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World Wetlands Day 2024 Highlights the Vital Connection Between Wetlands and Human Wellbeing I

On the global observance of World Wetlands Day, Wetlands International South Asia (NGO) took centre stage at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on Friday, shedding light on the theme 'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing.' The event, graced by Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), provided a platform for experts, environmentalists, and the public to engage in meaningful discussions regarding the crucial role wetlands play in the lives of people and the environment. Dr Ritesh Kumar, Director of Wetlands International South Asia, welcomed the esteemed guests, setting the tone for an insightful gathering. Dr Sidharth Kaul, President of Wetlands International South Asia, introduced the theme for World Wetlands Day 2024, underlining the organization's steadfast commitment to wetlands conservation and sustainable use over the past 26 years. The event featured the release of two significant knowledge and outreach materials. The first was a compelling poster titled "Life Interlaced, Wetlands and People," stressing the intricate connection between wetlands and human wellbeing and underscoring the imperative need for their preservation. The second release was the ninth edition of Wetlands International South Asia's Newsletter 'Sarovar,' with a thematic focus on the 'Ecological Restoration of Wetlands.' Sunita Narain, the Chief Guest urged for a shared responsibility in preserving these ecosystems, transcending environmental concerns to secure a healthier future for all. Ms Narain cited examples of cities such as Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Kerala, which have faced extreme disasters due to the loss of their natural wetlands. She stressed the urgency of integrating wetlands into regional government plans for water security, sewage control, and other vital aspects. A pivotal moment of the event was a panel discussion on 'Wetlands: Nature-based Solutions,' where experts explored the transformative potential of wetlands in addressing pressing environmental challenges. The discussion delved into the multifaceted benefits that wetlands offer, serving as nature-based solutions for issues ranging from climate change mitigation to biodiversity conservation.

विश्व वेटलैंड दिवस 2024: दिल्ली में विशेषज्ञों ने आर्द्रभूमि को बचाने को लेकर की विशेष चर्चा

विश्व आर्द्रभूमि दिवस के मौके पर दिल्ली में शुक्रवार को कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया गया, जिसमें आर्द्रभूमि (वेटलैंड) को लेकर चर्चा की गई. कार्यक्रम में वेटलैंड के जाने-माने विशेषज्ञों ने हिस्सा लिया. आम भाषा में वेटलैंड उन क्षेत्रों को कहा जाता है, जहां पानी पूरे साल या कम से कम 6 महीने तक रहता है. जैसे तालाब, पोखर, नदी, झील इसके अंतर्गत आते हैं. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के डायरेक्टर जनरल सुनीता नारायण ने बताया कि जिस तरीके से जलवायु परिवर्तन की समस्या सामने आ रही है. उसको देखते हुए वेटलैंड को बचाने की अति आवश्यकता है. दिल्ली में अक्सर बात होती है कि नजफगढ़ झील को बचाएंगे, लेकिन कहने से नहीं होगा इस पर काम करने की जरूरत है. दिल्ली के जितने भी झील, तालाब, नदी है उसको बचाने की जरूरत है. वहीं, डॉ सिद्धार्थ कॉल ने बताया कि वेटलैंड को लेकर जो नियम और कानून बनाए जाते हैं उसका पालन प्रभावी ढंग से होना चाहिए. क्योंकि, खासकर शहरों में देखा जाता है कि वेटलैंड क्षेत्र पर अतिक्रमण होता है और वह प्रभावित लोगों के द्वारा किया जाता है. उन्होंने कहा बीते कुछ वर्षों में दिल्ली के वेटलैंड को लेकर काफी जागरुकता आई है और इस पर काम भी हो रहा है. प्रत्येक वर्ष 2 फरवरी को विश्व आर्द्रभूमि दिवस (वर्ल्ड वेटलैंड डे) के रूप में मनाया जाता है, जिसका मकसद आर्द्रभूमि भूमि को लेकर लोगों को जागरूक करना होता है. क्योंकि आर्द्रभूमि पर्यावरण को बेहतर रखने के लिए अहम योगदान देते हैं. बीते कुछ समय में आधुनिकता के इस दौर में विकास कार्यों की वजह से आर्द्रभूमि क्षेत्र पर ज्यादा जोर नहीं दिया जा सका है. लेकिन अब बीते कुछ वर्षों से आर्द्रभूमि को संरक्षित करने पर सरकारे जोर दे रही है.

जलवा यु परिवर्तन के कुप्रभावों से बचने के लिये आर्द्रभूमि को बचा ना जरूरी : ना रा यण

सेंटर फॉ र साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की महा नि देशक सुनी ता ना रा यण ने कहा है कि जलवा यु परि वर्तन के कुप्रभा वों से बचने के लि ये आर्द्रभूमि को बचाने की जरूरत है और ता ला बों तथा झी लों को नहीं बचाया गया , तो आने वा ले समय में लो गों को इसके परि णा म भुगतने पड़ेंगे। श्रीमती ना रा यण ने यहां वि श्व आर्द्रभूमि दि वस के मौ के पर वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या द्वारा आयो जि त का र्यक्रम में कहा कि स्थि ति भया वह है और इसको लेकर लो गों को जा गरूक हो ने की जरूरत है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेवेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या की पहल की प्रशंसा करते हुये कहा कि आर्द्रभूमि के संरक्षण को लेकर इस तरह के का र्यक्रमों का बड़े पैमा ने पर आयो जि त करने की जरूरत है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेबता या कि पि छले दो-ती न सालों में स्थि ति थोड़ी सुधरी है, लेकि न अभी भी चिं ता जनक है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेकहा कि ता ला बों को नहीं बचायेंगे, तो परि णा म बहुत बुरे हों गेहों गे। उन्हों नेन्हों नेकहा कि पहले हम करते थे कि जल संरक्षण के लि ये ता ला ब जरूरी है, लेकि न अब हम करते हैं कि ता ला बों की क्या जरूरत है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेकहा कि ता ला बों तथा झी लों की जरूरत है क्योंकिक्योंकि यदि हम जल संरक्षण नहीं करेंगे, ता ला बों और झी लों को नहीं बचाएंगे, तो एक ओर बा ढ़ आयेगी और दूसरी ओर सूखा पड़ेगा । उन्हों नेन्हों नेबता या कि पि छले दि नों हम सभी ने देखा था कि बा रि श के का रण रा ष्ट्री य रा जधा नी दि ल्ली की क्या स्थि ति हो गयी थी। गौ रतलब है कि वि श्व वेटलैंड्स दि वस 2024 का वि षय ‘वेटलैंड्स और मा नव कल्या ण’ है। इस अवसर पर वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या के अध्यक्ष डॉ सि द्धा र्थ कौ ल ने वि श्व वेटलैंड्स दि वस 2024 की थीम पेश की और संगठन की ओर से पि छले 26 वर्षों में आर्द्रभूमि क के संरक्षण नि रंतर प्रया सों पर प्रका श डाला । उन्हों नेन्हों नेबता या कि वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या पा रि स्थि ति क संतुलन और मा नव समृद्धि के लि ये आर्द्रभूमि संरक्षण के महत्व पर जो र देने की खा ति र वि शेषज्ञों ,ज्ञों पर्या वरणवि दों और जनता के मा ध्यम से जा गरूकता नि र्मा ण के लि ये कुछ स्वस्थ चर्चाओं के लि ये एक मंच के रूप में का र्य करता है। इस अवसर पर वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या के नि देशक डॉ रि तेश कुमा र ने मेहमा नों का स्वा गत कि या । का र्यक्रम में दो ज्ञा न और आउटरी च सामग्री जा री की गयी । श्री कुमा र ने कहा कि ‘ला इफ इंटरलेस्ड, वेटलैंड्स एंड पी पल’ थीम वा ला एक पो स्टर, वेटलैंड्स और मा नव कल्या ण के बी च अंतर्संबंध के महत्व पर प्रका श डालता है और उनके संरक्षण की आवश्यकता पर जो र देता है। वहीं ,हीं दूसरा प्रका शन वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या के न्यूज़लेटर 'सरो वर' का नौ वां संस्करण था, जि सका वि षय 'वेटलैंड्स की पा रि स्थि ति क बहा ली ' था। का र्यक्रम में 'वेटलैंड्स: प्रकृति -आधा रि त समा धा न' पर एक पैनल चर्चा भी आयो जि त की गयी , जि समें वि शेषज्ञों ने पर्या वरणी य चुनौ ति यों से नि पटने में वेटलैंड्स की परि वर्तनका री क्षमता का पता लगा या । उल्लेखनी य है कि वेटलैंड्स कन्वेंशन को रा मसर कन्वेंशन कहा जा ता है। रा मसर सम्मेलन 1971 में संयुक्त रा ष्ट्र शैक्षि क, वैज्ञा नि क एवं सांस्कृति क संगठन (यूनेस्को) द्वारा स्थापि त एक अंतररा ष्ट्री य आर्द्रभूमि संधि है। यह सम्मेलन 1975 में का र्रवा ई में आया । रा मसर ईरा न में स्थि त वह स्थान है, जहाँ 1971 में अंतररा ष्ट्री य आर्द्रभूमि संधि पर हस्ताक्षर कि ये गये थे। संतो ष.श्रव

‘Nobody is safe till everybody is safe’

Ahead of her lecture at a Mumbai venue this weekend, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain, speaks with mid-day on the crises faced by Mumbai, India and potential solutions On Saturday, the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh Auditorium will host a lecture that expands on the work of the late journalist Darryl D’Monte. Known for his untiring crusade for the green spaces of Mumbai, the late editor will be honoured through the second annual Darryl D’Monte Memorial Lecture by Sunita Narain, director general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Ahead of her lecture titled Climate Change in an Increasingly Unequal and Polarized World: The Future Agenda for Action, she speaks to us about her learnings from the recent COP28 in 2023, Mumbai’s falling air quality and public transport. Your talk comes on the back of your recent visit to COP28 in Dubai where you also spoke about the equitable distribution of the energy burden. How does this translate into action going forward? Sunita Narain: This has been a contested issue for many decades since the world agreed upon a framework convention of climate change. Energy is at the core of the transition that is needed. The fact also is that energy is part of the economic growth system of each country. This is why negotiations on an equitable energy transition have been difficult. In Dubai, for the first time, we have the recognition in documents that fossil fuels are a problem. It now comes down to the action agenda. For a country like India, it is very clear that, in our best interest, we need to find a way to grow without pollution. For instance, take the issue of mobility. We know that if we were to reduce the number of cars on the road, it would help us reduce emissions and air pollution. But this would mean scaling up public transport and improving last mile connectivity. The right to walk and the right to cycle are all part of the plan ahead and need to be looked at. In this context, Mumbai has been in the limelight for falling air quality, pollutants and rising construction. How does a city balance its need for development with the risk of environmental damage? SN: In Mumbai, it is not just construction. Our data clearly shows that it is a factor of all four pollutants — vehicles on the road, use of coal in industries on the periphery, waste burning and dust from construction. Dust, per se, is not a pollutant, but when it is coated with emissions, it becomes one. Moving ahead, Mumbai needs to strategise accordingly. You cannot tackle [just] one issue to find a solution. Limiting dust from construction is easy through sprinkling of water, barricading and regular monitoring, etc. They are not foolproof, but are mitigating measures. With vehicular emission, the only way is to augment public transport. Mumbai is better than Delhi in its usage of suburban railway networks, but is still growing at a fast rate in terms of vehicle ownership. This is clearly something that the city has to factor in when coming up with a plan. I was happy to note on a recent visit that there are quite a few electric cars and taxis in Mumbai, but there is a need for more; like how Delhi moved its auto rickshaws and buses to CNG. This would require a mandate and massive investment that enables the rickshaw drivers and public transport owners — who are not rich or privileged — to agree to such measures. Then, of course, is the use of coal in the industries on the peripheries of the city. The only alternative is to provide them with affordable gas, but that is not available to India at affordable rates. Essentially, we need to take hard and tough measures, and we are not doing it either in Mumbai, Delhi or around the world. This will be part of my talk ahead. How will these measures fall in place when there is an immediate need for growing infrastructure, that adds to the man-animal conflict, as is witnessed in Mumbai? SN: Many people believe, and rightly so, that infrastructure is a necessity. Faster and smoother connectivity will reduce time and fuel consumption. My argument is that along with these new road infrastructures, we need to plan scaled up systems of transportation through buses and trains rather than cars. The experience around the world teaches us that the more you build, the more cars will fill up the space.

Rain cleans up Delhi's act, to an extent

New Delhi: Rain and strong winds helped clean up Delhi's air quality on Thursday when the Air Quality Index (AQI) slid to 177 in the "moderate" range from 392, which was "near severe" on Wednesday.The sudden improvement in air quality, although still not ideal, happened after a gap of over three months. A lower AQI than Thursday's was last seen on Oct 19, 2023, when it was 121. The last "moderate" air quality in Delhi before Thursday was on Oct 20 last year when the AQI was 195. Central Pollution Control Board's data shows that Delhi did not see any "moderate" air quality day in Nov and Dec 2023 or Jan 2024. Experts said there was a drastic improvement in the air quality due to the rain, which helped in washing out pollutants. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said: "This is clearly the wash-out effect of the rain. This has cleared the particulates that were trapped due to extremely calm weather conditions and exacerbated by winter inversion for so many days." The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi (EWS), which is the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences, in its bulletin on Thursday said the predominant winds "were from the northeast or southeast direction with wind speed 6-18 kmph in Delhi on Wednesday". Safdarjung got 26.5 mm of rainfall, Palam 20.1 mm and the Ridge 23.4mm. EWS said the air quality is likely to be "moderate" till Feb 4. This January was the most polluted since 2016 with an average AQI of 354. The lowest daily AQI was 273 on Jan 10. With an average AQI of 348, Dec 2023 was the most polluted in the past five years. The month saw three severe days with AQI hovering in the "very poor" category on most days. Nov last year was the worst polluted ever. Delhi saw 17 Nov days when the AQI was 390 or above. The air quality in Delhi in Oct 2023 was the most polluted in the past three years.

As crisis grows, time to revisit plastics policy

Plastic pollution is reaching epic proportions. Traces of plastic have been found in human blood, placenta and even in breast milk. Future generations are exposed to plastic pollution right from birth which is putting humanity at grave risk. Plastic is a synthetic polymer produced from petrochemicals and is non-biodegradable in nature. Once produced, plastic items remain around us long after being discarded. Discarded plastic items often find their way into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where they affect wildlife. Polythene bags dumped in landfills are often ingested by animals who mistake it for food. Discarded plastic breaks down into microplastics which are ingested by living organisms and accumulate and amplify in the food chain, all the way up to our platter. When ingested by animals, microplastics potentially impact the reproductive system and affect overall wellbeing. We are only beginning to understand the full impact of microplastics on human health. What is increasingly becoming clear is that plastic pollution is a serious health hazard and must be brought under control. Of particular concern are disposable or single-use plastic items since they are produced in large quantities and are discarded as soon as they are used. These include polythene bags, plastic glasses, potato wafer packets, sachets, straws and plastic bottles. The relative convenience of using plastic items has ensured their rapid spread and deeper penetration in society. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, total plastic waste generated in India in 2020-21 was 4,126,997 tonnes. This figure is more than double of what it was in 2016-17 (1,568,714 tonnes per annum). Concerned with the ever-increasing plastic waste and its impact on the environment, the Government of India banned many single-use plastic items in 2022. The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules 2021 prohibit more than a dozen single-use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential. These include items like plastic cutlery, straws, earbuds, ice cream sticks, invitation cards and cigarette packs. In addition, minimum thickness of permissible polythene bags has been increased to 120 microns so that they can be reused. The initiative to curb the plastic menace by banning specific singleuse plastic items is timely. Plastic bans of some kind exist in many countries around the world. However, implementation of the ban is the real challenge, as is course correction through feedback mechanisms. A recent report on the single-use plastic ban across five Indian cities by the Delhi-based Toxics Link organisation found that more than 50 per cent of surveyed locations continued to sell banned single-use plastic items. The report titled Single-use Plastic Ban in India (2023) mentions polythene bags to be the most abundantly found among banned plastic items across all surveyed cities. Another report on the implementation of single-use plastic ban in India found it to be half-hearted and ambiguous. This 2023 report by the Centre for Science and Environment highlights the need to enforce the ban at the source of production. It also questions the exclusion of other single-use plastic items from the ban. Single-use plastic items like potato wafer bags, plastic water bottles, milk packets and shampoo sachets are not included in the list of banned items. Allowing the use of polythene bags above 120-micron thickness is yet another limitation of the ban. The thickness of polythene bags is not immediately apparent and the resulting confusion promotes use of all types of polythene bags. Secondly, thicker polythene bags are allowed so that they can be used more than once. However, this is often not the case and even when they are reused, they are soon discarded. Keeping them outside the purview of the ban is only adding to the plastic waste burden. There is a need for course correction by banning all polythene bags irrespective of thickness. Similarly, there is a need for regulating the use of all plastics and not just single-use plastic items. Our plastic waste control policy must focus on segregation of waste where it is generated and collection & recycling of every plastic item. The role of plastic in personal protective equipment and other Covid-19 prevention strategies cannot be ruled out. Covid-19 is not the first pandemic to wreak havoc in the world, it certainly isn’t the last. The World Health Organisation has conceptualised Disease X, a hitherto unknown Covid-19 like pandemic against which all nations must start preparing. Plastics will certainly play a life-saving role in pandemic prevention strategies. The greatest hindrance in controlling plastic pollution is the large-scale use of plastic in our daily lives. We must prioritize the use of plastics to where they are absolutely required and ban their use where alternatives are available. (The writers are, respectively, associate professor and a student at the Jindal School of Environment & Sustainability, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana, India.)

Showers, wind clear air; Delhi breathes cleanest since Oct 19

Delhi breathed its cleanest air in more than a hundred days on Thursday as two days of rain and strong winds helped wash out pollutants that have clotted the city’s atmosphere for several weeks. The Capital recorded a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 177 (moderate) at 4pm on Thursday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), more than 200 points lower than 392 (very poor) on Wednesday and the lowest since 121 on October 19 last year. With this, February snapped the streak of bad air that has dogged 2024 so far, with January this year far more polluted than usual. Indeed, the city’s average AQI last month was 355, the worst since a reading of 370 in January 2016. CPCB classifies an AQI of 51 to 100 as “satisfactory”, between 101 and 200 as “moderate”, between 201 and 300 as “poor”, between 301 and 400 as “very poor” and over 400 as “severe”. Forecasts show Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain “moderate” now for the next few days, with the likelihood of light rain over the weekend. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that the city was missing strong winds for most of the winter, causing long periods where the air quality has remained “very poor”. “We have seen this right from November till January now, where wind speeds have been fairly low. In the absence of rain or strong winds, pollutants will neither disperse or settle. We know Delhi’s emissions are fairly high and that did not allow air quality to improve over the last three months,” she said. Forecasts by the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi – a forecasting model under the ministry of earth sciences said Delhi’s air should remain ‘moderate’ in the first week of February. “Delhi’s air quality is likely to be in the ‘moderate’ category from February 2 till February 4. The outlook for the subsequent six days also shows air quality is likely to be in the moderate category,” EWS said in its bulletin on Thursday

High winds & rain clean up air; AQI in ‘moderate’ zone after 14-day gap

Gurgaon: Showers and gusty winds brought some relief for residents as the toxic haze cleared up and the air quality improved by around 55% in the city. The air quality index (AQI) slid to 142 (moderate) on Thursday from 320 (very poor) on Wednesday. The sudden improvement in the air quality happened after a gap of 14 days. The city last saw a ‘moderate’ on January 19. According to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the wind speed between 18 kmph to 23 kmph along with rain enabled better ventilation for the pollution to disperse as a result the AQI has improved. According to Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), winds with speed up to 23kmph helped disperse pollutants. While Sector 51 station recorded an index of 147, Teri Gram logged 127, and Vikas Sadan 107. The AQI was not recorded by Gwalpahari station on Thursday. According to the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), when AQI is in the ‘moderate’ category, people suffering from asthma and lung or heart ailments could face discomfort in breathing. While air deteriorates to ‘poor’ category, people may face breathing discomfort due to prolonged exposure. 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’. The air quality, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), is likely to be in the ‘moderate’ category from February 2 to 4. “The predominant surface wind is likely to be blowing from east and southeast directions in Delhi with wind speed 12-25 kmph.” “For the next few days, the region will again see slight improvement in air quality as it will stay in the lower end of ‘poor’ or ‘moderate’ due to an increase in the minimum temperature and change in wind speed. This will make dispersion of pollutants slow,” said, Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at CSE. The air quality in neighbouring Faridabad also improved to ‘moderate’ category with the index recorded at 180. Delhi also witnessed cleaner air on Thursday when the AQI slid to 177 in the “moderate” range from 392, which was “near severe” on Wednesday. The sudden improvement in air quality, although still not ideal, happened after a gap of over three months. A lower AQI than Thursday’s was last seen on Oct 19, 2023, when it was 121. The last “moderate” air quality in Delhi before Thursday was on Oct 20 last year when the AQI was 195. CPCB’s data shows that Delhi did not see any “moderate” air quality day in Nov and Dec 2023 or Jan 2024. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said: “This is clearly the wash-out effect of the rain. This has cleared the particulates that were trapped due to extremely calm weather conditions and exacerbated by winter inversion for so many days.” The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi (EWS), which is the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences, in its bulletin on Thursday said the predominant winds “were from the northeast or southeast direction with wind speed 6-18 kmph in Delhi on Wednesday”.

जहरीला हो रहा अनाज! गेहूं और चावल को लेकर सामने आई एक चौंकाने वाली खबर, ICAR ने जारी की रिपोर्ट

23 जनवरी 2024 को दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट ने वेबिनार का आयोजन किया। जिसमें भारत में तेजी से उपज की जा रही गेहूं और चावल की किस्मों पर चर्चा की जानी थी। इस वेबीनार में हमारे अनाज को लेकर कुछ चौंकाने वाली बातें सामने आई हैं। जिसमें कहा गया कि आज हमारे गेहूं और चावल दोनों ही अनाज न केवल कम पौष्टिक हो गए हैं बल्कि यह हमारे लिए जहरीले भी होते जा रहे हैं। ICAR के नेतृत्व में किए गए इस अध्ययन में आधुनिक तरीके से उगाए जा रहे अनाजों के खाद्य मूल्य की जांच की गई। जिसमें यह बात साबित हुई है कि उपज को बढ़ाने के लिए विकसित किए गए अनाज की पौष्टिकता को काफी नुकसान पहुंचा है। इस प्रक्रिया से पैदा किए जा रहे अनाज के न केवल पोषक गुण कम हुए हैं बल्कि यह हमारी सेहत के लिए विषाक्त भी होता जा रहा है। बात करें पिछले 50 वर्षों में तो चावल में जिंक और आयरन जैसे पोषक तत्वों में क्रमशः 33 और 27 प्रतिशत तक की कमी आई है। वहीं गेहूं में इन दोनों पोषक तत्वों में 30 और 19 प्रतिशत की कमी देखी गई है। इस वेबिनार में कहा गया कि हमें 1980 के दशक बाद जो अनाज ज्यादा पैदावार के लिए प्रदान कराया जा रहा है वह हमारे लिए पोषक तत्वों के हिसाब से बिल्कुल अच्छा नहीं है। इसके विपरीत जो अनाज हम पारंपरिक रूप से वर्षों से प्रयोग करते चले आ रहे थे वह अनाज अधिक पोषक युक्त था। 1980 के दशक के बाद ऐसे अनाज को विकसित करने पर जोर दिया गया जो कीटों और बीमारियों से लड़ने में सक्षम हो इसके साथ ही वह लवणता और नमी और सूखे जैसी स्थितियों में पैदा किया जा सके। जमीन से पोषक तत्व नहीं ले पा रहे पौधे इस तरह के अनाज की खोज करने वाले वैज्ञानिकों को यह सोचने का मौका नहीं मिला कि पौधा जमीन से पोषक तत्व ले पा रहा है या नहीं। यही कारण है कि समय के साथ हम देख रहे हैं कि पौधों ने जमीन से पोषक तत्व लेने की अपनी क्षमता को काफी हद तक खो दिया है। साल 2023 में ICAR का अध्ययन बिधान चंद्र कृषि विश्वविद्यालय के वैज्ञानिकों द्वारा किए गए 2021 के अध्ययन का विस्तार है। इस अध्ययन में भी अनाज पर निर्भर आबादी में जिंक और आयरन तत्व की कमी के कारणों पर गौर किया गया। वहीं जब अधिक उपज वाले गेंहू और चावल की किस्मों का अध्ययन किया तो इसमें पोषक तत्वों की कमी साफ तौर पर देखने को मिली। जहरीला होता अनाज पिछले 50 साल में अनाज की फूड वैल्यू में लगभग 45% तक कि गिरावट दर्ज की गई है। वही यह बात भी कही जा रही है कि यदि यह गिरावट इसी तरह जारी रहती है तो साल 2040 तक देश में उगाया जा रहा अनाज इंसानों के लिए खाने लायक नहीं रह जाएगा। इस अध्ययन में जो सबसे ज्यादा चौंकाने वाली बात सामने आई वह यह है कि चावल में बीते सालों में जहरीले तत्व आर्सेनिक की मात्रा 1493 प्रतिशत तक बढ़ गई है।

उत्तर प्रदेश के युवाओं की नींद उड़ा रहे हैं एनर्जी ड्रिंक, हो रहा है भारी नुकसान

इन दिनों युवा वर्ग में एनर्जी ड्रिंक पीने का क्रेज बढ़ता ही जा रहा है। उत्तर प्रदेश की राजधानी लखनऊ के डाक्टर सुबोध कुमार ने दावा किया है कि उत्तर प्रदेश समेत देश भर के युवा वर्ग की नींद उड़ाने में एनर्जी ड्रिंक एक बड़ा रोल अदा कर रहे हैं। उत्तर प्रदेश के अलग-अलग शहरों में किए गए एक सर्वे से पता चला है कि उत्तर प्रदेश के युवाओं में एनर्जी ड्रिंक पीने का क्रेज लगातार बढ़ता ही जा रहा है। घातक है एनर्जी ड्रिंक उत्तर प्रदेश के युवा वर्ग में नींद न आने की शिकायत आम होती जा रही है। जब पूरे उत्तर प्रदेश के अलग-अलग शहरों में युवा वर्ग में नींद न आने का अध्ययन किया गया तो पता चला कि उत्तर प्रदेश के युवाओं में एनर्जी ड्रिंक पीने का क्रेज तेजी से बढ़ रहा है। इसी कारण युवा वर्ग में नींद न आने से बहुत कम नींद आने की समस्या बढ़ती ही जा रही है। डाक्टरों की मानें तो उनका कहना है कि एनर्जी ड्रिंक युवा वर्ग में मीठे जहर की तरह घातक परिणाम ला रहे हैं। यह समस्या उत्तर प्रदेश ही नहीं पूरे देश में बढ़ती जा रही है। क्या कहते हैं विशेषज्ञ एनर्जी ड्रिंक के दुष्प्रभाव को लेकर विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि लोकप्रिय पेय पदार्थों में शुमार एनर्जी ड्रिंक युवाओं की नींद उड़ा रहा है। साथ ही अनिद्रा की समस्या भी पैदा कर रहा है। हाल में हुए अध्ययन में जो युवा महीने में केवल एक से तीन बार एनर्जी ड्रिंक का सेवन करते हैं, उनमें भी नींद से जुड़ी समस्याओं में इजाफा देखा गया। अध्ययन के नतीजे ओपन एक्सेस जर्नल- बीएमजे ओपन में प्रकाशित हुए हैं। शोधकर्ताओं के अनुसार, इन एनर्जी ड्रिंक्स में आमतौर पर प्रति लीटर करीब 150 मिलीग्राम कैफीन होता है। साथ ही इसमें चीनी, विटामिन, खनिज और अमीनो एसिड भी अलग-अलग मात्रा में होते हैं। इन ड्रिंक्स को ऐसे दर्शाया जाता है कि यह मानसिक और शारीरिक शक्ति को बढ़ा सकते हैं। जबकि स्वास्थ्य विशेषज्ञों का तर्क है कि इन्हें एनर्जी ड्रिंक्स बताना भ्रामक है, क्योंकि चीनी को छोडक़र अन्य तत्व ऊर्जा प्रदान नहीं करते। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने भी अपने अध्ययन में खुलासा किया है कि एनर्जी ड्रिंक्स में अतिरिक्त कैफीन होता है। भारत की शीर्ष खाद्य नियामक संस्था भारतीय खादय सुरक्षा और मानक प्राधिकरण (FSSAI) ने इन एनर्र्जी ड्रिंक्स को गैर अल्कोहल युक्त पेय पदार्थों के रूप में परिभाषित करती है। हालांकि इसमें कैफीन, ग्वाराना, टॉरिन और जिनसेंग जैसे उत्तेजक पदार्थ होते हैं। बोलते हैं आंकड़े अध्ययन में शोधकर्ताओं ने 18 से 35 वर्ष की आयु के 53,266 युवाओं के आंकड़ों की समीक्षा की। जो छात्र और छात्राएं प्रतिदिन एनर्जी ड्रिंक पीते थे वे उन लोगों की तुलना में करीब एक घंटे कम सोते थे जो कभी-कभार या बिल्कुल भी नहीं पीते थे। इसका प्रभाव इस बात में भी देखा गया कि वे रात में कितनी बार जगे और उन्हें सोने में कितना समय लगा। जैसे-जैसे उन्होंने एनर्जी ड्रिंक की मात्रा बढ़ाई उनके रात में सोने और जागने का समय बढ़ गया। इसका सीधा सा तात्पर्य यह है कि उनकी नींद में लगातार खलल पड़ा। इसी तरह जो लडक़े प्रति दिन एनर्जी ड्रिंक पीते थे उनके हर रात छह घंटे से भी कम सोने की संभावना उनकी तुलना में दोगुनी से भी अधिक थी, जो कभी-कभार इनका सेवन करते थे।

Making global food systems more sustainable has economic benefits 20 times the cost

Tridge summary A report by the Food System Economics Commission suggests that a sustainable transformation of global food systems, costing around $500 billion per year, could yield socio-economic benefits of $5-10 trillion annually. However, the cost of transformation is beyond the financing capacity of lower-income countries. The report warns of increasing food insecurity and obesity by 2050 if changes are not made. Meanwhile, over 150 countries have signed a declaration on sustainable agriculture and climate action at the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasizing the need for direct action on food system challenges. Original content Globally, current food systems cost significantly more than they contribute to development. A sustainable transformation of existing food systems is urgently required at an estimated total cost of $500 billion per year. This cost is equivalent to only 0.2–0.4 per cent of global GDP and is small relative to the multi-trillion dollar benefits it could bring, according to a new report. The annual environmental cost of the current food systems was $3 trillion, and the additional costs to health was at least $11 trillion. The socio-economic benefits of transforming food systems around the world are estimated to be between $5 trillion and $10 trillion annually, equivalent to between 4 and 8 per cent of global GDP in 2020, according to an estimate made by a committee of eminent scientists and academics. It is feasible to transform the current global food system into one that is inclusive, health-enhancing and environmentally sustainable, said Food System Economics Commission in a new ... Source: Down To Earth https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/making-global-food-systems-more-sustainable-has-economic-benefits-20-times-the-cost-finds-report-94200

Talk on climate change this Sat

Mumbai: Sunita Narain, Editor of Down to Earth and director general of Centre for Science and Environment, will deliver the second Darryl D’Monte memorial lecture on ‘Climate Change in an Increasingly Unequal and Polarised World: The Future Agenda for Action’ at Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh on Feb 3. tnn We also published the following articles recently Solapur Municipal Corporation plans climate change action planThe Solapur Municipal Corporation (SMC) has prepared an action plan to address climate change concerns. The plan focuses on causes, mitigation, low-carbon development, conserving natural resources, and building resilient systems. It includes a detailed vulnerability assessment and greenhouse gas emissions inventory, aligning with national and global commitments.107130017 Indias climate change goals will serve as world templateThe India Energy Week in Goa will showcase India's strategies for tackling climate change and offer a template for the world to follow. It will strengthen India's position as the third-largest energy consumer, aiming for 50% renewable energy by 2030. The event will host energy ministers, industry leaders, and experts to discuss energy transition and alternate fuels.107302728 Earth Care awards climate warriors their place in the sunNadir Godrej, managing director of Godrej Industries, was recognized as Green Business Titan at the 11th Earth Care Awards for his efforts in steering the Godrej Group towards a sustainable future. The awards, presented jointly by JSW and The Times of India, celebrate work done in mitigating climate change across various categories.107155823

Punjab clinches best state award in green school excellence, Sangrur leads as best district

In the prestigious annual green school awards presented by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Punjab bagged the coveted title of the Best State. This recognition was achieved by setting an exemplary standard with the highest audit registrations and report submissions. A total of 4,734 schools from the state diligently submitted their audit reports, with 70 schools earning the esteemed ‘green’ rating. Sangrur, in Punjab, was honored with the Best District Award, having recorded the maximum submissions at 503. The awards were presented in New Delhi by CSE Director General Sunita Narain. Dr. Kulbir Bath, State Nodal Coordinator of Punjab State Council of Science and Technology (PSCST), the nodal organization coordinating with schools in Punjab, remarked, “Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann mentioned these results on his social media handles.” These accolades are bestowed annually through CSE’s Green Schools Programme (GSP), a 19-year-old initiative. This year, Punjab’s enthusiasm soared, with a total of 7,200 schools initially registering with CSE. Out of this, an impressive 4,734 schools submitted their green audit reports, a level of participation unprecedented in the program’s history. Bath highlighted the significance of Punjab receiving the Best State award, stating, “A total of 199 schools in India were given green school awards, and 70 of them are from Punjab, constituting 35% of the total list. The 4,734 entries from Punjab alone are monumental.” Out of the 4,734 schools, only 70 in Punjab earned the coveted ‘green school’ title by fulfilling the criteria set by CSE. Ludhiana had the highest number of green schools at 30, while Sangrur had one – Government Primary Smart School in Bhattiwal Khurd village. Satya Bharti School Lakhowal, Ludhiana, received the Changemaker Award. Bath emphasized, “It doesn’t matter if only one school in Sangrur received the Green school award. The fact is 503 of them are making significant efforts. Ludhiana had the maximum green schools, but the total number of submissions was far less than Sangrur.” In the green audit report, schools submitted evidence in the form of pictures and videos, showcasing their handling of solid waste. The evaluation also considered green practices related to conserving water, soil, food, energy, and air. Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal expressed his commitment to making every primary and upper primary school in the district a leader in various aspects of environmental conservation. Providing additional insights, Sangrur’s Deputy District Education Officer Preetinder Ghai said, “Apart from the environment-friendly government schools, efforts in Sangrur district focused on conserving air, energy, food, soil, water, as well as electricity, proper maintenance of plants, use of bicycles instead of petrol and diesel vehicles, disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, solar systems, mid-day meal systems, the standard of food served to students, and the number of teaching and non-teaching staff.” According to CSE’s statement, over 5,300 schools from 29 states and Union territories participated in the audit, with government schools contributing the majority at 93%, followed by private schools at 6%, and government-aided schools at 1%. Of these, 20 schools received the top awards, and 199 were recognized as ‘green.’ A green school is an environmentally conscious institution that adheres to the following criteria: – Window to floor ratio (WFR) surpassing 5%, facilitating ample daylight and ventilation. – Predominant use of sustainable or non-polluting modes of transport, such as public transport, e-rickshaws, cycling, and walking. – Extensive utilization of energy-efficient lighting to conserve energy, coupled with exploration of alternative energy sources. The Green Schools Programme (GSP) Audit advocates minimizing conventional lights while ensuring sufficient illumination for students. – Maintaining a substantial green cover within and around the school campus, promoting biodiversity through the planting of native plant species. – Adoption of a policy to serve only cooked meals, steering clear of packaged foods high in fats, sugar, and salt, to ensure healthy food consumption. – Implementation of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems to collect rainwater and the responsible reuse of treated wastewater.

Sangrur ranks No.1 under Green School Program across country

Sangrur has been awarded as the best district in the country under the Green Schools Programme (GSP). Punjab won the ‘best state’ and Sangrur the ‘best district’ awards for its leadership in fostering a culture of environmental consciousness at the Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) annual Green Schools Awards announced on Tuesday. Green School Programme is aimed at making school campuses environment-friendly and students conscious about the environment. Punjab bagged the award for the best state by setting the bar with the highest audit registrations and report submissions. A total of 4,734 schools from the state submitted their audit reports – 70 were rated ‘green’. Sangrur bagged the best district award with 503 submissions. The awards are conferred to help schools and students conduct a rigorous on-campus environmental audit to measure efficacy of resource management and green practices in schools. GSP helps schools assess their use of resources and map their consumption and wastage across six key subject areas – air, energy, food, land, water and waste. Satya Bharti School Lakhowal, Ludhiana, Punjab, was one of the winners of the Changemaker Awards, given to schools which improve their sustainability rating to green by monitoring and improving their practices over the years. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, through his X account, congratulated Punjabis, especially students and teachers and said that “Jis din se chala hun meri manzil pe nazar hai, aankhon ne kabhi meel ka patthar nahin dekha..Sangrur is number one in the country… Congratulations!” Reacting to the news the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that it is a moment of pride for Punjab. CM Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government is determined to not only provide free & world-class education to every section of Punjab but also educate their students beyond theories and textbooks. Government schools of Punjab are committed to sensitizing students towards the environment through hands-on and thought provoking activities.

DRE, Mini-Grids Can Aid In The Growth Of E-Cooking In India: CSE Report

A latest report from the Centre For Science and Environment (CSE recommended the phasing out of LPG cylinders, used primarily for cooking in India. The CSE researcher advocated for boosting electric cooking (e-cooking) instead. The report also talked about the main challenges in rolling out large-scale adoption of e-cooking in India and the likely solutions to boost its growth. It also said that renewable energy sources like distributed renewable energy (DRE) and mini-grids could play key role in providing energy security for the segment in rural India. The report pointed out that rural India still lacks access to cleaner sources of cleaning. It also pointed out that despite a thrust from the government to push LPG as a cleaner source for cooking, it failed to get the required results.