Bhushan Steel & Strips Ltd for the damage due to fire at its Sahibabad unit.

Bhushan Steel & Strips' (BSSL's) factory was gutted on December 12, 1998, and its cold rolling mill, insured with the insurance company, was completely damaged.

While BSSL had claimed compensation of Rs 35.08 crore for replacing the mill in January 1999, the surveyor had assessed the amount after depreciation at around Rs 13.15 crore.

On August 5, 2008, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, on BSSL's plea, had asked the insurance company to pay Rs 13.15 crore for the loss. It had also asked the insurer to deduct around Rs 7.75 crore that it had paid BSSL as compensation and shell out the rest with interest at 10%.

Opposing the award, the insurer has challenged the ruling on the grounds that "despite several communication from the surveyor to the respondent (Bhushan Steel), no information in relation to the new replaced machinery was ever supplied."
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/insurer-moves-apex-court-against-bhushan-steel-/59764/on


Illegal sand-mining still rampant in Selangor
Story and photos by GEETHA KRISHNAN
ILLEGAL sand-mining is rampant in several parts of Selangor, the latest discovery being a site deep inside Bandar Sungai Long at a place called Bukit Enggang.
The excavated area is a 1km drive from the Bandar Sungai Long township through Sections 8 and 11.
The sole entry point is closely guarded by some foreigners on the claim that some plots of land in vicinity are privately owned.
Dusun Tua assemblyman Ismail Sani went to inspect the site on Tuesday morning, but none of the lorries and heavy machinery were in sight although there was ample evidence of recent sand-mining activity in the area.
Larger by the day: Ismail (right) and his special assistant Mohd Yusuf Harun looking at the illegal sand-mining site.
“I suspect the operators are lying low for a while because I have requested the Hulu Langat Land Office enforcement team to check out the area the day before,” he said.
Sungai Long community liaison officer Tony Mak, meanwhile, said several sand-laden lorries were spotted using the route between Sungai Long and Desa Budiman via the SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long as early as 7.30am.
According to Ismail, the other areas where illegal sand-mining was rampant are Bukit Raya, Sungai Serai, Kampung Jaya, Dusun Tua, Sungai Tekali and other sites along Sungai Langat.
“The state government has allowed only one company to mine sand in Selangor but the state had failed to consider the fate of the other operators in the industry,” he said.
Signs of activity: Bukit Enggang in Selangor is another area where illegal sand-mining has been recently uncovered.
“There was an understanding between the previous state government and the operators where sand-mining was allowed as contra payment for dredging silt and mud-clogged rivers,” Ismail said.
He urged the state government to speed up the process of issuing more sand-mining permits and asked that the number of permits be increased and not be limited to just five as announced last year.
Ismail said there was increased demand for sand under the economic stimulus package to boost development.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/4/30/central/3789505&sec=central


Mining – International

Nippon Steel joins POSCO steel mill project in Vietnam

Hanoi (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) -- Japan's Nippon Steel (TSE:5401) will acquire a 15 per cent stake in a cold-rolled steel mill in Vietnam's southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, previously being developed solely by the Vietnam affiliate of South Korean steel giant POSCO (KSE:058430), a source from POSCO Vietnam told Vietnam News.

The Japanese firms intended investment would total around US$37 million, according to a statement from Nippon Steel issued following the October agreement.

The mill is part of POSCO's larger $1.3 billion steel plant development in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, including hot- and cold-rolling mills.

http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2009/4/29/nippon-steel-joins-posco-steel-mill-project-in-vietnam/

Ratu expands into gold, coal
Benget Besalicto Tnb. , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 04/30/2009 3:13 PM | Business
Publicly listed oil service company PT Ratu Prabu Energi is launching an aggressive business expansion by joining the coal and gold rush.
The company will spend as much as US$500 million over the next years to mine gold and coal in East Kalimantan and Bengkulu.
Ratu Prabu president director Burhanuddin Bur Maras said Wednesday the company's subsidiary PT Indo Asia Resources, specializing in mining and energy services, had already secured gold and mining concessions, and would soon launch exploration activities.
He said explorations by the previous owners had no clear results.
"Now to further develop the mines, we plan to set up partnerships with two foreign companies from Europe and Canada," he said, refusing to name the investors.
"We're currently negotiating with them. Hopefully, we'll reach a deal soon so that we can immediately start developing the mines," said Burhanuddin, adding partnerships were needed because the firm had limited experience in coal and gold.
He also said that Ratu Prabu would sell another 10 percent of its shares through a secondary public offering (SPO) to underpin project financing and boost liquidity.
Ratu Prabu finance director Gemilang Zaharin said the company had appointed PT Mandiri Sekuritas as underwriter for the SPO. I hope we can do it within three months," he said, adding several institutional investors were interested.
Aside from expanding into gold and coal, the company would consider taking over several oil fields in Java and Sumatra this year.
"We've acquired an oil field in Binjai, North Sumatra worth US$5 million (RP 55 billion) which was owned by PT Putra Batu Mandi. Soon, we'll take over an oil field in Sumatra with a total production capacity of between 2,000 and 3,000 barrels per day," said Gemilang.
Ratu Prabu is also the operator of Ratu Prabu I and Ratu Prabu II office buildings located on Jl. T.B. Simatupang in South Jakarta, housing international companies engaged in the oil and gas sectors.
The company's expansion is unlikely to stop there as it also plans the construction of four towers for offices, hotels, and apartments -- dubbed as Ratu Prabu III, IV, V, and VI - in North and South Jakarta representing a total investment of $300 million. These projects are scheduled to be completed in 2011.
During the first quarter of this year, the company is expecting a five fold jump in revenue to Rp 162 billion ($15.2 million) from Rp 28.5 billion recorded in the same period last year, according to Gemilang.
He said net profit between January and March might reach Rp 8.4 billion as against a loss of around Rp 2 billion recorded in the same period last year. Last year, Ratu Prabu booked total revenue of Rp 517 billion and net profits of Rp 25 billion, as against Rp 3.5 billion revenue and a Rp 30 billion loss in 2007 when the firm was still named PT Arona Bina Sejati. In mid 2008, Arona was taken over by Ratu Prabu Group, founded by Burhanuddin, and changed its name to Ratu Prabu Energi.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/04/30/ratu-expands-gold-coal.html


US seeks limits on mountaintop coal mining waste
Thursday, 30 Apr 2009
Bloomberg cited Mr Ken Salazar US Interior Secretary as saying that his department is seeking to reverse a Mr Bush administration rule on mountaintop mining that lets coal companies leave debris in streams.

Mr Salazar at a press conference recently in Washington called the Mr Bush rule a major misstep that reversed a common-sense 1983 Reagan-era rule that was designed to protect water quality and quantity.

The US holds the world’s largest reserves of coal and relies on the fuel for almost half of its power generation. Still, the industry is confronting increased scrutiny as the Obama administration focuses on the role of fossil fuels in pollution and climate change.

Mr Salazar said that the Justice Department will ask a district court to vacate the Mr Bush rule and return it to the department for further consideration. Under the rule, mine operators are able to dispose of waste in some nearby streams when alternatives are not reasonably possible.”

The department’s decision follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s statement last month that it was taking a closer look at pending permits in the Appalachian region because of the effect mountaintop mining may have on water quality.

The mining method at issue involves removing the tops of mountains to expose coal seams and filling in adjacent valleys with mining debris. It is used in areas where prior mining failed to get all of the coal reserves.

Ms Rebecca Wodder president of the conservation group American Rivers said that “Small mountain streams are the capillaries of our nation’s circulatory system and are a vital source of clean drinking water. In an era of climate change, small streams and clean water will need more protection, not less.”

According to the National Mining Association, there are 14,000 surface coal miners in the Appalachian region. Such mining operations produce more than 126 million tonnes of coal annually and account for about 45% of West Virginia’s coal production. The Appalachian region includes West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Mr Hal Quinn president of the mining association said that the secretary’s move to undo a 7 year rulemaking process is precipitous and will only add to the uncertainty that is delaying mining operations and jeopardizing jobs.

Mr Salazar said that the decision today wouldn’t affect current coal production, since most states are still using the 1983 rule governing mountaintop mining.

He said that the change by itself won’t affect future production of coal.

Mr Salazar said that “There are other forces that are much larger than this rule that may have an effect on future coal production including the ability of coal fired power producers to capture carbon dioxide emissions. The responsible development of our coal supplies is important to America’s energy security.”

He said that the department will take public comment on how to update and improve the Reagan-era rule.
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/04/30/OTIzODE%3D/US_seeks_limits_on_mountaintop_coal_mining_waste.html

Visclosky fears impact of climate change law on steel

The Congressional Steel Caucus, chaired by U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, is asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman, and Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chair Ed Markey to address international competitiveness issues for American steelworkers in the draft climate change legislation.

In a letter sent to Pelosi, Waxman, and Markey the Steel Caucus conveyed this message in particular, according to a statement released by Visclosky’s office on Monday: “Imposing carbon caps and taxes on the U.S. steel industry would limit steelworkers’ ability to compete fairly and result in job loss.”

“Climate change is real, it is man-made, and we have to do something about it,” Visclosky said. “But the solution must be fair and equitable for American steelworkers and other manufacturers so that they don’t lose jobs to China, India, and Brazil, where there are no emissions penalties. Our steelworkers are the most efficient in the world, but they have enough challenges competing against illegally subsidized imports as it is. We cannot afford to hamstring them even more with unfair carbon caps and taxes that would imperil their jobs.”

The letter warns that additional costs incurred by steel producers under proposed climate change legislation would limit their global competitiveness and undercut the health and viability of American manufacturing, the statement said. “The result would be the influx of cheaper steel imported from countries without climate change laws, the decline of the steel industry, and the loss of thousands of steelworker jobs. Therefore, modifications to the draft legislation are needed to address threats to U.S. steelworkers’ international competitiveness.”

Specifically, the statement said, the Steel Caucus is suggesting the following “fair and equitable provisions”:

*Adequate allowances for carbon intensive industries such as steel.

*Powerful tools to ensure that imports are subject to the same carbon costs as are placed on domestic goods.

*Exemptions to make up for the fact that industrial processes such as steelmaking cannot occur without certain amounts of carbon emissions.

*And credits or offsets to account for the value of other emissions-reducing efforts, such as recycling scrap steel and reducing energy consumption at steel mills and other plants.

http://www.chestertontribune.com/Business/42995%20visclosky_fears_impact_of_climat.htm


Officials: Mountain top land useful after mining
by \JULIA ROBERTS GOAD Staff Writer
19 hrs ago | 473 views | 0 | 2 | |

(Photo Submitted) Twisted Gun Gap Golf Course near Wharncliffe, W.Va., is one of several Mingo County post-mine land use projects.



The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority has created several several businesses on mountaintop removal sites, and says the Obama administration’s stance on the controversial mining technique could mean dire consequences for future development in southern West Virginia.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently began scrutinizing mining permits, affecting the methods coal companies can use to dispose of waste created when the top of a mountain is removed to mine the coal underneath. The flat land created by the process has been used in Mingo County to hold Twisted Gun Gap Golf Course, the Wood Products Industrial Park the Mingo Air Transportation Park. A new consolidated school, Mingo Central High School, is planned for a reclaimed mountaintop removal site, as well as the Mingo Hybrid Energy Center, a multi-billion dollar facility that will, if completed, include a plant that will convert coal to gasoline and diesel, as well as other alternative energy projects.

MCRA Chairman Mike Whitt says he feels that, if the criteria for mountaintop removal is going to be changed, the county should be given specific guidelines as to what is expected of coal companies.

“If the EPA says the process [of mountaintop removal] doesn’t work, we need to know what we can do to fix the problem,” Whitt said. “We have a good track record, and we want to go forward with these projects.”

Whitt’s statements come following public support by the Mingo County Commission for mountaintop removal projects. The MCC has petitioned legislators, including Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and congressman Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV) to help support mountaintop removal, calling the mining method ‘crucial’ to future development in Southern West Virginia. County Commissioners John Mark Hubbard, Greg “Hootie” Smith and David Baisden, in a letters to the congressmen, said denial of mountaintop permits will “jeopardize the tax base of southern West Virginia counties, severely hampering the ability of local governments to provide basic resources to residents.”

Whitt agrees, and says he knows Mingo County’s representatives in Washington will look out for the best interests of their constituents.

“Our congressional delegates are working hard to get the EPA to issue permits,” Whitt said. “They know how important mountaintop mining is to the state of West Virginia.”

http://www.williamsondailynews.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home_top_stories_news&id=2466633-Officials-+Mountain+top-land+useful+after+mining&widget=push&article-Officials-%20Mountain%20top-land%20useful%20after%20mining%20=&instance=home_news_lead&open=&

Other News – India

Cabinet approves forest policy
Roy Mathew
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Forested areas in one-third of State’s geographical area
Rights of tribal people to be protected
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the forest policy which had gone through several rounds of discussions at various levels during the past two years.
The policy proposes to increase the protected areas in the State to one-third of the total forest area. It seeks to achieve the objective of increasing forested areas to one-third of the geographical area of the State. Currently, about 24 per cent of the geographical area is forests, and 27 per cent of the forests falls under protect areas.
Steps will be taken to prevent fragmentation of habitats and ensure contiguity through development of corridors. Protection will be accorded to watershed areas and shola forests on scientific lines to ensure perennial flow of water into the State’s rivers. A special plan will be drawn up to protect threatened species on the Western Ghats.
The policy says that the government stands by its resolve to evict post-1976 encroachments and prevent further encroachments. The official machinery for protection of forests will be decentralised under the system of forest stations. The rights of tribal people will be protected.
Forest lands, leased for non-forestry purposes, will be taken back in case of breach of lease conditions. Leases will be renewed only after resurvey. The ongoing activities on such lands, welfare of workers and the ecological importance of the area will be taken into consideration while processing applications for renewal. Lease rents will be revised and a part of the revenue will be set apart for protection of forests and rivers. The ban on selection and clear-felling will continue. Strong measures will be taken against plundering of forests, ganja cultivation and illicit distillation.
Action will be taken to protect ecosystems outside the forests such as coastal areas, waterbodies, mangroves and sacred groves with the involvement of the people. Conservation and community reserves will be formed for this purpose. Farmers will be encouraged to plant trees including sandalwood trees. The principle of planting ten trees while cutting down one tree will be adhered to when felling trees for development purposes. Productivity of forest plantations will be increased.
Measures will be taken for enrichment of the Kurinjimala sanctuary. The proposed Malabar wildlife sanctuary will be constituted. A policy monitoring and evaluation cell will oversee implementation of the forest policy.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/30/stories/2009043050180100.htm


"Global warming threat to Himalayas”

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, April 29 - Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Kiran Gurung warned that the global warming has made the mountain region in Nepal more vulnerable to floods, landslide, and other natural catastrophes.

Addressing an event titled “Nepal Nature Conservation Year 2009 and Poverty Reduction in Rural Areas of Nepal through Forests Resources Management” organised by the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation of Nepal at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Minister Gurung said that melting of ice on the Himalayas could pose a danger as the glacial lakes may outburst at any time.

He further highlighted Nepal’s sustainable forest management and bio-diversity conservation efforts, and mentioned that about 20 percentage of the land area in the country has been conserved as National parks, Wild Life Reserves, and conservation areas.

Stressing on preserving Himalayan resources, Minister Gurung mentioned that the outburst of the glacial lakes would deplete fresh water resources, threaten rich biological diversity including wildlife and cultural heritage, degrade agricultural and forest land, and leave destructive impact on development infrastructure.

“Thus, it should be a major agenda of international development cooperation,” he said.

http://www.ekantipur.com/kolnews.php?&nid=191724

World 'unlikely to stop global warming reaching critical levels'
The world is unlikely to stop global warming rising above critical levels claim scientists in studies that calculate we could exceed safe emission targets in under 20 years.
By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Last Updated: 9:09PM BST 29 Apr 2009

Rises above 3.6F (2C) are expected to lead to deforestation, flooding and droughts across the world. Photo: MARTIN POPE
Two studies on climate change have concluded that rises in global temperatures are unlikely to remain below a critical threshold deemed by the world's governments to be safe.
Policy-makers have adopted a goal of keeping the average global rise in surface temperatures to no more than 3.6F (2C) above pre-industrial revolution levels.
This will mean stabilising CO2 emissions immediately and then substantially after 2015 to avoid the kind of levels in the atmosphere which will accelerate global warming.
But two studies from Oxford University and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impacts Research, published in Nature, claim that current levels of carbon emission – actually increasing at three per cent a year – will mean the temperature rise will be exceeded. There is now only a 50 per cent chance of avoiding it even if drastic measures are taken.
Rises above 3.6F (2C) are expected to lead to deforestation, flooding and droughts across the world.
Dr Vicky Pope, Head of Climate Change Advice at the Met Office, said: "Even with drastic cuts in emissions in the next 10 years, our results project that there will only be around a 50 per cent chance of keeping global temperatures rises below 3.6F (2 C).
"This idealised emissions scenario is based on emissions peaking in 2015 and quickly changing from an increase of 2–3 per cent per year to a decrease of 3 per cent per year. For every 10 years we delay action another 0.9F (0.5C) will be added to the most likely temperature rise."
Meanwhile a separate study by the UK Energy Research Centre found meeting the target to cut greenhouse emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 will cost around £17 billion a year, or around £700 on the average electricity bill by 2050.
However, if people object to onshore wind farms and nuclear power stations, it will cost £20 billion a year, as more expensive technologies will have to be used, adding £800 to the electricity bill.
Dr Jeanette Whitaker, of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and one of the report's authors, called it the "Nimby scenario", where people object to such projects located in their own area but not to siting them elsewhere. "It is valid to object to wind farms or nuclear power stations," she said. "But if you object to technology, you will have to be prepared to either pay more for your electricity or make lifestyle changes to reduce energy use."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/5244246/World-unlikely-to-stop-global-warming-reaching-critical-levels.html