Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

Why India’s smog strategy has failed to solve its out-of-control air pollution

As air pollution soared to unprecedented levels in North India this week, Delhi and neighbouring cities lay shrouded in a dense, smoky haze, bringing with it near-zero visibility. Flights were grounded, and millions sought refuge indoors. With the Air Quality Index touching 500, a level that is considered hazardous even to people without health conditions, Delhi’s local government termed the smog a “national medical emergency.” On Monday, the crisis in the city – which contains India’s capital, New Delhi – drove the country’s Supreme Court to order emergency measures. The court’s decision noted the failure of a central government body, the Commission for Air Quality Management, to prevent deterioration of air quality, despite forecasts of rising pollution levels. The court directed authorities in the region to enforce the highest level of restrictions, including closing schools, halting construction, and limiting heavy vehicle movement and non-essential industrial operations. Doctors reported a sharp rise in hospital visits and admissions for breathing disorders in November. Toxic air also travelled across the border, affecting cities in Pakistan, including Lahore, and sparking calls for “climate diplomacy” and cross-border co-operation. But the air pollution crisis, while especially severe this year, has become an annual occurrence in Delhi, where the cool winter air traps emissions from a variety of sources, including farm fires ignited to clear stubble left over from the rice harvest. Solutions to this perennial onslaught of smog are caught in a political deadlock, with Delhi’s local government and India’s central government, led by opposing parties, the AAP and the BJP, holding each other responsible. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, for example, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week to approve a proposal to lower the toxicity by seeding clouds, a process that uses dry ice or other materials to encourage rain. Meanwhile, environmental groups, medical professionals, civil organizations and air pollution experts across the country are questioning why, despite repeated promises from various governments and significant investments in anti-pollution measures, authorities have been unable to stem the problem. It wasn’t always this way. Winters in Delhi used to bring a pleasant fog, said Mohan George, a clean air and sustainability expert at the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based non-profit. “Things started to change after 2007, when Punjab revised its agricultural policies, delaying the sowing and harvesting of crops,” he said. Story continues below advertisement

Only a third of clean air fund spent in Delhi, pollution body points to absence of key municipal panel

Delhi recorded its worst air quality in five years on Monday — an AQI of 494 — on par with the city’s worst polluted day in 2019. The same year, the Environment Ministry launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) which aimed to cut particulate matter pollution (PM 10) by 40% from the base year 2017 or to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The initial deadline to meet the target was 2024, which was then revised to 2025-26. With air quality consistently in the ‘severe’ or ‘severe plus’ range over the past five days, the performance of Delhi-NCR cities under NCAP is crucial. An analysis of NCAP fund expenditure, however, shows that Delhi is in the bottom five among 19 cities — 68% of its Rs 42.69 crore funds lie unutilised. According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, this is due to delays in forming a standing committee in the MCD — the financial backbone of the civic body which approves all proposals over Rs 5 crore. A recent submission by the Centre to the National Green Tribunal showed that Delhi has barely reached the halfway mark while NCR cities of Faridabad and Noida too lag in meeting the targets. Unlike these cities, which have utilised less than 40% of funds, Ghaziabad has utilised 80%. However, it still has to reduce PM 10 levels by 57%. Noida recorded the least NCAP fund utilisation at 11%. “Out of the Rs 42.69 crore allocated to Delhi under NCAP, Rs 13.54 crore has been utilised by the MCD and NDMC, reflecting an overall utilisation rate of 31.72%. This lower percentage is primarily due to delays in forming a standing committee in the MCD. Once established, this committee is expected to accelerate fund utilisation for various planned activities such as end-to-end pavement of roads, greening of traffic corridors, projects, and dust-control measures etc. under NCAP,” Delhi Polllution Control Committee officials said. The 19 cities identified by NCAP are non-attainment cities, selected after failing to meet national air quality standards consecutively for five years between 2011 and 2015. Out of these, eight cities — including Noida and Faridabad — are yet to complete source apportionment studies to assess the contribution of various pollution sources. However, utilising the fund at higher levels does not mean major emission sources — industrial and vehicular pollution — remain controlled. Among the concerns pointed out by a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report this year was that PM 10-based performance-linked funding has locked in more resources for dust control while major combustion resources like industries and vehicular pollution get comparatively less funds.

The problem of finding source of pollution in Delhi persists

On November 18, as Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to a staggering 494 – the city’s second-most polluted day on record – questions loomed over the reasons behind the sudden spike. Yet, pinpointing the exact sources of pollution proved elusive, as key studies and real-time data systems remain outdated or defunct, leaving a critical void in the battle against Delhi’s toxic air. Over the past four years, at least three key studies aimed at real-time pollution source identification have either been halted or rendered obsolete. The Delhi government’s real-time source apportionment analysis, which sought to provide a granular understanding of pollution sources, has been inactive since November last year. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has struggled to find a suitable institute to operate the equipment needed for the study. This means that Delhi is left with only one model – the Decision Support System (DSS) under the Union ministry of earth sciences, which can only “estimate” the contribution of pollution sources and relies on a three-year old emissions inventory. Experts argue that understanding the precise contributors to Delhi’s pollution is essential for formulating targeted interventions and fostering accountability in tackling this persistent crisis. On November 18, DSS – managed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune – attributed 46.21% of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution to “other sources,” which includes cross-border pollutants and contributions from outside the National Capital Region (NCR). It estimated 16.97% of the pollution came from Delhi’s transport sector and 5.32% from Sonepat. Stubble burning, a perennial contributor during winter, was recorded at 19.82% for that day. But the problem is that all these figures were only released two days later. DSS’s limitations are further compounded by its reliance on old data and the absence of an archive, which prevents historical analysis. The platform itself acknowledges that updated emissions inventories are essential for more accurate estimations, but this remains unaddressed. “For more accurate estimation of source-contribution, the latest emission fields are required,” the website states. Other limitations include data only being available on the website for a period of four days, without having any access to an archive. This means one cannot study the source break-up on previous days. Previous attempts Attempts to establish reliable real-time pollution monitoring have faltered repeatedly. Previous such studies, including those by IIT-Kanpur, have also come under scrutiny for either outdated findings or methodological disagreements with the Delhi government. Aspersions were cast by Delhi government on the data shared by IIT-Kanpur during its tenure running the source apportionment study. On most days, the study found secondary inorganic aerosols – formed in the air due to incomplete combustion, were the primary source of pollution. Due to this friction, Delhi government last year decided not to renew the term of IIT-Kanpur. In August this year, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai asked DPCC to take over the equipment and restart the study – but nothing has come of it so far. “We were dissatisfied with how IIT-Kanpur was calculating the sources and their contribution. Thus, the expert institute we choose will first have to revise the methodology. So far, it appears unlikely this will happen this year,” said a DPCC official, adding they were yet to finalise the “expert” institution they were seeking. An initiative with Washington University in 2020 was similarly scrapped after a year for unsatisfactory results. The study’s data was never made public, with the government scrapping the deal in a year due to “unsatisfactory” results. Experts emphasise the urgent need to revive real-time source apportionment studies. IIT-Delhi’s Mukesh Khare, an air pollution expert, suggests even a single centrally located supersite in Delhi could provide valuable insights. “Even having one supersite in Delhi enough, as real-time instrumentation is costly, but if placed in a central location, it should be able to cover different geographical aspects of the city and its pollutants well,” he said. However, the last comprehensive source apportionment was conducted in 2018 by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), with the previous one dating back to 2015-16 by IIT-Kanpur—both now considered outdated. “Source apportionment data needs to be new and accurate in order to take informed decisions. Until we have a realistic and dynamic inventory of all our sources, we cannot plan interventions accordingly,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

ललित सुरजन की कलम से- सम-विषम : सफल प्रयोग, आगे क्या?

प्रदूषण के दैत्य से दिल्लीवासियों को बचाने के लिए अरविंद केजरीवाल को दीर्घकालीन व स्थायी उपायों पर विचार करने की आवश्यकता है। सच तो यह है कि यह समस्या न तो सिर्फ श्री केजरीवाल की है और न सिर्फ दिल्लीवासियों की। भारत सरकार के अलावा विभिन्न राज्यों की सरकारों व सभी पार्टियों को इस बारे में मिल-बैठ कर सोचने की आवश्यकता है। सत्तारूढ़ भाजपा व प्रमुख विपक्ष कांग्रेस पर तो इसका मुख्य दायित्व तो है ही; समस्या के वैज्ञानिक व तकनीकी पक्ष को समझने वाले विशेषज्ञों को भी विचार और निर्णय की प्रक्रिया में शामिल करने से ही आगे का रास्ता निकलेगा। एक उदाहरण दिया जा सकता है। दिल्ली में ही प्रदूषण कम करने के लिए बसों में डीजल की जगह सीएनजी उपयोग करने हेतु सीएसई ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट तक जाकर लड़ाई लड़ी और जीत हासिल की। इसका लाभ लंबे समय तक दिल्ली को मिला। दिल्ली साइंस फोरम जैसी संस्थाएं भी इस दिशा में निरंतर काम कर रही हैं। प्रोफेसर दिनेश मोहन व सुनीता नारायण जैसे विशेषज्ञों की सेवाएं लेना हर तरह से लाभकारी है। अभी जैसे एक बात उठी कि कार से जितना वायु प्रदूषण होता है उससे कई गुना अधिक सड़कों पर उडऩे वाली धूल से होता है। बात दुरुस्त है। लेकिन इस बात पर किसी ने गौर नहीं किया कि वाहनों की तेज रफ्तार के कारण सड़क पर जो घर्षण होता है उससे सीमेंट और डामर के जो कण उड़ते हैं वे ही बड़ी सीमा तक धूल में बदल जाते हैं। आशय यह कि यदि सड़कों पर गाडिय़ां कम हैं तो धूल भी उतनी ही कम उड़ेगी। इसे विस्तारपूर्वक समझना हो तो किसी विशेषज्ञ के पास ही जाना होगा। इसी तरह डीजल की बात है। डीजल वाहनों से धुआं भी अधिक उड़ता है और उससे कैंसर का खतरा भी बढ़ता है। यूरोप में डीजल कारों के लिए जो पैमाने लागू हैं वे भारत में नहीं हैं। यूरोपीय मानक हासिल करने के लिए क्या करना पड़ेगा, नीति निर्धारकों को यह बात भी समझना होगी।

Delhi pollution crisis: Why AQI forecasts were way off mark

NEW DELHI: The city's AQI was forecast to remain 'very poor' on Sunday, but it stayed 'severe' during the day and deteriorated to 'severe plus' by evening. Before this, a similar pattern was seen on Nov 13. With a severe smog episode underway and Delhi staring at a pollution crisis, the lack of a reliable and strong forecasting system is glaring. Delhi pollution Even the Decision Support System (DSS), which forecasts Delhi's AQI and calculates the contribution of stubble burning in the city's PM2.5, changed the data of the past few days. For instance, it estimated that the share of farm fires was 37.5% on Friday, the highest this season, but it was later changed to 21.5%. Officials said the model did not factor in the high number of weddings in Delhi-NCR, leading to the bursting of firecrackers. The data since Nov 12 for stubble contribution was, therefore, revised considering the raw data on marriage ceremonies and emissions from firecrackers, they added. Both DSS and Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi (EWS), which forecasts air quality, have been developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (ITM) and use the same model. An analysis of EWS forecasts reveals that from Nov 13 to Nov 19, the forecasts were wrong on five days out of seven. Stage III of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was also not imposed on Nov 13 when air quality turned 'severe', as AQI was predicted to improve to 'very poor'. The decision to impose stage III was taken only on Nov 14. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, "A severe episode has started, but we lack the much-needed reliable forecasts. It impacts our preparedness for emergency action. GRAP's stage IV was imposed after AQI turned 'severe plus'. We need a stronger forecasting system for efficient decision-making." Another official also attributed the inaccurate forecasts to the wedding season which started on Nov 12, and said the figures for contribution of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 have since been revised. "The model was unable to capture the additional emissions from firecrackers due to the ongoing wedding season. According to news reports, about 50,000 weddings took place on Nov 12 in Delhi. However, there was no drastic increase in other sources. Even the meteorological conditions did not show any significant changes. We estimated that air quality was impacted as marriage ceremonies led to the bursting of firecrackers," said a senior scientist in the know of the matter. The scientist added that they estimated that on an average, about 50 crackers were burst in one wedding. "We also removed false fires recorded due to fog. We re-ran the model from Nov 12 onwards, considering firecrackers, and revised the contribution of stubble burning," the scientist said, adding that they plan to consider wedding seasons and firecrackers in future calculations. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst, Envirocatalysts, said, "The air quality forecast for Delhi is based on the 2021 emission inventory, which is outdated. Episodic events such as stubble burning are changing in nature and intensities, leading to wrong forecasts. There is a need to refine the methodology and base data, if forecasts are to be more accurate and meaningful." Dahiya added that events such as firecracker bursting during weddings can't be predicted well to be incorporated into air pollution forecasts, which will always lead to minor deviations in actual versus predicted levels, but all other sources can be predicted fairly accurately using the latest data and methodologies. "Please be aware that the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's PM2.5 concentration for the day is determined using active fire count data from the VIIRS satellite-based instrument received until the previous evening. The estimates of the contribution from stubble burning for Nov 13, 14, and 15 are revised by taking into account the emissions from the bursting of firecrackers in Delhi (as part of wedding celebrations), which were not taken into consideration earlier," stated a disclaimer on the DSS website.

National Catastrophic Region

Roll down the window of your bullet-proof car, Mr Prime Minister. The security threat is not the gun; it is the air of Delhi.” This was the headline of the public advertisement the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) issued some 24 years ago. It was the CSE, again, which termed Delhi’s pollution as nothing but “slow murder”. Unfortunately, the situation has deteriorated since then, as is evident from the fact that the nation’s capital city has once again turned into a gas chamber with the Air Quality Index in a race to the bottom. Meanwhile, the familiar script is playing out: authorities claiming stubble burning has come down due to their “exemplary” work and politicians slinging mud at each other, hoping people have short memories. The apathy of all stakeholders to a disaster that is already upon us is sickening. Have we all forgotten that our right to clean air has to be non-negotiable? The Central Pollution Control Board started maintaining air quality data in 2015. On Monday, the AQI deteriorated to 494 — on a par with the city’s most polluted day recorded on November 3, 2019. Five years and dozens of Supreme Court orders later — and despite stringent measures on days when the AQI is in the severe and severe+ zone — Delhi appears to be back to square one. People are being rushed to hospitals with asthmatic attacks even as a sizeable section of the population — those who can afford to — are staying indoors to avoid “slow murder”. And all this, after the Delhi government told the National Green Tribunal about three weeks ago that it was implementing its 21-point winter action plan involving about 30 government departments to “mitigate” air pollution. The bluff has been called by the apex court.

The looming crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance

The World Health Organisation marks November 18 to 24, every year, as World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. As we write this, ministers from across the world are discussing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, their commitment to act against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – a commitment agreed upon in the second ‘Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance’ by 193 member-states of the United Nations in September 2024. AMR – antibiotic resistance in particular – is a serious threat to humanity; at the UN meeting, countries have agreed on collective action until 2030. Between 2016 (when the first political declaration on AMR was adopted) and today, about 180 nations have introduced national AMR action plans. India too has developed a comprehensive plan, but like many other resource-constrained countries of the Global South, its implementation has been far from successful. There is global urgency to act because antibiotics are becoming ineffective in treating even common bacterial infections. Those meant to save lives in hospitals and intensive care units are also failing. In 2021, 4.7 million deaths were linked to antibiotic resistance and about 1.15 million were directly caused by it. In India, nearly 0.3 million deaths were attributed to bacterial AMR or antibiotic resistance in 2019 and over a million deaths were associated with it. Antibiotic resistance is considered deadlier than HIV and malaria together and, perhaps, Covid which has caused nearly seven million deaths since early 2020. Known as a ‘silent’ pandemic, it is estimated to kill 39 million between 2025 and 2050. As bacterial infestation is common in animals and plants grown for food, unchecked antibiotic resistance is also expected to adversely impact food and livestock productivity and livelihoods of farmers, more so in low-and middle-income countries. metabolic, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative diseases to high revenues and profits. Even if new drugs are developed, antibiotic manufacturers avoid selling them in low overused or misused, bacteria can become resistant to their action. More overuse or misuse in human health, animal health, and crop and food-animal production, therefore, means more resistance in bacteria which can become multi-drug resistant or Superbugs and spread further through food, waste, and environment routes. India produces large quantities of food from crops and animals, making it extremely important to keep checks on antibiotic overuse and misuse and prevent these foodanimal and crop sectors from becoming a major source of antibiotic resistance spread through food and waste routes. About 62% of the 850 million poultry population is in the commercial segment which, typically, depends on antibiotics and chemicals to compensate for infection-friendly conditions. India is the biggest milk producer, accounting for over 20% of the global production, and has about 125 million milch animals in cows and buffaloes. It generates nearly 8% of the global fish production and is the 4th largest exporter of seafood. The waste routes, especially those involving hospital waste, call for renewed focus as they are often a source of hard-to-treat multidrug-resistant bacteria. India is among the few countries that have not officially prohibited antibiotic use as growth promoters in poultry. Chicken feed, its antibiotic content, or labelling is not amply regulated. There is an urgent need to compile baseline data on the amount of antibiotics used in different food-animal sectors and on purpose-based classifications. Such data will offer a start to potential intervention and identification of national antibiotic reduction targets. Need for multipronged approach Mass use of antibiotics to prevent or control disease is still not actively discouraged. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying came up with longoverdue standard veterinary treatment guidelines in October 2024. Now, the challenge is to ensure that these guidelines are adhered to. Critically important antibiotics used to save lives in hospitals must be conserved and phased out in food-animal sectors, especially for non-therapeutic purposes. A key issue pertains to a lack of monitoring of antibiotics in food, though the standards for antibiotic residues in food from animals and honey were set many years ago. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has not been able to instil confidence in consumers that their chicken, fish, or scaling up local and decentralised food systems – backyard poultry, for instance – and reducing dependence on industry-intensive systems. It is time for an adequately funded AMR national action plan 2.0, with ministries and departments marked for accountability. There is a silver lining in Kerala – the state runs the Antibiotic Literate Kerala campaign, the Antibiotic-Smart Hospital initiative to certify healthcare centres that have adopted a set of criteria, operation AMRITH – Anti-Microbial Resistance Intervention for Total Health – aimed at curbing over-the-counter sales of antibiotics, and ROAR (Rage On Antimicrobial Resistance), a programme that involves the sale of antibiotics in blue envelopes with statutory warnings and awareness messages. India must come together to prevent and contain this big threat to humanity. There are huge expectations from us but a strong, coordinated, and timely action will be of immense global significance. (Amit and Rajeshwari are Director and Programme Manager, respectively, at the Sustainable Food Systems Programme, Centre for Science and Environment)

India’s Climate Change Crisis: Extreme Weather Events In The Past Nine Months, CSE Report 2024

Climate change and the extreme weather events caused due to it, is a genuine and ever-increasing crisis in India. The annual “State of Extreme Weather” report titled Climate India 2024: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based think-tank, in collaboration with Down To Earth, reveals some concerning findings about the magnitude of the climate change crisis in India and its impact. The State of Extreme Weather report includes an analysis of seven extreme weather events: Cold waves and cold days, cloudbursts, cyclones and snowfall, heavy rains, heatwaves, floods and landslides, and lightning and storms, and shows concerning results as the country faced these events on 93 per cent days of the nine months! Out of the 274 days, the country faced intense weather events on 255 days which resulted in the loss of 3,238 human lives, 3.2 million hectares of crops, 9,457 livestock, and 2,35,862 houses and other infrastructure. The data also shows an 18 per cent increase in human life losses and a 74 per cent increase in crop damage due to the climate change crisis over just three years. However, the data still does not adequately show the damaging impact of climate change on agriculture as there was a lack of data from states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which contribute highly to agriculture. According to Kiran Pandey, the Programme Director of the CSE’s environmental resources team, “Twenty-seven states and Union territories saw a rise in extreme weather days in 2024, with Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh each experiencing 40 or more additional days of such events.” Out of all the states that were studied as a part of the research, the states of Central India, especially Madhya Pradesh have been impacted the most. The state experienced 176 days of extreme weather events which makes it the state accounting for a loss of 353 human lives while suffering a significant loss of cropland and maximum infrastructural damage. In addition, the states of Kerala and Assam witnessed the most number of human fatalities and the agricultural land and infrastructure of the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were also affected the most. Despite the concerning data provided in the State of Extreme Weather report, the country has not been taking the crisis of climate change seriously while seriously undermining its impact on the marginalised. According to Rajit Sengupta, the Associate Editor of Down To Earth, “While heatwaves claimed 210 lives, the data does not reflect the extended health impacts of prolonged high temperatures on the wellbeing of people in North India, including farmers and labourers, who endured intense heat with little means of relief.” The statement sheds light on how the Government has failed to provide measures of relief to the marginalised communities of the country while seriously undermining how the climate change crisis impacts them more as compared to how it affects the elite. Climate change crisis and impact on the marginalised communities The climate change crisis impacts the marginalised communities the most as they lack the resources required to escape the vicious loop of loss and damage caused due to extreme weather events. The marginalised groups such as Indigenous and caste-based communities are more prone to the impact of climate change crisis as they depend upon natural resources for their livelihood and end up coming to the forefront of environmental degradation as well as land dispossession while being excluded from government policies and structures. As per a study conducted by the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation, when compared to the households led by men, the female-headed households in rural areas of the country suffer an increased average loss of 8 per cent of their income due to the double or twin crisis of humidity and heat stress. Due to limited resources and various socio-economic reasons such as having restricted access to education, minimal qualifications and possession of skills, and financial constraints, women are not able to exercise their autonomy. In addition, the gender roles dictated by society also limit the majority of the women in rural areas to the unorganised sector of agriculture where they engage in labour-intensive tasks such as spending a significant amount of the day in forests to gathering raw material, catering to livestock, sowing and harvesting crops, and even construction work. As per the India Meteorological Department, India saw its second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years in February. Extreme weather conditions such as cold waves, heatwaves, and heavy rains worsen the working conditions of these women by causing water scarcity and crop failures which further reduce their income, making them, especially men, migrate and move to different urban cities in search of more work. The migration of men places an increased workload on the women as they suffer from the double burden of domestic chores and economic responsibility. Most importantly, the climate change crisis also increases the medical risks as they are forced to work more time in the agricultural field and are exposed to chemicals in the form of pesticides and insecticides which harm their health by causing severe and long-term medical conditions such as respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, disruption of endocrine leading to reproductive health problems, neurological and mental health problems, and increasing the risk of developing cancer by weakening their immune system. While February saw the coldest temperatures, October was the warmest since 1901 with a recorded temperature of 26.92 degrees Celsius. As the IMD has also forecasted, “November this year will be warm with no hint of winter,” indicates that the frequency of extreme weather events in India will increase much more significantly, causing a drastic shift in the weather patterns, further marginalising the already-marginalised. Central India faced the highest number of extreme weather events but the State of Extreme Weather report also makes it evident that the North-Eastern states are prone to extreme weather events such as heavy rains, floods, and landslides as Assam witnessed heavy rains, floods, and landslides on 122 days of the nine months. Despite the alarming data and floods ravaging the state every year, the state does not include any specific policy or concrete plan of action to deal with the flooding crisis. India’s plan of action to combat the climate change crisis “These record-breaking statistics reflect climate change’s impact, where events that used to occur once every century are now happening every five years or even less,” says Sunita Narain, the Director General of CSE. The State of Extreme Weather report by CSE highlights the need for a shift in the already existing climate action plans and policies which consist of two elements: Mitigation and adaptation, there is more focus on the former compared to the latter. The CSE report suggests that a change in approach is required as there is a need to focus more on reducing risks and building resilience rather than on how to respond to any calamity as the frequency of extreme weather events is bound to increase. However, India still does not seem to take the crisis of climate change seriously as Prime Minister Modi’s decision not to attend the World Leader’s Climate Action Summit at COP29 reflects that the Government lacks seriousness towards combating the climate change crisis and acknowledging how it impacts the marginalised who are already not a part of the prime governance structure.

20 reaffirms faith in multilateralism, falls short on climate finance details: Experts

G20 leaders have given support for a successful outcome on a new climate finance package at the UN climate talks but have avoided giving any clear details, climate policy experts said on Tuesday. They say it is important that the 20 richest nations in the world, accounting for 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, have reaffirmed their support for multilateralism and the UN climate convention to solve climate problems. This comes amid concerns about the US and Argentina pulling out of the Paris Agreement, which has hurt the morale of negotiators at the talks in Baku. The G20's pushback on "unilateral trade practices", like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, is also seen as crucial for developing countries. That said, experts note some key gaps in the G20 statement. It does not explicitly mention transitioning away from fossil fuels or mobilising resources to address loss and damage caused by climate change. The G20 Leaders' Summit released its final communique on Monday night. Along with calling for higher taxes on the super-rich, the leaders hoped for a "positive outcome" on climate finance at the ongoing COP29 in Baku. They also reiterated their commitment to strengthening multilateralism, supporting the UNFCCC, and working towards limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Vaibhav Chaturvedi, a senior fellow at the Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment, and Water, said the G20 is not the right platform to discuss the new climate finance package being negotiated at COP29 under the UNFCCC process. The real issues about quantum and who will contribute are not addressed at the G20. These questions go beyond the G20, he said. Chaturvedi added that the G20 leaders' emphasis on multilateralism is important. "This is one of the first points in the climate section. Despite uncertainties like the US and Argentina pulling out, they have stressed that the multilateral process is key," he said. Harjeet Singh, a climate activist and Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, criticised developed nations in the G20 for failing to specify the trillions needed or ensure funds are given as "Without decisive progress on finance at COP29, we are steering towards a catastrophic temperature scenario, where the most vulnerable will bear the gravest consequences," he said. Singh said the G20 countries displayed a "stark failure in leadership" by not reaffirming their commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels. "No amount of finance can save us from a world that's warmed by 3-4 degrees, which is what awaits if major global powers keep sidestepping the need to phase out coal, oil and gas," said Catherine Abreu, the director of the International Climate Politics Hub. Trishant Dev, a programme officer at the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, welcomed the G20's stand against restrictive trade measures. He said such measures hurt developing countries and need to be aligned with the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). The G20 declaration could pressure countries to discuss these issues at COP29, especially since developed nations often use climate action to justify these trade policies, Dev said. Chaturvedi said the G20 had made it clear that unilateral measures should not be used as unjustified trade restrictions. Securing agreement on a new climate finance package to help developing countries cut emissions and adapt to climate change is a top priority for this year's UN climate talks. Different estimates suggest that USD 1.3 trillion is But countries are struggling to agree on how much money is needed, how the package will work, and who will contribute. For developing nations, restrictive trade measures are another major concern. Last week, India argued that these measures unfairly shift the burden of transitioning to low-carbon economies onto developing and low-income nations. At the same time, developed nations, which have historically caused the most emissions, are not meeting their climate finance commitments. UN climate chief Simon Stiell on Saturday also urged G20 leaders to carry out rapid cuts in emissions to prevent climate-driven economic carnage

CSE director general Sunita Narain addresses High Level Ministerial Conference, says prevention is the best bet for countries in the Global South

“Prevention is the most effective way of fighting the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance – especially for low-and middle-income countries of the Global South. We do not have the luxury of indulging in rampant, unchecked use of antibiotics first and then spending a lot on trying to contain the damage. We must prevent, prevent and prevent to make growth more inclusive,” said Sunita Narain, director general of New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Narain was addressing the 4th Global High Level Ministerial Meeting on AMR, convened by the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from November 15-16, 2024 in Jeddah. Narain is a member of the Global Leader’s Group on AMR. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – antibiotic resistance in particular – is triggered and accelerated by misuse and overuse of antibiotics in human health, animal health and food production. The global urgency to act against AMR is because antibiotics are becoming ineffective to treat even common bacterial infections; those meant to save lives in hospitals and intensive care units are also failing. Says Amit Khurana, director, sustainable food systems programme in CSE: “In 2021, 4.7 million deaths were linked to antibiotic resistance and about 1.15 million deaths were directly caused by it. In India, nearly 0.3 million deaths were attributed to bacterial AMR or antibiotic resistance in 2019 and over a million deaths were associated with it. AMR is projected to claim lives of 39 million people globally between 2025 and 2050.” The Jeddah Commitment : Under the theme “From Declaration to Implementation – Accelerating Actions through Multisectoral Partnerships for the Containment of AMR’, the Jeddah conference aimed to take forward the ‘Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance’, adopted by 193 members states at the UN General Assembly of 2024. It brought together ministers and experts from the health, environment and agriculture sectors from 57 countries, in addition to 450 participants from UN organisations. Considering the challenges and possibilities in low-and middle-income countries, Narain stressed on three key interconnected agendas: “These are the ‘development agenda’ to promote sustainable food production and livestock management practices that eliminate reliance on growth promoters; the ‘prevention agenda’ to build food systems that do not depend on antimicrobial use and improve water supply systems to reduce contamination; and the ‘environmental agenda’ to minimise waste and reduce environmental contamination with antimicrobials.” The Jeddah meeting concluded with the approval of the Jeddah Commitments, which among others, included creating operational national AMR coordination mechanisms, ensuring prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials, establishment of a One Health AMR Learning Hub that will focus on sharing best practices and developing capabilities on the practical implementation of multisectoral national action plans on AMR. India also emphasised that AMR needs urgent action through the One Health approach for cooperation across human, animal and plant health as well as environmental sectors. Among others, it also proposed a comprehensive approach aimed at improving AMR detection and surveillance capacities across sectors. What’s India doing? Says Khurana: “India’s second phase of national AMR action plan is being worked upon for many years. The first plan that ended in 2021 did not see much success. The new plan is expected to be well costed, funded with clear ownership and accountability. It should soon be made public as it will also reflect India’s plan to meet commitments made at global level.” India is a big producer and exporter of food from animals such as milk, eggs, fish and poultry meat, which makes keeping a check on antibiotic misuse and overuse important in these sectors. In the 3rd ministerial conference of Oman in 2022, India had endorsed the Muscat Manifesto, which included targets such as reducing the total amount of antimicrobials used in agri-food systems by at least 30-50 per cent by 2030. It also included zero use of medically important antimicrobials for human medicine, in animals or in crop production and agri-food systems. In the UNGA Political Declaration on AMR, India has committed to strive to meaningfully reduce, by 2030, the quantity of antimicrobials used globally in the agri-food system from the current level. Rajeshwari Sinha, programme manager, sustainable food systems, CSE says: “To meet the commitments, India will need a roadmap to scale up preventive approaches such as related to animal housing, antibiotic alternatives, vaccines, biosecurity and resilient breeds that help reduce the occurrence of disease in food-animal farms and the need for antibiotics at its first place. It also needs a long-term approach to reduce dependence on intensive industrial systems and promote local, decentralised food systems supported by backyard farming.” CSE researchers highlight that India is among the few countries in the world which does not prohibit the use of antibiotics as growth promoters through chicken feed. In fact, chicken feed is not regulated under any law. Specifically, says Khurana, “India needs to phase out antibiotic use as growth promoters; phase out mass routine use of antibiotics for the so-called ‘disease prevention’; phase out the use of critical antibiotics that save human lives in hospitals.” CSE researchers also pointed towards a recent positive move: the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in October 2024, has banned the use of certain antibiotics in food animal production. Earlier, colistin, a critically important antibiotic for human use, was banned for animal use. The researchers have also highlighted that despite having standards for antibiotic residues for food from animals for many years, the FSSAI has failed to assure consumers if the eggs, meat and fish available in Indian markets are free from antibiotic residues. In fact, in 2018, the Authority had found antibiotic residues in milk.

Relentless for 48 hours, city’s pollution level stays ‘severe’

Gurgaon: The city on Tuesday recorded ‘severe' air quality for the second consecutive day, though overnight winds helped to partially clear up skies. Gurgaon's 24-hour air quality index (AQI) was calculated at 402, down from 469 on Monday. Meteorologists said AQI improved because wind speed went up from 8kmph to 12kmph, and limited fog from forming. Monday was the most polluted day of this winter season, but on Tuesday, the air quality monitoring station in Gwalpahari recorded average AQI at 494. The air quality scale maxes out at 500. Average AQI at the Sector 51 station was far lower, at 408, and Teri Gram recorded 393. Gurgaon's fourth station at Vikas Sadan saw average AQI at 373 on Tuesday. Experts warned that stubble burning from farms across states was a key contributor to winter pollution, but local emissions were equally if not more important to cut for a long-term solution to this public health crisis. An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) calculated that over a quarter of PM.2.5 pollutants in the city's atmosphere were released from vehicles. "Modeling shows a consistent 26% contribution from transport for sectoral share of PM2.5 in Gurgaon. The Vahan database reveals that Gurgaon saw a substantial increase in vehicle registrations. Over the past five years, the annual average of new registrations was 91,481, reflecting an annual growth rate of 9.7%," said Anumita Roy Chowdhary, executive director of research and advocacy at CSE. Chowdhary emphasised the urgent need to control vehicular emissions. "The growing number of vehicles is a major factor in deteriorating air quality. Effective strategies are needed to mitigate this issue and protect the health of Gurgaon's residents," she said. The level of PM 2.5 – tiny particles that can get embedded into the lungs when inhaled – has been hazardous since Monday. On Tuesday, it was 457 µg/m3 at Gwalpahari station – more than 11 times the permissible levels set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). PM 2.5 concentration was 440 µg/m3 at Teri Gram, 443 at Vikas Sadan and 421 at the Section 51 station. Neighbouring cities weren't any better, though AQI was relatively better than Monday. Ghaziabad's 24-hour AQI was 434 on Tuesday – all ‘severe'. Noida's air quality improved slightly to 370, as did Faridabad's (320) but both were still ‘very poor'. Delhi's average AQI was 484 at 9am on Tuesday, which by noon had improved slightly to 473 and to 464 by 3pm. According to weather analysts, Delhi had seen dense fog on Monday, leading to intensive trapping of pollutants as the fog cover persisted for a longer time. Although the fog moved towards west UP, pollution levels may see no significant change due to low wind speed and high moisture in the air. "City saw north-westerly and westerly winds up to 6-8kmph on Tuesday. On Monday, the dense fog layer entered the city from Punjab and Haryana, which made dispersion difficult," said Mahesh Palwat, Vice Chairman, Climate Change and Meteorology, Skymet.

Despite the toll, why is bad air not an election issue?

Delhi’s never-ending troubles with air pollution invite two questions. Is the problem really as intractable as it has been made to appear by policymakers? Or, is poor policy at the root of the crisis? There can be no denying that the city’s air quality is a product of the complex interplay of several variables — particulate matter from tailpipe of vehicles, toxins from waste and biomass burning, industrial emissions, the city’s geography and farm fires in neighbouring states. The problem cannot be resolved by working in silos. However, this fundamental policy requirement seems to have become an alibi for inaction, especially by the Delhi government and the Centre. Almost every year, as people in the capital and its vicinity choke on air that would be deemed hazardous by the WHO — in India, it’s described somewhat less stringently as “severe” — government agencies, ministers and politicians try to evade accountability by sparring with each other. This year, too, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has faulted the Centre and the governments of neighbouring states, while the BJP has called out the AAP government. The Supreme Court has issued strict directions to the Centre and the Delhi government. However, by now it should be clear that the emergency mode offers, at best, a limited solution. Cleaning Delhi’s air — and that of other Indian cities — requires all-year-round action. There is now considerable information on the variables linked to the capital’s pollution. Studies by the Centre for Science and Environment, IIT Delhi and Kanpur, TERI, the National Institute of Advanced Studies and government agencies such as the CPCB have disaggregated the role of different polluting sources. Research organisations have sometimes differed on the share of these pollutants. There might also be variations at different locations in the city, and in the daily, weekly or monthly averages, but the major sources of pollution are now well identified. Most studies have underlined the need for cleaner modes of commuting, increased use of public transport, greater scrutiny over industrial emissions, and incentivising households to transition to green cooking fuels. Some of these solutions require long-term action, while others can be achieved in a year or two. But information is only an enabler — it’s meant to facilitate action. Despite all the attention that Delhi’s smog has got, there is no trend in air quality which shows that efforts are being made to tackle the problem over the long term — or even the short term. Advertisement In 2021, the Centre set up the Commission For Air Quality Management (CAQM) to coordinate the work of different pollution control bodies. The organisation’s mandate was prescient given that experts today underline the salience of the airshed approach — instead of looking at pollution as a city or state-level problem, policymakers need to identify larger hotspots of poor air. But in the past three years, the CAQM has mostly functioned as a regulator that comes into play when Delhi’s Emergency Graded Action Plan is in force. The policy-making deficit is also a fallout of a larger shortcoming: Despite the toll it takes, Delhi’s bad air is never an election issue. This apathy must end.

Talking solutions at COP29: Potential of Article 6 to uplift women’s health and lives

Around the world and especially in the Global South, many households rely on using wood as firewood to cook their meals. Due to the gender-based roles that are prevalent in most societies, it is women who bear the brunt of not just inhaling the toxic fumes while cooking food but also the burden of collecting wood falls categorically on their shoulders. This is where carbon markets are bringing about a change for many women. “Carbon financing enables developers like us to trade in high value credits, where we sell Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) created in Africa at a very good price for buyers in the Global North. This means that we subsidise the cost of our products. We have been able to reduce the cost of our cookstoves by up to 40% because of carbon markets,” says Caroline Amollo, Director of Corporate Affairs, BURN, which works on making clean cooking accessible to countries in Africa. Amollo says that the majority of the end users of these products are women—who benefit significantly by switching to clean cooking methods. Due to subsidies enabled by carbon markets, more women have access to cleaner cooking products as the barrier of a lack of purchasing power is removed. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that worldwide, around 2.4 billion people still cook using fuels such as wood and kerosene, mostly in Africa. In India, some studies say that over a third of households still relied on firewood as their primary source of cooking fuel in 2020-21. “Apart from developing respiratory problems like asthma and lung cancer, the time that women spend on collecting the wood and keeping the fire going while cooking is a lot,” said Yanna Gruel, General Manager, Microsol—who works with communities in Peru, Mexico, Guatemala and other Latin American countries to make cleaner cooking accessible. Microsol provides stoves for free to communities to switch to clean cooking methods. Gruel says it has been possible due to carbon markets. Currently, operating under voluntary carbon markets with their projects certified by Gold Standard, Microsol injects the returns from carbon market to maintain the cookstoves in the communities, repair or replace them. “With accessible cleaner cooking options, that time can be used in other activities that they like, including resting, spending time with their families, helping with their child’s education, etc. and improve their health and life overall and so of their family,” adds Gruel. As Delhi struggles with dangerous outdoor air quality levels these days, it is important to note using unclean cooking leads to all-year-round poor air quality indoors. A woman cooking food using firewood, before switching to a clean cooking stove. Photo: Microsol Loopholes to fix A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that looked into the voluntary carbon market in India says around one-fifth of over 1,200 cookstove projects registered or under various stages of development with Verra and Gold Standard are in India. Earlier this year, India expanded its list of eligible projects under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 mechanisms to include clean cooking initiatives. This addition joined the initial 13 activities under Article 6.2. The CSE report also featured a study which said that clean household device projects had a 50% year on year growth—expansion of developers portfolio—in Africa and India. However, the report also finds that a lot of times communities are not informed when they sign over a consent form during installation of cooking stoves, transferring carbon rights to the developers and companies involved. Other issues like lack of evidence of robust monitoring, over crediting gains of removal, lack of an organised marketplace to monitor the price of carbon credit for improved cookstoves, among others, plague the sector. Therefore, a lot needs to be set right for these markets to function in a way that benefits the communities, who are actually making the mitigation move. Hope renewed More carbon markets can now potentially open up which can provide more finance for such initiatves, significantly improving health and lives of women around the world. In the first week of COP29, negotiators reached consensus on standards for the creation of carbon credits under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. While carbon markets are already functioning bilaterally under Article 6.2, the latest developments at COP29 can make the process for a centralised global carbon offset market more transparent and ensure that the international carbon market operates with integrity under the supervision of the United Nations. “It appears that the process for clauses like authorisation will be common for both Article 6.4 and Article 6.2. The methodologies under 6.4 will be reviewed by the Supervisory Body. So, if a country submits a methodology under clean cooking, the Supervisory Body will see the provisions for criteria like additionality and permanence, among others. However, even if the Supervisory Body passes the methodology, the final decision related to implementation of the same lies with the Parties,” explains Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Senior Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water(CEEW). Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, when Parties at COP29 agreed on international carbon market standards, said, “There’s more work to do, but this is a good start – the product of over 10 years of work within the process. We are a long way from halving emissions this decade, but wins on carbon markets here at COP29 will help us get back in that race.”

Innovative Marketing Techniques for Sustainable Construction Companies

The construction industry has a significant environmental impact, contributing to 39% of the world’s total carbon emissions. In India, where urbanization is booming, the environmental repercussions are especially high, yet only about 1% of the country’s construction and demolition waste is recycled, according to a recent report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This minimal recycling rate highlights a major gap and an opportunity for change. With the rising awareness of environmental issues, more and more people are looking for sustainable solutions in building and construction. This has created a strong demand for construction companies to adopt eco-friendly practices and products. Some companies are already making notable efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. Many have adopted the use of renewable energy sources (such as solar power) to run their operations. Others are finding innovative ways to reduce waste by utilizing recycled materials like fly ash, slag, and manufactured sand in their products. These sustainable practices not only help to reduce emissions but also lower the amount of waste sent to landfills, contributing to a circular economy. In addition to focusing on sustainable materials, some companies have chosen to use advanced technologies in their production processes. For example, techniques such as pre-casting, Bamboo Reinforcement and the use of natural pigments in colour are becoming increasingly common. These technologies not only enhance the sustainability of construction practices but also contribute to the conservation of natural resources. Those who can deliver sustainable options while actively educating customers about their environmental benefits stand out in the industry. Innovative marketing techniques play a key role here, helping construction companies not only to promote their best practices but also to encourage a shift toward sustainable buildings across India.

Delhi: From National Capital to Catastrophic region

“The air traffic in Delhi airport came to a standstill” became a common news in the media specifically in the month of November. This November is no exception. The Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated to 494 which is on par with the recorded worst polluted day of Delhi in 2019. Despite the recurring November experience for the capital region of Delhi, there seems to be no curative attempts from the administration of both Delhi and Centre. As usual the debating rooms of the TV channels rised the verbal heat and provided platform for the political slugfest on the pollution of the capital city. Politicians, as it is their wont, compete to blame each other to fix up the responsibility forgetting the fact that every major political party ruled Delhi at one time or the other. Both the politicians and the citizens of the Delhi forget the issue once the pollution impact eased out on its own. Surprisingly the victims, the citizens of National Capital Region are not agitating continuously on this pollution issue. This air pollution is haunting the capital regions for over two decades and the old timers of Delhi recollect the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) bill board of 2000, where it asked the then PM to roll down the window glass of his bullet proof car to know the real threat, as the security threat is not from the gun but from the air of the Delhi as CSE felt then. Surprisingly there seems to be no solution to the Delhi pollution despite the many judicial orders from Supreme Court, environmental expert’s suggestions and urban planner’s efforts. Delhi was ruled by all the main political parties including the current AAP which is in office for near 15 years. Aravind Kejriwal, the CM till recently may claim many achievements, but his track record on the city pollution front is as good or as bad as his predecessors from Congress and BJP. What surprises is the current AAP administration has told the National Green Tribunal about a month ago that it is implementing its 21 point winter action plan involving 30 governmental agencies to reduce the pollution problem of Delhi in November. Despite that the situation worsened and the Delhi CM is not coming out with the reasons for its failure. Unconfirmed news say that foreign dignitaries are worried to visit Delhi as they are worried about their health, especially their lungs, and that is not a good news for any country on its capital’s environment. To cap it all the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Sashi Tharoor has raised the question of continuance of Delhi as the capital city. Whether he is genuinely interested in clean Delhi or trying to help his party to start election campaign on the forthcoming elections in Delhi, the national capital region, is not clear. The air quality issue of Delhi is not new and it was there for over three decades. For the polluted atmosphere in Delhi the states of Punjab and Haryana and their farmers are blamed by Aravind Kejriwal when he was in the CM chair but the data is not supporting his claim. The stubble burning after the agricultural season by the farmers was the norm in those two states and Pune based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology assessed that only 2.4% of the bad air of Delhi is contributed by the stubble burning. Road dust is found out to be the top contributor for Delhi polluted air by a study undertaken by the IIT, Kanpur. As per their finding 56% is road dust followed by the concrete bathing, industrial discharge and vehicle emissions collectively contributing 29% for the pollution. The issue of pollution in Delhi is real. It is not only air pollution but even the water is getting polluted. The River Yamuna, the main water source for Delhi is full of thick froth of toxic foam because of the industrial effluents released into the river untreated. Capital region becoming a catastrophic region is there to see with many rushing to hospital with breathing and gastric problems, staying indoors at the cost of their work and people wearing mask even on normal days. Unfortunately no one is owning the responsibility and implement the solutions offered by experts. If the political cacophony dominates, and state governments ruling neighbouring Delhi prefers politics over the solutions then the Delhi citizens are bound to subject to “slow death” in the “polluted gas chamber” called the capital catastrophic region.