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Third HSC brings together politicians, business leaders, academia to debate power of cooperation, driving progress together

June 29, themed, "The Power of Cooperation: Driving Progress Together," brought together high-level international representatives from politics, business, academia, and civil society. Through innovative, cross-sector dialogue formats, the conference aims to strengthen global cooperation and advance sustainable development. Around 1,600 participants from 115 countries, including German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, ministers, high-level representatives of international organizations, and executives from the private sector participated. The 15 alliances for a sustainable future were launched or substantially advanced as part of the conference. A special highlight was the launch of the North-South Commission on Development, co-chaired by Olaf Scholz, former Chancellor of Germany, and Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica. The world is in a phase of profound change. Multiple crises and conflicts are reshaping international security, the global economy, and development. Geopolitical tensions and uncertainties have intensified in recent years. The risk of further polarization is real and calls for decisive action and stronger international cooperation. Against this backdrop, HSC 2026 puts a positive perspective at the center: sustainable progress and dialogue toward a common future are possible. This requires the pragmatic recognition that cooperation can open up greater security and prosperity for all involved. The UNDP for HSC 2026 underscores in a survey across 15 countries, respondents identify accelerating the energy transition, protecting nature, and better access to finance as key priorities for the future. At the same time, the findings show that people expect stronger international cooperation and more effective mechanisms to address global challenges. HSC 2026 creates space for this important exchange and focuses on how constructive international cooperation can be shaped. At the concrete approaches and solutions. Initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and the Michael Otto Foundation, the conference has established itself over the past two years as an international platform for open dialogue and concrete, joint solutions for sustainable development. A core element is the involvement of the private sector as an important partner for global progress and urgently needed future investments. This year, HSC focussed on three thematic areas: Resilient Economies, Technology and the Future of Our Planet; Risk, Uncertainty and Conflict; and Ensuring the Future of Human Collaboration: Multilateralism and Governance. The conference opened with speeches by Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg; Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany; Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations; Alexander De Croo, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development; and Achim Steiner, Chair of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference. In the subsequent opening panel on "Investing in Transformation," Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank, and Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, discussed the topic. Afterward, George Gray Molina, Head of Inclusive Growth and Chief Economist at UNDP, presented key findings from the HSC 2026 Curtain Raiser. The second day of the conference opened with the launch of the North-South Commission on Development, with remarks from Achim Steiner, Chair of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Further notable high-level participants from business and civil society include Christian Klein, Chief Executive Officer, SAP; Petra Scharner-Wolff, Chief Executive Officer, Otto Group; Chacko Thomas, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Tata Sons; Vera Songwe, Chair and Founder, Liquidity and Sustainability Facility; Amitabh Behar, Executive Director, Oxfam International; Ani Dasgupta, President and Chief Executive Officer, World Resources Institute; and Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment. HSC Chair Achim Steiner said: “We meet at a difficult moment for international cooperation. Geopolitical tensions, conflict and growing mistrust are reshaping our world. But the answer to fragmentation cannot be more fragmentation. In a multipolar century, the imperative is not less cooperation, but better and broader cooperation. The Hamburg Sustainability Conference brings together governments and international organizations, business and finance, civil society and science, cities and young leaders from across the world. We can choose to see this diversity of perspectives and interests as a source of division. Or we can recognize it for what it is: the essential capacity required to tackle the systemic challenges of our time. The HSC has emerged as a global platform for pragmatic ambition and future-oriented cooperation on sustainable development—a place where dialogue becomes commitment, commitment becomes collective action, and collective action delivers real-world progress.”

New Delhi announces EV policy to combat air pollution

New Delhi authorities announced a new policy Monday aimed at curbing pollution in the city, including incentives to get residents to scrap old vehicles for electric ones. New Delhi and its sprawling metropolitan region of 30 million residents is regularly ranked among the world’s most polluted capitals due to a mix of emissions from power plants, heavy traffic and the burning of rubbish and crops. “This is a historic step towards effectively controlling vehicular pollution in the capital and promoting clean transportation,” said Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The new EV policy would start July 1 and remain in place until March 31, 2030, she said. Gupta announced a slew of measures as part of the plan, including an incentive of “5,000 rupees ($53) to 100,000 rupees ($1,050) on scrapping old vehicles.” Buyers of new electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers will also get incentives of 30,000 rupees ($320) and 50,000 rupees ($530) respectively. Starting January 2027, the government will only register electric three-wheelers and small trucks, the chief minister said. And from April 2028, only new electric two-wheeler vehicles will be registered, she added. A study in The Lancet Planetary Health last year estimated that 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019 were linked to air pollution. Levels of cancer-causing PM 2.5 microparticles have hit more than 300 micrograms per cubic metre in the city, 20 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily maximum. Government-led initiatives such as partial restrictions on fossil fuel-powered transport and water trucks spraying mist to clear the air have failed to make a noticeable impact. According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment from last year, vehicular emissions contributed a little over half to the city’s pollution levels.

Delhi-NCR Identified as Central Region for Year-Round Ozone Pollution in India

The recent analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has concluded that ground-level ozone, an invisible but highly damaging air pollutant, poses a significant public health and environmental challenge across Indian cities throughout the year. The assessment, based on six years of data from 25 cities, indicates that ozone pollution is no longer limited to seasonal peaks or specific urban areas. Instead, it has become widespread, with extended exposure increasingly prevalent in both inland and coastal regions. This study, examining data from the period of 2021 to 2026, has identified the Delhi-NCR region as the largest ozone hotspot in the country. This area struggles with high air quality index (AQI) readings largely due to increased levels of fine particulate matter, such as PM2.5 and PM10. The findings also highlight cities like Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru as experiencing significant levels of ozone exposure. Researchers attribute the escalating ozone issue to rising temperatures, heightened sunlight exposure, and increasing emissions of ozone-forming substances, which are fundamentally altering the air pollution landscape in India. This shift raises concerns beyond particulate matter, as there are implications for health and climate stability. Health Risks Associated with Ozone Exposure The analysis presents alarming implications for public health, with specialists emphasising the severity of ground-level ozone as a prominent air pollutant. Unlike the protective ozone layer found high in the atmosphere, ground-level ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted from vehicles, industrial activities, household fuels, and waste incineration react under strong sunlight. According to the CSE, exposure to ozone has detrimental effects on lung health, instigating airway inflammation, aggravating asthma, and increasing sensitivity to allergens such as dust and pollen. Short-term exposure can lead to respiratory distress and hospitalisations, while chronic exposure has been linked to serious health issues such as heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular-related fatalities, and the progressive decline of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Medical professionals have reported unexpected increases in asthma and respiratory conditions particularly during the summer months, although the report suggests further detailed epidemiological studies are necessary to establish specific local connections to these trends.

How Mumbai’s poor waste segregation contributes to methane emission spikes

“Biodegradable waste should not be dumped in landfills because the biodegradation process contributes significantly to methane and other GHG emissions. The average concentration of methane in a dumpsite ranges between 3 to 15 per cent by volume, which is much higher than the ambient concentration of methane (0.00017 per cent by volume),” a 2023 report by Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Science and Environment had noted.

New Delhi announces EV policy to combat air pollution

New Delhi authorities announced a new policy Monday aimed at curbing pollution in the city, including incentives to get residents to scrap old vehicles for electric ones. New Delhi and its sprawling metropolitan region of 30 million residents are regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals because of a mix of emissions from power plants, heavy traffic, and the burning of rubbish and crops. "This is a historic step toward effectively controlling vehicular pollution in the capital and promoting clean transportation," said Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The new EV policy would start July 1 and remain in place until March 31, 2030, she said. Gupta announced a slew of measures as part of the plan, including an incentive of "5,000 rupees ($53) to 100,000 rupees ($1,050) on scrapping old vehicles." Buyers of new electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers will also get incentives of 30,000 rupees ($320) and 50,000 rupees ($530), respectively. Starting in January 2027, the government will register only electric three-wheelers and small trucks, the chief minister said. Starting in April 2028, only new electric two-wheelers will be registered, she added. A study in The Lancet Planetary Health last year estimated that 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019 were linked to air pollution. Levels of cancer-causing PM 2.5 microparticles have exceeded 300 micrograms per cubic meter in the city, 20 times the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum. Government-led initiatives such as partial restrictions on fossil fuel-powered transport and water trucks spraying mist to clear the air have failed to make a noticeable impact. According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment last year, vehicular emissions contributed a little more than half of the city's pollution levels.

Delhi approves EV policy with incentives, vehicle tax exemptions

From next month, Delhiites buying electric cars priced up to Rs 30 lakh will not have to pay road tax or registration fees, as the Delhi government on Monday approved a new EV policy aimed at reducing vehicular pollution and accelerating the transition to cleaner transport in the national capital. The Electric Vehicle Policy proposes that 30 per cent of all school buses in Delhi be converted to electric by the end of March 2030. It seeks to transform Delhi into a pollution-free capital through zero-emission transport and will remain in force till March 31, 2030. Around 30,000 EV charging points will be set up across the city to expand charging infrastructure, and the government is committing over Rs 7,000 crore over the next four years to drive this transition. However, there is no incentive for hybrid vehicles. A dedicated online portal will be developed to enable applicants to apply for EV-related incentives under the policy. Transport and vehicular emissions remain the single largest contributor to Delhi's local PM 2.5 burden, accounting for nearly half of the pollution load. During last year's peak winter pollution period, vehicles contributed about 46 per cent to 53 per cent of the city's local PM2.5 levels, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment released on December 31 last year. Under the policy, a 100 per cent waiver of road tax and registration fees will be provided for all pure electric four-wheelers with an ex-showroom price of up to Rs 30 lakh. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said benefits worth around Rs 15,000 crore, including government investment, tax exemptions and EV infrastructure development, will be provided under the policy over the next four years to promote electric mobility and reduce vehicular pollution in the national capital. The policy, approved by the Delhi Cabinet, will come into effect from July 1 after the approval of the Lieutenant Governor, Gupta said, describing it as a major step towards making Delhi a pollution-free city by March 31, 2030. It lays special emphasis on the transport sector and provides a roadmap for the phased transition from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, the government has announced purchase incentives for buyers. Under the policy, people buying electric two-wheelers will get a subsidy of Rs 30,000 in the first year, Rs 20,000 in the second year and Rs 10,000 in the third year. Similarly, buyers of electric three-wheelers, including e-autos, will be eligible for incentives of Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000 in the first, second and third years, respectively. Buyers of N1 category electric trucks will receive a purchase incentive of up to Rs 1 lakh, according to an official. As part of the policy, only electric autorickshaws will be registered in Delhi from January 1, 2027, while registration of new petrol and CNG two-wheelers will be phased out, with only electric two-wheelers to be registered from April 1, 2028. The policy also provides a scrapping incentive of Rs 1 lakh for owners of BS-IV or older four-wheelers who scrap their vehicles and switch to electric vehicles. She said the policy also envisages expansion of charging infrastructure, vehicle scrapping facilities and other measures to accelerate the transition to electric mobility across the city. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at EnviroCatalyst, had earlier said the Delhi EV Policy 2026-2030 anchors the right to clean air directly to the constitutional right to life. "By addressing vehicular emissions, a primary pollution source, the government is finally ensuring the transport sector takes ownership of its responsibility to provide a livable environment," Dahiya had told PTI. Total vehicle registrations in Delhi rose by 17.9 per cent to 8.50 lakh units in FY 2025-26, up from about 7.21 lakh units in 2024-25. Between the financial years 2019-20 and 2025-26, more than 4.07 lakh EVs were registered in the city. An analysis of data from the Vahan dashboard of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways by EnviroCatalysts, an independent research body, showed that EV registrations increased from 83,512 in 2024 25 to 1.07 lakh in 2025 26. Hybrid electric vehicle registrations also rose during the same period from 6,796 to 8,476.

दिल्ली सरकार ने ईवी नीति को मंजूरी दी, ई-वाहनों को सड़क कर, पंजीकरण शुल्क से छूट

दिल्ली सरकार ने इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन (ईवी) वाहन नीति को सोमवार को मंजूरी प्रदान कर दी जिसके तहत राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में 30 लाख रुपये कीमत तक की ई-गाड़ियों खरीदने पर न तो सड़क कर देना होगा और न ही पंजीकरण शुल्क लगेगा। इस नीति का मकसद गाड़ियों से होने वाले प्रदूषण को कम करना और दिल्ली में स्वच्छ परिवहन के इस्तेमाल को बढ़ावा देना है। इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन नीति में प्रस्तावित है कि मार्च 2030 तक दिल्ली के स्कूल की 30 फीसदी बसें इलेक्ट्रिक होनी चाहिए। यह नीति शून्य-उत्सर्जन परिवहन के माध्यम से दिल्ली को प्रदूषण मुक्त राजधानी में बदलना चाहती है और 31 मार्च 2030 तक लागू रहेगी। चार्जिंग बुनियादी ढांचे का विस्तार करने के लिए शहर भर में लगभग 30,000 ईवी ‘चार्जिंग पॉइंट’ स्थापित किए जाएंगे। सरकार ने इस परिवर्तिन को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए अगले चार वर्षों में 7,000 करोड़ रुपये से अधिक की प्रतिबद्धता जताई है। हाइब्रिड’ वाहनों के लिए कोई प्रोत्साहन नहीं दिया जाएगा। नीति के तहत ईवी-संबंधित प्रोत्साहनों के लिए आवेदन करने के वास्ते एक समर्पित ऑनलाइन पोर्टल भी शुरू किया जाएगा। दिल्ली के पीएम 2.5 का सबसे बड़ा स्रोत गाड़ियों से होना वाला उत्सर्जन है। कुल पीएम 2.5 प्रदूषण में लगभग 50 प्रतिशत योगदान वाहनों से निकलने वाले धुएं और उनसे जुड़े उत्सर्जन का है। पिछले साल 31 दिसंबर में जारी सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, गत वर्ष सर्दियों में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण अवधि के दौरान, वाहनों ने शहर के स्थानीय पीएम 2.5 स्तरों में लगभग 46 प्रतिशत से 53 प्रतिशत का योगदान दिया था। नीति के तहत, 30 लाख रुपये तक की एक्स-शोरूम कीमत वाले सभी इलेक्ट्रिक चार पहिया वाहनों के लिए सड़क कर और पंजीकरण शुल्क में 100 प्रतिशत छूट प्रदान की जाएगी। मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता ने संवाददाता सम्मेलन में कहा कि राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में इलेक्ट्रिक परिवहन को बढ़ावा देने और वाहन से होने वाले प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए अगले चार वर्षों में नीति के तहत सरकारी निवेश, कर छूट और ईवी बुनियादी ढांचे के विकास सहित लगभग 15,000 करोड़ रुपये के लाभ प्रदान किए जाएंगे। दिल्ली कैबिनेट द्वारा अनुमोदित नीति, उपराज्यपाल की मंजूरी के बाद एक जुलाई से लागू होगी। गुप्ता ने इसे 31 मार्च, 2030 तक दिल्ली को प्रदूषण मुक्त शहर बनाने की दिशा में एक बड़ा कदम बताया। मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि नई नीति के तहत दोपहिया, तिपहिया, चारपहिया, एन-1 श्रेणी (साढ़े तीन टन तक माल ढोने वाले) के मालवाहक वाहन, एन2 (साढ़े तीन टन से 12 टन माल ढोने वाले) ट्रक और ग्रामीण सेवा वाहनों को शामिल किया गया है। नई नीति परिवहन क्षेत्र पर विशेष जोर देती है और पारंपरिक ईंधन से चलने वाले वाहनों से इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों में चरणबद्ध परिवर्तन के लिए एक रोडमैप प्रदान करती है। इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों को अपनाने को प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए सरकार ने खरीदारों के लिए प्रोत्साहन की घोषणा की है। नई नीति के तहत ई-दो पहिया वाहन खरीदने वाले लोगों को पहले साल 30,000 रुपये, दूसरे साल 20,000 रुपये और तीसरे साल 10,000 रुपये की सब्सिडी मिलेगी। इलेक्ट्रिक तिपहिया वाहनों के खरीदार पहले, दूसरे और तीसरे वर्ष में क्रमशः 50,000 रुपये, 40,000 रुपये और 30,000 रुपये के प्रोत्साहन के पात्र होंगे। एक अधिकारी के अनुसार, एन1 श्रेणी के इलेक्ट्रिक ट्रकों के खरीदारों को एक लाख रुपये तक का खरीद प्रोत्साहन मिलेगा। गुप्ता ने कहा कि सरकार ने किसी भी श्रेणी में प्रोत्साहन की संख्या पर कोई सीमा निर्धारित नहीं की है और जितने लोग इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन खरीदेंगे, सरकार उतने ही लोगों को प्रोत्साहन प्रदान करेगी। नीति के तहत एक जनवरी, 2027 से दिल्ली में केवल इलेक्ट्रिक ऑटोरिक्शा पंजीकृत किए जाएंगे, जबकि नए पेट्रोल और सीएनजी दोपहिया वाहनों का पंजीकरण चरणबद्ध तरीके से समाप्त कर दिया जाएगा और एक अप्रैल, 2028 से केवल इलेक्ट्रिक दोपहिया वाहनों का पंजीकरण किया जाएगा। मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा, “पुराने प्रदूषणकारी वाहनों को हटाने के लिए सरकार ने आकर्षक स्क्रैपिंग प्रोत्साहन भी प्रदान किया है। इसके अंतर्गत बीएस-चार या उससे पुराने दोपहिया वाहन स्क्रैप करने पर 10,000 रुपये, तिपहिया पर 25,000 रुपये, चार पहिया वाहन पर एक लाख रुपये, एन-1 ट्रक पर 50,000 रुपये और ग्रामीण सेवा वाहन पर 15,000 रुपये का प्रोत्साहन दिया जाएगा।” गुप्ता ने कहा, “ सभी प्रोत्साहन राशि डीबीटी के माध्यम से सीधे लाभार्थियों के बैंक खातों में भेजी जाएगी। सब्सिडी पाने के लिए इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन खरीदने वाले को ईवी पोर्टल पर आवेदन करना होगा। आवेदन करने के बाद 60 दिनों में प्रोत्साहन राशि डीबीटी के माध्यम से भेजी जाएगी। पोर्टल 1 जुलाई के बाद शुरू किया जाएगा।” उन्होंने कहा कि दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण का बड़ा हिस्सा व्यावसायिक मालवाहक वाहनों और दोपहिया एवं तिपहिया वाहनों से होने वाले उत्सर्जन के कारण है और इसी कारण नीति में इन श्रेणियों को विशेष प्राथमिकता दी गई है ताकि प्रदूषण में प्रभावी कमी लाई जा सके। वित्तीय वर्ष 2019-20 से 2025-26 के बीच, शहर में 4.07 लाख से ज़्यादा ईवी पंजीकृत किए गए। स्वतंत्र रिसर्च संस्था, ‘एनवायरो कैटलिस्ट्स’ ने सड़क परिवहन और राजमार्ग मंत्रालय के ‘वाहन’ डैशबोर्ड के डेटा का विश्लेषण किया। इस विश्लेषण से पता चला कि ईवी पंजीकरण2024-25 में 83,512 से बढ़कर 2025-26 में 1.07 लाख हो गया। इसी दौरान हाइब्रिड इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों का पंजीकरण भी 6,796 से बढ़कर 8,476 हो गया।

दिल्ली में इलेक्ट्रिक गाड़ियां खरीदना हुआ सस्ता, रोड टैक्स और रजिस्ट्रेशन फी माफ, बस करना होगा यह काम

दिल्ली सरकार ने इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन (ईवी) वाहन नीति को सोमवार को मंजूरी दे दी. जिसके तहत दिल्ली में 30 लाख रुपये कीमत तक की ई-गाड़ी खरीदने पर न तो रोड टैक्स देना होगा और न ही रजिस्ट्रेशन फी लगेगा. इस नीति का मकसद गाड़ियों से होने वाले प्रदूषण को कम करना और दिल्ली में स्वच्छ परिवहन के इस्तेमाल को बढ़ावा देना है. हाइब्रिड वाहनों के लिए कोई प्रोत्साहन नहीं दिया जाएगा. नीति के तहत, 30 लाख रुपये तक की एक्स-शोरूम कीमत वाले सभी इलेक्ट्रिक चार पहिया वाहनों के लिए रोड टैक्स और रजिस्ट्रेशन फी में 100 प्रतिशत छूट प्रदान की जाएगी. दिल्ली सरकार की नई नीति के तहत इलेक्ट्रिक गाड़ियां खरीदने पर सब्सिडी दी जाएगी. जो इस प्रकार होगी. इलेक्ट्रिक टू-व्हीलर (स्कूटर/बाइक) खरीदने पर छूट पहले साल: 30,000 रुपये की छूट दूसरे साल: 20,000 रुपये की छूट तीसरे साल: 10,000 रुपये की छूट इलेक्ट्रिक थ्री-व्हीलर (ऑटो/तिपहिया) खरीदने पर छूट पहले साल: 50,000 रुपये की छूट दूसरे साल: 40,000 रुपये की छूट तीसरे साल: 30,000 रुपये की छूट इलेक्ट्रिक कमर्शियल ट्रक (N1 कैटेगरी) खरीदने पर छूट जो लोग माल ढोने वाले छोटे इलेक्ट्रिक ट्रक (N1 श्रेणी) खरीदेंगे, उन्हें सरकार की तरफ से सीधे 1 लाख रुपये तक का फायदा मिलेगा. एक अप्रैल 2028 से केवल इलेक्ट्रिक दोपहिया वाहनों का पंजीकरण नीति के तहत एक जनवरी, 2027 से दिल्ली में केवल इलेक्ट्रिक ऑटोरिक्शा पंजीकृत किए जाएंगे, जबकि नए पेट्रोल और सीएनजी दोपहिया वाहनों का पंजीकरण चरणबद्ध तरीके से समाप्त कर दिया जाएगा और एक अप्रैल, 2028 से केवल इलेक्ट्रिक दोपहिया वाहनों का पंजीकरण किया जाएगा. दिल्ली में पुरानी गाड़ियों के लिए स्क्रैप पॉलिसी मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता ने बताया कि दिल्ली की सड़कों से पुराने और प्रदूषण फैलाने वाले वाहनों को हटाने के लिए सरकार एक शानदार योजना लेकर आई है. अगर आप अपनी पुरानी गाड़ी को कबाड़ (स्क्रैप) में देते हैं, तो सरकार आपको नई गाड़ी खरीदने के लिए नगद छूट (स्क्रैपिंग इंसेंटिव) देगी. पुरानी बाइक या स्कूटर (दोपहिया): 10,000 की छूट पुराना ऑटो (तिपहिया): 25,000 की छूट ग्रामीण सेवा वाहन: 15,000 की छूट पुराना छोटा ट्रक (N-1 कैटेगरी): 50,000 की छूट पुरानी कार (चार पहिया): सीधे 1,000,000 (1 लाख) की बंपर छूट ईवी वाहन नीति में खर्च होंगे 15000 करोड़ रुपये दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता ने एक प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस में बताया कि दिल्ली में इलेक्ट्रिक गाड़ियों (EV) को बढ़ावा देने और प्रदूषण कम करने के लिए सरकार ने एक प्लान तैयार किया है. इस योजना के तहत, अगले 4 सालों में करीब 15,000 करोड़ रुपये खर्च किए जाएंगे. इस पैसे का इस्तेमाल सरकारी निवेश, टैक्स में छूट देने और जगह-जगह ई-वाहनों के लिए चार्जिंग स्टेशन (बुनियादी ढांचा) जैसी सुविधाएं तैयार करने में किया जाएगा. मार्च 2030 तक 30 फीसदी स्कूल बसें होंगी इलेक्ट्रिक इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन नीति में प्रस्तावित है कि मार्च 2030 तक दिल्ली के स्कूल की 30 फीसदी बसें इलेक्ट्रिक होनी चाहिए. यह नीति शून्य-उत्सर्जन परिवहन के माध्यम से दिल्ली को प्रदूषण मुक्त राजधानी में बदलना चाहती है और 31 मार्च 2030 तक लागू रहेगी. कुल पीएम 2.5 प्रदूषण में 50 प्रतिशत योगदान वाहनों का दिल्ली के पीएम 2.5 का सबसे बड़ा स्रोत गाड़ियों से होना वाला उत्सर्जन है. कुल पीएम 2.5 प्रदूषण में लगभग 50 प्रतिशत योगदान वाहनों से निकलने वाले धुएं और उनसे जुड़े उत्सर्जन का है. ेपिछले साल 31 दिसंबर में जारी सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, गत वर्ष सर्दियों में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण अवधि के दौरान, वाहनों ने शहर के स्थानीय पीएम 2.5 स्तरों में लगभग 46 प्रतिशत से 53 प्रतिशत का योगदान दिया था.

Delhi approves EV policy with incentives, vehicle tax exemptions

From next month, Delhiites buying electric cars priced up to Rs 30 lakh will not have to pay road tax or registration fees, as the Delhi government on Monday approved a new EV policy aimed at reducing vehicular pollution and accelerating the transition to cleaner transport in the national capital. The Electric Vehicle Policy proposes that 30 per cent of all school buses in Delhi be converted to electric by the end of March 2030. It seeks to transform Delhi into a pollution-free capital through zero-emission transport and will remain in force till March 31, 2030. Around 30,000 EV charging points will be set up across the city to expand charging infrastructure, and the government is committing over Rs 7,000 crore over the next four years to drive this transition. However, there is no incentive for hybrid vehicles. A dedicated online portal will be developed to enable applicants to apply for EV-related incentives under the policy. Transport and vehicular emissions remain the single largest contributor to Delhi's local PM 2.5 burden, accounting for nearly half of the pollution load. During last year's peak winter pollution period, vehicles contributed about 46 per cent to 53 per cent of the city's local PM2.5 levels, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment released on December 31 last year. Under the policy, a 100 per cent waiver of road tax and registration fees will be provided for all pure electric four-wheelers with an ex-showroom price of up to Rs 30 lakh. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said benefits worth around Rs 15,000 crore, including government investment, tax exemptions and EV infrastructure development, will be provided under the policy over the next four years to promote electric mobility and reduce vehicular pollution in the national capital. The policy, approved by the Delhi Cabinet, will come into effect from July 1 after the approval of the Lieutenant Governor, Gupta said, describing it as a major step towards making Delhi a pollution-free city by March 31, 2030. It lays special emphasis on the transport sector and provides a roadmap for the phased transition from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, the government has announced purchase incentives for buyers. Under the policy, people buying electric two-wheelers will get a subsidy of Rs 30,000 in the first year, Rs 20,000 in the second year and Rs 10,000 in the third year. Similarly, buyers of electric three-wheelers, including e-autos, will be eligible for incentives of Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000 in the first, second and third years, respectively. Buyers of N1 category electric trucks will receive a purchase incentive of up to Rs 1 lakh, according to an official. As part of the policy, only electric autorickshaws will be registered in Delhi from January 1, 2027, while registration of new petrol and CNG two-wheelers will be phased out, with only electric two-wheelers to be registered from April 1, 2028. The policy also provides a scrapping incentive of Rs 1 lakh for owners of BS-IV or older four-wheelers who scrap their vehicles and switch to electric vehicles. She said the policy also envisages expansion of charging infrastructure, vehicle scrapping facilities and other measures to accelerate the transition to electric mobility across the city. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at EnviroCatalyst, had earlier said the Delhi EV Policy 2026-2030 anchors the right to clean air directly to the constitutional right to life. "By addressing vehicular emissions, a primary pollution source, the government is finally ensuring the transport sector takes ownership of its responsibility to provide a livable environment," Dahiya had told PTI. Total vehicle registrations in Delhi rose by 17.9 per cent to 8.50 lakh units in FY 2025-26, up from about 7.21 lakh units in 2024-25. Between the financial years 2019-20 and 2025-26, more than 4.07 lakh EVs were registered in the city. An analysis of data from the Vahan dashboard of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways by EnviroCatalysts, an independent research body, showed that EV registrations increased from 83,512 in 2024 25 to 1.07 lakh in 2025 26. Hybrid electric vehicle registrations also rose during the same period from 6,796 to 8,476. PTI SHB BAL

भारत में रिकॉर्ड गर्मी का खुलासा, 365 में 360 दिन रहा तापमान का असर; क्लाइमेट चेंज या अल-नीनो जिम्मेदार?

साल 2025 भारत के लिए मौसम के लिहाज से बेहद मुश्किल था. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट – CSE की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, पूरे साल में 365 में से 360 दिन देश के किसी न किसी हिस्से में मौसम की भयानक घटनाएं हुईं. इन घटनाओं में 4421 लोगों की मौत हुई. करीब 1.74 करोड़ हेक्टेयर फसल प्रभावित हुई. बढ़ता क्लाइमेट चेंज और अल-नीनो जैसे मौसमीय पैटर्न भारत में मौसम को पहले से ज्यादा अनिश्चित बना रहे हैं। 2025 में मौसम ने तोड़े कई रिकॉर्ड 2025 में देश के सभी 28 राज्यों और 8 केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों में किसी न किसी तरह का बिगड़ा हुआ मौसम दर्ज किया गया. यानी पूरे साल ऐसा कोई इलाका नहीं बचा, जहां मौसम का असर न दिखा हो. 2025 में देश के करीब 99% दिनों में कहीं न कहीं लू, भारी बारिश, बाढ़, बिजली गिरने, ओला पड़ने या तूफान जैसी घटनाएं हुईं. यह पिछले साल के मुकाबले ज्यादा है. 2024 में ऐसे मौसम की घटनाएं साल के 88 फीसदी दिनों में दर्ज हुई थीं। मौतों का आंकड़ा भी बढ़ा है. 2024 में 3393 लोगों की मौत हुई थी, जबकि 2025 में यह बढ़कर 4421 हो गई. खेती को हुआ नुकसान भी कई गुना बढ़ गया. 2024 में करीब 36 लाख हेक्टेयर फसल प्रभावित हुई थी, लेकिन 2025 में यह बढ़कर 1.74 करोड़ हेक्टेयर तक पहुंच गई। सबसे ज्यादा फसल का नुकसान महाराष्ट्र में हुआ, जहां करीब 84 लाख हेक्टेयर खेती प्रभावित हुई. इसके बाद कर्नाटक और मध्य प्रदेश का नंबर रहा. वहीं हिमाचल प्रदेश में सबसे ज्यादा 267 दिन भयानक मौसम दर्ज किया गया. केरल में 173 दिन और मध्य प्रदेश में 162 दिन ऐसे हालात बने रहे. रिपोर्ट में यह भी कहा गया है कि 2025 में 1.81 लाख से ज्यादा घरों को नुकसान पहुंचा। अब सिर्फ मानसून नहीं, पूरे साल बदल रहा है मौसम रिपोर्ट बताती है कि अब चरम मौसम सिर्फ मानसून तक सीमित नहीं है. मार्च, अप्रैल और मई जैसे महीनों में भी तेज गर्मी, अचानक बारिश, आंधी और ओले पड़ने जैसी घटनाएं बढ़ रही हैं. कई जगहों पर कुछ ही दिनों के अंदर मौसम पूरी तरह बदल जाता है. इसका सीधा असर खेती, पानी और लोगों की रोजमर्रा की जिंदगी पर पड़ रहा है। अल-नीनो से क्यों बढ़ सकती है परेशानी? वैज्ञानिकों का कहना है कि हर खतरनाक मौसम की घटना की वजह अल-नीनो नहीं होता. लेकिन जब अल-नीनो सक्रिय होता है, तो भारत के मौसम का पैटर्न बदल सकता है. कई इलाकों में बारिश कम हो सकती है और गर्मी बढ़ सकती है. वहीं कुछ जगहों पर कम समय में बहुत ज्यादा बारिश भी हो सकती है। अगर अल-नीनो का असर और क्लाइमेट चेंज साथ-साथ हों, तो मौसम और ज्यादा असामान्य हो सकता है. यही वजह है कि वैज्ञानिक लगातार ऐसे मौसम पर नजर रखने की बात कहते हैं। 2025 के आंकड़े साफ बताते हैं कि बेहद खराब मौसम अब भारत में पहले से ज्यादा आम होता जा रहा है. इसका असर सिर्फ लोगों की जान पर नहीं, बल्कि खेती, घरों और अर्थव्यवस्था पर भी पड़ रहा है. एक्सपर्ट्स का मानना है कि अगर क्लाइमेट चेंज की रफ्तार नहीं थमी और अल-नीनो जैसे मौसमी पैटर्न असर दिखाते रहे, तो आने वाले वर्षों में ऐसे हालात और गंभीर हो सकते हैं।

India braces for drought as El Niño looms

Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said this year’s strong El Nino is unfolding as climate change is already making India’s rainfall more volatile, with more rain falling in fewer days and extreme weather events becoming more frequent. “A super El Nino this year will test how climate change is reshaping India’s rainfall economy,” Narain told DW. India remains “far from monsoon-proof,” she added. A prolonged rainfall deficit during the “kharif,” as the summer monsoon crop season is called, could force farmers to rely more heavily on irrigation, raising cultivation costs and increasing pressure on already-stressed groundwater reserves. “We can manage a short dry spell,” Singh told DW. “The real worry is if the rains remain below normal through the season,” he added. India plans for a weaker monsoon With India facing the prospect of a weaker-than-normal monsoon and potential disruptions to the summer-sown crop season, India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has drawn up contingency plans for regions most vulnerable to rainfall deficits. It has identified 111 districts with irrigation coverage of 25% or less as high-priority areas requiring intervention should monsoon conditions deteriorate. “We are facing potential conditions for a weak monsoon due to El Nino, an impact that is already becoming visible, as the monsoon is currently significantly delayed,” said Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a recent meeting. READ: ‘Super El Niño’ raises fears for Asia reeling from Middle East conflict “Overall, rainfall has been 43% below normal so far. Weather forecasts indicate that conditions are likely to remain weak” during July, he added. The Agriculture Ministry has also set up an El Nino Monitoring Cell and a Crop Weather Watch Group, while states have been asked to establish control centers and coordinate closely with the federal government as officials track rainfall, crop conditions and sowing progress. ‘Super El Nino’ could deepen water shortages The implications of a dry summer extend well beyond crop production. Nearly half of India’s farmland remains dependent on rainfall, making the monsoon crucial for agricultural output, rural incomes and food prices. The June-September rains also replenish reservoirs and groundwater supplies that millions depend on for drinking water. Weak rainfall and rising temperatures also harm livestock, fisheries and forests, threatening livelihoods across rural India. Some 260 million people in India work in farming, accounting for over 45% of the country’s workforce, according to government figures. India’s driest monsoon in a decade? Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said this year’s strong El Nino is unfolding as climate change is already making India’s rainfall more volatile, with more rain falling in fewer days and extreme weather events becoming more frequent. “A super El Nino this year will test how climate change is reshaping India’s rainfall economy,” Narain told DW. India remains “far from monsoon-proof,” she added. READ: Super El Niño, global shocks and PH’s rising rice import risk The India Meteorological Department is forecasting below-normal monsoon rainfall at 90% of the long-period average. Such an outcome would mark India’s driest monsoon season in over a decade. Rainfall so far has tracked below normal levels, adding to concerns about the season ahead. “A very strong El Nino event is becoming increasingly likely and is expected to adversely affect the Indian summer monsoon,” Akshay Deoras, a senior research scientist at the UK’s National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of Reading, told DW. Current climate model projections suggest seasonal rainfall across India could end up well below the long-term average, with some regions facing substantial deficits. “Such shortfalls could place significant stress on agriculture and water resources, particularly in rain-fed farming regions. Reservoir levels, groundwater recharge and hydropower generation could also come under pressure if rainfall deficits persist through the season,” said Deoras. El Nino and climate change While the historical connection between El Nino and weaker monsoon rainfall is robust, climate change is making the system more variable and complex. “We’re increasingly seeing longer dry spells interrupted by short periods of very heavy rainfall, a pattern that can be particularly damaging for agriculture,” added Deoras.

Delhi urban heat island exposes planning neglect

Delhi’s urban heat island: Every summer, Delhi discovers that it is hot. Meteorologists are summoned to television studios. Climate change is invoked. The monsoon arrives, and the question fades: why do some residents face a much harsher city than others? This May, Delhi’s land surface temperature touched 54.61°C in some areas. That is not the air temperature reported by the India Meteorological Department. It is the heat stored in roads, roofs and walls, the heat that radiates at night, and the heat that makes sleep without a cooler a health risk. Centre for Science and Environment found the highest surface temperatures in Karala, Mundka, Begumpur, Bawana, Chhawla and Khera. Climate change is part of the story. El Nino and a warming planet are part of it too. Delhi’s more local failure is less convenient. The city has been built to retain heat. Three decades of housing neglect have produced a slow oven for poorer residents. Delhi urban heat island Concrete and asphalt store solar energy through the day and release it after sunset. Soil, water and tree cover cool a city through shade and evaporation. Remove enough of them, and the city loses its night-time recovery. The next day begins from a hotter base. CSE’s June 2026 report found that 75.78 per cent of Delhi’s area is persistently heat-stressed. Green cover fell from 25.36 per cent in 2014 to 14.14 per cent in 2024. Waterbody footprints fell from 1.25 per cent to 0.99 per cent. Delhi’s core cools 3.8°C less than its peri-urban edges, which leaves dense neighbourhoods carrying heat through the night.

How Mumbai’s Poor Waste Segregation Contributes To Methane Emission Spikes

“Biodegradable waste should not be dumped in landfills because the biodegradation process contributes significantly to methane and other GHG emissions. The average concentration of methane in a dumpsite ranges between 3 to 15 per cent by volume, which is much higher than the ambient concentration of methane (0.00017 per cent by volume),” a 2023 report by Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Science and Environment had noted. The civic engineer Kate said that BMC’s engineers are monitoring the stench in the area every night between midnight and 6 a.m.

Explainer: Changing weather impact on power infra

Punjab is not alone, extreme weather events are triggering cascading failures across India’s power infrastructure. The annual report on India’s environment by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlighted how frequently these climate-driven grid disruptions now compromise economic stability and public health nationwide. While neighbouring Himachal Pradesh faces infrastructure damage primarily from heavy snow or hailstorms, Punjab’s flat topography leaves its grid uniquely vulnerable to increasingly severe windstorms. Mountain& Ski Resorts

Beyond eco-anxiety: Climate wheel helps Chennaiites map emotions to drive awareness

Amid global crises like climate change, concepts such as solastalgia (distress produced by environmental change), eco-grief, and eco-anxiety are becoming familiar. Climate change’s impact on mental health has only recently cropped up in research, with studies finding connections between the climate and depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts. Around 50% of Indian youth aged 14 to 25 experienced increased stress due to worsening climate, according to a survey by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Other studies have found that repeated experiences with flooding, which occur particularly in eastern and southern India, appear to contribute to PTSD and eco-anxiety. Communities vulnerable to social hierarchies of gender and caste, or those working in climate-dependent occupations, such as agriculture and fishing, face intensified psychological distress. However, the dialogue on mental health has largely consisted of journalistic and academic articles looking for pre-determined emotions or conditions like stress and depression. The use of tools and hands-on interventions to help the general public reflect on their full emotional landscape has been limited. At Care Earth Trust, a biodiversity research organisation in Chennai, we used the ‘climate emotions wheel’ to help the public reflect on their emotional engagement with climate change beyond stress. We set it up during the Chennai screening of the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT-EFF) in December 2025. The day-long screening showcased seven films spanning several subjects, from wildlife conservation to the grief of species extinction.