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Road to Geneva | Plastic Pollution INC-5.2

Positions Courage, not compromise – Pacific SIDS call for ambition ahead of final plastics treaty talks in Geneva | SPREP | 2 August 2025 Including Climate Impacts of Plastics | The Plastics & Climate Project, Environmental Law Institute, University of Wollongong Australia | August 2025 UN Plastics Treaty: What to Watch for at INC-5.2 | Global Plastic Laws | 31 July 2025 What to expect as Talks on Plastic Pollution Near the Finish Line at INC-5.2 | Tallash Kantai | IISD | 30 July 2025 Initial Considerations for INC 5.2. Delivering a treaty that ends plastic pollution – the final negotiating stretch | EIA | 29 July 2025 Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations. Country Positions | Centre for Science and Environment India | 29 July 2025 Scientists issue urgent call ahead of final plastics treaty talks: This is the world’s last chance to act | University of Portsmouth | 28 July 2025 Smoke Signals from the Plastics Treaty: Why Geneva Negotiations Can’t Ignore Health Governance | Health Policy Watch | 27 July 2025 The UN Plastics Treaty – Youth Demand for a Strong Global Plastics Treaty | End Plastic Pollution Uganda | 25 July 2025 A global treaty to limit plastic pollution is within reach – will countries seize the moment? | The Conversation |22 July 2025 AMCEN-20: African environment ministers pledge to back a robust global plastics treaty | Down to Earth | 21 July 2025 Plastics, Profits and Power: How petrochemical companies are derailing the Global Plastics Treaty | Greenpeace UK | July 2025

Industrial accidents, the human cost of indifference

After spending 37 years in India’s oil and energy sector, this writer has walked through the innards of factories, refineries, and chemical plants across the country. This writer has seen, up close, the tragic aftermath of industrial accidents — not as distant events, but as raw human tragedies. These are not acts of fate. They are the result of choices — bad ones made by individuals, institutions, and systems that fail to care. We have seen it again, recently — as explosions at Sigachi Industries in Telangana, and as a firecracker unit disaster in Tamil Nadu. They are not aberrations. They are the symptoms of a deeper, ongoing national crisis. A universe is shattered every time In the last five years, at least 6,500 workers have lost their lives in India’s factories, construction sites, and mines, according to government data compiled by the Labour Ministry and several Right to Information-based reports. This means nearly three fatalities every day in peacetime, in a growing economy, in the 21st century. Editorial | Death at work: On industrial safety In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu alone, over 200 fatalities have occurred in major industrial mishaps over the past decade. But the true toll — especially from the unregistered or informal sector units may be much higher and rarely makes news. Each of these cases is not just a data point. It is about a breadwinner gone, a child orphaned, and a household thrust into trauma and penury. This writer has witnessed this — an empty seat in a refinery canteen after a fatality, families pacing outside the plant gates, waiting for news they know will break them. A study in 2022 by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that India had had over 130 major chemical accidents in just a 30-month window post-2020, with 218 fatalities and 300-plus injuries. Most of these occurred in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often operate under regulatory radar.

उत्तराखंड में चार साल में आया सबसे खराब मॉनसून, 15 दिन में आईं 48 से ज्यादा आपदाएं

उत्तराखंड इस साल चार साल के सबसे खराब मॉनसून का सामना कर रहा है. 1 जून से 5 अगस्त 2025 तक के 66 दिनों में से 43 दिन एक्सट्रीम वेदर (जैसे भारी बारिश, बाढ़ और भूस्खलन) के रहे, जो पिछले चार सालों में सबसे ज्यादा है. यह आंकड़ा डाउन टू अर्थ (DTE) और दिल्ली के सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) के विश्लेषण पर आधारित है. एक्सट्रीम वेदर का बढ़ता खतरा इस साल मानसून के अब तक के दिनों में 65% समय एक्सट्रीम वेदर देखा गया, जो 2022 में 33% था. 2023 में यह 47% और 2024 में 59% था. यह साफ दिखता है कि हर साल स्थिति और खराब हो रही है. मॉनसून 1 जून से 30 सितंबर तक 122 दिन का होता है. 5 अगस्त तक आधा समय बीत चुका है. फिर भी 43 दिन एक्सट्रीम वेदर के रहे, जो 2022 के पूरे सीजन (44 दिन) के बराबर है. अगर यही ट्रेंड रहा, तो अगले 56 दिनों में और 40-43 दिन अति-मौसम हो सकते हैं, यानी कुल 83-86 दिन पिछले चार साल का रिकॉर्ड तोड़ देंगे. 15 में आईं 48 आपदाएं इस खराब मौसम ने भारी नुकसान पहुंचाया है. 1 जून से 5 अगस्त 2025 के बीच कम से कम 48 लोग मौसम से जुड़ी आपदाओं में मारे गए. यह 2022 के पूरे सीजन (56 मौतें) के 86% और 2023 के 104 मौतों का करीब 46% है. खतरा अभी खत्म नहीं हुआ. 5 अगस्त को उत्तरकाशी जिले के धराली गांव में बाढ़ आई, जिसमें 4 लोगों की मौत हुई और 100 से ज्यादा लोग लापता हैं.

बाढ़, भूस्खलन, 48 मौतें... उत्तराखंड में चार साल का सबसे खराब मॉनसून, 66 दिन में 43 दिन रहे आफत के

उत्तरा खंड चा र सा ल के सबसे खरा ब मॉ नसून से जूझ रहा है, जि समें 65% दि न एक्सट्री म वेदर के रहे. 48 लो ग मरे, 250 से ज्या दा ला पता हैं. जलवा यु परि वर्तन और खरा ब तैया री इसके पी छे हैं. धरा ली में भा रती य सेनासे ना रेस्क्यू में जुटी है, लेकि न बेहतर यो जना जरूरी है

Uttarakhand Cloudburst: उत्तराखंड में इस बार मानसून नहीं, मुसीबत बनकर बरसा – चार सालों में सबसे खराब हालात, अब भी खतरा बरकरार.

उत्तराखंड इस बार ऐसा मानसून झेल रहा है, जो न सिर्फ रिकॉर्ड तोड़ रहा है, बल्कि लोगों की जान और जीवन दोनों को भारी नुकसान पहुंचा रहा है। 1 जून से 5 अगस्त 2025 तक, यानी महज 66 दिनों में से 43 दिन एक्सट्रीम वेदर वाले रहे मतलब या तो तेज बारिश, बाढ़, या भूस्खलन। ये आंकड़ा पिछले चार सालों में सबसे खराब है। दिल्ली के सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और डाउन टू अर्थ की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि 2022 में पूरे मॉनसून सीजन में 44 दिन ऐसे थे, और इस बार सिर्फ आधे मानसून में ही ये आंकड़ा छू लिया गया है। ये हालात डराते हैं, क्योंकि अगर यही सिलसिला अगले दो महीनों तक चला, तो ये साल उत्तराखंड के लिए सबसे खतरनाक मॉनसून साबित हो सकता है।

Old Vehicle Scrap Policy Update: CAQM की रिसर्च-स्टडी के बिना पुराने वाहनों पर पाबंदी की सिफारिश, एक्सपर्ट ने उठाए सवाल

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की शोधकर्ता अनुता चौधरी का कहना है कि पुराने वाहनों से उत्सर्जन अधिक होता है, लेकिन बैन से पहले दिल्ली के संदर्भ में ठोस डेटा तैयार होना चाहिए था, ताकि नीति वैज्ञानिक आधार पर बन सके। दिल्ली-एनसीआर में पुराने वाहनों पर लगाए गए बैन (Old Vehicle Scrap Policy Update) को लेकर बड़ा खुलासा हुआ है। वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन आयोग यानी CAQM ने दिल्ली में पुराने वाहनों पर प्रतिबंध (Old Vehicle Scrap Policy Update) को लेकर बड़ा खुलासा किया है। एक RTI के जवाब में CAQM ने माना है कि, इस फैसले के पीछे खुद की कोई रिसर्च नहीं है। इस बैन का आधार NGT और सुप्रीम कोर्ट के आदेश हैं। RTI के जरिए पूछा गया था सवाल RTI के तहत पूछे गए सवाल के जवाब में कमीशन फॉर एयर क्वालिटी मैनेजमेंट (CAAQM) ने स्वीकार किया है कि पुराने वाहनों पर पाबंदी (Old Vehicle Scrap Policy Update) लगाने के पीछे किसी प्रकार का रिसर्च डेटा या स्टडी रिपोर्ट मौजूद नहीं थी। दिल्ली-NCR में लगी थी रोक NGT ने 2015 में अपने आदेश में दिल्ली-एनसीआर में 10 साल से पुराने डीज़ल और 15 साल से पुराने पेट्रोल वाहनों के चलने पर रोक (Old Vehicle Scrap Policy Update) लगा दी थी, जिसे बाद में सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने भी बरकरार रखा। अब यह खुलासा ये बड़ा सवाल खड़ा करता है कि बिना साइंटिफिक रिसर्च के लाखों वाहन मालिकों को अपने वाहनों से क्यों वंचित किया गया। CAQM ने दिया ये जवाब दरअसल सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता अमित गुप्ता इसे लेकर एक आरटीआई लगाई थी, इसमें उन्होंने पूछा था कि, क्या पुराने वाहन हवा में जहर घोल रहे हैं या नहीं, हां तो किस हद तक घोल रहे हैं और इससे ज्यादा प्रदूषक कारक आर क्या हैं। इसे लेकर सीएक्यूएम ने लिखित जवाब देते हुए कहा कि- 10 साल पुराने डीजल और 15 साल पुराने पेट्रोल चालित वाहनों पर रोक लगाने से पहले उसने कोई रिसर्च नहीं कराया है। पर्यावरण वैज्ञानिकों की राय सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की शोधकर्ता अनुता चौधरी का कहना है कि पुराने वाहनों से उत्सर्जन अधिक होता है, लेकिन बैन से पहले दिल्ली के संदर्भ में ठोस डेटा तैयार होना चाहिए था, ताकि नीति वैज्ञानिक आधार पर बन सके।

Uttarakhand Monsoon 2025: 4 साल का सबसे खराब मानसून, 65% दिन Extreme Weather

उत्तराखंड इस साल पिछले चार वर्षों का सबसे खराब मानसून झेल रहा है। 1 जून से 5 अगस्त 2025 के बीच 66 दिनों में से 43 दिन अति-मौसम (Extreme Weather) जैसे भारी बारिश, बाढ़ और भूस्खलन वाले रहे। यह आंकड़ा डाउन टू अर्थ और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के विश्लेषण पर आधारित है। 2025 में मानसून के अब तक के 65% दिन Extreme Weather रहे, जबकि 2022 में यह 33%, 2023 में 47% और 2024 में 59% था। 5 अगस्त तक का रिकॉर्ड बताता है कि इस साल की स्थिति 2022 के पूरे मानसून (44 दिन) के बराबर हो चुकी है। अगर यही रफ्तार रही, तो सीजन के अंत तक यह आंकड़ा 83–86 दिन तक पहुंच सकता है। बढ़ते खतरे और नुकसान: 1 जून से 5 अगस्त 2025 के बीच मौसम से जुड़ी आपदाओं में कम से कम 48 लोगों की मौत हो चुकी है। 5 अगस्त को उत्तरकाशी जिले के धराली गांव में आई बाढ़ में 4 लोगों की मौत और 100 से ज्यादा लोग लापता हुए। उत्तराखंड सरकार ने इसे क्लाउडबर्स्ट बताया, लेकिन भारत मौसम विज्ञान विभाग के अनुसार यह तकनीकी रूप से क्लाउडबर्स्ट नहीं था, बल्कि कई घंटों तक हुई भारी बारिश थी। वैज्ञानिकों के मुताबिक, 5–6 अगस्त के बीच उत्तरकाशी में औसत से 421% ज्यादा बारिश हुई। सात घंटे में 100 मिमी से अधिक और कुछ स्थानों पर 400 मिमी बारिश दर्ज हुई, जो लंदन के सालाना औसत का दो-तिहाई है। जलवायु परिवर्तन और मानवीय हस्तक्षेप: IMD का कहना है कि 2024 का मानसून उत्तराखंड में 1901 के बाद का सबसे गर्म था, जिसमें औसत तापमान सामान्य से 1.5°C अधिक रहा। अधिक गर्म हवा ज्यादा नमी सोखती है, जिससे बारिश ज्यादा तेज और खतरनाक हो जाती है। विशेषज्ञों का मानना है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन के साथ-साथ तैयारी की कमी और बेतरतीब निर्माण भी खतरे को बढ़ा रहे हैं। सड़क निर्माण, जंगल कटाई और जल निकासी व्यवस्था की अनदेखी ने पहाड़ी इलाकों की संवेदनशीलता और बढ़ा दी है। सेना का रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन: भारतीय सेना और आपदा प्रबंधन टीमें उत्तरकाशी में राहत कार्य में जुटी हैं। हेलिकॉप्टर और जमीनी बचाव दल प्रभावित इलाकों में पहुंच रहे हैं, लेकिन लगातार बारिश और सड़कों के कट जाने से काम कठिन हो रहा है। आगे क्या करना होगा? वैज्ञानिक चेतावनी दे रहे हैं कि हमें तुरंत कदम उठाने होंगे, बेहतर मौसम निगरानी, जल्दी चेतावनी तंत्र, बेतरतीब निर्माण पर रोक, जंगल संरक्षण और जल प्रबंधन को प्राथमिकता देना जरूरी है। उत्तराखंड की मौजूदा स्थिति पूरे हिमालयी क्षेत्र के लिए चेतावनी है, जहां पिछले तीन वर्षों में 70% मानसून दिन अति-मौसम के रहे हैं।

2 महीने में 43 दिन तबाही… उत्तराखंड में 4 साल का सबसे विनाशकारी मॉनसून, बाढ़-भूस्खलन से 48 मौतें

इस साल 1 जून से 5 अगस्त 2025 तक के 66 दिनों में से 43 दिनों में उत्तराखंड में भारी बारिश, बाढ़ और भूस्खलन जैसी गंभीर मौसमीय घटनाएं हुईं, जो पिछले चार वर्षों में सबसे ज्यादा हैं। डाउन टू अर्थ (DTE) और दिल्ली स्थित सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) के विश्लेषण के अनुसार, इस बार मॉनसून के 65% दिनों में अत्यधिक मौसमीय गतिविधियां दर्ज हुईं, जबकि 2022 में यह सिर्फ 33%, 2023 में 47% और 2024 में 59% थी। इससे स्पष्ट है कि हर साल चरम मौसम की घटनाएं बढ़ रही हैं। मॉनसून का कुल समय 1 जून से 30 सितंबर तक 122 दिन का होता है, जिसमें से अब तक आधा समय बीत चुका है।

Media Workshop on AMR Highlights Media’s Role in Combating the Silent Pandemic

New Delhi : A national-level media workshop titled “AMR: The Silent Pandemic – Let Media Break the Silence” was held today at the Press Club of India, New Delhi. The workshop was organized by ReAct Asia Pacific and brought together media professionals, health experts, and civil society leaders to raise awareness and strengthen reporting on the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is one of the gravest public health threats of our time. In 2021, an estimated 4.71 million deaths globally were associated with bacterial AMR, including 1.14 million directly attributable deaths. Recent projections indicate that between 2025 and 2050, bacterial AMR could cause 39 million deaths worldwide — equivalent to three lives lost every minute. The workshop aimed to equip journalists with scientific knowledge, cross-sectoral insights, and practical tools to report on AMR using a One Health approach—which connects human, animal, and environmental health. The event opened with remarks by Dr. S. S. Lal, Director of ReAct Asia Pacific, who emphasized the urgency of AMR and the critical role of the media in shaping public awareness and accountability. A moving session on lived experiences followed, moderated by Dr. Narinder Saini, Chairman of the AMR Standing Committee, Indian Medical Association. Bhakti Chauhan (AMR Taskforce) and Pooja Mishra (HIV advocate) shared powerful personal reflections, shedding light on the human cost of AMR—especially among vulnerable communities. Dr. Saini reiterated the call to “Stop Infection, Fight AMR” and urged journalists to “Act now, act together.” The One Health panel, chaired by Dr. Sam Prasad (AHF Indiacares), brought together experts across sectors, including Dr. Sangeeta Sharma (Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs), Dr. Chanchal Bhattacharya (Heifer International), Rajeshwari Sinha (Centre for Science and Environment), and Satish Sinha (Toxics Link). The panel underscored the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in addressing AMR. A session on health systems strengthening featured Dr. Sarabjit Singh Chadha (FIND) and Dr. Tikesh Bisen (PATH), who spoke on the critical role of diagnostics and infection prevention and control (IPC) in AMR containment. Dr. Salman Khan (ReAct Africa) guided participants on identifying credible sources for science reporting. This was followed by Shobha Shukla (Global AMR Media Alliance), who shared insights on media trends and the challenges of reporting AMR in India. A key highlight was the launch of the India Chapter of the AMR Media Alliance by Bobby Ramakant, who also led the concluding group discussion. The event closed with a clear message: media must be at the forefront of amplifying solutions to the AMR crisis. Key Messages for the Community: • Antibiotics are lifesaving — but only when used correctly. Misuse and overuse lead to drug-resistant infections that are harder and costlier to treat. • Not all infections need antibiotics. Colds, flu, and many fevers are caused by viruses — antibiotics don’t work against them. • Always take antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Don’t stop midway, skip doses, or self-medicate. • Get tested when needed. Diagnostics help identify whether antibiotics are necessary and which ones are effective. • Good hygiene prevents infections. Simple steps like handwashing, clean water, sanitation, and vaccination reduce the need for antibiotics. • AMR affects everyone — not just hospital patients. Resistant infections can occur in the community, in food, and through animals or the environment. • You have the right to ask. Ask your doctor: “Is this antibiotic really necessary?” • Antibiotics are a shared resource. Protecting them today ensures they remain effective for future generations.

Antimicrobial resistance a growing threat, warn experts

At 23, Bhakti Chavan was about to complete her Master’s in biotechnology when a swelling on her neck turned her world upside down. It wasn’t cancer, it wasn’t a common infection. It was an extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) —a form of TB that doesn’t respond to even second-line antibiotics. The medicines she studied in textbooks failed her. For two years, she endured painful, toxic treatments, some injected daily, not knowing if she would survive. Chavan shared her story on Thursday at the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Media Workshop hosted by ReAct Asia Pacific, an international network working on antimicrobial resistance, at the Press Club of India in Delhi, offering a first-hand account of the human cost of AMR — a silent and escalating global health emergency. AMR refers to the ability of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites to resist the effects of medications that once killed them. This makes infections harder to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. “If it happened to me, it can happen to anyone,” said Chavan who is now a member of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors. The sessions addressed how India is grappling with rising resistance to antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics, largely driven by unregulated use in humans, animals and agriculture. Antimicrobial resistance a growing threat, warn experts If it happened to me, it can happen to anyone, says survivor article_Author Sneha Richhariya Tribune News Service New Delhi, Updated At : 04:45 AM Aug 08, 2025 IST fb twitter whatsapp Follow us 0 Follow us Connect with us 1 Connect with us featured-imgfeatured-img An AMR media workshop underway at Press Club of India in New Delhi. Advertisement At 23, Bhakti Chavan was about to complete her Master’s in biotechnology when a swelling on her neck turned her world upside down. It wasn’t cancer, it wasn’t a common infection. It was an extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) —a form of TB that doesn’t respond to even second-line antibiotics. The medicines she studied in textbooks failed her. For two years, she endured painful, toxic treatments, some injected daily, not knowing if she would survive. Advertisement Chavan shared her story on Thursday at the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Media Workshop hosted by ReAct Asia Pacific, an international network working on antimicrobial resistance, at the Press Club of India in Delhi, offering a first-hand account of the human cost of AMR — a silent and escalating global health emergency. AMR refers to the ability of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites to resist the effects of medications that once killed them. This makes infections harder to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. Advertisement “If it happened to me, it can happen to anyone,” said Chavan who is now a member of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors. The sessions addressed how India is grappling with rising resistance to antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics, largely driven by unregulated use in humans, animals and agriculture. Read More Flowers Delhi Mid-entry window for UG admissions in Delhi University to open on August 8' View More right-arrow Advertisement In 2021, AMR was linked to 4.71 million deaths globally, with 1.14 million deaths directly caused by resistant bacterial infections. Projections indicate that by 2050, this number could rise to 10 million deaths annually — a staggering one death every three seconds. “AMR is a pandemic in waiting,” warned Dr Narendra Saini, former Secretary General of the Indian Medical Association and Chairman of the IMA AMR Committee. “No new antibiotic molecules have been developed in the past two decades. Existing ones are failing,” he said. Experts called for a ‘One Health’ approach — an integrated method recognising that human health is deeply linked with animal and environmental health. Dr Chanchal Bhattacharya, specialist in veterinary medicine, pointed to the unchecked use of antibiotics in livestock and the poor diagnostic systems in veterinary care. Speaking on the role of climate change in the spread of AMR, Rajeshwari Sinha of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a research and advocacy organisation working on the environment, explained that rising temperatures can accelerate the growth of bacteria and microbes, including drug-resistant strains. Satish Sinha of Toxics Link, a Delhi-based NGO on environment, focusing on chemical and waste management, highlighted how antibiotic residues from pharmaceutical factories, hospitals and poultry farms are polluting rivers and soils, breeding resistant microbes beyond clinical settings. “We have conducted surveys of five rivers across the country and all of them were found to have antibiotics. This water is being used for drinking, farming and so on,” Sinha added. Pooja Mishra, an HIV survivor, shared how difficult treatment becomes when drug resistance enters the picture. After trying seven antibiotic combinations, only one finally worked for her. “The bacteria are evolving faster than the medicines we’re making,” she said.

Rajpura thermal power plant named India’s best-performing supercritical coal unit for emission intensity

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has named Nabha Power Ltd’s (NPL) Rajpura thermal power plant (TPP) as India’s best-performing supercritical coal-based thermal power plant for emission intensity. This is in the below 800MW capacity unit category. NPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro and the thermal power plant is located in Punjab’s Patiala district. In its latest report titled “Decarbonizing the Coal-based Thermal Power Sector in India: A Roadmap,” released recently, CSE evaluated the emission intensity of all coal-based thermal power plants in India and identified Rajpura plant among the top performers. According to CSE, Rajpura plant achieved an emission factor of 0.84 tonne/MWh, a benchmark among all supercritical power units in the country. This is significantly better than the national average emission factor of 0.97 tonne/MWh.

How can we make our hills safe again?

The Centre for Science and Environment’s Atlas on Weather Disasters shows that between January 2022 and March 2025, the 13 Himalayan states and Union territories reported extreme weather events on 822 days, claiming 2,863 lives. The latest natural-turned-man-made disaster in Uttarakhand highlights the need to integrate ecological solutions into broader infrastructure planning. Climate change adaptation must be embedded within policy frameworks, writes Banasree Purkayastha l Why Uttarkashi is in the news ON TUESDAY, A cloudburst in the upper catchment of the Kheer Ganga river is believed to have triggered flash floods in Dharali village of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. Dharali is the main stopover on the way to Gangotri, from where the Ganga originates, and is home to several hotels and homestays. The flash floods, carrying debris from the mountains, left at least four dead and many more missing as it wiped out the village’s market, houses, and hotels in just 34 seconds. Besides Dharali, cloudbursts were also reported in Harsil and Sukki Top in the same district. Though some experts believe the amount of rain the Uttarkashi district received on Tuesday was not enough for it to be termed a “cloudburst”, and a glacier pond burst on the upper reaches was perhaps behind the flash floods, the wave of silt and the disaster that followed were certainly man-made. The state has been witnessing heavy monsoon-triggered disruptions, especially in its higher-altitude regions, prompting large-scale evacuation and relief operations led by multiple agencies. Experts say these natural factors are worsened by human activity. l Increased human activity compounds risk DHARALI IS LOCATED in the fragile Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone (BESZ), and unregulated activities like construction on river floodplains along with deforestation contributed to making the disaster more severe. While the ESZ tag offers a safety net against unregulated development, the region has been in the spotlight due to the construction of the Char Dham all-weather highway project, which faced legal challenges due to ecological threats, and was cleared by the Supreme Court. Ravi Chopra, who headed a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee which appraised the Char Dham project in-depth, told The Indian Express, “On the stretch from Dharasu to Gangotri, the headquarters of Bhatwari block is located. The slope here has been sliding away over a period of time, and scientists have studied and published papers on this. We had said the road widening was not recommended and advised (the authorities) not to touch it.” l Weather extremities on the rise A STUDY PUBLISHED in the Journal of the Geological Society of India last month has confirmed a rise in extreme rainfall and surface runoff events in Uttarakhand after 2010. While 1998-2009 saw warming and low rainfall, the trend reversed post-2010, with central and western Uttarakhand witnessing more extreme precipitation events. The state’s geology compounds its risk. A November 2023 study published in the Natural Hazards journal, analysing disaster data between 2020 and 2023, recorded 183 incidents in Uttarakhand during the monsoon months. Landslides accounted for 34.4% of these, flash floods 26.5% and cloudbursts 14%. The Centre for Science and Environment’s Atlas on Weather Disasters shows that between January 2022 and March 2025, the 13 Himalayan states and Union territories reported extreme weather events on 822 days, claiming 2,863 lives. l Himachal too faces nature’s fury IN NEIGHBOURING HIMACHAL Pradesh also, rain-related incidents have left 173 people dead this year. In Kullu’s Parvati Valley, heavy rains and flash floods led to the collapse of a temporary cofferdam at the Malana-I hydroelectric project last week. Damages worth `9,000 crore due to higher silt flow and debris were recorded between 2022 and 2025, as per government estimates. Climate change, deforestation, hydropower projects causing landslides, construction of four-lane roads, tunnels and multi-storey buildings to cater to the increasing tourist footfall are among the reasons behind the ecological imbalance, leading the Supreme Court recently to lament that “the day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish.” “The danger to the state’s natural richness is growing as a result of human greed and apathy,” the SC bench said. Calling for sustainable planning and conservation measures, it said all Himalayan states need to collate resources and expertise to ensure their development plans are cognisant of environmental challenges. l Call for calibrated development EXPERTS SAY IT’S time to take a relook at the Char Dham project, particularly its Gangotri stretch. As Mallika Bhanot, a member of the BESZ monitoring committee from Ganga Ahvaan, a non-profit organisation, said on X, “This is a natural event turned into a disaster which is due to man-made reasons. Unregulated construction along the sides of small tributaries and rivers leads to devastation downstream.” The Uttarakhand government has commissioned assessments of the carrying capacity — the maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can sustainably support without degrading natural resources — of its cities to check ecological imbalances. The state attracts streams of tourists to its hill stations and shrines, with 3.7 million visiting these shrines in the summer of 2025. While tourism will remain the mainstay, a calibrated approach to tourism development, akin to how Bhutan does it, should be considered. At the same time, the need to identify alternative income-generating avenues for local residents cannot be ignored.

L&T’s Rajpura Thermal Power Plant named India’s best for lowest emission intensity

Leading public interest think tank – Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) – has named Nabha Power Ltd’s (NPL) Rajpura thermal power plant (TPP) as India’s best-performing supercritical coal-based thermal power plant for emission intensity. This is in the below 800MW capacity unit category. NPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro and the thermal power plant is located in Punjab’s Patiala district. In its latest report titled “Decarbonizing the Coal-based Thermal Power Sector in India: A Roadmap,” released recently, CSE evaluated the emission intensity of all coal-based thermal power plants in India and identified Rajpura plant among the top performers. According to CSE, Rajpura plant achieved an emission factor of 0.84 tonne/MWh, a benchmark among all supercritical power units in the country. This is significantly better than the national average emission factor of 0.97 tonne/MWh. The CSE report also highlighted the plant’s auxiliary power consumption rate of 4.62 per cent, the lowest in the sector. Auxiliary power consumption refers to the portion of electricity used by a plant to operate its systems — such as pumps, fans, and other essential equipment. A lower auxiliary power consumption rate indicates higher operational efficiency, as more of the generated power is available for external supply. “Benchmark set by Rajpura TPP nudges other coal based TPPs to adopt operational and modernisation measures to achieve emission intensity improvements. Coal decarbonisation potential via efficiency improvement is key to emission reductions in the power sector of India”, said Parth Kumar, Programme Manager – CSE. Commenting on the report, S K Narang, Chief Executive – NPL, said: “This recognition by CSE is a proud moment for all of us at Nabha Power. It validates our relentless focus on operational efficiency, environmental responsibility, and the adoption of best-in-class technologies. We remain committed to setting new benchmarks in sustainable power generation.” Rajpura plant comprises two supercritical units, each with a capacity of 700 MW, bringing the total installed capacity to 1,400 MW. Both the units were commissioned in 2014 and continue to operate efficiently. The CSE report commended the fact that despite operating both the units using domestic coal, the plant is able to maintain emission factors below 0.9 tonne/MWh. Congratulating NPL on the feat, D K Sen, NPL Chairman and Advisor to the L&T CMD, said: “Rajpura power plant’s performance is a testament to L&T’s engineering excellence and unwavering commitment to sustainability. We are proud of the team at Nabha Power for leading the way in clean and efficient thermal power generation.” The performance of Rajpura power plant reflects L&T’s overall focus on environmental responsibility and efficient resource utilisation. L&T has set a target to achieve water neutrality by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2040.

Another chance to fix the plastic crisis. Will Geneva talks deliver?

A report released last week on countries’ positions on the Global Plastics Treaty by the Centre for Science and Environment shows that Kenya proposes that a plastic product under consideration should meet 'all' criteria requirements rather than 'any'. Kenya asks the reviewing committee to develop an initial list of plastic products along with its justification. In Geneva, Switzerland At the heart of the ‘Peace Capital’, delegates from more than 170 countries are gearing up to hammer out a possible agreement that will potentially end plastic pollution globally. They are attending the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) that will run from Tuesday to August 14, 2025. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) calls plastics pollution a global problem. A 2024 update from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)shows that every year, about 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced, and out of that number, an estimated 20 million end up polluting our environment. This number will go up by 2040 if nothing is done by governments around the world. On the eve of the start of the negotiations, there was a sense of calm at the Palais des Nations where negotiators trickled in to set the stage for the talks. The talks happening in Geneva, Switzerland, are the second part of the fifth session in a two-year UN treaty-drafting process that will address plastic pollution across its full lifecycle. It all started in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, during the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) when countries passed a historic resolution which was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The whole process was to end by 2024. Last year, however, while there was swelling hope that the government would finally ink a deal in Busan, South Korea, there was a disappointing end to the negotiations. It resulted in the postponement of the treaty to this year. The world now waits, and a decision will be made over the next couple of days. Kenya, together with 54 other countries, will be represented by the Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN), sharing a common voice that will speak on behalf of the people in Africa. A report released last week on countries’ positions on the Global Plastics Treaty by the Centre for Science and Environment shows that Kenya proposes that a plastic product under consideration should meet 'all' criteria requirements rather than 'any'. Kenya asks the reviewing committee to develop an initial list of plastic products along with its justification. Kenya also wants a baseline study to be done on the levels of production within its national jurisdiction to inform a reduction schedule for the production of plastic. Griffins Ochieng, Executive Director of the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), said in a press statement that the negotiations are an opportunity for Africa to assert its position, protect its people, and shape an ambitious, legally binding treaty that delivers real, systemic change. “Let this treaty reflect the lived realities of our people, not the boardroom interests of petrochemical companies as witnessed over the past negotiations,” he said. In 2017, Kenya banned the use of plastic bags and extended this to all single-use plastics in protected areas such as the National Parks, forests and beaches. “Kenya’s single-use plastic ban showed that policy works, but real progress requires going beyond recycling to tackle the root cause: overproduction. A binding global treaty must shift us from managing plastic waste to ending plastic waste,” said Fredrick Njau, Programme Coordinator, Sustainable Development Programme, Heinrich-Böell Foundation. Gerance Mutwol, a Plastics Campaign Manager, Greenpeace Africa, told the Nation yesterday that Africa has to seize this moment to lead because he believes that the stakes are higher this year. “Now more than ever, countries must set aside national interests and come together to forge a treaty that is not only ambitious, but truly fit for purpose, one that can confront the unchecked plastics production and call for an urgent reduction in plastics production and tame the health risks from the toxic chemicals in plastics,” he said. He added that African Negotiators should not lose sight of the real impacts their decisions will have globally. “The continent is disproportionately affected by plastic pollution despite contributing the least to its production. As they sit in Geneva, they should remember that back home our communities and ecosystems are suffering the consequences of plastic pollution from health risks and degraded ecosystems,” Gerance said. “With over 1.5 billion Africans set to be either positively or negatively impacted by the outcome of this treaty, their decisions carry immense weight. The time for ambition is now, the world is watching, and Africa must speak with one strong, unified voice,” he added.

दिल्ली ने तोड़ा 7 साल का रिकॉर्ड, बरसात में धुलकर लॉकडाउन से भी ज्यादा साफ हुई हवा

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की वायु प्रदूषण विशेषज्ञ के अनुसार वायु गुणवत्ता में सुधार मौसम की परिस्थितियों का परिणाम है। उन्होंने कहा कि मानसून के दौरान भारी बारिश के कारण प्रदूषक पानी में मिल जाते हैं, जिससे प्रदूषण का स्तर घटता है। इस वर्ष लगातार हो रही तीव्र बारिश को इस स्थिति का मुख्य कारण माना गया है। हालांकि सीमित समय में सभी उत्सर्जन डेटा की तुलना करना संभव नहीं है। मानसून के मौसम में इस तरह के आकलन करना उचित नहीं होगा। सर्दियों के महीनों में प्रदूषण के स्तरों का विश्लेषण करना आवश्यक है, ताकि यह पता चल सके कि सरकार की पहल सही दिशा में प्रगति कर रही हैं या नहीं।