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Ozone pollution this year highest since 2021 in Delhi: Report

Delhi has recorded its highest ozone (O3) levels this summer in the last five years, with readings breaching the safe mark for 14.2 hours on an average in a day, a report shows. This eight-hour rolling average has gone up from 12 hours in a day from the last two summers, 11.7 hours in 2022 and 12.2 hours in 2021, according to the report released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Tuesday. The eight-hour safe standard for the pollutant is 100 μg/m3. The analysis also shows that Delhi recorded its widest geographical spread of ozone exceedance in the past five years this summer, with south Delhi and northwest Delhi being the worst impacted. CSE said ground-level ozone levels exceeded the national safety standards on all 92 days in the summer period – considered as March 1 till May 31, while it exceeded the safe standards on 83 out of the 92 days in the summer. “Ground-level ozone pollution remained consistently high across the region, with the maximum concentration exceeding 100 µg/m³ on each of the 92 days between March 1 and May 31, highlighting the persistent and widespread nature of the problem. The worst day in terms of spatial spread was April 28, when 32 out of 58 monitoring stations across the region reported ozone levels above the safe limit. The highest regional intensity was recorded on April 13, with the Delhi-NCR average reaching 135 µg/m³..” said the analysis. Unlike primary pollutants (emitted directly from sources), ozone is not emitted directly from any source, but is formed through chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide — pollutants released by vehicles, power plants, factories and other combustion sources. In the presence of sunlight, these substances undergo a series of cyclic reactions that result in the formation of ozone near the ground. CSE took into account summer trends from 2021 to 2025 (up to May 31) available on the Central Pollution Control Board’s official portal. Data showed that Nehru Nagar was the worst impacted station, exceeding standards on all 92 days. This was followed by Najafgarh (82 days) and Okhla Phase-II (81 days). In comparison, six locations – Anand Vihar, IHBAS, ITO, Shadipur, Narela and Knowledge Park in Greater Noida did not exceed the standards even on a single day this summer. “This summer, several days have recorded ozone — instead of particulate matter — as the lead pollutant in the daily Air Quality Index (AQI). Out of 18 days between May 25 and June 11, ozone has been the lead pollutant on 12,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director and in-charge of clean air programme at CSE. “But there is no system to address this problem under the current Graded Response Action Plan for emergency action to reduce exposure or to address its sustained mitigation with longer term clean air action plan. While the policy attention is nearly fully focused on particulate pollution, co-control of toxic gases from vehicles, industry and combustion sources that contribute to ozone formation in the air is neglected,” she said, calling for focused action against the highly reactive gas.

Delhi-NCR breaches safe ozone limits on most summer days: CSE report

Delhi’s ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant, remained above safe limits throughout this summer, according to a study released Tuesday by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based environment think tank. Experts have pointed out that this summer, ozone emerged as the dominant pollutant on several days. While particulate matter remains the main focus of government efforts to combat air pollution, ozone levels topped the charts on 12 out of 18 days between May 25 and June 11. Despite this spike and its known health risks, ozone has yet to be included in the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which guides emergency measures to curb air pollution. This leaves a major gap in strategies to limit both short- and long-term exposure to the gas. Advertisement “While the policy attention is nearly fully focused on particulate pollution, co-control of toxic gases from vehicles, industry, and combustion sources that contribute to ozone formation in the air is neglected,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director and head of the clean air programme at the CSE. Citing the highly reactive nature of the gas, experts have warned that unchecked ozone levels could trigger a serious public health crisis. According to the study, ozone exposure poses significant respiratory risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as children with underdeveloped lungs, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Experts noted that ozone can inflame and damage the airways, reduce resistance to infections, and aggravate diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. This can increase both the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, often resulting in higher hospitalisation rates. Unlike particulate matter, which is monitored based on a 24-hour average, ozone standards are set for an eight-hour average due to the gas’s highly reactive nature. The national pollution monitoring agency also tracks hourly ozone levels across all monitoring stations. As per CPCB norms, the permissible limit is 100 µg/m³ for an eight-hour average and 190 µg/m³ for a one-hour average—both of which were breached at several stations across the Delhi-NCR region during the recorded period. The report, titled ‘Ground-level ozone – Delhi-NCR: An Invisible Threat’, found that from March 1 to May 31, ozone pollution remained consistently high across the region. The maximum concentration exceeded the safe limit of 100 µg/m³ on all 92 days, underscoring the persistent and widespread nature of the problem. Meanwhile, the surrounding NCR areas reported surges on 83 days during the same period. In Delhi, the highest ozone levels were recorded on April 13, with an average concentration of135 µg/m³. In the wider NCR region, the peak was slightly higher at 139 µg/m³ on April 25. According to CSE’s analysis, the worst-affected areas are in northwest and south Delhi, with Nehru Nagar in South Delhi exceeding the safe ozone standard on all 92 days of monitoring. It was followed by Najafgarh (82 days), Okhla Phase II (81), Ashok Vihar and Aya Nagar (77 each), and Wazirpur (72). The study also indicated significant changes in hourly ground-level ozone data this summer. Ground-level ozone pollution has intensified this summer, with the regional hourly peak rising by 9% compared to lockdown-era levels and eight-hour averages crossing 450 µg/m³ due to the removal of CPCB’s earlier data cap. Delhi’s Mathura Road station logged a record 472 µg/m³ on May 19, while hotspots across NCR—like Alipur, Ashok Vihar, Gurugram’s Gwal Pahari, and Noida Sector 62—also reported dangerously high concentrations. Ozone, unlike primary pollutants, is a secondary pollutant formed through sunlight-driven reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide (CO) emitted from human-made sources such as vehicles, power plants, factories, and other combustion activities, as well as from natural sources like vegetation. The CSE warns that poor monitoring and oversimplified averaging methods are masking localised ozone spikes, underscoring the need for hotspot-specific strategies to reduce short-term exposure and protect public health. “Instead of only averaging out the levels for the city, which is the standard practice to estimate AQI, it is also important to capture adequately the high levels of localised exposures in the hotspots and to design mitigation strategies accordingly. Managing short-term exposures is critical to protect public health,” said Shranajeet Kaur, deputy programme manager at CSE’s Urban Lab, in a press statement. In light of the recurring rise in ozone pollution, Roychowdhury urged that ozone be formally included in Delhi-NCR’s clean air action plan. She cautioned that, unlike developed economies, which shifted to a multi-pollutant approach only after controlling particulate pollution and then facing a surge in NOx and ozone levels, India should act early to avoid falling into the same trap. To combat rising ozone pollution, experts recommend integrating ozone into GRAP and city clean air plans to enable emergency measures targeting precursor emissions from vehicles, industries, and waste burning, while promoting zero-emission vehicles and clean fuels. They also call for a regional action plan, as ground-level ozone disperses beyond city limits, affecting rural areas, agricultural productivity, and food security, demanding coordinated local and regional strategies.

दिल्ली पर मंडरा रहा बढ़ते ओजोन प्रदूषण का खतरा, क्या है CSE की रिपोर्ट?

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने अपनी नई रिपोर्ट में दिल्ली और आसपास के क्षेत्रों में ओजोन प्रदूषण के बढ़ते खतरे को लेकर चेताया है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक इस साल गर्मियों के दौरान दिल्ली में करीब-करीब हर दिन ओजोन प्रदूषण का स्तर सुरक्षित सीमा से ऊपर रहा। दिल्ली के आसपास के क्षेत्रों में भी उन दिनों की संख्या बढ़ी है, जब हवा में ओजोन प्रदूषण हावी था। ओजोन कोई सीधे तौर पर उत्सर्जित होने वाला प्रदूषक नहीं है, यह सूर्य की रोशनी में नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड, वोलेटाइल ऑर्गेनिक कंपाउंड (वीओसी) और कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड जैसी गैसों के साथ रासायनिक प्रतिक्रिया से बनता है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक दिल्ली में मार्च से मई 2025 के बीच हर दिन ओजोन का स्तर 100 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से अधिक रहा। 28 अप्रैल को सबसे खराब दिन रहा, जब क्षेत्र के 58 में से 32 निगरानी स्टेशनों में ओजोन का स्तर सुरक्षित सीमा से ऊपर दर्ज किया गया। वहीं जब दिल्ली-एनसीआर के शहरों के अलग-अलग देखा गया तो स्थानीय स्तर पर अलग ही रुझान सामने आए। दिल्ली में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण 13 अप्रैल को दर्ज किया गया, जब ओजोन का औसत स्तर 135 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर रहा। इस दौरान 39 में से 25 स्टेशनों पर ओजोन का स्तर तय सीमा से अधिक रिकार्ड किया गया। एनसीआर में 25 अप्रैल को ओजोन का स्तर 139 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर तक पहुंच गया। इस दौरान एनसीआर के अन्य शहरों में 83 दिनों तक ओजोन का स्तर तय सीमा से अधिक दर्ज किया गया। 18 और 28 अप्रैल को एनसीआर के 10 में से 9 स्टेशनों ने सीमा से अधिक स्तर दर्ज किया। दिल्ली के ये इलाके रहे सबसे अधिक प्रभावित रिपोर्ट में यह भी सामने आया है कि गर्मियों के दौरान उत्तर-पश्चिम और दक्षिण दिल्ली में बढ़ते ओजोन से सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित रहे। वहीं गाजियाबाद और नोएडा एनसीआर के सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में शामिल थे। इस साल औसतन करीब 19 मानिटरिंग स्टेशनों ने रोजाना मानकों से अधिक स्तर दर्ज किया, जोकि पिछले पांच वर्षों में सबसे अधिक है। इस साल इसमें 6.8 प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी हुई है। इस गर्मी, ओजोन का स्तर रोजाना औसतन 14.2 घंटे तक हवा में बना रहा, जोकि पिछले साल 12 घंटों से कहीं अधिक है। इस गर्मी दिल्ली में ओजोन प्रदूषण का फैलाव बढ़कर औसतन 15.1 स्टेशनों तक पहुंच गया, जो पिछले साल के 13.2 स्टेशनों से अधिक है। ओजोन प्रदूषण का समय भी बढ़कर औसतन 12 घंटे हो गया। एनसीआर में ओजोन का प्रसार हुआ कम दूसरी तरफ एनसीआर के शहरों में ओजोन का स्थानीय प्रसार कम हुआ है, जो इस साल औसतन 3.6 स्टेशनों पर रहा, जबकि पिछले साल यह 4.4 स्टेशनों पर था। दक्षिणी दिल्ली का नेहरू नगर सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित इलाका रहा। मार्च से मई तक सभी 92 दिनों में यहां ओजोन का स्तर तय सीमा से ऊपर रहा। इसके बाद नजफगढ़, ओखला फेज-2, अशोक विहार, आया नगर और वज़ीरपुर भी ज्यादा प्रभावित रहे। सीएसई की कार्यकारी निदेशक और क्लीन एयर प्रोग्राम की प्रमुख अनुमिता रायचौधरी ने कहा कि वाहनों, उद्योगों और कचरे के जलने से निकलने वाली गैसें ओजोन के बनने में योगदान करती हैं, लेकिन नीतियों में इन पर ध्यान नहीं दिया जा रहा। सीएसई ने सुझाव दिया है कि ओजोन को ग्रेडेड रिस्पांस एक्शन प्लान (ग्रेप) में शामिल किया जाना चाहिए। वाहनों और उद्योगों से होने वाले उत्सर्जन को रोकने के लिए स्वच्छ ईंधन और तकनीक को बढ़ावा दिया जाए।

World Day To Combat Desertification and Drought: उपजाऊ भूमि को मरुस्थल होने से बचाना होगा

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा जारी “स्टेट ऑफ एनवायरमेंट इन फिगर्स 2019” की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक 2003-05 से 2011-13 के बीच भारत में मरुस्थलीकरण 18.7 लाख हेक्टेयर बढ़ चुका है। सूखा प्रभावित 78 में से 21 जिले ऐसे हैं, जिनका 50 फीसदी से अधिक क्षेत्र मरुस्थलीकरण में बदल चुका है। मानव एवं जीव-जंतुओं का जीवन भूमि पर निर्भर है। फिर भी, पूरी दुनिया में प्रदूषण, भूमि का दोहन, जलवायु अराजकता और जैव विविधता विनाश का एक जहरीला मिश्रण स्वस्थ भूमि को रेगिस्तान में बदल रहा है और संपन्न पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र मृत क्षेत्रों में बदल रहा है। ‘हमारी भूमि’ नारे के तहत भूमि बहाली, मरुस्थलीकरण और सूखा निवारण आज की जलवायु समस्याओं का सटीक समाधान हो सकता है, इसी को ध्यान में रखते हुए विश्व मरुस्थलीकरण एवं सूखा निवारण दिवस 17 जून को मनाया जाता है। यह दिन मरुस्थलीकरण और सूखे से निपटने के लिए जागरूकता बढ़ाने और लोगों को एकजुट करने के लिए मनाया जाता है। इस वर्ष की थीम है ‘भूमि के लिए एकजुट। हमारी विरासत। हमारा भविष्य’ है, संयुक्त राष्ट्र के अनुसार यह दिवस पर भूमि के महत्व और इसे भावी पीढ़ियों के लिए संरक्षित करने की आवश्यकता पर प्रकाश डालता है। कोलंबिया गणराज्य इस वर्ष 17 जून को मरुस्थलीकरण और सूखा दिवस के वैश्विक आयोजन की मेजबानी करेगा, जो प्रकृति-आधारित समाधानों के माध्यम से भूमि क्षरण को संबोधित करने की अपनी प्रतिबद्धता को रेखांकित करता है। बोगोटा में आयोजित यह कार्यक्रम स्थिरता, शांति और समावेशी विकास के उत्प्रेरक के रूप में भूमि बहाली एवं सूखा निवारण की तत्काल आवश्यकता पर प्रकाश डालेगा, साथ ही भोजन, पानी, रोजगार और सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करने में स्वस्थ भूमि की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका पर जोर देगा। मरुस्थलीकरण एक तरह से भूमि क्षरण का वह प्रकार है, जब शुष्क भूमि क्षेत्र निरंतर बंजर होता है और नम भूमि भी कम हो जाती है। साथ ही साथ, वन्य जीव व वनस्पति भी खत्म होती जाती है। इसकी कई वजह होती हैं, इसमें जलवायु परिवर्तन और इंसानी गतिविधियां प्रमुख हैं। इसे रेगिस्तान भी कहा जाता है। संयुक्त राष्ट्र के अनुमान के मुताबिक 2025 तक दुनिया के दो-तिहाई लोग जल संकट की परिस्थितियों में रहने को मजबूर होंगे। उन्हें कुछ ऐसे दिनों का भी सामना करना पड़ेगा जब जल की मांग और आपूर्ति में भारी अंतर होगा। ऐसे में मरुस्थलीकरण के परिणामस्वरूप विस्थापन बढ़ने की संभावना है और 2045 तक करीब 13 करोड़ से ज्यादा लोगों को अपना घर छोड़ना पड़ सकता है। विश्व में जमीन का मरुस्थल में परिवर्तन होना गंभीर समस्या एवं चिन्ता का विषय है। भारत में भी यह चिंता लगातार बढ़ रही है। इसकी वजह यह है कि भारत की करीब 30 फीसदी जमीन मरुस्थल में बदल चुकी है। इसमें से 82 प्रतिशत हिस्सा केवल आठ राज्यों राजस्थान, महाराष्ट्र, गुजरात, जम्मू एवं कश्मीर, कर्नाटक, झारखंड, ओडिशा, मध्य प्रदेश और तेलंगाना में है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा जारी “स्टेट ऑफ एनवायरमेंट इन फिगर्स 2019” की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक 2003-05 से 2011-13 के बीच भारत में मरुस्थलीकरण 18.7 लाख हेक्टेयर बढ़ चुका है। सूखा प्रभावित 78 में से 21 जिले ऐसे हैं, जिनका 50 फीसदी से अधिक क्षेत्र मरुस्थलीकरण में बदल चुका है।

State of India’s Environment 2025 in Figures

India’s environmental performance has raised concerns as states struggle to meet the 70-mark threshold. The latest report, “State of India’s Environment 2025 in Figures,” published by Down To Earth magazine and the Centre for Science and Environment, reveals alarming gaps in sewage treatment and river health. Even the highest-ranked state, Andhra Pradesh, scored only 68.38 out of 100. This indicates that even top performers face serious environmental challenges. Environmental Performance Rankings The State of States rankings evaluate states across four themes – environment, agriculture and land, public health, and human development and infrastructure. Each theme consists of four sub-categories. The environment theme focuses on forest and biodiversity, climate, waste management, and water quality. Sewage Treatment Shortfalls Sewage treatment is a critical area where many states, including Andhra Pradesh, perform poorly. Andhra Pradesh ranks 18th among 36 states and Union Territories in sewage management, treating less than 11% of its daily sewage. This deficiency marks a nationwide issue in sewage infrastructure and treatment capacity. River Pollution Concerns River pollution remains a pressing challenge. Andhra Pradesh has reduced polluted river stretches from five in 2018 to three in 2022. However, the Vasishta river continues to be critically polluted, with a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level of 58 mg/L, far exceeding the safe limit of 3 mg/L. Nationally, 27 states and Union Territories scored below 50 in water quality assessments.

Drowning in plastic

At the sprawling 250-acre plastic bazaar at Tikri Kalan on the Delhi-Haryana border, towering mounds of white PP raffia bags stuffed with plastic scrap line the dusty, winding lanes. The plastic is segregated into at least 100 distinct varieties, ensuring each sack contains only one kind of plastic, since mixed plastic cannot be processed together. “Plastic waste from every district of India comes here,” says Vijay Sharma, office secretary, PVC and Plastic Waste Dealers Association. Between 30 and 50 trucks, each of 10-15 tonne capacity, arrive daily, says Sharma. Other traders estimate the figure to be much higher—200-250 trucks. Which means only one thing: the presence of a massive informal market—much larger than the formal one—right on Tikri Kalan’s periphery.

भारत के राज्य पर्यावरण प्रदर्शन में पिछड़े: सीवेज उपचार और नदी प्रदूषण बना प्रमुख अवरोध

स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज़ एनवायरनमेंट 2025 इन फिगर्स” नामक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, भारतीय राज्य पर्यावरण प्रदर्शन के क्षेत्र में 70 अंकों से नीचे हैं। यह रिपोर्ट डाउन टू अर्थ (DTE) मैगज़ीन और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) द्वारा प्रकाशित की गई है और देश के पर्यावरणीय हालात पर आंकड़ों के आधार पर गहराई से विश्लेषण करती है। क्यों पिछड़ रहे हैं राज्य? रिपोर्ट में सबसे बड़ा कारण सीवेज उपचार और नदी प्रदूषण को बताया गया है: आंध्र प्रदेश, जो इस वर्ष पर्यावरण श्रेणी में सर्वोच्च स्थान पर है, ने भी सिर्फ 68.38 अंक ही प्राप्त किए। राज्य ने वनों और जलवायु संकेतकों में अच्छा प्रदर्शन किया, लेकिन सीवेज उपचार और नदियों की सफाई में पिछड़ने से इसकी रैंकिंग प्रभावित हुई। सीवेज उपचार में गहरी खाई आंध्र प्रदेश प्रतिदिन के उत्पन्न सीवेज का केवल 11% ही उपचार करता है। सीवेज उपचार में राज्य की रैंकिंग 36 में से 18वीं है। देशभर के 19 राज्य और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों ने इस पैरामीटर पर 50 से कम अंक प्राप्त किए हैं। नदी प्रदूषण की गंभीर स्थिति 2018 में आंध्र प्रदेश में 5 प्रदूषित नदी खंड थे, जो 2022 में घटकर 3 रह गए (गोस्तानी, उप्पुटेरु और वशिष्ठा)। फिर भी, वशिष्ठा नदी में बायोकैमिकल ऑक्सीजन डिमांड (BOD) स्तर 58 mg/L है, जो कि स्नान के लिए स्वीकार्य 3 mg/L सीमा से 19 गुना अधिक है। अन्य राज्यों की स्थिति जल श्रेणी में 27 राज्य और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों ने 50 से कम अंक पाए। कर्नाटक में 17 नदियों के 41 स्थानों पर BOD स्तर मानकों से अधिक रहा। दक्षिणा पिनाकिनी नदी में मगलुर के पास 111 mg/L BOD स्तर दर्ज हुआ, जो स्वीकार्य सीमा से 37 गुना ज्यादा है। खबर से जुड़े जीके तथ्य BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) जल की गुणवत्ता का मापदंड है; अधिक BOD का अर्थ है जल में ऑक्सीजन की कमी और उच्च जैविक प्रदूषण। सीवेज उपचार ‘वेस्ट मैनेजमेंट’ का एक उप-विषय है, जिसे ‘एनवायरनमेंट थीम’ में शामिल किया गया है। भारत में 2011 के बाद से जनगणना नहीं हुई, जिससे सीवेज और जनसंख्या आधारित जल प्रबंधन आंकड़ों की सटीकता पर प्रश्न उठते हैं। 2025 की रिपोर्ट में चार मुख्य विषयों में राज्य स्तरीय प्रदर्शन का आकलन किया गया: पर्यावरण, कृषि एवं भूमि, सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य, मानव विकास एवं अधोसंरचना। डेटा संकट: नीतिगत रुकावट रिपोर्ट की भूमिका में DTE संपादक और CSE महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने चेताया कि डेटा की कमी योजना निर्माण और क्रियान्वयन को प्रभावित करती है।उदाहरण के तौर पर, नदी सफाई योजनाएं अपशिष्ट जल के अनुमान पर आधारित होती हैं, जो जनसंख्या आंकड़ों से निकाले जाते हैं।बिना अद्यतन जनगणना के, यह केवल अनुमान या गेसवर्क बन जाता है, जिससे योजना की प्रभावशीलता पर संदेह उत्पन्न होता है। भारत सरकार ने 4 जून 2025 को घोषणा की है कि अगली जनगणना दो चरणों में होगी और 1 मार्च 2027 तक पूरी की जाएगी। रिपोर्ट का निष्कर्ष स्पष्ट है: भारत को यदि पर्यावरणीय सुधार में वास्तविक प्रगति करनी है, तो सीवेज प्रबंधन, नदी संरक्षण और सटीक डेटा प्रणाली को सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता देनी होगी। पर्यावरणीय सुधार केवल चुनिंदा क्षेत्रों में नहीं, बल्कि समग्र दृष्टिकोण से ही संभव है।

Younger generation moves into frontline for climate action

According to a 2024 survey by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), nine in ten Indian youth (15-25 years) feel the impact of climate change. The survey also determines a rising problem of climate anxiety amongst this generation, who, however, still believe in outcomes of singularly contributing to reduce the impact of global warming. Pune: As India grapples with heatwaves and environmental degradation, the country's young demographic is stepping up to take action. Several dynamic youth leaders are battling to salvage the future, spearheading movements to save rivers, forests and more, both by moving the judiciary and initiating change at the grassroots level. For instance, environmental lawyer Maitreya Ghorpade (30) has been behind landmark legal actions in Pune, including a National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive ordering Centre to frame India's first guidelines on light pollution in 2024. The city resident also played a key role in challenging felling of heritage trees for the Sadhu Vaswani bridge project, prompting the Maharashtra Tree Authority to demand a scientific tree-age assessment from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) last year. Ghorpade said, "The law reflects our collective understanding of justice. We need that clarity more than ever in a climate-stressed world." His efforts are a bid to secure a better future for his family, friends, and others. "My father is an organic farmer, and my mother was a lawyer. I'm a culmination of both their values. I wasn't satisfied with my work stints till I started utilising my education for a cause. My first draft for a case regarding pollution in the Arabian Sea during an internship in 2018 changed my life," he added. Since then, Ghorpade has held corporations and governments accountable, delving into issues ranging from illegal coastal mining to the non-implementation of afforestation by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), resulting in an order for 39,000 trees to be planted and a Rs 9.23 crore fine being slapped in Feb 2025. According to a 2024 survey by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), nine in ten Indian youth (15-25 years) feel the impact of climate change. The survey also determines a rising problem of climate anxiety amongst this generation, who, however, still believe in outcomes of singularly contributing to reduce the impact of global warming. The trend is apparent in the actions of another youthful eco-crusader — Girish Patil (23) — who is continuing his fight to save the Pavana river in Pune while he finishes his degree in water policy in Mumbai. For his task, Patil in 2020 founded the Youth Organisation for Green India, which today has over 15 active members. Patil was inspired by the fight against illegal mining depleting groundwater along the Girna riverbanks in Jalgaon, his hometown. This prompted him to reach out to award-winning conservationist Rajendra Singh, better known as the "Waterman of India", with whom Patil went around the country to understand green issues and conflicts on ground. Through Nadi Ki Paathshaala, an initiative under social group Jal Biradari, Patil encountered the Pavana river and formed a deep connection with it. As Biradari's national youth convener, he has mobilised over 30 volunteers for the cause — many from his time at Fergusson College — who routinely walk the entire river stretch to document pollution and land conflicts. Today, their findings help shape Pavana's official rejuvenation plan undertaken by the state environment department. Patil also mentors FC's ‘River Club', empowering students to engage in river conservation through awareness and action. He told TOI, "The green cause is my passion — it has determined my career. I want to continue to fight and save the rivers of this country. This sphere does not let you generate a huge income, but it gives me the satisfaction that I am saving our lifeline. To reduce the impact of climate change, we need a group of young people asking the right questions. I want to build that collective voice." Not too far away, the toxic foam-blanketed Mula-Mutha and skies vanishing under a pall of black smoke made Gangotri Chanda (35), a film production professional in Pune, dedicate her time to fighting for the city's vanishing tree cover. "I want to prevent this destruction and interact with the authorities to save it," said Chanda, who moved to Pune in 2015 and has witnessed its changing face during a key decade of infrastructural growth. She now keeps a regular tab on tree felling documents published by PMC, fights to save every tree proposed to be felled without reason that she comes across, challenges the infrastructure planning system and more. "We need to say no to luxuries that end up choking our planet and instead, save the necessities like air, water and trees," Chanda summed up.

CO level 60 times higher than safe limit, air turns ‘very poor’ in a day in Gurgaon

Gurgaon: City residents are breathing in a blend of toxic gases, among them hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, as air quality on Sunday sank to ‘very' poor', from ‘moderate' the day before. Data from Gurgaon's only functioning monitoring station in Gwal Pahari showed that the average air quality index was 304 (‘very poor') on Sunday, from 154 (‘moderate') the day before. While the steep deterioration in air quality is cause for concern, a study of pollutants was more worrying, experts said. Key pollutants exceeding safe standards weren't limited to PM2.5, PM10 and ozone. Data showed that carbon monoxide (CO) concentration was over 60 times the permissible limit. CO concentration in the city has varied between 108 µg/m³ and 101 µg/m³ over the past four days. The maximum limit considered safe for exposure is 1.7 µg/m³. Environmentalists said open waste burning, a problem Gurgaon has been unable to resolve for years, and emissions from diesel vehicles lead to CO pollution. Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless, and it doesn't cause irritation, unlike other pollutants. High concentrations can cause breathlessness, difficulty in focusing and memory loss, and long exposure affects the supply of oxygen to vital organs. "Carbon monoxide is essentially a slow poison. It binds with haemoglobin far more efficiently than oxygen, reducing the body's oxygen supply and putting vulnerable populations at risk even at relatively low concentrations. Pollutants like CO often accumulate rapidly under calm wind conditions, temperature inversions or reduced atmospheric mixing, common during transitional weather phases," said Shubhansh Tiwari, research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). On Sunday, Gwal Pahari recorded an average CO level at 101 µg/m³. It was 106 µg/m³ on Saturday, 108 µg/m³ on Friday, 107 µg/m³ on Thursday, and 81 µg/m³ on Wednesday and 51 µg/m³ on Tuesday. City's residents weren't just exposed to CO. PM2.5 concentration was 77 µg/m³ on Sunday, and PM10 was 165 µg/m³. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average safe limit for PM2.5 is 40 µg/m³ and 60 µg/m³ for PM10. Residents said they have made several complaints to police, MCG and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) about illegal waste dumping and burning in localities and on roadsides. "Authorities should take immediate measures to curb waste burning incidents and enforce stricter waste management protocols," Rahul Arora, who lives in Sector 86, said. Gurgaon's waste management crisis, ongoing for over a year, is yet to be resolved. MCG last year terminated two contracts given to two firms for waste collection and transportation. Before that, it de-empanelled 14 firms that were supposed to handle waste from bulk generators but were found illegally dumping inert material at unauthorised locations. These repeated failures have laid bare systemic flaws in the city's waste management system, which has resulted in piled up garbage in localities and roadsides. "Waste burning remains a serious concern in Gurgaon, contributing significantly to air pollution and public health risks. We are intensifying surveillance and enforcement measures to curb burning activities. Residents are urged to report such incidents immediately so that swift action can be taken," a senior MCG official said on Sunday. Asked about violations of environmental norms, an HSPCB official admitted that open waste-burning and vehicular emissions contribute to CO pollution. "We have informed traffic police and MCG to take immediate action," the official added.

CSE cautions India Facing A Mounting crisis on Multiple Environmental And Development Fronts

As the world prepares to observe Environment Day on June 5, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has sounded a sobering alarm: India is facing a mounting crisis on multiple environmental and development fronts. The Delhi-based think tank’s annual State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 report, released in the capital offered a stark data-led portrait of a nation grappling with extreme weather, declining public health, stalled infrastructure and deepening economic strain. While Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Goa top the charts in individual categories, the broader picture is bleak. No state emerges as a consistent performer across all domains and even top-ranked states struggle with fundamental issues such as pollution, waste management and access to health care. “Numbers usually give us the truth and what we are unveiling on the eve of this year’s World Environment Day based on data that the government itself has generated and which is available publicly, clearly indicates that this is not the time for complacency, nor for chest-thumping,” said Sunita Narain, CSE’s director general, at the launch. Andhra Pradesh led in environmental management, thanks to its forest and biodiversity conservation efforts. Yet it fared poorly in sewage treatment and river pollution control. Sikkim’s organic farming and sustainable land-use practices helped it top the agriculture rankings, but it lagged in farmer welfare. Goa is the best in public health and infrastructure, with the country’s highest rate of medically certified deaths. Still, it faced a shortage of hospital beds and low female labour force participation. Sunita added: “Take just one indicator. India’s most populous states – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh – that are together home to 49 per cent of the country’s population, rank low on the themes that our analysis has focused on. This means large segments of the country’s population remain vulnerable and exposed to multiple threats.” Richard Mahapatra, managing editor of Down To Earth, said none of the states are emerging as complete winners, says Mahapatra. 2024 was the warmest year on record for India; it was also the period in which 25 states recorded their monthly highest 24-hour rainfall in the last 123 years. Rajit Sengupta, associate editor of the magazine and one of the authors of the study report, said: “Extreme weather events occurred on 88 per cent of the days in 2024, marking a sharp rise in both frequency and impact since 2022. Natural disasters induced by extreme weather and other reasons emerged as the primary drivers of internal displacement.” India recorded 5.4 million internal displacements across at least 27 states and UTs in 2024, with Assam alone accounting for nearly half of them. This was the largest internal displacement in volume due to weather and geophysical disasters since 2013. In terms of disaster types, floods accounted for 64 per cent of the displacement. The country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions had declined in 2020 for the first time since 2011, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, India accounted for 7.8 per cent of global GHG emissions — the highest level since 1970. In 1980, the country’s contribution had stood at just 3.3 per cent: its share has since risen by roughly 1 percentage point each decade. Sengupta points out that this growth has accelerated in recent years: between 2020 and 2023 alone, India’s share increased by 0.84 percentage points. All signs point to a future that will continue to be severely taxed by changing climate. The first quarter of 2025 stands out as one of the wettest starts to a year in recent memory. Compared to the same period in the past three years (2022–24), India witnessed an alarming spike in heavy rains, floods and landslides, reported on 80 out of 90 days. The toll has been significant: 122 lives lost — the second-highest after 2023 — and 24,807 ha of cropped area affected. Despite comprising 36 per cent of the installed capacity, new renewable sources (solar, wind, bio-power and small hydro) currently generate only 14 percent of our total electricity – Sengupta says that this points to severe under-utilisation of capacity. Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu lead in adapting new renewable sources, which account for over 20 per cent of the power generation in these states. The analysis report notes that population growth, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have led to a steady decline in the share of agricultural land in India.

पराली से कई गुना ज्यादा वायु प्रदूषण फैलाने वाले थर्मल पावर प्लांट, कब होगा समाधान

कुछ समय पहले, उत्तर भारत में वायु प्रदूषण की खबर दुनिया भर की सुर्खियों में थी। हवा इतनी जहरीली हो गई कि वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (एक्यूआई) का स्तर 1,500 से ऊपर चला गया। विशेषज्ञों के मुताबिक, यह असामान्य स्थिति थी, यहां तक कि उस क्षेत्र के लिए भी, जो दुनिया के सबसे प्रदूषित क्षेत्रों में से एक है। हालांकि इस मौसम में पराली (फसल अवशेषों) जलाने को प्रदूषण का एक बड़ा कारण माना जाता रहा है, लेकिन थर्मल पावर प्लांट एक ऐसा स्थायी प्रदूषण स्रोत है, जो पराली से कई गुना ज्यादा प्रदूषण फैलाने के लिए जिम्मेदार है। पराली जलाने का समय, ठीक तभी आता है, जब तापमान में कमी आ रही होती है और हवाएं स्थिर होती हैं। इसके चलते सर्दियों में गंगा के मैदानों में बड़ी मात्रा में प्रदूषकों जमा हो जाते हैं। धुएं का यह गुबार ज्यादातर पीएम 2.5 कणों (बहुत महीन जहरीले प्रदूषक, जो ईंधन के दहन या बायोमास के जलने पर निकलते हैं) से बना होता है। लेकिन थर्मल पावर प्लांट से होने वाला प्रदूषण हमेशा बना रहता है। यह सालभर बड़ी मात्रा में प्रदूषण फैलाने के लिए जिम्मेदार है। सेंटर फॉर रिसर्च ऑन एनर्जी एंड क्लीन एयर (सीआरईए) की एक रिपोर्ट में पाया गया कि थर्मल पावर प्लांट पराली जलाने की तुलना में 10 गुना ज्यादा पीएम 2.5 और 200 गुना ज्यादा सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड (एक अन्य हानिकारक प्रदूषक है) छोड़ते हैं। अकेले एनसीआर में, थर्मल पावर प्लांट पराली जलाने की तुलना में 16 गुना ज्यादा सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड छोड़ रहे हैं। रिपोर्ट बताती है, “कोयला आधारित बिजली संयंत्रों के उत्सर्जन के स्वास्थ्य और पर्यावरण पर गंभीर प्रभाव के बावजूद, इन पावर प्लांट पर सरकार का ज्यादा ध्यान नहीं है, जबकि पराली जलाने पर सख्ती कहीं अधिक है।” थर्मल पावर प्लांट से निकलने वाले प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए फ्लू गैस डिसल्फराइजेशन (एफजीडी) सिस्टम की जरूरत होती है, जो पीएम 2.5 के एक बड़े कारण सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड को फिल्टर करने का काम करता है। एफजीडी तकनीकों की कारगरता पर वैज्ञानिक सहमति और उन्हें लगाने के आदेशों के बावजूद सरकार का रवैया साफ नहीं है। सरकार की तरफ से एफजीडी को लागू करने के मामलों में अलग-अलग तरह की बाते सामने आ रही हैं। 19 नवंबर को ऊर्जा मंत्रालय ने थर्मल पावर प्लांट में एफजीडी सिस्टम लगाने की समय सीमा को बढ़ाने की मांग की। तो वहीं, नवंबर में ही सरकार के सबसे बड़े थिंक टैंक नीति आयोग ने सुझाव दिया कि थर्मल पावर प्लांट को एफजीडी लगाने की जरूरत नहीं है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट में औद्योगिक प्रदूषण की कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक श्रेया वर्मा ने कहा, “सबसे बड़ी समस्या यह है कि एफजीडी जरूरी है या नहीं, हितधारकों को इसकी समझ ही नहीं है। अगर एफजीडी की जरूरत पर ही सवाल उठाए जाएंगे, तो उद्योग भी इसे लेकर गंभीर नहीं होंगे और अनुपालन के मामले में ढिलाई बरतते रहेंगे।” दिल्ली एनसीआर के 10 किलोमीटर के दायरे में आने वाले पावर प्लांट्स के लिए एफजीडी लगाने की पिछली समय सीमा 31 दिसंबर, 2024 थी। लेकिन सीआरईए के विश्लेषण से पता चलता है कि, इस कैटेगरी में आने वाले चार पावर प्लांट्स में से केवल एक ने पूरी तरह से नियमों का पालन किया है, जबकि एक ने आंशिक रूप से इस पर काम किया।

Rethinking Globalisation: Sunita Narain’s Urgent Essays on Climate, Class, and Commons

The Rise of the Neo Locals: A Generational Reversal of Globalisation by Sunita Narain is a collection of “The Prelusion” (a synonym for “prelude”) and ten essays written between 2016 and 2024. It covers a range of issues, from the ‘global locals’ to energy transition and migration, making it obvious that our existence is ‘Ubuntu’ – which means everyone and everything – the living and non-living, the organic and the inorganic, the present, the past, and the future are all connected. This is a short but intense book of keynotes and essays from the pen of India’s best-known environmentalist, who has steered both the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE) as important dialogue and action platforms as well as a respected voice of empirical research in the global debates on the subject of ecology, environment, and our shared future. The Prelusion is a synoptic review of the last six decades of India, of moving from the ship-to-mouth existence when US wheat was provided to India (and other food-deficient countries) under Eisenhower’s PL 480. It talks about the banning of Coca-Cola in 1977, the establishment of the Maruti factory in the early eighties, and the 1991 liberalization of Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. For Narain, 1992 is an important year – it marked the launch of DTE as well as the Rio Earth Summit. The decade also saw global protests – at Seattle and Occupy Wall Street. While the World Bank was only looking at parameters like economic growth, the UN was a shade better. It launched the MDGs and SDGs and nudged governments into putting their time, resources, and attention into improving the condition of the resource-poor people and countries. She discusses COVID-19 and the challenges of individual countries trying to contain a virus that could not be contained by border fences, and the irony of China controlling the critical elements to make the transition from fossil fuels.

Bonn climate summit a key test ahead of UN meet

The Bonn meeting is critical to thrash out differences before the parties meet in November for a climate deal, which will take place amid severe geopolitical turmoil and renewed tensions as Israel strikes Iran. The shadow of failed climate finance talks at COP29, Baku, also shroud these meetings. The Bonn Climate Change Conference, the meeting that serves as a midway point between the larger annual UN Climate Change meeting (COP30), is set to open on Monday and will continue till June 26. The Bonn meeting is critical to thrash out differences before the parties meet in November for a climate deal, which will take place amid severe geopolitical turmoil and renewed tensions as Israel strikes Iran. The shadow of failed climate finance talks at COP29, Baku, also shroud these meetings. There are divergent views on the Baku to Belem road map to 1.3T, which is expected to be finalised at COP30 in Brazil this November. For example, according to an analysis made by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), G77 and China demand that equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) must be at the core of climate finance, and developing countries must be allowed to self-determined pathways to use finance; the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), another coalition of developing nations, has sought exclusion of international taxes, levies and debt approaches as they violate sovereignty. HT reported on June 3 that India has put forth its expectations, stating that without sufficient climate finance, even proposed nationally determined contributions will not materialise, leave alone any ambitious future NDCs. India has said climate finance should flow from developed countries to developing countries, and that public capital should be used strategically to crowd in private investments for climate action, pointing out that excessive borrowing poses risks to a country’s fiscal stability. In an interview to HT earlier this month, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said: “India’s asks would be as articulated in Article 4.7 of the UNFCCC, i.e., economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing countries. No proposed strategies should foreclose the possibilities of accelerated social and economic development for developing countries. The principle of CBDR-RC should be reinforced. As regards India, its overarching goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 is of paramount importance and accordingly, climate actions of India should align with the goal of Viksit Bharat.” “We’re in the middle of multiple escalating crises. There are few spaces remaining where countries come together and cooperate. It’s more important than ever before that multilateralism is upheld and the goals that have been set — such as the transition away from fossil fuels in Dubai and the climate finance goal in Baku. The Bonn conference must reinforce our commitment to cooperative, equitable climate action despite the current moment,” said Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change Centre for Science and Environment. “As political crises and global conflicts dominate headlines, we must not lose sight of the escalating climate emergency. Climate disasters are intensifying, hitting the most vulnerable communities and countries the hardest. The mid-year climate talks are not a side note — they are the foundation for a successful COP30. We need urgent progress now to deliver real climate finance, accelerate a just transition away from fossil fuels, and protect both people and nature. Delaying action means deepening injustice and multiplying both human and ecological costs,” said Harjeet Singh, climate activist and founding director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation.

Sharp rise in ozone pollution as Gurgaon sees intense heat & low wind speed

Gurgaon: With summer at its harshest of the season so far, environmentalists are worried about an uptick in ozone pollution. Data from Gurgaon's only-functioning air quality monitoring station in Gwal Pahari showed that ozone (O3) concentration jumped from an average of 57µg/m³ on Thursday to an alarming 178 µg/m³ on Friday. Average ozone concentration was 30µg/m³ on June 11, 34µg/m³ on June 10, 48µg/m³ on June 9, and 31 µg/m³ on June 8. Experts said that concerns about air pollution often revolve around particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations, but ozone is a secondary pollutant that goes unnoticed. O3 is formed when sunlight triggers a reaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other gases, most of which are released from vehicular and industrial emissions. Think-tank Envirocatalysts also analysed ozone concentrations in the city over the years and recorded a sharp increase this year. According to its data, ozone levels exceeded 100 µg/m³ for 451 hours and crossed the more hazardous 120µg/m³ threshold for 322 hours between April and early June this year. In the same time frame last year, there were just two hours that the average ozone concentration was above 100 µg/m³, and none above 120 µg/m³. Data from the years before shows fluctuations – ozone levels were lower in 2023, but 2022 and 2021 recorded moderate pollution. The concentration of the gas was high in 2020, which recorded 429 hours when the scale exceeded 100 µg/m³, and in 2019 (376 hours over 100 µg/m³). Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, said data could show a spike this year because only one air quality monitoring station of the four in the city is functional. "Earlier, there were four stations, and data used to average out. Irrespective of that, we are seeing higher ozone levels even during the afternoon and night hours. Meteorological factors are also contributing towards higher concentration. For instance, temperature is high, and emissions are likely to have increased from vehicles," Dahiya said. Doctors said long exposure to ground-level ozone can cause respiratory issues and aggravate existing ailments, especially among children and the elderly. Environmentalists said the authorities should start issuing real-time health advisories for ozone pollution too. "Urban planners and policymakers have been urged to promote public transport and curb vehicular emissions, which are major sources of NOx and other gases that lead to formation of ozone. Tree cover and green buffers can also help mitigate urban heat islands, thereby indirectly reducing ozone formation," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Asked about ozone pollution, an official of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board said it was a "matter of serious concern". "The recent spike is likely driven by high temperatures, stagnant air and increased vehicular emissions. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities to ensure smooth traffic and avoid any major congestions," the official said.