Greenpeace lauds efforts to arrest climate change

Greenpeace has lauded the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL). in taking the first step towards arresting Climate Change by phasing out energy-inefficient incandescent light bulbs. The green body presented a 'Climate Cop' award to KREDL.

Karnataka has launched the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) scheme, which will reduce the price of energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to Rs 15. This scheme makes it possible to replace 50 million incandescent bulbs with CFLs, a key demand of the Greenpeace 'Ban the Bulb' campaign to combat climate change.

"Market mechanisms such as these make the right choice more accessible for consumers. While this is a welcome step, we hope the Karnataka government will continue to lead the fight against climate change and completely phase out incandescent bulbs," said Brikesh Singh, Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace India.

"The CDM scheme launched by Karnataka will cut-down at least 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. If every state government, or the Central government itself, takes similar action we could certainly reduce 5 per cent of the country's total carbon emissions," said G Ananthapadmanabhan, Executive Director, Greenpeace India.

As part of its campaign to combat climate change and choose positive energy, Greenpeace will monitor market mechanisms to ensure CO2 reduction targets are met.

Greenpeace is also calling on the Central government to implement the 'Bachat Lamp Yojana' with immediate effect and take concrete steps towards eradicating the incandescent light bulb by 2012.

Greenpeace, since last year, increased the chorus against incandescent bulbs, across the world.

The NGO was locked in an intense battle with Philips other global bulb manufacturers.

In addition to this initiative, Greenpeace has been active in India to tide over the rising problem of e-waste by engaging with OEMs like Wipro, HCL, Lenovo and Dell.