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India's Footwear Hub Agra Faces Challenging Task in Handling 45 tonnes of Waste Every Day

The city of Agra in North India has, not one, but two legacies of the Mughal Era. The Taj Mahal, needless to say, is better known of the two, certainly among the 1.15 international tourists who visit every year. It is the other one, the humongous footwear industry, which is turning out to be the city's bugbear. The numbers are staggering. The Agra footwear industry caters to 65% of the domestic demand, and at the same time generates 45 tonnes of waste every single day. India cannot do without the city's footwear industry. After all, it produces close to 1 million pairs every single day. The result is that the city is bursting at its seams—with the by-product of the footwear industry, namely its waste. Researchers have found that a total of 6,821 footwear manufacturing units operate in Agra—including home-based businesses, domestic market and exporters—and produce about 0.9–1 million pairs of footwear per day, with 45 tonnes per day (TPD) of footwear waste generated. Of the total footwear waste of 13.71 TPD generated by informal household-based business units, about 21%, i.e. 2.87 TPD, returned for reuse and recycling. The remaining quantity of waste—79% (10.84 tonne)—is presumably disposed of in drains or dhalaos, leaked into the Yamuna River, or collected and disposed of to the Kuberpur dumpsite. All this makes for a deep probe, which is not only environmentally crucial, but also has a bearing on both the survival of Agra as a much-touted Smart City, as well as India's footwear industry, which should find itself in the doldrums were production to be affected in Agra. This is where New Delhi-based environmental thinktank Centre for Science and Environment stepped in: "to comprehensively examine the challenges and opportunities associated with footwear waste, encompassing both its generation during manufacturing and subsequent disposal." The year-long study has since been completed, and the output is a report titled Footwear Waste Management in Agra: A Ground Assessment. Caught between the medieval and the modern The origin of the Agra footwear industry is fascinating. All the more fascinating if one were told that the footwear industry actually started as a recycling enterprise. So—as legend has it—long before the magnificent Taj Mahal was dedicated by Emperor Shah Jahan to his departed wife Mumtaz Mahal, the city had joined the ranks of Delhi, Lahore and Srinagar as a major trading centre. The Mughals were connoisseurs of sumptuous recipes and one of the ingredients that was imported in huge quantities was asafoetida, called hing in North India (as also in many other Indian languages). This hing would be imported from Afghanistan and Iran, assiduously packed in leather containers called mushak. Now, these mushaks were considered waste after the hing had been extracted: after unpacking, the leather packaging would be thrown away. It is not known, but this disposal practice would have possibly caused a waste problem of the times... till the craftsmen of the city figured out that these leather items could be repurposed: into making footwear. And, the footprint of that legacy can be found even to this day—in the market called Hing Ki Mandi (the market for asafoetida) which houses over 5,000 shops that sell footwear. Shoemaking that had thrived during that Mughal Era, surviving British Raj, and burgeoning after Independence, today sees itself back to where it had all started. The city needs to find a feasible solution to the waste of its footwear industry. Today’s state of waste The two major footwear associations of the city—Agra Footwear Manufacturing Export Chambers (AFMEC) and the Agra Shoe Manufacturers’ Association (ASMA)—together account for about 650 manufacturers. The CSE study estimated the number of total informal footwear manufacturers at 6,821. About 900 informal manufacturers are members of the Juta Dastkar Federation (JDF) and the Bhim Yuva Vyapar Mandal (BYVM). The 150 medium-scale manufacturers, under the aegis of the AFMEC, are the bigger lot of the city, and work for international brands in the UK, US, EU and UAE. Each unit can produce about 2,500 pairs of footwear every day. The maximum cumulative daily production capacity is about 500,000 pairs. In the process of production about 0.05 kg of waste is generated per pair of footwear. The small-scale manufacturers of the ASMA produce about 0.025 kg of waste per pair. ASMA’s per pair waste generation is less than AFMEC’s primarily because the range of products they offer is extremely wide. Interestingly, recycling works here too: The CSE team found that the waste generated in the manufacture of one type of product (footwear) is partially used in producing another category of product (belts, purse, smaller sized footwear, etc.). Then, there are the micro-scale manufacturers. The industry provides livelihood to over 6,000 families who manufacture footwear at home. These home-based businesses (HBBs) in four zones of the city produce 195,872 pairs, by using 85.7 TPD raw materials every day, and generate around 13.71 TPD of waste. The waste generated amounts to 0.07 kg for a pair. In terms of composition, 40% of the waste is leather, and about 36% are synthetic polymers (polyvinyl chloride, ethyl vinyl acetate, styrene butadiene rubber, polyurethane and thermoplastic elastomers). The bottom of the pyramid The base of the footwear industry is huge, and this is where the challenges lie. The biggest problem is the indiscriminate disposal of footwear waste due to lack of space for storing at manufacturing units. After all, over two-thirds of these units are home-based and informal in nature. These are small to very small dwellings with inadequate space for manufacturing and even less space to store footwear waste. No wonder, many dispose of this waste either outside their house’s doors, in nearby dustbins (if available) or in drains. The local authority has limited formal collection systems in place. About 57% of the footwear waste is directly or indirectly collected by the fleet of the Agra Nagar Nigam (ANN) from the doorstep or community bins or even from drains (ANN cleans drains at irregular intervals to avoid blockage of drains). As of now, there is no formal system for processing and treatment of footwear waste in Agra. So, the remaining 43 per cent is littered across the city in drains and open spaces or even burnt.

UN climate talks to focus on money to help poor nations cut carbon pollution

BAKU: A complex international two-week-long game of climate change poker is convening. The stakes? Just the fate of an ever-warming world. Curbing and coping with climate change's worsening heat, floods, droughts and storms will cost trillions of dollars and poor nations just don't have it, numerous reports and experts calculate. As United Nations climate negotiations started Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, the chief issue is who must ante up to help poor nations and especially how much. The numbers are enormous. The floor in negotiations is the $100 billion a year that poor nations — based on a categorization made in the 1990s — now get as part of a 2009 agreement that was barely met. Several experts and poorer nations say the need is $1 trillion a year or more. “It's a game with high stakes,” said Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare, a physicist. “Right now the fate of the planet depends very much on what we're able to pull off in the next five or 10 years.” But this year's talks, known as COP29, won't be as high-profile as last year's, with 48 fewer heads of state scheduled to speak. The leaders of the top two carbon polluting countries — China and the United States — will be absent. But if money negotiations fail in Baku, it will handicap 2025’s make-or-break climate negotiations, experts say. Not only is dealing with money always a touchy subject, but two of the rich countries that are expected to donate money to poor nations — the United States and Germany — are in the midst of dramatic government changes. Even though the United States delegation will be from Biden Administration, the reelection of Donald Trump, who downplays climate change and dislikes foreign aid, makes U.S. pledges unlikely to be fulfilled. The overarching issue is climate finance. Without it, experts say the world can't get a handle on fighting warming, nor can most of the nations achieve their current carbon pollution-cutting goals or the new ones they will submit next year. “If we don't solve the finance problem, then definitely we will not solve the climate problem,” said former Colombian deputy climate minister Pablo Vieira, who heads the support unit at NDC Partnership, which helps nations with emissions-cutting goals. Nations can't cut carbon pollution if they can't afford to eliminate coal, oil and gas, Vieira and several other experts said. Poor nations are frustrated that they are being told to do more to fight climate change when they cannot afford it, he said. And the 47 poorest nations only created 4% of the heat-trapping gases in the air, according to the U.N. About 77% of the heat-trapping gas in the atmosphere now comes from the G20 rich nations, many of whom are now cutting back on their pollution, something that is not happening in most poor nations or China. “The countries that are rich today have become rich by polluting the Earth,” said Ani Dasgupta, president of World Resources Institute. The money being discussed is for three things: Helping poor nations switch from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy; helping them adapt to the impacts of a warming world such as sea level rise and worsening storms; and compensating vulnerable poor nations for climate change damage. “Should the global community fail to reach a (finance) goal, this is really just signing the death warrant of many developing countries," said Chukwumerije Okereke, director of the Center for Climate Change and Development in Nigeria. Michael Wilkins, a business professor who heads Imperial College's Centre for Climate Finance and Investment in the U.K., said since 2022 total climate finance has been nearly $1.5 trillion. But only 3% of that is actually geared toward the least developed countries, he said. “The Global South has been repeatedly let down by unmet pledges and commitments,” said Sunita Narain, director general of New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. “Finance is really the key component that compels all types of climate action,” said Bahamian climate scientist Adelle Thomas, adaptation director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Without that finance, there's simply not much that developing countries in particular can do.” It's an issue of both self-interest and justice, Thomas and others said. It's not charity to help poor nations decarbonize because rich nations benefit when all countries cut emissions. After all, a warming world hurts everyone.

India’s climate crisis in 2024: Over 3,000 deaths, Homes destroyed in extreme weather events

Extreme weather events caused by climate change are having a bad effect on life. The situation is such that in the first nine months of the current year, 93 percent i.e. 255 out of 274 days faced heat and cold winds, cyclones, lightning, heavy rainfall, floods and landslides. Due to these incidents, 3,238 people lost their lives, 32 lakh hectares of crops were affected. 2,35,862 houses and buildings were destroyed, while about 9,457 animals were killed. This horrific picture has come to the fore in the report released on Friday by Sunita Narayan, Director General of the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). India had the ninth driest month According to the ‘State of Extreme Weather Report’, extreme weather events have had a more serious impact in 2024 than in 2022 and 2023. 2024 also set several climate records. January was India’s ninth driest month since 1901. In February, the country recorded its second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years. May recorded the fourth-highest average temperature and July, August and September all recorded their highest minimum temperatures since 1901. Sunita Narain said, ‘Events that used to happen once a century are now happening every five years or less.’ The last nine months have seen all kinds of events from lightning and storms to 32 states and the resulting continuous monsoon rains, which led to floods in various areas, killing 1,021 people. Heavy rainfall, floods and landslides in Assam for 122 days Heavy rainfall, floods and landslides occurred in Assam alone for 122 days, submerging large parts of the state and devastating communities. Floods across the country killed 1,376 people. Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather every second day, the highest in the country. Kerala recorded the highest number of deaths at 550, followed by Madhya Pradesh (353) and Assam (256). Central region had highest number of deaths at 1,001 Andhra Pradesh had highest number of houses destroyed (85,806), while Maharashtra, which witnessed extreme weather events on 142 days, suffered more than 60 per cent of the crop area affected across the country, followed by Madhya Pradesh (25,170 hectares). Central region had highest number of deaths at 1,001.

Delhi Air Pollution: Are Harsher Penalties for Stubble Burning Missing the Mark?

Are we prepared for the climate crisis staring us in the face? The Quint wants to go big on telling the most important stories of our time. Support us to tell them. Become a member now. Last week, the Central government updated its air quality management rules, increasing the penalties for stubble burning, effective immediately. The penalties now stand at Rs 10,000 for farmers who have two to five acres of land, and Rs 30,000 for farmers with more than five acres. The notification came days after the Supreme Court pulled up the government over its inaction in combatting air pollution in Delhi, calling the Environmental Protection Act 'toothless'. Around the same time, however, a new study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based environmental think tank, pointed out that stubble burning contributes only 8 percent to Delhi's air pollution. If that's the case, is increasing penalties just another example of bike shedding, focused more on optics than substance?

Telangana में खराब मौसम के कारण मौतों में 144% की वृद्धि

हैदराबाद: सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट Centre for Science and Environment (सीएसई) और इसके प्रकाशन डाउन टू अर्थ द्वारा जारी ‘भारत जलवायु रिपोर्ट 2024’ में खुलासा किया गया है कि 1,81,419 एकड़ से अधिक फसल क्षेत्र प्रभावित हुआ, 66 लोगों की मौत हुई और 4,350 जानवरों (बड़े और छोटे) की मौत हुई। ये सभी 1 जनवरी से 30 सितंबर तक 50 दिनों तक चली चरम मौसम की घटनाओं के कारण हुए। सीएसई की रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि 2022 की तुलना में इस साल चरम मौसम की स्थिति के कारण होने वाली मौतों में 144% की वृद्धि हुई है। 2022 में चरम मौसम की स्थिति के कारण 27 मौतें हुईं, जबकि 2024 में यह संख्या बढ़कर 66 हो गई। 2024 में फसल प्रभावित क्षेत्रों का दायरा भी दोगुना हो गया। 2022 में फसल प्रभावित क्षेत्रों का दायरा 42,000 एकड़ था, जबकि 2024 में यह 1.81 लाख एकड़ था।

दिल्ली में बढ़ते प्रदूषण की जानें वजह

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने 15 सितंबर से 28 अक्टूबर तक पीएम 2.5 के स्तर का विश्लेषण किया और पिछले सालों के आंकड़ों से इसकी तुलना की। पीएम 2.5, हवा में मौजूद उन छोटे कणों या बूंदों को कहा जाता है जिनका व्यास 2.5 माइक्रोमीटर या उससे कम होता है। इन्हें मानव जीवन के लिए खतरनाक माना जाता है। संगठन ने पाया कि दिल्ली में स्थानीय स्रोतों से निकलने वाले प्रदूषण में सबसे बड़ा योगदान वाहनों से निकलने वाले धुओं का है, जो कुल प्रदूषण का आधे से ज्यादा है। इसके बाद आवासीय जलन से 13 प्रतिशत, उद्योग से 11 प्रतिशत, निर्माण से 7 प्रतिशत, ऊर्जा से 6 प्रतिशत, कचरा जलाने से 5 प्रतिशत, और सड़क की धूल और अन्य स्रोतों से 4 प्रतिशत योगदान है। बता दें, आवासीय जलन” का मतलब है घरों में ईंधन, जैसे लकड़ी, कोयला, कचरा, या अन्य पदार्थों को जलाना, जिससे धुआं और प्रदूषण पैदा होता है। यह खासकर ठंड के मौसम में या खाना पकाने के लिए किया जाता है और इससे वायु प्रदूषण में वृद्धि होती है।

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.

COP29 president says New Collective Quantified Goal ‘top priority’

The UN Climate Meeting (COP29) in Azerbaijan’s Baku opened with the Presidency laying down its expectations before delegates from 196 countries ad stating that its top priority is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber formally handed over the UAE’s presidency to Azerbaijan, and said, “The consensus we achieved in Dubai was historic. Yet history will judge us by our actions, not our words... Let positivity prevail and let it power the process. Let actions speak louder than words. Let results outlast the rhetoric and remember, we are what we do, not what we say.” Mukhtar Babayev, the COP29 president, said over the next 12 days, countries will have to resolve differences on contributors to, and quantum of, the fund and set the new goal. He also referred to a “realistic goal” of mobilising hundreds of billions from the public sector as against trillions that developing countries need. “We now want to be crystal clear about our expectations. Our plan is based on two pillars: to enhance ambition and enable action. This means setting out clear climate plans and delivering the finance we need. These two pillars are mutually reinforcing, each sending a strong signal to the other. Because, as we mobilise climate finance, we allow for higher ambitions. And as we signal higher ambition, we build trust to unlock greater financial commitments,” Babayev said. “We have seen some progress on access features, transparency, and a ten-year time frame. We know the needs are in the trillions, but there are different views on how to achieve that. We have also heard that a realistic goal for what the public sector can directly provide and mobilise seems to be in the hundreds of billions,” he added. The NCQG is the successor to the Global North’s annual USD 100 billion climate finance commitment for developing nations and is expected to be operationalised from 2025. India, in line with the needs of developing countries, has said in the past that developed countries need to provide at least USD 1 trillion per year, composed primarily of grants and concessional finance. Brazil on behalf of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, has submitted that developing countries’ party needs are currently estimated at USD 5.8–5.9 trillion for the pre-2030 period. The Arab group has set a quantum of USD 1.1 trillion from developed to developing countries, not including arrears for the 100 billion (from pre-2025 period). According to Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), COP29 is the most important climate conference since Paris in 2015 – given how crucial financial support is for developing countries to reach their climate goals. CSE suggests spending less than 1% of global GDP annually (about US $1 trillion) can fulfil the immediate climate needs of developing countries. According to the Second Needs Determination Report by the UNFCCC Standing Committee on Finance (SCF), USD $5.012-$6.852 trillion will be required until 2030 to support developing nations to achieve their stated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The goal lof hundreds of billions may fall short of developing countries’ expectations. “The COP29 Presidency has made every effort to bring the parties closer together. But we still have much to do and just twelve days to land a deal. We now urgently need to finalise the elements, resolve our differences on contributors and quantum, and set the new goal. These negotiations are complex and difficult. We understand the political and financial constraints,” Babyev said.

UN climate talks to focus on money to help poor nations cut carbon pollution

A complex international two-week-long game of climate change poker is convening. The stakes? Just the fate of an ever-warming world. Curbing and coping with climate change's worsening heat, floods, droughts and storms will cost trillions of dollars and poor nations just don't have it, numerous reports and experts calculate. As United Nations climate negotiations started Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, the chief issue is who must ante up to help poor nations and especially how much. The numbers are enormous. The floor in negotiations is the $100 billion a year that poor nations — based on a categorization made in the 1990s — now get as part of a 2009 agreement that was barely met. Several experts and poorer nations say the need is $1 trillion a year or more. “It's a game with high stakes,” said Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare, a physicist. “Right now the fate of the planet depends very much on what we're able to pull off in the next five or 10 years.” But this year's talks, known as COP29, won't be as high-profile as last year's, with 48 fewer heads of state scheduled to speak. The leaders of the top two carbon polluting countries — China and the United States — will be absent. But if money negotiations fail in Baku, it will handicap 2025’s make-or-break climate negotiations, experts say. Not only is dealing with money always a touchy subject, but two of the rich countries that are expected to donate money to poor nations — the United States and Germany — are in the midst of dramatic government changes. Even though the United States delegation will be from Biden Administration, the reelection of Donald Trump, who downplays climate change and dislikes foreign aid, makes U.S. pledges unlikely to be fulfilled. The overarching issue is climate finance. Without it, experts say the world can't get a handle on fighting warming, nor can most of the nations achieve their current carbon pollution-cutting goals or the new ones they will submit next year. “If we don't solve the finance problem, then definitely we will not solve the climate problem,” said former Colombian deputy climate minister Pablo Vieira, who heads the support unit at NDC Partnership, which helps nations with emissions-cutting goals. Nations can't cut carbon pollution if they can't afford to eliminate coal, oil and gas, Vieira and several other experts said. Poor nations are frustrated that they are being told to do more to fight climate change when they cannot afford it, he said. And the 47 poorest nations only created 4% of the heat-trapping gases in the air, according to the U.N. About 77% of the heat-trapping gas in the atmosphere now comes from the G20 rich nations, many of whom are now cutting back on their pollution, something that is not happening in most poor nations or China. “The countries that are rich today have become rich by polluting the Earth,” said Ani Dasgupta, president of World Resources Institute. The money being discussed is for three things: Helping poor nations switch from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy; helping them adapt to the impacts of a warming world such as sea level rise and worsening storms; and compensating vulnerable poor nations for climate change damage. “Should the global community fail to reach a (finance) goal, this is really just signing the death warrant of many developing countries," said Chukwumerije Okereke, director of the Center for Climate Change and Development in Nigeria. Michael Wilkins, a business professor who heads Imperial College's Centre for Climate Finance and Investment in the U.K., said since 2022 total climate finance has been nearly $1.5 trillion. But only 3% of that is actually geared toward the least developed countries, he said. “The Global South has been repeatedly let down by unmet pledges and commitments,” said Sunita Narain, director general of New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment.

Carbon Border Tax Dispute Causes Delay in UN Climate Talks Opening Day

Developing nations, such as China and India, clashed with wealthier countries over the inclusion of unilateral trade measures, like the European Union's carbon border tax, in the UN climate talks agenda. This disagreement delayed the formal start of the conference on Monday. While agenda disputes are common at these conferences, this one holds particular importance due to the limited time available for countries to agree on a new climate finance goal. The conference began with Azerbaijan, this year's host, urging all nations to swiftly resolve outstanding issues to establish a new climate finance target. UN climate chief Simon Stiell emphasised that reaching an agreement is in every nation's self-interest. However, proceedings were paused as delegates negotiated the agenda. The opening session faced significant delays as developed and developing countries debated whether to include unilateral trade measures, such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), as an agenda item at COP29. Unilateral Trade Measures and Economic Concerns China, representing the BASIC group of countries, submitted a proposal last month requesting that COP29 address unilateral trade measures. The CBAM is the EU's proposed tax on energy-intensive products like iron, steel, cement, fertilisers, and aluminium imported from countries such as India and China. This tax is based on carbon emissions generated during production. The EU argues that this mechanism levels the playing field for domestically manufactured goods adhering to stricter environmental standards and helps curb emissions from imports. However, developing nations argue that such taxes could harm their economies and make trade with the EU costly. They contend that under UN climate rules, no nation should impose emission reduction strategies on others. The BASIC group's proposal highlights broader concerns about industrial policies in developed countries like the US and EU. These nations are increasingly favouring cost-competitive green products, such as electric vehicles and solar panels made in China. Climate Finance vs Global Stocktake Outcomes Another contentious issue is whether COP29 should prioritise climate finance or discuss all global stocktake outcomes. Countries like India and China, along with the African Group, want a focus on climate finance. In contrast, developed nations including the US, UK, and EU advocate discussing all outcomes, including mitigation and transitioning away from fossil fuels. Meena Raman from the Third World Network stated that the dialogue should focus on finance but developed countries resist prioritising funding to help developing nations adapt to climate change. "They are saying the dialogue should cover all Global Stocktake outcomes from COP28 with more emphasis on mitigation," Raman said during a press conference. "They are trying to divert attention from the crucial issue of climate finance," she added. Impact of CBAM on Developing Economies Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently described CBAM as unilateral and arbitrary, warning it could harm India's industries and disrupt international trade balance. According to Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), CBAM will impose an additional 25% tax on carbon-intensive goods exported from India to the EU. This tax burden would represent 0.05% of India's GDP. The proposal by BASIC reflects deep concerns among many developing countries about industrial policies in developed regions. Li Shuo from China Climate Hub stated that this approach will inevitably delay global climate action. "This approach will inevitably delay global climate action; there's no question about it," Li Shuo said. The ongoing discussions highlight significant differences between developed and developing countries regarding trade measures and climate finance priorities. Resolving these issues remains crucial for achieving meaningful progress at COP29.

TN faced record extreme weather in ’24

Tamil Nadu faced 67 days of extreme weather events in the first nine months of 2024, which is 231% more compared to the 29 days in 2023, said a report released by New Delhi-based thinktank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The extreme weather claimed 25 lives, affected 1,039 hectares of crop area, killed 14 heads of cattle and damaged 189 houses. This makes TN the third-worst hit state in the southern peninsula after Kerala (113 days) and Karnataka (96 days). However, human and cattle deaths, damage to crops and houses were lower in the state compared to its neighbours. In May, the peak summer season, Tamil Nadu experienced 19 days of extreme weather events, the third worst in the country along with Rajasthan, which also recorded the same number of days. Maharashtra saw the highest at 25 days followed by Madhya Pradesh with 24 days. The southern peninsula region recorded extreme weather events on 168 of the 274 days, which claimed 762 lives, and damaged 4,256 hectares of crop area. The country faced extreme weather events on 255 of 274 days between Jan and Sept this year, with 3,238 deaths, destruction of 2.35 lakh houses/buildings and crop damage in 3.2million hectare. IMD classifies extreme weather events as those comprising lightning and storms, heavy rain; floods and landslides, heatwaves, cold day/coldwave, snowfall, cloudbursts and cyclones. "The southern peninsula saw its hottest Feb ever, followed by an exceptionally hot and dry March and April, but with a 36.5% surplus in July rainfall and the second highest minimum temperature in Aug. 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 less," said the report titled Climate India 2024, an assessment of extreme weather events. "This frequency overwhelms the most vulnerable populations, who lack the resources to adapt to this relentless cycle of loss and damage," the report adds. Of the 67 extreme weather days, Tamil Nadu experienced 12 days of lightning and storms that claimed 12 lives, 49 days of heavy rainfall, flood and landslide when 13 people lost their lives and 12 days of heatwave. The report says while the reported damage could be an underestimation, it emphasises the need for climate reparations from high-emission countries responsible for much of the damage. "Without combating climate change at a meaningful scale, today's challenges will only worsen tomorrow," a release quoted CSE director general and Down To Earth editor Sunita Narain. Chennai: Tamil Nadu faced 67 days of extreme weather events in the first nine months of 2024, which is 231% more compared to the 29 days in 2023, said a report released by New Delhi-based thinktank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The extreme weather claimed 25 lives, affected 1,039 hectares of crop area, killed 14 heads of cattle and damaged 189 houses. This makes TN the third-worst hit state in the southern peninsula after Kerala (113 days) and Karnataka (96 days). However, human and cattle deaths, damage to crops and houses were lower in the state compared to its neighbours. In May, the peak summer season, Tamil Nadu experienced 19 days of extreme weather events, the third worst in the country along with Rajasthan, which also recorded the same number of days. Maharashtra saw the highest at 25 days followed by Madhya Pradesh with 24 days. The southern peninsula region recorded extreme weather events on 168 of the 274 days, which claimed 762 lives, and damaged 4,256 hectares of crop area. The country faced extreme weather events on 255 of 274 days between Jan and Sept this year, with 3,238 deaths, destruction of 2.35 lakh houses/buildings and crop damage in 3.2million hectare. IMD classifies extreme weather events as those comprising lightning and storms, heavy rain; floods and landslides, heatwaves, cold day/coldwave, snowfall, cloudbursts and cyclones. "The southern peninsula saw its hottest Feb ever, followed by an exceptionally hot and dry March and April, but with a 36.5% surplus in July rainfall and the second highest minimum temperature in Aug. 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 less," said the report titled Climate India 2024, an assessment of extreme weather events. "This frequency overwhelms the most vulnerable populations, who lack the resources to adapt to this relentless cycle of loss and damage," the report adds. Of the 67 extreme weather days, Tamil Nadu experienced 12 days of lightning and storms that claimed 12 lives, 49 days of heavy rainfall, flood and landslide when 13 people lost their lives and 12 days of heatwave. The report says while the reported damage could be an underestimation, it emphasises the need for climate reparations from high-emission countries responsible for much of the damage. "Without combating climate change at a meaningful scale, today's challenges will only worsen tomorrow," a release quoted CSE director general and Down To Earth editor Sunita Narain.

UN climate talks to focus on money to help poor nations cut carbon pollution

A complex international two-week-long game of climate change poker is convening. The stakes? Just the fate of an ever-warming world. Curbing and coping with climate change's worsening heat, floods, droughts and storms will cost trillions of dollars and poor nations just don't have it, numerous reports and experts calculate. As United Nations climate negotiations started Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, the chief issue is who must ante up to help poor nations and especially how much.The numbers are enormous. The floor in negotiations is the $100 billion a year that poor nations - based on a categorization made in the 1990s - now get as part of a 2009 agreement that was barely met. Several experts and poorer nations say the need is $1 trillion a year or more. "It's a game with high stakes," said Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare, a physicist. "Right now the fate of the planet depends very much on what we're able to pull off in the next five or 10 years."But this year's talks, known as COP29, won't be as high-profile as last year's, with 48 fewer heads of state scheduled to speak. The leaders of the top two carbon polluting countries - China and the United States - will be absent. But if money negotiations fail in Baku, it will handicap 2025's make-or-break climate negotiations, experts say.Not only is dealing with money always a touchy subject, but two of the rich countries that are expected to donate money to poor nations - the United States and Germany - are in the midst of dramatic government changes. Even though the United States delegation will be from Biden Administration, the reelection of Donald Trump, who downplays climate change and dislikes foreign aid, makes U.S. pledges unlikely to be fulfilled.The overarching issue is climate finance. Without it, experts say the world can't get a handle on fighting warming, nor can most of the nations achieve their current carbon pollution-cutting goals or the new ones they will submit next year."If we don't solve the finance problem, then definitely we will not solve the climate problem," said former Colombian deputy climate minister Pablo Vieira, who heads the support unit at NDC Partnership, which helps nations with emissions-cutting goals.Nations can't cut carbon pollution if they can't afford to eliminate coal, oil and gas, Vieira and several other experts said. Poor nations are frustrated that they are being told to do more to fight climate change when they cannot afford it, he said. And the 47 poorest nations only created 4% of the heat-trapping gases in the air, according to the U.N.About 77% of the heat-trapping gas in the atmosphere now comes from the G20 rich nations, many of whom are now cutting back on their pollution, something that is not happening in most poor nations or China."The countries that are rich today have become rich by polluting the Earth," said Ani Dasgupta, president of World Resources Institute.The money being discussed is for three things: Helping poor nations switch from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy; helping them adapt to the impacts of a warming world such as sea level rise and worsening storms; and compensating vulnerable poor nations for climate change damage."Should the global community fail to reach a (finance) goal, this is really just signing the death warrant of many developing countries," said Chukwumerije Okereke, director of the Center for Climate Change and Development in Nigeria.Michael Wilkins, a business professor who heads Imperial College's Centre for Climate Finance and Investment in the U.K., said since 2022 total climate finance has been nearly $1.5 trillion. But only 3% of that is actually geared toward the least developed countries, he said."The Global South has been repeatedly let down by unmet pledges and commitments," said Sunita Narain, director general of New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment."Finance is really the key component that compels all types of climate action," said Bahamian climate scientist Adelle Thomas, adaptation director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Without that finance, there's simply not much that developing countries in particular can do."It's an issue of both self-interest and justice, Thomas and others said. It's not charity to help poor nations decarbonize because rich nations benefit when all countries cut emissions. After all, a warming world hurts everyone.Compensating for climate damage and helping nations prepare for future harm is a matter of justice, Thomas said. Even though they didn't create the problem, poor nations - especially small island nations - are particularly vulnerable to climate change's rising seas and extreme weather. Thomas mentioned how 2019's Hurricane Dorian smacked her grandparents home and "the only thing left standing was one toilet."The trillion-dollar figure on the table is about half of what the world spends annually on the military. Others say global fossil fuel subsidies could be redirected to climate finance; estimates of those subsidies range from the International Energy Agency's $616 billion a year to the International Monetary Fund's $7 trillion a year."When we need more for other things, including conflict, we seem to find it," United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said. "Well, this is probably the largest conflict of all."A U.N. climate finance committee report looked at the need from 98 countries and estimated it as ranging from $455 billion to $584 billion per year.The money isn't just direct government aid from one nation to another. Some of it comes from multinational development finance banks, like the World Bank. There's also private investment that will be considered a large chunk. Developing nations are seeking relief from their $29 trillion global debt.Andersen said at least a sixfold increase in investment would be required to get on the path to limit future warming to just another two-tenths of a degree Celsius (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) from now, which is the overarching goal the world adopted in 2015.Andersen's agency calculated that with nations' current emissions-curbing targets, the difference between well-financed and current efforts translates to half a degree Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) less future warming. Experts say stepped-up efforts that could reduce future warming even more also costs more.Who will pay is another sticking point. Climate talks for decades have used 1992 standards to categorize two groups of nations, essentially rich and poor, deciding that rich nations like the U.S. are the ones to financially help poor ones. Financial circumstances have changed. China, the world's top carbon polluter, has increased its per capita GDP by more than 30 times since then. But neither China nor some rich oil nations are obligated to help in climate finance.Developed nations want those countries that couldn't afford to give before, but now can, included in the next round of donors. But those nations don't want those obligations, said E3G analyst Alden Meyer, a climate negotiations veteran."It's a very fraught landscape to think about huge scale-up of existing climate finance," Meyer said.

COP29 Faces Tensions Over Climate And Trade

With threats of temperature rise and geopolitical conflicts, urgent action is needed at the climate summit The COP29 Climate Summit, currently underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, is set against some of the most pressing global crises of our time, including significant trade tensions and intense disputes over climate finance. With 2024 poised to be the year when global temperatures exceed the pivotal 1.5-degree Celsius mark above pre-industrial levels, the stakes have never been higher for international cooperation on climate action. This year’s summit opens as countries grapple with multiple rising issues. Not only has the geopolitical climate changed considerably due to Donald Trump's recent electoral victory, but conflicts raging across the globe, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza, have added layers of complexity to negotiations. The urgency of the climate situation is echoed by scientists who warn of the severe consequences of exceeding this temperature threshold, which may signal irreversible damage to ecosystems and communities around the world. India’s experience, having witnessed one of its harshest years for climate events, serves as stark evidence of these global challenges. Over 3,200 lives were lost, and economic damage soared as extreme weather events affected 93% of days so far this year. Such statistics underline the urgent need for international support to combat climate impacts. Adding to the tension are recent trade disputes, highlighted by the BASIC group (Brazil, China, India, and South Africa), which has called for discussions on unilateral trade restrictions. Their concerns revolve around measures like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), scheduled to be enforced by 2026, which they argue complicates efforts to achieve climate targets through cooperation instead of conflicts. Climate finance or the lack thereof, remains at the heart of the negotiations. Developing countries are calling for substantial financial strides starting at trillions annually from 2025, contending this is necessary for climate adaptation and mitigation. On the other hand, nations like the United States and EU member states argue for broader responsibility among nations, implicative of the growing emissions from the Global South. The U.S. has outlined its visions for funding as ‘voluntary,’ emphasizing the notion of shared responsibility rather than unilateral mandates. The EU stands firm, insisting on widening the contributor base to make the climate financing more inclusive and impactful, citing changes in countries’ economic abilities over the years. Meanwhile, the Centre for Science and Environment has reported startling estimates, indicating less than 1% of global GDP—around $1 trillion—could potentially cover the immediate climate finance needs of the developing world. This puts the pressure on developed economies to take bold steps toward meeting climate goals, especially as discussions heat up around topics of accountability and leadership. But here’s the kicker: the implications of this summit extend far beyond financial issues. Should countries fail to rise to the occasion, they risk not only ecological devastation but also geopolitical instability as climate-induced crises exacerbate existing socio-political tensions. Observers are acutely aware of Trump's potential withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and how this could complicate or limit U.S. commitments on the international stage. During the summit, diplomats and representatives must navigate these troublesome waters precariously, balancing their nations' priorities against the urgency of coherent global climate action. Avantika Goswami from the Centre for Science and Environment succinctly put it: “This is the last window of opportunity for the Global North to course correct. Failure is not an option.” Local and global forecasts for 2024 show increasingly severe weather events, with the possibility of greater humanitarian crises on the horizon. Ensuring climate resilience through both immediate and long-term investments is not just prudent; it is imperative for sustainable development globally.

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.