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Cse In News

As Heatwaves Scorch India, Where Do Political Parties Stand On Climate Change?

The State of India’s Environment Report 2023, jointly launched by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE) magazine, provides a comprehensive assessment of various environmental and developmental issues plaguing the country. One of the alarming findings of the report is the rampant encroachment on water bodies across the country, with over 30,000 water bodies being encroached upon. Additionally, India generates a staggering 150,000 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) daily, with more than half of it ending up in landfills or remaining unattended, aggravating environmental pollution.

Climate crisis: Wet-bulb heat is a threat we cannot afford to ignore

On Wednesday, a weather station in Delhi reported a maximum temperature of 52.9° Celsius. This is the highest ever—not just for the capital, but for all of India. As anything above 50° is rare even during intense heat waves, the reading left observers agape. And since it was an outlier among other mercury readings across Delhi, a central minister said that the weather department has been asked to check if the thermometer was okay. Whether or not it has its notches correct, the scorching heat this year makes anything around the 50° mark seem believable. The oven-like conditions that have gripped large parts of our landmass are all too real, with people groaning that this summer is the hottest they have ever experienced. The tragic irony of such groans is that unlike a ‘once in a century’ event like the covid pandemic, it’s likely that the same attestation of misery will be made year after year as we go along. After all, the blazing sun is only the most visible cause. Air pollution that traps heat on the planet has put us on a path whose perils are only just starting to show. An analysis of data from India Meteorological Department by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that it’s not just regular heat, the hot season has gradually become more muggy too. In Delhi, the average relative humidity in summer months was 52.5% in the first decade of the millennium, but recent years have seen it go above 60%, pushing us into a sweltering zone.

Warmer nights, rising humidity: Why heatwaves are becoming more deadly

Large parts of the country are witnessing a searing and longer-than-usual heatwave, with record-breaking day temperatures. Over the past few days, the heat has claimed lives in multiple states including Delhi, Bihar, Odisha, and Gujarat. Studies have shown that cities, in particular, are getting warmer and more humid due to urbanisation and declining green cover. This, in addition to higher night time temperatures, makes heatwaves more intense and deadly, especially for the poor, who get little respite from heat fatigue. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group-II, which assesses impacts of, and vulnerabilities to climate change, has noted that the urban heat island effect leads to cities experiencing air temperatures that are several degrees warmer than surrounding areas, especially during the night, “reducing [their] adaptive capacity”. Another study, by Anumita Roychowdhury, Somvanshi and Sharanjeet Kaur for the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), found that the difference between day and night temperatures in urban areas has reduced over a period of time. Comparing the daytime and nighttime temperatures, the study found that nights were 6.2-13.2 degree Celsius cooler in the 2001-10 decade but only 6.2-11.5 degree Celsius cooler in the 2014-23 period. With the exception of Kolkata, all cities saw a decline in nighttime cooling.

India's second-hottest year in 2023, marked by warm winters: CSE

India had its second-hottest year on record, according to the State of India's Environment In Figures: 2024 report by Down to Earth and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report cited unusually warm winters, monsoons, and post-monsoon periods. The analysis revealed alarming figures about extreme heat conditions across the country, based on India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. Record-breaking heat in 26 states 102 weather stations across 26 states and Union Territories broke their monthly highest 24-hour maximum temperature records in 122 years. Ten of these stations were in million-plus cities, including Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Kota, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Visakhapatnam. ADVERTISEMENT The analysis showed 27 weather stations with record-breaking temperatures in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, nine each. Additionally, 34 weather stations reported record-breaking 24-hour maximum temperatures in September. India recorded its hottest minimum temperature in 122 years. Temperature records were consistently broken in the last six months of the year. Minimum temperatures remained above normal in the other five months, with anomalies increasing from 0.57°C in July to 1.71°C in December, except for October. The country experienced its highest minimum temperature for December in 122 years, registering a notable anomaly of 1.71°C above normal. ADVERTISEMENT Climate change is evident; SOE in Figures states 2023 was India’s second hottest year on record. 102 weather stations across 26 out of 36 states/UTs witnessed record-breaking temperatures. It was also very wet, with 69 weather stations across 23 states/UTs registering record-breaking rainfall. In 2023, India faced extreme weather on 318 of 365 days. This resulted in 3,287 deaths and 2.2 million hectares of crop destruction. Lightning and storms were the most common extreme weather events in the first three months. Rajit Sengupta, a lead CSE researcher, said, “Hailstorms (under lightning and storms) were the most widespread event, reported in 25 states/UTs.” ADVERTISEMENT Kiran Pandey, the other lead researcher, adds: "Close to 90% of new internal displacements in India are due to climate-related events. India ranks as the 20th most disaster-affected country.” India's GHG emissions doubled since 1994 India's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reached 2,647 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, marking a 115% increase between 1994 and 2019. The energy industry accounted for 76% of the total national carbon dioxide emissions in 2019, while the land use, land use change, and forests sector absorbed 20% of India’s emissions in 2019. ADVERTISEMENT Narain said: "India is experiencing an intense heat wave as we release this report. It's a time to understand the crisis of a changing climate, supported by the data in this report -- there's clear evidence of rising heat and extreme weather events affecting the poorest in our world.” Narain reiterated: “Our report points to priorities for planning -- water scarcity, water and air pollution in cities, and declining public transport. This is where our focus should be. We need to craft plans with the climate change crisis in mind. We need clever solutions that work for growth, livelihoods, wellbeing, and address climate change.” 2024 temperatures above normal consistently ADVERTISEMENT The trend continued in the first four months of 2024, with average minimum temperatures remaining above normal in three months – January, February, and April – with anomalies of 0.97°C, 0.79°C, and 0.88°C, respectively. The southern peninsular region of India has experienced "above normal" average minimum temperatures throughout 2024. According to IMD's monthly climate summaries, the region had its second-highest minimum temperature in 122 years during these months consistently. The rising maximum and record-breaking temperatures in Delhi and other states are worrying. The trend for minimum temperatures in 2023 and 2024 suggests a new normal, indicating warmer nights. These figures highlight the urgent need to combat climate change and address rising temperatures. Experts warn that extreme heat can have severe consequences for human health, agriculture, and the nation's well-being.

‘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 ।