In Our Opinion: Why democracy is key to containing climate change
In India, the Centre for Science and Environment's research shows that the country faced extreme weather ...
In India, the Centre for Science and Environment's research shows that the country faced extreme weather ...
Gurgaon: The state pollution control board has initiated raids as part of a three-month plan to make the city free of single-use plastic. In the last 15 days, the pollution board raided several polythene bag manufacturing units in the city, confiscating around 10,000 kg of bags and imposing over Rs 8 lakh in environmental compensation. According to data sourced from Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Gurgaon and Faridabad generate 2,200 TPA of municipal waste, of which 5% is single-use plastic. Nirmal Kashyap, head of the air cell and regional officer at the board, said the idea was to disrupt the supply chain of single-use plastic and polythene bags. "We will carry out a three-month-long campaign to ensure the city becomes plastic-free. The board is committed to implement the state govt's prohibition on manufacturing, stocking, and utilisation of these materials, striving to liberate the city and the state from this environmental hazard," he added. Officials said violators could be penalised under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, with the possibility of being jailed for up to 5 years or fined up to Rs 1 lakh. "Polythene and single-use plastic present substantial threats to the environment and wildlife. They persist without biodegradation for hundreds of years, accumulating and precipitating various environmental complications. They likewise impede the decomposition of municipal solid waste, exacerbating disposal challenges. Animals frequently consume plastic, mistaking them for sustenance, potentially resulting in grave health complications or mortality. Furthermore, the incineration of plastic releases carcinogenic gases, potentially inducing cancer and other respiratory ailments," Kashyap said. According to the pollution board's annual report, 14% of all plastic waste in the state accumulates in landfills, while 78% undergoes recycling. Experts backed the move, but raised questions on implementation. "The methodology we initially adopted was robust and progressive, similar to those followed by other countries. However, heavy industry influence on key ministries derailed our efforts. Despite starting with a strong approach, we failed to finalise the items that should have been banned," said Siddharth Singh, programme manager at the Centre for Science and Environment. "Implementation would be more straightforward with blanket bans on certain products, but inconsistencies across state policies on what is banned and what is not create confusion. Additionally, political connections of plastic manufacturers complicate enforcement," he added. Asked what affected implementation, Shyamala K Mani — senior adviser at the Centre for Environmental Health, Public Health Foundation of India, and a former professor at the National Institute of Urban Affairs, said, "Lack of political and bureaucratic will, complete failure to understand the situation and lack of concern for the environment and human health have affected implementation. I don't see any limitations for not implementing it properly and with full force. There are sufficient alternatives that are competitively priced and certified. What has to be done is already cited in the plastic waste management rules 2016, amended in 2018, 2022 and 2024. We must implement them and make it mandatory for the manufacturers to fulfil their commitment to EPR Rules and all PCBs and CPCBs to enforce it."
The primary sources of NO2, which causes wheezing, shortness of breath and can lead to respiratory infections, include vehicles, biomass burning, and industrial emissions, according to scientists. While Delhi on Friday recorded the fourth consecutive “severe” day under the air quality index (AQI) – a scale that uses a weighted formula biased towards particulate matter (PM) – experts warned that levels of another dangerous toxin in the air, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), have been consistently soaring, even during periods of relatively “low pollution”. The primary sources of NO2, which causes wheezing, shortness of breath and can lead to respiratory infections, include vehicles, biomass burning, and industrial emissions, according to scientists. Traffic congestion is particularly significant, as it results in idling vehicles that release high levels of NO2. Data analysed by HT shows that NO2 concentrations have frequently breached safety limits in several regions across the city, especially high-density traffic zones like ITO and Anand Vihar. Data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the hourly NO2 concentration touched a peak of 494 µg/m3 at ITO, which is among Delhi’s busiest traffic intersections. This was followed by an hourly peak of 489µg/m3 at east Delhi’s Anand Vihar, another traffic hub comprising of an ISBT, a metro station and a railway station. Not too far behind was west Delhi’s Pusa, which touched a peak of 447µg/m3. These figures are nearly six times the national safety standard of 80µg/m3, with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) limit being far stricter at 25µg/m3. In other words, if you’re at ITO or Anand Vihar during poor traffic, you are inhaling as much as six times the safe limit of NO2. December’s average NO2 level at ITO was 165µg/m3, while Anand Vihar recorded 161µg/m3 — both double CPCB’s safety threshold. Even areas with moderate traffic, such as North Campus DU and Punjabi Bagh, showed peaks exceeding 200µg/m3, underscoring the widespread nature of the problem. Data indicates that the location of monitoring stations and traffic patterns play a significant role in NO2 distribution. At least 17 more stations out of Delhi’s 40 ambient air quality stations crossed a peak of 200µg/m3, including North Campus DU (350µg/m3), Punjabi Bagh (298µg/m3), Dwarka’s Sector 8 (261µg/m3), Wazirpur (257µg/m3) and CRRI Mathura road (253µg/m3). Experts said ITO was exhibiting high NO2 levels even before Delhi saw its first smog spell from November 13 onwards, indicating NO2 peaks don’t necessarily correlate with PM2.5 and PM10 levels. “We have seen ITO consistently record high NO2 levels, a fairly busy intersection. The station is also located next to the road and is likely to capture a significant chunk of the emission released by vehicles, which is what people on the roadside are also likely inhaling,” said Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at the think-tank Envirocatalysts, stating in addition to PM2.5 and PM10, agencies need to monitor NO2 levels and take action, particularly at hotspots. Experts point to traffic congestion as a primary driver of NO2 pollution. “The most common reason is traffic congestion, which is a source that can easily be fixed. Long-term action will however only occur when we reduce the vehicles on the road and make a transition not just to cleaner fuels, but also to cleaner public transport,” he adds, stating with Stage-3 and Stage-4 restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) rolling out, should help bring down NO2. Immediate solutions like reducing congestion and expanding public transportation could mitigate the crisis while transitioning to cleaner fuels remain a long-term goal. Delhi’s road network, burdened by 7.9 million registered vehicles and an influx from neighbouring cities, underscores the scale of the challenge. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that vehicles contribute up to 81% of Delhi’s total NO2 pollution, making them primary sources that need tackling. “While we see congestion through the year, particularly at intersections like ITO, calm wind conditions in the winter period mean the gas can stay trapped and build up over time,” she said. While transitioning to cleaner fuels and expanding public transportation are necessary long-term strategies, immediate interventions like reducing road congestion could yield quicker results. Without urgent action, Delhi’s residents will continue to bear the brunt of this harmful pollutant, compounding the city’s already dire air quality crisis.
Delhi recorded the fourth consecutive day of ‘severe' pollution with the Air Quality Index at 429 on Friday. This Dec is the worst since Dec 2021 when a streak of six consecutive ‘severe' days was logged from Dec 21 to 26. According to Central Pollution Control Board data, Dec 2023 had three consecutive ‘severe' days. There was no such streak in Dec 2022 when AQI surpassed 400 two times in the entire month. This year, the city recorded the first ‘severe' day on Dec 17, with the AQI at 433. It inched closer to 'severe plus' on Dec 18 with an AQI of 445 and turned 'severe plus' on Dec 19 at 451. No major improvement in air quality is expected over the weekend. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting body under the Union earth sciences ministry, the air quality is likely to improve to ‘very poor' on Saturday but deteriorate to ‘severe' on Sunday. "Under the influence of a feeble western disturbance, calm winds have been prevailing in the city, causing trapping of pollutants. The increase in moisture also impacted the air quality. No change is likely in air quality over the next two days as similar conditions may prevail. However, wind speed may increase from Dec 23," said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, Skymet Meteorology, adding that a strong western disturbance was expected to impact north-west India on Dec 27-28, likely causing rainfall and improving the air quality. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "We are going through a severe smog episode even after the crop burning season is over. This indicates high emissions from the local and regional sources — vehicles, industry, waste and solid fuel burning and construction. This has health implications. While taking whatever immediate action is possible to reduce high exposures now, speed up efforts for more deep-rooted systemic action to control the problem." Delhi recorded moderate fog on Friday, with the visibility dipping to 300 metres at 7.30am at Safdarjung, which is the city's base weather station. Palam witnessed shallow fog with visibility of 700 metres. The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog on Saturday and Sunday. The minimum temperature dipped at most locations in the city on Friday. It was 7.5 degrees Celsius, which is one degree below normal, at Safdarjung. This was 2.5 degrees lower than Thursday's minimum temperature. The maximum temperature was at 23.3 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, slightly higher than the 23 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
India’s experience with extreme weather in 2024 has been marked by a dramatic increase in both frequency and intensity of climate events, reflecting the growing threat of climate change. Extreme weather events, including heatwaves, cold waves, cyclones, floods, lightning strikes and landslides, have dominated the year, with the country witnessing these events on 93% of the days from January 1 to September 30. This period saw extreme weather events recorded on 255 of the 274 days, which is a sharp rise compared to previous years. According to Centre for Science and Environment report, the toll of this 2024’s extreme weather events has been staggering. As of September 30, 2024, India lost 3,238 lives, with 550 of those fatalities recorded in Kerala, the hardest-hit state. Following Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Assam also saw significant loss of life, with 353 and 256 deaths, respectively. In addition to human casualties, over 9,457 livestock were killed, and 235,862 homes were destroyed across the country. The total damage is likely to be an underestimate, as incomplete data collection means losses, particularly in public property and agriculture, have not been fully accounted for. Agricultural damage The agricultural sector has borne the brunt of the weather’s wrath. Extreme weather affected over 3.2 million hectares of crops, a sharp increase from the 1.84 million hectares impacted in 2022. The majority of the damage occurred in Maharashtra, where over 60% of the affected crop area was reported.
Enabling Climate Resilience in the Indian Energy Sector: Mitigating Disaster Impacts on Renewable Energy Projects India's energy sector is set to expand its renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. This is a crucial step in tackling climate change and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. However, the rapid expansion of renewable energy comes with challenges, particularly in the face of increasingly severe climate impacts. Extreme weather events, ecological disruption, and infrastructural vulnerabilities highlight the need for building resilience into India’s renewable energy projects. States such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, with vast expanses of wasteland, are key regions for renewable energy projects. These lands are often preferred for solar and wind farms because they are easier to acquire and do not fall under strict land acquisition regulations. While these sites provide an advantage in terms of feasibility, they are also highly susceptible to climate-induced risks. Data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that in the first nine months of 2024, India faced extreme weather for 255 days, resulting in 3,238 deaths and extensive damage to crops, infrastructure, and livestock. This frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have significant implications for renewable energy infrastructure. Renewable energy projects have already faced disruptions due to climate events. For instance, cyclones along India’s coasts have forced wind turbines to shut down to prevent damage, leading to a 20% drop in electricity production during these periods. Solar power projects have not been immune either. In Maharashtra, lightning strikes damaged nearly 50 MW of a 125-MW solar farm in Sakri in 2020, while in Madhya Pradesh, storms this year damaged the world’s largest floating solar plant in Khandwa, delaying its operations. Cyclones like Tauktae (2021) and Biparjoy (2023) have caused severe damage to rooftop solar power (RTPV) systems, particularly in coastal regions like Gujarat and Odisha. The strong winds from these cyclones have blown off solar panels, broken frames, and weakened mounting structures. In some cases, entire solar arrays have been destroyed, leading to significant financial losses for system owners. These incidents highlight the vulnerability of renewable energy systems to the growing unpredictability of extreme weather. The resilience of solar panels during such extreme events is a growing concern. While solar panels continue to generate power during cloudy and rainy conditions, the damage to grid infrastructure during cyclones can disrupt the overall power generation. Furthermore, the lack of adequate backup systems such as batteries or generators exacerbates the problem, leading to prolonged power outages in the aftermath of extreme weather events. The push for renewable energy also raises concerns about its environmental footprint. In Rajasthan, the drive to create space for solar and hydro projects has led to plans for large-scale deforestation in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Vindhyachal and Aravalli ranges. The proposed projects would require the felling of over seven lakh trees, including protected species like Mahua and Kadaya. While renewable energy is essential for reducing carbon emissions, the ecological cost of such projects cannot be overlooked. Protecting biodiversity and forest cover is as critical to combating climate change as transitioning to clean energy. The government’s National Electricity Plan outlines measures such as expanding transmission networks, integrating energy storage, and supporting green hydrogen hubs. While these steps are important, resilience needs to be embedded into every aspect of renewable energy planning and execution. Site selection should factor in long-term climate risks, using data-driven assessments to identify areas less prone to extreme weather. Incorporating advanced forecasting systems can help operators anticipate and mitigate potential disruptions. Similarly, designing infrastructure to withstand harsh climatic conditions, such as stronger winds or excessive rainfall, will minimize damage and ensure continuity in energy generation. Policy frameworks should also balance the dual goals of renewable energy expansion and environmental conservation. While wastelands provide an attractive option for solar and wind projects, decisions regarding land use must account for local ecological and social contexts. For example, the deforestation plans in Rajasthan call for a re-evaluation of the trade-offs between clean energy and environmental sustainability. Renewable energy should not come at the cost of irreversible damage to ecosystems. The economic and social costs of ignoring climate resilience are significant. Extreme weather events disrupt energy supply chains and increase maintenance costs, straining already limited resources. Additionally, the broader impacts—such as damage to agriculture, infrastructure, and public health—create further economic pressures. For instance, in 2024, extreme weather events destroyed over 235,000 homes, affected 3.2 million hectares of crops, and resulted in nearly 9,500 livestock deaths. Such losses ripple through the economy, highlighting the interconnectedness of energy systems with other sectors. Despite these challenges, examples of adaptive resilience provide a way forward. The swift resumption of operations at the Khandwa floating solar plant following storm damage demonstrates the potential for responsive measures. These examples emphasize the importance of proactive planning and robust infrastructure in mitigating risks. India’s renewable energy ambitions are both necessary and achievable. However, integrating climate resilience into project planning and implementation is non-negotiable. This means prioritizing infrastructure that can endure extreme weather, ensuring that projects are environmentally sustainable, and maintaining a balance between development and ecological conservation. The scale of the challenge demands coordinated efforts from government, industry, and local communities. Transparent policies, innovative technologies, and stakeholder collaboration will be key to navigating these complexities.
Against the backdrop of the recently concluded COP29 climate talks held in Baku, Azerbaijan leaving global South with little hope on climate finance and growing concerns on sustainability, it is crucial to let experts lead the way on endeavours to nurture genuine efforts. There is little choice than to focus on immediate priorities and some quick wins. The FE Green Sarathi Summit & Awards, 2024 that unfolds in the national capital on Friday, December 20th, is therefore a unique attempt to get some of the finest minds to brainstorm, swap ideas and share insights on ways to advance sustainability solutions. It also happens nearly a year after FE online devoting coverage on sustainability under a specially-created section called “The Green Sarathi”. short article insertThe inaugural edition of The FE Green Sarathi Summit & Awards, 2024, will have Dr Jitendra Singh, minister of state (independent charge), the Earth Sciences & the science & technology ministries delivering the inaugural address. A doctor himself, and a diabetologist at that, lends even more weight as studies are beginning to show on the interlinkages between biodiversity and diabetes, a major area of concern for India. The summit is also timely given that several initiatives have been set in motion by the government, including those like ‘Mission Life’ or the lifestyle for environment launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi apart from the other endeavours such as the green credits programme; the National Mission on climate change, including the mission on strategic knowledge for climate change. The first panel at the summit is focussed on making sustainability endeavours truly sustainable given that each element- from finance to talent training to policy enablers – throws up opportunities but with challenges galore. Here, we have a rich and diverse mix of experts – Indra Guha, Partner, Sustainability & ESG, Business Advisory Services, BDO India LLP; Purnamita Dasgupta, Chair Professor & Head, Environmental Economics Unit at the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi; Shobhit Kumar, COO, Datta Power Infra apart from Dr. Vibha Tripathi, Founder, Boon. There is also a panel focussed on green mobility with speakers from marquee institutions and leading Indian companies – Rahul Bharti, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki and Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, India. In separate fire side chats, there will be insights shared by S Sivakumar, group head of Agri & IT Businesses, who also oversees ITC’s Sustainability initiatives and Social Investment programmes, Rajat Gupta, senior partner, McKinsey and Sandhya J, group, chief financial officer at Narayana Health.. The summit and awards, organised by Financial Express with supporting partners Datta Power Infra and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, will conclude with the awards to some of the worthy winners. They have all been selected by a distinguished jury comprising of Abha Seth, who leads FICCI Centre for Sustainability Leadership, Professor Anjal Prakash from the Indian School of Business, Anand Sri Ganesh from IIM- Bangalore, Professor Purnamita Dasgupta from the Institute of Economic Growth, Mahua Acharya, the founder CEO of the International Energy Transition Platform and Professor Subhasis Ray from XLRI, Jamshedpur. The whole exercise has been aided by FE’s knowledge partner EY.
State generates 3,357 million litre a day wastewater of which 2,054 MLD is treated and from this just 43% is being used; maximum usage is for lake revival A report on the usage of treated wastewater in Karnataka shows that there is a considerable gap in total sewage being treated and the portion of this treated water being used in the state. While 3,357 MLD of wastewater is being generated and 2,054 MLD is being treated, only 43% of the treated wastewater is being used. The study by the Centre for Science and Environment further highlights that the treated wastewater from 50 sewage treatment plants (STP) of the state is being used for purposes such as industrial use, lake recharge, irrigation, and horticulture. The major reuse of treated water is occurring in lake revival/rejuvenation, accounting for 67%, followed by irrigation and industrial purposes. Embrace water reuse As per the urban wastewater reuse policy of 2017, 10 major cities in the state were expected to prepare plans and embrace wastewater reuse by 2020 and extend this to 100% for all major cities/ towns by 2030. The policy also targets 20% reuse of treated sewage to be increased to 50% by 2030. However, the report underscores the lack of a clear action plan or timeline at the state level to achieve these targets. In Bengaluru, around 63% of total wastewater is treated by 34 centralised treatment plants with a collective capacity of 1,348.5 MLD, and 13% is treated by decentralised treatment plants. Unexplored area The report says while the city has a high potential for reusing treated water in the construction industry, it is still an unexplored area. However, for optimal advantage, there is a critical need to boost treatment facilities to process all the wastewater being generated in the city. Currently, treated water from Bengaluru is provided to Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Bangalore Rural districts, and is managed by the Minor Irrigation Department. In addition to these projects, several decentralised initiatives supply treated water to various industries. For instance, 40 MLD tertiary treatment plants (TTP) in Devanahalli supply treated water to the KIADB Industrial Area, 10 MLD TTP in Yelahanka provide tertiary treated water to KIAL, IAF, BEL, Rail Wheel Factory, and ITC, 4 MLD TTP in Cubbon Park supplies tertiary treated water to Raj Bhavan, Vidhana Soudha, High Court, Golf Course, and Cubbon Park, 1.5 MLD TTP in Lal Bagh supplies tertiary treated water to Lal Bagh, and 15 MLD TTP in Jakkur supplies tertiary treated water to the KPCL gas-based power plant in Yelahanka. There is a need for developing a groundwater monitoring unit in BWSSB to measure the quantity and quality of groundwater near the lake vicinity to understand the impact of lake revival and recharge –From the report However, the current wastewater reuse even in Bengaluru accounts for only 43%, indicating a significant potential for scaling up wastewater treatment infrastructure. Most of the reuse happening is for lake revival to recharge shallow aquifers, which can be ultimately used for agriculture or domestic water supply.
Of the total urban waste water and sewage generated in India, a mere 28 per cent (20,236 million litre per day or MLD) undergoes treatment, leaving a substantial 72 per cent untreated and al-lowed to flow into rivers, lakes and land. All this treated water – and the remaining untreated amount if treated – holds an opportunity within itself: the opportunity to ease India’s urban water crisis, says a new report from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that was released here today.
Solid Waste Management: “India is waking up to meet the challenge of managing its solid waste, and that too, proactively. And the biggest evidence and demonstration of this awakening and transformation is visible in many of our cities. We have gathered here today to acknowledge and celebrate this transformation,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), here today. She added: “This Changemakers’ Conclave is not just a platform – it is a celebration of learning, innovation and the belief that change is possible.” Narain was speaking at a national meet – christened ‘The Changemakers’ Conclave’ – which CSE had organised to bring together over 100 municipal officials and authorities and representatives from many other organisations to discuss how cities and agencies are managing their solid waste, and to felicitate some who are doing it really well. In 2021, India launched the second leg of its flagship programme, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0, billed as the world’s largest sanitation drive. CSE has partnered with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (which oversees SBM 2.0) to build capacities of all stakeholders for strengthening the Mission’s implementation on the ground. Under this partnership, officials from over 450 urban local bodies and 39 non-government entities have undergone intensive residential training in CSE’s green campus, the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI). Many of these trainees have been able to implement the learnings in their respective fields and zones – the Changemakers’ Conclave has brought them together to share these experiences of implementation. Besides Narain, participants at the Conclave were addressed by Roopa Mishra, joint secretary and national mission director, SBM, Union Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Angela Lusigi, resident representative, UNDP India; Dr Balakrishna Pisupati, country head, UNEP India; and a host of other experts and senior municipal officials from all over the country. Speaking at the Conclave, Roopa Mishra said: “Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is not merely a government initiative. It is a people-driven movement. The Mission has maintained its momentum for over a decade, driven by seamless collaboration between cities, states and other stakeholders and partners, showcasing a unified effort towards a cleaner and healthier India.” Atin Biswas, programme director, solid waste management and circular economy unit, CSE says: “The best way to bring about change is to learn, and to apply that learning judiciously. SBM 2.0 has paved the way for India’s urban managers — local governments, civil society, industry partners, etc — to equip themselves with the capacity to understand and implement the nuances of circular economy in managing solid waste in an environmentally sustainable and financially viable manner. What CSE has done is to help build that capacity through its specially designed and curated training programmes.” A booklet titled Change Is Possible was released on the occasion. The booklet offers brief profiles of all the Changemakers, focusing on the waste management initiatives that they have championed in their respective municipalities, cities or spheres of work. These range from implementing waste segregation at source, door-to-door collection of segregated waste, and running communication, awareness-building and behavior-change campaigns to investing in waste management infrastructure such as material recovery facilities and implementing steps to ensure financial viability of waste management processes. Says Siddharth G Singh, programme manager, solid waste management and circular economy unit, CSE: “In the course of our trainings and discussions, we have found that solutions must be tailored to local contexts, ensuring that innovative technologies, citizen engagement and resource optimisation can work in harmony to create cleaner, healthier urban spaces.” In her address, Narain said that “waste is not just waste, but a resource. The voice of the poor has empowered us to rethink and rebuild inclusive waste management policies such as SBM. Action dies when a policy stops evolving – SBM thrives because it learns, evolves and adapts.”
India is waking up to meet the challenge of managing its solid waste, and that too, proactively. And the biggest evidence and demonstration of this awakening and transformation is visible in many of our cities. We have gathered here today to acknowledge and celebrate this transformation,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), here. She added: “This Changemakers’ Conclave is not just a platform – it is a celebration of learning, innovation and the belief that change is possible.” Narain was speaking at a national meet – christened ‘The Changemakers’ Conclave’ – which CSE had organised to bring together over 100 municipal officials and authorities and representatives from many other organisations to discuss how cities and agencies are managing their solid waste, and to felicitate some who are doing it really well. In 2021, India launched the second leg of its flagship programme, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0, billed as the world’s largest sanitation drive. CSE has partnered with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (which oversees SBM 2.0) to build capacities of all stakeholders for strengthening the Mission’s implementation on the ground. Under this partnership, officials from over 450 urban local bodies and 39 non-government entities have undergone intensive residential training in CSE’s green campus, the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI). Many of these trainees have been able to implement the learnings in their respective fields and zones – the Changemakers’ Conclave has brought them together to share these experiences of implementation. Besides Narain, participants at the Conclave were addressed by Roopa Mishra, joint secretary and national mission director, SBM, Union Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Angela Lusigi, resident representative, UNDP India; Dr Balakrishna Pisupati, country head, UNEP India; and a host of other experts and senior municipal officials from all over the country. Speaking at the Conclave, Roopa Mishra said: “Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is not merely a government initiative. It is a people-driven movement. The Mission has maintained its momentum for over a decade, driven by seamless collaboration between cities, states and other stakeholders and partners, showcasing a unified effort towards a cleaner and healthier India.” Atin Biswas, programme director, solid waste management and circular economy unit, CSE says: “The best way to bring about change is to learn, and to apply that learning judiciously. SBM 2.0 has paved the way for India’s urban managers — local governments, civil society, industry partners, etc — to equip themselves with the capacity to understand and implement the nuances of circular economy in managing solid waste in an environmentally sustainable and financially viable manner. What CSE has done is to help build that capacity through its specially designed and curated training programmes.” A booklet titled Change Is Possible was released on the occasion. The booklet offers brief profiles of all the Changemakers, focusing on the waste management initiatives that they have championed in their respective municipalities, cities or spheres of work. These range from implementing waste segregation at source, door-to-door collection of segregated waste, and running communication, awareness-building and behavior-change campaigns to investing in waste management infrastructure such as material recovery facilities and implementing steps to ensure financial viability of waste management processes. Says Siddharth G Singh, programme manager, solid waste management and circular economy unit, CSE: “In the course of our trainings and discussions, we have found that solutions must be tailored to local contexts, ensuring that innovative technologies, citizen engagement and resource optimisation can work in harmony to create cleaner, healthier urban spaces.” In her address, Narain said that “waste is not just waste, but a resource. The voice of the poor has empowered us to rethink and rebuild inclusive waste management policies such as SBM. Action dies when a policy stops evolving – SBM thrives because it learns, evolves and adapts.”
Karad Municipal Council was honored with an award by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an international organization focused on pollution reduction and environmentally sustainable practices, in recognition of its exceptional and consistent performance in solid waste management. The award ceremony took place in New Delhi on December 19, where Karad Municipal Council was the only civic body from Maharashtra among the 150 organizations selected nationwide. This recognition follows the council's stellar performance in initiatives such as Swachh Survekshan and the state government's Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan. The CSE selected these 150 organizations based on their outstanding and consistent efforts in managing solid waste, with Karad Municipal Council standing out as the sole representative from Maharashtra to receive this prestigious honor. This recognition highlights the council's leadership in environmental sustainability. Chief Officer Shankar Khandare and Health Officer Girish Kakade accepted the award on behalf of the municipality from Dr. Sunita Narayan, Director of CSE.
Delhi’s air quality has turned extremely bad again with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering between severe and very severe category. This deterioration took place over the weekend without the burning of any stubble in the farm fields of Punjab and Haryana. The Delhi AQI on Tuesday crossed 430 and is expected to move upwards this week as the minimum temperature is expected to remain below 5 degrees Celsius range and because wind speed, which helps in disbursal of pollutants, is slow. These facts raise critical questions for policymakers and scientists who have blamed the farmers in Punjab and Haryana for Delhi’ and National Capital Region’s (NCR) air pollution. Let’s discuss some facts about the annual phenomenon of stubble burning. Normally the period between September and November 30 is considered the stubble burning period in Punjab and Haryana when farm fields are cleared for the winter crop. Stubble burning incidents in Punjab has come down from 81,042 in 2016, from when the data is available, to 10,909 in 2024, an eight-fold fall in eight years. The year-wise data shows that stubble fire incidents increased during Covid-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 even though the air pollution level in Delhi did not spike as it happened in 2023 and 2024. This clearly indicates a delink between stubble fire incidents and Delhi poor air quality. Similarly, stubble burning incidents recorded in Haryana, where paddy stubble burning is 20% of the crop remains that are burnt, also dipped by almost 90% since 2016. In 2024, Haryana reported only 559 incidents of farm fires. Eyes in the sky not that reliable Moreover, the department of science and technology’s air appropriation analysis cannot distinguish between stubble and non-stubble contribution to air pollution as the measurement is through carbon (soot) content in air and comes under bio-mass burning category. Even satellites cannot distinguish between stubble and non-stubble burning. So, if someone is burning leaves or burning wood for cooking or body warmth in Delhi or anywhere in northwestern India, it will count as biomass burning and will be clubbed with stubble burning. If one drives through Delhi in winter nights, one can see many poor and homeless people burning dry wood or grass to keep themselves warm. The data and historical perspective provide enough evidence that stubble burning is not a major contributor to Delhi’s air pollution levels. (The author, however, does not support stubble burning and wants to promote more eco-friendly ways of dealing with stubble.) So, why is Delhi-NCR so polluted in winter? The two primary reasons are the region’s very high self-generated air pollution load, which is increasing every year, and very poor dust management by the local authorities. The particulate matter air pollution on whose basis AQI is measured is primarily related to dust and vehicle/industry exhaust. Vehicular exhaust a major culprit According to a study done by non-government organisation, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the contribution of vehicular exhaust to the air pollution load in Delhi between October 12 to November 3, 2024, was 51.5%. The neighbouring districts such as Gurugram, Sonipat, Rohtak and Faridabad in Haryana and Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh contributed 34.97%. The contribution from neighbouring districts was also on account of vehicles. The study said that the farm fires, read total biomass, contribution was 8.19% and dust particles made up 3.7% of the total air pollution in the city.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at Centre for ..
Answer: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) और National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Notes: Waste to Worth: Managing India’s Urban Water Crisis through Wastewater Reuse रिपोर्ट Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) और National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) द्वारा संयुक्त रूप से जारी की गई। यह रिपोर्ट जल स्थिरता और परिपत्रता के लिए अपशिष्ट जल उपचार के उपयोग पर केंद्रित है। भारत की प्रति व्यक्ति ताजे पानी की उपलब्धता अब 1700 घन मीटर से कम हो गई है। लगभग 72% शहरी अपशिष्ट जल बिना उपचार के नदियों और झीलों में चला जाता है। भारत में 20% भूजल ब्लॉक अति-शोषित या गंभीर स्थिति में हैं। 55% घरों में खुले या बिना निकासी के सिस्टम हैं, जो जल प्रबंधन की चुनौतियों को बढ़ाते हैं। रिपोर्ट जल संकट से निपटने के लिए अपशिष्ट जल पुन: उपयोग के महत्व पर जोर देती है।
दिल्ली की वायु गुणवत्ता फिर से बेहद खराब हो गई है, वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (AQI) गंभीर और बहुत गंभीर श्रेणी के बीच मँडरा रहा है। यह गिरावट सप्ताहांत में पंजाब और हरियाणा के खेतों में पराली जलाए बिना हुई। मंगलवार को दिल्ली AQI 430 को पार कर गया और इस सप्ताह इसके ऊपर जाने की उम्मीद है क्योंकि न्यूनतम तापमान 5 डिग्री सेल्सियस से नीचे रहने की उम्मीद है और क्योंकि हवा की गति, जो प्रदूषकों को फैलाने में मदद करती है, धीमी है। ये तथ्य नीति निर्माताओं और वैज्ञानिकों के लिए गंभीर सवाल खड़े करते हैं जिन्होंने दिल्ली और राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (NCR) के वायु प्रदूषण के लिए पंजाब और हरियाणा के किसानों को दोषी ठहराया है। रविचंद्रन अश्विन ने सेवानिवृत्ति की घोषणा की! - अधिक जानकारी और नवीनतम समाचारों के लिए, यहाँ पढ़ें आइए पराली जलाने की वार्षिक घटना के बारे में कुछ तथ्यों पर चर्चा करें। आमतौर पर सितंबर और 30 नवंबर के बीच की अवधि को पंजाब और हरियाणा में पराली जलाने का समय माना जाता है जब सर्दियों की फसल के लिए खेत साफ किए जाते हैं। पंजाब में पराली जलाने की घटनाएं 2016 में 81,042 से घटकर 2024 में 10,909 हो गई हैं, जो आठ वर्षों में आठ गुना गिरावट है। वर्ष-वार डेटा से पता चलता है कि कोविड-19 महामारी के वर्षों 2020 और 2021 के दौरान पराली जलाने की घटनाओं में वृद्धि हुई है, जबकि दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर 2023 और 2024 की तरह नहीं बढ़ा। यह स्पष्ट रूप से पराली जलाने की घटनाओं और दिल्ली की खराब वायु गुणवत्ता के बीच एक संबंध को दर्शाता है। इसी तरह, हरियाणा में दर्ज की गई पराली जलाने की घटनाएँ, जहाँ धान की पराली जलाई जाती है, जो जलाई जाने वाली फसल के अवशेषों का 20% है, में भी 2016 से लगभग 90% की गिरावट आई है। 2024 में, हरियाणा में खेत में आग लगने की केवल 559 घटनाएँ दर्ज की गईं। इसके अलावा, विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी विभाग का वायु विनियोग विश्लेषण वायु प्रदूषण में पराली और गैर-पराली के योगदान के बीच अंतर नहीं कर सकता है क्योंकि माप हवा में कार्बन (कालिख) सामग्री के माध्यम से होता है और बायोमास जलाने की श्रेणी में आता है। यहां तक कि उपग्रह भी पराली और गैर-पराली जलाने के बीच अंतर नहीं कर सकते हैं। इसलिए, अगर कोई दिल्ली या उत्तर-पश्चिमी भारत में कहीं भी खाना पकाने या शरीर को गर्म करने के लिए पत्ते या लकड़ी जला रहा है, तो इसे बायोमास जलाना माना जाएगा और इसे पराली जलाने के साथ जोड़ दिया जाएगा। अगर कोई सर्दियों की रातों में दिल्ली से गुज़रता है, तो वह कई गरीब और बेघर लोगों को खुद को गर्म रखने के लिए सूखी लकड़ी या घास जलाते हुए देख सकता है। डेटा और ऐतिहासिक परिप्रेक्ष्य पर्याप्त सबूत प्रदान करते हैं कि पराली जलाना दिल्ली के वायु प्रदूषण के स्तर में एक बड़ा योगदानकर्ता नहीं है। (हालांकि, लेखक पराली जलाने का समर्थन नहीं करता है और पराली से निपटने के अधिक पर्यावरण-अनुकूल तरीकों को बढ़ावा देना चाहता है।) तो, सर्दियों में दिल्ली-एनसीआर इतना प्रदूषित क्यों है? इसके दो मुख्य कारण हैं, क्षेत्र में बहुत अधिक स्व-जनित वायु प्रदूषण भार, जो हर साल बढ़ रहा है, और स्थानीय अधिकारियों द्वारा बहुत खराब धूल प्रबंधन। पार्टिकुलेट मैटर वायु प्रदूषण जिसके आधार पर AQI मापा जाता है, मुख्य रूप से धूल और वाहन/उद्योग उत्सर्जन से संबंधित है। वाहनों से निकलने वाला धुआं एक बड़ा दोषी गैर-सरकारी संगठन, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) द्वारा किए गए एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, 12 अक्टूबर से 3 नवंबर, 2024 के बीच दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण भार में वाहनों से निकलने वाले धुएं का योगदान 51.5% था। हरियाणा के गुरुग्राम, सोनीपत, रोहतक और फरीदाबाद और उत्तर प्रदेश के गौतमबुद्ध नगर जैसे पड़ोसी जिलों ने 34.97% योगदान दिया। पड़ोसी जिलों का योगदान भी वाहनों के कारण था। अध्ययन में कहा गया है कि खेतों में लगी आग, कुल बायोमास का योगदान 8.19% था और धूल के कण शहर के कुल वायु प्रदूषण का 3.7% हिस्सा थे। यह विश्लेषण पुणे में भारतीय उष्णकटिबंधीय मौसम विज्ञान संस्थान द्वारा विकसित दिल्ली में वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन के लिए निर्णय समर्थन प्रणाली द्वारा प्रदान किए गए आंकड़ों से प्राप्त किया गया था। सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड, नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड और वाष्पशील कार्बनिक यौगिकों सहित औद्योगिक उत्सर्जन, ओजोन जैसे माध्यमिक प्रदूषकों के गठन का कारण बनते हैं। अध्ययन में कहा गया है कि वाहन उत्सर्जन, विशेष रूप से भारी यातायात से, कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड, नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड और हाइड्रोकार्बन छोड़ते हैं, जिससे भीड़भाड़ वाले क्षेत्रों में प्रदूषण बढ़ता है। प्रदूषण के स्तर को कम करने में सरकार की असमर्थता को देखते हुए, सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने संकट को दूर करने के लिए हस्तक्षेप किया और जस्टिस अभय एस ओका और ऑगस्टीन जॉर्ज मसीह की पीठ ने प्रदूषणकारी वाहनों को दिल्ली में प्रवेश करने से रोकने और इसकी मंजूरी के बिना ग्रेडेड रिस्पांस एक्शन प्लान (जीआरएपी) को नहीं हटाने सहित कई उपाय जारी किए।