• Water Programme

High faecal bacteria levels in Sangam water amid Maha Kumbh: Report

Various locations in Prayagraj during the ongoing Mahakumbh were not conforming to the primary water quality for bathing with respect to the level of faecal coliform which is becoming a rising cause of concern. Faecal coliform, a marker of sewage contamination, has a permissible limit of 2,500 units per 100 ml, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The National Green Tribunal was informed of the same on Monday, through a report by the CPCB. According to the US-based water research programme, KnowYourH2O, high levels of faecal coliform are associated with several health risks, including typhoid, gastroenteritis and dysentery. “Untreated faecal material adds excess organic material to the water which decays, depleting the water of oxygen,” says the research programme. In the latest data recorded on faecal coliform from February 4, the CPCB reported its levels at 11,000 MPN/100ml in the Ganga before Shastri Bridge and 7,900 MPN/100ml at Sangam. In the Yamuna, before its confluence with the Ganga at Sangam, it was 4,900 MPN/100ml near Old Naini Bridge. What happens if there is high faecal level in Maha Kumbh’s Sangam water? Though the bacteria itself is not a cause of illness, it shows the presence of pathogenic organisms of faecal origin like bacteria, viruses, or protozoa, in water samples. “The level of sanitisation and preparedness required is not up to the mark, and the bacteria from our stool are entering the water. Therefore, it is not safe for consumption or even for bathing. This is what the report has indicated,” said senior consultant in the department of internal medicine at New Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Atul Kakar. “Whenever there is infected water, it can lead to various waterborne diseases, including skin diseases, and ailments like loose motions, diarrhoea, vomiting, typhoid, and cholera,” Dr Atul Kakar was quoted by PTI. Faecal bacteria in drinking water, effect on farmers According to a paper in the WHO, contamination of water with faecal coliform bacteria in drinking-water has been implicated in the spread of important infectious and parasitic diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis, giardiasis, guinea worm and schistosomiasis. Citing a study from UP’s Varanasi in the 1990s, a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) stated that a “lack of sewage treatment and bacteriological standards have been linked to adverse health impacts on farmers who use the contaminated water. Farmworkers using untreated sewage showed “a high prevalence of diarrhoeal disease, a haematic infection and skin diseases.” According to KnowYourH2O, bathing in waters with high levels of faecal coliform bacteria “increases the chance of developing illness (fever, nausea, or stomach cramps) from pathogens entering the body through the mouth, nose, ears, or cuts in the skin.” Bathing or swimming in water with high faecal above 2,500 MPN/100ml causes typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and ear infections.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Breathing trouble: Invisible danger of air pollution worldwide

Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often, our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world – about 99% of the global population – is exposed to air at some point that doesn't meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Polluted air, laden with noxious gasses or tiny, invisible particles that burrow into human bodies, kills 7 million people prematurely every year, the U.N. health agency estimates. And for the millions living in some of the world’s smoggiest cities – many of them in Asia like New Delhi, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bangkok and Jakarta, Indonesia – bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn’t only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. "Blue skies can’t guarantee you clean air,” she said. Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes; or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these – known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter – can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining, or the wind-blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution vary in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, while the burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal add to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. Seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. Air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death globally, behind high blood pressure, according to a recent report by the Health Effects Institute. Short-term exposure can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in the elderly or people with medical problems. Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung infections. A recent analysis by the U.N. children’s agency found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air and the pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under five every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air compromises growth, harms lungs and impacts cognitive abilities. "Every breath matters, but for too many children, every breath can bring harm,” she said. Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, and many weather mobile apps include air quality information. But trying to gauge how bad the air is by looking at these numbers can be confusing. To help people understand air quality levels more efficiently, many countries have adopted an air quality index or AQI – a numerical scale where larger numbers mean worse air. They are also often assigned different colors to show whether the air is clean or not. However, different countries have different air quality standards. For instance, India’s daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5 times higher than that of Thailand and 4 times higher than WHO standards. This means that countries calculate AQIs differently and the numbers aren’t comparable. This is also why sometimes AQI scores by private companies using stricter standards may be different from those calculated by national regulators. The goal, of course, is to limit exposure when air quality is bad by staying inside or wearing a mask. Staying inside, however, isn't always possible, especially for people who must live or work outside, noted Danny Djarum, an air quality researcher at the World Resources Institute, an environmental advocacy group. "They can’t really afford not going out,” he said. Pakaphol Asavakomolnant, an office worker in Bangkok, said that he wears a mask every day and avoids riding to work on a motorbike. "I get a sore throat when I come to work in the morning and I forget to wear a mask,” he said. People also need to be aware of indoor air pollution, which can often be caused by common household activities like cooking or even burning an incense stick. Air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, but they have limitations. They work by pulling air from a room and pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants before circulating it back. But they are most effective when used in small spaces and when people are nearby. Air purifiers can only clean a certain amount of air, said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, who studies urban air quality at the National University of Singapore. "If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room, it won’t be effective,” he said. Air purifiers are also too expensive for people in many developing countries. "The majority of people who are affected by air pollution can’t really afford air purifiers,” said WRI's Djarum.

• Director General Office

Get the transition right

Let’s not be in any doubt that our world has not changed. This is the age of Donald Trump in the times of climate risk. There is already pushback against action to mitigate climate change, which will grow even as the impacts of a warmer world intensify, the rich suffer devastating losses, the insured are not able to cover these catastrophes as costs rise and insurance companies withdraw. I write this not to state the obvious; but to reaffirm the need to focus on actions that will reduce climate risks while im-proving livelihoods and economies in our world. The challenge is to achieve the co-benefits of inclusive development with sustainability, while staying on the decarbonisation pathways that work for us, the countries of the South. Take the issue of clean energy transition. India’s imperative is to provide electricity to millions for liveli-hood security. Even today, large numbers of households in the country are burdened by excruciating energy poverty; electricity supply is either unreliable, unavailable or is expensive. People do not have the luxury of switching on lights and women still cook with dirty biomass. Industry is similarly hit, and this is when the cost of energy determines competitiveness. This is also why Indian industry prefers its own electricity generation systems— captive power—using fuels like coal. So, we need strategies for more energy, clean energy and affordable energy. If we get this transition right, we can move towards low-carbon growth, which will work for us and reduce the emissions that are leading the world to-wards catastrophe. This is why the Union government’s 500 GW of clean energy plan by 2030 is laudable. It has deliberate-ly planned not to replace coal—which today provides 75 per cent of India’s total electricity genera-tion—but to displace coal. Its plan to do this is by increasing the capacity of clean energy sources, in-cluding solar and wind, which can generate 44 per cent of the electricity demand by 2030. This would require a more than doubling of clean energy even as India doubles its electricity consumption in this period. The government has been clear on its commitment to move the needle on clean energy transi-tion. However, we need to be clear that this is still a work in progress—we need a careful review of what works and what does not. I am saying this, mindful of the fact that it is easy to be a cheerleader, to continue to espouse on the fact that India has increased its installed capacity of renewables—both old (hydroelectricity) and new (solar and wind). And this is indeed a fact; India today has some 200 GW of installed clean energy capacity, which is 45 per cent of the power generation capacity in the country by March 2024. But it is not enough. This non-fossil power capacity generated less than a quarter of the electricity in this period. If you consider only new renewables—solar and wind—which have seen im-pressive year-on-year growth in terms of investment and installation, then it is a meagre 13 per cent. This is just not adding up to the energy transition that is so desperately needed. To displace coal, as per the government’s own proposal, these two sources of clean energy need to generate some 30 per cent of the required electricity by 2030. Is there a mismatch between the installed and generation capacity of solar and wind? If so, why? The question requires tracking the capacity utilisation factor of the commissioned plants. But this data is available only for the plants owned by central public sector units, not for private wind and solar plants. In fact, there is no public database of the units commissioned in the country, generation of electricity or where it is being sold or supplied. Ironically, this is available for thermal power plants, but not for new energy. There is a pact of silence, it seems, in this private industryinvestor driven business. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) website shows that by June 2024, a large portfolio of projects had not been commissioned way past the date of the effective power purchase agreement (PPA). It is important to note that as per the current system, projects are awarded tenders only after the PPA has been signed—meaning, the purchase of the generated power at a pre-determined rate has been agreed upon. This also is done after the project proponent has cleared that it has investment and other facili-ties, including land, for the project. As per SECI, these add up to 34.5 GW of solar, wind and hybrid pro-jects. Then projects adding up to another 10 GW are still awaiting PPAs—these are stranded because state power purchase agencies are reluctant to sign against the price that is offered. This is all happening at the time when the cost of delivered power from a new coal project is higher than that from a solar project. One reason that is bandied about is that solar and wind are intermittent sources of energy—they are available when the sun shines and the wind blows. The answer then is to build what is com-monly known as round-the-clock projects—where either battery storage or a combination of higher capacity provides assured power. But these projects are also seemingly “stuck” and not commissioned as per SECI. We need to fix these shortcomings to ensure that India achieves its goal of 500 GW clean power. This is critical and essential. (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)

• Director General Office

Climate action contributor and carbon space appropriator: national image construction of China in dual-carbon commitment from Indian media’s perspective

China’s commitment in 2020 to its dual-carbon goal, demonstrating its intention to participate in tackling climate crisis, drew the attention of international media, particularly the media of India, which tends to deem China a rival neighbour. Indian media continually reported this announcement and subsequent policies and actions in China, reflecting Indian cognition and attitude toward China’s commitment to climate change and the Sino-Indian relationship. Given that, the present study adopts the Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA), using corpus tools Sketch Engine (SkE) and KH Coder to identify and visualise the topics of the 127 reports collected from three mainstream English newspapers in India, namely The Times of India, The Indian Express, and Hindustan Times, analysing the major discursive strategies including nomination, predication, and perspectivization strategy, and explores the national images of China constructed by the reports and uncovers the hidden ideology. The study finds that Indian media are mainly concerned with China’s target, plan, and conditions of the dual-carbon commitment, resorting to specially designed references, negative evaluations, and perspectivization strategies like indirect speech to target China’s energy practice, casting doubt on China’s capability to realise its goal. As regards China’s national image, Indian media construct China as a significant contributor to global climate action while evaluating its international role as a carbon space ‘appropriator’, with ‘too ambitious’ carbon goals and ‘disappointing’ carbon practices. In general, such construction reflects, to some degree, India’s tension against China’s rapid rise in climate governance. In addition, the competition for discursive rights in international carbon politics can also provide an account of the negative construction. The present study visualises the topics and the semantic features, promoting further integration of critical discourse analysis with corpus linguistics. Meanwhile, this analysis contributes to China-related international and regional media studies. Referring to the CSE analysis on the issue, she (Sunita Narain, environmentalist and director general of the New Delhi-based policy group, Centre for Science and Environment) said, ‘… The fact is that the world must reach net-zero by 2050, which means that the OECD countries should get there by 2030 and China by 2040.’

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Nearly everyone in the world breathes bad air. This is what you can do to lower your risk

HANOI, Vietnam Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world — about 99% of the global population — is exposed to air at some point that doesn't meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization, the agency has reported. Polluted air, laden noxious gasses or tiny, invisible particles that burrow into human bodies, kills 7 million people prematurely every year, the U.N. health agency estimates. And for the millions living in some of the world’s smoggiest cities — many of them in Asia like New Delhi; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok and Jakarta, Indonesia — bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn’t only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. “Blue skies can’t guarantee you clean air,” she said. Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these — known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter — can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution varies in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in Indonesian capital Jakarta while burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal adds to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. Air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death globally, behind high blood pressure, according to a recent report by the Health Effects Institute. Short-term exposure can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in the elderly or people with medical problems. Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung infections. A recent analysis by the U.N. children’s agency found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air and the pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under 5 every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air compromises growth, harms lungs and impacts their cognitive abilities. “Every breath matters, but for too many children every breath can bring harm,” she said. Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, and many weather mobile apps include air quality information. But trying to gauge how bad the air is by looking at these numbers can be confusing. To help people understand air quality levels more easily, many countries have adopted an air quality index or AQI — a numerical scale where larger numbers mean worse air. They are also often assigned different colors to show whether the air is clean or not. But different countries have different air quality standards. For instance, India’s daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5-times higher than Thailand’s limit and 4-times higher than WHO standards. This means that countries calculate AQIs differently and the numbers aren’t comparable with each other. This is also why sometimes AQI scores by private companies using stricter standards may be different from those calculated by national regulators. The goal, of course, is to limit exposure when air quality is bad, by staying inside or wearing a mask. Staying inside however, isn't always possible, especially for people who must live or work outside, noted Danny Djarum, an air quality researcher at World Resources Institute, an environmental advocacy group. “They can’t really afford not going out,” he said. Pakaphol Asavakomolnant, an office worker in Bangkok, said that he wears a mask every day and avoids riding to work on a motorbike. “I get a sore throat when I come to work in the morning and I forget to wear a mask,” he said. People also need to be aware of indoor air pollution which can often be caused by common household activities like cooking or even burning an incense stick. Air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, but they have their limitations. They work by pulling air from a room, pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants before circulating it back. But they’re are most effective when used in small spaces and when people are nearby. Air purifiers can only clean a certain amount of air, said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, who studies urban air quality at the National University of Singapore. “If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room it won’t be effective,” he said. Air purifiers are also too expensive for people in many in developing countries. “The majority of people who are affected by air pollution can’t really afford air purifiers,” said WRI's Djarum.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

The invisible threat

HANOI (AP) – Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world – about 99 per cent of the global population – is exposed to air at some point that doesn’t meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the agency has reported. Polluted air, laden noxious gasses or tiny, invisible particles that burrow into human bodies, kills seven million people prematurely every year, the United Nations (UN) health agency estimates. And for the millions living in some of the world’s smoggiest cities – many of them in Asia like New Delhi; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok and Jakarta, Indonesia – bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn’t only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. WHAT ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS KINDS OF AIR POLLUTANTS AND THEIR SOURCES? Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these – known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter – can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi Anumita Roychowdhury. The sources and intensity of air pollution varies in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in Indonesian capital Jakarta while burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal adds to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. WHAT HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN AIR POLLUTION CAUSE?

• Environment Education

Doon Valley Public School, Nalagarh

The school has been honoured with the prestigious Green School Rating (2024-25) by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. This recognition reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible resource management under the Green Schools Programme (GSP). Adding to this achievement, our students Ranveer Singh and Kavya Yadav, secured the second place in the National Climate Quiz, showcasing their deep understanding of climate issues and sustainability. These milestones highlight our school’s dedication to eco-conscious education and academic excellence.

• Down To Earth

Madhya Pradesh worst hit as India faces extreme weather on 322 days in 2024

India faced extreme weather on 322 out of 366 days in 2024, marking the worst year yet. This is an increase from 318 days in 2023 and 314 days in 2022, showing a worsening trend. Nearly 88% of the year saw extreme weather events, affecting millions, according to the interactive atlas managed by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Madhya Pradesh was the worst-hit state, experiencing 185 extreme weather days, the highest in India. The central region, including Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, bore the brunt of these climate disasters, suffering significant crop damage and fatalities. According to Dr. Praveen Kumar, a scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Madhya Pradesh’s vulnerability to extreme weather is due to its geographical position. He explains: "Madhya Pradesh's climate is shaped by its geography. Although primarily a plain region, the state's extensive north-south stretch exposes it to diverse weather systems." These factors make the state highly susceptible to climate change, leading to more frequent and severe weather events. Extreme weather deaths in India rose to 3,472 in 2024, compared to 3,287 in 2023 and 3,026 in 2022—a 15% increase over three years. Farmers suffered heavy losses, with 4.07 million hectares of crops damaged in 2024—an 84% increase from 2023 and 108% from 2022. The central region suffered the most, accounting for 2.36 million hectares of crop loss, 58% of India’s total agricultural damage. Maharashtra lost 2.03 million hectares of farmland. The state saw 161 extreme weather days in 2024, up from 126 in 2022, contributing to the agricultural devastation. MP faced 185 extreme weather days in 2024 Madhya Pradesh, the most affected state, experienced 185 extreme weather days in 2024. Over the past five years, Madhya Pradesh has steadily risen in hydro-meteorological disaster-related fatalities. Between 2018 and 2024, the state averaged 266 deaths yearly from disasters like tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms, floods and drought. In 2024, Madhya Pradesh reported 353 deaths due to extreme weather events. Over 25,170 hectares of agricultural land were damaged, 7,278 houses destroyed, and 61 animals lost. In 2023, the state saw 253 fatalities, with 45,000 hectares of crops affected, 2,626 houses damaged, and 376 animal deaths. In 2022, there were 301 deaths, 6,646 homes impacted, and 997 livestock deaths due to similar extreme weather events. In 2021: The death toll fell to 191, but significant flooding caused extensive damage to homes and agricultural infrastructure. In 2020: during the COVID-19 lockdown, Madhya Pradesh recorded 89 deaths due to extreme weather events In 2019: Madhya Pradesh witnessed 674 deaths, 1,888 animal fatalities, and Rs 12,000 crore in damages due to heavy rains and floods. Over 1.18 lakh buildings were damaged, and 60.47 lakh hectares of farmland affected.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Feb 13, 2025: How breathable is the air at Delhi’s iconic India Gate?

For episode 26 of Aaj Ka AQI, Newslaundry visited India Gate to take stock of the Capital’s air quality. The AQI reading at the nearest station was in the ‘moderate’ category. PM 2.5 level hovered around 50, while the air detector pegged PM 10 at around 58. In 2024, Delhi witnessed 155 days of ‘poor’, ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ air quality. A detailed analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, released on January 6, revealed that the concentration of fine particulate matter, one of the most harmful pollutants, increased by 3.4 percent in Delhi in 2024 compared to 2023. But do the authorities plan to take some action and stop the city from becoming a gas chamber ?

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Polluted air kills 7.0m people prematurely every year

Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world - about 99% of the global population - is exposed to air at some point that doesn't meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization. Polluted air, laden with noxious gasses or tiny, invisible particles that burrow into human bodies, kills 7 million people prematurely every year, the U.N. health agency estimates. And for the millions living in some of the world's smoggiest cities - many of them in Asia like New Delhi; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok; and Jakarta, Indonesia - bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn't only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. "Blue skies can't guarantee you clean air," she said. What are the most dangerous kinds of air pollutants and their sources? Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes; or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these - known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter - can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution varies in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in Indonesian capital Jakarta while burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal adds to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Nearly everyone in the world breathes polluted air

Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world — about 99% of the global population — is exposed to air at some point that doesn't meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization. Polluted air, laden with noxious gasses or tiny, invisible particles that burrow into human bodies, kills 7 million people prematurely every year, the U.N. health agency estimates. And for the millions living in some of the world’s smoggiest cities — many of them in Asia like New Delhi; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok; and Jakarta, Indonesia — bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn’t only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. “Blue skies can’t guarantee you clean air,” she said. What are the most dangerous kinds of air pollutants and their sources? Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes; or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these — known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter — can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution varies in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in Indonesian capital Jakarta while burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal adds to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. What health problems can air pollution cause? Air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death globally, behind high blood pressure, according to a recent report by the Health Effects Institute.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Air pollution causes 7 million deaths per year

Breathing clean air is essential for everyone, but unfortunately, the air we inhale is often far from healthy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 99% of the world's population is exposed, at any given time, to air quality that does not meet the organization's strict standards. Loaded with toxic gases and invisible fine particles that infiltrate the body, air pollution causes an estimated 7 million premature deaths each year, according to the WHO. In the world's most polluted cities, such as New Delhi, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Bangkok and Jakarta in Indonesia, it is extremely difficult to escape this harmful air. However, there are ways to protect yourself. One is to realize that air pollution isn’t just a hazy sky, as Tanushree Ganguly, an energy scientist at the University of Chicago in India, explains. “Blue skies don’t guarantee clean air,” she points out. This pollution generally comes from the combustion of various materials, such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline, used to produce energy and power transportation. It is also amplified by forest fires and the burning of crops and trees for agricultural purposes. Among the pollutants of greatest concern are fine particles, which can be inhaled. The smallest, called PM2,5, are less than 2,5 microns in diameter and penetrate deep into the lungs. They are mainly the result of fuel combustion. Larger particles, known as PM10, are often linked to agricultural activities, roads, mining or winds that stir up dust, according to the WHO. Other harmful substances, such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, are also emitted when fuels are burned, says Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of pollution vary across cities and seasons. In Jakarta, for example, old motorcycles and industrial boilers play a major role in degrading air quality. In Thailand and India, the burning of agricultural waste makes the situation worse. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, coal-fired brick kilns are particularly polluting, while in Brazil and North America, seasonal forest fires exacerbate the problem.

• Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

Editorial: विश्व को अमेरिका पर निर्भर हुए बिना समाधान तलाशना चाहिए

अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति डोनाल्ड ट्रम्प के प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण पर अंकुश लगाने के प्रयासों को छोड़ने के फैसले ने विशेषज्ञों के बीच चिंता पैदा कर दी है, जिन्होंने चेतावनी दी है कि संकट से निपटने में वैश्विक प्रगति धीमी हो सकती है और सुझाव दिया है कि दुनिया को अब संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका पर निर्भर हुए बिना समाधान तलाशने चाहिए। ट्रम्प, जिन्होंने पहले ही पेरिस जलवायु समझौते से अमेरिका को वापस ले लिया था, ने सोमवार को प्लास्टिक स्ट्रॉ पर प्रतिबंधों को खत्म करने वाले एक कार्यकारी आदेश पर हस्ताक्षर किए, जिसमें कहा गया, "कागज़ के स्ट्रॉ काम नहीं करते।" लेकिन यह कदम सिर्फ़ स्ट्रॉ से कहीं ज़्यादा है। यह प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण के खिलाफ़ वैश्विक लड़ाई में एक व्यापक झटके का संकेत देता है, खासकर तब जब देश इस संकट से निपटने के लिए कानूनी रूप से बाध्यकारी संधि पर बातचीत कर रहे हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) में सॉलिड वेस्ट मैनेजमेंट यूनिट के डिप्टी प्रोग्राम मैनेजर सिद्धार्थ घनश्याम ने कहा कि अमेरिका ने प्लास्टिक संधि वार्ता में कभी भी नेतृत्व की भूमिका नहीं निभाई है। “अमेरिका शायद ही कभी अंतर-सरकारी वार्ता में अपनी स्थिति का खुलासा करता है। उन्होंने कहा, "यह कोई मजबूत रुख नहीं अपनाता या सक्रिय रूप से भाग नहीं लेता। परंपरागत रूप से, इसने पर्याप्त काम नहीं किया है।" घनश्याम ने चेतावनी दी कि अमेरिका के इस फैसले से प्लास्टिक के सख्त नियमों का विरोध करने वाले देशों को बढ़ावा मिल सकता है। उन्होंने कहा, "फिलहाल हम गतिरोध की स्थिति में हैं। लेकिन अगले दौर की बातचीत में स्थिति बदल सकती है।" उन्होंने कहा कि अमेरिका के समर्थन के बिना प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए फंडिंग कम हो सकती है। घनश्याम ने कहा, "जो काम दुनिया पांच साल में हासिल कर सकती थी, उसे हासिल करने में अब एक दशक लग सकता है। प्रगति धीमी होगी, लेकिन दुनिया आगे बढ़ेगी।" हालांकि, उन्होंने इस बात पर जोर दिया कि प्लास्टिक संधि का नतीजा किसी एक देश पर निर्भर नहीं करता। "अमेरिका का फैसला प्लास्टिक के नियमों का उल्लंघन करेगा।

• Water Programme

केएलडी फीकल स्लज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट का भ्रमण

जौनपुर के 32 केएलडी फीकल स्लज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट का भ्रमण एवं स्वयं सहायता समूह (SHG) की महिलाओं का संचालन एवं रखरखाव (O&M) पर प्रशिक्षण Jaunpur news जौनपुर नगर पालिका परिषद द्वारा संचालित 32 केएलडी फीकल स्लज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट (FSTP) में एक विशेष प्रशिक्षण एवंExposure Visit का आयोजन किया गया। इस कार्यक्रम का उद्देश्य स्वयं सहायता समूह (SHG) की महिलाओं को एफएसटीपी के संचालन एवं रखरखाव (O&M) से जुड़ी आवश्यक जानकारियाँ प्रदान करना था, ताकि वे सुरक्षित व प्रभावी ढंग से इस प्रणाली को प्रबंधित कर सकें। प्रशिक्षण का संचालन सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) के कार्यक्रम अधिकारी अल्का कुमारी एवं कार्यक्रम अधिकारी मनीष मिश्रा द्वारा किया गया। प्रशिक्षण के दौरान प्रतिभागियों को एफएसटीपी की कार्यप्रणाली, नियमित रखरखाव प्रक्रियाएँ, सुरक्षा उपाय, और कीचड़ प्रबंधन से संबंधित महत्वपूर्ण तकनीकी पहलुओं पर विस्तृत जानकारी दी गई। इस कार्यक्रम में नगर पालिका परिषद जौनपुर के विभिन्न अधिकारी भी उपस्थित रहे, जिनमें शामिल हैं: प्रियंका यादव, अवर अभियंता (JE) जलकल खुशबू यादव, जिला परियोजना प्रबंधक (DPM) घनश्याम, अर्बन इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर स्पेशलिस्ट (UIS) कार्यक्रम का महत्व: इस प्रशिक्षण से SHG की महिलाओं को एफएसटीपी के प्रभावी संचालन व रखरखाव की जिम्मेदारी लेने के लिए सशक्त बनाया गया, जिससे शहर में बेहतर स्वच्छता प्रबंधन और सुरक्षित मल प्रबंधन को बढ़ावा मिलेगा। निष्कर्ष: यह पहल अमृत योजना, स्वच्छ भारत मिशन (SBM) और शहरव्यापी समावेशी स्वच्छता (CWIS) के उद्देश्यों को साकार करने की दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है। भविष्य में भी इस प्रकार के प्रशिक्षण और जागरूकता कार्यक्रम आयोजित किए जाएंगे, ताकि शहरी स्वच्छता प्रबंधन में समुदाय की सक्रिय भागीदारी सुनिश्चित की जा सके।

• Water Programme

फीकल स्लज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट का भ्रमण

• Water Programme

जौनपुर FSTP पर SHG महिलाओं का भ्रमण और प्रशिक्षण

जौनपुर के 32 केएलडी फीकल स्लज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट का भ्रमण एवं स्वयं सहायता समूह (SHG) की महिलाओं का संचालन एवं रखरखाव (O&M) पर प्रशिक्षण जौनपुर नगर पालिका परिषद द्वारा संचालित 32 केएलडी फीकल स्लज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट (FSTP) में एक विशेष प्रशिक्षण एवंExposure Visit का आयोजन किया गया। इस कार्यक्रम का उद्देश्य स्वयं सहायता समूह (SHG) की महिलाओं को एफएसटीपी के संचालन एवं रखरखाव (O&M) से जुड़ी आवश्यक जानकारियाँ प्रदान करना था, ताकि वे सुरक्षित व प्रभावी ढंग से इस प्रणाली को प्रबंधित कर सकें। प्रशिक्षण का संचालन सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) के कार्यक्रम अधिकारी अल्का कुमारी एवं कार्यक्रम अधिकारी मनीष मिश्रा द्वारा किया गया। प्रशिक्षण के दौरान प्रतिभागियों को एफएसटीपी की कार्यप्रणाली, नियमित रखरखाव प्रक्रियाएँ, सुरक्षा उपाय, और कीचड़ प्रबंधन से संबंधित महत्वपूर्ण तकनीकी पहलुओं पर विस्तृत जानकारी दी गई। इस कार्यक्रम में नगर पालिका परिषद जौनपुर के विभिन्न अधिकारी भी उपस्थित रहे, जिनमें शामिल हैं: प्रियंका यादव, अवर अभियंता (JE) जलकल खुशबू यादव, जिला परियोजना प्रबंधक (DPM) घनश्याम, अर्बन इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर स्पेशलिस्ट (UIS) कार्यक्रम का महत्व: इस प्रशिक्षण से SHG की महिलाओं को एफएसटीपी के प्रभावी संचालन व रखरखाव की जिम्मेदारी लेने के लिए सशक्त बनाया गया, जिससे शहर में बेहतर स्वच्छता प्रबंधन और सुरक्षित मल प्रबंधन को बढ़ावा मिलेगा। निष्कर्ष: यह पहल अमृत योजना, स्वच्छ भारत मिशन (SBM) और शहरव्यापी समावेशी स्वच्छता (CWIS) के उद्देश्यों को साकार करने की दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है। भविष्य में भी इस प्रकार के प्रशिक्षण और जागरूकता कार्यक्रम आयोजित किए जाएंगे, ताकि शहरी स्वच्छता प्रबंधन में समुदाय की सक्रिय भागीदारी सुनिश्चित की जा सके।