• Down To Earth

Himalayan region vulnerable to disasters: Study

BENGALURU: Researchers have found that the Himalayan region in India is highly vulnerable to disasters not only because of climate change but also population pressure. From 2013 to 2022, the region recorded 44% of all the disasters that occurred in the country. The region saw 192 incidents of floods, landslides and thunderstorms during the period. Members from the Centre for Science and Down to Earth magazine, who prepared a report, said torrential rains and cloudbursts in 2022 and 2023 were a precursor to more such disasters in the future. Kiran Pandey, head of CSE’s Environment Resources Unit, said, “We assessed data related to disasters that occurred from 2013. Multiple studies have indicated that the region is vulnerable for disasters. There will be more disasters in the coming times.” Kiran said from April 2021 to 2022, 41 incidents of landslides were reported in the country. Of them, 38 occurred in the region. Sikkim reported the highest of 11 such incidents. She said, “What is more worrying is the human activities and population pressure on the region. Of the 14 cities, including Shimla, Agartala, Shillong, Dehradun and Nainital, in 11 states that were part of the study, it was found that the rise in population was much higher than the national average. To address the impact of population, these cities were supposed to prepare master plans. However, it was found that seven cities were yet to prepare draft master plans till Feb 2024.” ‘Temp rise in Himalayas above average’ Kiran said as per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, while the average rise in temperature at the national level was 1.5 degrees Celsius, it was 2.5 degrees Celsius in the Himalayan region Referring to the cloudbursts in 2022 and 23 in which 33 and 19 people died, respectively, she said more cases of ice melting, floods, landslides and thunderstorms could occur in the future. Dr Kalachand Sain, head of Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, said multiple factors impacted the region. They included climatic and anthropogenic factors and environment degradation. Steps should be taken to protect the region. The report noted that the worst and long-term damage was seen in the upper reaches of the Himalayas. Melting of the glaciers led to formation of glacial lakes in the Himalayan range. The number of such lakes in Uttarakhand and east of Himachal Pradesh increased from 127 in 2005 to 365 in 2015. Because of frequent cloudbursts, these lakes overflow or in many cases breach, causing havoc downstream. Overall, the region has lost over 40% of its ice and is likely to lose up to 75% by the end of this century. With 90% of Himalayan agriculture being rain-fed, this will make it impossible to sustain the livelihoods of the people in the region. It will also endanger the lives of those in the plains who depend on water from the region, the report stated.

• Director General Office

Economic Greed Over Environmental Concerns: Root Cause Of Natural Disasters

The Chipko movement (hugging the tree movement), a non-violent social and ecological movement by rural people, particularly women in India was launched in 1973 in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh). The movement began in response to the increasing destruction of forests for commerce and industry. When the government-induced exploitation of natural resources started to increasingly threaten the livelihoods of indigenous people in the Himalayan region in India, they sought to stop the destruction using Mahatma Gandhi’s method of Satyagraha or non-violent resistance. Soon, it began to spread throughout the country, becoming an organised campaign known as Chipko Movement. The movement’s major success came in 1980 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s intervention resulted in a 15-year ban on commercial felling of trees in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. Cut to 2023, the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse occurred on the Diwali day of November 12, when a portion of an under-construction 4.5 km-long tunnel shrunken in the district of Uttarkashi. It took over two weeks for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the police to rescue 41 workers, who were trapped inside the tunnel. The larger question that one needs to realise is why such incidents across the country are happening quite often in the recent past. Are we destroying Mother Nature to such an extent that it is unleashing its fury? Have our Union and State governments not been serious enough in the enactment of appropriate laws and their proper execution in safeguarding the ecological order? In fact, the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse issue reminds us of some of the top deadly natural disasters that happened in recent times in different regions in the country, including a fragile Himalayan region. They are the Super Cyclone in Odisha in 1999 (over 15,000 people killed); the Gujarat earthquake in 2001 (20,000 deaths); the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 (2.30 lakh deaths); Bihar flood disaster in 2007 (1287 deaths); Uttarakhand flash floods in 2013 (5,700 deaths) and Kashmir floods in 2014 (550 deaths). Chennai floods in 2015, Kerala floods (2018), Himachal Pradesh floods (2023) and Assam Floods (almost every year) are some of the natural disasters that caused a large-scale loss to the public and private properties, in addition to the loss of many lives of humans and livestock in recent times. Natural disasters triggered about 25 lakh (2.5 million) internal displacements in India in 2022, according to a report by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. South Asia witnessed 1.25 core (12.5 million) internal displacements due to disasters in 2022. The Char Dham Project: An Example of an Unsustainable Development Model The ongoing Char Dham Project (CDP) in Uttarakhand, which involves the construction of all-weather roads by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) linking the four religious pilgrimages of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath has raised some major issues in respect of India’s approach to protect the ecology and to combat climate change and its impacts. Fearful Global Challenges behind the Beautiful Himalayas Behind the beautiful mountain range of the Himalayas lies the fearful challenges! Himalayas are the youngest range of mountains and still in the formative stages. Geological scientists and geotechnical experts clarified that the CDP is a dangerous project and fatality-induced. The region is extremely sensitive to earthquakes and frictional shear rocks also exist. Preserving the Himalayan Region which consists of some of the Earth’s highest peaks like Mount Everest is a very important global imperative as the Himalayas cross four more countries, in addition to India, viz. Nepal, China, Pakistan, and Bhutan. Therefore, geologists and environmentalists have been posing at least two fundamental questions since the beginning: First, when the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) has been facing a wave of devastation due to the impacts of climate change leading to glacial melt and altered weather patterns and rampant urbanisation, how a very limited carrying capacity of the region could withstand the burden of heavy infrastructure projects such as the Char Dham Project? How much tourism, how many roads, how much cutting of mountains and dumping of the debris into the rivers is good? Second, have the governments considered the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) with all seriousness such projects deserve without exhibiting habitual monumental callousness and slumber of the bureaucracy? The basic idea of the Char Dham Project has been heavily criticised by geologists and experts on the ground that instead of having a single EIA for a around 900 km long project, it was broken into 53 sections so that EIA is prepared for a lesser region. In the process, the impact exhibited for a large ecosystem of 900 km was compromised intentionally and irrationally. Irresponsible Tourism Causing Pollution The IHR consists of ten States, of which Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh bear the biggest brunt of irresponsible tourism. Though tourism has brought economic prosperity to the Himalayan region to some extent, the environmental cost has been disastrous. Tourism causes about 80 lakhs (eight million) tons of waste every year, in addition to ten lakh (one million) tons of annual waste produced by the urban population. By 2025, it is projected that 24 crore (240 million) tourists will visit the hill States every year. It was 10 crore (100 million) in 2018. A study conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) found that 55% of waste in IHR is biodegradable and comes largely from homes and restaurants, and 21% is inert such as construction material, and 8% is plastic. If the problem of solid waste disposal is not addressed scientifically, the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas will pay a price the country can ill afford. Given that all our major ice-cold rivers originate in the mountains, it may not be difficult to envisage the calamitous implications. Dumping of biodegradable waste in open places in the Himalayan region is unscientific as in the sub-zero conditions, cold prevents decomposition. That could release harmful gases such as methane and carbon monoxide. In particular, the release of toxic chemicals into soil (caused by open waste) pollutes river waters when such soil (the leachate) reaches rivers and streams due to rains. Due to air pollution (caused by many factors, including open burning of waste and plastic), pollutants, carbon and other light-absorbing impurities darken glacial snow and trigger melting. In 2016, the Union government issued new rules for handling solid waste; however, like in other regions, the key lies in enforcement. Comprehensive Action Plan to Check Ecological Destruction The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change (headed by Jairam Ramesh) in its report submitted in March 2023 recommended that the Union environment ministry should prepare a practical and implementable action plan with clear timelines to put a check on ecologically destructive activities in the Himalayan region. The ministry should also formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed in the event of any natural disasters. The House Panel expressed its anguish over the “tremendous increase” of tourist activities in these areas leading to “over-exploitation of natural resources and illegal construction of homestays, guest houses, resorts, hotels, restaurants and other encroachments.” A more meticulous approach with the only aim of furthering the environmental interests rather than economic interest; Strict actions against illegal constructions; and Need for detailed procedure to be followed by the ministry before giving clearances to construction and infrastructure projects to achieve a proper ecological balance are some important recommendations of the House Panel. The Standing Committee Chairman, Jairam Ramesh, expressed his dissatisfaction for deliberately not referring the three very important Bills to the Committee. Two of such Bills were intended to radically amend the landmark Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Legal experts and environmentalists warned these Bills passed by the Parliament in last August, without required debate, could magnify commercial exploitation of the country’s ecosystems consisting of trees, plants and other biological resources as well as traditional knowledge, and harm the communities that depend on them. The legislation also decriminalises violations of the Act. The amendment to the Forest Conservation Act 1980 triggered nationwide protests because in the name of “development” forests would be open for commercial exploitation thereby leading to harming biodiversity and weakening the rights of indigenous peoples. Analysts estimate that nearly 2, 00,000 sq. km. of forest will lose legal protection under the amendment. The reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) pointed out that the projects were not taken up in an integrated manner and blamed NDMA for institutional failures for poor flood management. Capacity building for preparedness, robust early warning systems and mitigation are the need of the hour. India should learn from the best practices of countries such as Hong Kong, China, Japan and South Korea. India Ranked the Last in the world! The Environment Performance Index (EPI) measures the environmental health of countries and ranks them accordingly. Started by the World Economic Forum in 2002, EPI aims to encourage countries around the world to make sustainable development a priority. The top countries on the EPI in 2022 were Denmark, the UK, Finland, Malta and Sweden. Ironically, Bharat which is the birthplace of four important religions in the world, and the country where different elements of the Nature such as the trees and rivers are worshipped by the people, is also a country that ranked last out of 180 countries! Sunita Narain, a committed environmentalist, way back in 2013 had advocated a pan-Himalayan development strategy which is based on the region’s natural resources, culture and traditional knowledge. The development strategy also included the voices and concerns of local communities, dependent on forests for their agriculture and basic needs. Are our governments ready to listen to the advocacy of such scientists and environmentalists?

• Director General Office

Bengaluru today, your city tomorrow

Some years ago, at the release of our report Excreta Matters in Bengaluru, I got into a spirited discussion with the city’s water and sewage managers. The discussion was about water management in the city, which our research showed was unaffordable and so unsustainable. The engineers disagreed. According to them, they had managed to secure water from the Cauvery, some 100 km away, through pipelines, and so had no reason to worry. Now as this hi-tech city hurtles towards a severe water scarcity, maybe, just maybe, these wise men will reconsider and rework their options going forward. The fact is, Bengaluru is just another city that is being shown the mirror—the dreams of a perfect water supply driven by high-cost engineering solutions are being shattered. And this is in an era of climate risk, where rainfall will become more extreme and more variable. Bengaluru in the now-distant past used to receive water from its vast network of lakes, designed to collect rain and mitigate floods. Then the search expanded: its first official water supply was from Hesaraghatta lake on the Arkavathi river, 18-20 km from the city; and then from T G Halli reservoir, 35-40 km away. But all this did not suffice and around 1974, the ambitious Cauvery Water Supply Scheme was conceived—where water would be pumped up to a height of 490 metres and transported over 100 km. During my interactions with the city engineers, they were deep into stage 4 of this engineering marvel, and as I said, they did not see any reason to worry. I spoke about the cost of transporting water longer distances—about a decade ago, the city required huge power to pump the water, which was eating into the fragile economics of its water and sewerage board. Also, as the distance increased, so did the water loss which, according to official sources, was 40 per cent. All this meant that the cost of water supply was going up. I also pointed out that the engineers were discounting the following facts: one, groundwater usage was increasing in the city and its surrounding areas, which suggested that the water supply was not so perfect. Two, the city was exploding and this expanding water-sewage infrastructure would not keep pace with growth. Three, most importantly by their own admission, bulk of the sewage generated was not being treated and this in turn was adding to the pollution load in its lakes and streams. But again, the engineers were sanguine about the future. They boasted they had already built some 720 million litres per day (mld) of sewage treatment capacity, using every available technology possible—which technically would be able to treat almost all the sewage generated. When I pointed out that less than half the capacity was being utilised, they told me, very soon the pipeline network would expand and all would be well. Cut to present day. In 2010, the city’s water requirement was pegged at 1,125 mld, which has more than doubled to 2,600 mld. While the Cauvery still supplies half, the rest comes from groundwater. In other words, the demand has remained unmet and people have had no option but to dig and dig deeper to secure their water supply. With increased variability of rainfall, these sources are drying up, and fast. But the pipedream sellers have not understood the crisis—the city’s chief water manager is now banking on stage 5 of the Cauvery project, which, he says, will be commissioned very soon. The sewage story is similar. New hardware for treatment has been built; according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s 2021 inventory, the city now has 1,167.50 mld of sewage treatment capacity. And capacity utilisation has also somewhat improved to 75 per cent. But the gap between the generation of sewage and treatment capacity has widened. With the current water demand, sewage generation would be close to 2,000 mld—and so untreated sewage would be more than half. The city has gone round in circles, only to find that it is still standing where it was a decade ago. This is the real crisis of our water planning—the inability to understand the need and the opportunity for the change. The fact is, Bengaluru receives enough rain; it has lakes that can harvest this rain and recharge groundwater, so that in times of extreme rain events, its rich and powerful denizens do not have to swim to avoid drowning in the flood. Every drop can be used for the coming period of scarcity. Then it can manage its sewage differently. Instead of believing that it can transport sewage with pipelines, it can ensure that every drop of excreta is collected by tankers and then treated and reused. But for this, water engineers have to come down to earth, rework and rethink. This is Bengaluru’s story today and your city’s story tomorrow. (Writer is Director General of CSE and editor of Down To Earth, an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets; Courtesy: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/)

• Director General Office

BS Manthan: India has long road ahead in green energy targets, say experts

India needs to find a balance between its plans to become a developed country by 2047, clean energy and the environment, said a panel of experts at Business Standard summit, Business Manthan, in New Delhi on Thursday. The panel that discussed fossil fuel, clean energy and India’s stance in climate talks comprised Vivek Dewangan, chairman and managing director of REC Ltd; Sunita Narain, director general of Centre for Science and Environment; Ulka Kelkar, executive director at Climate, WRI India, and Derek M. Shah, senior vice-president & head-green energy business at Larsen & Toubro. India is standing at a crucial juncture and it is imperative to adapt to rapid economic growth along with addressing the vulnerability to environmental issues, Narain said Talking about India’s aspirations to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, Kelkar said that no country in the world has become rich by remaining energy poor. She pointed out that there are some major problems at hand currently. India’s aim to tackle climate change cannot be only through carbon-lens. “As climate change risk starts manifesting, policy-making will have to become more adaptive, and decentralised. Even the new energy infrastructure or transport infra will be at risk due to climate change,” she said. New green jobs that will be created every year with the adoption of renewable energy won’t match up to the number of young people entering the labour market. “… but with the new workforce entering the job market every year is higher than the new jobs that will be created, it will become a problem,” said Kelkar. “As fossil fuels taper off, the tax revenue will also come down. A loss of 1.5 trillion dollars till 2047 unless we seek new ways of generating revenue from green energies,” she said. Dewangan, of REC Ltd, said India is the third largest producer and consumer of electricity and renewable energy will be intermittent to its needs. The country will need huge storage capacities. On the issue of financing in the renewable energy sector, Narain said: “Indian industry is getting far more aware about the needs to transform, to take on actions which are good for them as well as the environment. Scale up needs to happen in sectors such as iron, cement, steel. There’s a lot the industry can do to decrease their carbon footprint.” However, she said that green energy financing is still lagging from the private sector. “Cost of capital is still so high to make the transition we need. You cannot make renewable energy projects viable. Low concessional finance is going to be critical at the scale needed… “The private finance story is bad. I don’t see private finance coming in for the transformation at the scale at which it is needed,” she added. Kelkar said that while some states have invested in energy transformation, others will need assistance to overcome their geographical challenges. “Bihar, Jharkhand etc are highly climate change prone. They are badly placed in terms of generation of renewable energy. So much so they may have to buy renewable energy from other states in the future… These states might lose out and will need additional help,” she said. Shah, of Larsen & Toubro, said that states which had a lead in announcing green hydrogen policies have attracted investments. “While the states will lay the policies, the industries will also be attracted to demand centres,” he said.

• Director General Office

पर्यावरण संबंधी चिंताओं पर आर्थिक लालच प्राकृतिक आपदाओं का मूल कारण - Exploitation Of Nature

चिपको आंदोलन (पेड़ को गले लगाना आंदोलन), भारत में ग्रामीण लोगों, विशेषकर महिलाओं द्वारा किया गया एक अहिंसक सामाजिक और पारिस्थितिक आंदोलन, पचास साल पहले 1973 में उत्तराखंड के हिमालयी क्षेत्र (तब उत्तर प्रदेश का हिस्सा) में शुरू हुआ था. यह आंदोलन वाणिज्य और उद्योग के लिए जंगलों के बढ़ते विनाश के जवाब में शुरू हुआ. जब प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के सरकार द्वारा प्रेरित शोषण से भारत में हिमालयी क्षेत्र में स्वदेशी लोगों की आजीविका पर खतरा मंडराने लगा, तो उन्होंने महात्मा गांधी के सत्याग्रह या अहिंसक प्रतिरोध के तरीके का उपयोग करके समस्या को रोकने की मांग की. जल्द ही, यह पूरे देश में फैलने लगा और एक संगठित अभियान बन गया, जिसे चिपको आंदोलन के नाम से जाना जाता है. आंदोलन को बड़ी सफलता 1980 में मिली, जब तत्कालीन प्रधान मंत्री इंदिरा गांधी के हस्तक्षेप के परिणामस्वरूप उत्तराखंड हिमालय में पेड़ों की व्यावसायिक कटाई पर 15 साल का प्रतिबंध लगा दिया गया. 2023 में, उत्तराखंड सुरंग ढहने की घटना 12 नवंबर की दिवाली के दिन हुई, जब उत्तरकाशी जिले में निर्माणाधीन 4.5 किमी लंबी सुरंग का एक हिस्सा सिकुड़ गया. सुरंग के अंदर फंसे 41 श्रमिकों को बचाने में राष्ट्रीय आपदा प्रतिक्रिया बल (एनडीआरएफ), राज्य आपदा प्रतिक्रिया बल (एसडीआरएफ) और पुलिस को दो सप्ताह से अधिक का समय लगा. एक बड़ा सवाल यह समझने की जरूरत है कि हाल के दिनों में देश भर में ऐसी घटनाएं अक्सर क्यों हो रही हैं? क्या हम प्रकृति को इस हद तक नष्ट कर रहे हैं कि वह अपना क्रोध प्रकट कर रही है? क्या हमारी केंद्र और राज्य सरकारें पारिस्थितिक व्यवस्था की सुरक्षा के लिए उचित कानून बनाने और उनके उचित कार्यान्वयन के प्रति गंभीर नहीं हैं? वास्तव में, उत्तराखंड सुरंग ढहने का मुद्दा हमें हाल के दिनों में देश के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में हुई कुछ शीर्ष घातक प्राकृतिक आपदाओं की याद दिलाता है, जिसमें नाजुक हिमालयी क्षेत्र भी शामिल है. इन आपदाओं में 1999 में ओडिशा में सुपर चक्रवात (15,000 से अधिक लोग मारे गये), 2001 में गुजरात भूकंप (20,000 मौतें), 2004 में हिंद महासागर में सुनामी (2.30 लाख मौतें), 2007 में बिहार बाढ़ आपदा (1287 मौतें), 2013 में उत्तराखंड में अचानक आई बाढ़ (5700 मौतें), और 2014 में कश्मीर बाढ़ (550 मौतें) शामिल हैं. इसके अलावा 2015 में चेन्नई बाढ़, केरल बाढ़ (2018), हिमाचल प्रदेश बाढ़ (2023) और असम बाढ़ (लगभग हर साल) कुछ प्राकृतिक आपदाएं हैं, जो हाल के दिनों में कई मनुष्यों और पशुओं की जान जाने के अलावा, सार्वजनिक और निजी संपत्तियों को बड़े पैमाने पर नुकसान पहुंचाने के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं. जिनेवा स्थित आंतरिक विस्थापन निगरानी केंद्र की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के कारण 2022 में भारत में लगभग 25 लाख (2.5 मिलियन) आंतरिक विस्थापन हुए. दक्षिण एशिया में 2022 में आपदाओं के कारण 1.25 करोड़ (12.5 मिलियन) आंतरिक विस्थापन देखा गया. चार धाम परियोजना: सतत विकास मॉडल का एक उदाहरण: उत्तराखंड में चल रही चार धाम परियोजना (सीडीपी), जिसमें भारतीय राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग प्राधिकरण (एनएचएआई) द्वारा चार धार्मिक तीर्थस्थलों गंगोत्री, यमुनोत्री, बद्रीनाथ और केदारनाथ को जोड़ने वाली ऑल वेदर सड़कों का निर्माण शामिल है, पारिस्थितिकी की रक्षा और जलवायु परिवर्तन और इसके प्रभावों से निपटने के लिए भारत के दृष्टिकोण के संबंध में कुछ प्रमुख मुद्दे उठाए गए हैं. खूबसूरत हिमालय के पीछे भयावह वैश्विक चुनौतियां: हिमालय की खूबसूरत पर्वत श्रृंखला के पीछे भयावह चुनौतियां छिपी हैं! हिमालय पर्वतों की सबसे नई श्रृंखला है और अभी भी प्रारंभिक चरण में है. भूवैज्ञानिक वैज्ञानिकों और भू-तकनीकी विशेषज्ञों ने स्पष्ट किया कि सीडीपी एक खतरनाक और घातक परियोजना है. यह क्षेत्र भूकंप के प्रति बेहद संवेदनशील है और घर्षणात्मक कतरनी चट्टानें भी मौजूद हैं. हिमालय क्षेत्र को संरक्षित करना, जिसमें माउंट एवरेस्ट जैसी पृथ्वी की कुछ सबसे ऊंची चोटियां शामिल हैं, बहुत महत्वपूर्ण वैश्विक आवश्यकता है, क्योंकि हिमालय भारत के अलावा चार और देशों नेपाल, चीन, पाकिस्तान और भूटान में फैला हुआ है. इसलिए, भूवैज्ञानिक और पर्यावरणविद् शुरू से ही कम से कम दो बुनियादी सवाल उठाते रहे हैं. इनमें पहला सवाल है कि जब भारतीय हिमालयी क्षेत्र (IHR) जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभावों के कारण हिमनदों के पिघलने और मौसम के बदलते पैटर्न और बड़े पैमाने पर शहरीकरण के कारण तबाही की लहर का सामना कर रहा है, क्षेत्र की बेहद सीमित वहन क्षमता चारधाम परियोजना जैसी भारी बुनियादी ढांचा परियोजनाओं का बोझ कैसे झेल सकता है? कितना पर्यटन, कितनी सड़कें, कितना पहाड़ों को काटना और नदियों में मलबा डालना कितना अच्छा है? दूसरा सवाल है कि क्या सरकारों ने पर्यावरण प्रभाव आकलन (ईआईए) पर पूरी गंभीरता से विचार किया है. ऐसी परियोजनाएं नौकरशाही की आदतन भारी उदासीनता और नींद को प्रदर्शित किए बिना उचित हैं? चार धाम परियोजना के मूल विचार की भूवैज्ञानिकों और विशेषज्ञों द्वारा इस आधार पर भारी आलोचना की गई है कि लगभग 900 किमी लंबी परियोजना के लिए एक ईआईए होने के बजाय, इसे 53 खंडों में तोड़ दिया गया था, ताकि कम क्षेत्र के लिए ईआईए तैयार किया जा सके. इस प्रक्रिया में, 900 किमी के बड़े पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र पर प्रदर्शित प्रभाव से जानबूझकर और तर्कहीन तरीके से समझौता किया गया. गैर-जिम्मेदाराना पर्यटन बन रहा है प्रदूषण का कारण: IHR में दस राज्य शामिल हैं, जिनमें से उत्तराखंड और हिमाचल प्रदेश गैर-जिम्मेदाराना पर्यटन का सबसे बड़ा खामियाजा भुगतते हैं. हालांकि पर्यटन ने कुछ हद तक हिमालय क्षेत्र में आर्थिक समृद्धि ला दी है, लेकिन पर्यावरणीय लागत विनाशकारी रही है. शहरी आबादी द्वारा उत्पादित दस लाख (दस लाख) टन वार्षिक कचरे के अलावा, पर्यटन हर साल लगभग 80 लाख (8 मिलियन) टन कचरा पैदा करता है. यह अनुमान है कि 2025 तक 24 करोड़ (240 मिलियन) पर्यटक हर साल पहाड़ी राज्यों का दौरा करेंगे. दरअसल, 2018 में यह 10 करोड़ (100 मिलियन) था. वैज्ञानिक और औद्योगिक अनुसंधान परिषद (सीएसआईआर) द्वारा किए गए एक अध्ययन में पाया गया कि आईएचआर में 55 प्रतिशत कचरा बायोडिग्रेडेबल है और बड़े पैमाने पर घरों और रेस्तरां से आता है और 21 प्रतिशत निष्क्रिय है जैसे कि निर्माण सामग्री और 8 प्रतिशत प्लास्टिक है. यदि ठोस अपशिष्ट निपटान की समस्या का वैज्ञानिक तरीके से समाधान नहीं किया गया, तो हिमालय के नाजुक पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र को ऐसी कीमत चुकानी पड़ेगी, जिसे देश बर्दाश्त नहीं कर सकता. यह देखते हुए कि हमारी सभी प्रमुख बर्फीली-ठंडी नदियां पहाड़ों से निकलती हैं, ऐसे में विनाशकारी प्रभावों की कल्पना करना मुश्किल नहीं हो सकता है. हिमालय क्षेत्र में खुले स्थानों पर बायोडिग्रेडेबल कचरे को डंप करना अवैज्ञानिक है, क्योंकि शून्य से नीचे की स्थिति में, ठंड सड़न को रोकती है. इससे मीथेन और कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड जैसी हानिकारक गैसें निकल सकती हैं. विशेष रूप से, मिट्टी में जहरीले रसायनों का उत्सर्जन (खुले कचरे के कारण) नदी के पानी को प्रदूषित करता है जब ऐसी मिट्टी (लीचेट) बारिश के कारण नदियों और नालों में पहुंच जाती है. वायु प्रदूषण (कचरे और प्लास्टिक को खुले में जलाने सहित कई कारकों के कारण) के कारण, प्रदूषक, कार्बन और अन्य प्रकाश-अवशोषित अशुद्धियां हिमनदी बर्फ को काला कर देती हैं और पिघलने लगती हैं. 2016 में, केंद्र सरकार ने ठोस कचरे से निपटने के लिए नए नियम जारी किए, हालांकि, अन्य क्षेत्रों की तरह, कुंजी प्रवर्तन में निहित है. पारिस्थितिक विनाश को रोकने के लिए व्यापक कार्य योजना: विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी, पर्यावरण, वन और जलवायु परिवर्तन पर संसदीय स्थायी समिति (जयराम रमेश की अध्यक्षता में) ने मार्च 2023 में प्रस्तुत अपनी रिपोर्ट में सिफारिश की कि केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्रालय को हिमालयी क्षेत्र में पारिस्थितिक रूप से विनाशकारी गतिविधियों पर रोक लगाने के लिए स्पष्ट समयसीमा के साथ एक व्यावहारिक और कार्यान्वयन योग्य कार्य योजना तैयार करनी चाहिए. मंत्रालय को किसी भी प्राकृतिक आपदा की स्थिति में अपनाई जाने वाली एक मानक संचालन प्रक्रिया (एसओपी) भी तैयार करनी चाहिए. हाउस पैनल ने इन क्षेत्रों में पर्यटक गतिविधियों की 'जबरदस्त वृद्धि' पर अपनी नाराजगी व्यक्त की, जिसके कारण 'प्राकृतिक संसाधनों का अत्यधिक दोहन और होम स्टे, गेस्ट हाउस, रिसॉर्ट्स, होटल, रेस्तरां और अन्य अतिक्रमणों का अवैध निर्माण हुआ.' आर्थिक हित के बजाय पर्यावरणीय हितों को आगे बढ़ाने के एकमात्र उद्देश्य के साथ एक अधिक सावधानीपूर्वक दृष्टिकोण, अवैध निर्माणों के खिलाफ सख्त कार्रवाई और उचित पारिस्थितिक संतुलन प्राप्त करने के लिए निर्माण और बुनियादी ढांचा परियोजनाओं को मंजूरी देने से पहले मंत्रालय द्वारा पालन की जाने वाली विस्तृत प्रक्रिया की आवश्यकता हाउस पैनल की कुछ महत्वपूर्ण सिफारिशें हैं. स्थायी समिति के अध्यक्ष, जयराम रमेश ने जानबूझकर तीन अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण विधेयकों को समिति के पास नहीं भेजने पर अपना असंतोष व्यक्त किया. ऐसे दो विधेयकों का उद्देश्य ऐतिहासिक जैविक विविधता अधिनियम, 2002 और वन संरक्षण अधिनियम, 1980 में मौलिक संशोधन करना था. कानूनी विशेषज्ञों और पर्यावरणविदों ने चेतावनी दी कि पिछले अगस्त में संसद द्वारा आवश्यक बहस के बिना पारित किए गए इन विधेयकों से देश के पेड़, पौधों और अन्य जैविक संसाधनों के साथ-साथ पारंपरिक ज्ञान वाले पारिस्थितिक तंत्र का व्यावसायिक शोषण बढ़ सकता है और उन समुदायों को नुकसान हो सकता है, जो उन पर निर्भर हैं. यह कानून अधिनियम के उल्लंघन को भी अपराध की श्रेणी से बाहर करता है. वन संरक्षण अधिनियम 1980 में संशोधन ने इस आधार पर देशव्यापी विरोध प्रदर्शन शुरू कर दिया कि 'विकास' के नाम पर वनों को व्यावसायिक शोषण के लिए खोल दिया जाएगा, जिससे जैव विविधता को नुकसान होगा और स्वदेशी लोगों के अधिकार कमजोर होंगे. विश्लेषकों का अनुमान है कि संशोधन के तहत लगभग 2,00,000 वर्ग किमी जंगल कानूनी सुरक्षा खो देंगे. भारत के नियंत्रक एवं महालेखा परीक्षक (सीएजी) की रिपोर्ट में बताया गया कि परियोजनाओं को एकीकृत तरीके से शुरू नहीं किया गया था और खराब बाढ़ प्रबंधन के लिए संस्थागत विफलताओं के लिए एनडीएमए को दोषी ठहराया गया था. तैयारियों के लिए क्षमता निर्माण, मजबूत पूर्व चेतावनी प्रणाली और शमन समय की मांग है. भारत को हांगकांग, चीन, जापान और दक्षिण कोरिया जैसे देशों की सर्वोत्तम प्रथाओं से सीखना चाहिए. भारत विश्व में अंतिम स्थान पर!: पर्यावरण प्रदर्शन सूचकांक (ईपीआई) देशों के पर्यावरणीय स्वास्थ्य को मापता है और तदनुसार उन्हें रैंक करता है. 2002 में विश्व आर्थिक मंच द्वारा शुरू किए गए, ईपीआई का उद्देश्य दुनिया भर के देशों को सतत विकास को प्राथमिकता देने के लिए प्रोत्साहित करना है. 2022 में ईपीआई पर शीर्ष देश डेनमार्क, यूके, फिनलैंड, माल्टा और स्वीडन थे. विडंबना यह है कि भारत, जो दुनिया के चार महत्वपूर्ण धर्मों का जन्मस्थान है, और वह देश जहां लोग प्रकृति के विभिन्न तत्वों जैसे पेड़ों और नदियों की पूजा करते हैं, वह भी एक ऐसा देश है जो 180 देशों में से अंतिम स्थान पर है! प्रतिबद्ध पर्यावरणविद् सुनीता नारायण ने 2013 में एक अखिल-हिमालयी विकास रणनीति की वकालत की थी, जो क्षेत्र के प्राकृतिक संसाधनों, संस्कृति और पारंपरिक ज्ञान पर आधारित हो. विकास रणनीति में अपनी कृषि और बुनियादी जरूरतों के लिए वनों पर निर्भर स्थानीय समुदायों की आवाजें और चिंताएं भी शामिल थीं. क्या हमारी सरकारें ऐसे वैज्ञानिकों और पर्यावरणविदों की वकालत सुनने को तैयार हैं?

• 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