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Doubts over climate funding as donors squeeze aid

T here are growing doubts about a pledge by rich nations to provide more climate nance to poorer nations, as foreign aid budgets are slashed and the US guts environmental spending. Richer nations committed at the UN COP29 summit in November to boost spending on climate action in developing countries to $300 billion a year by 2035, an amount decried as woefully inadequate. Since then, President Donald Trump has frozen US contributions to the global pot and withdrawn from a funding deal to help developing nations transition to clean energy, among other climate initiatives. The UK, meanwhile, has trimmed overseas aid to raise defense spending, following a slew of similar cuts by climate-friendly governments in Europe. Diplomats and analysts say it remains unclear where the axe may fall, but there are fears that money earmarked for climate nance could be on the chopping block. Laetitia Pettinotti, a climate economist from the think tank ODI Global, told AFP that signs are not good and cuts could be expected. "It's really hard to see where the money is going to come from," she said. With the United States halting its climate action, expectations have fallen largely on the European Union, historically the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases, and the biggest contributor to climate nance. But the 27-nation bloc is under budget strain, facing US tariffs and trying to ramp up military spending to defend itself and Ukraine, and reduce strategic reliance on Washington. Recent elections meanwhile have seen right-wing populists hostile to climate policies make gains across the continent. France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom have all announced recent aid cuts as economic and security priorities shift and budget pressures take hold. The EU "needs to nd a new way to prioritize its limited resources, for very legitimate reasons", said Li Shuo, a climate analyst at the Asia Society Policy Institute. "This will make the climate nance discussion very difcult." Azerbaijan, which hosted the COP29 summit where the $300-billion deal was brokered, is seeking reassurances at a two-day meeting of climate negotiators in Tokyo that ends on Thursday. Yalchin Rayev, the country's top climate diplomat, said he would be asking developed nations if the cuts impacted money "they were thinking or planning to allocate for climate or not". "We are not sure yet. There was not any concrete kind of climate fund cuts that we have heard from any of the parties. There was only some worrying trends," he told AFP. He added: "We are opposed to any kind of action that can reduce the funding for climate action." Brazil, which is hosting this year's COP30 summit, said it was exploring ways to raise the enormous sums needed for developing countries to wean off fossil fuels and adapt to global warming. According to independent experts, these countries -- excluding China - - will require $1.3 trillion a year in outside assistance by 2035 to meet their climate needs. Under the Paris Agreement, developed countries -- those most responsible for global warming to date -- are obligated to pay climate nance, but other countries do make their own voluntary contributions. "Climate nance for developing countries was already insufcient, but the recent cuts to foreign aid budgets represent a renewed challenge," the COP30 presidency said in a written statement to AFP. Donors have struggled to meet their climate nance pledges at the best of times, even for commitments well below the $300 billion pledged last year. Developed nations provided about $116 billion in 2022, the latest year for which ofcial OECD climate nance gures are available. The US provided about 10 percent of that money. Trump's spending freeze means other contributors will have to make up the difference. Other ways to possibly plug the shortfall -- such as greater lending from multilateral development banks like the World Bank -- are also in doubt. "You're going to hear more and more that there simply isn't money out there to ll up such a big pot... it's not looking good," Avantika Goswami, climate change lead at the Centre for Science and Environment in India, told AFP.

Oil & gas investments won’t make Africa net contributor to global emissions –Veheijen

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Verheijen, stated this on Tuesday during a session at CERAWeek by S&P Global. Themed, “Policy and People: Pathways to a Just Transition,” the session, chaired by Vera Blei, Head of Market Report & Trading Solutions at S&P Global, featured key speakers, including Scott Tinker, CEO of Tinker Energy Association, and Sunita Narain, Director-General of the Centre for Science and Environment. Nigeria, alongside other African and middle-income countries, continues to advocate for a just energy transition amid the global push for net-zero emissions. Under its “Decade of Gas” initiative, the Nigerian government has adopted natural gas as a transition fuel to support economic growth while reducing carbon emissions. Verheijen highlighted that Africa and other low-income countries contribute only about three or four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, in contrast to China and the United States, which account for approximately 30 percent and 13 percent of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, respectively. Together, both countries are responsible for nearly 40 percent of global emissions. Verheijen emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to fostering a stable investment climate and addressing climate-related risks through clear and transparent policies. “In Nigeria, we are ensuring that we create an enabling environment for investments. On climate change, we recognise the importance of risk perception in our markets and are committed to transparent policies that stand the test of time, enabling the deployment of capital,” she stated. She also underscored the need for greater regional integration to attract capital and enhance market efficiency, saying, “We need to strengthen economic integration across African nations to create a larger, more attractive market for investment. By pooling resources, integrating markets and leveraging collaboration across the continent and regional blocs, we can drive sustainable development.” She stressed the importance of better data collection and analysis in Africa to support informed decision-making and policy development. “Even if Africa experiences exponential economic growth and reaches middle-income status, the continent will still not be a major contributor to global emissions. The bulk of emission reductions will have to come from developed nations, which must diversify their energy sources and invest heavily in carbon removal and reduction technologies,” she explained. She further noted that a balanced approach was necessary to ensure that developing economies could utilise their natural resources to drive prosperity, while also adopting climate solutions that enhance adaptability and sustainability. “Through strategic investments and policy reforms, Nigeria and the broader African continent aim to bridge energy poverty, attract investment and contribute to a more sustainable global energy transition,” she said.

Express view on World Air Quality report: Sobering news for India

The latest edition of the World Air Quality report released by Swiss Air Technology major IQAir has sobering news for India. The country has 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world. The study is a reminder that though governments have taken significant steps to clean air — at times after being nudged by courts — the interventions have not led to appreciable improvements. The country is ranked the fifth-most polluted country, after Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The IQAir list comprises not just urban centres whose trysts with toxic air are well known — Delhi and its adjoining areas for example — it also features small towns such as Byrnihat in Assam and Mullanpur in Punjab. This is not a new finding. In recent years, towns such as Bhiwadi in Rajasthan and Begusarai in Bihar have topped the IQAir list. But the country’s pollution challenge continues to be framed largely in terms of a crisis in big city governance. A knowledge base on pollutants is some Tier 2 cities is being built up gradually. The number of pollution monitoring stations has increased from 37 in 2015 to more than 1,000 (including manually operated ones) in 2023. These, however, represent less than a quarter of the country’s requirement. Small cities remain underrepresented in research and policy. There is very little micro data on most of the 74 Indian cities listed in the IQAir report. According to a 2023 study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), barely 12 per cent of India’s 4,000 census towns and cities are covered under air quality monitoring mechanisms. The analysis by the New Delhi-based organisation shows that 62 per cent of the country’s population is outside the real-time monitoring network. The other major problem is that despite the National Clean Air Programme’s emphasis on targeted interventions over large areas, pollution continues to be seen as a local problem. Individual cities and states are, by and large, left to their own devices and even emergencies such as Delhi’s annual health crisis do not lead to a modicum of cooperation. Story continues below this ad The IQAir report underlines that pollution affects even the developed economies. However, the least developed and emerging economies are the most affected. India’s neighbours, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, are among the poor performers. The problem’s transboundary nature has been evident for long. In recent times, experts have been advocating interventions in multiple airsheds — contiguous regions — whose geography makes it difficult for them to disperse pollutants. However, cooperation between the South Asian neighbours has been underwhelming. The IQAir report is another reminder that such intransigence doesn’t work.

For 7th year, Delhi retains title of most polluted capital in world

New Delhi retained the infamous title of the "most polluted capital city" in the world for the seventh year in a row, according to the World Air Quality Report 2024 released on Tuesday by Swiss firm IQAir. With an annual PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 micrograms per cubic metre, residents of the capital inhaled air with PM2.5 levels nearly 18 times higher than WHO's safe limit, reports Priyangi Agarwal. As in previous years, the report distinguished between the smaller area of 'New Delhi' and the overall Union Territory of Delhi. The latter recorded an average PM2.5 level of 108.3 micrograms per cubic metre and ranked as the world's second most polluted city in 2024. Two NCR cities ranked among the top 10, with Faridabad (101.2 g/m3) at No. 6 and Loni (91.7 g/m3) at the ninth spot. In cities, vehicular emissions major factor for pollution WHO’s annual safe limit for PM2.5 is 5 µg/m3, while India’s annual standard for PM2.5 is 40 µg/m3. “The capital, New Delhi, maintained consistently high pollution levels, with an annual average of 91.8 µg/m3, nearly unchanged from 92.7 µg/m3 in 2023,” said the report. It said PM2.5 levels in New Delhi were above 50 µg/ m3 for 61.7% of the time in 2024, up from 56% in 2023. N’Djamena in Chad, with an average annual PM2.5 levels of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre, was the second most polluted capital city in the world in 2024. Avinash Chanchal, deputy programme director, Greenpeace South Asia, said, “The report once again highlights that the measures being implemented under clean air action plans to control pollution in Delhi are insufficient. Data clearly indicates that Delhi experiences high levels of pollution nearly throughout the entire year. Unless we address the permanent contributors to air pollution across various sectors, we will never achieve cleaner air.” The report said in urban centres such as Delhi, vehicular emissions are a leading contributor to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), exacer bated by traffic congestion and fuel adulteration. Seasonal agricultural practices, particularly the burning of crop residues in states like Punjab and Haryana, further deteriorate air quality during winter months. Industrial emissions and construction activities also contribute significantly to pollution levels. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said, “The cities of the NCR and the Indo-Gangetic plain with very high concentration of economic activities, motorisation and population, and with the additional challenge of adverse meteorological conditions, face a serious pollution challenge. The scale of multi-sector pollution control, therefore, has to be much more rapid, widespread, and deep to meet the clean air targets. Urgently upscale implementation.”

Ozone levels breach safety limits for 2nd day in a row

Gurgaon: Ozone levels spiked in the city over the past two days – a likely result of traffic jams and other local sources of police, experts said on Tuesday. Data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that ozone concentrations exceeded the safety limit of 100 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) on Monday and Tuesday. The eight-hour average for ozone was 169 ug/m3 at the Gwal Pahari air monitoring station. On Monday, it was 116 ug/m3. The count at Teri Gram station was above safe standards too — at 116ug/m3 and 132ug/m3 — over the two days. It was within the limits at the Sector 51 station (69ug/m3 on Monday and 78ug/m3 on Tuesday), and data was not available at the Vikas Sadar station. Experts said ozone closer to the land's surface is generated when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides, released from diesel and CNG vehicles, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as gasoline used in industries. "High temperatures and road congestion are leading to increased ground-level ozone concentrations in cities. Ozone is formed due to chemical reactions between precursor pollutants like NOx and VOCs in the presence of heat and sunlight. High levels of ozone are particularly harmful to those suffering from asthma and respiratory diseases," said Shubhanshu Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment . According to a CSE study, Delhi-NCR saw higher than permissible levels of ozone for 176 days out of 200 between Jan 1 and July 18 last year. The second highest on the list was 138 days, each in Mumbai-MMR and Pune, followed by Jaipur, at 126 days. HSPCB officials said they have directed civic bodies to take all measures to reduce road dust and open waste burning. "Our staff is vigilant of local pollution such as road dust, dust from construction sites and garbage burning. We conducted an awareness campaign for all stakeholders to mitigate dust and other emissions," an official said. Long exposure to high levels of ground-level ozone can cause inflammation and damage to respiratory airways, increase susceptibility of lungs to infections and exacerbate health conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Summer is Early; Are You Ready For The Intensive Heat in India?

Are you already feeling the heat? The temperature across the country is soaring, and we are not yet ready to deal with the rising temperature, which will last for months. According to reports, the Indian Meteorological Department stated that last month was India’s hottest February in 125 years. In many parts of the country, the weekly average minimum temperature was above normal by 1- 3 C. The weather agency has warned that above-normal maximum temperatures and heatwaves will likely persist over most parts of the country between March and May. The cyclical nature of the El Nino and La Nina phases, driven by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), also contributes to the observed temperature trends. An Early Departure Of Winter The early departure of winter raises alarms about the potential for record-breaking heat waves in the coming months. Experts warn that May and June could bring extreme temperatures, posing serious risks to public health, water supplies, and agriculture. Recent climate patterns suggest India faces more frequent and intense weather events, from heatwaves to unpredictable monsoons. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report revealed that 2024 saw 255 days of extreme weather events. The early onset of heat in 2025 could signal another intensively hot year. Studies predict that El Niño events will likely become more frequent and intense in a warmer future, with half of these events being classified as extreme. The 2023-24 El Niño, among the five strongest on record, has driven rising temperatures and extreme weather worldwide.

Yamuna needs more than money

Elections for the Delhi Legislative Assembly have concluded and there is a new party in power. This is the dance of democracy, but this time there was one key difference. When pollsters asked people why they voted against the party in power, the answers threw up issues that we know matter but do not make it to the list. Pollution in the river Yamuna—the 22 km stretch that passes through Delhi—was on top; then came toxic air pollution and garbage. Till now, environmental issues have made it to the manifestos of parties, but this time voters have spoken and hopefully this will make a difference. As the new government gets down to the business of cleaning the Yamuna it must be clear on a few things. One, it is not that the last state government or even the government before the last were not serious about cleaning the Yamuna. All governments have had the intention to clean the river that has become a sewage canal. Huge funds have been spent—both by the Union and state governments. According to an official estimate, Rs 6,500 crore were spent in the four years between 2017 and 2021. This is a massive amount. But it may even be an underestimation, since the funds to clean the river come from different sources and account heads. So, it is not about commitment or funds. Two, there is a plan for cleaning the river and because this is about Delhi, just about every court—from the apex court to National Green Tribunal—has active cases to review this action plan. Every month, a report is prepared diligently by the state government; every month it is filed in court. So, it should not be assumed, as the new government takes charge, that nothing has been done or that nobody cared. That rhetoric is good for the pre-election time when parties need to score points. But it is not conducive for the critical and considered steps that are needed now. What needs to be deliberated is that despite this money, the attention and the action plan, nothing has visibly improved in the state of the river. The monthly reports filed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee show that in most months, the river’s water quality, as it enters the city at Palla or where it draws its water from at Wazirabad, is fairly good. But within a few kilometres of its 22 km journey through Delhi, it dies. By the time water quality is checked at the next monitoring point of Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT), the dissolved oxygen has gone from the mandated standard of 5 mg/litre to 0; and faecal coliform counts have risen many times. It is important to note that lack of oxygen means that the water has no life. So, we can say the river in Delhi is dead, even if it has not been officially cremated. The fact is, the action plan needs to be re-worked so that it can be impactful. We are not doing things right. This is what needs to be understood. So, what should be the agenda for cleaning the Yamuna? First, there should be focus not just on tracking the building of sewage treatment plants (STPs) but also on the amount of sewage that is intercepted and taken for treatment. This means accepting that large areas of Delhi are not connected to underground sewerage systems—the current plan only pays lip service to this. But this ignores the sheer scale of the city that is unconnected to official underground sewerage systems. Here, people have no option but to depend on desludging tankers for septage management. The good news is people are managers of their own sewage. This means, the state does not have to invest in building and refurbishing sewage pipelines and extending them to unconnected areas—whose numbers are growing as cities expand. The key step is to ensure that all desludging tankers are registered; have GPS installed; and a control room is set up to monitor the tanker movement. In addition, it is important that the desludged material is taken to treatment points so that the used water and sludge can be reused. Second, the plan must ensure that “treated” wastewater is not discharged into drains, where it gets mixed with untreated wastewater from un-official areas. The treated effluents need to be completely reused and recycled. Currently, according to the Delhi Economic Survey, less than 10 per cent of treated wastewater is reused. Most STPs are not located at the river front and so, the treated wastewater is discharged into the same drains that carry the untreated sewage to the river. It is no surprise then that there is no real impact on the quality of the water. The action plan must focus on the 22 drains of the city; pollution management is about estimating the quality not only through standards like biological oxygen demand (BOD), but also through the quantum of wastewater. Delhi has to ensure that it has a plan for each drain; and the plan is to reduce the pollution load by intercepting untreated sewage, by not adding treated sewage and finally by treating the remaining wastewater in the drain as close to where it is discharged into the river as possible. Currently, Delhi takes water from the Yamuna and returns sewage to it. Now it must take water and also return water to the river. Only then can the river flow. (Courtesy: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/; Writer is Director General of CSE and editor of Down To Earth, an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets)

Economic Times successfully concludes Solar Power Congress 2025

New Delhi: The Economic Times successfully concluded its prestigious industry event Solar Power Congress 2025 on Friday, 7th March, with the top leaders of the industry praising the steps taken by the Modi government to boost solar power sector's growth but called for more focus on resolving on-ground issues like land acquisition and connectivity for projects. The event, the largest solar sector event initiative from ET Energyworld, was organised in partnership with Bharathi Solar, Hero Future Energies, GameChange Solar, AM/NS India, Gensol, Solplanet, V&Y Solar and Gautam Solar at Hyatt Regency in Delhi. It brought together more than three dozen thought leaders of the renewable energy industry - including policy makers and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) - under a common roof for meaningful debate on the key challenges and emerging business opportunities. "I want to thank Economic Times for organizing the Solar Power Congress. The event comes at an opportune time. India has made significant and historic progress in the area of renewable energy capacity creation over the last decade under the leadership of honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi," Minister of State for Renewable Energy and Power, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, said in his Chief Guest address at the inaugural session of the event. The session was also attended by Professor Jim Skea, Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who participated as Guest of Honour; Ajay Mathur, DG, International Solar Alliance; K R Jyothilal, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala; Sunita Narain, Director General, Center for Science and Environment; and Rajnath Ram, Programme Director (Energy), NITI Aayog. Another key highlight of the event was a Panel Discussion on "C&I and Rooftop Solar Surge" with top speakers including Amaranath Naranaiah, CEO, Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation; Gajendra Kumar, ED, Railway Board; Ashish Maheshwari, South East Asia Category Lead - Energy Procurement, Cargill; and Ishwarya Shankaralingam, Director, Bharathi Solar. This was followed by a Panel Discussion on "Utility-Scale Solar - Catapulting India’s Energy Story" where the speakers included Vivek Shrivastava, ED, NHPC Ltd; P K Sinha, ED (Projects), Power Finance Corporation; Vikas Bansal, President – International, GameChange Solar; Ishwarya Shankaralingam, Director, Bharathi Solar; and Ashutosh Vyas, Head - Energy Business (Utilities), Hero Future Energies. on "Powering India’s Solar Revolution with Next-Gen Steel" by Satyajit Mohapatra, Head – Technical Marketing & Application Engineering, AM/NS India; a presentation on "Innovative Financing Mechanisms and Business Models for RE Projects" by Ishan Chaturvedi, Founder and Director, V&Y Solar; a presentation on "Policy & Tech - the twin engines of 500 GW" by Kanv Garg, Chief Growth Officer, Gensol Group; and a presentation on "Advancements in Inverter Technology" by Ibrahim Kadriinamdar, Regional Sales Manager – India & MENA, Solplanet.

India ranks fifth in polluted air globally in 2024, says IQAir report

India ranks as the fifth country worldwide that had the most polluted air in 2024 after Chad, Congo, Bangladesh and Pakistan, according to Switzerland-based air quality monitoring company IQAir. However, the country marginally improved its position from third in 2023. India saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations last year, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre air (µg/m³) compared to 54.4 µg/m³ in 2023. Yet, six of the world’s ten most polluted cities are in India. New Delhi maintained consistently high pollution levels, with an annual average of 91.6 µg/m³, nearly unchanged from 92.7 µg/m³ a year ago, the report said. IQAir analysed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries. More air quality monitors are being set up to counter the issue, the report said. This year, the report authors were able to incorporate data from 8,954 new locations and around a thousand new monitors as a result of efforts to better monitor air pollution. Only 12 countries, regions, and territories recorded PM2.5 concentrations below the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline of 5.0 µg/m³, most of which were in the Latin America and Caribbean or Oceania region. However, in 2024, 17 per cent of cities included in the report met the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline level, up from 9 per cent in 2023, according to the report. Air pollution remains a significant health burden in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year. Instances of severe pollution persisted in 2024, particularly in northern states. Air quality in January was especially poor in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. Baddi in Himachal Pradesh saw a monthly PM2.5 average of 165 µg/m³. Air quality deteriorated sharply in Manipur in October, while November saw extreme pollution levels in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh with stubble burning remaining a major contributor to PM2.5 levels, accounting for 60 per cent of pollution during peak periods. Overall, 35 per cent of Indian cities reported annual PM2.5 averages exceeding 10 times the World Health Organisation guideline. The WHO air quality guideline states that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3, while 24-hour average exposures should not exceed 15 µg/m3 more than 3-4 days per year. PM2.5, fine particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter, is the most dangerous pollutant because it can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the blood system, causing cardiovascular and respiratory disease and cancers. It affects more people than other pollutants and has health impacts even at very low concentrations. India faces significant air quality challenges, with major pollution sources including vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, construction dust, and the burning of crop residues. In urban centres like Delhi, vehicular emissions are a leading contributor to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), exacerbated by traffic congestion and fuel adulteration. Seasonal agricultural practices, particularly the burning of crop residues in states like Punjab and Haryana, further deteriorate air quality during winter months. Industrial emissions and construction activities also contribute significantly to pollution levels. Despite governmental measures, such as the National Clean Air Programme aiming to reduce pollution levels, challenges persist due to inconsistent policy implementation and inadequate infrastructure. “Vehicular emission is a major source of pollution in Delhi-NCR. Emission per unit distance travelled increases for older vehicles. Public transport needs to be revamped,” suggested Sagnik Dey, professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT Delhi. “The government is already pushing for EVs (electric vehicles) with better infrastructure. Scientific evidence already suggested that we require an airshed approach and CAQM is there to efficiently implement airshed management within NCR across the five states. Accountability and interim targets to track progress will be key to strengthen the clean air implementation, along with synergising with climate actions,” Dey added. To combat air pollution in Delhi, the state government, last week, announced that vehicles older than 15 years will be denied fuel at petrol pumps starting April 1. Last October, India’s Supreme Court affirmed that breathing clean, pollution-free air is a fundamental right. The top Court found that the federal government and the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan must more effectively control air pollution at its source. Despite numerous rulings requiring government action, the court determined that the governments had taken only limited action to curb stubble burning and must submit reports demonstrating compliance with court orders. During a November hearing, the Supreme Court criticised Delhi officials for “serious lapses” in curbing pollution under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), multi-stage emergency measures for reducing pollution during poor air quality days. On December 16, 2024, Stage 4 of GRAP, the strictest level of anti-pollution measures, was enforced as the air quality index (AQI) exceeded 400, indicating “severe” conditions. This marked the second instance in the last winter, with the first triggered on November 18 due to stubble burning, which pushed AQI to 494. A study by the Centre for Science and Environment conducted last year found that during mid-October to early November — when farmers burn paddy stalks — only 8 per cent of Delhi-NCR’s air pollution came from stubble burning, while nearly two-thirds originated from local sources, with the transport sector contributing more than half.

India’s metro rail system is world’s third-longest, but it needs buses to grow

Ms Rajani S.S. uses the Bengaluru metro rail to get to her workplace because it “saves time and saves me from the pollution on the roads”, she told The Straits Times. But getting to the metro station 1.5km away is a hassle for the 65-year-old, who works for a state child welfare agency. She can take her scooter, but the parking zone is muddy and messy at most metro stations. Buses are out of the question, said Ms Rajani, as their frequency is unpredictable; they are also often stuck in Bengaluru’s congested roads. Tuk-tuks or auto-rickshaws, when available, charge exorbitant fares, but she usually takes them to save time. “The metro ride itself is clean and fast, but getting to and from the station is still a pain,” she said. Her pain point is at the crux of what ails India’s growing metro rail system today. In February, India reached a milestone of laying 1,000km of metro rail across 23 cities. This is the third-longest metro network in the world, after China (over 11,000km) and the US (over 1,300km), according to railway tracker Metro Report International. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government said it wants to overtake the US soon, by commissioning 6km of new tracks every month. Modern and environmentally sustainable metro rail systems in India are key urban infrastructure to arrest the use and ownership of personal vehicles, and remedy congestion and pollution problems in cities, where around 36 per cent of Indians live. But metro ridership is much lower than expected. Ridership in national capital Delhi, which has the country’s largest metro network, is just 47 per cent of its projected figure. Mumbai’s stands at 30 per cent, and Bengaluru’s, barely 6 per cent. Tier-2 cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur and Jaipur, where the metro systems are smaller, have hit just 2 per cent to 3 per cent of their ridership targets. This is primarily due to the lack of comprehensive first- and last-mile connectivity via buses, cycle lanes and footpaths, and metro fares that far exceed what the majority of Indians can afford, experts said. The ideal public transport system for Indian cities would combine buses and metro trains. But India’s razor-sharp focus on metro rails alone, even in cities where they are superfluous, has been its undoing. “Almost 46 per cent of India’s urban development ministry’s budget has gone towards funding metros, but they don’t have enough commuters to break even. This is because last-mile buses and footpaths are getting defunded as states invest more in metros,” said Dr Geetam Tiwari, chair professor of the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Noting that Delhi’s electric and natural gas-powered buses carry 40 per cent more passengers at 5 per cent of the metro’s investment, Dr Tiwari said almost double the number of people would have benefited if the tax exemptions and interest-free loans made available to the city’s metro were given to the bus system. In Bengaluru today, there are just 6,769 buses for a population that exceeds 13 million. Their ridership is 3.2 million each day, while the metro stands at 900,000 per day. But the bus fleet size has remained largely static. Most metro systems in Indian cities are jointly funded by the federal and state governments, along with loans from international financial institutions. More than 1.02 trillion rupees (S$15.6 billion) has been allocated by the central government to metro rail systems since 2014. As states match the investment from their own transport funds, this comes at the expense of funding more affordable and accessible modes of transport such as buses or trams, which could have created a well-integrated public transport system, said Dr Tiwari. While congested cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai may need metro lines, smaller cities like Jaipur, Agra and Kanpur should not waste money on it, experts said. Jaipur, whose metro railway opened in 2015, did not in fact require one till 2025 based on projected population growth and travel patterns, India’s 2018 auditor-general report noted. Instead of considering the most effective, efficient and affordable multimodal urban public transit mix to meet different commuter needs, “many Indian cities are lured into investing heavily on glamorous, capital-intensive metro rail systems largely with taxpayer money”, said Dr Sandip Chakrabarti, co-chairman of the centre for transportation and logistics at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, in a 2024 academic report. Ironically, the singular focus on metro rail at the expense of other feeder transport such as trams, e-rickshaws, buses and footpaths has “derailed” the metro system, Dr Tiwari said. A July 2023 working paper from a three-city survey of 7,200 metro commuters by the World Resources Institute (WRI) India found that Indian metro systems attract young (age 19 to 35) and middle-income commuters. Affluent users are not attracted to the system, and low-income users are priced out of it. Bus fares in all cities remain significantly lower than metro fares, especially for shorter distances. In 2019, the Centre for Science and Environment found that an unskilled daily wage labourer in Delhi, on average, has to spend around 8 per cent of his income if he travels on a non-air-conditioned bus, 14 per cent for an air-conditioned bus, and 22 per cent for the Delhi Metro. Today, the disparity is higher across all Indian cities with metro fare increases, and women being allowed free bus travel in Delhi and Bengaluru since 2019 and 2023. Indians using the metro are also highly sensitive to last-mile wait times and costs, the WRI report said. Women are especially averse to waiting, and may opt for more expensive services such as taxis and tuk-tuks. Even walking to or from the station is often hazardous. Researcher and writer Sruthi K., who lives in a suburb on the outskirts of Bengaluru, had to cross a six-lane highway with no safe crossing to reach the metro station nearest her home, so that she could take the train to the city. She has since switched to taking a tuk-tuk to a station that is farther away, to avoid crossing the highway. Despite that inconvenience, taking the metro train is still more affordable and faster than taxis and carpooling, which used to be her modes of transport. “There needs to be more coordination between different modes of transport. Things will change if agencies think about mobility like the commuter,” said Mr Srinivas Alavalli, a civic activist in Bengaluru. Urban transport experts say that few cities today properly analyse their residents’ travel patterns, income range and demand before deciding whether to invest in metro systems, nor how it can be integrated with other modes of transport.

पैकेटबंद खाद्य पदार्थों से चौपट होता स्वास्थ्य?, रसोई पर संकट मंडरा रहा, पिछले 15 साल में 11 फीसदी वृद्धि

पैकेटबंद खाद्य पदार्थों से चौपट होता स्वास्थ्य?, रसोई पर संकट मंडरा रहा, पिछले 15 साल में 11 फीसदी वृद्धि Highlights15 साल में दुनियाभर में पैकेटबंद खाद्य पदार्थों की बिक्री 11 फीसदी बढ़ी है.'नेचर फूड' पत्रिका में प्रकाशित इस रिपोर्ट को गंभीरता से लेना होगा.भारत, बांग्लादेश, अमेरिका, संयुक्त अरब अमीरात, सिंगापुर जैसे देश हैं.

Kerala scores low on gender equality: CSE report

While Kerala claims gender equality and better living standards for its womenfolk than any other state in the country, its performance in SDG 5 (gender equality) was much below par, according to a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report ‘Are We on Track to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2030' analyzes statewise performances of the 20 SDGs (sustainable development goals) and provides insights into the challenges and successes in India's path to 2030, examining whether the country can accelerate its progress and bridge the gaps in time. While Kerala is the country's top performer for most SDGs, it has not reached the halfway mark in 20 of the 107 assessed indicators. These low-scoring indicators are spread across 13 of the 16 SDGs, with the highest concentration in SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). In SDGs that focus on a fairer society for citizens, Kerala stands fourth in the country. This includes SDG 5, 10 and 16 — namely gender equality, reduced inequalities and peace, justice and strong institutions. In SDG 5, which largely focuses on gender equality, the state scored poorly in four targets, including the ratio of female to male labour force participation rate, the proportion of women in managerial positions, female-operated operational land holdings, and the ratio of female to male average wage/salary earnings. "The state will need to look at its ground reality. Kerala has performed exceptionally well but in some SDGs, including 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12, the score is much lower. We used data from NITI Aayog report of 2023-24, so it must include details of the Covid and post-Covid situation, which is why there is such a huge difference in the SDG scores," said Kiran Pandey, programme coordinator, environment resources, CSE. "These are several gaps that authorities need to address looking at gender in Kerala, as it is projected as more balanced in development because of its high education and health indicators," Pandey said. She said that the report was based on data from ‘Sustainable Development Report 2024', published by Dublin University. India's state-wise performance is based on the ‘SDG Index 2023-24', released by NITI Aayog in July 2024, and projected population data has been sourced from ‘Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections 2011-2036.'

अगर आपके बच्चे भी इससे हैं पीड़ित...तो हो जाइए सावधान

आजकल की भागदौड़ भरी जिंदगी में लोगों के पास समय की भारी कमी होती जा रही है। ऐसे में बढ़ते होटल और रेस्तरां में खाने की प्रवृत्ति तेज़ी से बढ़ रही है। खासतौर पर युवाओं को तब तक संतुष्टि नहीं मिलती जब तक वे बाहर का भोजन न कर लें। इसी कारण पैकेटबंद खाद्य पदार्थों का उपयोग अप्रत्याशित रूप से बढ़ रहा है। हाल ही में यूनिसेफ (UNICEF) की एक रिपोर्ट में भारत समेत 97 देशों में किए गए अध्ययन के अनुसार, पिछले 15 वर्षों में पैकेटबंद खाद्य पदार्थों के सेवन में 11% की वृद्धि हुई है। इसका असर न केवल लोगों के बजट पर पड़ा है, बल्कि स्वास्थ्य पर भी नकारात्मक प्रभाव देखने को मिला है। बीते कुछ वर्षों में बड़े ब्रांडों के रेस्तरां और फूड आउटलेट्स के खुलने के बाद ये जगहें लोगों के लिए मनोरंजन और आराम करने के केंद्र बन गए हैं। इसी के चलते बच्चों में मोटापा और महिलाओं में खून की कमी जैसी समस्याएं अधिक पाई गई हैं, क्योंकि ये दोनों वर्ग तुलनात्मक रूप से इनका अधिक सेवन करते हैं। जिन राज्यों में ज्यादा फूड आउटलेट्स खोले गए हैं, वहां यह समस्या अधिक देखने को मिलती है। पैक्ड फूड खाने की बढ़ती लत नेचर फूड पत्रिका के विश्लेषण के अनुसार, सुपरमार्केट से तरल और तले-भुने खाद्य पदार्थ, जैसे कोल्ड ड्रिंक्स, चिप्स, कुरकुरे आदि की खपत भारत, बांग्लादेश, अमेरिका और सिंगापुर जैसे देशों में 11% तक बढ़ी है। खाद्य पदार्थों के व्यापार से जुड़ी एक एजेंसी यूरोमॉनिटर की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, भारत में अल्ट्रा-प्रोसेस्ड फूड की प्रति व्यक्ति वार्षिक खपत 2010 में 2 किलोग्राम थी, जो 2019 में बढ़कर 6 किलोग्राम हो गई और 2024 में यह 8 किलोग्राम तक पहुंच गई है। हेल्थ पर पड़ने वाले दुष्प्रभाव सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के अनुसार, भारत में पैकेटबंद और जंक फूड के बढ़ते उपयोग के कारण मधुमेह, उच्च रक्तचाप और हृदय रोग तेजी से फैल रहे हैं। इसी खतरे को देखते हुए भारत सरकार ने अल्ट्रा-प्रोसेस्ड फूड पर अधिक कर (टैक्स) लगाने की सिफारिश की है। पैकेटबंद खाद्य पदार्थों का बढ़ता उपयोग स्वास्थ्य के लिए गंभीर खतरा बनता जा रहा है। यह न केवल मोटापा, मधुमेह और हृदय रोगों को बढ़ावा देता है, बल्कि पोषण की कमी और आर्थिक बोझ भी बढ़ाता है। ऐसे में स्वस्थ जीवनशैली अपनाने के लिए संतुलित आहार, ताजे और घर के बने भोजन को प्राथमिकता देना आवश्यक है।

In a First, Environmental Concerns Dominated Delhi Elections, Voters Demanded Clean Yamuna, Air Quality | Interview

Despite being one of the most-polluted cities in the world, Delhi has not seen environmental issues dominate voters’ concerns. However, the recently concluded Assembly elections signaled a pivotal shift, with voters, for the first time, prioritising environmental concerns, demanding a clean Yamuna and improved air quality. “Post-elections, when people were asked the reasons why they voted out the then ruling party – for the first time they said pollution in Yamuna, toxic air and the garbage on the streets. This means that we have reached a stage, where these issues have become poll issues. There is huge environmental consciousness, and we must recognise that," said Sunita Narain, Director-General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), citing the latest Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)- post-poll survey. In an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, the noted environmentalist said the voters have now made their voices heard, and it is now up to the new government to make sure that these issues are prioritised. Delhi continues to breathe toxic air year after year reducing the life expectancy of its 33 million population, and rendering them susceptible to multiple illnesses. The Yamuna, which flows through much of its territory, has also remained highly-polluted, with large amounts of sewage being dumped into it. The latest data from monitoring stations shows that its Dissolved Oxygen (DO) – an indicator of life in the river – plummets to ‘zero’ at multiple points from ISBT to Okhla from where it finally exits the city. While thousands of crores have been spent in cleaning the river in the past, it has only got more polluted over the years. “We must not forget that these issues were also part of previous governments’ agendas and manifestoes. However, despite all the action, we have not succeeded. So, this is a moment of reflection. The new government must take this challenge of acting differently," she emphasised, while speaking to CNN-News18 on the sidelines of the Anil Aggarwal Dialogue (AED) 2025.