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The Who's Who of Climate Activism: How Indians Are Leading the Wave of Change

Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone and India is no exception. With the rising frequency and intensity of climate-related extreme weather events, developing countries like India are facing increasing pressures to focus on climate mitigation and adaptation. While the government plays a significant role in addressing these issues, climate activists across India have been instrumental in championing the cause and pushing for action. One of India’s earliest environmental movements, the Chipko Movement, set the stage for grassroots activism. In 1964, Gandhian activist Chandi Prasad Bhatt founded the Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal (DGSM) to promote small-scale rural industries using local resources. After severe floods in 1970 linked to industrial logging, DGSM raised concerns over large-scale logging. The first Chipko protest took place in 1973 in Mandal in modern-day Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh). Here, the villagers, led by Bhatt, hugged trees to stop logging after the government prioritised a sporting goods manufacturer over local needs. The Chipko Movement's success inspired a chain of similar protests and movements in the region. In 1974, women in Reni situated in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, led by Gaura Devi, confronted loggers and forced them to leave, ultimately leading to a 10-year logging ban on commercial logging in the area. Named after the Hindi word chipko (meaning “hug”), the movement was a non-violent protest against large-scale destruction of forests for commercial use. It not only protected local forests but also inspired a generation of environmental activism in India, emphasising on the importance of commercial logging in the area. Today, the legacy of such movements continues through the efforts of modern climate activists who work tirelessly to raise awareness on climate change and mobilise action to help mitigate and adapt to its consequences. From organising community-level initiatives to advocating for policy changes, these activists seek to advance India's sustainable future. Their work highlights the importance of preserving the environment so that future generations can inherit a healthier, more secure planet. Madhav Gadgil: A Tryst With Conservation Born on 24 May 1942, veteran Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil has dedicated his career to community-driven conservation. His groundbreaking work includes the creation of India’s first biosphere reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986, which is now the largest protected area in India. Gadgil’s research on the importance of preserving ecosystems for the benefit of marginalised communities has influenced key environmental policies. For his contributions, Gadgil has received global recognition, including the Champions of the Earth Award from the United Nations. Rajendra Singh: The Waterman of India Born on August 6, 1959, Rajendra Singh is a water conservationist and environmentalist from the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Dubbed as the "Waterman of India" for his contributions in the field of river rejuvenation, Rajendra Singh is credited for transforming the water landscape of Rajasthan through grassroots conservation efforts. His organisation, Tarun Bharat Sangh, has built over 14,000 water structures, reviving rivers and improving water security for thousands of villages. Singh’s work has earned him the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award and global recognition for his commitment to water ethics and sustainable development. Jadav Payeng: The Forest Man of India Jadav Payeng from Assam is famous for his extraordinary efforts aimed at greening the sandbar of the Brahmaputra river. In 1979, Payeng began planting trees on a barren sandbar in the Majuli Island, which has since transformed into the lush Molai forest spread over 1,300 acres. His dedication to combating erosion and enhancing biodiversity has earned him the title of the "Forest Man of India" Payeng was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2015. Sumaira Abdulali: The Sand Mafia Warrior Sumaira Abdulali, born in May 1961, is an environmentalist from Mumbai. Abdulali has been advocating against illegal sand mining and noise pollution. Founder of the Awaaz Foundation, Abdulali brought global attention to the environmental impacts of sand mining through campaigns and public interest litigations. Her work has resulted in the first court order against illegal sand mining in India. She has contributed significantly to implement noise pollution regulations rules notified by the Central Pollution Control Board in Mumbai. Medha Patkar: Representing the Marginalised Born in Mumbai on December 1, 1954, Medha Patkar is best known for leading the Narmada Bachao Andolan, a movement protesting the construction of large dams on the Narmada River. Her efforts have highlighted the environmental and social consequences of forced displacement due to largescale development projects. Patkar's commitment to protect the rights of marginalised communities has earned her the Right Livelihood Award. Marimuthu Yoganathan: Protector of Western Ghats Marimuthu Yoganathan from Tamil Nadu is a humble bus conductor for the state's transportation corporation. Dubbed as the "Tree Man of India", Yoganathan is known for his quiet revolution of reportedly planting more than 3,00,000 trees across various districts of Tamil Nadu. Yoganathan's sustained efforts towards environmental conservation have been lauded for representing the average citizen's passion for climate activism in India. Apart from the mega greening drive in his state, Yoganathan is also credited for raising voice against illegal logging and spreading awareness about conservation among the youth. Kinkri Devi: The Warrior of Sirmaur Kinkri Devi (1925–2007) from Himachal Pradesh became a symbol of resilience when she was raising her voice against the harmful effects of limestone quarrying in Sirmaur. In 1987, Devi started a public interest litigation and a 19-day-long hunger strike, which resulted in a ban on mining activities. Her tireless work earned her national recognition, including an invitation to the International Women’s Conference in Beijing in 1995. Jamuna Tudu: The 'Lady Tarzan' Jamuna Tudu was born on December 19, 1980, in Mayurbhanj, Odisha. She was affectionately called the "Lady Tarzan" for her fierce commitment to protecting the forests of Jharkhand from illegal logging. Through the Van Suraksha Samiti, she rallied thousands of villagers to protect nearly 50 hectares of forest land. Tudu’s leadership has made her a beacon of hope for grassroots environmental activism, inspiring several others in her region to join the fight to protect forests. Archana Soreng: Indigenous Voices A member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, Archana Soreng is a member of Khadia Tribe in Odisha. Born in 1995 in Bihabandh village, Soreng is one of the leading representatives of indigenous communities in the country, batting for their inclusion in climate policy. Soreng has worked extensively on preserving traditional knowledge and raising awareness about the impacts of climate change on indigenous populations. Sunita Narain: Leading the Sustainable Agenda Born in 1961, Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has played a pivotal role in shaping India's environmental policy, especially in the areas of air pollution, water management and industrial waste. Under Narain's leadership, CSE was awarded the Stockholm Water Prize in 2005. A veteran in climate activism, she has been instrumental in framing policies that balance economic development with ecological sustainability. Narain was also listed as one of the most influential people by the Time magazine in 2016. The work of these environmental champions highlights the power of community-led action in tackling climate change for a sustainable future. As India marches ahead towards its net-zero ambitions, such leadership initiatives along with a strong network of grassroots movements could serve as a beacon for hope for not just India but for the world.

Air pollution measures fail to address thermal power emissions

Air pollution in north India made headlines across the world when Air Quality Index (AQI) levels were recorded as over 1,500 a few weeks ago – unprecedented, experts said, even for a region that routinely ranks among the world’s most polluted. Though crop residue burning contributes to such seasonal peaks, there’s a steady combustion source that is many times more polluting: thermal power plants. Seasonal burning of the paddy crop residue coincides with lower temperatures and more stagnant winds, which causes a high level of pollutants to gather over the Indo Gangetic Plain over the winter. This curtain of smog is mostly made up of PM2.5 particles – very fine, toxic pollutants that are released on the combustion of fuels or burning of biomass. But pollution from thermal power plants is continuous, and responsible for a sizable pollution load annually. An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that thermal power plants emit 10 times more kilotonnes of PM2.5 compared to crop residue burning, and over 200 times more kilotonnes of sulfur dioxide, another harmful pollutant. In the National Capital Region alone, thermal power plants emit 16 times more sulphur dioxide compared to stubble burning. “Despite the significant health and environmental impact of coal-fired power plant emissions, regulatory enforcement on these power plants remains far less stringent compared to the seasonal restrictions and penalties imposed on stubble burning,” the analysis says. Curbing emissions from thermal power plants involves installing flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) systems, which filter sulphur dioxide – a precursor to PM2.5. Despite scientific consensus on the efficacy of FGD technologies, as well as existing mandates on their installation, the government has sent out mixed signals on the implementation of FGD. On November 19, the Ministry of Power sought an extension on the installment of FGD in thermal power plants. Also in November, the NITI Aayog, the government’s foremost think tank, suggested thermal power plants could do away with FGD technologies altogether. “The biggest problem is that there’s a lack of understanding among stakeholders when it comes to the importance and enforcement of FGD,” said Shreya Verma, Programme Manager of industrial pollution at the Centre for Science and Environment. “Casting doubts over the need for FGD indicates to industry that they can continue to be lax with compliance.” The first deadline for compliance with FGD is December 31, 2024, for power plants within a 10-kilometre radius of Delhi NCR. However, out of the four power plants that fall in this category, only one has fully complied, while another has partially complied, CREA’s analysis shows. India’s sulphur dioxide emissions are rising Coal fired power plants account for around 47 per cent of India’s total electricity generation capacity, but are the source for over 70 per cent of India’s power demand. Even though the government is making strides in establishing renewable energy capacity, coal continues to meet a bulk of the country’s electricity and power needs. As the world’s third largest producer of coal, India is also among the top emitters of sulphur dioxide. In 2022, India emitted 16 per cent of the world’s sulphur dioxide, making it the world’s largest emitter of this gas. Sulphur dioxide emissions from thermal power plants have grown since 2019, according to satellite images analysed by CREA. Between June 2022 and May 2023, thermal power plants released approximately 4,327 kilotonnes of sulphur dioxide. In Delhi-NCR alone, sulphur dioxide emissions from thermal power plants were found to be 281 kilotonnes. Over the same period, burning 8.9 million tonnes of paddy straw in Punjab and Haryana resulted in 26.7 kilotonnes of particulate matter (PM2.5) and 17.8 kilotonnes of sulphur dioxide. Emissions from thermal power plants are “over 10 times and 240 times higher” than emissions from stubble burning, the analysis says. “The challenge is not confined to centrally run power plants. FGD installation is lagging in private and state-operated power plants, and it’s these plants that have the maximum reduction potential,” said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA and lead author of the paper. The highest concentrations of sulphur dioxide were found in central and eastern states, which house a large number of thermal power plants – the Mahanadi basin (covering Chhattisgarh and Odisha), around Biswanathpur (Odisha), and Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Uttar Pradesh). Installing FGD in thermal power plants can reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide from 4,327 kilotonnes to 1,547 kilotonnes, according to CREA. “This amounts to an overall reduction of approximately 64 per cent, highlighting the tremendous potential impact of FGD technology on reducing air pollution from coal-fired power plants,” says the analysis. Compliance has been lax The scientific evidence that FGD technologies reduce sulphur dioxide emissions is largely uncontested. Removing sulphur dioxide emissions can prevent the formation of secondary particles. Once sulphur dioxide is released, it can oxidise in the air to form sulphate aerosols, which form PM2.5. In 2022, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and the Central Electricity Authority found that FGD in 67 coal power plants could reduce surface sulphur dioxide concentrations by 55 per cent within a 60 to 80-kilometre radius, and reduce surface concentrations of sulfate aerosols by about 30 per cent, with reductions extending to 100 km from the emission source. Globally, India has indicated its support for technologies like FGD when it agreed to phase down unabated coal power (“unabated” refers to emissions without any reductions). But domestically, the installation of FGD technologies has been marred by delays in compliance and laxity in enforcement. Less than 1 per cent of funds in India’s clean air programmes are directed towards controlling emissions from thermal power plants and other industrial sources, for example. India introduced compliance norms for emissions from thermal power plants in 2015, first stipulating that all thermal power plants should install FGD and meet emission norms by December 2017. This deadline for FGD installation was then revised twice, on the instance of the Ministry of Power and Association of Power Producers, with staggered timelines introduced to facilitate installation. According to the latest notification, issued by the Ministry of Environment in 2022, power plants within a 10-kilometre radius of Delhi NCR or cities having a population of more than a million people are required to meet compliance norms by December 31, 2024. These are Category A plants. Category B plans, which are within a 10-kilometre radius of “critically polluted areas”, are required to comply by December 31, 2025, while the rest of the power plants in the country must comply by December 31, 2026. Missing these deadlines will make plants liable to pay Rs. 0.2 to Rs. 0.4 per unit of electricity generated, depending on the period of non-compliance. Installing FGD can take up to three years. Out of 600 thermal power plants, only 44 have installed FGD systems, while bids for installation have been awarded for another 233 units. In its letter on November 19, the Ministry of Power requested each category deadline be extended by 36 months, citing “major constraints” in timely compliance. “These constraints are primarily limited to limited domestic manufacturing capacity due to limited vendor base, dependence on imports, and a sudden growth in demand to meet the stipulated timelines,” says the letter, which Mongabay India has seen. Ashwini Chitnis, an energy specialist and Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, says the reasons for seeking extensions have largely remained unchanged over the last ten years. “FGD is not a new technology. There’s a well-established global supply chain because installing it in the West and China is mandatory. We routinely import equipment for other aspects of the energy sector, such as say, for solar panels. More importantly, it is not as though any efforts are being made to install FGDs, and they are being delayed due to such constraints. So, repeatedly citing such vague reasons for missing deadlines is unacceptable”, she said.

How 1.4bn Indians are adapting to climate change

The flood waters were rising and Sukanya Ashin realised she had to get out of her house. Her husband tried to open the back door, but it was blocked by shifting mud. So they wrapped their two-year-old in a blanket and waded through the front doorway, as their wardrobe floated off and the houses around them started to slip down the hill. They found safety. But 17 of their neighbours died in the flood. Map: The Economist Adapting to climate change in India will be tough. The country is poorer and hotter than the global average, and crams 1.4bn people onto a land mass slightly larger than Argentina. In the first nine months of 2024 it suffered at least one “extreme weather event”, such as a flood or a cyclone, on more than 90% of days. July to October saw the highest recorded minimum temperatures since 1901. India is the most water-stressed country in Asia, says the World Resources Institute (WRI), an NGO (see map). Regardless of future global emissions of greenhouse gases, all these problems will get worse for years to come. Estimated spending on adaptation rose from 3.7% of GDP in 2015 to 5.6% in 2021, a huge sum that the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), a research body, nonetheless calls “grossly inadequate”. And the obstacles to adaptation are not merely financial. India also needs political will and the spread of know-how, old and new. For Ms Ashin, adapting has meant moving. She lives in Wayanad, a mountainous district in Kerala. A landslide, caused by heavy rain, destroyed her village and her family’s eight-acre cardamom farm in 2019. Like all her surviving neighbours, she has upped sticks and started afresh. “People who used to own their own farms are now labouring on other people’s,” she says. The World Bank predicts that climate change will force 10m-40m people in South Asia to migrate within their countries by 2050. To avoid future tragedies, researchers in Wayanad are devising early-warning systems. Landslides are more common because extra heat causes more seawater to evaporate, making the monsoon more intense. Sometimes half a metre of rain is dumped on Wayanad’s slopes in a single day. At some point, the soil “can’t hold that much” and collapses downhill, says C.K. Vishnudas of the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, another NGO. If a village is below, it can be smothered by a wall of mud and debris moving faster than the Indian speed limit. Another landslide in Wayanad in July 2024 killed hundreds. The Hume Centre has been gathering microdata about rainfall. It has laid a grid over the map of Wayanad’s landslide-prone areas and trained farmers in every square to operate rain gauges and upload measurements to a WhatsApp group. This lets boffins at Hume estimate how water-sodden and unstable each patch of mountainside has become, so that villagers can be told when to evacuate, and where to. Information is a tool to fight heat, too. No one knows how many people perished in the heatwaves of 2024, but 33 poll workers died in one day in one state during the country’s long election. The worst heatwaves in India will be three times as common if global warming is kept to 1.5°C, and five times if it hits 2°C, by one estimate. The problem is most acute in cities, where the poor squeeze tightly under tin roofs. Many run micro-businesses from home, frying snacks for sale or operating machines that generate yet more heat. Slums are much hotter than richer areas, which have more shade and open space. Temperatures in October in Dharavi, a Mumbai slum that squashes 1m people into 2.4 square kilometres, are five degrees higher than in Matunga, a posher suburb next door (see map). The effect of humid heat on outdoor workers costs India the equivalent of 7% of GDP each year, estimates Luke Parsons of Duke University. More than 100 Indian cities, districts and states have drawn up “heat action plans”, which involve planting trees, opening water kiosks in public spaces, issuing warnings and so on. Chandni Singh of IIHS and her co-authors assessed ten such plans and found them promising but inadequate. More radical change is needed, she argues, starting with heat-resilient building codes. Others call for a shift from concrete and glass to more naturally ventilated buildings with courtyards and fans. Of all the climate-aggravated threats to Indian livelihoods, water scarcity seems the most urgent. With 18% of the world’s population, India has only 4% of the world’s fresh water, and 17 of its 28 states suffer “high” or “extremely high” water stress, according to WRI. This is likely to grow worse around population centres such as Bangalore, India’s tech capital. Almost all Indian cities rely on costly engineering to bring in fresh water from distant sources that “will completely run out” if conservation does not improve, according to a new report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a think-tank in Delhi. In March 2024 Bangalore came close to running out of water: half its 14,000 boreholes ran dry. It avoided disaster by penalising wastage, promoting recycling and paying for extra water to be trucked into poor neighbourhoods. But the problem is far from solved. Bangalore sits on a dry plateau 600m above and 100km away from the Cauvery river, its main water source. The liquid is pumped expensively uphill through leaky pipes to supply a population of 14m (up from 5.6m in 2000). In the rainy season ill-designed drains overflow, streets flood and water is wasted. During the dry season, the city’s thirst for river water leaves the surrounding countryside parched. By one estimate, only a third of the water Bangalore residents use is recycled. Efforts are being made to increase this. Under one scheme, urban wastewater is cleaned up—not to a level fit to drink, but enough to irrigate crops—and used to replenish depleted rural groundwater. Naveen Kumar, a pomegranate farmer, says he previously had to drill down 200m to find water, but now has to drill only a third as deep. He is relieved. But he still worries that the water could run out one day, so he has switched to drip irrigation. If all farmers were as prudent, less water would be wasted, but incentives are skewed. Farmers pay nothing for water beyond the cost of pumping it, and even that is subsidised. So the landowners closest to canals often grow water-guzzling crops like rice and leave little for the (often lower-caste) farmers farther away. Donors, from the World Bank to big Indian firms (which are required to give away 2% of their profits), are eager to fund water projects. Such schemes hook up more downstream farmers to irrigation ditches and persuade upstream farmers that they could make more money growing less thirsty crops, such as exotic vegetables. This requires testy negotiation, says Veena Srinivasan of Well Labs, another NGO. Farmers, in exchange for being connected to a water source, must sign contracts agreeing to plant less rice on their land. It also requires technology: Well Labs uses satellite mapping and AI to measure what works. Urban households underpay for water, too, but companies in Bangalore are charged much more, and large buildings have to treat their own wastewater. This creates a demand for water-management services, which the city’s busy cluster of tech firms is eager to satisfy. India is so big and decentralised that it will be hard to keep track of how well it adapts to climate change. The rich, inevitably, will cope better, since they can afford air-conditioning and homes on higher ground. But they have to breathe the same air as everyone else, so the fact that air pollution in cities like Delhi has grown unbearable could spur greener policies.

No ‘good’ days, but Gurgaon breathes easier as Dec sees cleanest air in six years

Gurgaon: This Dec, the city's air quality was the cleanest in six years, and the second cleanest since authorities started gathering data in 2016, but it's still in the ‘poor' category. Records by the Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB) show that average 24-hour air quality index (AQI) in Dec 2024 was 235, or ‘poor'. The last time that Dec air quality was better was in 2018, when the city's average AQI was 203. Average AQI for the month was 308 in 2016, 265 in 2017, 203 in 2018, 264 in 2019, 280 in 2020, 296 in 2021, 277 in 2022 and 260 in 2023. Though air pollution was lower this Dec, the month did not record any ‘good' air day — as has been the trend since 2016. Still, there were two ‘satisfactory' days — on Dec 28 and Dec 30 – because of winter rain. Experts told TOI on Tuesday that air quality was relatively better than the previous years because of brisk winds and delayed winter – both meteorological conditions that helped disperse pollutants from the atmosphere. "In Dec 2024, the average wind speed was 10 km per hour, which has not been the case in the previous years. Also, we are witnessing a delayed winter. These are meteorological respites. To ensure that air quality improves in the region, we need to focus on year-long contributors and local pollution sources as overall AQI is still ‘poor' or ‘very poor'," said Shubhansh Tiwari, research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Experts also warned that temperatures were expected to fall, and air quality would likely worsen if other meteorological conditions aren't favourable to wash away pollutants. "Meteorological conditions were relatively favourable for the pollutants to disperse as day temperatures have been warmer than the morning and evening," Tiwari said. On Tuesday, Gurgaon's 24-hour average AQI deteriorated to 158 (‘moderate') from 80 (satisfactory') the day before. Asked about CPCB data, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials said local sources of pollution such as vehicular emissions, open waste burning and road dust were concerning.

Construction work halted amid poor air quality in Mumbai

MUMBAI: In view of the haze enveloping Mumbai in recent days, civic authorities have halted all public and private construction work in Borivali East and Byculla, where air quality has been poor in recent times. Two other localities, Navy Nagar and Worli, are also under the civic scanner, and construction work here too will be suspended if the Air Quality Index (AQI) dips. Real estate developers are unhappy with the stop-work order issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), while environmental experts say the BMC’s action is welcome but not a long-term solution to Mumbai’s poor air quality. The AQI in Borivali East and Navy Nagar inched closer to ‘very poor’ levels through the month of December, while Byculla and Worli fluctuated between ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’ levels in the last six days. Particulate matter (PM 2.5) at these AQI monitoring stations peaked to very high levels at various times throughout the month. Air quality, however, has improved since. On Monday, Mumbai recorded an average AQI of 112, while Byculla recorded 112 and Borivali East 102 (all ‘moderate’). “Construction will be stopped in areas that see an AQI above 200, according to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP- 4),” said municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. “Of the 877 construction sites in the city, a stop-work notice has been sent to 286 construction sites. “We will follow up to make sure the notices are followed. If not, legal action will be taken,” added Gagrani. He clarified that road concretisation work would not be halted, except in Borivali East and Byculla, as it needs to be completed before the monsoon next year. Gagrani said developers would have to prove they have a dust-mitigation plan in place at their construction sites in order to resume work. He was referring to the 28-point guideline released by the BMC for developers, who need to devise an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which includes covering under-construction projects in green cloth/jute and sheet-metal covers at least 25 feet high around the construction site, water sprinklers, a misting system, and a sensor-based monitoring system. He said long-term solutions in line with the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan (MAPMP) would be implemented by the BMC, which includes shutting illegal bakeries, getting legal bakeries to switch to clean fuel, and purchasing electric BEST buses. Realtors, however, are not happy with the BMC’s directive. One developer pointed out that the dust generated by the many mega public projects underway across Mumbai contributes significantly to air pollution. “It is convenient for the BMC to blame the real estate industry and claim that we contribute 40% of the overall pollution in Mumbai, but what about public projects? How do they get environmental approvals so easily?” The developer also said the BMC should apprise the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority about the suspension in construction activity, so that builders would not be hauled up for extensions in project deadlines do to this action. Avinash Dhakne, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, member secretary, said, the AQI fluctuation is a result of local weather conditions and westerly disturbances. “Eventually the wind will blow away the air pollutants into the sea and AQI will fall to moderate levels. Along with various factors contributing to the AQI, natural weather conditions contributed to the haze and pollution.” Keval Valambhia, Chief Operating Officer, CREDAI-MCHI, said, “We are committed to following the directives issued. The real estate industry has always supported the cause to have a better environment. In fact, CREDAI-MCHI had issued an advisory on the same on October 11.” Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Centre for Science and Environment, said, “The implementation of short-term measures is only to prevent pollution from worsening to the extent that the wind will not be able to push it out. The overall AQI will only improve when year-round strong actions are taken towards sustainability.”

UP gets its first bio-CNG plant at Prayagraj; CNG bottles to be available at petrol pumps

Uttar Pradesh’s first bio-CNG plant will be inaugurated at Naini in Prayagraj on Tuesday by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. To become operational before the Mahakumbh, the plant will have the capacity to turn 200 tonnes of wet garbage to 21,500 kilograms of bio-CNG and 209 tonnes of organic manure. In the first phase, the plant will use 343 tonnes of waste. The remainder of the 143 tonnes will come from paddy straw and cow dung. The plant is part of the Prayagraj Renewable Natural Gas project and is estimated to earn a revenue of Rs 53 lakh annually. This is part of the government’s waste-to-wealth initiative. To be operated on a PPP model, the project has come up on 12.49 acres of land in the Arail area. The private partner is Enviro Resource Management Private Limited with which a contract for 25 years has been signed. The plant has been built at a cost of Rs 125 crore. A plant to make bottles with 5,10 and 15 kilograms capacity in which CNG can be sold is also to be set up. These bottles will be available at petrol pumps around the city. In addition, it will be given to industrial customers. The project will create employment for 200 people. Prayagraj generates about 600 tonnes of garbage every day. The state has an aim of setting up 100 biogas plants as part of its bioenergy policy of 2022. Among the encouragements that the policy offers are 100% exemption on stamp duty for the purchase of land and 100% reimbursement of state GST for 10 years. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment has said that UP has the highest potential for biomethane generation due to abundant organic feedstock availability. The state can produce almost one-fourth of the total biogas in the country. It has the capability to install 1,000 compressed biogas projects by harnessing just 20% of its surplus organic feedstock.

ETD || Need To Make Energy Transition & Access Affordable For Energy-Starved Countries

The Energy Transition Dialogues 2023 || Connecting the Final Frontier: Global Cooperation on Energy Access || Energy access for all is an important Sustainable Development Goal and is key to achieving the other SDGs. However, the pandemic and associated fiscal pressures on governments of the developing world have slowed progress on energy access. Geopolitics have also exacerbated problems in an already frail energy economy, causing market volatility, energy price inflation, and disruption to supply chains. These shocks on fuel, fertiliser, and food disproportionately impact countries of the Global South. How can countries in the developing world collaborate to expand access to affordable energy? What best practices in policy and regulatory design principles exist, and can they be adopted across geographies and tailored to meet the requirements of local communities? What types of training and technical support are necessary to effectively scale up and deploy renewable energy solutions in these regions, and are there success stories we can learn from? What strategies and mechanisms can be and are being deployed to encourage private-sector participation and investment in sub-regional and local energy infrastructure that reaches the last mile? In Conversation: Ahmed Mohamed Abdelhamid Mohina, Chief of the Strategic Planning Sector, Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Egypt Venu Nuguri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi Energy India & South Asia Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, India Per Heggenes, Chief Executive Officer, IKEA Foundation, Sweden Isabelle Tschan, Deputy Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme Moderator: Ashvin Dayal, Senior Vice President - Power & Climate, The Rockefeller Foundation, United States of America Closing Remarks: Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC, India

Cyclone Remal to Wayanad landslides: Natural disasters that wreaked havoc in India in 2024

India witnessed the wrath of several natural disasters in 2024, which led to the loss of lives and properties. From deadly Cyclones to landslides due to heavy rainfall, extreme weather events were reported from across the country. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that India faced extreme weather events reflecting climate change impact on 93% of the days—255 out of 274—in the first nine months of this year. This included days marked by heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods, and landslides that claimed 3,238 lives. Madhya Pradesh faced extreme weather on 176 of 274 days, the highest in the country. Kerala recorded the highest fatalities (550), followed by Madhya Pradesh (353) and Assam (256). Here we take a look at some of the major natural disasters India faced in 2024: Cyclone Remal In May, heavy rain and thunderstorms triggered by Cyclone Remal left over 35 people dead in the northeastern states of Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

Delhi in 2024 clocked highest PM2.5 since 2019: CPCB data

The annual average concentration of PM2.5 (particulate matter having a diameter of 2.5 microns or less), a key pollutant responsible for the Capital’s annual pollution cycle, clocked a five-year high till December 25, according to data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Until December 25 this year, Delhi recorded a PM2.5 concentration of 104.08 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3)—over two-and-a-half times the safe limit of 40µg/m3—which was the worst since Delhi clocked an average of 105.57µg/m3 in 2019. Further, the data suggested that Delhi is on course to record its most polluted year in terms of annual PM2.5 concentration since 2021, when the annual average PM2.5 concentration (till December 31) was 104.95µg/m3. Delhi’s annual PM 2.5 average last year was 100.21µg/m3 and it was 98µg/m3 in 2022. Experts said the lack of active western disturbances, coupled with a possible increase in local pollution, could be the cause for increased pollution levels this year. “The first half of the year was fairly dry, with a number of heatwave days recorded not just in Delhi-NCR. If there is no rain, PM2.5 and PM10 levels remain high due to local sources. We saw an improvement during monsoon period as there was ample rain, but again, post September, we barely saw any rain activity, barring in the last few days,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet Admitting that although western disturbances were recorded in the region, he said they were mainly feeble, thus keeping wind speeds in check too. “If the western disturbance is strong, it can bring rain, which helps settle pollutants. If it is feeble, it will simply bring some cloudiness and slow down wind speed, which worsens pollution,” he said. Delhi has had its driest start to the year this year since 2018, with only 44.7mm of rainfall recorded till May 31. Between June and September, the four monsoon months, it logged 1,029.9 mm of rainfall, which was significantly higher than the long-period average of 640.4mm. There was zero rainfall in October and November, with further spells only recorded in the last week of December. Experts said like 2023, this year too is likely to be worse than its previous year, snapping a trend seen till 2022, where there was a gradual improvement in PM2.5 concentration. In 2018, Delhi’s annual PM 2.5 concentration was 113.99µg/m3. It was 108.25µg/m3 in 2019; 94.93µg/m3 in 2020 (Covid-19 lockdown year); 104.95µg/m3 in 2021 and 98µg/m3 in 2022. This streak of a gradual dip was snapped last year, when the PM2.5 concentration rose marginally, touching 101.21µg/m3. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said 2024 shows that last year’s spike in pollution was not an aberration. “The fact that the curve turned upwards last year and may possibly be even higher in 2024, shows that pollution levels have increased in the region, despite action. We have seen the overall winter averages increasing too. While this could be down to meteorological conditions, it also shows local and regional pollution is fairly high and is, thus, not allowing the average to dip. Thus, we need focused action and better planning,” she said. While PM2.5 is an indication of combustion sources, PM10—slightly coarser particles that are an indication of dust pollution—were also higher than in previous years. CPCB data showed till December 25, the rolling PM10 average was 212.29µg/m3—over two-and-a-half times the safe limit of 60µg/m3. The annual PM10 average last year (till December 31) was 205.36µg/m3; it was 210.53µg/m3 in 2022; 210.70µg/m3 in 2021; 180.63µg/m3 in 2020 and 217.28µg/m3 in 2019.

City choked on bad air for 264 days this yr

For over two-thirds of this year, levels of PM2.5 logged in the city did not meet the country's safe standards. And for a second year in a row, there wasn't a single day that the concentration of this ultra-fine pollutant met international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), PM2.5 was above 60 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) on 264 days – 72.5% -- out of 364 till Dec 29 this year. Of the 100 days when the city met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by keeping PM2.5 below 60 µg/m3, 82 were recorded during the monsoon season between June and Sept. The remaining nine were between March and May, and nine during the winter. Rainy and windy days help wash away pollutants from the atmosphere. Mainly released from vehicles, industrial processes, power plants and waste burning, particulate matter 2.5 are tiny particles that can be inhaled and get absorbed into the bloodstream. Long exposure can cause serious health issues such as respiratory diseases and cardiovascular problems. Experts told TOI that PM2.5 data was alarming. "Such a high number of days in non-compliance with WHO and NAAQS standards shows a huge health burden on citizens living in the city and necessitates strict actions to curb pollution at the source, reduce absolute emission load from all polluting sectors within the city as well as in the larger air-shed," said Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Enviro Catalysts, a think-tank. Dahiya pointed out that data from Gurgaon may not be representative of the entire city. "Gurgaon just has four monitoring stations and data quality is a bit of a concern as we have seen negative and low values of PM2.5. Station downtime is also a major concern and with just a few monitoring stations, the city's average gets influenced when even one station malfunctions," he said. Comparison of PM2.5 levels with previous years shows little to no improvement. Last year, the city did not meet PM2.5 standards on 71% of the days. There were just 105 days when it did. Similarly, the days Gurgaon met NAAQS standard was 103 in 2022. This figure was relatively better in the pandemic years (2021 and 2020), when there were lockdown restrictions. 2019 saw 110 cleaner air days. Data shows the years before that were worse off, with 2018 recording just 54 cleaner air days, and even fewer in 2017 (35) and 2016 (37). WHO's daily limit for PM2.5 – at 30 µg/m3 -- was not met even on a single day. It was the same last year. In 2022, the pollutant was below this limit for two days, preceded by nil in 2021 and 2020. 2019 saw two cleaner air days, one in 2018, and nil in 2017 and 2016. Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said this data on PM2.5 levels over the past years highlights a concerning trend in air quality. "Despite some fluctuations, the inability to consistently meet WHO's daily guidelines for PM2.5 levels underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained efforts to combat air pollution. The fact that we have not met these guidelines at all in 2023 and 2024 is particularly alarming. It is imperative that we implement stricter regulations, enhance monitoring, and promote public awareness to protect public health and ensure cleaner air for future generations," he said. Officials of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) said it was crucial to implement stringent measures for controlling emissions from industrial and vehicular sources. "HSPCB has mandated the installation of pollution control devices in industries to reduce emissions. Regular inspections and monitoring ensure compliance with emission standards. We have also directed civic bodies to ensure that waste burning incidents should be curbed," said Vijay Chaudhary, regional officer, HSPCB.

Fragile fragrances: The climate impact on India’s perfume makers

The Climate India 2024 report released by the Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE) says India experienced extreme weather events on 93% of the days for the first nine months. These weather events resulted in 3,238 casualties and affected 3.2 million hectares of cropland. “The effect of climate change is very slow and unnoticeable,” said Praful Gundhi, co-owner of Gulab Singh Johrimal, the oldest perfumery located in the capital city. “The weather patterns have shifted by about a month,” said Pranav Kapoor, founder of PKAPO and an 8th-generation perfumer from Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh — carrying out the centuries-old family perfume business passed down to him. “For instance,” he continued, “roses were traditionally planted by late August or early September. Whereas, now we have shifted to planting the crop by September or early October to ensure a better yield by November.” India’s perfume capital, Kannauj has been known for the production of essential oils and attars since the pre-Mughal era. Perfumers in the state use the traditional method of deg (a copper still containing water and flowers or herbs to be distilled) and bhapka (a copper vessel condensing fragrant steam from deg) to extract essential oils and attars. “We are not going to part with this unique ancient craft which is not only surviving but thriving,” Kapoor said, hinting at the place’s fragrance-rich heritage. “This perfume business is the bread and butter for us. The farmers are generational — the flowertakers, the transporters, and us, the distillers — and the whole system has been working for generations. The town runs on it.” India contributes over $500 million to the $24 billion global fragrance and flavour industry. Due to various reforms in the economic and seed sectors, the Indian floriculture industry which was primarily a domestic agricultural activity until the late 1980s, gained commercial significance during the 1990s. According to a survey published by the Indian Society of Ornamental Horticulture, climate change significantly affects flower production, especially in open fields. Extreme heat, cold and irregular rainfall patterns can “impact native species in their natural habitats”. “There are some target temperatures and humidity parameters for a particular crop,” said Dr Nazir Ahmad Masoodi, associate professor and senior scientist at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir, J&K.

Gurgaon, 3 other districts to get 10 stations that will monitor air quality & study source of pollution

Gurgaon: The city will be among four districts in the state where 10 air quality monitoring stations will be set up by the end of 2025. Other than calculating air quality index (AQI), these stations will be stocked with equipment to study source apportionment — contribution of pollutants from different sources. Officials said on Friday that these stations will be set up in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh — identified by the state pollution control board as the most polluted districts of Haryana. The procurement process to get equipment for these stations has begun. "We expect to get this done by the second half of 2025. This is part of the clear air programme of the World Bank," said Nirmal Kashyap, head of air-cell, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Haryana will get financial assistance of Rs 2,498 crore in the first phase of this project. Officials told TOI that the amount of aid could go up to Rs 10,000 in subsequent phases. "We have identified Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh where these air stations will be set up. These stations will use modelling, which will be useful for calculating localised air quality issues and has been used in regulatory applications to develop strategies for reducing emissions," Kashyap said. Every winter, air quality in Delhi-NCR plummets to hazardous levels as the region is cloaked by toxic haze created from a combination of pollutants mixing with fog. Farm fires, commonly seen in north India's agricultural belt to clear tracts of land for another round of sowing after paddy harvest, contribute to winter pollution, though local sources play a significant role too. In NCR, Delhi is the only city where source apportionment analysis is carried out regularly to pinpoint the key causes of pollution at a specific time. "Gurgaon's air quality is a concern not just during the winter months but throughout the year. Local sources such as vehicular emissions, construction dust and industrial activities contribute significantly to the city's persistent air pollution. Continuous monitoring and source apportionment are crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate pollution," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Bihar Floods And Its Resilient Communities Visit Delhi

It is unusual to say the least that the annual saga of Bihar floods finds itself in the conversations happening in the national capital. But the media and Delhiites were forced to stop and take cognisance of recurring floods in the country’s poorest state where about 34 per cent of the population experiences one kind of deprivation or the other be it in health, education, or living standards (officially known as multidimensional poverty). The interest in Bihar was piqued when Eklavya Prasad held his photo exhibition, titled Portraits of Persistence, and Enduring Communities of North Bihar, at The Art Gallery in Delhi’s India International Centre (Annexe) on Lodhi Road from December 5 to December 12. The exhibition, inaugurated by environmentalist Sunita Narain, is a part of a series called Visual Kathã initiated by Prasad, and saw hundreds of visitors. The photographs captured glimpses of the lives of the people in Bihar who have lived with the rivers and their floods for centuries. “Through their lived experiences, people in North Bihar have developed their own detailed systems of pre-flood, during-the-floods, and post-floods lives and livelihoods,” says Prasad, founder of the non-profit Megh Pyne Abhiyan that works with communities most impacted by floods. “These communities are some of the poorest in the country, but they are also one of the most resilient people from whom we need to learn, especially in the context of challenges posed due to climate change. This is one of the reasons to hold this exhibition in the heart of the country,” he adds.

Forest Rights Act to tiger conservation, charges of ‘policy paralysis’, the mixed bag of environmental governance under PM Manmohan Singh

Economist-turned-prime minister Manmohan Singh’s 10-year-long tenure heading a rapidly developing India was marked by a series of achievements and controversies in the realm of environmental governance. Landmark environmental legislation, such as the Forest Rights Act, 2006, was enacted in Singh’s first term, driven by the National Advisory Council, which was headed by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The Act empowered tribal and forest-dwelling communities by recognising their historical rights over forest land and forest resources. However, during the second term of the United Progressive Alliance, Singh’s frequent and often public disagreements over decisions taken by environment minister Jairam Ramesh featured as a recurring theme during Ramesh’s tenure between 2009 and 2011. These disagreements were often over Ramesh’s scrutiny of big-ticket industrial projects, their potential environmental impact, and rejection of environmental permissions to industrial projects involving foreign direct investment. The most controversial among them was Ramesh’s decision to not grant green permissions to Vedanta’s bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri hills, in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. The particularly vulnerable tribal group Dongria Kondh had stood their ground against the project to protect their cultural and religious rights over the revered Niyamgiri hills. Incidentally, the case would go on to become a precedent for the protection of tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act, which was enacted in UPA’s first term. In 2013, the Supreme Court directed that consent should be obtained from gram sabhas affected by the project and, consequently, the project was rejected by the people. Ramesh would also draw the PMO’s ire over his ministry’s categorisation of coal-bearing areas as ‘go and no-go zones’ depending on the contiguity of dense forests in and around the potential mining areas. This decision prompted Singh’s office to form a ministerial committee to examine the issue. Jayanthi Natarajan succeeded Ramesh in the environment ministry. Natarajan and Singh’s government faced allegations that the former was indulging in corruption for granting environmental permissions. The former minister was also accused of stalling clearance of files and resigned in December 2013. One month later, as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi mounted an attack on Singh’s government and Natarajan in an election rally and used the term ‘Jayanthi tax’ to accuse the UPA’s environment ministry of corruption. Anti-climatically, a case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Natarajan alleging irregularities in clearances given to a Jharkhand mine project was closed last year. Speaking on the historic Forest Rights Act, former Union minister and chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan said that the National Advisory Council headed by Sonia Gandhi did fantastic work on social welfare issues, including the FRA, 2006. “The Left parties were very keen on the forest rights legislation and I interacted regularly with Brinda Karat on the issue as part of the PMO. We interacted with tribal rights groups prior to the legislation’s birth and on environmental issues our attempt was to always achieve the best possible balance,” he said. While the enactment of the Forest Rights Act was one of the biggest feats in environmental governance during Singh’s tenure, other bright spots in this sphere included the mapping of the fragile Western Ghats to frame long-term plans for its protection. Singh’s tenure also saw the launch of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the National Solar Mission, and key interventions in tiger conservation. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, said that in their personal conversations, Singh would bring up the issue of historical injustices done to the tribal communities. As an economist, she added, the biggest issue for him was how granting land tenure could improve livelihoods. “This showed his ability to understand both, environment and development,” she said.

Climate Change and the New Green Economy: The big questions for 2025

The summer of 2024 was the hottest on record. The global-average temperature between September 2023 and August 2024 was the highest on record for a 12-month period compared to pre-industrial averages. Data from the Centre for Science and Environment and Down to Earth showed that India recorded extreme weather events on 93% of days in the first nine months of the year. Events which occurred a few times every century are now happening every five years or less. The frequency adds to the severity of impact by not allowing sufficient time to recover from the cycle of losses and damages. The economic impacts of the climate crisis on the developing world cannot be underestimated. Climate ambition needs to be ramped up dramatically and for this, fossil fuel demand and supply, responsible for about 90% of global CO2 emissions, have to decline substantially. But divorcing our economies from easily transportable, tradeable and hoardable fuels like coal, oil and gas is proving very difficult to do in practice.