Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

Chennai’s green mystery: One lakh trees planted, but no one knows the total count

Worryingly, a joint study by the Centre for Science and Environment and CMDA shows the city’s green cover has dropped from 34.2% in 2003 to 20.5% in 2023. Meanwhile, Chennai’s built-up area has exploded to 72.9%, fueling Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects of 2.5–3°C in hotspots like Teynampet and Egmore. On World Environment Day (June 5), the Greater Chennai Corporation proudly planted one lakh trees. But when asked what Chennai’s total tree count is now, there’s silence. Unlike other major Indian metros, Chennai has never completed a comprehensive tree census — and isn’t conducting one now either. Cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru have already mapped their green wealth. Mumbai, for instance, reported over 29 lakh trees in its 2017 census. Pune completed its count in 2016. Bengaluru has gone a step further with an institutional Tree Committee under Karnataka’s tree protection law. Chennai, meanwhile, has only flirted with census plans over the past decade, none of which bore fruit. Officials confirm that there’s no current census in progress. Previous efforts, like a limited 2011 count by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and a 2017 geo-tagging plan under the Smart City Mission, were partial and inconclusive. Worryingly, a joint study by the Centre for Science and Environment and CMDA shows the city’s green cover has dropped from 34.2% in 2003 to 20.5% in 2023. Meanwhile, Chennai’s built-up area has exploded to 72.9%, fueling Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects of 2.5–3°C in hotspots like Teynampet and Egmore. Experts urge immediate green audits. NGOs like Nizhal have shown this is feasible. In 2016, their GIS-based study in Ward 176 proved that structured tree data — including health, species, and damage assessment — is achievable and crucial for urban planning.

Six of Himachal’s ‘greenest’ schools win Chief Minister’s GSP Rolling Trophy for 2024-25

Recently Six schools from Himachal Pradesh were awarded the prestigious 2024-25 Chief Minister’s GSP Rolling Trophies for their exceptional environmental initiatives. The awards ceremony, held at Hotel Peterhoff in Shimla, celebrated the schools’ commitment to sustainable practices. The awards were presented by Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Green Schools Programme (GSP) in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science and Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE). The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, presented the awards; D S Rana, Member Secretary of HIMCOSTE, was also present at the event. Solan district , known for its consistent leadership in environmental sustainability, was recognised as the best-performing district in the state , with three of the six award-winning schools from this region. The district continues to set a high bar for green practices in schools. The GSP Rolling Trophy, introduced in 2017, acknowledges schools that participate in the GSP audit and work tirelessly to promote sustainability. CSE, a leading environmental research body in South Asia, and HIMCOSTE have been working together for nearly a decade to advance environmental education in Himachal Pradesh, nurturing a generation of eco-conscious students. Speaking on the occasion, HIMCOSTE Member Secretary D S Rana said: “We have been working with CSE for over 10 years now, and we are grateful for this partnership. It is essential to prepare the next generation for environmental conservation, and the Green Schools Programme is doing this remarkably well. We hope this collaboration continues in the same spirit in the years to come.” The Winning Schools: Govt Sr Secondary School Baldeyan, Shimla : Awarded the Changemaker School Award for consistently improving its green performance and inspiring other institutions in the state. Govt Sr Secondary School Bhaleth, Hamirpur : Awarded the GSP Waste Warrior Award for its exceptional waste management practices, setting an example for schools across the state. Govt High School Kanah, Solan : Honoured with the GSP Land Manager Award for its outstanding efforts in land conservation and sustainable land use management. Doon Valley Public School, Solan : Awarded the GSP Energy Manager Award for its innovative energy conservation efforts and implementation of renewable energy practices. Govt Sr Sec School Sarog, Shimla : Received the GSP Newcomer Award for its impressive overall performance across several sections of the GSP audit, emerging as a leader in environmental education. Shivalik Valley School, Nalagarh, Solan : Recognised with the GSP Waterwise Award for its effective water management practices, including water conservation and rainwater harvesting initiatives. Neeraj Kumar , Programme Manager, Environmental Education at CSE, said, “Himachal Pradesh is setting an inspiring example in 2024-25 with 290 schools completing CSE’s annual GSP audit of resources and environmental practices inside their campuses — marking the second-highest participation by any state in India. The award-winning schools exemplify what can be achieved through dedicated efforts in environmental education.” The Green Schools Programme (GSP) encourages schools to improve their environmental practices in key areas such as energy conservation, waste management, water use, and biodiversity enhancement. The programme empowers students to become future leaders in sustainability, promoting responsible environmental practices that benefit both the school community and the larger society. What Makes a School ‘Green’? A “green school” is characterised by several core practices, including but not limited to: A window-to-floor ratio (WFR) of more than 5 percent. Promoting sustainable transportation options such as public transport, e-rickshaws, cycling, and walking. Maximizing energy-efficient lighting and utilizing renewable energy sources. Enhancing green cover by planting native species and fostering biodiversity on school grounds. Serving only cooked meals, avoiding packaged foods, to promote healthy and sustainable eating. Implementing rainwater harvesting systems and treating wastewater. Segregating waste at source, recycling at least 90 percent of waste, and responsibly managing disposal. Composting wet waste and avoiding incineration.

Forget AI. Keeping cool is the bigger power sector problem

"A single heatwave - even one lasting just a few days - causes tens of thousands of excess deaths in India," according to a report published in April by India's Centre for Science and the Environment. Utilities in the developed world are stressing over how to keep up with demand from data centres and artificial intelligence searches. But globally, keeping people cool is likely to be a much bigger drain on electricity grids and a more pressing power sector challenge. Worldwide, data centres and air conditioners are both projected to triple their electricity use over the coming decade, and will severely test utilities that are already under strain from aging grids and lengthy backlogs for new supply. Indeed, electricity demand from data centres is projected to rise by roughly 800 terawatt hours (TWh) by 2035, from around 416 TWh in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). That is enough to power around 75 million American homes for a year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Global demand for cooling systems, however, is set to rise by around 1,200 TWh by 2035, or nearly as much electricity as the entire Middle East consumes annually, data from think thank Ember shows. Importantly, the location of demand growth also differs significantly between the two drivers, as does the consequences of failure to meet this spike. Most data centre expansions are set to be within developed economies with modern power networks, and increased demand will primarily come from processing search requests for businesses and social media applications. In contrast, the vast majority of the demand growth for air conditioning is set to occur in emerging economies where many communities already face the prospect of heat-related deaths and illness within already fragile energy systems. Increased deaths and human suffering, the likely outcome of power system shortfalls in the developing world, are of a different order of magnitude than the risk of slower search results and economic drag that could result from failure to boost power supplies for data hubs. BUILDING IMPACT Climate change is leading to more frequent, more intense and more prolonged heatwaves across the world, but especially in developing regions such as South and Southeast Asia where high humidity levels can amplify the impact of heat stress. "A single heatwave - even one lasting just a few days - causes tens of thousands of excess deaths in India," according to a report published in April by India's Centre for Science and the Environment. To combat the effects, new homes and offices across warm climate countries are scaling up the number of cooling units they contain. And many of these areas are already undergoing a building boom, magnifying the amount of space needing to be cooled. In 2022, around 36% of all households were estimated to possess some air conditioning equipment, according to the IEA. By 2035, that share is expected to jump to 50%, and then to 60% by 2050. To power that expanding footprint, the installed capacity of cooling equipment is set to surge from around 850 gigawatts (GW) in 2022 to 1,750 GW by 2035, and to 2,700 GW by 2050, IEA data shows. INDIA-LED India, which already has the world's largest population and is expected to have the third largest economy by 2035, is expected to be the main driver of cooling system demand in the coming decades. Currently, around 5% of the world's stock of air conditioners is in India, or around 110 million units of the roughly 2.4 billion in use globally, per the IEA. By 2035, India's share of the global air conditioner stock is set to rise to 13% (to nearly 500 million units), and then to more than 1.1 billion units by 2050. Indonesia, another fast-growing populous nation prone to hot and humid spells, is set to treble its air conditioner count by 2035, while Brazil, Mexico and the Middle East are all set to more than double it. WIDENING LOADS Power firms in all regions have their work cut out in ramping up electricity supplies to match the projected demand growth from both data centres and cooling systems. But again, the challenges faced in addressing these two demand drivers will differ based on where the power is needed. In the United States and Europe, most data centre expansions are taking place close to established generation sites, so that server farms can tap uninterrupted power and avoid transmission delays. In developing economies, many of the new cooling systems are within new multi-story apartment buildings or on previously undeveloped land, meaning that power suppliers have to vastly expand their geographic reach while also boosting volumes. Needing to rapidly increase both the scope and scale of electricity production will likely expand the use of coal-fired power in India, Indonesia and elsewhere, which will generate pollution that may further accelerate warming trends. But the sheer magnitude of energy demand growth ensures that fossil fuels alone will not be able to meet it, and that supplies from a multitude of power sources will have to be deployed. This "all of the above" approach, in turn, means that power from clean energy and renewable sources should gain a growing share of the generation mix over time, potentially squeezing out high polluting fuels from electricity production. But in the near term, the fossil fuels burned to meet the rising demand for power will only increase. The need to keep people safe and comfortable as temperatures keep climbing will thus only exacerbate future heat stress, putting ever more pressure on strained electrical grids.

India is the world's biggest plastic polluter: What it means for our health

And thereby hangs a whole tale. In a 2022 analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data from 23 states and Union territories, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) concluded that only 12 per cent of plastic waste in India is recycled.. 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. And thereby hangs a whole tale. In a 2022 analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data from 23 states and Union territories, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) concluded that only 12 per cent of plastic waste in India is recycled, 20 per cent of it is burned while a significant 70 per cent is unaccounted-for, likely ending up in landfills or dumpyards and along roadsides. No wonder India emerged as the world’s largest plastic emitter in a September 2024 study published in science journal Nature, which based its conclusions on 2020 data gleaned from 50,702 municipalities worldwide. India contributes 9.3million tonnes (Mt), or 20 per cent, to the 52.1 Mt of the annual global plastic waste emissions. This refers to the waste emitted into the environment that is not subject to any form of management or control. An estimated 5.8 Mt of plastic is openly burned in India, releasing poisonous gases; 3.5 Mt escapes as loose plastic in the environment that eventually enters the oceans. This is not counting the enormous quantum that gets collected and thrown in mismanaged sites, where it eventually decomposes and leaches deadly toxins into the soil. In an e-mail, the authors of the study told india today that the total plastic waste generated in India is 27.8 Mt, far, far higher than the 3.5 Mt the CPCB estimated for 2020 (see The India Stack). As the study says, official figures in India do not include rural areas, open burning of uncollected waste or waste recycled by the informal sector.

The New Normal: Growing Climate Crisis of Heatwaves

Official statistics often undercount heat-related deaths. Many fatalities are misclassified or go unrecognised, as highlighted by a Down To Earth investigation. “The real number of deaths due to heat stress is likely several times higher than reported,” said Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in the article titled A matter of life and death published by Down To Earth. “This is a silent killer.” India is no stranger to scorching summers, but the past few years have rewritten the record books. In 2024, the country endured its longest heatwave since 2010, with temperatures soaring above 40°C for weeks on end across multiple states. The increasing red and orange alerts, and subsequent erratic rainfall bringing cities to a standstill, are direct consequences of global warming. The World Meteorological Organisation declared 2024 the hottest year ever recorded, and India stood at the epicentre of this global heat emergency. Why Are Heatwaves Getting Worse? Climate change is the primary culprit. As greenhouse gases trap more heat in the atmosphere, extreme weather events, like heatwaves, floods, droughts, and storms, are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged. According to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), “Asia accounted for 45 per cent of global heat-related deaths between 2000 and 2019, and India, where over a billion people face heatwaves annually, remains among the most affected regions.” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has repeatedly warned that without rapid emissions cuts, the world will see even more dangerous heat extremes. Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW, notes, “Heat is often called an invisible disaster because it does not leave behind physical destruction, making it harder to measure its impact. But its effects are devastating and wide-ranging," in an interview quoting the CEEW report. Who Is Most at Risk? A new CEEW study, covering 734 districts, found that 57 per cent of Indian districts, home to 76 per cent of the population, are at high risk. Vulnerable groups include the elderly, children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, slum dwellers, gig workers, police personnel, agricultural labourers, and construction workers. "There is a lot of productivity loss and economic loss which is happening, which may not be a death, but it is definitely having a big impact on families, " said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation to PTI. She also warned of the consequences to mental health dur to prolonged heat exposure. "If you do not get any relief from heat for a prolonged period, then we know, for example, suicides go up, psychiatric illnesses get worse, and domestic violence increases," Swaminathan added. The Hidden Toll Official statistics often undercount heat-related deaths. Many fatalities are misclassified or go unrecognised, as highlighted by a Down To Earth investigation. “The real number of deaths due to heat stress is likely several times higher than reported,” said Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in the article titled A matter of life and death published by Down To Earth. “This is a silent killer.” The economic impact is staggering. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that India could lose the equivalent of 35 million full-time jobs and see a 4.5 per cent reduction in GDP by 2030 due to heat stress. Power grids buckle under surging demand, crops wither, and water sources dry up, threatening food and water security for millions.

Does Chennai know how many trees it has?

According to the Urban Heat Stress Tracker, a report by the Centre of Science and Environment in collaboration with the CMDA, the green cover dropped from 34.2% in 2003 to 20.5% in 2023. Chennai is the only major metro in India without a full-edged tree census. Unlike Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, all of which have conducted citywide counts, Chennai has only been oating plans for over a decade for the same. Ofcials from the Forest Department now conrm there is no effort to conduct a census currently underway. In contrast, Mumbai recorded over 29 lakh trees in its 2017 census. Pune completed its survey in 2016, and Bengaluru has institutional mechanisms, like a Tree Committee, under the state's tree protection law. Meanwhile, the city is undergoing massive ecological transformation. According to the Urban Heat Stress Tracker, a report by the Centre of Science and Environment in collaboration with the CMDA, the green cover dropped from 34.2% in 2003 to 20.5% in 2023. It also points out that in just two decades, the builtup area has consumed nearly three-fourths of the city, a jump from 31.6% to 72.9% built-up area, leaving little room for trees to thrive. The study also recorded Urban Heat Island (UHI) intensities of 2.5– 3°C, particularly in dense zones like Teynampet, Egmore, and Perambur The report recommends immediate green cover audits which is essentially a structured tree census needed to help plan urban heat adaptation. Urur Kuppam. Using Differential Global Positioning System and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, the team assessed each tree's species, health, and survival outlook. The study revealed that 16.36% of trees, including exotic species, were damaged during Cyclone Vardah. "A database that is measurable, veriable, and reliable is possible. We've done it at the ward level," says Shoba Menon, founder of Nizhal. "Yet the city as a whole never prioritised it." These audits, it notes, are essential for identifying planting gaps, monitoring species survival, and ensuring equitable green distribution. She stresses that a tree census is essential not just for biodiversity or beautication, but for guiding urban planning, ensuring community participation, and protecting environmental health

Air quality ‘very poor’, Gurgaon only Indian city in the red

Gurgaon: The city on Thursday stood out as the only district in the country to record ‘very poor' air quality, as ozone concentration scaled alarming levels. The Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) bulletin showed that of 220 districts for which data was recorded, Gurgaon's air quality index (AQI) was the highest, at 333, or ‘very poor'. All but one district recorded ‘good, satisfactory or moderate' AQI because monsoon or pre-monsoon showers are clearing away pollutants. Neighbouring Delhi recorded average AQI at 89, or satisfactory. Air quality in other NCR cities – Noida and Ghaziabad – were in the same range. Other than Gurgaon, the only exception in the CPCB list was Bundi in Rajasthan, which recorded ‘poor' AQI on Thursday. Data analysis also showed that Thursday was the second time this month that the city's AQI plummeted to ‘very poor'. The last instance was on June 15, when AQI touched 304. What makes it more peculiar is that the key pollutant on Thursday was not particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM10), but ground-level ozone. Ozone is a secondary pollutant that is formed when sunlight triggers a reaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other gases, most of which are released from vehicular and industrial emissions. Ozone concentration at the city's only functioning air quality monitoring station in Gwal Pahari touched 507 µg/m³ (8-hour average), five times the safe limit of 100 µg/m³ It was also the highest ozone level to be recorded in the city – the previous record was 325 µg/m³ logged in March 2018. Experts said this hike in ozone pollution is a cause for concern but cautioned that data from the city was likely to be higher because it was limited to one monitoring station. In comparison, Delhi's data in the CPCB bulletin was an average from 38 out of 39 stations in the capital. "Gurgaon data is currently showing a spike in ozone, but we need to also consider that at present only one air quality monitoring station is functional out of the four in the city. Normally, data gets averaged out. But, having said that, meteorological conditions and the increase in number of vehicles every year, adds to ozone pollution," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Manoj Kumar, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), pointed out that localised ozone pollution also indicates increased emissions from vehicles, industries and open waste burning. "To tackle this, it's crucial to reduce vehicular emissions, promote electric mobility, and discourage practices like open waste burning. Ozone is a typical summer pollutant. Its rising level reflects the combined impact of hot weather and pollution emissions," Kumar said. Officials of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on Thursday advised residents to limit outdoor activities during the afternoon, when ozone concentrations normally peak. "We have directed Gurgaon's municipal body to monitor traffic congestion hotspots and construction activities, which contribute indirectly to ozone formation," an HSPCB official said. With monsoon still a few days from arriving over the region, doctors said people with existing respiratory ailments, children and the elderly should avoid high exposure to ozone. "Ozone can irritate the lungs, trigger asthma attacks, and worsen chronic bronchitis or COPD . People should avoid outdoor activities during peak sunlight hours, typically between 11am and 4pm," said Dr RR Dutta, head of internal medicine department at Paras Health, Gurgaon.

Chilling Facts: What Science Says About India’s Proposed AC Temperature Limits

Sugeet Grover, programme manager at the Centre for Science and Environment, explained that raising the set temperature of an AC by just 1°C can save about 6% in electricity, according to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar recently announced that India will soon launch a pilot project to standardise temperature settings in air conditioners (AC). This, he said, was in a bid “to help reduce excessive power consumption due to extremely low cooling settings”. Under the proposed regulation, the temperature range will be capped between 20°C and 28°C. While the move is seen as a step toward energy efficiency, experts argue that limiting AC temperature alone won't significantly curb energy use. They stress the need for improved building design, stricter enforcement, and a stronger scientific basis to achieve meaningful results. The announcement comes as the India Meteorological Department continues to issue heatwave alerts across several states, with much of the country enduring an intense and prolonged hot spell. In this context, BOOM spoke to energy and climate experts to understand the science behind thermal comfort and why better building design must complement any temperature control measures. How Does The Proposed Plan Affect You? Once the new rule is implemented, all newly manufactured AC units in India will be hardcoded to operate only within the 20°C to 28°C range. This means air conditioners that currently allow settings as low as 16°C or 18°C will no longer offer those options. Instead, 20°C will be the lowest setting for cooling and 28°C the highest for heating. The restriction is expected to impact both residential and commercial usage, and authorities plan to monitor compliance and assess its impact post-implementation. This proposed shift builds on earlier efforts to improve energy efficiency in cooling practices. In 2018, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)—which operates under the Power Ministry—introduced voluntary guidelines for large commercial spaces such as airports, hotels, malls, and government buildings, recommending optimal temperature settings to reduce electricity use. A survey was planned to evaluate the results of that advisory. Two years later, in 2020, the government made it mandatory for all new ACs sold in India to come with a default temperature setting of 24°C. However, users retained the ability to manually change the setting. The current proposal goes a step further by eliminating user override options altogether and fixing the temperature range, with the goal of promoting more energy-conscious cooling habits. Does The Temperature Range Make Sense? Sort of. Sugeet Grover, programme manager at the Centre for Science and Environment, explained that raising the set temperature of an AC by just 1°C can save about 6% in electricity, according to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). "It’s a rough estimate, but it shows how small changes can have a big impact," he said. Grover backed the idea of setting a minimum temperature for ACs because people often set them too low. “In cabs, the AC is usually at the coldest setting. Hotels often default to 18°C, which is much colder than needed,” he said. However, he questioned how the government determined the specific temperature range of 20°C to 28°C. He speculated that 28°C may have been chosen to avoid overheating in colder climates or to reduce emissions in places that use heating. “We’ve been given no real scientific basis for this number,” he noted. Grover also pointed out how hard it is to cool a room to 18°C when it’s 45°C outside. “That puts a huge strain on the AC. If you set it to 26°C and use a fan, you’ll still feel comfortable,” he said. This ties into the idea of adaptive comfort——our bodies’ ability to adjust to ambient conditions over time. “If you’ve been living in 40°C weather for weeks, you’ll feel okay in a room with the air-conditioner set at 27°C,” he explained. This idea, he noted, is already recognised in India’s National Building Code. Professor Per Becker from Lund University raised similar concerns about the 20°C to 28°C band, calling it “scientifically unsubstantiated”. Research shows people work best in temperatures between 21°C and 25°C, with the ideal range being 22°C to 24°C. “Below that, you’re just wasting energy unless the setting is for physical labour,” he said. He agreed that fans can help improve comfort at slightly higher temperatures. “Even 26°C can work with proper circulation. But beyond that, especially around 28°C, cognitive and physical productivity tends to drop.” While Becker acknowledged that human bodies do adapt to heat over time, he argued that 28°C is too warm for most indoor work environments. “A single national range ignores local weather differences,” he added. “Cooling a space to 24°C when it’s 45°C outside takes far more energy than doing the same when it’s 30°C. A fixed band doesn’t reflect that complexity.”

Erratic weather is hurting Indian rms in the biggest consumer market

India experienced extreme weather events on 88 per cent of days in 2024 in one or more parts of the country, according to a database maintained by Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth. Between 1993 and 2022, the South Asian nation lost about $180 billion (Rs 15.57 lakh crore) to severe heat and rains, the Climate Risk Index 2025 report said. Weather forecasting in India has been plagued by outdated technology and modeling systems that make it difcult to get accurate data.

Chilling Facts: What Science Says About India’s Proposed AC Temperature Limits

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar recently announced that India will soon launch a pilot project to standardise temperature settings in air conditioners (AC). This, he said, was in a bid “to help reduce excessive power consumption due to extremely low cooling settings”. Under the proposed regulation, the temperature range will be capped between 20°C and 28°C. While the move is seen as a step toward energy efficiency, experts argue that limiting AC temperature alone won't significantly curb energy use. They stress the need for improved building design, stricter enforcement, and a stronger scientific basis to achieve meaningful results. The announcement comes as the India Meteorological Department continues to issue heatwave alerts across several states, with much of the country enduring an intense and prolonged hot spell. In this context, BOOM spoke to energy and climate experts to understand the science behind thermal comfort and why better building design must complement any temperature control measures. How Does The Proposed Plan Affect You? Once the new rule is implemented, all newly manufactured AC units in India will be hardcoded to operate only within the 20°C to 28°C range. This means air conditioners that currently allow settings as low as 16°C or 18°C will no longer offer those options. Instead, 20°C will be the lowest setting for cooling and 28°C the highest for heating. The restriction is expected to impact both residential and commercial usage, and authorities plan to monitor compliance and assess its impact post-implementation. This proposed shift builds on earlier efforts to improve energy efficiency in cooling practices. In 2018, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)—which operates under the Power Ministry—introduced voluntary guidelines for large commercial spaces such as airports, hotels, malls, and government buildings, recommending optimal temperature settings to reduce electricity use. A survey was planned to evaluate the results of that advisory. Two years later, in 2020, the government made it mandatory for all new ACs sold in India to come with a default temperature setting of 24°C. However, users retained the ability to manually change the setting. The current proposal goes a step further by eliminating user override options altogether and fixing the temperature range, with the goal of promoting more energy-conscious cooling habits. Does The Temperature Range Make Sense? Sort of. Sugeet Grover, programme manager at the Centre for Science and Environment, explained that raising the set temperature of an AC by just 1°C can save about 6% in electricity, according to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). "It’s a rough estimate, but it shows how small changes can have a big impact," he said. Grover backed the idea of setting a minimum temperature for ACs because people often set them too low. “In cabs, the AC is usually at the coldest setting. Hotels often default to 18°C, which is much colder than needed,” he said. However, he questioned how the government determined the specific temperature range of 20°C to 28°C. He speculated that 28°C may have been chosen to avoid overheating in colder climates or to reduce emissions in places that use heating. “We’ve been given no real scientific basis for this number,” he noted. Grover also pointed out how hard it is to cool a room to 18°C when it’s 45°C outside. “That puts a huge strain on the AC. If you set it to 26°C and use a fan, you’ll still feel comfortable,” he said. This ties into the idea of adaptive comfort——our bodies’ ability to adjust to ambient conditions over time. “If you’ve been living in 40°C weather for weeks, you’ll feel okay in a room with the air-conditioner set at 27°C,” he explained. This idea, he noted, is already recognised in India’s National Building Code. Professor Per Becker from Lund University raised similar concerns about the 20°C to 28°C band, calling it “scientifically unsubstantiated”. Research shows people work best in temperatures between 21°C and 25°C, with the ideal range being 22°C to 24°C. “Below that, you’re just wasting energy unless the setting is for physical labour,” he said. He agreed that fans can help improve comfort at slightly higher temperatures. “Even 26°C can work with proper circulation. But beyond that, especially around 28°C, cognitive and physical productivity tends to drop.” While Becker acknowledged that human bodies do adapt to heat over time, he argued that 28°C is too warm for most indoor work environments. “A single national range ignores local weather differences,” he added. “Cooling a space to 24°C when it’s 45°C outside takes far more energy than doing the same when it’s 30°C. A fixed band doesn’t reflect that complexity.”

India ‘disappointed’ with exclusion of finance obligation from agenda at Bonn

Avantika Goswami, programme manager at the Climate Change Centre for Science and Environment, said the European Union and its allies had blocked the G77’s demand to discuss developed countries’ climate finance obligations. “The fight is not over, as the LMDC bloc and India have vowed to bring focus back to this at COP30,” she said. India and several developing countries have expressed disappointment after a key climate finance discussion was excluded from the Bonn Climate Talks agenda, vowing to raise the issue at November’s COP30 summit in Brazil. The dispute centred on Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which mandates that developed countries provide financial resources to assist developing nations with both mitigation and adaptation efforts. The debate over the 9.1 agenda item proposal led to a 30-hour delay before talks could begin. “We are extremely disappointed with the reluctance of developed countries to discuss their legal obligations to provide finance to developing countries,” said Amandeep Garg, additional secretary at ministry of environment, forests and climate change, who represented the Indian delegation. The Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) group and the G77 and China had proposed agenda items on both the legal obligation of wealthy countries to provide climate finance and another on unilateral trade measures. However, these were not adopted after the European Union and other developed nations refused to agree. “Without enough affordable financial support, developing countries cannot address the challenges posed by climate change,” Garg said during his intervention at the agenda adoption session, backing the LMDC position. “This is completely unacceptable. We do not understand how this process can engage in article 9.1 without which climate action in developing countries cannot be taken in scale, scope and speed” Garg added: “It has been 10 years of the Paris Agreement and still the items which are required to be discussed, we are not discussing them.” Diego Pacheco, Bolivia’s negotiator and spokesperson for the LMDC group, warned that the issue would resurface at COP30. “Public finance from developed countries is a necessary condition for implementation of the Paris Agreement,” he said. “You can deny us the starting point but be rest assured, the LMDC will raise these items at COP30.” The African Group also highlighted the implementation of Article 9.1 as critical to their region, emphasising the need to address resource provision for nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and just transition measures. EU negotiators said their “positions and motivations being mischaracterised” and urged parties to respect all positions in a constructive spirit. The agenda was finally adopted on Tuesday evening after extensive behind-closed-doors consultations. Simon Stiell, the UN climate chief, acknowledged the difficulty of the negotiations whilst urging progress on mandated items. “The past 30 hours have been hard and have not reflected the urgency that we face,” Stiell said. “Through cooperation and compromise, we have resolved the impasse. We must now move the work ahead.” This year’s Bonn talks agenda includes discussions on Global Goal on Adaptation indicators under the UAE–Belém Work Programme, the UAE Dialogue on implementing global stocktake outcomes, the UAE Just Transition Work Programme, and the Baku to Belem roadmap to 1.3 trillion dollars. Avantika Goswami, programme manager at the Climate Change Centre for Science and Environment, said the European Union and its allies had blocked the G77’s demand to discuss developed countries’ climate finance obligations. “The fight is not over, as the LMDC bloc and India have vowed to bring focus back to this at COP30,” she said. The dispute comes as climate change appears to be losing prominence in some international forums. The International Institute of Sustainable Development noted that G7 statements following recent talks between leaders in Kananaskis omitted references to climate change, with only the chair’s summary making a passing reference to the issue. “The G7 sidestepped climate change in the leaders’ statements, despite acknowledging increased wildfires,” said Patricia Fuller, IISD president and chief executive. “Previous G7 commitments to action on climate change remain on the books and must be delivered.”

Rain, winds give Delhi best AQI since Sept 29

New Delhi: Rain accompanied by gusty winds helped Delhiites inhale the purest air they had access to in 261 days. The city's AQI on Wednesday was 81 and ‘satisfactory', with the index lower than this only on Sept 29 last year at 76. This year so far, Delhi has witnessed just three ‘satisfactory' days and there has been no ‘good' air day. The last ‘good' air day was Sept 10, 2023, when the AQI read 45 due to rains and the restrictions imposed for the G20 Summit. The Central Pollution Control Board defines a ‘good' air day as one when AQI is below 51, while a ‘satisfactory' level has AQI reading 51-100. The city's AQI was 104 on Tuesday. Delhi logged 29mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours till 8.30am on Wednesday. The rain was accompanied by winds with speed up to 45 kmph. These aided in settling the pollutants. Experts said on Wednesday that pollution has to be dealt at the source level to ensure similar AQI readings throughout the year. "Weather and climate will always impact daily short-term trends. But irrespective of this variation and climatic influence, we need to achieve sustained longer-term reduction with scale and speed of clean air action," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst, EnviroCatalysts, said, "The fact that sustained rain and good wind speed could bring AQI down to the ‘satisfactory' level says loudly that emissions from contributing sectors, transport, industry, construction, and waste, etc., are so high that even the wind and rain washing the pollutants couldn't provide breathable 'good' air quality." Dahiya added that while the slightly better air quality was a respite for the citizens, aggressive actions towards reducing emission load from contributing sectors were the only solutions that can help reduce pollution throughout the year. In March, the city enjoyed two consecutive ‘satisfactory' air days on March 15 and 16 with AQI, respectively, of 85 and 99. CPCB's data shows that between Jan 1 and June 17, Delhi recorded 80 ‘moderate' days, 68 ‘poor' days and 18 ‘very poor' days. In the same period last year, there were 84 ‘moderate' days, 49 ‘poor' days, 32 ‘very poor' days and three ‘severe' days. CPCB classifies AQI between 101 and 200 as ‘moderate', between 201 and 300 as ‘poor', between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor' and over 400 as ‘severe'.

Erratic Weather Is Hurting Indian Firms in The Biggest Consumer Market

India experienced extreme weather events on 88% of days in 2024 in one or more parts of the country, according to a database maintained by Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth. Between 1993 and 2022, the South Asian nation lost about $180 billion to severe heat and rains, the Climate Risk Index 2025 report said. Some of India’s largest companies, already hit by a demand slump, are facing a new threat in wooing the country’s 1.4 billion consumers: unpredictable weather. A cooler-than-usual summer this year — followed by the earliest onset of rain since 2009 — has hurt companies selling everything from talcum powder to air conditioners. Blue Star Ltd., one of the largest AC sellers in the country, had to cut production by as much as 25% between April and June, as it saw fewer buyers. It also delayed imports of compressors, a key input, and extended credit to some dealerships saddled with unsold inventories. Rivals Havells Ltd. and Tata-owned Voltas Ltd. also flagged a sales slowdown. A four-fold jump in frequency, unpredictability and intensity of extreme weather events in India over the past four decades has made planning and preparedness more demanding for companies. From Hindustan Unilever Ltd. to food delivery app Zomato-owner Eternal Ltd. to engineering giant Larsen & Tourbro Ltd., it’s affecting everything from sales to labor and supply chain management in the world’s biggest consumer market. India’s situation as one of the most affected nations by climate change provides a glimpse of what’s in store for other major economies as environmental change accelerates. As record-breaking temperatures, rains and other extreme weather occur worldwide, companies are likely to be left scrambling to predict and plan for the future. Earnings Calls On earnings calls over the last six months, top management and equity analysts discussed “delayed summer” and “delayed winter” the most in five years, according to transcripts analyzed by Bloomberg News. “This quarter is slightly challenging as far as the summer portfolio is concerned,” Mohan Goenka, vice chairman of Emami Ltd., whose products include talc powder, told investors on an earnings call last month. The company will try to make up for the setback through its other segments, he added. Varun Beverages Ltd., which bottles Pepsi in India, had said in April that it was ramping up production for the summer, expecting higher demand. Instead, unseasonal rains likely hurt performance at the beverage maker, according to analysts at Jefferies. The brokerage also flagged weaker demand at Dabur Ltd., which sells fruit juices, and Tata Consumer Products Ltd., which sells cold drinks. Time-sensitive summer demand, “once missed, is difficult to recover,” analysts at Nuvama, led by Abneesh Roy, said in a note to clients. Labor Shortage Rising incidence of heat waves, for example, was among factors causing a shortage of labor at Larsen, even as it split shifts between early morning and late afternoon. Eternal, which operates Zomato and Blinkit, said it faces a seasonal shortage of delivery workers in the summer. Hindustan Unilever, which sells skincare brands including Ponds and Vaseline, said it saw muted performance in the December quarter partly due to a delayed winter. India experienced extreme weather events on 88% of days in 2024 in one or more parts of the country, according to a database maintained by Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth. Between 1993 and 2022, the South Asian nation lost about $180 billion to severe heat and rains, the Climate Risk Index 2025 report said.

पीएम नहीं बल्कि ओजोन दिल्ली में सबसे बड़ा प्रदूषक : सीएसई

इस गर्मी में दिल्ली की हवा में पार्टिकुलेट मैटर (पीएम) नहीं बल्कि ओजोन सबसे बड़ा प्रदूषक बनकर उभरा है। यह एक बड़ा बदलाव है, जो राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (एनसीआर) में स्वास्थ्य के लिए खतरनाक है। इसका खुलासा दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने अपनी नई रिपोर्ट में किया है। नए विश्लेषण से पता चला है कि जमीनी स्तर पर ओजोन मार्च और मई 2025 के बीच लगभग हर दिन राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा सीमाओं के तय मानक से अधिक रहा। साथ ही, पिछले वर्षों की तुलना में इसका भौगोलिक विस्तार अधिक होगा और अवधि भी अधिक लंबी होगी। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 25 मई से 11 जून के बीच 18 दिनों में से 12 दिनों में वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (एक्यूआई) में ओजोन प्रमुख प्रदूषक रहा, जिसने इतने लंबे समय में पहली बार महीन कण पदार्थ (पीएम2.5) को विस्थापित कर दिया। इसके बावजूद मौजूदा आपातकालीन प्रतिक्रिया ढांचे, ग्रेडेड रिस्पांस एक्शन प्लान (ग्रेप) में ओजोन या इसके पूर्ववर्ती गैसों को रोकने के लिए कोई प्रावधान नहीं है। दक्षिण दिल्ली का नेहरू नगर सबसे अधिक प्रभावित रहा, जहां ओजोन का स्तर हर दिन सुरक्षित सीमा को पार कर रहा था, जबकि नोएडा के सेक्टर 125 और गाजियाबाद के वसुंधरा में राष्ट्रीय राजधानी के बाहर सबसे अधिक दिनों तक ओजोन का स्तर बढ़ा। ओजोन का स्तर रात तक भी बना रहा विश्लेषण से पता चला कि ओजोन का स्तर न केवल दिन के समय बढ़ा बल्कि अक्सर देर रात तक ऊंचा बना रहा। दिल्ली के स्टेशनों ने प्रतिदिन 14.2 घंटे ओजोन के स्तर को मानक से ऊपर दर्ज किया, जो पिछली गर्मियों में 12 घंटे था। एनसीआर के शहरों में यह आंकड़ा बढ़कर 15 घंटे हो गया। गुरुग्राम के ग्वाल पहाड़ी में रात के समय ओजोन की सबसे अधिक घटनाएं दर्ज की गईं। इस गर्मी में सबसे ज्यादा रीडिंग दिल्ली के सीआरआरआई मथुरा रोड स्टेशन से आई, जहां 19 मई को आठ घंटे का औसत 472 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति क्यूबिक मीटर दर्ज किया गया, जो राष्ट्रीय मानक से चार गुना अधिक है।