Wednesday 22 August 2012

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AOC TV Appoints Ms. Kalki Koechlin as the Brand Ambassador

 

AOC TV, Premier name in standards in quality, innovation & Consumer Satisfaction in the television industry today announced the appointment of renowned Bollywood actress Ms. Kalki Kochelin as the brand ambassador for AOC TV. With the same promise of durability, performance and elegant design the association with Kalki will further add to the brand attributes. As the brand ambassador of AOC TV Kalki would be doing all the promotional activities for the brand for the total range of TVs. An aggressive media endorsement plan is already in place to achieve the best possible mileage and visibility for the brand. AOC TV is planning pan India campaigns in all Print, Electronic, Radio ,Online media.
 
Ms. Seema T Bhatnagar, Director , AOC TV says, “In AOC TV has received a great response from its consumers since the time of its inception. We hope we will soon achieve the target of 2L units by 2013. We are investing Rs 500 million in Indian Market with a focused approach towards Tier II & Tier III cities, which are witnessing a paradigm shift from the CRT monitors to Flat Panel Television. AOC TVs are price competitive with superior quality, an attractive proposition for the distributors, retailers and consumers in these areas.” She further added, “Kalki, being one of the most talented actors in the Bollywood industry and a huge fan following from the young generation, we expect it will help us to achieve a great recognition for the brand”. Kalki says “I am delighted to be the face of the AOC TV. AOC TVs are the most affordable choice for the high end flat panel televisions. The TVs are elegant in design, smart in look superb picture quality with Dream surround sound. It creates a perfect environment for TV watching and its smart features make it a must have option for your homes”.
AOC TV also showcased the complete range of products starting from 22inch LED TV to 42 inch LED TVs. They are soon going to launch the 3D TVs too. For more information visit—- http://www.aocindia.com/ AOC is an international brand of TPV Technology Limited, a US $ 12 billion Business Conglomerate that was formed in USA and is now based out of Taiwan. TPV Technology Limited is a leading display solutions provider and world’s largest manufacturer of displays. TPV Group designs and manufactures a wide range of LED and LCD displays for global distribution across Europe, North and South America, Australia, China, India and many other Asian countries. The company has been listed on both Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges since October 1999. AOC has been satisfying the display industry with styling, value and dependability for over 70 years. AOC is a complete one stop solution for all display needs with products that add value to customer through cost leadership, timely delivery and superior quality.
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Bashar al-Assad may step down

 

A top Syrian minister has held out the prospect of strongman Bashar al-Assad stepping down as part of a peace deal and said the govt is ready to enter into a dialogue with Opposition on the issue of Assad’s exit but it should not be a pre-condition for talks.
 
International powers including the US have long said Assad should step down as part of any negotiated settlement to end 17 months of bloodshed that activists say has killed 23,000.
The comments from Syria’s Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil came following talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other Moscow officials who are keen to keep their sway over the Soviet-era ally in case of the fall of Assad.
Jamil rejected the idea of making Assad’s resignation the condition for any future negotiations – a demand made not only by the armed opposition but also Washington and several big European states.
But he said the president’s departure could be a topic of discussion.
“As far as his resignation goes – making the resignation itself a condition for holding dialogue means that you will never be able to reach this dialogue,” said Jamil.
But the minister added in remarks translated into Russian: “Any problems can be discussed during negotiations. We are even ready to discuss this issue.”
The United States announced on Monday that it would be promoting Assad’s resignation during meetings with new UN peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi despite his initial refusal to back the idea.
Kofi Annan’s recent replacement had earlier this week said it was still too early for him to say whether pushing for Assad’s ouster was the right strategy at this point in the conflict.
US pressure on Syria escalated still further on Monday when US President Barack Obama implicitly threatened to launch an attack should the Damascus regime deploy a chemical weapons stockpile it acknowledged having only last month.
The US leader said pointedly that he had not ordered military engagement against the Syrian regime “at this point”.
But Assad’s use of chemical weapons “would change my calculations significantly”, said Obama.
Jamil waved off the threat as part of US election politics rather than an actual declaration of intent.
“Obama’s threats are simply propaganda linked to the US elections,” Jamil told reporters on Tuesday.
Jamil was paying his second visit to Moscow in two weeks in a bid to put the fishing touches on a framework agreement for fuel supplies and other urgent Russian assistance and loans.
The country’s top aid negotiator admitted that he had failed to secure a financial rescue promise on this occasion because the Russians preferred to talks about the fighting now raging on the ground.
“The issue of a Russian credit was discussed during my previous visit,” Jamil confirmed in reference to his early August appearance in Moscow. “This time, we focused more on political issues.”
The comment appears to betray a growing impatience by Russia to achieve some sort of progress toward peace talks it has been backing in the face of escalating violence and little sign of concession from Assad.
Russia has adamantly defended Syria against the threat of foreign military invasion and still continues to formally supply Assad with heavy weapons under contracts it signed before the fighting broke out.
But its efforts to get new international talks going on Syria at the United Nations ended in fiasco earlier this month when most world powers pulled out.
Many of them called Russia’s efforts futile because of the sides’ vast diplomatic differences and the rapidly growing death toll on the ground.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow could adopt no other position.
“There should be no interference from the outside,” Lavrov said after his talks with the Syrian minister.
“The only thing that foreign players should do is create conditions for the start of dialogue,” Lavrov said.
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FOUR YOUNG INDIAN-AMERICAN SCIENTISTS HONORED

 

Four Indian-American researchers figure among 96 named by President Obama as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest US honor for young professionals. The Presidential early career awards embody the high priority the Obama Administration places on producing outstanding scientists and engineers to advance the nation’s goals, tackle grand challenges, and contribute to the American economy.The honored were Biju Parekkadan of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Pawan Sinha and Parag A. Pathak, both Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Sridevi Vedula Sarma of Johns Hopkins University.Awardees employed or funded by various government agencies are selected for their pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.
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Now Delhi Govt. wants to get rid of regularization of unauthorized colonies – Vijender Gupta

New Delhi, 22 August, 2012:  The effort of Delhi Govt. to mislead 50 lakh residents of unauthorized colonies by promising them of regularization has been exposed.  These colonies can’t be regularized till the Central Government makes amendments in the Forest Act, Ridge Management Board Rules, AMASR Act and Delhi High Court also permits such regularization.
 
BJP Delhi Pradesh President Shri Vijender Gupta had previously announced that it is beyond the powers of Delhi Government and the Central Government to regularize 197 colonies.  Delhi Govt. will have to face many legal complications in regularization of these colonies.  In view of the forthcoming Assembly elections, Delhi Government has again started showing golden dreams to the residents of unauthorized colonies.  Chief Minister had announced that 917 colonies shall be regularized at once.  All the legal and documentary formalities have been completed.
 
On the one hand the Chief Minister is openly cheating the people and on the other, it is requesting the Central Urban Development Ministry that the Central Government should go to the High Court and get orders for regularization.  It may be mentioned that Delhi High Court has already given orders that if the Government announces about regularizing even one colony and starts development work then it will have to inform the High Court about the legal status of the colonies being regularized.  What criteria had been fixed by the Government for regularization?  It is also essential to provide the number of colonies, its border, availability of land for providing basic amenities, inhabitation in the colonies upto the year 2007 etc. to the High Court.
 
Shri Vijender Gupta told that the Government has not completed all the legal and documentary formalities about a single colony.  It falsely announced that 917 colonies shall be regularized at once.  Now in view of the orders of the Court, it is in a fix.  Now it wants to save itself by putting the responsibility of regularization of the colonies on the Central Government.
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Happy homecoming for Sharmila Nicollet; takes two-shot lead in Hero-KGA Women’s golf

·      Neha and Saaniya two behind Nicollet

 

·      Debutant Vani Kapoor impresses in first round as pro

 

 

 

Bangalore, August 22: It was happy homecoming for Sharmila Nicollet, as she shot a one-under 71 in her first tournament in India in more than six months. The only sub-par card of the day gave the 21-year-old Sharmila a two-shot lead in the Rs. 10 lakh Hero-KGA Women’s Pro Golf event, the first leg of the 2012 season on the Hero-WGAI Tour.

 

 

 

Sharmila was two clear of Neha Tripathi (73) and Saaniya Sharma (73) and three ahead of Nalini Singh Siwach (74) and local amateur Aditi Ashok (74). Vani Kapoor (75) making her debut as a professional went into the water on the first hole but still finished the day with an impressive 75 to lie sixth. Seasoned Smriti Mehra had a tough day with a five-over 77.

 

 

 

KGA, who are partnering Hero and WGAI for the event, can be very happy with the course as it was both interesting and challenging for players and the weather was excellent through the day.

 

 

 

Sharmila, who last played on the domestic Tour late last year, has been on the Ladies European Tour (LET) since. “I played well and hit the ball well and am happy overall with the game,” said Sharmila. “I want to do well and get back my confidence before I go for more events in Asia and Europe. I know there is room for improvement.”

 

 

 

Sharmila, who won twice in the 10 events she played on the domestic Tour last season, had four birdies and three bogeys. “The good thing is the 71 came despite three bogeys on par-fives, which is usually my strength. All my bogeys came on par-fives and that really is unusual, because I can reach most of these par-fives in two (shots). But it also means I can look forward to doing better tomorrow,” she added picking the positives from the first round. Sharmila was the only player to bogey three par-fives.

 

 

 

Neha Tripathi, who won the season-opener last year, had a great day with five birdies – the most by any player on the first day – but she also gave away six bogeys in her card of 73. “I missed a lot of short putts and I had a three-putt from about six feet on the ninth. From a birdie I went to bogey there and that hurt. But I must admit I am happy with my hitting and it was a good round, but for some patchy putting.” The bad patch for Neha came from the sixth to ninth, when she bogeyed four in a row. She had birdies on first, second, 10th, 11th and 16th.

 

 

 

Saaniya, who also had one win last season, had three birdies and four bogeys. She had three birdies, all on back nine, and four bogeys, of which three were on back nine. “I hit the ball well and from that point I am happy with my game and I don’t want to think negative,” said Chandigarh-girl Saaniya.

 

 

 

Debutant Vani Kapoor had a nervous start, finding water on the very first hole. “I must admit I was nervous, but things got better as the round progressed. I was three-over for the front nine and even for the back nine. Actually I kept missing on the wrong side of the greens and therefore I could not chip-putt to save myself when I missed greens. The pins were challenging but I should have done better,” said Vani.

 

 

 

Amateur Aditi, who won an event on pro tour last year, shot 74 with two birdies and four bogeys. She was all over the course, but her amazing putting saved the day. She found just three greens in regulation, but needed only 23 putts

 

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Gujarat State cabinet meet held in the headship of CM

  Meet reviews the fodder distribution plan for Saurashtra, Kutch and north Gujarat regions: Approval to various incentive schemes for farmers and NGOs: with a view to encourage fodder cultivation: Order issued for giving Rs.25 per animal per day to every Gaushala and cattle feeding houses: Fodder depot will be started in the village cluster of the radius of 15-km: 91 fodder depot in scarcity-hit regions:

The State cabinet meet, headed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, today reviewed the plan forfodder management and distribution in connection with water scarcity in Saurashtra, Kutchand North Gujarat. The meet took decision of giving an assistance of Rs.25 per animal per day to every Gaushala and cattle feeding houses managed by NGO/trusts in scarcity-hit areas.
 
Giving details of the decisions taken in the meet state government spokespersons HealthMinister Jay Narayan Vyas and Minister of State Saurabh Patel said the government, in itsscarcity management plan and district contingency plan, has given priority to making availablesufficient fodder to the animals.
 
Spokespersons said that at present fodder is being distributed through 91 fodder depots at the concessional rate of rupees two per kg. So far, about 11 lakh kilo fodder has already been distributed to cattle-breeders. Considering the need of more number of fodder depots thegovernment will form village clusters in every 15 km. radius and will start new fodder depots there on war footing. The government is in the process of purchasing five crore kilogram of fodder from open market. Orders have been issued for providing this fodder to the cattle-breeders at the concessional rate of Rs.2/kg, added the spokespersons.
 
Besides, the orders have been issued for implementation of various incentive schemes relatedto the cultivation of green fodder. The incentive schemes are as follows:
 
·        A special allocation of Rs.75 crore has been approved for providing free-of-cost seeds and fertilizer kits to the farmers (for 2 acres) and to the organizations (for 10 acres).
 
·        Incentive of Rs.5000 per hectare will be given for the cultivation of fodder.
 
·        A grant of Rs.20,000 per hectare (maximum to rupees one lakh) will be given toeach village panchayat for removing wild babul and cultivating fodder in the five hectare of gochar land of the village.  
 
·        Approval for cultivating fodder will be given to individual farmers (2 to 2.5 acre) and to voluntary organizations/trusts (up to 25 acre) in the land of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam which falls along both the sides of Narmada canal. Water will also be made available for one year without cost.
 
·        Farmers’ contribution for using 2322 wells of water resource developmentcorporation will be do away with and instead the farmers will be given facility for dripirrigation at 100 percent government expense.
 
·        In order to meet the scarcity of drinking water, approval has been given toagriculture produce market committees for giving contribution up to a limit of Rs.50 lakhfrom the market fund, with the consent of taluka committee.
 
The government is committed to provide sufficient fodder to the animals and for efficientimplementation of these incentive schemes. State government will spare no efforts in providing sufficient fodder to the animals, spokespersons said.
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पुलिस की उदासीनता से हुआ हिन्दुओं पर सुनियोजित हमला : विहिप

आखिर ईद, ताजिए, मुहर्रम या शुक्रवार को ही क्यों होते हैं हिन्दुओं पर हमले?
नाराज हिन्दू संगठनों ने किया नांगलोई पुलिस थाने के बाहर प्रदर्शन
      नई दिल्ली, अगस्त 22, 2012। सुभाष पार्क  मामले में दिल्ली पुलिस की अकर्मण्यता के चलते अब अराजक तत्व दिल्ली में इतने निरंकुश हो गए हैं कि वे शान्ति प्रिय हिन्दू समाज या सामान्य पुलिस कर्मी तो क्या पुलिस के आला अधिकारियों तक पर भी हमला करने से नहीं डरते। विश्व हिन्दू परिषद दिल्ली के महा मंत्री श्री सत्येन्द्र मोहन ने नांगलोई में कल हुए दंगों को पुलिस की अकर्मण्यता से हुए हिन्दुओं पर सुनियोजित हमलों की संज्ञा दी है। नांगलोई थाने के बाहर आज आक्रोषित लोगों ने प्रदर्शन भी किया तथा पुलिस द्वारा अराजक तत्वों को दबोचने की जगह पीडित हिन्दुओं को ही गिरफ़्त में लेकर प्रताडित करने के विरुद्ध अपनी आवाज बुलन्द की। विहिप महा मंत्री ने आज संजय गांधी अस्पताल जा कर घायलों को भी देखा तथा स्थानीय लोगों से मुलाकात की।
विहिप दिल्ली की आज झण्डेवालान कार्यालय में हुई बैठक के बाद महामंत्री ने पूछा है कि आखिर ये हमले ईद, ताजिए, मुहर्रम या शुक्रवार को ही क्यों शुरू होते हैं? और पुलिस तथा सरकारी सम्पत्ति के साथ हिन्दुओं को ही क्यों निशाना बनाया जाता है? हाल ही में दिल्ली सहित देश के विभिन्न भागों में सुनियोजित तरीके से हुए हमले हों चाहे सुभाष पार्क पर कब्जे की बात हो या उसके बाहर पुलिस कर्मियों की पिटाई की बात हो, उत्तर पूर्व के लोगों के खिलाफ़ बांग्लादेशी समर्थित हुजूम का तांडव हो या अन्य कोई प्रदर्शन, आखिर इन्हीं दिनों क्यों अराजकता का माहौल बनाया जाता है? उन्होंने कहा कि एक ओर हिन्दुओं पर आक्रमण किया गया और दूसरी ओर पुलिस पीडित हिन्दुओं को ही बली का बकरा बना कर झूंठे केस दर्ज कर रही है। दिल्ली का हिन्दू जन मानस यह कदापि स्वीकार नहीं करेगा। आखिर इन दंगाईयों पर अंकुश लगाने में पुलिस व प्रशासन क्यों नहीं आगे आते?
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Iran unveils upgraded short-range missile

 

Iran’s president on Tuesday unveiled an upgraded version of a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile just weeks after it was test-fired, the country’s state-media reported.
The missile reflects Iran’s improved military capabilities aimed at “defence” and “deterrence,” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a group of defence officials at the ceremony presenting Fateh-110, or Conqueror, according to state TV.
Iran considers both the United States and Israel as potential adversaries.
Neither country has ruled out a military strike against Iran’s nuclear program, which they claim is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.
The official news agency in a report today said the new version of Fateh-110 has a quicker launch capability, a longer life and can be used in adverse weather conditions but gave no other details.
The missile has been in service in Iran over the past decade.
Iran claimed earlier in August that it successfully test-fired the missile, saying at the time that Fateh-110 has an improved accuracy to strike land and naval targets within a 300 kilometre range.
Since 1992, Iran has tried to set up a self-sufficient military program.
The country’s military leaders have said they believe future wars will be air- and sea-based and Tehran has sought to upgrade its air defence systems and naval power in anticipation of such a possibility.
Iran has also been pushing to upgrade its missiles, which already can target Israel and US bases in the Middle East.
The Pentagon released a report in June noting significant advances in Iranian missile technology, acknowledging that the Islamic Republic has improved the accuracy and firing capabilities of its missiles.
At the ceremony marking the national day of Iran’s defence industry, Ahmadinejad also unveiled several other latest Iranian-made weapons, such as a naval diesel engine, a mortar launcher, a monitoring military intelligence system and tactical Suva.
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Maruti reopens Manesar plant

Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday reopened its Manesar plant amid heavy security, a month after a lockout was declared due to the violence in which one senior company official was killed and 100 others injured.
Workers are standing in queue outside the factory gate to enter the plant amid heavy rain.

Haryana Police has provided 500 personnel, out of which 200 are inside the plant and 300 in areas around the facility.

Besides, the company has also formed its own special force numbering 100, which includes ex-service men.

Only 300 permanent workers will resume duty on Tuesday and the company will operate single-shift till the time the management decides to ramp up output from the plant.

The company is also said to be planning to remove 500 contract workers over their alleged involvement in the violence on 18th July in which a General Manager (HR) was killed and nearly 100 others were injured.

“About 300 workers will start work on Tuesday (August 21) and when we start, we would be producing about 150 cars per day,” Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Chairman R C Bhargava said.

He said MSI will gradually ramp up production but did not provide a timeline for reaching full output at the plant that has an annual capacity of 5.5 lakh units.

Before the incident the plant had employees strength of 3,300 of which 1,528 are permanent.

The production which was suspended on 21st July, will restart with two popular models — DZiRE and Swift, he added. The overall loss is estimated to be over Rs 1,500 crore.

Production will resume under heavy security with Haryana Police providing 500 personnel. Besides, MSI will have its own 100 personnel apart from 40 personal security officers.

“We wanted to ensure that work can be carried out within the factory and also provide security to workers while returning home,” Bhargava said.

On the fate of the workers allegedly involved in the violence, Bhargava said: “We have already issued notices to 500 permanent workers at the plant. The number may increase depending upon the investigation and if there is a need to issue more notices, we will.”

Besides, 500 contract workers have been identified for their alleged involvement in violence and would not be taken back during new hiring to start on 2nd September, sources said.

MSI Chief Operating Officer (Administration) S Y Siddiqui said: “The investigation is an ongoing process and we cannot put a number on the contract workers that we will not take back.”

He further said it was estimated that 700-800 workers were involved in the violence on 18th July.

On total production loss, Bhargava said: “Production at Manesar varies from 1,500 units to 1,700 units per day depending on the demand.”

Talking about compensation offered to employees who were issued the notices, Siddiqui said they will be given three months salary in lieu of the notice period and “15 days of salary for every year of completed service”.

On future employment of contract workers, Bhargava said: “On the production line, we would not have contract labourers, but for the short-term and for flexibility, we may have about 20 per cent contract labourers, but they will be absorbed in due course of time.”

He said the company will start fresh recruitment of permanent workers from 2nd September and existing contract workers will also be considered.

“Those who are fit for employment, will be taken and those who we think we cannot employ (because of involvement in the violence), we will not take them back,” he said.

In order to have a strong security mechanism, MSI has created a “special force of 100 security guards, including ex-servicemen, at its Manesar plant in addition to the existing security force, to enhance security”.

This will be in addition to the state police, who will continue to provide security to the plant.

On the losses, Bhargava said the damage to the plant machineries and other properties is estimated at Rs 110 crore. Besides, the production loss is about Rs 1,400 crore.

“The average value per car, depending on the product mix, stands between Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh,” he said without sharing the actual production loss in the month-long lockout that caused a total production loss of over 20 days.

The Manesar plant, which has an annual capacity of 5.5 lakh units, rolls out the company’s popular models Swift, entry level sedan DZiRE and SX4 along with compact car A-Star.

During the period of lockout, the company did not stop booking of Swift and DZiRE. The combined pending booking orders for these models stand at 1.2 lakh units.

Giving details of safety mechanism at the troubled plant, MSI said the state government will set up a rapid action force of 500 police personnel, headed by a senior police officer near the Manesar area.

“In each shift, 100 of them will be in the Maruti Suzuki Manesar factory,” it added.

The Haryana government has also provided 40 personal security officers (PSOs) for the safety of managers, supervisors and, wherever necessary, the workers.

Security arrangements have been made at the residences of the employees, the company said.

“We believe that these measures, and the continuing efforts of the Haryana government and its police force to investigate, arrest and prosecute the criminals involved in the violence on 18th July, will create a safe environment for work to resume,” it added.

The Haryana government had earlier announced formation of a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravinder Tomar to probe violence at Manesar plant.

On 1st August, the police had arrested 10 office bearers of the Maruti Suzuki Workers’ Union, including its President Ram Meher and General Secretary Sarabjit Singh, taking the total number of workers arrested to 114 in relation to the incident.

On Wednesday, the police arrested the worker who allegedly manhandled the supervisor and whose subsequent suspension had triggered the violence.

Bhargava said police has so far arrested a total of 154 people in connection wtih the violence.

Last year, the company had witnessed three incidents of labour unrest at Manesar plant due to which it had suffered a loss of around Rs 2,500 crore for 83,000 units
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Fossil Fuel and Renewable Energy Subsidies on the Rise

Worldwatch Institute
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
 
Contact: Supriya Kumar, skumar@worldwatch.org, (+1) 202-452-1992, ext. 510
 
  Fossil Fuel and Renewable Energy Subsidies on the Rise
       
New Worldwatch Institute report discusses the rise in subsidies for renewable and fossil fuel-based energy production
Washington, D.C.—-Total subsidies for renewable energy stood at $66 billion in 2010, but are still dwarfed by the total value of global fossil fuel subsidies estimated at between $775 billion and more than $1 trillion in 2012, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute (www.worldwatch.org) for its Vital Signs Online service. Although the total subsidies for renewable energy are significantly lower than those for fossil fuels, they are higher per kilowatt-hour if externalities are not included in the calculations, write report authors from Worldwatch’s Climate and Energy team.
 
Estimates based on 2009 energy production numbers placed renewable energy subsidies between 1.7¢ and 15¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while subsidies for fossil fuels were estimated at around 0.1-0.7¢ per kWh. Unit subsidy costs for renewables are expected to decrease as technologies become more efficient and the prices of wholesale electricity and transport fuels rise.
 
The production and consumption of fossil fuels add costs to society in the form of detrimental impacts on resource availability, the environment, and human health. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences estimates that fossil fuel subsidies cost the United States $120 billion in pollution and related health care costs every year. But these costs are not reflected in fossil fuel prices.
 
“These so-called hidden costs, or externalities, are in fact very real costs to our societies that are not picked up by the polluter and beneficiary of production but by all taxpayers,” said AlexanderOchs, Director of Worldwatch’s Climate and Energy program and report co-author. “Local pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels kill thousands in the U.S. alone each year, and society makes them cheaper to continue down their destructive path.”
 
Shifting official support from fossil fuels to renewables is essential for decarbonizing the global energy system. Such a shift could help create a triple win for national economies by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, generating long term economic growth, and reducing dependence on energy imports.
 
According to projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA), if fossil fuel subsidies were phased out by 2020, global energy consumption would be reduced by 3.9 percent that year compared with having subsidy rates unchanged. Oil demand would be reduced by 3.7 million barrels per day, natural gas demand would be cut by 330 billion cubic meters, and coal demand would drop by 230 million tons of coal. And the effects of the subsidy removal would extend beyond the end of the phaseout period. By 2035, oil demand would decrease by 4 percent, natural gas by 9.9 percent, and coal demand by 5.3 percent, compared with the baseline projection. 
 
Overall, carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 4.7 percent in 2020 and 5.8 percent in 2035. The IEA’s chief economist recently estimated that eliminating all subsidies in 2012 for coal, gas, and oil could save as much as Germany’s annual greenhouse gas emissions each year by 2015, while the emission savings over the next decade might be enough to cover half of the carbon savings needed to stop dangerous levels of climate change.
 
“At the same time, a phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies would level the playing field for renewables and allow us to reduce support for clean energy sources as well,” said Ochs. “After all, fossil fuels have benefited from massive governmental backing worldwide for hundreds of years.”
 
Progress toward a complete phaseout, however, has been minimal. The 2009 pledge by the Group of 20 major economies to reduce “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” has been left vague and unfulfilled. The lack of a definition has left countries to make their own determination if their subsidies are inefficient. As of August 2012, G20 countries had not taken any substantial action in response to the pledge—-six members opted out of reporting altogether (an increase from two in 2010), and no country has yet initiated a subsidy reform in response to the pledge. Furthermore, there continues to be a large gap between self-reported statistics and independent estimates in some countries.
 
Some argue that reducing subsidies would disproportionately affect the poor. An IEA survey of 11 developing and emerging countries, however, found that only 2-11 percent of subsidies went to the poorest 20 percent of the population, showing that subsidies tend to be regressive.
 
Fossil fuel subsidies continue to far outweigh support for renewable energy. Although independent reporting on these subsidies has increased, global efforts to move forward with subsidy reform have been hindered by a variety of causes, leaving international pledges unfulfilled.
 
Further highlights from the report:
  • Global production subsidies total an estimated $100 billion per year, and consumption subsidies add to roughly $675 billion.
  • In 2010, developing countries spent roughly $193 billion, or 47 percent of all fossil fuel consumption subsidies, on oil, while industrial countries spent roughly $28 billion.
  • Since 2007, roughly 80 percent of spending on consumption subsidies occurred in countries that are net exporters of fossil fuels. 

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