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Gurgaon’s air this July worst in 4 years, reveals CPCB data

Gurgaon: The city’s air pollution levels in July were the highest since 2021, a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has shown. July’s average air quality index (AQI) this year was 108 —‘moderate’ — compared to 89 (satisfactory) in the month last year. Experts attributed the rise in pollution to lack of rain and local factors such as traffic congestion and waste burning. The average AQI in July 2021 was 88 (satisfactory), while it was 106 (moderate) in the same month the following year. According to CPCB data, no ‘good’ air days were recorded this July. The city witnessed one ‘poor’ air day, 16 ‘moderate’ air days and 14 ‘satisfactory’ days this time. In comparison, there were two ‘good’ air days in July 2022, as well as two ‘poor’ days, 12 ‘moderate’ days and 15 ‘satisfactory’ days. In 2021, the city had a better record with 21 ‘satisfactory’ days and 10 ‘moderate’ air day. The deteriorating air quality is a cause for concern and indicates a need for effective measures to control pollution, experts said. Steps like strictly implementing the ban on garbage burning and penalising violators, managing traffic better to reduce snarls, and strengthening pollution control measures can help in bringing down the AQI to safer levels, they said. Moreover, the monsoon, which is weak this year, failed in dispersing pollutants in July. According to data by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gurgaon recorded 90.9mm of rainfall till July 30 — 44% lower than the normal of 162.9mm. In July 2023, the city received 217.2mm of rainfall, a surplus of 24%. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, said: “Monsoon usually helps in cleaning the air, but this July’s rains haven’t been as predicted. The city received less rain, due to which pollutants were not washed out of the atmosphere. Also, local factors are greatly contributing to the city’s high pollution levels. Policymakers need to keep erratic weather conditions and air pollutants in mind while planning mitigation measures. The city also needs to cut down its own local emissions.” Gurgaon and the rest of Delhi-NCR are geographically disadvantaged and frequently bear the brunt of transboundary pollution, but the high pollution levels in summer and monsoon are primarily because of localised emissions, said Swagata Dey, policy specialist at Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy. “The AQI was lower in 2021 because of diminished economic activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It spiked in 2022 after all restrictions were lifted. At present, the city needs to manage its hyperlocal sources such as transportation, construction activities, and waste burning. With the revival of monsoon winds and better management of localised emissions, we should be able to see a larger proportion of good air days,” she added. When approached, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials admitted that suspension of road dust due to vehicular traffic and waste burning are major areas of concern in the city. “Over the years, highly polluting industries have moved out of NCR. We have changed rules regarding DG sets and also put a ban on biomass burning. These have definitely shown some results, but we still need to strengthen the public transportation system and control construction and demolition waste as well as road dust,” a senior HSPCB officer said.

Congress slams govt over rapidly deteriorating air quality across nation

The Congress on Thursday slammed the Centre over the issue of "deteriorating air quality", alleging that this government denies there is a real problem, underfunds programmes targeted at mitigating pollution and fails to utilise the resources that it allocates. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that among the lesser-known tragedies of "the non-biological PM's reign is the rapidly deteriorating air quality nationally" and the policy chaos that has characterised the government's response to it. In the last five years, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has left more than 75 percent of the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) funds unspent, the former environment minister said on X. In total, Rs 665.75 crores have been left unutilised, he claimed. "Earlier this week in the Rajya Sabha, a Union Minister of State claimed that 'There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution'. In reality, a study published in the prestigious Lancet journal showed that 7.2% of all deaths in India are associated with air pollution - about 34,000 deaths each year in just 10 cities," Ramesh said. In July, a study by the Centre for Science and Environment revealed that the government's interventions are poorly designed, with the National Clean Air Programme largely focused on mitigating road dust rather than industrial, vehicular, and biomass emissions that are the leading causes of mortality, he said.

'Lesser-known tragedies of PM's reign': Congress slams govt over 'rapidly deteriorating air quality'

NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Thursday criticised the Centre regarding the "deteriorating air quality" in the country, claiming that the government refuses to acknowledge the severity of the problem and underfunds programs targeted at mitigating pollution, failing to utilize the resources that it allocates, and misuse the funds that get spent. The Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said: "Among the lesser-known tragedies of 'the non-biological PM's reign is the rapidly deteriorating air quality nationally' and the policy chaos that has characterised the government's response to it." In the past five years, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has left more than 75 percent of the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) funds unused, Ramesh said in a social media post on X. He claimed that in total, Rs 665.75 crores have been left unutilized. "Earlier this week in the Rajya Sabha, a Union Minister of State claimed that 'There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution'. In reality, a study published in the prestigious Lancet journal showed that 7.2% of all deaths in India are associated with air pollution - about 34,000 deaths each year in just 10 cities," Ramesh said. A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, in July highlighted the inadequacies in the government's efforts to tackle air pollution. The report indicated that the National Clean Air Programme primarily concentrates on alleviating road dust, while neglecting the more significant contributors to mortality, such as emissions from industries, vehicles, and biomass burning, he added. He further stated,"This Government denies there is a real problem, underfunds programmes targeted at mitigating pollution, fails to utilize the resources that it allocates, and misuses the funds that do get spent." The Congress leader and Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore shared a separate video on X and said, "Paper leakage outside, water leakage inside." The leader pointed out that the water leakage in the Parliament lobby, used by the President, underscores pressing issues related to weather resilience in the new building, merely a year after its completion.

Cong slams govt over ‘rapidly deteriorating air quality nationally’

The Congress on Thursday slammed the Centre over the issue of “deteriorating air quality”, alleging that this government denies there is a real problem, underfunds programmes targeted at mitigating pollution and fails to utilise the resources that it allocates. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that among the lesser-known tragedies of “the non-biological PM’s reign is the rapidly deteriorating air quality nationally” and the policy chaos that has characterised the government’s response to it. In the last five years, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has left more than 75 percent of the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) funds unspent, the former environment minister said on X. In total, Rs 665.75 crores have been left unutilised, he claimed. “Earlier this week in the Rajya Sabha, a Union Minister of State claimed that ‘There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution’. In reality, a study published in the prestigious Lancet journal showed that 7.2% of all deaths in India are associated with air pollution – about 34,000 deaths each year in just 10 cities,” Ramesh said. In July, a study by the Centre for Science and Environment revealed that the government’s interventions are poorly designed, with the National Clean Air Programme largely focused on mitigating road dust rather than industrial, vehicular, and biomass emissions that are the leading causes of mortality, he said. “This Government denies there is a real problem, underfunds programmes targeted at mitigating pollution, fails to utilize the resources that it allocates, and misuses the funds that do get spent,” Ramesh said. The Congress on Tuesday slammed as a “shocking lie” the government’s assertion in the Rajya Sabha that there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish a direct correlation of death or disease exclusively due to air pollution. The opposition party was reacting to Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel’s reply in the Upper House of Parliament. In a post on X, Ramesh had said, “Today in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of State responded to a question about the public health impact of air pollution by claiming that ‘There are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution’. This is a shocking lie.” (AGENCIES)

Tanzania moves to confront municipal waste

Authorities in Tanzania are working with international agencies including the India’s Centre for Science and Environment to wrestle municipal solid waste which are increasingly posing health and environmental risks. The National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) is partnering with the CSE aiming to ensure sustainability of solid waste management in local government authorities across the country. “We want solid waste to turn into opportunity. We want Dar es Salaam to champion this initiative before it is rolled out to upcountry regions,” Dr. Immaculate Semesi, the NEMC’s Director General, told a stakeholders meeting in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. “Solid Waste Management is still a challenge and as the council we are looking at different interventions to address the problem. Figures show that Tanzania produces over 17 million tonnes of solid waste annually, in which less than 50 per cent is collected and sent to dumpsites. In Dar es Salaam, solid waste is the largest emitter of methane, accounting for over 55 per cent of methane emissions from the city. Between 2024 and 2040, these emissions are projected to increase further by over 90 percent. Experts say, Methane is a strong greenhouse gas that stands out for being 80 times more potent and dangerous than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Dr Semesi said the council is committed to support councils to implement best practices. The session had so far brought representatives from the Regional Administration and Local Government, and the five councils forming Dar es Salaam region. India’s High Commission’s Second Secretary Nerender Kumar expressed the commission’s commitment towards supporting environmental sustainability campaigns in Tanzania. Mr Kumar hailed the partnership between NEMC and India’s CSE saying the agency has been working with institutions in the global south to strengthen capacity and help address current environmental challenges. Aditya Batra, Programme Director (Board & Funding) at CSE said the center is a think-tank that has been in operation for the past 40 years. Its focus, according to Batra, is to push for affordable solutions that work within the country.

Sun is not quite shining on this scheme

Karnataka is lagging in implementing the PM-KUSUM scheme to install solar-powered pump sets in the agricultural sector. According to data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), while the state has 27,214 sanctioned standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps, only 1,368 have been installed till June 2024, highlights a report by the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based NGO. Experts say the current process to avail of the subsidy and install solar pumps is cumbersome, leading to a low number of installations. The scheme was brought in for farmers, and it can reach beneficiaries only when local integrators are made part of the process. Currently, vendor empanelment has been restricted to only solar pump and panel manufacturers, leaving out local integrators. Authorities reason that these manufacturers will aid in better execution of the scheme due to their high financial viability. “Local integrators in and around villages are in a better position to convince farmers to avail of the scheme than a big pump manufacturer in Bengaluru. We have been advising KREDL to bring in an online system to enable participation by local integrators at taluk and village levels,” said Ramesh Shivanna, president of the Karnataka Renewable Energy Systems Manufacturers Association (KREDLE). The report by CSE underlines that Karnataka, among a handful of other states in the country, provides free electricity for irrigation, and effective implementation of the scheme would help decrease the burden of subsidies from the state government apart from saving financial losses for the DISCOMs. Solar water pumps would help ease this subsidy burden by eradicating the need for tariff subsidies for farmers who shift from electric water pumps to solar water pumps.

Urban Heat Islands: In Indian cities, poor neighbourhoods suffer more

In a recent study conducted in Pune in Maharashtra, significant intra-city differences in heat were revealed through the analysis of a Landsat image captured on May 2, 2024. Affluent neighbourhoods like Prabhat Road and Fergusson College, with their lush vegetation cover, maintained lower surface temperatures. In contrast, densely built-up and populated areas such as Ravivar Peth and surrounding slums, including Gosavi Vasti in Karve Nagar, experienced alarmingly high surface temperatures, with some reaching up to 69 degrees Celsius. A closer look at the image also reveals that most of the slums experiencing similar high temperatures are densely packed settlements, have low vegetation cover, and not much view of open sky which helps the radiation to escape from built-up surfaces. This disparity highlights the critical impact of vegetation and urban planning on local air temperatures and spatial vulnerability in urban heat islands. While the urban population as a whole is vulnerable to heat waves owing to (Urban Heat Islands (UHI), more vulnerable are those urban dwellers who are more exposed to the kind of land use which is trapping heat and causing UHI. For example, construction workers, street vendors, gig workers, other outdoor workers, and even slum dwellers have larger exposure to heat while having no economic capacity to mitigate the impacts experienced. These people also do not have enough access to healthcare for required treatments, and to livelihood security to cover the financial losses incurred. In a 2023 World Bank report, children, informal workers, and residents of informal settlements are found to have high “social vulnerability” to heat. Recently, between June 16 and June 24, it is reported that more than 600 million people suffered from climate change induced heat waves. Urban Heat Island or UHI is also a buzz word now and sometimes used as an alternative to heat waves in urban areas. UHI and heat waves are different but yet often linked with each other. Urban Heat Island is a phenomenon where the temperatures, typically nighttime (daily minimum) temperatures, are higher in urban areas compared to its rural counterparts due to the presence of dense built-up area and surfaces. On the contrary, heat waves are a period of unusually high (daily highest) temperatures as compared to what is normally expected over a region (Indian Meteorological Department), urban or rural. Urbanisation changes the natural land cover (such as bare soil, rocks, water, vegetation, etc.) to paved roads and buildings. The heat absorbed by the built-up surfaces during the day is unable to get fully released at night because of lack of open spaces. The thermal appearance of urban areas creates a picture of heat islands surrounded by cooler rural areas, thus the term Urban Heat Island. It is now well established that urbanisation is not only the cause of UHI but makes the urban dwellers more susceptible to impacts of climate change such as heat waves. This has a variety of implications such as increase in indoor and outdoor discomfort, increase in energy consumption for indoor temperature management, and health implications such as fatigue, heat stroke, and deaths. Elderly people and children are more susceptible to heat waves. In a recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), it was found that six cities in India, namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata experienced the worst heat waves. Delhi’s maximum temperature reached 48.8°C recently, leaving a feeling of helplessness in the citizens while they were struggling for potable water and breathable air. It should also be noted that all these six cities identified are among the top six most populated metropolitans of India as per the 2011 Census, thereby suggesting Urban Heat Island as a critical factor in increasing heat wave occurrence.

En Asie du Sud, les inondations emportent les infrastructures

erratique. Soudain, les crues s’échappent du lit des rivières, fendent les flancs des collines boisées et emportent les maisons accrochées aux berges. Ponts et barrages cèdent et disparaissent dans les eaux tumultueuses. La crue poursuit son cours vers les plaines et ravage les récoltes, les routes et les fermes. A mesure que les étés passent, ce scénario s’intensifie en Asie du Sud, des montagnes d’Afghanistan à celles de Birmanie. Les inondations, mais aussi les pluies, ont fait des centaines de victimes ces dernières semaines, dans les contreforts de l’Himalaya et dans les plaines du sous-continent. Ce mois de juillet, les rues de Delhi, Katmandou, Lahore et Dhaka ont été transformées en piscines. Mardi 30 juillet, dans l’État indien du Kerala, des glissements de terrain ont enseveli au moins 63 personnes, tandis que des centaines sont portées disparues. On compte déjà 58 ​​victimes en Afghanistan, et plus de 115 au Népal. Dans le nord-est de l’Inde, dans l’Assam, des inondations ont tué 97 personnes, provoqué d’énormes déplacements et emporté également 13 rhinocéros. Un quart du Bangladesh a été submergé, bouleversant la vie de deux millions de personnes. Selon l’ONG bangladaise Brac, ces inondations deviennent de plus en plus graves. « de plus en plus dangereux » et se caractérisent par « d’énormes pertes en termes de moyens de subsistance, de biodiversité et d’infrastructures La mousson bienfaisante, qui s’installe en Asie du Sud de juin à septembre, se transforme en déluge dévastateur. Frappée par le changement climatique, la chaîne de l’Hindou Kouch-Himalaya abrite les sources des grands fleuves sacrés qui arrosent les vallées, fournissant eau potable et irrigation aux villages en contrebas. Près d’un tiers de l’humanité vit le long du Brahmapoutre, du Gange, du Koshi, de l’Indus, du Yangtze ou du Mékong. Les nuages ​​gris de la mousson, qui ont façonné les civilisations, font désormais peur. Les infrastructures s’effondrent ou se révèlent inadaptées à un rythme alarmant. Le 27 juillet, à Delhi, trois étudiants se sont noyés dans le sous-sol d’un centre de préparation aux examens après de fortes pluies. Rien qu’au Bihar, en Inde, pas moins de 14 ponts se sont effondrés en moins d’un mois. Les toits des aéroports de Delhi, Rajkot et Jabalpur n’ont pas résisté aux pluies. La liste des structures récemment inaugurées, déjà fissurées, branlantes ou effondrées, ne cesse de s’allonger, provoquant la consternation. Ces destructions s’ajoutent aux ravages des dernières moussons. L’an dernier, 5 748 glissements de terrain ont été dénombrés dans l’Himachal Pradesh, dans le nord de l’Inde. Toujours dans l’Himalaya, dans l’Uttarakhand, un tunnel en construction s’est effondré, piégeant 41 ouvriers pendant trois semaines. Au Népal, une trentaine de centrales hydroélectriques et d’usines ont été détruites ou endommagées. Les tsunamis de montagne, provoqués par la rupture de lacs glaciaires, sont destructeurs : le tsunami de Chamoli en 2021 a emporté 200 ouvriers et une centrale électrique. Et si les structures sont mises à rude épreuve par la rigueur des intempéries, elles sont aussi fragilisées par la corruption. Bureau of Economic Research, un réchauffement de 2°C d’ici la fin du siècle diviserait par deux le produit intérieur brut mondial. A court terme, les comptes se calculent à la fronde. Au Pakistan, où un tiers du territoire a été submergé en 2022, les destructions ont été estimées à 16 milliards de dollars. A plus petite échelle, des communautés isolées sont dévastées, comme dans les hauteurs sauvages du Mustang, au Népal, où en 2023, une inondation a emporté ponts, maisons et hôtels, engloutissant 7 millions de dollars. « Les inondations et les vagues de chaleur en Asie du Sud montrent clairement que les événements climatiques vont encore endommager les infrastructures urbaines, rurales et côtières, imposant un énorme fardeau économique, prévient Anumita Roychowdhury, directrice du Centre pour la science et l’environnement de New Delhi. Ce problème est aggravé par un développement qui ignore les limites écologiques des campagnes et des ville

Heavy Rainfall in Delhi Causes Flight Diversions, Waterlogging, and Traffic Chaos on July 31, 2024

The national capital region plunged into turmoil as heavy rainfall in Delhi unleashed a series of cascading crises on Wednesday evening. In a stark demonstration of the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, authorities were forced to divert 10 flights from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, while residents across the National Capital Region (NCR) grappled with severe waterlogging and paralyzing Delhi traffic congestion. Heavy Rainfall in Delhi Flight Diversions As sheets of rain pounded the capital, visibility at IGI Airport plummeted to dangerous levels. “We had no choice but to divert 10 incoming flights to ensure passenger safety,” stated Rajiv Jain, CEO of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). The diverted aircraft, carrying over 1,500 passengers, were rerouted to airports in Jaipur, Lucknow, and Amritsar. Passengers like Priya Sharma, who was returning from Mumbai, found their travel plans in disarray. “We circled Delhi for nearly an hour before the pilot announced we’d be landing in Jaipur,” Sharma recounted. “It’s frustrating, but given the conditions, I understand the precaution.” Delhi Traffic Congestion: A City at Standstill Beyond the airport, the heavy rainfall in Delhi exposed the glaring inadequacies of the city’s urban infrastructure. Major arterial roads transformed into virtual rivers, with water levels reaching alarming heights of 3-4 feet in some areas. Delhi Traffic Police reported gridlock across the city, with journey times extended by several hours. Commuter Rahul Gupta described his ordeal: “What’s usually a 30-minute drive took me over three hours. It was like the entire city had turned into a massive, immobile parking lot.” The Delhi waterlogging crisis particularly affected low-lying areas and underpasses. The Public Works Department (PWD) deployed emergency response teams, but the volume of rainwater overwhelmed pumping stations and drainage networks. “We’re dealing with rainfall intensities that our current infrastructure simply wasn’t designed to handle,” admitted Sanjay Goel, Engineer-in-Chief of the PWD. IMD Red Alert: Nature’s Warning Sign The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Delhi and adjacent regions, anticipating heavy rainfall and potential flooding. The Delhi weather forecast predicts continued rain until August 5, raising concerns about the city’s ability to cope with prolonged extreme weather. Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at IMD, explained the severity of the situation: “We recorded over 100mm of rainfall in just a few hours, which falls under our ‘very heavy’ category. Such intense precipitation events are becoming more frequent due to climate change.” Climate Resilience: Delhi’s Urgent Need The heavy rainfall in Delhi has reignited debates about the city’s climate resilience strategy. Environmental activist Sunita Narain emphasized, “This isn’t just about better drainage. We need a holistic approach that includes expanding green spaces, harvesting rainwater, and rethinking our urban development patterns.” Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, announced the formation of a high-level committee to assess the city’s response to the crisis and formulate a comprehensive climate adaptation plan. “The events of today have exposed critical gaps in our Delhi urban infrastructure,” Kejriwal stated. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that our city is better prepared for future climate challenges.” Temperature Fluctuations and Humidity The heavy rainfall in Delhi brought a significant drop in temperature, providing temporary relief from the sweltering heat. On Tuesday, Delhi had recorded its highest maximum temperature for July, reaching 39.3 degrees Celsius. By Wednesday evening, the Delhi maximum temperature had plummeted to 29.2 degrees Celsius. However, the increased humidity levels, reaching 90% during the rainfall, added to the discomfort of residents. “It’s like walking through a sauna,” remarked local resident Anita Desai. “The cooler temperature is nice, but the humidity is unbearable.” Looking Ahead: A City at a Crossroads As Delhi braces for continued rainfall, the city stands at a critical juncture. The unprecedented deluge has laid bare the vulnerabilities in its infrastructure and disaster preparedness. Urban planning expert Dr. Ravi Shankar stressed the importance of long-term solutions: “We need to move beyond quick fixes. Enhancing Delhi’s climate resilience requires a complete reimagining of our urban landscape, from permeable pavements to green roofs and expanded wetlands.” For the immediate future, authorities have announced several measures: Schools will remain closed for the next two days. Employers are encouraged to allow work-from-home arrangements where possible. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed additional teams across the NCR. The PWD has initiated an emergency action plan to clear waterlogged areas. As the waters recede and the city begins to recover, the heavy rainfall in Delhi will undoubtedly be remembered as a turning point – a stark reminder of nature’s power and the urgent need for sustainable, resilient urban development in the face of a changing climate.

It’s myopic to ignore ESG concerns

The term ESG (environmental, social, governance) shot into the limelight in 2004 in a report titled ‘Who Cares Wins’, a joint initiative of financial institutions and the United Nations. A principle which was considered trendy against the backdrop of climate change, with trillions of dollars of investments riding on its back, is now being dubbed by sceptics as ‘woke’, even as there is a subtle pushback from the corporate world. ‘Environmental’ refers to a company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental issues. ‘Social’ focuses on the organisation’s relationship with both internal and external stakeholders, including employees, customers, vendors, and the community at large. ‘Governance’ encompasses the entire spectrum of corporate governance like leadership, financial integrity, compliance, audit, and shareholder rights. A major part of ESG, however, comprises the environmental component. companies involved in fossil fuel or tobacco usually do not figure in the list of fund managers. Votaries of ESG argue that investors are ready to sacrifice returns in exchange for values like sustainability. But this is questioned by critics who say an ordinary investor is more interested in earning maximum returns for their funds than in the company’s commitment to ESG principles. FMCG giant Unilever, which for long took pride in ‘leading the next era on corporate sustainability’, recently scaled back a range of ESG targets including pledges to halve food waste, hire more disabled staff, and reduce the use of plastic. “I am not going to shout that we are saving the world,” CEO Hein Schumacher told the media after the company came under fire from a section of investors for putting purpose over product. Schumacher’s assertion that “corporate purpose is an unwelcome distraction”, is also reverberating across Europe where ESG activists are being accused of over-indulgence. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank based in Washington, believes that “under the umbrella of ESG activism, corporations have become unimaginably woke”. The Foundation advocates that CEOs should focus on profit and not allow capital to be diverted from the purposes for which the company was set up. ESG, it argues, is value-destructive, politically motivated, and has a negative impact on investor returns. In India, which is hoping to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, there is pressure on companies to adopt stricter ESG principles. Now, the top 1,000 companies by market capitalisation are mandated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to release a Business Responsibility and Sustenance Report (BRSR) to disclose their ESG performance. However, a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found that BRSR disclosures conceal more than they reveal as companies often provide data selectively according to their convenience. Many companies, including those that claim to stand on an ethical pedestal, have been accused of ‘greenwashing’ or deceiving customers by making false claims about their environmental and sustainability compliances. Unless sustainability reporting is as consistent as financial reporting, it will serve no purpose. The world has come a long way from the Friedman Doctrine of 1970 where economist Milton Friedman argued in a New York Times essay that the only responsibility of a company is to its shareholders and that it does not have any social responsibility to the society around it. Unfortunately, the Friedman Doctrine continues to influence many business leaders who believe that the entity should focus on maximising shareholder value rather than divert attention to ‘capital intensive’ social activities that are a drain on the company’s finances. Fortunately, many have also come to realise that the obsession with short-term shareholder value does not make long-term business sense. Several studies have found that companies with better ESG ratings outperform their competition with lower ratings. Management consulting firm McKinsey & Company lists five ways in which a strong ESG proposition leads to financial gains: facilitating topline growth; reducing costs; minimising regulatory and legal interventions; increasing employee productivity; and optimising investment and capital expenditures. Business Roundtable, which calls itself the voice of leading American CEOs, has strongly expressed itself in favour of the ‘stakeholder model’ where the company serves the interests of multiple stakeholders. It reaffirms that only companies that align the interests of all stakeholders are successful and sustainable. It is thus important to shift gears from ‘shareholder capitalism’ to ‘stakeholder capitalism’. Entities can afford to take a myopic view of serving only their investors at the cost of other stakeholders and sustainability goals, at their own peril. (The author is a certified independent director)

Pollution clampdown on Delhi kilns threatens brick workers’ future

On the outskirts of New Delhi, the four-month brick-making season is ending, and migrant worker Munna Majnu is preparing for the arduous 1,560-km journey home to Cooch Behar, in far northeastern West Bengal. Majnu, 40, started labouring at the brick kiln in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district this year, when the previous one he worked at shut down after the government rolled out new rules – including a coal ban – to reduce heavy air pollution from the sector. The green switch has been unaffordable for many kiln owners and has had a domino effect, with kilns closing one after the other in districts around the Indian capital. “The kiln we were working at shut down and the owner sold his land to a builder,’’ said Majnu, adding that a house will be constructed there instead. Majnu had originally found work in the now closed kiln in the Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh through a network of thekedars (contractors) back home, which helped him get his current job too. “We did not lose a season of work when the kiln shut,” Majnu said. But there are concerns that things may become harder, with many labourers lacking access to social welfare. Brick-making stops during the monsoon rains – when workers head home to their villages to work on the land, either on their own plots or as farmhands – and restarts at the end of the year. Measures to ease air pollution Brick kilns account for 6-7% of Delhi’s emissions of particulate matter, which contains black carbon (soot), according to government officials and researchers with India’s Centre for Science and Environment. Since 2016, measures have been imposed on the kilns in stages, to cut pollution and help combat the capital’s toxic air. They include shifting the location of some kilns, mandating new, more energy-efficient technology, and last year banning the use of coal to fire the kilns.

Leakage from garbage in Indian cities into rivers is becoming a global problem, finds study

Towering landfills are testament to poor waste segregation practices in India that have persisted for decades. But India’s mounting, untreated waste is a problem whose consequences go beyond its borders. A new study estimating waste leakage into aquatic environments finds India is at risk of being one of the top contributors to this global problem, with untreated municipal solid waste to blame. Millions of people depend on India’s vast river systems for their survival. India’s rivers also support 18% of the world’s population of unique aquatic animals and plants, according to the Wildlife Institute of India. But a little over half of India’s 603 rivers were found to be polluted by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2022. This pollution is not only a threat to domestic public health and biodiversity, but is adding to the global burden of waste leakage into water bodies. A new study by researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis estimates that in 2020, municipal solid waste from India contributed to 10% of waste leakage to the world’s rivers, adjusting for policy measures that were in place till 2018. “It isn’t a surprising or unlikely static. There are multiple studies which find that India has high rates of mismanaged waste,” said Shrotik Bose, Research Associate Centre for Science and Environment. The government has spent Rs 13,000 crore on cleaning the Ganga river alone, but these efforts have largely come to naught. A 2019 assessment by the Quality Council of India found that more than 70% of towns along the Ganga were directly disposing their waste into the river, because they lacked proper municipal waste plants. More than 38,000 million litres of waste water enter Indian rivers due to lack of sewage treatment plants and improper waste disposal mechanisms. India currently accounts for 17% of the world’s scattered municipal waste, according to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis study. Without a circular waste management system, India’s contribution to waste leakage into rivers will continue to increase.

India: Heat and sickness march together as climate shifts

eat waves took hundreds of lives in India this summer, but climate change also brings natural disasters and potentially deadly diseases to many others.Indians are no strangers to scorching summers, but this year's hottest months -- from April to June -- felt unbearably hot and agonizingly deadly. Temperatures shot past 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in New Delhi and the northern states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The country faced its worst heat wave in over a decade, with hundreds dying and thousands others having their health severely impacted by extreme weather conditions. Then came the monsoon season and the heat broke. This month, however, torrential rain triggered flood and landslides in India's north and northeast, killing scores of people and affecting hundreds of thousands. And both heat and flooding are exacerbating an even deadlier problem -- the spread of disease. 'Beyond human tolerance' In India, experts say, climate change is boosting the spread of malaria, dengue, yellow fever, cholera, and chikungunya, as well as chronic diseases, particularly among the millions of people who already experience poor sanitation, pollution, malnutrition, and a shortage of drinking water. In India's urban centres "temperatures are rising beyond human tolerance, humidity is increasing, and so is the night-time heat," Sunita Narain, head of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organization, told DW.

AMR पर समयबद्ध कार्रवाई की आवश्यकता

सितंबर में, संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा एंटीमाइक्रोबियल प्रतिरोध (एएमआर) पर न्यूयॉर्क में एक उच्च स्तरीय बैठक आयोजित करेगी - सदस्य देश पहले से ही मसौदा राजनीतिक घोषणा पर बातचीत कर रहे हैं, जिसे बैठक में अपनाए जाने की उम्मीद है। डब्ल्यूएचओ के अनुसार, एंटीमाइक्रोबियल प्रतिरोध (एएमआर) तब होता है जब बैक्टीरिया, वायरस, कवक और परजीवी समय के साथ बदलते हैं और अब दवाओं का जवाब नहीं देते हैं। दवा प्रतिरोध के परिणामस्वरूप, एंटीबायोटिक्स और अन्य एंटीमाइक्रोबियल दवाएं अप्रभावी हो जाती हैं और संक्रमण का इलाज करना मुश्किल या असंभव हो जाता है, जिससे बीमारी फैलने, गंभीर बीमारी, विकलांगता और मृत्यु का खतरा बढ़ जाता है। यह अनुमान लगाया गया है कि बैक्टीरियल एएमआर 2019 में 1.27 मिलियन वैश्विक मौतों के लिए सीधे तौर पर जिम्मेदार था और इसने 4.95 मिलियन मौतों में योगदान दिया। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई), जो एएमआर पर वैश्विक कार्रवाई की रणनीतियों की बारीकी से निगरानी और योगदान कर रहा है, इस बात की वकालत कर रहा है कि मसौदा घोषणा में निम्न और मध्यम आय वाले देशों (एलएमआईसी) की प्राथमिकताओं और जरूरतों को पहचाना और स्वीकार किया जाना चाहिए। सीएसई के सतत खाद्य प्रणाली कार्यक्रम के निदेशक अमित खुराना कहते हैं, "यह महत्वपूर्ण है कि मसौदा राजनीतिक घोषणा के इर्द-गिर्द चल रही चर्चाओं में एलएमआईसी की प्राथमिकताओं के बारे में पर्याप्त जानकारी हो, जिनकी अन्य देशों की तुलना में स्पष्ट रूप से अलग चुनौतियाँ और संभावनाएँ हैं।" नई दिल्ली (भारत) स्थित थिंक टैंक ने हाल ही में इस मुद्दे पर एक वैश्विक वेबिनार आयोजित किया था। एएमआर - विशेष रूप से एंटीबायोटिक प्रतिरोध - एक मूक महामारी है जो वर्तमान समय के सबसे बड़े सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य खतरों में से एक है। मनुष्यों, जानवरों और फसलों में एंटीबायोटिक दवाओं का दुरुपयोग और अति प्रयोग एंटीबायोटिक दवाओं को अप्रभावी बना रहा है - बैक्टीरिया तेजी से एंटीबायोटिक दवाओं के प्रति प्रतिरोधी बन रहे हैं। 2019 में दुनिया भर में लगभग पाँच मिलियन मौतें एंटीबायोटिक प्रतिरोध से जुड़ी थीं।

Hyderabad में मानसून के दौरान आर्द्रता 8% बढ़ी

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट Centre for Science and Environment की एक हालिया रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, हैदराबाद का मानसून सीजन लगातार आर्द्र होता जा रहा है। 2001 से 2023 तक के डेटा का विश्लेषण करने वाले अध्ययन से पता चलता है कि मानसून के महीनों (जून से अगस्त) के दौरान आर्द्रता का स्तर 2001-2010 की अवधि की तुलना में 8 प्रतिशत बढ़ गया है। नमी में इस बढ़ोतरी के कारण हीट इंडेक्स में मामूली वृद्धि हुई है, जो तापमान और आर्द्रता को मिलाकर यह बताता है कि यह कितना गर्म है। मानसून के दौरान हीट इंडेक्स अब 2001-2010 में 1.6 डिग्री सेल्सियस से बढ़कर 2014-2023 में 1.7 डिग्री सेल्सियस हो गया है। इसका मतलब यह है कि वास्तविक तापमान में उल्लेखनीय वृद्धि नहीं होने के बावजूद, बढ़ी हुई आर्द्रता हवा को गर्म और अधिक दमनकारी महसूस कराती है। रिपोर्ट में प्री-मानसून अवधि (मार्च से मई) के दौरान हुए बदलावों की भी जांच की गई है। इसमें पाया गया कि यह आमतौर पर शुष्क मौसम अधिक उमस भरा हो गया है, जिसमें पिछले एक दशक में आर्द्रता का स्तर 15 प्रतिशत बढ़ गया है। हालांकि, इस अतिरिक्त नमी का ताप सूचकांक पर प्रभाव मानसून के दौरान की तुलना में कम गंभीर है। प्री-मानसून के दौरान ताप सूचकांक में औसतन 1.1 डिग्री सेल्सियस की वृद्धि हुई है, जो पिछले दशक में 0.6 डिग्री सेल्सियस से अधिक है, जो तापमान में मामूली वृद्धि दर्शाता है। आर्द्रता में इस वृद्धि के बावजूद, प्री-मानसून और मानसून दोनों अवधियों में वास्तविक तापमान में थोड़ी ठंडक देखी गई है।