Tag: Environment

Industry update – Guidelines for Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment

Posted on by 1 Comment

Guidelines for Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities

The Guidelines for Common Biomedical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities (CBWTFs) were introduced by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India.

These guidelines aim to ensure the safe, scientific, and environmentally sound handling of biomedical waste generated by healthcare facilities.

CBWTF stands for Common Biomedical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility. It is a centralized facility designed to collect, treat, and dispose of biomedical waste generated from healthcare facilities (such as hospitals, clinics, laboratories, etc.) within a specific region.

As the amount of biomedical waste continues to increase—especially after the COVID-19 pandemic—the need for centralized facilities that can efficiently serve multiple healthcare units has become more urgent. They are especially important for smaller healthcare units that lack the resources to treat waste independently. By standardizing procedures and encouraging centralized treatment, these guidelines help minimize health risks, environmental pollution, and legal non-compliance.

The guidelines establish standards for site selection, infrastructure requirements, waste collection, transportation, treatment, disposal, staff safety, and legal compliance.

Click here to read the Guideline document

Source: https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=TGF0ZXN0RmlsZS80NDBfMTc0NDgwMDgzMl9tZWRpYXBob3RvMTA1MjUucGRm

Industry update : NABH GUIDEBOOK FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN HEALTHCARE

Posted on by Leave a comment

NABH GUIDEBOOK FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN HEALTHCARE

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) has been developing quality healthcare standards . NABH standards have always focused on creating an ecosystem for quality and safety of the services delivered in the healthcare organizations.

As a step towards addressing the biggest challenge of 21st century i.e. climate change and sustainability, NABH has developed a simple checklist to guide NABH accredited and certified healthcare organizations to achieve climate change adaption, resilience and sustainability.

This cohesive document includes essential of concept of sustainability in healthcare, guidance for implementation and strategic framework. To motivate healthcare organizations, industry best practices are also showcased in the document.

This document along with a self-assessment checklist is available for free download in NABH website http://www.nabh.co/

Click here to read the guidebook with a self assessment checklist

Source: http://www.nabh.co/

Industry Update – India’s Green Steel Taxonomy

Posted on by Leave a comment

India’s Green Steel Taxonomy

On December 12, 2024, India marked a significant milestone in its journey toward decarbonizing the steel sector by unveiling the Taxonomy of Green Steel.

The Taxonomy of Green Steel is a pioneering effort by India, as it is the first nation to establish a formal definition of “green steel,” amid a global lack of consensus on the concept

Green Steel is defined based on its CO2 equivalent emission intensity, specifically for steel produced with emissions less than 2.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of finished steel (tfs). The greenness percentage is determined by how much lower a plant’s emissions are compared to this threshold.

Key features of the taxonomy include:

Rating System

  • Steel is rated based on its emission intensity:
  • Five-star green-rated steel: Emission intensity less than 1.6 t-CO2e/tfs.
  • Four-star green-rated steel: Emission intensity between 1.6 and 2.0 t-CO2e/tfs.
  • Three-star green-rated steel: Emission intensity between 2.0 and 2.2 t-CO2e/tfs.
  • Steel with emissions above 2.2 t-CO2e/tfs is not eligible for any green rating.

Review and Scope

  • The thresholds for star ratings will be reviewed every three years.
  • The emissions considered include Scope 1, Scope 2, and limited Scope 3, which encompasses various processes related to steel production but excludes upstream mining and downstream transportation emissions.

Certification Process

  • The National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST) is designated as the nodal agency responsible for measuring, reporting, and verifying emissions, as well as issuing greenness certificates and star ratings.
  • A registration fee of ₹10,000 will be charged per steel plant, with an additional certification fee of ₹1,000 for every 500 tonnes of finished steel certified.

Technical Explanation

  • The notification includes a technical appendix that explains how to calculate the greenness percentage based on actual emission intensity compared to the defined threshold.

This framework aims to promote sustainable practices in the steel industry by encouraging lower carbon emissions and providing a clear certification process for producers.

This initiative underscores India’s commitment to reducing emissions in its steel industry as part of its broader climate goals, aligning with the net-zero emission intensity target by 2070.

Click here to read the Notification

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2083839

Industry update – ISO launches ISO ESG Implementation Principles (IWA 48)

Posted on by Leave a comment

ISO launches ISO ESG Implementation Principles (IWA 48)

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched the ISO ESG Implementation Principles, providing guidance to enhance the integration, performance, measurement, and reporting of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

The ISO ESG Implementation Principles (IWA 48) provide a high-level framework to help organizations integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices into their operations. This guidance supports consistent, comparable, and reliable ESG management, measurement, and reporting aligned with existing global frameworks. By serving as a universal reference model, it promotes global interoperability and fosters a culture of sustainable business practices.

Key objectives of the principles include:

  • Supporting transparent and effective ESG management.
  • Improving measurement and reporting under existing frameworks for consistency, comparability, and reliability.
  • Aligning with global standards to ensure interoperability and clear communication of sustainability efforts.
  • Helping organizations integrate ESG requirements, establish KPIs, and assess their ESG maturity.

The principles were collaboratively developed with input from over 1,900 experts and national standards bodies such as the British Standards Institution (BSI) and Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), The principles address all aspects of ESG, including climate action, social inclusion, and governance, offering a holistic approach. They also outline measurable KPIs to assess organizational maturity and align with frameworks such as IFRS/ISSB S1 and S2 and the EU’s ESRS standards. While not a standalone reporting framework, the document complements existing standards, enabling organizations to enhance their ESG performance and contribute to a resilient, responsible global business ecosystem

Click here to read the IWA 48 framework

Soruce: https://www.esgtoday.com/iso-launches-principles-for-esg-performance-and-reporting/
https://www.iso.org/standard/89240.html

Industry Update – New Government guidelines to prevent greenwashing

Posted on by Leave a comment

New Government Guidelines to prevent Greenwashing

The Government has recently introduced comprehensive guidelines to combat greenwashing, a practice where brands make misleading claims about their environmental benefits. These guidelines, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on October 15, 2024, aim to ensure that environmental claims made by companies are substantiated with credible evidence.

Key Highlights of the Guidelines

  • Substantiation of Claims: Companies must provide scientific evidence to support any environmental claims, particularly those using terms like “clean,” “green,” “eco-friendly,” and “sustainable.
  • Consumer-Friendly Language: The guidelines mandate that companies explain technical terms such as “greenhouse gas emissions” in a way that is easily understandable to consumers. This aims to enhance transparency and prevent confusion
  • Specific Claims: More precise claims, such as “compostable” or “recyclable,” must be supported by credible certifications or reliable scientific evidence. This requirement extends to all manufacturers, service providers, and advertisers involved in promoting these products
  • Disclosure Requirements: Brands must disclose all material information related to their environmental claims in advertisements. This can include using QR codes or URLs for additional information

Rationale Behind the Guidelines

The introduction of these guidelines is part of a broader effort to protect consumer interests and promote sustainable business practices. The government aims to foster a marketplace where environmental claims are both truthful and meaningful, thereby enhancing consumer trust

Prohibition of Misleading Practices: The guidelines explicitly prohibit any deceptive practices that exaggerate or conceal relevant information regarding a product’s environmental impact. Companies found violating these guidelines may face penalties for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices

The guidelines align with international best practices observed in markets like the US and Europe, reflecting a global trend towards greater accountability in corporate sustainability efforts

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) seeks to work closely with industry stakeholders, consumer organizations, and regulatory bodies to ensure effective implementation and compliance with the guidelines in the interest of consumers and public.

Click here to read Green Washing Guidelines

source: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/sites/default/files/file-uploads/latestnews/Draft%20Guidline%20with%20approval.pdf

SEC Rule on GHG Disclosures

Posted on by Leave a comment

SEC Rule on GHG Disclosures

The SEC’s rule on climate-related disclosures, approved on March 6, 2024, is a significant step towards standardizing and enhancing the transparency of emissions reporting by companies. This rule mandates that companies provide detailed narratives regarding their identification, management, and oversight of climate-related risks, including disclosure of their scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. The disclosed information must be independently reviewed for credibility and accuracy, although scope 3 emissions are not initially included in the requirements.

Accredited validation and verification bodies (VVBs) play a crucial role in ensuring the credibility and reliability of emissions data reported by companies. While financial auditors are not the only entities permitted to perform assurance under the SEC rule, having experienced verification bodies following international best practices can significantly enhance the credibility of emissions disclosures. Accredited VVBs adhere to high standards of ethical conduct, impartiality, and sectoral competence, providing assurance that reported data is accurate and reliable.

ANAB’s Validation and Verification Accreditation program ensures that organizations providing validation and verification services meet rigorous standards set by ISO/IEC 17029, ISO 14065, ISO 14066, and ISO 14064-3. These standards cover various aspects, including competence requirements for validation and verification teams, principles for validating and verifying environmental information, and specifications for the verification and validation of greenhouse gas statements.

By engaging with accredited verification bodies like those accredited by ANAB, companies subject to the SEC rule can demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accuracy in emissions reporting. Independent third-party verification not only enhances data reliability but also provides stakeholders with necessary assurances that reported emissions are calculated and reported accurately

Source: https://blog.ansi.org/anab/verification-bodies-sec-rule-ghg-disclosures/

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023

Posted on by Leave a comment

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023: Summary and December 2023 Amendments

Original Scheme (June 2023):

Objective: Establish a domestic carbon market to incentivize greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and removal in India.

Compliance Mechanism: Entities exceeding designated emission intensity benchmarks must surrender carbon credits or pay penalties.

Credit Issuance: Entities undertaking projects that reduce or remove GHGs (e.g., renewable energy, afforestation) could get certified carbon credits.

Trading Mechanism: Initially limited to compliance market, allowing entities to buy and sell credits for compliance purposes.

Implementation: Phased approach, starting with specific sectors and expanding gradually.

Key Amendments (December 2023):

Introduction of “Offset Mechanism”: Allows non-obligated entities to register projects for generating carbon credits through voluntary emission reduction or removal activities.

Expanded Scope: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to recommend sectors and methodologies for credit generation under the offset mechanism.

Project Validation: Emphasized importance of robust validation process for projects registered under the offset mechanism.

Steering Committee: Membership expanded to include diverse stakeholders.

Impacts of Amendments:

a.Increased opportunities for entities to generate and trade carbon credits beyond mere compliance.

b.Potential to attract more investments in green projects and accelerate India’s climate goals.

c.Enhanced transparency and credibility of the scheme through strengthened project validation.

d.Broader stakeholder involvement in scheme governance.

Additional Notes:

The scheme is still under development with specific details like credit pricing and trading platform yet to be finalized.

The success of the scheme will depend on effective implementation, robust monitoring, and ensuring environmental integrity of credits.

This summary provides a general overview. For deeper understanding, refer to official documents and news articles

Click her to read the Original Notification

Source:https://beeindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/CCTS.pdf

Click here to read the amendment to original notification

Source:https://beeindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/CCTS%20Notification.pdf

Information Updates

Posted on by Leave a comment

GRI Launches New Biodiversity Reporting Standard

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), one of the leading organizations promoting standardized ESG reporting releases updated Biodiversity Standard (GRI 101: 2024) to help companies disclose their biodiversity impacts and management measures.

This new standard provides a comprehensive framework for companies to report on their biodiversity impacts and take action to address them, contributing to a global effort to conserve and protect biodiversity.

Key Points:

  • New standard aligns with recent global biodiversity initiatives like Kunming-Montreal Framework and TNFD recommendations.
  • Enables reporting on:
    — Supply chain impacts
    — Location-specific impacts with detailed site information
    — Direct drivers of biodiversity loss (land use, climate change, etc.)
    — Impacts on society and human rights
    — Management of these impacts
  • Standard effective January 2026, early adopter pilot starting now.

Source:https://www.esgtoday.com/gri-launches-new-biodiversity-reporting-standard/

Source: https://www.esgtoday.com/

Sustainability – Mega opportunity

Posted on by Leave a comment

In sustainability, a mega opportunity for Indian banks

As India passes the reins of the G20, it has signalled an unwavering dedication to combating global environmental and sustainability challenges. The G20 sustainability working group meetings have spotlighted key pillars: harnessing climate finance, embracing the sustainability development goals (SDGs), and nurturing the financial ecosystem’s capacity.

In parallel, India’s nationally determined contribution commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the ambitious 2070 net zero emissions target unveil a grand vision of fortifying climate resilience and nurturing sustainable growth.

The big gap: funding the shift to a greener future

Nevertheless, there is a considerable gap between the financial requisites for these ambitions and the current landscape–making for a significant opportunity for India’s banking sector to tap into.

The G20 Leaders declaration underscores the importance of sustainable finance, highlighting needs like for developing countries, blended finance instruments, and reforming multilateral institutions.

Worldwide, banks are increasingly integrating sustainability into their operations. Many have committed substantial funds for sustainability and are transitioning away from fossil fuel financing. They’re also innovating with sustainable finance products like green bonds and leveraging technology for broader customer outreach and lower carbon footprints

While India’s banking sector has begun its ESG journey, it’s still navigating the challenges of balancing sustainability with developmental needs. Drawing from global trends and G20 insights, Indian banks can harness ESG for value creation. By integrating sustainability considerations and technology-driven decision-making, they can champion environmental and social transformation in India’s financial realm.

Indian banks have a pivotal role in driving social change, achieving national objectives, and expanding their lending portfolios.

Their success hinges on accessing global capital, innovating for new segments, and prioritizing digitalization and ESG integration in decision-making.

Achieving these objectives not only promises financial success but also positions Indian banks as leaders in the sustainability transition.

Click here to read the article

source: https://www.livemint.com/

Centre notifies Green Credit Rules, 2023…

Posted on by Leave a comment

Green Credit Rules, 2023

The green credit programme shall incentivise environmental positive actions through market-based mechanism and generate green credit, which shall be tradable and made available for trading on a domestic market platform.

The green credit will arise from taking measures by a person of any environment activities referred to in sub-rule (2) of rule 4.

The green credit programme shall encourage industries, companies and other entities to meet their existing obligations or other obligations under any law for the time being in force, and encourage other persons and entities, to undertake voluntary environmental measures referred to in rule 4 by generating or buying green credit: Provided that the green credit generated or procured to fulfil any obligation in compliance of any law for the time being in force shall not be tradable

The measures that can be taken for the purposes of protection, preservation, or conservation of the environment includes :
a. tree plantation
b. water management
c. sustainable agriculture
d. waste managemen
e. air pollution reduction
f. mangrove conservation and restoration
g. ecomark label development
h. sustainable building and infrastructure

Methodology of generating green credit

The calculation of green credit in respect of any activity undertaken shall be based on equivalence of resource requirement, parity of scale, scope, size and other relevant parameters required to achieve the desired environmental outcome

Procedure for generation of green credit

The Administrator shall develop the website for registration of activities, evaluation and verification of activities undertaken and award of green credit in respect of such verified activities, electronically.

The responsibilities of the Administrator shall include the following, namely:—

(a) develop guidelines, processes and procedures for the implementation of the green credit programme under these rules;
(b) develop methodologies, registration process, guidelines and associated measurement, reporting and verification mechanism;
(c) establish methodologies and processes for issuance of green credit (including issuance of digital green credit), and equivalence of green credit generated from each identified activity;
(d) develop guidelines for the establishment and operation of the Green Credit Registry and trading platform; for self-certification or third-party certification for the registration of an activity for issuance of green credits and its inspection and verification by designated agency, for empanelment of auditors and audit by such auditors;
(e) establish or designate the Green Credit Registry, and trading platform service provider in accordance with the approved guidelines;
(f) develop guidelines for the green credit programme portal, the knowledge and data platform, and for the fees from the registered entities;
(g) develop guidelines for filing of annual returns and progress reports by designated agency, Registry, trading platform and knowledge and data platform

The Central Government shall constitute a Steering Committee & Technical Committee to monitor the implementation of the Green Credit programme under these rules.

The Administrator or designated agency shall establish and maintain a Green Credit Registry for the registration and issuance of each Green Credit.

The Administrator shall establish and maintain a trading platform , which shall perform functions regarding the trading of green credit, in accordance with the guidelines made by the Administrator with the approval of the Central Government.

The Administrator shall develop and maintain a knowledge and data platform, with approval of the Central Government, which may collate key data points generated from the Registry and other information, such as sectoral achievements, best practices, information on capacity building, etc

The Administrator shall appoint a designated agency in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Central Government, who shall conduct verification and submit reports to the Administrator in accordance
with the guidelines

The participation to the Green Credit programme under these rules shall be based on voluntary participation

The activities of the Administrator, designated agency, Registry, trading platform and knowledge and data platform shall be audited within a period of one year at the end of every third financial year by independent auditors to be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Steering Committee.

Click here to read the Notification

Source:https://moef.gov.in/moef/index.html

Share