Cse In News

Director General Office

The age of Trump

So, Donald Trump did the expected. I watched from millions of miles away in the dead of the night, Trump signing with great flourish the executive order to take his country out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. “We will save trillions,” he said to the cheering red cap-adorned crowds. What does this mean for the global fight against climate change? For many reasons, the time is different from Trump 1.0 in 2017. One, he is much more belligerent against all things green. I will explain this later. It is also a time when climate change catastrophe is showing up everywhere. On the day of his swearing in, the entire event had to be moved inside because of an intense cold wave. The cold blast has to do with the fact that because of climate change, the Polar vortex—winds that circulate over the Arctic—has become more unstable and has hit the west coast of the US. Even as Trump takes office, the homes of the rich and famous in Los Angeles have been burnt to the ground with deadly fires, driven by ferocious winds. There may have been incompetence in the handling of the fire, but it is a fact that the rain has been variable and has led to drying up of the region, turning the forests into a tinderbox. With such devastations hitting virtually every region and every class of people in the world, it is hard to be a climate denier. But he is. And he has been voted in by the majority in his country on this position. In fact, his closest adviser Elon Musk, the electric car magnate, was standing next to him when he said in his inaugural address that he intends to “end the Green New Deal and revoke the electric vehicle mandate”. Climate change is now “woke” politics in his lexicon. But there is more to this bellicosity—it is about the fossil fuel and the manufacturing that he wants his country to return to. He needs the complete rejection of the idea of climate change so that “drill, baby, drill” has no opposition. Trump wants the US gas to head to the shores across the world to counter any clean energy transition plans. He has even said that if Europe wants to avoid higher tariffs then they need to buy US gas. Similarly, the move back to the internal combustion engine vehicle is because his country has domestic advantage in the technology and manufacturing, and also because the Chinese have dominance in the electric vehicle and the supply chains that operate around it. This is about trade and the world order that he believes USA must lead. Climate change is an inconvenient footnote in this historical battle for global supremacy. So, what does this mean for climate change? A lot. And this cannot be disguised in sweet nothings. First, the US is a massive contributor to the stock of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are forcing temperatures to rise. It has a mega historical footprint—it is responsible for a fifth already in the atmosphere—and is the world’s second largest annual GHG polluter, behind China. Under Joe Biden, the US government had pledged to reduce its emissions by 50-52 per cent below the 2005 levels by 2030, and 61-66 per cent by 2035. Now, this is off the table. This means the US will continue to emit more and more—enough to tip the world over to cascading temperature rise and risks. This is not to say that the US under Biden was on track. In fact, US emissions have only marginally reduced in the past few years; but there was a promise and commitment to do more. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) delivered investment to make the green deal possible. There were mandates to move to renewable power; to electric mobility. Now Trump (all in a matter of two days) has declared a national energy emergency; revoked restrictions on new drilling; suspended offshore wind leasing; halted disbursement under IRA and signed an order to end electric vehicle subsidies. Second, this time it is about more emissions. Till now, it was assumed that the US had passed its emission peak in 2005 and emissions would naturally reduce as populations and consumption stabilised. But now, Trump is promising a return of manufacturing jobs, this will add to emissions. Then there is the growth of Artificial Intelligence—data centres, it is estimated, will greatly add to energy consumption in the country. And this energy will be mostly from burning natural gas—a fossil fuel. Third, Trump is bad news because of the signals his actions will send to other governments, already reluctant to do more to reduce emissions. It will now be easier to be locked into the fossil fuel economies of the world. The only silver lining, if you can call it that, is that climate change impacts are not going to go away. It is in the interest of all countries to take actions so that we can avoid the worst devastations of growing extreme events. We have no other Planet to move to and there is no Plan B. We must stay on course. How will we do that in the age of Trump? This is what we must continue to discuss. DTE The writer is the Director-General of CSE and editor of DownToEarth. Views expressed are personal

Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

SA hosts global circular economy workshop

Efforts to ensure that South Africa has a clean and healthy environment are under the spotlight at the 7th Global Forum of Cities for Circular Economy (GFCCE) workshop. The two-day workshop, which is being hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in Johannesburg -- in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment -- is aimed at enhancing South-South cooperation for improving the solid waste management ecosystem in the Global South, and building the capacity of nominated officials from 18 African nations. The workshop, which concludes on Wednesday, is being attended by delegates from Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Addressing the opening of the workshop, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, highlighted some of the measures government has adopted to bolster the circular economy, focusing on reusing and recycling materials to ensure a sustainable and secure supply of resources. “South Africa has instituted various policy instruments and initiatives to advance sustainable development pathways, with circular economy principles firmly embedded in these strategies,” Swarts said on Tuesday. These policy instruments include the National Waste Management Strategy, Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR) for priority waste streams and other economic instruments that include fees, levies and taxes to incentivise or disincentivise behaviour change. “Extended Producer Responsibility became necessary to be included in South Africa’s policy mix, given the increased generation of waste. EPR shifts seek to shift the responsibility for products from municipalities and consumers, to producers. “South Africa is under immense pressure and the host city [of the workshop] - the City of Joburg - together with others - does not have sufficient landfill airspace. It is, therefore, necessary to utilise a policy mix to address resource efficiency. It is also necessary that cities are enabled to monitor resource use,” Swarts said. The Deputy Minister noted that for meaningful progress to be made across the board, strong partnerships are needed. "Collaboration between government and the private sector is paramount in realising the goals of the waste management hierarchy and facilitating our transition to a circular economy. “South Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening these partnerships and advancing the shared objectives of the GFCCE. This collaboration benefits our governments through reduced spending and creates green opportunities,” she said. Since its establishment in 2021, the GFCCE has expanded to a community of 22 Member States, with 18 countries from Africa. This platform is dedicated to advancing circular economy principles in alignment with national policies and priorities. Cities account for 75% of natural resource consumption and 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Swarts said more people will continue to migrate to cities to seek better opportunities and it is necessary that cities become resilient in resource efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

International experiences shed light on best practices for congestion pricing in Delhi

Road traffic congestion is a pressing issue in many of India’s metropolitan centres. Gridlock brings prolonged commute times, excessive fuel consumption, air and noise pollution, and elevated greenhouse gas emissions. The National Capital Region has been in the spotlight as traffic has worsened with urban sprawl. According to research published by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), on-road vehicles were responsible for nearly three-quarters of the transportation health burden in New Delhi in 2015. To address peak-hour congestion, Delhi’s government reportedly plans to introduce a pilot congestion tax that would charge drivers who use select roadways during busy periods. Also known as congestion pricing, this aims to ease traffic and reduce pollution by discouraging unnecessary trips and encouraging drivers to use alternative routes, travel at off-peak times, shift to public transport, or share rides (and fees) with others. A 2010 study by the ICCT found that congestion tax schemes in London, Singapore, and Stockholm reduced congestion by 13%–30% and greenhouse gas emissions by 15%–20%. This isn’t the first time Delhi has considered congestion pricing. Proposals in 2009 and 2018 failed to advance. Still, as Delhi looks ahead to its congestion tax pilot, I’ll highlight experiences from other cities that can provide valuable insights into how these schemes could be employed to effectively reduce traffic and air pollution. Dynamic pricing Delhi’s pilot would reportedly charge vehicles entering the city at 13 major entry points during morning and evening peak hours. With over 1.1 million vehicles entering and exiting daily, this makes sense, as such corridors are often heavily congested. A 2016 Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) cross-border traffic survey at nine major entry points to Delhi accounting for about 70% of traffic into the city found that the number of personal and passenger cars and two-wheelers entering daily was about the same as the number of vehicles registered in the city in a year. At the same time, with over 1,800 new vehicles added to the Capital’s roads daily, an entry-point congestion tax during peak hours could miss an opportunity to address a large portion of daily vehicle emissions. Another CSE study estimated that the traffic at surveyed border points contributed just 10% of the total pollution loads emanating from the transport sector in Delhi. Administering taxes only at peak hours can also mean overlooking emissions during off-peak times, including those from heavy-duty vehicles, which are responsible for 20%–30% of transport sector pollution in Delhi and operate predominately outside of peak hours. Other countries have sought to balance pollution and emission reduction aims against commuter access through dynamic pricing schemes that apply city-wide and have fees that rise at times of high congestion and drop during less busy times. In Singapore, an early pioneer in congestion pricing, charges are regularly reviewed and adjusted in response to changes in traffic patterns. Rates vary throughout the day and rise and fall gradually around periods of high traffic, which helps avoid surges before and after the designated peak hours. Targeting the most polluting vehicles Delhi reportedly plans to impose charges on most vehicles but exempt two-wheelers and electric vehicles. Congestion pricing programs in other countries have also provided discounts or exemptions for certain travelers, such as for residents of the designated taxation area, diplomatic vehicles, and emergency vehicles. However, in Delhi, discounts and exemptions for any personal or commercial vehicle may risk undermining the core congestion and emission reduction aims of the schemes. For instance, two-wheelers, with reportedly about 1,100 new registrations each day, are roughly one in three vehicles on the road and are the second-largest contributor to transport pollution, according to The Energy and Resources Institute. Lessons can also be drawn from Delhi’s own 2016 odd-even scheme, which aimed to reduce pollution by restricting the operation of vehicles based on license plate number and exempted two-wheelers, women-only vehicles, and taxis, among others. Observers assessed that the program had minimal impact on pollution due in part to an increase in the use of exempted vehicles. Pricing framework Policymakers in other countries have wrestled with how to set congestion charges high enough to encourage reductions in vehicle use without placing a disproportionate financial burden on low-income travelers. In the 1970s, Singapore’s congestion toll led to a larger-than-expected drop in traffic that raised commuter welfare concerns. More recently, London revised its fee upward to maintain effectiveness in response to inflation. There are other strategies. Currently, pricing in Singapore and Milan’s Area C varies by vehicle size and heavier, more polluting vehicles pay higher charges than lighter ones. This reflects their greater impact on both traffic congestion and pollution levels. Remote sensing, a method used to monitor real-world tailpipe emissions, could offer support for tailoring congestion prices to the emissions of different vehicles. This technology has been deployed in Europe, the United States, Spain, Sweden, and elsewhere to identify high- and low-emission vehicles and detect possible vehicle tampering. A recent ICCT study that took measurements via remote sensing in Delhi and Gurugram highlighted the difference between real-world tailpipe emission levels and laboratory limits and the need for advanced techniques for emissions monitoring. A review of congestion pricing pilot programs in U.S. cities identified a number of possible approaches to mitigate the impacts of these schemes on low-income groups, including discounts, exemptions, and rebates. Such measures aim to minimize the financial burden on disadvantaged communities while maintaining the program’s effectiveness. Additionally, cities like Bogotá (Colombia) have adopted approaches that consider drivers’ income level alongside vehicle emissions to establish an equitable pricing structure. The role of public transportation and supportive policies Delhi has more than 7,500 buses in operation and over 390 km of metro connectivity, including links to other major cities. Still, challenges persist, including irregular bus frequency, overcrowding during rush hours, poor conditions of the bus, and last-mile connectivity issues for metro users. Ensuring that the public transit system is reliable, well-integrated, and equipped for last-mile connectivity through feeder bus services and pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is critical to realizing the shift away from private transport envisioned under congestion tax schemes. Indeed, congestion pricing was also considered recently in Bangalore and Mumbai, but it stalled due to concerns about the capacity of the public transport system to provide sustainable alternatives to private vehicle users. Other cities have used revenues from congestion pricing to pay for upgrades to the public transit system. In London, the net revenue from congestion pricing has supported efforts to enhance bus fleets, expand bicycle and pedestrian lanes, improve road safety, and more. Cities like London, Paris, and Brussels have implemented scrappage programs that provide subsidies to retire older, higher-emitting vehicles and encourage a shift to public transit or cleaner private vehicles. Furthermore, initiatives like Delhi’s Mohalla bus scheme, a feeder bus service designed for neighbourhood-level operations, are expected to bridge the last-mile connectivity challenges by deploying 9 m zero-emission buses at scale. In considering congestion taxing to help address poor air quality, Delhi has the opportunity to draw on global insights and establish a strong precedent for tackling traffic congestion and air pollution together. Success in this would promote sustainable urban mobility that offers a safer, healthier environment for its residents.

Environment Education

Punjab bags top honors in green schools programme for second year in a row

Bathinda: For the second time in a row, Punjab has bagged the ‘Best State' and ‘Best District' awards under the Green Schools Programme by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Punjab received these accolades for its leadership in fostering a culture of environmental consciousness. The Green School Programme (GSP) by the CSE aims to make school campuses environment friendly and students environmentally conscious. Across Punjab, 11,917 schools registered for the programme, with 7,406 successfully completing the audit, representing 84% of the 8,831 schools audited nationwide. Of 345 schools across India selected as Green Schools, 196 — 171 govt and 25 private schools — were from Punjab. Hoshiarpur district emerged as the top-performing district in India, with a record-breaking 1,945 schools completing green audits, the highest from any district nationwide. The number of Punjab's Green Schools have grown remarkably from 70 in 2023-24 to 196 in 2024-25, showcasing the state's unwavering commitment to sustainability. This transformation was driven by the department of science technology and environment, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST). In 2023-24, 4,734 schools from the state submitted their audit reports. Among these, 70 were rated ‘green', while Sangrur district bagged the Best District Award with 503 submissions. The awards will be conferred during the Green Schools Awards ceremony on Feb 4 at New Delhi. This distinction highlights Punjab's initiatives in fostering environmental sustainability and awareness among school communities, claimed the PSCST. The Green Schools Programme, spearheaded by CSE, is a nationwide initiative that encourages schools to conduct rigorous environmental audits and transform their campuses into models of sustainability. These audits evaluate resource use and identify areas for improvement across six key domains: air, energy, food, land, water, and waste. By participating in these audits, schools gained actionable insights to optimise resource management and reduce their environmental footprints. PSCST's role in ushering in a new green revolution in Punjab's schools through the Green Schools Programme deserves commendation. By equipping schools with tools and knowledge, PSCST cultivated a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility among students, teachers, and administrators, said department officials.

Climate Change and Green Economy

Drill, Baby, Drill: How Trump's MAGA Vision will Stall Global Climate Fight

"We will drill, baby, drill. America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on earth. And we are going to use it," These are not mere words; they come from one of the world's most powerful figures—Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States. The world is warming up, thanks to the drilling that nations have been doing for years. The rising greenhouse gas emissions have made 2024 the hottest year on record and also the first year to breach the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods and wildfires have increased across the world. Climate change has caused severe devastation over the past year and will continue to trigger harrowing events in the future. Trump's Anti-Climate Measures On the very first day of taking office, Trump issued a series of orders that cemented his blatant disregard for global efforts aimed at transitioning to a sustainable future. He is committed to make America great again by reversing whatever little efforts the global super power has made to promote clean energy. Reversing Biden's ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, Trump has planned to declare “national energy emergency”, giving the administration more powers to approve production of fossil fuels. He has announced the withdrawal of the world’s second largest emitter from the landmark Paris accord. Trump will review the regulations that “impose undue burdens on energy production and use” and roll back incentives on electric vehicles. He has also called for an end to leases for wind energy farms. The new administration has vowed to revoke several environment-friendly orders issued by the Biden administration in 2021 including establishment of climate change support office, climate-related financial risk management and efforts to boost clean energy industries and jobs. What is at Stake? Until now, the US was doing fine in terms of solar and wind energy production which even surpassed coal production last year for the first time. The country now ranks third for the solar panel manufacturing. Wind farms accounted for 22% of the electricity generated in Texas and 59% of the power produced in Iowa in 2023, according to the New York Times. The Inflation Reduction Act, brought in effect in 2022, has been hailed for its potential for implementing climate solutions. The benefits will now cease after Trump ordered a halt to spending under the law. "Since the inflation act spending is halted, low-carbon technology development and adoption will be slowed, said Labanya Jena, sustainable finance specialist. Since the technology is used globally, the implication will be felt all over the world. All of the pro-climate efforts are set to be reversed as Donald Trump takes charge. “The chaos and uncertainty of his actions will hurt the US decarbonisation as well as the obligations of the US to the rest of the world on climate cooperation," said Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment. Without the US participation in reducing global emissions, the objective of the Paris agreement to keep warming below a certain level cannot be achieved. Grave Consequences The wildfires in Los Angeles has claimed at least 28 lives, destroyed homes and displaced hundreds of thousands. In the Trump administration, sensitive regions of the country such as California and Alaska could now face a major risk. Manjeev Puri, distinguished fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) said, “The bigger risk is the exploitation of sensitive regions like Alaska, which poses grave ramifications to global climate stability." The biggest blow for climate actions will be due to a significant shrinkage of funds. According to various estimates, the developing countries need $5–6 trillion cumulatively at least until 2030 to achieve their stated nationally determined contributions. Trump has already ordered an immediate revocation of the US International Climate Finance Plan which promised to scale up US contribution to $11bn annually by 2024. RR Rashmi, distinguished fellow at TERI, noted that the new US administration will impact global clean energy financing more than private investments. Experts believe that Trump's measures risk the global consensus on climate action. "Other countries may scale down their ambitions. Large commercial banks and investors in the US will no longer be asked to support climate technologies,” said Jena, sustainable finance specialist. Jena also fears given the veto of the US on the World Bank, it may be forced to moved away from climate financing. Given the current state of the world, what is needed is even more ambitious targets from the US. However, Trump is determined to pull back the country to the fossil fuel era by reversing past climate actions. As a result, it is clear that the US climate pledge to reduce emissions by 61-66% from 2005 levels by 2035, will not be achieved. And without US participation, the global transition will be a lot slower, endangering lives worldwide.

Water Programme

किस राज्य की नदियां कितनी प्रदूषित

2023 में आई सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की रिपोर्ट ने बताया कि देश में कुल 603 नदियां हैं. आपको यह जानकर हैरानी होगी कि करीब 46 फीसदी नदियां प्रदूषण की चपेट में हैं. रिपोर्ट में ये भी बताया गया कि प्रदूषित नदियों में सर्वाधिक प्रदूषित महाराष्ट्र में हैं, जहां 55 नदियों में प्रदूषण ज्यादा है. इसके बाद मध्य प्रदेश में 19 नदियां, बिहार केरल में 18-18 नदियां प्रदूषित हैं. उत्तर प्रदेश और कर्नाटक में 17-17 नदियां, जबकि राजस्थान में 14 और गुजरात में 13, मणिपुर में 13, पश्चिम बंगाल में 13 नदियां प्रदूषित पाई गई हैं.

Climate Change and Green Economy

2024's climate chaos: Why Budget 2025 must prioritise climate action

It was a year when the weather felt more like a roller coaster of chaos than the soft flow of seasons. In 2024, India found itself caught in nature's unrelenting crosshairs. Searing heatwaves turned cities into furnaces, while relentless monsoonal rains transformed streets into rivers. In one corner of the country, wildfires devoured forests with ferocious speed; in another, cyclonic storms slammed into coastal communities, leaving trails of destruction. 2025 has already begun with one of the worst extreme weather events seen in the United States as thousands of homes burned in what was described as one of the worst bouts of wildfires in California. It isn’t just a wake-up call for India, but a resounding alarm for the world. The climate crisis has arrived, and its fingerprints are everywhere. As the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi enters into a new financial year with Budget 2024-25, the writing on the wall couldn't be any clear - climate change must be a priority. WHAT WE SHOULD LEARN FROM 2024? With 2024 recording severe weather, including heatwaves and floods, the urgency for comprehensive climate action has never been greater. The effects of climate change are evident across the country. The rising temperatures have made heatwaves 30 times more likely, putting immense pressure on public health and economic stability. With India now surpassing China to become the most populous country, the demand for resources is escalating, further straining the environment. "Incorporating climate considerations into budgetary planning for various sectors is now crucial as India enters the latter half of this crucial decade. Climate impacts are escalating and globally, competition in the green economy is also increasing. Budgetary allocations for renewable energy penetration, industrial decarbonisation, and domestic green technology R&D must be a mandatory effort for India going forward," Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), told IndiaToday.in.

Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

India’s Plastic Dilemma: Closing the Loop on Packaging Waste

India’s battle with plastic waste has become a defining issue of our time, with the country striving to find an effective solution to the mounting crisis of single-use plastics. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), India is the fifth-largest producer of plastic waste globally, generating an estimated 9.46 million tons of plastic waste annually. Of this, 70% is uncollected or poorly managed, leading to significant environmental and public health challenges. In 2022, India took a bold step by enforcing a nationwide ban on single-use plastics, as part of its commitment to addressing the issue. While this initiative gained widespread attention, the battle is far from over. A key strategy that has emerged to tackle plastic waste is the circular economy—a system where resources, such as plastic, are reused, recycled, and kept in use for as long as possible. In the context of packaging waste, this shift toward sustainability presents both exciting possibilities and complex challenges. The Emergence of Circular Economy Models The circular economy is centered on designing out waste and pollution, keeping products in use, and regenerating natural systems. This model is particularly significant for managing packaging waste, where companies are increasingly being called upon to not only reduce their consumption of plastics but also to take responsibility for what happens to those plastics once consumers discard them. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), an essential component of this system, requires producers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their packaging—particularly its post-consumer waste. As of 2022, India launched a major push to enforce EPR compliance among corporations, following the amendment of the Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016). According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), EPR mandates that producers, importers, and brand owners should ensure that plastic waste generated from their products is collected, recycled, or reused. In theory, EPR incentivizes producers to design packaging that is easy to recycle and creates a more efficient waste management process. Hindustan Unilever (HUL), India’s leading FMCG company, has made strides in implementing EPR measures. HUL plans to collect 100% of the plastic waste generated by its products by 2025. Their initiatives include sourcing recycled content and developing alternative materials that have less environmental impact. With a market value of over ₹52,000 crore, HUL’s efforts serve as a beacon for other companies in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, signaling the potential benefits of sustainable business practices. Recycling and Grassroots Efforts: A Ray of Hope While corporate commitments are critical, much of India’s plastic recycling efforts remain dependent on informal waste pickers. These hardworking individuals have long been at the heart of India's waste management ecosystem. An estimated 1.5 million waste pickers work across cities and towns, collecting and sorting recyclables to sustain their livelihood, and in the process, diverting tonnes of waste from landfills. According to The Recycling Companies Association of India (RCAI), waste pickers contribute around 60-70% of the country’s total plastic recycling capacity. For the formalization of this informal sector, efforts are underway to create better conditions for waste pickers. For example, organizations such as Hasiru Dala in Bengaluru have successfully partnered with the government to create waste segregation programs, giving waste pickers legal protections and fair wages. These grassroots initiatives have proved effective in establishing local recycling infrastructures that are often more accessible than centralized waste management facilities. Innovations Driving Sustainability As India confronts its packaging waste crisis, several groundbreaking innovations are providing glimmers of hope. The trend of refill stations and zero-waste grocery stores is taking root across urban centers, furthering the movement toward reducing plastic consumption. A growing number of Indian startups, including Bare Necessities and Daily Dump, are pioneering zero-waste grocery options, offering products in reusable containers. These refill stations empower consumers to purchase necessities like shampoo, grains, and detergents without the need for plastic packaging. These initiatives resonate with the consumer base, especially among India’s urban millennials, who are more conscious of their environmental footprint. According to a 2022 report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), over 70% of Indian millennials are inclined to support brands that emphasize sustainability, setting a strong foundation for businesses that are environmentally conscious. These trends, though still in their infancy, offer hope for scalable, mainstream solutions. Government Support and Regulatory Challenges India’s evolving regulatory landscape plays a central role in shaping the future of plastic waste management. The Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2021 set clear targets to phase out single-use plastics by 2022, aiming to reduce plastic waste by enforcing extended producer responsibility and boosting plastic recycling. However, experts argue that compliance and enforcement of these rules continue to face roadblocks. While cities like Bengaluru and Delhi have made headway in plastic reduction, challenges in rural areas and smaller cities remain. According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 30% of Indian towns lack any form of structured waste segregation, and 40% of the plastic generated is not being recycled. The lack of infrastructure and support at the local level means that even as the central government pushes ambitious policies, implementation on the ground faces hurdles. India’s battle against plastic waste and its pursuit of a circular economy is at a critical juncture. The country faces immense challenges, but there is clear momentum behind solutions that promote recycling, waste reduction, and more sustainable business practices. The efforts of corporations, grassroots movements, and policy interventions are beginning to create tangible shifts, proving that closing the loop on packaging waste is not only possible but already underway.

Sustainable Food Systems

Dilemma Faced By Poor Farmers In Bundelkhand: Grow Organic While Selling Non-Organic

Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh: In the semi-arid Bundelkhand region spread across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, climate vulnerability is a pressing reality. With dwindling forest resources, the region is susceptible to desertification—something that does not bode well for agriculture here. According to the Bundelkhand Drought, a report released by the National Institute of Disaster Management (except for Sagar and Jhansi districts), approximately 60 percent of Bundelkhand’s population depends on agriculture, either as cultivators or labourers. Water resources were limited in the region, while recurrent and consecutive droughts made rain-fed agriculture uncertain. However, over the years, schemes such as the Khet Talab Yojana and the construction of dams improved water availability, but not without a catch. In recent decades, there has been a shift towards cash crops from millet cultivation due to increased water availability and other factors. A 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Extension Education confirms the decline by analysing data regarding area, production, and productivity of major millets between 2000 and 2020 in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. ‘This region was historically known for its largely chemical-free cultivation. Crops such as millets, oilseeds and pulses, which require minimal fertilisers, dominated the landscape. Today, minor millets such as sama and kodo have mostly disappeared, surviving only in isolated pockets where irrigation facilities remain limited,’ Dr. SS Singh, Director (Extension Education), Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (RLBCAU), Jhansi, tells 101Reporters. ‘Rising food demand and improved irrigation have shifted crop patterns and increased fertiliser use, causing a decline in organic and natural farming practices,’ Singh adds. At the same time, Bundelkhand’s fragile soil makes it unsuitable for high-intensity cropping. Promoting organic and natural farming is the desired path to preserve the region’s ecosystem. Multiple challenges Aatmaram Rajput (62) from Badaura in Jhansi’s Babina block is a beneficiary of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). While the scheme officially lists his wife Ranjana Rajput as a beneficiary, Aatmaram has been actively involved in implementing the organic practices promoted under the programme. ‘Under PKVY, I cultivate millets and vegetables on six acres. Last year’s kodo millet harvest is still lying with me because there are no buyers,’ Aatmaram shares. For cultivation, seeds were given under the scheme for free, and farmers were trained in preparing organic manure. The situation is no better for vegetables. ‘Organic vegetables are priced the same as chemically grown ones… There is a lack of market incentives for organic produce,’ he points out. PKVY was launched nine years ago with the main objective of encouraging organic farming among small and marginal farmers. However, the problem lies with a lack of designated markets and certification issues, which leave farmers with no option but to sell their produce in the markets where non-organic products are sold. Agriculture Processed Food and Export Development Authority (APEDA) functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, regulates organic farming certification in the country through the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), which sets standards for organic farming, outlines procedures for accreditation certification bodies, and manages the use of the India Organic logo. For certification, farmers need to apply in the required format, pay a fee, and undergo a field verification process. Mostly large players have accessed it as the certification is costly. Put simply, a farmer has to spend anywhere between Rs 12,000 and 20,000 per acre per annum for the certification. According to the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment, the challenges that PKVY face include inadequate training, insufficient funding, and the failure to establish a strong domestic market for organic products. ‘The certification process is very tedious. But it is important because otherwise the consumer will not know what is organic and what is not,’ says Dr. Yogeshwar Singh, Professor, Department of Agronomy and Agrometeorology, RLBCAU. ‘The process requires multiple visits from officials, and farmers must ensure that not only their farms but also the neighbouring farms are chemical-free as any chemical runoff from adjacent lands could contaminate their soil,’ Dr. Yogeshwar explains. Moreover, certification alone cannot solve the market issue. There is a need for demand generation. For the farmers of Jhansi, the nearest certification centre is 462 km away, in Ghaziabad. Hence, most farmers do not show interest. ‘Who will travel so far for this spending their own money?’ asks Mansingh Ahirwar (62), a farmer from Khajuraha Bujurg in Jhansi district.

Urban Lab

ग्लोबल साउथ में बढ़ते तापमान से प्रदूषण और बीमारियों का खतरा गहराया

पिछले साल दुनिया ने डरावनी उपलब्धि हासिल की। यूरोपीय संघ की कोपरनिकस क्लाइमेट चेंज सर्विस ने 2024 को अब तक का सबसे गर्म साल बताया है। यह इतिहास में पहला साल है जब औसत वैश्विक तापमान पूर्व-औद्योगिक अवधि से 1.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस (2.7 डिग्री फ़ारेनहाइट) से ज्यादा है। इससे खतरनाक होता जलवायु जोखिम बहुत ज्यादा बढ़ गया है। असल में, 2023 और 2024 पिछले एक लाख सालों में सबसे गर्म वर्ष हो सकते हैं। सभी संकेत इस ओर इशारा करते हैं कि मौसम और ज्यादा गर्म हो रहा है। दुनिया भर में इसका दुष्प्रभाव और भी घातक हो रहा है। कोपरनिकस क्लाइमेट चेंज सर्विस की उप निदेशक सामंथा बर्गेस ने चेतावनी दी, “पिछली [उत्तरी गोलार्ध] गर्मियों में देखी गई तापमान संबंधी चरम घटनाएं और भी तेज होंगी।” साल 2024 में दुनिया के कई इलाकों में कई हफ्तों तक भीषण गर्मी रही। इसके गंभीर नतीजे सामने आए हैं। सऊदी अरब में सालाना हज यात्रा के दौरान घातक लू ने कम से कम तेरह सौ लोगों की जान ले ली। वहीं, अफ्रीका के दक्षिणी हिस्से में सदी के सबसे भयंकर सूखे ने दो करोड़ दस लाख बच्चों को कुपोषित कर दिया। रिकॉर्ड सूखे ने दक्षिण अमेरिका को भी तबाह कर दिया। इससे अमेजन घाटी की नदियों में पानी सबसे निचले स्तर पर चला गया। उत्तरी अमेरिका भी इससे अछूता नहीं रहा। हीट डोम (उच्च दबाव की प्रणाली जो तापमान को बनाए रखती है और बढ़ाती है) ने अमेरिका के बड़े हिस्से को ढक लिया। इसने मेक्सिको में सौ से ज़्यादा लोगों की जान ले ली। रिकॉर्डतोड़ गर्मी से ग्लोबल साउथ में बदतर हो रहा प्रदूषण और सेहत लेकिन कम ही लोगों ने इस भीषण गर्मी के एक और दुष्प्रभाव पर ध्यान दिया। इसकी वजह यह है कि इस पर नजर रखना मुश्किल है। भीषण गर्मी हवा की गुणवत्ता को खराब करती है और लोगों को बीमार बनाती है। हालांकि, वायु प्रदूषण के स्रोत आम तौर पर स्थानीय या क्षेत्रीय होते हैं। लेकिन, जलवायु परिवर्तन से पूरी धरती पर हवा की गुणवत्ता और खराब हो रही है। विश्व मौसम विज्ञान संगठन के बुलेटिन में जलवायु परिवर्तन के स्वास्थ्य पर पड़ने वाले दुष्प्रभाव पर बात की गई है। इसमें कहा गया है कि लगातार चलने वाली लू, जंगल में रिकॉर्ड तोड़ आग लगने की घटनाएं और हवा और बारिश के पैटर्न में भारी बदलाव मिलकर “वायु प्रदूषण को जन्म देते हैं, उसकी अवधि और फैलाव को बदल देते हैं।” नई दिल्ली के ऊपर ओजोन भारत की राजधानी नई दिल्ली में 2024 की गर्मियां इतनी भयंकर थी जितनी शायद ही कुणाल कुमार याद कर सकते हैं। शहर में 13 साल में पहली बार लू की अवधि सबसे लंबी थी। हालात इतने खराब थे कि भोजन की डिलीवरी करने वाले गिग वर्कर कुमार को कुछ दिनों के लिए घर पर बैठना पड़ा। उन्होंने मोंगाबे को बताया, “लू के थपेड़ों से मरने से बेहतर था कि मैं अपनी मजदूरी गंवाकर घर पर ही रहूं।” दिल्ली, उत्तरी भारत का सबसे बड़ा शहर है। यह सिंधु-गंगा के मैदान में बसा है। यहां गर्मियों में दिन का तापमान औसतन 32°सेल्सियस (90°फारेनहाइट) रहता है। लेकिन उत्तरी हिंद महासागर के ऊपर लगातार साइक्लोन के विपरीत हवा के बहाव के साथ ही खत्म हो रहे अल नीनो के कारण शहर के ऊपर अचानक से रुख बदलने वाली हवा के झोंके आने लगे, जिससे लगातार ज्यादा दबाव वाला हीट डोम बना। इससे 2024 में पारा लगातार उच्च स्तर पर बना रहा। कई हफ्तों तक दिन का तापमान 40 डिग्री सेल्सियस (104 डिग्री फारेनहाइट) से ऊपर रहा। इस दौरान रात में थोड़ी राहत मिली। शहर की गर्मी को सोखने वाले वातावरण ने स्थितियों को और भी दयनीय और खतरनाक बना दिया। कुमार डिलीवरी के लिए हर दिन 12 से 15 घंटे घर से बाहर रहते हैं। शहर के बाकी साढ़े तीन करोड़ लोगों की तरह ही कुमार के लिए भी गर्मी जानलेवा थी। इनमें से कई लोग खुले में काम करते हैं या उनके पास एयर-कंडीशन नहीं है। कुमार की रिहायश वाले दक्षिणी दिल्ली के तंग इलाके में, दीवारों और सड़कों से दिन-रात गर्मी निकलती रहती है। यह शहर में गर्मी के टीले के असर का नायाब उदाहरण है। ज्यादातर दिनों में उनके शरीर में पानी की कमी हो जाती थी। उनका स्वभाव भी चिड़चिड़ा हो गया था। कुमार याद करते हैं, “इस शहर में जहां भी देखो, ट्रैफिक जाम है। जाम में फंसना, तपती धूप में शरीर पर गर्म हवा के थपेड़े, यह सब असहनीय था।” आम तौर पर, वायु प्रदूषण को दिल्ली में ठंड की समस्या माना जाता है। इस मौसम में कम ऊंचाई वाले धुएं की मोटी चादर महानगर के ऊपर लटकी ठंडी हवा में फंस जाती है। यह धुआं ज्यादातर जहरीले PM2.5 कणों से बना होता है। ये नंगी आंखों से नहीं दिखने वाले कण हैं जो फेफड़ों में चले जाते हैं। इनसे सांस लेने में दिक्कत हो सकती है। हर साल सर्दियों में, पराली जलाने और दिवाली के दौरान आतिशबाजी से PM2.5 का स्तर चरम पर होता है। इससे दिल्ली दुनिया की सबसे प्रदूषित जगहों में से एक बन जाती है। अब जलवायु परिवर्तन और शहरी विकास के कारण गर्मियों में शहरों का तापमान बढ़ रहा है। इसलिए, तेज गर्मी और वायु प्रदूषण के आपसी दुष्प्रभाव कम स्पष्ट हैं, लेकिन स्वास्थ्य पर गंभीर रूप से हानिकारक असर डाल रहे हैं। गर्मियों के महीनों में कुमार और हजारों गिग वर्कर्स को हर दिन ट्रैफिक जाम में फंसना पड़ता है। यह जगह PM2.5 कणों और जमीन पर ओजोन जैसे जहरीले पदार्थों के लिए हॉटस्पॉट बन जाती है। समताप मंडल के ऊपर, ओजोन सूर्य की हानिकारक पराबैंगनी किरणों को सोख कर लाभकारी भूमिका निभाता है। लेकिन पृथ्वी की सतह के करीब यह हवा को जहरीला बनाने वाला दमदार प्रदूषक है। इसका सेहत पर घातक असर होता है। जमीन के स्तर पर ओजोन तब बनता है जब वाहनों के धुएं और कारखानों जैसे अन्य स्रोतों से निकलने वाले नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड और वाष्पशील कार्बनिक यौगिक (VOC) सूर्य के प्रकाश के साथ प्रतिक्रिया करते हैं। दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) द्वारा हाल ही में किए गए विश्लेषण में पाया गया कि गर्मियों के दौरान शहर भर में ओजोन के लिए नए हॉटस्पॉट उभरे हैं। विश्लेषण में कहा गया है कि अप्रैल और जुलाई 2024 के बीच, दिल्ली में 102 दिनों में ग्राउंड लेवल ओजोन रीडिंग सुरक्षित सीमा से ज्यादा दर्ज की गई। यह अक्सर लगातार 13 घंटे से ज्यादा समय तक रही। सालाना PM2.5 बैकग्राउंड लेवल में भी लगातार बढ़ोतरी हुई है, जो मुख्य रूप से वाहनों से होने वाले उत्सर्जन में बढ़ोतरी के चलते हुआ है। ट्रैफिक की वजह से सर्दियों में वायु प्रदूषण बढ़ता है और गर्मियों में ओजोन। अशोका यूनिवर्सिटी में सेंटर फॉर हेल्थ एनालिटिक्स रिसर्च एंड ट्रेंड्स की निदेशक महामारी विज्ञानी पूर्णिमा प्रभाकरन ने ग्राउंड लेवल ओजोन के बढ़ते चलन को चिंताजनक बताया। यूनिसेफ के साथ साझेदारी में यूएस स्थित हेल्थ इफेक्ट्स इंस्टीट्यूट द्वारा हर साल प्रकाशित की जाने वाली “स्टेट ऑफ ग्लोबल एयर” रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, ग्राउंड लेवल ओजोन के स्तर के कारण क्रोनिक ऑब्सट्रक्टिव पल्मोनरी बीमारी से होने वाली मौतों का बोझ भारत में सबसे ज्यादा है। 2019 में भारत में ओजोन के कारण 2,38,000 लोगों की मौत हुई। लोग वाहनों और चिमनी से निकलने वाले अन्य जहरीले प्रदूषकों को भी सांस के जरिए अंदर लेते रहते हैं। लेकिन प्रभाकरन कहते हैं, “शायद जागरूकता की कमी के कारण, [इन] द्वितीयक प्रदूषकों के दुष्प्रभावों पर स्मॉग और PM2.5 के प्रभावों की तुलना में उतना ध्यान नहीं दिया गया है।” प्रभाकरन अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर वैज्ञानिकों के साथ मिलकर काम कर रहे हैं। ये वैज्ञानिक वायु प्रदूषण (पीएम 2.5 और ओजोन सहित) के अलग-अलग परिणामों, जैसे सांस और संज्ञानात्मक स्वास्थ्य पर पड़ने वाले प्रभावों को ट्रैक करने के लिए डेटाबेस बना रहे हैं। प्रभाकरन ने कहा, “हम डेटा के साथ, हर उस स्वास्थ्य नतीजे का विश्लेषण करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं जो हमारे हाथ लग सकता है।” उन्होंने आगे कहा, “उच्च रक्तचाप, हाइपरटेंशन, डायबिटीज, लिपिड का उच्च स्तर जैसे सामान्य जोखिम लंबी अवधि वाले कम [वायु प्रदूषण] में भी बदतर हो जाते हैं।” भारत में साफ हवा से जुड़े प्रोग्राम वायु की गुणवत्ता में सुधार करने में काफी हद तक विफल रहे हैं। ऐसा इसलिए है, क्योंकि उनमें साल भर प्रदूषकों के सबसे बड़े स्रोत परिवहन और औद्योगिक उत्सर्जन को कम करने के बजाय धूल नियंत्रण पर जोर है। सीएसई के अनुसंधान और वकालत की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी ने कहा, “हमारे प्रोग्राम को कई तरह के प्रदूषक पर फोकस करना चाहिए, जिसका मतलब है कि वायु गुणवत्ता में सुधार पर नजर रखने के लिए ना सिर्फ हवा में धूल के स्तर को बल्कि PM2.5, नाइट्रस ऑक्साइड और ओजोन जैसे सभी तरह के प्रदूषकों को ध्यान में रखना चाहिए।“ कुमार जैसे खुले में काम करने वाले कर्मचारियों पर व्यापक जोखिम के चलते खतरा बहुत ज्यादा रहता है। भारत सरकार ऐसे समय में तेजी से बढ़ती गिग अर्थव्यवस्था को रोजगार बढ़ाने वाले क्षेत्र के रूप में देखती है जब बेरोजगारी दर रिकॉर्ड ऊंचाई पर पहुंच गई है। लेकिन ये नौकरियां अक्सर श्रमिकों की लंबी अवधि की सेहत की कीमत पर आती हैं। कुमार ने कहा, “मैं बीमार होने पर भी छुट्टी नहीं लेता, क्योंकि इससे मेरी कमाई कम हो जाती है।” लेकिन दिल्ली की जहरीली हवा में दिन-रात सांस लेने से बीमारी और समय से पहले मौत हो सकती है। इसके अलावा, इसमें आर्थिक लागत भी शामिल है। गिग वर्कर्स अक्सर परिवार में अकेले कमाने वाले होते हैं, जो बिना बीमा या बिना भुगतान की गई मेडिकल छुट्टी के काम करते हैं। पीपुल्स एसोसिएशन इन ग्रासरूट्स एक्शन एंड मूवमेंट्स और यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ पेनसिल्वेनिया द्वारा भारत भर में 10,384 ऐप-आधारित वर्कर का सर्वेक्षण किया गया। जवाब देने वाले लगभग शत-प्रतिशत लोगों ने कहा कि उन्हें डिलीवरी के काम के कारण शारीरिक और मानसिक स्वास्थ्य संबंधी समस्याओं का सामना करना पड़ा। करीब 43% ने हर रोज पांच सौ रुपये ($5.80) से कम कमाया। इतने ही वर्कर ने कहा कि उन्होंने कोई छुट्टी नहीं ली। कुमार ने कहा, “हमें काम पर रखने वाली कंपनियों को फायदों, वेतन और छुट्टी के मामले में ज्यादा मानवीय होना चाहिए।” उन्होंने आगे कहा, “हम बारिश और गर्मी में भी काम करते हैं।” वैज्ञानिकों का कहना है कि आने वाले सालों में गर्मी और बढ़ेगी ही। ब्राजील के जिंगू जनजातीय पार्क के ऊपर जंगल की आग का धुआं पिछले साल इवेश यावलपिटी वोरा ने बताया कि उन्होंने असहाय होकर देखा कि किस तरह सूखे ने जिंगू जनजातीय पार्क में उनके पैतृक गांव के पास नदी के पानी को कम कर दिया। ब्राजील के अमेजन वर्षावन से होकर बहने वाली जिंगू और उसकी सहायक नदियां इस क्षेत्र के 16 जनजातीय समूहों के लिए जीवन रेखा हैं। लेकिन 2024 में सूखा ही यहां के लोगों के सामने आने वाली एकमात्र चुनौती नहीं थी। जैसे-जैसे नदी में पानी कम हो रहा था, दम घोंटने वाले धुएं के घने गुबार ऊपर लटक रहे थे, जो कि हाल के सालों में इस क्षेत्र में देखी गई सबसे भयानक जंगली आग का नतीजा था। जिंगू जनजातीय पार्क उस जगह पर स्थित है जहां अमेजन वर्षावन बायोम मध्य ब्राजील के माटो ग्रोसो राज्य में उष्णकटिबंधीय सेराडो सवाना बायोम में बदलता है। पार्क को 1961 में संरक्षित क्षेत्र घोषित किया गया था। इसका मकसद जनजातीय संस्कृति और प्राकृतिक जैव विविधता को बचाना था। वौरा जिंगू जनजातीय भूमि संघ (ATIX) के कार्यकारी निदेशक हैं। यह 1994 में जिंगू क्षेत्र में रहने वाले जनजातीय लोगों के अधिकारों की रक्षा के लिए गठित समूह है। लेकिन कोई लोगों को जानलेवा जंगल की आग के धुएं से किस तरह बचा सकता है? वौरा ने वीडियो साक्षात्कार में मोंगाबे को बताया। पहले, “आग पर काबू पाना आसान था। आज कोई भी आग काबू से बाहर हो जाती है। फैल जाती है। इसे नियंत्रित करना मुश्किल है।” पिछले साल जिंगू क्षेत्र में आग बुझाने के लिए ब्राजील की पर्यावरण एजेंसी IBAMA के दो सौ से ज्यादा दमकल कर्मचारियों को भेजा गया था। इससे ज्यादा स्वयंसेवक “पूरी ताकत” के साथ उनके साथ शामिल हुए। लेकिन वोरा ने कहा कि आग “असल में काबू से बाहर” रही। वोरा ने कहा कि हाल के सालों में स्थानीय परिदृश्य नाटकीय रूप से बदल गया है। खेती से जुड़े कारोबार के विस्तार के लिए वनों की कटाई और जलवायु परिवर्तन ने मिलकर इस क्षेत्र को सूखा बना दिया है, जिससे बचे हुए वर्षावनों में आग से बचने की क्षमता खत्म हो गई है। पिछले दो दशकों में जमीन हड़पने वालों और किसानों द्वारा नए चरागाह और फसल के लिए जंगल को साफ करने के लिए लगाई गई जंगली आग जिंगू क्षेत्र के और भी करीब पहुंच गई है। साल 2020 और 2021 के बीच, अमेजन वर्षावन के लगभग तेरह हजार वर्ग किलोमीटर (पांच हजार वर्ग मील) को नष्ट कर दिया गया। यह दर पूर्व ब्राजीलियाई राष्ट्रपति जायर बोलसोनारो की वर्षावन कृषि और खनन को प्रोत्साहित करने वाली नीतियों के कारण और भी बढ़ गई। जानकारों का कहना है कि मौसम के बदलते पैटर्न ने भी जंगल को और ज्यादा असुरक्षित बना दिया है। पर्यावरण और जनजातीय अधिकारों पर काम करने वाले नागरिक समाज संगठन इंस्टीट्यूटो सोसियोएंबिएंटल (आईएसए) के साथ जिंगू क्षेत्र में प्राकृतिक संसाधन प्रबंधन पर सलाहकार काटिया ओनो ने कहा, “ये आग लंबे समय तक सूखे की अवधि के दौरान लगती हैं, खासकर अल नीनो वाले सालों में और क्षेत्र के आसपास वनों की कटाई के बाद उनके दुष्प्रभाव ज्यादा दिखाई देने लगे हैं।” सैटेलाइट इमेज से पता चला है कि 2024 में अमेजन में 53,620 से ज़्यादा आग लगने की घटनाएं हुई हैं। माटो ग्रोसो राज्य में इन आग की सबसे ज़्यादा घटनाएं हुईं। यह बारिश के मौसम में देरी (जलवायु परिवर्तन का ऐसा असर जिसके बारे में पता है) के कारण सितंबर के आखिर तक कई महीनों तक जलती रहीं। जंगल की आग ना सिर्फ वर्षावन की जैव विविधता को नष्ट करती है, बल्कि जनजातीय निवासियों और अन्य पारंपरिक लोगों के बीच स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं का कारण भी बनती है। फिल्म निर्माता और एक अन्य जनजातीय संघ ऑल्टो जिंगू फैमिली इंस्टीट्यूट के अध्यक्ष ताकुमा कुइकुरो ने कहा, “आप अब ठीक से सांस नहीं ले सकते, आप ठीक से सो नहीं सकते, आप ठीक से देख नहीं सकते – यही मैंने महसूस किया जब हमारे जंगल में आग लगी थी।” कुइकुरो ने जिंगू जनजातीय पार्क के दमकल कर्मचारियों के बारे में वृत्तचित्र बनाया है, जो अनियंत्रित आग को बुझाने के सरकारी कोशिशों में शामिल हुए थे। उन्होंने कहा, “मेरी मां की बहन को फेफड़ों में सांस लेने की समस्या है और यह [धुएं के कारण] और भी बदतर होती जा रही है।” वोरा ने कहा कि खास तौर पर बच्चे इस धुएं से प्रभावित होते हैं और “उन्हें फ्लू हो जाता है। उन्हें सांस लेने में समस्या होती हैं।” उन्होंने बताया कि लंबी अवधि में सांस लेने में समस्याओं से पीड़ित युवाओं के लिए स्थिति और भी खराब है।

Director General Office

Experts warn of climate setback as Donald Trump pulls US out of Paris pact

The US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement will weaken global efforts to mitigate climate change, and the worst consequences will be felt in developing countries that have contributed the least to global emissions, experts said on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump, on his first day in office of his second term, signed an executive order withdrawing the United States, the world's largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, from the Paris Agreement for the second time in a decade. This places the US alongside Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only countries not part of the 2015 global climate accord, which aims to limit global warming since the industrial revolution to 1.5 degrees Celsius. RR Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute, said the impact of the new US administration is likely to be seen more in global financing for clean energy transition. "The forces of competitive trade actions in the name of climate may get reinforced, he said. Harjeet Singh, climate activist and Founding Director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, described the move as a devastating blow to global climate efforts. The US is prioritising short-term economic gains for fossil fuel industries over the health and well-being of American communities, especially those already burdened by increasingly frequent and severe climate disasters such as wildfires and storms. "Globally, it undermines the collective fight against climate change at a time when unity and urgency are more critical than ever. The most tragic consequences, however, will be felt in developing countries which have contributed the least to global emissions," Singh said. Trishant Dev, a programme officer at the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the US, as a major fossil fuel producer, has done little to fulfil its share in combating climate change. "With Trump's return and his stance to entirely sidestep that responsibility, it is decisively clear that the world is left to carry that weight," he said. Dev said Trump has already promised to freeze climate finance and temporarily suspended all US foreign assistance programmes, which could have a big impact not just on climate finance, but on development finance as a whole. "Under the new regime, institutions like the International Development Finance Corporation will face a test in how they handle their role in supporting important programmes, particularly in countries like India. The big question is whether they will maintain their commitment to development in the global South or change course altogether," he said. CSE's Director General Sunita Narain had earlier told PTI that the US has historically underperformed in global climate efforts, particularly in financing support for vulnerable countries, decarbonization, and financial commitments to the developing world. She said that Trump's presidency "would make matters even worse". Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a key architect of the Paris Agreement, said multilateral climate action remains robust despite such setbacks. The climate crisis cannot be tackled by any country alone -- it demands a multilateral response. But this moment should serve as a wake-up call to reform the system, ensuring that those most affected -- communities and individuals on the frontlines -- are at the centre of our collective governance, she said. At the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan, the US stepping back under Trump was one of the major factors behind a weak climate finance deal. Trump initially announced the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017 during his first term, a move reversed by the Joe Biden administration in early 2021. In the run-up to the 2024 US elections, Trump repeatedly referred to climate change as a "hoax" and reiterated his intention to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement. On Monday, on his first day in office of his second term, Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement again. He called the Paris climate accord a one-sided agreement, stating that the US would not "sabotage its own industries while China pollutes with impunity". The executive order directed the US Ambassador to the UN to immediately submit formal written notification of the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

The dark side of India’s mined e-waste for battery minerals

By 4am, Abrar, aged 50, reaches Seelampur, a small neighbourhood in the capital’s north-east suburbs, which is home to India’s largest electrical-waste market. The market’s narrow lanes are lined with small scrapstores overflowing with piles of broken computers, telephones, TVs, microwaves, washing machines, ACs and end-of-life batteries. Abrar is one of more than 50,000 informal workers, including women and children, who make a living sifting through thrown-out goods to recover valuable materials that can be recycled and eventually reused in modern technologies. In recent years, Abrar and his peers have become the backbone of a fast-growing network of start-ups seeking to extract energy transition minerals from e-waste in a process known as “urban mining”. Seelampur’s e-waste market is a vast treasure trove for the highly-coveted metals and minerals the world needs to shift from fossil fuels to clean energy systems and curb climate change. Charging cables for everyday items contain copper, a conductive metal which is used in virtually all electricity-related technologies. The aluminium in electronic components is needed to manufacture solar panels. But most sought after still are batteries. The majority of electronics such as mobile phones, laptops and vapes use batteries that contain lithium, cobalt and nickel. The same minerals are used to make batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and storing renewable energy. ‘Toxic sink’ Day after day, Abrar fills up his cart with e-waste and transports it to traders, who sell on valuable parts and metals to recycling companies keen to get a share of this largely untapped supply of transition minerals. Handling the hazardous waste is gruelling and dangerous work for little pay. Workers in the market open up worn batteries and electrical devices using stones and hammers. Heat is used to extract iron, aluminium and gold, releasing toxic fumes that engulf the market, giving it its nickname of “toxic sink”. A rag picker sifts through discarded waste in the blocked drain passing through the market A rag picker sifts through discarded waste in the blocked drain passing through the market Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which are found in electronics, can leak from the disused goods, exposing workers to pollutants that can cause lung cancer and damage vital organs. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to these metals, which increases the risk of stillbirths and can lead to neurological disorders. Like most workers, Abrar does not own any basic protective gear such as gloves and a mask. But the work is a lifeline. “I must do this for my family. The more waste I deliver, the more I earn,” he told Climate Home News. From e-waste to batteries Among the companies seeking to capitalise on e-waste as a vast secondary supply of transition minerals is Metastable Materials. The Bengaluru-based start-up, which is backed by some of India’s biggest venture capital firms, sources lithium-ion batteries from disused electronics at Seelampur’s market to recover minerals including lithium and cobalt that can be used again to make new batteries. The start-up is part of a nascent industry of small companies seeing e-waste as a ready battery recycling stock. Projections estimate India’s e-waste recycling market to reach $7.5 billion by 2030. And India’s small battery recycling industry is anticipated to grow tenfold to $1 billion by 2030, according to financial services firm Avendus. “We are working towards creating a circular economy for critical minerals,” Shubham Vishvakarma, Metastable’s co-founder, told Climate Home during an interview at a co-working office in Bengaluru, the heart of India’s tech industry. Recycling could supply a significant share of the huge amounts of minerals the world needs for manufacturing clean energy technologies without the social and environmental impacts associated with mining. The International Energy Agency estimates that recycling could reduce the growth in new mining needs by 40 percent for copper and cobalt and by 25 percent for lithium and nickel by 2050. In addition, recycled transition minerals incur on average 80 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than minerals extracted from mining. “Extracting minerals from traditional mines is very expensive and harms the environment,” Pratibha Sharma, an Indian project analyst working on the circular economy for the UN Development Programme, told Climate Home. “Urban or secondary mining is a great opportunity to improve the circular economy and accelerate the energy transition,” she said. Metastable has devised a process to recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, which it says is cheaper and cleaner than dominant technologies because it doesn’t use chemicals and is less energy-intensive. Operating out of a small warehouse on the outskirts of the south Indian city, the start-up says it is “committed to providing environmentally friendly metal extraction technologies for lithium-ion batteries” and to helping “accelerate EV adoption”. But so far, the company is reliant on informal workers like Abrar to source disused batteries for recycling. Hidden workers Despite handling hazardous waste of great value to the recycling industry, Abrar earns merely $6-7 a day – below the government-set minimum wage of $8 per day for an unskilled worker in Delhi – and receives no social protection. Javed, 25, has been working at the market since he was 15 years-old. Every two to three months, he sends money home to his family in the nearby state of Uttar Pradesh but his earnings are not enough for him to change his fortunes. “Urban mining is a potent concept mainly because our resources are finite. The unchecked exploitation of metals through traditional mining is unsustainable,” Siddharth Singh, of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based research organisation, told Climate Home. But new players in the recycling space should regularise informal workers in the supply chain and provide them with a share of the proceeds, Singh argued. Recycling companies have previously sourced worn-out goods from e-waste markets in India. But none of them have provided workers sufficient social guarantees, such as a decent wage and health insurance, he added. Metastable insists the company is committed to sourcing disused batteries in an ethical manner and wants to promote recycling and circular economy principles among consumers. But regularising the decade-old waste-picking and sorting sector is a huge task – one which the Indian government has so far failed to achieve, let alone a small start-up seeking to scale, company boss Vishvakarma argued. “The whole EV industry is trying to ensure that the supply chain for batteries remains formal from the beginning, but it’s proving to be a difficult job,” he told Climate Home. The Indian government didn’t respond to requests for comment. Urban mining opportunity Yet, for India, urban mining offers a vast opportunity to shore up supplies of pivotal minerals for its surging electric scooters, bikes and three-wheeler vehicle market. The world’s most populous country, which is building out its own battery manufacturing industry, is 100 percent dependent on imports for battery minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, including from China, the world’s largest processor of transition minerals.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi’s Air Pollution In 2024 ‘Alarming’: Report

As 2024 ends, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released a concerning report on Delhi’s air quality. The findings are stark: the city’s annual PM2.5 levels have risen to 104.7 µg/m³, marking a 3.4% increase from 2023 and exceeding the national air quality standard by more than double. This reversal follows a period of relative improvement between 2018 and 2022. The winter months have been particularly hazardous. Peak PM2.5 levels surged 26% higher than last year, reaching a jaw-dropping 732 µg/m³—a figure that underscores the intensity of the problem. Two major smog episodes trapped the city under a toxic haze, lasting eight and four days, with average pollution levels of 371 µg/m³ and 324 µg/m³, respectively. While there’s been a significant 71.2% drop in stubble burning incidents—a result of policy efforts targeting farm fires in Punjab and Haryana—the gains have been overshadowed by local pollution sources. Vehicles, construction dust, and industrial emissions continue to pump harmful pollutants into Delhi’s air, rendering it nearly unbreathable. What Does This Mean for Delhiites? The implications of such high PM2.5 levels are nothing short of dire. Prolonged exposure can cause: Respiratory illnesses like asthma and chronic bronchitis. Cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Long-term complications for children and the elderly, who are most vulnerable. Health experts warn that Delhiites are living in a silent health crisis, where every breath comes with a risk of shortening their lifespan. Notably, the number of days with “good” air quality dropped from 152 in 2023 to 121 in 2024, while the severe air quality days rose to 111. This isn’t just a seasonal issue anymore, it’s a year-round emergency. This report is more than a reminder of Delhi’s pollution woes—it’s an urgent call to action. Without decisive interventions, Delhi risks becoming a city where survival itself is under threat. It’s time to reclaim the air we breathe before it’s too late.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Stubble Burning Ends, But Air Pollution Persists: The Bigger Picture

Punjab latest news on stubble burning: As the last embers of the stubble-burning season die out, the skies of northern India may appear clearer, but the air we breathe is far from clean. While much of the public discourse around air pollution has centered on stubble burning, it is crucial to shift our gaze to the bigger picture. The smog that blankets cities like Delhi, Amritsar, and Gurugram is not a seasonal phenomenon—it is a year-round crisis with far-reaching consequences. Yes, stubble burning in states like Punjab and Haryana remains a problem. During its peak in October and November, it contributes significantly to the toxic haze choking the region. But framing it as the sole villain in our battle against air pollution oversimplifies a far more complex issue. Research, including a detailed analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), shows that stubble burning is just one of many contributors to the region’s air quality woes. Data from the CSE reveals that local pollution sources in Delhi contribute 30.34% of the city’s air pollution, with transportation accounting for 50.1% of this share. Meanwhile, 34.97% of the pollution originates from neighboring NCR districts, and 27.94% comes from other regions. Stubble burning, often highlighted, contributes only 8.19% to Delhi’s overall pollution levels. Vehicular emissions are among the most significant contributors to Delhi’s deteriorating air quality. An estimated 1.1 million vehicles enter and exit the city daily, exacerbating pollution levels. This constant influx of traffic intensifies emissions, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute 81% of the NOx pollution in Delhi. The transportation sector remains a relentless source of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. While policies promoting electric vehicles and cleaner fuels have been introduced, the overwhelming volume of traffic and continued dependence on aging diesel engines ensure that air quality remains critically poor. A source apportionment study conducted across five cities in Punjab has highlighted several key factors affecting ambient air quality, including road dust, construction activities, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution. In Jalandhar, the findings show that road dust, vehicular emissions, and solid waste are the major contributors to air pollution. In Dera Baba Nanak, alongside road dust, emissions from eateries and diesel generator (DG) sets are significant factors. In Naya Nangal, construction and demolition waste, along with road dust, account for a staggering 80% of the air pollution in the area. Industrial activity is another year-round offender. From brick kilns to small-scale manufacturing units, emissions from these sources continue unchecked in many areas. The lack of stringent enforcement of environmental norms compounds the problem, allowing industries to spew pollutants that contribute to both air and water contamination. Construction and road dust add another layer of complexity. As cities expand rapidly, construction sites and poorly maintained roads become significant contributors to air pollution. The absence of effective dust suppression measures only exacerbates the issue, especially during the dry months when particulate matter remains suspended in the air. And then there is waste burning—a practice as ubiquitous as it is harmful. Whether it’s municipal solid waste in urban centers or agricultural residue in rural areas, the open burning of waste releases a cocktail of harmful toxins, including dioxins and furans, into the atmosphere. Despite being banned, this practice persists due to poor waste management systems and a lack of viable alternatives. Given this backdrop, stubble burning becomes a convenient scapegoat, distracting from the structural issues that perpetuate air pollution in the region. It is, of course, a visible and acute problem, but addressing it alone will not clear our skies. Solutions must be as multifaceted as the problem itself. The discourse needs to evolve beyond seasonal blame games and embrace long-term, systemic change. Policies aimed at reducing pollution cannot focus solely on farmers or a few months of the year. They must address the underlying causes of pollution across sectors. For example, investment in public transport, stricter enforcement of industrial emission norms, and sustainable urban planning can make significant inroads into reducing pollution levels. What Are We Doing About It? At the Aircare Centre, we’ve been closely monitoring the impact of stubble burning in northern India and actively working on solutions to reduce both its occurrence and long-term effects. While there has been some positive progress, it’s important to recognize that real, lasting change won’t happen overnight. To aid in tracking progress, we’ve developed a dashboard that monitors fire counts across various districts in Punjab. On a positive note, more farmers are turning to alternatives to burning, thanks to a combination of government initiatives and grassroots efforts. Over the past few months, a series of workshops at the village level, including one at Khalsa College for Women in Amritsar, have equipped farmers with valuable insights into sustainable farming practices. These workshops emphasize the importance of soil conservation and introduce technologies like the Happy Seeder, a no-till planter that directly sows seeds in crop residue without preparing the seedbed. Towed by a tractor, it uses a straw chopper and zero-till drill to plant efficiently.

Climate Change and Green Economy

Experts warn of climate setback as Trump pulls US out of Paris pact

The US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement will weaken global efforts to mitigate climate change, and the worst consequences will be felt in developing countries that have contributed the least to global emissions, experts said on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump, on his first day in office of his second term, signed an executive order withdrawing the United States, the world’s largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, from the Paris Agreement for the second time in a decade. This places the US alongside Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only countries not part of the 2015 global climate accord, which aims to limit global warming since the industrial revolution to 1.5 degrees Celsius. RR Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute, said the impact of the new US administration is likely to be seen more in global financing for clean energy transition. “The forces of competitive trade actions in the name of climate may get reinforced,” he said. Harjeet Singh, climate activist and Founding Director of SatatSampada Climate Foundation, described the move as a devastating blow to global climate efforts. The US is prioritising short-term economic gains for fossil fuel industries over the health and well-being of American communities, especially those already burdened by increasingly frequent and severe climate disasters such as wildfires and storms. “Globally, it undermines the collective fight against climate change at a time when unity and urgency are more critical than ever. The most tragic consequences, however, will be felt in developing countries which have contributed the least to global emissions,” Singh said. TrishantDev, a programme officer at the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the US, as a major fossil fuel producer, has done little to fulfil its share in combating climate change. “With Trump’s return and his stance to entirely sidestep that responsibility, it is decisively clear that the world is left to carry that weight,” he said. Dev said Trump has already promised to freeze climate finance and temporarily suspended all US foreign assistance programmes, which could have a big impact not just on climate finance, but on development finance as a whole. “Under the new regime, institutions like the International Development Finance Corporation will face a test in how they handle their role in supporting important programmes, particularly in countries like India. The big question is whether they will maintain their commitment to development in the global South or change course altogether,” he said. CSE’s Director General SunitaNarain had earlier told PTI that the US has historically underperformed in global climate efforts, particularly in financing support for vulnerable countries, decarbonization, and financial commitments to the developing world. She said that Trump’s presidency “would make matters even worse”. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a key architect of the Paris Agreement, said multilateral climate action remains robust despite such setbacks. The climate crisis cannot be tackled by any country alone — it demands a multilateral response. But this moment should serve as a wake-up call to reform the system, ensuring that those most affected — communities and individuals on the frontlines — are at the centre of our collective governance, she said. At the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan, the US stepping back under Trump was one of the major factors behind a weak climate finance deal. Trump initially announced the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017 during his first term, a move reversed by the Joe Biden administration in early 2021. In the run-up to the 2024 US elections, Trump repeatedly referred to climate change as a “hoax” and reiterated his intention to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement. On Monday, on his first day in office of his second term, Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement again. He called the Paris climate accord a one-sided agreement, stating that the US would not “sabotage its own industries while China pollutes with impunity”. The executive order directed the US Ambassador to the UN to immediately submit formal written notification of the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

Director General Office