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Portraits of Persistence: Eklavya Prasad captures the resilience of flood-affected communities in North Bihar

The Visual Kathã series, Portraits of Persistence: Enduring Communities of North Bihar, was inaugurated on December 6at the Art Gallery, India International Centre Annexe. The exhibition was formally opened by Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, amidst an engaging gathering of art enthusiasts, social development professionals, environmentally conscious individuals, and media personnel.

A tale of obligations diluted

“At COP 29, we lost an opportunity -- without a meaningful agreement on climate finance; both in terms of quantity and quality, large parts of the world that would have had the chance to rein-vent growth to make it low-carbon intensive, will not be able to do so. What’s worse, this comes at a time when these countries are even more vulnerable due to climate change impacts,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), speaking at an online debriefing on the Baku conference’s results. CSE organised the debriefing – titled ‘Did the finance COP deliver?’ – today. The 29th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ended November 24 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The headline issue of the conference was the New Collective Quanti-fied Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. The NCQG is the successor to the US $100 billion per year com-mitment made by developed countries in 2009 to support climate action in developing countries by 2020. Says Avantika Goswami, programme manager, Climate Change, CSE: “An ambitious NCQG out-come at COP 29 would have been critical for supporting the increasing climate needs of the Global South. So did the finance COP deliver? The answer has to be a most emphatic ‘no’.”

Future of Climate Change Negotiations: Key Takeaways from COP29 and the Road to COP33

A high-level roundtable discussion, “Future of Climate Change Negotiations: Lessons from COP29,” was held in New Delhi to discuss the outcomes of COP29, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), brought together policymakers, experts, and industry leaders to address the pressing climate issues faced by the Global South, with a focus on climate finance, adaptation, and the ongoing energy transition. Insights on COP29 Outcomes and the Global South’s Climate Strategy Mr. RR Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow at TERI, kicked off the session by summarizing key takeaways from COP29 and highlighting the shift in negotiation formats over the years. He noted that many countries of the Global South expressed disappointment over the low ambition of climate finance outcomes in Baku. “The developed world is unwilling to shoulder its responsibility of providing commensurate finance to support developing countries’ climate actions,” Rashmi said, stressing the importance of holding developed nations accountable and building stronger solidarity among the Global South. Dr. Manish Kumar Shrivastava, Associate Director at TERI, echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the political dynamics and principles at the core of COP negotiations. He warned that the increasing burden on developing countries was a significant worry and stressed the need for greater unity among these nations to protect their interests in future climate negotiations. Preparing India for COP33 in 2028 The discussions turned to the stark divide between developed and developing nations in addressing climate challenges. Ambassador Manjeev Puri, Distinguished Fellow at TERI, praised India’s leadership in representing the Global South’s concerns at COP29. He noted that, despite some progress on carbon markets and finance, much work remains for future COPs. “India showcased the voice of developing countries,” Puri said. Sanjay Seth, Senior Director at TERI, highlighted India’s leading role in the built environment, particularly in sectors like cement and concrete, where cleaner processes have gained traction. He emphasized that building resilience must remain an ongoing effort for achieving long-term success. The Role of Adaptation and Philanthropy in the Global Climate Agenda Ms. Suruchi Bhadwal, Director at TERI, discussed the challenges surrounding adaptation, stating that the focus on developing country processes risks duplicating efforts. She called for a global approach to adaptation that connects institutions and tracks progress through standardized indicators. Ms. Manavi Bhardwaj, representing the India Climate Collaborative, pointed out that philanthropy could play a pivotal role in fostering solidarity within the Global South and in facilitating dialogues between various stakeholders ahead of COP conferences. Ms. Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), voiced concerns about the shifting of responsibilities from developed nations. She questioned the commitment of the private sector to contribute to climate finance and stressed the need for stronger coalitions among the Global South in a divided world. India’s Preparations for COP28 and Beyond Dr. Ritu Mathur, Director at TERI, urged India to avoid getting bogged down in debates on infrastructure and fossil fuels and instead focus on a careful assessment of sectors for achieving a net-zero pathway. She called for a clear distinction between economic and social impacts. Dr. Prabhat Upadhyaya, representing the African Climate Foundation, reminded participants of the urgency to refocus efforts on what must be done in the coming years, particularly with the GST coinciding with US elections. “India must build a narrative and partnerships to push the developing country agenda at COP33,” he said.

Delhi Faces Air Pollution Crisis Again As Measures Unfold

The city’s attempts to address severe air quality through the odd-even rule and fines meet mixed reactions from residents and experts. Delhi's vibrant colors fade each winter as the capital struggles with its notorious air pollution crisis. Residents often find themselves breathing air deemed hazardous, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing 500, which led the Delhi High Court to label the city a “gas chamber” back in 2015. The court's ruling pricked the conscience of both state and national governments, igniting discussions about urgent measures to counteract this persistent dilemma. Each year, as pollution levels rise, the government rolls out various strategies to mitigate the crisis, with one of the more controversial being the odd-even vehicle rule. The odd-even scheme was first introduced by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2016. Under this policy, vehicles with odd-numbered plates are allowed on odd days, and those with even-numbered plates on even days, aiming to rationalize traffic volumes and cut down on emissions. Despite hopes surrounding this rule, scepticism remains among experts and citizens; many feel it tackles symptoms rather than the root causes of air pollution. "It's not addressing the issues of industrial pollution, stubble burning, or vehicular emissions comprehensively—it's merely putting up band-aids," said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the Centre for Science and Environment. The city experienced another alarming spike in pollution levels this year when the AQI hit 450 on November 17, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management to enact Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The GRAP framework consists of varying measures activated depending on pollution severity, and during this heightened alert, the government took rigorous actions, including banning non-essential trucks and slapping hefty fines on vehicles lacking Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC). Between October 16 and December 6, the government issued 260,258 challans, collecting upwards of ₹260 crore (approximately $31 million) from violators. This included over 114,000 fines within just the final stages of GRAP. Motorists without PUCC faced penalties soaring up to ₹10,000. Despite these rigorous measures, reports indicate some residents still prefer personal vehicles over public transport, raising questions about long-term behavioral changes. While some argue the odd-even rule can yield positive outcomes during peak pollution periods, tackling underlying issues like diesel vehicle emissions and industrial output will remain imperative for lasting ecological relief. The odd-even scheme's repeated re-implementation indicates the urgent need for strategic long-term solutions. Meanwhile, studies indicate it made some headway; for example, PM2.5 levels decreased by about 13% during the odd-even rule's enforcement period. Yet, critics argue this is not substantial enough to warrant the repeated use of the scheme without significant investment in broader anti-pollution strategies. Internationally, cities like Beijing and Paris have explored similar initiatives. Beijing's odd-even policy introduced before the 2008 Olympics reportedly cut pollution levels to nearly 20%. Paris made public transport free during such enforced measures to encourage residents to opt for transit instead of private vehicles. Such combined approaches could be pivotal for Delhi if the government seeks to implement holistic and effective air quality solutions.

I feel dizzy but I can’t stop’: global heating is already making kiln workers’ lives unbearable. And it will only get worse

“Iwork with fire. But this has been the hottest ever, even for me,” says Harilal Rajput, squinting in the blazing midday sun. Rajput, 41, is a chief fire worker at a brick kiln near the town of Danapur on the outskirts of Patna, capital of the eastern state of Bihar. He is a migrant worker; his wife, a farmer, lives in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh with their three children. It is almost 1pm on a June afternoon and neither Rajput nor the nine fire workers he supervises have had any food since the previous night. They will eat only when their eight-hour shift ends at about 4pm. His team, he says, is “running on water”. Tying a cotton cloth on their heads and keeping a bucket of water handy to hydrate occasionally are some of the many precautions kiln workers take to cope with heat exhaustion. When the Guardian visits the kiln in the middle of India’s longest ever heatwave, Patna clocks 42.2C (108F). But Rajput says it feels twice as hot on top of the kiln where he works, adding coal to a small brick firing zone of 35 neatly arranged holes. “I often feel dizzy, my throat goes dry and I shiver as my body heats up, but our firing work cannot stop,” he says. The kilns close during the monsoon season from late June to November, but this month they will be reignited and the brick firing will begin again. For the 200 days or so of the 2024-25 dry brick making season, firemen such as Rajput will feed coal into the kiln every 10 minutes, a gruelling job that is even more taxing on hot days. Rajput is one of an estimated 15 million workers employed by about 140,000 brick kilns in the country. India is the world’s second-largest brick producer, after China. The sector is not organised and is under-regulated. It offers seasonal employment to informal workers, mostly migrants, and often sees cases of bonded labour. Bihar has about 7,700 brick kilns with an annual production of more than 20bn bricks. Kiln workers, who almost always work and live on the same premises, face the double blow of rising atmospheric temperatures and high heat that radiates from the furnace. During the hot season, kiln workers reported symptoms of “heat strain, reduced productivity, and impacts on daily life”, according to a 2015 study. Ram Pravesh Manjhi, a 35-year-old brick moulder at the same kiln as Rajput, says that day and night feel equally hot for him. “In winter, we can work for almost the whole day but right now [in June] even a few hours in daytime are exhausting.” At his kiln almost all the work is suspended during the hottest hours of the day – but not the firing. India’s 2024 summer was particularly harsh, with the country experiencing the longest heatwave on record. Bihar was one of the northern states that bore the brunt of the extreme temperatures, with more than a dozen deaths from suspected heatstroke as schools were forced to close. And it is going to get worse. Heatwaves in India are projected to become more intense, last longer and occur at a higher frequency and earlier in the year, and the northern states, including Bihar – which have the highest concentration of brick kilns, themselves a contributor to rising temperatures – will see the most brutal temperatures. New research by the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham in England shows that brick kiln workers are among the most vulnerable to human-caused global heating. Researchers mapped more than 48,000 brick kilns across India using satellite data then overlaid climate models on to the geolocations of the kilns to forecast the number of days of extreme heat that kiln workers would endure between now and 2050. Predictions of the risk of future heat stress in brick kilns were made using the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) measure, which combines dry air temperature (as you’d see on a thermometer) with humidity, sun angle and wind levels. A WBGT of more than 30C is defined as moderate heat stress and 34C is extreme heat stress. According to the US National Weather Service, if WBGT exceeds 32.2C working or exercising in direct sunlight will stress your body after just 15 minutes. Prof Doreen Boyd, associate director of the Rights Lab, says: “This study measures the future risk of heat stress in the brick kilns across all of India, at scales never previously possible, to 2050 – showing that it’s possible to predict and prepare for threats to decent work using new data and methods.” Decent work is defined by the International Labour Organization as “productive work … in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity”. Forecasts were made based on three possible scenarios: the first is marked by low emissions, clean technologies, strong global cooperation and a consumption focus on sustainability; the second by moderate emissions, regional competition and mixed efforts in climate action; and the third by high emissions, fossil-fuel reliance and no or limited climate action. The study, published in Sustainable Development journal, shows that by 2050, even in the most optimistic scenario, people will be working in hotter temperatures at the majority of kilns. Workers at more than 40% of kilns (more than 19,000) will face more than 50 days (about one in four) of WBGT above 30C, or moderate heat stress during the brick-making season. Some kilns will see WBGT above 30C for at least 100 days. Locations in northern states of India, including Bihar, are modelled to have a significant increase in days with extreme heat, above 34C. Most kiln workers are paid piecemeal so may be reluctant to take breaks for fear of losing pay, making them particularly vulnerable to heatstroke, dehydration and long-term disease. Boyd hopes that highlighting these risks in the research and creating an online training module will lead to a discussion among policymakers and employers about workers’ rights, including improved conditions and a fairer payment system. “There is an urgent need for the kiln industry and government labour and environmental inspectorates to understand and design comprehensive labour policies and workplace interventions to avert health risks for these millions of workers in the 48,000-plus kilns,” says the study, which was supported by the UK government’s Modern Slavery Innovation Fund. Shiv Narayan, 22, is a recent graduate from Madhya Pradesh, who ended up working at the Danapur kiln after being unable to find other work to support his family, who were struggling to pay debts. Most of his co-workers come from similar poverty-stricken backgrounds. “Anyone you meet here is poor, but we work here because there is no other choice,” he says. Narayan says working in extreme heat conditions has made him “hot headed”, literally. He says he snaps at people during his daily routine, which he regrets later. Despite the exhausting heat, Narayan and other workers say they are against curtailing work days as it would mean loss of pay. With every passing year, it is getting hotter and hotter. If you work at a kiln, there is no way to escape fire Harilal Rajput, kiln worker The kiln is unusual because it hires people on a set monthly wage, with most workers earning an average of 14,000 rupees (£130) a month. Rajput earns more because he also recruits workers. Baldev Prasad, the kiln owner, says he prioritises safety and fair wages. Workers here say they have access to clean drinking water, bathrooms, electricity in their accommodation, regular water spraying to cool the ground and access to medical aid. “Heat impacts worker productivity but we want them to stay on. So, we make sure we take all necessary steps to ensure their convenience. This includes the decision to halt all activities other than the firing work during peak hot hours of the day,” says Prasad, who has been running his kiln for more than 25 years. Nivit Kumar Yadav of the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi says not much is being done on the ground right now, but in the long term, an adaptation plan is necessary. “An average kiln worker is trained to deal with the heat that is coming from below [furnace] but not with the heat that is coming from above [atmospheric],” he says. Shorter work shifts, artificial shade and green cover are some of the steps that can be taken, he says.

India Pursues Bold Renewable Energy Goals Amid Legal Challenges

Despite braces from legal issues for Adani Group, experts affirm India's commitment to renewable energy expansion remains strong and achievable India is making ambitious strides toward transforming its energy sector, with significant focus on renewable energy. The recent indictment of the Adani Group over bribery charges has raised questions about the future of the country’s clean energy goals, yet industry leaders remain optimistic. Gautam Adani, the billionaire behind the Adani Group, has promised to invest $100 billion toward India's energy transition. This includes plans to ramp up renewable energy capacity significantly. Currently, about 45% of India's power generation capacity comprises non-fossil fuel sources, thanks to efforts over the last decade. Despite the hurdles presented by legal troubles, experts assert these challenges will not significantly derail the country’s overall targets of achieving 500 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from renewables by 2032. The legal issues stemming from the U.S. could delay some of Adani's expansion ambitions but will likely not impact the Indian government’s commitment to its clean energy objectives. According to analysts, the backlog from legal troubles is like “a passing dark cloud” over the otherwise bright future of India’s renewable energy initiatives. The Adani Group is currently pivotal, expected to contribute to nearly 10% of India's renewable energy capacity by 2030. The sector is witnessing rapid growth, with India achieving the fastest expansion rate among major economies, presenting new opportunities for both domestic and international firms. Current estimates suggest India's installed clean energy capacity has already surged by five times over recent years. Adani Green Energy currently produces around 11GW of clean energy mainly through wind and solar initiatives, with aggressive targets for expansion. The centerpiece of this growth is the Khavda plant located in Gujarat, poised to be the largest clean energy site globally. The government has set forth plans to augment the solar energy pillar of this growth, anticipated to contribute around 23% of the total power generated by 2030. The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights the fact India is suffering from acute energy poverty, which necessitates doubling its energy capacity. CSE's Sunita Narain emphasizes the idea of 'displacing' coal with clean energy as opposed to merely replacing it. Current statistics indicate fossil fuel sources contribute 77% of total energy, projected to drop as renewables increase from 13% to 32% by 2030. Meanwhile, the government is also shifting its focus onto natural gas, aiming to increase its share to 15% by 2030. Expanded infrastructure, including the National Gas Grid Pipeline and city gas distribution networks, is set to facilitate this transition. Efforts to liberalize gas marketing have also been introduced to encourage domestic production. The path to these ambitious goals is fraught with challenges, particularly concerning bureaucratic hurdles. State-run power companies face financial constraints and tend to rely on cheaper fossil fuels, making it difficult to minimize reliance on coal. CSE experts believe the continued demand for renewable energy will drive investment, but improvements to the regulatory environment are sorely needed. One aspect of improvement focuses on the process of bidding for project contracts. Current practices are critiqued as overly complicated, which limits competition and raises costs. Reforms are necessary to streamline these processes and lower risks for developers and investors alike. The focus is shifting toward creating more effective governance and efficient bidding systems, as well as integrating energy initiatives with local economic needs, such as health and employment opportunities. Stalwarts of the renewable sector, like Tata Power and ReNew Power, are also gearing up to play pivotal roles as they ramp up their manufacturing and energy generation capacities. Adani's financial might has helped it to expand rapidly, but it has also brought about scrutiny and challenges to maintain competitive momentum. Looking toward the overarching future, the commitment from the Indian government to continue fostering renewable energy development is unwavering. Policymakers remain optimistic, arguing the market fundamentals guiding renewable energy continue to be strong. With increasing domestic demand for clean energy, companies are hopeful about obtaining the necessary investment capital to support this shift. It seems the biggest test for India's clean energy ambitions isn't the fallout from legal troubles but instead its administrative bureaucracies and financial structures guiding the sector. The coming years are likely to be defining for the energy transition, with the focus on comprehensive reforms to support burgeoning renewable projects. Other stakeholders, including reputable international financial institutions, are asserting themselves as they navigate this complex energy transition. Rising scrutiny of financing practices may push for more responsible economic practices within the country, thereby shaping the future of India’s renewable energy sector. The collective effort will also need regional support to understand the local demands and technical aspects of renewable energy adoption. Addressing localized issues can bridge the gap between burgeoning clean technologies and the communities they aim to benefit, yielding mutual benefits as India strives toward its ambitious clean energy goals.

COP29 finance fiasco and the urban agenda

A lot has been written already about how the recently concluded 29th Conference of Parties (COP 29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has failed to deliver an effective outcome on climate finance, thus missing the opportunity to put the world on its track to meet the climate goal of limiting global warming. After a fortnight of protracted and highly contentious negotiations by nearly 200 countries, the rich countries have diluted their obligation and responsibility by offering only a quarter of the ask from the developing countries to meet the cost of transition – a mere USD 300 billion a year until 2035 against the ask of USD 1.3 trillion. This finance fiasco has also led to a near collapse of other parallel negotiations especially on the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) that was initiated in COP 26 in Glasgow to get the governments to agree on sectoral mitigation pathways including urban emissions and raise the level of global ambition. Also the discussion on the new features for Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that most countries will be completing in 2025 to decide their domestic action, lost steam. Without a meaningful finance deal on the table, the Global South resisted the mounting pressure from the Global North to raise the level of mitigation ambition. They retaliated hard to stave off top down and prescriptive mandate, reiterating the need for nationally determined action that needs to be effectively enabled while respecting equity, principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and different national circumstances. This backlash from the Global South was inevitable. The year-long Global Dialogues between countries that preceded the COP 29 to establish a global work programme for mitigation for negotiation in COP 29, had already indicated the quantum of funding needs. This requires doubling of bilateral finance, tripling of multilateral development bank finance, and quadrupling private sector investments while more estimates are to follow on the magnitude of the quantum of support needed later. This concern did not get adequately reflected in the COP 29 negotiations on the mitigation work programme or the climate finance deliberations, while aiming to align country positions on mitigation. This has serious implications for the sectoral pathways to accelerate global action. Spotlight on global urban emissions In this tumultuous negotiation process, what escaped the global attention is that for the first time a significant part of the Global Dialogue on mitigation work programme has focused explicitly on a wide spectrum of strategies related to urban energy and urban systems including urban-transportation, buildings, spatial planning, electrification, net zero resources and carbon storage through green and blue infrastructure in cities. This is a significant step forward in view of the fact that urban emissions contribute as much as 70 per cent of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement cannot be met if the urban emissions are not on the table. In fact, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is preparing a special report on cities which is scheduled to be out in 2026. The Global Dialogue on mitigation has highlighted that the urban infrastructures can make a difference of up to a factor of 10 in energy use and induced GHG emissions. Overall, urban planning could result in a 25 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050 compared to a business-as-usual scenario. India along with other developing countries need to pay more careful attention to this unfolding discussion on the urban agenda because urban solutions are more complex and local in nature that require a different global financing framework. Bottom up framing of the mitigation strategies for more contextualised solutions across urban landscapes of the South and North pose a challenge that needs to be informed well. While the Global North that is fully urbanised needs deep decarbonisation, the developing and emerging economies of the Global South with emerging urban infrastructure has to focus a lot more on emissions avoidance. Even as the global climate finance architecture is getting sorted, the global community has to focus on creating appropriate criteria for funding of the urban projects to promote compact urban forms, sustainable transport solutions, thermally comfortable buildings, clean and renewable urban energy systems, and urban ecology management to integrate urban green and water resources. This is essential to prevent lock-in of carbon in the urban infrastructure in the Global South. The urban agenda has to get stronger through a multilateral negotiation process to draw adequate, appropriate and affordable funding support for sustainable, fair and just urban transformation. About the author: The Author is Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment

‘Replacing Coal to Generate Clean Energy Still a Big Challenge in India’

At a national dialogue on renewable energy, CSE’s Sunita Natain noted there were very few takers for renewable energy. She said only if cost of energy is affordable, can RE be sustainable. Replacing coal for generation of power to renewable energy or clean energy in India is still a big challenge for reducing emissions to mitigate climate change. This is despite experts highlighting the need for transition from the use of fossil fuels to green energy as a must. "The coal question is not really about coal, but about what the country will do to increase the capacity and generation of clean energy. The acute energy poverty that India suffers from means the country will have to double its energy capacity and generation by 2030. This means that coal cannot be replaced – rather, it would have to be methodically displaced by clean energy sources", said Sunita Narain, director general of New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) at a ‘National Dialogue on Renewable Energy for an Equitable Green Transition’, organised by CSE at the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute, located in Nimli, near Alwar, Rajasthan, on December 9. Narain further stated that the challenge for the country was to augment power infrastructure, to make it clean, and to supply electricity at affordable rates. The good news is that the government of India is committed to this transition, and an ambitious but feasible target has been set, she added. "We are hoping it will provide the green energy transformation that we desperately need,” she said. As per a press release by CSE, India is working toward reducing its emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 (compared with the 2005 levels). It has also said that by 2030, as much as 50% of its energy capacity would be from renewable (non-fossil fuel) sources. The country’s target for installed renewable energy capacity has been hiked – from 175 gigawatt (GW) by 2022 to 500 GW by 2030. According to the 2024 Economic Survey, India’s power demand is expected to surge 2-2.5 times by 2047. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said the growing demand will need 777 GW of total installed capacity by 2030 – 44% of this demand will be met by the 500 GW of non-fossil fuel sources that the country is planning to install. As per CEA, 426 GW of new renewables will need to be installed – solar power would be the driver of this clean energy future. It will supply 23% of the total power generated in India by 2030. That displacement has already started happening. CSE researchers point out that though coal is still the “king” – with 217.5 GW installed capacity out of a total of 440 GW -- it is losing its place. Energy generated from fossil fuels (coal, lignite and gas) is expected to dip from 77% of the total in 2024 to 56% by 2030. “The more dramatic change would be in the contribution of new renewables – from 13 per cent today, they would be expected to generate 32 per cent by 2030,” Narain was quoted as saying. Another CSE expert, Nivit Kumar Yadav, said that the installed capacity of clean energy had increased – India ranks fourth in the world today for renewable energy capacity addition. From 32% of the total, installed capacity of non-fossil fuel-based power has climbed up to 45%, he said. However, CSE researchers point out that there was need to also scale up generation. India does not have a stated target for percentage of generation of non-fossil fuel-based energy in the total energy mix. New RE (renewable energy) accounts for only 13% of the total generation (2023-24), they point out. One concern that the CSE investigation has unearthed is that while on one hand many projects are yet to be commissioned, there appear to be very few takers for renewable source-based power. The website of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) says 34.5 GW of projects remain uncommissioned, despite their PPAs (power purchase agreements) having been already signed. Pradip Kumar Das, chairperson and managing director of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), said in the CSE release: “By 2030, India would need investments of around Rs 30-32 lakh crore in renewable energy. To scale up renewable energy, capital investment must be fast tracked; at the same time, risks emerging from land conversion and transmission delays need to be reduced.” Manu Srivastava of the Madhya Pradesh energy department stressed the need to improve RE penetration in India, adding that the sector needs to be economically viable. “India needs to tailor its power demand based on solar generation, instead of trying to make solar mimic thermal power”, he said. Harish Hande of SELCO India advocated that “linking energy with health and livelihoods will help integrate RE better, rather than a single pursuit of energy generation alone”. Narain, while noting that “India has good governance systems that are still evolving”, said what needs to be focused on are “efforts to bring down the capital costs of large plants, try and de-risk the plants, and try and ensure there are effective agencies in place to do the bidding and tendering, agencies that can act as intermediaries that can ease the processes of buying and selling.” “RE transition is about the politics of inclusion. Only if growth -- the cost of energy -- is affordable, can it be sustainable,” Narain added.

20th CNBC-TV18 IBLA honour leaders in innovation & growth

The 20th edition of CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA), presented by Standard Chartered Bank, celebrated India’s visionary leaders who are driving innovation, growth, and transformation across industries through bold actions and impactful contributions. Emeritus, DLF chairman KP Singh received the ‘Hall of Fame recognition, cementing his legacy as a pioneer in the transformation of India’s real estate sector. The ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award was conferred on Serum Institute of India founder Cyrus Poonawalla for his extraordinary contribution to delivering affordable public health solutions globally. For her exceptional efforts in showcasing India's cultural heritage and fostering global connections, Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani was honoured with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Brand India’ award. Actor Rajkumar Rao was named ‘Entertainment Leader of the Year’ for his compelling performance in films like Srikanth and Stree 2. The managing director of Bajaj Auto, Rajiv Bajaj received the ‘Outstanding Company of the Year’ award for Bajaj Auto. The evening also featured engaging sessions with policymakers who offered thought-provoking insights on India's economic landscape and growth opportunities. In a fireside chat, union minister of road transport & highways Nitin Gadkari said, “Our GDP structure highlights both challenges and opportunities. Agriculture contributes 14 per cent, manufacturing accounts for 22–24 per cent, and services dominate with 52–54 per cent. Despite this, 65 per cent of our population depends on agriculture, yet its growth rate remains at 14 per cent. This imbalance underscores the urgent need to embrace innovation, science, technology, and global best practices to enhance productivity. By shifting to value-added agriculture, empowering rural communities, and diversifying into energy production, we can elevate agricultural growth to 22 per cent, thereby increasing purchasing power in rural India and aligning it with our broader development goals.” In conversation with Network18’s editor-in-chief Rahul Joshi, Piyush Goyal, union minister of commerce and industry said, "I’ve long questioned how interest rates—whether high or low—truly impact the demand for essentials like onions, tomatoes, rice, or pulses. This outdated thinking, tied to traditional inflation metrics like CPI, no longer serves us. In fact, high interest rates may fuel inflation, further burdening the common man. It’s time for economists to come together and assess the real impact of monetary policy on food inflation. While the economy remains strong with positive indicators like GST collections and manufacturing growth, we must adapt to changing realities. I’m confident that by the end of the year, we will maintain our position as the fastest-growing economy globally. However, the debate around inflation and interest rates is one we can no longer afford to overlook." In his first private media event after taking oath as Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis said, “The people of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented mandate, and with it comes a great responsibility of driving India's economy forward. Maharashtra has always been ahead, and I am proud to share that in just the first six months of this year, we have already achieved 90 per cent of last year’s FDI inflows—poised for a record-breaking year. In infrastructure, Maharashtra is leading the way with projects like the Badhwar port, which is set to become India’s largest and transformative development, such as the third Mumbai airport in Panvel and the Atal Setu connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Additionally, we are building a 'third Mumbai,' three times the size of the current city, to become India’s next business capital. Maharashtra offers unparalleled opportunities, and I assure you that conducting business here will be seamless and supportive. Together, we can make Maharashtra India's first trillion-dollar sub-national economy." The jury panel for IBLA 2024 comprised a distinguished group of senior industry leaders, including Bharat Forge chairman & managing director Babasaheb N Kalyani, who chaired the panel. Other esteemed jurors included Standard Chartered Bank CEO, India & South Asia Zarin Daruwala, State Bank of India chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Kotak Mahindra Bank managing director & CEO Ashok Vaswani, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise managing director Suneeta Reddy, Federal Bank managing director & CEO KVS Manian, L&T president, whole-time director & CFO R Shankar Raman, Asian Paints CEO & managing director Amit Syngle, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S, Titan Capital co-founder Kunal Bahl, and Blume Venture Advisors co-founder & managing partner Karthik Reddy. CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) is a coveted leadership award, which celebrates trailblazers whose courage, vision, and influence are redefining success. Spread across seventeen categories, IBLA recognised emerging and established business leaders in its 20th edition. Here’s the full list of winners: CATEGORIES WINNERS BRAND CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR ARIEL YOUNG TURK OF THE YEAR NOISE YOUNG TURK STARTUP OF THE YEAR THE SLEEP COMPANY BREAKOUT BRAND OF THE YEAR BLISSCLUB OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE CONSCIOUSNESS BATX ENERGIES DISRUPTOR OF THE YEAR BLINKIT MOST PROMISING COMPANY OF THE YEAR PI INDUSTRIES OUTSTANDING BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR VELLAYAN SUBBIAH OUTSTANDING COMPANY OF THE YEAR BAJAJ AUTO IN MEMORIAM NARAYAN VAGHUL, VINEET NAYYAR, RANJIT SHAHANI, FALI NARIMAN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC SERVICE SUNITA NARAIN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN ECONOMY IIT MADRAS (SPECIAL RECOGNITION) ENTERTAINMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR RAJKUMMAR RAO SPORTS LEADER OF THE YEAR INDIAN CHESS TEAM - TANIA SACHDEV LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD DR CYRUS POONAWALLA OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BRAND INDIA NITA AMBANI HALL OF FAME KP SINGH

India Charges Ahead With Renewable Energy Revolution

Rajasthan leads ambitious initiatives as the nation targets 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 India is at the threshold of what many are calling its renewable energy revolution, marked by bold initiatives, significant targets, and transformative partnerships. Amid growing concerns about climate change and energy poverty, the country is making serious strides toward integrating renewable energy sources to secure a cleaner and more sustainable future. At the forefront of this change is Rajasthan, a state recognized for its ambitious energy initiatives. During the 'Rising Rajasthan Summit' held recently, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, lauded the state's pivotal role. He noted, "Rajasthan stands at the forefront of India’s renewable energy revolution," highlighting its progressive policies and investments aimed at achieving 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. This goal aligns with India’s national target of reaching 500 GW of renewable capacity by the same year. Rajasthan has already emerged as the national leader, boasting 30.31 GW of installed renewable power, with solar comprising 24.55 GW of this total. This remarkable achievement not only positions Rajasthan as India’s solar powerhouse but also reflects the state’s commitment to fostering investment and innovation in the energy sector. The Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme 2024, established to provide substantial incentives for renewable energy projects, showcases the state's proactive approach to attracting and nurturing new ventures. The need for this shift toward renewable energy is underscored by recent discussions involving key stakeholders at the National Dialogue on Renewable Energy. Organized by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), this dialogue brought together experts from various fields, including energy policy and sustainability. Sunita Narain, the Director General of CSE, raised important questions about the nation’s readiness for this transition, emphasizing not only the urgency of clean energy but also the associated challenges. "Is India ready for this transition? Will it meet its 2030 target?" she asked. Central to India’s ambitious renewable energy goals is electric power generation from non-fossil sources. The government aims to reduce emissions intensity by 45% relative to 2005 levels by 2030. Notably, the appetite for energy is projected to surge 2-2.5 times by 2047, making the transition imperative. To support this growing demand, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) anticipates needing 777 GW of total installed capacity, with 44% being sourced from renewable energy. Solar energy is set to be the powerhouse of this clean energy future, with reports indicating it will deliver 23% of India's total power generation by 2030. Analysts predict the contribution of renewables will rise significantly, from 13% currently to around 32% within the next few years. There exists, nonetheless, the persistent reality of coal's prevalence within India’s energy sector. Narain points out, "The coal question is not really about coal, but about what the country will do to increase the capacity and generation of clean energy.” This perspective reinforces the idea of displacing coal, rather than outright eliminating it, as clean energy sources ramp up production. The current energy poverty is stark; India needs to double its energy capacity by 2030. While coal currently holds much of the installed generation capacity, the transition to renewable energy is underway. Despite this, researchers at CSE reveal significant barriers. For example, many renewable projects are yet to be commissioned, with statistics showing about 34.5 GW of signed projects still waiting for activation. The urgency of investment is echoed by Pradip Kumar Das from the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), who indicated the necessity of around Rs 30-32 lakh crore (nearly USD 4 billion) over the next several years to propel this clean energy agenda. This requires easing capital risks and ensuring effective deployment of projects. Innovative solutions are on the table: balancing technologies, which can flexibly respond to the variable nature of renewable energy, are gaining traction as another key performance indicator. Reports suggest integrating these technologies could save up to €65 trillion globally by 2050, significantly reducing the required renewable capacity and enhancing energy efficiency. Anders Lindberg, President of Wärtsilä Energy, emphasized the importance of flexibility within India's energy plans, stating, "To achieve a clean energy future, our modelling shows flexibility is also necessary. Balancing power plants are not merely important; they are urgent supports for higher renewable energy levels.” The increasing reliance on renewable sources must be managed with the capability to switch energy generation rapidly to meet demand. Meanwhile, changes are also being made at the policy level, as the Indian government has announced the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) aiming to bolster manufacturing and supply chain reliability for solar PV components. This move directs future solar energy projects to utilize locally sourced materials, thereby enhancing energy security and reducing environmental impact. At the operational level, initiatives like the collaboration between the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) seek to drive Maharashtra's energy transition forward. Through innovative policies and regulations, the partnership aims to integrate renewable energy more effectively and equip Maharashtra with the tools needed for engagement and resilience. These multifaceted approaches highlight not only the potential for significant transformation within India’s energy sector but the collaboration among various stakeholders: government bodies, private industries, and renewable energy advocates resembles the engine needed to drive this transition. From Rajasthan’s ambitious policies to strategic partnerships across states and the urgent need for capital investment, India's path to renewable energy is becoming increasingly clear. Recognizing both the challenges and opportunities as it endeavors to reshape its energy economy will determine its success. This is not just about energy; it encompasses health, livelihood, and the very essence of what constitutes sustainable development. By aligning these facets, India can pave the way for equitable growth and sustainable energy for generations to come.

NESREA unveils new environmental audit guidelines

The director general of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Innocent Barikor, has unveiled new guidelines on environmental audits in Nigeria. The agency, in partnership with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi, India, will be training 350 NESREA staff, accredited consultants, and others. Barikor explained that the training is necessary because audit reports received from consultants often come in different formats, lack important information, and sometimes do not reflect the actual status of the operating facilities. He disclosed this at a one-day workshop organized by NESREA in partnership with CSE in Abuja, explaining that an environmental audit involves a series of activities undertaken to evaluate the environmental performance of a facility or organization. Speaking, Ishita Garg of CSE India said a thoroughly performed environmental audit allows industries to analyze the ambiguities in the implementation of management plans and take corrective measures. It also helps industries improve the process of efficiency by optimizing the usage of resources, increasing production, and thereby resulting in monetary benefits.

What Trump's second term means for climate change and green policies

What does the second coming of Donald Trump mean for climate-change action? Here is a man who will take over as President of the United States (US), the world’s single-largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases and the second-highest annual contributor. He is an avowed climate sceptic — an out-and-out advocate for fossil fuels in a time of climate crisis. He has said he will, once sworn into office, ensure that energy prices are slashed; he will rescind green-energy plans; and wants industry to go back to the time of “drill baby drill” — essentially opening more federal lands to exploration for oil and natural gas and slashing regulatory controls on his country’s fossil fuel industry. But when I say this, we must note that even under the incumbent President, Joe Biden, the US has been the fossil-fuel emperor — producing more oil than any country has done before. It is the world’s largest producer of oil and gas — outproducing even Russia by over 40 per cent. So, when Mr Trump says he will go back to fossils, we must understand just how bad this will be! Mr Trump has also railed against the Biden administration’s plans for renewable power and electric vehicles, calling them “industry-killing; job-killing; pro-China; and anti-America”. All in all, he wants to go back to the business of the past, rejecting completely the idea that the green transition is necessary as the world stands on a precipice of impending disaster. The question then is: What next for climate-change action in the US? What next for international agreements that bring the world together to combat climate change? We need to ask this because this time, Mr Trump’s victory is not a fluke — in 2016, when he was elected President, the US and the world were uncertain what he stood for and against. Most of us thought it was just bluster. This time, he has come to power with the conviction that his people — the people of the US — want him because of his positions, including the strident denial of climate change. So, we should not be surprised by his actions; instead, the question should be how the world moves ahead to take steps to combat this runaway existential problem. The fact is that Mr Biden — despite the hypocrisy of his country’s massive oil and gas production — stood different from all his predecessors on commitment to climate action. He set a bold target of reducing greenhouse gases 50-52 per cent below the 2005 levels by 2030; and to reach 100 per cent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was brilliantly conceived to become the driver of investment in clean technologies and green energy. More than anything, the US leadership meant that all countries had nowhere to hide — they were pushed to set targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and there was some concerted action as well. Not enough. Not nearly. But the narrative had changed. The question also is if Mr Trump will pull his country out of the global agreements on climate change — the 2015 Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is widely held that he will. All this will weaken the global intent on decarbonisation and for building that cooperative agreement so that countries in the South get financial support for mitigation and adaptation. This is then the reality that we need to contend with. But let’s be clear that all this will happen at a time when the impacts of climate change will grow and devastate more and more countries; people will get more desperately poor and this will add to the insecurity of the world. In today’s world, immigration is the driver of the shift towards strong leaders, who will keep out the illegals. This will only worsen as climate impacts intensify. These downward spirals need all of us to act; need global leadership but also strong voices to speak up, not just of the impending doom but also of the possibility of doing things differently. This is the message of hope we need today. The world has no doubt moved ahead on its journey to build a low-carbon economy and this cannot be reversed so easily. There has been huge investment in green technologies, including batteries and renewable energy, and now there is an interest in this new economy — and China will be an important stakeholder with its massive investment in clean technology. But this said, we need a reboot in the way we in the environmental field have espoused our cause; we need to understand the cost of combating climate change. We need new ways towards the green transition, which is affordable and inclusive — not just in the countries of the South but also in the industrialised North. This is the message we need to take from Mr Trump’s election — it’s loud and clear and we can ignore it at our common peril. The writer is at the Centre for Science and Environment sunita@cseindia.org, X: @sunitanar

Delhi’s air pollution crisis: What the odd-even rule can, or cannot, address

Delhi’s vibrant colours pale as the city gasps for air each winter. Pollution levels soar, with the AQI often exceeding 500. In 2015, the Delhi High Court dubbed the city a ‘gas chamber’ due to its escalating pollution, demanding urgent action from both State and Central governments. With the air quality dipping each year, Delhi implements various measures to combat this crisis. One is the odd-even rule, which the government tried for a few years with limited success. This year, in response to rising pollution levels, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was enforced, introducing specific rules based on pollution severity. With each new restriction, one question lingers in the minds of Delhiites: Will the government reintroduce the odd-even rule? Some people vouch for the benefits of this rule. However, many experts and citizens are sceptical about its effectiveness as it doesn’t address the underlying issues causing air pollution. The origin of the odd-even scheme Introduced in Delhi by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2016, this scheme is a traffic rationing measure in which private cars with even-numbered registration plates are allowed on even dates, and those with odd-numbered plates on odd dates. This means vehicles ending with registration numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7 are permitted on odd days, while vehicles with 2, 4, 6, and 8 are allowed on even days. This scheme has been implemented three times since its launch — in 2016, 2017, and 2019. The odd-even rule applies to all privately owned four-wheelers, with a long list of exemptions such as women drivers, vehicles carrying only women and children under 12 years, electric vehicles, and those driven by persons with disabilities. The President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Delhi’s Chief Minister, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Justice of India, and heads of key commissions like the Lokpal and Election Commission are exempt from the mandate. The odd-even scheme remains a part of Delhi’s pollution control strategy, implemented selectively as part of the GRAP during severe pollution episodes. The odd-even experiment in other countries Although introduced to India in 2016, the odd-even scheme had already been practised globally. Countries like China, France (Paris), Colombia (Bogotá), Mexico, and Italy experimented with it. In China, the rule was implemented ahead of the 2008 Olympics, resulting in nearly a 20% decrease in pollution levels. Alongside this scheme, efforts to improve public transport were also undertaken in the countries that implemented it. In Paris, for instance, public transport was free when the odd-even scheme was in place, encouraging people to leave their cars behind. Odd-even rule: An emergency plan “It is crucial to understand why such actions are taken,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the Centre for Science and Environment. She explains that odd-even is an emergency action plan, not a year-round measure. “Emergency measures are implemented during winter because severe smog episodes occur when existing pollution in the city gets trapped due to meteorological conditions like lack of wind. These conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing, leading to worsening air quality. Emergency actions, such as odd-even and even other measures under the GRAP, aim to minimise additional pollution sources. The goal is to prevent further deterioration of already critical conditions,” says Anumita. In Delhi, there were reports of backlash to this scheme; a Business Standard article from 2023 reported that 64% of the people in Delhi NCR did not support the introduction of the odd-even scheme. Furthermore, 56% of those surveyed opposed one or more exemptions in the scheme. Some citizens also faced challenges while using public transport when the scheme was implemented. Ashish Sharma, a resident of Delhi and a social worker, shared his experience from the time when the odd-even rule was in effect. “The intention behind this initiative is good, but I faced several challenges when it was implemented. Using public transport, especially taking autos during this time, felt like being blackmailed. For the daily NGO service, where I used to distribute clothes using my car, the odd-even rule forced me to rely on private autos. I ended up paying ₹200–300 for a ride that usually costs around ₹150. It felt like auto drivers were taking advantage of us during this period, as we had no other options.,” said Ashish. How the government backs the rule When the Supreme Court questioned the scheme’s effectiveness, the Delhi government backed it with studies showing improvements in air quality. One study conducted by researchers from the University of Chicago, the Centre for Policy Research, and Harvard Kennedy School found that during the odd-even scheme in January 2016, PM2.5 levels dropped by an average of 13% between 8 am and 8 pm However, no measurable effect was noticed in April 2016 due to higher atmospheric dispersion during the warmer months. A second study by IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur, and other institutions showed that traffic restrictions from January 1–15, 2016, led to a 4–6% reduction in PM2.5 levels, with a peak decrease of up to 10% at certain pollution hotspots. Traffic data from November 2019, when the scheme was in effect, indicated a 30% reduction in personal car usage. However, two-wheeler traffic increased by 6.5%, taxi usage rose by 19.5%, auto-rickshaw traffic by 7.5%, and bus usage by 4.7%. Assessing the effectiveness of the odd-even scheme “The issue lies in the data interpretation process,” explains Dr. Mohan P. George, Former Additional Director at the DPCC. “Air quality measurements are conducted under dynamic conditions influenced by various meteorological factors. Since ambient air is a constantly moving mixture, accurately assessing its quality and the impact of interventions like the odd-even rule is beyond current scientific capabilities. The problem is not with the odd-even rule in itself — it effectively reduces emissions by taking 50% of cars off the road, as evidenced by lower fuel sales during the period. Instead, the limitation lies in the inadequacy of our current equipment and systems to measure its impact on ambient air quality accurately,” he adds. If the government is convinced about the positive impact of the rule, why has it been implemented only thrice since 2016? “A lot of people doubt the effectiveness of the odd-even rule, but it works, and we have multiple data studies to validate that,” says Jasmine Shah, Former Vice-Chairperson of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi Government. “Odd-even disrupts daily life, but we must remember that it is an emergency action plan, not a way of life. Implementing it too often might encourage people to buy more cars, as seen in Mexico, which would defeat the purpose. Every time we’ve implemented it, we’ve had public support. When the government takes tough calls to improve people’s lives, people rally behind it,” he added. Odd-even rule: A band-aid solution? “Odd-even is at best a band-aid on a wound that requires surgery,” says Radhika Jhaveri, a researcher and educator from Let India Breathe. She emphasises that the odd-even scheme does not address the root causes of air pollution. “Excessive construction and tree cutting, stubble burning, too many trucks, depletion of forest cover, thermal power plants, polluting industries, and waste burning — these are the key contributors, and none of them are being effectively addressed.” Radhika reiterates that unless long-term measures are in place, not much will change. “The first step should have been to gradually transition to a car-free city. This could be achieved one step at a time, by creating car-free zones, exclusive bus lanes, and walking lanes. However, there are two major issues — apathy of the people, and the government’s lack of political will. The severity of the air pollution crisis we face today is a direct result of these two factors.”

The year planet changed

2024 will mark the year when the world has changed in more ways than one. It is the year that marks the beginning of the time of climate change—when each day some part of the world is hit by extreme weather events; when a new record of heat or cold stress is made and then broken; when communities already living on the margins of survival are devastated to the point of being unable to recover from the frequent disasters. This is a different era. Scientists describe this as the Anthropocene Epoch, which in geological time is defined as the period when human activities have significant impacts on the Planet’s climate and ecosystems. Everything that we have done for human progress—for increased well-being and wealth generation—has breached national as well as planetary boundaries. It is also the period of momentous changes—in the way we behave with each other as human beings; in the global norms of what is right and what is wrong; and in the power of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that will drive virtually everything in the next few years. We have changed the “nature” of public discourse so that we can say what we feel, even if it is vile, hateful and destructive. We believe this is the freedom of speech that protects our democracy. But in all this, we have put our faith (without much thought I would argue) in the business of the new-age technology. Today’s big tech companies are all-controlling empires—they make the multinational corporations of the past look puny—as their scale of influence transcends countries and touches our lives like never before. Think of the way we consume news; the way we shop; and the way each part of our lives, wherever we live, is infused and firmly integrated into these businesses. Today, their leaders are driving change, not just in technologies and in media, but also in politics. They seek influence and as governments weaken, they get stronger. Most governments are under the illusion that they are deciding policies and that these are still in public interest. The fact is, governments have ceded that space to big consultancies, investment banks and private businesses. The public space is now privatised as we all continue to watch as spectators. It is not that democracy is dead, but that it has been fundamentally modified by this nexus of business and the consuming classes—you and me. And all this is happening in this time of climatic change. Today our world is more insecure and more anxious as each super-cycle of cataclysmic change is feeding the other. We live in an increasingly inequitable world where the rich have gotten richer and the poor poorer. In the past five years, this divide has widened as the COVID-19 pandemic devastated economies, and before they could recover the wars shaped the present, leaving countries with little financial resources to heal and to grow. This, combined with bad governance, climate change and resource squeeze, is leading to more migration, as desperate people seek new opportunities. All these add fuel to the anger and insecurity, which then make democracy prey to hateful and polarised rhetoric in this age of big technology, controlled by new business leaders with superpowers. This anger is not confined to the poor in the world. The rich feel betrayed—or at least this is how they perceive it. When the world moved to stitch up economies in the 1990s, it was the poor that were most worried about the loss of jobs. It is the farmers in our world who took to the streets in protest of the free trade agreements that would upend their livelihoods. Today, the situation has reversed. It is the workers in the already rich world that have been left out of the new economies. They are turning against what they call the “educated elite and the experts” who have benefitted from the service and financial economy of this interconnected world. The worst outcome of this class war is the rejection of ideas. People see knowledge as tainted and compromised and feeding private interests—also an outcome of the way we have organised the world’s information and business systems. This, then, means that what is in the public interest, like climate change, is also viewed with suspicion and, now with the second coming of Donald Trump, with rejection—even in the face of growing disasters and the need for cooperation. In 2024, when the world has moved into a different today, we must plan for a different tomorrow. This is where the climate crisis intersects again. We know that we live in the age of climate extremes—disasters are happening all around us—but we are not doing enough to fix it. We are not in denial; but we are not designed anymore as societies to work for common causes. It is for this reason that in Baku, at the 29th Conference of Parties to the Climate Convention, we have even dropped all pretence of wanting to build a cooperative world. The rich world has officially decided to throw some crumbs in the name of climate finance. This world of historical climate debtors says that the world that needs to reinvent its growth to be low-carbon, to adapt to the changing climate and to survive the loss and damages must do with this pretend largess. It is an insult to the change we need in the world. This is also where economy, climate change and politics intersect. When the world moved towards interconnected economies it was believed that it would lead to a prosperous and safer world order; countries would not attack as they would be driven by the self-interest of cooperation. But the real reason for moving industry was to reduce the costs of labour and environmental safeguards. It was too expensive to manufacture if these costs had to be paid. This meant that production moved and so did emissions. We know that from the carbon dioxide balance sheet of countries as China became the world’s manufacturer with others joining it. Today, as the world needs a green transition, it faces new realities. The production of all things green is still cheaper in the “other” world, China in particular. Donald Trump has promised a trade war to bring back business to his country. But this will add costs, financial and environmental, as the world is just too integrated and interconnected on its trade to disengage easily. It will also derail the momentum for a low-carbon economy as what is green is foreign-made and so must be shunned. This is why at the beginning of the epoch of climate change, in the year 2024, when the world has moved into a different today, we must plan for a different tomorrow. We cannot be prisoners of yesterday. We must be vanguards of a new dawn; a new promise but with the reality of the mistakes of our era. Otherwise, we will squander away coming decades to nothingness—all into a vortex of spiralling climate change impacts. This is what we must change. (Writer is Director General of CSE and editor of Down To Earth, an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets; Courtesy: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/)

इधर GRAP-4 हटा, उधर और खराब हो गई हवा, दिल्ली में पल्यूशन के 9 नए हॉटस्पॉट भी मिले

ग्रैप-4 हटने के दूसरे ही दिन प्रदूषण बढ़कर बेहद खराब स्तर पर आ गया है। सात दिन बाद प्रदूषण इस स्तर पर पहुंचा है। पूर्वानुमान के अनुसार 10 दिसंबर तक प्रदूषण का स्तर खराब रह सकता है। इसके बाद यह एक बार फिर कम होकर खराब स्तर पर पहुंच जाएगा। इसके अलावा दिल्ली में प्रदूषण के 9 नए हॉटस्पॉट भी मिले हैं। आगे कैसा रहेगा हाल? पूर्वानुमान के अनुसार 9 दिसंबर को प्रदूषण का स्तर खराब और 10 दिसंबर को बेहद खराब रहेगा। वहीं, 11 दिसंबर को इसमें कमी आएगी और यह खराब स्तर पर आ जाएगा। इसके बाद अगले छह दिनों तक यह खराब स्तर पर ही बना रह सकता है। रविवार की शाम हवाओं की रफ्तार 12 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे के आसपास रही। शाम के समय यह 14 से 16 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे तक पहुंच गई। अब 9 दिसंबर को हवाओं की रफ्तार 10 से 12 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे, 10 दिसंबर को 12 से 14 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे और 11 दिसंबर को 14 से 16 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे के आसपास रह सकती है। राजधानी में उभर रहे हैं पल्यूशन के नौ नए हॉट स्पॉट राजधानी में नौ नए हॉट स्पॉट तेजी से उभर रहे हैं। इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि पुराने हॉट स्पॉट खत्म हो रहे हैं। बीते तीन सालों के आकलन पर यह पूरी रिपोर्ट तैयार की गई है। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, नेहरू नगर इन नए हॉट स्पॉट में सबसे बड़ा हॉट स्पॉट बनकर उभर रहा है। राजधानी में प्रदूषण का आकलन तैयार कर 2017 में 13 हॉट स्पॉट की लिस्ट तैयार की गई थी। यह 13 हॉट स्पॉट राजधानी के सबसे प्रदूषित एरिया में शामिल थे। इन 13 हॉट स्पॉट में आनंद विहार, मुंडका, वजीरपुर, जहांगीरपुरी, आरके पुरम, रोहिणी, पंजाबी बाग, ओखला, बवाना, पूसा, नरेला, अशोक विहार और द्वारका सेक्टर-8 शामिल हैं। GRAP और प्रदूषण के सीजन के दौरान इन हॉट स्पॉट के लिए अलग से निगरानी और प्रदूषण कंट्रोल करने की व्यवस्था रहती है। सीएसई (सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट) की स्टडी के आकलन के अनुसार, राजधानी में 9 ऐसी जगह हैं जो कुछ हॉट स्पॉट से भी ज्यादा प्रदूषित हैं। यह आंकलन बीते तीन सालों के प्रदूषण का विश्लेषण कर किया गया है। इनमें नेहरू नगर, एनएसआईटी द्वारका, विवेक विहार, सोनिया विहार, नैशनल स्टेडियम, आईटीओ, पटपड़गंज, लोदी रोड और अलीपुर शामिल हैं।