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Trying Hard To Abate: Indian Cement And Steel Makers Are Going The Extra Mile

Almost 70% of the infrastructure that India needs to become developed by 2047, whether it’s roads, ports, airports or power plants, is yet to be built, leaving huge scope for the country to make its public works sustainable. With that in mind, steel and cement makers in the world’s fifth-largest economy are transitioning towards low-carbon manufacturing by reducing dependence on coal to fire their plants. They are investing in new energy-efficient technologies, switching to renewable energy and even using waterways and trucks powered by liquefied natural gas and electricity. Steel makers are increasing the use of scrap and piloting production of green hydrogen. Of course, there’s a flip side to the effort. Integrating sustainability means spending more money. According to a steel ministry assessment, conventional steel costs Rs 55,000 per metric tonne, while green steel with 10% blending costs Rs 60,500; 20% and 30% blended products cost Rs 66,000 and Rs 71,500 per MT, respectively. The effort is not limited to manufacturing plants. For instance, Carbon Bank, launched by Tata Steel last year, helps customers adopt low-carbon steel aligned with global standards. Jindal Stainless recently inaugurated India’s first green hydrogen plant in the stainless steel industry to cut annual carbon emissions by 2,700 tonnes. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India is targeting about 70% output through green technology by 2027. Cement companies, too, are pumping large investments into renewable power and sustainable mobility. In December 2024, UltraTech Cement, India’s largest cement maker, used inland waterways to transport gypsum. The change has come during an opportune period as the per capita steel and cement consumption is set to increase given the massive infrastructure needs of the country. The per capita consumption of cement in India is 257 kg, far less than the global average of 540 kg. And per capita consumption of steel is around 77 kg per year compared with the global average of 233 kg. “The Ministry of Steel is already working on a green steel public procurement policy. The question is to what extent this policy would support the mandated entities in absorbing the higher costs attached with green steel,” says Parth Kumar, industry programme manager at the Centre for Science and Environment. “Mandated preference for low-carbon cement in government tenders could push the demand for low-carbon cement,” he says. Soon, public sector tenders may come with a clause for green steel procurement.

एफएसएसएम प्रणाली को सुदृढ़ करने पर जोर

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) और नगर निगम गोरखपुर के जलकल विभाग के संयुक्त तत्वावधान में सुरक्षित मल प्रबंधन एवं सह-शोधन (को-ट्रीटमेंट) प्रणाली का निरीक्षण गुरुवार को सम्पन्न हुआ। निरीक्षण का उद्देश्य मल प्रबंधन उपविधियों की अधिसूचना, संयंत्रों की प्रदर्शन गुणवत्ता, निगरानी प्रणाली की मजबूती और निजी टैंकर ऑपरेटरों के पंजीकरण की प्रक्रिया को सुदृढ़ करना था। निरीक्षण के दौरान गोरखपुर नगर निगम क्षेत्र स्थित शहीद अशफाक उल्ला खां प्राणि उद्यान के निकट रामगढ़झील में 50 केएलडी सह-शोधन संयंत्र (को- ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट) और 30 एमएलडी सीवेज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट (एसटीपी) की कार्यप्रणाली और दक्षता का मूल्यांकन किया गया। यह निरीक्षण सीएसई के प्रोग्राम ऑफिसर ई. मनीष मिश्रा एवं जलकल विभाग के कनिष्ठ अभियंता ई धीरज वर्मा ने किया। निरीक्षण के दौरान मल प्रबंधन गतिविधियों को कानूनी ढांचे में लाने के उद्देश्य से नगर निगम से अधिसूचना की स्थिति की समीक्षा की गई। दोनों संयंत्रों की वर्तमान संचालन स्थिति और उपचार क्षमता का निरीक्षण कर गुणवत्ता आकलन किया गया। अधिकारियों ने बताया कि उनकी कोशिश गोरखपुर में फीकल स्लज एंड सेप्टेज मैनेजमेंट (एफएसएसएम ) को बेहतर और व्यवस्थित बनाने की है। सीएसई ने भविष्य में नगर निगम को तकनीकी सहायता प्रदान करने की प्रतिबद्धता भी दोहराई गई।

भारत में पड़ रही भयंकर गर्मी से कैसे बचा जा सकता है

पि छले हफ्ते, दि ल्ली के रि सर्च इस्टि ट्यूट, सेंटर फॉ र सा इंस एंड एनवा यरनमेंट (सी एसई) ने भा रत के पर्या वरण पर अपनी वा र्षि कर्षि रि पो र्ट जा री की । जि समें दि खा या गया है कि चरम मौ समी घटना एं देश की बड़ी आबा दी को कि स तरह भा वि त कर रही हैं। रि पो र्ट के मुता बि क, पि छले सा ल भा रत में चरम मौ सम संबंधी घटना ओं के का रण लगभग 3,000 लो गों की मौ त, 20 ला ख हेक्टेयर फसल बर्बा द और 80,000 से अधि क घर तबा ह हो गए। यह भी सा मने आया कि 2024 के 88 फी सदी दि नों में भा रत के कि सी ना कि सी हि स्से में चरम मौ समी घटना एं घट रही थीं । वर्तमा न में पूरा उर भा रत भी षण गर्मी से जूझ रहा है और ऐसी गर्मी के दि न आने वा ले सा लों में और बढऩे की आशंका एं हैं। सी एसई की नि देशक, सुनी ता ना रा यण ने डी डब्ल्यू को बता या कि यह रि पो र्ट भा रत में नी ति बना ने वा लों के लि ए एक चेता वनी है। उन्हों ने कहा , ‘यह रि पो र्ट बेहद अहम है क्यों कि यह दि खा ती है कि हमें अब पर्या वरण के लि ए और सजग शा सन, बेहतर स्वा सेवा और जलवा यु नी ति यों की जरत है, ता कि इन समस्या ओं का डट कर सा मना कि या जा सके।’ कुछ शहरों ने गर्मी से बचने के लि ए कदम उठा ए हैं लेकि न गर्मी की ती ता को देखते हुए इन्हें पर्या नहीं कहा जा सकता । वा यु दूषदूण, गर्मी और बा ढ़ दुनिदुनिया में सबसे खरा ब वा यु गुणवत्ता र अर भा रत के शहरों में ही दर्ज कि ए जा ते हैं। रि पो र्ट के अनुसा र, 2021 से अब तक दि ल्ली समेत भा रत के 13 शहरों में हर ती न में से एक दि न लो गों को दूषिदूषित और असुरक्षि त हवा में सां स लेना पड़ता है। वि भि अयनों में पा या गया है कि वा यु दूषदूण के का रण दि ल्ली वा सि यों का जी वन औसतन लगभग आठ सा ल घट जा ता है। हा लां कि भा रत में अप्रैल से लेकर जून तक का मही ना पा रंपरि क प से गर्म ही हो ता है, लेकि न पि छले एक दशक में गर्मी की ती ता खतरना क तरी के से बढ़ी है। इसके सा थ-सा थ बा रि श और बा ढ़ की ती ता भी सा फ तौ र पर बढ़ी हैं। सी एसई की रि पो र्ट के अनुसा र, भा रत की लगभग 80 फी सदी आबा दी ऐसे क्षेत्रों में रहती है, जो ही टवेव या गंभी र बा ढ़ जैसी प्रा कृति क आपदा ओं के ति संवेदनशी ल हैं। जि सका मतलब हुआ कि देश की एक बड़ी आबा दी लगा ता र जलवा यु खतरों की चपेट में रहती है।

India: Kondisi cuaca yang lebih ekstrem sebagai akibat dari perubahan iklim

Peristiwa cuaca ekstrem seperti banjir, gelombang panas dan badai muncul semakin banyak di India dan memiliki efek negatif yang jauh pada kesehatan, pembangunan dan ekonomi. Ini dikonfirmasi oleh Laporan Tahunan tentang Situasi Lingkungan di India, yang diterbitkan minggu lalu oleh Pusat Sains dan Lingkungan (CSE), sebuah organisasi representasi penelitian dan minat yang berbasis di New Delhi. Menurut laporan itu, hampir 3000 orang meninggal tahun lalu sebagai akibat dari peristiwa terkait cuaca ekstrem. Dua juta hektar area panen dan sekitar 80.000 rumah hancur. Menurut penelitian, peristiwa cuaca ekstrem terjadi di berbagai tempat di 332.2 yang diekstrapolasi secara statistik dari 366 hari di tahun depan 2024. “Laporan ini menggarisbawahi kebutuhan mendesak untuk kebijakan lingkungan yang lebih kuat, peningkatan infrastruktur kesehatan dan kebijakan iklim yang ambisius untuk mengatasi krisis yang saling berhubungan ini,” kata Direktur CSE Sunita Narain kepada Babelpos. Laporan terbaru harus dipahami sebagai panggilan bangun untuk politik. 80 persen populasi yang dipengaruhi oleh perubahan iklim Kota -kota besar -skala India sering dipengaruhi oleh kualitas udara terburuk di dunia. Sejak 2021, penduduk di 13 kota di India, termasuk ibukota Neu Delhi, harus menghirup rata -rata satu dari tiga hari udara yang tidak bersih, laporan itu terdaftar. Dengan konsekuensi yang fatal: orang -orang di Delhi memiliki harapan hidup hampir delapan tahun daripada jika mereka bisa menghirup udara bersih, seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh berbagai studi. Meskipun bulan -bulan musim panas utama di India selalu panas dari April hingga Juni, suhu menjadi lebih ekstrem dalam sepuluh tahun terakhir. Intensitas hujan dan banjir juga meningkat. Sekitar 80 persen populasi India tinggal di daerah yang rentan terhadap bencana, seperti gelombang panas atau banjir parah, kata laporan itu. Data yang terkandung di dalamnya disepakati dengan hasil terpenting dari Studi Global IPE dari tahun 2024, kata Abinash Mohany, kepala Departemen Perubahan Iklim dan Keberlanjutan di IPE Global, sebuah organisasi pengembangan internasional, dalam percakapan dengan Babelpos. Oleh karena itu, 80 persen distrik di India rentan terhadap peristiwa cuaca ekstrem. “India berada di tengah badai di mana iklim, krisis kesehatan dan defisit pembangunan bertabrakan,” kata ahli iklim. “Ini lebih dari sekadar alarm statistik. Ini adalah krisis nyata yang terungkap secara real time,” kata Mohany. Model pengembangan India harus “direorganisasi secara radikal” untuk beradaptasi dengan suhu yang lebih panas, hilangnya keanekaragaman hayati dan keadaan darurat air. “Konsekuensi dari ketidakaktifan hari ini akan menjadi kenyataan yang tidak dapat diubah besok.” Maju -Perencanaan untuk Penyesuaian Iklim Diperlukan Untuk melawan perkembangan ini dengan strategi adaptasi yang efektif, pemerintah India harus berinvestasi lebih banyak dalam akuisisi data, Narain dari tuntutan CSE. “Tanpa data yang dapat dipercaya, tidak ada solusi atau strategi. Oleh karena itu, kami menekankan bahwa kami membutuhkan lebih banyak dan tidak kurang data. Kami harus transparan,” kata Narain. Laporan saat ini tidak mengabaikan kemajuan besar yang telah dibuat India di banyak bidang. “Tapi dia menjelaskan kepada kita bahwa kita tidak diizinkan untuk duduk. Kita harus mencatat tren, memahaminya dan memulai tindakan korektif.” Laporan ini jelas menunjukkan efek percepatan perubahan iklim di India, mengkonfirmasi Akshay Deoras, ilmuwan iklim di British University of Reading, ke Babelpos. “Mengalami cuaca ekstrem dalam banyak hari dalam setahun bukanlah kebetulan statistik. Ini menandakan pergeseran di titik awal.” Ketahanan iklim tidak lagi opsional: “Ini adalah keharusan eksistensial.” Deoras percaya bahwa India harus memberikan bantuan reaktif untuk perencanaan prediktif dan hetorika iklim untuk langkah-langkah yang dapat diukur dengan baik, misalnya melalui pembentukan pusat pengamatan penyakit iklim. “Tanpa investasi langsung dalam adaptasi, sistem peringatan dini dan pengurangan emisi gas rumah kaca, kami menuju masa depan iklim yang tidak stabil, terutama untuk generasi berikutnya,” kata Deoras. “Jam berdetak. Dan tidak ada kesempatan kedua.”

भा रत में पड़ रही भयंकर गर्मी से कैसे बचा जा सकता ह

बाढ़, लूऔर चवात जैसी चरम मौसमी घटनाएं अब भारत मेंपहलेसेकहीं यादा हो रही हैं.जिसका नकारामक भाव लोगों के वाय, देश के विकास और अर्थवथा पर सीधेपड़ रहा है.पिछलेहते, दिली के रिसर्चइस्टिट्यूट, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंडएं एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) नेभारत के पर्यावरण पर अपनी वार्षिक रिपोर्ट जारी की.जिसमेंदिखाया गया हैकि चरम मौसमी घटनाएं देश की बड़ी आबादी को किस तरह भावित कर रही हैं.रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, पिछलेसाल भारत मेंचरम मौसम संबंधी घटना के कारण लगभग 3,000 लोगों की मौत, 20 लाख हेटेयर फसल बर्बाद और 80,000 सेअधिक घर तबाह हो गए.यह भी सामनेआया कि 2024 के 88 फीसदी दिनों मेंभारत के किसी ना किसी हिसेमेंचरम मौसमी घटनाएं घट रही थीं.वर्तमान मेंपूरा उर भारत भीषण गर्मी सेजूझ रहा हैऔर ऐसी गर्मी के दिन आनेवालेसालों मेंऔर बढ़नेकी आशंकाएं हैं.सीएसई की निदेशक, सुनीता नारायण नेडीडयूको बताया कि यह रिपोर्ट भारत मेंनीति बनानेवालों के लिए एक चेतावनी है. उहोंनेकहा, "यह रिपोर्ट बेहद अहम हैयोंकि यह दिखाती हैकि हमेंअब पर्यावरण के लिए और सजग शासन, बेहतर वाय सेवा और जलवायुनीतियों की जरत है, ताकि इन समया का डट कर सामना किया जा सके" कुछ शहरों नेगर्मी सेबचनेके लिए कदम उठाए हैंलेकिन गर्मी की तीता को देखतेए इहेंपर्यात नहीं कहा जा सकता.वायुषण, गर्मी और बाढ़निया मेंसबसेखराब वायुगुणव गु त्ता तर असर भारत के शहरों मेंही दर्जकिए जातेहैं.रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 2021 सेअब तक दिली समेत भारत के 13 शहरों मेंहर तीन मेंसेएक दिन लोगों को षित और असुरक्षित हवा मेंसांस लेना पड़ता है.विभि अययनों मेंपाया गया हैकि वायुषण के कारण दिलीवासियों का जीवन औसतन लगभग आठ साल घट जाता है.हालांकि भारत मेंअप्रैल सेलेकर जून तक का महीना पारंपरिक प सेगर्मही होता है, लेकिन पिछलेएक दशक मेंगर्मी की तीता खतरनाक तरीके सेबढ़ी है.इसके साथ-साथ बारिश और बाढ़ की तीता भी साफ तौर पर बढ़ी हैं.सीएसई की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, भारत की लगभग 80 फीसदी आबादी ऐसेक्षेत्रों मेंरहती है, जो हीटवेव या गंभीर बाढ़ जैसी प्राकृतिक आपदा के ति संवेदनशील हैं.जिसका मतलब आ कि देश की एक बड़ी आबादी लगातार जलवायुखतरों की चपेट मेंरहती है.

Recycling in India: Environment agency flags national policy loopholes and illegal imports

are undermining the country’s EPR framework by exploiting regulatory loopholes and following outdated practices. Next month marks three years since India’s landmark ban on single-use plastics came into effect, targeting items such as plastic bags, cutlery, straws, food packaging, and disposable water bottles. The two-part EIA report titled Dirty Deal suggests India’s market-based EPR regulations for plastic packaging left space for producers, importers, and brand owners to fulfill their regulatory requirements by purchasing credits from accredited plastic recyclers instead of directly handling plastic waste. Meanwhile, India’s informal recycling sector remains a key player, handling much of the country’s plastic waste, according to the EIA report. Yet, this sector lacks formal recognition, hindering its ability to integrate with the EPR system. Amy Youngman, legal and policy specialist at EIA, tells Packaging Insights: “India’s informal recycling sector, comprising an estimated 1.5 to 4 million workers, is the backbone of the country’s plastic waste management system.” “These waste pickers and aggregators are responsible for the vast majority of plastic collected and recycled, yet they remain excluded from formal regulatory systems, lacking legal recognition, fair compensation, and basic social protection.” “Research from the Centre for Science and Environment and other organizations working directly with the sector makes clear: without formal inclusion and support, India’s plastic waste goals are not just at risk, they are structurally unsustainable.” Data gaps challenge ban effectiveness Industry. The packaging sector remains a key contributor, driving consumption and waste. “Almost three years after India announced a ban on single-use plastics, implementation remains inconsistent. While some areas report reduced availability of certain banned products, we continue to hear that these items remain widespread on the market,” says Youngman. “The absence of national-level impact data makes it difficult to assess the ban’s overall effectiveness. As with other attempts to regulate plastics in India, gaps or unclarity in the legislative framework have led to persistent challenges, including limited enforcement capacity, inadequate monitoring, and insufficient support for transitioning to alternatives.” Illegal imports strain domestic efforts In 2019, India banned the import of plastic waste, aiming to improve how the country manages its waste and cut down on pollution caused by incorrect packaging disposal. However, changes made to the Plastic Waste Management Rules in 2022 introduced some exceptions. These amendments allow importing PET plastic bottles for reprocessing. “Despite India’s official restrictions, market trade data indicate that plastic waste and recyclates continue to be imported, primarily from the US, Canada, the EU, and Gulf countries,” says Youngman. “Our investigation further reveals that illegal shipments persist due to misdeclaration and the use of intermediaries or brokers, making enforcement challenging and allowing restricted materials to enter the country.”

Launched In April, Summer Plan Inactive In Peak Heat

New Delhi: The Delhi Heat Action Plan 2025 was released in April with much fanfare and featured measures like placing 3,000 water coolers in public spaces, altering timings of construction sites to avoid peak heat between noon and 4pm and sending cautionary SMS alerts to citizens. But even as the mercury has soared, the steps meant to minimise the impact on people are yet to be implemented. Some parts of the city have recorded three consecutive heatwave days. India Meteorological Department has issued a ‘red alert' for heatwave conditions in many places for Thursday. There's a ‘yellow' alert for Friday too. In April, several areas similarly recorded 3-5 heatwave days. After the heat action plan was launched, against the announcement that 3,000 water coolers would be placed across the city and eco-friendly bus stop shelters with green roofs would be established, the water coolers have been placed at just around 20 sites and the eco-friendly bus stop shelters aren't visible. Availability of shade/shelters, drinking water, ORS packets, etc., at bus and auto stands and construction sites has been partly achieved. The plan to reschedule the working hours of outdoor workers to avoid peak heat hasn't been put into practice yet. Also the use of school premises as daytime shelters to help the outdoor workers and the homeless avoid heat is yet to be implemented. Also unmet are the measures announced to protect stray animals, cattle and poultry birds from the blazing sun. However, experts said sheds and drinking water for cattle and poultry in villages and at important junctions are still to be operationalised. The heat action plan had also proposed establishing cooling facilities in areas with high population density, particularly near pavements and informal settlements. Govt officials claimed to have circulated the heat action plan, which lists roles and responsibilities of agencies and individuals, to all departments involved. "Delhi Disaster Management Authority disseminated weather forecasts and advisories regularly and also communicated heat advisories to hawkers' associations, vendors and gig workers," said one official. "Apart from issuing two circulars on how to prevent heat-related illnesses, the education department conducted training for teachers from govt and govt-aided schools. Delhi Fire Service procured 33 additional water bowsers, each of capacity 12,000 litres, to use during the summer, while DUSIB directed all shelter management agencies to ensure drinking water, coolers and fans in all shelters. All hospitals reported adequate quantities of essential medicines." The official added that water machines had been installed in Delhi Secretariat and at Nehru Place and five others would be placed soon. "A study on five prototypes of cool roof solutions in three slum settlements is under way. Five parks, among them Nehru Park, Lodhi Garden and Sanjay Van, have been designated to absorb more carbon dioxide," the official added. Avinash Chanchal, deputy programme director, Greenpeace South Asia, said that though the people of Delhi were once again facing a brutal summer, govt's response hadn't changed much. "Govt made many promises, but action on the ground remains invisible. It was encouraging to see Delhi govt announce a heat action plan in April, but that plan is only meaningful if it's implemented," said Chanchal. "The promise of 3,000 water ATMs has not materialised, hospitals are unprepared and communities, especially outdoor workers and other vulnerable populations, have been left to cope on their own. No voice or text alerts have been issued to warn the public about heatwaves." Chanchal added that the current plan lacked a dedicated budget and legal binding. "Delhi govt must recognise heat as a state disaster, just as a few other states have done, and roll out a robust, well-funded and accountable plan without delay," he said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said the 2025 heat action plan outlined several short-term and long-term energy efficiency and cooling strategies. "But these require a time-bound implementation plan with clear milestones and targets for each municipal ward for it to be monitorable. Delhi requires much stronger on-ground preparedness and preventive measures to reduce health risks during heat episodes like the one the city is experiencing right now," she said. She added, "The roadmap needs to detail the infrastructure-level interventions to achieve cooler buildings, expanded forests/green areas and water bodies, shading of public spaces and commuting corridors, reduction in waste heat from combustion sources, and thermal comfort for all, especially different categories of low-income groups. Heat management requires actionable targets with a strong monitoring and compliance strategy."

Evolution of Environmental Agendas

On 5th June, the world celebrated the Environment Day. The actions by nations and the global community towards the conservation of nature show the collective concern for the planet. However, the steps taken in this direction are far from adequate. The frequency and intensity of adverse natural calamities is increasing rapidly across the globe. This calls for greater reverence towards the bounties of nature. India has regarded the rivers, trees mountains and air as sacred. Primitive people of diverse cultures across the world hold the gifts of nature as valuable and pray for their survival. Vedic culture presents deep respect for Nature. Our ancient scriptures propagate a healthy and balanced attitude towards the environment. The human race has to coexist with the flora and fauna. The oceans, rivers, mountains, forests and wetlands along with all-natural water bodies and human habitations must thrive. Natural ecosystems have been traumatised due to activities like mining, deforestation, dam construction etc. The entire physical systems survive and sustain themselves based on their internal rhythms. They draw sustenance from the energy of the sun, air, water and Earth. There is a cost to the physical environment during the process of economic development. These externalities are traditionally not accounted for in the economic costs associated with production activities. India is introducing Green Accounting to internalise the costs borne by nature. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and environmental clearances are mandatory to undertake projects that harm the natural ecology. On grounds of socioeconomic considerations or security threats in Naxal-infested regions, environmental clearances may be given expeditiously. Since this is a relatively new area of accounting, clarity is lacking on how environmental impact assessments are processed and given. There are several instances of projects being cleared without due environmental impact assessment approval. The Western Ghats are a sensitive region where the construction of dams and other projects need careful environmental scrutiny. Often, due to vested interests involved, engineering projects have been completed without adequate environmental approvals. As a consequence, there have been several instances of severe flooding along the western coast. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation working actively towards the conservation of planet Earth. They have released a report titled E- Report on State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 on the occasion of World Environment Day. This report ranks the states and Union territories in India according to several environmental parameters based on government data. While gaps in data exist, the findings of the report are useful. Policymaking depends on reliable and recent data. Planning for environmental conservation also draws upon relevant statistics. According to the figures in this report, Andhra Pradesh is at the top in forest, biodiversity and climate action areas. There are challenges in sewage treatment and pollution of rivers in Andhra Pradesh. Sikkim has the top rank in environmental conservation in agriculture. In Public health and environmental conservation, Goa is assigned the best rank among states, and Chandigarh among the Union territories. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the auspices of the UN is working towards policies to reduce human induced greenhouse gases. The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) meets annually to draw up climate action plans. The last COP 29 at Baku agreed on a compliance mechanism to regulate emissions. A system of carbon credits has been agreed to reward those who contribute less than the target emissions and penalise those who contribute more. Carbon markets facilitate the buying and selling of carbon credits. India had introduced carbon markets in 2023 and now the compliance mechanism will become operational from 2026 formally. The other issue discussed at COP 29 was climate finance. The developed countries have not guaranteed climate finance in line with the requirements of the developing countries. This matter will be further taken up at Belem COP 30 this year. Anti-climate political lobbies are causing strain on the climate action plans. Unfortunately, the geopolitics of the present times is quite unfavourable to the global climate agenda. The focus on plastic pollution on this 5th June Environment Day is well placed. In 2022, the United Nations recommended a ban on single-use plastic. Nations are required to innovate with eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic. UNEP (United nations Environmental Programme) and Ellen Macarthur Foundation have launched a joint programme called the "New Plastics Economy Global Commitment,” to create a circular economy in plastics. India is also sensitive to plastic pollution. It imposed a ban on single-use plastic. Further, India has introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle to make the manufacturers accountable for the control of consumer waste. With a lifecycle approach, plastic credits are an optional compliance technique under EPR. The opportunities are being created for setting up recycling facilities and promoting eco-friendly waste disposal techniques. Technology has been used by many startup enterprises to manufacture biodegradable plastics that return to nature within two years. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set out specific norms for plastics that are permitted. The CPCB has created a Centralized EPR Portal for Plastic Packaging where producers, importers and brand owners can purchase plastic waste recycling certificates from approved exporters. Plastic credits are a reflection of the balance between environmental responsibility and economic growth. These are laudable efforts towards sustainable development. India is committed to sustainable development and has a goal of net zero emissions by 2070. This conforms to the United Nations climate change agenda. Circularity principle should be incorporated in all input-output production cycles. The producers have a responsibility for the entire life cycle of the products they introduce into the market, including waste management after consumption. While rules exist for circular economy principles, they are not followed. The success of EPR in plastic waste management is low. The roadmap has been formulated for improved business practices towards environmental conservation though the goals are unmet. In transportation, railways are much cleaner than road transport with 90 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than trucks. Indian railways are expected to achieve net zero before 2030. This augurs well for the future of India’s goals along the green path. Over consumption and extreme selfishness is destroying the planet. Prime Minster Modi has proposed Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) as a global mission to encourage environment friendly life styles. We need to restore respect for mother nature. Otherwise, the human race is doomed. The World Environment Day reminds us that collective and individual action is needed to save and nurture the environment.

Troubling climate, health and development indicators

India is facing a mounting crisis on multiple environmental and development fronts. This is the warning that the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has sounded as a sobering alarm. The think tank’s annual “State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025” report, released in the capital on June 4, 2025, offered a stark data-led portrait of a nation grappling with extreme weather, declining public health, stalled infrastructure and deepening economic strain, according to a DTE press release. Using 48 indicators across four thematic areas, environment, agriculture, public health and human development, the report ranked all 36 states and union territories. The year 2024 was recorded as India’s hottest year, with 25 states witnessing extreme and erratic rainfall. Alarmingly, as an analysis of the report by ClimateFactChecks states on its website, extreme weather events were reported on nearly 88% of the calendar days in the year. This climatic volatility displaced 5.4 million people within the country — the highest number of internal displacements due to climate disasters since 2013. Assam alone accounted for nearly half of these displacements, highlighting the vulnerability of northeastern regions to flooding and riverine erosion.

How India's Plastic Waste Rules are Hollowed Out by Loopholes and Lax Enforcement

n the last quarter of 2024, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based civil-society organisation, released two reports examining the implementation of India’s EPR guidelines for plastic packaging. The reports exposed significant loopholes exploited by businesses, based on interactions with stakeholders involved in implementation of the guidelines and analysing publicly available data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) centralised EPR portal. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines for plastic packaging on February 16, 2022. These guidelines stipulate mandatory targets for collection, recycling, end-of-life disposal, as well as use of recycled content, and (selective) reuse by brand owners of plastic packaging introduced in the Indian market. These guidelines direct all the manufacturers, producers, importers, brand owners (PIBOs) and plastic-waste processors like mechanical recyclers, and end-of-life disposal units like waste to energy, cement co-processing plants, waste to oil and composting units to register onto a centralised portal. The idea of introducing EPR was to improve the accountability of businesses that place their products on the Indian market by taking responsibility of the (plastic) packaging material that is introduced in the waste-management systems of India cities. Thus, the EPR regime promoted the principle of “polluter pays” by directing the businesses to engage in critical activities of waste management such as collection, processing, disposal and reuse. What We Found In the last quarter of 2024, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based civil-society organisation, released two reports examining the implementation of India’s EPR guidelines for plastic packaging. The reports exposed significant loopholes exploited by businesses, based on interactions with stakeholders involved in implementation of the guidelines and analysing publicly available data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) centralised EPR portal. The findings revealed a system that has been systematically weakened—by businesses and supported by a select group of plastic waste processors. Throughout this process, the MoEFCC remained largely passive. What emerged was a diluted version of the original policy—reshaped to serve corporate interests under the guise of environmental responsibility. Despite the mandate provided by the guidelines for registration, no manufacturers of virgin plastics feature on the portal. These are bigger players in the upstream of the plastic value chain that are in the business of manufacturing virgin plastic polymers. The guidelines explicitly suggest that they are under the scope of the legislation, however, basic compliance such as registration for such players is completely missing. Till August 14, 2024, the cut-off date for the CSE analysis, 41,577 PIBOs had registered on the centralised portal. 83% of the registered PIBOs are importers, 11% are producers and 6% are brand owners. The producers cumulatively have placed 65% of the plastic packaging in the Indian market, followed by 26% by the brand owners; importers despite being the highest in numbers have only introduced 9% of the plastic packaging introduced in the Indian market. It was found that the 66% of the plastic packaging placed on the Indian market is flexible in nature which is difficult to collect and thus recycle; 25% of the plastic packaging is rigid in nature and 9% comprises the aseptic (cartonised) plastic packaging. This shows the shift of the plastic-packaging sector from rigid (valuable) formats of plastic packaging to flexible (low value), difficult to recycle plastic waste. Policy vs Ground Reality The analysis revealed that the plastic-recycling sector in the country is already under capacitated to serve the unregulated flow of plastic packaging in the country—29% under capacity was observed for flexible plastic (the highest-circulated plastic), while compostable plastic recycling saw an under capacity of over 700% with just one registered plant in the state of Gujarat. The EPR guidelines for plastic packaging implied that businesses that used plastic packaging for circulating their products had to register on the centralised portal. The CPCB, on the basis of the numbers provided by the businesses, assigns targets for collection, recycling, use of recycled content and reuse (by brand owners). The businesses should comply by taking relevant action on the ground such as financial support for collection, transportation, storage to implementing agencies such as urban local bodies, waste management agencies and informal sector to ensure sound and scientific management of plastic waste. Interaction with several stakeholders revealed that the EPR guidelines promote a market-driven credit/certificate-trading mechanism that does not require PIBOs to actually collect and manage plastic waste. EPR for plastic packaging has been reduced to PIBOs simply procuring certificates from plastic-waste processors (PWPs) at throwaway prices thus reducing the liability and accountability of the PIBOs and undermining the “polluter pays principle”. Currently PIBOs are paying less than 10% of the total cost of collecting, and channelising plastics to a PWP or recycler, especially for multi-layered plastic packaging. Power of Polluters The EPR regime in the country has been reduced to a bargaining exercise between the polluters and the PWPs, where the businesses have a dominating position. So, within the Indian EPR system for plastic packaging the polluter has the power to decide the cost to be paid for every plastic-recycling certificate. In October 2023, the state and central regulators such as SPCBs and CPCB revealed that plastic-waste recyclers in three states were indulging in generation of fake certificates. A total of 7 lakh fake certificates were generated by the plastic recyclers. This was 38 times more than their claimed recycling capacity of all the plastic-waste recyclers put together. The CPCB imposed a cumulative fine of Rs 355 crore on these violators. There is no update on how much of this has been recovered or paid by the violating companies. End-of-life disposal service providers, such as waste-to-oil, waste-to-energy and cement co-processing facilities, showed a similar pattern with certificates generated and transferred in volumes exceeding their registered processing capacities. Such practices have disrupted the market-driven mechanism on which the EPR guidelines were based thus increasing the supply of certificates in the market and driving the cost of EPR certificates to rock bottom.

How India is becoming more vulnerable to extreme weather

Extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves and cyclones are happening more frequently in India, with widespread negative impacts on health, development, and the economy. An annual report on the state of India's environment released last week by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organization, shows how the extreme weather affects large parts of India's population. The report showed that nearly 3,000 people died, 2 million hectares of crops were ruined, and 80,000 homes were destroyed in extreme weather-related events last year. It also showed that extreme weather events happened somewhere in India on 88% of days in 2024. CSE director Sunita Narain told DW that the latest report should be a wake-up call for policymakers.

भारत में पड़ रही भयंकर गर्मी से कैसे बचा जा सकता है

पिछले हफ्ते, दिल्ली के रिसर्च इस्टिट्यूट, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) ने भारत के पर्यावरण पर अपनी वार्षिक रिपोर्ट जारी की. जिसमें दिखाया गया है कि चरम मौसमी घटनाएं देश की बड़ी आबादी को किस तरह प्रभावित कर रही हैं. रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, पिछले साल भारत में चरम मौसम संबंधी घटनाओं के कारण लगभग 3,000 लोगों की मौत, 20 लाख हेक्टेयर फसल बर्बाद और 80,000 से अधिक घर तबाह हो गए. यह भी सामने आया कि 2024 के 88 फीसदी दिनों में भारत के किसी ना किसी हिस्से में चरम मौसमी घटनाएं घट रही थीं. वर्तमान में पूरा उत्तर भारत भीषण गर्मी से जूझ रहा है और ऐसी गर्मी के दिन आने वाले सालों में और बढ़ने की आशंकाएं हैं. सीएसई की निदेशक, सुनीता नारायण ने डीडब्ल्यू को बताया कि यह रिपोर्ट भारत में नीति बनाने वालों के लिए एक चेतावनी है. उन्होंने कहा, "यह रिपोर्ट बेहद अहम है क्योंकि यह दिखाती है कि हमें अब पर्यावरण के लिए और सजग प्रशासन, बेहतर स्वास्थ्य सेवा और जलवायु नीतियों की जरूरत है, ताकि इन समस्याओं का डट कर सामना किया जा सके.” कुछ शहरों ने गर्मी से बचने के लिए कदम उठाए हैं लेकिन गर्मी की तीव्रता को देखते हुए इन्हें पर्याप्त नहीं कहा जा सकता. वायु प्रदूषण, गर्मी और बाढ़ दुनिया में सबसे खराब वायु गुणवत्ता स्तर अक्सर भारत के शहरों में ही दर्ज किए जाते हैं. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 2021 से अब तक दिल्ली समेत भारत के 13 शहरों में हर तीन में से एक दिन लोगों को प्रदूषित और असुरक्षित हवा में सांस लेना पड़ता है. विभिन्न अध्ययनों में पाया गया है कि वायु प्रदूषण के कारण दिल्लीवासियों का जीवन औसतन लगभग आठ साल घट जाता है. हालांकि भारत में अप्रैल से लेकर जून तक का महीना पारंपरिक रूप से गर्म ही होता है, लेकिन पिछले एक दशक में गर्मी की तीव्रता खतरनाक तरीके से बढ़ी है. इसके साथ-साथ बारिश और बाढ़ की तीव्रता भी साफ तौर पर बढ़ी हैं.

How India is becoming more vulnerable to extreme weather

Extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves and cyclones are happening more frequently in India, with widespread negative impacts on health, development, and the economy. An annual report on the state of India's environment released last week by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organization, shows how the extreme weather affects large parts of India's population. The report showed that nearly 3,000 people died, 2 million hectares of crops were ruined, and 80,000 homes were destroyed in extreme weather-related events last year. It also showed that extreme weather events happened somewhere in India on 88% of days in 2024. CSE director Sunita Narain told DW that the latest report should be a wake-up call for policymakers. “This report is important and emphasizes the urgent need for stronger environmental governance, improved health care infrastructure, and ambitious climate policies to address these interconnected crises,” Narain said. Air pollution, heat and flooding Large Indian cities frequently experience the worst air quality levels of anywhere in the world. Since 2021, residents in 13 Indian cities, including Delhi, have breathed unsafe air one in every three days, according to the report. Life expectancy in Delhi is nearly eight years shorter due to air pollution, according to various studies. Even though the main summer months — from April to June — are always hot in India, temperatures have grown more extreme in the past decade. The intensity of rain and flooding has also increased. About 80% of India's population lives in regions that are considered vulnerable to disasters such as heat waves or severe flooding, the report said. “This report lays bare an uncomfortable truth. India is in the eye of a perfect storm where climate chaos, health crises, and development shortfalls are colliding,” Abinash Mohanty, head of climate change and sustainability at IPE Global, an international development organization, told DW. Mohanty said that the data found in the report corresponds with the key findings from IPE Global's study in 2024, which showed that 80% of districts in India are susceptible to extreme weather events. “This is more than a statistical alarm, it is a lived crisis unfolding in real time,” he said. Mohanty added that India's development model needs to be “radically reimagined” to adapt to hotter temperatures, biodiversity loss, and water emergencies.” “The consequences of inaction today will become irreversible realities tomorrow,” he said.

State of India’s Environment ranking: Chandigarh emerges on the top with 89.09 score

The annual report, compiled by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in collaboration with Down To Earth magazine, assesses the performance of states and UTs across critical environmental and sustainable development indicators such as forest and biodiversity, climate, waste management, water resources, etc. Chandigarh’s high score is driven by significant achievements, including robust waste segregation and management systems; efficient urban mobility initiatives, including electric vehicle adoption and public transport upgrades; green cover expansion and biodiversity conservation, water conservation and sanitation, clean energy transition, with increasing reliance on solar power and green buildings The Union Territory of Chandigarh has emerged as the national leader in the “State of India’s Environment 2025” rankings, scoring an impressive 89.09 out of 100, far ahead of all other states and Union Territories (UT) across the country. The annual report, compiled by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in collaboration with Down To Earth magazine, assesses the performance of states and UTs across critical environmental and sustainable development indicators such as forest and biodiversity, climate, waste management, water resources, etc. Chandigarh’s exemplary performance reflects its commitment to sustainability and smart urban planning. The UT’s high score is driven by significant achievements, including robust waste segregation and management systems; efficient urban mobility initiatives, including electric vehicle adoption and public transport upgrades; green cover expansion and biodiversity conservation, water conservation and sanitation, clean energy transition, with increasing reliance on solar power and green buildings. Saurabh Kumar, CCF Chandigarh and director, environment, Chandigarh administration, stated, “This recognition is a result of collective action by our administration, civic bodies, and the residents of Chandigarh. We are committed to building a model city for the rest of the nation to emulate—one that thrives sustainably while offering a high quality of life.”