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Oil & Gas Investments Won’t Make Africa Largest Contributor To Global Emission- Verheijen

The federal government has said that it is making efforts to create enabling environment for hydrocarbon investments to bridge energy poverty, adding that the continent is not a net contributor to global emission. The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Olu Verheijen said this on Tuesday during a session at the CERAweek by S&P Global. The session was with the theme, “Policy and People: Pathways to a just transition.’ The session was chaired by Head of Market Report & Trading Solutions, S&P Global, Vera Blei. It also featured speakers including the Chief Executive Officer of Tinker Energy Association, Scott Tinker and the DG, Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain. Nigeria and other African and Middle income countries are seeking a just energy transition amidst intense push for net zero emissions. The Nigerian government adopted gas as its transition fuel under the theme, ‘the Decade of Gas.’ Veheijen said Africa and low income countries contribute a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, typically around 3-4 per cent. China and the United States accounts for about 30 per cent and 13 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Both countries account for about 40 per cent of global emissions. She said, “In Nigeria, we are making sure that we create an enabling environment for investments and on climate change we consider the perception of risk to our markets and that is clear transparent policies that stands the test of time and can allow to deploy capital.

Presidential aide: Developed nations largely responsible for global emissions — not Africa

Olu Verheijen, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, says developed nations, not Africa, are largely responsible for global emissions and must take the lead in reducing their carbon footprint. Verheijen spoke 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 and trading solutions at S&P Global, featured Scott Tinker, chief executive officer of Tinker Energy Association, and Sunita Narain, director-general of the Centre for Science and Environment. Verheijen said Africa needs better data collection and analysis to support informed decision-making and policy development. Advertisement She said a balanced approach is necessary to allow developing economies to use their natural resources for economic growth while adopting climate solutions that promote sustainability. “Even if Africa experiences exponential economic growth and reaches middle-income status, the continent will still not be a major contributor to global emissions,” she said. “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.” Advertisement Verheijen reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to fostering an investment-friendly environment for hydrocarbons to address energy poverty. She said under Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative, the government has adopted natural gas as a transition fuel to support economic growth while reducing carbon emissions. Verheijen noted that Africa and other low-income countries contribute only about 3–4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, while China and the United States account for approximately 30 percent and 13 percent of global CO₂ emissions, respectively. She said China and the US are responsible for 40 percent of global emissions.

Oil, gas investments won’t inflate Africa’s contribution to global emissions – FG

The Federal Government has allayed fears that its ongoing drive to attract investments in the oil and gas sector will result in a significant rise in Africa’s contribution to global emissions. It emphasised that such investments will not dramatically impact the continent’s carbon footprint. It also reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment for hydrocarbon investments to address energy poverty, emphasising that Africa is not a net contributor to global emissions. The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Energy, Olu Verheijen, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a session at CERAWeek by S&P Global, themed “Policy and People: Pathways to a Just Transition.” A statement issued on Wednesday noted that 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. Speaking during the panel session, Verheijen highlighted that Africa and other low-income countries contribute only about 3–4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, in contrast to China and the United States, which account for approximately 30 per cent and 13 per cent of global CO₂ emissions, respectively. Together, both countries are responsible for nearly 40 per cent of global emissions.

Doubts over climate funding as donors squeeze aid

There are growing doubts about a pledge by rich nations to provide more climate finance 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 defence 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 finance 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. - Difficult road - 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 finance. 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 find a new way to prioritise its limited resources, for very legitimate reasons", said Li Shuo, a climate analyst at the Asia Society Policy Institute. "This will make the climate finance discussion very difficult." 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 Rafiyev, 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 finance, but other countries do make their own voluntary contributions. "Climate finance for developing countries was already insufficient, but the recent cuts to foreign aid budgets represent a renewed challenge," the COP30 presidency said in a written statement to AFP. - 'Not looking good' - Donors have struggled to meet their climate finance 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 official OECD climate finance figures 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 fill 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.

Doubts over climate funding as donors squeeze aid

There are growing doubts about a pledge by rich nations to provide more climate finance 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 2024 to boost spending on climate action in developing countries to US$300 billion (S$400 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. Britain, meanwhile, has trimmed overseas aid to raise defence spending, following a slew of similar cuts by climate-friendly governments in Europe. Diplomats and analysts say it remains unclear where the axe might fall, but there are fears that money earmarked for climate finance could be on the chopping block. Dr Laetitia Pettinotti, a climate economist from 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. Difficult road 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 finance. 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, the Netherlands, Belgium and Britain have all announced recent aid cuts as economic and security priorities shift and budget pressures take hold. The EU “needs to find a new way to prioritise its limited resources, for very legitimate reasons”, said Mr Li Shuo, a climate analyst at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington. “This will make the climate finance discussion very difficult.” ‘Worrying trends’ Azerbaijan, which hosted the COP29 summit where the US$300 billion deal was brokered, is seeking reassurances at a two-day meeting of climate negotiators in Tokyo that ends on March 13. Mr Yalchin Rafiyev, 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 2025’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 US$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 finance, but other countries do make their own voluntary contributions. “Climate finance for developing countries was already insufficient, but the recent cuts to foreign aid budgets represent a renewed challenge,” the COP30 presidency said in a written statement to AFP. ‘Not looking good’ Donors have struggled to meet their climate finance pledges at the best of times, even for commitments well below the US$300 billion pledged in 2024. Developed nations provided about US$116 billion in 2022, the latest year for which official climate finance figures are available from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The US provided about 10 per cent of that money. Mr 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 fill up such a big pot... It’s not looking good,” Ms Avantika Goswami, climate change lead at the Centre for Science and Environment in India, told AFP. AFP

Oil & gas investments will not make Africa a net contributor to global emissions – Verheijen

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering hydrocarbon investments to address energy poverty while emphasizing that Africa is not a net contributor to global emissions. Speaking at CERAWeek by S&P Global, Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Energy, highlighted Africa’s minimal contribution to global emissions during a session titled “Policy and People: Pathways to a Just Transition.” The session, chaired by Vera Blei, Head of Market Report & Trading Solutions at S&P Global, also featured Scott Tinker, CEO of Tinker Energy Association, and Sunita Narain, Director-General of the Centre for Science and Environment. Nigeria, along with other African and middle-income nations, continues to advocate for a just energy transition amid the global push for net-zero emissions. Under its “Decade of Gas” initiative, Nigeria has adopted natural gas as a transition fuel to support economic growth while reducing carbon emissions.

कचरा का प्रभावी निस्तारण हो, खुले में कचरा जलाने पर लगे जुर्माना

गोरखपुर में तीन दिवसीय कार्यशाला में कचरा जलाने पर सख्त प्रतिबंध लगाने और कचरा प्रबंधन में सुधार की आवश्यकता पर चर्चा की गई। विशेषज्ञों ने छात्रों को प्रदूषण के दुष्प्रभावों के बारे में शिक्षित करने... 2027 तक महानगर को कचरा जलाने से मुक्त महानगर बनाना महत्वपूर्ण पर्यावरणीय लक्ष्य है, जिससे प्रदूषण को कम कर स्वच्छता को बढ़ावा दिया जा सकता है। लेकिन लक्ष्य प्राप्ति के लिए जरूरी है कि कचरा प्रबंधन तत्परता से किया जाए। यह विचार राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम के तहत तीन दिवसीय,‘ठोस अपशिष्ट को खुले में जलाना: प्रभाव, वैकल्पिक समाधान और बेहतर अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन कार्यशाला के दूसरे दिन स्थानीय पार्षदों, हित धारकों एवं विशेषज्ञों से चर्चा में उभर कर सामने आया। इस बात पर भी जोर दिया गया कि कचरा जलाने पर सख्त प्रतिबंध लगे। नगर निगम का निगरानी तंत्र नियमित रूप से निरीक्षण और कार्रवाई करे। कार्यशाला में यह भी सुझाव आया कि छात्रों को कचरा प्रबंधन और प्रदूषण के दुष्प्रभावों के बारे में शिक्षित किया जाए। सोशल मीडिया और विज्ञापन के जरिए नागरिकों को सही कचरा प्रबंधन के तरीकों से अवगत कराया जाए। कार्यशाला में स्थानीय पार्षदों के साथ डब्ल्यूआरआई के निदेशक श्रीकुमार कुमारास्वामी, अतिन विश्वास (सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट, सीएसई), डॉ. रविंद्र खैवाल (पीजीआई, चंडीगढ़), अमोघ भोंगले (संस्था स्वच्छ, पुणे), अनिल रामकृष्ण (हसिरु डाला इनोवेशन, बैंगलोर), डॉ. ब्रिजेश दुबे (आईआईटी खड़गपुर), डॉ. राजीव खुराना (लंग केयर फाउंडेशन), डॉ अनिता अग्रवाल (संरक्षिका हेरिटेज फाउंडेशन) उपस्थित रहे। कार्यशाला के दूसरे दिन नगर आयुक्त ने प्रस्तुतिकरण भी दिया। मुख्यमंत्री योगी आज कार्यशाला को संबोधित करेंगे गुरुवार की सुबह 10 बजे मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ की उपस्थिति में कार्यशाला का समापन होगा। मुख्यमंत्री कार्यशाला में शामिल विषय विशेषज्ञ के अनुभव सुनेंगे। राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम मद में मिली धनराशि से महानगर में संचालित प्रोजेक्ट की बुकलेट का विमोचन करेंगे। उसके बाद कार्यशाला को संबोधित करेंगे।

Doubts over climate funding as donors squeeze aid

There are growing doubts about a pledge by rich nations to provide more climate finance 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 defence 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 finance 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. Difficult road 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 finance. 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 find a new way to prioritise its limited resources, for very legitimate reasons", said Li Shuo, a climate analyst at the Asia Society Policy Institute. "This will make the climate finance discussion very difficult." 'Worrying trends' 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 Rafiyev, 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 finance, but other countries do make their own voluntary contributions. "Climate finance for developing countries was already insufficient, but the recent cuts to foreign aid budgets represent a renewed challenge," the COP30 presidency said in a written statement to AFP. 'Not looking good' Donors have struggled to meet their climate finance 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 official OECD climate finance figures 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 fill 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.

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.