• Director General Office

Bhumi Pednekar Explains WHY There Are Not Many Movies On Climate Change

New Delhi: Bhumi Pednekar discussed Climate Change during a podcast, named titled 'WTF is Climate Change?, presented by Nikhil Kamath, Co-founder, Zerodha. Apart from Bhumi, there were other leading climate pioneers such as Sunita Narain, Navroz Dubash, and Mirik Gogri. The panel explored the impacts of climate change and the implications of a dramatic increase in carbon dioxide levels, as well as the looming threat of a 3-degree temperature rise. While the podcast saw different opinions coming in from the guests, Nikhil asked actor Bhumi Pednekar "Why doesn't Bollywood make movies around climate change" and on the fact that Hollywood made smoking cool, diamond expensive and defined attractive things beyond cematric way, to which the actress responded, " Responding to the same, Bhumi Pednekar said, “I think it comes from the fact that a lot of people feel that they are not going to be affected by it because we feel that we are protected by the wealth that we have and there will be some elite institution that is going to come and solve all of this. But that’s not the case. As rightly pointed out by Ma'am (Sunita Narain) that climate change is going to be a great equaliser and there will be only enough narrative around which I really feel is missing, especially in the industry that I am from because people feel it’s not going to affect them. We live in our bubble and it gives us a lot of comfort, like we have access to the best of things. I think the narrative will only shift when we are truly affected by it. I am trying to get as many people like me to start talking about it. It needs to become popular culture. That’s the impact that media or films have. I want climate change and all the effects and need people to be fearful in many ways and I really hope that there are many more films that are made. In fact, there was such a phenomenal film made called ‘Kadwi Hawa’ but it didn’t really do well and didn’t reach a large audience because people have sort of ostrich mentality where they behave that everything is pretty and okay around us and believe that someone will get us out of this situation.” Continuing the same, Nikhil Kamath asked Bhumi Pednekar , "Do you think fear sells more or does greed in movies"? Bhumi responded to it saying, "Greed, Absolutely because how many of us are gonna sit into the theatres, kind of go away from all our problems and issues and say oh, this is the real issue". On the work front, Bhumi, in her latest film 'Bhakshak' explores the journey of an unwavering woman's quest to seek justice. In 'Bhakshak', Bhumi is seen looking into a case of sexual assault of children at a girl's shelter home. Directed by Pulkit and produced by Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma, Bhakshak features a powerful ensemble including Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastava and Sai Tamhankar, along with Bhumi Pednekar.

• Director General Office

Where do the children play? it’s all about saving a racecourse

At a talk on the challenges of Climate Change by environmentalist Sunita Narain in Mumbai, an agitated citizen from the audience threw her off gear by demanding to know whether, in the midst of all the big issues , was there any hope to stop the eclipse of the city’s largest open space – the Mahalaxmi Race course. Quickly recovering, Narain, who was focusing on the changing weather patterns and air pollution, urged that Mumbai’s large environmentally conscious people could put an alliance together to foil the government’s dark designs. Easier said than done. It’s going to be a tough fight. The 211-acre racecourse administered by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), has existed since 1883 and is in the heart of the island city. One can imagine the hundreds of developers eyeing this mouth-watering expanse of land!The original lease expired in 2013, and the lessee, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)now wants it back. The plan is to allow horse-racing on 91 acres, while 120 acres will be reclaimed by the municipal corporation. It all started with the BMC crudely talking of creating a ‘theme park’ and then an ‘amusement park’. Stung by the criticism, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has now said he wants to merge the racecourse land with the open spaces created along the Coastal Road along Worli to create something in line with New York’s Central Park or London’s Hyde Park. What Mumbaikars fear is it all starts with promises of a ‘Central Park’. Then there will be demands to build supporting shops and toilets. And hey presto! Then there will be malls. For starters, the BMC wants to construct a tunnel which will link a 175-acre green zone along the coastal road at Worl to the Racecourse’s ‘amusement park’! For now, everything is up in the air. There seems to be no coherent plan; and the state government has ominously told the Bombay High Court that it not bound by commitments, and the final call on what to do with the land will be taken by the Maharashtra Government. Picture abhibakihai! Quality of life Mumbai’s is at the bottom of the heap compared to other cities. On a Sunday, its stressed populace, craving to catch a breath of fresh air, can be seen mobbing popular points like the Gateway of India, Juhu Beach or the Byculla zoo. It is painful to watch the mela-like scenes where people yearning for space, find themselves drowning in a cacophony of crowds, horns and street vendors. Quality of life cannot only be judged by the income a person earns. His access to recreation, public spaces and gardens are also key in the urban jungle. In this regard, Mumbai, over-built and concretized, offers the ordinary citizen, living out or 200 sq feet chawl or slum tenements, a quality of life little better than a dungeon. It could have been otherwise. Mumbai has 16 kilometers of beaches that can offer an unbridled access to the Arabian sea. Unfortunately these are giving way to construction and disuse. Few know Mumbai has 4 rivers flowing through it – the Mithi, Oshiwara, Dahisar and Poisar, which have for all practical purposes have ‘disappeared’. If rejuvenated and cleaned and freed of encroachments, these can yield 81 kms of riverfront for walking and cycling. Mumbai’s creeks and mangroves can provide 34 kms of promenade. These have been mapped in a study called ‘Open Mumbai’ by city planner and architect P.K.Das. The reality today, is Mumbai has probably the least open space among mega cities. Compared to London’s 33 percent open space, New York’s 27 percent and Singapore’s 40 percent, Mumbai’s open space is just 2.5 percent of the city’s land area. New Delhi’s forest and green areas cover 23 percent. Put it another way: London has 31.68 square meters of open space per person, New York 26.4 square meters. In comparison, Mumbai has just 1.58 square meters of open space per person. Air and water The tragic irony is the municipal corporation has now redefined ‘open spaces’. It has lumped areas such as terrace gardens, traffic islands and even the divider space between roads as ‘open spaces’ and lo behold, Mumbai now stands abreast with Singapore! Now, coming back to Sunita Narain and the connection between open spaces and controlling air pollution. Speaking at the Darryl D’Monte memorial lecture in Mumbai last Saturday, Narain said the Yamuna was virtually dead for Delhi as its oxygen level, because of the waste it has saturated, is ‘zero’. The Mithi river in Mumbai too is but a winding stream of garbage. “While the rich can tackle the problem of polluted water with bottled water, the same can’t be said of polluted air. Air is something that cannot be bottled. Rich and poor have to breathe the same air, and it is time we clean up,” she said. The reason why saving the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai is so important is that it is part of the green lungs of the city. As the debate revs up, lets recall British singer-song-writer Cat Stevens’ old lines: I know we’ve come a long way We’re changing day to day But tell me, where do the children play?

• Director General Office

Nikhil Kamath Unveils ₹50 Lakh Fund to Combat Climate Change

Renowned entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, in collaboration with leading climate pioneers such as Sunita Narain, Bhumi Pednekar, Navroz Dubash, and Mirik Gogri, announced the allocation of ₹50 lakh to a charity that pioneers combating climate change in the country. The initiative will also involve the community on-ground to raise better awareness about the impact of climate and ways to circumvent the same. The Complexities and Opportunities in Energy Transition The episode delved into the intricacies of energy transition, emphasizing the critical role of renewable energy sources, such as solar, nuclear, and wind, in combating climate change. It highlights the importance of advancing energy storage technologies to enhance the viability of renewables and ensure a stable energy supply. Furthermore, the conversation explored the potential contributions of nuclear energy, particularly through the development of small modular reactors and the exploration of thorium as a fuel source, suggesting a multi-faceted approach to the energy mix. The dialogue acknowledged the challenges involved in moving away from fossil fuels, including institutional, technological, and political barriers, and underscored the need for strategic planning and reforms, especially in the distribution sector, to facilitate this transition effectively. Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Sustainability The discussion highlighted significant opportunities for entrepreneurs in the realms of bioenergy, waste management, and circularity. These areas are interconnected and promote a circular economy, presenting ripe opportunities for innovation, especially in India. Another opportunity highlighted was the use of renewable energy such as solar to increase productivity in rural areas and aid agricultural processes. The conversation suggested that India's context—characterized by a deep understanding of local supply chains and the ability to navigate operational challenges on the ground—provides a unique setting for entrepreneurial ventures in these sectors. Talking about the idea behind the episode, Nikhil Kamath said, “Climate change is radically changing lives around us, often without us realising it. While everyone is aware of the rudimentary explanation, we wanted to break it down and then make the climate conversation mainstream. This space also holds incredible potential for future entrepreneurs to solve climate change through innovative solutions and I hope the podcast is a good step for the same.”

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

City sees ‘moderate’ air spell after 13 days

Gurgaon: The city’s air has been cleaner so far this month compared to Jan, thanks to strong winds that have reduced pollution levels. The AQI was ‘moderate’ from Feb 1 to 8, except on one day — Feb 4 — when it was poor (242). Before the current spell of largely ‘moderate’ AQI, the index was less than 200 on on Jan 18, 13 days ago. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that the average air quality index (AQI) for the first eight days of Feb is 161 (moderate). This is a significant improvement from the previous month, when the average AQI was 251 (poor). The average wind speed in the past eight days has been around 30kmph, which has helped in dispersal of pollutants in the atmosphere, according to experts. But the city has not seen any ‘satisfactory’ or ‘good’ air days so far this year. Jan reported six ‘very poor’ air days, 21 ‘poor’ days and five ‘moderate’ days, while the average wind speed was 13kmph. The month also saw winter at its peak, with the average minimum temperature around 6 degrees Celsius and the maximum at 14 degrees C. There was fog and no sunshine for most of Jan, which also contributed to the slow dispersion of pollutants. “High wind speed in Feb has helped remove pollutants from the atmosphere. Jan also witnessed windy days, but the wind speed was less compared to the initial days of Feb. This month also witnessed rain, which further helped in clearing particulate matter,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. Meanwhile, the city’s AQI deteriorated within the ‘moderate’ category on Thursday at 138, from 157 the day before. Teri Gram’s AQI was the highest at 154, followed by Gwalpahari (151), Sector 51 (139) and Vikas Sadan (146). An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. Every year, NCR witnesses heavy smog and deterioration of air quality during winter. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is implemented every year as a result, with measures including banning of diesel gensets, mechanised cleaning and sprinkling of water on roads and closing down brick kilns, hot-mix plants, stone crushers or any other factory that pushes up air pollution levels. “Air pollution has a direct impact on our health, particularly the lungs. It can result in persistent coughing, stuffy nose and rhinitis. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can lead to anxiety, headaches, and migraines. For cardiac patients, irregular heart rhythms and cardiac events are heightened. Abdominal symptoms, such as bloating and gastritis, may also arise,” Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, head (critical care and pulmonology) at CK Birla Hospital, said.

• Director General Office

Let’s build for a green future

Globally, the cement industry is known to be part of the “hard to abate” sectors. It is critical for economic growth, but has a high carbon intensity — accounting for 7 per cent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted globally. Emissions are intrinsic to the manufacturing of cement. The raw material for cement is limestone; and to manufacture the product, carbon must be removed from limestone. This adds to cement’s emission intensity. The process, known as calcination, requires very high temperatures in the kiln — up to 1,450°C — which requires fuel to burn. More than 50 per cent of the industry’s greenhouse gas footprint comes from process emissions — the reduction of limestone and the release of CO2 — and the remaining mainly from combustion in the furnace. So, “greening” this industry is tough going, but not impossible. My colleagues at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) have deep dived into the Indian cement industry to set a road map for the future. Our analysis shows much can be done to decarbonise India’s cement sector and if done well, the efforts could work to set right the other sectors. This is not to say that you can manufacture cement with no emissions, but you can make it as green as possible. According to the Union environment ministry, India’s cement industry contributed 5.63 per cent of the total emissions in 2016 and 5.72 per cent in 2019. This is even as the industry is growing, as it will, with the much needed and massive investments to build the infrastructure needed for economic growth.India’s cement industry has had a head start over its global counterparts on reducing carbon intensity by doing two critical things. One, it has substituted to some extent the use of limestone with fly ash — a waste product from the burning of coal in thermal power plants — and two, it has improved its energy efficiency because it could reduce the cost of fuel. These measures, done for long to improve the cost-competitiveness of the industry, signal to what more can be done in the future. This is why consumers of cement count. The carbon intensity of the product is partly in the type of materials used for its manufacture. We need to understand the types of cement and why this matters to saving the climate. There are broadly three types of cement — Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which uses limestone to make cement; Pozzolana Portland Cement (PPC), which uses fly ash to partially replace limestone; and Portland Slag Cement (PSC) in which slag, a waste product from steel plants partially, replaces limestone. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified standards for another category called composite cement (CC), in which fly ash and slag can substitute limestone use by as much as 60 per cent. Why does this matter? Quite simply because the more limestone is reduced in the manufacture of cement, the less it will pollute. So, while OPC with 95 per cent limestone emits 0.84 tonnes of CO2 for each tonne of cement produced, it goes down to less than half in the case of PSC, which substitutes limestone by using waste slag by over 55 per cent. Currently, PPC, which has lower emissions, dominates with 65 per cent market share, but the country is still producing OPC—roughly 30 per cent of the total cement. CSE’s decarbonisation roadmap for the cement sector recommends that the production of OPC should be controlled; brought down to less than 10 per cent. And there should be targets for increased share of blended cement by 2030. It also says fly ash use in PPC should be increased from the current up to 35 per cent to 45 per cent, which in turn will reduce emission intensity even as the consumption increases. The second decarbonisation pathway — to replace fuel for combustion — has opportunities for waste management. Currently, the cement industry is mainly dependent on coal, lignite or pet coke as fuel — replacing this would bring down the emission intensity of the product. Many cement companies are today taking municipal solid waste for incineration in the kiln. But this is not happening at the scale that is possible. This is also because the quality of waste — mixed plastic and low-grade materials that cities send — are not cement-grade refuse-derived fuel (RDF). This is where the opportunity is: to take the garbage and process it so that it makes a fuel that can be used as a substitute for coal. CSE recommends that the country should define green and low-carbon cement — that has replaced the use of limestone by over 50 per cent and displaced the use of coal by 50 per cent by using RDF or renewable energy. By doing this, India’s cement industry could halve its CO2 emissions even as it doubles its production by 2030. This green cement should get the advantage of a lowered GST. It’s a win-win strategy. But it needs everyone to contribute to this “building” of green India. (Writer is Director General of CSE and editor of Down To Earth, an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets)

• DTE - Web

Sand Mining: 20 arrested 40 big boats seized in Bihar Police operation on Sone river

BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI Original Application No. 108/2024 1. This original application is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item titled "Sand Mining: 20 arrested 40 big boats seized in Bihar Police operation on Sone river" appearing in www.downtoearth.org dated 22.12.2023.

• Director General Office

‘Environment is no longer a luxury. Air is a great equaliser’

Environment is no more a luxury, and climate change is right in our faces, said noted environmentalist Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment Mumbai, Feb 06: Environment is no more a luxury, and climate change is right in our faces, said noted environmentalist Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment. Delivering the second annual Daryl d’Monte memorial lecture on Saturday, February 3, Narain pointed out that air is a great equaliser as rich and poor both breathe the same air. “We have to focus on clean air and drastically cut down emissions,” Narain, who also edits a fortnightly magazine Down to Earth, said. The event, titled Remembering the Environmental Challenge, was organised by Mumbai Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Participatory Urban Design & Development Initiative, Sanctuary Nature Foundation and Vanashakti, apart from the family of the pioneering environmentalist D’Monte. Author, editor and environmentalist D’Monte strived throughout his life for the cause of protecting and conserving nature. Narain said all cities must adopt the mandate that Delhi had and speedily convert all public transport vehicles into CNG for fuel for healthy air. Also, governments should focus on developing convenient mass rapid transport and luxury electric vehicles to encourage decreased dependence on cars. Narain said the time had come to make hard decisions as there was one extreme weather event a day now. In this context, she suggested a timeframe for switching over to electric buses.

• Down To Earth

Centre failed to double farmers’ income, says Harsimrat Kaur in LS

Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Central government has failed to double farmers’ income, increase employment and control inflation. Speaking after the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, Badal said: “Even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019.” The Shiromani Akali Dal leader said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. “As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment,” she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the state incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, she said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. “Despite a clear cut undertaking by the Central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done,” the former Union Minister said. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She said how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the ‘girdawari’. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the state. “A demographic disaster is taking place but the Central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border,” she added.

• Down To Earth

Centre failed to double farmers’ income: Harsimrat

Speaking on the President’s address in Parliament, Harsimrat said, “Even though the President stressed that improving the situation for farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Former Union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Centre has failed to double farmers’ income, increase employment, control inflation and improve the lot of the poor and downtrodden. Speaking on the President’s address in Parliament, Harsimrat said, “Even though the President stressed that improving the situation for farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from ₹8,000 per month in 2015 to only ₹10,000 per month in 2019.” She said in stark contrast, the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58% in the same period,” she said adding that 10,880 farmers also ended their life in 2021 as per the centre for science and environment.

• Down To Earth

Center failed to double farmer income, increase employment, control inflation: Harsimart Badal

Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said the union government had failed to double farmer income, increase employment, control inflation and improve the lot of the poor and downtrodden. Speaking on the President’s Address in parliament, Mrs Harsimrat Badal said “even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the union government, the same has not been supported with data”. Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the union government had promised to double farmer income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO) the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019”. She said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. “As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment”, she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the State incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, Mrs Badal said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. “Despite a clear cut undertaking by the central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done”. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She also disclosed how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its chief minister – Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the girdawari. Speaking about the state of the youth, the former union minister said as per the World Bank Data the unemployment rate was 23 per cent in India. She said 43,000 professionals were recorded to have committed suicide even as there was a 68 per cent increase in the rate of students going abroad. She said in Punjab itself, the enrolment of youth in higher education courses had reduced by 50 per cent due to massive frauds in the SC Scholarship scheme during the tenure of the previous Congress government. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Mrs Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the State. “A demographic disaster is taking place but the central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border”. Speaking about the state of the poor, Mrs Badal said as per data as many as 74 per cent of Indians were not able to afford healthy food. She said correspondingly since 2012 there had been a 40 per cent increase in petrol prices, 60 per cent increase in diesel prices, 70 per cent increase in pulses and a 77 per cent increase in milk prices. She also disclosed how the RBI had disclosed that there had been a 5.1 per decrease in annual household savings in 2023 even as the annual financial liabilities of households increased by 5.8 per cent of GDP during the same period. “This is surely not acche din”, Mrs Badal added. The Bathinda MP also spoke on how the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) had disclosed that there was a ten per cent increase in crime against women in 2023. She also asked when the women reservation law would be implemented, saying this was the need of the hour.

• Director General Office

Urgent Need To Focus On Clean Air: Activist Sunita Narain

The environment is no long era luxury and climate change is right in our faces, said noted environmentalist Sunita Narain, Director General of Centre for Science and Environment. Delivering the second annual Darryl d’Monte Memorial lecture on Saturday, Narain pointed out that air is a great equaliser as rich and poor both breathe the same air. “We have to focus on clean air and drastically cut down emissions,” Narain, who also edits the fortnightly magazine Down to Earth, said. The event, titled Remembering the Environmental Challenge, was organised by Mumbai Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Participatory Urban Design & Development Initiative, Sanctuary Nature Foundation and Vanashakti, apart from the family of the pioneering environmentalist D’Monte. Narain said all the governments should focus on developing convenient mass rapid transport and luxury electric vehicles to encourage de-creased dependence on cars.She regretted that water re-sources are also being grossly neglected. The Yamuna has been officially declared dead as its oxygen level has been reduced to zero, she re-marked.She stressed that infra-structure progress must be balanced with environmental care. “This is where the governments should take local communities into confidence,” she said.

• Down To Earth

Centre failed to double farmers' income, says Harsimrat Kaur in LS

Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Central government has failed to double farmers' income, increase employment and control inflation. Speaking after the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, Badal said: "Even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data." Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers' income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. ADVERTISEMENT "As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019." The Shiromani Akali Dal leader said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. "As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment," she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the state incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, she said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. "Despite a clear cut undertaking by the Central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done," the former Union Minister said. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She said how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the 'girdawari'. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the state. "A demographic disaster is taking place but the Central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border," she added.

• Down To Earth

Centre failed to double farmers’ income, says Harsimrat Kaur in LS

Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Central government has failed to double farmers’ income, increase employment and control inflation. Speaking after the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, Badal said: “Even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019.” The Shiromani Akali Dal leader said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. “As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment,” she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the state incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, she said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. “Despite a clear cut undertaking by the Central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done,” the former Union Minister said. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She said how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the ‘girdawari’. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the state. “A demographic disaster is taking place but the Central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border,” she added.

• Director General Office

We need to develop differently, says CSE chief Narain

Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment, spoke at the Darryl D'Monte memorial lecture about the need for a balance between development and the environment. She highlighted the importance of reducing carbon emissions, ensuring clean air, and adopting cleaner modes of mobility. Narain also called for a switch to practices that are friendlier to the environment and criticized the government's lack of action in promoting cleaner fuel. The lecture was held in memory of Darryl D'Monte, an environmental journalist who raised concerns about the environment ahead of his time. Mumbai: Speaking at the second Darryl D’Monte memorial lecture on Saturday, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Sunita Narain reminisced about the 1980s, when D’Monte and CSE founder Anil Agarwal were discussing if and how a balance could be struck between development and the environment.

• Director General Office

Trade rules for the planet and people

In 2024, we must rework trade rules for a different kind of globalisation. This is important both for the economies in Global South and the fight against climate change. Many yesterdays ago, when the world was discussing the possibility of a climate crisis, it was negotiating a new trade agreement. In early 1992, when the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was agreed on at the Rio Summit, the World Trade Organization (WTO) was also set up and global rules to facilitate free trade between nations were signed on. The deal was simple: The cost of manufacturing would come down when goods were produced in countries with lower labour costs and environmental standards. The export-economies would drive prosperity in the still developing world, and, most importantly, in the rich world, where consumers would benefit from cheaper goods and the boom in services. The tectonic shift came in 2001, with the acceptance of China into the WTO. China had a massive workforce; no trade unions; little environmental safeguards; and an authoritarian government. After joining the WTO, China’s share of global carbon-dioxide emission rose from 5 per cent in 1990 to 21 per cent in 2019. Trade boomed but the age of global prosperity did not come, and increased trade meant an increase in carbon-dioxide emission. In 20 years, this idea of globalisation has soured — the proponents of the grand scheme are turning their back on the idea of unfettered global trade, which was designed to be without distortions of subsidy and support by national governments. The question is how these new globalisation rules will take shape in a climate-risked and war-torn world. Today the most hyped issue is the US’s position against China. This is being talked about as the fight against autocratic and undemocratic regimes (which is true). But the real reason is to gain control of resources and technologies needed for the future. This includes the green economy the world so desperately needs. China today dominates the supply chains for batteries; it processes over half of the world’s lithium, cobalt, and graphite; and it is an established leader in solar energy. To fight this “enemy”, the US has decided to give up all its ideological qualms about subsidies; the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is providing finance to companies to manufacture low-carbon products in the US. The European Union has its own version of taxing the entry of goods into the region through the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The issue is if the Western world’s mission to break this stranglehold will lead to higher costs of the green transition and even delay it. Or will it be successful in doing the impossible — securing access to rare minerals and rebuilding its manufacturing industry, despite the higher costs of labour and environmental standards. This could lead to de-globalisation or localisation as more countries decide to maximise their advantage as holders of natural resources, technology, and the knowledge that goes with them. It is also a possibility that there are new breakthroughs in technology, which would make the China-dominated supply-chain redundant. For instance, there is talk about sodium-ion batteries, which could take down the need for lithium batteries. De-globalisation could equally mean that the pace of green transition is disrupted. For instance, the US, through the IRA, is providing support to the local manufacturing of electric vehicles. It has notified that electric vehicles that include Chinese-made battery components will not be eligible for full subsidies. It goes on to say that these vehicles will not qualify for the IRA if they have “significant” ties to the Chinese government or are produced with a licensing agreement with a China-based or -controlled operator. Given the near-complete control of China in the raw mineral and battery-manufacturing segment, this disengagement may delay the electric-vehicle transition or make it more expensive. Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD has overtaken Elon Musk’s Tesla. According to the Financial Times, in the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD sold a record 526,000 battery-only electric vehicles, as compared to Tesla’s 484,000. Therefore, managing the twin objectives of localisation and a speedy green transition in today’s China-dominated world could be a challenge. It is the same in India. We have decided — and rightly so — to invest in local capacity for the solar industry. The Indian government has announced fiscal incentives for solar cell and module manufacture and imposed higher import duties on Chinese products. It is difficult to say, as yet, if this will impede India’s ambitious renewable programme, as domestic production may not be able to keep pace or be cost-competitive. On the other hand, there is an obvious advantage in building our industry. The gradual closing of the free-trade world will also have implications for Indian industry’s exports. All in all, there is a new game in town and we need to see if this time around the rules of trade will work for or against the people and the planet. The writer is at the Centre for Science and Environment sunita@cseindia.org, X: @sunitanar

• Environment Education

Ludhiana school bags Changemaker Award for sustainable practices

In a remarkable achievement, Satya Bharti School in Lakhowal, has been honoured with the Changemaker Award at the Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) annual Green Schools Awards, emphasising its commitment to environmental sustainability. The award recognises the schools that have shown exemplary efforts in making their campuses eco-friendly and fostering environmental consciousness among students. Out of the 5,300 schools from 29 states and union territories that participated in the Green Schools Programme, 199 schools from across India were certified ‘green’ at the awards ceremony on January 30. The Changemaker Awards, recognising schools that elevate their sustainability rating to green through continuous monitoring and improvement, were presented to two institutions. Satya Bharti School, Lakhowal, Ludhiana, and PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Ordnance Factory, Katni, Madhya Pradesh, stood out as exemplary achievers in this category. Satya Bharti School in Ludhiana stood out as a “changemaker”, the only one in Punjab, by successfully transitioning to the green category from yellow by implementing sustainable practices over the past year.