Side Event

Impacts on Forests & Biodiversity : from Coal as an Energy Choice

Organizer
Bharat jan Vigyan Jatha (BJVJ)

Date and Time
12 October 2012 18:15 - 19:45

Meeting
Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 11)

The presentations and discussions in the event will look at the various impacts on biological diversity, both on land and aquatic /marine, of the choice of coal as a major energy source. The reality of India today is the large dependence on coal as energy source for both heating and electricity generation. The impacts on forests has been documented to some degree - mostly from the coal mining operations. There are other impacts on both land based and marine biodiversity from the warm water discharge, from the effects of fly-ash etc. Not much work has been done on these areas in India. This event will attempt to bring in experts in this area, present some preliminary studies, and generate an informed discussion - both inside the event, and outside in the relevant circles - about this largely neglected aspect.