The Peninsula Foundation

Tag: Energy

  • Sanctions on Russia Are a Tool That Must Be Calibrated Like Any Other

    Sanctions on Russia Are a Tool That Must Be Calibrated Like Any Other

    If de-dollarisation occurs, the impact will be felt wide and far. Severe sanctions are a double-edged sword which will impact every nation.

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been condemned by the majority of countries in the United Nations. NATO has not intervened militarily since that runs the danger of a wider conflagration with the possible use of nuclear weapons. So, instead, the NATO powers have supplied Ukrainian forces with weapons and imposed severe sanctions on Russia. Evermore sanctions are announced every week.

    It was said that this would degrade Russia’s capacity to wage war by freezing its assets held in Western banks. Also, its earnings through trade would decline and impoverish it. It was also argued that the Russians would be hurt through multiple channels – higher inflation, the inability of its citizens to get dollars, a collapse in prices of financial assets, like, shares and so on.

    Thus, while Russia is attacking militarily, the West is hitting back through economic means. Further, there is also a cyber and media component to the war. It is perhaps the first war on multiple fronts. Will the Russians be hurt enough to stop the war? Can one draw lessons from the sanctions against Iran?

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  • COVID-19: Anti Coronavirus Measures and their Environmental and Social Impact

    COVID-19: Anti Coronavirus Measures and their Environmental and Social Impact

    In the bleak reality of the corona virus outbreak, all human activity slowing down or being halted, has brought about one positive change – for the environment. Fuel consumption going down, factories shut, and fewer vehicles on the road has resulted in carbon emissions reducing, leading to less pollution both in the air, on land and in water.

    Air pollution

    To measure the Air Quality Index (AQI), System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, has 6 categories for air quality. Ranging from 51- 100 is known as “satisfactory” or “very good”, from 101-200 is “moderate”, from 201-300 is “poor” 300-400 is seen as “very poor” and lastly, between 401-500 fall under the “hazardous.” In New Delhi, known as the world’s most polluted capital city, governmental lockdown orders have resulted in the Air Quality Index dropping to a level considered “satisfactory.” Images of clear blue skies in the capital have been released showing the absence of smog. Other major pollution emitting cities such as Mumbai is at the moderate level, and Pune is at a satisfactory level. It is no doubt that the reduction in the number of vehicles on the road has resulted in better AQI during the virus outbreak.

    Furthermore, European Space Agency (ESA) satellite images show that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels over China due to industries, power plants and vehicles have plunged drastically between January and February 2020. It is hoped that observations such as these will encourage a quicker shift to clean energy sources for the betterment of society.

    Water pollution

    Venice, Italy, connected solely by canals and also a popular tourist destination, saw its canals virtually empty once lockdowns were announced. The deprivation of tourists cut back much of the pollution and as a result, the polluted canal waters were seen to be clearer. Other activities requiring travel over water, including trade and leisure activities on ships being reduced also works in favour of the environment. The planet is definitely benefitting from the measures against the pandemic.

    Fuel consumption and price

    Fuel consumption has dropped notably worldwide, as industries and factories have either cut back or suspended their activity; many people are no longer commuting, but working from home. These factors are also leading to a significant drop in fuel prices. Indian demand dropped 10-11% in the first two weeks of March alone. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there has been a 90,000 barrel per day drop from 2019, in the global oil demand. In restricting the movement of people, both within cities and across national and international borders, the drop in demand has hit the tourism industry hard.

    The tourism industry

    Though business is affected, it is definitely a time for nature to rejuvenate and replenish in this time of lockdown. One of the major players of the tourism industry, the airline industry could take a hit up to $113 billion according to the International Air Travel Association. With travel cuts, cancellation of flights and lower demand in many countries, this has been an eye-opener in the amount of pollution caused by these activities. Deserted streets, at popular tourist locations such as Venice, New York City, Paris leave an eerie impression, but on the positive side shows the implementation of lockdowns and cooperation of people in going back home.

    Outcomes

    The all India three week lockdown will definitely see a reduction in pollution and improvement in quality of air, though cooperation of the people remains a worry. The outbreak of the virus has shone light on the much needed assessment required on the grave damage human activities have done to ecosystems, and consider the need to protect the future of those ecosystems. As the majority of the international system moves activity to the digital platform, nature is rejuvenated in the absence of humans. But more importantly, it is hoped that businesses will strategize on systemic changes, such as providing work from home options as this means less people commuting, less traffic, and less pollution.

    If COVID-19 is teaching us one thing, it is how interconnected and interdependent all systems are. Human ignorance and irresponsibility is only fueling the spread of the virus. Though the unpredictability of the pandemic has caught us off guard, it serves as a good wakeup call to make much needed change in various levels of individual choice, organizational and business strategy and governmental action. Pandemic response has taken priority in governmental agenda globally over tackling climate change issues, strategies being used in pandemic response have unintended favourable outcomes for the environment, simultaneously.

    Social Impact

    Little is mentioned about the social behaviour implications of the virus spread. One major positive outcome could be the health and hygiene habits that have been announced in keeping healthy in times of pandemic crisis. Awareness has brought to the forefront the importance of a simple action such as washing hands. The World Health Organization has a set of guidelines that would help in the fight against the outbreak. Social activity changes, such as remaining indoors, not being able to go out for a meal, movie or meet with friends has left many discussions on the ramifications on mental health. While this is a very real issue, it is vital to the health and wellbeing of everyone that containing the spread of the virus is the primary need of the hour.

    Views expressed are author’s own. 

  • Post-Millennium Trends in the Global Energy Security

    Post-Millennium Trends in the Global Energy Security

    The concept of energy security has been at the front and center of many important changes in international relations and international law since the 1970s. While the 1970s witnessed a series of international and domestic contests and cooperation on energy security, in the recent past the situation has been slightly different. In particular the speed of evolution and the fleshing out of the scope and content of energy security has been quite dramatic. The period from 2000 to 2019 has been transformational in multiple ways in respect of the evolution of the concept of energy security, including power structures where sources of military and economic power are not necessarily overlapping. The simultaneous transformation of Russia, India, France, Japan, Germany and UK as multi-regional powers having pockets of influence much beyond their immediate neighborhood is underway. In essence, the North-South divide and East-West geographical construct and post World War 2 multilateralism are losing relevance. A deep study of these changes is required and the first two decades of the twenty first century offer a useful time frame. The book is an attempt to encapsulate the trends indicative of this emerging energy security architecture.

  • TPF Discussion # 02: Plutonium for Energy? Explaining the Global Decline of MOX

    TPF Discussion # 02: Plutonium for Energy? Explaining the Global Decline of MOX

    Special Guest : Dr Alan J Kuperman LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, Austin

    Dr.Alan J. Kuperman, chair of the Graduate Studies Committee of the LBJ School’s Global Policy Studies program, University of Texas visited The Peninsula Foundation on 5th of August. He was accompanied by Dr D Subachandran, Professor & Dean, NIAS Bangalore who also facilitated the visit. The discussion centred around global nuclear issues with respect to non-proliferation and nuclear safety in the context of plutonium-based nuclear energy development practices. Dr Alan Kuperman’s presentation was based on the results of    a significant research program conducted by him under the NPPP (Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project). The outcome of the project is his edited volume ‘Plutonium for Energy? Explaining the Global Decline of MOX’. His views drew extensively from his book. The interactive session commenced with Dr Kuperman presenting the stages of plutonium, recycling effects and further elaboration on  “Plutonium for Energy”  as it is the first-ever comparative research project on “mixed oxide” (MOX) fuel – containing both plutonium and uranium – used in light-water nuclear power reactors.  The project explores the manufacture and use of such MOX fuel in the seven main countries that have done so: Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

    Plutonium as the fuel for nuclear energy evolved from the perceived advantages of its closed fuel cycle that would have done away with or reduced the complexities and hazards of having to address long period storage of increasing amounts SNF (Spent Nuclear Fuel) from Uranium-based nuclear (thermal) reactors. According to the study this is a misconception, and he projected that Plutonium is a controversial fuel for three major reasons: Plutonium from reprocessing can be used to make nuclear weapons; it is carcinogenic and so a huge health hazard; and is a very costly process that makes it uneconomical. The main focus of this line of argument was non-proliferation, and the need to make countries move away from plutonium cycle so as to eliminate nuclear weapons possibility, including the possibility of terrorist angle. Participants raised questions about countries like India, which can exploit its vast reserves of Thorium through closed fuel cycle for energy while also addressing their security concerns. The countries selected in the study do not represent a viable model for countries like India and China. Pakistan is already focused extensively on plutonium cycle. Hence, it was pointed out, decision on this issue would be complex for India. One of the primary objectives of the study is also to inform ongoing decision-making in East Asia – including China, Japan, and South Korea – about whether to recycle plutonium for energy.

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