Vibha Varshini from the Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi, has said that having realised the importance of traditional foods for family food security, hundreds of farmers were returning to indigenous crops.
The sound of a constant metallic thud reverberates through the lanes in Phase II at Mayapuri Industrial Area. A man is hammering at the rusted bonnet of an old car. Beside him, another man bends over a motorcycle, dismantling its engine with his bare hands, while two others load metal bales of compressed car bodies into trucks using a crane. Around them, piles of bike body frames, still slick with grease and engine oil, broken wheel hubs and smashed parts of motor cars lie scattered on parts of the road. Encroachments on both sides of roads due to storage of dismantled materials, leading to traffic snarls. This is Delhi's largest scrap market, where end-of-life vehicles are torn apart in violation of all safety and environmental norms. Though these units were shut down in 2019 on the orders of the National Green Tribunal, which took cognisance of TOI's 2018 report on the place, the illegal work began again. Locals complain that apart from occupying road space, the unscientific dismantling of vehicles is causing air, water and noise pollution. Hundreds of these dismantling units have thrived in west Delhi's Mayapuri Industrial Area's Phase II, including blocks B, C, D, E, and W. Hundreds of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, are stripped down in mere hours. But under the rules, a registered scrapping vehicle facility (RSVF) needs consent and authorisation from Delhi Pollution Control Committee to operate because of a plethora of rules related to management of hazardous, electronic and plastic waste. These units do not meet the norms under the Central Pollution Control Board's Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Facilities for the Handling and Scrapping of End-of-Life Vehicles, alleged Mayapuri Rewariline Industrial Welfare Association. In fact, Delhi currently has only one RSVF, which is an 'orange' industry or a moderately polluting unit, according to the Union road transport and highways ministry. When TOI visited Mayapuri on Wednesday, it found a large number of scrappers operating in C, E and W blocks. They had encroached on the public road to store the broken-down parts of vehicles, while terraces of the buildings held the front body portions of cars and trucks. Significantly, the workers were not using any protective gear. CP Jain, who has run a factory here for 55 years here, said, "This illegal industry was curbed in 2019, but the units have begun operating again in contempt of NGT's orders. They dismantle vehicles in the open and keep the scrap on the road, reducing the four-lane road to one." Rajiv Chopra, treasurer of the Mayapuri Industrial Welfare Association, added that the use of cranes caused prolonged traffic jams. Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link, an environmental research and advocacy organisation, reminded, "In 2010, Mayapuri became the epicentre of a nuclear radiation scare due to the dismantling of a discarded medical device containing radioactive Cobalt-60. All sorts of waste are handled here." Sinha said most informal recyclers use rudimentary tools and processes and do not have information on the composition of the material they handle, many of which can be hazardous and could release toxicity into the environment. "Vehicle service stations have effluent treatment plants to treat discharged chemicals. However, such plants do not exist here. If the soil in Mayapuri is checked, for sure it is contaminated by untreated chemicals seeping into the ground," he said. "Dismantling vehicles in an unscientific manner is not only dangerous for the workers but also for everyone living in and around the area. The quantum of waste being generated is so large that it adds to Delhi's air pollution load." Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (Research and Advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment, reiterated that small-scale units engaged in scrapping of ELVs needed to comply with the CPCB norms for safe dismantling and pollution control. "Their operations and waste disposal require continuous monitoring to prevent contamination of air, soil, and water," she said. "These clusters require support to build common infrastructure for safe operations and treatment. At the same time, it is necessary to expand the capacity of the formal automated scrappage centres for advanced material recovery and material separation." She added as these small-scale units were a source of livelihood and would continue to operate, so it was necessary to rationalise their operations and integrate them with the formal scrapping centres. In 2018, TOI reported how thousands of these units were running despite three NGT orders in 2013, 2014 and 2015 banning gas-cutting of discarded bodies, transformers and electronic waste in the open. Previous reports estimated the Mayapuri scrap market's annual turnover at Rs 6,000 crore. Acting on TOI's report, NGT formed a special task force to take remedial steps. STF surveyed the area and found that almost all units had "encroached upon public space", that the "conduct of trade was injurious to theJ health of the community" and "vehicles remained stuck on roads for hours, causing huge air pollution". In 2019, DPCC issued notices to 765 units that were in violation of norms. There were violent scenes when at least 30 people, including policemen, were injured after the scrap dealers clashed with a team of officials sent to seal the illegal units. Despite repeated attempts, both DPCC and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi did not respond to TOI's queries in the matter.
Down To Earth cited NSEFI’s call for urgent government action, including fast-tracking transmission projects, compensation mechanisms, and battery storage deployment. Experts, such as those at the Centre for Science and Environment, warned that without upgraded infrastructure, India’s target of 280 GW solar capacity by 2030 could face serious risks. India is reducing solar output during periods of low demand to maintain grid stability and ease pressure on congested transmission lines, according to a Reuters report citing the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The ministry confirmed that some plants had come online ahead of schedule, while transmission projects faced delays, worsening bottlenecks. The National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), representing companies such as Adani, Tata, Amazon, SHV and Gentari, highlighted that curtailments in Rajasthan have been severe. Reuters reported producers losing over $26 million since April, with output reduced by as much as 48 per cent during peak hours. Down To Earth noted that about 3–4 gigawatts of capacity had been curtailed since March, resulting in losses of up to Rs 250 crore. Delays in transmission NSEFI said projects in Rajasthan had already been deferred by nearly 20 months due to infrastructure delays, but even those ready for commissioning remain stuck. Critical transmission projects such as the Khetri-Narela and Bhadla II-Sikar II lines are facing up to two years of delay, according to the federation’s letter to MNRE. Impact beyond Rajasthan While Rajasthan is worst affected, Reuters reported that Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra have also seen output reductions. Tamil Nadu’s Renewable Energy Producers Association found solar output 10 per cent lower than expected during April–June, though the state energy department described curtailment as a last-resort measure. Investor confidence at risk Down To Earth cited NSEFI’s call for urgent government action, including fast-tracking transmission projects, compensation mechanisms, and battery storage deployment. Experts, such as those at the Centre for Science and Environment, warned that without upgraded infrastructure, India’s target of 280 GW solar capacity by 2030 could face serious risks.
Gurgaon: Diesel generator (DG) sets across Haryana pumped out over 1,121 tonnes of PM2.5 pollutants in 2022, an analysis by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has found. For perspective, that's roughly one-fifteenth of the annual PM2.5 emissions from heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs), which released about 16,600 tonnes (16.6 Gg) in the same timeframe, in Haryana. PM2.5, tiny particles that can only be seen with an electron microscope, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, driving up asthma, cardiovascular diseases and early mortalities. "DG sets installed in Haryana emitted around 1.1 Gg of PM2.5 during 2022. Bhiwani district alone emitted around 10% of the state's emissions," said Anirban Banerjee, senior associate at the think-tank's air quality team. The study — Switch on, Smoke off: Reducing Emissions from Diesel Generator Sets -- released on Thursday used data on DG sets and combined it with emission factors from CPCB and international studies to arrive at these figures. Banerjee said on Thursday that Haryana needs a multi-pronged approach to reducing emissions from DG sets. "Identify and scrap old DG sets, along with replacing them with solar and CPCB IV+ DG sets can reduce emissions. Gas-based generators can help, but the state needs to increase last-mile connectivity," he said, adding that Haryana currently does not produce enough solar energy for a clean switch. What makes DG emissions particularly dangerous is their concentration in populated areas. "DG sets may look small in comparison to the trucking sector, but their emissions are highly localised and concentrated. A large truck fleet disperses its emissions over highways and regional corridors. DG sets pump toxic particles right where people live, work and breathe," said an air quality analyst associated with the study. According to the study, Bhiwani led the pollution chart, with 97 tonnes of PM2.5 annual emissions from DG sets, followed by Panipat with 66.1 tonnes, Kaithal with 65.5 tonnes and Gurgaon with 57 tonnes. Together, these districts accounted for nearly one-fourth of the state's generator-linked PM2.5 emissions. Particularly concerning are medium- to large-capacity DG sets in the 76KVA to 750KVA range, which contribute 74% of Haryana's total generator-linked PM2.5 load, the study said. These workhorses of industrial hubs, construction sites and high-rise complexes often run for hours during power cuts. In India, regulatory response to diesel generators has evolved. In 2019, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) identified DG sets as a significant pollution source — contributing up to 18% of ambient air pollution in non-compliant cities — and pushed for dual-fuel retrofitting or emission control devices (RECDs). Haryana's pollution board followed suit in mid-2020, directing industries in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat and Bahadurgarh to convert or retrofit DG sets over 500 kVA. But deadlines were repeatedly extended. More recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Oct 2023 formalised strict year-round norms for NCR, mandating that generators be retrofitted with RECDs or run in dual-fuel mode. Before that, use of traditional diesel generators was banned in NCR only in the polluted winter months. The CSTEP report, reflecting 2022 emissions, offers a pre-regulation snapshot that underscores the scale of the problem before the latest norms took effect. On Thursday, experts warned that without strict emissions norms and reliable power supply, Haryana's dependence on DG sets could worsen pollution in rapidly growing urban centres like Gurgaon and Faridabad. "DG sets are meant for backup, but in many areas with frequent power cuts or industrial demand, they are running almost daily. The cumulative emissions are enormous, especially in urban and industrial hubs," said a senior scientist. Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said: "Mandatory retrofitting with emission control devices, enforcing limits on run-time and incentivising the shift to gas-based or solar backup could sharply reduce emissions." The study found that 14.7 lakh DG sets were operational across the country in 2022. These added 42 Gg of PM2.5, 23 Gg of black carbon, and 877 Gg of nitrogen oxides (NOX).
Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India’s installed energy capacity – years ahead of schedule – but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. “A landmark in India’s energy transition journey,” Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world’s most populous nation released figures in July. “Five years early,” he added, referring to India’s 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country’s stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 per cent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami said the figures – which refer only to potential energy production – tell just part of the story. “Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low,” Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India’s continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe’s second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five per cent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. “Coal remains crucial,” the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India’s energy transition.
But while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The push towards electrification comes against the backdrop of Delhi’s alarming air pollution levels. Vehicular emissions contribute nearly 40% of PM2.5 pollution during winter months, according to studies by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). In a landmark move towards sustainable urban transport, the Central Government has announced that all CNG buses operating in Delhi under the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the cluster bus service will be phased out in the coming years. By August 2031, the national capital’s bus fleet will be fully electric a shift expected to significantly reduce vehicular pollution in one of the world’s most polluted cities. 2,743 CNG buses to be removed Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu informed that Delhi currently has 5,691 operational buses, of which 2,743 run on CNG. These include 993 buses owned by DTC and 1,750 operated under the cluster model. The government plans a two-step withdrawal older DTC buses, already past the 10-year mark, will be retired by 2026–27, while the cluster fleet will continue till 2031. “Delhi has communicated that only electric buses are now being added to the fleet,” Sahu said. No new CNG additions in recent years Interestingly, the Centre revealed that in the last five years, no funds have been allocated by either the Union or Delhi government for purchasing new CNG buses. Instead, all investments have been redirected towards scaling up electric mobility. Cluster buses, Sahu added, are being inducted on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) basis, which allows the government to control costs while ensuring service delivery through private operators. Delhi’s electric fleet present and future At present, Delhi has nearly 1,650 electric buses on the road, making it one of the largest EV bus fleets in India. The Delhi government has projected that this number will cross 8,000 by 2027, with a final target of 11,000 buses by 2031, equally split between DTC and private operators. To support this transition, the city is expanding charging infrastructure across depots and bus terminals. According to the Delhi Transport Department, over 55 charging stations dedicated to electric buses are either operational or under construction. Why this matters: air quality crisis The push towards electrification comes against the backdrop of Delhi’s alarming air pollution levels. Vehicular emissions contribute nearly 40% of PM2.5 pollution during winter months, according to studies by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Although CNG was introduced in Delhi in 2001 to curb rising smoke from diesel buses, experts note that it is no longer sufficient to meet the city’s climate and health challenges. A 2022 IIT-Kanpur report estimated that switching Delhi’s entire bus fleet to electric could cut CO₂ emissions by more than 4.5 million tonnes annually, while also reducing nitrogen oxides and particulate matter pollutants directly linked to respiratory illnesses. Global comparisons Delhi’s target aligns with global practices in sustainable transport. Cities such as London and Paris plan to go fully electric with their public buses by 2030, while China already operates the world’s largest e-bus fleet, with over 400,000 electric buses in service. Road ahead While the transition is ambitious, challenges remain. Experts stress the need for reliable charging infrastructure, lower battery costs, and consistent financial support. However, with Delhi’s clear roadmap, the capital could soon emerge as a model for other Indian cities aiming to clean up their transport systems. By August 2031, the familiar green-and-white CNG buses will be history, replaced by a new fleet of zero-emission electric buses a milestone in Delhi’s journey towards a cleaner and healthier future.
"Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low, " said Avantika Goswami from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), highlighting the gap between installed capacity and power actually delivered to the grid. In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed a significant achievement in India’s energy transition journey: non-fossil fuel sources now account for 50 percent of the country’s installed energy capacity—five years ahead of its 2030 target under the Paris Agreement. However, despite this progress, India’s energy reality remains heavily tied to coal. The announcement marks a pivotal moment for the world’s most populous nation, which remains the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey, " said Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi, following the July release of new energy capacity figures. “Five years early, ” he added, referring to the country’s early fulfilment of a key climate commitment, and signalling progress towards India’s broader goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. Installed capacity vs actual generation While the 50 percent figure is a noteworthy milestone, experts caution that the headline number does not tell the full story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low, " said Avantika Goswami from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), highlighting the gap between installed capacity and power actually delivered to the grid.
"A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India's installed energy capacity -- years ahead of schedule -- but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. - Coal paradox - The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India's continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe's second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five percent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. "Coal remains crucial," the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India's energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power. "The coal sector remains a crucial contributor to India's energy mix, powering over 74 percent of the country's electricity and sustaining key industries like steel and cement," the coal ministry said, celebrating what it dubbed "India's coal boom". This reliance places India in a challenging position globally. The country ranks behind only China and the United States for carbon emissions overall. But analysts point out that in a country of 1.4 billion people, per capita emissions are only one-third of the global average, according to official figures. "Looking at India's per capita emissions, the effort it is making, India is doing pretty well," said activist Harjeet Singh, head of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. India has set itself the daunting challenge of reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030. At the same time, electricity needs are expected to more than double by 2047, according to the country's Center for Science and Environment. Supplying some of that demand "is likely to be met by the addition of renewables", Goswami said. - 'Waste that energy' - Half of India's 484.8 GW installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources. The majority comes from solar, totalling 119 GW -- the third-largest level globally. India is building one of the world's largest solar and wind energy farms, spread over a desert the size of Singapore. It is followed by hydro and wind, and also nuclear power -- which makes up less than two percent of the total mix. But solar and wind create steady power only when the conditions are right, and India's storage capacity is a meagre 505 MWh -- far lower than it can generate. The storage bottleneck was not lost on the renewable energy minister. Speaking at the inauguration of a battery storage systems plant in June, Joshi said India's renewable energy potential was "growing fast" and "adding 25–30 GW every year". He added: "But without storage, we will either waste that energy or fall back on coal when renewables dip." Building storage based on batteries requires rare earth metals, with rival and neighbour China controlling 70 percent of the world's supplies. "We still remain dependent on China," said Harjeet Singh, the climate activist. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in New Delhi for talks on Tuesday, with the supply of rare earth metals on the agenda. One solution India is considering is pump-hydro energy storage projects. When wind and solar plants produce excess energy, water is pumped into high reservoirs. That stored energy can then be released to generate power when demand surges. But Goswami believes the transition to cleaner power requires a multi-pronged approach. The transition to cleaner power must come from "emission intensity reduction" of often inefficient coal plants, combined with better integrated renewable energy in the grid that "will actually make the shift happen".
It urged the government to take into account absolute reduction in PM 2.5 concentration, along with PM10, and link budgetary allocations directly to sectoral and department-wise pollutant depreciation at city and state levels for more accountability. Last year, a Centre for Science and Environment analysis also found that dust mitigation was cornering 64 per cent of NCAP funds. A white paper put together by 58 organisations and air quality experts has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to make the upcoming National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) 2.0 wider in scope, sharpen focus on PM 2.5 pollution, and make it more efficient and accountable on outcomes. It has also made a slew of recommendations to the ministry on strengthening air quality monitoring, covering a larger area to reduce air pollution, and improving performance evaluation. The signatories included environmental groups, public health advocates, experts from Indian Institute of Technology, researchers and civil society organisations. The NCAP was launched in 2019 to improve air quality in 131 cities across 24 states, which were chosen for sustained poor air quality. These cities have to cut air pollution levels by 40 percent by 2025-26, with 2019-20 as the base year. Of 131 cities, 82 are those that do not conform to national ambient air quality standards and 49 are cities with over a million people. ince NCAP is funded by multiple sources, including the 15th Finance Commission, this is the last year in the present commission period. The white paper said that air pollution was not confined by administrative boundaries, and thus NCAP 2.0 must extend beyond the 131 cities to include peri-urban and rural regions. Multiple studies have shown transboundary impacts of particulate matter pollution. “Our analysis shows that most NCAP cities still breach national air quality standards, and rural India remains largely invisible in monitoring systems. The next phase must close these gaps by mapping pollution across urban, rural, and interconnected regions, and by tying public funding to verified reductions in emissions sector by sector,” said Nandikesh Sivalingam, Director and Co-founder, Centre for Research on Clean Air and Energy, an independent research organisation. One of the key recommendations to the environment ministry was to revamp the performance-linked grant framework to move beyond outcome-only indicators such as PM 10 reduction or ‘number of good AQI days’. These metrics have proven to be inadequate, the white paper said. It urged the government to take into account absolute reduction in PM 2.5 concentration, along with PM10, and link budgetary allocations directly to sectoral and department-wise pollutant depreciation at city and state levels for more accountability. Last year, a Centre for Science and Environment analysis also found that dust mitigation was cornering 64 per cent of NCAP funds. From funding to emission reduction targets The Centre has released Rs 1,615.48 crore to 82 cities between 2019-20 and 2024-25 as per official data and an amount of Rs 801 crore has been sanctioned for financial year 2024-25. These funds are being released in tranches of 25 per cent each to states. Spending from the funds allocated for 2024-25 was delayed as the ‘control of pollution’ scheme was approved late, the ministry had informed a House panel earlier this year. However, the ministry will carry forward the unspent funds from 2024-25 to prevent any surrender of funds.
Climate expert Avantika Goswami of the Centre for Science and Environment noted that renewable energy generation is still low. Nearly three-quarters of India’s electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, which are highly polluting. India has reached a major milestone in its energy sector, with non-fossil fuels now accounting for half of the country’s installed power capacity. The achievement came five years ahead of the original 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi described it as 'a landmark in India’s energy transition journey'. He said it is a key step towards India’s broader goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. While the 50 percent mark is significant, experts warn that it only reflects installed capacity the potential to generate electricity rather than actual production. Climate expert Avantika Goswami of the Centre for Science and Environment noted that renewable energy generation is still low. Nearly three-quarters of India’s electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, which are highly polluting. India’s reliance on coal has not decreased. The country, the second-largest consumer of coal in the world, increased production by five percent last year, mining one billion tonnes. The coal ministry described this as part of 'India’s coal boom', noting that coal is essential for meeting energy demands and supporting industries such as steel and cement. Coal still supplies over 74 percent of the nation’s electricity, highlighting the challenge of transitioning to cleaner energy while meeting growing demand. Globally, India is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the United States. However, per capita emissions remain low, at about one-third of the global average, given its population of 1.4 billion. Climate activist Harjeet Singh of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation said that considering India’s size and development needs, it is making notable efforts. The country has pledged to cut emissions by 45 percent by 2030, even as electricity demand is expected to more than double by 2047. Meeting this growing demand while reducing emissions will require expanding renewable power and improving storage systems. India’s total installed power capacity is 484.8 gigawatts, with half coming from non-fossil fuel sources. Solar energy leads with 119 gigawatts, making India the third-largest solar producer in the world. Massive solar and wind farms are under development, including one in a desert area the size of Singapore. Hydropower, wind, and nuclear energy make up the remaining share, with nuclear contributing less than two percent. Renewable energy is intermittent, generating power only when the sun shines or the wind blows. India currently has just 505 megawatt-hours of storage capacity, far below what is needed to use renewable power efficiently. Minister Joshi highlighted the issue during the launch of a battery storage plant in June, warning that without storage, India risks either wasting renewable energy or reverting to coal during shortages. Battery storage requires rare earth metals, largely controlled by China, which supplies about 70 percent of global demand. This dependency was reportedly discussed during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi. India is also exploring pump-hydro storage projects, where excess renewable energy pumps water into reservoirs that can later generate electricity during peak demand. Also Read: India Poised to be the Next 'Global Production Hub' for Wind Energy Experts emphasize that a successful energy transition requires multiple approaches. Goswami said India must reduce emissions from inefficient coal plants, better integrate renewable sources into the grid, and develop reliable storage systems. These steps are necessary to reduce dependence on coal while meeting rising electricity needs. Reaching 50 percent non-fossil fuel capacity ahead of schedule is a significant achievement and demonstrates India’s commitment to renewable energy. Yet coal’s continued dominance in actual electricity generation shows the scale of the challenge ahead. With electricity demand expected to double over the next two decades, India will need to balance growth, clean energy, and coal reliance carefully. Storage technology, resource diversification, and coal efficiency improvements will play a key role in shaping the country’s energy future.
Avantika Goswami says the figures — which refer only to potential energy production — tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India's installed energy capacity — years ahead of schedule — but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 per cent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures — which refer only to potential energy production — tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India's continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe's second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five percent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. "Coal remains crucial," the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India's energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power. "The coal sector remains a crucial contributor to India's energy mix, powering over 74 per cent of the country's electricity and sustaining key industries like steel and cement," the coal ministry said, celebrating what it dubbed "India's coal boom". This reliance places India in a challenging position globally. The country ranks behind only China and the United States for carbon emissions overall. But analysts point out that in a country of 1.4 billion people, per capita emissions are only one-third of the global average, according to official figures. "Looking at India's per capita emissions, the effort it is making, India is doing pretty well," said activist Harjeet Singh, head of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. India has set itself the daunting challenge of reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030. At the same time, electricity needs are expected to more than double by 2047, according to the country's Center for Science and Environment. Supplying some of that demand "is likely to be met by the addition of renewables", Goswami said. Half of India's 484.8 GW installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources. The majority comes from solar, totalling 119 GW — the third-largest level globally. India is building one of the world's largest solar and wind energy farms, spread over a desert the size of Singapore. It is followed by hydro and wind, and also nuclear power — which makes up less than two percent of the total mix. But solar and wind create steady power only when the conditions are right, and India's storage capacity is a meagre 505 MWh — far lower than it can generate. The storage bottleneck was not lost on the renewable energy minister. Speaking at the inauguration of a battery storage systems plant in June, Joshi said India's renewable energy potential was "growing fast" and "adding 25-30 GW every year". He added: "But without storage, we will either waste that energy or fall back on coal when renewables dip." Building storage based on batteries requires rare earth metals, with rival and neighbour China controlling 70 percent of the world's supplies. "We still remain dependent on China," said Harjeet Singh, the climate activist. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in New Delhi for talks on Tuesday, with the supply of rare earth metals on the agenda. One solution India is considering is pump-hydro energy storage projects. When wind and solar plants produce excess energy, water is pumped into high reservoirs. That stored energy can then be released to generate power when demand surges. But Goswami believes the transition to cleaner power requires a multi-pronged approach. The transition to cleaner power must come from "emission intensity reduction" of often inefficient coal plants, combined with better integrated renewable energy in the grid that "will actually make the shift happen".
Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India's installed energy capacity — years ahead of schedule — but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching Net-Zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 per cent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures, which refer only to potential energy production, tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami said from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India's continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe's second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five per cent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. "Coal remains crucial," the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India's energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power.
From 2013 to 2022, the Himalayan region experienced 44% of all the disasters in the country, according to a Centre for Science and Environment study. The region suffered 192 floods, landslides, and thunderstorms. The report cautioned that cloudbursts in 2022 and 2023 were a precursor to more such disasters. The cloudburst intensity in the Himalayas, especially in the north-western parts, appears to have increased in recent decades, causing widespread destruction and loss of lives and property. Unplanned and unscientific development in the most vulnerable Himalayan regions has massively contributed to this. There is no holistic developmental approach. State governments have adopted a fragmented approach, with planning based on local political pressures and haphazard bureaucratic decision-making. Science has rarely played a role in defining the developmental paradigm of the Himalayan states. Geological or environmental impact studies are not typically required for approval of most road construction projects. In cases where they are, as in the Char Dham road construction project, the Central government divided the projects into components to avoid the mandatory environmental impact assessment. The fallout is clear in repeated landslides, flash floods, and deforestation along the highway. Dharali in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, which suffered a glacial lake burst-induced flash flood this month, is also on the Char Dham highway route. The state governments have failed to control the unplanned development along the now expanded highways. Hotels, resorts, and homestays have mushroomed across the Himalayan belt to cater to the ever-increasing tourist inflow. There are no norms on what sort of buildings should come up in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan belt outside the municipal limits. The use of heavy earth-moving machinery has become rampant for road widening and the construction of buildings. Floodplain management is almost non-existent in the Himalayan region. In both Dharali and Chisoti, the scene of the cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir, buildings had come up in the floodplains. The swollen rivers flooded the floodplains amid heavy rainfall. Dams have also accentuated siltation in the Himalayan rivers. In Chisoti, a pilgrim camp was built by flattening a floodplain. No lessons were learnt from the tragedy that struck when a cloudburst hit a pilgrim camp built on the dried part of a riverine for the Amarnath Yatra in 2022. There are multiple instances of flash floods causing havoc in the floodplains across the Himalayan region. There have hardly been any studies to identify the vulnerable or no-go areas for any developmental activities in the region. Efforts to identify such areas may face resistance from local populations, who believe that the demarcation of no-go areas could hamper their economic activity. Those who may support the demarcation would be in a small minority, as political parties accentuate the fear of loss among locals for their vested interests. A Union science and technology department vulnerability study of the Himalayas in 2018-19 found that most of the districts in the region are highly vulnerable to natural disasters. The vulnerability is not only because of climate change but also due to population pressure. From 2013 to 2022, the Himalayan region experienced 44% of all the disasters in the country, according to a Centre for Science and Environment study. The region suffered 192 floods, landslides, and thunderstorms. The report cautioned that cloudbursts in 2022 and 2023 were a precursor to more such disasters.
But while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India's installed energy capacity -- years ahead of schedule -- but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. - Coal paradox - The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India's continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe's second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five percent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. "Coal remains crucial," the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India's energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power. "The coal sector remains a crucial contributor to India's energy mix, powering over 74 percent of the country's electricity and sustaining key industries like steel and cement," the coal ministry said, celebrating what it dubbed "India's coal boom". This reliance places India in a challenging position globally. The country ranks behind only China and the United States for carbon emissions overall. But analysts point out that in a country of 1.4 billion people, per capita emissions are only one-third of the global average, according to official figures. "Looking at India's per capita emissions, the effort it is making, India is doing pretty well," said activist Harjeet Singh, head of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. India has set itself the daunting challenge of reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030. At the same time, electricity needs are expected to more than double by 2047, according to the country's Center for Science and Environment. Supplying some of that demand "is likely to be met by the addition of renewables", Goswami said. - 'Waste that energy' - Half of India's 484.8 GW installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources. The majority comes from solar, totalling 119 GW -- the third-largest level globally. India is building one of the world's largest solar and wind energy farms, spread over a desert the size of Singapore. It is followed by hydro and wind, and also nuclear power -- which makes up less than two percent of the total mix. But solar and wind create steady power only when the conditions are right, and India's storage capacity is a meagre 505 MWh -- far lower than it can generate. The storage bottleneck was not lost on the renewable energy minister. Speaking at the inauguration of a battery storage systems plant in June, Joshi said India's renewable energy potential was "growing fast" and "adding 25–30 GW every year". He added: "But without storage, we will either waste that energy or fall back on coal when renewables dip." Building storage based on batteries requires rare earth metals, with rival and neighbour China controlling 70 percent of the world's supplies. "We still remain dependent on China," said Harjeet Singh, the climate activist. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in New Delhi for talks on Tuesday, with the supply of rare earth metals on the agenda. One solution India is considering is pump-hydro energy storage projects. When wind and solar plants produce excess energy, water is pumped into high reservoirs. That stored energy can then be released to generate power when demand surges. But Goswami believes the transition to cleaner power requires a multi-pronged approach. The transition to cleaner power must come from "emission intensity reduction" of often inefficient coal plants, combined with better integrated renewable energy in the grid that "will actually make the shift happen".