In Sangam Vihar, for instance, a Centre for Science and Environment report found that with sewage lines also working as stormwater drains, flooding and sewage spillover occurs “even in a short 15-minute rainfall episode”.
Using sediment samples from Delhi's Yamuna River, a recent Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study reported the highest concentration of microplastics of all surveyed locations, at 800 microplastic particles per kilogram. We live in a plastic world; this is not just social commentary, but an alarming biological truth. From that steaming chai you are drinking from a takeaway cup to the “fresh” vegetables wrapped in cling film, there is an unwanted trespasser in our food, our water, and yes, our bloodstream. Microplastics are tiny, dangerous hitchhikers in the packaging of modern living. What Are Microplastics, Anyway? Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres, essentially the glitter of pollution, with less glam and far more fatal flaws. They come as either primary (like the microbeads put into face scrubs) or secondary microplastics (which are formed when larger pieces of plastic decay, like your old flip flops). They are made from common polymers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene (PE)—the same stuff that makes plastic bags, bottles, disposable utensils and almost every other convenience object that we don't think twice about. From Yamuna to Your Dinner Plate Using sediment samples from Delhi's Yamuna River, a recent Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study reported the highest concentration of microplastics of all surveyed locations, at 800 microplastic particles per kilogram. That’s not just an environmental warning bell; it’s a blaring siren for public health. These particles are not content to just float around. They embed. In the riverbed. In fish. In crops. And finally, in you. The Beer Bottle Problem (Yes, Even Glass Ones) Think you’re being fancy sipping from a glass bottle? Think again. A French study recently revealed that drinks like beer, soda, and lemonade in glass bottles contain more microplastics than those in plastic bottles or cans, up to 100 particles per litre. Why? Because of the paint on the caps and microscopic friction. Basically, your glass bottle is shedding microdandruff into your drink every time you twist it open. Water fared slightly better, with sparkling variants showing lower contamination. But still, not zero. Ticking Cardiovascular Time Bomb? Microplastics aren’t just stomach-churning, they may be heart-breaking. Literally. The WHO pegs cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as India’s top killer, responsible for 27% of total deaths in 2016. While stress and lifestyle factors are well-documented villains, scientists are now investigating whether these tiny plastic particles are playing a more insidious role in clogging your arteries. Studies show microplastics can be found in human arteries, brain, liver, lungs, heart, and even the placenta. They cause oxidative stress and inflammation, key ingredients for developing atherosclerosis, where your arteries turn into traffic-jammed plastic highways. Microplastics have even been found in human semen and mothers’ milk. Think about that. In one 2024 study, people with microplastics in their carotid arteries were twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die from any cause within three years as those without. Let that statistic sink in (if your bloodstream isn’t already too clogged). What doctors have to say: Dr Tarun Kumar, Interventional cardiologist, Associate director of Medanta Medicity, told ETV Bharat, “Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 millimetres, and they originate from both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include cosmetics, while secondary sources result from the degradation of larger plastic materials. These particles are extremely harmful to the human body, primarily because they trigger oxidative stress and inflammation. When oxidative stress and inflammation persist, they can increase the risk of serious health issues such as heart attacks, skin cancer, respiratory diseases like asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, lung cancer, and skin irritation, including redness. In pregnant women, microplastics can disrupt endocrine function, potentially leading to miscarriages and other complications. Even before causing major illnesses, microplastics can present early warning signs such as fatigue, skin redness, irritation, gastric bloating, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Over time, they can lead to heart disease and even cancer. He added, “As for detoxifying the body, the first and foremost step is to reduce plastic use in daily life, especially in our diet. Avoid heating food in plastic containers, refrain from using plastic for food storage, and try not to eat from plastic-wrapped or packaged items. Even glass containers can sometimes be contaminated with microplastic particles, so be cautious. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is critical. This includes avoiding canned and processed foods, increasing your intake of natural fibre, especially from chia seeds, flaxseeds, and psyllium husk, and consuming plenty of antioxidants through fruits and vegetables. Hydration is equally important, as liver health plays a key role in detoxification. Emerging research also suggests that infrared saunas may help eliminate microplastics through sweat. Other advanced techniques, like blood filtration, are being explored but are not yet widely available. Until then, adopting a clean, fibre-rich, antioxidant-loaded diet is our best defence to maintain a healthy body and minimise the toxic effects of microplastics.” Dr. Krishan Rajbhar, Senior Consultant, Allergy Specialist, Delhi, “The burning issue today is microplastics, which have made their way from rivers into our bodies—even into mother’s milk. This has largely happened due to our careless and excessive use of plastic in daily life. Multiple studies have confirmed the presence of microplastics in human breast milk, raising serious concerns about early-life exposure. While plastics are widely used because they are cheap and easily available, their devastating long-term effects are often overlooked. He added, "When we heat food in plastic containers or wrap hot food in plastic, harmful chemicals leach into the food and subsequently enter our bodies. Over time, these microplastics can accumulate in organs like the liver, nervous tissue, and may impair brain function or cognitive development. Alarmingly, recent research has also detected microplastics in semen samples, indicating potential links to declining fertility. Studies have further revealed that pre-term infants have nearly double the amount of microplastics per gram of body weight compared to full-term babies, highlighting a serious reproductive and developmental risk. I strongly urge the public to use plastic judiciously, or ideally, eliminate it from daily use. Plastics are not just polluting our environment, they are contaminating us as human beings.” India’s Research Gap, and the Urgent Need to Fill It Despite the global alarm, India has not yet conducted definitive studies on microplastic cardiotoxicity in humans. Without large cohort studies accounting for local exposure levels, diet, pollution, and lifestyle factors, the exact health burden remains speculative. But let’s be clear: lack of data doesn’t mean lack of danger. As Vikrant Tongad, an environmental conservationist, told ETV Bharat, “This disturbing evidence of microplastics in the Yamuna is yet another reminder of how deeply our pollution crisis has penetrated, not just into our rivers, but into our bodies.” Your Ketchup Packet Is Plotting Against You Micro- and nanoplastics are not picky eaters; they’re everywhere. Recent studies found them in beer, canned fish, rice, tea bags, salt, take-out containers, and even deli meats. Repeated washing, exposure to sunlight, and even opening and closing plastic bottles shed these particles into the contents. In one study, washing a melamine bowl 100 times led to a significant release of microplastics. And every time you tear open that juice box or uncap that bottle of soda, you’re contributing to the spread. Toxic Toppings: The Chemicals You Didn’t Order It’s not just the plastics themselves; over 3,600 chemicals leach into food during processing, packaging, and storage. Of these, 79 are known to cause cancer, endocrine disruption, and genetic mutations. That innocent-looking cling wrap is now starting to feel like biohazard tape. David Andrews from the Environmental Working Group said, “This study should raise alarm bells. What’s less clear, and deeply concerning, is just how significant food packaging is as a source of exposure.” Yamuna’s Microplastic Crisis: The Local Face of a Global Catastrophe Rajesh Paul, another environmentalist, says, “The presence of 800 microplastic particles per kilogram in Yamuna's sediment is not just an environmental red flag, it’s a public health emergency.” Manu Singh warns of deeper implications, “Microplastics in human tissues, including breast milk, suggest endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity, and immunotoxicity. Yet India has no formal regulatory thresholds. That’s a dangerous gap.” Nature’s Detox: How Okra and Fenugreek Might Save Us Hope grows in curious places. Like your sabziwala’s cart. Scientists have found that sticky plant extracts from okra and fenugreek can remove up to 90% of microplastics from polluted water. Rajani Srinivasan and her team dried these extracts into powders and found they outperform synthetic polymers like polyacrylamide. In real-world tests from Texas water bodies: Okra worked best in the ocean water Fenugreek excels in groundwater A 1:1 mix performed best in freshwater “Utilising these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances,” says Srinivasan. Let that sink in: the same slime that thickens your bhindi sabzi could clean your drinking water. What Can You Do (Apart from Panicking)? While you can’t entirely plastic-proof your life, here are some damage-control steps: Carry reusable cloth bags Switch to stainless steel or glass bottles Say no to single-use plastic cutlery Don’t microwave food in plastic containers Read food labels for packaging info Also, yell at your local representative. Seriously. As Deeney, an environmental expert, puts it, “We need systemic action to reduce plastics production and pollution. Individual efforts alone won’t solve this.” Treaty on the Table This August, at the INC-5.2 summit in Geneva, the treaty drafting committee is expected to finalise the world’s first Global Plastic Treaty. More than 175 nations will be discussing a legally binding instrument to combat global plastic pollution. Meanwhile, India itself foresaw the imminent plastic pollution crisis and has enacted a ban on single-use plastics since 2022 (while promoting the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle), yet the widespread adoption of these plastic reduction techniques remains inconsistent, and consumers are often oblivious to it. According to S. N. Mishra, Professor at TERI SAS, “The Yamuna is a flowing sewerage nowadays. Fish mistake microplastics for food, and microplastics end up in our bodies. This causes hormonal disruption, inflammation, and possibly cancer.” While there are necessary systemic interventions, individuals can contribute by: Avoid heating food in plastic food containers Restricting the amount of ultraprocessed packaged foods they consume Using metal or ceramic containers Supporting environmentally conscious brands Joining together with citizen groups and/or NGOs to advocate for progressive policies like expectations for brands, or increased emphasis on systematic plastic reduction. Microplastic contamination is not a potential future issue; it is a current historical health crisis that is ongoing. As the production of plastic dramatically increases, the burden on our bodies and ecosystems increases proportionally. We can no longer view plastic pollution as primarily a waste management issue; instead, we need to treat this emergent concern as the public health disaster that it is. ViKrant Tongad reminds us of the seriousness of the crisis: “We are already in the crisis. The time to act was yesterday." Dr Rajat Sharma, RDA President, GTB Hospital, said, "Researchers have found traces of microplastic in human blood with possible routes of entry through ingestion and inhalation. It has also been found in drinking water and food items. Vehicular tyre abrasion is one of the leading causes of inhalation of microplastics. Researchers have speculated disturbances in reproductive health, endocrinal imbalances, and carcinogenicity by a variety of plastic materials like phthalates, Bisphenol-A (BPA) and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP).” Meet Ghonia pulmonologist. Microplastics are increasingly being recognised as a potential health hazard. Once inhaled or ingested, these particles can lodge in tissues, especially the lungs, and trigger chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation. Emerging evidence suggests a link between long-term microplastic exposure and lung fibrosis, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer, though large-scale human studies are still ongoing. Inhaled microplastics, in particular, may act similarly to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), known to increase heart attack risk and respiratory illnesses. Currently, there are no specific symptoms unique to microplastic exposure. However, persistent cough, breathlessness, unexplained fatigue, allergic-type respiratory symptoms, or worsening of pre-existing lung conditions (like asthma or COPD) could be early indicators, especially in individuals with high occupational or environmental exposure." He added, "Systemic symptoms such as gut disturbances or inflammatory markers may also appear due to ingestion-related exposure. Recent studies have detected microplastics in placentas, amniotic fluid, and breast milk, raising concerns about maternal-fetal transfer. Animal studies and early human data suggest these particles may interfere with hormonal signalling, impact embryo implantation, and alter immune development in newborns. Long-term effects on fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and childhood development are areas of active investigation, but the early findings are concerning. At present, there is no proven medical treatment or detox to eliminate microplastics from the human body. However, a diet rich in antioxidants (like fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids) may help counteract inflammation caused by these particles. Supporting gut health through fibre and probiotics might also reduce gastrointestinal absorption. But prevention remains more effective than a cure. What concerns me most is that microplastics are not only inhaled into the lungs but appear to translocate into the bloodstream and reach multiple organs, potentially triggering chronic inflammation that drives respiratory disease, cardiovascular issues, even cancer.” Young Innovators Take on Microplastics with Low-Cost, Scalable Filtration Model A group of high school and undergraduate students, working under the guidance of IIT researchers, have developed a prototype to detect, filter, and potentially upcycle microplastics, a growing environmental and health hazard. Their solution uses everyday materials like muslin cloth and activated carbon, aimed at capturing microplastics from water sources and even household appliances like washing machines. Prassan Panwar, a student from SNVP International School, Pune, detailed their methodology, “We began by collecting and analysing water samples, including from the Yamuna. Using stereo microscopy, we identified microplastics and sorted them by colour and polymer type. Our prototype filters water using a 90-micron muslin layer along with granulated activated carbon. The difference in clarity between contaminated and filtered water was visibly stark, proving our system’s effectiveness.” Samvit, an 11th-grade student, explained the urgency behind their innovation, “Microplastics are a huge issue. They’re everywhere: pen caps, bottle caps, packaging. What's shocking is that 210,000 microplastic particles enter our environment from a single laundry load alone. That’s not just water pollution, it’s marine damage, food chain contamination, and a health crisis. Our prototype tackles this using a dual system: physical filtration through muslin cloth, which traps particles due to its fine porosity, and chemical absorption using granulated activated carbon (GAC). This combination makes our solution both efficient and scalable.” Vanya Raina, a Class 12 student at DAV Public School, spoke about their fieldwork experience, “To understand the real impact, we worked alongside PhD scholars at the NRAM lab of the Centre for Rural Development and Technology, IIT Delhi. We collected Yamuna water samples from Vijay Nagar and found disturbing evidence of microplastics, especially plastic netting used in vegetable packaging. These plastics make their way into crops irrigated by the river and eventually into our food. We even analysed soil samples from Jahangirpuri, and through stereomicroscopy, we found complex plastic structures, some breaking down to nanoplastics under one micron in size.” Raina added, “Microplastics have been detected in human blood, brain, and even mother’s milk. Particles smaller than 5 microns can transform into nanoplastics, which cross cell barriers and infiltrate vital organs like the heart and brain. These aren't just pollutants, they’re carcinogenic. Studies suggest up to 35% of cancer-related deaths could be linked to plastic exposure.” Archisha Sharma, a first-year B.Tech student at IP University, highlighted the model’s versatility, “Our filtration technique can be adapted for washing machines, household water systems, or even scaled up for municipal water treatment plants. But we didn’t stop there. We also looked at how to upcycle the trapped microplastics. Under guidance from a PhD scholar, we tested reusing the contaminated water, after rinsing the filters, to create concrete tiles. These microplastics get locked into the tile matrix and don’t leach back out. It’s an example of building a circular economy from waste.”
A 2022 Centre for Science and Environment study has found high levels of pathogens and heavy metals in the area near Bandhwari landfill, raising serious ecological concerns. Severe environmental degradation and a public health crisis triggered by the “illegal” dumping and burning of waste in the expansive Aravalli range in Haryana are among the concerns flagged in a recent report titled ‘The State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens’ Report – Part 2’, which was released on Tuesday. Prepared by the People for Aravallis, a nonprofit, the report was submitted to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday. It recommends making the entire range in Haryana a ‘no-go’ zone for landfills, burning, and the dumping of waste. It further suggests conducting independent studies to properly assess the damage caused by such practices. The first part of the report, released on May 30, was primarily concerned with the damage caused by the large-scale illegal mining and deforestation in the area, while the second part is focused on waste dumping and its ramifications in the region. The report identifies over 100 geo-tagged locations across Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Rewari, and Charkhi Dadri districts where alleged illegal waste disposal has contributed to the contamination of soil, groundwater, and air. The range, 692 km in length, spanning from Gujarat to Delhi through Rajasthan, is home to diverse wildlife. Highlighting the need to protect the ecological region, the report underlines that the range supports a wide range of species, including leopards, hyenas, and over 200 bird species. The report points out that in Nuh’s Tauru region, villages like Khori Khurd and Khori Kalan host illegal units that burn industrial waste from Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. This was despite a May 2025 order prohibiting open burning of all types of waste, including solid, liquid, and organic, in the Aravalli region of Nuh. Further, the report flags that waste burning, which involves plastics and chemicals, releases toxic gases, worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR. The Bandhwari landfill in Gurgaon and a dump near the ITI Colony at the Sohna-Alwar road contribute to the degradation. A 2022 Centre for Science and Environment study has found high levels of pathogens and heavy metals in the area near Bandhwari landfill, raising serious ecological concerns. Neelam Ahluwalia, founder-member of People for Aravallis, cited weak monitoring as a trigger facilitating waste dumping and burning. “We need an Aravalli Protection Task Force Committee in each district, led by the Deputy Commissioner and overseen by the Chief Secretary, to ensure accountability”, she underlined. According to Brahim Khal of the Jal Biradari social movement, the chemical-laden waste in Tauru villages pollutes groundwater, harms people, cattle, as well as wildlife. To curtail this, he proposed 24/7 checkposts and drone surveillance along the Nuh-Rajasthan border, with the footage shared publicly for transparency. Dr Shyamala Mani, a waste management expert, urged the enforcement of the 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules, emphasising source segregation, composting, and recycling to reduce landfill reliance. While adding that landfills should be moved outside eco-sensitive areas, she also called for a ban on single-use plastics in the Aravalli districts.
पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों का मानना है कि यह फैसला लंबे समय तक प्रदूषण पर लगाम लगाने में मदद करेगा। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की निदेशक सुनीता नारायण कहती हैं, “दिल्ली जैसे महानगर में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण पुराने वाहनों से ही होता है। इस फैसले से न सिर्फ हवा की गुणवत्ता में सुधार होगा, बल्कि लोग इलेक्ट्रिक या कम प्रदूषण वाले वाहनों की ओर प्रेरित होंगे।” दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण से लड़ाई को लेकर सरकार ने एक बड़ा और कड़ा कदम उठाया है। राजधानी में 1 जुलाई 2025 से 15 साल पुराने पेट्रोल और 10 साल पुराने डीजल वाहनों को पेट्रोल-डीजल देने पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगा दिया गया है। लेकिन इस फैसले को लेकर जहां एक ओर पर्यावरणविद इसे साहसिक और जरूरी कदम मान रहे हैं, वहीं आम जनता और पेट्रोल पंप संचालक इससे जुड़ी तकनीकी खामियों और अव्यवस्था को लेकर असंतुष्ट नजर आ रहे हैं। दिल्ली सरकार ने नियम लागू करने से पहले आर्टिफिशियल इंटेलिजेंस (AI) आधारित कैमरों और स्पीकर सिस्टम को राजधानी के करीब 400 पेट्रोल पंपों पर स्थापित किया था। इन कैमरों को दिल्ली परिवहन विभाग के डेटाबेस से लिंक किया गया है। जैसे ही कोई ओवरएज (नियत समय सीमा पार कर चुका) वाहन पेट्रोल पंप पर प्रवेश करता है, कैमरा उसकी नंबर प्लेट को स्कैन करता है और स्पीकर से अलार्म बजने लगता है। स्पीकर पर यह घोषणा होती है कि वाहन की उम्र पूरी हो चुकी है और उसे ईंधन नहीं मिलेगा। लेकिन जमीनी हकीकत कुछ और ही बयां कर रही है। दिल्ली पेट्रोल डीलर्स एसोसिएशन (DPDA) के अध्यक्ष निश्चल सिंघानिया ने बताया कि राजधानी के कई पेट्रोल पंपों पर स्पीकर सिस्टम अब तक नहीं लग पाए हैं, जिससे अलार्म की व्यवस्था ठीक से काम नहीं कर रही। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि तकनीकी खामियों के कारण कुछ वैध वाहन भी गलती से ‘ओवरएज’ घोषित हो गए और वाहन चालकों को बेवजह परेशानी का सामना करना पड़ा। कुछ वाहन चालकों ने शिकायत की कि सरकार ने बिना किसी पायलट प्रोजेक्ट या ट्रायल के अचानक यह नियम लागू कर दिया। कई जगह कैमरा वाहन की नंबर प्लेट को पहचान ही नहीं पाया तो कुछ जगह साउंड सिस्टम काम नहीं कर रहा था। एक वाहन चालक अजीत कुमार कहते हैं, “मेरी कार अभी 14 साल 9 महीने पुरानी है, लेकिन सिस्टम ने इसे 15 साल पार दिखा दिया। पेट्रोल नहीं मिला और मुझे काफी अपमानजनक अनुभव हुआ।” नियम लागू होते ही दिल्ली ट्रांसपोर्ट डिपार्टमेंट ने एक्शन में आकर पुराने वाहनों की धरपकड़ शुरू कर दी। मंगलवार को राजधानी में करीब 20-25 पुराने पेट्रोल और डीजल वाहन जब्त किए गए। विभाग के अधिकारियों ने बताया कि यदि कोई वाहन पहली बार जब्त किया गया है, तो उसे छुड़ाने का एक मौका मिलेगा, लेकिन शर्तों के साथ। बाइक मालिक को 5000 रुपये और कार मालिक को 10000 रुपये का जुर्माना भरना होगा। साथ ही एक शपथ पत्र भी देना होगा जिसमें वे यह वचन देंगे कि दोबारा यह गलती नहीं होगी। लेकिन यदि वही वाहन दूसरी बार पकड़ा गया, तो उसे स्क्रैप कर दिया जाएगा — यानी दोबारा सड़क पर लौटने की कोई संभावना नहीं। दिल्ली में प्रतिबंध लागू होते ही गाजियाबाद, नोएडा, गुरुग्राम और फरीदाबाद के पेट्रोल पंपों पर वाहनों की भीड़ बढ़ गई। पेट्रोल डीलर्स का कहना है कि ओवरएज वाहन अब दिल्ली के बाहर पेट्रोल-डीजल भरवा रहे हैं। इससे न सिर्फ दिल्ली के सीमाई इलाकों में ट्रैफिक बढ़ा है, बल्कि सुरक्षा और निगरानी की नई चुनौती भी पैदा हो गई है। हालांकि राहत की बात यह है कि दिल्ली सरकार के इस फैसले का असर आसपास के राज्यों पर भी दिखने लगा है। हरियाणा और उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार ने संकेत दिया है कि 1 नवंबर 2025 से गाजियाबाद, नोएडा, गुरुग्राम और फरीदाबाद में भी ऐसे ही प्रतिबंध लागू कर दिए जाएंगे। यानी कुछ महीनों बाद दिल्ली के बाहर भी ओवरएज वाहनों को ईंधन नहीं मिलेगा। पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों का मानना है कि यह फैसला लंबे समय तक प्रदूषण पर लगाम लगाने में मदद करेगा। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की निदेशक सुनीता नारायण कहती हैं, “दिल्ली जैसे महानगर में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण पुराने वाहनों से ही होता है। इस फैसले से न सिर्फ हवा की गुणवत्ता में सुधार होगा, बल्कि लोग इलेक्ट्रिक या कम प्रदूषण वाले वाहनों की ओर प्रेरित होंगे।”
सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट में लम्बे समय से वायु प्रदूषण पर काम कर रहे विवेक चटोपाध्याय कहते हैं कि युद्ध में विध्वंसक हथियार इस्तेमाल किए जा रहे हैं। हथियारों से निकलने वाला धुआं और प्रदूषक तत्व आसपास की हवा और पानी को तो प्रभावित करते ही हैं हमले की वजह से जो इमारतें ध्वस्त होती हैं उनसे निकलने वाले पर्टीकुलेटेड मैटर लम्बे समय तक हवा में बने रहते हैं। नई दिल्ली, विवेक तिवारी। युद्ध का धुआं अब केवल बारूद, युद्ध के मैदान और खंडहर इमारतों तक सीमित नहीं है। यह पर्यावरण की सांसों को भी उखाड़ रहा है। ईरान-इजराइल युद्ध की बात हो या रूस-यूक्रेन जैसे लम्बे समय से चल रहे संघर्ष की, इन वैश्विक टकरावों ने न सिर्फ हजारों ज़िंदगियों को लील लिया है, बल्कि हमारे पर्यावरण को भी गहरे घाव दिए हैं। मिसाइलों के विस्फोट की गूंज और टैंकों की गरज के बीच, ग्रीनहाउस गैसों का उत्सर्जन तेजी से बढ़ रहा है। विशेषज्ञ चेतावनी दे रहे हैं कि युद्ध के कारण हो रहा यह पर्यावरणीय नुकसान वर्षों के लिए पृथ्वी के संतुलन को बिगाड़ सकता है। ऐसे में आने वाले दिनों में हमें ज्यादा हीटवेव भरे दिन, बाढ़, सूखे आदि जैसी प्राकृतिक आपदाओं का सामना करना पड़ सकता है। युद्ध में दागी जा रही मिसाइलें और बमों के चलते वायुमंडल में बड़े पैमाने पर कार्बन और अन्य खतरनाक ग्रीन हाउस गैसों का उत्सर्जन बढ़ रहा है। आने वाले समय में ये उत्सर्जन धरती को गर्म करने के साथ ही पूरी दुनिया में वायु पदूषण के एक बड़े संकट के रूप में सामने आ सकता है। कॉन्फ्लिक्ट एंड एनवायरनमेंट ऑब्जर्वेटरी संस्था की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार दुनिया भर में सेनाएं ग्रीनहाउस गैसों के उत्सर्जन के 5.5% हिस्से के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक यूक्रेन पर रूस के आक्रमण के पहले तीन सालों में 230 मिट्रिक टन CO2 उत्पन्न हुआ। ये ऑस्ट्रिया, हंगरी, चेक गणराज्य और स्लोवाकिया के संयुक्त वार्षिक उत्सर्जन के बराबर है। वहीं युद्ध में इस्तेमाल किए जा रहे हथियारों के चलते हवा में सल्फर डाई ऑक्साइड और अन्य खतरनाक गैसों का स्तर भी तेजी से बढ़ रहा है। एक अन्य रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक इरान इजराइल युद्ध में लगभग 35,000 टन कार्बन का उत्सर्जन हुआ। ये लगभग 8,300 कारों के पूरे साल के उत्सर्जन के बाराबर है। ऐसे में युद्ध के दौरान इतने बड़े पैमाने पर किया जा रहा ग्रीन हाउस गैसों का उत्सर्जन पर्यावरण के संतुलन को बिगाड़ सकता है। ईरान-इजराइल युद्ध हो या रूस-यूक्रेन युद्ध इनमें इस्तेमाल होने वाले हथियारों में बड़े पैमाने पर हैवी मैटल, कई तरह के केमिकल और बारूद का इस्तेमाल किया गया है। भारी गोलाबारी और मिसाइलों के इस्तेमाल से ये खतरनाक तत्व उस इलाके में बड़े पैमाने पर फैल जाते हैं जो स्थानीय प्रदूषण का बड़ा कारण बनते हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट में लम्बे समय से वायु प्रदूषण पर काम कर रहे विवेक चटोपाध्याय कहते हैं कि युद्ध में विध्वंसक हथियार इस्तेमाल किए जा रहे हैं। हथियारों से निकलने वाला धुआं और प्रदूषक तत्व आसपास की हवा और पानी को तो प्रभावित करते ही हैं हमले की वजह से जो इमारतें ध्वस्त होती हैं उनसे निकलने वाले पर्टीकुलेटेड मैटर लम्बे समय तक हवा में बने रहते हैं। इस हवा में सांस लेने वालों को कई तरह की मुश्किलों का सामना करना पड़ सकता है। हमनें दोनों ही युद्धों में देखा कि एक दूसरे को कमजोर करने के लिए दोनों देशों ने दूसरे देश की ऑयल रिजर्व या ऑयल फील्ड पर हमला किया। इस रिजर्व तेल में लगने वाली आग के चलते जो तेल साल भर इस्तेमाल हो सकता था वो कुछ ही घंटों में जल गया और उससे निकले धुएं के चलते कई मिट्रिक टन कार्बन डाई ऑक्साइड व अन्य खतरनाक गैसें हवा में पहुंच गई जो ग्रीन हाउस गैसों के प्रभाव को बढ़ाएगी। एक तरफ जहां पूरी दुनिया ग्लोबल वार्मिंग के खतरे को देखते हुए लगातार प्रयास कर रही थी कि गैसों के उत्सर्जन को कम किया जा सके वहीं दूसरी तरफ आज दुनिया हथियारों की होड़ में लग गई है। हाल ही में नाटो ने अपने बजट को बढ़ाने की बात कही है। ऐसे में दुनिया भर में आने वाले समय में हथियारों का उद्योग और तेजी से बढ़ेगा और इस उद्योग के बढ़ने से एक तरफ हथियार बनाने में गैसों का उत्सर्जन होगा और जब इन हथियारों का इस्तेमाल होगा तो उससे अलग उत्सर्जन होगा। कुछ सालों पहले संयुक्त राष्ट्र ने युद्ध से पर्यावरण को होने वाले नुकसान का अनुमान लगाने के लिए कुछ नीतियां बनाई थीं। लेकिन आज तक कोई ऐसी रिपोर्ट पेश नहीं की जा सकी जो चर्चा का केंद्र बनी हो। गौर से देखा जाए तो आज संयुक्त राष्ट्र भी ग्लोबल वार्मिंग और पर्यावरण संरक्षण के मुद्दों के मोर्चे पर कमजोर पड़ता दिख रहा है। लंदन की क्वीन मैरी यूनिवर्सिटी के वरिष्ठ प्रवक्ता बेंजामिन नेइमार्क अपने एक शोधपत्र में कहते हैं कि हमने बहुत स्पष्ट रूप से देखा है कि सेनाएँ और युद्ध सामग्री पर्यावरण को किस हद तक नुकसान पहुंचा सकते हैं। दुनिया भर में सैन्य बल हाइड्रोकार्बन के सबसे बड़े उपभोक्ताओं में से हैं। कई सेनाओं की ग्रीन हाउस गैसों की उत्सर्जन क्षमता कुछ छोटे देशों के बराबर हैं। लेकिन जलवायु परिवर्तन में उनके समग्र योगदान के बारे में बहुत कम जानकारी है। इस पर बात भी नहीं होती है। जलवायु परिवर्तन पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र फ्रेमवर्क कन्वेंशन (यूएनएफसीसीसी) के तहत सभी देशों की रिपोर्टिंग जिम्मेदारियाँ अलग-अलग हैं, जलवायु परिवर्तन पर पेरिस समझौते के बाद से, सैन्य उत्सर्जन की रिपोर्टिंग की आवश्यकता अब जरूरी होती जा रही है। 2021 में ग्लासगो में COP26 जलवायु सम्मेलन में, सैन्य उत्सर्जन को ट्रैक करने या UNFCCC को व्यक्तिगत सरकार के सैन्य उत्सर्जन की रिपोर्टिंग के लिए एक नेटवर्क विकसित किया गया था। दुर्भाग्य से, बहुत कम देश अपने सैन्य उत्सर्जन को किसी पारदर्शी या व्यवस्थित तरीके से रिपोर्ट करते हैं, ऐसे में ग्रीन हाउस गैसों के उत्सर्जन की रिपोर्टिंग बहुत असंगत हो जाती है। उन्होंने कहा कि गाजा में युद्ध के अपने हालिया अध्ययन में हमने कुछ मोटे अनुमान लगाए जो बताते हैं कि ईरान-इज़राइल युद्ध के पहले पाँच दिनों में जेट ईंधन, रॉकेट फायर और बैलिस्टिक मिसाइलों ने 35,000 टन से अधिक CO2 जारी किया। यह एक साल में चलाई गई 8,300 कारों या 20,000 टन कोयले के जलने के बराबर है। युद्ध छोटा हो या बड़ा विनाश लेकर आता है। भारतीय सेना के पूर्व लेफ्टिनेंट जर्नल मोहन भंडारी कहते हैं युद्ध हमेशा विध्वंसक होता है। रूस और यूक्रेन युद्ध हो या ईरान और इजराइल युद्ध, बड़े पैमाने पर विध्वंसक हथियारों का इस्तेमाल हुआ है। इन हथियारों में लेड और सल्फर जैसे तत्व बड़े पैमाने पर इस्तेमाल होते हैं। ये इंसानों के लिए तो घातक हैं ही प्रकृति के लिए भी घातक हैं। वहीं दूसरी तरफ बमों और मिसाइलों के चलते हजारों लोग मारे गए हैं। इन लोगों के शवों के चलते भी स्थानीय तौर पर जो प्रदूषण होता है उससे बड़े पैमाने पर बीमारियां फैलती हैं। पूरा माहौल ही विषाक्त हो जाता है। अमेरिका सहित पूरी दुनिया के जिम्मेदार मुल्कों को ये समझना होगा कि अपनी ताकत और कुछ आर्थिक फायदों के लिए वो जिन युद्धों को प्रोत्साहित करते हैं आने वाले समय में उन युद्धों के प्रदूषण के चलते उनके बच्चों को भी बाढ़, सूखे और खतरनाक बीमारियों जैसी मुश्किलों का सामना करना पड़ेगा। युद्ध ग्लोबल वॉर्मिंग में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हैं। आज भारत में तेजी से पिघलते ग्लेशियर एक बड़ी चिंता का कारण बन चुके हैं। पर्यावरणविद अनिल जोशी कहते हैं कि हर युद्ध में बड़े पैमाने पर ऊर्जा निकलती है। ये ऊर्जा ग्लोबल वार्मिंग को बढ़ाने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाती है। धरती की बढ़ती गर्मी पूरी दुनिया पर असर डालती है। युद्ध के चलते बढ़ते ग्रीन हाउस गैसों के उत्सर्जन के चलते हुई ग्लोबल वार्मिंग के चलते जो मुश्किलें अगले एक दशक में आती वो इन युद्धों के चलते अगले कुछ सालों में देखी जा सकती हैं। अगले कुछ सालों में हीटवेव के दिनों की संख्या बढ़ सकती है। वहीं असामान्य मौसम की भी घटनाएं बढ़ेंगी। एक बम जहां गरता है उस जगह के आसपास की हवा, पानी और जमीन सब तबाह कर देता है। और उससे निकला प्रदूषण पूरी दुनिया के प्रदूषण को बढ़ाता है जिसे हम ग्लोबल वार्मिंग के नाम से जानते हैं। इन समस्याओं को देखते हुए हमें स्थानीय तौर पर कई उपाय करने होंगे ताकि आने वाले समय में कुछ राहत मिल सके। हमने उत्तराखंड में कुछ ऐसे सफल प्रयोग किए हैं। हमने एक गांव के करीब जंगल में एक हेक्टेयर में करीब 300 छोटे गड्ढों खोद कर प्रयोग किया। समय के साथ इन गड्ढों में पानी भर गया। आज इन गड्ढों की वजह से पूरे जंगल में नमी रहती है। इससे एक तरफ जहां जंगल में आग नहीं लगती वहीं जंगल में नए पौधे अपने आप उग आते हैं।
According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released in November 2024, vehicles remain the top polluters in Delhi, making up more than half (51 per cent) of the pollution from all local emission sources. July 1 marked a crucial milestone in the Capital’s fight against air pollution as petrol pumps stopped providing fuel to end of life vehicles (EoL) which have exceeded the life span of 10 years for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles. The move, which is in accordance with the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Transport Department along with the Delhi Police and traffic personnel, will affect around 62 lakh vehicles (61,14,728) in Delhi alone. NDTV reported that there are 27.5 lakh overaged vehicles (as of March 2025) in Haryana, 12.69 lakh in Uttar Pradesh and 6.2 lakh in Rajasthan. According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released in November 2024, vehicles remain the top polluters in Delhi, making up more than half (51 per cent) of the pollution from all local emission sources. Authorities said the end-of-life vehicles will be identified by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras set up at 498 fuel stations. Once it is established that the vehicle is beyond the permitted life span, the fuel station operator will be alert and the vehicle number will be shared with enforcement agencies who will further impound and scrap it.
Vivek Chattopadhyay, who has long been working on air pollution at the Centre for Science and Environment, says that destructive weapons are being used in war. T The smoke of war is no longer limited to gunpowder, battlefields and ruined buildings. It is also choking the environment. Whether it is the Iran-Israel war or the long-running conflict like Russia-Ukraine, these global conflicts have not only taken thousands of lives but have also inflicted deep wounds on our environment. Amidst the echo of missile explosions and the roar of tanks, the emission of greenhouse gases is increasing rapidly. Experts are warning that this environmental damage caused by war can disturb the balance of the earth for years. In such a situation, in the coming days we may have to face more heatwave days, natural disasters like floods, droughts. The missiles and bombs being fired in war are leading to a large-scale increase in the emission of carbon and other dangerous greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In the time to come, these emissions, along with heating the earth, could emerge as a major crisis of air pollution worldwide. According to a report by the Conflict and Environment Observatory, militaries around the world are responsible for 5.5 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. The report states that in the first three years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 230 metric tons of CO2 were generated. This is equivalent to the combined annual emissions of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Meanwhile, due to the weapons used in the war, the levels of sulfur dioxide and other hazardous gases in the air are also increasing rapidly. According to another report, the Iran-Israel conflict resulted in the emission of approximately 35,000 tons of carbon. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of about 8,300 cars. In such a situation, the large-scale emission of greenhouse gases during war can disturb the balance of the environment. Whether it's the Iran-Israel war or the Russia-Ukraine war, the weapons used in them have extensively involved heavy metals, various chemicals and gunpowder. Due to heavy shelling and the use of missiles, these hazardous elements spread widely in the area, becoming a major cause of local pollution. Vivek Chattopadhyay, who has long been working on air pollution at the Centre for Science and Environment, says that destructive weapons are being used in war. The smoke and pollutants from these weapons affect the surrounding air and water and the particulate matter released from the buildings demolished in attacks remains in the air for a long time. Those who breathe this air can face various health problems. We have seen in both wars that to weaken each other, both sides attacked the other country's oil reserves or oil fields. The fires in these oil reserves burned away oil in just a few hours that could have been used for a whole year. The resulting smoke released many metric tons of carbon dioxide and other hazardous gases into the air, which will increase the greenhouse effect. On one hand, the whole world is making continuous efforts to reduce gas emissions in view of the threat of global warming, while on the other hand, the world is now engaged in an arms race. Recently, NATO has spoken of increasing its budget. In such a scenario, the arms industry will grow more rapidly worldwide in the coming times. The growth of this industry will lead to gas emissions during arms production, and when these weapons are used, there will be separate emissions. A few years ago, the United Nations had formulated some policies to assess the environmental damage caused by war. But to date, no such report has been presented that has become a center of discussion. If observed closely, the United Nations also appears to be weakening today on the front of global warming and environmental protection issues. In his research paper, Benjamin Neimark, a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, says that we have seen very clearly the extent to which armies and war materials can harm the environment. Military forces worldwide are among the largest consumers of hydrocarbons. The greenhouse gas emission capacity of many armies is equivalent to that of some small countries. But there is very little information about their overall contribution to climate change. It is not even discussed. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the reporting responsibilities of all countries are different. Since the Paris Agreement on climate change, the need to report military emissions is now becoming essential. At the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021, a network was developed for tracking military emissions or for reporting individual government's military emissions to the UNFCCC. Unfortunately, very few countries report their military emissions in any transparent or systematic way, making the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions very inconsistent. He said that in our recent study of the war in Gaza, we made some rough estimates which suggest that in the first five days of the Iran-Israel war, jet fuel, rocket fire, and ballistic missiles released more than 35,000 tons of CO2. This is equivalent to 8,300 cars driven for a year or the burning of 20,000 tons of coal. Whether a war is small or large, it brings destruction. Former Lieutenant General of the Indian Army, Mohan Bhandari, says that war is always destructive. Whether it is the Russia-Ukraine war or the Iran-Israel war, destructive weapons have been used on a large scale. Elements like lead and sulfur are used extensively in these weapons. These are fatal for humans and are also fatal for nature. On the other hand, thousands of people have been killed by bombs and missiles. The bodies of these people also cause local pollution, leading to the spread of diseases on a large scale. The entire atmosphere becomes toxic. Responsible countries around the world, including America, must understand that the wars they encourage for their power and some economic benefits will lead to pollution, and in the future, their own children will have to face difficulties like floods, droughts and dangerous diseases. Wars play a significant role in global warming. Today in India, rapidly melting glaciers have become a major cause for concern. Environmentalist Anil Joshi says that a large amount of energy is released in every war. This energy plays a significant role in increasing global warming. The Earth's rising temperature affects the whole world. Due to the global warming caused by the increasing greenhouse gas emissions from war, the difficulties that were expected in the next decade could be seen in the next few years. In the coming years, the number of heatwave days may increase. At the same time, incidents of unusual weather will also rise. Wherever a bomb falls, it destroys the air, water and land in the surrounding area. And the pollution released from it increases the pollution of the entire world, which we know as global warming. In view of these problems, we will have to take several local measures so that some relief can be found in the coming times. We have conducted some such successful experiments in Uttarakhand. We experimented by digging about 300 small pits in one hectare of a forest near a village. Over time, these pits filled with water. Today, because of these pits, the entire forest remains moist. On one hand, this prevents forest fires, and on the other, new plants grow on their own in the forest. (This article was translated for The Daily Jagran by Akansha Pandey.)
Nine “problematic” projects in the hydropower, solar, and wind energy sectors, which together accounted for 7.7 million retired credits in 2024, were located in India. “Additionality mostly boils down to the investment viability of a renewable energy project,” said Trishant Dev, Deputy Programme Manager of Climate Change at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), who did not contribute to the Corporate Accountability report. An analysis of the global voluntary carbon market found that despite efforts to improve their integrity, millions of carbon credits retired in 2024 were unlikely to result in additional emissions reductions. Nine out of the 47 largest projects which produced “problematic credits” were located in India, the report, released by the civil society organisation Corporate Accountability, found. The voluntary carbon market (VCM) allows companies to trade carbon credits in an effort to drive down emissions. In the VCM, each carbon credit represents a reduction of 1 tonne of carbon dioxide or its equivalent. These reductions are supposed to be “additional,” meaning they would not have occurred without the support of funding from carbon credits. In simple terms, if a project would have come up in a business-as-usual scenario without being financed by carbon credits, the project does not have additionality. According to the report by Corporate Accountability, however, 80% of carbon credits issued from 47 of the biggest projects “could not be reliably counted on to deliver the promised emissions reductions.” This, despite reforms introduced into the VCM to improve transparency and accountability of projects promising reductions. These shortcomings include credits being non-additional, non-permanent, over-crediting or having a risk of leakage (where reductions achieved are counteracted by emissions elsewhere). The voluntary carbon market “still cannot be relied on to deliver the promised (and urgently needed) global emissions reductions,” the report noted. Projects not additional The report shortlisted 47 projects out of the top 100 which were rated by BeZero, a carbon rating agency that assesses the quality of carbon projects based on their likelihood of achieving the removal or avoidance of one tonne of carbon dioxide or equivalent. “The 47 projects assessed in this research alone equated to nearly one quarter of all retired credits in the VCM in 2024. So, assessing these projects allows us to assess more generally how effective the VCM is at reducing emissions, and how effective any attempts at plugging the holes have been thus far,” Rachel Rose Jackson, Director of Research and International Climate Policy at Corporate Accountability, told Mongabay India over email. Of the approximately 207.8 million offsets credits which were retired in 2024, around 47.7 million credits were found to be problematic by Corporate Accountability. These credits were issued from 43 projects (out of the 47 that were assessed), whose likelihood of emissions reductions ranged from moderate to very low. Nine “problematic” projects in the hydropower, solar, and wind energy sectors, which together accounted for 7.7 million retired credits in 2024, were located in India. “Additionality mostly boils down to the investment viability of a renewable energy project,” said Trishant Dev, Deputy Programme Manager of Climate Change at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), who did not contribute to the Corporate Accountability report. “When a project is paid for by the project developer or by other means, it’s wrong to claim additionality by saying that the project would not have existed had it not been for the carbon market. However, whether this is the case varies from project to project,” he added. A report by the CSE from 2023 found that for several renewable energy projects, the carbon market paid for only 3-4% of the project’s costs, casting doubt on their additionality.
The Delhi government, in a grand display of bureaucratic bullheadedness, has unleashed a posse of Delhi Police, MCD officers, and Transport Department sleuths to enforce the Supreme Court’s edict, rubber-stamped by the National Green Tribunal, which itself was swayed by scientifically sanctimonious reports from the Centre for Science and Environment and other NGO busybodies. The mission is to purge the National Capital Region of air pollution by kicking about a crore vehicles off the road. So that newer, shinier cars can pollute the air with superior efficiency. You see, as long as people live and breathe, they will find a way to work and back. Most of them exhale CO2, a major pollutant, but thank heavens, the government hasn’t fixed the “End of Life” dates for these polluters. If they did, they would be packed off to other cities or electrically cremated alive. Delhi-NCR air can only be polluted by means other than personal mobility methods more than 10-15 years old. The other NCR governments have not joined the party to harass the average citizen. They have other things to do. Delhi’s Rekha Gupta, in her very short term, has only Delhi to look after and look busy while doing something. Her predecessor brought the Odd-Even rule. She went for an even odder one. She is on the frontline of the fight against air pollution, and reason. She is backed by the courts and tribunals, who can’t be criticised. But this is not about the minor freedoms we have lost in the name of the greater good. Neither is this about the idiocy of a system that taxes vehicles for 15 years but bans them at 10. Nor is it about a Third World capital cosplaying First World emission norms while offering none of the services, like breathable air or roads that don’t collapse, that actual First World citizens enjoy. It’s not about the 30-50% tax gouged from every car sale, fattening government coffers for bridges and underpasses that crumble before a 10-year-old diesel’s dreams.
Vehicles are the top polluters in the national capital Delhi, accounting for more than half (51 per cent) of the pollution from all local emission sources, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), released in November 2024. Don't be surprised if you see posters stating "Fuel will not be dispensed to 'end of life' vehicles" at fuel stations in Delhi starting today. In its effort to curb air pollution, the Delhi government has enforced a fuel ban for 'end-of-life' or overage vehicles, that is, petrol vehicles aged 15 years or older and diesel vehicles aged 10 years or older. Vehicles are the top polluters in the national capital Delhi, accounting for more than half (51 per cent) of the pollution from all local emission sources, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), released in November 2024. Keeping this in mind, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued Statutory Direction No 89, enforcing stringent measures against end-of-life vehicles of all types (goods carrier, commercial, vintage, two-wheelers) across the NCR. This move will affect around 62 lakh vehicles (61,14,728) in Delhi alone. There are 27.5 lakh overaged vehicles (as of March 2025) in Haryana, 12.69 lakh in Uttar Pradesh and 6.2 lakh in Rajasthan. How Would The Ban Be Implemented The Transport Department has chalked out a deployment plan, involving Delhi Police, Traffic Police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) personnel at fuel stations reporting a high volume of visitors with overaged vehicles. Delhi Police personnel will be deployed in fuel stations numbered 1 to 100, while the Transport Department will mobilise 59 exclusive teams across fuel stations numbered 101 to 159. One traffic police officer will be stationed at each of the 350 identified petrol pumps to monitor and prevent the refuelling of old vehicles. Two additional police personnel will be deployed at each petrol pump to maintain law and order during the enforcement drive. End-of-life vehicles will be identified by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which have been installed at 498 fuel stations. The cameras, integrated with the VAHAN database, will cross-verify number plates and alert the fuel station operator. This vehicle will also be shared with enforcement agencies for impounding and scrapping of old vehicles. On-Ground Concerns And Reality Nischal Singhania, a Delhi petrol dealer, believes that a trial run should have been conducted before implementing a big scheme like this. "How long would the enforcement team stay? 30 days, 60 days, 90 days? How do we handle the situation after that? There is also a fear of missing a vehicle, as we would be penalised. This scheme should be rolled out simultaneously across NCR." Mohit, a commuter, shared similar thoughts and suggested a trial run lasting 15 to 30 days. "It could be an issue for people who are not aware of this move. A week-long trial would have helped. Nothing has been done to create awareness among people, especially those who are uneducated. Those transiting through Delhi will be badly affected." NDTV visited one of the fuel stations in Delhi's Green Park, where the staff claimed they had not been trained on how to implement the move and deny fuel to violators. "There are many old vehicles that are well-maintained and may not be harmful to the environment. What about those? There should be a proper check in place, otherwise it will burn a hole in people's pockets. Also, all drivers should have a valid PUCC (Pollution Under Control Certificate)," said a two-wheeler rider.
According to a November 2024 analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicles account for over half (51%) of all local emission sources in Delhi. Starting today, fuel stations across Delhi will not provide petrol or diesel to 'end-of-life' vehicles. The move comes as part of the Delhi government's efforts to combat air pollution. The ban specifically targets petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 years old. An estimated 62 lakh such vehicles will be affected by this decision in the national capital alone. Pollution source Vehicles responsible for over half of Delhi's local emissions According to a November 2024 analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicles account for over half (51%) of all local emission sources in Delhi. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has now issued Statutory Direction No 89, enforcing strict measures against end-of-life vehicles across the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes goods carriers, commercial vehicles, cars, two-wheelers and more.
According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicles contribute over 51 per cent of Delhi’s local pollution. In a landmark move to control air pollution, the Delhi government has enforced a fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles—petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years. Starting today, such vehicles will no longer be allowed to refuel at petrol stations across the city. Why the Ban? According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicles contribute over 51 per cent of Delhi’s local pollution. To curb emissions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a statutory directive, extending the fuel ban to all end-of-life vehicles, including goods carriers, two-wheelers, and even vintage vehicles. This decision affects over 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi alone and several lakhs more across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. How the Ban Will Be Enforced The Transport Department, in coordination with Delhi Police and MCD, has launched an extensive deployment plan. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at 498 fuel stations will scan vehicle number plates and cross-check them with the VAHAN database. If a vehicle is found to be overaged, the system will alert the fuel station operator and notify enforcement agencies for further action. Delhi Police and Traffic Police officers are stationed across fuel stations, with two extra personnel at each pump to maintain law and order. Teams will closely monitor overaged vehicles and prevent them from getting fuel. On-Ground Reactions and Concerns Despite the government’s intention, petrol dealers and commuters have voiced strong concerns. Fuel station staff report no training on denying fuel to non-compliant vehicles. Many argue that well-maintained older vehicles may not be harmful and that a Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) should be considered. Commuters like Mohit have called for a trial run of 15–30 days to raise awareness among the public, especially among those who may be unaware or uneducated. Dealers fear being penalised for missing violators, and there is uncertainty about how long enforcement teams will be stationed. The Way Forward While the fuel ban reflects Delhi’s urgent need to improve air quality, smoother implementation, awareness campaigns, and clear guidelines are essential. Without them, commuters and fuel station staff are likely to face confusion, leading to practical and legal challenges.
A world riven by global conflicts, trade wars and climate impacts left its mark on the recently concluded mid-year UN climate talks in Bonn. Having started on a difficult note, with developing countries pushed to discuss climate finance obligations and impacts of unilateral trade measures like the EU’s carbon border tax only to face resistance from developed countries, the Bonn talks have fallen prey to familiar fault lines and slow progress on many issues – says an assessment by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of the outcomes of the talks A CSE team had attended and reported on the conference. Speaking from Bonn, Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, CSE said: “We do not see an appetite to uphold multilateralism from developed countries, and Bonn made that clear. The refusal to dive deeper into Article 9.1 and hear out concerns from developing countries about unilateral trade measures symbolises the imbalance of power that persists in this space. While civil society is driving momentum on issues like just transition, all other spaces remain paralysed by inequity and the refusal of the Global North to support, fund and enable climate action in the rest of the world in line with its historical duty.” A breakthrough in Just Transition Work Programme, but differences persist Under the UAE Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP), developing countries emphasised addressing climate change-related unilateral trade measures, such as trade-restrictive policies like the EU-Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), while developed countries pushed for aligning just transition pathways with 1.5°C goals and reporting them in national climate targets that are submitted to the UNFCCC. A draft negotiating text emphasising “ whole-of-economy approaches to just transitions”, facilitating “universal access to clean, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for all”, and variable pathways to energy transitions was produced in Bonn with some areas of consensus, including various proposals from civil society. This will be forwarded for negotiation at COP30 in Belem. Trade measures burden the Global South Initially proposed by Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) as a standalone agenda item, Unilateral Trade Measures ultimately became discussion items under JTWP and the Response Measures forum. Developing countries highlighted the adverse impacts of such trade-restrictive measures on economies that undermine equity and shift the burden on to the Global South. In the JTWP, Parties stressed the need for international cooperation and support to address these impacts, with China proposing a joint event with the WTO. In the Response Measures track, the G-77 and China pushed to prioritise UTMs in the Katowice Committee’s work but the EU and other developed countries opposed, suggesting the issue be handled in trade-specific forums. Global Stocktake discussions stuck on purpose Parties wrapped up informal consultations on the UAE Dialogue on implementing the Global Stocktake (GST) outcomes without reaching consensus. Developed countries pushed for annual synthesis reports to track implementation of the GST, while developing countries argued for a focus on implementing national climate targets (NDCs) and opposed turning the dialogue into a reporting mechanism. They also called for referencing Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement to clarify the dialogue’s purpose and scope. Adaptation talks stall over how to measure progress Negotiations on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) stalled primarily over how to develop indicators to track progress on the means of implementation (MOI) needed by developing countries to adapt to climate impacts. Under the GGA framework agreed upon at COP28 in Dubai, UAE, indicators have to be developed to measure the progress on various targets. MOI mainly includes finance, apart from technologies and capacity building, for adaptation measures such as early warning systems. Other contentious issues in the GGA text include language around transformational adaptation, the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and Article 9 which refers to financial obligations of developed countries towards developing countries. The negotiations will continue at COP30 in Belem based on the informal note prepared at Bonn. Once again, climate funding divides At the Presidency-led consultations on the ‘Baku to Belém Roadmap to $1.3 trillion’, developing countries stressed equity and the need for public, grant-based finance. The G77 and China called for addressing systemic barriers, including high capital costs and unilateral trade measures, warning against shifting burdens onto the Global South. Civil society groups demanded transparency and grounding of the Roadmap in Article 9 of the Paris Agreement. Developed countries, including the EU, Canada, Japan, and Australia, emphasised enabling environments and the role of private finance. The COP30 Presidency will release a Roadmap document at the Financing for Development conference in Seville. Sharm el-Sheikh Dialogue circle equity, finance Sessions under the Sharm el-Sheikh Dialogue discussed building financial systems that support climate action and resilience. Three thematic sessions under the Dialogue addressed issues of capacity building for financial sector development, transition planning for low-emission, climate-resilient development, and ways to support NCQG implementation through Article 2.1(c). Developing countries highlighted the need for recognising different national circumstances and ensuring that rules on transparency and risk do not penalise vulnerable countries. The need for public finance to support adaptation was a consistent demand. No agreement on mitigation purpose or ambition Parties remain deeply divided on the purpose and ambition of the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP). Developed countries view it as a tool to extract stronger climate commitments from developing nations, while developing countries insist it must respect national priorities and focus more on means of implementation. Some, including the EU, called for aligning MWP activities with findings from the Global Stocktake. Others warned against turning the MWP into a forum for political pressure or backdoor commitments. Negotiations also explored how the MWP could become a ‘safe space’ for identifying barriers and sharing solutions. A substantial part of the negotiations also focussed on the need and role of a ‘digital platform’ for sharing mitigation actions and serving as a ‘match-making tool’ due to be launched in Belem. Capacity gaps, transparency concerns on UN carbon markets Although no formal negotiations took place on UN carbon markets, workshops and dialogues revealed concerns around transparency, safeguards, and capacity gaps. A two-day mandated dialogue on Article 6.2 explored early experiences with cooperative approaches, including presentations on opportunities, barriers, benefit sharing, and capacity needs. A one-day capacity-building workshop was held on the Article 6.4 Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism. Discussions on phasing out the Clean Development Mechanism lingered with some parties preferring the earliest phase out and others a delay. As carbon market infrastructure takes shape, concerns remain around transparency, safeguards, and scrutiny many of which were highlighted in special and side-events. Capacity gaps for developing countries came up repeatedly in these forums. Article 6.8 saw quieter progress, with parties discussing how to implement the work programme on non-market approaches and integrate non-market approaches into broader development goals of countries.
A 2022 investigation by Rohini Krishnamurthy and Trishant Dev of the Centre for Science and Environment found that Adivasi communities did not see any tangible benefits from the deal. Their labor—and their land—were essentially commodified for Western climate compliance. The industrialized nations of the Global North—many of them former imperial powers—built their prosperity through centuries of colonial extraction and, later, unrestrained emissions. Today, the consequences of that history are unfolding across a warming planet, with the most severe impacts falling on those who were once colonized. From India’s drought-ravaged farmlands to forests in Africa cleared in the name of “carbon offsets,” climate justice remains deeply entangled with the legacies of empire. And despite the progressive rhetoric of climate finance and sustainable development, many of today’s “solutions” replicate the very hierarchies they claim to dismantle. In India, communities already relegated to the margins—Adivasis, Dalits, and other castes—bear the brunt of climate disruption. This same situation is being replicated across many former European colonies in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The wealth of today’s richest nations is built atop the ruins of colonial plunder. Their industrialization, fueled by fossil capitalism, led to unchecked greenhouse gas emissions that destabilized global climate systems. Yet the countries now most vulnerable to ecological collapse are those that once suffered the most under colonial rule. During the British Raj, India’s agrarian landscape was fundamentally transformed. Communal lands used for subsistence farming were converted into monocultural fields of cash crops—cotton, indigo, and tea—destined for European markets. Indian farmers were coerced into growing export commodities and forced into wage labor to meet colonial tax demands. Similar stories unfolded in French-ruled West Africa, where Indigenous farming practices were dismantled and forests were cleared for cotton plantations. The result was not just economic dislocation but environmental degradation on a vast scale. In a recent report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change acknowledged this link, stating that contemporary climate vulnerabilities are rooted in “historical and ongoing patterns of inequity, including colonialism.” This marks a long-overdue recognition of what scholars and communities have long argued: that colonialism is not a historical footnote to the climate crisis, but its origin story. Tao Leigh Goffe, a scholar at the City University of New York, traces this origin back to 1492, when Columbus’s arrival in the Americas set off centuries of imperial conquest and ecological devastation. In Dark Laboratory: On Columbus, the Caribbean, and the Origins of the Climate Crisis, Goffe writes that climate breakdown is not a recent aberration but the culmination of racial capitalism and scientific racism that justified the mass exploitation of people and the environment under the guise of “civilization.” She urges us to recognize climate change as a political and historical phenomenon—not simply an environmental one—driven by centuries of global extraction, violence, and dispossession. If the colonial past laid the groundwork for ecological collapse, the present-day architecture of climate finance threatens to reinforce it. Carbon markets, introduced under the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, were intended to price pollution. In practice, they allowed wealthy nations and corporations to continue emitting carbon so long as they paid to “offset” it elsewhere, often in the Global South. In the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh, tribal communities signed away rights to carbon credits through a partnership brokered by the Naandi Foundation and foreign corporations. Villagers planted trees across 6,000 hectares of land, but the carbon credits were sold to Livelihoods Funds, a French firm whose clients include Danone and Michelin. A 2022 investigation by Rohini Krishnamurthy and Trishant Dev of the Centre for Science and Environment found that Adivasi communities did not see any tangible benefits from the deal. Their labor—and their land—were essentially commodified for Western climate compliance. This is not an anomaly. Scholars and activists warn of a new “green colonialism,” where climate projects touted as progressive cover the continued exploitation of the Global South. Oxford University researchers have noted that offset schemes enable corporations and governments in the Global North to continue emitting high levels of greenhouse gases while utilizing Indigenous lands, often without obtaining meaningful consent. A 2022 Greenpeace UK report underscored this imbalance, urging climate reparations and financial justice for those who suffer the most but have contributed the least. These injustices are compounded by broken promises. In 2009, wealthy nations pledged $100 billion annually in climate finance to developing countries from 2020 to 2025. Yet as of 2023, the pledge remains largely unfulfilled. Meanwhile, reforestation efforts linked to these funds have led to land grabs and violence, particularly in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Vijaya Ramachandran of the Breakthrough Institute has described this as a form of “green colonialism,” where lofty climate goals are achieved at the expense of the world’s poorest. Ironically, nations like India and China—whose per capita emissions remain far below those of the U.S. and Canada—are often vilified in global climate negotiations. The real disparity lies in luxury-fueled emissions from the North, where fossil-fueled affluence is rarely questioned. India’s caste system adds another layer to climate injustice, compounding historical marginalization with new environmental vulnerabilities. Adivasis, Dalits, and other caste-oppressed communities face the most severe consequences of climate change—from recurring droughts to deadly heatwaves and rising sea levels—without access to resources or political representation. A 2022 study by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) in Maharashtra’s Kallam and Osmanabad blocks surveyed over 2,200 people. It found 96% of respondents faced extreme vulnerability to drought; 75% earned less than $60 per month; and 58% lacked homestead land. Most were excluded from state relief programs. Public water sources were insufficient, leading to widespread illness and malnutrition. The findings point to a brutal reality: climate change amplifies systemic caste discrimination, worsening poverty, while government programs fail to offer even basic protections. Fisherfolk from the Koli caste in Maharashtra face similar exclusion. Sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and cyclones, such as Nisarga in 2020 and Tauktae in 2021, have devastated their communities. Their customary rights to the coastal commons are often ignored in urban climate strategies, including Mumbai’s Climate Action Plan. Despite court victories—such as a National Green Tribunal case in Uran that exposed illegal development—Koli voices are still marginalized in policy discourse. Their demands include not only environmental justice but broader citizenship rights encompassing healthcare, education, and disaster relief. Journalist Bhumika Saraswati, recipient of the UN-Laadli Media Award and the Human Rights Press Award, documents these layered injustices in her project Unequal Heat (@heat.southasia). Through photography and field reporting, she explores how rising temperatures disproportionately affect Dalit and Adivasi women, those already made vulnerable by caste, gender, and geography. For Saraswati, heat is more than a weather condition—it’s a metaphor for generational rage. Her reporting uncovers stories of sexual violence, displacement, and resistance, particularly in regions like Chhattisgarh, where women organize to defend their land from deforestation and mining. Their struggle, captured through her lens, serves as a powerful reminder that climate resistance is also a form of social resistance. To confront climate change is to confront the legacies of empire, the inequalities of global capitalism, and the hierarchies of caste and race. It means recognizing that the crisis did not begin with plastic straws or rising sea levels, but with conquest, exploitation, and systems built to privilege some at the expense of others. Climate finance, when detached from historical accountability and grassroots leadership, risks becoming yet another tool of control. True climate justice must begin with listening to the Adivasi farmer, the Koli fisherwoman, the Dalit activist. It must include reparations, land rights, and a radical rethinking of what development means. Otherwise, we’re not solving the climate crisis—we’re simply exporting it, albeit in greener clothes.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has highlighted that vehicles account for more than 51% of local air pollution in Delhi, making this move critical for improving the city’s air quality. From July 1, 2025, Delhi has enforced a strict ban on the sale of petrol and diesel to old vehicles, marking a significant step in the fight against air pollution in the national capital. Under the new rules, any diesel vehicle older than 10 years and petrol vehicle older than 15 years is now barred from refuelling at any fuel station within Delhi, regardless of where the vehicle is registered. This directive comes from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and is being implemented with the support of the Delhi government, Delhi Police, Traffic Police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Sweeping Ban The ban is sweeping, affecting not only private cars but also commercial vehicles, goods carriers, two-wheelers, and even vintage vehicles. According to government data, this move will impact around 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi alone. The ban is also set to be rolled out in phases across other NCR cities, with Sonipat in Haryana next in line from November 1, 2025. Enforcement and Compliance Plans To ensure strict enforcement, the authorities have deployed a comprehensive plan. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at nearly 500 fuel stations across the city. These cameras are linked to the VAHAN database and can instantly identify vehicles that have crossed the legal age limit. If an overaged vehicle is detected, the system alerts the fuel station operator, who then refuses to dispense fuel and notifies enforcement agencies for further action, which may include seizure of the vehicle or issuing fines. At each of the 350 key petrol pumps, a traffic police officer is stationed to monitor compliance, supported by additional police personnel to maintain law and order during the enforcement drive. Teams from the Transport Department and MCD are also present to ensure the rules are followed strictly. Fuel stations are required to display clear signboards stating that fuel will not be dispensed to end-of-life vehicles, and staff have been trained on these new procedures. The crackdown is not limited to roads and fuel stations. Vehicles found parked in public spaces or even in apartment complexes that fall under the end-of-life category may also be towed and impounded. The authorities have warned that fuel stations violating these norms will be reported and may face penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act. The decision is backed by earlier Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders that banned the use and parking of overaged vehicles in public places in Delhi. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has highlighted that vehicles account for more than 51% of local air pollution in Delhi, making this move critical for improving the city’s air quality. Apart from environmental benefits, the ban is expected to boost the automobile sector and government revenues. According to estimates, replacing old vehicles with new ones could generate trillions of rupees in turnover for the auto industry and significant tax revenue for both central and state governments. The Delhi government has also issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for fuel stations, including maintaining logs of denied fuel transactions and regular reporting to the authorities.The public is being urged to cooperate with the new rules for the sake of cleaner air and a healthier city.
The crackdown follows alarming data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which, in a November 2024 analysis, revealed that vehicular emissions contribute to 51 per cent of Delhi's local pollution -- the highest share among all sources.