Author: Ram Manohar

News: World leaders promised to protect Earth’s forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa halt itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit. What is Global methane Pledge? The Global Methane Pledge, first announced in September, now covers emissions from two-thirds of the global economy Nearly 90 countries have joined a U.S.-and EU-led effort… Continue reading Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26

Synopsis: Reasons for the increase in Centre’s gross tax revenues during April-September 2021. Introduction The Centre’s gross tax revenues have grown 64.2% year-on-year during April-September. This has resulted in a reduced fiscal deficit for the first half of 2021-22 that is, just 35% of the budget estimate for the whole year. According to the Swiss… Continue reading Improved finances gives Centre leeway to slash fuel excise duties, but a renewed spending spree is avoidable

Synopsis: An analysis of urban India’s need for sustainable mobility suggests that we must rely heavily on clean public transit systems. Introduction Road transport contributes about 10% of global emissions and is rising faster than any other sectors. Hence the emphasis of developed countries is towards shifting away from car possession. Why slow transition towards… Continue reading A good synthesis of climate and transport economics would help

Synopsis: Unless the world addresses the distributional and inequality-causing impact of highly carbon-intensive economic models, our job towards limiting temperature rise to 1.5°Celsius will remain unfinished Introduction With increased carbon emissions the global carbon budget is also decreasing. We need to make suitable changes to our lifestyles to make them less and less carbon intensive.… Continue reading Decarbonization mustn’t overlook the rich-poor divide

Synopsis: The fight against COVID and climate change has suffered from misinformation. Both require strong measures and popular support. Introduction COVID-19 has affected the entire planet and many lives, global economies and hit the poorest disproportionately hard. Like the pandemic, limiting climate change will test governments’ ability to adapt and cooperate across borders. How COVID… Continue reading Our pandemic failures should inform climate-response talks

Synopsis: Central planning in decarbonization will impose excessive costs upon society. Introduction Fossil fuels are so deeply intermixed into the fabric of the modern economy that decarbonization has far-reaching impacts all across society. In this context, a large-scale change in the mechanisms of production and consumption of energy is required. This makes Governments an essential… Continue reading How to decarbonize: On decarbonization

Synopsis: RBI should focus more on inflation management. Introduction The Union government has given a three-year extension to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das. It shows that the relationship between the central bank and the Union government has improved markedly over the past three years. Better coordination between the RBI and the government… Continue reading Vote for continuity

Synopsis: There is a huge pool of unemployed university graduates with unfulfilled aspirations. The present situation and the steps that can be taken to address this issue. Introduction There has been an increase in number of higher education institutions and enhanced rates of enrollment of students from diverse backgrounds. But a dearth of govt and… Continue reading Future Imperfect: On unemployment