• Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

Waste to energy: Smokescreen or solution?

Across the world, waste is beginning to be viewed as a resource and not just seen as a liability. According to a claim by the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants, waste in Europe can supply 18 million inhabitants with electricity and 15.2 million with heat. This is made possible with the help of waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies that allow for the recovery of energy by burning or incinerating waste that cannot be recycled or composted. It’s news that bodes well for municipal bodies burdened with a growing waste problem. According to the World Bank, global waste is slated to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes a year, up from the 2.12 billion currently generated. WtE plants have been touted as a timely fix to the problem, meeting two ends simultaneously. One, they offer an alternative waste disposal mechanism, diverting solid waste from landfills. Two, through the generation of electricity or heat by burning waste, they provide a renewable energy source that limits reliance on fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, while WtE plants have seen relative success in the European Union, environmentalists and scientists have warned that they may not be a suitable solution for India’s waste problem. Neither are they a viable approach to reducing carbon emissions. In fact, there are several factors that weigh against setting up WtE plants in India, which were covered in a comprehensive report titled To Burn or Not to Burn published by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2018. Here, we speak of two pertinent issues with incineration as a waste management solution in India. The questionable quality of waste The potential of a WtE operation to meet its energy production target depends on the quality of its waste feedstock. And the quality of waste is determined by three factors: Composition (biodegradable and non-biodegradable) Calorific value (how much energy it contains) Moisture content (the amount of water in solid waste) Waste that can be burned would include what cannot be recycled, processed, or recovered for secondary use. Waste with low moisture content and high calorific value would be ideal for incineration. This includes materials such as non-recyclable plastics (multilayered packaging, plastic bags, styrofoam), contaminated non-usable household textile waste, and non-recyclable domestic hazardous waste, such as soiled paper, soiled cloth, pieces of leather, rubber, tyre, and non-usable wood. donate now banner Countries such as Sweden, Norway, Germany, and the United States have waste with high calorific value that ranges between 1,900 kcal/kg and 3,800 kcal/kg, which makes incineration an effective means of its disposal. In India, however, studies of waste tell a different story: Domestic waste typically contains high moisture content and has low calorific value, making it unsuitable for efficient combustion in WtE plants. It’s like attempting to burn damp tissue paper. According to India’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, non-recyclable waste with calorific value of 1,500 kcal/kg or higher should be used to generate energy through WtE. While the calorific value of waste in India varies from city to city, the average value ranges from 1,411 kcal/kg to 2,150 kcal/kg, with high moisture content. For instance, in Guwahati (Assam) it is 1,833 kcal/kg; in Eluru (Andhra Pradesh) it can be as low as 1,080 kcal/kg. Moreover, WtE plants in India often receive mixed waste, which includes organic, recyclable material. This tracks back to how waste is collected in the country. In every city, two types of waste collection systems operate simultaneously: formal and informal. In the informal system, waste pickers travel door to door to collect garbage, which they then sort. Recyclable material such as paper, electronics, and plastic are sold to recyclers, while the rest is transported to designated collection points known as dhalaos. In the formal set-up, private concessionaires (companies) for collection, transportation, and disposal of waste are either hired by the municipality or a collection and transport (C&T) service is directly facilitated by the WtE operator. Municipalities often prefer outsourcing C&T to WtE companies for the ease of dealing with a single, more formalised entity rather than various informal players. This arrangement gives WtE operators the freedom to collect mixed waste and treat waste disposal as they see fit. However, mixed waste has high moisture content and needs supplementary energy to incinerate or it won’t burn well. This energy is typically fossil-fuel-based, which undermines the claim that electricity produced by WtE plants is altogether clean.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Is India doing enough to woo Tesla, other e-car makers?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government approved a new policy for electric vehicles (EVs) this month, offering to lower import tariffs on e-cars for automakers that invest at least $500 million (€461.5 million) to set up manufacturing units in the South Asian country and begin production in three years. The carmakers are also required to source at least a quarter of their components locally, to begin with. And within five years, the share of local components will have to double. Companies that meet these requirements will be allowed to import 8,000 EVs a year by paying a lower customs duty, equivalent to about 15% of the cost of the vehicle, far lower than the 60-100% tariffs the government imposes otherwise. The move is seen as a part of the government's efforts to fast-track the country's green transition and reduce its carbon footprint. "We want to drive positive change in India's EV landscape and unlock opportunities for industry stakeholders as well as speed up the country's journey towards sustainable transportation solutions," a senior government official told DW. Will India become an economic superpower? 23:43 Luring in foreign EV makers Authorities hope the policy change will lure foreign EV makers like Tesla to set up plants in India. Tesla has long eyed opportunities presented by the Indian market, but it didn't want to invest in local production until the government addressed tariff-related issues and the company gauged market sentiment. "This policy is designed to attract global investments to promote local manufacturing with adequate value addition and to specifically build the e-car manufacturing," Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at Center for Science and Environment, told DW. Vietnamese automaker VinFast has already announced plans this year to spend up to $2 billion to build an electric vehicle factory in India. Local carmakers like Tata Motors and the Mahindra Group had been against tariff cuts for foreign players. They will now have to brace for increased competition, said Roychowdhury. "This move should stimulate competition for the front runners in the Indian market and spur those domestic players who are still fence-sitting on electrification," she underlined. Green jobs – welcome to the green economy of the future 05:16 A growing market with vast potential? India, the world's third-largest auto market by sales, is also one of the fastest-growing EV markets. But more than 90% of its 2.3 million electric vehicles are cheaper and more popular motorbikes, scooters and rickshaws. Modi's government has launched a $1.3 billion program to encourage EV manufacturing and sales, as part of the efforts to foster a competitive domestic automaking industry and create manufacturing jobs. It's also a part of New Delhi's efforts to slash carbon emissions to net zero by 2070. The government wants EVs to make up 70% of sales of commercial cars and trucks, and 30% of private cars by 2030. According to the Economic Survey 2023, published by the Finance Ministry, India's EV market will see a 49% compound annual growth rate between 2022 and 2030, with about 10 million annual EV sales projected by 2030. The industry is estimated to create around 50 million direct and indirect jobs in the next seven years. Comparing mobile payment systems: India vs. Germany 05:13 Need to build an ecosystem But for this to happen, progress has to be made to create a full-electric ecosystem, including the development of high-performing and cost-effective EVs as well as adequate charging infrastructure, among other things. "Foreign investments will initially happen in the high-end cars as that market is still smaller in India. But the new players will also get into the affordable car space and that can create opportunities for the local models," Roychowdhury said. "We need additional strategies to scale up the market demand." The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said the Indian automobile industry and its members will adapt to the new policy. "The EV policy is one of the multiple policy initiatives that the government has announced over the past few years to reduce dependence on petroleum and promote green mobility," Dilip Chenoy, former director general of SIAM, told DW. "This policy would certainly act as a catalyst to spur those manufacturers that have India as part of their growth plans to look at manufacturing in India.”

• Down To Earth

From waste to wealth: The economics o refurbishing

Over the recent years, India has experienced a significant rise in environmental concerns, owing primarily to global warming, pollution, waste accumulation and climate change. Waste generation, in particular, has become a major issue, with India ranking at the forefront of wasteproducing nations. The accumulated waste often finds its way into landfills and water bodies or is Environment report, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), reveals that the country produces 150,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) daily, with over half of it either ending up in landfills or left unaddressed. A significant factor contributing to the increase in waste is the improper disposal of batteries. Up to half of all batteries wind up in the informal economy, where unregulated and frequently illegal recycling activities crack open battery cases, releasing lead and acid dust onto the ground, according to UNICEF. When batteries are discarded and burned in incinerators, harmful substances are released into the air. Similarly, burying batteries in landfills results in the leakage of hazardous materials into the soil, groundwater and surface water. Furthermore, the disposal of plastic waste, landfills and lead smelting all produce methane gas, contributing to the "greenhouse effect" and other global climatic changes. A viable option to address battery disposal concerns is the refurbishment of batteries. This process involves converting lead sulfate crystals back into active material, offering the battery a second opportunity to regain its original capacity. This not only enhances the battery's performance but also ensures it is safe for the environment.

• Down To Earth

What we eat has impact on how our farmers live

Why does the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which has been at the forefront of all major debates on the state of our ecosystem since its late founder, Anil Aggarwal, wrote the first ‘Citizens’ Report’ on the State of India’s Environment in 1982, need to bring out a lavishly illustrated book on food and recipes? Why does the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which has been at the forefront of all major debates on the state of our ecosystem since its late founder, Anil Aggarwal, wrote the first ‘Citizens’ Report’ on the State of India’s Environment in 1982, need to bring out a lavishly illustrated book on food and recipes? Why do we need to know from celebrated chefs how to integrate millets into our daily diet, or why we must reclaim the produce that are fast disappearing from our kitchens -- from bathua to chow chow, from meetha karela to tender jackfruit, galgal and jalpai -- or make sabzi with guavas and water melon rind, or perk up preparations with wild orange zest, or how to not waste carrot and chickpea leaves, or make pakoras with gulmohar flowers? https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/opinion/news-analysis/what-we-eat-has-impact-on-how-our-farmers-live-867799

• Sustainable Food Systems

India has millions of dairy farmers. It's creating a methane problem that's tricky to solve

Abinaya Tamilarasu said her four cows are part of the family. She has a degree in commerce from a local college, but prefers being home milking cows and tending to her family's land. “Our family cannot let farming go, it's a way of life for us,” said the 28-year-old, who lives on her family farm in India's southern Tamil Nadu state. Even when she could be making more money elsewhere, she said she's “still happy we have our cows.” India is the world's largest milk producer, and is home to 80 million dairy farmers who made 231 million tons of milk last year. Many farmers, like Tamilarasu, only have a few cows, but the industry as a whole has 303 million bovine cattle like cows and buffalo, making it the largest contributor to planet-warming methane emissions in the country. The federal government has made some positive steps to reduce methane, but wants to focus emissions cuts elsewhere, like by moving to renewable energy, saying most methane emissions are a fact of life. But experts say the industry can and should make more reductions that can quickly limit warming. India is the third largest emitter of methane in the world, according to figures published earlier this month by the International Energy Agency, and livestock are responsible for about 48% of all methane emissions in India, the vast majority from cattle. Methane is a potent planet-warming gas that can trap more than 80 times more heat in the atmosphere in the short term than carbon dioxide. The Indian government has not joined any global pledges to cut methane emissions, which many see as low-hanging fruit for climate solutions, as methane emissions only last in the atmosphere for about a dozen years, compared to CO2 that can linger for a couple of hundred years. But there's some work on methane reduction in agriculture on the national level: The government's National Dairy Development Board, which works with over 17 million farmers across the country, is looking into genetic improvement programs to provide more nutritious feed to livestock which would make cows more productive, meaning each farmer would need fewer cows to produce the same amount of milk. Studies by the NDDB show that emissions are reduced by as much as 15% when a balanced diet is provided to the animals. The board is also looking into reducing crop burning, a high-emitting practice that some farmers use to clear their lands, by feeding those crops to cows. “Climate-smart dairying is the need of the hour,” said Meenesh Shah, the board's chairman. Vineet Kumar, from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, agreed that good quality feed can help lower emissions. He also said encouraging more local breeds that emit less can help. "These solutions can be a win-win for everyone,” he said. But Thanammal Ravichandran, a veterinarian based in the southern Indian city of Coimbatore, noted that there's currently a shortage of feed in India, so farmers give their cattle whatever they can, which is mostly lower quality and higher emitting. “Farmers are also not able to invest in better quality feed for their cattle,” she said. To get better, and more affordable feed, dairy farmers need more government support, she said. Whatever measures are taken to reduce methane emissions, experts note that it should have minimal impact on farmers' livelihoods, and should account for the ways people raise their livestock. “Livestock have been closely integrated within the Indian farming system," said Kumar, meaning any drastic changes to farming methods would have severe effects on farmers. He added that efforts to reduce emissions shouldn't reduce the use of cow manure as fertilizer on India's farms, as chemical fertilizers emit nitrous oxide, an even more potent greenhouse gas. But looking at India's methane emissions as a whole could provide some more obvious solutions to slashing the gas, said Bandish Patel, an energy analyst at the climate thinktank Ember. Focusing on the energy sector is an easy win for targeted reduction of methane emissions, he said. “You look at agriculture, those emissions are very dispersed in nature, whereas, with oil, gas and coal mining, there are very pointed sources from which you can basically reduce methane going forward,” he said. Shah from the NDDB added that India’s high agricultural emissions must be considered in the context of the country being home to the world’s largest cattle population, the largest producer of milk, and the largest rice exporter, as rice production also produces significant methane emissions. “In this light, India’s agriculture sector emissions must be considered significantly low,” Shah said. Because of its large population, India's per capita emissions are well below average. For dairy farmers like Tamilarasu, better welfare for her cows and programs for farmers to have better practices are welcome, but she won't be leaving her cows for the climate any time soon. She plans to continue dairy farming for the foreseeable future. “The way we see it, our cows and us support each other. If we can make their lives better, they will make ours better too,” she said.

• Director General Office

February Heats Up: Rising Temperatures To Negatively Impact Grain Yield

Climate Central has provided information based on data that changes in climate are leading to variations in India’s seasons. This effect is particularly noticeable during the winter season. While some regions in the country are experiencing rising temperatures during winter, others are witnessing cooler conditions. The average monthly temperature has been calculated for 33 Indian states and union territories. Due to climate change, the spring season is gradually disappearing across India. A recent study by Climate Central reveals that sudden shifts from cold to warm conditions are being experienced in several parts of northern India. This change has been particularly noticeable during February, where temperatures have risen rapidly over the past few decades. Climate Central’s data, backed by experts, indicates that India’s seasons are undergoing transformation due to climate variations. This impact is particularly noticeable during the winter season. While some regions are witnessing temperature increases during the cold season, others are experiencing a decline. The average monthly temperatures have been calculated for all 33 states and union territories of India. Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, among nine states, have seen a difference of more than 2 degrees Celsius between January and February. Andrew Pershing, Deputy Director of Climate Central, explains that during January, northern and central Indian states experience cold weather, followed by a rapid transition to spring-like conditions in February. The burning of coal and fossil fuels has significantly contributed to warming the Earth, resulting in elevated temperatures across all seasons in India. The study highlights that the primary cause of this heat surge is the increasing level of carbon dioxide in the environment due to the combustion of coal, oil and natural gas. The analysis aims to raise awareness among Indians about these global trends, particularly during the winter months (December to February). Warming Winters According to the report, there has been an increase in temperature during winters in every region of the included countries. Since 1970, Manipur has witnessed the highest increase of 2.3 degrees Celsius in temperature, while on the other hand, the capital city of the country, Delhi, experienced the lowest increase, which is 0.2 degrees Celsius. In the southern part of the country, December and January are characterised by intense heat. Sikkim (2.4°C) and Manipur (2.1°C) saw the most significant temperature changes during December and January. In the northern part of the country, there was mild warmth during December and January, even some cold. The largest temperature surge occurred in Rajasthan, where the temperature in February was 2.6 degrees Celsius higher than January Solution According to climate scientists, to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, countries need to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels. The Director General of C3S, Sunita Narain, says that what the country has witnessed so far in 2023 is a new ‘abnormal’ in the warming world. What we are observing here is a watermark of climate change. Such events are happening more frequently. An extreme event that we used to see once every 100 years is now occurring every five years or even less. It is breaking the backs of our poorest, who are the most affected

• Urban Lab

Pollution levels decrease but city still needs to clear the air

Ludhiana: There is some good news for Ludhiana on air pollution front in winters as the latest report of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) suggests that there has been some reduction in air pollution levels in the outgoing winter season. However, Ludhiana continues to figure among the top 50 polluted cities in North India. According to the report, at the end of the winter season, average PM 2.5 level for Ludhiana in winter (October to February) was 85.1 micrograms per cubic meter. With this, Ludhiana stood at the 42nd position among 88 cities of North India which have real-time monitoring and enough data to carry out air quality analysis. Meanwhile, the report suggests that as compared to the previous winter, there was a 7% decrease in winter average PM 2.5 level in Ludhiana this winter. The report also said that Ludhiana stood at the 13th rank among 62 cities of North India, which witnessed improvement in air quality this winter as compared to the previous winter. The report indicated that Ludhiana witnessed 10% fall in winter peak PM 2.5 value as compared to the peak level the previous winter. Meanwhile, Ludhiana stood at number 3 spot among cities of Punjab with winter average PM 2.5 value of 85.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Mandi Gobindgarh was at number one in the state with winter average of 90.8 micrograms per cubic meter, followed by Bhatinda with a value of 88.1. Even as there has been a fall in winter average PM 2.5 value as compared to the previous year, CSE officials underlined the need for strong multi-sector measures to check air pollution. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, CSE India, who is among the three authors of the report, told TOI that winter average may have reduced (for Ludhiana) but it was still higher than the WHO standards. She added that data needs to be compared to National standards (of 40 micrograms per cubic meter) but indicated that such value is in the annual average and cannot be directly compared to the seasonal average. However, she suggested that if the winter average was higher, it would increase the annual average. She also said that bending of the winter pollution curve needed stringent measures locally and in the region. Strong multi-sector measures should include controlling emissions from vehicles, industry, waste burning and construction activity, she said, adding that the data used for the report is from CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) portal. On their part, residents want a long-term change in the city’s air quality. Amandeep Singh, a city-based professional said that though it was good that winter pollution levels had reduced, there was a need for permanent improvement in air quality. He added that this could be done by effective implementation of environmental norms and with the support of all stakeholders, including residents.

• Down To Earth

Sustainable eating: Reshaping food for a better future

The Centre for Science and Environment has launched First Food series through which environmentalists and chefs explain the profound impact of food choices on personal health and global well-being What we eat not only impacts our own health but also the health of our world, which is threatened by extreme weather events. Environmentalist Sunita Narain of Down to Earth magazine poses a question, “How should we practice agriculture and food production in our world, so that we can ensure the security of livelihood, nutrition and nature?” Her thought-provoking query challenges consumers to reconsider the nexus between agriculture, food production, and global well-being. She emphasises the power consumers hold in shaping agricultural practices: “What we eat; and why we eat it. If we change our diet, it provides signals to the farmer to grow differently. We know food is medicine, yet we continue to eat wrong, eat junk. The food on our plates has lost the meaning of nutrition. We are in danger of losing the knowledge of good food — what our grandmothers and mothers cooked in different seasons. This is why we must be part of this changed agriculture story. Cuisines are about culture and biodiversity.”

• Down To Earth

Davis & Shirtliff calls for increased investment in water projects

What you need to know: Unpredictable rainfall patterns have in recent months affected agriculture and animal husbandry in parts of Tanzania, impacting economic activities especially among farming and animal husbandry communities. According to the 2023 State of Africa Environment report, compiled by India’s Centre for Science and Environment, critical water basins across Africa are depleting due to unsustainable usage, becoming focal points for water competition and conflicts.

• Down To Earth

IANS Bookshelf: A recipe book that tells us why what we eat impacts how farmers live ShareFacebookTwitterEmailLinkedInWhatsApp IANS Photo FEATURED NEWS 23rd March 2024 New Delhi 23 (IANS) Why does the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which has

Why does the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which has been at the forefront of all major debates on the state of our ecosystem since its late founder, Anil Aggarwal, wrote the first 'Citizens' Report' on the State of India's Environment in 1982, need to bring out a lavishly illustrated book on food and recipes? Why do we need to know from celebrated chefs how to integrate millets into our daily diet, or why we must reclaim the produce that are fast disappearing from our kitchens -- from bathua to chow chow, from meetha karela to tender jackfruit, galgal and jalpai -- or make sabzi with guavas and water melon rind, or perk up preparations with wild orange zest, or how to not waste carrot and chickpea leaves, or make pakoras with gulmohar flowers? Leafing through the fourth book in the 'First Food' series conceptualised by journalist Vibha Varshney, this writer could think of many reasons for a book that reminds us constantly that what we eat impacts the life and livelihoods of millions of farmers. Anyone who says food is an indulgence should look beyond the plate to the producer. Sunita Narain, Agarwal's acolyte who has kept the torch of the CSE burning brighter since her visionary mentor's death in 2002, astutely notes in her Foreword to 'Future of Taste': "As the world begins to rework the paradigm of agriculture so that it is climate smart, we need to reset [the] connection between food and livelihood, nutrition and nature." The volume being reviewed is dedicated to M.S. Swaminathan, the scientist synonymous with the Green Revolution, but criticised later for pushing Indian farmers into the trap of becoming dependent on high-yielding varieties that required soil-destroying chemical fertilisers, poisonous pesticides and huge amounts of water. Swaminathan had the intellectual honesty to recognise the shortcomings of the 'revolution' he had spawned along with Dr Norman Borlaugh and speak up for the alternative paradigm of an "evergreen revolution", which he defined as "improvement of productivity in perpetuity without ecological harm". 'Future of Taste' brings the "evergreen revolution" to the kitchen by creating awareness about how India's amazing biodiversity has within it a treasure trove of fruits, vegetables, flowers beans and leaves to ensure variety on our tables and to provide our marginal farmers the means of survival that are getting lost as more and more land is brought under industrial, monovarietal farming of high-yielding, chemical-depending, water-guzzling high yielding varieties. The central premise of 'Future of Taste' is that it is up to us, as consumers, and up to the powers that be to create a vibrant market for sustainable produce. If we turn our back on produce that our mothers and grandmothers welcomed into their kitchens, we will only be compelling farmers to become more dependent on an agricultural system that ends up adding avoidable additives to our malnourished soils and ultimately hurting those who depend on them. The Narendra Modi government-led celebration of millets, which are best suited to our water-scarce agriculture, underscored the need for initiatives on an all-India scale to integrate 'Shree Anna' into programmes such as mid-day meals. To quote Narain, "... more biodiverse and climate-appropriate millets will be grown by farmers where governments include them in the schemes for mid-day meals ... . Change of cropping patterns towards climate resilience will need this supportive structure." This may lead you to wonder how we -- individual consumers -- fit into this vast national picture. Again, Narain provides us a timely reminder: "... the choice of food that farmers grow is in the hands of consumers -- us; what we eat and why we eat it. If we change our diets, it provides signals to the farmer to grow differently." Setting the tone for the book, Narain adds: "We know that food is medicine, yet we continue to eat ... junk. ... We are in danger of losing the knowledge of good food -- what our mothers and grandmothers cooked in different seasons. This is why we must be part of the changed agriculture story." Here's a recipe book that is in a league of its own -- it talks about the challenges confronting farmers, the need for climate-resilient agriculture, the growing negligence of proper nutrition and making good food with unexpected ingredients: all in the same breath. It is a book that must stay with us because it teaches us not only how to cook appropriately based on the principle of eating local, seasonal and nutritious, but also why what we eat makes a real difference to the lives of the millions who work very hard to feed us. Book Details: First Food: Future of Taste (Centre for Science and Environment; Rs 950)

• Urban Lab

सीएसई की रिपोर्ट:देश के तीन सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में हनुमानगढ़, सबसे शुद्ध हवा सिरोही की

प्रदेश में बढ़ते वायु प्रदूषण के बीच चिंता बढ़ाने वाली खबर है। भिवाड़ी पर तो प्रदूषण का दाग गहराता रहा ही है, अब हनुमानगढ़ भी इसकी चपेट में है। दिल्ली के विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केंद्र (सीएसई) ने 2023-24 की शीतकालीन रिपोर्ट में दावा किया है कि भारत के 3 सर्वाधिक प्रदूषित शहरों में दिल्ली एनसीआर, बेगूसराय और हनुमानगढ़ शामिल हैं। हनुमानगढ़ में शीतकालीन औसत 171.6 µg/m³ रहा। इस सर्दी में 20

• Sustainable Food Systems

India has millions of dairy farmers. It’s creating a methane problem that’s tricky to solve

Abinaya Tamilarasu said her four cows are part of the family. She has a degree in commerce from a local college, but prefers being home milking cows and tending to her family’s land. “Our family cannot let farming go, it’s a way of life for us,” said the 28-year-old, who lives on her family farm in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state. Even when she could be making more money elsewhere, she said she’s “still happy we have our cows.” India is the world’s largest milk producer, and is home to 80 million dairy farmers who made 231 million tons of milk last year. Many farmers, like Tamilarasu, only have a few cows, but the industry as a whole has 303 million bovine cattle like cows and buffalo, making it the largest contributor to planet-warming methane emissions in the country. The federal government has made some positive steps to reduce methane, but wants to focus emissions cuts elsewhere, like by moving to renewable energy, saying most methane emissions are a fact of life. But experts say the industry can and should make more reductions that can quickly limit warming. India is the third largest emitter of methane in the world, according to figures published earlier this month by the International Energy Agency, and livestock are responsible for about 48% of all methane emissions in India, the vast majority from cattle. Methane is a potent planet-warming gas that can trap more than 80 times more heat in the atmosphere in the short term than carbon dioxide. The Indian government has not joined any global pledges to cut methane emissions, which many see as low-hanging fruit for climate solutions, as methane emissions only last in the atmosphere for about a dozen years, compared to CO2 that can linger for a couple of hundred years. But there’s some work on methane reduction in agriculture on the national level: The government’s National Dairy Development Board, which works with over 17 million farmers across the country, is looking into genetic improvement programs to provide more nutritious feed to livestock which would make cows more productive, meaning each farmer would need fewer cows to produce the same amount of milk. Studies by the NDDB show that emissions are reduced by as much as 15% when a balanced diet is provided to the animals. The board is also looking into reducing crop burning, a high-emitting practice that some farmers use to clear their lands, by feeding those crops to cows. “Climate-smart dairying is the need of the hour,” said Meenesh Shah, the board’s chairman. Vineet Kumar, from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, agreed that good quality feed can help lower emissions. He also said encouraging more local breeds that emit less can help. “These solutions can be a win-win for everyone,” he said. But Thanammal Ravichandran, a veterinarian based in the southern Indian city of Coimbatore, noted that there’s currently a shortage of feed in India, so farmers give their cattle whatever they can, which is mostly lower quality and higher emitting.

• Sustainable Food Systems

India has millions of dairy farmers. It's creating a methane problem that's tricky to solve

Abinaya Tamilarasu said her four cows are part of the family. She has a degree in commerce from a local college, but prefers being home milking cows and tending to her family’s land. “Our family cannot let farming go, it’s a way of life for us,” said the 28-year-old, who lives on her family farm in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state. Even when she could be making more money elsewhere, she said she’s “still happy we have our cows.” India is the world’s largest milk producer, and is home to 80 million dairy farmers who made 231 million tons of milk last year. Many farmers, like Tamilarasu, only have a few cows, but the industry as a whole has 303 million bovine cattle like cows and buffalo, making it the largest contributor to planet-warming methane emissions in the country. The federal government has made some positive steps to reduce methane, but wants to focus emissions cuts elsewhere, like by moving to renewable energy, saying most methane emissions are a fact of life. But experts say the industry can and should make more reductions that can quickly limit warming. India is the third largest emitter of methane in the world, according to figures published earlier this month by the International Energy Agency, and livestock are responsible for about 48% of all methane emissions in India, the vast majority from cattle. Methane is a potent planet-warming gas that can trap more than 80 times more heat in the atmosphere in the short term than carbon dioxide. The Indian government has not joined any global pledges to cut methane emissions, which many see as low-hanging fruit for climate solutions, as methane emissions only last in the atmosphere for about a dozen years, compared to CO2 that can linger for a couple of hundred years. But there’s some work on methane reduction in agriculture on the national level: The government’s National Dairy Development Board, which works with over 17 million farmers across the country, is looking into genetic improvement programs to provide more nutritious feed to livestock which would make cows more productive, meaning each farmer would need fewer cows to produce the same amount of milk. Studies by the NDDB show that emissions are reduced by as much as 15% when a balanced diet is provided to the animals. The board is also looking into reducing crop burning, a high-emitting practice that some farmers use to clear their lands, by feeding those crops to cows. “Climate-smart dairying is the need of the hour,” said Meenesh Shah, the board’s chairman. Vineet Kumar, from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, agreed that good quality feed can help lower emissions. He also said encouraging more local breeds that emit less can help. “These solutions can be a win-win for everyone,” he said. But Thanammal Ravichandran, a veterinarian based in the southern Indian city of Coimbatore, noted that there’s currently a shortage of feed in India, so farmers give their cattle whatever they can, which is mostly lower quality and higher emitting. “Farmers are also not able to invest in better quality feed for their cattle,” she said. To get better, and more affordable feed, dairy farmers need more government support, she said.

• Sustainable Food Systems

India’s Dairy Farming Methane Dilemma Poses Climate Challenge

Abinaya Tamilarasu, who got a commerce degree from a local institute, much rather spends her days with the four cows that’s as good as family, milking and looking after the farmstead. “Letting go of farming ain’t an option for our family; it’s more than just a job,” the 28-year-old, residing on her ancestral land in Tamil Nadu, India, admits. Even though she could be earning more elsewhere, she’s content with “the happiness our cows bring us.” India tops the global charts in milk production, with a dairy farmer count hitting 80 million who churned out 231 million tons of the white beverage last year. For many like Tamilarasu, owning just a handful of cows, their collective count has swollen to 303 million bovine, which includes cows and buffaloes, thrusting India into the spotlight as a leading source of methane emissions contributing to global warming. The central government has made strides in methane reduction but emphasizes other areas, such as renewable energy transition, claiming that methane is mostly an unavoidable byproduct of dairy farming. However, experts argue that the industry could cut down on emissions more effectively to curb warming on a short-term basis. India, according to the latest data from the International Energy Agency, ranks as the third-highest methane emitter globally, with livestock accounting for nearly half of the country’s methane emissions, predominantly from cattle. Methane, notably more potent than CO2, can trap significantly more heat in the atmosphere over a shorter period. Despite the potential for quick climate wins through methane mitigation, India hasn’t signed up for any global methane pledges. Methane’s lifespan in the atmosphere is roughly a dozen years, unlike CO2, which persists for centuries. Nationally, attempts to reduce methane in agriculture are underway, like the National Dairy Development Board’s (NDDB) initiatives working with over 17 million farmers. They’re exploring genetic improvement and better feed, which could lead to fewer cows needed for the same milk yield. The NDDB has found that a balanced diet can cut emissions from cattle by up to 15%. The NDDB is also tackling crop burning, a practice that contributes heavily to emissions, by proposing that the crop residue be used as cattle feed instead. “Adopting climate-smart dairy practices is crucial,” says NDDB chairman Meenesh Shah. Vineet Kumar of the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi concurs that better feed quality could lower methane release. Promoting local breeds that emit less is another avenue. “These measures could benefit all involved,” he suggests. Yet, as Thanammal Ravichandran, a vet in Coimbatore, points out, feed scarcity in India means farmers often resort to giving cattle lower quality, more emitting feed. “Farmers struggle to invest in quality feed,” she says, calling for more government backing to make higher-grade feed more accessible and affordable. Any strategies aimed at cutting methane must consider the impact on farmer livelihoods and traditional livestock rearing practices. “Livestock is embedded in Indian farming culture,” Kumar explains, meaning drastic changes could disrupt farmers’ lives significantly. Also, cow dung as manure is vital to avoid nitrous oxide emissions from chemical fertilizers, a greenhouse gas even more potent than methane. However, Bandish Patel, an energy analyst at climate think tank Ember, points out that the energy sector might offer clearer methane reduction targets. “Agricultural emissions are widespread, but you can pinpoint reductions in methane from oil, gas, and coal mining,” Patel says. Shah from NDDB notes that India’s high agricultural emissions should be viewed against the backdrop of its large cattle population and status as a top milk and rice producer; the latter also emits methane. “In this context, India’s agriculture sector emissions are relatively low,” Shah argues. India’s per capita emissions are below global averages due to its sizable population. For dairy farmers like Tamilarasu, initiatives for better cow welfare and farming practices are welcome, but leaving dairy farming isn’t on her horizon. “Our cows and us, we support one another. Improving their lives is bound to improve ours,” she concludes.

• Sustainable Food Systems

India has millions of dairy farmers. It's creating a methane problem that's tricky to solve

Abinaya Tamilarasu said her four cows are part of the family. She has a degree in commerce from a local college, but prefers being home milking cows and tending to her family's land. “Our family cannot let farming go, it's a way of life for us,” said the 28-year-old, who lives on her family farm in India's southern Tamil Nadu state. Even when she could be making more money elsewhere, she said she's “still happy we have our cows.” India is the world's largest milk producer, and is home to 80 million dairy farmers who made 231 million tons of milk last year. Many farmers, like Tamilarasu, only have a few cows, but the industry as a whole has 303 million bovine cattle like cows and buffalo, making it the largest contributor to planet-warming methane emissions in the country. The federal government has made some positive steps to reduce methane, but wants to focus emissions cuts elsewhere, like by moving to renewable energy, saying most methane emissions are a fact of life. But experts say the industry can and should make more reductions that can quickly limit warming. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Copy article link Save BENGALURU, India (AP) — Abinaya Tamilarasu said her four cows are part of the family. She has a degree in commerce from a local college, but prefers being home milking cows and tending to her family's land. “Our family cannot let farming go, it's a way of life for us,” said the 28-year-old, who lives on her family farm in India's southern Tamil Nadu state. Even when she could be making more money elsewhere, she said she's “still happy we have our cows.” India is the world's largest milk producer, and is home to 80 million dairy farmers who made 231 million tons of milk last year. Many farmers, like Tamilarasu, only have a few cows, but the industry as a whole has 303 million bovine cattle like cows and buffalo, making it the largest contributor to planet-warming methane emissions in the country. The federal government has made some positive steps to reduce methane, but wants to focus emissions cuts elsewhere, like by moving to renewable energy, saying most methane emissions are a fact of life. But experts say the industry can and should make more reductions that can quickly limit warming. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW India is the third largest emitter of methane in the world, according to figures published earlier this month by the International Energy Agency, and livestock are responsible for about 48% of all methane emissions in India, the vast majority from cattle. Methane is a potent planet-warming gas that can trap more than 80 times more heat in the atmosphere in the short term than carbon dioxide. The Indian government has not joined any global pledges to cut methane emissions, which many see as low-hanging fruit for climate solutions, as methane emissions only last in the atmosphere for about a dozen years, compared to CO2 that can linger for a couple of hundred years. But there's some work on methane reduction in agriculture on the national level: The government's National Dairy Development Board, which works with over 17 million farmers across the country, is looking into genetic improvement programs to provide more nutritious feed to livestock which would make cows more productive, meaning each farmer would need fewer cows to produce the same amount of milk. Studies by the NDDB show that emissions are reduced by as much as 15% when a balanced diet is provided to the animals. The board is also looking into reducing crop burning, a high-emitting practice that some farmers use to clear their lands, by feeding those crops to cows. “Climate-smart dairying is the need of the hour,” said Meenesh Shah, the board's chairman. Vineet Kumar, from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, agreed that good quality feed can help lower emissions. He also said encouraging more local breeds that emit less can help. "These solutions can be a win-win for everyone,” he said. But Thanammal Ravichandran, a veterinarian based in the southern Indian city of Coimbatore, noted that there's currently a shortage of feed in India, so farmers give their cattle whatever they can, which is mostly lower quality and higher emitting. “Farmers are also not able to invest in better quality feed for their cattle,” she said. To get better, and more affordable feed, dairy farmers need more government support, she said. Whatever measures are taken to reduce methane emissions, experts note that it should have minimal impact on farmers' livelihoods, and should account for the ways people raise their livestock. “Livestock have been closely integrated within the Indian farming system," said Kumar, meaning any drastic changes to farming methods would have severe effects on farmers. He added that efforts to reduce emissions shouldn't reduce the use of cow manure as fertilizer on India's farms, as chemical fertilizers emit nitrous oxide, an even more potent greenhouse gas. But looking at India's methane emissions as a whole could provide some more obvious solutions to slashing the gas, said Bandish Patel, an energy analyst at the climate thinktank Ember. Focusing on the energy sector is an easy win for targeted reduction of methane emissions, he said. “You look at agriculture, those emissions are very dispersed in nature, whereas, with oil, gas and coal mining, there are very pointed sources from which you can basically reduce methane going forward,” he said.

• Sustainable Food Systems

India has millions of dairy farmers. It's creating a methane problem that's tricky to solve

Abinaya Tamilarasu said her four cows are part of the family. She has a degree in commerce from a local college, but prefers being home milking cows and tending to her family's land. “Our family cannot let farming go, it's a way of life for us,” said the 28-year-old, who lives on her family farm in India's southern Tamil Nadu state. Even when she could be making more money elsewhere, she said she's “still happy we have our cows.” India is the world's largest milk producer, and is home to 80 million dairy farmers who made 231 million tons of milk last year. Many farmers, like Tamilarasu, only have a few cows, but the industry as a whole has 303 million bovine cattle like cows and buffalo, making it the largest contributor to planet-warming methane emissions in the country. The federal government has made some positive steps to reduce methane, but wants to focus emissions cuts elsewhere, like by moving to renewable energy, saying most methane emissions are a fact of life. But experts say the industry can and should make more reductions that can quickly limit warming. Vineet Kumar, from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, agreed that good quality feed can help lower emissions. He also said encouraging more local breeds that emit less can help. "These solutions can be a win-win for everyone,” he said. But Thanammal Ravichandran, a veterinarian based in the southern Indian city of Coimbatore, noted that there's currently a shortage of feed in India, so farmers give their cattle whatever they can, which is mostly lower quality and higher emitting. “Farmers are also not able to invest in better quality feed for their cattle,” she said. To get better, and more affordable feed, dairy farmers need more government support, she said. Whatever measures are taken to reduce methane emissions, experts note that it should have minimal impact on farmers' livelihoods, and should account for the ways people raise their livestock. “Livestock have been closely integrated within the Indian farming system," said Kumar, meaning any drastic changes to farming methods would have severe effects on farmers. He added that efforts to reduce emissions shouldn't reduce the use of cow manure as fertilizer on India's farms, as chemical fertilizers emit nitrous oxide, an even more potent greenhouse gas. But looking at India's methane emissions as a whole could provide some more obvious solutions to slashing the gas, said Bandish Patel, an energy analyst at the climate thinktank Ember. Focusing on the energy sector is an easy win for targeted reduction of methane emissions, he said. “You look at agriculture, those emissions are very dispersed in nature, whereas, with oil, gas and coal mining, there are very pointed sources from which you can basically reduce methane going forward,” he said. Shah from the NDDB added that India’s high agricultural emissions must be considered in the context of the country being home to the world’s largest cattle population, the largest producer of milk, and the largest rice exporter, as rice production also produces significant methane emissions.