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Stubble burning declines, but Delhi’s air quality stays poor

Despite a significant decline in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana this year, Delhi’s air quality remains hazardous, spotlighting local sources as key contributors to the toxic haze over the national capital. With farm fires down by 74% in Punjab and over 44% in Haryana compared to previous years, experts and officials are questioning whether stubble burning is truly the primary culprit behind Delhi’s persistent air pollution issues. As Delhi’s residents continue to face severe pollution, allegations against farmers in neighbouring states persist. Every year, from October to November, farmers burn crop stubble left over from paddy harvesting to prepare fields for wheat. Critics argue that the smoke from these fires releases high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and other pollutants into the atmosphere, exacerbating air quality problems in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Yet, some experts contend that stubble burning is only a part of the equation, with local sources accounting for the majority of the pollution. Play Next Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 4:35 Fullscreen Farm fires in Punjab have drastically reduced from 22,981 incidents between 15 September and 8 November in 2022 to 6,029 incidents during the same period this year. Haryana reported only 906 cases, down from 1,605 last year. Despite this decline, Delhi’s air quality has continued to degrade, with no days recorded in the “good” category. Local sources, including vehicular and industrial emissions, seem to be filling the gap left by the reduction in stubble burning. A recent research report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) underscores the role of local pollution sources, with vehicular emissions emerging as the primary contributor. The emission inventory studies for Delhi, including those conducted by IIT Kanpur in 2015 and TERI-ARAI in 2018, suggest that the transport sector alone contributes between 20% and 41% of PM2.5 levels in the city. Delhi has a burgeoning vehicular population, with the Economic Survey of 2023-24 reporting a stock of 7.9 million vehicles in the city, including 6.5 lakh new vehicles registered in the past year alone. Nearly 90.5% of these vehicles are two-wheelers and private cars. An explosive rate of motorization further exacerbates the situation. The city sees around 1,100 new two-wheelers and 500 private cars registered daily. Experts argue that this growth rate, alongside inadequate public transport services and congestion, offsets any gains from emission control measures. “Despite efforts to curb vehicular pollution, explosive motorization and inadequate public transport options continue to thwart emission reduction efforts,” CSE’s report notes. Initiatives like the CNG program for public transport, the phasing out of old diesel and petrol vehicles, restrictions on non-destined trucks, and the adoption of Bharat Stage 6 emission standards have yet to yield substantial results due to the growing mobility crisis in Delhi. This year, the average contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s PM2.5 levels from 10-20 October was only 0.7%, indicating a minimal impact. However, farm fire impact surged later, with stubble burning contributing around 16% to PM2.5 levels on 23 October, when the concentration reached 213 µg/m³—classified as “very poor.” Despite fluctuating contributions from stubble burning, PM2.5 concentrations remained high, peaking at 206 µg/m³ on 31 October, suggesting that other sources sustained the pollution levels. According to recent data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, stubble burning contributed only 1.3% of air pollution in Delhi on 19 October. IITM projections estimate a slight increase, predicting a contribution of around 2.3% and 2.4% on October 20 and 21, respectively. But claims by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) are contrary. SAFAR has noted that during peak burning periods, stubble burning can contribute up to 40% of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels. On 1 November, the daily contribution of stubble burning reached a high of 35.2%, according इस शब्द का अर्थ जानिये to the Centre’s Decision Support System. The variability in these figures, influenced by wind direction and atmospheric conditions, reflects the complexity of accurately attributing pollution solely to stubble burning. Many experts argue that Delhi’s pollution problem is largely home-grown. Dr Virender Singh Lather, former Principal Scientist at ICAR-IARI New Delhi, stated, “Nearly 90% of Delhi’s air pollution is due to local sources. Even if farmers stopped growing paddy, Delhi would still face severe air quality issues.” Dr Lather explained that stubble burning occurs when wind speeds are below 5 km/h, causing heavier PM2.5 particles to remain localized within a radius of 10-15 kilometers. “Technically, pollution from stubble burning occurring hundreds of kilometres away cannot significantly impact Delhi’s air quality.” Further challenging the blame on stubble burning, Justice Sudhir Aggarwal, a member of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), expressed scepticism, noting that there is no scientific evidence conclusively linking stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana to Delhi’s pollution crisis. In an unusual turn, Punjab farmers were also accused of contributing to cross-border pollution this year. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Senior Minister for Environment and Climate Change in the Punjab government, claimed that “eastern corridor winds from India” were bringing pollution to Lahore, escalating the city’s smog levels. This accusation highlights the regional dimensions of the pollution issue and raises questions about shared environmental accountability. Alongside vehicular emissions, other sources of pollution are increasingly scrutinized. Aircraft operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi are also significant contributors. Handling around 1,500 flights daily, each aircraft emits substantial quantities of CO2. Aviation, while only accounting for approximately 2.4% of global CO2 emissions, contributes disproportionately to urban pollution due to its high CO2 output per hour compared to other modes of transport. Industry emissions, construction dust, and waste burning also add to Delhi’s air quality woes, further diminishing the impact of any reduction in stubble burning. While farmers in Punjab and Haryana are often vilified for stubble burning, experts recognize the challenge they face. Many farmers, especially the small farmers with land holding below four acres, lack affordable alternatives for disposing of crop residue, and burning remains the quickest and least costly option to clear fields before the next planting season. Attempts to introduce in-situ management practices, such as using bio-decomposers, are underway but have yet to achieve widespread adoption due to high costs and logistical challenges. “Farmers do not want to burn crop waste. But the machines are beyond the reach of small farmers, around 40% farmers do not even have a tractor, how they will manage the crop waste”, said a farmer leader Ratan Mann. While stubble burning undoubtedly contributes to Delhi’s air pollution, experts assert that it is far from the only factor. Focusing on a holistic approach that includes curbing vehicular emissions, enhancing public transport, controlling industrial pollution, and implementing affordable alternatives for farmers could provide more effective relief.

Trade tensions, funding among COP29 challenges

The UN Climate meeting (COP29) opens on Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, against a backdrop of unprecedented global challenges and environmental milestones. The conference faces multiple headwinds: Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and deepening disagreements over climate finance between developed and developing nations.

Delhi Chokes: A city under siege by "Very Poor" air quality

Delhi is once again grappling with a severe air pollution crisis, as a thick blanket of smog engulfs the city, compromising the health and well-being of its millions of residents. The Air Quality Index (AQI), a key indicator of air pollution, has surpassed the 330 mark, firmly placing Delhi in the "very poor" category. This alarming situation has persisted for nearly two weeks, raising serious concerns about the long-term health impacts and the efficacy of current mitigation measures. AQI across Delhi: Anand Vihar: 351 (Very Poor) Bawana: 383 (Very Poor) CRRI Mathura Road: 323 (Very Poor) Dwarka Sector 8: 341 (Very Poor) IGI Airport: 326 (Very Poor) ITO: 328 (Very Poor) Lodhi Road: 319 (Very Poor) Mundka: 358 (Very Poor) Najafgarh: 341 (Very Poor) New Moti Bagh: 394 (Very Poor) Okhla Phase-2: 339 (Very Poor) RK Puram: 368 (Very Poor) Wazirpur: 366 (Very Poor) Several factors contribute to Delhi's persistent air pollution woes. Stubble burning in neighboring agricultural states, residual pollutants from Diwali fireworks, vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and unfavorable meteorological conditions with low wind speeds all play a significant role. The lack of air circulation traps pollutants, leading to a thick haze that obscures even the city's most iconic landmarks, such as India Gate, where the AQI has reached 357. Facts and Figures: According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment, air pollution in Delhi is responsible for over 10,000 premature deaths annually. A report by Greenpeace India indicates that Delhi's air pollution levels exceed the World Health Organization's safe limits by more than 10 times. The economic cost of air pollution in Delhi is estimated to be billions of dollars each year due to healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and damage to infrastructure. The health implications of this "very poor" air quality are particularly worrisome. Health experts report a surge in respiratory illnesses, with even healthy individuals experiencing breathing difficulties due to prolonged exposure to the smog. This situation underscores the urgency for a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to tackle this environmental crisis. Governmental Actions: In response to the crisis, the government has implemented several measures: Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): This plan outlines a series of actions based on the severity of pollution levels, including restrictions on construction activities, vehicular movement (such as the odd-even scheme), and industrial operations. Campaign Against Stubble Burning: Efforts are being made to discourage stubble burning in neighboring states through awareness campaigns, subsidies for alternative crop residue management techniques, and stricter enforcement of regulations. Monitoring and Public Awareness: Continuous air quality monitoring and public awareness campaigns aim to keep citizens informed and encourage them to take precautionary measures. While these initiatives represent steps in the right direction, the persistent air quality challenges highlight the need for more stringent and sustained efforts. Addressing this crisis requires a collaborative approach involving neighboring states, stricter emission controls, sustainable agricultural practices, and increased public awareness. Delhi's fight for clean air is a collective responsibility that demands immediate and continuous action to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Smog hits visibility, AQI very poor for 11th day

Delhi's air quality remained in the ‘very poor' zone for the 11th consecutive day with an AQI reading of 352 on Saturday. No improvement is expected over the next few days either, with local and regional emissions continuing to remain high. Unfavourable meteorological conditions, including calm wind, are impacting the dispersion of pollutants. According to India Meteorological Department, smog conditions prevailed on Saturday as the visibility reduced to 600 metres at Safdarjung, which is the city's base station, at 6 am. The visibility improved to 900 metres at 8.30 am and further to 1,200 metres during the daytime. The lowest visibility at Palam was recorded at 1,100 metres. "The mainly smog condition with wind speed up to 4-10 kmph from east/southeast directions prevailed over the region in the forenoon on Saturday," said IMD in its bulletin released on Saturday evening. Smog conditions are likely over the next seven days. It was also the seventh straight day for the average AQI to remain above 350 in Delhi. However, the air quality at several stations in the capital remained in the ‘severe' to the ‘higher-end of very poor' category. Out of 40 stations in Delhi, New Moti Bagh was the most polluted location in Delhi with an AQI of 409 in the ‘severe' category, followed by Bawana at 404 at 4 pm. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "We need to ensure that this prolonged very poor phase does not tip over to the severe category. Proper winter inversion is yet to set in. Action on key sources of pollution requires region-wide implementation and more longer-term durable efforts." According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the air quality is likely to be in the very poor category till Nov 18. Both day and night temperatures continued to remain above normal. The maximum temperature was 32.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. The minimum was 18.3 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal, at Safdarjung. However, the minimum temperature surpassed 20 degrees Celsius at three stations. Pitampura was the warmest station as the minimum rose to 22.3 degrees Celsius, eight degrees above normal. It was followed by Najafgarh and Rajghat, where the minimum was recorded at 21.1 degrees Celsius each. Gurgaon's AQI experienced a slight improvement on Saturday but continued to linger in the ‘poor' category for the second consecutive day. According to CPCB data, the 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 252, a marginal drop from the previous day's reading of 271. Noida saw a slight improvement in air pollution levels with AQI at 235 on Saturday, compared to 271 the previous day. Greater Noida's AQI remained ‘poor' at 281, while it was 286 on Friday. At 269, Ghaziabad showed a significant dip in AQI—in the poor category, in contrast to Friday's AQI at 315— in the very poor category.

The clean air challenge: Delhi braces for worsening pollution this season

It’s that time of the year again, and people of Delhi and its neighbouring areas are waiting for the sky to fall — literally. The cold is setting in. With the slowing wind, the pollutants already in the air will settle down. We will not be able to breathe. We can only hope and pray that the wind and rain gods bring us relief. This is because we have not done anything of consequence to combat pollution over the last year. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was designed to be an emergency alert system, aimed to take urgent steps when pollution peaked. It has become the only time we act, which, obviously, is too little and too late. Now we are being told that the government will play god — clouds will be seeded so that we can have rain to wash away the pollutants. This is when it is well understood that pollutants get trapped in moisture, which could add to our misery. So, let’s get down to business and understand how we can reclaim the gains of pollution control. First, let us have a quick recount of what has been done. The story begins in the 1990s, when the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) published its report Slow Murder, and put forward an agenda for action. The key source of pollution (this should not surprise us now) was vehicles, the poor quality of fuel, and lack of emission standards for vehicle manufacturers to comply with. By the late 1990s, the Supreme Court passed important directions, asking for improvement in fuel quality; mandating emission standards for vehicles (this was the beginning of Bharat Stage 1, 2, 3, 4, and now 6); and enhancing public transportation. In 1998, the court ordered 11,000 buses. Some 26 years later, the city has not touched even half the number. But more on this later. The introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) was done as a leapfrog option — instead of only cleaning up the quality of petrol and diesel, which would have taken another decade. CNG provided quick relief. It was a game changer for that time. Anyone who lived through Delhi in the early 2000s will tell you how contested the decision was. But it made a difference. Today, when we are looking at the next transition to, say, electric vehicles, this leapfrog to CNG holds many lessons. First, the technology challenge. No country had introduced CNG in vehicles on the scale Delhi proposed in the 1990s; there was also affordability concern. This meant policy had to guide technology innovation — from designing safety standards to bus prototypes. Fiscal incentives were provided so that old buses and paratransit like three-wheelers could be scrapped and CNG vehicles be brought in. The second was the implementation challenge and the need to work at scale. This was not about bringing in a few CNG vehicles or buses; the court mandate was a complete switchover within two to three years. This needed coordination and some tough decisions — and at speed. Today, Delhi has an ambitious plan for e-buses but it is just not taking shape or progressing at the speed required so that the growth of private vehicles can be stemmed. In 2023, the number of private vehicles registered in the city doubled over the previous year; this, in spite of the fact that petrol and diesel prices are up and a substantial share of the household budget is spent on transportation. The explosion of personal cars not only adds to the congestion but also negates all the expenditure on increasing roads and building flyovers and highways, and improvements in technology and fuel. There are old vehicles that are still polluting; our scrapping programme has not been effective. And even if new vehicles are cleaner, add too many of them and the benefits are lost. It is simple maths! The second emission source in this battle for clean skies and clear lungs is the fuel that we burn — from household chulhas to factories to thermal-power plants. In most cases, it is biomass or coal. The Supreme Court banned the use of pet coke — the dirtiest of such fuels; the Delhi government banned the use of coal, which was later extended to the entire National Capital Region. It was also agreed that thermal-power plants would clean up or shut down. Action on this has been patchy, to say the least. The lesson from the transition to CNG is that people need alternatives for a ban to be effective. When diesel buses were stopped, CNG supply had to be assured. It also had to be feasible in terms of cost. The Supreme Court agreed that this needed fiscal measures to keep clean fuel cheaper than dirty fuel. Now, even as coal is banned, the price of natural gas makes industry uncompetitive. It will not work. I can go on. And I promise I will. The bottom line is to understand that clean air needs action all year round; and that it will work only if we act jointly and at scale.

Extreme weather conditions claimed 66 lives in TG so far this year

Telangana has faced a punishing year of extreme weather so far, with deadly rains, scorching heat waves, and severe storms, which together claimed 66 lives, damaged 73,418 hectares of agricultural land and caused extensive infrastructure damage. The state endured 50 days of extreme weather, reflecting India’s broader climate crisis as documented in the “Climate India 2024: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events” report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

No relief from smog, Gurgaon’s AQI stays ‘poor’ for third day on trot

Gurgaon: Smog continued to choke the city in the morning as air quality stayed in the ‘poor' category for the third consecutive day on Sunday, with no signs of improvement. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 260, up from the previous day's 252. At 285, Gwalpahari recorded the highest air quality, followed by Vikas Sadan at 236 and Teri Gram at 208. On Sunday, smog or shallow fog is likely during morning hours and mist is expected at night. The air quality will remain in the "very poor" category for the next six days. As a result of the persistent pollution, city residents, especially the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are experiencing respiratory issues, eye irritation, and other health problems. "Urgent action is required to prevent severe smog episodes in the coming days. We need to reduce traffic volume, eliminate waste burning and dirty industrial fuels, and implement stringent dust control measures, especially in the construction sector," said Shubhansh Tiwari, research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). On Sunday, both PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations substantially exceeded permissible limits owing to local pollutants, including vehicular emissions and dust. The air monitoring station at Gwal Pahari recorded the highest PM2.5 level at 312 µg/m³, followed by Vikas Sadan (307 µg/m³) and Teri Gram (278 µg/m³), according to CPCB data. PM10 levels peaked at Gwal Pahari (309 µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (301 µg/m³). Vikas Sadan station failed to record PM10 levels. Meanwhile, doctors said they were witnessing many more cases of respiratory issues in the recent days. "Every winter, the national capital and its surrounding areas are blanketed in toxic smog which is made worse by bursting firecrackers during festivities. Post-harvest stubble burning ahead of winter sowing aggravates the situation. These factors cause a surge in respiratory illnesses, and people also experience burning eyes, heart ailments, sore throats, skin allergies, among other health problems," said Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, head of critical care and pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon.

Report sounds climate alert: Once a century events now happening in less than 5 years

Some or other part of India faced some form of extreme weather event during 93 per cent of the days in the first nine months of this year, a report released by an environment organisation on Friday revealed. Experts attributed the trend — much worse compared with previous years — to global climate change. “In 2024, India faced extreme weather events on 93 per cent of the days in the year’s first nine months — 255 out of 274 days — marked by heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods and landslides,” the report, titled “Climate India 2024: An assessment of extreme weather events”, says. Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather on 176 days, the highest in the country, says the report, published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Kerala recorded the highest fatalities at 550, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 353 and Assam at 256. Andhra Pradesh saw the highest number of houses damaged (85,806) while Maharashtra, which witnessed extreme events on 142 days, accounted for over 60 per cent of the affected crop area nationwide. Bengal lost crops across 2 lakh hectares of land to disasters. “These record-breaking statistics reflect the impact of climate change, where events that used to occur once every century are now happening every five years or even less,” CSE director-general Sunita Narain said, launching the report. “This frequency is overwhelming the most vulnerable populations, who lack the resources to adapt to this relentless cycle of loss and damage.” Narain underlined the importance of having an appropriate global deal on nations’ financial commitments to combat climate change during the Baku climate summit, which begins on Monday. “This report is a warning, and a call for urgent action that is required to mitigate climate change. Without combating climate change at a meaningful scale, today’s challenges will only worsen tomorrow,” she said. A recent UN report, “Adaptation gap report 2024”, too emphasised that climate impacts are intensifying and urged nations to dramatically increase their fund commitments to counter the trend. The CSE report said the extreme weather events during the first nine months of this year had “claimed 3,238 lives, affected 3.2 million hectares (mha) of crops, destroyed 235,862 houses and buildings” in India. In comparison, the first nine months of 2023 recorded extreme weather on 235 of 273 days (86 per cent) with 2,923 deaths, 1.84 mha of crops affected, and 80,293 houses damaged. The actual situation may be even worse, CSE experts associated with the study said. “It is very likely that even these reported damages are an underestimation because of incomplete data collection on event-specific losses, particularly relating to public property and crop damage,” one of them said. The report said that 2024 had already sounded several climate warnings, January being India’s ninth driest since 1901, February recording the country’s second-highest minimum temperature in the last 123 years, and May witnessing the fourth-highest mean temperature on record. July, August and September registered their highest minimum temperatures since 1901. The report shows that while monsoon rain caused 1,021 deaths across 32 states nationwide, floods killed 1,376 people. “While heat waves claimed 210 lives, the data does not reflect the extended health impacts of prolonged high temperatures on the well-being of people,” said Rajit Sengupta, an expert associated with the study. “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,” said Kiran Pandey, CSE programme director.

How inequality in adapting to climate change is affecting farmers’ food stores

What you need to know: Smallholder farmers are less equipped in adapting to hostile climate shocks, aggravating the food insecurity situation. Marrieta Mwikali is preparing her half-acre land for the next planting season ahead of the anticipated short rains season. The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) expected the onset of the short rains season to occur between the fourth week of October and the first week of November. Ms Mwikali relies on such weather forecasts as rainfall is her only water source for farming even though it is not reliable in her Kaani village, Machakos County, one of the Arid and Semi-Arid Land regions in the country. She says that due to changes in weather patterns, agriculture has become unproductive, making it hard for her to grow enough food to feed her family. “Sometimes you can be all set with manure and seeds kept for the planting season, but the rains fail. You end up being disappointed,” says Ms Mwikali. Requirement Water is an essential requirement for farming. It is no wonder various United Nations bodies convening in Glasgow, Scotland in October 2021 appealed to countries to make water an integral part of the fight against climate change. A report on the global impacts of heat and water stress on food production published in June this year in the journal Scientific Reports shows that these two factors can lead to a six-14 per cent decline in food production by 2050. The uncertainties of relying on rainwater for agriculture are evidenced in the troubles that Ms Mwikali and other small-scale farmers in Machakos, who cannot afford irrigation, go through. For six years, the mother of two has been practising mixed farming of maize, beans and cowpeas, which require adequate rainfall for growth. When the Climate Action team visited Ms Mwikali last week, she was tending to withering crops on her farm under the scorching sun. She said she has been a victim of climate change. “After floods, the rainfall reduced, leading to lower agricultural yields. Even water harvesting has become a challenge because I harvested a little for my vegetables now that I don’t have enough water storage containers.” Ms Mwikali noted that things were better a few years ago, when she would harvest enough to feed her family, but not anymore. Her farm yields have significantly reduced over the past three years. For example, in April this year, she says she harvested only two bags of maize, one and a half bags of beans, and a bucket of cowpeas, which cannot sustain her family until the next harvest. “In the future, we will struggle more as farmers because of the short rains and floods. What I have in store now can sustain me for only two months,” Ms Mwikali expressed her food insecurity worries. According to scientists, legumes take roughly between 70-85 days to mature, which is almost three months. Maize, on the other hand, matures between three and four months depending on the different agroecological zones. Based on this maturity duration, Ms Mwikali, whose two children are currently in Form Four and Grade Six, is afraid that her food store will run empty, and she will be forced to depend on relief food for survival. “Farm food helps me a lot because when I have enough harvest, I don’t struggle with bills such as school fees, but when I don’t have food, my life turns upside down,” she told Climate Action. According to recent data from CARE, a leading humanitarian organisation fighting global poverty, women like Ms Mwikali are more concerned about climate change than men, and they are also more food-insecure. The analysis also demonstrates that despite being the most affected by climate change, women are consistently under-represented in disaster preparation, and they are far less likely than men to be asked about their needs. Emily Janoch, CARE’s associate vice-president of Design and Thought Leadership, highlighted the importance of preparing for extreme weather events and thinking about long-term recovery and resilience, especially for women. “People who have faced extreme weather events face food crisis for up to five years. That means we need better preparedness that includes women, and we need to think about long-term resilience and recovery,” he said. Contrary to Ms Mwikali’s farm, a few kilometres away, Climate Action is welcomed by cool breeze from a bamboo plantation at Peter Nzioka’s three-and-a-half-acre farm. Bamboo grass is known for purifying air and acting as a carbon sync. The grass also conserves and purifies water, enabling the soil to retain moisture that supports the growth of crops. While Mr Nzioka is also waiting for rain for the next planting season, he is less worried about food shortage, thanks to his experience in a food forest type of farming that allows him to have enough food year in, year out. Mr Nzioka consumes fresh food from his farm. “Food forest means diversity. I grow so many varieties, which are thriving together, so that at any given time, I have enough food to eat and it is not a must that I have seasonal crops,” explained Mr Nzioka. Walking on his farm in Kaani, mangoes in the flowering stage, cabbages in the tender stage, and kales that are almost ready for consumption catch our attention. He also has cassava and sweet potatoes. “I am still preparing my land for the rains like any other farmer, but I have some crops that are already thriving on the farm. I normally have crops in different stages of growth every month,” he said. His food forest farming gets a boost from Kiusyi, a seasonal river that borders his farm, which helps him to stop solely relying on rain-fed farming. The bamboos on his farm also come in handy. In arid and drought-prone areas, bamboos are valued for their ability to conserve water and soil moisture by reducing the evaporation rate. “Bamboo helps me to conserve water because they obscure direct sun, thus minimising the evaporation rate.” He also cuts down on the cost of farming as he uses manure from his poultry and goats. He also owns a seed bank from his previous harvests. “I use indigenous seeds because I can get the varieties I want anytime as opposed to going to the agro vet, where I don’t know the ecological zones of the seed varieties. Organic seeds are also locally adapted to the weather here,” explained Mr Nzioka. A State of Africa’s Environment 2024 report on water insecurity in Africa shows that African nations are water-insecure. Speaking in Nairobi in September during the launch of the report, Sunita Narain, director-general at Centre for Science and Environment, used an Indian slogan: “Catch water where it falls,” to emphasise the need to be innovative in matters water harvesting. “Hard water crisis is about our inability to build an affordable system of water management. Inclusivity and equity are critical for any water system to work; and we are talking about groundwater systems, increasing poverty because of water stress, and how heat stress will add to our water demand,” said Narain. According to the World Water Development Report released by the United Nations on March 22, 2020, global food production patterns would be fundamentally altered by climate change, causing food insecurity because of small shifts in seasonality and water availability. The report further highlighted that an increase in food prices would increase rural poverty. It is based on reports like these that Ms Mwikali and other women in Machakos and other parts of the country are worried about the future of farming now that they can’t afford any farming technologies.

India sees surge in extreme weather events, 93% days in 1st nine months of 2024 affected—CSE report

India has experienced an unprecedented surge in incidence of extreme weather this year, with 255 out of 274 days—over 90 percent—marked by such events in the first nine months alone, a report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has said. This is the highest number of extreme weather days recorded in the past three years. The report, published Friday, analysed extreme weather events, human and livestock fatalities, and crop damage across 36 states and Union Territories (excluding Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu) from January 1 to September 30 of this year. Seven of the nine months in 2024 saw extreme weather events every day—a record-breaking pattern that extended beyond the typical monsoon months, and into January and April. These events, including heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods, and landslides, resulted in 3,238 fatalities, affected 3.2 million hectares of crops, destroyed over 2,35,000 houses, and led to the loss of around 9,457 livestock, according to the CSE report. “Extreme weather, once rare, has become a frequent reality across India due to climate change, with all regions—Northwest, East and Northeast, South, and Central—experiencing a significant rise in severe events,” said Rajit Sengupta, associate editor, Down To Earth, and co-author of the report. “Our nationwide analysis reveals that no part of the country is immune to these impacts.”

Extreme weather events caused over 3,000 deaths in India this year: Report

Over 3,000 persons died and more than 2,00,000 homes were destroyed due to extreme weather events in India during the first nine months of 2024, a report released by the non-profit organisation Centre for Science and Environment said on Friday. The report, titled “Climate India 2024: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events”, said that India faced extreme weather events on 93% of days, or 255 out of 274, in the first nine months of the year. In comparison, the country faced such events on 86% of the days, or 235 out of 273, in the same period last year.

Deaths, Destruction on the Rise Due to Extreme Weather Events: Grim Statistics in India Climate Report 2024

More than 3,200 people dead. As much as 3.2 million hectares of crops damaged, around 2.3 lakh houses and buildings destroyed, and more than 9,400 livestock dead: all due to extreme weather events that occurred on 255 of the 274 days of the first nine months of this year across India. These are some of the alarming statistics published in the latest India Climate Report 2024, launched virtually on November 8 by the Centre for Science and Environment and its fortnightly publication, Down to Earth. This year, India witnessed the highest number of extreme weather events, when compared to the past two years during which CSE and DTE have been publishing the India Climate Reports, which detail the number of such events based on data including daily reports released by the India Meteorological Department. For instance, the India Climate Report 2023 reported extreme weather events on 235 of the 273 days in the first nine months of 2023; 2,923 people died that year, and the events damaged croplands spanning 1.84 million hectares. Hence, the frequency and impacts of extreme weather events are increasing with every year, the 2024 India Climate Report noted. Tracking extreme weather events As greenhouse gases emitted due to the use of fossil fuels warm up the world, climate is changing in many regions. Many places are far hotter than they used to be; many others witness more heavy rainfall than usual. These climate extremes are often marked by severe impacts on people and the environment, and are called extreme weather events. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines extreme weather events as those that are rare at a particular place and time of year. India too witnesses its share of extreme weather events. These range from intense rainfall to heatwaves. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) classifies lightning and thunderstorms, heavy to very heavy, and extremely heavy rainfall, landslides and floods, coldwaves, heatwaves, cyclones, snowfall, dust and sandstorms, squalls, hailstorms and gales as extreme weather events.

India Endured 255 Days of Extreme Weather in 2024; Over 3,200 Lives Lost, Millions of Crops Devastated

India witnessed extreme weather on 93% of the days—255 out of 274—in the first nine months of 2024, resulting in 3,238 fatalities, destruction of over 235,000 buildings, and crop damage across 3.2 million hectares, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This surge in extreme events, including heat waves, cyclones, and floods, reflects an increase from 2023, where 235 out of 273 days saw such weather, claiming 2,923 lives and affecting 1.84 million hectares of crops. In its annual State of Extreme Weather report, CSE noted that Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest number of extreme weather days at 176, while Kerala recorded the most fatalities with 550 deaths. Andhra Pradesh saw the greatest damage to homes (85,806), and Maharashtra, with 142 days of extreme weather, accounted for over 60% of the nation’s crop damage, followed by Madhya Pradesh. Central India endured the most frequent extreme events, with 218 days, and saw the highest death toll of 1,001, followed by the southern Peninsula with 762 deaths. CSE cautioned that these figures might underestimate the true extent of damage due to incomplete data on public property and crop losses. Additionally, CSE highlighted climate records in 2024, noting that January was the ninth driest since 1901, February marked the second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years, and May saw the fourth-highest mean temperature. July through September also recorded their highest minimum temperatures since 1901. “This crisis is a glaring reminder of nature’s backlash,” said CSE Director General Sunita Narain. “Addressing climate change is imperative, or today’s challenges will only deepen tomorrow.