• Climate Change and Green Economy

COP29 seals Article 6 deal for carbon trading, but environmental concerns persist

Countries at COP29, organised in Baku, Azerbaijan, managed to make a breakthrough in finalising rules related to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which addresses carbon trading. However, concerns over transparency and environmental safeguards continue. At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, over 200 countries formally adopted key rules and guidelines for Article 6 on November 23, extending the negotiations beyond the scheduled dates of November 11–22. Two separate drafts were adopted: one for Article 6.2, addressing bilateral or multilateral carbon trading, and another for Article 6.4, focusing on a centralised carbon trading mechanism. The host country described Article 6 as a game-changing tool that can ensure the flow of $250 billion annually to developing countries to support their climate plans. However, experts warn that the agreed language on Article 6 is so weak that it could lead to increased emissions instead of reductions. For instance, inconsistencies when a country misreports emission reduction have been a major concern. The final draft related to Article 6.2, which deals with bilateral or multilateral carbon trading, sets several rules to correct inconsistencies. As per this draft, countries will have to submit the report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the beginning of the project and annually. However, parties have no deadlines to fix the discrepancies or penalties for not following the carbon credit rules. Few parties wanted a strong consequence, and the draft talks about putting the parties’ names in the public if persistent inconsistency is found, but is it enough? “Several other measures could have been adopted, countries could have been asked to not trade in Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOS), equivalent to a carbon unit, until a resolution is made to this particular kind of inconsistency, says Trishant Dev, a Programme Officer for climate change at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based think tank. There were other demands like incorporating human rights violations, etc, while setting the rules of future carbon trading, but it didn’t get space in the final draft, he added.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Data on pollution share not updated since Nov 29, air panel says rejig on

New Delhi: The Decision Support System (DSS), which provides data on the sources of local and regional PM2.5 pollutants, hasn't been updated since Nov 29. It is the city's lone source apportionment system and estimates the contribution of varied sources to the capital's air pollution. DSS is being reviewed by an expert committee, revealed sources in the Commission for Air Quality Management, and it is expected to start operating soon after some changes are effected. However, experts said data should be updated for transparency and public awareness. Launched in Oct 2021, and developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, and funded by CAQM, DSS estimates and forecasts the contribution of local sources of pollution and those in 19 NCR districts to Delhi's PM2.5. It also calculates the percentage contribution of stubble burning to the city's air pollution. The system is available only for the winter season (Oct to Feb). The last data available on the DSS website is for Nov 26-29. Last winter, DSS had briefly stopped sharing data on pollution sources in Delhi. Sources in CAQM said DSS was still in the developmental state and hadn't been fully commissioned. "A project evaluation committee is reviewing DSS periodically because its data and accuracy were not in line with the terms of reference decided for the model. Some data used by the system or emission inventory was quite old. DSS has also been asked to update its weather forecasting techniques or methodologies," said a CAQM official. The official added that air pollution sources and emission patterns over the years in the entire NCR, as well as the weather forecasting techniques, needed to be updated in DSS. The system is being evaluated and will be resumed after changes are introduced to improve its accuracy, said the sources. According to DSS's website, the region and source-wise contributions are based on the emissions inventory formulated in 2021. "For a more accurate estimation of source contribution, the latest emission fields are required," says DSS's website. An IITM official confirmed that the system was being reviewed by an expert committee. "DSS was commissioned along with the early warning system in 2018, and it was then capable of calculating the share of biomass burning in Delhi's air quality. However, after CAQM was formed, the commission in 2021 funded the project for calculating other sources impacting Delhi's air quality," said the official, who, however, offered no clarity on when this system will become operational again. Experts emphasised that source apportionment data was needed to prepare strategies and reduce air pollution at the source level. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "Dynamic forecasting of the relative contribution of pollution sources and real-time assessment of the contribution of pollution sources to the city's air quality are critical for responsive and transparent decision-making, science-based air quality management, and tracking progress. Public investments in these systems need to be upscaled and not become wasteful." Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst, Envirocatalysts, added that by withholding data, DSS risked further erosion of the already minimal transparency in identifying pollution sources. "This lack of openness undermines accountability and hampers effective action against pollution. Decision-makers must leverage available data and tools like DSS, real-time source apportionment studies, and other systems to address pollution. Failing to do so wastes public resources, scientific efforts, and critical time needed to combat pollution effectively," remarked Dahiya.

• Industrial Pollution

NESREA releases new environmental audit guidelines

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nigeria has unveiled new guidelines on environmental audit in Nigeria at a workshop-cum-report release programme today. The one-day workshop organized in partnership with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a global think tank based in New Delhi, India is attended by over 350 participants comprising NESREA accredited consultants and staff of the Agency. An environmental audit is a series of activities undertaken with respect to the operations of a facility or an organisation to evaluate its environmental performance. It is not a one-time step but an ongoing activity that aims to identify and correct environmental issues that arise during the operation of a project and improve operating and environmental conditions in industries. The review of the guidelines was necessitated by observations that existing audit reports lacked essential technical data, hindering accurate assessments of industrial performance. Officially unveiling the Environmental Audit Guidelines and manual, the Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor said: “The Agency has observed that audit reports received from consultants come in different formats, lack important information, and in some cases they do not reflect the actual status of the process of the operating facility. Also, these reports do not adequately cover the information included in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) developed during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The new guidelines are intended to streamline the processes associated with undertaking and review of the environmental audits”. Dr Barikor added: “This revised guideline is an outcome of the collaborative efforts between CSE and NESREA. I would like to extend my appreciation to CSE for the support they have provided to NESREA in the development of these guidelines, needed to standardize environmental audit reports in our country. Going forward the Agency will be verifying the parameters in the Audit Report submitted by consultants and will also take a decisive action against any consultant that engages in falsification, fabrication and plagiarism” In preparing the guidelines, officials of NESREA and CSE reviewed the existing audit guidelines and the corresponding environmental audit reports from different sectors and concluded that the existing audit reports lacked technical data and information required for depicting the performance of the industries. Speaking at the event, Ishita Garg of CSE said: “A thoroughly performed environmental audit allows industries to analyse the ambiguities in the implementation of management plans and take corrective measures. It also helps industries improve the process efficiency by optimizing the usage of resources, increasing production and thereby resulting in monetary benefits”. On the regulatory front, “a comprehensive audit report can be helpful as it will assist in assessing the compliance status of the industry and understand its environmental performance. Comparing data of two to three years can ascertain whether the performance of an industry is improving or declining,” she adds. Says Garg: “Most of the audit reports had enough of qualitative information but lacked in basic quantitative data like the production capacity, energy and water consumption, quantity of wastewater and solid waste generated. The reports also have only one-year data which makes it difficult to compare the performance of the industry with the previous years. In the absence of sufficient data, the whole audit process becomes ineffective,” she adds. The Director, Inspection and Enforcement, NESREA, Mr. Isa Abdussalam, said: “The new guidelines are more robust, focusing on quantitative and technical data from the industries along with the information on mitigation measures taken in various sectors over the years. Apart from being of immense use for project proponents and assistance to experts in conducting audits, these guidelines would also be useful for the regulatory bodies to review the submitted audit reports.”

• Industrial Pollution

NESREA train staff, accredited consultants on environmental audit reporting

The Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Environmental Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor has charged staff of the Agency and accredited consultants to play a critical role safeguarding Nigeria’s natural resources and public health. He gave the charge on Wednesday at a capacity building workshop for NESREA staff and accredited consultants on Environmental audit reporting. The one-day workshop organized in partnership with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a global think tank based in New Delhi, India is attended by over 350 participants comprising NESREA accredited consultants and staff of the Agency Dr. Barikor said NESREA staff and consultants are on the Frontline of environmental compliance, hence the training will enhance their capacity to enforce compliance, identify areas for environmental improvement and contribute valuable insights to our ongoing environmental strategy. “Today’s training is organized with a view to strengthening our approach to environmental auditing, align our practices with global standards and sharpen our focus on effective, high-quality audit reporting. It encompasses a comprehensive orientation on the National Environmental Audit Guidelines, recently reviewed by NESREA in collaboration with CSE. These guidelines reflect both international standards and the specific regulatory and environmental contexts of Nigeria. “This workshop focuses on two important aspects of environmental auditing, firstly, International Best Practices and Current Realities in Environmental Auditing and secondly, enhanced Audit Reporting for Regulatory and Strategic Impact. “This training is expected to expose NESREA officers and consultants to recent developments and equip them with global best practices that elevate the accuracy, comprehensiveness and impact of our audits. Our participants will be enlightened on advanced techniques such as risk-based auditing, lifecycle analysis and data-driven environmental assessments, all of which are essential to conducting audits that are not only compliant but also predictive and preventive. “As we are aware, high-quality audit reporting is a foundation to environmental compliance and enforcement. Our reports are key instruments that guide policy, inform industry standards and ultimately shape environmental performance across sectors. “This workshop is sure to emphasize best practices for reporting, including enhanced environmental data interpretation, effective visualization, and clear communication of findings and recommendations. The goal is to produce audit reports that are actionable and technically robust, providing clear guidance for industries and facilities to improve their environmental management practices. Speaking at the event, Ishita Garg of CSE said a thoroughly performed environmental audit allows industries to analyse the ambiguities in the implementation of management plans and take corrective measures. “It also helps industries improve the process efficiency by optimizing the usage of resources, increasing production and thereby resulting in monetary benefits”. She said on the regulatory front, a “comprehensive audit report can be helpful as it will assist in assessing the compliance status of the industry and understand its environmental performance. Comparing data of two to three years can ascertain whether the performance of an industry is improving or declining,” “Most of the audit reports had enough of qualitative information but lacked in basic quantitative data like the production capacity, energy and water consumption, quantity of wastewater and solid waste generated. The reports also have only one-year data which makes it difficult to compare the performance of the industry with the previous years. In the absence of sufficient data, the whole audit process becomes ineffective,” she adds. According to the Director, Inspection and Enforcement, NESREA, Mr. Isa Abdusalam “The new guidelines are more robust, focusing on quantitative and technical data from the industries along with the information on mitigation measures taken in various sectors over the years. Apart from being of immense use for project proponents and assistance to experts in conducting audits, these guidelines would also be useful for the regulatory bodies to review the submitted audit reports.”

• Industrial Pollution

NESREA To Take Decisive Action Against Consultants For Report Fabrication-DG

The Director General of NESREA, Dr Innocent Barikor says the Agency is monitoring the activities of state field offices to ensure that staff do not obstruct or interfere with the work of NESREA Accredited Consultants. Dr Barikor disclosed this at a “Capacity Building Workshop for NESREA Accredited Consultants and Staff on Environmental Audit Reporting,” held in Abuja the nation’s capital. He says going forward the Agency will be verifying the parameters in the Audit Report submitted by consultants and will also take a decisive action against any consultant that engages in falsification, fabrication and plagiarism. Dr Barikor also noted that the goal is to produce audit reports that are actionable and technically robust to provide clear guidance for industries and facilities to improve their environmental management practices. The DG also charged staff of the Agency and accredited consultants to play a critical role safeguarding Nigeria’s natural resources and public health. While identifying areas for environmental improvement and contribute valuable insights to NESREA ongoing environmental strategy, Dr Barikor says the training is expected to expose NESREA officers and consultants to recent developments and equip them with global best practices. “This training is expected to expose NESREA officers and consultants to recent developments and equip them with global best practices that elevate the accuracy, comprehensiveness and impact of our audits. Our participants will be enlightened on advanced techniques such as risk-based auditing, lifecycle analysis and data-driven environmental assessments, all of which are essential to conducting audits that are not only compliant but also predictive and preventive. “As we are aware, high-quality audit reporting is a foundation to environmental compliance and enforcement. Our reports are key instruments that guide policy, inform industry standards and ultimately shape environmental performance across sectors “ he stated. Dr. Barikor said NESREA staff and consultants are on the Frontline of environmental compliance, hence the training will enhance their capacity to enforce compliance. “This workshop is sure to emphasize best practices for reporting, including enhanced environmental data interpretation, effective visualization, and clear communication of findings and recommendations,” he added. Speaking at the event, Programme Manager Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Ishita Garg, said on the regulatory front, a comprehensive audit report can be helpful as it will assist in assessing the compliance status of the industry and understand its environmental performance. “Comparing data of two to three years can ascertain whether the performance of an industry is improving or declining. “Most of the audit reports had enough of qualitative information but lacked in basic quantitative data like the production capacity, energy and water consumption, quantity of wastewater and solid waste generated. ‘The reports also have only one-year data which makes it difficult to compare the performance of the industry with the previous years. In the absence of sufficient data, the whole audit process becomes ineffective,” she stated. She further stressed that a thoroughly performed environmental audit allows industries to analyse the ambiguities in the implementation of management plans and take corrective measures. “It also helps industries improve the process efficiency by optimizing the usage of resources, increasing production and thereby resulting in monetary benefits,” she said. Director, Inspection and Enforcement, NESREA, Mr. Isa Abdusalam, explained that the new guidelines are more robust, focusing on quantitative and technical data from the industries along with the information on mitigation measures taken in various sectors over the years. According to him, “Apart from being of immense use for project proponents and assistance to experts in conducting audits, these guidelines would also be useful for the regulatory bodies to review the submitted audit reports.” The one-day workshop organized in partnership with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a global think tank based in New Delhi, India was attended by over 350 participants comprising NESREA accredited consultants and staff of the Agency. The training workshop is to strengthen NESREA commitment to environmental sustainability, compliance, and the pursuit of excellence in conducting environmental audits across facilities in Nigeria. An environmental audit is a series of activities undertaken with respect to the operations of a facility or an organisation to evaluate its environmental performance. It is not a one-time step but an ongoing activity that aims to identify and correct environmental issues that arise during the operation of a project and improve operating and environmental conditions in industries.

• Industrial Pollution

NESREA Releases New Environmental Audit Guidelines

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has released updated guidelines for environmental audits in Nigeria. The unveiling took place at a workshop held today in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a globally recognised think tank based in New Delhi, India. The event brought together over 350 participants, including NESREA-accredited consultants and agency staff. An environmental audit involves evaluating a facility’s or organisation’s environmental performance through a systematic review of its operations. This process identifies and addresses environmental issues while improving operational efficiency and environmental conditions. Unlike a one-time activity, an environmental audit is an ongoing process essential for sustainable industrial practices. The need to revise the guidelines arose from concerns that existing audit reports lacked critical technical data, undermining their effectiveness in accurately assessing industrial performance. Speaking at the official launch of the revised guidelines, NESREA’s director-general, Dr. Innocent Barikor highlighted these deficiencies. He stated, “Audit reports from consultants often come in inconsistent formats, lack crucial information, and fail to reflect the actual operational status of facilities. Moreover, these reports often do not align with the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) developed during Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). The new guidelines aim to streamline and standardise the environmental audit process.” Barikor credited the successful revision of the guidelines to the collaborative efforts between NESREA and CSE. He expressed gratitude to CSE for its support, noting that the updated guidelines would improve the accuracy and consistency of audit reports in Nigeria. He also emphasized NESREA’s commitment to monitoring the submitted reports closely. “The Agency will verify the parameters in audit reports and take decisive action against any consultant found guilty of falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism,” he warned. The revised guidelines were developed following a detailed review of existing environmental audit reports across various sectors. Officials from NESREA and CSE observed significant gaps in the technical data provided in these reports, which limited their effectiveness. For example, many reports lacked quantitative data on production capacity, energy and water consumption, and the volumes of wastewater and solid waste generated. Additionally, most reports included data for only one year, making it impossible to track trends or improvements over time. Highlighting the importance of robust audits, CSE representative Ishita Garg explained, “A comprehensive environmental audit helps industries identify gaps in their environmental management plans and take corrective action. It also optimises resource use, increases efficiency, and can lead to significant monetary benefits. From a regulatory perspective, a thorough audit enables better assessment of compliance and performance trends over multiple years.” Garg noted that many existing reports contained qualitative insights but fell short in providing critical quantitative data. “The absence of sufficient technical data renders the audit process ineffective. Reports should include at least two to three years of data for meaningful comparisons and insights into industry performance,” she added. NESREA’s director of inspection and enforcement, Mr. Isa Abdussalam underscored the technical improvements in the revised guidelines. “The new guidelines emphasise quantitative and technical data alongside mitigation measures adopted by industries over time. These enhancements make the guidelines valuable not only for project proponents and experts conducting audits but also for regulatory bodies reviewing audit reports,” he explained. The updated guidelines aim to bridge the gaps identified in the earlier framework and foster better compliance with environmental standards. By prioritising data accuracy and consistency, the guidelines promise to enhance industrial accountability and promote sustainable practices in Nigeria. The partnership between NESREA and CSE reflects a shared commitment to environmental protection and regulatory excellence. As industries adopt the revised guidelines, they are expected to improve their environmental performance and align more closely with global best practices.

• Industrial Pollution

Govt unveils new environmental audit guidelines

The Federal Government has unveiled new environmental audit guidelines in Nigeria for the operation of facilities in the country.Sustainable fashion Dr Innocent Barikor, the Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), stated this at a workshop and unveiling of the guidelines on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, in Abuja. He said that the guidelines aimed to strengthen the agency’s shared commitment to environmental sustainability, compliance, and the pursuit of excellence in conducting environmental audits across facilities in Nigeria.Sustainable fashion The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a global organisation based in New Delhi, India. Barikor said the environmental audit guidelines identified and addressed environmental problems that occurred during project operations, aiming to improve industrial operations and minimise environmental impact. He said that the agency had observed that audit reports received from consultants come in different formats, lacking important information. Barikor said that in some cases it failed to reflect the actual status of the process of the operating facility. “These reports do not adequately cover the information included in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) developed during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). “The new guidelines are intended to streamline the processes associated with undertaking and review of the environmental audits,” he said. He said that high-quality audit reporting was a foundation to environmental compliance and enforcement. “Our reports are key instruments that guide policy, inform industry standards and ultimately shape environmental performance across sectors. “The alignment of our guidelines with global best practices will ensure that Nigeria’s environmental audits are credible, transparent and impactful on a global scale,” he said.Sustainable fashion “Going forward, the agency will be verifying the parameters in the Audit Report submitted by consultants and take a decisive action against any consultant that engages in falsification, fabrication and plagiarism,” he said. He said the revised guideline is an outcome of the collaborative efforts between CSE and NESREA. Barikor said that the agency was carefully monitoring the activities of the state field offices, to ensure that staff do not obstruct or interfere with the work of NESREA accredited consultants. Ms. Ishita Garg of CSE said that a thoroughly performed environmental audit allowed industries to analyse the ambiguities in the implementation of management plans and take corrective measures. “It also helps industries improve the process efficiency by optimising the usage of resources, increasing production and thereby resulting in monetary benefits. ” A comprehensive audit report can be helpful as it will assist in assessing the compliance status of the industry and understand its environmental performance,” she said. Mr. Isa Abdussalam, Director, Inspection and Enforcement, NESREA, said the new guidelines are more robust, focusing on quantitative and technical data from the industries. He said that the new guidelines also contained information on mitigation measures taken in various sectors over the years. “These guidelines would also be useful for the regulatory bodies to review the submitted audit reports,” he said. The review of the guidelines was necessitated by observations that existing audit reports lacked essential technical data, hindering accurate assessments of industrial performance.

• Director General Office

आवरण कथा/पर्यावरणः जलवायु नीतियों का भविष्य

राष्ट्रपति के चुनाव में डोनाल्ड ट्रम्प की जीत रिपब्लिकन पार्टी के समर्थकों के लिए जश्न का कारण हो सकती है लेकिन पर्यावरण पर काम करने वाले लोग इससे चिंतित हैं। ट्रम्प जलवायु परिवर्तन को संदेह की निगाह से देखते हैं। उनके अलावा किसी और राष्ट्रपति ने हाल के वर्षों में कार्बन कटौती के वैश्विक प्रयासों को इतना धक्का नहीं पहुंचाया है। अपने पिछले कार्यकाल में ट्रम्प ने दावोस के वर्ल्ड इकनॉमिक फोरम में पर्यावरणवादियों को ‘प्रलय के पैगम्बर’ कह कर आलोचना की थी। उन्होंने ग्लोबल वार्मिंग को ‘मिथकीय’, ‘अफवाह’ और ‘घोटाला’ करार दिया है। अपनी जीत के बाद समर्थकों को संबोधित करते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि जीवाश्म ईंधनों से दूर हटने के समझौते पर कॉप 28 में दस्तखत करने वाला- अमेरिका अब तेल उत्पादन को बढ़ाएगा। तेल और गैस उद्योग ने इस बयान का स्वागत किया है। उन्होंने कहा था, ‘‘हमारे पास जितना तेल है उतना दुनिया में किसी के पास नहीं, सउदी अरब से भी ज्यादा, रूस से भी ज्यादा है।’’ ट्रम्प के पिछले कार्यकाल के दौरान कई विवादास्पद कदमों में एक पेरिस संधि से अमेरिका को पीछे खींचना था। बाइडन ने दोबारा अमेरिका को पेरिस समझौते का हिस्सा बना दिया था। पेरिस जलवायु समझौता 2015 में किया गया था। इसे ग्लोबल वार्मिंग के खिलाफ एक बड़ा कदम माना जाता है। इसका लक्ष्य तापमान में इजाफे को डेढ़ डिग्री सेंटिग्रेड तक सीमित रखना है। पेरिस में यह भी तय किया गया था कि अमीर देश सालाना एक अरब डॉलर का योगदान गरीब विकासशील देशों को देंगे ताकि यह लक्ष्य हासिल करने में उनकी मदद की जा सके। जो बाइडन ने पेरिस समझौते पर वापसी के अलावा कई जलवायु हितैषी उपाय अपनाए थे। अमेरिका फिलहाल चीन के बाद ग्रीनहाउस गैसों का सबसे बड़ा उत्सर्जक है। यदि ट्रम्प के बयानों को गंभीरता से लें, तो मान सकते हैं कि वैश्विक जलवायु लक्ष्य अमेरिका की पहुंच से और दूर ही होते जाएंगे। बाइडन ने 2022 में इनफ्लेशन रिडक्शन कानून पर दस्तखत किए थे। यह अमेरिका का जलवायु में सबसे बड़ा निवेश था। इसका काम 2030 तक 2005 के स्तरों के मुकाबले उत्सर्जनों को आधे पर ले आना है। ट्रम्प ने अपने प्रचार के दौरान इस कानून को बहुत महंगा बताते हुए इसकी आलोचना की थी और इस पर जो भी राशि अभी खर्च नहीं हुई है उसे रद्द करने का वादा किया था। दिलचस्प यह है कि स्वच्छ ऊर्जा के घोषित निवेशों में तीन चौथाई से ज्यादा रिपब्लिकन पार्टी द्वारा शासित प्रांतों के लिए थे। इसीलिए कुछ रिपब्लिकन नेताओं ने भी आइआरए को समर्थन दे दिया था, खासकर उन प्रांतों में जहां सौर ऊर्जा कारखानों, पवन चक्कियों और अन्य परियोजनाओं से रोजगार पैदा हुए थे। इसलिए आइआरए को खत्म करने में इन लाभ पाए राज्यों के प्रतिनिधियों के समर्थन की भी ट्रम्प को जरूरत पड़ेगी। कानूनी फर्म मैक्डर्माट विल ऐंड एमेरी में पार्टनर कार्ल फ्लेमिंग ने रायटर्स को बताया है, ‘‘रोजगारों और आर्थिक लाभों का फायदा रिब्लिकन प्रांतों को इतना ज्यादा मिला है कि यह सोचना मुश्किल है कि कोई सरकार ऐसे ही कह देगी कि हमें ये पसंद नहीं।’’ दिल्ली की संस्था सेंटर फॉर साइंस ऐंड एनवायरनमेन्ट की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण कहती हैं, ‘‘आइआरए इसलिए अहम है क्योंकि ग्रीनहाउस गैसों के उत्सर्जन के मामले में ऐतिहासिक रूप से से अमेरिका अव्वल रहा है। आइआरए दुनिया को यह संदेश था कि अमेरिका जलवायु परिवर्तन विरोधी कार्रवाइयों में अगुवाई कर सकता है।’’ ये सवाल इसलिए भी अहम हैं क्योंकि 11 से 22 नवंबर के बीच दुनिया भर के नेता अजरबैजान के बाकू में कॉप 29 की बैठक में मिल रहे हैं। इस शिखर सम्मेलन में एक नए जलवायु वित्त समझौते पर सहमति की बात होनी है जिसके तहत अगले साल से विकसित देश जलवायु परिवर्तन से लड़ने और खुद को अनुकूलित करने के लिए विकासशील देशों का वित्तपोषण करेंगे। अमेरिका का इस मसले पर रुख महत्वपूर्ण होगा। फिलहाल, अटकलें लगाई जा रही हैं कि डोनाल्ड ट्रम्प कहीं अमेरिका को संयुक्त राष्ट्र के जलवायु परिवर्तन पर फ्रेमवर्क कनवेंशन (यूएनएफसीसी) से भी अलग न कर दें, जिसका 198 देश अनुमोदन कर चुके हैं। ट्रम्प यदि इससे अलग हो गए तो अगले किसी भी राष्ट्रपति के लिए यूएनएफसीसी का दोबारा हिस्सा बनना कठिन हो जाएगा क्योंकि उसके लिए सीनेट की मंजूरी जरूरी होगी। जलवायु परिवर्तन झेल रहे प्रमुख देशों में एक ऑस्ट्रेलिया है, जहां के प्रधानमंत्री एंथनी अल्बानीज की सरकार ने अमेरिका के साथ अपने रिश्तों में जलवायु और स्वच्छ ऊर्जा को तीसरा स्तंभ बनाने की परिकल्पना की है। ट्रम्प अगर यूएन की संधि से अलग हुए तो ऑस्ट्रेलिया को यूरोप और एशिया में नए सहयोगी ढूंढने होंगे।

• Director General Office

Eklavya Prasad's series 'Portraits of Persistence...' to display an untold story of North Bihar's resilience

Art is a powerful medium that can capture the essence of a community, its struggle, and its triumph. The medium has the power of telling a story. One such powerful visual story will be displayed through Eklavya Prasad's 'Visual Katha' on 'Portraits of Persistence, and Enduring Communities of North Bihar' – a series of photographs. The series will be open for display from December 6 to 12 at the Art Gallery, India International Centre Annexe, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, between 11 am to 7 pm. Photographer Eklavya Prasad, over the years, has captured the life struggles and battles of numerous communities that struggle to stay afloat in North Bihar. The artist captured their spirit, tenacity, and the eternal strive to seek a better life. Bihar is one of the most populous states in India, with a rich culture, ancient history, and beautiful landscapes. But it is also known for its poverty, illiteracy, and social inequalities. The communities Eklavya Prasad has captured through his lens are often marginalised and neglected by society. But through his photographs, he brings their stories to the forefront and sheds light on their existence and struggles. The 'Portraits of Persistence' are not photographs; they are visual kathas or stories that speak to the viewers. Each photograph tells a different story – a story of hope, determination, and perseverance. One cannot help but feel moved by these powerful images. The exhibition will be inaugurated on December 5, 2024, at 6:00 pm by Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. Dr Krishna S Vatsa, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi, will also grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Who is Eklavya Prasad? Eklavya Prasad is a social development professional and a photographer, known for capturing and narrating the complexities of rural landscapes and communities confronting environmental adversity. With over 29 years in social development, he has been instrumental in documenting the interactions between people, water, and the environment, using photography to raise awareness and foster community-centred solutions to water insecurity, sanitation technology for flood-prone areas, and contextual climate resilience. Eklavya Prasad captures more than the physical aspects of these communities through his photographs; he also goes to their emotional and spiritual level. He captures their struggle, dreams, and aspirations to give voice to those usually overlooked by society.

• Director General Office

Visual Kathã: A Glimpse Of Eklavya Prasad’s Portraits of Persistence, Enduring Communities of North Bihar

Photographer Eklavya Prasad’s Visual Kathã series on ‘Portraits of Persistence, and Enduring Communities of North Bihar’ will be on display at Delhi’s The Art Gallery on Lodhi Road from December 6-12 from 11 am to 7 pm. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi will inaugurate the exhibition 6 pm on December 5. Dr. Krishna S. Vatsa, Member, National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi, will be the guest of honour. The series captures the untold resilience of North Bihar’s communities as they confront the cyclical devastations of annual flooding. THE EXHIBITION Through this collection, viewers will be taken on a journey that unfolds the intricate dimensions of floods, beginning with the varied typologies, from flash floods to the riverine floods, engulfing rise of river waters, each with unique implications for the region’s landscape and lives. The photographs document the immediate impacts on daily life, as homes, farmlands, and infrastructure yield to the force of water.

• Climate Change and Green Economy

Unpacking India’s fuming response at COP29: What really transpired?

In the wee hours of November 24, while most people in India were fast asleep, a drama unfolded at a sprawling conference hall of the Olympic stadium in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku. Diplomats from nearly 200 countries, civil society representatives and journalists had gathered to witness a decision that could determine the fate of climate action in the Global South. But what transpired was far from routine — it was a moment of diplomatic brinkmanship that left many stunned and India’s delegation fuming. As the president of this year’s UN climate conference, Mukhtar Babayev, approached the centrepiece agenda item — the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance — India’s Deputy Lead Negotiator Neelesh Sah rushed to COP29 Lead Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev to convey that the country wants to make a statement before the adoption of the contentious decision. Around 2:30 am, without so much as a pause for objections or comments, Babayev hammered the gavel, declaring the USD 300 billion climate-finance package adopted. The move was so swift, it left delegates from many developing countries blinking in disbelief. Avantika Goswami, head of the Climate Change Programme at the Centre for Science and Environment, said it happened “quite suddenly and unceremoniously”. “We were surprised because the last-known figure on the table — USD 300 billion — was far below the latest G77 compromise of USD 500 billion. We also knew that India was preparing to interject in the process. The fact that it was passed before any such objections were raised came as a surprise,” she said. Journalists witnessing the drama unfold in the plenary room saw the entire Indian delegation leap to their feet, making a timeout gesture. Sah dashed over to Rafiyev, exchanged a few words and returned to his seat, panting. Meanwhile, Babayev passed the microphone to Cuba for a statement, followed by India, Bolivia, Nigeria and Malawi, who spoke on behalf of a group of 45 least-developed countries. In total, 49 countries objected to the deal. In the UNFCCC process, one objection is enough to block a decision. However, India had no intention of blocking the deal and its outburst was about more than just the money. Delivering India’s statement, Chandni Raina, Adviser at the Department of Economic Affairs, described the manner in which the deal was adopted as “unfair” and “stage-managed”. Raina was scathing about the new climate-finance package, calling the meagre USD 300 billion a year by 2035 “too little and too distant”. She labelled the sum “abysmally poor”, “paltry” and an “optical illusion” — a far cry from the USD 1 trillion developing countries need every year to cope with the warming world. Raina flagged three major issues for India in the deal — paragraphs 8a, 8c and 9 of the agreement. Para 8a: This suggests that the USD 300 billion will come from all sorts of sources — public, private, bilateral, multilateral — and not directly as public money from developed to developing countries. Developing countries have long demanded grants or grant-equivalent funding, not loans that pile on debt. Many poorer nations already spend up to 10 per cent of their GDP on servicing debt. Paras 8c and 9: These allow developing countries’ contributions — whether through their funding to multilateral climate finance (MDBs) or their own bilateral climate finance — to be voluntarily counted towards the USD 300 billion goal. Essentially, Global South countries might end up footing their own climate bills — hardly the spirit of climate justice. Raina called it a “deflection” of developed nations’ responsibilities. Questions have been raised as to why India did not mention these issues at the heads-of-delegation meeting on Saturday or earlier. To be clear, India had already articulated its concerns throughout the two-week conference. From high-level dialogues on just transition, pre-2030 ambition, climate finance and adaptation finance to the Mitigation Work Programme and its national statement, India has consistently made its case, aligning with the group of Like-Minded Developing Countries. A former negotiator familiar with the backroom drama told PTI that India’s 11th-hour objection was not a tantrum — it was a plea for fairness. India wanted more discussion, especially since the text — with actual numbers — only came out a day before adoption. “India was shown a figure of USD 300 billion in closed-door meetings on Saturday (November 23), but public documents still listed it as USD 250 billion. Understandably, India was nonplussed,” the former negotiator said. To make matters worse, the COP29 presidency did not share how other countries had reacted to the USD 300 billion figure. India wanted to raise all these points before the decision was finalised, but the presidency did not give it the chance, the former negotiator explained. Another former negotiator pointed out that India’s statement in the plenary hinted at its desire for a proper discussion on all these issues. If India and others had spoken before the decision, it might have delayed the agreement. India’s actions suggest that it was not trying to derail the deal entirely, the negotiator added. Meanwhile, a civil society member was baffled by how two of the most vulnerable groups to climate change — the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) — ended up accepting “such a bad deal” after staging a walkout just hours earlier. These groups had demanded USD 220 billion and USD 39 billion respectively from the total finance package. Most experts PTI spoke to believe that the shadow of the US presidential elections played a big role. “Countries were scared into thinking that next year’s deal would be even worse. They felt cornered into accepting this one,” said the first negotiator. An observer added that Brazil, set to host COP30, wanted to avoid inheriting a mess, while heavyweights like China and Saudi Arabia were busy safeguarding their interests — they did not want to be officially recognised as climate-finance contributors. As the world turns its focus to the next climate summit in Brazil, one question lingers — can meaningful progress be made if such critical decisions are seen as skewed against those most vulnerable to climate change?

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

CAQM yet to submit data on increase in stubble ‘burnt area’ to apex court

Despite a Supreme Court directive, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) is yet to submit data to the top court on the increase in paddy stubble ‘burnt area’ in Punjab and Haryana in 2023, according to sources and the CAQM’s recent affidavit. The CAQM has also failed to provide the ‘Minutes of the Meeting (MoM)’ of a committee formed by it, which showed that the commission had information about the increase in ‘burnt area’ and that several farmers were burning stubble after satellites passed over the area to avoid detection. The data is critical in understanding the extent of stubble burning as the number of incidents has dipped significantly in both States this year, according to data by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) on Saturday at the end of this year’s paddy harvest season. The CAQM also uses IARI data. Experts emphasise that considering both stubble burning incidents and stubble ‘burnt area’ is essential to grasp the actual magnitude of the problem. On November 22, a Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and Augustine George Masih of the Supreme Court took note of a report in The Hindu that stated that the CAQM had information that the ‘burnt area’ of paddy fields in Punjab and Haryana increased, but the commission did not inform this to the apex court. The CAQM had informed the Supreme Court time and again that over the past couple of years there has been a “significant reduction” in stubble burning incidents, the report said. According to data from the Punjab government and the Centre, the ‘burnt area’ of paddy fields in Punjab and Haryana increased in 2023 compared with previous years. In Punjab, there was an increase in burnt area in 2022 as well, compared with 2021. Data for Haryana is not available for 2022. The Bench then directed the CAQM to submit the data on increase in ‘burnt area’ and the MoM cited in the article to the court by November 25 and also give clarifications. ‘Important concept’ Justice Oka said other than number of fires, total burnt area is a “very important” concept. He stressed the need to create a mechanism to provide accurate data on farm fires and not to wait till October next year. However, the CAQM did not submit the data and the MoM in the affidavit that it had filed later. The CAQM did not officially respond to queries, but a CAQM source said the court asking to submit the data and MoM was an oral observation of the court and not part of the order. “The committee formed by the CAQM, which is headed by ISRO, is developing a protocol for paddy burnt area as there is no standard protocol now and different governments and agencies are using different protocols,” the source said. “Burnt area by itself will not be an accurate representation as many farmers now do partial burning of the stubble, but it will still be recorded as a completely burnt area in satellite measurements,” the source added. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment, a research and advocacy organisation in Delhi, stressed the importance of considering both burnt area and number of farm fires. “If we are considering only the number of stubble burning incidents, then big and small fires will be shown as the same. But the impact and emissions from a big fire will be more. So, we have to consider both to understand the magnitude of the problem,” she said.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

What is Behind Delhi’s ‘Poor’ Air Quality Year Round

The time between November to February is the chilling winter season for north India. It is the time when thick mufflers hide faces of the shivering people and chai shops become comfortable warm spots in the outdoors. But over the past decade, winter season in the northern Indian region has become the alleged season of ‘pollution’. It has become the season of choked nostrils and daily updates on AQI by newspapers. Even though toxic air is a reality for Delhi year round, the winters make it visible more disastrously. Factors from vehicular pollution, stubble burning, and faulty waste incineration to Diwali firecrackers are cited for the persistent toxic atmosphere not only in Delhi but also in other metropolitan areas across North India. For instance, the pollution levels in Chandigarh, India’s first planned city which is about 240km away from Delhi, have been at more than 15 times the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), for more than a month now. Each year in November, the Supreme Court passes orders directing various authorities to take serious measures. Special boards on pollution control work along with the municipal departments of various cities to work out a plan beforehand to control pollution. However, the problem remains unbattered year after year. The AQI hits an abnormally high record every year, which makes the people of the entire country go in awe. But the real question is, what is this pollution in North India that persists year on year in spite of multiple measures by various authorities, pressure groups and NGOs? There are many factors that contribute to the pollution in Delhi, and subsequently in the northern part of India. Amongst these, vehicular pollution and dust from construction work contribute the most to the annual poor air quality in Delhi year-round. Other factors include open waste burning, power plants in the region encompassing Delhi, agricultural burning of stubble and festivals that call for firecracker burning. Each one of these factors is taken care of by a separate governing body or control board in Delhi. This makes for multiplicity in the governance of a single problem. 1. AQI and Its Components The AQI or the air-quality index is a measure for reporting daily air-quality in a particular area. It defines how clean or polluted the air is and helps to predict pollution’s health effects on the human body. AQI is basically the measure of the density of pollutants present in the air. Eight individual pollutants are monitored to calculate a single composite index. These pollutants are namely PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ground-level oxygen, ammonia and lead. Each pollutant has its own sub-index value, which cumulatively forms the bigger index or the AQI. The oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide make up 80% of Delhi’s air pollution, which mainly stems from traffic. 1.1 Year-On-Year Comparison The mean average of month-wise daily AQI for Delhi was released by the Press Information Bureau, which recorded the AQI from 2018 to 2023. These trends clearly show that AQI for 2023 between the months of November to February has seen an increment, in comparison to the last few years. 2. Factors 2.1 Vehicular Emissions The Centre for Science and Environment or CSE is a Delhi-based research and advocacy group that writes on critical environmental issues. The organisation stated, “While meeting the clean air benchmark requires deep cuts in emissions from all sources of pollution in the region, the mobility crisis will require immediate attention and upscale intervention to cut down the prime contributor to the toxic pollution buildup.” Vehicle emissions contribute up to 51% to the local pollution of Delhi. Delhi’s registered vehicle population has reached up to 7.6 million in recent times from 2.2 million back in 1994. This makes for a growth rate of 14% in vehicle registration per annum. Among these, two-thirds of the motor vehicles registered are two-wheelers. Residents in Delhi are pushing themselves towards private vehicles because of the lack of a robust public transport system. This makes one household own more than two cars. This is how vehicular pollution became one of the biggest contributing factors to Delhi’s poor air. Delhi started to implement fuel-based standards before any other city in the rest of the country. The BS2 standards were introduced in Delhi in 2001 and were rolled out in the rest of the country in 2005. The Delhi government also attempted the odd-even experiment up to 3 times till 2024, with its first attempt in January 2016. The rules restricted vehicles with registration numbers ending with an odd digit on odd days and an even digit on even days. But that did not render a lot of noticeable difference to the worsening air quality. This rule excluded Delhi’s large and old fleet of DTC buses and the huge number of two-wheelers. The myth that CNG buses were a cleaner option for transport in Delhi was busted by a real-world vehicle emission study by ICCT released in 2024, which stated that CNG buses emit oxides of nitrogen, which contribute to the formation of secondary PM and ozone.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

लगातार बढ़ते प्रदूषण पर लगाम लगाने में सरकार उदासीन

बेंगलूरु. वाहनों से होने वाला अत्यधिक उत्सर्जन, अनियमित निर्माण मलबे से धूल के पहाड़, वृक्षों की संख्या में भारी गिरावट ने विशेषकर वायु प्रदूषण संबंधित चिंताओं को कई गुना बढ़ा दिया है। लैंसेट प्लेनेटरी हेल्थ में प्रकाशित अध्ययन के अनुसार वायु प्रदूषण के कम स्तर वाले बेंगलूरु, हैदराबाद और चेन्नई जैसे शहरों में मृत्यु दर का जोखिम बहुत अधिक है। हर 10 माइक्रोग्राम की वृद्धि से दिल्ली में 0.3 फीसदी मृत्यु दर की तुलना में बेंगलूरु में मृत्यु की संभावना तीन फीसदी है। विडम्बना तो यह है कि लगातार बढ़ते प्रदूषण पर लगाम लगाने में सरकार उदासीन है। राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम (एनसीएपी) के तहत निधियों के उपयोग में 25 शहरों की सूची में बेंगलूरु सबसे खराब प्रदर्शन करने वाले शहरों में है। विशेषज्ञों के अनुसार परिवहन, अपशिष्ट जलाने और डीजल सहित वायु प्रदूषण के बिखरे हुए स्थानीय स्रोतों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करने की जरूरत है। 13 प्रतिशत का ही किया उपयोग सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसइ) द्वारा तैयार की गई एक रिपोर्ट कहती है कि बेंगलूरु ने स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम के लिए 15वें वित्त आयोग के तहत जारी अनुदान का बमुश्किल 13 प्रतिशत ही उपयोग किया।पार्टिकुलेट मैटर (पीएम 2.5) उत्सर्जन के लिए 16 शहरों का अध्ययन किया गया। शहर में वाहन 64 फीसदी पीएम 2.5 उत्सर्जन के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं। डीजल जनरेटर (डीजी) सेट ने शहर के पीएम 2.5 में 11 प्रतिशत योगदान दिया जबकि खुले में ठोस कचरे को जलाने से 10 प्रतिशत उत्सर्जन हुआ। सड़क के धूल सात प्रतिशत प्रदूषण के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं। उत्सर्जन पर रोक नहीं स्थिति गंभीर है। पिछली गणना के अनुसार शहर में 1.2 करोड़ से ज्यादा वाहन हैं। वाहनों की विस्फोटक, अनियमित वृद्धि के बावजूद सरकार राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम के तहत अनिवार्य कई उपायों को सक्रिय करने में विफल रही। शहर की कार्य योजनाएं तैयार की जानी थीं, स्रोत विभाजन अध्ययन पूरा किया जाना था, प्रदूषण हॉटस्पॉट की पहचान की जानी थी और प्रदूषण आपातकालीन प्रतिक्रिया योजना तैयार की जानी थी। लेकिन, ऐसा कुछ भी नहीं हुआ। रिपोर्ट में सड़क पर उत्सर्जन प्रबंधन, पुराने वाहनों को चरणबद्ध तरीके से हटाने, सार्वजनिक परिवहन में सुधार, विद्युतीकरण, गैर-मोटर चालित परिवहन और पार्किंग नीति के विनियमन में भी भारी अंतर पाया गया है। समन्वय की कमी पर्यावरणविद् वी. रामप्रसाद ने बताया कि एनसीएपी के लक्षित लक्ष्यों के साथ प्रदर्शन से जुड़ी फंडिंग के लिए अनिवार्य रूप से सभी हितधारकों को समयबद्ध परिणाम दिखाने की आवश्यकता होती है। यहीं पर शहर की कई एजेंसियां कमजोर पाई गई हैं। मुख्य रूप से कर्नाटक राज्य प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (केएसपीसीबी) और बृहद बेंगलूरु महानगर पालिका (बीबीएमपी) के बीच समन्वय की कमी है। कोई भी पूरी जिम्मेदारी नहीं ले रहा उन्होंने कहा, केएसपीसीबी और बीबीएमपी मनमानी करते हैं। शासन की कमी है। कोई निर्वाचित पार्षद और महापौर नहीं हैं। ये सभी महापौर के कार्यक्रम हैं, न कि वे जो उपमुख्यमंत्री या मुख्यमंत्री को करने चाहिए। जब तक चुनाव नहीं होते, यह चलता रहेगा। कोई भी प्रभारी नहीं है और कोई भी पूरी जिम्मेदारी नहीं ले रहा है। वे दोष बीएमटीसी, परिवहन और अन्य विभागों पर डाल देते हैं। सफेद टॉपिंग सड़कों पर सफेद टॉपिंग से समस्या और बढ़ गई है। जब वाहन लगातार चलते हैं और लगातार ब्रेक लगाते हैं, तो धूल के कण उड़ते हैं। सड़कों की अक्सर सफाई नहीं की जाती और फुटपाथ पर धूल जम जाती है।

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Strange bedfellows: As pollution levels soar, so do housing prices

Real estate prices and rising pollution levels seem to making strange bedfellows. The National Capital Region (NCR) has seen one of the steepest rise in real estate prices in the past few years along with a sharp decline in the air quality level. According to Anarock Property Consultants, average residential prices have gone up 57% between 2019 and the end of Q3FY25. At the end of the September quarter, average prices in NCR touched `7,200 per square feet. Residential prices in Gurugram jumped the most in the past five years from 7,500 per sq ft in 2019 to19,500 per sq ft in 2024, a rise of 160%, according to data analytics firm PropEquity. It’s a strange coincidence that Gurugram’s air quality level has also been declining at an alarming pace. Gulam Zia, executive director at property consultant Knight Frank, puts the nail on the head by pointing out buyer apathy. Buyers, he says, simply don’t care about the quality of air or water. “People don’t mind buying apartments in front of a burial ground or crematorium. This is the reality of real estate,” he said. Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath recently proposed linking property prices to air and water quality in cities. He also mooted a “discount on property prices” to solve the pollution problem. “Maybe a property price discount for the quality of air and water is the solution. If economics accounted for this, maybe we would all figure this out. Essentially the air and water quality determine the rate for the property,” Kamath posted on X on November 24. Also, this would probably turn a property owner into the owner of the place, and would have better odds of fixing it if working as a group, he said. While Delhi is getting all the attention, the air quality index (AQI) isn’t good in most urban areas in the country. Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and others are included in areas with very poor air quality, he said. Kamath also said cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai have seen pollution-related deaths of 11,964, 5,091, 4,678 and 2,870, respectively. “You have to wonder what it will take for us to take air pollution more seriously. By the way, this data only covers until 2019, and things have only gotten worse in the last five years,” he said. Environmentalists such as Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said the real estate industry should start integrating these micro environmental concerns into the value of the projects “so that people pay prices for quality of life.” Roychowdhury said that there are instances where green elements of the real estimates are put in front to promote a project like lake view property, green belt and rain water harvesting facilities. “For instance, there are reports about several families shifting out of Delhi-NCR during the winter months to escape poor air quality,” she said, adding that there is a need to study the correlation between property prices and quality of air or water a place offers. Vikrant Tongad, a Noida-based environmentalist and founder of Social Action for Forest and Environment, said, “Decision to buy a property is currently guided by employment opportunities available in the urban centres, concern about the environment often is seen as a temporary annual phenomenon during winter months.” But real estate developers such as Sanjay Dutt, managing director & CEO at Tata Realty & Infrastructure, said governments should have invested in controlling pollution at all levels. “Government collect education cess , water cess and so on. That never gets spend. Then these kind of problems bound to happen,” Dutt said. Dutt added that it is good that cites such as Mumbai have got Coastal Road, new metro lines and so on and it is a welcome move. “But all these should have happened 20 years ago. They are delayed,” he said , adding that electric vehicles have reduced pollution and pre-cast technologies have reduced construction pollution. He said because infrastructure is bad in many cities, people are paying premium to stay in good localities. “Real estate prices are high because infrastructure is bad,” he said.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

CAQM yet to submit data on increase in stubble ‘burnt area’ to apex court

Despite a Supreme Court directive, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) is yet to submit data to the top court on the increase in paddy stubble ‘burnt area’ in Punjab and Haryana in 2023, according to sources and the CAQM’s recent affidavit. The CAQM has also failed to provide the ‘Minutes of the Meeting (MoM)’ of a committee formed by it, which showed that the commission had information about the increase in ‘burnt area’ and that several farmers were burning stubble after satellites passed over the area to avoid detection. The data is critical in understanding the extent of stubble burning as the number of incidents has dipped significantly in both States this year, according to data by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) on Saturday at the end of this year’s paddy harvest season. The CAQM also uses IARI data. Experts emphasise that considering both stubble burning incidents and stubble ‘burnt area’ is essential to grasp the actual magnitude of the problem. On November 22, a Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and Augustine George Masih of the Supreme Court took note of a report in The Hindu that stated that the CAQM had information that the ‘burnt area’ of paddy fields in Punjab and Haryana increased, but the commission did not inform this to the apex court. The CAQM had informed the Supreme Court time and again that over the past couple of years there has been a “significant reduction” in stubble burning incidents, the report said. According to data from the Punjab government and the Centre, the ‘burnt area’ of paddy fields in Punjab and Haryana increased in 2023 compared with previous years. In Punjab, there was an increase in burnt area in 2022 as well, compared with 2021. Data for Haryana is not available for 2022. The Bench then directed the CAQM to submit the data on increase in ‘burnt area’ and the MoM cited in the article to the court by November 25 and also give clarifications. ‘Important concept’ Justice Oka said other than number of fires, total burnt area is a “very important” concept. He stressed the need to create a mechanism to provide accurate data on farm fires and not to wait till October next year. However, the CAQM did not submit the data and the MoM in the affidavit that it had filed later. The CAQM did not officially respond to queries, but a CAQM source said the court asking to submit the data and MoM was an oral observation of the court and not part of the order. “The committee formed by the CAQM, which is headed by ISRO, is developing a protocol for paddy burnt area as there is no standard protocol now and different governments and agencies are using different protocols,” the source said. “Burnt area by itself will not be an accurate representation as many farmers now do partial burning of the stubble, but it will still be recorded as a completely burnt area in satellite measurements,” the source added. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment, a research and advocacy organisation in Delhi, stressed the importance of considering both burnt area and number of farm fires. “If we are considering only the number of stubble burning incidents, then big and small fires will be shown as the same. But the impact and emissions from a big fire will be more. So, we have to consider both to understand the magnitude of the problem,” she said.