cities not equipped to handle single day of rain. HOW LONG !

Delhi, Gurugram drown yet again; waterlogging gives commuters a hard time

Last updated on: August 31, 2016 12:30 IST

Traffic in national capital Delhi and adjoining Gurugram went haywire on Wednesday after heavy rains resulted in water-logging in many parts.

The Delhi Police tweeted about the traffic and poor visibility even as commuters continued to have a hard time as vehicular traffic crawled.

In a series of tweets, the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted: "Water logging on Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, W Point, Loha Mandi to Mayapuri, Gol Dak Khana, Kali Bari Marg, Chirag Delhi to Nehru Place flyover."

"Water logging at Alipur Village, Okhla Underpass, Jasola Red Light, Saket M B Road, Saket Metro Station, Lado Sarai T-Point, PTS Red Light."

"Water logging under Modi Mill Flyover, Sadik Nagar, BRT to Moolchand, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Nehru Place to Zamrudpur."

"Water logging on Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, W Point, Loha Mandi to Mayapuri, Gol Dak Khana, Kali Bari Marg, Chirag Delhi to Nehru Place flyover."

Puran Kumar, Jt CP, Gurugram said: If it does not rain heavily, traffic is expected to be normal in the next few hours.

US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Sisganj Gurudwara, Jama Masjid and Gauri Shankar temple has been cancelled due to the heavy rains, reported ANI. Kerry is on a three-day visit to India.

On Monday, Kerry and his convoy were stuck in massive traffic near Satya Marg due to waterlogging caused by heavy rains while on his way to the hotel from the IGI airport.

The MET department has said that the NCR region is experiencing moderate thunderstorms which will continue for the next few days.

Roads leading to Gurgaon from Vasant Kunj area are completely jammed due to the rains. More jams are also expected across the capital.

Flight operations have also taken a hit with due to bad weather. All flights are delayed at Delhi's IGI airport with one flight being diverted to Jaipur.

Indigo has tweeted that to & fro flights have been affected and delays are expected.

The weather office has forecast thunderstorm with rain through the day. The minimum temperature was recorded at 26 degrees Celsius at 8.30 am.

The city received 3.9 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, an official said.

All Photographs: ANI video grabs

WATER IN INDIA & ISRAEL

Israel, a parched land, has transformed itself into a water sufficient nation thanks to an innovative approach to water management. Can India pick up a few tips?

The water scarcity that India is facing even before the onslaught of summers, and the plight of farmer’s in Marathwada have been making headlines every single day. Our water problems have been exacerbated by climate change, rapid development, increasing energy demands and unmindful, extravagant use of this limited resource. To ensure that we have enough water for tomorrow, what we need is more usable water and also better farming methods and policies that aid this initiative. 

Lost Lake, Oregon
Lost Lake lava tube Every winter, a lake appears in Hood County, Oregon, but as the season changes, water drains through a 6-foot wide hole, transforming Lost Lake into a dry meadow. There’s a geological explanation for the bizarre annual occurrence though: The water that drains from the lake like a bathtub flows into a lava tube, a tunnel-like structure formed by flowing lava. Lost Lake is likely constantly draining, but it becomes more evident in drier months when the rate of draining exceeds the the amount of snow and rain. It’s unclear exactly where the water goes when it disappears down the lave tube, but scientist say it’s possible that it seeps into porous volcanic rock and feeds springs in the Cascades.

Karnataka’s worst water problem

  

The state is staring at the worst drinking water crisis in 40 years, the government said on Wednesday. "The inflow into Krishnarajasagar reservoir (KRS) has been very low and this is the worst situation in the Cauvery basin in the last 40 years," said energy minister D K Shivakumar.

 "We require 15tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water for drinking till next summer. Currently, we have only 12.68tmcft. It is going to be tough in the coming days if there is no rainfall in the catchment area," he said.

Shivakumar added, "Bengaluru and Mysuru are likely to face a shortage of drinking water because the inflow into the KRS has been very low".

The weatherman has forecast low rainfall in the Cauvery catchment area. Though the initial forecast for the Cauvery catchment area was positive, it was later revised and the probability of rainfall in the next four or five months is low. "We expect an inflow of 15tmcft to 20tmcft into the reservoir, but the demand for water is quite high," Shivakumar said. The reduced inflow has put the state government in a tight spot. "We are concerned about drinking water availa bility but we cannot neglect the water needs of farmers in the Mysur u-Mandya region," Shivakumar said.

"About 50% of the farmers have started agricultural activities in anticipation of water availability and we cannot afford to ignore them. Though water experts have advised us against releasing water for agriculture, we have decid ed to release water for farming into canals till August 30. Release of water will be stopped f rom September 1 to 10. If we have to release water for the next 80 days we will require 40tmcft," he said. The district administration met farmers in Mandya and briefed them on the situation.

 "We have appealed to farmers not to grow water-intensive crops. We have decided to set up a vigilance committee to monitor the type of crops being grown in the Cauvery basin till the crisis eases. Farmers too need to understand the plight of the government and use water judiciously," S hivakumar said.

 The low rainfall has also taken a toll on power generation in the state. "Last year, all electricity companies suffered losses of Rs 2,500 crore because of shortage of hydel power. The situation is grim this year too and we are ready to float a tender for power purchase," he said. Later in the day, the cabinet delved into the water crisis, which may take a serious turn in the coming days. "We expect farmers to irrigating crops in the Krishna and Cauvery basins. The state has been facing a dry spell in the last 15 days and the forecast is not good for the next few weeks," said law minister TB Jayachandra. He said the government is preparing to tackle the water crisis and instructions have been given to use water sparingly for drinking purposes only. Barring Almatti and Narayanpura dams, all other ones are low on water storage, he said.

story of water & forts in maharastra

In the olden times, people knew the importance of water and had devised a number of techniques to manage and conserve water resources. These efforts not only met the drinking water needs of the people, but also helped the survival of livestock and agriculture in areas where perennial rivers were absent and the population depended on rains and often faced water scarcity or droughts. The annual droughts in Maharashtra have put immense pressure on the available water resources. Add to it, the inability of the government to provide adequate and potable water to people in both rural and urban areas, the need to explore other decentralised and localised means of harnessing and conserving water only got more crucial. Rainwater harvesting is one such method [1]. Water scarcity is not new in India, though it has reached an alarming state now. A peek into our rich history will give us many lessons on how our ancestors dealt with the changing weather patterns and the water demands by designing water-harvesting structures based on the unique topography of the region. Lessons from the forts A classic example of the ancient ingenuity in designing water-harvesting structures to meet the needs of people living in hilly and mountainous areas is the techniques used in ancient hill forts of Maharashtra. Many were constructed during the reign of the Maratha warrior of the 16th century, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The forts were designed to provide strategic advantage against the enemy, the Mughals [2]. Archaeologist and researcher from Deccan College, Pune, Sachin Joshi, who is an expert on forts in Maharashtra, says,“Around 550 forts were constructed during this period of which roughly 450 remain, the majority of them being hill forts. The water-harvesting methods on these forts were designed taking into consideration the topography and the water resources available.” Every hill fort functioned as an independent town where everything--from groceries to armour-- was available in sufficient amount to sustain in times of an attack by the enemy. Similarly, water, too, needed to be stored efficiently, considering the impracticality of carrying water to the fort on the hills for the daily needs of the people [3]. A number of structures, such as underground water tanks, reservoirs, cisterns, and artificial lakes, were constructed on these forts [3]. Water-harvesting structures The hill fort of Sinhagad in Pune has many water tanks built within its structure. “These are actually rock-cut cisterns called take or tanks that accumulate and store rainwater. These tanks were created when the rocks needed for the construction of the forts were extracted from the ground. A total of 48 such take can be seen in the fort. At some locations, there are dressed stone walls around these tanks to increase the height and the storing capacity of the tanks,” says Joshi. These tanks stored water for four to six months, following the rainy season. Rock-cut water cistern with dressed stone walls at Sinhagad fort. (Source: India Water Portal)Rock-cut water cistern with dressed stone walls at Sinhagad fort. (Source: India Water Portal) Different types of water cisterns are found on forts, some are open to the sky, some are built-in caves in the rocks, while some others are dug under the ground and on the slopes [3]. In some cases, cisterns were built in groups so that the surface runoff was diverted into the cisterns and water could be recharged and stored better [3]. A good example of this is a group of 24 rock-cut cisterns that can still be found on the Sinhagad fort, informs Joshi. At times, after the demand for the stones to construct the fort was fulfilled, the excavated portion on the ground was blasted at greater depth to create underground cracks to generate groundwater in the form of springs in the cistern [3]. Joshi says Dev take in the Sinhagad fort is an example of a cistern created this way. The tall fort of Rajgad, the first capital of the Maratha kingdom, considered the most unapproachable, had facilities to store large amounts of water. Two big lakes or talaavs and around 39 rock-cut cisterns can be found in the fort. The ministers who managed the kingdom knew the importance of conserving water, and the experts, who had the knowledge of the water stored in the rocks, known as panades were invited to identify the springs in the rocks. These rocks with the springs were then extracted and blasted to expose the springs. Chandra tale in the Rajgad fort, has one such spring. Rock-cut cisterns served as backup storage as springs often changed course or stopped flowing due to the heavy artillery sounds on the forts [4]. The later capital of the kingdom, the Raigad fort, has a peculiar topography with gradual slopes, which made it suitable for constructing lakes. Around 12 lakes or talaavs and 30 rock-cut cisterns can be found in the fort now [5]. Gangasagar talaav, that had the largest storage capacity in the fort, was constructed on a slope by extracting stones (which were used for the construction of the fort) and building a wall on the outer side to restrict and accumulate the water flowing from the hill tops into the talaav [5]. Dev take at Sinhagad fort. (Source: India Water Portal)Dev take at Sinhagad fort. (Source: India Water Portal) Water supply during the Shivaji era The system of water supply during the Shivaji era was almost same on all forts. A certain amount of water was allotted to every person according to his post in the administration and this water would be manually carried from the tanks or lakes to the individuals by water carriers referred to as ‘panke’ who were paid according to their workload and the person who has employed him [3]. Evidence shows that water was used with utmost care on the forts [3]. Local involvement for maintenance Pune-based environmentalist and history researcher, Sayali Palande-Datar informs that many of these structures continue to be ignored and exploited because of the lack of concerted and appropriate efforts from the government and the communities. Datar says, “What is important is to develop the forts not only by taking into consideration their historical and political significance, but also their ecological and environmental relevance." "The water stored in the forts is still useful for the surrounding villagers, tribals and migrant communities. These areas also retain the flora and fauna, biodiversity and wildlife because of their remoteness and the availability of water," she adds.

Most toilets in Hong Kong are flushed with seawater in order to conserves the city’s scarce freshwater resources.

In Hyderabad also recycled water is in use in new colonies.
In newly built apartments & gated communities , drainage water generated in that particular premises is treated with the help of sewage treatment plants. this water is used for toilet flushing & gardening, landscaping purpose. this will reduce the load on the already scarce ground water.

Water : its importance for India

Water management should be given number one priority in agricultural policy to prevent droughts, minimise risks due to droughts and build a climate-resilient agriculture.
Although agriculture is the largest source of livelihood for people in India, its share in the gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining over time with deficit rainfall over the last two years having affected crop production and farmer's incomes. This article 'Water management and resilience in agriculture' published in the Economic and Political Weekly examines water management strategies needed for drought mitigation and increasing climate resilience, including soil moisture management in India. It also sheds light on issues and policies for improving effectiveness in canal irrigation, water use efficiency, and strategies for climate resilient agriculture. Reforms needed in irrigation The article informs that India has invested significantly in irrigation infrastructure, particularly canal irrigation since independence. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), introduced by the present government, is in the right direction. However, the strategy in irrigation development has focused more on increasing water quantity and has neglected efficiency of use and sustainability. The government heavily subsidises both canal water rates and the power tariff for drawing groundwater and much of this water is either used inefficiently or overused. Thus a number of reforms are needed in irrigation such as increasing and prioritising public investment, raising profitability of groundwater exploitation and augmenting groundwater resources, rational pricing of irrigation water and electricity, involvement of user farmers in the management of irrigation systems, and making groundwater markets equitable. Efficient management of water resources India has had successive droughts in the past two years. This year too, nine states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have declared a drought. The article argues that there is a need for strategies in the short and long term to mitigate the adverse effects of droughts that include: Better and more efficient management of water resources to achieve “more crops per drop” A different approach for rain-fed areas and a paradigm shift in knowledge, policy and practice for rain-fed agriculture A shift from conventional “production per hectare” thinking to an approach that can integrate livelihoods (agriculture and rural non-farm), availability and access to food, ecosystems, and human health Investments in three components namely ponds, rural electrification, and drip irrigation to enhance water efficiency Promoting rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation for drought proofing Encouraging climate resilient agriculture Following changes can be introduced for effective climate resilient agriculture (CRA) in India for which: Diversified cropping systems in view of climate related risks need to be introduced Crop insurance can be used as one of the strategies for CRA. In this context, the recent introduction of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) by the central government is a great step forward There is a need for research that can lead to the development of climate resilient technologies and extension systems to promote these among farmers The article ends by arguing that water management requires multiple levels of policy action. The problem is not a shortage of water, but the absence of proper mechanisms for its augmentation, conservation, distribution, and efficient use. Water management thus should be given number one priority in agricultural policy to prevent drought, minimise the risks due to drought and build a climate resilient agriculture.

Does vehicle density in metropolitan cities play a vital role in air pollution?

Share

x

Last updated on: January 28, 2016 17:29 IST

Air pollution is a major problem in metropolitan cities of India. Thirteen of the world’s top 20 polluted cities are in India. The government’s own National Air Quality Index data reveals that 23 of the 32 stations across India are showing more than 70 per cent exceeds of the national standards for air quality.

The Rediff labs team tried to correlate vehicle density with air pollution. The above chart shows the comparison between the percentage of days violation of air quality exceeding standard, PM 2.5 and vehicle density in metropolitan cities. Particulate matters 2.5 are the fine particles which are 2.5 micrometre in diameter which causes respiratory diseases. PM 2.5 is produced from all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, residential wood burning. Vehicle density is number of vehicles per mile. 

Name	Vehicle density	PM 2.5	Violation of air quality standards (% of days exceeding standards)
Chennai	2093	20	81
Pune	1260	89	57
Mumbai	1014	77	33
Hyderabad	723	81	45
Delhi	245	198	95
Source: Reports from Economic Times, Greenpeace.org

Surprisingly in Chennai, the vehicle density is high but PM 2.5 is low, this can be because of the sea breeze as Chennai is in the coastal line of Bay of Bengal.

But in Delhi, which has the biggest automobile market has low vehicle density and high PM 2.5. This can be because Delhi is surrounded with industries.

From the chart, we found that vehicle density is not highly correlated to air pollution and still other factors like industrial air pollution, power plants, agricultural burning, forest fires might play a vital role in air pollution of metropolitan cities. 

Graphic: Geeta Gandre

With 9 Farmers Committing Suicide Every Day in Maharashtra, The Situation Is Dire: Report

Posted on April 6, 2016 in Society

By Chaitanya Mallapur, IndiaSpend.com:

As many as 3,228 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra in 2015, the highest since 2001, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on March 4, 2016–that is almost nine farmers every day.

The number of suicides almost equal the number of people killed (3,477) by the Taliban, a global terror organisation based in Afghanistan, in 2014, IndiaSpend had reported earlier.

Vidarbha and Marathwada, with 5.7 million farmers, accounted for 83% of all farmer suicides in Maharashtra in 2015.

Global development professionals network

Water in development

11 ideas for urban water security in developing countries

Can we create water-secure cities or must populations adapt to a smaller and more erratic supply? Our panel of urban water experts have their say

 Water commuters wait in line to fill containers at the Vivekananda Chowk water tank in Latur in Maharashtra, India. Photograph: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Supported by

About this content

Katherine Purvis

@KatherinePurvis

Monday 27 June 2016 15.06 BSTLast modified on Monday 27 June 201615.24 BST

• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Google+

Shares

173

Comments

0

 Save for later

1 | Retain water as a public good

Privatisation has been promoted globally for cities, but evidence shows that it often fails and the public sector is left to address the problems. Cochabamba in Bolivia is an iconic case: enormous public protests led to the cancellation of a private contract for the water utility. If water is a private commodity, then people are at the mercy of market logic. Instead, ensuring that the principle of the right to water is adopted will enable more comprehensive thinking that addresses the needs of the urban poor, as well as ecological sustainability.
Farhana Sultana, associate professor, Syracuse University’s Maxwell School,@Farhana_H2O

13 ways to provide water and sanitation for nine billion people

 

Read more

2 | Diversify solutions

The important message to convey to those working in the sector and in urban planning is that one size does not fit all. Urban planners often aspire to develop fully networked and centralised water supply systems, but this might not be the right approach for every city – big or small – as infrastructure layout is influenced by geographical, political and social boundaries. It is a reflection of the city’s own history. Mariana Matoso, research officer, ODI, @marianamatoso

3 | Collaborate

The planning ministers and water ministers in most countries I’ve been to don’t speak to each other, so we need better integration with knowledge exchange and the creation of specific agencies. Adding water management to the training of the next generation of urban planners is also a way of ensuring that they start thinking more about waste and water issues. 
Edoardo Borgomeo, senior editor, Global Water Forum, @GWFWater

4 | Recycle wastewater

Sewerage and sanitation – and how water and wastewater can be treated and reused – have to be part of any discussion around water security in cities. Recycling greywater, treating wastewater (or using it for other purposes, such as fish farming) and understanding the complete water system is absolutely essential to achieving urban water security. 
Farhana Sultana

5 | Legalise water vendors 

In Maputo, Mozambique, the government and the water utility have worked together with small-scale private water providers towards expanding the utility’s network into the poorest areas of the city. These private operators, once illegal, were given formal status and training to ensure they provide a good quality service. This initiative was only possible because both sides recognised the potential of working together, but it’s important to ensure that governments remain the key regulators of this engagement. 
Mariana Matoso

Can mapping faecal flows cut the crap in developing cities?

 

Read more

6 | Connect informal settlements to the grid

A third to half of the populations in global south megacities are not connected to the water grid. The urban poor continue to pay much higher costs for water (often from water vendors) compared with wealthier neighborhoods that are on the grid. Informal water systems need to be part of the conversation, and affordable housing can enable these millions of people to become part of the city, have tenurial rights and be connected to the water grid.
Farhana Sultana

7 | Promote water efficiency in agriculture

In some modelling work I’ve done with the University of Kassel, most of the urban water gap – the shortfall between projected demand and what people have access to now – could be closed by the agricultural sector getting more efficient with water use. The question is, what sets of incentives or policies can help make that actually happen?
Robert McDonald, lead scientist, The Nature Conservancy Global Cities programme,@RobIMcDonald

8 | Understand affordability

You can look at the equity issue from multiple dimensions but in terms of affordability, Singapore is a unique example and has some interesting tariff structures and subsidies targeted at lower income households.
Edoardo Borgomeo

9 | Use smart technology

We are entering a time where cities, individuals and companies can incorporate new technologies that will ensure water security for the future. Cities can use low-cost sensors and software for optimising water use and detecting problems in systems, for example. We are seeing a number of interesting pilots and initiatives happening around the world with technologies that will continue to get cheaper.
Darlene Damm, principal faculty, Singularity University, @darlenedamm

10 | Create an open data platform for water

Sensors and modelling of quantity in water bodies is getting much better but there is still a big gap in knowing the human infrastructure – which water withdrawals are happening, where and when. I think the world needs something like an Open Water Map, where we pull together all the geospatial data on water withdrawals –particularly cross-watershed ones – into an easy, publicly-accessible form.
Robert McDonald

The global water crisis in 13 photographs

 

View gallery

11 | Promote water justice

In the context of climate change and rapid global changes, we need to keep in mind what kinds of cities we want. To ensure water justice, communities can work with states and municipalities to manage and conserve water. The important thing is to ensure meaningful (not token) participation, take into account gender, class, and other social differences, and embrace social equity in planning and policies.
Farhana Sultana

The Global Mining Industry Begins to Embrace Renewables

by 3p Contributor on Friday, Aug 5th, 2016 ENERGY

Click to print (Opens in new window)

By Joseph Kirschke

On June 8, in a rocky, arid and remote corner of Western Australia, a copper-gold mine owned by Sandfire Resources, a mid-tier firm, witnessed the commissioning of an adjacent 34,080-panel photovoltaic (PV) solar installation. It was a milestone: With Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) financing, the DeGrussa mine uses one of the world’s largest off-grid solar PV systems and one of its biggest solar plants providing peak power load to a mining operation.

In Queensland, in another isolated spot 2,000 miles away, Rio Tintopursued a different angle: Along with Arizona-based First Solar and helpfrom ARENA, the Anglo-Australian multinational outfitted a bauxite mine with an 18,000-panel PV farm. While conserving 600,000 liters of fuel annually, it also shares electricity with a nearby township – a first for both industries.

Mining and clean energy don’t share obvious common ground. Take centuries of environmental devastation – add coal – and mineral extraction has a dirty reputation. Indeed, profit-driven boardrooms seldom prioritize climate change considerations. But with an estimated $13.5 trillion needed for commitments made at COP21, the global mining sector, which consumes 38 percent of industrial energy, offers unique opportunities to reduce carbon emissions – while addressing energy insecurity – writ-large.

Motivations aside, the collapse of the emerging market commodities boom of the 2000s has miners scrambling to reinvent themselves – and since 2010, clean energy is recognized for its multi-billion dollar savings potential. In all, Navigant, a consultancy, estimates alternative energy use by the mining industry will surge to 8 percent – or $3.9 billion – by 2022 – up from 1.8 percent today. And while no mine is 100 percent renewable, battery storage breakthroughs – accompanied by solar PV costs having plunged 80 percent since 2008 – mean a fossil fuel-free future is all but imminent.

The subsector has flourished most in Chile, home to the world’s leading copper industry, where, in recent years, costs and logistics have rendered coal-fired plants, gas pipelines and diesel trucks incompatible with some of the planet’s most extreme geographies.

At its Gabriela Mistral mine in the Atacama Desert, for instance, Codelcohas a project generating 51,800 thermal megawatt Hours (TMh) annually, offsetting the need to truck 67,000 barrels of diesel to one of the planet’s highest elevations. Similar projects abound. Next year, a 110-MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant will supply power to an Antofagasta Minerals complex, also in the Atacama. One of the world’s largest CSP plants, it will use thermal molten salts for storage.

In fact, while frequently unacknowledged outside the country, Chile’s miners have been key in sparking an alternative energy ripple effectnationwide: Now, 18,000 megawatts are in the works – alongside government plans to boost the overall renewable energy mix to 70 percent by 2050.

Africa, replete with wind and solar resources, offers other compelling scenarios: During the boom, that is, an exhaustion of existing ore bodies catapulted supplies, equipment and people to far-flung places with few, if any, roads or infrastructure. This means that, as the sub-sector for mining and clean energy grows, some 80 percent of new African mines will be at least partially clean energy-dependent by 2026, according to theInternational Finance Corp. (IFC).

This casts a light on South Africa, the continent’s top mining nation. In isolated Limpopo Province, Germany’s Cronimet Mining-Power Solutionsset up a 1.6 Mw solar mini grid to meet 60 percent of its needs, while saving 450,000 liters of diesel. The Rocky Mountain Institute-Carbon War Room’s Sunshine For Mines initiative, partly founded by Sir Richard Branson to promote 15 percent alternative energy use industry-wide by 2025, meanwhile, helped the Johannesburg-based Gold Fields for a 40 Mw solar project at its South Deep asset, one of the world’s largest gold mines.

Subarctic Northwest Canada is feeling the winds of change, too. In 2013, Rio Tinto installed four massive wind turbines at its Diavik diamond mine to conserve $5 million needed annually to ply diesel trucks across ice-covered roads stretching more than 340 miles. In 2014, Swiss-based commodities giant Glencore installed a 3-Mw turbine at its Raglan nickel mine in the northern Quebec tundra; this year, a micro grid will be installed onsite, including a lithium-ion battery and hydrogen station system.

But it’s Rio Tinto’s Weipa bauxite project, the only mining operation to share power with a local community, which offers the most compelling precedent – to expand renewable energy across a planet where 1.2 billionstruggle without electricity.

Last year, moreover, the World Bank issued a report calling for mines to serve as “anchors” for power distribution in Africa, where energy poverty afflicts some 600 million people. Despite a slow start, the U.S. government seeks to double energy access in sub-Saharan Africa through renewables and other energy sources with new connections to 60 million households and businesses; since 2013, the global public private-sector initiative has raised $43 billion.

Other movement is afoot. In April, the Rockefeller Foundation launched its own decentralized anchor network encompassing telecommunications towers to provide clean energy to 1,000 villages in rural India by 2017. Back in Chile, meanwhile, a 1,900-mile transmission line is being constructed to expand the power distribution system by connecting renewable energy from its mines to the national grid.

The international climate change agenda is one of trillion-dollar promises and progress alike – yet apart from high-profile signatures and sprawling frameworks, its newness leaves businesses, governments and investors in need of a definitive core. On the other hand, our planet’s 2,200 mechanized mines – many with life cycles surpassing 50 years – are steadfast and elemental to the world around us.

To counter the existential threat facing our planet, while lifting millions from energy poverty, the potential of these sprawling mines to become clean energy resources cannot be underestimated.

Joseph Kirschke is a consultant who advises mining companies on sustainability and a former editor at Mining Media International, a Jacksonville-based publishing house.