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‘State of India’s Environment in Figures’ paints a grim picture

The annual CSE publication shows renewable energy generation has gone down India’s renewable energy generation (including hydro) has actually gone down by 1.5 percent between 2022-23 and 2023-24, with as many as 23 states/union territories (UTs) registering a drop. Per capita health expenditure is dipping as well: 12 states rank below the national average. The area insured under the national crop insurance scheme decreased by 12 percent in 2022-23 compared to when the scheme was initiated. These are some of the findings of the State of India’s Environment in Figures – an annual publication by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine, released here on Friday. ‘SOE in Figures’, as the report is referred to, reveals some alarming truths indeed. Take the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a score of a little over 63 out of 100, India ranks a dismal 112th among 166 nations with respect to its preparedness to meet the Goals. “As the World Environment Day (June 5) draws near, India awaits the end of its national elections and declaration of their results. The State of India’s Environment in Figures – an annual publication by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine – is a unique collation of statistics which provides a snapshot of the state of affairs in the country using numbers,” said Sunita Narain, director general of CSE. “What it also provides is an agenda for development, based on hard facts and data, to the new-old government that will emerge to take hold of the reins of the country,” she said, speaking at a webinar to release the report. “The numbers revealed by this report do paint a grim picture. But therein hides an opportunity. In painting its picture, the report outlines the priorities for the new regime – the sectors where we must craft our development plans, keeping in mind the climate crisis that we face today,” Narain added.

Experts warn of heat risks as India temperatures climb again

Extreme temperatures across India are having their worst impact in the country's teeming mega cities, experts said Thursday, warning that the heat is fast becoming a public health crisis. India is enduring a crushing heatwave with temperatures in several cities sizzling well over 45 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperature readings in the capital New Delhi rose into the high 40s Celsius on Wednesday, with power usage in the city -- where the population is estimated at more than 30 million -- surging to a record high. Indian media reports said Thursday that a labourer in the city had died of heatstroke. "Cities are more vulnerable to the compounding effects of urbanisation and climate change," said Aarti Khosla, director at research institute Climate Trends. "Expect a greater number of hotter days, prolonged dry spells and less rainy days as weather patterns continue to change due to increased human emissions," she told AFP. Khosla described heatwaves as "the single largest threat to India's well-being today", adding that recent temperatures in Delhi and the surrounding region were "proof that the issue is now about survivability" India is no stranger to searing summer temperatures but years of scientific research have found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense. A study published by New Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) this month said Indian cities were not cooling down at night as much as they had in the 2001-2010 decade. It found the maximum temperature decline was nearly 2 degrees Celsius smaller than previously. "Hot nights are as dangerous as midday peak temperatures," it said. People get little chance to recover from daytime heat slaughter if temperatures remain high overnight, exerting prolonged stress on the body. The highest confirmed temperature ever recorded in India was 51C (123.8F), in Phalodi on the edge of Rajasthan's Thar Desert in 2016. Researchers say human-induced climate change has driven the devastating heat impact in India and should be taken as a warning. "The suffering India is facing this week is worse because of climate change, caused by burning coal, oil and gas and deforestation," said Friederike Otto, a climatologist at the Imperial College London and director of World Weather Attribution. "What we are seeing in India is exactly what scientists said would happen if we didn't stop heating the planet," she said. The world's most populous nation is the third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases but has committed to achieve a net zero emissions economy by 2070 -- two decades after most of the industrialised West.

Weather Alert | Heatwave

Heatwave : अयोध्या में प्रभु रामलला के लिए गर्मी को हराने वाली कुछ विशेष व्यवस्थाएं की गई है. जिस गर्भगृह में अभी तक कूलर लगाए गए थे. अब उनकी जगह एयर कंडीशन ने ले ली है. अब नौतपा की इस भीषण गर्मी में गर्भगृह के अंदर रामलला के लिए AC वाली सत्ता स्थापित की गई है.

Experts Warn Of Heat Risks As India Temperatures Climb Again

Extreme temperatures across India are having their worst impact in the country's teeming megacities, experts said Thursday, warning that the heat is fast becoming a public health crisis. India is enduring a crushing heatwave with temperatures in several cities sizzling well over 45 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperature readings in the capital New Delhi rose into the high 40s Celsius on Wednesday, with power usage in the city -- where the population is estimated at more than 30 million -- surging to a record high. Indian media reports said Thursday that a labourer in the city had died of heatstroke. "Cities are more vulnerable to the compounding effects of urbanisation and climate change," said Aarti Khosla, director at research institute Climate Trends. "Expect a greater number of hotter days, prolonged dry spells and less rainy days as weather patterns continue to change due to increased human emissions," she told AFP. Khosla described heatwaves as "the single largest threat to India's well-being today", adding that recent temperatures in Delhi and the surrounding region were "proof that the issue is now about survivability". India is no stranger to searing summer temperatures but years of scientific research have found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense. A study published by New Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) this month said Indian cities were not cooling down at night as much as they had in the 2001-2010 decade. It found the maximum temperature decline was nearly 2 degrees Celsius smaller than previously. "Hot nights are as dangerous as midday peak temperatures," it said. "People get little chance to recover from daytime heat slaughter if temperatures remain high overnight, exerting prolonged stress on the body."

All’s not lost, but capital needs a plan to ward off heat

New Delhi: The effect of the hot winds from Rajasthan that buffet the city and keep it boiling hot can be mitigated. Factors such as tree cover, wetlands, urban planning, waste management, energy-efficient buildings and vehicular emission control measures could help keep the mercury from soaring to record levels. For one, experts pointed out that green cover plays a vital role in reducing the urban heat island effect. Increasing the number of trees and creating green spaces can, therefore, help cool the surrounding areas. As per the forest department, Delhi currently has around a 23% green cover. This is, however, uneven coverage, leaving places, Mungeshpur and Narela, where the green cover is estimated at 7.7% reeling in persistent heatwaves, while New Delhi with 47% green cover is less sweltering. All’s not lost, but capital needs a plan to ward off heat This is the reason, Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment, said, “There is a need for zonal plans with land identified for green plantations.” AS Rawat, former director general, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, confirmed, “Vegetation certainly plays a role in controlling the ambient heat and 33% is the standard green cover suggested. However, it’s difficult to say how much plantation a region requires because this depends on the land use. Urban areas, however, should have more avenue plantations and if possible, vertical gardens.” While immediate action on heat management is necessary, long-term action to reduce heat load is crucial too. “There is a need to look at strategies for heat generators like concrete and glass structures, identify areas for greening and waterbodies, cover barren land and control the waste heat emanating from vehicles, industry and cooling devices,” said Roychowdhury. Commenting on the preservation of wetlands, which help regulate local climate, conservationist Ramveer Tanwar, said, “Several studies suggest that a waterbody of around 0.03 sq km can impact at least 1 sq km land area by cooling the air. But the wetland has to be healthy and natural, not a manmade pool or a dirty bog. It should have flora and fauna and the means to support aquatic life.” Tanwar added that current focus had “unfortunately been on beautification of the wetlands, not their revival”. According to biodiversity expert Faiyaz A Khudsar, the Yamuna would have played a role in mitigating urban heating, but it has no water. “Evaporation causes cooling, but the Yamuna has no flow downstream of Wazirabad, only sewage. Wetlands in the river floodplain must be recognised and revived,” said Khudsar. As for solutions from the perspective of urban planning, professor Sewa Ram of the School of Planning and Architecture, noted that while Delhi had several micro habitats that helped reduce urban heating, population density was affecting their existence. “We need micro habitats, like urban forests amid densely packed areas, to help control heat retention. There is also a need to regularise where the additional population or migrants to the city should stay,” said Ram. “From the urban planning perspective, high temperatures cause a rise in demand for water and electricity. Any population influx should be allowed only after examining the city’s capacities. Also, construction must be controlled and restricted to permissible norms or approved plans.” While power demand has breached all records, water is being rationed in Delhi this summer. “It is, therefore, imperative that the heat action plans shift from a response-centric to a preparedness-centric approach, mapping granular-level heat risks to help administrators prioritise health interventions,” suggested Dr Vishwas Chitale, senior programme lead, Council on Energy, Environment and Water. Other experts advised designing and constructing buildings that offer more thermal comfort and in which the walls and roofs reflect rather than absorb the heat.

Heat wave in India: Why is Delhi unbearable and Bengaluru better? Study explains a worrying phenomena

Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad are facing worsening "heat stress" due to rising relative humidity over the past two decades, says a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The study blames it on "urban heat island" effect, where built-up areas trap heat, reduce green cover, cause congestion, absorb heat, and generate additional heat from human activities.

तपती दिल्ली : गर्म द्वीपों के शहर में तब्दील हो रही है देश की राजधानी, 10 साल में 7 डिग्री बढ़ा तापमान

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने दिल्ली में मई के तापमान पर शोध किया तो पता चला कि मई 2014 में औसत तापमान 30-33 डिग्री सेल्सियस के बीच था। कुछ ही इलाके ऐसे थे, जहां का तापमान 33.1-34 डिग्री सेल्सियस रहा। इसमें भी ज्यादातर उत्तरी व दक्षिण पश्चिमी दिल्ली के बाहरी इलाके थे। इसके उलट 2022 में दिल्ली के ज्यादातर इलाकों का तापमान 40 डिग्री सेल्सियस से ऊपर रहा। पूर्वी व मध्य दिल्ली के चंद इलाके ही 36-40 डिग्री सेल्सियस के बीच रहे। सेटेलाइट डाटा के आधार पर की गई मैपिंग से पता चला कि दिल्ली के औसत तापमान में बढ़ोतरी की शुरुआत 1998 से हो रही है, लेकिन 2014 के बाद से इसमें तेजी से इजाफा हुआ है। एक दशक के तापमान में सात डिग्री का फर्क आ गया है। विशेषज्ञ बताते हैं कि गर्म द्वीप स्थानीय मौसम पर सीधा असर डाल रहे हैं। गर्म इलाकों में अपेक्षाकृत बारिश कम होती है, जबकि हरे-भरे इलाकों में ज्यादा। इसकी वजह यह है कि हरे क्षेत्र हवा की नमी खींच लेते हैं। जबकि कंक्रीट वाले इलाकों की हवा पूरी तरह शुष्क रहती है। इस बार दिल्ली में इसी तरह की बारिश हुई थी।

देश की राजधानी में, 10 साल में 7 डिग्री बढ़ा तापमान

नई दिल्ली । राजधानी गर्म द्वीपों का शहर बनती जा रही है। इसके तापमान में बीते एक दशक में औसत सात डिग्री सेल्सियस की बढ़ोतरी हुई है। वर्ष 2014 की मई में अमूमन 30-33 डिग्री तक गर्म रहने वाली दिल्ली मई 2024 में 40 डिग्री तक गर्म है। इससे अभी राहत के भी आसार नहीं हैं। पूर्वानुमान है कि जून के पहले सप्ताह तक लोग 40 डिग्री से ऊपर की तपिश झेलते रहेंगे। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने दिल्ली में मई के तापमान पर शोध किया तो पता चला कि मई 2014 में औसत तापमान 30-33 डिग्री सेल्सियस के बीच था। कुछ ही इलाके ऐसे थे, जहां का तापमान 33.1-34 डिग्री सेल्सियस रहा। इसमें भी ज्यादातर उत्तरी व दक्षिण पश्चिमी दिल्ली के बाहरी इलाके थे। इसके उलट 2022 में दिल्ली के ज्यादातर इलाकों का तापमान 40 डिग्री सेल्सियस से ऊपर रहा। पूर्वी व मध्य दिल्ली के चंद इलाके ही 36-40 डिग्री सेल्सियस के बीच रहे।

बढ्दो तापक्रमले स्वास्थ्य सङ्कट निम्त्याउन सक्ने विज्ञहरूको चेतावनी

नयाँदिल्लीको सेन्टर फर साइन्स एन्ड इन्भाइरोमेन्ट (सीएसई) ले यस महिना प्रकाशित गरेको एक अध्ययनअनुसार भारतीय सहरहरू २००१–२०१० को दशकमा जति चिसो थिए त्यति हाल रातमा पनि चिसो नभएको बताएको छ ।

Experts warn of heat risks as India's temperatures climb again

A study published by New Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) this month said Indian cities were not cooling down after sunset as much as they had in the decade of 2001-2010. It found temperatures then had dropped after dusk nearly 2C more than today. "Hot nights are as dangerous as midday peak temperatures," it said. "People get little chance to recover from daytime heat... exerting prolonged stress on the body."

Experts warn of heat risks as India’s temperatures climb again

Extreme temperatures across India are having their worst impact in the country’s teeming megacities, experts said Thursday, warning that the heat is fast becoming a public health crisis. India is enduring a crushing heatwave with temperatures in several cities sizzling well above 45 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperature readings in the capital New Delhi rose into the high 40s Celsius this week, with power usage in the city — where the population is estimated at more than 30 million — surging to a record high on Wednesday. “Cities are more vulnerable to the compounding effects of urbanisation and climate change,” said Aarti Khosla, director at research institute Climate Trends. “Expect a greater number of hotter days, prolonged dry spells and less rainy days as weather patterns continue to change due to increased human emissions,” she told AFP. In Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, a specialised unit is busy treating patients with heat-related illnesses. Equipped with immersion ice baths, the unit has treated eight heat-struck patients in the past week. One person died Wednesday, medics said, with a body temperature that had surged to a fatal 41.5C (106.7F). Among those admitted to the unit were manual labourers, most aged between 40 and 50, who work under the blazing sun. “Treatment depends upon very quick, very rapid intervention and very rapid cooling,” hospital director Ajay Shukla said, warning that the mortality rate for severe cases is around “60-80 percent”. The rising temperatures hit the vulnerable the hardest, including those on the economic margins, experts said. “When the individual is dehydrated, extreme heat exposure will thicken their blood and cause organs to shut down, resulting in death within hours, popularly called ‘heat stroke’,” said Vidhya Venugopal, director at Sri Ram Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai. “We urgently need… action to protect exposed populations.” India is no stranger to searing summer temperatures but years of scientific research have found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense. The highest confirmed temperature ever recorded in India was 51C (123.8F), in Phalodi on the edge of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert in 2016. Khosla, from Climate Trends, described heatwaves as “the single largest threat to India’s well-being today”, adding that recent high temperatures were “proof that the issue is now about survivability”. No relief comes at night. A study published by New Delhi’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) this month said Indian cities were not cooling down after sunset as much as they had in the decade of 2001-2010. It found temperatures then had dropped after dusk nearly 2C more than today. “Hot nights are as dangerous as midday peak temperatures,” it said. “People get little chance to recover from daytime heat… exerting prolonged stress on the body.” Researchers say human-induced climate change has driven the devastating heat impact in India and should be taken as a warning.

Delhi experiences scorching temperatures reaching record high of 49.9°C

Delhi, the capital city of India, experienced scorching temperatures reaching a record high of 49.9°C on Tuesday, surpassing normal levels by approximately 10 degrees. The sweltering conditions have prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red warning for Wednesday and an orange warning for Thursday, indicating the persistence of the heatwave. A recent study conducted by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) in Delhi has linked the extreme heat in the Indian capital to rapid urbanization and increased construction activities. As Delhi's urban landscape has expanded, with built-up areas escalating from 31.4percent in 2003 to 38.2percent in 2022, the phenomenon of urban heat stress has intensified, exacerbating the effects of rising temperatures. Typically, India experiences its peak annual temperatures during the months of April, May, and June before the onset of the monsoon season brings relief from the heat. However, recent years have seen a trend of unusually high temperatures, with the IMD forecasting the arrival of monsoons in Delhi and its surrounding areas around June 30. The severity of the current heatwave extends beyond Delhi, as the IMD has issued red warnings for "heatwave to severe heatwave" conditions in several regions across North India, including parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Maharashtra. Tragically, the heatwave has already claimed at least 60 lives, according to reports from Mint newspapers citing data from the National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC). These casualties underscore the lethal impact of extreme heat events on vulnerable populations. Furthermore, scientific studies have highlighted the role of human-induced climate change in exacerbating heatwaves in South Asia. A study conducted in 2023 revealed that intense heatwaves in the region are now approximately 30 times more likely due to climate change. Data presented by the Health Ministry in the national parliament indicated that at least 264 people succumbed to heatwave-related fatalities across 14 states last year, further underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

Experts warn of heat risks as India's temperatures climb again

Extreme temperatures across India are having their worst impact in the country's teeming megacities, experts said Thursday, warning that the heat is fast becoming a public health crisis. India is enduring a crushing heat wave with temperatures in several cities sizzling well above 45 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperature readings in the capital New Delhi rose into the high 40s Celsius this week, with power usage in the city—where the population is estimated at more than 30 million—surging to a record high on Wednesday. "Cities are more vulnerable to the compounding effects of urbanization and climate change," said Aarti Khosla, director at research institute Climate Trends. "Expect a greater number of hotter days, prolonged dry spells and fewer rainy days as weather patterns continue to change due to increased human emissions," she told AFP. Heat ward and ice baths In Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, a specialized unit is busy treating patients with heat-related illnesses. Equipped with immersion ice baths, the unit has treated eight heat-struck patients in the past week. One person died Wednesday, medics said, with a body temperature that had surged to a fatal 41.5C (106.7F). Among those admitted to the unit were manual laborers, most aged between 40 and 50, who work under the blazing sun. "Treatment depends upon very quick, very rapid intervention and very rapid cooling," hospital director Ajay Shukla said, warning that the mortality rate for severe cases is around "60-80 percent". The rising temperatures hit the vulnerable the hardest, including those on the economic margins, experts said. "When the individual is dehydrated, extreme heat exposure will thicken their blood and cause organs to shut down, resulting in death within hours, popularly called 'heat stroke'," said Vidhya Venugopal, director at Sri Ram Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai. "We urgently need... action to protect exposed populations." Workers stack ice blocks at a market during a hot summer day in New Delhi on May 30. 'About survivability' India is no stranger to searing summer temperatures but years of scientific research have found climate change is causing heat waves to become longer, more frequent and more intense. The highest confirmed temperature ever recorded in India was 51C (123.8F), in Phalodi on the edge of Rajasthan's Thar Desert in 2016. Khosla, from Climate Trends, described heat waves as "the single largest threat to India's well-being today", adding that recent high temperatures were "proof that the issue is now about survivability". No relief comes at night. A study published by New Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) this month said Indian cities were not cooling down after sunset as much as they had in the decade of 2001-2010. It found temperatures then had dropped after dusk nearly 2C more than today. "Hot nights are as dangerous as midday peak temperatures," it said. "People get little chance to recover from daytime heat... exerting prolonged stress on the body." 'Caused by burning coal' Researchers say human-induced climate change has driven the devastating heat impact in India and should be taken as a warning. "The suffering India is facing this week is worse because of climate change, caused by burning coal, oil and gas and deforestation," said Friederike Otto, a climatologist at the Imperial College London and director of World Weather Attribution. The world's most populous nation is the third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases but has committed to achieve a net zero emissions economy by 2070—two decades after most of the industrialized West. For now, it is overwhelmingly reliant on coal for power generation. The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third term in ongoing elections, says the fossil fuel remains central to meeting India's rising energy needs and lifting millions out of poverty. "What we are seeing in India is exactly what scientists said would happen if we didn't stop heating the planet," Otto said.