• Climate Change and Green Economy

India-EU FTA: 9th round of negotiations to start on September 23

The ninth round of India-EU free trade agreement talks, which starts on Monday in the Indian capital, will also discuss “concerns over sustainability measures” along with “core” trade issues. India will raise concerns of its stakeholders about the European Union’s move to impose unequitable sustainability regulations -- labour standards, deforestation rules and carbon tax -- at the five-day free trade talk starting Monday because such stringent measures would hamper Indian exports to the EU and make its small and medium enterprises uncompetitive, people aware of the development said. The ninth round of India-EU free trade agreement talks, which starts on Monday in the Indian capital, will also discuss “concerns over sustainability measures” along with “core” trade issues, said the people cited above, requesting anonymity. Core issues on the negotiating table include trade in goods and services, digital trade, investment protection, government procurement and intellectual property rights (IPRs), they added. “Trade negotiations must be based on the principle of equity. The EU cannot treat the developing Indian economy at par with developed economies and expect it to follow stringent and costly environmental measures,” he said. HT on August 26 reported that India will simultaneously discuss sustainability measures such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) with the 27-nation bloc in the ninth round of FTA talks. The two partners have already completed eight rounds of talks (held on June 24-28 in Brussels), leading to the conclusion of two chapters so far — one on small and medium enterprises and the other on sustainable food systems. According to a report released in July this year by independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the carbon tax burden for India is estimated to be the equivalent of 0.05% of its gross domestic product. The EU is India’s second-biggest export destination with about $76 billion of merchandise exports in 2023-24. It imported goods worth more than $59 billion that year. The Indian side believes CBAM is a form of tax that can lead to tariffs of up to 35% on imports of high-carbon goods such as cement, aluminium, fertilisers, chemicals including hydrogen, iron and steel from India. CBAM will be levied on carbon intensive products to offset “carbon leakage” by importing high-carbon goods. Carbon leakage occurs when firms in the EU move carbon-intensive production abroad to countries, where less stringent climate policies are in place, or when EU products get replaced by more carbon-intensive imports. The tax is being implemented in phases from October 2023 and will become fully effective from January 2026.

• Director General Office

We need politics of inclusion

We know we stand at a crossroads. Unsustainable growth means we are hurtling towards climate catastrophe and inequitable growth means we are hurtling towards increased poverty, increased marginalisation and increased anger. Our learning in India is that growth that is not affordable, in other words not equitable, cannot be sustainable. This, then, is the agenda for the future. Consider the challenge of Delhi’s toxic air pollution. It’s not that we are not trying to make a difference. All coal plants have been shut; pet coke import (incidentally the ones that the United States exports as it is toxic for local use) has been banned; and we are switching to the cleanest fuels and vehicle technology. Despite these incremental actions, we stay behind the pollution crisis. My colleagues estimate that air pollution in Delhi has reduced by 25 per cent over the past three years, as compared to the previous three years; but it still needs to be reduced by 65 per cent to get what you will call clean air. The reason is simple: today less than 20 per cent of my city drive in cars to work; roughly 25 per cent own cars. But these vehicle owners take 90 per cent of the road space. The question is, if the demand of just 20 per cent is leading to huge congestion and pollution, where and how can the city find the road and air space for all? This is where the environmentalism of the poor kicks in. The fact is, if the rich are to breathe clean air, we need to rework mobility for all. We cannot think of adding a few buses or trams or metros; we need to transform mobility so that it works for the rich and the poor. This means combining affordability and convenience and safety. This is also the case with energy. Many households in my world still use biomass to cook food because they are poor. These air pollutants, which are killing poor people, are also contaminating the airshed they share with the rich. So, if we want clean air, we will have to get the rich out of their polluting vehicles, but we will also have to ensure that the poor households get options to move out of dirty fuels. Their energy transition is important for clean air. This is why without inclusive growth, we cannot have sustainability. The opportunity is also enormous. If we reinvent for transformative action we will focus on the needs of the poor women and provide them viable, affordable options to leapfrog — from non-fossil dirty fuels to non-fossil clean fuels. But this is where the world needs leadership so that finance for the energy transition is concessional and provides the opportunity to scale up the system for the poorest in the world. The challenge of climate change is a mirror to the air pollution challenge we face in Delhi.In 1990, my colleague Anil Agarwal and I argued in our publication “Global Warming in an Unequal World” that the world cannot combat climate change unless the agreement is fair and equitable. Today, the same issue is on the table. If the solutions cannot meet the needs of all — are equitable — they will not work. This is where we need to understand this environmentalism of the poor again. It is clear that events in our world are spiralling out of control. Every year is the hottest year, till the next year comes around. Then a new record is broken. From forest fires, to increasing frequency and intensity of storms to blistering cold waves and scorching heat — it’s all getting worse. Then we face the most inconvenient truth. At current rates, the world will run out of the carbon budget — how much it can emit to limit global warming to 1.5°C — by 2030. But there are vast numbers of people who do not have access to basic energy. They need energy for their development. This is why we need cooperation so that future development can be low-carbon for all. It is clear that increasing numbers of disasters because of growing intensity and frequency of weird and abnormal weather will make the poor, poorer. Their impoverishment and marginalisation will add to their desperation to move away from their lands and to seek alternative livelihoods. Their only choice will be to migrate — move to the city; move to another country. The double-jeopardy, as I have called it, in the interconnected world is the push — lack of options — and the pull — bright lights that suggest a choice to better futures. This will add to the already volatile situation of boat people and migrants at the border walls, making our world insecure and violent. This is the cycle of destructive change that we must fight. Our globalised world is inter-connected and inter-dependent, and we must recognise this. Sustainable development is not possible if it is not equitable. Growth has to be affordable and inclusive for it to be sustainable. But all this will not happen, unless we articulate that the environmental challenge is not technocratic but political. We cannot neuter the politics of access, justice and rights and hope to fix the environment or indeed development. (Writer is Director General of CSE and editor of Down To Earth, an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets)

• Down To Earth

Liquid Assets-Africa: Unlocking Water Potential for Growth

23 September 2024 (IDN) — Africa stands on the edge of a severe water crisis, threatening its ability to meet critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a new report reveals. Despite the continent’s vast water resources, poor management, overexploitation, and the escalating effects of climate change are fueling widespread water insecurity. The State of Africa’s Environment 2024 report, published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), based in New Delhi (India), highlights that Africa is one of the world’s most water-stressed regions. Paradoxically, this is happening in a continent rich in water resources. The root cause, according to the report, is inefficient water management and overuse. Climate change has only worsened the situation, with water demand projected to soar by 283% between 2005 and 2030. “The scarcity of water that is being faced by Africa and other regions of the world is as much about the lack of the resource as its mismanagement,” said Sunita Narain, environmental activist and CSE Director General, at the report’s launch. “Our water crisis is in our inability to build an affordable system of water management for people today.” Plenty water, short on management Credit: Busani Bafana According to the report, presented during a media briefing organized by CSE and the Media for Science, Environment, Health, and Agriculture (MESHA), based in Nairobi (Kenya), Africa is in a paradox: an abundance of water but a lack of effective management “Water is fundamental to life, livelihoods, and the economy. Without addressing water management, we will struggle to get anything right—especially in an era of climate change,” said Narain, urging for immediate action. She emphasized that while Africa has the policies in place, the challenge lies in moving from policy to implementation. “Scale only comes when we reinvent water conservation so that communities gain both access to water and affordable sewage treatment,” Narain said in an interview. The report highlights regional disparities across the continent. North African nations like Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia rank among the world’s top 10 most water-stressed countries. Meanwhile, sub-Saharan Africa grapples with severe water pollution, with 60% of its wastewater going untreated and 36% of the population facing water insecurity. Far-Reaching Impacts of the Water Crisis The consequences of Africa’s water crisis extend well beyond basic access to clean water. The lack of sanitation and clean water significantly contributes to the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhea, which remain widespread. Currently, 70% of Africa’s wastewater is untreated, contaminating water sources and threatening public health. Furthermore, water scarcity is fueling conflicts, displacement, and migration, particularly in regions that share transboundary rivers. Hope Through Solutions Despite the dire situation, there is hope. Africa has the opportunity to turn the tide on its water crisis by adopting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) practices, promoting water-efficient technologies, and prioritizing rainwater harvesting. The report emphasizes rainwater harvesting as a vital strategy, with the potential to increase water availability by up to 30%. “We must capture every raindrop,” Narain stressed, highlighting the importance of decentralized water systems and improved storage to prevent pollution of harvested water. Dhesigen Naidoo, an advisor to South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission, pointed out that climate change acts as a “threat multiplier,” increasing the intensity of droughts and floods. This, in turn, exacerbates food insecurity and widens inequalities. Naidoo called for investment in water infrastructure, advocating for innovative funding mechanisms such as blended finance. A Global Responsibility At the recent Summit of the Future in New York, global leaders adopted a Pact for the Future, which aims to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs. SDG 6 focuses on water and sanitation. Many African countries, however, are far from meeting water and sanitation goals underscoring the need for immediate investment in water infrastructure. “We know the global goals are set, and we know we are falling behind,” Narain said. “It’s not just about finance, —it’s about the method and changing how we manage water resources.” The report also calls for stronger water governance and more effective policy frameworks. Francis Oremo, senior program manager at the Institute for Law and Environmental Governance (ILEG), emphasized the importance of localized solutions: “In Africa’s situation, water governance is terrible,” said Oremo, “As a means to an end, water governance is good if it can solve water challenges and bad if it does not respond to place-based needs.” Africa’s water crisis is a complex challenge tied to sustainable development, climate resilience, and governance. Yet with the right policies, investments, and public awareness, the continent can transform its water struggles into opportunities for growth and sustainability. [IDN-InDepthNews] Collage of a picture of the launch of water insecurity report by Busani Bfana showing MESHA CEO Daniel Agkhan, CSE director general Sunita Narain and CEO’s Souparno Banerjee (left-right) and water insecurity graphic from CSE.

• Industrial Pollution

Where does Aravalli end? Lack of clarity leads to rampant mining; furious Haryana villagers

Rameshwar Singh heard the first boom at 10 pm while he was locking the gates to his house in Haryana’s Rajawas village, on the foothills of the Aravallis. The ground beneath his feet shuddered. The dogs started howling. For ten minutes, the booms and blasts got faster and louder. The stone miners, who were operating in the neighhouring village, Ushmapur, some two kilometres away, were moving closer to Rajawas after a gap of eight years. For Singh and the other villagers, it was a foreshadowing of the dark times back in 2016 when his village hosted a stone mine. It had scarred the land. Groundwater also sank to alarmingly low levels. Half the villagers left their homes. The remaining contracted respiratory ailments, skin infections and other diseases, Singh said. “The blasts from the mines used to feel like earthquakes. People had to leave their homes because the walls and the ground cracked. Nearly everyone in the village now has some form of respiratory infection.” The 68-year-old farmer blames his chronic bronchitis on the mining activities of 2016. “We will not allow another mine to come up here,” he said. Rajawas and hundreds of villages along the Aravalli Range are fighting a battle against rampant illegal and legal stone mines. Despite court orders, including a May 2024 Supreme Court ban on fresh mining leases in the Aravallis, the mountains are being mindlessly ravaged for stones to fuel the state’s focus on high-rise apartments, roads and office complexes. It has pitted villagers against miners, environmental activists against the Haryana government, with the police filing complaints and counter-complaints. The irony is that Rajawas is part of the 22,400 hectares area that has been classified as protected forests. The Centre marked this portion of the hills for compensatory afforestation to make up for the loss of a million trees in the Great Nicobar, where the Narendra Modi government is undertaking a mega-infrastructure project. However, a state ministry official with the mining department told ThePrint that there are no illegal mining operations on the Haryana side of the Aravallis. The mining operation at the village near Rajawas is sanctioned. And that’s because it’s not considered part of the mountain range. There is no official record of which mountains fall under the Aravallis, even though it’s one of the oldest ranges in India, if not the world. “The area where the new mines are allotted in the hill near Rajawas is not part of the Aravallis. It is a different hill. Its close proximity to the range could create this confusion, but we are following all rules here,” said the official who did not want to be named. Stretching from Champaner in Gujarat to Delhi, passing through Rajasthan and Haryana, the 693-km Aravalli Range acts as a groundwater recharge zone and a protective barrier against the desertification of the Delhi-NCR region. The rampant mining activities have come at a high environmental and human cost. But even “biologists consider the Haryana Aravallis as an ecological desert, overgrown with Prosopis and degraded in many parts,” as per a 2019 survey by the Centre for Ecology Development and Research (CEDAR) and World Wide Fund (WWF) India. Environmentalists warned that these mines are also drying up the region’s groundwater, polluting the skies. The latest report by the Haryana state government showed that Mahendragarh, the district under which Rajawas falls, has the first traces of groundwater only at a depth of 2,000 feet. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said that the Aravallis act as a “green fence” for the already vulnerable Delhi-NCR region. “The Aravallis essentially acts as a sink, which filters out many greenhouse gases. It performs essential ecological services. The range is also a vital water recharge point for a region that is becoming exceedingly water-parched,” warned Roychowdhury.

• Down To Earth

Here's panacea to Africa's perennial water stress

Touring Zanzibar is many a person’s wish, considering its scenic beaches, luxurious hotels and blend of vibrant cultures. Behind the scenes however, residents of the island paradise desire rescue from perennial water stress, amid plenty, challenges that threaten their wellbeing and future as a tourist destination. The latest “State of Africa’s Report” brings out water security issue in relatable ways. Qualifying Zanzibar as one of the driest regions in the world, and relying on more information from Zanzibar Water Authority, the report by the Centre for Science and Environment brings out its inability to supply even half of the daily needed 200 million litres freshwater. This inadvertently burdens women and girls, who walk long distances in search of the commodity, at the expense of education and health, including reproductive health services. But why Zanzibar, an Indian Ocean archipelago? Blame its vulnerability on effects of climate change, including rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns that have led to depletion of groundwater sources and increased salinity. Insufficient waste management has also encouraged discharge of untreated waste into the ocean, contaminating the water and raising concerns on safety of the seafood consumed locally. Besides, inadequate infrastructure and poor waste management, despite a 2022 comprehensive water investment plan whose fruit should be visible by 2027, have been cited. That means cholera and other waterborne diseases linger. Drinking water is scarce despite efforts by organisations such as CDC and UNICEF to improve water quality through bulk chlorination and monitoring. Yet Zanzibar is not alone in this. During the launch of the “State of Africa’s Environment” in Nairobi last week, speaker after speaker brought out the dire, yet correctable water security situation in the continent. An Environment expert, Dr Francis Oremo, showed how amid plenty, 45 of Africa’s 54 nations still qualify as water-stressed, due to poor governance.

• Urban Lab

Why cities need action plans to cope with muggier, hotter monsoons

North India's monsoon is becoming more uncomfortable due to rising humidity, necessitating urgent urban planning and heat mitigation strategies. The monsoon, widely anticipated every year in the hope of bringing respite from the searing summer heat, in north Indian cities is fast becoming “more thermally uncomfortable” than the pre-monsoon season, according to recent studies. Simply put, despite ample rain in recent years, the monsoon has not alleviated physical heat discomfort as expected. Cities end up suffering the most from weather extremes with too many people living and working in cramped and poorly provisioned spaces. But while there is growing awareness of the challenge posed by dry heat and high temperatures, administrative policies are yet to recognise the combined effects of heat and humidity on human health and productivity. Physiologically, humid heat is more dangerous than dry heat. It compromises the body’s natural cooling process, preventing sweat from evaporating from the skin. People get dehydrated much faster, going into heat exhaustion, heat stroke and more dangerously, hyperthermia and organ shock. With humid heat getting more intense in cities, experts say nuanced and localised changes to the emergency response, existing heat mitigation action plans and urban planning are urgently required. The decision-making, they underline, must be informed by solid evidence and detailed vulnerability assessment. Explaining the variability A manifestation of the climate crisis and global warming, humidity levels are rising across all Indian cities. However, it is exceptionally high in north India and even the central Deccan, which are usually drier areas, said Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, urban lab at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based green think tank.

• Down To Earth

Sub Sahara most water-stressed region

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Ozone breaches safe limit in Gurgaon, major pollutant for 2 days

Gurgaon: In the past 48 hours, ozone has emerged as the most significant pollutant in the city, according to the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Typically, particulate matter (PM) 2.5, PM10, and occasionally carbon monoxide (CO) are the primary pollutants that impact the city's air quality index (AQI). According to CPCB data, however, the eight-hour ozone threshold of 100 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) was violated in the past two days, making it the major pollutant for this period. On Friday, the ozone level was 112 ug/m3 at the Teri Gram air monitoring station. On Thursday, it was 108 ug/m3. Experts said high levels of ground-level ozone can cause inflammation and damage to airways, increase the susceptibility of lungs to infections, and exacerbate conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. This phenomenon predominantly occurs during daylight hours in areas with traffic congestion or where multiple industries are operational, they said. Ozone is generated through the intricate interaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted from vehicles, power plants, factories, and other combustible sources. The rising temperatures are also leading to a rise in ozone levels, experts said. "High temperatures and road congestion are leading to increased ground-level ozone concentrations in cities. Ozone is formed due to chemical reactions between precursor pollutants like NOx and VOCs present in the atmosphere in the presence of heat and sunlight. High levels of ozone are particularly harmful to those suffering from asthma and respiratory diseases," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). "Ozone formation takes place in the presence of sunlight only. High temperature and high-pressure combustion of diesel and CNG produces higher amounts of NOx. Higher use of various solvents, including gasoline, are the causes of VOCs in the atmosphere," said Dr Dipankar Saha, former head at CPCB. According to a CSE study, between Jan 1 and July 18 — a period of 200 days — Delhi-NCR recorded 176 days of ground-level ozone exceedance. The second highest was 138 days each, in Mumbai-MMR and Pune, followed by Jaipur, at 126 days. CSE used data from official stations under CPCB's Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System. Meanwhile, the HSPCB officials said they have directed civic bodies to take all required measures to reduce road dust and garbage burning incidents.

• Renewable Energy

'தூய எரிசக்தி உற்பத்திக்கான மறுசீரமைப்புக் கொள்கை அவசியம்' - தமிழகத்தை அறிவுறுத்தும் ஆய்வறிக்கை! - Tamil Nadu wind repowering policy

புதுடெல்லி: இந்தியாவில் காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்தியில் தமிழ்நாடு முன்னிலையில் இருக்கிறது. ஆனாலும் காற்றாலை ஆற்றல் திறனை அதிகரிப்பதில் கடுமையான சவால்களை எதிர்கொள்கிறது. இதில் அதன் சொந்த காற்றாலை ஆற்றல் மறுசீரமைப்பு கொள்கையே முக்கிய தடை மற்றும் சவாலாக உள்ளது என்று புதுடெல்லியில் உள்ள அறிவியல் மற்றும் சுற்றுச்சூழல் மையத்தின் (சிஎஸ்இ) சமீபத்திய அறிக்கை கூறுகிறது. இது தொடர்பாக சிஎஸ்இ-ன் தொழில்துறை மற்றும் புதுப்பிக்கத்தக்க எரிசக்தி குழுக்களின் திட்ட இயக்குநர் நிவித் கே யாதவ் கூறுகையில், "தமிழகத்தின் மொத்த மின் உற்பத்தி திறனில் காற்றாலை மின்சாரம் கிட்டத்தட்ட 30 சதவீதம் ஆகும். ஆனால், தமிழகமானது காலாவதியான காற்றாலை கருவிகளை கொண்டிருப்பதால் காற்றாலை ஆற்றலின் பங்களிப்பை மாநிலத்தின் மின் உற்பத்தியில் வெறும் 15 சதவீதமாகக் குறைத்துள்ளது. மேலும், தமிழ்நாட்டின் காற்றாலை ஆற்றல் மறுசீரமைப்பு கொள்கை குறைபாடுகள் மற்றும் கட்டுப்பாடுகள் மாநிலத்தை அதன் உண்மையான எரிசக்தி ஆற்றலை அடைவதைத் தடுத்துள்ளன. காற்றாலை மின் உற்பத்திக்கான இந்தியாவின் ஒட்டுமொத்த சாத்தியம் 25.4 ஜிகாவாட். இதில் தமிழ்நாட்டின் பங்களிப்பு மட்டும் 7.3 ஜிகாவாட் என சிஎஸ்இ அறிக்கை சுட்டிக்காட்டுகிறது. காற்றாலை ஆற்றல் உற்பத்தியை அதிகரிப்பதற்கு இந்த மீட்டுருவாக்க திறனை மேம்படுத்துவது மிகவும் முக்கியமானது. இது மாநிலம் புதுப்பிக்கத்தக்க எரிசக்தியை நோக்கி நகர்வதில் முக்கிய அங்கமாக உள்ளது." என்றார். "தமிழ்நாட்டில் காற்றாலை மறுசீரமைப்பை துரிதப்படுத்துதல்" என்ற தலைப்பில் ஆய்வறிக்கையானது சென்னையில் இன்று நடைபெற்ற பயிற்சிப் பட்டறையில் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இது தொடர்பாக சிஎஸ்இ-ன் புதுப்பிக்கத்தக்க ஆற்றல் திட்ட மேலாளர் பினித் தாஸ் கூறுகையில், "மீட்டுருவாக்கம் என்பது தமிழ்நாட்டின் பழைய காற்றாலைகளை மிகவும் மேம்பட்ட, திறனுடைய மாடல்களாக மாற்றுவதாகும். இது மாநிலத்தின் திறன் பயன்பாட்டு காரணியை (சியுஎஃப்) மூன்று மடங்காக அதிகரிக்கக்கூடும். இதையும் படிங்க: திருப்பதி லட்டு விவகாரம்: "தெலுங்கு தேசம் மத விஷயங்களை அரசியலாக்குகிறது": ஜெகன்மோகன் ரெட்டி குற்றச்சாட்டு! மேலும், ஆற்றல் செயல்திறனை மேம்படுத்தி, தற்போதைய பாதுகாப்பு அபாயங்கள் மற்றும் இடர்களை நிவர்த்தி செய்யும். எங்களது அறிக்கை மாநிலத்தில் காற்றாலை மீட்டுருவாக்கம் செய்யப்படுவதற்கான சாத்தியக்கூறுகளை ஆய்வு செய்துள்ளது. மேலும், மாநிலத்தின் சமீபத்திய மறுசீரமைப்புக் கொள்கையை விமர்சன ரீதியாக ஆராய்கிறது. இது கொள்கை கட்டமைப்பை வலுப்படுத்த முக்கிய தகவல்கள் மற்றும் பரிந்துரைகளை வழங்குகிறது. இதனால் தமிழ்நாடு அதன் காற்றாலை ஆற்றல் திறனை அதிகரிக்க வழி வகை கிடைக்கும். தமிழக அரசின் காற்றாலை ஆற்றல் மறுசீரமைப்பு கொள்கையில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ள முக்கிய குறைபாடுகள்: உள்கட்டமைப்பு சவால்: தற்போதைய கொள்கையானது, காற்றாலையை நிர்வகிப்பவர்கள் காலாவதியான காற்றாலையை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கு ஊக்கமளிக்கவில்லை. ஏனெனில் அதிகரித்த மின்சார உற்பத்தியை மறுசீரமைப்பிற்குப் பிறகு கையாளுவதில் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க உள்கட்டமைப்பு இடைவெளிகள் உள்ளன. 2024 ஜூன் நிலவரப்படி 10.7 ஜிகாவாட் திறன் கொண்ட காற்றாலை ஆற்றல் தமிழ்நாட்டின் புதுப்பிக்கத்தக்க மின்சக்தியின் முதுகெலும்பாகும். மறுசீரமைப்பு திட்டங்கள் கூடுதலாக 7.3 ஜிகாவாட் மின் உற்பத்தியை அதிகரிக்கும் திறனை கொண்டுள்ளன. இதன் விளைவாக மின் உற்பத்தி மூன்று மடங்கு அதிகரிக்கும். இது உபரி ஆற்றலை சேகரிக்கும் திறன் மற்றும் அதைக் கையாளும் கட்டமைப்பின் தயார்நிலை குறித்த முக்கியமான கவலைகளை எழுப்புகிறது. மின் விநியோக உள்கட்டமைப்பு பற்றாக்குறை: மேம்படுத்தப்பட்ட மின் விநியோக உள்கட்டமைப்பின் தேவையை பூர்த்தி செய்வதில் இக்கொள்கை தவறுகிறது. குறிப்பாக மறுசீரமைக்கப்பட்ட காற்றாலைகளுக்கு 11 கிலோ வாட்ஸ் லைன்கள் மேம்பாடு போதுமானதாக இல்லை மற்றும் நிலையற்ற, அடிக்கடி இடையூறு விளைவிப்பதாக உள்ளது. நிர்வகிப்பவர்களுக்கு கூடுதல் செலவு: ஒரு மெகாவாட்டிற்கு கணிசமான உள்கட்டமைப்பு மேம்பாட்டுக் கட்டணமாக ரூ.30 லட்சம் செலுத்தினாலும், அவற்றை நிர்வகிப்பவர்கள், துணை மின் நிலையங்களை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கும், மாற்று மின் விநியோக கட்டமைப்புக்கும் கூடுதல் செலவுகளை எதிர்கொள்கின்றனர். தமிழ்நாடு மத்திய மின்மாற்றி பயன்பாட்டு (சிடியு) காற்றாலை திட்டங்களுக்கு ஒரு மெகாவாட்டிற்கு ரூ. 50 லட்சம் என்ற ஆதாரக் கட்டணத்தை விதித்துள்ளது. இதனால் நிர்வகிப்பவர்கள் மத்திய கட்டமைப்புடன் இணைப்பது குறைவான விருப்பத்தையே ஏற்படுத்துகிறது. காற்றாலை வங்கி விதிகள் கட்டுப்பாடு: மறுசீரமைப்பு கொள்கையானது காற்றாலை வங்கியை புதிய திட்டங்களுக்கான மாதாந்திர வங்கியாக வரம்பிடுகிறது. மேலும் அதிக தேவை இல்லாத நேரங்களுக்கு பயன்படுத்துவதை கட்டுப்படுத்துகிறது. இது மறுசீரமைப்புக்குப் பின்னர், காற்றாலையை நிர்வகிப்பவர்கள் கூடுதல் உற்பத்தியை என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பதில் தெளிவில்லாத நிலை உள்ளது. பிளவுபட்ட உரிமை: சிஎஸ்இ-ன் பரிந்துரைப்படி, காற்றாலைகளின் பிளவுபட்ட உரிமையானது, முந்தைய மறுசீரமைப்பு முயற்சிகளில் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க தடையாக இருந்தது. தற்போதைய கொள்கையில் இதை நிவர்த்தி செய்ய போதுமான நடவடிக்கைகள் இல்லை. தனியார் தரப்பில் ஒவ்வொருவரும் குறைந்த எண்ணிக்கையிலான காற்றாலைகளை வைத்திருப்பதால், நிலம் மற்றும் விசையாழிகளை மீண்டும் சக்தியூட்டுவதற்கு ஒருங்கிணைப்பது மிகவும் சிக்கலாக உள்ளது. இதனால், நிலப் பயன்பாட்டை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கும், விசையாழிகளை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கும் இடையூறாக உள்ளது. சிஎஸ்இ-ன் பொருளாதார பகுப்பாய்வின்படி, தமிழகத்தில் காற்றாலைகளை மீண்டும் இயக்குவதற்கும், புதிய கிரீன்ஃபீல்ட் திட்டங்களுக்கும் இடையேயான செலவின இடைவெளியைக் குறைக்க கூடுதலாக 6,336 கோடி ரூபாய் தேவைப்படும் என்பதை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறது. இந்த முதலீடு மீள்சக்தியை பொருளாதார ரீதியாக சாத்தியமானதாக மாற்றுவதற்கு மிகவும் முக்கியமானது என்று சிஎஸ்இ-ன் நிவித் கே யாதவ் சுட்டிக்காட்டியள்ளார். மேலும், சிஎஸ்இ-ன் அறிக்கை, மாநிலத்தின் மறுசீரமைப்புக் கொள்கையை மேம்படுத்த சில நடவடிக்கைகளை முன்மொழிந்துள்ளது. மின்சாரம் வெளியேற்றும் உள்கட்டமைப்பை மேம்படுத்துதல்: 11 kV லைன்களை குறைந்தபட்சம் 33 kV க்கு உடனடியாக மேம்படுத்துதல். பசுமை ஆற்றல் திறந்த அணுகல்: பசுமை ஆற்றல் திறந்த அணுகல் போன்ற கொள்கைகள் மூலம் சரியான நேரத்தில் பணம் செலுத்துதல் மற்றும் நிதி ஊக்கத்தொகையை உறுதி செய்தல் ஆகியவை திட்ட நம்பகத்தன்மையை மேம்படுத்தலாம். நிலம் மாற்றும் திட்டம் மற்றும் கூட்டுரிமை: பிளவுபட்ட உரிமையின் சவாலை எதிர்கொள்ள, சிறிய விசையாழிகளுக்கு பதிலாக மிகவும் திறமையான, பெரிய மாதிரிகளை அறிமுகப்படுத்தலாம். உருவாக்குபவர்களுக்கு நிதிச் சலுகைகளை வழங்குதல்: தலைமுறை அடிப்படையிலான ஊக்கத்தொகைகள், அரசாங்கத்தால் ஆதரிக்கப்படும் கடன் உத்தரவாதங்கள் மற்றும் ஃபீட்-இன் கட்டணங்கள் ஆகியவை நிதி ரீதியாக சாத்தியமானதாக மாற்றும். இது தொடர்பாக சிஎஸ்இ-ன் புதுப்பிக்கத்தக்க ஆற்றல் திட்ட மேலாளர் பினித் தாஸ் கூறுகையில், ''தமிழ்நாட்டின் பழைய விசையாழிகளில் பெரும்பாலானவை காற்றின் வேகத்தை சந்திக்கும் பெரிய நிலப்பரப்புகளை கொண்ட நல்ல இடங்களில் அமைந்துள்ளன. மாநில அரசு தொழில்முனைவோர்களுடன் இணைந்து செயல்படுவதும், அவர்களை ஊக்குவிக்கும் கொள்கையை உருவாக்குவதும் இன்றியமையாதது. தமிழகத்தின் பரந்த காற்றாலை ஆற்றலைத் திறப்பதற்கும், பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சியை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கும், இந்தியாவின் தூய்மையான எரிசக்தி மாற்றத்தில் தமிழகத்தை முன்னணியில் நிறுத்துவதற்கும் வலுவான மறுசீரமைப்புக் கொள்கைக் கட்டமைப்பு முக்கியமானது. தெரிந்துகொண்ட சவால்களை எதிர்கொள்வதிலும், எங்கள் பரிந்துரைகளை ஏற்றுக்கொள்வதிலும் உறுதியான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்குமாறு தமிழக அரசை சிஎஸ்இ வலியுறுத்துகிறது. '' என இவ்வாறு பினித் தாஸ் கூறியுள்ளார்.

• Renewable Energy

Tamil Nadu पवन ऊर्जा क्षमता का लाभ उठाने के लिए पुनर्शक्तिकरण नीति में बदलाव किया

Chennai चेन्नई : सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) ने गुरुवार को एक बैठक में तमिलनाडु में पवन ऊर्जा को तेजी से बढ़ाने के शीर्षक से एक नई रिपोर्ट जारी की, जिसमें कहा गया, "राज्य की पवन ऊर्जा क्षमता को अधिकतम करने के लिए तमिलनाडु की पवन ऊर्जा नीति में सुधार की आवश्यकता है।" रिपोर्ट में हाल की पवन ऊर्जा नीति की कमियों पर जोर दिया गया है, विशेष रूप से बेहतर बिजली निकासी बुनियादी ढांचे की आवश्यकता को संबोधित करने में इसकी विफलता। इसमें मौजूदा 11-केवी बिजली लाइनों को अपग्रेड करने का आह्वान किया गया है, जो अपर्याप्त और अक्सर अस्थिर हैं, बेहतर टर्बाइनों से बेहतर बिजली निकासी के लिए कम से कम 33 केवी तक। राज्य के विभिन्न हिस्सों से पवन ऊर्जा उत्पादकों ने बैठक में भाग लिया और विपणन रणनीतियों, अद्यतन टर्बाइनों, नई प्रौद्योगिकियों, बैंकिंग सुविधाओं और बिजली निकासी बुनियादी ढांचे जैसे विषयों पर चर्चा की। सीएसई के कार्यक्रम निदेशक निवित के यादव ने कहा, "पवन ऊर्जा तमिलनाडु की कुल स्थापित क्षमता का लगभग 30% योगदान देती है, लेकिन पुरानी टर्बाइनों ने पवन ऊर्जा की हिस्सेदारी को राज्य के बिजली उत्पादन में केवल 15% तक कम कर दिया है। इन पुरानी टर्बाइनों को नई तकनीकों से बदलने का यह सही समय है। कई डेवलपर्स ने नीति के बारे में चिंता व्यक्त की, जिसमें कहा गया कि जून 2024 तक 10,700 मेगावाट की क्षमता वाली पवन ऊर्जा तमिलनाडु की अक्षय ऊर्जा की रीढ़ बनी हुई है। हालांकि, मौजूदा नीति पुराने टर्बाइनों को अपग्रेड करने को प्रोत्साहित नहीं करती है क्योंकि रीपावरिंग के बाद बढ़े हुए बिजली उत्पादन को संभालने में महत्वपूर्ण बुनियादी ढाँचे की कमी है।डेवलपर्स ने इसमें शामिल उच्च लागतों की ओर भी इशारा किया। बुनियादी ढाँचे के विकास के लिए 30 लाख रुपये प्रति मेगावाट का भुगतान करने के बावजूद, उन्हें सबस्टेशनों को अपग्रेड करने और बिजली निकासी की व्यवस्था करने के लिए अतिरिक्त खर्चों का सामना करना पड़ता है। उन्होंने केंद्रीय ट्रांसमिशन यूटिलिटी पवन परियोजनाओं पर राज्य के 50 लाख रुपये प्रति मेगावाट संसाधन शुल्क पर निराशा व्यक्त की, जो केंद्रीय ग्रिड से जुड़ने को हतोत्साहित करता है, जिससे डेवलपर्स राज्य ग्रिड की ओर बढ़ते हैं। पैनल ने बैंकिंग चुनौतियों पर भी चर्चा की, जिसमें कहा गया कि मौजूदा नीति के तहत, पवन ऊर्जा जनरेटर से बैंकिंग पवन ऊर्जा के लिए 14% शुल्क लिया जाता है। इसके अतिरिक्त, नीति नई परियोजनाओं को प्रतिबंधित करती है और उपयोग को गैर-पीक घंटों तक सीमित करती है, जिससे डेवलपर्स को यह अनिश्चितता रहती है कि अतिरिक्त उत्पादन का प्रबंधन कैसे किया जाए। देश में पवन ऊर्जा फार्मों को पुनः ऊर्जा प्रदान करने की कुल क्षमता 25,400 मेगावाट है, जिसमें अकेले तमिलनाडु का योगदान 7,300 मेगावाट है। सीएसई के आर्थिक विश्लेषण से पता चलता है कि तमिलनाडु में पवन ऊर्जा फार्मों को पुनः ऊर्जा प्रदान करने के लिए अतिरिक्त 6,336 करोड़ रुपये की आवश्यकता होगी, ताकि पुनः ऊर्जा प्रदान करने और नई ग्रीन फील्ड परियोजनाओं के बीच लागत के अंतर को पाटा जा सके। सीएसई के निदेशक यादव ने कहा, "पुनः ऊर्जा प्रदान करने को आर्थिक रूप से व्यवहार्य बनाने के लिए यह निवेश महत्वपूर्ण है

• Renewable Energy

CSE wants repowering policy tweaked to capitalise on TN's wind capacity

CHENNAI: Center for Science and Environment (CSE) released a fresh report titled ‘Accelerating Wind Repowering in Tamil Nadu at a meeting on Thursday, saying, “Tamil Nadu’s wind repowering policy needs to be improved for maximising the state’s wind energy capacity.” The report emphasised shortcomings of the recent wind repowering policy, particularly its failure to address the need for improved power evacuation infrastructure. It called for upgrading the existing 11-kV power lines, which are insufficient and often unstable, to at least 33 kV for better power evacuation from upgraded turbines. Wind energy producers from different parts of the state attended the meeting and discussed topics such as marketing strategies, updated turbines, new technologies, banking facilities and power evacuation infrastructure. CSE’s programme director Nivit K Yadav said, “Wind power contributes nearly 30% of Tamil Nadu’s total installed capacity, but outdated turbines have reduced wind energy’s share to just 15% of the state’s power generation. This is the right time to replace these old turbines with newer technologies.” Several developers voiced concern about the policy, stating that wind energy, with a capacity of 10,700 MW as of June 2024, remains the backbone of Tamil Nadu’s renewable power. However, the current policy does not encourage upgrading aging turbines due to significant infrastructure gaps in handling increased power output after repowering. Developers also pointed out the high costs involved. Despite paying Rs 30 lakh per MW for infrastructure development, they face additional expenses for upgrading substations and arranging power evacuation. They expressed frustration over the state’s Rs 50 lakh per MW resource charge on central transmission utility wind projects which discourages connecting to the central grid, pushing developers toward the state grid.The panel also discussed banking challenges, stating that under the current policy, wind energy generators are charged 14% for banking wind power. Additionally, the policy restricts new projects and limits usage to non-peak hours, leaving developers uncertain about how to manage excess generation. The country’s overall potential for wind farm repowering is 25,400 MW with Tamil Nadu alone contributing 7,300 MW. The CSE’s economic analysis reveals that repowering wind farms in Tamil Nadu would require an additional Rs 6,336 crore to bridge the cost gap between repowering and new green field projects. CSE’s director Yadav said, “This investment is critical for making repowering economically viable.” Wind energy producers discuss strategies, issues Wind energy producers from different parts of the state attended a meeting and discussed marketing strategies, updated turbines, new technologies, banking facilities and power evacuation.

• Renewable Energy

CSE report blows cold on TN’s wind power policy

CHENNAI: A month after the state cabinet approved the Wind Repowering Policy 2024 to increase generation capacity, the New Delhi-based think tank, Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) said Tamil Nadu faces serious challenges in maximising its wind energy capacity and one of the key obstacles and challenges has been thrown up by its wind energy repowering policy. Releasing its report ‘Accelerating Wind Repowering in Tamil Nadu: CSE Proposal’ here, the CSE said Tamil Nadu, with a current installed wind turbine capacity of 10,700 MW including 2,400 MW of low-generation capacity old turbines, generates 16,900 million units. By repowering 2,400 MW of older with new and efficient turbines of 7,300 MW capacity the state could nearly double its wind energy generation to 30,000 million units. Nivit K Yadav, programme director of CSE’s industry and renewable energy teams says, “Wind power makes up nearly 30 per cent of Tamil Nadu’s total installed power capacity. However, the state struggles with its outdated turbines, which have significantly reduced the contribution of wind energy to just 15 per cent of the state’s power generation. To add to this, the shortfalls and limitations of Tamil Nadu’s wind energy repowering policy have stopped the state from achieving its true potential.” The report authored by Binit Das, programme manager, renewable energy, CSE said the current policy does not encourage developers to upgrade their ageing turbines due to the significant infrastructural gaps in handling the increased energy generation post-repowering. It also criticised the state for the developers to bear additional costs for upgrading substations and arranging alternative power evacuation after collecting Rs 30 lakh per MW as an infrastructure development charge. Also imposing Rs 50 lakh per MW as a resource charge on Central Transmission Utility wind projects.

• Down To Earth

Entire Africa is water-insecure

Nairobi: Across Africa, the incidences of violence over water resources increased by around 34 per cent during 2022-23: there were at least 71 such incidents recorded in 2023 compared to 53 in 2022. In 2023, Africa reported the highest number of water-related conflicts and disputes since 2019 – says the 2024 State of Africa’s Environment report, released here today at a media briefing. The briefing was jointly organised by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Media for Science, Environment, Health and Agriculture (MESHA). The report is prepared and brought out every year by CSE and Down To Earth, a fortnightly magazine the Centre helps publish. The inaugural edition of the report was launched in 2023 in Nairobi. With its central theme as water, the report covers a wide gamut of related subjects, ranging from water security, urban water poverty, and water-related migration and conflicts, to the disease burden, climate change-induced water scarcity, and the potential of rainwater harvesting to eradicate water poverty in Africa. Speaking at the launch of the report, noted Indian environmental writer and activist and director general of CSE, Sunita Narain, said: “The scarcity of water that is being faced by Africa and other regions of the world is as much about the lack of the resource as its mismanagement. Climate change is adding to the water crisis and heat stress in our world. But climate change is not the reason for the water crisis – it is just an exacerbating factor. Our water crisis is about our inability to build an affordable system of water management for people today.”

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

ऐसे ही नहीं थमेगा प्रदूषण, GRAP को बेहतर तरीके से लागू करने की जरूरत, एक्सपर्ट एडवाइस

दिल्ली में प्रदूषण की रोकथाम को लेकरGRAP को इस बार बदलाव के साथ करीब 10 दिन पहले ही लागू कर दिया गया है। एक्सपर्ट्स के अनुसार, GRAP (ग्रेडेड रिस्पांस एक्शन प्लान) को समय से पहले लागू किया जाना अच्छा है। अभी प्रदूषण का सीजन आने में करीब एक महीने का समय है। ऐसे में इस दौरान एजेंसियों को अपनी कमियों को सुधारने का मौका मिला है। इसके साथ ही GRAP में पावर प्लांट से होने वाले प्रदूषण के प्रति रुख कमजोर है। इसे सख्त करने की जरूरत एक्सपर्ट महसूस कर रहे हैं। सीएसई (सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट) की अनुमिता रायचौधरी के अनुसार, GRAP में इस साल जो बदलाव किए गए हैं, उनमें मुख्य रूप से ट्रांसपोर्ट सेक्टर में ही बदलाव किया गया है। दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण की मुख्य वजह भी ट्रांसपोर्ट सेक्टर है और प्रदूषण के पीक सीजन में इन पर रोक लगाने से प्रदूषण से राहत मिल सकती है। वहीं, इस बार GRAP के विभिन्न चरणों को तीन दिन के पूर्वानुमान के आधार पर लागू करने का निर्णय लिया गया है। बीते कुछ सालों से पूर्वानुमान में गलती की वजह से GRAP को लेकर कई परेशानियां दिख रही थीं। सीएक्यूएम GRAP को लागू करती थी, फिर उसे दिल्ली और विभिन्न शहर अपने यहां लागू करते थे। ऐसे में जब यह लागू होते थे, तब तक प्रदूषण कम हो चुका होता था। हालांकि पूर्वानुमान को बेहतर करने की जरूरत है। कंस्ट्रक्शन वर्क में नियमों को किया आसान एनवायरमेंटलिस्ट सुनील दहिया के मुताबिक, सर्दियों का प्रदूषण शुरू होने में अभी करीब एक महीने का समय है। ऐसे में GRAP को जल्दी लागू करने से प्रशासन को तैयारियों का समय मिल गया है। ट्रांसपोर्ट सेक्टर में जो नए बदलाव हुए हैं, उनसे आम लोगों को परेशानी न हो, इसके इंतजाम किए जा सकते हैं। कंस्ट्रक्शन वर्क में भी कुछ बदलाव किए गए हैं। छोटे-मोटे कामों को राहत दी गई है। कंस्ट्रक्शन की पाबंदियों को लागू करने में GRAP विफल रहा था, अब नियम में क्लैरिटी की वजह से यह प्रशासन के लिए थोड़ा आसान हो जाएगा। आम लोगों को भी थोड़ी राहत मिली है। वहीं GRAP का यह रिवाइज्ड रूप भी एनसीआर के पावर प्लांटों से हो रहे प्रदूषण को लेकर कमजोर दिख रहा है। GRAP में बिजली एनसीआर के बाहर के पावर प्लांट से लेने या फिर उन पावर प्लांट से लेने के, जो प्रदूषण के मानकों का पूरी तरह पालन कर रहे हों, जैसे नियम होने चाहिए। इस साल पराली पर काफी काम हुआ है। ऐसे में संभावना है कि इस सीजन में पराली का प्रदूषण काफी कम रहेगा।

• Down To Earth

Poor faecal sludge management, sanitation causing 115 deaths per hour in Africa-Report

Residents living around Nduba landfill in Gasabo District, Kigali City, have been looking for relocation and compensation as they are affected by waste including toilet waste dumped in the landfill. To prevent related health risks affecting the residents, their properties were valued in 2021 with a pledge to be expropriated in the same year but it is yet to be done. On June 9, 2022, Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) signed an agreement with Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) of the East African Community (EAC) to construct Kigali Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District, which will be receiving the 200 cubic metres of fecal matter per day. Fecal sludge management (FSM) is the collection, transport, and treatment of fecal sludge from pit latrines, septic tanks or other onsite sanitation systems. However, the project is yet to bear fruits. Sch poor faecal sludge management and sanitation in African cities like Kigali City are causing 115 deaths per hour from excretarelated diseases in Africa, according to a joint study by the UN Environment Programme and the International Water Management Institute, an international research organisation. The poor faecal sludge management and sanitation was highlighted in State of Africa’s Environment 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which was released this week, in Nairobi, Kenya, in partnership with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA). Faecal sludge is a mixture of human excreta, water and solid substances such as toilet paper or other cleansing materials as well as menstrual hygiene materials that are disposed of in pits, tanks or vaults of on-site sanitation systems. Faecal sludge contains a high number of microorganisms originating from faeces, many of which are pathogenic. Direct and indirect contact with untreated faecal sludge poses a significant health risk. Some 300 million of the two billion people lacking basic sanitation facilities globally live in Africa according to the report. “Access to sanitation facilities remains a challenge for urban populations in many Sub-Saharan African cities, particularly for people living in poor peri-urban areas,” it says. The report noted that poor faecal sludge management also contributed to huge economic losses in Africa. The analysis found that sustainably managing faecal sludge in Africa was hindered by a number of factors. These included population growth and urbanisation, over-reliance on financial aid for construction of treatment plants, low revenue generation from users of treatment facilities, poor operation and maintenance and inefficient institutional arrangements for faecal sludge management. It also said African countries should make direct investments to very poor households, in order to achieve the UN mandated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030. African women and children are bearing the brunt of the continent’s sluggish pace in sanitation, with health, nutrition, education, gender equality and poverty reduction being at stake. The scenario is no better in East Africa where over half the people in informal settlements live in unsanitary conditions. “At present, in this region there is no country with more than 68 per cent access to adequate sanitation. Rwanda appears to be the only one to achieve this percentage and above. Despite commitments by several governments and the United Nations’ recognition of sanitation as a basic human right, it still remains neglected,” the report shows. Faecal sludge treatment plant project in 2 phases The first phase is the immediate action which was supposed to be financed by the Government of Rwanda and WASAC Ltd to recruit the firm to establish the treatment plant. The second phase of the project, after the plant is complete, is expected to receive 1000 cubic metres of fecal sludge on a daily basis. Currently, Kigali is inhabited by 1.6m residents and they are set to increase to 3.8 million by 2050, triggering the increase of waste. This means that 450 tonnes of waste including fecal sludge are collected from 1.6 million people currently every day and it could double in 2050. Kigali Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant project is also in line with the National Integrated Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plans that WASAC has completed in May 2022. The Master Plan is aligned with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and intends to ensure sustainable water supply and sanitation services to the population. The Construction of the plant will be completed by the end of 2025.

• Down To Earth

Zambia, DRC, Zimbabwe account for 85.7pc of cholera outbreaks – AFRO Report

SINCE the beginning of this year, the number of cholera cases reported by World Health Organisation (WHO) regional office for Africa as of June 30 was 104, 038 and 1, 732 respectively, with a case fatality ratio of 1.7 percent, it has been revealed. According to the AFRO monthly bulletin for July, 2024 issue, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, and Zimbabwe account for 85.7 percent (89, 208) of the total cases and 91.2 percent (1, 580) of total deaths reported by June 30, 2024. And the “State of Africa’s Environment 2024,” report released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on September 16, this year in collaboration with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) states that the repeated outbreaks of cholera and CLICK HERE TO READ MORE