Latest news with #Consultation
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Union minister predicts a cotton revolution initiated from Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: ICAR-CICR scientists are engaged in various advanced research activities, and this would help create a cotton revolution that would be initiated from Coimbatore, said Union minister for agriculture and farmers' welfare and rural development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday. Chouhan, along with Union minister of textiles Giriraj Singh, took part in a Stakeholder Consultation on Improving Cotton Production programme at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore on Friday. The Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Coimbatore region centre, organized the programme. The Union ministers inspected the functioning of equipment used for cotton farming and the process of spraying pesticides using a drone. Later, they held discussions with cotton farmers and govt officials. Cotton farmers from various states, including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, participated and shared their views on the challenges they face in cotton cultivation and cultivation methods. The Union ministers assured that steps would be taken to fulfil all the farmers' demands. In the afternoon, farmers from Coimbatore, Sulur, Tirupur and Palladam areas, led by BJP state agriculture unit president G K Nagaraj, held a face-to-face discussion with the Union ministers and submitted their demands. Modakkurichi MLA C. Saraswathi and representatives of the farmers' association participated in this event. Chouhan told reporters that measures to improve production and yields had been discussed. More specifics on pest control and types of diseases were discussed in the presence of the farmers. "We are aiming to help farmers achieve better yields and encourage them to produce cotton types depending on the industry's needs. The ICAR scientists will study and research cotton infections. AI is also being integrated into farming for advanced solutions; as a result, AI smart traps are being deployed to identify and locate insects in the fields, especially the pink bollworm." ICAR faculty highlighted that cotton exports had reached up to $10 billion and the income of six million cotton farmers increased 2-3 fold.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Explained: What a 'Just Transition' means for coal workers, states and financial regulators?
New Delhi: As India accelerates its climate commitments and shifts away from fossil fuels, the question of how to finance a 'Just Transition' — one that supports workers, communities and local economies — has come to the fore. According to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), India must build an inclusive Just Transition (JT) financing ecosystem that brings together ministries, regulators, financial institutions, corporates, and civil society actors. The report, titled Just Transition Financing Ecosystem: Stakeholder Consultation, was released on July 7, 2025, and recommends a phased roadmap — starting from pilot schemes and fiscal incentives in the short term to structural reforms in the long term. What is Just Transition in India's energy context? Just Transition in India refers to an equitable shift away from carbon-intensive sectors like coal, steel, cement, and automotive. It means that those most affected — such as workers in fossil fuel-based industries and vulnerable communities — are not left behind as India builds a greener economy. The IEEFA report notes that while sustainable finance in India is evolving, social priorities like worker reskilling, community resilience, and economic diversification remain underfunded. Who are the stakeholders in Just Transition financing? The report outlines a broad ecosystem of stakeholders. At the top are regulators like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which can enable a shift through policies on disclosure, lending norms, and green finance tools such as Priority Sector Lending (PSL) and Sustainability Linked Loans. 'Capital can be mobilised through public and private sources, guided by ministries via blended finance and incentives. Corporates and their supply chains are key to implementation, especially in high-emission sectors,' said Gaurav Upadhyay, Energy Finance Specialist, IEEFA. Financial instruments like Green Deposits and Sovereign Green Bonds could also be modified to include JT-aligned eligibility and impact metrics. What policy support is required? Central ministries such as the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Power (MoP), and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are seen as key actors in setting the policy framework. 'The MoF can embed JT into India's fiscal framework by aligning green taxonomies, allocating resources, and creating a dedicated fund for affected regions and communities,' said Sangeeth Raja Selvaraju, Policy Fellow (India and ASEAN), Grantham Research Institute at LSE. The MoEFCC could help align JT with national environmental policies and leverage programmes like the Green Skill Development Programme and Green Credit Programme. The ministry is also expected to tap into international funding like the Green Climate Fund for nature-based and community resilience solutions. What's the role of SEBI and RBI? SEBI's Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework and its ESG-linked product regulations could play a role, the report says. 'For instance, SEBI has initiated sustainability reporting through BRSR and ESG-linked products, but JT indicators are still missing. Expanding BRSR to include social risk and JT metrics could help channel capital toward companies with credible transition plans,' said Labanya Prakash Jena, co-author and sustainable finance consultant at IEEFA. Are corporates prepared for Just Transition? According to the report, corporates are starting to integrate JT in their business planning, but many face roadblocks. These include high transition costs, limited finance access for MSMEs, and supply chain constraints. Companies are asking for clearer policy guidance, supportive regulation, and structured investor engagement. There's also a growing demand for integrating social inclusion metrics into Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks. What about state-level readiness? A key gap is at the state level, especially in coal-dependent regions. 'The government must also look to boost state-level engagement, especially in coal-dependent regions, as many states lack the technical capacity to design, finance, or implement JT-aligned programmes,' said Jena. What are the report's recommendations? IEEFA advocates a three-phase approach to institutionalise JT financing: 1. Short term – Pilot schemes, fiscal incentives, and state-level engagement 2. Medium term – Regulatory scaling through integration of JT metrics in finance and ESG 3. Long term – Structural reforms such as dedicated JT funds, blended finance platforms, and community-level inclusion 'Ultimately, a successful JT will require sustained coordination between ministries, regulators, state governments, corporates, and civil society,' Upadhyay said. He added that investing in capacity building, financial innovation, and inclusive planning will help ensure that India's energy transition is not just green, but also equitable.
Globe and Mail
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Bill C-5 reveals fault lines between Ottawa and Indigenous peoples over consultation, consent
Prime Minister Mark Carney's legislation to fast-track projects it deems in the national interest has revealed fault lines between the new Liberal government and Indigenous peoples, particularly around the issues of consultation and consent. The Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Manitoba Métis Federation had urged Parliament to take more time on Bill C-5, though the MMF supports it. The concerns are effectively two-fold: how the legislation has been introduced and rushed through Parliament, and that the its contents could infringe on their rights. On Friday, when the bill was approved by the House of Commons, Mr. Carney announced there will be engagement sessions with Indigenous rights holders this summer, starting with First Nations on July 17. It is widely expected to be approved by the Senate this week. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said this week the organization and the government are working to jointly develop the agenda and approach, and that the AFN will hold a second virtual forum for chiefs before the session. House approves Bill C-5 to fast-track projects, Carney pledges summer consultations with Indigenous leaders Carney responds to Indigenous criticism of Bill C-5, says consultation is 'at the heart' of legislation Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, a former grand chief, said the sessions send an important signal because rights holders will be at the table discussing aspects such as consultation, consent and economic reconciliation. Both Fort McKay First Nation Chief Raymond Powder and Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Grand Chief Cody Diabo said they intend to participate. Fort McKay First Nation is about 60 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta., while Kahnawà:ke is just south of Montreal. Speaking before the engagement sessions were announced, Ms. Woodhouse Nepinak said that ideally, the federal government would have worked with Indigenous groups to draft Bill C-5. 'You avoid court challenges later by talking to First Nations right off the bat, rather than try to ram a bill through that you could have co-developed with First Nations people,' she said. Government officials said in a briefing that they sent letters to 66 Indigenous groups outlining the bill's framework on May 23, and held meetings with 40 others between then and June 6, when it was tabled. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2018 that Parliament does not have to consult on legislation before it is passed. First Nations in particular have been vocal about their opposition to Bill C-5, with the Chiefs of Ontario holding a protest on Parliament Hill last week. There, speakers warned of actions such as court challenges and protests. 'If you pass this Bill C-5, it will be a long, hot summer,' said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler at the protest. 'We will not sit idly by and watch any government, whether it's Ontario or Canada, to come into our territory and take whatever or whenever they wanted, because it is ours.' Bill C-5 would allow the federal cabinet to put projects on a national-interest list, and then exempt them from various legal requirements to speed up approvals. In deciding to add a project to the list, the legislation says that the cabinet can use any factor it considers relevant, including five it specifically lists. One of those criteria is 'advance the interests of Indigenous Peoples.' Before a project can be added to or deleted from the list, the bill says there must be consultation with any Indigenous peoples whose rights are recognized and affirmed under Section 35 of the Constitution and who could be adversely affected. They also need to be consulted on the conditions a project will have to meet. 'This requirement is not optional,' Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty told senators last week. 'It is protected under the Canadian Constitution and is embedded throughout the legislation.' 'Projects will only be designated following full consultation with affected Indigenous rights holders,' she said. There is no definition of consultation within the bill because it can be difficult to have a single one, Ms. Alty said, but the government is committed to meeting its constitutional obligations. The duty to consult and accommodate is very specific, and has been upheld in a series of Supreme Court decisions. It stems from Section 35 of the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and treaty rights. It says that if a government, known as the Crown, is making a decision that will affect Indigenous peoples, it needs to consult with them, says Sharon Singh, who is co-head of McMillan LLP's Indigenous and Environment practices. If the Crown is aware that decision will affect Indigenous peoples' rights, then they must be accommodated, she said, which could include financial compensation or conditions on the decision. Indigenous peoples and parts of Canada also have title, known as Aboriginal title in the Constitution, said Ms. Singh, where the bar is that consent must be obtained from Indigenous peoples or their governing bodies. There are exceptions, but the bar is high for them, she said. Errol Mendes, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, said that the duty to consult depends on how much a project affects an Indigenous group. 'You can't just harvest [their opinion] if there is a critical issue at stake,' he said. 'Does that mean, however, if there are critical issues at stake, that it requires their consent? This is where it gets very potentially controversial' he said, referencing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. While UNDRIP, which came into force in Canada in 2021, talks about the need for free, prior and informed consent, the Supreme Court ruled in March that this does not amount to a veto but a right to a robust process. Consultation requirements become even more complex when considering Bill C-5 aims to reduce approval timelines, Prof. Mendes added. Mr. Diabo said he wants consultation to be meaningful, rather than a checked box. 'Consultation is actually engaging, hearing from us, [and] altering either plans or projects that suit our perspectives,' he said, adding that a First Nation should have to consent to see a project move forward. Overall, he said he wants to see more boundaries in the bill on what can be deemed in the national interest, rather than just relying on what ministers are saying. Mr. Powder said that robust consultation as defined through constitutional rights is essential, as is true engagement. That 'means working with First Nations communities as equal partners, starting from the initial stages of the project development and design process, to align on scoping, project location, and economic opportunities including equity,' he said in a statement. He said he sees the potential for Bill C-5 to create economic opportunity, but wants to ensure rights are protected. 'We want a better life for our First Nations,' he said in an interview. 'We don't want to manage poverty, we want to manage prosperity, and we want to create an opportunity for our people.'
Cision Canada
12-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
CSA proposes amendments to modernize and streamline mining disclosure standards Français
VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify, harmonize and streamline Canada's mining disclosure regime without introducing any new requirements. The proposed amendments would update and enhance the standards for disclosing scientific and technical information about mineral projects to address evolving disclosure practices and policy considerations identified by CSA staff, and to reflect changing industry and investor expectations. "Our goal is to provide investors with clear, reliable information about mineral projects so they can make informed decisions, without imposing an undue regulatory burden on mining issuers," said Stan Magidson, CSA Chair and Chair and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission. "By modernizing and streamlining the disclosure regime, we aim to maintain Canada's position as the global standard for mining disclosure." The proposed amendments to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects are designed to: remove or replace certain definitions and requirements that have become outdated modernize and streamline certain requirements to reflect current industry practice provide clarification and guidance on certain definitions and requirements, and make other minor language changes to clarify disclosure requirements. The proposed amendments are being published for a 120-day comment period and are available on CSA member websites. In April 2022, the CSA published CSA Consultation Paper 43-401 Consultation on National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects to inform this project. The CSA received valuable feedback from a large number of market participants, which it has considered. The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets. For media inquiries, please contact: Ilana Kelemen Canadian Securities Administrators [email protected] Elise Palmer BC Securities Commission [email protected] For investor inquiries, please contact your local securities regulator.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CSA proposes amendments to modernize and streamline mining disclosure standards
VANCOUVER, BC, June 12, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify, harmonize and streamline Canada's mining disclosure regime without introducing any new requirements. The proposed amendments would update and enhance the standards for disclosing scientific and technical information about mineral projects to address evolving disclosure practices and policy considerations identified by CSA staff, and to reflect changing industry and investor expectations. "Our goal is to provide investors with clear, reliable information about mineral projects so they can make informed decisions, without imposing an undue regulatory burden on mining issuers," said Stan Magidson, CSA Chair and Chair and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission. "By modernizing and streamlining the disclosure regime, we aim to maintain Canada's position as the global standard for mining disclosure." The proposed amendments to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects are designed to: remove or replace certain definitions and requirements that have become outdated modernize and streamline certain requirements to reflect current industry practice provide clarification and guidance on certain definitions and requirements, and make other minor language changes to clarify disclosure requirements. The proposed amendments are being published for a 120-day comment period and are available on CSA member websites. In April 2022, the CSA published CSA Consultation Paper 43-401 Consultation on National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects to inform this project. The CSA received valuable feedback from a large number of market participants, which it has considered. The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets. For media inquiries, please contact:Ilana KelemenCanadian Securities Administratorsmedia@ Elise PalmerBC Securities Commissionmediarelations@ For investor inquiries, please contact your local securities regulator. SOURCE Canadian Securities Administrators View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
