Latest news with #2050
Entrepreneur
8 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Decoding India's Energy Future For the Next Decade
India's updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs), submitted in August 2022, commit to reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving 50 per cent cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil sources by the same year Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. India's road to net-zero by 2070 is a colossal undertaking that will fundamentally alter the country's energy architecture. A recent report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) highlights the scale of the challenge and the pace at which the transformation must unfold. The report estimates that electricity demand could exceed 5,000 terawatt-hours by 2050, potentially peaking at 9,362 TWh—levels comparable to today's European Union. Solar energy, the report says, will form the backbone of this shift. Mohammad Rihan, director general of the National Institute of Solar Energy, underscored the primacy of solar in this shift: "By 2060 we need around 5000 GW, and our climate is suitable for solar. There is no doubt that solar, being the leading source, will also be the dominating source in the grid." Rihan emphasized the importance of thorough potential assessments to address sectoral challenges early and effectively. The transformation is being driven by a convergence of climate goals, rising energy demand, and evolving technologies. India's updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs), submitted in August 2022, commit to reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving 50 per cent cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil sources by the same year. Meeting these commitments will require not only rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity, but also a complete rethinking of energy systems. "The energy demand is expected to outpace our GDP growth rate in the coming years," said Rahul Raizada, partner - Climate and Energy at PwC India. "To fuel this growth we will need all kinds of energy sources." Raizada noted that renewable energy installations are evolving rapidly, moving beyond standalone solar to more complex configurations like solar-plus-energy storage systems (ESS), round-the-clock (RTC) renewables, and peak power solutions. Despite this progress, Raizada acknowledged a renewed interest in coal-based assets due to the lack of immediate base-load alternatives, with more than 20 GW in tenders already on the table. Green hydrogen is emerging as a critical piece of the puzzle, particularly for decarbonizing heavy industry and long-haul transport. Raizada pointed out that the combined value chains of solar, battery storage, and green hydrogen could attract more than $350 billion in capital investment by 2030. Battery energy storage systems (BESS), projected to reach 236 GWh by 2032, will play a vital role, bolstered by mandates like 4 per cent storage integration by 2030 and capex support schemes. Mukesh Gupta, co-founder of Maxvolt Energy, painted a broad picture of the transformation. He identified several driving trends: an expanding renewable footprint, escalating energy demand, strong policy support, plummeting costs, and the growing importance of storage and decarbonization. "India's energy sector is expected to experience significant growth in the next decade, with a focus on renewable energy and a shift away from fossil fuels," Gupta said. He emphasized that this shift is not just about supply; it's also about systemic evolution from infrastructure upgrades to international cooperation and the scaling of electric mobility. While India's ambitions are clear, the path forward is filled with variables from storage economics and grid integration to policy consistency and private sector execution. The report stresses that the next two decades are not just a transition, but are a complete rebuild. According to Dr. Faruk G. Patel, chairman and MD of KP Group, India's energy transition is not merely promising, it is pivotal. "We are standing at the threshold of an energy revolution that will reshape our economy, environment, and global position," he said. Dr. Patel highlighted decentralization, digitization, and hybridization as defining characteristics of the next decade. From rooftop solar and blockchain-based trading to floating solar and green hydrogen, the coming era will demand innovative integration and inclusive infrastructure development.
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- Climate
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Filipino, Thursday 19 June 2025
A new report reveals extreme weather could cost Australians $8.7 billion each year by 2050. U-S President Donald Trump has insisted a nuclear deal could still be reached with Iran, as the country's conflict with Israel enters its seventh day. Pro-Duterte rally in Melbourne faces resistance from human rights advocate. SBS Filipino 19/06/2025 06:26 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
CBC
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Montreal writer Chris Bergeron highlights the power of transgender storytelling as revolutionary
Social Sharing Set in Montreal in 2050, Valid is an eight-hour monologue by Christelle, a trans woman who is forced to live as a man to stay alive. At 70-years-old, she's held captive by an AI and sets off on her own revolution — a revelation of her true self. Written by Montreal writer Chris Bergeron and translated by Natalia Hero, Valid was chosen for the One eRead Canada campaign by The Canadian Urban Libraries Council. This means that through the month of this past April, the novel was available in both e-book and audiobook formats in English and French to all patrons of participating libraries. For Bergeron, who first published the novel in French in 2021, this recognition is all the more important in the current political climate. "The conversation around queer literature in libraries and the presence that it should or shouldn't have in public libraries wasn't as fraught with very difficult debates as it is today," said Bergeron on Bookends with Mattea Roach. "The fact that librarians from across the country decided to give a nod to my book and share it to their audiences and their communities is a great sign of open mindedness and it reminds me of what this country is about." She joined Roach to discuss the inspiration behind her novel, her portrayal of the city of Montreal and her approach to trans revolution. Mattea Roach: Christelle is a 70-year-old trans woman who is in a situation where she's forced to live as a man. What are the circumstances that have led her to closet herself and live as Christian when we first meet her? Chris Bergeron: One of the things I was noticing during the pandemic when I was writing most of the book, was that people were talking about the safety and the well-being of a majority of people and not so much about the particulars in terms of health. So, I imagined if we lived in a world that went from crisis to crisis or at least if that was the public message. The rights and the needs of minority groups would be ignored. In fact, it's what we are seeing today as political discourse. It's almost a way to get elected today. So in that world, in that extrapolation of the world we're seeing today, I imagine a world where essentially not only were rights not validated, but actually removed. Anything that stood out of this average or common point of view of what should be a perfect citizen would be erased. In order to survive and actually be on the good side of whatever authority is in the book, my character has to detransition. It's something that exists in today's world — for example, somebody who is trans right now living in Russia, where it's essentially been criminalized to be trans. It's a reality that has existed in the past and exists today and will probably continue to exist in the future. Valid is written in this monologue style where most of it is essentially your main character, Christelle, telling her life story from her childhood into her adulthood as now, an elderly closeted trans woman. Why did you choose to craft the narrative in this way? It comes back to how the book actually started. I was giving and I still give talks across the country talking about what it's like to be trans and what that experience is and what the experience is at work and some of the challenges I faced, all of that. My publisher actually came to one of these talks and we chatted after and said, "Oh, you should write a book about all that." So I started with this autobiography and very quickly realized that that book had been written before: the story of a trans person and a coming of age story, how I came out of the closet and this and that. And I thought, "What's the point of that book if it's been done before?" I figured that it would be more interesting if I used the book as an opportunity to exercise my fears and tackle the big question, which is how will I age and is there a possibility of a happy old age for a trans person when the world is going to hell? How will I age and is there a possibility of a happy old age for a trans person when the world is going to hell? - Chris Bergeron That's where I thought I might have something new here with this notion of dystopian autofiction. Projecting myself into the future and asking myself how would I react? And obviously, I position myself as a coward because very few of us are actual heroes. The city of Montreal feels to me like a character in this story. You've actually said that you feel that Montreal is a transgender city, which is really interesting. What did you mean by that? First of all, nobody can figure out what it is. It's French. It's a large French metropolis. But then it's got 800,000 anglophones. On top of that, it has another third of the population that comes from elsewhere in the world, first or second generation immigrants. Some would say it's a high tech hub where there's a lot of AI labs and aviation research, but then it's also one of the poorest places in Canada — and it's all these things at the same time. Of course, the fact that it's always a giant construction site. It's literally always transitioning. It's always going from one identity to another. I saw it when it was back in the 90s, an indie, quiet town with a lot of artists. And then it became sort of a revolutionary left wing hub back when we had the carrés rouges. So it's always trying to be something it's not and it can't quite figure out what it is. It's always a bit of a loser compared to all the other cities — and that also makes it a bit trans. We're the sort of eternal teenager with gender issues and identity issues that are like, what am I? Who am I? Who am I today? And there'll probably never be an answer to that question, which is wonderful. We reach this breaking point at the end of your novel, where it becomes a novel about revolution. What does revolution mean for you as a trans person in 2025? Resist and resist by existing is the message. Using words, using our stories and telling our stories, no matter the risk, because the risk is going to be there. The system collapses under the weight of the words of people who are in marginalized communities. - Chris Bergeron The system collapses under the weight of the words of people who are in marginalized communities. In my book, that's how the revolution happened. People telling their stories to this AI who can't process these things. I think today, our words are just as powerful.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
How could politics shape the Scotland of 2050?
Scotland's politicians are all pretty focused on 2026 right now, with a Holyrood election less than a year should they be concentrating on longer-term objectives - and what Scotland could look like in 2050?A conference in Edinburgh invited leaders to think beyond the short-termism of the five-year electoral in an era where many voters feel politicians are all the same, perhaps we can learn more about their policies via their ultimate vision for the country. Scotland and the world are likely to be largely unrecognisable by back at the last 25 years and think about how the way we work, communicate, socialise and navigate our way through our lives has advances are a massive part of this. At the turn of the millennium you had to ask your mum to get off the landline phone so you could use the dial-up the WiFi hub connected to every other item in the house is probably the only thing plugged into that phone that change is not slowing down - it is accelerating exponentially. Algorithms already help decide what we watch on TV, who we date, and what content scrolls through our social media it so hard to imagine that in a few years' time they'll be driving our cars, diagnosing our illnesses and managing our financial markets?Politicians are always very keen to talk about new technology; nobody wants to be left Scottish government is going to set up its own AI agency to make sure innovations are shared across the public is Scotland well placed to forge into a new digital future?At Scotland 2050, Michael McLaughlin from legal firm Shoosmiths talked about a "massive skills gap" in recently represented a company looking to hire 70 developers for a big tech project; they ended up finding 85% of them argues that politicians and the private sector need to "get round the table and decide what we want to be good at in 25 years' time" - to prioritise four or five sectors and encourage and train people to work in Spowage from the Fraser of Allander Institute also urged leaders to focus on the economic strengths we already have - like financial services and world-class universities - rather than chasing fads. If there was one theme which came from the business leaders involved in the event, it was the need for consistency and policy certainty. Firms simply will not invest in jobs, infrastructure or training without that investment and growing the economy is a priority shared by all political parties. But it is striking how different their approaches are to achieving SNP has long had big government at its heart, proudly championing universal allowances, interventions in the lives of citizens and in the market and higher taxes to pay for contrast the Conservatives are more keen to slim down the size of the state while cutting taxes and "red tape".Meanwhile Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar popped up at the conference to argue for something in the middle - cutting taxes, but replacing that with income from economic growth which would maintain public intelligence is a key example of a buzzword field which politicians love to talk about, but which will need a concerted effort to use in a joined-up point about skills and focus is an important one, given finite resources - but the conference also heard that there are opportunities which could be Airey from German energy giant EnBW pointed out that Scotland produces more energy than it uses, but that the current state of the national grid makes it hard to transfer it down that infrastructure is a UK government priority, but Mr Airey suggested that Scotland could also look to house power-hungry AI data centres, which are best located in cold could put us at the heart of an industry set for exponential growth - and the excess heat from the servers could even be funnelled to nearby homes and businesses. Using Scotland's potential for renewable energy production as a cornerstone of the economy of 2050 was also highlighted by John Swinney, with the first minister suggesting it could lead to cheaper food production as well as products being made closer to offered a vision of "energy rich Scotland meaning energy rich Scots".Energy and climate more generally is certainly an area where the Scottish government has set ambitious goals - although it has also routinely fallen short of insist they are still on track to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045 - five years ahead of the UK government goal of on from fossil fuels will represent a seismic change - the oil industry still provides tens of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of economic activity; household energy prices are set based on the price of will have plenty of knock-on effects too, like the move to electric cars. The sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles is to be phased out by 2035, so by 2050 there will be next to none left on the is well-placed to tap into alternative forms of energy, with a wealth of renewable potential from wind and wave this is still an area where there are stark differences in the vision of the Swinney's SNP is not quite the same party that declared a climate emergency and brought the Greens into government, but it is still clear that it is prioritising renewable detail beyond that is difficult to pin down, because the government has still not published its long-promised energy also has a clear goal of phasing out oil and gas, but is pushing for a bigger move towards nuclear energy - something the SNP Conservatives meanwhile have gone in the opposite direction, pushing opposition to the difficult trade-offs involved in the transition to net zero. Something we can't ignore in all of this is that Scotland's population is going to look very different by 2050 the National Records of Scotland has projected forward to 2047, and thinks we are on track for modest population the average age of Scots is projected to increase, with the number of people over 75 set to grow by 341,300, up against falls in the numbers under 15 (down by 79,900) and aged 16 to 29 (down by 57,300).That puts increasing strain on the state, given current commitments to things like free personal care and the "triple lock" on are issues which are inextricably knitted into questions about our future economy and workforce - and which politicians are notoriously shy of grappling with, given older people reliably turn up to with Holyrood's social security bill set to be £2bn higher than the block grant coming from Westminster by 2030, questions about how sustainable this is are Freeman was the social security secretary who set up Scotland's devolved welfare agency, and even she says that governments - including the one she served in - "dodge the decision" about what the care system should look like and how it should be paid said governments of all stripes need to have "proper conversations" with voters about big issues - including things like the triple lock, which she said was "well worth a debate".Ms Freeman also noted that the danger of short-term political promises is that increasingly, "people just don't believe them". Anything is possible That feels particularly true for younger conference reflected that many young people are finding it harder to make their way in the world than their parents' generation - from the job market to the housing emergency, to the constant scrutiny of social Barnes, from the John Smith Centre, warned that some young people have so little optimism for the future that they are losing faith in democratic politics group recently ran a poll asking young people whether they would prefer dictatorship to democracy, and 27% of respondents chose an extreme example, but it rings true after a decade where the defining political force in almost every corner of the world has been is inherently linked to an era of exponential change - it is unsettling, and it leaves people grasping for they feel the government of the day isn't delivering stability or certainty, it isn't surprising that dissatisfaction with institutions is growing - or that some are willing to throw votes behind those who promise to listen to them, and to shake things Swinney has certainly detected this mood; he talked about "listening to the public and addressing the strain they feel on the cost of living".Over the longer term his answer, unsurprisingly enough, is we didn't learn anything new about the parties' positions during this conference - Swinney didn't offer any new insight on how the SNP might force the matter if its calls for a referendum continue to be blanked, for when we think again about how much things have changed over the last few decades - devolution, Brexit, five prime ministers in five years - and how much our unpredictable world is likely to change again by 2050, it's fair to conclude that just about anything is possible.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
The rise of healthy aging: a new frontier in wellness
While science and knowledge drive many trends shaping the world, these shifts are followed by social, cultural and economic changes that, in turn, affect human societies. Whether this influence begins in isolated communities or not, it ultimately leads us to the globally interconnected world we live in today, compelling us to adapt, transform and integrate with these phenomena. In recent years, the wellness industry has seen the emergence of new terms, concepts and vast untapped potential. One such concept is healthy aging, which is reshaping societal and individual consciousness. It is also transforming this demographic segment into an attractive economic market — steering capitalism toward developing comprehensive product systems for it, while enabling older adults to remain active and influential in various areas of life. This shift can impact society and national economies by enabling older people to stay healthy, productive and active, reducing the economic burden associated with healthcare, caregiving and welfare. According to UN projections, the number of people aged 65 and older worldwide will double — from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion by 2050. The population aged 80 and above is expected to grow even faster. As time passes and life expectancy increases, and as rapid technological advances continue, the need for effective solutions to support healthier aging is becoming more urgent among these growing population segments. This trend does not originate from top-down societal or governmental vision and planning. Rather, it stems from a personal and individual perspective — growing awareness among people who increasingly prioritize their well-being and longevity. This awareness has developed over the years due to multiple factors, including technological and societal progress, the effects of globalization and the impact of pandemics. This article explores the evolving landscape of healthy aging and highlights the key factors that contribute to a fulfilling and vibrant later life. Healthy aging refers to the process of maintaining and enhancing functional capacity — relative to one's age — that supports well-being in older age. It goes beyond the mere absence of disease and includes the promotion of physical, mental and social health. The core components of healthy aging include physical health, such as maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise and managing chronic diseases; mental health, which involves supporting cognitive function, managing stress and promoting emotional well-being; and social connections, through meaningful relationships and active participation in community life to strengthen social support. It also includes finding purpose and engagement, whether through work, volunteering or hobbies that bring a sense of fulfillment; and lastly, access to care — ensuring that older adults benefit from healthcare, social services and supportive environments. Overall, healthy aging promotes a holistic approach to improving quality of life as people grow older. One of the most important drivers of this trend is the shift in perspective — from merely preventing disease to enhancing effectiveness and life satisfaction. The concept of healthy aging now goes beyond avoiding age-related illnesses; it embraces a holistic approach that prioritizes both physical and mental health, fosters a sense of purpose and encourages active engagement with life. This shift reflects a growing recognition that a long life is only truly valuable when it is also healthy and fulfilling. Specialized studies also indicate that social relationships and emotional engagement are key contributors to this growing trend. A recent study by the McKinsey Health Institute, which surveyed more than 21,000 people aged 55 and older across 21 countries, revealed a common thread: Purpose, social connection and independence are the most important factors for a positive aging experience. The study found that people who maintain a sense of purpose, manage stress effectively and nurture meaningful relationships tend to report higher levels of overall well-being. Mental and spiritual health also play a significant role in this trend. While physical health tends to decline with age, the study revealed that mental and spiritual well-being often remain strong. In fact, among those aged 65 and older, spiritual health emerged as the most positive dimension of overall well-being. This suggests that inner peace, personal growth and a sense of connection to something greater than oneself can deeply enrich life in later years. The survey further highlighted the impact of economic status and community involvement on well-being. Interestingly, people in low- and middle-income economies generally reported better overall health than those in high-income countries. However, among people in high-income economies, those actively engaged in work, volunteering or community activities reported higher levels of well-being — highlighting the importance of purpose and social contribution in healthy aging. This suggests that meaningful community engagement can significantly enhance the aging experience, regardless of economic status. The survey also found that volunteering, in particular, had a notably positive impact on future health, highlighting the importance of contributing to society and maintaining a sense of purpose — even after retirement. Founded in 2018 and officially inaugurated in 2022, the Saudi Hevolution Foundation is the world's largest organization dedicated to healthy aging. Operating under the direct supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the foundation has an annual budget of $1 billion to support research and develop treatments aimed at extending healthy lifespans. It funds research projects lasting two to five years, with up to $1 million in support per project, and invests in biotechnology with contributions of up to $20 million. So far, the foundation has backed 25 projects within Saudi Arabia and 225 international initiatives in the same field. To create a world where everyone can age healthier and happier, a collaborative effort is required — from regulators, communities, and investors — to meet the needs of older adults and help them lead fulfilling lives. This includes promoting a positive view of aging, not as a passive end-of-life stage, but as a meaningful chapter of continued growth, engagement and purpose. It is essential to challenge and reverse the outdated stereotype of aging as a time of decline. Instead, aging should be seen as a phase rich with opportunities to learn, contribute and pass on knowledge to younger generations — building a more developed and forward-looking society that does not repeat the same patterns with each generation. Complementary medicine also plays a supportive role in healthy aging, contributing to prevention and improved quality of life through safe, natural treatments. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader vision of becoming a leading destination for global health tourism. Ultimately, by adopting a comprehensive and inclusive approach to healthy aging, we can build a world where everyone has the chance to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. • Saad Majdy Baslom has more than 10 years' experience in health tourism, wellness services, management, regulation and policy as a technical affairs director in complementary medicine. He holds a leadership and management certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a doctorate in traditional Chinese medicine, and master's degrees in Chinese herbology and acupuncture.
